TW, Issue 56, Week 34, August

WEEK 34, AUGUST 22 - 28, 2013

AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION

OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID

TECH@DEEN ARMEDIA .COM

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

Tab facelift

Memo Pad HD 7: you’ll be happy to hold it

Suck it up

Neato Robotics: Next level cleaning machine

Deep Desire Cadillac is turning car design on its head

prime perfoRmer Fujifilm X100S: A versatile camera that produces beautiful pictures in low light

FRONT COVER 56.indd 1

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Widest range of home appliances

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Issue

56

Home Sc r een

Rule of two Produced by

The iPhone 5S is expected to keep the same dimensions as the iPhone 5, but there’s a slim chance that Apple may supersize its smartphone line with a 128GB option. A German retail chain, Media Markt, has put a placeholder for a 128GB version of the iPhone 5 into its inventory system, according to German Apple blog Macerkopf. The screenshot of the database listing doesn’t include a model number. Instead the inventory description contains a generic ‘xxxxxxxxx.’

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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 mystery 128GB iPhone 5 mention could also be intended for the forthcoming iPhone 5S, speculates Media Markt. That would make more sense. Apple has stuck to a pattern of doubling the iPhone storage capacity every two years. Currently, the iPhone 5 is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The same storage sizes were available for the iPhone 4S.

When the company introduced the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, the smartphones topped out at 32GB. The iPhone 3G and the original iPhone hit a memory ceiling at 16GB if you go all the way back to the beginning. Continuing with this pattern, that would mean the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 would have a maximum capacity of 128GB. That may not happen right away, as Apple waited until earlier this year to expand the iPad 4 line with a 128GB version. It could happen mid-cycle.

We’re likely to get our first chance at finding out whether or not Apple stays true to history and introduces a 128GB iPhone 5S on September 10.

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4

NEWS WEEK 34, august 22 - 28, 2013

Facebook to test mobile payment feature Facebook, is planning to test a new mobile payment feature. It will use payment details added by users to their Facebook account to automatically fill in forms when they make purchases on mobile applications.

Various companies have been looking to tap into mobile payments markets.

However, Facebook said the feature

would not involve moving the payment processing away from an app’s current service provider.

“This product is simply to test how we can help our app partners provide a simpler commerce experience,” Facebook’s spokeswoman Tera Randall said in a statement. She added that the firm has a “great relationship” with PayPal, one of the biggest processors of online payments.

Samsung Brazil violated labour laws Public prosecutors in Brazil have begun legal action against South Korean electronics giant Samsung, alleging that it has been violating labour laws at its factory in the Amazon region.

Prosecutors accuse the company of making its employees work long, tiring shifts without sufficient breaks.

The prosecutors’ office in the city of Manaus said one worker reported packing nearly 3,000 phones a day.

Samsung said it would take action “as soon as they are officially notified”. In a statement, the company said it would analyse the process and fully co-operate with the Brazilian authorities.

“We are committed to offering our collaborators around the world a work environment that ensures the highest standards when it comes to safety, health and well-being,” the statement said.

The plant, located at the Manaus

Dalai Lama’s Chinese website hacked The Chinese-language website of the Tibetan government-in-exile, whose spiritual head is the Dalai Lama, has been hacked and infected with viruses.

Experts at computer security company Kaspersky Lab warned that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) site had been compromised. It is believed the malicious software could be used to spy on visitors.

Technical evidence suggests the hackers carried out previous cyber-attacks on human rights groups in Asia. Tibet.net is the official website of the CTA, which is based in Dharamshala, northern India.

The organisation’s spiritual leader is the 14th Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed anti-Chinese uprising, and set up a government-in-exile. China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist threat.

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Free Trade zone, employs some 6,000 people. A worker at the Amazonas state factory has only 32 seconds to fully assemble a mobile phone and 65 seconds to put together a television set, prosecutors allege.

In evidence given to prosecutors, employees say shifts can last 15 hours

and some say they suffer from back ache and cramps as they are forced to stand for up to 10 hours a day. The prosecutors’ office is claiming more than 250m reais (USD108m) in damages from the company for serious violations of labour legislation. The legal suit was filed on Friday, but has only now been made public.

LG promotional stunt goes wrong Twenty people were injured, with seven sent to hospital, when a promotional stunt in Seoul for LG’s G2 smartphone went wrong, the company has said. LG has cancelled a series of events promoting the handset as a result of the incident in Seoul on Friday.

People arrived with BB guns and knives on sticks for a race to grab smartphone vouchers hanging from helium balloons. LG has taken responsibility for the situation and said it would cover related medical costs.

“LG Electronics deeply regrets that a number of Korean participants were injured during an outdoor promotional event in Seoul, Korea,” a statement from the firm said. “We can confirm that seven participants were hospitalised and, although none of the injuries were serious, LG takes full responsibility for the unfortunate situation and has offered to cover all related medical expenses.

“LG is investigating the incident to ensure that such an occurrence can be avoided in the future.” The company added that other planned events had been called off because of safety concerns.

North Korea makes home-grown smartphone North Korea says it has produced its first home-grown smartphone, but experts have disputed its origins. The Arirang handset, described as a “hand phone” in state media, was shown to leader Kim Jong-un during a factory tour.

The country has had a mobile network since 2008, but activity is heavily monitored and restricted. Last year the country launched a tablet, but it later emerged it was likely to have been made in China.

Martyn Williams, an expert on North Korean technology, who noted that parts of the tablet’s software code suggested links to a manufacturer in Hong Kong, uncovered clues to the tablet’s origin.

The Arirang smartphone, named after a popular folk song, was unlikely to have been made in the country, Mr Williams added. He noted that no actual manufacturing was shown, and that the device was “probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer and shipped to the

May 11 Factory where they are inspected before going on sale”.

The leader was accompanied by the Korean Workers’ Party propaganda

chief and the head of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a hint that the devices could be used for widespread dissemination of government information.

8/18/13 10:10 AM

Tech Radar TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Septechber rumours Our favourite smartphone giants are getting ready for some major unveiling

iPhone 5S/5C

A possible release date for the two highly anticipated Apple smartphones has come to light. September will be the month of Apple, with the 5S high end and 5C budget iPhone both possibly releasing on the 27. The handsets will be made official on September 18 at an Apple press event. 5S is expected to be designed similar to the iPhone 5, although it is rumoured to feature a faster processor, higher RAM and possibly LTE Advanced. The 5C, Apple’s budget smartphone will be available in a wide range of colours.

5

Technology morsels YouTube intentionally freezes view counts of popular new videos at 301 views, so that the views are legitimate and not by bots or people who leave after mere seconds.

Smoking near Apple computers voids the warranty due to health risks of second hand smoke; it is also mentioned in the AppleCare warranty.

LG G2

The LG G2 has a possible release date for September as well, while they plan to make the phone official at a press event. It will feature a sleek 5.2-inch LCD display and come with a full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and the device will feature touch controls on the back of the handset. a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a clock speed of 2.3GHz, plus 2GB of RAM and a 13MP camera.

Nokia Lumia 625

Designed to be a budget Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 625 is expected to launch in September too. The handset comes with a 4.7-inch WVGA display with an 800x480 pixel resolution. It features a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with a clock speed of 1.2GHz, plus 512MB of RAM and 8GB of built in storage, there is also a microSD card slot that can take up to 64GB cards.

Sony Xperia i1 Honami

Expected to come with the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the Sony Honami smart phone will be made official at Sony’s IFA press event and hit the stores in September. Its main feature will be the handset’s camera, rumoured to be the 20MP Sony Exmor RS sensor, plus a front facing 2 megapixel one. It will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a clock speed of 2.2GHz, 2GB of RAM and a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080p.

The Internet was originally called the ‘Galactic network’ in memos written by MIT’s J.C.R Licklider in 1962, while the World Wide Web was born in 1989 at CERN in Switzerland.

‘Rubber Duck Debugging’ is when programmers carry around a rubber duck and figure out how to debug systems by explaining the problem line-by-line to the duck.

70 per cent of virus writers actually work under a contract for different organisations, while 70,000 viruses are made and discovered in just one day.

The first ‘modern’ computer was built in 1941 by Konrad Zuse in World War two. Funding from the Germans was denied because they did not expect the war to last beyond Christmas.

Started by Aram Bartholl in 2010, project Dead Drops is a network of around 1,000 USB flash drives scattered around the world, devised as a public file sharing project.

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Cover story WEEK 34, AUGUST 22 - 28, 2013

Low light king The X100S is a great performer in low light. You’ll be anything but disappointed with the images that it captures

O

lympus was the first company to wow us with a retro design camera with its original digital PEN Micro Four Thirds body. But Fujifilm took the torch and ran with it when it announced the X100 in 2010. From a distance it looks a bit like the chrome Leica M camera, albeit with a few extra dials and a smaller footprint. A silver finish adorns the top plate, bottom plate, and lens, and black leatherette surrounds the body of the camera. It is a little heavy for its size but its great build quality compensates.

The lens is a 23mm f/2 design, which delivers the field of view of a 35mm lens in terms of full-frame photography. It’s a classic prime design that delivers a moderately wide-angle field of view. Rather than using a mode dial, the X100S takes a more classic approach to setting a shooting mode. The lens has a physical aperture ring with one-stop clicks from f/2 through f/16, as well as an A setting. The shutter speed dial, located on the top plate, allows you to set the shutter in one-stop increments from 1/4-second to 1/4,000-second, and also has an A setting.

Full manual shooting is also available. Just set your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture and go around shooting. There’s an EV indicator bar on the left of the rear LCD and visible in the optical finder as well; it lets you know if you are under or overexposed at current settings. A half-press of the shutter will also show you what the scene will look like when captured, assuming you are using the EVF or rear LCD at that time.

Any shift in exposure can be dialled in using the top-mounted exposure compensation dial. It ranges from -2 to +2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. There’s also a programmable Fn button on the top plate, to the right of the shutter release; by default it adjusts the current ISO setting. It can be set manually, or to auto; it’s also from here that you’ll be able to set the desired minimum shutter speed for auto ISO shooting. The default is 1/60, but you can set it to values ranging from 1/4 to 1/125-second. There are some additional controls on the rear of the camera.

There’s a jog switch at the top, pressing it left or

right will shift the aperture or shutter speed when shooting in program mode, but only if the ISO is set to a specific value. Pressing it in magnifies the live view frame, helpful for confirming focus. There’s also an AEL/AFL button, a button to select the active autofocus point, one to enable macro shooting, another to control the flash output, and a button for white balance control. These last four are at each point of a four-way controller/control wheel that is used to navigate through menus and to move the active autofocus point.

To the left of the LCD you’ll find controls to enter playback mode, change the metering pattern, select from continuous drive shooting options, and change between the rear LCD, eye-level finder, or activate an eye-sensor to make that changeover automatic; there’s also a control button to the right of the rear

LCD that changes how much information is overlaid over the optical finder and live view frame. Finally there’s the Q button, in the rear right corner. It brings up a menu that allows you to change most of the settings that we’ve just listed off, as well as some that relate to the JPG output.

The X100S is pretty speedy, directly addressing criticisms about the operation speed of its predecessor. It starts and grabs a shot in about 1.3 seconds and in good light can focus and fire in about 0.2-second. In low light, focus took an average of 0.9-second. Burst shooting is surprisingly fast.

Verdict

The Fujifilm X100S is an outstanding camera, but it’s not one that is going to appeal to casual snap shooters. Pros who don’t want to lug around a heavy D-SLR for personal shooting will appreciate its image quality and size, and rangefinder enthusiasts who can’t afford a digital Leica will be drawn to its design and bright optical viewfinder. Its autofocus system is quick, and it the fast lens and excellent high ISO performance will allow you to capture some seriously impressive images in low light. It’s not perfect; the edge-to-edge sharpness isn’t at par with the full-frame Sony RX1, and you’ll need to stop down the lens when grabbing a macro shot.

Street and travel photographers will love this camera. It also has a place in landscape, event and automotive photographers’ cases. The EFL 35mm lens is not ideal for standard portraiture but would be fine for environmental portraits. If you can live with the fixed lens, you could conceivably use this as your only camera and do well.

You can find more versatile cameras and cheaper cameras but you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler camera that delivered perfect jpegs without the need for post-processing and stellar image quality.

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cover story

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TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Competing cameras

These cameras are the Fujifilm X100S’s main spec-wise competitors

Ricoh GR Price: USD796 (RO306), techradar.com

Fujifilm X100S Price: RO499, available at Photocentre, 24565305 Dimensions: 737x127x53mm Type: Compact Megapixels: 16MP

We like the X100S enough but still don’t think it is a better camera than the Ricoh GR. The GR is truly compact, omitting a viewfinder so that it can fit into pockets that the X100S simply can’t, and features a 28mmequivalent lens with a slightly less ambitious f/2.8 aperture. The difference between 28mm and 35mm might not sound that big on paper, but in practice they deliver very different shooting experiences. If 28mm is your preferred focal length and you can live without a viewfinder, get the Ricoh.

But if that’s too wide of a field of view, or if you just need a camera with a real viewfinder, the X100S is the one to get.

Leica M Price: USD6,950 (RO2,676), pcmag.com

Sensor Type: X-Trans CMOS Sensor Size: 23.6x15.8 (APS-C) mm Media Format: Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Secure Digital Extended Capacity Battery Type Supported: Lithium Ion Maximum ISO: 25,600 35-mm Equivalent (Wide): 35mm LCD size: 2.8-inch screen LCD dots: 460,000 LCD Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Viewfinder Type: Hybrid EVF Resolution: 2,360,000dpi Video Resolution: 1080p Interface Ports: Proprietary, mini HDMI

The long-awaited replacement for the M9-P dropped the numbering scheme that has identified Leica rangefinders since the M3 was introduced in 1954, and while its design still takes many of its cues from earlier bodies, it’s a camera that is filled with 21st century digital technology. It’s a little slow to start up and fire off a shot, and the 1080p video is flawed by the rolling shutter effect. Despite a few flaws and foibles, the 24-megapixel M is the most refined digital camera that Leica has yet produced. It’s a huge step forward from the M9-P, and isn’t as much of a niche product as the excellent.

Olympus Pen E-P5 Price: USD1,450 (RO558), pcmag.com

Subtlety of design has always been one of the distinctions between the Olympus Pen series and other compact system cameras. In the case of the E-P5, Olympus has put its name centre stage as the shiny ‘Olympus Pen’ branding across the front of the camera attests. It’s like a badge of honour, a proud statement that only confident brands can deliver. This interchangeable lens camera comes complete with the same sensor as found in the much-applauded OM-D E-M5, introduces WiFi to the Pen series, while pro-spec features such as a 1/8000th sec maximum shutter speed give it extra pomp compared to much of the competition. But at USD1,450 for the kit option the Olympus Pen E-P5 sure is pricey.

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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

RO150

RO200

RO170

50

5

N

iPhone 5

Blackberry Q10

Nokia Lumia 920

Sony Xperia ZL

Samsung S4 Mini

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, Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait, 8MP primary and 1.9MP secondary camera, 8GB storage up to 64GB, 1.5GB RAM, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS

Tablets

RO210

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

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

RO320

RO935

Toshiba C850 B637

Apple Macbook Pro ME664

Samsung NP900X4C A04AE

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

15-inch LED HD, Windows 8, Intel Core i7 Processor 3517U 1.9GHz, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Ambient Light Sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth

N

15.6-inch, Windows 8, AMD Radeon HD 7610M Graphics, Intel Core i7-3630QM with turbo boost technology 2.0, 500GB HDD, 4GB RAM, 1MP HD Camera, WiFi

N

RO620

RO580

RO576

HP Spectre 13 2110

HP Envy 23 D120 EE

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

10

RO120

RO280

20

RO150

RO150

N

RO140

Sony WX300

Canon G15

Samsung GC100

Casio ZR700

Nikon AW110

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

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

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, 3-inch LCD, 28-140mm focal length, Full HD movie, ISO 1251600/3200, 8 FPS, CMOS sensor

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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 August 13 , 2013.

Updated

Pro cameras

RO822

RO330

RO400

20

RO620

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

RO215

RO950

Sony KDL60R550

Sony KLV40R452

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

40-inch Clear resolution enhancer backlight LED TV, Full HD, Motionflow XR 100, USB movie playback, 2 HDMI, Bravia syncing, Dolby digital sound master, FM radio, XrossMediaBar menu system

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

RO80

RO211

RO90

RO59

LG HT806PM

Sony BDV E690

Philips HTS 3551

Polk Audio PSW110

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

N

RO250

Paradigm Cinema 100CT 5 cinema 100 satellite speakers and 1 cinema sub, Satin-anodised pure aluminium bass/midrange cones, Wire mesh guard and waveguide technology

Accessories

RO55 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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N

My Book Essential USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectivity, 3x faster transfer, automatic and continuous backup software, drive utilities, password protection, shock tolerance

RO30 Belkin Tunebase Direct Answer calls hands free in your car, repositionable cradle for viewing maps and movies, charges iPhone and iPod

RO191 Beats Portable iPod dock, portable, wireless, 2 channels, 20 watts RMS per channel

N

RO15

Lava Glow Wireless Controller 2.4 GHz RF wireless technology, 5 internal glowing LEDs, Dual motor rumble, Custom analogue sticks and triggers

8/18/13 10:10 AM

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tablets WEEK 34, august 22 - 28, 2013

Splendid tablet With the Memo Pad HD 7, Asus has essentially taken the Nexus and given it a spit and polish

T

he 7-inch, 720p display and quad-core processor remains the same, but it now has a colourful back, a rear camera and expandable storage. It comes running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with some Asus additions, unlike the Nexus 7, which showcases vanilla versions of Google’s operating system. It’s going on sale on 1 September and will be available from Currys, PC World and

Dixons, for the ludicrously reasonable price of USD202 (RO78).

Design and build quality

OS: Android, 4.1.2 Jelly Bean

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to wrap your mitts around the Nexus 7, there will be absolutely no surprises with the Memo Pad. It’s 121mm wide, 197mm long and 10.8mm thick, which is basically the same dimensions as the Nexus 7. At 302g though, it’s almost 40g lighter. The Memo Pad is similarly comfy. Its plastic back panel is glossy however, rather than the matte, rubberised finish of the Nexus, making it a little slippier, but we doubt you’ll find that a problem.

Screen: 7-inch, 1,280x800-pixel resolution

Display

Memo Pad HD 7 Price: USD202 (RO78)

Processor: 1.2GHz quad-core

Size: 121x197x10.8mm Weight: 302g

The 7-inch screen packs a 1,280x800pixel resolution, which is the same number of pixels as the Nexus 7’s screen. We’re fairly certain, in fact, that it’s exactly the same panel Asus puts inside the Nexus. That’s not a bad decision as the Nexus’ screen is satisfyingly crisp and pretty bright, and so is this.

will have a similar snapper). Results from it were about what you would expect to see from a budget shooter.

Camera

Conclusion

Around the back is a 5-megapixel camera, something you won’t find on the Nexus 7 (although its new version

The Memo Pad HD 7 makes various improvements over the already excellent Nexus 7 by adding a camera

and expandable storage. Importantly, it’s cheaper than the original Nexus 7 too. While it doesn’t compete with the new Nexus in specs terms, it does knock a healthy chunk off the price, making it a super choice if you’re looking to make your first steps into the Android world.

home

Laser robot vacuum Every homeowner’s dream: a robot that cleans the house

N

eato Robotics takes vacuums to the next level, adding a laser to their little robot cleaner.

Pet owners and allergy sufferers will have a field day with this, as there are special tools designed for them that remove allergens from homes.

Where the robot vacuums of the past just wandered around your house sucking up everything in their path until they bumped into something, the laser allows the robot to make a map of your house, from the couch to the front door, so it knows what it’s already cleaned and what still needs to be done. And when it’s done, it returns to the home base through its little GPS.

Price: RO162 (+S&H) To order this product, email techtoys@ deenarmedia.com

Many vacuums these days are actually just sweepers as their low suction power is merely an add-on. Not the

Neat though, because at its core Neato is a centrifugal compression-impeller that uses jet engine airflow principles to create high-powered suction. Therefore picking up things like dirt, pet hair, dust, cereal and more like other regular vacuums is a breeze for it.It can clean large floor plans easily because it recharges its batteries automatically. So when low on power, the robot simply returns to base to recharge and then continues cleaning where it left off. The hassle of buying and throwing away disposable bags is greatly reduced with Neato, as all the dirt and debris is collected in the

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Neato’s top-loading dirt bin. So then one can simply empty the bin into your trash when it’s completely filled.

The vacuum gives you the convenience of setting a schedule to automatically clean according to that, so that you never even have to be in the way. Places in homes that don’t get cleaned very often because they’re out of reach can be programmed to clean as well. Since the robot is only four inches tall, it can get in almost anywhere. Good things really do come in small packages.

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dashboard TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

11

Almost a Mirage

Cadillac revealed the Elmiraj Concept, a grand coupe exploring new dimensions for Cadillac’s ongoing expansion The Elmiraj Concept showcases a new vision for luxury driving and the top of the brand’s expanding range. A modern update to the classic format of a two-door grand coupe, Elmiraj is a pure expression of streamlined design and engaging rearwheel drive performance.

At 5.2 m in overall length, Elmiraj is fourseat coupe with presence and poise. Taking up from where the memorable Ciel Concept left off, Elmiraj is a statement of pure luxury and performance with a purposeful character and proportion.

Elmiraj is powered by a 4.5-litre twin turbocharged V8 delivering an estimated 500 hp. The engine takes the baseline technology from the new Cadillac Twin Turbo V6 featured in the upcoming 420-hp 2014 CTS Vsport edition, and expands it to the classic performance format of a V8 engine.

Elmiraj contains design elements emphasising Cadillac’s capabilities for engaging driving performance in its production portfolio. Two vents in the car’s long hood are functional, acting as hot air outlets for the twin turbo engine. Elmiraj has 22x9” aluminum wheels are backed by large ceramic brakes with Cadillac monoblock calipers. The car’s rich blue exterior finish wears the brand’s Vsport

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designation, Cadillac’s new level slotting directly under the high-performance V-Series.

Backlit titanium trim curves from the cowl to the doors, dividing the rich upper camel leather from the wood trim. Cadillac Studio craftsmen handpicked fallen Brazilian Rosewood, a wood veneer prized for its use for hundreds of years in home furnishings and musical instruments. The wood is hand-cut into three dimensional sections for perfect control of the grain flow.

The 2+2 layout features high-performance seats, designed to support spirited driving while also delivering luxury accommodation.

Elmiraj passengers might actually lobby to sit in the back. The rear bucket seats each contain a valet feature to ease entry and exit. The front bucket seat slides ten inches forward while the rear bucket seat slides four inches forward to meet the passenger, then slides him or her back into position once seated. The rear bucket seats recline for additional comfort.

Designers at General Motors’ advanced design studio in North Hollywood, California, under the direction of Frank Saucedo, led the development of the car’s interior and exterior. Elmiraj was hand-built by in-house craftsmen in Michigan.

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ESSENTIAL WEEK 34, AUGUST 22 - 28, 2013

Music to your ears Summer songs that will make your week interesting music

A decade of summer jams – Part I There are a lot of things to look forward to as we enter the last month of summer. The merciless heat finally cooling down a little bit, schools reopening and perhaps finding out which song is crowned the song of summer 2013.

Over this past decade, an exclusive number of tracks have captured our hearts, dominated pop radio and earned the ‘Song Of The Summer’ honour for their respective year, courtesy of Billboard. In this issue we’re taking you back to look at the summers of the last decade in heat wave lists, divided over three issues. Stay tuned.

Beyonce feat. Jay-Z, Crazy In Love (2003)

Usher, Confessions Part II (2004)

The debut solo single by the former lead singer of Destiny’s Child and rapper, husband Jay-Z, peaked at the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks, won two Grammys, ranked number one on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s list and 118 on Rolling Stone’s 2010 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song also topped charts in over 12 countries and sold over eight million copies worldwide.

The sequel to Confessions Part I and released as the third song from Usher’s fourth album, Confessions, this single reached number one on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, becoming the album’s third consecutive number-one single and was nominated for Best R&B/Soul, Male at the 2005 Soul Train Music Awards.

GAMES Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Brave New World

Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland, Promiscuous (2006) An international success, this song from Furtado’s third studio album became her first number-one single in the USA and Canada. The song topped the chart in New Zealand, Australia and peaked within the top ten on many charts across Europe. It won ‘Best Pop Single of the Year’ at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards and received a nomination for the ‘Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals’ at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

DVDs War, suspense

Proof of Heaven A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife Eben Alexander USD16

Neverwinter PC Role-playing

Breaking dawn – part 2

Supernatural, fantasy, romance

The Long War Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS

Puzzle

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Science fiction Terry Pratchett, Stephen Baxter USD16

A good day to die hard

Action

Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, Umbrella (2007) Listed on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at 412, this song came out in Rihanna’s third studio album. Entertainment Weekly ranked the song number one on the 10 Best Singles of 2007, while Rolling Stone and Time listed the song at number three on the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

It won two awards at the MTV Video Music Awards and one Grammy, in addition to receiving several nominations. It topped charts in over eight countries while remaining at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100.

television

Sweet Dreams

Zero dark thirty

Drama, family Neil Gaiman USD16

Strategy

Dubbed as her musical comeback, this single from her tenth studio album broke several records in the USA and became Carey’s sixteenth chart topper on the US Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen nonconsecutive weeks. It was also listed as the ‘song of the decade’ and the ninth most popular song of all time. Topping world charts, it also won two Grammys.

eBOOKS The Ocean at the End of the Lane

PC, MAC

Mariah Carey, We Belong Together (2005)

The cast and crew of Glee recently held a private memorial for Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), who died earlier this month from an unintentional overdose. Sometimes a TV show gets a goodbye just right, as Monteith’s farewell wasn’t planned; it wasn’t anticipated.

Sweet Dreams, aired April 13, saw Finn with a passion for earning a teaching degree, finally heading off to college and a focus for re-joining New Directions. He also reconnects with Rachel. And so they sing Don’t Stop Believin’, just as they sang it together in the Glee pilot. The episode, with its celebration of the power of a Journey cover and with its closing of circles, was a perfect send-off. Rest in peace Cory Monteith, you will not be forgotten.

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wishlist

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TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Elderly tech

Maggie Pro 3-inch LCD Magnifier

Because grandma deserves to have fun with gadgets too

Just5 Phone

Especially useful for the elderly that are baffled by today’s smorgasbord of smart phones and touch technology, this basic mobile phone with easy-to-read numbers, amplified audio and an SOS feature that alerts family RO34 members if the phone’s owner (+S&H) suffers a medical emergency is a must have. The phone is aimed at people who are hearing impaired, have poor eyesight or who need someone keeping an eye on them. Pressing the SOS button sends an urgent text message to five numbers that you set up in advance and emits a siren to call for help from nearby.

Philips Portable GuideLight

RO106 (+S&H)

RO14 (+S&H)

This handheld electronic magnifier can magnify print or digital content up to 11x. Powered by a lithium battery, it can be charged via USB or wall-socket that lasts up to four hours. Perfect for the elderly with failing eyesight, it is small enough to fit into pockets and offers brightness control for the 3-inch LCD screen, to suit outdoor and indoor conditions.

GTX GPS Shoes

Developed originally for the elderly with fading memories, it is also useful for those with more serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

These GPS shoes enable doctors or family to track down elderly patients or relatives by sending them automatic alerts of the wearers changing positions, before they wander too far; so they can get them back before they are in danger.

For the elderly who need light at night this produces a safe, comforting glow that turns itself on when there is movement nearby, yet is soft enough not to dazzle sensitive old eyes. It helps you find your way in unfamiliar places at night or in the dark by automatically turning on. Its docking station also serves as a light stand and automatically charges the light when placed on it, letting you easily pick it up whenever you want to use it as a flashlight.

To order these products, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

RO148 (+S&H)

movies

Jobs

An American biographical drama film that re-enacts the life of Steve Jobs

J

obs is based on the life of Steve Jobs, from 1971 to the introduction of the iPod in 2001.

It is directed by Joshua Michael Stern, written by Matt Whiteley, and produced by Mark Hulme. Jobs also has two cinematographers: Russell Carpenter for scenes shot in the United States and Aseem Bajaj for scenes shot in India.

Steve Jobs is portrayed by Ashton Kutcher, with Josh Gad as Apple Computer’s cofounder Steve Wozniak.

Lisa Tsering of India-West notes that “Kutcher crafts an alarmingly realistic likeness of Jobs over a 20-year period 1971-1991, from his speech delivery to his graceful and expressive hand movements, and especially in his distinctive, loping walk.”

David Baldwin of Geek Speak Magazine suggests that the film is one “for Apple fans” and that “Jobs works only as a semi-biographical piece on the legendary technological icon.”

Directed: Joshua Michael Stern Produced: Mark Hulme Written: Matt Whiteley Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Ahna O’Reilly, Dermot Mulroney, Amanda Crew, Matthew Modine, J. K. Simmons, Lukas Haas

Steve Jobs, known for his charismatic public speaking ability and his slick keynote presentations, wasn’t always the polished communicator most people associate with the visionary Apple cofounder. Jobs grew into his role as communicator-in-chief and refined his messages and his style over time.

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14

GAMES WEEK 34, august 22 - 28, 2013

The timeless cult classic returns as the biggest, most polished and fun version in years

R

eturn to the kingdom of Wei to deal with political and military conflicts on the battlefield. The cheesy and humorous narrative and the exuberant historical parodies keep you invested throughout the many storylines. The fight for controlling China still wages on, reminiscing the events of the novel, but nevertheless the mission structures have been tweaked enough to differentiate themselves from recent entries. For those who have never played a Dynasty Warriors game, it is based off the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is steeped in ancient Chinese history and legend. DW8 gives you three modes to play through: story, free and ambition mode. Story mode

Score Plot...................9/10 Gameplay......... 8/10 Visuals............. 8/10 Overall................... 8 lets you select from the kingdoms of Wei, Wu, Shu, Jin and other non-aligned forces to live through their historical tale in ancient China.

Missions develop based on character actions during the battle, therefore giving you the power to decide and

determine outcomes. Will you rush to the rescue of fellow warriors, or let them fall under the enemy sword? Instead of being tied to a single character throughout, you can also select other officers before going into battle and the story mode lets you play cooperatively, both offline and online. So your taking on of thousands of sword wielding warriors is made even more fun when playing with a friend, albeit a little disorienting.

Free mode allows you to play through any of the stages you have unlocked through story mode, nothing more and nothing less. Take on the role of a commander and build up your own camp in the newly added ambition mode, obviously after you’re done fighting your way through the different story modes. Start at the bottom, collect construction materials and recruit officers, all the time working your way towards building the great Tonquetai Palace for the Emperor.

DW8’s appeal lies in its combat

Snippets

smoothness, despite being neither challenging nor innovative. The livelier animations and sense of weight and momentum you feel with each weapon makes this game more engaging. A mindless brawler, it doesn’t set out to please everyone; it knows its audience.

Play it to unwind and feel like a God. It’s strangely therapeutic.

Publisher: Tecmo Koei America Corp.

Genre: Action Developer: Omega Force Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 ESRB Rating: Pending

Your weekly gaming update of news, information and happenings

Producer Katsuhiro Harada states that Tekken X Street Fighter is still being developed; no new updates on the game or release date have been made public.

Crytek, developer of Crysis is the latest victim of hackers causing the website to be shut down, so now users will have to change passwords once it is rebooted.

The Tales role-playing game series continues with the Western debut of Tales of Xillia on the PS3, which is shipping out during these weeks. before now

The Last of Us was apparently censored to meet legal requirements in PAL markets, which includes countries in Europe and the UK; according to developers Naughty Dog.

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Support for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale has been ended by Sony. No further characters will be released for the brawler but balance patch coming later this year.

Entertainment Software Rating Board’s appearance of ratings icons is being slightly altered. This is the first design change in over a decade.

8/18/13 10:10 AM

APPS TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Apps this week The Lost City

The five apps you won’t believe are free

Platforms: iOS, Android

(USD1)

The Lost City is a much longer and more satisfying game by the makers of the very similar The Secret of Grisly Manor. Fire Maple’s second foray into adventure games has an edge on Grisly Manor because of the obviously more bewitching setting and the remarkable way players can switch through seasons, to make their way through the wonderful Atlantis.

The puzzles in the game require you to thoroughly scour the city, going through each and every room for objects that can be stored in the inventory and used elsewhere.

The city is a treasure cove of ornate alcoves, flourishing waterfalls and prized jewels, just waiting for you to discover them. Not unlike something out of an Indiana Jones movie.

The lack of animation is more than made up by the

15

Zinio Magazine Reader (Free) Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows phone, Blackberry

Diversion (Free) Platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry

Do It Tomorrow (Free) Platforms: iOS, Android

detailed picturesque environments and the soothing music, so much so that you can get through the game in just one setting.

The games ability to change the setting’s season out of the blue truly makes it stand out. You begin in spring, but once a blue heart-shaped stone is found and inserted in the corresponding statue the whole city is suddenly coated in snow and ice.

The lake freezes over while the waterfall becomes a huge icicle and all these changes allow you to access places you couldn’t have in spring. You can thus experience all four seasons and enjoy the spectacularly magical changes, with each affecting the city in some crucial way. Fire Maple clearly have a knack for such games, that don’t overstay their welcome or become monotonous with complicated stories. Let’s hope their endeavours into this genre don’t end anytime soon.

Forces of War (Free) Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows phone, Blackberry

Bug Heroes (Free) Platforms: iOS

It doesn’t matter what your operating system is, this premier magazine reader serves equally well across all platforms

Collect as many pink diamonds as possible, in a world where you are one of many endless and colourful 3D characters

Hiding behind the disguise of being made only for lazy people, this app is for all those who need a little organising in their lives

For those who are uncomfortable with violent visuals of war games, this strategy war game is played with numbers and texts only

A gun-toting ant, a clubwielding beetle and a spider assassin are the three heroes of the game that have to fight off an army of bugs

Enter to win two Panasonic portable chargers.

Please send in your entries by August 5

TW56

Fax: 24693569 / Email: quiz@deenarmedia.com

1 What kind of data does an mp3 file contain?

does one gigabyte contain?

A

Audio

A

1000

B

Video

B

100

C

Pictures

C

10,000

3 Which phone from the following uses the TW54 Winners:

2 Approximately how many megabytes

Safari browser by default?

4 What is junk mail?

1. Nausheen Ahmed

A

Galaxy S4

A

Important emails

2. Murtaza Shabeer

B

iPhone 5

B

Legitimate emails

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

C

Nokia Lumia

C

Unsolicited emails

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.

TW56 WEEK 34.indb 15

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

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