Tech Weekly March 20-26, 2013

WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013 AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION

36

ISSUE

OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID

TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

CROSSOVER TERRITORY GMC ACADIA

TOP-END AUDIOPHILE

DENON AH D7100

GLITZY

OVERVIEW

INTERVIEWED

JIAO JIAN, HUAWEI ME

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 IS OUT! SPECS, COMPARISON AND MORE

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Home Screen

Second Impression Produced by

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

Printed at Ruwi Modern Printers

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

Our first issue has done quite well. It’s not just us claiming, it’s in fact all the readers we saw reading it with both hands. When you put your best into a product it really shows – and it’s the most pleasant feeling to have your audience stop what they are doing and get lost in your pages. We spotted this lady enjoying our paper while going about her chores. To be honest we really did not think she would have been among out target audience – but sometimes it’s good to be wrong. As we go into our second weekly issue, we bring you some really juicy stuff. We expect our second impression to be just as good.

This week, we review the Blackberry Q10 smartphone and suggest board game apps that will take you back to your childhood. In our exclusive interview with the president of Huawei

Devices Middle East, Jiao Jian talks to us about their impressive stride in Oman and beyond.

We review Lara Croft’s vulnerable journey in one of the best survival horror games, Tomb Raider. In Photography, we go pro-mirroless cameras and tell you why they are a better option than DSLR cameras. Since Oman loves their cars big, we put the GMC Acadia to the test and must say we think it’s a great vehicle in its class. We also fancy the handsome Italian military-style timepiece, the Panerai Luminor Submersible, and finally, see Gerard Butler in his upcoming action movie, Olympus Has Fallen directed by Antoine Fuqua.

How did you like our new format?

Let us know your opinion on facebook.com/techoman

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4

NEWS WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013

Microsoft shares Kinect code Microsoft announced on a blog a device, built for the Xbox 360, that lets people play games by moving their body instead of using a controller. Before anyone wanting to use the Kinect had to work via an official software toolkit that hid the underlying code. Microsoft said it had opened the code up to make the Kinect easier to use

and get feedback about how to improve it.

Hardware hackers wrote code that let them control the device so they could use it for their own projects.

Later, Microsoft aided these ‘home-brew’ efforts with the release of a software development kit and a program that

allowed the Kinect to be controlled via Windows. Microsoft has released 22 code samples for the Kinect that expose the computer code that helps it track faces, interpret gestures and determine colours, among other things. The code has been put on the CodePlex website so developers can freely download and share the software.

McAfee Application Control for Android users McAfee has announced what it claims to be the industry’s first whitelisting security solution for Androidbased embedded systems. The application is called McAfee Application Control for Android and is the only security solution that resides in the Android kernel.

That means this application embeds its protection inside the operating system.

The security solution is designed to protect the device from the installation or execution of a malicious application.

McAfee says that the security solution also provides protection at the application layer for Android users.

It provides tamperproof protection and operational control of devices in the field and allows for easy management. McAfee says that before its application was launched, Android security applications operated at the user level. That left devices vulnerable to system-level attacks according to McAfee.

Google hit by USD7m fine Google has agreed to pay USD7million fine for collecting people’s personal data without authorisation as part of its Street View service. In a settlement with 38 states, the Internet giant agreed to destroy emails, passwords, and web histories.

The data was harvested from home wireless networks as Street View cars photographed neighbourhoods between 2008 and 2010. Google said it was pleased to have resolved the issue.

“We work hard to get privacy right at Google. But in this case we didn’t, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue,” the firm said in a statement. “The project leaders never wanted this data, and didn’t use it or even look at it.

We’re pleased to have worked with Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and the other state attorneys general to reach this agreement.”

Anzyma’s Wayfinder at Muscat Grand Mall The Wayfinding system, implemented

by Anzyma has added a new dimension to the shopping experience at Muscat Grand Mall (MGM). With more than 120 operational shops at Muscat Grand Mall, the Wayfinding system proves to be an efficient navigational tool to aid shoppers and also provides detailed information on each store as well as on-going promotions. The Wayfinder has proved to be very functional and informative since its implementation

EA sorry for ‘dumb’ Simcity launch

last year. The interactive touch screen kiosks have received close to 32,000 clicks per month.

Anzyma has zoned the shopping mall into respective wings and developed an interactive mapping system operated by Friendlyway Impress 46inch kiosk that ensures users to know their current location in the shopping mall. Friendlyway is a leading name in digital displays and interactive kiosk technology.

POLL Which of the multi-brand franchises do you like most?

Seen by

54.5%

3,382 people

23.1% 12.4%

NEWS + MOBILEZONE .indd 4

5.8% None

0.8% Lulu

Extra

Emax

Many gamers reported waiting 30 minutes or more before they could start to construct a city and said the game was sluggish once they were playing. Others said it often crashed or was slow to respond to changes.

3.3% Sharaf DG

As compensation, all those who bought SimCity will be offered a free Electronics Arts PC game this month. Since the

game launched, the online computers that co-ordinate play have been regularly overwhelmed.

Carrefour

Gamers have reported long queues to play, bugs and other glitches since SimCity launched on 5 March. The company said the way it had set up the launch had been “dumb” and that it “really feels bad” about the way gamers had suffered.

Poll closes every Wednesday 4pm of the previous week.

To participate log on to facebook.com/techoman

on closing

3/18/13 12:26 PM

MOBILEZONE TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

5

KEYBOARDED DELIGHT With a multi-touch screen and dedicated QWERTY keyboard, this is what we were actually looking for The BlackBerry Z10 might have stolen the Q10’s thunder at the BB10 launch, but the Q10 and its physical keyboard is what many fans have been looking forward to. Your question is if you can have the same blackberry you’ve always had? The answer is yes and it is much better. Starting with the

more obvious features, the keyboard is slightly larger and flatter. Its layout seems to be unchanged however; the keys are more matted and seem to give

Blackberry Q10 Network 2G, 3G Dimensions 119.6x66.8x10.4mm Weight 139g

with its active panels is a little more cramped when compared to the Z10.

The display is sharp enough and you won’t have to worry about the clarity of the text, but it doesn’t quite pop like an iPhone or the Nokia Lumia 920.

Screen 3.1-inche, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours Multitouch Yes

The Q10 has a soft touch back and is said to be noticeably lighter than the Bold 9900. The Bold was all about hard lines, metal and plastic. The Q10 has a gentler appearance, though it still seems like it would be durable. In many ways, it resembles the Porche Design version of Blackberry.

Card slot microSD, up to 64 GB Memory 16 GB storage, 2 GB RAM, extendible to 64GB Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP

the keyboard a more solid feel.

Camera Back facing, 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash

From software point-of-view, BB10’s impressive new gestures work well on the Q10’s smaller screen and some are actually easier to pull off. The Swipe-from-bottom to display your notifications, slide over to see the Hub seem to work more efficiently here than on a bigger display. The home screen

A

P

P

S

Battery Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery

Board game master

The Game of Life (USD2.99)

If you enjoyed board games as a child, you will be nostalgic when you play these games on your smart phone Board Games

Wordfeud

With BOARD GAMES you can enjoy all-time games (Backgammon, Parchis, Snakes and Ladders and so on) within your android, with an accurate design and playability

Wordfeud is a crossplatform multiplayer puzzle game available for your Android. Challenge friends and random opponents and play in up-to 30 separate games simultaneously

(Free)

(USD2.61)

G O O G L E P L AY

(USD4.99)

If you like chess and have friends who love chess, Chess Time Pro is the game for you.

Chess Time allows you to play chess with your friends on the go and anywhere

Snakes & Ladders (Free)

Snakes and Ladders originated in India as part of a family of dice board games. Tokens follow a fixed route marked on the game board that follows a boustrophedon track

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Trivial Pursuit (USD0.99)

Tons of well illustrated text and picture questions are readily available in this recreation of the time-tested game, Trivial Pursuit.

Scrabble (USD1.99)

Chess Time Pro Clue

(USD0.99)

Clue, or Cluedo, is a detectivestyle game where you have to use the information provided to deduce the identity of the weapon, location and person of a murderer.

Will you go to college or start a career? This app sticks pretty close to the original board game. Pass and play with up to three friends

Possibly the ultimate word-based board game, Scrabble has been translated into an incredible app that offers the same level of enjoyment than the board game itself.

MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition (USD0.99)

Monopoly involves purchasing properties to the extent that you literally monopolise the board and claim rent from other players and can be the most valuable player

YAHTZEE Adventures (USD0.99)

The enduring popularity of Yahtzee has always been a mystery to me, but if you like that board game, you’ll enjoy having it on your device.

365 Board games (Free)

365 board games includes up to 7 games, each with usercustomisable rules and a range of difficulty levels.

All-in-one board games

BLACKBERRY WORLD

Processor Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9

In some ways, the Q10 is surprisingly the more important device to come out of today’s event. Everyone’s got a touchscreen flagship these days, but it’s been hard to find a competent phone with a physical keyboard. If you have been looking for a phone with both these features in one phone, the Q10 is perfect for you.

(USD0.99)

Get lots of board games in this single app: Chess, Checkers, Tic-tac-toe, Chinese Checkers, HalfChess. The graphics are quite attractive as well

APP STORE

3/16/13 7:32 PM

INTERVIEW

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WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013

On an upswing Jiao Jian, president of Huawei Device Middle East speaks about Huawei’s impressive strides across the globe

H

uawei, you say? The technology company hardly known to consumers just two years ago has made some impressive strides over the past 12 months both in Oman and beyond. The Chinese technology manufacturer was one of the most buzzed about companies at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and according to research group IDC’s latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, Huawei has now grabbed the title of a Top 3 global smartphone vendor as of Q4 2012—edging out stiff competition from companies such as Nokia, HTC and Blackberry.

Presenting consumers with a variety in selection is ultimately a good thing and while there are certainly a lot of companies out there in the consumer device market today that has only driven groups like Huawei to continuously improve its offerings while communicating its brand legacy to consumers.

One of the clear lessons Huawei as an entity has realized over the past year is that consumers in Oman are actively looking beyond traditional device sizes and functionalities. Most major vendors are now starting to diversify their portfolio in this

way—offering niche benefits in terms of battery life, performance, or product size—with early movers seeing consistent success here in the region.

By continuing to leverage its heritage in building telecom networks, Huawei has actually set high ambitions for itself in the device segment, including a 15 per cent market share in the global smartphone sector by 2015.

Planning for new handset releases In such a fast-paced consumer environment, brands often start from a single market insight. This could be an idea relevant to consumers, service providers, retailers, or the technology developers. They then take into consideration specific local market demands and see where that insight is going to add value to consumers’ daily lives. Product design, manufacturing and marketing all follow from these two factors.

Jiao Jian, president of Huawei Device Middle East thinks that any good developer will not be rattling their head on how to simply make a product different, but rather how that difference will make life simpler for the end consumer.

Huawei is still on that journey from what we call “mass-market growth” to “quality growth”. Huawei’s handset designs will increasingly take their cues from local market insights to deliver that premium mobile experience.

Setting up R&D centres Huawei is fundamentally an R&D company. Nearly 70,000 of its 150,000 employees globally are engaged in this field, testing new technologies via institutes like Huawei Laboratories which is the innovation, research, and platform-development arm of the company. This newly integrated organization will be the company’s foundation for developing future technologies and enhancing Huawei’s global R&D capabilities.

Tapping into local market knowledge is, however, equally important. It’s for this reason that the company has established Global Huawei Competence Centers in places like India, Europe and the USA— including our first Middle East IT Competence Center launched just this past month—to support the advancement of the region’s overall ICT industries while acting as an excellence hub partnering with universities, governments and the private sector.

Vertical mobility

Coupled with strong distributor partnerships and strategic alliances with telecom operators, Huawei is well set to reach an increasingly larger consumer audience in the coming year

During 2012 Huawei definitely saw competition intensify within the overall Middle East consumer market, which is a positive trend in that it encouraged a lot of innovation in terms of product design, industry collaboration and consumer engagement.

While the company’s financial performance is formally audited by KPMG and will be released publicly very soon, it can be said that Huawei witnessed positive growth in Oman within its consumer business during the last year; contributing to what is expected to be a 30 per cent increase in Huawei’s global net profit compared to the previous year.

Huawei retains Top 3 slot Despite Huawei’s recent success, it still has ways to go in letting consumers in Oman know the values that it offers as a brand. Coupled with strong distributor partnerships and strategic alliances with leading telecom operators, Huawei is well set to reach an increasingly larger consumer audience in the coming year, outpacing global growth rates in the smartphone sector.

Being a Top 3 smartphone vendor was actually a target Huawei had only planned to reach in 2015, so the fact that it has achieved several years in advance is definitely inspiring the company to maintain its momentum and reach beyond market expectations in the coming year.

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COVER STORY

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TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Fourth sense It is finally here – well almost, but more importantly it’s out.

We give you a quick look at the most advanced phone yet

T

here is such satisfaction for many tech-heads and even the laymen to see the newest, most powerful on the planet. Today, the Galaxy S4 has become something of a ‘mechanical celebrity’ along the likes of the Iphone and iconic cars like the Mustang or Wrangler. Everyone is talking about it on the web, and texting friends on Whatsapp. We were as excited, and let quickly get to the heart of the GS4.

this little puppy can do.

The S4 comes with with eyecontrol features such as Smart Pause which pauses video when you look away, and resumes the clip when you look back, and Eye-tracking gestures are in place, while you can scroll through content by tilting up or down. Even impressive is that you can control the S4 by

The joke is now in the hands of the fruit lovers and their ‘i-series’ of devices. This is as ironic as it gets: Apple actually won the lawsuit against Samsung, and the latter now brings out something that Apple would love to have built first.

Let’s be honest, the GS4 is not something that will blow your mind – that’s usually what happens when you have celestial expectations – but it does far more than just impress.

hovering your hand over the screen. This works in the browser as a magnifier, or you can wave your hand in front of the phone to accept a call (like if your were driving) and it goes into speakerphone automatically.

Samsung has followed the lead of HTC and Nokia, pumping its new smart phone full of camera tricks, including a dual-shot model that takes a shot with both the rear and front-facing cameras, combining the two shots into one image. The front-facing shot will be placed as an inset. Sound and Shot takes a picture with nine seconds of accompanying audio, while Drama Shot combines burst shots into one image, giving you multi-stage action photos, handy for capturing pets or feats of sporting prowess.

Then there is the chip: Samsung’s own-brand Exynos 5 octa-core processor. However it seems that some countries may only be getting a quad-core Qualcomm processor – we really hope we aren’t one of them; most likely not.

Starting off is the S4’s screen size: a whopping 5-inch, HD Super AMOLED display with a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen resolution – an amazing 35 per cent higher pixel density than the iPhone 5. Yet, Samsung actually made the phone 1mm smaller, and 0.7mm thinner (see the tables). Then there are the amazing features and trick that

We hope you gets your hand on one of the firsts, but if you would like us to book one (let us know on facebook.com/techoman). We will keep you posted soon as we have a date of its arrival to Oman.

GS4 vs. Competition Spec Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S3

Apple iPhone 5 HTC One

BlackBerry Z10

Operating Android 4.2.2 System Dimensions (inch) 5.38x2.71x0.31; 130.4g

Android 4.0; updated to 4.1

iOS 6

BB10

4.87x2.31x0.30; 112g

5.41x2.69x0.37; 142.9g

5.12x2.58x0.35; 135.5g

Display

5-inch full HD Super AMOLED; 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED; 1,920x1,080 pixels, 441ppi 1,280x720 pixels, 306 ppi

4-inch IPS LCD; 1,136x640 pixels, 326ppi

4.7-inch LCD; 1,920x1,080 pixels, 468ppi

4.2-inch LCD; 1,280x768 pixels, 355ppi

4G LTE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

NFC

Yes

Rear camera and 13MP, 1080p HD video recording Front-facing 2-megapixel camera Processor 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 5 Octa

5.38x2.78x0.34; 133.2g

Android 4.1

Yes Yes

No

Yes

Yes

8MP, 1080p HD video

8MP, 1080p HD video

4MP, 1080p HD video

8MP, 1080p HD video

1.9-megapixel

1.2-megapixel

2.1-megapixel

2-megapixel

Capacity

16GB, 32GB, 64GB

1.5GHz, dual-core Qualcomm Snap- Proprietary A6 dragon S4 (U.S. version); proprietary 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 16GB, 32GB 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

1.7GHz, quad-core Snapdragon 600

1.5GHz, dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus

32GB, 64GB

16GB

Expandable memory Battery

Up to 64GB

Up to 64GB

No

No

Up to 32GB

2,600mAh

2,100mAh

Not disclosed (probably low) 2,300mAh

1,800mAh

Price

TBA (Our est. bet. RO280-300) RO210

RO280

RO250

RO270

Available colors

Black, white

Black, white

Silver

Black, white

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Black, blue, brown, gray, white

3/16/13 7:32 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 RO270

RO250

Blackberry Z10

Samsung Note II

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

Android OS v4.1, Quad Core 1.6GHz, 16GB storage, up-to 32GB, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS, 2MP camera

RO241

RO210

RO156

N

N

N

Nokia Lumia 920

Microsoft OS Windows 8, Dualcore 1.5 GHz Krait, 8MP, dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS, NFC

Samsung S III

Android OS v4.0.4, Quad Core 1.4GHz, 8MP camera, 16GB storage, 3G, WiFi

Samsung Galaxy GRAND Android OS v4.1, Dual Core 1GHz, Dual SIM, 8MP camera, 8GB storage up-to 32GB, 1GB RAM, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS

TABLETS RO110

RO220 N

Asus Google Nexus 7 7-inch 1280x800 screen, Android 4.1, NVIDIA Tegra3, Quad Core 1.2GHz, 1GB memory, Bluetooth V3.0, 1.2MP front camera

RO270

RO60

RO250

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (N8000) 10.1-inch 1280x800 screen.

Android 4.0.4, Samsung Exynos 4 Quad Core 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 5MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, A-GPS

Apple iPad Mini 7.9-inch 1024x768 screen, iOS 6, 1GHz Dual-Core processor, 16GB, WiFi, Bluetooth, HD camera, 4G, 3G

Apple iPad 4th Generation 9.7-inch, Retina display, LEDbacklit, multi-touch display.

2048x1536 screen, iOS 6, 1.6GHz Dual Core processor, 16GB, WiFi, Bluetooth, HD camera, 4G, 3G

Acer Iconia B1-A71

7-inch LCD, Android, media tek, 1.2GHz Dual Core, 8GB memory, WiFi, Bluetooth

COMPUTERS

N

RO660

RO470

U

RO300

RO375

RO341

Apple Macbook Pro MD-102

HP Spectre XT 13 2100

Samsung 5 Series NP540U3C-A01AE

Dell Inspiron 5520 0378

Lenovo Idea Pad U410

13.3-inch screen, Intel Core i7 Dual Core 2.9GHz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HDD, Intel Graphics 4000, WiFi, Bluetooth, Facetime, Mac OS and Life

13.2-inch display, Intel Core i53317U 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB HDD, WiFi, Windows 8

13.3 LED HD touch screen, shared graphics, Intel core i33217U, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8

15.6-inch HD WLED, Intel Core i73612qm 3.1GHz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, 1GB VRAM, webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8

14-inch screen, Intel Core i5 3317U 1.7GHz, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 2MP webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8

COMPACT CAMERAS

RO70

N

RO230

Casio JE 10

Sony Alpha NEX-F3

16.1MP, 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, HD movie, Make-up mode

16.1MP, 5.5FPS, 18-55mm lens, 3-inch LCD touch screen. Full HD movie

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RO200

N

RO120

Samsung Galaxy camera GC100

Canon PowerShot SX240

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

12.1MP, 20x optical zoom, 3-inch HD movie, Full HD movie, image stabilizer

RO188 Sony TX200 18.2MP, 5x digital zoom, 3.3-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, CMOS sensor

3/16/13 7:32 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.

Price courtesy Emax, as on March 14, 2012

U Updated

Pro cameras

RO822

RO500

RO425

RO400

RO260

Canon 7D

Fujifilm X100

Canon 550D

Panasonic Lumix G5

Nikon D3200

18.0 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors.

19-point, all cross-type AF system equipped with dual diagonal cross-type sensors in center at f/2.8 and f/5.6 and AF area selection modes

12.3MP, Hybrid view finder, 3-inch LCD screen, APS-CMOS sensor, 5 / 3 fps. Movie:1280 x 720 pixels (24frames / sec.) with stereo sound. TTL 256-zones metering.

Shutter:1/4000sec at F8.

ISO 200-6400

18MP APS-C CMOS sensor DIGIC 4; ISO 100-6400, H:12800 Up to 3.7fps shooting; Full HD movies; 3.0”, 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots; iFCL metering; Quick Control screen; Ext. Mic socket; Movie crop

16MP, 6FPS, 3-inch LCD touch screen, 14-42 + 45-150mm lens; 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD Video Recording; ISO 160-12800; Shutter: 1/16000; Burst: SH : 20.0 frames/sec, H: 6.0 frames/ sec(with AFS)

24.2MP, 4FPS/11 AF point, 3-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, 18-33mm lens; ISO 100 to 6400; Shutter: 1/4000 to 30s; TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor; Hi-Speed USB

Televisions

N

RO400

RO300

RO400

RO800

RO1,400

LG 42LM6690

Samsung UA40ES5600

Sony KDL 40HX750

Sony KLV 60EX640

Samsung UA55ES8000

42-inch LED Plus, Smart Energy Saving Plus, built-in WiFi, USB port movie playback (DIVX HD)

40-inch full HD Smart TV, smart contain, full web browser, 3xHDMI, 2xUSB video and movie playback, 1000Hz motion flow

40-inch 3D dynamic Edge LED TV, 2MP, full HD, 400Hz, built-in WiFi, full web browser, 2xUSB movie playback, 4xHDMI, X Reality with Blu-ray 3D player

60-inch dynamic LED TV, 2MP, full HD, 200Hz, WiFi ready, 2xUSB movie playback, 4xHDMI, X reality

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

TECH RECOMMENDS

Waterman Perspective

Sony Alpha 57 This camera delivers an overall favourable impression. With a strong feature set, it has the ability to deliver high-quality images and holds well on its own when compared with its equivalent DSLR rivals. With unique features such as its 12fps burst mode and the new interpolation-based technologies, the Sony Alpha a57 has a number of interesting features that elevate it above the others. This makes the Sony Alpha A 57 into a longer-term investment that has the potential to grow with you as your confidence develops. The Sony Alpha a57 boasts a robust body, an accessible control layout, versatile and high-resolution articulated LCD, plus a respectable range of automatic and manual exposure modes - including 3D and Sweep Panorama options.

It comes with two lenses, 18-55mm and 75-300mm.

RO360

RO168 Nokia Lumia 820 The Lumia 820 is a product at the crossroads between value and power.

It might not have the goods of its big brother, the Lumia 920 but it has removable covers and microSD storage.

It is a competent handset for those expecting simple and fluid experience.

Its core strengths are its weight, dimensions and it is sturdy enough to take desk-level drops. The 820 has a 4.3-inch AMOLED screen that is crisp, clear and watching videos on the move is a pleasure. Like most Nokia phones, its camera is the highlight and clicks good pictures.

Seen at Emax, Muscat City Center

Women listen up, you can never go wrong with a fountain pen as a gift for your man. We found this great looking Waterman a great deal – unless you drive a cash-purchased Range Rover.

Yes there were Mont Blanc and S. T. Dupont starting from RO120, but the Waterman still. This model (S0830680) is absolutely lovely to write with and the medium nib with engraved detail produces bold strokes. The tiered grip section is comfortable to hold and writes well. Comes with a three-year warranty and cartridge that is installed on purchase.

Seen at Capital Stores, Qurm

Seen at Emax, Muscat City Centre

RO38 RO231

Sony STR-K3SW Looking for a balance between great sound and less load on your wallet? You most definitely won’t go wrong with Sony’s component sound system. For the price of a single speaker of many acclaimed brands out there, Sony MUTEKI series delivers more than it promises. The 5.2ch STR-K3SW system which comes with 1200W of power output and twin subwoofer featuring 3D pass-through this home theatre system is compatible with Sony’s range of BRAVIA TV’s, Blu-ray players and PlayStation3 for the ultimate movie experience.

Seen at Carrefour, Muscat City Centre

10

PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013

Mirrorless candidate

DSLRs are a thing of the past, if you are a lightweight photographer, Deepali Kumar looks at the best options for you

B

ack in the day, if you wanted to travel light, you had the option of choosing between a DSLR and compact digital camera. The DSLR offered versatility and image quality but digital cameras was quite portable but failed in terms of the same. A new breed of cameras has emerged and that is the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera.

Buy getting rid of the DSLRs large and complex SLR mirror, mirror box and pentamirror viewfinder, camera producers had the ability to manufacture smaller cameras along with retaining DSLR-size image sensors and quality. Many camera manufacturers offer mirrorless cameras; namely Canon, Olympus, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Pentax and so on. They have smaller sensors and undertake quick shooting. Pentax offers the smallest mirrorless interchangeable-lens models of all, the Q and Q10, designed around 6.2x4.6mm sensors.

Mirrorless cameras come in two basic forms, namely ‘flat’ and ‘mini-DSLR.’ The mini DSLR (like Olympus’ OM-D) look like tiny DSLRs, and can be held the same way and the flat one looks and operates like basic all-in-one digital camera. Both styles can produce great image quality and the one you choose depends on your preferred method of shooting.

Canon EOS M Olympus OM-D

Sony NEX-5R Nikon 1 V2

Viewfinder All mirrorless models provide viewing with a rear LCD or OLED monitor, that is very convenient for landscape and macro shooting. Many offer rotating monitors, making odd-angle shooting simple. Touchscreen monitors let you focus anywhere in the frame just by touching the desired spot.

This feature is at its best when you are using a tripod and yes, these cameras have tripod sockets just like DSLRs. You may think that the whole point of a compact camera is lost while carrying around a tripod but it’s much easier to carry a tripod and compact mirrorless rather than a heavy and bulky DSLR system.

You may find it difficult to use an external monitor in bright sunlight and you have stability problems while holding the camera at arm’s length with a long lens. These cameras have a solution to this as well. You can have convenient, eye-level, DSLR-style shooting as more than two-thirds of today’s mirrorless cameras either provide a built-in electronic viewfinder or offer a clip-on one as an optional accessory. Such an eye-level finder is nice for shooting in bright light and essential for handheld long-lens work.

TW36 BOOK.indb 10

Use your lenses Mirrorless cameras don’t have a DSLR’s bulky mirror box; they have everything scrunched together into a comparatively sleek body. The reduced flange-back distance between the lens mount and image plane not only makes a smaller camera, but it also means you can use almost any lens for which an adapter can be found on just about any mirrorless body. Many companies like Novoflex and Pro-Optic offer a wide range of adapters. If you have some lenses for your DSLR, you may be able to use them with your mirrorless camera and adapter.

3/16/13 7:32 PM

TIMEZONE TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

MILITARY SUBMERSIBLE P anerai has put much of its focus on its Luminor Submersible collection of military-style diving watches, releasing three new models in three different case materials. The one that most evokes the brand’s Italian navy origins is the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Power Reserve Automatic Bronzo 47mm, with its dark, military green dial and bronze case. Bronze is a material readily associated with sailing, diving, and other nautical pursuits due to its use in vintage yachts and ships.

The bronze used in this watch’s case is an alloy of copper and tin in its pure state, which is both structurally strong and highly corrosion-resistant. Over time, the material’s warm tone will develop a patina as it reacts to external agents such as air, humidity, heat and wear, rendering each watch unique to its owner and his or her experiences.

The large 47mm case has the familiar, trademarked Panerai locking-bridge crown protector and is water-resistant to 300 metres. The PAM00507 is powered by Panerai’s automatic Caliber P.9002 and is produced in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Composed of 237 parts, it has a rotor that swings in both directions to wind two seriesconnected spring barrels, bestowing

TW36 BOOK.indb 11

11

This Italian military-style timekeeper is bound to make a good impression

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 upon the Submersible a lengthy threeday power reserve. It also includes a device for zeroing the seconds’ hand so the wearer can synchronise the watch with a reference time signal.

The Panerai Luminor, which comes on a brown, stitched leather strap with a brushed titanium buckle, is limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide. It will be available in October and priced at USD13,000 (RO5,005).

MOVEMENT: Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.9000 calibre, 7.9mm thick, 28 jewels, 28,800 alternations/hour Power reserve: Three days, two barrels, 197 components CASE Diameter: 47mm, ceramic FUNCTIONS: Date, calculation of immersion time

BEZEL: Black ceramic anticlockwise unidirectional rotating bezel, graduated scale for time of immersion, ratchet click at minute intervals DIAL: Black with applied luminous hour markers. Date at 3 o’clock, seconds at 9 o’clock.

WATER-RESISTANCE: 300 metres

3/16/13 7:32 PM

VIDEOZONE

12

WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013

SMART CONTENDERS T

he most significant revolution in television technology is the advent of the Smart TV. Combining Ethernet ports, integrated WiFi, internet-based streaming and online personal support, you can run apps, communicate with

We reveal the best smart televisions available in the market today

friends, play interactive games, listen to music and a lot more. Since choosing a television isn’t the easiest task and the numerous TVs displayed at electronic stores only make it more confusing, we suggest the best Connected TVs.

Samsung Smart Hub

Sony Entertainment Network

The abundance of apps makes it the best we’ve seen so far. Smart Hub has a clean and tidy look to it. It is big on movie streaming services like Curzon On Demand, PictureBox, Lovefilm and of course Netflix. If you have all these apps, you don’t feel like BBC iPlayer is your sole source of catching up on TV as Smart Hub has the iTV Player. Smart Hub however can’t be customised as much as you would want. Some of the flagship televisions include UE55ES8000 and Samsung UE55ES8000.

Sony has two types of smart TV; its own Bravia TVs with SEN and its add-on Google TV box. SEN works unlike all other smart TV platforms, principally by combining it with Sony’s own Music On Demand, Video On Demand and PlayMemories cloud storage services. The BBC trio of iPlayer, News and Sport are available. These apps sit alongside YouTube, Lovefilm, Netflix, Sky News, Sony Entertainment Television Network, Twitter and so on. In terms of presentation, SEN is now much improved with a live TV thumbnail and a clearer, more confident design that’s easy to navigate. Sony KDL-46HX853 and Sony KDL-26EX553 are few of the best Sony has to offer.

26-inch HD Ready TV with Edge LED, built-in Wi-Fi and Sony Internet TV

46-inch TV provides a great 3D/2D experience and the best Smart Hub online system

50-inch HDTV, fast motion handling, excellent userinterface with SmartShare networking

32-inch smart TV with classy controllers, wide viewing angle and versatile picture quality

Panasonic Viera Connect

LG Smart TV

In terms of looks, Panasonic’s Viera Connect is difficult to to beat; you have the ability to press a shortcut on the remote to wake the smart stuff and another to fire up BBC iPlayer. The highlight is Rovi TV, a web-powered EPG that is a huge advance on the vile EPG native to all Panasonic TVs. Viera Connect is the best looking, best behaving and most ambitious smart TV platform around, nevertheless feels like a separate service and isn’t integrated into the TV quite as completely as it should have been. Panasonic’s 32-inch TXL32E5B is a great option if you are ready to be impressed.

LG’s minimalistic design is a win for us. Its intelligent interface has everything to do with networking and not with apps. SmartShare software can display any video, photo or MP3 file stored on a networked PC, Mac or NAS drive, USB flash drive or HDD, on the home screen. Its file support is huge and very simple to use. The Premium page hosts BBC iPlayer, Lovefilm, Netflix, Acetrax and YouTube and other popular apps like Cartoon Network, Picasa and Box Office 365. The top models of LG Smart TVs include LG 50PM670T and LG 47LM860V.

TW36 BOOK.indb 12

3/16/13 7:32 PM

DASHBOARD TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

Comfort truck

13

GMC had long been known for big-muscle, work trucks until the Acadia came out back in 2007. We see what the new avatar achieves

C

rossovers have been around for a while. They started out smaller like Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda CRV. But as with any project that takes its first baby steps, launching in the US makes the biggest difference. Well, the Americans loved it. Give it enough years, and they want the same thing ‘upsized’; thus the Honda Pilot, the new Ford Explorer and of course the GMC Acadia.

This isn’t much different from here; Oman likes it big. And Acadia has its squarely sights on the Ford Explorer who’s reputation has waned due to it being vastly different from the earlier 2002-2009 model. It’s the new audience now. Meanwhile, GM to keeps costs down and customers happy, GM dived into the parts bin of the now-dead Saturn and taken the old Outlook’s body shell. This has given the Acadia a ‘new’ body with almost no investment in design, dies or tooling. Plonk on a different grille and cladding and presto you have a new car right where the customer’s want it.

So is it all-new? Well, yes and no.

Anywhere that the user would generally touch and use is all-new.

The interior is almost all-new with lovely faux-stitched dashboard panels with ambient red lighting, and full upgraded sound system that includes A2DP Bluetooth, with the ‘Colour Touch Radio’ with touch-screen control, and navigation is available with the system. The rear-view camera is now standard. Also, the Denali edition is available with same premium features as before; including 20-inch wheels, chrome accents, a power rear liftgate, heated and cooled front seats, and a special ‘acoustic package’ designed to keep road noise to a minimum. The most important difference of course is the industryfirst front-centre airbag. Turns out

TW36 BOOK.indb 13

that someone figured that the other hard object loose in the cabin is another passenger’s head. This feature pops an airbag between the front passengers so they don’t collide into each in case of a rollover or side-impact.

However not places where only a mechanic would find joy. The underpinnings are pretty much the same, except revised suspension tuning for improved ride quality.

The engine, trans-axle and its monoquoque chassis are pretty much the same.

The drive was the most comfortable that we have had of any in its class. The Acadia accelerates well, and cruises over any road undulations like a boat. The braking could be better however, and its so does the pedalfeel.

The Acdia is a very established car especially here in Oman. The resale value is the best proof. MARH have a test-drive readily available, and a ride should say it all.

GMC ACADIA Engine: 3.6L V6 VVT, Direct Injection Power: 288@6,300rpm Torque: 270lb.ft@3,400rpm Available features: A2DP Bluetooth, industry-first front-centre airbag , US-NCAP: Overall Roll-over Price as tested: RO16,300 Highs: Chiselled and tough looks, huge space Lows: Less than adequate braking performance Verdict: Great alternative to the off-road spec Yukon

3/16/13 7:33 PM

14

NUOVOTECH WEEK 12, MARCH 20 -26, 2013

There is never an end to what people can think of to make. We have a selection here from pets to glasses

Quirky

toys

Tractive GPS pet tracking device

The Tractive GPS Pet Tracking device for pets and animals allows you to track your pet anytime from pretty much anywhere. You can have peace of mind to know where your pet is at all time and get notified as soon as it leaves its ‘Safe Zone’. It not only shows you where your pet was a couple of minutes ago, but also enables you to track your pet LIVE over the Internet or the Tractive Apps. Start the Live Tracking Mode and you will see the trace of where your pet was and in what direction it is headed.

AR.Drone 2.0

Parrot, like many tech vendors, decided to put on a show at CES. It was in the form of an orchestrated air show, with eight AR Drone 2.0s, all moving in unison to music. It has GPS integration via the AR Drone 2.0 Black Box. It allows one to geo-locate one’s AR Drone via the GPS device. Not only does it keep track of its position, but also all that information can be used to create 3D models of every movement, via the AR Drone Academy, which previously only detailed flight information in 2D.

Nest

Two former Apple employees have come up with an innovative gadget that heats up the rooms of houses easily.

Acting as a thermostat, Nest has two distinct wireless connectivity systems along with five sensors for detecting and controlling humidity, light and temperature. It even possesses a pair of activity sensors that detect presence of people near it. The gadget can be remote-controlled by the users through their mobile phones. This provides the option to control the temperature situation of rooms by any person, even if he or she is not present there physically.

Tylt Energi Oculus Rift

This technological marvel is based on the technology of virtual reality. It enables a full 3D environment and is guaranteed to be a gamers’ delight. With a field-view of 110 degrees, the gadget will even track the movement of the gamers’ head. The console needs be connected to a PC for enabling it to unfold. The gamer also has the ability to look around to have a full glimpse of the virtual gaming platform. The device will be helpful in providing pleasure of gaming experience on a 50-inch screen.

Imagine a travel bag with a reliable and portable power outlet for almost all your mobile electronics. This company has made that dream reality with the Energi Backpack that houses a hefty 10,050mAh battery that is accessible via three USB ports, allowing even an iPad and other tablets to recharge while it is buried in your bag. What makes this device particularly cool is an inner networking system that lets you route cables and setup your own power grid inside the pack. It includes a micro USB, 30-pin dock connector and lightning USB cables. Priced at USD169 (RO65), it’s on the high-end of gear bags, but when you consider that it includes cables for your iOS gear and a big battery, it’s a good bargain.

MOVIEZONE

Olympus Has Fallen Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning is trapped in the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack An upcoming American action thriller, the movie depicts the story of a former Presidential guard Mike Banning who has fallen from grace. Assigned to Presidential Detail, agent Mike Banning works as a Secret Service agent. But after a tragic accident, he is relegated to desk duty. He finds himself trapped inside the White House when it is seized by a terrorist mastermind, the President being held hostage.

When the national security team arrives to take back White House (Secret Service Code: Olympus), they are compelled to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge as well as familiarity and rescue the President from his kidnappers.

An underdog turns into a

TW36 BOOK.indb 14

protagonist when he averts an even bigger disaster.

The Antoine Fuqua-directorial will see Gerard Butler back in action mode after his performance in epic saga ‘300.’ He runs around brandishing his guns while protecting the President.

Expressing his love for the action genre, Butler says, “The story is really fun. North Korean terrorists come down the Mall in a bloody cargo plane and also attack the White House from the inside.

It’s insane, but you go with it.

It’s action-packed all the way through - a traditional, classic, unapologetic, big action movie.”

The film is scheduled for release on March 22, 2013.

Director Antoine Fuqua Genre Action Thriller Cast Gerard Butler Aaron Eckhart Morgan Freeman

3/16/13 7:33 PM

GAMING TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

T

he Tomb Raider holds the same place in video games as Godfather to cinematography. In the game’s opening she lands on a spike after burning through ropes that bind her, flees from a cannibal through a collapsing cave and is forced to climb up the skeleton of a World War II bomber while pieces of it break away. This all occurs in the first eight minutes of the game, and it is the least violent passage Croft faces throughout. The kind of physical torment Crystal Dynamics puts Lara Croft through is a lot to take.

When she isn’t being hurled off a cliff the developers put her in a blood-soaked prison cell filled with human carcasses or she is forced to walk slowly through a tight tunnel filled with human body parts.

There are so many death animations and ways Lara Croft can checkout.

Lara Croft clings on to her humanity with the tips of her finger and transforms into a hard-bitten and capable adventuress Publisher Square Enix Genre Action-adventure, platform, survival Developer Crystal Dynamics Platforms Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 ESRB Rating Mature

The camera details Lara’s journey to this point,

15

where she arrived as part of a documentary film crew sailing on a ship, searching in a region called the Dragon’s Triangle for a remote Pacific island called Yamatai. A freak storm smashes the ship onto Yamatai’s shores, leaving the crew stranded and separated.

The video game presents an open world environment that combines action adventure and roleplaying game elements.

What makes it distinctly different to previous Tomb Raider games is that it is centred around characterprogression. A major motivation of the game is focused on the collection of salvage that is scattered around in crates and on the corpses of people that Lara kills along the way to upgrade weaponry and become more experienced.

Tomb Raider is a brilliant video game that aims to reinvent Lara Croft as a human being rather than an icon.

SCORE Plot................................... 9/10 Gameplay .................. 9/10 Visuals........................... 9/10 Overall.................................... 9

AUDIOZONE

Headphone pinnacle With Free Edge Nano Fibre Driver these headphones provide the performance of a box loudspeaker from a headphone

F

or many years, Denon has offered an impressive range of high-end headphones.

The 1200 Euro Denon AH-D7100 is a mix of the familiar and the new. Design-wise, they are a little similar to the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio, the top-end range from the Beats range. The outer part is the plastic composite that makes up the headband and outer cup. Inside is the high-gloss finish mahogany ear cup shell that is topped with chunky leather pads. These headphones are classier when compared with the Beats.

Denon AH-D7100 Weight 370g

Maximum power input 1800mW

Driver size 50mm

Ear cups and hanger Real mahogany wood, glass fibre reinforced mold

Driver type Dynamic, Free Edge Nano Fibre Sensitivity 110dB/mW

TW36 BOOK.indb 15

Price USD1,153 (RO444)

The Denon AH-D7100 possesses 50mm Free Edge Nano Fibre drivers that are meant to bring the sound of full-size speakers to headphones.

It may sound like a vague aim, but it produces exceptionally rich and powerful sound. It has bass control good enough to keep the

low-end headphones within their boundaries.

Smooth and rich, the Denon AHD7100 offer markedly different sound when compared with their rivals, the Sennheiser HD 800. With closed backs, they are predictably less wide sounding and have less of a focus on over-the-top detail, but their luxurious quality makes them a viable alternative. And we should also note spaciousness and soundstage size are excellent for a closed set.

We don’t know the Denon AHD7100 well enough to judge that they are high-end winners but we are convinced that Denon always does what they set out to do and that is produce a series of more desirable and attractive headphones without sacrificing sound-quality.

Will you regret purchasing the AH-D7100? Never, but this beauty comes with a price.

3/16/13 7:33 PM

LISTING COMPANY

BRANDS

SHOWROOM

SERVICE DEPT.

Bahwan Electronics

Asset, Carrier, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Benq, Daewoo

Ruwi 24796629

Emax Electronics

Multi-brand retailer

MCC 24558062

Extra

Multi-brand retailer

24212421

Genetco

Sanyo, Videocon, Fujitsu, Thomson, York, Canon, Mitsubishi

Qurm 24568806, Ruwi 24830919, Shatti al Qurum 24693292

24503653

HiTec Centre

Boston Acoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio

Azaiba 24497384

24497384

Jumbo Electronics

Sony, VAIO, Blackberry, Supra, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP

MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845, QCC 24470529, MCC 24558291

24814815

Moayyed Integrated Enterprises

Daewoo Electronics

24488795

24488795

Muscat Air-conditioning and Electronics

Sharp, Midea, General, Wansa, MDV

24796591, 24796202/31/40

24562943

Muscat Electronics

Daikin, Ricoh, Chigo, G-Hanz, Sony Professional Prod., Lexmark, Hitachi

Ruwi 24702982, 24780407 Sohar 26845647, Salalah 23291617

24813408/24789542

Mustafa Sultan Electronics

Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool, Universal, Westpoint

Al Khuwair 24636015

24818018

Oman International Electronics & Trd.

Bose, NEC, JVC, Nakamichi, SONOS

Qurum 24565490, Connexions 24558529

24830606

Oman Modern Electronics

Sharp, OMEC

HO 24706004, Ruwi 24832891, Sohar 26840763, Salalah 23291405

24704494

OMASCO

Panasonic, Yamaha, Stanley, Black and Decker, GE, Aftron, Raymond Weil

Qurum 24564310, Ruwi 24833630

24560232

Oman Trading Establishment

LG, Bosch, White Westing house, Pearl, Prolux

Wadi Kabir 24811572, Al Khuwair 24479448, Ruwi 24831544

24810522/80075545

Photocentre

Fujifilm, Olympus, Hasselblad, Sigma, Lowepro, EPSON, STEINER

Qurum 24565305, Al Khuwair 24479296

24571708

SARCO

Samsung, Technoflame

Ruwi 24593025

24593025

Sharaf DG

Multi-brand retailer

22009280

24501965

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Email us at listing@deenarmedia.com

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Please send us your entries by March 23 for a chance to win

TECH ISSUE 35 QUIZ WINNER

1 First ROM cartridge was found in this gaming console

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.

TW36 BOOK.indb 16

2 This was the first generation Apple iPod

A

Magnavox odyssey

A

iPod 2007

B

Nintendo

B

iPod 2001

C

Atari Sears Tele-Games Pong

C

iPod 2003

3 This company originally developed Flash

IJAZ AHMED

Previous quiz answers: 1 – B, 2 – C, 3 – A, 4 – C

FAX: 24693569

EMAIL: TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

4 This memory card format is the most widely used

A

Corel

A

Compact Flash

B

Symantec

B

Secure Digital

C

Macromedia

C

Memory stick

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3/16/13 7:33 PM