TW, Issue 48, Week 24, June

WEEK 24, JUNE 13 - 19, 2013

AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION

OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID

TECH@DEEN ARMEDIA .COM

Apps, essential, Tech Selection, Tech Radar and more...

wee cam

Canon does it different this time

Game Changer The Ultimate gamepad is almost here

Stereo love

Sony xb910 is the cure for the music lovers

Power play Sony Xperia sp: 3D-enabled smartphone that gives you a run for your money

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209.900

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Issue

48

H ome S cree n

Anticipating IGM Produced by

Instagram (IGM) could finally arrive on Windows Phone 8 handsets this month, but it will come with some caveats, a new rumour claims. Chinese site WPDang, the same site that recently leaked previously unseen photos of the Nokia EOS, claimed today that Facebook-owned Instagram will come to WP8 on June 26. Rumour has it the app will even have a photo exclusive filter for Microsoft’s OS.

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

The catch: It will only be available on Nokia phones like the recent Lumia 928, the site says.

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.

That’s not surprising, considering the Windows Phone powerhouse that Nokia is, not to mention the fact that it may prove to have been the driving force behind Instagram’s arrival on the entire OS. But it will come as a blow to anyone using a non-Nokia WP8 handset like HTC’s Windows Phone 8X.

Windows Phone 8 is a fine mobile operating system, but it hasn’t been embraced to anywhere near the degree that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android have. Granted, those two have had a head start, but with only 5.6 per cent of the U.S. market compared to Android’s 51.7 per cent and iOS’s 41.4 per cent, Windows Phone 8 has some catching up to do.

Part of the blame certainly lies with some key apps missing from the WP8 ecosystem, not least of which is Instagram. It’s appearance on Windows Phone 8 would be a major boon to Microsoft if it does come to pass. After that all the OS will need is Vine, which finally arrived on Android this week for avid social media users to start taking it more seriously.

Meanwhile, a native Instagram app may never make it to BlackBerry 10, another struggling mobile OS.

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4

NEWS WEEK 24, june 13 - 19, 2013

Apple faces ban on products after defeat Samsung nabs a victory in Washington with an ITC decision that threatens to ban several older Apple devices from sale in the U.S. Several older Apple iPhone and iPad models infringe on a patent held by Samsung, a judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission said last Tuesday.

Google goes All-American with Moto X

In a final ruling (PDF), the ITC said Apple infringes on a Samsung patent related to cellular technology with AT&T models of the iPhone 3GS and 4, along with 3G models of the iPad 1 and 2. As part of the ruling, the ITC has issued a limited order to bar those devices from sale in the U.S. The decision is final, however Apple can appeal it to the Federal Circuit or bid for a reprieve from the White House, which has the power to approve or disprove of the ruling.

“We believe the ITC’s Final Determination has confirmed Apple’s history of free-riding on Samsung’s technological innovations,” Samsung said in a statement. “Our decades of

research and development in mobile technologies will continue and we will continue to offer innovative products to consumers in the United States.” Apple said it was disappointed in the ruling and plans to appeal it. “We are disappointed

that the commission has overturned an earlier ruling and we plan to appeal,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a statement. “Today’s decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States.”

Razer unveils new Blade Apple devices vulnerable to attack via bogus charger Apple iPhones can be taken over with alarming ease using a custom-built charger, security researchers warn.

Using the bogus charger, a team from Georgia Institute of Technology managed to infect a phone with a virus in less than a minute. Any device using Apple’s iOS operating system would be as vulnerable to infection, claim the trio.

The team created their malicious charger using a tiny bare-bones computer called a BeagleBoard that costs about USD45. This computer on the BeagleBoard communicates with the target computer and carries out the attack that loads malicious software. The researchers say they studied Apple’s security systems closely to find a way round its attempts to stop attackers installing rogue programmes and apps. More details will be given at the Black Hat USA hacker conference.

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Razer last week unveiled the Blade and Blade Pro, two thin and light notebook computers designed to handle the rigors of video gaming. The 14-inch Blade is a slimmed down version of the refreshed 17.3-inch Blade Pro and it’s perhaps the more interesting of the two, due to its diminutive size.

The little brother sports the same black anodised aluminium casing of its bulkier sibling but it is noticeably more

streamlined. It’s a mere 0.66-inches thick and packs more power-per-cubic-inch than any laptop available today, according to its maker.

Razer’s Blade will appeal to serious gamers who have either had to carry a massive laptop or settle for gaming on tablets, smartphones or other portable devices. For those who want the PC experience on the road, the Blade is cutting-edge.

Samsung launches Galaxy S4 Mini ahead of June event Samsung has launched the Galaxy S4 Mini, a smaller and cheaper version of its flagship smartphone. The device has a 4.3-inch screen, which is slightly bigger than its predecessor, the S3 Mini. The company will show off the smartphone at an event this month but has not yet given a date for when it will go on sale. The 5-inch S4 phone launched in April and according to Samsung has sold more than 10 million units. The mini version, the specifications of which were leaked

online two weeks ago, will need to convince consumers that it is not simply an underpowered phone.

Google company Motorola has announced a new smartphone that will be designed, engineered and assembled in the United States, the Moto X. “There are more than 130 million smartphones in use in the U.S. but not one of them is made here.

That changes with Moto X,” Motorola spokesperson Danielle McNally said.

“Motorola has more than 50 per cent of its sales volume coming from North America, so it makes sense for them to stay close to their customer base,” noted Wayne Lam, a senior analyst at IHS iSuppli.

Given the high cost of production in the U.S., can an All-American smartphone compete with market leaders Samsung and Apple, which take advantage of lower manufacturing costs in developing nations? Consumer attitudes could be a key factor. “Particularly in the middle of the country and in the Northeast, U.S. brands appear to do far better,” remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

Motorola is also looking into advanced technologies, said company CEO Dennis Woodside.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 gets another inch Samsung may be acting on the philosophy of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. It was just a few weeks ago that its Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch made its debut.

Samsung’s strategy seems closer to ‘something for everyone’ than Apple’s approach of refining a design and then convincing consumers that it’s exactly what they want.Samsung announced on Monday, June 3rd two additions to its Galaxy Tab 3 line: 8-inch and 10.1-inch models, both running on Android 4.2.

There’s also some talk that the 8-inch tablet might cannibalise Samsung’s previously announced 7-inch device.

However, Samsung’s strategy is identifying and exploiting a need not addressed by existing devices.

6/8/13 3:30 PM

nuovotech TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Indulge in these unique and must-have gadgets Grillbot – The Automatic Grill Cleaning Robot

Device-Charging Umbrella Price: USD500 (RO193), hammacher.com

This little mechanised gadget is an outdoor cook’s number one helper. Just place the robot on the funky grill, press the button and grab a drink while three high-power electric motors - driven by a sophisticated CPU chip that controls the movement, speed and direction of the brushes handle the dirty cleaning work for you.

Price: USD100 (RO39), grillbots.com

Finger Swipe Headphones The Finger Swipe Headphones makes controlling your tunes easier by using the same type of touchpads found in smartphones and tablets, allowing you to simply swipe your finger along the surface to get the desired results. The headphones can also be used to take calls, with the music automatically stopping when an incoming call is received. With a frequency response of 20Hz to 2KHz, the 40mm drivers deliver rich sound from any audio source.

Price: USD150 (RO58), hammacher.com

5

This umbrella extends the battery life of mobile devices, so you can frolic longer outdoors without fretting over a drained battery.

Four solar panels are woven into the umbrella’s canopy and they convert sunlight into electricity, which is then accessed via two USB ports in its pole. A rechargeable 3.7-volt/1000mA backup battery provides power in overcast conditions; ensuring smartphones and tablets have an uninterrupted supply of power.

Diffusible Bomb Alarm Clock This alarm clock features a built-in rechargeable lithium battery that can be charged with the provided USB cable and contains a fun game as well. Pressing the Red button starts a 10 second countdown. The clock has 4 differentcolour wires, only one can defuse the clock when cut or disconnected. Making your job harder, two wires are decoys and do nothing while the forth one will detonate the clock bomb immediately if cut or disconnected.

Price: USD47 (RO18), amazon.com

To order, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

tech radar

Gadgets worth coveting and saving the date for

Trakdot Luggage Tracker

Pong Gold Reveal Cases

There is no waiting for the airline to figure out where and how your baggage was misplaced with this nifty little gadget that can tell you where your luggage is located.

Just slip the tracker inside one of your suitcases and you’ll be able to keep track of it either with your cellphone or online and there shouldn’t be any problems with taking it onboard since it’s FCC certified and FAA compliant.

The tracker even helps out at the baggage claim because an app will notify you when you’re within 30 feet of your luggage.

We’ve all heard that smartphones and other wireless devices generate electromagnetic radiation and there is the fear that this can cause cancer; therefore some degree of concern is nevertheless justified when we spend hours a day with these devices. Pong Gold Reveal Cases for smartphones and tablets are designed to protect the devices while reducing our exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

Price: USD70 (RO27), pongresearch.com

Soloshot

Price: USD50 (RO19), trakdot.com

iTap Phone Charger

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You can top up your draining batteries with this charger which is shaped like a tap!

Realistic and effective, the iTap charger can make any room look cooler without any effort. Made of durable, lightweight white plastic, the charger is easy to use and can be carried around with no fuss. The tap can be turned on and off, changing the light from red to blue as your phone charges.

myIDkey

Price: USD31 (RO12), prezzybox.com

Price: USD140 (RO54), myidkey.com

The myIDkey has an OLED display directly on the drive, as well as a biometric reader to ensure that no one else gets access to your data. The OS running the drive will erase your data if someone makes failed attempts to access it, which can be recovered later from your PC. It also has built-in voice search, allowing you to search password and bank details stores as keycards.

The Soloshot automatically tracks your movements thanks to a small waterproof transmitter that can be worn on your arm. It rotates by up to 40 degrees per second for a whole 360 degrees and works with any camera or camcorder with a tripod mount. It also tracks subjects up to 2000 feet away, moving at speeds of up to 140 mph. It helps you capture footage of yourself while doing athletic activities and saves you the expense of a film crew.

Price: USD480 (RO185), soloshot.com

6/8/13 3:30 PM

tablets

6

WEEK 24, june 13 - 19, 2013

Anticipated tablet

Wikipad

Price: USD249 (RO96), available June 11 onwards

The Wikipad is the set to be the evolution of gaming and tablets in one revolutionary product

R

emember the Wikipad, the Android-powered gaming tablet or hefty controller rig combo that was supposed to launch in 2012 before suffering delay after delay? Well, the wait is just about over as the company announced last week that the USD249 (RO96) gaming tablet will be available on US shelves starting on June 11 and that a global launch is being prepped for the summer.

The road to an official release has been nothing if not eventful for the Wikipad team. The Android gaming device was originally touted as a 10-inch tablet that was shown off at CES last year and a media tour ahead of a launch slated for the end of October; a deadline that was ultimately pushed back a few times.

For a while there it seemed as though the Wikipad might have met its demise, but the tablet re-emerged earlier this year with a 7-inch display running at 1,200x800 and the same quad-core Tegra 3 chipset under the hood. Make no mistake that 10-inch version is still in the works, but the company hasn’t yet said when it hopes to push the thing out the door save for a vague ‘Christmas 2013’ window. For better or worse, this more portable 7-inch model will be the frontline of the Wikipad product line, and some early impressions haven’t exactly been bullish on the tablet’s prospects.

To make things worse, the Android gaming scene just isn’t what it was when Wikipad first decided to take a stab at a game-centric tablet. Sure, the quality of these games has only gotten better as time has passed, but

Apps this week 1

Latest fun and exciting apps

2

3

Taptu

DK Quick Cook

A website reader of recent times and one that also houses its fair share of widgets

A good, solid recipe app with a vast range of recipes included and more available through IAPs

FREE

Civiballs

FREE

A great educational tool for kids that allows you to watch a different animated movie every day and take a quiz

Platforms: iOS

5

USD1

Joining Hands

Platforms: iOS, Android

6

USD1

Somewhere between Newton’s cradle and a marble run, this puzzler is as fun as it is archaeologically suspect

Jetpack Joyride FREE

Peablins like holding hands because then the Bogeyman won’t take them and so you drag the multi-armed creatures about until they’re all linked

Platforms: iOS

7

BrainPOP UK Featured Movie

USD6

Platforms: Android

4

the prospect of churning out dedicated Android gaming hardware has been embraced by some prominent hardware players. Take NVIDIA for instance, it recently joined the fray with the ambitious SHIELD handheld, which will feature the ability to stream select PC games, as well as play the usual slew of Android titles. If anything, the Wikipad’s big advantage is the relatively small price tag attached to it, but we’ll soon see if it’s enough to enthral the masses.

An absurdly addictive runner simulator with a reward around every corner

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

8

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry

9

GIF Shop

Tilt to Live HD

Wunderlist HD

Snap some frames with your camera and it’ll stitch them together as an animated file that you can post online or send to people via email or MMS

Tilt the tablet in order to move a ship around the screen, avoiding deadly red dots and picking up power-ups in order to destroy the red dots

As well as looking great on every platform, it lets you set deadlines and priorities to help you keep on top of your jobs

USD1

Platforms: iOS, Android

TAB_APPS + COVER_STORY 48.indd 6

FREE

Platforms: iOS

FREE

Platforms: iOS

6/8/13 3:51 PM

cover story TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

7

Crafty smartphone This fast, powerful phone is the perfect mid-range handset

A

lthough it’s technically a mid-range phone, the Sony Xperia SP gives the high-end Android handsets a run for the money. For starters, it looks absolutely stunning.

Sony Xperia SP

Some might see its plastic back as a step down from rear glass panel used on the highend Sony Xperia Z, but its smooth contours make it much more comfortable to hold, its aluminium frame looks and feels great. It gives the phone a much more pleasing sense of weight and durability.

Operating system: Android 4.1.2 JellyBean Main display size: 4.6in Native resolution: 1,280x720 CCD effective megapixela: 8-megapixel Internal memory: 8096MB

The clear, illuminated antenna at the bottom of the phone also helps give it a bit of character to distinguish it from other midrange handsets. This can flash different colours to indicate when you’ve got a missed call or incoming text, and each option is fully customisable. It can also add a little more flavour to your media by flashing to the beat of your music or matching the dominant colour of your photos. You can turn all this off if you’d prefer, but we didn’t find it particularly distracting.

Memory card support: MicroSD Wireless data: GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE Dimensions: 130x67x10mm Weight: 155g Price: USD375 (RO144) on amazon.com

The Xperia SP’s hardware performance is right up there with the very best smartphones currently available. It only has a dual-core Snapdragon processor and 1GB of RAM, but its high clock speed of 1.7GHz made a huge difference in our SunSpider JavaScript benchmarks.

Its 3D performance is outstanding. It produces a silky smooth average of 54fps in 3DMark’s Ice Storm test, scoring 10,074 overall. This is just behind the much-hyped Samsung Galaxy S4, but in practical terms you shouldn’t notice any difference.

Verdict

The Sony Xperia SP is a fantastic phone.

It has its flaws, but they’re not quite enough to stop it from being an outstanding mid-range handset.

With all the speed and power of a high-end quad-core phone, it’s also brilliant value.

Sony’s customisations to the operating system are fairly minimal. It has a total of seven home screens. Sony’s entertainment apps, such as its Video and Music Unlimited services, are hidden away on its outer screens, leaving more room for your own apps on the central screen. A small portion of the screen is taken up by touchsensitive back, home and menu controls, but we still had plenty of room to use the rest of the screen, including the keyboard.

You can type quickly and accurately.

Where the Xperia SP falls down the most is its 8-megapixel camera. Its video recording is similarly mediocre, as there is supposedly a lot of visible

TAB_APPS + COVER_STORY 48.indd 7

noise even in a brightly lit room. This might be disappointing to some, but thankfully Sony goes some way to make up for this by packing the Xperia SP full of extra features. Most of them require other Sony products in order to work, but the first of these is support for Sony’s PlayStation 3 Dualshock controller, which allows you to use a PS3 controller with the phone when playing games. Its builtin NFC also pairs up with NFC-enabled Sony Bravia TVs so you can mirror your phone content on the TV screen. The MirrorLink app, on the other hand, will let the phone connect with certain in-car entertainment systems and mirror what’s on screen.

6/9/13 10:40 AM

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

RO200

RO57

20

N

RO272

Blackberry Z10

LG L5 E612

Nokia Lumia 920

Sony Xperia tipo

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 V4.0 OS, 800 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon, 512MB RAM, 3.2MP camera, 2.9GB storage up to 32GB, 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

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

6/8/13 3:31 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 June 5, 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

50

RO350

RO370

RO300

25

RO575

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 Hama Traveller Compact Pro Tripod

Beurer MC5000 Massage Chair

The Traveller Pro ensures excellent still shots, portraits or horizontal tilts and vertical pans with its 3D ball tilt head and rotating central column for macro photography. With fully 3x extendable tripod legs, it has an adjustable height capable of elevating your camera to a maximum of 163cm, along with expandable legs for optimum proximity to the ground. With the built-in spirit level you can achieve precise and level photos with ease, aided by the secure quick-action leg locks, central column brake and rubber feet.

This deluxe massage chair comes with an automatic body scanning function and an individually adjustable full-body massage with 4-head massage system.

This makes it perfect for relaxing on, at the end of a hard day at work. Massage programs can be configured individually to suit your specific needs and target your areas of concern. Shiatsu, tapping, kneading, rolling, spot and partial massages are just some of the different types the chair offers.

RO1,000

RO45 Seen at Emax, Muscat City Centre

TW48 WEEK 24.indb 9

6/8/13 3:31 PM

ESSENTIAL

10

WEEK 24, june 13 - 19, 2013

All-you-need

MUSIC

Daft Punk targets your summer

The scoop of this week’s must-have apps, games and more app in depth

Spotify Platform: Windows, Apple

Price: Free Rating:

S

potify arrived on iPhone last September and very quickly became a ‘Marmite app’, in that music lovers either loved it or hated it. Most of the haters didn’t like the app for the simple reason that to access both your personal Spotify playlist and the service’s immense jukebox of over four million tunes ‘in the cloud’ via your iPhone, you have to be a Spotify Premium member.

Which costs USD15 (RO6) a month subscription fee.

One of the coolest features of Spotify on iPhone is the option to stream music immediately via 3G, which works remarkably well most of the time, with little drop-off in audio quality. And as with the desktop client you can search for tunes via artist, title, album, genre, label or year. Finally, you can even play up to 3,333 tunes offline where you have no WiFi or 3G connections.

Daft Punk is an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. They reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France.

Random Access Memories: Daft Punk worked on their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories in collaboration with singer-songwriter Paul Williams and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers.

The radio edit of ‘Get Lucky’ was released as a digital download single on April 19, 2013 and became Daft Punk’s first UK number one single on April 28, 2013 remaining at number one for four weeks and the Spotify music streaming website reported that the song is the most-streamed new song in the service’s history.

Daft Punk are noted for their use of visual components associated with their musical productions.

eBOOKS

DVD RELEASES

The New Digital Age

Les Miserables (2012)

Eric Schmidt; Jared Cohen

Music/Performing Arts

GAME RELEASES

On wearing chrome helmets: “We don’t believe in the star system. We want the focus to be on the music. If we have to create an image, it must be an artificial image.

That combination hides our physicality and also shows our view of the star system” Bangalter

The Swapper PC, Action

USD27, ebooks.com

Get the album: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey (2012)

The Facebook Effect David Kirkpatrick

Fantasy

USD16, ebooks.com

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

PC and X360, Role-playing

Daftpunk.com

USD12 (RO5), iTunes

Smart Homes for Dummies Danny Briere; Hurley USD25, ebooks.com

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Warm Bodies (2013) Horror/occult

Metro: Last Light (Limited Edition) PS3, PC and X360, Action

6/8/13 3:32 PM

dashboard TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Ego Massage

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owered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine supplying it with 600hp, the Lamborghini Egoista is an intentionally extreme and unusual vehicle with absolutely unique characteristics, created by the Volkswagen Group design team – Alessandro Dambrosio on the exterior and Stefan Sielaff on the interior. The cockpit, designed like a tailor-made suit for the driver, is a removable section that, once combined with the rest of the vehicle, creates a perfect technical, mechanical and aerodynamic unit. Inspiration, as per Lamborghini tradition, once again comes from the world of aviation, and in particular the Apache helicopter, where the cockpit can be ejected in an emergency.

ESSENTIALS + DASH 48.indd 11

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It represents hedonism taken to the extreme; it is a car without compromises.

Meant for just one person, it is the epitome of egoism

Two fundamental aspects characterise the exterior: its architecture, and the materials used.

The design is determined by a highly muscular structure, in which empty and solid areas fit together with strength and vigor. The bodywork is dominated, on its sides, by the stylized profile of a bull preparing to charge, its horns lowered.

The cockpit’s interior is extremely rational, its functionality taken to the extreme. There is a racing seat with a four-point seatbelt, each strip a different color, the airbags, and the minimalistic instruments.

The focal point of these is a headup display, typical of jet fighters.

To get out of the vehicle, the driver must remove the steering wheel

and rest it on the dashboard, open the dome with an electronic command, stand up in their seat, sit down on a precise point of the left-hand bodywork, then swivel their legs 180 degrees from the inside of the cockpit to the outside

of the vehicle. At this point they can set their feet down and stand up. Even in getting out of the vehicle, the Lamborghini Egoista requires a pilot more than a driver, a real top gun.

6/9/13 10:35 AM

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wish list WEEK 24, june 13 - 19, 2013

Luxury at its best

These over the top gadgets are for the rich or those who are happy drooling from a distance QLOCKTWO QLOCKTWO is a clock that tells time in words.

It has a quadratic matrix of letters, where some of the letters are illuminated. The time is displayed as text in five minute intervals.

If you need to have a more exact time, look in the corner at the illuminated dots.

QLOCKTWO has a brightness sensor; with its help the illuminating power of the letters is automatically adjusted.

Price: USD1100 (RO567+S&H), biegertfunk.com

Ferrari F1 Wheel Integral T500 PS3

Kohler Numi Toilet The Numi toilet combines unmatched design, technology and engineering to bring the finest in personal comfort and cleansing. The Numi toilet marks a new standard of excellence in the bathroom.

The toilet features a built-in music system, ambient lighting, touchscreen remote, motion-activated lid and seat, retracting bidet, air dryer, air deodorizer, heated seat, floor vents to keep your feet warm and customisable options for every family member in your home.

Price: USD6400 (RO3300+S&H), kohler.com

Vertu Constellation smartphone This flamboyant phone looks stunning with a red gold exterior with a layer of sapphire crystal to protect the 3.5-inch highdefinition screen. It is a complete touchscreen with a Swype keyboard and 8 megapixel camera and comes with a high-end 24/7 Concierge Live application that helps get secure exclusive access to clubs, arrange travel trips, order expensive wine and also get in touch with a security specialist. You can pick the device in vivid colours like raspberry and tangerine, to name a few.

This gadget is an original size replica of the Ferrari 150th Italy all-metal racing wheel and pedal block.

It is the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 Wheel Integral T500, PC and PS3 compatible and an absolute must have for all racing game enthusiasts.

The racing wheel is even more realistic thanks to its rubber hand grips, it has a F1 style screen-printed metal push and pull gear stick.

Price: USD648 (RO334+S&H), ferrari.com

Price: USD38,000 (RO19,592+S&H), vertu.com To order these gadgets, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

spacetech

Iris to the sun

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he U.S. space agency is launching a new mission tasked with getting a better understanding of the sun’s ultraviolet emissions and their impact on Earth. Despite Earthlings depending on the sun for survival, there’s a lot that scientists still don’t know about our solar system’s star.

NASA is looking to change this.

The U.S. space agency is launching a solar satellite called the Interface

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Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) on June 26 to get a closer look at the sun’s lower atmosphere. This part of the atmosphere is important because it is where most of the sun’s ultraviolet emissions are generated, which are known to impact Earth’s climate and the near-Earth space environment, according to NASA. “IRIS data will fill a crucial gap in our understanding

NASA is all set to launch a new solar satellite to gather images of the Sun

of the solar interface region [lower atmosphere] upon joining our fleet of heliophysics spacecraft,” NASA IRIS program scientist Jeffrey Newmark said. “For the first time we will have the necessary observations for understanding how energy is delivered to the million-degree outer solar corona and how the base of the solar wind is driven.”

For NASA, the goal of IRIS is to see how solar material in the lower atmosphere moves, gets energy and heats up. This type of information can help scientists better understand the sun’s effect on Earth and the entire solar system. IRIS will be put in orbit around Earth for two years, circling the planet at a range of 390 miles to 420 miles above the surface.

6/8/13 3:33 PM

PHOTOGRAPHY TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

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Instagrammers alert The Canon PowerShot N digital compact camera sports an innovative symmetrical design

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he Canon PowerShot N is digital compact camera with a difference.

Its symmetrical square shape means that it’s designed to be used either left or right-handed with exactly the same experience. There’s no shutter button on the top edge - instead you use the ring that surrounds the lens to take a picture. We’re not convinced that there’s really a need for ‘left-handed’ cameras, but the PowerShot N is certainly compelling.

Aesthetics

Under the chassis, you’ll find a 12.1MP sensor, a DIGIC 5 processor and an x8 optical zoom. The PowerShot N also features a creative mode that takes six shots at a time, automatically applying an arty filter to five and keeping the original in tact.

affair. It’s not quite as tiny as the Nikon Coolpix S01, or as ultraslim as the Panasonic XS1 but it’s still comparable to the likes of the Canon Ixus 510 when it comes to truly diminutive compacts.

Screen

The 2.8-inch LCD screen isn’t a bad size for a compact, as it takes up most of the back of the camera, just leaving room for a small bezel. And with resolution of around 461,000 dots, it’s no slouch on detail and copes pretty well in bright light.

The PowerShot includes built-in Wi-Fi, accessed by a single button on the side that isn’t quite as slick as the Android-toting Samsung Galaxy Camera.

The fact that it also packs WiFi connectivity means that the snapper is clearly aimed at Instagrammers and all those that post pictures of their dinner, cats and other miscellaneous tedium on Facebook at every opportunity.

Verdict The Canon PowerShot N is a nice idea and it’s great to see one of the big camera brands doing something a bit different. We like the overall design and the pint-sized dimensions, and the creative mode is a nice touch.

The main advantage the PowerShot has over a phone is the optical zoom. It’s a fun little compact, but the slight lack of manual options and the oddly unintuitive shutter button make the price tag too high.

The metal body weighs in at 195g and measures 78.6x60.2x29.3 mm, so this is definitely a pocked-sized

Moviezone

Man of Steel For 75 years, Superman has been an international icon and he is back

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rom Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes ‘Man of Steel,’ starring Henry Cavill (‘Immortals, TV’s The Tudors) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen).

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

The film also stars four-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams (The Master, Enchanted) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane and Oscar nominee Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar nominee Diane Lane (Unfaithful) and Academy Award winner Kevin Costner (Dances with wolves). Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving

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Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue (upcoming The Seventh Son).

Since the 1930s when we were first introduced to the character that would become the most treasured superhero, the storyline has been altered and updated many times. He is constantly changing himself so that every generation has a different version of Superman, making him always relevant. The man of steel always comes back swinging, bigger and better every time. We, for one can not wait for June, 13th to roll around and land the latest Superman remake in the Capital.

Director: Zack Snyder Genre: Action, adventure and fantasy Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon

6/8/13 3:33 PM

GAMING

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WEEK 24, june 13 - 19, 2013

An incredibly charming and immersive game for science fictions fans

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et on Mars a century after a great uprising, Mars: War Logs puts you in the shoes of escaped prisoner Roy Temperance who finds himself in the midst of a battle for water between various factions.

The first third of the game revolves around planning your prison escape with Innocence Smith, a young army recruit who also serves as the narrator and your partner AI. During its early hours the game feels much like Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. You run around the refugee camp gathering supplies and recruiting help for the escape while familiarizing yourself with the combat and the game’s lore. The story itself won’t win any awards for originality but the setting and characters are intriguing enough to carry the narrative throughout.

On the surface, Mars: War Logs is an RPG brawler but simple button mashing doesn’t get you anywhere. Observing the enemy’s body language is the key to figuring out how to react properly.

There are basic attacks, dodge/parry manoeuvres and a command wheel that pauses the action and lets you assign further skills to the shoulder buttons. Guns and necromancy can

be used for ranged attacks but most battles encourage the use of modified clubs and batons.

The game is excruciatingly tough at times. Regardless of the upgrades, there is an underpowered feeling when approaching a group of enemies and most encounters take several tries before coming out victorious.

Where the game stumbles in the gameplay department, it makes up in its art direction. The sepia covered environments are crammed with detail and each block radiates with personality. For a budget title, the visuals are impressive and it’s nice to see so much effort went into crafting a believable world rich in aesthetic extravagance. Roy and the supporting cast are equality well presented but the same can’t be said for the rest of the characters.

Mars: War Logs is a worthwhile, at times even excellent science fiction venture. It may not have the polish, finesse or narrative complexity of Bioware’s Mass Effect series but the developer’s ambition is undeniable and commendable.

Publisher: Focus HomeInteractive Genre: RPG Developer: Spiders Platforms: PSN, PC, Xbox Live Arcade ESRB Rating: Mature Score: Plot...........................8/10 Gameplay .......... 7/10 Visuals...................8/10 Overall............................ 8

WEBZONE www.oddee.com

An entertaining oddity

The new portal to the Weird Wide Web

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ddee, a U.S. registered trademark, is an entertainment blog on oddities that attracts 3.7 million unique visitors each month. It focuses on the odd, bizarre and strange things of our world. Its daily articles and sections explore broad subjects such as science to advertising and technology, to name just a few. Its vast subject matter and their random oddness means that amazingly over 12 million pages are read at Oddee every month.

The site was selected by PC Magazine among its Top 100 websites,

by UK’s newspaper The Guardian as one of the100 essential websites and picked by AsiaOne and Boston.com as a top reference for fun online. It’s one of most influential blogs in entertainment which is why more than 420,000 webpages around the world link to Oddee’s articles!

Popular articles this week included ‘9 people who literally got away with murder’, ‘8 most amazing tiny homes’ and ’10 weirdest reasons to be kicked off an airplane’.

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6/8/13 3:34 PM

audiozone TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

)))))

Alluring sound

Sony MDR-XB910

We see if Sony is looking to lure a few patients away from Dr. Dre’s surgery

The XB910s are big, plastic and very shiny. Not being made of brushed aluminium they lack a little bit of premium feel, but they are nicely put together with a good combination of matte and polished surfaces and all the hinges make reassuring clunks and clicks.

At 305g they’re not the lightest, but when you consider their bulk they don’t feel cumbersome or unbalanced. It also has flat,

USD242(RO124+S&H)

)))))

T

here’s certainly no shortage of dance orientated headphones to choose from and so the Sony XB910s have their work cut out against the likes of the Beats Executive, the AiAiAi Capital, Onkyo ES-HF300 and Urbanears Zinken, which all continue to impress. But with huge 50mm drivers and no-holds-barred design we think Sony might have a winning formula on its hands.

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tangle-resistant cables lock securely in place. With big memory foam ear pads the XB910s feel great. The large surface area seals in the sound and does a surprisingly good job of reducing ambient noise without feeling like your head’s in a vice. Play anything gentle, acoustic or generally midfrequency and prepare to be disappointed, but turn them up and enjoy.

At USD242 the Sony MDRXB910 is a premium product with both barrels aimed squarely at Beats by Dr Dre. With its superior 50mm driver, excellent noise isolating ear pads and look-at-me silver styling if you want a thumping nightclub inside your head you’ll not be disappointed, but don’t expect anything in the way of sonic subtlety.

To order, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

Enter to win two Panasonic portable chargers.

Please send in your entries by June 10

TW48

Fax: 24693569 / Email: quiz@deenarmedia.com

1 1. File, Edit and View are common options in what kind of interface element?

files, programs and folders called?

A

Toolbar

A

Icons

B

Menu bar

B

Widgets

C

Task bar

C

Placeholders

3 What are the small images that represent TW46 Winners:

2 What are the small images that represent

larger images or video files called?

4 Which of the following is another name for a folder?

1. Jalpa Gajaria

A

Thumbnails

A

Box

2. Dharmkrit Bhagat

B

Microns

B

Container

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

C

Minis

C

Directory

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.

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

6/8/13 3:34 PM

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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6/8/13 3:34 PM