TW, Issue 57, Week 36, September

WEEK 36, SEPTEMBER 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...

perfect partner Toshiba Satellite P50t: high-powered machine

mini snapper

Canon Powershot N: Compact is the new big

Demon dance

TMG LS650: see how lexus builds a monster

lethal beauty

Razer Blade Pro: a high-end gaming laptop that’s thinner and lighter than Most

FRONT COVER 57 v2.indd 1

8/27/13 1:37 PM

IFC AD + HOME SCREEN 57.indd 2

8/27/13 3:26 PM

Issue

57

Home Sc reen

Tech gambles Produced by

Without risk-takers, we wouldn’t have the technologies we love today: the history of technology is littered with great leaps forward that could all too easily have been massive disasters.

Deenar Press and Publishing LLC

There’s a flipside to that, of course: the history of technology is also littered with massive disasters that could all too easily have been great leaps forward.

Let’s look at three tech firms that bet everything; not just the big winners, but the ones that lost more than their shirts.

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.

Apple iPad: When Apple unveiled the iPad nobody was entirely sure what it was for. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said, “It was just a bigger iPod touch.” FoxNews.com blatantly said, “Apple may have lost its mojo.”

However, somehow the iPad managed to overcome such major flaws and define a new category of computing, destroying netbooks and seriously denting the PC market too.

Nokia embracing Windows 8: In 2011, Nokia bet the farm on Windows Phone.

Get it right and Nokia would be a player again; get it wrong and it would be goodbye Nokia. Did it work? Nokia accounts for four-fifths of Windows Phone sales, and Blackberry’s ongoing decline means that Windows Mobile is indeed the third mobile ecosystem Nokia promised it would be - so the gamble to save the company seems to have paid off.

Blackberry Playbook: Given the choice between betting on black or red, the firm formerly known as RIM bet on something they never should have. It resulted in a well-fuelled nightmare.

RIM decided that the best way to battle Apple was to make an awful tablet. The USD500 PlayBook was so rushed to market that it didn’t have native email or calendar apps: RIM bet that customers wouldn’t mind. RIM bet wrong.

order now!

Get 52 issues of TECH WEEKLY delivered to your post box for just RO4 against postage and handling charges.

For more information email us on tech@deenarmedia.com

order form Yes, please send me TECH WEEKLY to my post box address mentioned below.

Tick as applicable Omani

Single

Own LED TV

Own a car

Online often

FULL NAME .....................................................................................................................................

PO BOX .................... POSTAL CODE ....................... CITY ..............................................................

DESIGNATION ..................................................... COMPANY .........................................................

Age Group Below 18

19-24

25-30

31-40

Above 40

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS (IN BLOCK LETTERS)

MOBILE ........................................... EMAIL ....................................................................................

SIGNATURE ..............................................................

Please send the filled Order Form to Deenar Press and Publishing LLC, PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman OR email on tech@deenarmedia.com along with the copy of the payment receipt Terms and Conditions: Deenar Press and Publishing is not responsible or liable for any late, lost or misdirected orders. Once processed the fee is not refundable.

New subscribers will receive their first issue commencing with the next issue published after the date that application and payment is received.

You may also deposit the subscription fee to our account through BankMuscat CDM and send us a copy of the receipt along with the filled Order Form.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 3

8/26/13 4:46 PM

4

NEWS WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

Groklaw news website abandoned

Saturn wave

Linkedin is dropping its minimum age for membership from 18 to 13. Children’s profiles will have default settings making less of their personal information publicly visible, with more prominent links to safety information.

An award-winning legal news website has stopped work, saying it cannot operate under current US surveillance policies. Pamela Jones, Groklaw’s founder, cited the alleged US practice of screening emails from abroad and storing messages “enciphered or otherwise thought to contain secret meaning” for five years.

Support requests from child members will also be dealt with separately. The decision comes the day after the socialnetworking site for professionals launched University Pages, allowing higher education institutions to set up profiles.

Groklaw had promised its sources anonymity, but said it could not now ensure contributors would stay secret. Experts said they were worried that a site like Groklaw was closing.

The US National Security Agency’s operations came under the spotlight following a series of leaks to the Guardian newspaper by former intelligence analyst Edward Snowden. The NSA has since confirmed that it collected and analysed emails and other “select communications” from non-US persons, and that messages from US citizens were “sometimes incidentally acquired” as part of its operations.

If you stepped outside and snapped a photo of yourself waving to space on July 19, you might be famous. NASA on Wednesday released a collage of photos of people around the world who greeted the Cassini spacecraft.

NASA encouraged people to submit photos of themselves waving at the spacecraft from Earth on the same day Cassini took dramatic photos of Earth through Saturn’s rings. The space agency has compiled those photos in a collage the depicts the planet from space.

“While Earth is too small in the images Cassini obtained to distinguish any individual human beings, the mission has put together this collage so that we can celebrate all your waving hands, uplifted paws, smiling faces and artwork,” Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. Over 1,400 photos were shared through social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. The collage features pictures from 40 countries.

Apple buys Embark Desktop 3D scanner goes on sale A desktop device that can quickly scan objects so they can be replicated using a 3D printer has gone on sale.

The Makerbot Digitizer, which costs USD1,400, will be shipped to the first buyers in October. Demand for the machine appeared to overload the company’s store when it went on sale on Thursday evening. The Digitizer is the latest product looking to bring 3D printing to mainstream technology users, but experts are sceptical.

The machine is designed to allow the replication of objects without any need for the user to learn any 3D modelling software or have any other special expertise. It works by pointing several lasers at the object and detecting contours in the surface.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 4

Linkedin drops minimum age

Apple has picked up another mapping company, its third this year.

The tech giant recently snapped up Embark, a company with myriad localized transit apps for cities like New York, San Francisco, and London, reports Jessica Lessin. Apple confirmed the deal, saying it “buys smaller technology companies from time to time,” but would not go into detail about the future of the service.

Embark CEO David Hodge declined to comment. Embark was one of several location app makers who got a big boost following Apple’s rollout of its own mapping software in iOS 6.

According to Lessin, Apple plans to build Embark’s technology into its own software, presumably to replace the public transit features in Apple Maps. The purchase is Apple’s latest in a series. In just the past month, it’s been revealed that Apple has purchased location-based-data company Locationary, as well as local-navigation company Hopstop, which provides a service similar to Embark’s. In addition, Apple has picked up Oakland-based Passif Semiconductor (a deal that was also reported by Lessin), along with video

Dr Bernie Hogan, of the Oxford Internet Institute, said the development, which takes effect on 12 September, would help children “differentiate between the public profile they want for employment [and] the personal profile they share on Facebook with their friends and family”.

Kodak to come out of bankruptcy Eastman Kodak has gained court approval to come out of bankruptcy as a much smaller digital imaging company. The company, once the biggest name in photography, had planned to come out of bankruptcy in July.

Eastman Kodak was founded in New York more than 100 years ago and pioneered the use of film in cameras. US bankruptcy judge Allan Gropper agreed to the company’s plans, meaning it should be back trading in about two weeks.

Truesmart watch secures Kickstarter funds

guide and recommendation service Matcha.TV. Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple has been buying a company every month or two.

Omate Truesmart - a smartwatch with a built-in five megapixel camera - is set to go into production after hitting its crowdfunding target. The device raised more than USD100,000 of pledges on fundraising site Kickstarter, guaranteeing it will get the cash.

Another watch, Pebble, secured a record $10.2m via the funding site last year.

Omate’s achievement comes ahead of the much-anticipated launch of a smartwatch from Samsung.

8/26/13 4:46 PM

Tech Radar TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Gadget jackpot Technology that will make your month in more ways than one

Archos 80b Platinum

It has been revealed that Archos is preparing to launch a new addition to their range of tablets in the near future that will be powered by a Rockchip RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processor with Mali-400 graphics. It will be fitted with an 8-inch IPS display offering wide viewing angles and a resolution of 1024x768p. Other features include a 0.3 megapixel front facing camera for video calling, together with a 2 megapixel rear facing for video and photographs.

With 8GB of internal storage and 1GB RAM, it is now available to pre-order for USD200.

Samsung Hennessy

Technology morsels An Easter egg is a term that refers to an un-documented feature or novelty in a program that the makers secretly place for additional fun and credits.

Google ‘tilt’ and ‘do a barrel roll’ to see for yourself.

One Google search produces about 0.2g of CO2 but since we hardly get an answer from one search, a typical search session produces about the same amount of CO2 as does boiling a tea kettle.

Today webcams are used mainly for user-touser interaction and often inappropriate endeavours, but the first webcam ever was used to monitor a coffee pot at Cambridge University.

Thanks to Samsung, flip phones enthusiasts are in for a treat. Hennessy will feature dual-displays of 3.3-inch with a resolution of 320x480p and three capacitive touch buttons on the front. Other specifications include a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM, microSD card slot, 5MP rear camera, 1,500 mAh battery and the Android 4.1. On the connectivity end, the device will also include WiFi, bluetooth, GPS and USB 2.0.

Asus VivoBook X102BA

The laptop is expected to feature a 10.1-inch display, 2GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive, with a 500GB option available as well. The 320GB model is bundled with 2GB of RAM while the 500GB model is expected to come with 4GB RAM. It will also boat a 1.0GHz, dual-core AMD A4-1200 CPU with Radeon HD 8180 for graphics.

Rumours have it that the laptop will be available in September with a price tag of USD440, something not too expensive considering it is targeting the student class.

Mozilla Firefox Metro

Windows 8 users will be pleased to learn of an alternate browser to Windows Explorer, that supports touch gestures too. Releasing in December, the final version will also contain a Firefox app bar. This allows users to have the tab bar at the top but moves the address field and the rest to the bottom. You can already test a special version called Firefox Nightly; a Metro-style version of Firefox browser specifically designed from the ground up to work with touch and gestures within Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 5

5

It would take over one billion DVD’s to copy the entire internet to discs and 200 million of them if you wanted to save it on the more powerful Blu-Ray discs.

Women have a stronger emotional connection to their computer than men, as 51.6 per cent of women and merely 37.7 per cent of men agreed to the statement “I love my computer”.

Thomas Watson, who was the chairman of IBM in 1943 predicted that there would probably only be a world market for five computers.

According to legend, Amazon became the number one shopping site because in the days before the invention of the search giant Google, Yahoo would list the sites in their directory alphabetically.

8/26/13 4:46 PM

Cover story

6

WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

Dangerously

sharp

The Razer Blade Pro is a powerful gaming laptop, with high-end components, a lovely 1080p screen, and a fancy touch-screen trackpad

T

he Razer Blade Pro is a high-end gaming laptop that’s thinner and lighter than most of its 17-inch competitors. Take the new Alienware 17, for instance; the Razer Blade Pro is half as thin and over a kilogram lighter. And while its noticeable slimmer than its competition, it hasn’t skimped where it matters to games in terms of specs.

It sports an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor, the latest Nvidia GTX 765M graphics, and 8GB RAM, which make it a great performer for games as well as video and photo editing.

Combined with a classy screen, a generally understated style and a trackpad that doubles as a second display, the Razer Blade Pro is an attractive, if expensive pro-level gaming laptop.

Size and build

Features

Controls

Bigger than its sibling - the Razer Blade the Razer Blade Pro is a 17.3-inch laptop that’s 427mm wide, 277mm deep and 22.4mm tall. It’s certainly big and bulky, but in comparison to the similarly specced Alienware 17 laptop, it’s half as thin and over a kilogram lighter.

The Blade Pro has everything you’d reasonably expect from a high-end, pro-level laptop, including three USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet, HDMI out, a headphone socket and a Kensington lock port.

Razer’s wireless technology is also lagging behind, quite literally, at 802.11n speed rather than the 802.11ac standard that’s becoming common in late-2013.

Razer’s keyboard is nicely designed, with keys that are durable and satisfying to type on. One small concern is that Razer chose style over function with the bespoke Razer-style font, which isnít as clear as most keyboard fonts at first-glance. The Switchblade also doubles as a second screen, with ten keys that can quickly pull up websites like Twitter, Facebook or Gmail so you can do things like Tweet without interrupting your game.

It’s also much sleeker than most gaming laptops, with a clean black aluminium unibody design, a low-profile keyboard, and a generally solid build quality. It’s more Apple than Alienware, although Razer lost its nerve with the gaudy bright green keyboard, a feature that no gaming laptop maker seems to be able to resist.

The Blade Pro’s webcam is 2.0 megapixel, which produces clear images on Skype.

However, one strange feature is that it produced a lot of interference through the headphones whenever the unit was plugged into the mains.

However, the Switchblade trackpad is located to the right of the keyboard, rather than the standard positioning underneath the keyboard, which takes some getting used to. And while the Switchblade is cool, you’ll definitely want to connect a mouse or gamepad when playing games.

Screen The Razer Blade Pro’s 1,920x1,080 pixel screen is lovely, with great detail, a wide viewing angle and ample brightness.

Games look gorgeous running at 1080p native resolution, and most titles ran well at mid-to-high graphical settings.

The screen offers loads of real estate for working, which makes it’s especially suited to video and photo editing.

There aren’t really any laptops in the PC market that will better this screen, although the Macbook Pro with Retina Display offers a much higher 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, albeit it at a smaller screen size of 15-inches.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 6

Performance The Blade Pro is designed primarily to play games, so it packs high-end hardware including an Intel Core i7-4700HQ quadcore processor, 8GB of RAM and a GTX 765M graphics chip.

If portability isn’t a major concern for you, it’s worth noting that you can get quite a bit more bang for your buck away from the Razer Edge Pro. The Alienware 17 laptop at the same USD2,299 price point as the basic Blade Pro offers double the RAM at 16GB, a much larger 750GB HDD/64GB SSD combo drive and a more advanced Intel Core i7-4800HQ processor.

8/26/13 4:46 PM

cover story TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Sharp accessories

7

Additions to your Razer family

Razer Blade 17-inch nylon messenger bag USD80 (RO31)

Razer Blade Pro Price: 1 28GB, USD2,299 (RO885), 256GB, USD2,499 (RO926) Processor: Intel Core i7-4700HQ Quad Core.

2.4GHz / 3.4GHz (Base/Turbo)

Protect your Razer Blade on-the-go with the 17-inch Nylon Messenger Bag. Whether you carry it as a tote or satchel, you’re bringing style to your portable gaming.

Chipset: Mobile Intel PCHM 8 series chipset, HM87 Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 Graphics and Video: Intel HD4600, NVIDI GeForce GTX 765M Display: 17.3-inch Full HD 16:9 Ratio,1920x1080 LED Backlit Webcam: Built-in HD webcam (2.0MP) Power: Compact 150W Power Adapter Communications: RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port, Killer Wireless-N 1202 (802.11a/b/g/n + Bluetooth® 4.0)

Razer Megalodon USD150 (RO58) The Razer Megalodon is a 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset designed specifically to incorporate the Razer Maelstrom Audio Engine, making it the definitive headset for gamers today.

Dimensions: 427x277x22.4mm Weight: 2.98kg Operating System: Windows 8

Razer Invicta

Verdict The Razer Blade Pro is a great gaming laptop, offering a mix of performance, style and quality at a premium price. It’ll handle every game you throw at it right now with aplomb, producing gorgeous visuals on its big 1080p 17-inch screen.

Our few complaints are minor, such as the placement of the trackpad, the lack of 802.11ac networking and the omission of a card reader.

There are more powerful gaming laptops available at this price, but none that are as thin, light or beautifully designed as the Razer Edge Pro.

USD60 (RO23) This mat is engineered with new construction methods to provide an unprecedented level of finish, and treated with all-new performanceboosting sensorreactive surface coatings.

Razer Mamba USD130 Razer Mamba features gaming grade wireless technology with a hybrid system that enables instant wired/wireless functionality. Coupled with an industry leading 1ms polling rate, it is the fastest performing mouse both on and off the cord.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 7

8/26/13 4:46 PM

SELECTION

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

Smartphones

RO203

RO280

RO150

RO200

RO170

N

Blackberry Z10

iPhone 5

Nokia Lumia 920

Sony Xperia ZL

Samsung S4 Mini

Blackberry 10 OS, Dual Core 1.5GHz, 8MP primary and 2MP secondary camera, 16GB storage, 2GB RAM, Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon chipset

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

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 N

RO230

RO140 RO315

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

8.9-inch screen, Android 4.0 OS, Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9, 1GB RAM, 32GB HDD, TI OMAP 4470 chipset, WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3MP 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

RO220

Asus PadFone 2

Sony Tab Z

iPad Mini

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

7.9-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, iOS 6 OS, 16GB, Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9, 512MB RAM, 5MP primary and 1.2MP secondary camera, Apple A5 chipset, WiFi

Computers

RO320 Toshiba C850 B637 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

RO420

RO620

N

RO230

Apple Macbook Air MD711

Samsung NP900X4C A04AE

Acer Aspire V5 471G 53314G50Mn

11.6-inch LED backlit, 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, Intel HD graphics 5000, OS X Mountain Lion, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi

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

14.0-inch LED CrystalBrite, Windows 8, Intel Core i5-3317U 1.70 GHz up to 2.60 GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GT 620M, Bluetooth 4.0, HD webcam

RO576 HP Envy 23 D120 EE 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

N

RO180

RO280

RO150

N

RO48

RO140

Sony HX50V

Canon G15

Samsung GC100

Casio EX ZS30

Nikon AW110

21.1MP, 30x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 1920x1080 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

20.1MP, 6x optical zoom, 2.7inch screen, Full HD movie, 26-mm wide angle-lens, ISO 64-1600

16MP, 5x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 28-140mm focal length, Full HD movie, ISO 1251600/3200, 8 FPS, CMOS sensor

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 8

8/26/13 4:47 PM

N New

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in this tabloid may be subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for the current costs.

Lists are not in any particular order. Prices as of August 21 , 2013.

Updated

Pro cameras

RO822

RO330

RO400

RO620

N

RO245

Canon 7D

Sony Alpha 58

Samsung NX20

Nikon D7100

Nikon D3100

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

14.2MP DX-format 23.1x15.4 mm CMOS sensor, IS0 100-3200 range, 1.5x lens focal length, HD movies 1080p, 720p or WVGA, 11 AF points with 3D tracking, 18-55 and 55-200 lenses, 1/4000 to 30s speed

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

RO215

N

RO600

Sony KDL60R550

Sony KLV40R452

Samsung UA40F7500

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

40-inch 3D LED ultra-clear panel, 1920x1080 Resolution, 800 Clear motion rate, Auto motion plus 120/240Hz, Built-in camera, Face recognition, Voice and motion control, 20W 10x2 Sound output

audio systems

RO80 LG HT806PM 5.1 Channel DVD home theatre system, 850Watts, DVD, CD, MP3, DivX playback, 1080P Full HD upscaling, Bass blast, USB port play

N

RO150

Samsung HT F5550 (N) 3D Blu-ray, 5.1 channel home theatre, DVD, CD, MP3, DivX playback, 1000watts, USB port, FM tuner, Dual Core processor, Crystal Amplifier Plus

RO90

RO59

Philips HTS 3551

Polk Audio PSW110

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

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

RO30

RO55

RO27 N

N

Bioshock Infinite

My Book Essential

The Last of Us

PS3, Xbox360, PC, First person shooter, Irrational Games developer, 2K Games publisher, Mature content

2TB, USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectivity, 3x faster transfer, automatic and continuous backup software, drive utilities, password protection, shock tolerance

PS3, Xbox360, PS, Actionadventure, Survival horror, Naughty Dog developer, Sony Computer Entertainment publisher, Best video game launch 2013

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 9

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

RO15 Lava Glow Wireless Controller 2.4 GHz RF wireless technology, 5 internal glowing LEDs, Dual motor rumble, Custom analogue sticks and triggers

8/26/13 4:47 PM

dashboard

10

WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

Japanese Scud

I

f you’re going to make a super sedan, you’d better do it in Germany. That’s where Audi, BMW and MercedesBenz do it, along with third parties like Alpina, Brabus and G-Power, among others. Deutschland is the epicenter of the movement, regularly churning out the most powerful four-door rockets in the world. It’s also where one of the racing divisions for Toyota has been hard at work on the TMG Sports 650.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH started with a Lexus LS and turned it into a 641-horsepower, twin-turbocharged super sedan it revealed late last year at the Essen Motor Show. But though we haven’t heard much about it since then, the team behind Toyota’s F1 and Le Mans efforts are apparently still hard at work on the project. TMG chief Alastair Moffitt revealed that the project started way back in 2010,

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 10

While BMW showed off their M-Sport badges and Mercedes their AMG logo, Toyota had nothing – until now. Autoblog reveals the TMG LS650

shortly after Toyota shut down its F1 program and left the racing team with nothing to do. The 5.0-liter twinturbo V8 was initially producing as much as 800hp, but has since been refined to 650hp so that it could theoretically be put into production and onto the road.

That’s something TMG hasn’t done before, but is keen to start, positioning itself alongside Toyota Racing Development in the US and Gazoo Racing in Japan as an in-house tuning division which Toyota and Lexus could rely on for this kind of project. To that end, TMG has been testing its prototype at the Nürburgring – less than an hour’s drive from its headquarters in Cologne – and has already found it’ll run to 60 in the same 3.9 seconds as the new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and top out at 320kmph.

8/26/13 4:47 PM

wishlist TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Pink is in the air For those who wear, live and breathe this universally pretty colour

Nintendo DSi

RO59 (+S&H)

This game system carries a folding design and is loaded with potent features such as touch screen control, 11 interactive lenses and dual cameras. Although a handheld video gaming device, it also lets you capture photos with the built-in camera, edit and send them to friends, browse the internet with the Nintendo DSi browser or play back your music with Nintendo DSi sound. The hot pink colour is bound to make playing games and just passing time infinitely more enjoyable.

Sony VAIO Fit 15A1S2E

With a 15.5-inch display in a sweet baby pink, the laptop’s slim aluminium frame and black glossy bezel come with a very smart touch screen. It is packed with a 2GHz Intel Core i7-3537U processor, Windows 8 OS, 8GB of RAM, 1TB storage, 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 735M graphics chip, 1,920x1,080 resolution, one USB2 and two USB3 ports, an HDMI video output for connecting it to an external display, an SD card reader and a gigabit ethernet port.

RO395 (+S&H)

ASUS MeMO Pad ME172V A1

Canon PowerShot SX260

This ultra-slim camera is equipped with a 20x optical zoom, 25mm wide-angle lens, 12.1 MP highsensitivity CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 image processor and 1080p full HD video. Extras such as smart auto that optimises settings for 58 predefined shooting situations, face ID that prioritises pre-registered faces and GPS for tracking and recording your shooting locations makes this a very sweet package indeed; while the reddish pink colour adds a facet of sophistication.

RO148 (+S&H)

To order these products, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

11

RO54 (+S&H)

With a 7-inch screen that easily fits in your hands and is great for life on the go, this is the perfect tablet for reading, browsing internet and connecting with others. Its 16GB storage capacity and the upgradeable 32GB, allows you to store many things on this tablet including a multitude of songs, videos, e-books and games. It is equipped with a 1GB RAM, Android 4.1 OS, VIA WM8950 processor, HD webcam and various useful soft wares from Asus. The bubble-gum pink colour makes it perfect for those with a love of fuchsia and flamingos.

cameras

Inspire and share A Canon direct exclusive, the PowerShot N Facebook ready camera features a convenient Facebook Connect Button that supports instant sharing of crisp, clear images and videos to users’ Facebook accounts.

The Canon Powershot N lets you upload your life with a click

Canon PowerShot N Price: USD300 Product type: Compact digital camera Video resolution: 1080p

The camera’s creative shot mode automatically creates a series of five artistic photos along with the original for an array of options, letting you share your creativity literally on the go.

Available colours: Black and white Resolution: 12.1 megapixels Optical zoom: 8x Screen size: 2.8-inch LCD Weight: 174g

It features a 2.8-inch capacitive, tilttouch panel LCD, letting you capture photos from different angles. With a shutter and zoom ring, the images can be snapped easily from the top or bottom.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 11

Dimensions: 79x60.2x29.3mm

PowerShot N offers an 8x optical zoom and a 28mm wide-angle lens, packaged with a 12.1-megapixel highsensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor.

Hybrid Auto automatically creates a composite video of brief clips that are recorded while taking photos to give a creative overview of a day’s activities.

8/26/13 4:47 PM

12

ESSENTIAL WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

A decade of summer jams – Part II

Katy Perry, I Kissed A Girl (2008)

The Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling (2009)

For seven consecutive weeks this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the 1,000th number-one song of the rock era.

Selling over 4,155,000 digital copies in the US alone, it reached the summit of charts in nearly twenty countries as one of the bestselling singles worldwide. It sold over 8 million copies and became the 21st song with the most paid downloads in history.

The second single from The Black Eyed Peas’ fifth album The E.N.D., the track debuted at number two on the Canadian and Billboard Hot 100, later reaching number one on the US charts and 20 worldwide charts.

Nominated for two Grammys and winning one, the song was ranked 5th on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. It spent fourteen consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, is the most downloaded song on iTunes of all time.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe (2012)

Saints Row IV PC, PS3, X360

Action adventure

A worldwide success, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks, this song gave Perry her second US number-one single and Snoop Dogg his third. It reached number one in over 10 countries, received a Grammy nomination and was ranked number one on a special The 30 Summer Songs of All Time listing, by Billboard.

eBOOKS

DVDs

Orange Is the New Black

Once upon a time – Season 2

My Year in a Women’s Prison Piper Kerman USD16

Fantasy, drama

Zealot The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth Reza Aslan USD17

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified PC, X360, PS3

First person shooter

PS3, X360, PC, Wii

Action adventure

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 12

The first single from their second album, Sorry for Party Rocking went up to number one in over 15 countries. Worldwide, it was the third best-selling digital single of 2011 with sales of 9.7 million copies and the third best-selling digital song in US history.

Science and cosmology Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow USD18

Romantic comedy

Olympus has fallen

Action, thriller

box office

The summer trinity

The Big wedding

The Grand Design Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist

LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, Party Rock Anthem (2011)

With summer at its last quarter, this is the time when the season’s biggest songs settle in. The summer songs ranking list is pretty impressive considering the diversity across the board. With six straight weeks at No. 1, Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines takes the top spot. Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors and Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop are also serious contenders for the title. The summer’s still not gone but it’s clear these songs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. So keep those fingers crossed for your favourites!

The song reached number one in 24 countries, including Canada and Jepsen became the fifth Canadian artist to do so in her home country since 2007. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Pop Songs chart.

Named Song of the Year 2012 by MTV, it was also nominated for two Grammys and sold over 13 million copies.

GAMES

Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg, California Gurls (2010)

Without a doubt, this summer has brought with it an unrelenting stream of huge movie releases for the theatre-going masses to enjoy.

In fact, with half a month still left in the season, audiences have poured a record 3.74USD billion of their summer spending money into the big screen, easily exceeding last summer’s old high mark by nearly 400USD million so far.

Disney’s Iron Man 3 predictably still holds the top spot, while Comcast’s Fast & Furious 6 remains in second place thanks to its incredible showing with audiences abroad. Despicable Me 2, despite having the lowest production budget of any film on the list by a wide margin, blew by Time Warner’s Man of Steel to snag the third-place spot both on the summer and overall 2013 lists to date.

8/26/13 4:47 PM

laptops TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

13

Multimedia experience The Satellite P50t, is the perfect companion for users who take power and performance seriously This high-powered machine is equipped with the latest technologies, allowing it to satisfy multiple applications used by the most demanding digital users. The new Satellite P50t is now available in the market.

Toshiba Satellite P50t listen to music, with great quality sound, even when the laptop is switched off. It also comes installed with valuable and relevant media software including DTS Studio Sound that offers users a precise, rich and immersive audio experience.

Speed

Fourth generation Intel Core processors for ultimate performance power the Satellite P50t that runs on the latest Windows 8 platform. It also comes with dedicated graphics for maximum speed and vibrancy. Users may choose between NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M and GT 745M, both with up to 4GB of VRAM and with NVIDIA Optimus technology.

The Satellite P50t has up to 1.5TB of HDD allowing for maximum file storage and has up to 16GB of memory support with two slots, ensuring speed and efficient performance.

Ultra HD Support

Targeting laptop users who demand top-end technology, advanced computing and entertainment applications, the Satellite P50t offers future-oriented features such as an Ultra HD (UHD) supporting HDMI-out

Design

port. This technology converts and outputs UHD content from the laptop to an external UHD-capable TV. This allows users to fully enjoy a brand new generation of computer games that were originally created in UHD at a resolution four times higher than the conventional Full HD. Further, images and videos originally shot in UHD can now be enjoyed in their full brilliance.

The 15.6-inch (39.6cm) Full HD screen with LED backlight comes with

a ten-finger capacitive touchscreen display. The Satellite P50t also features WiDi functionality for convenient connectivity.

Sound

Sporting up to two Harman Kardon speakers, the Satellite P50t is guaranteed to give users the finest sound experience. For added functionality, the Toshiba Sleepand-Music feature allows users to

The sophisticated Satellite P50t comes with smooth, rounded edges and distinctive power button.

It also comes with an enlarged click touchpad ideal for intuitively navigating through the Windows 8 interface with finger movements even without using its capacitive touchscreen. The premium quality of the Satellite P50t is further emphasised by its attractive brushed aluminium finish with chrome accents on the top and lid, and a brown woven texture on the bottom case. The tiled, frameless LED backlit keyboard aids convenient text input even in low light conditions. It is available in Smart Silver.

movies

Turbo

A garden snail dreams of becoming the fastest snail in the world

Director: David Soren Producer: Lisa Stewart Writers: David Soren, Robert Siegel, Darren Lemke Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Michelle Rodriguez, Samuel L. Jackson

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 13

T

urbo is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated sports comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. David Soren, who also directed the film, bases it on an original idea.

The film features an ordinary garden snail whose dream to become the fastest snail in the world comes true. The film was released on July 17, 2013.

with speed and all things fast has made him an oddity and an outsider in the slow and cautious snail community, and a constant embarrassment to his cautious older brother, Chet.

Turbo desperately wishes he could escape the slow-paced life he’s living, but his one chance to live proves a near fatal disaster when he tries to recover a prize tomato and needs to be rescued

by Chet, his brother.

In Venice, California, Theo, also known as Turbo, is a garden snail who dreams of being the greatest racer in the world, just like his hero, 5-time Indianapolis 500 champ, Guy Gagné. His obsession

Along with Ryan Reynolds, who stars as the eponymous character, the film also features Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Michelle Rodriguez and Samuel L. Jackson.

8/26/13 4:47 PM

14

GAMES WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

A haunting end to the twisted narrative of the legendary Daud

L

et us begin by saying that The Brigmore Witches shouldn’t be touched if you haven’t embarked on Knife of Dunwall yet; fast forwarding straight into the most climactic chapters of Daud’s adventure would do the tale injustice. In this conclusion to his story, Daud sets out to stop the notorious witch Delilah after discovering the many mysteries behind her, from concocting a powerful ritual that would spell his doom. This could be Daud’s last chance at redemption from his treacherous actions against the empress; while whether he’ll face mercy or punishment when crossing blades with Corvo will be revealed as well.

The game builds on its strong foundation rather than breaking new ground, by making minor changes that ultimately provide quite a change during gameplay. Daud’s new Assassin’s

Score Plot...................9/10 Gameplay..........9/10 Visuals............. 8/10 Overall................... 9 Pull ability becomes an invaluable component when stuck in difficult situations, letting you pull enemies into swarms of rats, in for a quick kill or out of the way when nearby patrols are alarmed. There are also new bone charms and corrupted charms, granting both positive and negative effects.

Another perk, your abilities and upgrades carry over if you continue a save from Knife of Dunwall. As with its predecessor, the most notable difference is in the breath taking environments. The concept artists and level designers have once again crafted some of the most gorgeous and engrossing scenery around. The macabre tone carries an unequalled beauty in its contrasting display of death and aristocratic glamour. The diversity of each setting is fascinating, especially considering that all areas are part of the same city.

The Brigmore Witches is an enthralling multifaceted journey through Daud’s final chapters. The diverging routes and many side quests provide a commendable amount of value for money. But what really makes the last DLC so special is that it perfectly concludes Dishonoured’s lore.

Snippets Set between the stories of Halo 3 and 4, Halo: Spartan Assault app is now available for all Windows 8 users for USD7.

GTA 5 achievements were recently unveiled, which include beyond the stars (collect and return spaceship parts) and out of your depth (gonna need a bigger boat) amongst others.

Games+ Apps+Quiz 58.indd 14

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Genre: Action adventure Developer: Arkane Studios Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC ESRB Rating: Mature

Your weekly gaming update of news, information and happenings With new locations, modes, weather and multiplayer, Asphlat8: Airborne was officially released last week for all Android and iOS devices for USD1.

Microsoft revealed the list of games that will be available for Xbox One, 38 per cent of which are completely exclusive to the platform. Visit ign. com to view the complete list.

Microsoft has announced that they will be closing their games for the Windows Live marketplace and shutting down the Microsoft points system as well.

A slip up by GameStop in Spain indicates that Call of Duty: Ghosts might be coming to PS Vita as well.

8/27/13 4:18 PM

APPS TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Apps this week

The five apps that will entertain and help Agenda Calendar (USD2)

Mynd Calendar

Free

Platforms: iOS

This is not just another calendar app because its ability to integrate with other apps effortlessly combined with its smart and intuitive interface makes it topnotch. By trying to break away from the usual mould, this app offers users a smart calendar that not only records thing but helps you implement them.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Devil’s Attorney (USD3)

Platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry

Instead of a traditional calendar view, the day’s information is elegantly displayed on large colourful panels. The app can keep track of everything by integrating itself with your locations, contacts, Evernote and social media. You can see appointment times, calculate travel time based on traffic conditions, dial conference calls, show current and future weather and even pull up Evernote notes.

Mynd Calendar has done the unthinkable and broken through the app store clutter. Your work days therefore are less stressful

Dynamite jack (USD3)

Platforms: iOS, Android

Echoer (Free) and more manageable as this smart calendar virtually thinks for you and takes away the hassle of menial tasks. A must have for

Creative Studio

people that live their life on the run and need something that keeps up with them; this free app literally begs to be downloaded and used.

Free

Creative studio stands out from the throngs of picture editing apps simply because it is so customisable. There are a lot of effects to choose from, but unlike other editing apps you can hold a line across them to see a before

15

Platforms: Windows phone

Platforms: iOS, Android

Eufloria HD (USD5)

and after version. Key functions like the shape, colour and exposure are all easily adjustable.

This gives you the control you need over your photos as well as the ability to do funny things like face warping.

Platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry

With more features, a better look and no extra clutter, this is a brilliant add-on for your phone and an even better replacement for your ordinary calendar

Defend your client by playing a dirty manoeuvre from your stash of manipulative legal tricks, in this neat and inviting court room battle

A basic puzzle game with stealth overtones, where you play as a brave space marine who escapes from the alien mine where he was captured and forced to work

Find out what other people are saying about the cafes, restaurants and galleries around you, in this location-based social media tool

With armies made of Seedlings that grow on Dyson Trees, you control plants growing on space asteroids and fight to defeat opposing plant armies

Enter to win two Panasonic portable chargers.

Please send in your entries by September 15 Fax: 24693569 / Email: quiz@deenarmedia.com

TW57

1 Which of the following is an iPhone?

A

B

C

3 Which of the following is a Ferrari?

2 Which of the following is the Amazon Kindle Fire HD?

A

B

C

4 Which of the following is an Android phone?

TW55 Winners: 1. Sharon D’cunah

A

B

C

A

B

C

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

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 15

Full Name _________________________________________ Age ______ Mobile ______________________ Email ______________________________________Occupation _____________________________________ Company __________________________________________________________________________________

8/26/13 4:47 PM

16

special WEEK 36, september 1 - 7, 2013

Real life superheroes Hulk-like Super Strength

Six-year-old Liam Hoekstra, Michigan, has a rare genetic condition that allows him to eat like a horse without gaining weight, lift large and heavy furniture and a shocking increase in muscle strength.

This remarkable defect in his genetic code allows for excessive muscle growth, with no medical downsides to it except for that fact that he eats six meals a day. First suspected when he was able to walk at an astonishingly early age of two days, his condition is called Myostatin-Related Muscle Hypertrophy and has only 100 recorded cases in the world.

Iron Man Exoskeleton

This amazing exoskeleton, dubbed Iron Man, serves the purpose of increasing mobility and strength by using basic robotics to enhance movement.

So if you throw a punch that would lightly bruise someone; the suit would amplify it so the same punch goes through thick wood planks. Designed for the military, the XOS 2 gives soldiers better mobility and the ability to carry 200 pounds on their back with no effort. Mark our words, in 2030, Exoskeleton Baseball will be a sport.

We bring you the greatest superhero technologies, gadgets and powers that actually exist

The Human Torch

Batman Armour and Helmet

Air Force’s tribute to the Batman mythology, we give you BATMAN, or Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided knowledge. The project is an attempt to modernise the gear commandos take on combat missions. The overall aim being that the gear must be ‘lighter, smarter, deadlier’ and more covert just like Batman’s. A small computer near the chest tells soldiers their logistical position and possible tactical manoeuvres. It’ll include awesome communications gear, helmet displays, a headset and a computer. If Dark Knight runs out of juice, the suit creates the option of refuelling with the Bat Hook, which when thrown onto a power line keeps BATMAN alert at all times.

TW57 WEEK 36.indb 16

Master Zhou, a Qigong master uses his Chi energy to create heat using minimal friction and is actually able to steam water using his hand. He uses heat healing to help people with back problems. Using an infrared camera, Ripley’s Believe It or Not shows the man’s hands directly applying heat to objects using nothing but his bare hands. He can increase and decrease the heat of water, or any moist object, at will. He was able to, using only his hand; generate heat of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spider-Man Gloves/Boots

A palm-sized device that uses the surface tension in water to make a reverse-adhesive bond stick to glass, wood and brick has apparently been invented by engineers at Cornell University, New York. Also able to reverse the suction by using the electrical field, you can become unstuck on demand. They’re getting close in transferring this to gloves and shoes that will allow the bearer to climb up, Spider-Man style, the flattest of surfaces. Start stitching your suits, guys, you can be the next superhero.

8/26/13 4:47 PM