TW, Issue 55, Week 31, August

WEEK 31, AUGUST 1 - 7, 2013

AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION

OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID

TECH@DEEN ARMEDIA .COM

APPS, essential, Tech Selection, games and more...

robust edition

Samsung s4 active: waterproof beauty

Visual wonder olympus VR 360 brings powerful functions

chevy sense Chevrolet’s new impala: made to impress

Compact kick

The HTC One Mini with its sleek dimensions, packs good power in a manageable size

FRONT COVER 55.indd 1

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Issue

55

Home Sc reen

Haswell roadmap Produced by

Intel Haswell chips have been able to double the battery life of the newly launched MacBook Air, so the chipmaker is moving on to releasing a version for fanless tablets and convertible laptops.

Deenar Press and Publishing LLC

So has Intel succeeded again? Where Intel has failed us, those failures are entirely intentional. Where it has succeeded, it reflects Intel’s current and likely future priorities. To put it simply, Intel’s consumer-level processors have been all about mobility right back to those first Core processors in 2006.

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 quiet state of fanless slates will be achieved through a 4.5W Haswell variant scheduled to be available “in the coming months,” according to Intel. Eliminating the hum of noisy fans during intensive processing is just one benefit to a 4.5W Haswell chip.

The world’s number one semiconductor company is also aiming to fit the new

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power-efficient processor into thinner devices without sacrificing CPU performance. Intel’s 6W Haswell CPUs, announced at Computex 2013, are also being used for detachable and convertible hardware, but are more intensive and therefore will require fans for cooling.

Intel wouldn’t disclose a release date for its first Haswell 4.5W chips, noting that the parts will be on the market later this year in limited volumes. The company has also held off revealing the processor’s specs and which manufacturers will be coming out with the most energyefficient Haswell-equipped tablets to date.

Be that as it may, HP has previous expressed interest in being one of the first device makers out the door with a fanless tablet using Haswell architecture.

The 4th generation Core processors would require some clever design, and making them 4.5W so that they don’t need fan cooling should do the trick.

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4

NEWS WEEK 31, august 1 - 7, 2013

Royal baby domains

Domains were snapped up almost from the moment Prince George was born. Within moments of the baby’s name being announced, domains such as GeorgeAlexanderLouis.com and princegeorgecambridge.co.uk were taken.

Purchases of domain names mentioning the name ‘George’ rose by 106.9 per cent, reseller Names.co.uk said.

One buyer of a royal baby-related domain has put it up for sale at £10,000.

The owner, Matt James, snapped up hrhprincegeorgecambridge.co.uk on July 24, the day of the naming announcement.

Elite hacker dies

Between July 22 and 25, Names.co.uk noted 413 individual domains that contained one or more of the words Royal, Baby, HRH, Prince, George, Alexander and or Louis.

Barnaby Jack rose to fame after he demonstrated how to hack a cash machine. He died on Thursday, July 25, the city’s medical examiner’s office told Reuters, but did not give more details.

Opportunistic buyers were busy snapping up royal baby-related names well before the prince was even born. Even the less-thanappealing name royalfoetus.com was bought in December last year.

Google launches low-cost TV dongle

Sony confirms Gran Turismo film

Google has announced a low-cost competitor to Apple TV - a ‘dongle’ device called Chromecast. The dongle is plugged into a television’s HDMI port, and allows users to stream media from smartphones, tablets and computers.

Launching immediately in the US, the device will cost USD35 (RO13). There is as yet no word on international launches. Google also announced an upgraded Nexus 7 tablet, the first to run the new version of the Android system.

Chromecast is Google’s latest attempt to gain ground in the television industry.

In 2012, Google faltered in its attempts to make a move into the living room, considered by many experts to be ripe ground for making large profits through advertising.

The dongle plugs into a television’s HDMI port, and uses wireless home internet to link to devices. However, unlike other similar devices, such as Apple TV, the media is streamed from the cloud, rather than from the mobile device itself.

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He had been due to give a presentation into medical device vulnerabilities at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas taking place next week. He had said one technique could kill a man from 30 feet (nine metres) away.

IOActive, the security firm at which Mr Jack was director of embedded devices, said it was preparing a statement. In a tweet, the company said: “Lost but never forgotten our beloved pirate, Barnaby Jack has passed.”

His sister Amberleigh Jack, who lives in New Zealand, told Reuters news agency he was 35. Mr Jack became one of the most famous hackers on the planet after a 2010 demonstration in which he hacked a cashpoint, making it give out money. The technique was dubbed “Jackpotting.”

Tumblr tags blocked Sony has confirmed that a film based on the Gran Turismo PlayStation game is in development. The company said it could not provide any further details about the movie or when it would be made.

The Social Network and Fifty Shades of Grey producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti have been linked to the project. Gran Turismo is one of Sony’s most popular franchises, selling 70 million copies worldwide.

The newest game in the series, Gran Turismo 6, is expected to be released later this year. Sony executives Elizabeth

Cantillon, DeVon Franklin and Hannah Minghella will oversee the project, according to Hollywood news site The Wrap. An adaptation of the long running Need for Speed franchise is due to be released early in 2014. The DreamWorks production will feature Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and British actor Dominic Cooper.

There have also been several video game releases based on the Fast and Furious films. Gran Turismo was first released in 1997 and versions of the game have been developed for all Sony PlayStation consoles since.

Tumblr says a ban on certain obscene search terms was introduced “to adhere to the requirements of particular app environments.” The microblogging site began blocking words on iOS platforms earlier this month.

Chief executive David Karp said some tags were allowing adult material through, which meant the app “was close to being banned” in some stores.

Tumblr said “more intelligent filtering” would solve the problem. There have been complaints from users over the move, including more than one online petition.

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Cameras

5

TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Wider view Keep everything as simple as possible and take pictures without any hassle

T

he VR-360 is a compact digital camera featuring a slim 12.5x optical zoom lens covering a focal range from wide-angle 24mm to 300mm telephoto. Despite its extraordinarily compact size, a powerful array of basic functions, including a 16-megapixel CCD sensor and the HD movie recording function, make it effective in various situations from daily life to special events.

Easy-carry design A 12.5x optical zoom lens in a slim and easy-to-carry compact body. Featuring

an ergonomic grip that fits comfortably in the hand and high-performance DUAL IS image stabilization that eliminates anxiety from telephoto shooting and enables high-definition reproduction of even facial expressions of people at a long distance.

High image quality The 16-megapixel CCD sensor and the HD movie recording function make possible recording of both still photos and movies in high image quality. The recorded images can be reproduced clearly on a 3.0-inch, 460K-dot highdefinition LCD panel.

Preserve your memories With iAUTO to determine the optimum camera mode, Beauty mode to enhance skin tones for smoother, more beautiful, rendering and a builtin Camera Guide to help you create the image you want, just aim at your subject and let the camera do the rest.

The recorded pictures can be output to a large-screen TV via an HDMI cable.

tech radar Samsung Galaxy NX camera

Olympus VR 360 RO40, available at Photocentre, Qurum, 24565305 • Effective mega pixels: 16M

• Digital zoom: 50x

• Removable memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC Card

• Size: 3.0-Inch • Image stabilizer: CCD Sift

• Internal memory: 34.9MB

• Battery: LI-ion rechargeable battery LI-50B

• Lens focal length: 24-300mm

• Dimensions:104x60x28mm • Weight: 172g

• Optical zoom: 12.5x

Gadgets worth keeping an eye on

Swatch Scuba Libre

Price: TBA

Price: Approx. USD90 (RO35)

Galaxy NX, is the first 4G LTE Connected Compact System (CSC) and the world’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, running on the Android operating system. Versatile and easy to use, it combines cutting edge optical performance with connectivity capabilities and a galaxy of applications based on the Android eco-system, all-in-one package. The result is a new type of connected device that allows users to turn their experiences into a story that can be instantly shared with anyone they choose.

Swatch surfaces with a new look on life and a fun assortment of brightly coloured models with an aquatic theme: it’s not just for divers, it’s for the rest of us too. In keeping with Swatch tradition, all the pieces are cased in plastic and powered by quartz movements. The case is merely 43mm wide, despite appearing to be bigger than that.

With a 200m depth rating, the watch is perfect for all your seaside activities.

NVIDIA ShadowPlay

VTech InnoTab 3 tablet

NVIDIA has recently announced the launch of this brilliant software that allows gamers to constantly have a screen recorder visible, thus ensuring that they never miss out on those combos or bragging rights. It has been designed to function in the background and uses the H.264 encoder built into every Kepler GPU crested by NVIDIA to auto-record your last 20 minutes of gameplay.

The InnoTab 3 is a kid’s first learning tablet with WiFi that delivers a powerful punch, in a compact size and at an affordable price, making it a great first learning tech toy.

InnoTab 3 introduces children to a world of age-appropriate educational content on VTech’s comprehensive app store, the Learning Lodge, where they can explore hundreds of games, e-books, videos, music and more.

Price: Approx. USD650 (RO250)

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Price: Approx. USD70 (RO27)

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SMARTPHONES

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WEEK 31, AUGUST 1 - 7, 2013

Spirited smartphone Like the standard SG S4, the S4 Active packs a 5-inch, Full HD display and a ridiculously powerful quad-core chip. Better yet, it’s fully waterproof

• Dimensions: 139.7x71.3x9.1mm

T

• Weight: 153 g

he spec list of the S4 Active reads like the resume of a nerd. A 5-inch, Full HD screen, a blisteringly powerful quadcore processor, a 13-megapixel camera and 2GB of RAM are among its key attributes.

It shares those same specs, but comes with a fully waterproof body, protecting it from the elements. If you’re careless with your phone, or live on a boat, it could be the phone for you.

• Water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes • Display: 5-inch, TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours, multi-touch, 1080x1920ppixels Corning Gorilla Glass 2

If you have ever had that moment of absolute panic when your phone accidentally falls in your drink or down the toilet, While most smart phones will die off with even a hint of moisture, the S4 Active is fully submersible to a depth of one metre for up to half an hour.

• Memory: Card slot, microSD, up to 64 GB • Internal: 16GB (11.2 GB user available), 2 GB RAM

Like the standard S4, it has a 5-inch Full HD display and a ridiculously powerful quad-core processor. Whatever you want to throw at this phone, liquid, demanding software, it’ll handle it. The camera is only 8 rather than 13 megapixels, but it performs really well too.

• Camera: 8 MP, 3264x2448p, autofocus, LED flash, check quality

Processor and performance

Design and build quality

Compressed into the waterproof shell is a quad-core Qualcomm processor clocked at a weighty 1.9GHz processor.

That’s the same processor found in the standard S4, which gave the best results on benchmark tests.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active USD767 (RO295)

Storage Camera Packed into the back of the Active is an 8-megapixel camera. That’s a sizeable step down from the whopping 13 megapixels of the standard S4. Samsung has thrown in a whole heap of camera software too. As well as the standard HDR and panorama modes, it’s also lumped in the animated photo feature (allowing you to selectively animate a portion of a moving picture), Best Face (take multiple pictures of a group and select the best faces individually to merge into one shot) and plenty of others.

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The phone comes standard with 16GB of internal storage, around 9GB of which is usable.

Samsung got into hot water with the S4 as so much of its internal space is taken up with Samsung software. It promised an update, however, that will allow you to install apps directly to an external card.

The S4 Active brings its own robust styling to the S4 lineage. The glossy plastic back panel has been removed too, replaced instead with a matte grey panel with a subtle honeycomb effect. At the top and bottom are two rubber bumpers, with cool metal bolt heads at each corner. The waterproof design has come at the cost of size though. It’s marginally wider and longer than the standard S4, 1.2mm thicker and 23g heavier.

Display Like the standard S4, the Active has a 5-inch display with a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. That makes it perfectly poised to handle all the Full HD video from YouTube or Netflix you could want.

Conclusion The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is fatter than its sibling and its screen doesn’t have the same eye-popping richness. It does, however, have a great camera, a Full HD resolution display and a powerful processor. The waterproofing is a brilliant addition, giving peace of mind when using your RO295 phone in the rain. IF you worry too much about the sleek appearance of your phone, we recommend you go for the S4.

7/29/13 11:40 AM

cover story

7

TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Mini contender Specs aren’t everything, but they’re still important. We’ve got everything you need to know about the HTC One Mini

HTC One

HTC One Mini

HTC One Mini Price: TBA • Dimensions: 5.2x2.5x0.36 inches • Operating System: Android 4.2.2 • Total Integrated Storage: 16GB • CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, Dual-Core • Processor Speed: 1.4 GHz • Screen: 4.3-inch, 1280 x 720 pixels, super LCD 2, 341 ppi

W

ith 5-inch, 6-inch and even 7-inch screened phones cropping up, high-end smart phones seem to be growing out of all proportion. But HTC has shrunk its flagship One smart phone, creating the HTC One Mini. It’s gone from 4.7 inches to a much more manageable 4.3 inches.

It still keeps the attractive, luxurious metal body and packs a 720p display

• Camera Resolution: 4MP rear, 1.6MP front-facing and dual-core processor, plus the same 4-megapixel camera.

It’ll be going head-to-head with Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Mini, which has similar specs, plastic S4 styling and a high price. HTC hasn’t confirmed its price yet, but fingers crossed it’s more competitive than Samsung’s.

Software, processor and camera

Design At 63mm wide and 132mm long, the One Mini is about 5mm slimmer and shorter than the standard One. That might not seem like much, but seems more comfortable to hold in one hand. It’s easy to see the family resemblance to its bigger brother. The Mini is still made from aluminium, which not only looks good, but also feels just as luxurious to hold as the full-size version does. The Mini will be available in the same black and silver colours the One was originally available in.

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• Video Camera Resolution: 1080p rear; 720p frontfacing

Display To match its smaller size, the screen’s resolution has seen a drop from Full HD down to 720p.

A smaller size, however, means it doesn’t need to cram in quite as many pixels to remain sharp. In fact, the Mini boasts 341 pixels per inch, which is a little over the iPhone 5’s 326ppi and kicks the proverbial out of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini’s 256ppi.

The One Mini will come running the latest version of Google’s Android operating system known as 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The full-sized One has only just received its update to this latest version, so it’s good to see the Mini will have it on board from launch. A dual-core rather than quad-core processor powers it.

Around the back you’ll find exactly the same 4-megapixel camera as on the One. While 4 megapixels might not seem a lot, especially compared to the whopping 13 megapixels of the Galaxy S4, overall, it gives better image quality.

Bottom line The HTC One Mini takes the sleek, metal design of the regular One and scales it down into a size that’s a little easier on your thumbs. Die-hard tech fans won’t approve of the dual-core chip or 720p screen, but it could be a smart option for those of you who’d happily sacrifice blistering speed for comfort and pocket space. Hopefully it will come with a mid-range price to match the mid-range specs.

7/29/13 11:40 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

RO280

RO258

RO200

RO195

RO265

5

15

10

iPhone 5

Blackberry Q10

Nokia Lumia 920

Sony Xperia ZL

Samsung Galaxy S4

iOS 6 upgradeable to iOS 6.1.4, Dual Core 1.3GHz, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, 3G, WiFi, 8MP camera, GPS, Apple A6 chipset

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

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

Android V4.2.2 OS, 1.3GHz Quad core, 512MB RAM, 13MP camera, 16GB storage up to 64GB, 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

RO210 15

RO250

RO270

RO315

Surface – Microsoft Windows

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

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

8-inch 1280x800 screen, Android 4.1.2 OS, Samsung Exynos 4 Quad Core 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 5MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, A-GPS

N

N

RO220

Asus PadFone 2

Sony Tab Z

iPad 4G

4.7-inch 1280x800 screen, Android 4.0 OS, 1.5Ghz Quad core, 32GB Storage, Bluetooth, 13MP primary and 1.2MP secondary camera, WiFi

10.1-inch 1200x1920 screen, Android 4.1.2 OS, 1.5GHz Quad Core, 16GB storage, WiFi, 2GB RAM, 8.1MP primary and 2.2MP camera

16GB, 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1.4GHZ Dual Core, 1GB RAM, 5MP primary camera, 1.2MP secondary camera, Apple A6X chipset, A-GPS, 1080p and 30 FPS HD video

Computers

RO600

RO935

Sony SVJ20215CAB

Apple Macbook Pro ME664

20-inch, Windows 8, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel Core i53317 1.7GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz, 500GB HDD, 4GB RAM, Shared graphics, WiFi

13.4-inch Retina display LED backlit, 2.4GHz Dual Core Intel i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, Intel HD graphics 4000, OS X, 720p FaceTime HD camera

100

RO400

RO580

RO576

Samsung XE700T1A

HP Spectre 13 2110

HP Envy 23 D120 EE

11.6-inch LED HD, Windows 7 HP, Intel CORE i5, shared graphics, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth

13.3-inch LED HD, Windows 8 Pro, Intel Core i7-3317u 2.4GHz, 6144MB DDR3SDRAM, 128GB Hard disk, webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth

23-inch touch-enabled diagonal full HD widescreen WLED, Windows 8, Intel Core i7-3770S 3.1 GHz, 8MB cache, 8GB RAM, 1TB storage, Intel H61 chipset, NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M Graphics

Compact cameras

RO130

RO280

Sony WX300

Canon G15

18.2MP, 20x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 1080p Full HD movie, 10FPS, WiFi, Exmor R CMOS sensor

12.1MP, 5x Optical zoom, 3-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, RAW format option

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RO170 Samsung Galaxy camera GC100 16MP, 21x optical zoom, 4.8-inch LCD touch screen, Full HD movie, Android, WiFi

RO150

N

RO45

Casio ZR700

Kodak FZ51

16.1MP, 18x optical zoom, 3-inch screen, Full HD movie, 25-mm wide angle-lens, High speed AF, CMOS sensor

16MP, 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, 22mm wide angled lens, 28-140mm focal length, 720pHD movie

7/29/13 11:41 AM

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 July 24, 2013.

Updated

Pro cameras

RO822

RO330

RO400

RO640

RO459

Canon 7D

Sony Alpha 58

Samsung NX20

Nikon D7100

Fujifilm XE-1

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

20.1MP, 5FPS, 2.7-inch LCD screen, 1080/30p MP4 video, up to 16000 ISO, Translucent Mirror Technology, Lock-on AF, SVGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF, 1.44-milliondot OLED electronic viewfinder, 18-55mm lens + telephoto lens

20MP, 8FPS, WiFi, 3-inch LCD screen. Full HD movie, 1855mm lens, Micro Four-Thirds/ Mirrorless, SD, SDHC, SDXC, 614,000 dots resolution

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

16MP X-Trans CMOS sensor, ISO 200-6400, 100-25600 expanded, 2.36M dot OLED electronic viewfinder, 18-55mm F2.8-4R, 2.8-inch 460k-dot LCD, built-in pop-up flash, Full HD movie, 2.5mm stereo microphone socket

Televisions

RO300 LG 42LM6200 42-inch LED 3D, 2MP Full HD, 4HDMI PC in/AV in, 2 USB port, DIVX HD, 400Hz True Motion, Intelligent sensor, Energy Saving, 2D to 3D converter

RO300 Samsung UA40EH6000 40-inch LED, 1920x1080 Resolution, 2MP Full HD, All share, Eco mode, 2 HDMI, 200Hz clear motion rate, USB Ports

RO850

N

RO115

RO950

Sony KDL60R550

Philips 32PFL3008

Samsung UA46ES8000

60-inch Dynamic Smart LED 3DTV, 1920x1080 Resolution, 2MP Full HD, Edge LED backlight, WiFi, 2 USB port, 4 HDMI input, Motionflow XR 240

32-inch Backlight LED TV, Full HD, USB movie playback, 2 HDMI, 100Hz Motion rate, Clear Sound

46-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

audio systems

N

RO80

RO211

RO90

RO59

RO64

LG HT806PM

Sony BDV E690

Philips HTS 3551

Polk Audio PSW110

Yamaha NS B500

5.1 Channel DVD home theatre system, 850Watts, DVD, CD, MP3, DivX playback, 1080P Full HD upscaling, Bass blast, USB port play

3D Blu-ray, 5.1 channel home theatre, DVD, CD, MP3, DIVX playback, 1000watts RMS, USB port play

Blu-ray home theatre, DVD, VCD, MP3. CD-R, DIVX playback, surround sound, 300watts RMS, HDMI input, USB port

32Hz-250Hz, High performance subwoofer, 100W Continuous Power, 200W Dynamic Power

2 way acoustic suspension speaker, Max input 120W

Accessories

RO66 Lexmark S605 Wireless Printer 4.3-inch LCD, Multifunctional, Printing and copying through WiFi network, Automatic twosided printing, Customisable widgets, Includes autoduplexer

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RO16 Nintendo Wii Zapper Gun shell peripheral for the Wii remote, Shoots bull’s eyes in target shooting mode, Can look and aim in all directions in defender mode, Aims anywhere in ranger mode

N

RO30

Belkin Tunebase Direct Answer calls hands free in your car, repositionable cradle for viewing maps and movies, charges iPhone and iPod

RO191

RO24

Beats Portable

Targus iPad case

iPod dock, portable, wireless, 2 channels, 20 watts RMS per channel

Protects and enhances, Durable material, High-end materials, Functional stand, Customisable viewing angles for comfort

7/29/13 11:41 AM

10

Headphones WEEK 31, august 1 - 7, 2013

Voguish headphones The Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear headphones take the excellent full-size Momentums and compress them into a more compact form

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eats by Dre headphones might be visible on at least one head, but that doesn’t mean they’re your only option for stylish sound on the move. The Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear headphones are essentially a slightly smaller version of the existing Momentums.

Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Price: Approx. USD260 (RO100) • Frequency response: 16-22000Hz • Sound pressure level: 110dB

Mixing stainless steel and real leather, the Momentum On-Ears provide a much more sophisticated aesthetic than their plastic-clad, bass-heavy Beats by Dre rivals. They’re small, lightweight and comfortable too. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones to suit your business-class lifestyle, the Momentums are a good choice.

• Contact pressure: 2.8N

Sound quality is excellent too. They deal well with most genres of music, but with a slight emphasis on bass, they’ll appeal most to rock and pop music fans. If ultimate clarity for folk, acoustic or classical music is your chief concern, look towards open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD700s.

• Load rating: 200mW

Fidelio M1. They have a similar sound characteristic, a more industrial style and cost roughly the same.

For on-the-go sophistication, the Momentums are excellent and, while far from a casual purchase, won’t force you to remortgage your house.

Alternatively, check out the Philips

The earcups are padded with something Sennheiser calls ‘Alcantara’ which apparently is used by luxury yacht upholsterers. If you’re not familiar with luxury yachts, just

• Ear coupling: Circumaural • Transducer principle: Dynamic, closed • Weight: 190g

imagine it’s suede and you’re pretty much spot on. It’s very soft and comfortable to wear for at least a couple of hours at a time.

They give a very satisfying all-round sound with a bit of a lean towards the bassier end. If you do intend to use the Momentums out and about,

bear in mind that they offer no active noise cancellation. With their stylish, sophisticated design, lightweight construction and good sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum OnEar headphones will definitely suit those of you looking for good onear headphones without the brash schoolboy aesthetics of Beats.

MovieS

The Smurfs 2 Directer: Raja Gosnell Producer: Jordan Kerner Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Jayma Mays, Katy Perry, Hank Azaria

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T

he Smurfs 2 is an upcoming 2013 American 3D family comedy film and a sequel to the 2011 film The Smurfs.

It is based on The Smurfs comic-book series created by the Belgian comics artist Peyo. It will be the second instalment of a projected trilogy, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Raja Gosnell, who helmed the first, with all the main cast returning, directs the film. New cast includes Christina Ricci and J. B. Smoove as members of the Naughties, and Brendan Gleeson as Patrick Winslow’s

The Smurfs show their love is true blue when Smurfette is kidnapped to Paris stepfather. The film is set for release on July 31, 2013. The third film is scheduled to release on July 24, 2015. This is Jonathan Winters’ final film after his death on April 11, 2013.

Gargamel, now a celebrity sorcerer, creates The Naughties (smurf-like creatures), hoping to harness magical Smurf essence. Using his new creation, he kidnaps Smurfette and takes her to Paris. Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity transport, using magical crystals, to the real world and seek their friends Patrick and Grace Winslow and their son, Blue to

help rescue Smurfette. On August 9, 2011, Sony Pictures Animation announced a sequel to be released on August 2, 2013, which was later rescheduled to July 31, 2013 (two years and two days after the release of its predecessor).

Director Raja Gosnell and producer Jordan Kerner will return.

Katy Perry confirmed at the 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards that she will reprise her role as Smurfette. Sony began working on the sequel in early 2011 with writers J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Jay Scherick and David Ronn.

7/29/13 11:42 AM

Spacetech TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Climb aboard

11

Boeing unveils CST-100 spacecraft interior in a bid to win NASA’s contract

B

oeing has officially unveiled the interior of its CST-100 commercial spacecraft. This marks the first public look at the inside of Boeing’s new crew capsule designed to take two astronauts into orbit. The official name for the capsule is the Crew Space Transportation-100.

Boeing believes that the new space capsule will be a cost-effective way to give the ability to put astronauts into orbit back to the United States. The capsule was specifically designed for low Earth orbit destinations such as the international space station. The first flight for the CST-100 is expected to occur in 2016.

If that flight is successful NASA could win a contract to take crew to and from the international space station. Boeing is competing against two other companies including SpaceX and Sierra Nevada to win a contract under NASA’s commercial crew development program. So far, NASA has awarded the three companies about USD900 million in contracts to design and build safe and costeffective spacecraft for LEO travel. NASA has provided seed money, resources and personnel to assist and test the spacecraft the three companies envision and create.

Boeing engineers ran tests on the communications, equipment and ergonomics, while NASA astronauts Serena Aunon and Randy Bresnik suited up to test its manoeuvrability, on Monday July 22.

The Boeing capsule’s interior features LED lighting and touchscreen technology.

wishlist

Tech fashion Irresistible gadgets for the ladies

Skin Renewing Laser

Beauty gadgets get the sci-fi treatment this year with the PaloVia Skin Renewing Laser.

The FDA-approved device sends short pulses of micro-fine laser light to skin’s sub-layers to renew tissue and collagen.

RO608 (+S&H)

RO247 (+S&H)

Dolce & Gabbana by Grado headphones

The Dolce & Gabbana team contains Grado’s top tier expertise and features its open-air technology that allows for clearer sound reproduction for both the high and low frequency bands. The D&G headphones are completely hand-made from a specific kind of precious mahogany wood, allowing for a unique sound signature. Also, in proper Dolce & Gabbana fashion, they give the wearer an effortlessly cool and hip look.

Sensoria Smart Sock Fitness Tracker

Designed to let you know when you’re running incorrectly, this is a new kind of wearable technology. The socks have the ability to track information from the number of steps, calories, speed, distance, how far and how fast you run, to even letting you know where you land on your feet, how you stride, how to reach your fitness goals and how to prevent injury.

Under crowfunding campaign

RO70,148 (+S&H)

Sugar Watch

A stylish solution for your random sweet tooth cravings, sugar watch is a true delight. Ladies have their choice of wearing the De Grisogono Sugar Watch in white diamonds, emeralds, orange sapphires or blue sapphires. Each version includes dozens of closed-set stones attached to the bottom and righthand side of the watch, along with diamonds on the case, dial, clasp and even the back of the watch.

To order these products, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

Headphone+Movies Space + TR 55.indd 11

7/29/13 12:03 PM

ESSENTIAL

12

WEEK 31, august 1 - 7, 2013

It’s showtime

MUSIC

We can’t stop

Music, releases and TV shows that will make your week interesting television

The Newsroom: Season two

Genre: Drama, Rating: Miley Cyrus’s new single from upcoming album has peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. Her first release after leaving Hollywood Records, with RCA Records, this will mark her fourth studio album.

Released on June 3, We Can’t Stop is a pop song that lyrically talks of a house party and incorporates R&B and dance styles. The song has become Cyrus’s highest charting song in the country, next only to Party in the USA and has already exceeded sales of one million.

It also topped the iTunes singles charts in 30 countries, including the United States, within merely ten hours of its release.

T

he Newsroom is an American television political drama series created and principally written

by Aaron Sorkin that premiered on HBO on June 24, 2012. The series chronicles the behind-the-scenes events at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) channel. It features an ensemble cast including Jeff Daniels as anchor Will McAvoy, who, together with his staff set out to put on a news show “in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements.” Other cast members include Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, and Sam Waterston.

Sorkin, who created the Emmy Award– winning political drama The West Wing, had reportedly been developing

a cable-news-centred TV drama since 2009. Sorkin did his research for the series by observing several real-world cable news programs first hand. He serves as executive producer, along with Scott Rudin and Alan Poul.

The reason The Newsroom has been talked about so passionately and ferociously isn’t because it is hateworthy, but rather because it is both really good and really bad, which is quite upsetting. The roller-coaster quality that defined the first season returns again in season two, which solidifies the point here: When Sorkin is good, he’s very good. When he’s not good, he’s really not good.

On the plus side this season, Sorkin and his writers have latched on to a season-long arc that gives the show some trajectory, where season one

GAME RELEASES

often felt like a soap box derby where there wasn’t any racing, just people lecturing you about things they figured out with the advantage of hindsight.

Season two appears stronger than last year, but this all comes with a limitation. That is, Newsroom is the show we’re getting from Sorkin even if it might not, for some of us, be quite the show we wanted.

It’s clear from the revamped opening credits and music that The Newsroom is going for change, perhaps taking to heart some of the most vocal criticisms. But the show you got last season is essentially the show you’ll get this season. Sorkin gives you the very good and the not very good. If that’s disappointing then perhaps accepting its limitations will be a less upsetting way to watch.

eBOOKS

DVD RELEASES

Mega Man 6

Unseen

Trance

PS3, 3DS

Thriller Karin Slaughter USD18

Thriller, mystery

Action, adventure

Happy, Happy, Happy

Cities in Motion 2

City-building simulation

ArmA Tactics Android

Close-combat strategy

TW55 WEEK 31.indb 12

Kiss of the Damned

Autobiography of Phil Robertson, the Duck Commander and Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, Mark Schlabach USD20

PC

Cyrus recently hired Larry Rudolph as her manager, who had previously worked with the likes of Britney Spears and shortly after, plans to release her fourth studio album were announced in the beginning of 2012. The album features production from various artists including Pharrell Williams and Hit-Boy. A Disney teen idol, Cyrus rose to stardom overnight with her portrayal of the hit character Hannah Montana in 2006. The success of the show allowed her to launch her own recording career several years later.

Daughter of the famous country singer, Billy Ray Cyrus, instant success wasn’t a new thing for the family. Since her debut, Cyrus has become one of the most successful artists to originate from Disney. Cyrus ranked number thirteen on Forbes’ 2010 Celebrity 100.

For the 2011 Guinness World Records, she was named the Most Charted Teenager following her 29th US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry. She has attained a total of six Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and had five RIAA certified albums by the age of 18.

Horror

Bad Monkey

Crime and comedy Carl Hiaasen USD20

The song was written by Cyrus, Mike Will Made It, Timothy Thomas, Theron Thomas, Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters, while production was handled

by Mike Will Made It. Diane Martel directed the video for the song that was released on June 19. The single and video received mixed reviews from critics, who had conflicting feelings towards it and were divided on Cyrus’ increasingly provocative image.

Welcome to the Punch

Action, thriller

Favourite single: Ashtrays and heartbreaks Get the single: We can’t stop USD1.3 (RO1) on iTunes.com

7/29/13 11:42 AM

dashboard TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

13

Agile as an Impala Chevrolet is getting ready to roll out an all-new Impala with improved comfort, styling and technology, hoping to change its retail-to-fleet ratio

T

he 2014 Impala brings a new aesthetic to Impala that honors the cues that have helped distinguish the classic nameplate for decades.

The Impala’s long, low proportion has a wind-swept profile that suggests motion, while the range of 18-20inch wheels is tailored to the body to provide that just right stance. At the front, low-profile projector-beam headlamps – or HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps on LTZ – sweep around the corners and frame a wide grille, while a power dome hood conveys performance.

Sculpted coves in the body sides add to the Impala’s design drama, with a signature cue in the rear fenders that acknowledges classic Impala designs. The long greenhouse area enhances the sleek look of the car while maintaining excellent visibility.

The 2014 Impala builds on Chevrolet’s signature dual-cockpit interior with greater attention to detail and upscale features – seen in everything from the wraparound flow of the instrument panel into the door panels and the available ambient lighting, to the soft feel of the materials and the premium appearance of the seats’ stitching.

It’s comfort and refinement are rooted in a stronger body structure, designed to foster a quieter passenger environment and a greater overall feeling of quality. The stiffer architecture also enabled engineers to tune the ride and handling more precisely, for a greater feeling of control and comfort. A comprehensive package of soundabsorbing, sound-suppressing and even active noise cancellation (on four-cylinder models) contributes to the 2014 Impala being Chevrolet’s quietest full-size sedan ever.

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The Impala offers a comprehensive suite of standard and available safety features. It employs advanced technologies – including radar – to help avoid crashes. Visual and audible alerts help drivers identify potential crash situations and even intervene when a crash threat appears more imminent.

Impala’s Ecotec 2.4L engine works with the eAssist system to provide electrical assist in certain conditions to help save fuel. It is estimated at 182 horsepower and is expected to achieve 35 mpg on the highway. The Ecotec 2.5L is part of a new family of four-cylinder engines developed with increased efficiency and greater refinement. It is estimated at 195 horsepower. Output for the 3.6L V6 is estimated at 303 horsepower. All of Impala’s engines are matched with six-speed automatic transmissions.

7/29/13 11:44 AM

14

GAMES WEEK 31, august 1 - 7, 2013

Speed, emotion and innovation wrap up the new and full 2013 MotoGP season

T

he brand new MotoGP13, reinvented by Milestone has all the original essential elements, mixed with an adrenalinefuelled experience. Enter the 2013 championship, through the eyes of a real MotoGP rider and play it all beautifully with genre-leading redesigned graphics.

You can play exciting recreations of actual events in multiplayer mode, in tune with the classic elements of MotoGP. Mixing in third and first person aspects is a feature guaranteed to keep fans glued to their seats. Try the exclusive IRTA Test or prove your ability in a Quick Race by experiencing the 2013 Worldwide Championship, one of the playing modes the game offers. Or in the newly revamped career mode, play in the shoes of the riders, running from the first to the final race of the season.

To make life a little easier for racing

Score Plot.................. 8/10 Gameplay..........9/10 Visuals..............7/10 Overall................... 8

newbies, Milestone has added a rewind feature, similar to Codemaster’s Dirt and Grid series, which comes in useful when you mess up near the end of a

race. For racing purists though, you can always turn the feature off in the options. For the most authentic bike racing experience, we suggest that you turn off the racing line, the driving aids and switching to your helmet cam.

Seeing through the eyes of your racer as you take corners tilted nearly ninety degrees downward while surrounded by tons of steel is an unprecedented feeling. There’s a life like and real sense of vulnerability, as you muscle your way through the pack and the barest mistake can result in you crashing.

the menu design looks like something a high school kid threw together. Things only start looking up when you’re on the track. Although the bikes are wonderfully crafted and the racer uniforms display amazing detail, the lack of polish and impressive imagery in the environment is a let down. Despite all these drawbacks, MotoGP 13 does after all succeed where it matters the most, the gameplay.

On the downside though, the game doesn’t make the most visually pleasing impression. The presentation has a sloppy feel to it, as if it were haphazardly slapped together. Races are introduced by awkward real-life videos that resemble a cheap cable reality show and

Publisher: PQube Genre: Racing Developer: Milestone Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS Vita ESRB Rating: Everyone

WEB www.cookingcomically.com

Just cook it

T

his odd little cooking corner in the internet is owned, operated and written by one single guy with a passion. He comes up with all the recipes, cooks them, photographs them, draws on them, shares them and even eats them himself and it isn’t necessarily in that order.

Although he is not a chef by profession or trained in the culinary arts, Tyler has a love

TW55 WEEK 31.indb 14

for cooking and believes that if you aren’t having fun while cooking, you’re doing it wrong.

His motive for making his website so graphic through his comics and pictures is because he thinks that recipes should be more representative of how fun cooking can actually be instead of just a block of text. 2AM Chilli and the Bananarama were two of the first recipe comics that he posted online and gained popularity from.

Food and humour makes an irresistible combination

7/29/13 11:44 AM

APPS TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Apps this week The Room

The five gaming apps you will get addicted to Rocket Bunnies HD Platforms: iOS, Android

(USD2)

Let your imagination take over and see yourself in a dark room, alone. The only source of light there is a small window, barely letting in any sunshine, making it impossible to see your surroundings. A lone spot of light is aimed at the curiously out of place safe in front of you.

You find yourself walking towards that safe; it looks heavy, anciently ornate and obviously locked. The whole situation seems more suspicious to you by each passing second and you just know that there is more happening than just meets the eye. You spot an envelope sitting on top the safe, looking out of place.

Unable to help yourself, you pick it up and open it, sliding out a letter. It is for you.

Welcome to The Room.

Have we piqued your curiosity yet? Created by Guildford-based art team Fireproof Studios, this genius of a puzzler game mixes stunning 3D graphics with a hair raising mystery.

You begin in a rendition of an escape-the-room game, but this time you are trying to break in the safe instead of escaping the room. The letter you discovered is by a mysterious

15

(USD1) Platforms: iOS, Android

Surveillant (Free) Platforms: iOS

scientist, who talks about a key to unimaginable power that he has sealed away in the safe. According to him, you are the only one clever enough to recover it and your only clue is an odd key left with the letter.

What then begins is a complex and multi layered journey into secrets, mysteries and puzzles. The safe is merely the first layer in the game. When you finally move past its defences and retrieve the box inside, it will just open up to reveal another, which in turn will lead to yet another box.

Our first impression of the game was that it is beautifully unique and spooky at the same time. The fresh and spot on 3D graphics are unsettlingly realistic, while the chilling background music is straight out of a thriller film. Digging deeper into the game, you are entranced by the impossible puzzles and the mysterious plot.

Glowfish HD (USD5) Platforms: iOS

Greedy Bankers vs The World

Reach and disarm the laser-armed CCTV camera before it burns you to dust, in this challenging game of cat and mouse

A game with surprising depth, it takes you on an interesting adventure underwater, in a very avatar-like world

Platforms: iOS

Working against the clock, drag gems together to make bigger objects of shiny goodness that explode into cold, hard cash when tapped

Platforms: iOS

Loss of memory, creepy narrative and an unsettling vibe gives this simple mapping/maze game much needed character

(USD2)

Infinight (Free)

Brain power though is not the only thing you need, a bit of luck and a whole lot of patience is also required to figure out the puzzles. Although the game is quite balanced when it comes to difficulty, there is nevertheless a threestep hint system for those that get a bit lost.

Your hero is a rabbit in a spaceship, orbiting the galaxy to rescue a group of his stranded rabbit brethren, amidst insanity and laughter

Enter to win two Panasonic portable chargers.

Please send in your entries by August 12

TW55

Fax: 24693569 / Email: quiz@deenarmedia.com

1 What function do the alt and F4 keys perform when pressed together?

to be safely ejected?

A

Restart

A

Mouse

B

Shutdown

B

Keyboard

C

Hibernate

C

USB

3 What do google, bing and yahoo have in TW53 Winners:

2 Which device from the following needs

common?

4 What are webcams used for?

1. Ankita Singh

A

They’re viruses

A

Video chat

2. Deepankar Pawar

B

They’re games

B

Programming

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

C

They’re search engines

C

Browsing

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.

Gaming+Web + APPS+QUIZ 55.indd 15

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

7/29/13 11:52 AM

16

tablets WEEK 31, august 1 - 7, 2013

Tab you’re it

With so much happening in the tablet world recently, the rumour mills are churning

Apple’s reincarnation While Apple’s iPad managed to win the Harris Poll’s brand of the year award, in the tablet category; it is still losing its hold on the market. However, rumours that Apple will be unveiling the iPad 5 along with the updated iPad Mini, make us think that perhaps the ship has not entirely sunk yet. Apple is looking at an even thinner design for the next iPad thanks to advanced screen technology, first introduced with the iPad mini, which is why the ‘GF2’ thin-film touchscreen technology will be making its way into the iPad 5 when it arrives later this year.

Sony’s jelly beans Sony recently announced that all the devices in the Xperia Z range will be getting the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z too is among them. Details on their blog are being provided on how to get it running on your unlocked Xperia Z devices. A video showing the Android 4.3 ASOP running on the Sony Xperia Tablet Z has also been released.

Samsung’s double dunk Rumours have been running amuck about Samsung having two high-end tablets in the works. The first one codenamed SM-P900 features a 12.2-inch display with a 2560x1600p resolution and is powered by the latest Exynos 5 Octa, most likely to be Exynos 5420 and a S-Pen. The second tablet (codenamed P600) is powered

by Snapdragon 800 with a 10-inch screen and the same resolution, with no word on the S-Pen for now. Whispers of Samsung and Google working on a Nexus 10 tablet have been heard by us all, which is why one of the above mentioned devices might be the upgraded Nexus 10.

Nokia’s big secret Google’s new baby The not-so-secret Nexus 7 tablet has been unveiled recently. The device hit the shelves on July 30 and was even available for preorder. It features a 7-inch display with 1920x1200p resolution, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage on-board, optional 4G LTE support, HDMI output, NFC and the ability to charge your device wirelessly, while running on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

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Rumours about a phablet in the works from Nokia have been circulating for a while now. A blurry image of what appeared to be a large-screened Nokia device was leaked, back in May. A latest leak, supposedly from a factory floor in China and conceptual photos tease us with a Nokia phablet, measuring at 6-inches and apparently already being mass-produced. Supporting a very thin bezel, it also features a slot for a front-facing camera.

7/29/13 11:45 AM