Ray and Active: New Xperia phones arrive in India

Sony Ericsson (SE) announced the launch two new Xperia smartphones In India. While Xperia Ray is a stylish handset, targeted at users who prefer thin and sleek phones, Xperia Active is a rugged smartphone. SE claims Active is water and dust resistant.

"The launch of Xperia Arc and PLAY in April was a milestone for us. While the Xperia Ray makes for a sleek companion, Xperia Active is the perfect partner for Indian consumers with a hectic lifestyle, especially those who are outdoors," said P Balaji, managing director of SE India.

The new Xperia phones that were launched at IndiaOn, an event by Qualcomm, run on a 1Ghz Snapdragon S2 processor. Ray has a 3.3-inch screen and is powered by Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread. It is 9.4mm thick and weighs 100 grams. Also, it has a 8 mega-pixel camera and 512MB RAM.

Xperia Active, meanwhile, has a 3-inch screen. The display is scratch resistant and registers touch even when fingers or screen are wet. It packs 5 mega-pixel camera, 512MB RAM and runs on Gingerbread. It is slightly thicker and heavier than Ray.

According to SE, both phones support the company's proprietary technologies like 'reality display with mobile Bravia engine' that results in a better screen and 'Exmor for mobile' that helps users shoot better pictures and videos in low-light.

SE officials said that Ray will be available in the second week of September while Active is expected in the fourth week. Both are likely to be priced around Rs 20,000.

'Jurassic Park' to hit theatres again

Eighteen year after it was released, Hollywood mogul Steven Spielberg's " Jurassic Park" will hit the theatres again to celebrate its release on Blu-Ray.

Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, "Jurassic Park" was a cult in itself and went on to gross $350 million in the US.

Now the movie, which starred Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, has been digitally remastered to mark its release on Blu-Ray. Universal Pictures is re-releasing the film in Britain Sep 23.

When Vijay met Anna

"Anna Hazare's fast will go down in history as an important protest. Despite being a 75-year-old, he managed to stick on to his fast for almost 10 days, which proves that he's mentally strong," said Ilayathalapathy Vijay in Delhi, where he met Anna and participated in the fast with him last Thursday (August 25).

He further said, "Anna is against corruption and is keen that the entire nation should stand united to get rid of this social evil. I'm glad to see that college students and young adults are actively participating with him. As a Tamilian, I wanted to personally meet him and congratulate him on his efforts. I feel proud to have been able to participate in the hunger strike with him. I pray to God that he give Anna all the strength and courage he needs to continue with his good deeds."

Vijay also pledged the support of his Makkal Iyakkam on the occasion. Meanwhile, Vijay will be in Madurai today to launch the audio of his Velayudham, directed by Raja.

A source says, "The audio will be released by two Vijay fans. Lakshman and his troupe will be presenting a two-hour musical concert of Vijay hits and Vijay Antony, who has composed the film's music, will only be part of it. He will be singing songs from Vettaikaran and Velayudham with the original singers. Genelia is unlikely to come for the event as she is in Pattaya. But she is trying hard to be there. The film has five songs and Vijay's opening song is Sonna Puriyathu (by Vijay Antony), a folk-based song with modern touch. However, Vijay has not sung any song in the album. Velayudham will be a Deepavali release."

Nokia C3-01 gets gold edition

Nokia's Touch and Type smartphone C3-01 has just got a Gold Edition. Nokia C3-01 Gold comes with an 18-carat gold plating, ceramic-feel keymat and a matching theme.

The smartphone offers a quadband radio and up to HSDPA data speeds alongside WiFi and Bluetooth. The hardware has been updated with a 1GHz processor. The screen is a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen. On the back, there's a 5-megapixel camera with flash. There's also a MicroSD card slot of up to 32GB.

On board, there's Nokia Messaging for email and IM functionality and Nokia Communities for checking into Facebook and Twitter and Ovi Store for apps and games. New to this device is the Nokia Series 40 browser.

The smartphone measures 111 x 47.5 x 11mm and weighs 100gm. The battery is claimed to offer up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 18 days on standby.

The original Series 40-based Nokia C3-01 was launched in 2011.

Asus launches Hi-Fi USB headphone amplifier

Taiwan-based Asus has launched its first hi-fi USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the Xonar Essence One. TheUSB DAC with the world's first 8x symmetrical upsampling technology, also features a 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), audiophile-class headphone AMP and eleven operational amplifier (op-amp) design for tonal customization.

The average SNR, of other USB DACs is about 110dB, but with an extremely high 120dB SNR, the Xonar Essence One provides audiophiles with clearer sounds, enabling minute sound details to be heard while significantly reducing noise levels, calims the company release.

Xonar Essence One features a fully swappable op-amp design. An op-amp is the key part in a DAC that amplifies the analog signal and affects tonal characteristics, such as darkness or brightness of sound or the overall sound image

Vampire facelift's a latest cosmetic fad

A clinic in Austin, Texas, is offering those who wish to regain their youthful look a new cosmetic procedure called the "vampire facelift", which uses a patient's own blood.

The procedure starts with a tube of blood being taken from the patient, and then spun in a centrifuge to separate platelet-rich plasma, or PRP.

"The theory is, by getting these platelets and re-injecting them into the skin, we get a cascade of reactions that release growth-factors," WFAA quoted Dr. Michael Escobedo, who is among the few physicians in the country trying out the vampire facelift for facial rejuvenation, as saying.

Escobedo said that unlike other fillers, including Restylane or Juvederm, it takes just several weeks for patients to see the effects, as skin regenerates itself.

Results are reported to last two years or more, but that's just part of the appeal for patients.

"With using platelets, it's more natural. The body has a much more natural response where the body has some time to respond to the platelets that are injected," Escobedo stated.

On the downside, this is not a pain-free treatment, and the skin is numbed before the injections.

Many experts in the field of facial rejuvenation say using a patient's own blood holds promise for the future.

"It's hard to say it's legit because we just don't have any information about it," Dallas Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel, president-elect of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, said.

Kenkel doesn't offer PRP because the treatment is unproven.

"I think patients need to be careful with what they believe, with physicians marketing certain aspects of their practice,"

GoTopless Aug 21 is National GoTopless Day

With the slogan, “Topless equal rights for all or none,” GoTopless.org is summoning men across America to cover their chests on Aug. 21 in the name of equal rights.

On that day, for the fourth consecutive year, the U.S.-based organization will stage a national GoTopless Day protest to proclaim a woman’s constitutional right to go bare-chested in public. During the protest, while participating women go bare, male participants will cover their chests with bikini tops or bras to proclaim equal rights for both genders.

Sound ridiculous?

“It’s no more ridiculous than women having to wear tops at all time in this double-standard, topless battle that’s being waged in public and in the courts,” said Nadine Gary, president of GoTopless.org.

For Rael, spiritual leader of the Raelian Movement and founder of GoTopless.org, the equation is simple: "As long as men can go topless, either women should have the same constitutional right or men should also be forced to wear something that hides their chests.”

“We will force men to legally cover up if women can’t go bare,” agreed Gary, who is also a Raelian priestess. “After 4 years, our national protests are starting to bear fruit, for a growing number of women across the country are reaching out to us. They’re beginning to feel empowered by our demonstrations and the constitutional message we bring.”

Gary noted that women in more and more U.S. cities are starting to exercise their constitutional topless right. New York City is a prime example, but smaller cities are also joining in, she said.

“On the legal side, we’re happy to report that Madison, WI just passed a city ordinance in favor of topless rights after several topless women were arrested during World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). But our larger goal is to bring about legal change at the national level. As part of our national topless march in Washington, D.C., next year, we will submit petitions with thousands of signatures to President Obama.”

Gary said a shift of mindset concerning topless rights is under way across North America.

“Women are rejecting shameful, puritanical values about their bodies, nudity and breasts,” she said, adding that such sentiments have recently been echoed in other social protests, including “Slutwalk,” which GoTopless.org fully embraces.

For the Raelian Movement that sponsors GoTopless.org, nudity has always been a non-issue.

The Raelian philosophy states that life on Earth was the result of scientific creation by the Elohim, an advanced, extraterrestrial human civilization mistaken for gods in the Bible.

“They created us in their image very scientifically, through genetic engineering,” Gary said. “So how can the human body, a masterpiece, be perceived with shame?”

She said GoTopless Day is always held at the end of August to honor Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 26, which commemorates the American passage of women’s right to vote on Aug. 26, 1920.

GoTopless.org hopes for similar success with the right to go bare-chested, and is planning its events to draw attention to the issue and educate the public.

“Our GoTopless Aug. 21 events are planned not only for cities where it’s illegal for women to go topless publicly, like Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and Honolulu; but also for cities where it’s already legal, including New York City, Washington DC, Portland/OR, Austin/TX and Asheville/NC” Gary said.

Katrina Kaif will be a friend always: Salman Khan

Salman Khan shows his uber cool side - of the superstar and superman he is...

Salman, seems like the best phase of your life. Wanted, Dabangg, Ready and now Bodyguard up for release - getting better and bigger?

I think I'm getting luckier. It's just that these films had great scripts, with a lot entertainment. Also, everybody doing their jobs to the fullest have made these films actually happen.

You've made Eid day your own.

No, not true. If somebody else had decided this date beforehand, we wouldn't have come on Eid. We would've come slightly ahead. Two big films releasing is bad for the industry so you should have a two-three weeks gap between each movie.

Sonakshi and Asin, two actresses suddenly in the top bracket, have been supported greatly by you...

No, that's not true. They're very talented and that's why they are where they are. Sonakshi was outstanding in her first film. And as far as talent is concerned, it's something that you have or you don't have. So basically the need was ours, mine, to cast Sonakshi in Dabangg or Asin in Ready.

You're doing a movie with Katrina so how's the equation between you two?

We are still really good friends. Always have been, always will be and that's the reason I am doing Ek Tha Tiger. If I'd refused the film or she'd refused the film then that would have been a problem.

Recently, you had an argument with Sanjay Dutt at his party?

Ya, there was apparently a fight between Sanju and me which was never a fight. Sanju and I are like brothers and we both got to know of this in the morning. The next day we shot for Big Boss.

You once said that you are a very difficult person to be in a relationship with. True?

Ya I am. I wake up early in the morning and sleep late at night. I don't go out for dinners that much. No flowers, chocolates, cards - I can't get myself to do those things, so I guess I'm difficult.

A man in your position and with your looks can date any girl in the world? Suppose you could, who would you date?

Right now, you have no idea how much I am trying. Won't tell you for whom, but no luck. Seriously.

Yahoo to launch Android-based phone in Japan

Yahoo Japan, which apparently is the largest website in Japan, and one of the largest online assets of Yahoo has recently announced a new smartphone for the market. This is an Android powered device which is a rebranded version of a Sharp manufactured smartphone.

Yahoo Japan has partnered with mobile carrier SoftBank who would be shipping the Yahoo Phone sometime in the end of September. The device is originally the Sharp AQUOS PHONE THE PREMIUM SoftBank 009SH however, it comes with some additional Yahoo integration.

The phone will be bundled with Yahoo services like Yahoo Japan Home, Yahoo Loco, Yahoo Japan Auctions, etc. and will also include the pre-loaded Android applications. All those who would purchase the phone will get two year of free Yahoo Japan premium membership.

In regards to the specifications, it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, has a 4-inch qHD display, an 8 megapixel camera, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, digital TV tuner, e-wallet functionality, infrared communication and a microSDHC card slot.

We are quite sure that the phone is going to stay exclusive to the Japanese market, however if it shows up elsewhere you will hear it from us.

Why you need a password manager

Surfing online takes some memory skills. Whether you want to check your emails, visit with your Facebook friends, look at your bank account online or play an Orc in World of Warcraft, you need to remember your password to get there.

Each service requires its own password. That has prompted many to come up with a single password for a multitude of services. While simple, that approach isn't particularly safe.

Which is where password managers come in. When used properly they can ease your worries and help you with your bad memory. But users need to take time before they decide to which service to give the keys to their entire digital life.

Managers work by putting your data in a kind of digital safe, which the user can open with a single password. There's a multitude of services around to help jog your memory.

'Which service is practical depends upon your individual needs,' says Marit Hansen, a data protection agent with the Independent Data Security Centre of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Free products are not necessarily any worse than bought ones.

Some programmes only work on an individual computer. Others exist on USB sticks, so users have the access codes at the ready anywhere.

Browsers also offer some memory assistance by routinely asking whether input data should be remembered. Firefox relies on a master password: without it the browser saves data in an unencrypted form.

Some services put the key to your digital codes into the cloud, i.e. on their servers. That's handy, because it means you can access them from any internet-capable computer. But recent events have shown that a lot of these cloud services are not adequately protected from hacking attacks, warns Hansen.

Whichever service for which you opt, the key is the encryption. And no level of encryption will help you if thieves can guess the code or crack it by applying enough computing power.

That means if you save all the codes to your various digital needs in one place you must come up with a secure password. That means at least eight - preferably 12 - characters with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Common words are taboo.

But all password managers have one weak point. They notify attackers when they've incorrectly guessed a master password, simply because they do not then allow access to private data. That leaves the hacker free to attempt the hack with other word and letter combinations.

This is why Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology recommends its MobileSitter, which always gives up passwords when anyone inputs a master password, either real or false. The trick is that the passwords are only accurate if the master password is the right one. The rest are just a diversion.

'Our system lets you come in and find passwords with any master password,' says computer scientist Ruben Wolf. 'But you don't know whether they're real of fake passwords.'

Meet Jabra FREEWAY speakerphones for cars

Hands-free specialist Jabra have an intriguing product in Jabra FREEWAY, which could be rather useful to those who spend a lot of time in cars, especially behind the wheels.

The speaker system is built on a 2.1 configuration, which means that it should also be able to deliver at least decent quality stereo playback. These wireless speakerphones can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and even access the car stereo using the FM band.

The speakerphones comes with voice recognition capabilities that allow users to operate a paired cellphone's common tasks like calling a contact from the list and answering or ignoring calls.

In turn the speakers notify the user about incoming calls, battery status and successful pairing with a cellphone. It also has noise cancellation system that uses Digital Signal Processing to reduce or eliminate background noise during phone calls.

The built-in batteries have enough juice to give 14 hours of talk time, and 40 days of standby time. The Jabra FREEWAY speakerphone is selling for Rs. 7,499 and carries a yearlong warranty.

New Helmet Laws Introduced As Fatality Rate Soars In Thailand

Public Health Ministry regions across the country yesterday were declared compulsory helmet-wearing zones to promote safety and reduce fatalities caused by motorcycle accidents, said Deputy Minister Pannasiri Kullanartsiri.

The move is aimed at promoting the Decade of Action for Road Safety - from 2011 to 2020 - after reports indicated 11,000 people were killed in road accidents last year.

About 6,000 of these fatalities were motorcycle riders not wearing helmets to protect themselves from brain injuries.

Pannasiri said the ministry had set a 50-per-cent target to reduce the injury and fatality rate from road accidents by 2020. Encouraging motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets was the most important action to reduce this casualty rate.

All government office areas nationwide should be designated as compulsory helmet-wearing zones, he said. According to Public Health Ministry records in 2009, 11,751 people - or about 30 per day - were killed in road accidents. About 6,000 of these cases were motorcyclists.

The record also showed that more than 700,000 people were taken to hospital with motorcycle injuries, leaving the government with a Bt2-billion annual medical bill for their care.

Half this expenditure went towards patients suffering from head injuries.

Anil Kapoor is proud of Sonam Kapoor

Anil Kapoor ,in spite of his work commitments in India and Hollywood, is a devoted father.

Says a source close to Sonam, "People feel Anil is so involved in his own career, especially now that he's working in Hollywood, that he doesn't know what's happening in Sonam's career. But that's far from the truth.

Anil remains as involved in his daughter's work as he was right from Saawariya, and advises her on everything. He is proud of her. When he receives compliments from the film fraternity for his beti, he first tells her and then repeats it to ten other people.

Be the perfect girlfriend

Here are some tips on how to be a perfect girlfriend...

Hang out with his buddies: As much as you would like to spend time with him alone, chilling and spending time with him and his buddies will make him feel that you are easy going and want to be involved with what he likes to do.

Buy him tickets to a game: One of the most easiest things to impress him is to buy two tickets to a game he loves, the other ticket being for his friend. This clearly shows that you want him to have his time off and enjoy without you.

Do not buy clothes for him: If you guys have just started dating, then girls beware not to go and buy clothes for him. This will make him think that you do not like his dressing style. He as it must be getting loads of clothes from his mother. You sure do not want him to think in those terms, do you?

Forget something feminine at his place: Purposely forget a piece of jewellry or something delicate like that at his place so that he is reminded of you pretty often. He will always connect you to something as delicate as that.

Leave a message behind: Leave a nice cute sms on his phone for the date that happened last night, saying how great it was.

Give him a quick kiss: Try giving him a quick sexy signal when his friends are around. He will have a morale boost knowing that you can give him a peck or a tight hug in front of people he knows.

Too much too bad: PDA is fine to an extent, but guys do not like it if their girls overdo it. In fact, people around you too may not be comfortable seeing the two of you. Girls, please do not commit this mistake. It will put off your guy. Try not smother him.

Naughty you: Wear a matching underwear and bra in light pastel shades.Give him a little peek at what's in store while you still look feminine and innocent. You will surely make him go weak in his knees!

Hard to get: If you do not end up getting an orgasm, tell him so. But then, do not forget to tell him that you still enjoyed the act and guide him the next time. He will appreciate the effort.

Homemade eats: While visiting his parents, you can bake a small cake or some cookies. This will make his mom feel that her son's girl actually spent time thinking about what to give rather than just buying something off the shelf from the market.

Weekend getaway: In the beginning of the relationship, plan for some adventure trips. The adrenaline rush during the trip will make both of you understand each other. This will indeed strengthen your bond.

Red alert: You can tell him how good he is as a person but never tell him how amazing your ex was. You do not want him to think that you have not got over your ex. It is like you are opening the Pandora's box!

Praise him: Girls are used to getting compliments. But try praising your man every now and then, he will really feel special and wanted.

Meet Samsung Galaxy XCover

Samsung has announced a new rugged smartphone known as the Galaxy XCover. This would be Samsung's first Android-based ruggedised smartphone, and should appeal to both extreme sports fans and Mumbai commuters.

The Galaxy XCover runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a 3.64-inch touchscreen made from tempered glass.

The smartphone has IP67 dirt and dust resistance, it can also survive for up to 30 minutes underwater, provided it is 1 metre deep. XCover also sports a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash, which doubles up as a torch.

The pricing of the device is unknown but it is expected to be a mid-range Android smartphone, as it is running a single-core 800MHz processor. Will it send the Moto Defy running for cover? The device will hit the German markets sometime in October, so we'll find out soon enough.

64 yrs on, govt yet to fulfill aam admi's dream

On the midnight of August 14, 1947, the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his famous "tryst with destiny" speech, pointing to the star of freedom that was about to rise in the east.

That night, millions of Indians went to sleep with Nehru's words still reverberating in their ears - "The future beckons to us. Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour? To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India; to fight and end poverty and ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, and to create social, economic and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman."

These magical words of an enigmatic leader encouraged every Indian, from poor to rich, to have a dream and work towards its fulfillment. The theme of the dream was prosperity, both personal and national.

A large chunk of the population was impoverished. They could not afford to buy food articles from the market. They dreamt of two square meals a day in independent India. The government's public distribution system intended to provide foodgrains at highly subsidised rates to people living below the poverty line. PDS induced them to dream again about two square meals.

But corruption continues to rob them of the dream, despite the Supreme Court's intervention. The foodgrains vanish from the godowns and surface in the market bypassing the poor.

The poor dreamt of earning through work after the government floated the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. It guaranteed corruption but not work. Corruption confined the work and the wages

to paper.

The farmers dreamt of prosperity as a million hungry mouths needed food. They toiled in the fields and hoped to produce more. But, lack of irrigation facilities and markets failed them. Money lenders and middlemen stepped in. The debt burden crushed the dreams. Farmers started committing suicide.

Every common man had a dream of his own - communal harmony, a speedy justice delivery system, a responsive bureaucracy, a transparent system, a corruption-free polity and, above all, honest governance. All these are, still, dreams only.

Two decades ago, the Supreme Court in Sodan Singh vs New Delhi Municipal Council [1989 (4) SCC 155] had said "justice, social economic and political" and "citizens, men and women equally, have a right to an adequate means of livelihood", which the Constitution of India promises is still a distinct dream."This court, in various judgments, has reminded the government of its constitutional obligations to ameliorate the lot of the poor in India. Nothing much has been achieved. An alarming percentage of population in India is still living below the poverty line. There are millions of registered unemployed. The government, in spite of constitutional mandate, is unable to provide them with employment," it had said.

Two decades later, the situation remains more or less the same. More than one-third of India's over a billion people are yet to cross the below poverty line. The unemployed still dream of a job that ensures equal pay for equal work.

There is utter lack of security. The innocent still get killed by bomb blasts. Instead of acting against the perpetrators, politicians play the game of one-upmanship using religion as a pivot.

So surcharged is the atmosphere that one thinks twice before asking the government as to who were the people and groups behind the bomb blasts in Mumbai on July 13. A month has passed and there is no one in the government to tell us who has been apprehended and what steps have been taken to ensure safety of commoners. Someone had rightly said: "Religion, as it has come to be understood, does not mix well with governance because it creates a lethal explosive."

So, on the eve of August 15, after 64 years, what does a young Indian dream? A fresh tryst with destiny?

freedom from corruption

From being perceived as a country of snake charmers to becoming a hub of IT and rediscovered spirituality, the image of India has had a makeover in recent years. Only the power of spirituality can help resolve the problems we face today. M K Gandhi used this power to help India secure independence.

While India has been fortunate to have an entire generation that dedicated itself to the cause of freedom, there is another that has driven the country into the morass of corruption and crime.

We need people of character and honesty to check corruption. Corruption begins where a sense of belonging ends. Corruption is present at many levels of society; the first level is in the minds of the general public. We tell God that if You do this work of mine then i will offer something to You. Let alone our bosses, we don't even spare God. Secondly, there are bribe givers and takers at the official level. The third level of corruption is at the ministerial level. The Lokpal Bill seeks to address this problem.

Lack of faith, belongingness, human values, sacrifice and service attitude are all causes of corruption, as also selfish motives and a sense of insecurity. It is when you feel so insecure and think that money is the only power or strength, then you become corrupt to the core. There is a lack of role models and inspiring examples at the highest levels. Also lack of stringent laws and effective enforcement of existing laws engender corruption at all levels.

Corruption starts where belongingness ends. Nobody will ever ask for a bribe from his family and dear ones. The means through which we can spread belongingness is spirituality. Work hard, be self-sufficient and stand on your own feet. We have to instil the belief that whatever is yours, you will get. Inner strength and awareness needs to be awakened. Only then, constructive change is possible.

The younger generation has to resolve to save the country and its people from corruption and crime. They have to take responsibility on their own and strive for sustainable development and realise that they have a huge potential and strength to achieve whatever they want. The youth need to believe that it is possible to be creative and productive without losing the humanness that is intrinsic in us. Spirituality kindles, sustains and enhances enthusiasm and enthusiasm is what drives us towards achieving our goals.

We need to see ourselves as universal people to attain a holistic personality, where there is appreciation for all ways of life and culture. We could learn the right things from everyone - be it teamwork from the Japanese, precision from the Germans, decency from the British and marketing skills from the Americans. And above all, human values from our rich tradition and spiritual heritage.

With one-sixth of the world's population, India now needs to take its rightful place on the world stage. We need to become more confident and take more pride in our cultural and spiritual roots; to harness spiritual values to fight terrorism and other social evils. Inter-faith harmony on the basis of an all-inclusive spiritual movement is needed to prevent young minds from turning to violence.

The government must focus more on "gross domestic happiness" rather than "gross domestic product". Prosperity has meaning when there is happiness and common welfare built into the system. Let's work towards building a corruption-free society by cultivating a spiritual outlook that helps us evolve on the right path.

Beetel launches 3G Supreme Wi-Fi router

Beetel Teletech, a Bharti Enterprises group company, has announced the launch of a 3G Wi-Fi pocket router -- Beetel 3G Supreme for the Indian market.

The 3G Supreme can be connected to a mobile phone (cellular) carrier and provide internet access for up to ten Wi-Fi enabled peripheral devices like mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, gaming consoles etc.

The device will cater to multiple users at home, small businesses and even enterprises to use internet service at a very low cost.

The device is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2+, Mac OSX (10.5.X Intel based CPU) and Linux (Optional). The Beetel 3G Supreme has a battery usage time up to 3-5 hrs when active. This innovative device comes at an MRP of Rs 6000 and Rs 6500 (with LAN adapter).

South Indian actress Nayanthara changes religion

Bangalore, Aug 9 (IANS) Top southern actress Nayanthara has converted from Christianity to Hinduism, say sources close to the Arya Samaj, even as she herself maintains a studied silence on the issue.

Nayanthara, born and brought up as Diana Mariam Kurian, was a born Christian. She changed her name because of her foray into films.

She reportedly converted to Hinduism Sunday morning at the Arya Samaj Temple in Chennai, the sources said, adding she has retained her name Nayanthara.

Some see it as a step towards her impending marriage to actor-director Prabhu Deva who divorced his earlier wife, a Muslim and did not change her religion at the time of marriage.

Nayanthara is tightlipped. Asked about her marriage, she says: 'No comments.'

On Sunday morning, the actress reportedly headed straight to the Arya Samaj Temple on Waltax Road.

She went through all the religious processes as per the scriptures. All the procedures of 'Shuddhi Karma', a procedure involving Vedic purification, were meticulously followed, say the sources close to Arya Samaj.

They also added that a 'homan' or fire ritual was held where Nayantara chanted hymns and the Sankeerthan Mantra.

Incidentally, the members of Prabhu Deva's family are devotees of the Suttur Mutt in Mysore. His parents are devotees of Male Mahadeshwara Swamy.

The sources said Nayanthara left soon after the purification ceremony. A certificate of conversion to Hinduism was issued to her. The actress flew back to Kochi by an evening flight.

It is reported that her parents have expressed their opposition to Nayanthara's desire to convert to Hinduism.

Nayanthara's last film 'Ramayana', directed by veteran director Bapu, was completed only a few days ago.

Nayanthara who plays Sita's role in the film became emotional on the last day of her shoot and even lay prostrate before all the elders in the unit, including the octogenarian director Bapu.

Nayanthara says her decision to convert to Hinduism is purely personal.

'Yes, I have become a Hindu and it's my own personal decision. I went through the entire ceremony with passion and conviction,' she is believed to have told a friend.

She sports a tattoo of Prabhu Deva on her body. The couple were also seen in some film related functions together.

Motorola Mobility launches 3 dual-SIM mobiles in India

Motorola Mobility India, a subsidiary of Motorola Mobility, has launched three slim stylish dual-SIM mobile phones in India with prices ranging from Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,190.

Motorola EX212, Motorola EX119 and Motorola EX109 sport different designs and form factors to accommodate the varied taste of consumers in India, Motorola Mobility said in a statement.

The Motorola EX212 is priced at Rs 5,190, Motorola EX119 will be available at Rs 6,190 and the Motorola EX109 is priced at Rs 3,590. The three models will be available at select outlets in select cities.

"The fast evolving dual-SIM market in India is a driving force for us. We are glad to bring these innovative, feature-rich mobile phones in varied designs and form factors to the Indian consumer," Motorola Mobility India and South West Asia, mobile devices business, country head for sales and operations Rajan Chawla said.

Motorola EX212 is a compact flip phone, while Motorola EX119 comes with both a full QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen in a super-slim package.

Motorola EX109 is a slim mobile phone which offers a full QWERTY keyboard. All three mobile phones come packed with exciting features and enable users to switch between networks effortlessly.

RIM readying QNX-powered BlackBerry Colt

BlackBerry PlayBook's processing prowess is set to arrive on smartphones soon. Close on the heels of Research In Motion launching five new BlackBerry 7 smartphones, the Canadian company is readying the launch of its first QNX-powered smartphone.

BlackBerry's Playbook tablet runs on OS built on QNX Neutrino architecture with support for symmetric multiprocessing. QNX software is used to help control the music and media features in BMW and Porsche sports cars.

According to a blog post on Boy Genius Report, RIM plans to launch its first QNX-powered BlackBerry in the first quarter of 2012. Codenamed Colt, the smartphone will reportedly be powered by a single-core processor. Earlier reports suggested it to be a speedier multi-core chipset. However, the report hints that this may change ahead of the device's launch. Colt is said to be currently undergoing internal testing with a single-core chip.

The report also suggests that Colt, like the PlayBook, will launch without BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). This means just like PlayBook, Colt will not support native email at the launch.

BlackBerry PlayBook, which supports only Wi-Fi, suffered criticism for not being able to connect to mobile networks, unlike the rival tablets from Apple, Motorola and Samsung. This meant email, contacts and BlackBerry Messenger are only available when the tablet is connected with BlackBerry smartphone through BlackBerry Bridge.

Speculations are also rife that RIM is working on a QNX-specific BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

The Sun is a poor lover

The sun is now often hidden behind clouds. The sun, which is the source of all life, was astrologically also in its house of ascendance, that is in the zodiac sign of Aries recently.

All energy in the world can be scientifically traced back to the sun in one way or other. So brilliant is the sun but is brilliance alone life-sustaining? Why then do we look forward to the coolness of the rainy season?

A myth among the followers of Donyi poloism in Arunachal Pradesh says a frog hiding within a bamboo shoot shot the second sun. The weak sun became the moon and shone at night. This gave respite from the heat and life was able to flourish.

A Panchatantra story says a sage, while drinking water from the river in his cupped hands, found he had picked up a little mouse, too. He ended up taking her home, turning her into a girl. When it was time for her to get married, one of the suitors he invited was the sun. But the girl refused him saying he is brilliant, "a bit too brilliant, he will hurt my eyes".

Another myth is about the parijata flower: A young princess fancied the sun because he was so bright and handsome. He would visit the princess every night. On the day when her father reluctantly made arrangements for the two to get married, the sun did not show up. The dejected princess turned into the parijata flower which flowers only after the setting of the sun and closes before the sun is up.

Other myths confirm that the sun is not an easy or comfortable lover. It is important for the one you love to be brilliant and bright, beautiful or handsome, but too much of it does not make for compatible living. Brilliance needs to take rest for a while if its purpose is to be realised. During the day the sun engenders creation; during the night consolidation takes place so that further progress can be made the following day.

Rest or sleep at night works much the same way for human beings. Whatever activity it is, be it work or play, too much of it can be self-defeating. There has to be a period of action followed by complete inaction. We call these two phases as pravritti which means outward movement or progress and nivritti which is inner repose.

The sun had to learn nivritti. According to Acharya Mahaprajna, night is more tolerant; it gives space to all the aspiring ones in the form of the million stars and galaxies that also want to shine. And so it comes with the hope that the sun will rise again. But when it is sunshine and sunshine only, not only do the smaller, less brilliant stars find no forum for expression, there is little to look forward to. Life is built on anticipation and excitement that anything "new" brings.

The sun may not realise how many less brilliant stars are waiting for their bit of glory. Similarly, the learned do not know what it is to be unlettered or uninformed. The loved do not know how the less fortunate ones yearn for a little bit of it. Worse, the powerful do not know the plight of the exploited. Therefore, the dictionary uses words like "dominate" for the sun and people who behave like that. They also seem uncaring and so make poor lovers or friends.

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HP unveils all-in-one TouchSmart 610 PC

HP has refreshed its all-in-one PC lineup with HP TouchSmart 610.

Promising an ergonomic design, TouchSmart 610 features a display that can recline up to 30 degrees. The PC will come with TouchSmart software which will let users pinch, rotate, arc, flick, press, and drag items on their desktop with multi-touch gestures.

"TouchSmart 610 All-in-One PC has been designed to provide a holistic touch-enabled entertainment experience to our users and serve as a one stop shop for all their computing needs. Its reclining design with adaptable features makes it an ideal choice for users across age groups," said Vinay Awasthi, Sr Director Product & Marketing (PSG), HP India.

Featuring a 23-inch (57.5 cms) diagonal high-definition ( HD) display, TouchSmart610 offers increased range of motion, viewing and an intuitive touch experience. The wide-angle, LED backlit LCD screen provides optimal viewing angles, even when reclined. Promising uncluttered appearance, control features are located to the right and left sides of the display.

TouchSmart 610 also features the new HP LinkUp application, which allows users to wirelessly link a notebook PC to the TouchSmart using a home network.

The PC will also come pre-loaded with applications like Facebook, Twitter, as well as HP's RecipeBox, webcam and music applications. Users can also add new applications via the TouchSmart Apps Center.

The PC also features Beats Audio, a technology developed by HP and Beats by Dr Dre. It allows listeners to "hear music the way the artist intended it."

TouchSmart 610 will be available for Rs 74,150.

Blackberry PlayBook: Some hits, a few crucial misses

1Ghz dual-core processor, 7-inch screen (1024x600 pixels), 1GB RAM, HDMI out, Wi-Fi (no 3G option), 16GB internal storage (32GB and 64GB also available), 5MP rear camera, 3MP front camera

Tablets are the future. And, everyone wants to have a slice of this future. When Apple released iPad last year, few thought it would become such a huge phenomenon. But After the device's success, nobody wants to be left behind.

Companies like HTC, Acer, Samsung and Viewsonic have thrown their lot behind Android. Some others have decided to shoehorn Microsoft's Windows 7 in a tablet, hoping the success enjoyed by the OS on desktops will attract some attention to their unique offerings.

RIM, the company that makes BlackBerry phones, had other plans. Even though Android seemed tempting, it decided to build a new OS for its tablet. RIM bought a Canadian company in April 2010.

A few months later, it announced PlayBook, a tablet using an OS based on QNX, which was developed by the Canadian company. PlayBook is out in the market now. And, from the looks of it, is seemingly different from Android-based tablets or iPad. We dive deep to see if it succeeds where other iPad-challengers have failed.

What's good

As far as looks and feel go, PlayBook is standard affair. Unlike iPad, it's a 7-inch tablet. The smaller size and lesser weight (425 grams) make it more portable. The construction is all plastic - glossy around the screen and covered with soft rubber on the back. It feels nice to touch but is neither sturdy nor inspiring.

Screen is adequately bright with decent viewing angles and colours. However, where the tablet really stands apart from competition is in:

Multitasking: Both iPad and Android tablets - particularly iPad- are designed for single-window usage. There is multitasking in iOS and Android but it's rudimentary. PlayBook tries to pull one up on its competitors by offering better multitasking. And how does it achieve this? PlayBook puts the empty space on bezel around the screen to good use by making it part of the touch interface.

There are two ways to switch between apps. Swiping on the bezel from below will open a thumbnail strip of active apps - something like Alt+Tab on Windows 7 - and you can switch between apps. Or you can swipe left or right using the bezel to go back and forward through active windows. It's all pretty neat and is enough to make a considerable difference to the tablet experience in a good way.

Browser: Browsing on PlayBook is another area that is significantly better than the one offered by other tablets. Compatibility with the Web is superb - Flash is well supported - and switching between tabs is easy. There is no tabbed browsing like the one offered by Honeycomb browser on Android tablets, but PlayBook's way of switching between open tabs feels decent enough.

Multimedia: RIM may have made its name by selling BlackBerry phones, which are aimed at business users, but in PlayBook it has left no stone unturned to provide a decent multimedia experience.

Most of full HD (1080P) videos will play fine on PlayBook irrespective of their codecs. There is no need to juggle between file formats or change resolution. Speakers are very loud - it's a good thing - and support for HDMI port means you can connect PlayBook to your HDTV and play videos on it without much shenanigans.

... And what's bad

Surely, no device can be all goodie-goodie. All, iPad including, have flaws. The real question is how much of these flaws really affect user experience. PlayBook has some fantastic features. Unfortunately, its flaws are equally glaring. Let's get down to them:

Lack of apps: A tablet, or for that matter any computing device, is as good as its ecosystem. Despite all that is good with QNX operating software, PlayBook is too crippled by the lack of meaningful apps.

No, we are not talking about an app store that has gazillion apps and can match Apple and its iPad. It's a tall order that even Android tablet are finding difficult to match. The problem with PlayBook is that it doesn't even come with a Twitter or Gmail app. Hello RIM, we know PlayBook has a fantastic browser but putting web shortcuts to Gmail and Hotmail as apps is not really the best way to go about it.

Relies too much on BlackBerry: Apart from shortcuts, another trick that RIM uses to make PlayBook more appealing is Bridge, which allows users to connect to BlackBerry phone - if it runs OS 5 or above - to PlayBook.

With Bridge, users can access their BlackBerry mails, documents, data, etc, on PlayBook. Through Bluetooth, they can also share the phone's internet connection with PlayBook. All this is neat stuff. The problem is that PlayBook relies too heavily on it. If you don't have a BlackBerry phone, you have no mail or calendar app on PlayBook.

Hint of lag: For some strange reasons, QNX user interface is not always smooth. It has nothing to do with the hardware because if the device can play 1080P videos and handles multi-tasking with 10 apps effortlessly, it can definitely manage some animations and UI effects. This lag is not a deal-breaker and we are sure RIM will take care of it in subsequent updates. But currently it is there.

Other stuff

The onscreen keyboard is average. There is no autocorrect but spell check is present. Keeping in line with other tablets, there is a 5MP rear camera on PlayBook. Pictures and videos captured through this camera are above average for a tablet.

PlayBook comes with Bing Maps. In real-life use, we found it to be worse than Google Maps. Bing Maps may work well enough in the US but it would have been nice had RIM used Google Maps or service of some Indian-specific map provider like MapMyIndia here.

Battery life is below average, with our test unit struggling to last from morning to evening, without any charging under heavy to moderate use.

Sum of it all

PlayBook is RIM's first stab at the tablet market. For a newcomer, or maybe because of it, RIM does a lot of interesting stuff with it. Some of it works, some doesn't. Had RIM managed to get the ecosystem in place and a few basic apps going, PlayBook (16GB) could have been a very sweet deal at Rs 27,000.

But in its current state it will appeal only to those who already have a decent BlackBerry phone and for some reason don't want to buy an iPad 2 or an Android tablet.

HP offers big discount on TouchPad tablet in US

Hewlett-Packard Co is offering a hefty discount on its TouchPad tablet a month after it launched the WebOS-based mobile device in a booming market dominated by Apple Inc's iPad.

The company is offering an instant rebate of $100 on its website for both its 16 GB and 32 GB tablet versions, bringing their price down to $400 and $500, respectively.

This makes the TouchPad $100 cheaper than Apple's entry-level iPad.

HP has not revealed any sales figures on the tablet that launched in July along with a celebrity-studded marketing campaign. But the 9.7-inch tablet got off to a tepid start after critics assailed the TouchPad for poor battery life, slow processing speed and paucity of apps.

A HP spokesperson said the discount, which runs from August 5-7, was part of the company's regular seasonal promotions.

"We're excited to offer the promotion and deepen our commitment to deliver competitive products at competitive prices," she said in a statement.

The entry-level TouchPad is also being offered on Woot.com, a daily-deal site, at a further discount of $20.

Much of a mobile device's success is based on a robust ecosystem of apps, and HP is far behind Apple or Google's Android platform in the number of apps available.

The tablet was launched following HP's $1.2 billion acquisition of Palm and its WebOS platform last year with the hope the operating software will be incorporated into all the company's mobile devices and applications.

Shares of HP ended up 9 cents at $32.63 in a wildly volatile day on the New York Stock Exchange and other markets.

Benefits of grape seed oil

Grape seed oil is an important element in most cosmetic products. It's a byproduct of disposed grape fruit after wine preparation. Grape seed oil is nutty in flavour.

It is a great beauty oil for the skin and if used regularly can add a glow to your face. Grape, as a fruit, has immense medicinal qualities. It was known to be used several years back by healers in Europe, for the cure of several skin diseases. Grape seed oil has the quality of astringent, thus helps tighten and tone the skin. It treats stubborn acne and also helps to moisturise the skin. And if you dread those stretch marks, just use a little grape seed oil everyday and be ready to be surprised to see the change.

This non-greasy oil not only helps in nourishing ones skin, but if dabbed slightly, it gives a shimmering touch to your derma. It is also a great under-eye repair product. It can be used as an alternative for shaving cream. Wondering if you will ever find a natural way to protect your skin while you're about to step out in the scorching heat? Just apply a little grape seed oil on your face, as this oil acts as a sunscreen. What better than turning to natural remedies for the skin than using chemical based products? Grape seed oil is one the best oils for skin-related issues.

MSI to launch tablets @ Rs 13,999 in India

Taiwanese computer firm MSI said it would launch low cost tablets starting Rs.13,999 in the Indian market.

The tablet series - Enjoy - will include two variants -- a 10-inch Enjoy 10 for Rs 13,999 and 7-inch Enjoy 7 for Rs 14,999.

Speaking on the company's low cost strategy, MSI India general manager Eric Kuo told IANS: "Our products do not have some prominent features such as 3G and GPS because we do not see enough market for the same in a country like India currently which reduces the cost of the products to a great extent."

"'Enjoy' series has been designed keeping the ultimate end-user in mind, it offers productivity while on the go and provides more ways to have fun and connect with friends," he added.

The android tablets are equipped with dual 2 mega pixel cameras, 4 GB internal storage space micro-SD card slot (max 32 GB) and has a battery life of 5 hours.

In the burgeoning tablet market in India, MSI will have to compete with established brands such as Motorola, HTC, Apple, RIM and Samsung.

Huawei to launch cloud-based smartphones

China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's No 2 network equipment maker, will unveil cloud-computing mobile phones in an attempt to replicate its telecom gear success in the smartphone market.

The company, known for its low costs, is betting its cloud-computing smartphones will help the firm grab market share from the likes of Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics, analysts say. Huawei will launch its "Vision" smartphones at a media event in Beijing.

Cloud computing refers to data and software stored on computer servers rather than individual PCs and accessed over the Internet. Cloud computing smartphones will allow users to download applications without needing much storage space on their devices.

Last month, China's Alibaba Group launched its first self-developed mobile operating system and smartphone running on its cloud computing-based operating system.

Founded in 1987, Huawei has grown rapidly. The Shenzhen-based company reported revenue of $28 billion last year. It aims to boost revenue to $100 billion in the next 10 years.

Huawei's devices division, which focuses on consumer products such as smartphones, tablets and wireless cards, contributed about 17 percent to total revenue.

However, the company plans to boost its revenue in the consumer electronics space and aims to become the world's third largest cellphone maker within five years.

In July, Huawei Device executives said the firm aimed to ship 20 million smartphones this year, higher than a previous target of 12 million-15 million units.

In June, Huawei unveiled its MediaPad, a 7-inch Android-based tablet computer in Singapore, and is also developing a 10-inch device to be launched this year.

The privately-held company employs more than 110,000 people, about half of whom are based outside China.

Huawei's U.S. expansion plans in the network equipment sector have hit roadblocks on suspicions the company maintains links with China's military.

Ren Zhengfei, Huawei's low-profile founder who started the company with just 21,000 yuan ($3,200), served in the People's Liberation Army until 1983.

Buyers' guide: Which Android smartphone to buy

Question: I need a good mid-level Android smartphone. I have shortlisted two options which are the LG Optimus One P500 and the Spice Mi-410. Please help.

--by Harshit Batra

Answer: Harshit, out of the two the Spice makes a better choice, simply because feature to feature you get a lot more. It records HD video, offers a higher screen resolution of 480 x 800, sports a 5MP camera, and comes with a speedy 800MHz processor.

The LG Optimus One currently sells for roughly 11,990 is priced extremely well, but if you throw in a bit more, you can get a much better phone overall in the form of Spice Mi-410 at least on paper. How it performs in the real world, is something we can tell you only after a test.

Question: Which phone would you recommend among the Samsung Galaxy Fit. Galaxy Pop, Galaxy Pro and LG Optimus One? My requirements are a good processor preferably above 600mhz a confirmed update to Android 2.3 and a good screen.

--by Rahul Ramachandran

Answer: Hi Rahul, pick the LG Optimus One if you are looking to pick a phone from the above list that offers a confirmed Android 2.3 update. But if you could skip that, the Samsung Galaxy Pop is one heck of a feature rich phone, being offered at a ridiculously low price.

Question: I am looking for a cellphone with Android 2.3. You have said earlier that the Nexus S is nicely priced at 20,000 and good but is it worth spending more for the Galaxy S2? And doesn't the Google Nexus S too have an AMOLED screen? Which other Android phones would you recommend?

--by Rohan Kapashi

Answer: The Nexus S is a great phone for the price that it is being offered at. It is true the phone does feature a Super AMOLED screen, but in some countries it was offered with the Super LCD screen due to shortage of Super AMOLED displays.

You might want to spend more on the Galaxy SII if you want a slightly larger screen and a better camera. If not, the Nexus S is the phone of choice for you.

Question: Hi, I am searching for a DSLR camera with mirrorless technology with at least 12MP sensor. It will be good if it features FullHD video recording and can shoot well in low light.

--by Aushik Chikhale

Answer: When it comes to mirror-less cameras, there is a bit of choice in the market at the moment. Unlike last year when Panasonic was the sole player, currently you can choose from the Sony NEX-5, Olympus EP-3, and the Panasonic DMC G3, which are our top picks.

If you were to put a gun to our head and ask us which one we would pick, the answer would be the Panasonic DMC G3.

Question: I am planning to buy a LED TV for my room. Since the watching distance is not much, I think a 22 inch TV would work just fine. Please suggest the best TV with good sound and picture quality. My budget is between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.

--by Vineeta R

Answer: Looks like you are in luck. The Samsung UA22D5000NRLXL (the name couldn't possibly have been more complicated) is the perfect TV for you. It is 22in in size and it offers full HD video output at an absolute bargain. All yours for 20,900. Enjoy.

Question: Hi, I have a budget of 10,000 - 15,000 and I wish to buy a good digital camera from Canon, given its amazing picture clarity and its features. I'm interested in photography and want to try my hand at it with a proper cam, since my 5MP phone camera does not suffice. Can you please suggest the best model?

--by Mayur Kapoor

Answer: Hi Mayur, the only camera that comes to our mind is the brilliantly spec'd and priced Canon IXUS 220 HS. It sells for 10,995 and offers a 12.1MP sensor along with a 24mm ultra wide-angle lens, 5X optical zoom and can record movies in FullHD@ 24p. A great camera to begin your photography journey with.

Nokia unveils 1GHz Symbian phone Nokia 500

Beleaguered cellphone maker Nokia has unveiled its first Symbian-based smartphone running on 1GHz processor, Nokia 500. Nokia 500 is based on the current version of Symbian OS, Anna.

Measuring 111.3 x 53.8 x 14.1mm, the phone weighs 93 grams and comes with changeable back covers. Sporting a 3.2-inch capacitive touch display with a screen resolution of 640 x 360 pixels, Nokia 500 has a 5 megapixel camera.

The latest Symbian Anna OS mobile phone comes with a refreshed user interface (UI) and improved browser and split-screen messaging. The phone also has the latest version of Nokia Maps for free drive and walk navigation pre-installed.

The phone also packs a music player with FM and internet radio. There's a Social app that brings users all social media updates directly on the homescreen.

As for memory, the smartphone is equipped with 2GB memory expandable up to 32GB with micro-SD card. For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi b/g, 3.5 mm jack and microUSB port.

Nokia claims that the smartphone's battery offers 5-7 hours talktime, 450+ hours standby or up to 35 hours of music playback. Nokia 500 is expected to come at a price of 150 euros (Rs 9500 approx) and is scheduled to hit markets in the third quarter of this year.