issue dated september 1, 2010

SmartbuyWednesday, September 1, 2010

G A D G E T S | A U T O | L U X U R Y www.blsmartbuy.com

Business Line

Rover rafting Taking the Queen’s carthrough the woodsPage 8

Asus Bamboo U43Jc reviewedMassage goes high-tech+

2 September 1, 2010Smartbuy

WHAT’S HOT this week

With 18x zoom, the Finepix 1800 from Fujifilm lets you get closer than ever to your subject. It comeswith Instant Zoom, which lets you take a long distance shot of your subject with its surroundings,and then crop into the subject after the photo is taken. It has a stabilised CCD sensor and ISO 6400for sharp shots in low light and also a variety of scene modes, Tracking Auto Focus, Smile and ShootMode, Blink Detection and Panorama mode. Choose from a full range of manual functions forprofessional users, or Automatic Scene Recognition for beginners.

Rs 14,999

Get closer Fujifilm Finepix S1800

This laptop features a 15.6-inch HD glossy LCD in widescreen format and an HDMIoutput for viewing content on an external display. The keyboard is resistant to spillsand offers a full numeric keypad for high usability. The Lifebook AH530 GFX isspecially designed for demanding graphics, pictures and video applications with theATI Mobility Radeon HD550v graphics on-board and a dedicated 1GB video memory.The model is available in glossy black and ink blue.

Rs 43,990

Graphic content Fujitsu Lifebook AH530 GFX

If you’re tired of the sameold monochrome harddrives, then the new Skinhard drives from Iomegamight be just what youwant. Available in threedifferent designs – Radical,Red Hot and Knock Out –these drives come in a500GB capacity. The drivesare portable, and comewith USB 2.0 for simpleplug and play use. Theyalso come with Iomega’sDrop Guard protection,which guarantees a safe fallof up to 51 inches ontoindustrial carpet. Thedrives also have IomegaProtection Suite whichprovides anti-virusprotection.

Rs 5,900

‘Skin’ is inIomega Skin

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It’ll be a tad difficult to keep your eyes off this103-inch display adorning your living room oroffice space. Turn it on to watch your favouriteaction flick or catch up on the sports season orconnect it to your laptop and use it for officialpresentations. The TH-103PF12 features Neo-PDPtechnology that gives you a display which is twiceas bright compared to other plasma screens. Thistechnology helps enhance the brightness andcontrast while improving motion pictureperformance.

Rs 30 lakh

The head-turnerPanasonic TH-103PF12

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or music lover, thesefunky new headphones from Razer are the perfectcompanion for you. The headphones come with a plugand switch cable, as well as two braided cables – oneshorter standard version for listening to music and alonger two metre one for gaming. With enhanced drivers,sound is optimised both in the middle of gaming actionand when it comes to pumping up the bass in your music.The Orca comes in a ‘circumaural’ design to snugly fitaround your head, and has a lightweight build, making itvery portable.

Rs 3,599

Work ‘n’ playRazer Orca

The striking new Full Metal Jacket and Titanearphones from Skullcandy are sure to up yourstyle quotient. The swanky looking FMJ is speciallydesigned to go with your Blackberry or youriPhone, apart from the usual Mp3 players. This pairhas an integrated microphone with Noise Isolatingand bass booster features. The Skullcandy Titancomes with precision-tuned drivers in laser-cutaluminium with noise-isolating features to give yousuperior audio playback. The earphone has a3.5mm gold-plated plug to resist corrosion.

Rs 3,559 (FMJ)Rs 2,099 (Titan)

W‘ear’able trendsSkullcandy FMJ & Titan series


LAPTOP review

Mahananda Bohidar

While most tech companies are trying to out-do one another by innovating and incorpo-rating cutting edge technology in theirproducts, some are also looking to do this

while keeping the spirit of ‘going green’ alive. In an at-tempt to make the numerous gizmo-loving consumersmore eco-conscious, Asus had launched their first Bamboolaptop in 2008. The ASUS U43Jc is the latest addition tothe series loaded with some powerful tech specs evenwhile keeping all the environment-friendly features in-tact.

User ExperienceA sleek chassis made of matt bamboo and shiny aluminiumlends the ASUS U43Jc a distinctive look. The bambooexteriors also help in keeping it a relatively lightweightlaptop. The ASUS U43Jc has a 14-inch LCD screen with aresolution of 1366 x 768. The screen supports the wide-screen format, providing a 16:9 aspect ratio for watchingmovies. While the viewing angles for the laptop are quitedecent, the screen isn’t anti-glare and this could potential-ly be a dampener during your movie marathons. Thelaptop has built-in stereo speakers with SRS PremiumSurround Sound. While the audio quality is good, thevolume can’t really be pumped up enough for movies ormusic tracks to be audible in a crowded room. The fact

that the stereo speakers face downwards at the user-end ofthe laptop doesn’t help either.

The chiclet keyboard looks neat and is nicely spaced outbut the keys lack a firm tactile feedback. Also, the layout ofthe keys is slightly different than what you might find onother keyboards, with the ‘Enter’ key having been slightlymodified along with a couple of other minor changes.Some of the keys double up as shortcuts to multimediafunctions like launching the web cam or activating ascreen saver.

It’s only a barely visible and barely tactile depressiondemarcating the touchpad from the ‘woody’ palm rest.While the touchpad was sensitive enough at most times,the click buttons felt ‘rigid’. The right and left click buttonsare also barely distinguishable and it takes an effort to clickon either one to launch a certain function.

The laptop has two ‘Power’ buttons, one on either sideof the top panel. The one on the right is the main powerbutton while the one on the left launches the company’sproprietary mini-O/S, the Asus Express Gate – now in-cluded only in ASUS’s high-end laptops. This is an instantbooting OS (starts in about five seconds) that lets you surfthe internet, browse through your photographs and playFlash-based mini games. You can also customise it to beable to access IM services like AIM, Google Talk, MSN andYahoo through a software called Pidgin. You can configureyour IM accounts and log in to multiple chats at a time.

Performance

This powerhouse U43Jc comes equipped with a 2.4GHzIntel Core i3-370M processor with 3MB shared cache,4GB DDR3, 1066MHz RAM and 500GB of hard disk spacefor storage.

For efficient playback of HD content or hardcore gam-ing, the laptop’s powered with Nvidia GeForce GT310Mgraphics with 1GB of dedicated GDDR3 video memory.

This is the first Bamboo notebook to feature Nvidia’sOptimus technology that enables the system to switchbetween high-end discrete graphics and the usual brows-ing or other applications that do not require the use ofdedicated graphics. This, in turn, helps conserve batterypower and leads to prolonged battery life.

The U43Jc also features what ASUS calls the SuperHybrid Engine. This engine automatically detects systemrequirements at any given point of time and regulatespower accordingly thereby making it possible to increasepower availability after a single charge by almost 50 percent.

The laptop has three USB ports with one of them beingthe latest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port that lets you transfercontent with very high speeds. Ports for HDMI, VGA andethernet are available and wireless connectivity are en-abled with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1.

For geeks going green!Photos: S.S. Kumar

Did you think Nintendo invented the motion-sensingtech in the Wii? Think again. Movea actually patented

and leased the tech to Nintendo and Movea offshoot Gyra-tion now brings the same tricks to your work presenta-tions via the Air Mouse Elite.

ControlsLift this ambidextrous controller off the desk, squeeze thetrigger on its underbelly and it becomes a motion controll-er. It’s impressively accurate from up to 100 feet away,bettering the Wiimote because it only needs to detectmovement in two dimensions.

This precision control isn’t the only weapon in Gyra-tion’s arsenal. The bundled MotionTools software suiteallows you to programme each of the four buttons’ func-tions, coupling button presses with gestures. Options aredivided into ones for media playback, browsing at a dis-tance via IPTV and those all-important presentations.

Gesturing back and forth whips you through Power-Point slides, while more complex options include zoomingand air-drawing directly onto slides to highlight key areas.The result is polished presentations – you’ll have ’emeating out of your elegantly gesturing hands.

The Elite manages about two weeks of regular usebetween visits to its recharging dock. Be aware that you’llhave to install software on any computer you want to use iton; something that may cause problems if you’re usingsomeone else’s set-up.

Still, if all else fails, you can always use the Air MouseElite as, well, a regular mouse.

For pleasureThe Air Mouse isn’t just for the boardroom… The Elite’sprogrammable configurations go well beyond just makingpresentations. They’re good news for anyone with a PC-connected TV, making web browsing and navigating Win-dows Media Centre functions a breeze – it won’t workwith Apple Front Row, alas – as well as letting you skipthrough musical tracks or videos with a flick of your wrist.

Rs 6,500

Up in the air

T3 India

Green Quotient

ASUS’s ‘4 Green Home Runs’ strategy that involves choos-ing to go green with design, manufacturing, procurement,service and marketing is what makes the Bamboo seriesspecial. Plus, the product is shipped in green productpackaging that involves 100 per cent recyclable bamboopulp and non-woven packing cloth to appeal to your greensensibilities.

VerdictThe ASUS U43Jc is a decently powered machine with thenecessary green quotient for the eco-conscious. The lap-top isn’t sluggish and battery life doesn’t disappoint,though there’s room for improvement in its audio andvideo playback capabilities and touchpad experience.

Rs 61,999

RatingsAesthetics: 4/5User Interface: 3/5Features: 4/5Value For Money: 3/5

CAMERA lineup

With an 18-meg CMOS producing prints up to 26x17inches, the EOS 550D is a camera for aspiring pros. Auto-focus is lightning fast and pictures are consistently topclass. The 550D also boasts the best video on test with1080p recording, adjustable frame rates, low light shoot-ing to ISO 12,800 and a handy HDMI output. On the debitside, the build is plasticky – but still robust feeling. Imagestabilisation is only via stabilised lenses such as the 18-55mm one bundled with this, but controls are well placed,making this extremely user friendly. Love: Semi-pro specs. Fast focus. Excellent videoHate: No built-in image stabilisation. Dull styling

Rs 51,995Rating: 5/5

The moisture and dust-resistant, 670g K-7 tops Pentax’sDSLR range, with a 14.6-meg CMOS sensor and 18-55mmkit lens. As you’d expect of the most expensive camera ontest, the K-7 is brimming with tech, including automatichorizon correction and lens correction that aim to giveyour snaps a more professional sheen. Pictures are gener-ally sharp, although the Canon’s autofocus is noticeablyquicker. There’s a three-inch LCD or large viewfinder forframing pics and 720p HD recording at 30fps. Love: Plenty of built-in tech. Compatible with a widerange of lensesHate: Bulky and pricey

TBCRating: 4/5

GGoo With the price range betweenthe point-and-shoots and the

DSLRs visibly dipping, there’sgood reason for photography

enthusiasts out there to go foran upgrade. This hand-picked

range includes establishedDSLRs as well as entry-level

Micro Four Thirds cameras, soget ready to get snapping

Fairest of them allCANON EOS 550D

Tech heavyPENTAX K-7

Equip the Nikon D5000 with this optional GPS unit and itwill record exactly where each photograph is taken.

Rs 14,200

NIKON GP-1 GPS

The G2 is a Micro Four Thirds camera that fits a host oftop-end features into a compact casing by omitting theinternal mirror mechanism, bringing the lens and 12.1-megCMOS sensor closer together. Even the most inept willfind they can take sharp, colour-rich photos using the G2’sIntelligent Auto mode. There’s also 720p HD video re-cording, with a dedicated record button and mini HDMIport, and a three-inch screen with limited touch screencontrol. There are real knobs, dials and buttons for tradi-tionalists too. Love: Compact design. One-touch recording. Touch-screen controlsHate: It’s not the cheapest Micro Four Thirds cam

TBCRating: 5/5

Slimmer than the G2, the NX10 has also jettisoned theinternal mirror to achieve a smaller, easier to handle, 353gbody. The 14.6-meg pictures delivered via the opticallystabilised 18-55mm kit lens are sharp and colourful butremain natural looking. 720p video recording gives goodresults too. Unlike on rival cameras there’s no button toquickly swap viewpoint between the three-inch AMOLEDdisplay and the electronic viewfinder; eye sensors do thesame job. For a relatively untried and untested camerasystem, the NX10 does a very decent job.Love: Portable, with top-notch picture qualityHate: Few compatible lenses available


The Nikon D5000 has a 12.3-meg CMOS sensor, 720pvideo shooting with an HDMI output and great shootingin low light thanks to an ISO range that goes up to 6,400.Stunningly sharp shots are consistently achieved withminimum effort thanks to advanced scene recognition andactive D-lighting, while colours are realistic, if subduedcompared to the Canon’s shots. The D5000 has the abilityto shoot around corners with a quirky, adjustable 2.7-inchLCD which adds bulk, but at 560g the D5000 is still amanageable size and great for beginners with a very niftyauto mode.Love: Bundled anti-shake lens. Good auto modeHate: Low-res screen


PPrroo!!High-end snapping

PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-G2

Lightweight companionSAMSUNG NX10

Jack of all tradesNIKON D5000

Struggling to be heard? You need an off-camera micro-phone such as this stereo one, which is compatible withthe G2.

Rs 9,300

PANASONIC DMW-MS1

T3 India


AUTO focus

S. Muralidhar

Many amongst us, of the current generation,might recall the scene in the movie ‘The Queen’in which Helen Mirren playing Queen ElizabethII is shown weeping out of frustration and

loneliness after damaging her Land Rover while trying tocross a river in Balmoral estate. It is a widely known fact thatthe British royalty has had a soft corner for Land Rovers, andthough it is entirely possible to damage a Land Rover whiledriving it off-road, in the movie, the director was probablyallowing himself an overindulgence of melodrama.

Land Rovers are built to ford rivers, climb hilly and rockyterrain, and take on a lot of unexplored geography withoutleaving the occupants flustered. You’ll see them in NationalGeographic being used for transporting crew and camerasnear the slopes of the Kilimanjaro for the latest documentaryon wild Africa. You’ll see them on your trip to Leh and Ladakh,and you just might get to see a decades old model still doingerrands in an older part of your town. Land Rovers continueto epitomise off-roading reliability, lifelong durability andluxury befitting royalty.

Testing times at EastnorIt is one thing though, to watch documentaries in which LandRovers come out unscathed from the toughest of drivingsituations, and a whole different experience being in thecentre of it all, driving one of these luxurious off-roaders,while you are at the wheel trying to pull it out of what seemslike waist deep quicksand!

My turn to put a couple of Land Rover / Range Rover

models through some serious rock climbing and mud-slingingcame last month. I had been invited by Land Rover to one ofits experience centres, a few hours away from London, UK.

The Land Rover Experience Malverns, as the centre iscalled, is situated on the 5,000-acre Eastnor Castle Estate, atthe foot of Malverns Hills in Herefordshire.Featuring steepslippery inclines, articulation tracks, ruts, open ground anddeep water, Eastnor Castle and Land Rover have had along-standing ‘ testing’ relationship. The terrain here is sovaried and challenging that it has been used for decades as asecret test facility to refine and test the off-road capability ofevery new Land Rover.

The courses at Malverns are used to improve the skills ofpolice forces, the military, highways agency patrols, ambu-lance crews, and search and rescue organisations. If you usea four-wheel drive vehicle for the purpose of work, get youressential health and safety training here.

Engineering tests on the first Range Rover were conduct-ed on the estate and, as their names suggest, every track androute can tell a story – Gearbox Hill, Seager’s, The Steps,Gravestones and Roger’s Quarry. The centre itself is in anewly refurbished building in the Eastnor Castle groundsknown as the Bothy and is a delicate balance of an old estatebuilding combined with 21st century technology.

There is more than 30 miles of country tracks and man-aged trails that run through the sprawling 5,000 acrespread. The estate itself is a mix of rolling hills and thickwoods, and various obstacles resembling real-life off-roadsituations, have been created to give drivers some of the

most demanding experiences.

On track, behind the wheelsI choose the Range Rover Sport from the line up of vehiclesbeing offered at the gates to the experience centre. Insidethe Range Rover, there is no hint of it being capable oftackling rocky and slushy terrain. Instead, there is double-stitched, supple leather seating, real-wood trim, 2-zone cli-mate control and a Harman-Kardon Logic 7 surround soundaudio system, features that you’ll think are more at home in avehicle that’ll drive up to the red carpet.

First, we tackle a few prepared obstacles like big potholes,steep inclines and precarious slopes, testing the Range Rov-er’s range of technologies that help it stay upright and incontrol. Features like permanent four-wheel drive with highand low range, and the electronic centre differential, havebeen combined with fully independent electronic air suspen-sion with variable ride height and Adaptive Dynamics tomake the hulking Range Rover sure-footed. The ‘ wow’ mo-ments are those when these technologies combine to pull theRange Rover out of situation on the track when two diag-onally opposite wheels are in the air! After some more of theprepared tracks experience, including a sharp rocky patch,we head to the hills.

The Eastnor experience is not complete without an ele-ment of unpredictability to it, despite the fact that the tracksare all managed – even those up the hills and through thewoods. The element of uncertainty often comes in the form ofsudden changes in weather. As we drive up the hill, the milddrizzle becomes a more steady rain and the clay track be-

Tackling the wilderness inPosh’s machine

comes slippery.The track becomes narrower and I was soon driving

through thick under-brush, loose gravel slopes andsqueezing the vehicle between trees. To test the HillDescent Control feature, going down steep descents, Ilet go of the throttle and brake pedals of the Range Roverallowing the vehicle’s on-board computer to take controlof the braking at each wheel to avoid skidding andslippage.

Inside the luxurious cabin of the Range Rover nothingseeps through except for the occasional swoosh of thewiper blade and the mild hum of the 3.6-litre LR-TDV8turbocharged diesel engine. Outside, the rain is unrelent-ing and I can see the rain water gushing downhill innarrow gullies alongside the track and collecting in thelarge canal we are about to negotiate.

The Land Rover instructor seated next to me sees theconcern on my face and starts to assure me that thewater level will be under control. We take a right turn,

glide down the embankment and there it was - a long,windy tree-lined canal - that hardly looks like it is amanaged track. In front of me another driver is gingerlynegotiating the flooded track and the water level is sohigh it almost seems like it will swallow the bonnet of theFreelander 2 he was driving.

To make the experience more challenging the instruc-tors had markers hanging down from branches. Set closeto the dimensions of the vehicles we were driving, thechallenge was to avoid knocking on them (with the doormirrors open), even as your heart is pounding with thewater level visibly rising up the side of the car. The RangeRover hardly complained, even though the tail pipe wascompletely submerged and the exhaust was burbling upfrom under the muddy waters.

Wanderer in features and spiritThe Land Rover Experience Malverns is a unique showcase ofthis legendary British marque’s off-roading prowess. It really

is an adventure that encourages drivers to push both thevehicle and themselves to the limit.

But the real heroes here would be the Land Rover andRange Rover vehicles. Built with a purpose, they sport somepretty impressive statistics. Consider these - ground clear-ance, off-road height of 283mm (almost twice as much as theaverage sedan), wading depth of 700mm, an off-road ap-proach angle of 34 degrees and an off-road ramp angle of 30degrees.

Lowered in height and relieved of the need to keep itsfour-wheel drive systems engaged, Land Rover’s vehicles areequally capable on regular roads.

Most Land Rover owners aren’t going to be putting theirvehicles through the kind of extreme conditions that theExperience centre had, but the fact that they can handle suchabuse can be quite comforting to know when you are stuck inthe middle of a flooded street or if you have to take adiversion to avoid a landslide.

Send feedback to: [email protected]


Victoria to ‘Evoque’ design magic

Land Rover and Range Rover vehicleshave been popular amongst both male andfemale owners. There is a natural tendencyto feel safe and secure in any of these mod-els.

But, the appointment of Victoria Beck-ham, in July this year, as the Creative De-sign Executive for developing the RangeRover Brand’s special edition vehicles, cre-ated quite a controversy. While the logicbehind choosing the ex-pop star, who isalso the wife of world-renowned footballerDavid Beckham, was her much-acclaimedtaste in luxury and design, critics claimedthat the image she would bring to thebrand might dilute it, moving away from itsage-old association with serious motoring.

The first product on which the designcollaboration between Land Rover andRange Rover Design Director, GerryMcGovern’s team and Victoria will workon is the new Range Rover Evoque. Calledthe baby Range Rover, the Evoque featuresa compact, two-door crossover design, afirst for the brand. Based on the LRX pro-totype developed a few years ago, therewill be more firsts in the Evoque, includinga two-wheel drive-only option. It will alsobe one of the greenest Range Rovers ever

made, featuring the best ever fuel-efficien-cy figures and lowest ever CO2 emissionfor a vehicle from the brand.

The Evoque is due to be officially un-veiled at the Paris Motor Show later thismonth. Despite the criticism for the newvehicle and its brand ambassador (so to

day), the Evoque really represents the fu-ture. In the company’s portfolio, RangeRover brand is chronologically youngerthan Land Rover and clearly it needs tobecome even more so to be attractive to theyounger buyers.

Whether the association with Victoria

Beckham proves beneficial to the brandwill only become evident in the years tocome. But with her own fashion label toboot and a fine taste in design, she justmight do the trick in spicing up the interi-ors of the Evoque. She is ‘Posh Spice’ afterall.

Photo: S. Muralidhar


AUTO news

Maruti Suzuki’s celebration for the first anni-versary of its hot hatch – the Ritz takes the

shape of a new special, limited edition. Much of the changes to the new Ritz Genus are

cosmetic with the most visible being the new dualtone interiors. The new dashboard tone combina-tion matches the exclusive new Blue body colourthat the Genus is being offered in.

While the Ritz Genus retains the best featuresof the original it also features exciting new in-clusions such as the distinct body graphics, bodyside mouldings, rear wiper-cum-washer and key-less entry. The interiors also boast tilt-adjustablesteering, rear parcel tray, radio and CD playerwith speaker and a dual tone dashboard withblue-grey shades.

The Genus also gets a brand new signaturebody colour ‘Emerald Blue’ which is further ac-centuated through matching door handles andbody coloured door mounted rear view mirrors.The new special edition will continue to be of-fered with the existing powertrain options of theRitz – the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder K-Series petrolengine and the 1.3-litre, DDiS diesel engine.

Ritz genus will be available as an option on theRitz VXi (Petrol) and Ritz VDi (Diesel) modelsand will be priced at Rs 4,52,349 and Rs 5,31,410respectively (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Ritz now gets aGenus

Mercedes-Benz India is launching new models with avengeance. Continuing its spree of new launches

and taking the fight to a new level in the competitivecategory which is populated by the likes of its E-Class, theBMW 5 Series and the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz India hasnow rolled out the E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY.

Marking the debut of CGI technology in the E-Classrange, the new E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY is beingoffered in Elegance trim styling. Mercedes-Benz claimsthat CGI technology combined with BlueEFFICIENCYmeasures ensures optimised efficiency, performance aswell as environmental compatibility in the new E-Classmodel.

The new model features the 1,796cc, four-cylinder, pet-rol engine that develops a peak power of 183 bhp at 5,600rpm and a peak torque of 285Nm at 2,400 – 4,000 rpm.The engine is paired with a five speed transmission withtouch-shift.

The E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY has been aggressive-ly priced at Rs 38.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). TheE-Class range now has eight models on offer in India andprices range from Rs 38.6 lakh to Rs 64.5 lakh for the E 350Cabriolet.

Merc launches E 200 CGIBlueEFFICIENCY


MASSAGE trends

Act 1. Scene 1. After a tiring day at work you fill atub with hot water, add those essential oils andbath salts and soak your feet in for ten minutesof bliss. You then cut two slices of cucumber

and place it on your eyes to ease the strain, switching onthe music to add to the experience.

Act 1. Scene 2. You come back home after a tiring day atwork and plonk yourself on the massage chair, set it to the‘relax’ mode and sit on it for 10 minutes as it kneads yourevery muscle for complete relaxation. You then zap on theeye massager and click on the remote for the most sooth-ing eye massage ever and perhaps that special head mas-sager that combines air pressure technology and vibration,and yes, set it all to soothing music.

Thanks to innovative technologies and easy accessibil-ity of massage equipment, you no longer need to lookpleadingly at your reluctant spouse for a quick foot rub,nor will you need to fix a monthly appointment with themasseuse. Now, you have your own, at home.

New technologiesWhile air pressure technology and vibrations ruled theroost in the massage world, newer tech is being experi-mented with in the personal equipment category.

Hydro: Cashing in on the natural, hygienic and ther-apeutic properties of water, high-end massage equip-ments are blending in hydrotherapy with other massagetherapies for a wholesome massage experience. The latestto hit the Indian market is the Aqua Spa, where one stepsin fully clothed, is blanketed with a water-proof cover and

is massaged upon using 36 computer controlled water jetsfor a ‘finger tip’ stimulation. Customers can manuallycustomise it to mimic a gentle shower or extreme force.And yes the best part, one steps out as fresh as a daisy butas dry as a bone! While it’s difficult to house the same inindividual homes, it is ideal for office spaces where thebosses want to earn some brownie points.

Music: Usually teamed with massage equipments, espe-cially chairs, head and eye massagers, music is used tocomplement the experience as well as act as a therapy ofits own. Most manufacturers give users options on thekind of music which usually ranges from chirping birds,flowing water and breathing. The equipments usuallyhave in-built speakers with a choice of music and pro-grammes. Some also provide the option of plugging in youriPod and listening to your personal favourites

Heat: Usually peculiar to massage chairs and back mas-sagers, companies recreate the traditional ‘hot water bags’therapy by incorporating a heating system in the equip-

In the‘knead’ for

homelypamperingGetting a massage doneneed no longer involve a

trip to the spa or dialing ina personal masseuse. With

the press of a button,rollers, vibrators, tappers

and air bags team up togive you a massage just the

way you want it. ANUSHYAMAMTORA sinks into some

luxe leather massage chairsand wraps around eye

massagers, to tell you howpampering gets its newhigh with compact and

accessible personalmassage equipments

Did you know?While most massage chairs come with remote

controls and even touch screens to browse and pickan ideal massage session, there are some who take ita tech step further by making it an app. One canwirelessly control the functions with an iTouch,iPhone or iPad!

OSIM iPamper handheld massager


ments that can either be a default option or be adjusted tosuit personal needs.

Light: Chromatherapy is the latest tech to step intopersonal massage equipment, beginning with the massagechair. OSIM’s uSpace uses this therapy as the user getscocooned in the chair and chooses from ‘relax’, ‘balance’and ‘rejuvenate’ which soothes with the perfect blend oflight and colour.

Ergonomically soundIf one were to check out the timeline of Panasonic massagechairs, it’s easy to see how much the product has evolvedfrom boxy compartments to those that boast of ace design,take the shape of your body and simply blend in with thehome environment like a piece of décor. The massagechair has been the most ergonomically evolved from aneye-soar of a humungous dentist-chair-like design to achic and colourful unit such as Panasonic’s Sofa Chair orthe uSoffa Petit of OSIM. The use of luxurious fabrics,high-end leather and wooden accents has made the ‘con-vertible’ massage chair swivel from a masseuse to a classyoffice chair or living room cynosure.

The introduction of smaller equipments that are com-pact, aesthetically designed with apt features too havewon customers across the globe. Massage cushions torelax your back, strap-ups to don on for targeted bodymassages, one to wrap up just your head or your eye, orsimply just your calves and feet or neck and shoulder, andhand-helds to focus just anywhere, the equipments aregetting compact and specific by the day. This is of ad-vantage to those who don’t want to go the whole hog with achair and shell out anywhere between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 4lakh but still want to indulge in a little pampering. Smallerequipment start from as little as Rs 6,000 and go up to Rs 1lakh depending upon the features offered.

Trendy the traditional wayThe latest in the massage scene is to take a leaf from traditional

techniques and present it in its modern avatar. No wonder then thatbrands like Panasonic and Omega have massage chairs with Swed-ish massage options. Massage chairs are equipped with rollers,heating elements, tappers and vibrators to effectively perform thesix important techniques of the Swedish style: traction, vibration,friction, effleurage, petrissage and tapottement at the click of theremote button. Japanese manufacturers have also brought in theoriental massage Shiatsu to the massage table… err chair.

The magic chairFrom airport lounges to five star hotel rooms, office spaces to a personal library, massage

chairs have made their presence felt in every nook where one feels the need to relax.These chairs have evolved from regular massage techniques to advanced tech whichaims at making the experience as close as possible to a trained masseuse. The advancedones also let you choose from various programs and moods to give you just the perfectmassage. If you are looking for one to lounge in, here are some popular brands toconsider:

OSIM: Its massage chairs are popular and range from full body ones to de-signer options. While its latest, vibrantly hued uSoffa Petit is an eyeturner, one can choose from the basic Rs 1.20 lakh NORO Melody or thehighly advanced uDesire (Rs 2.49 lakh) and uSpace (Rs 3.99 lakh).

Panasonic: Specialising in massage chairs, their latest is the NewReal Pro claimed to be the world’s first ‘massagetechnique selector’ chair with 1,117 combination ofmassage variations.

La-Z-Boy: One of the biggest name in reclinersalso have massage options on some of their plushrecliners in interesting colours and fabrics.

Natuzzi: International furniture brandhas some exclusive ‘modern arm-chairs’ with massage technologythat can blend seamlessly withyour living room décor.

Proline Fitness: Has a rangeof luxury massage chairsin collaboration withJohnson Health Tech.

Natuzzi’s Genny chair withmassage technology

OSIM’s uSpace

OSIM’s uSoffa Petit


MELANGE luxury redefined

This trendy black jacket apart, Esprit has quite acollection up its sleeve in its Rodeo-inspired rangethis season. Vintage looks, motorcycle fashion orthe classic relaxed, men and women can head toits exclusive stores to sink into them effortlessly.

Rs 590 onwards

Zip it up!

A bracelet with a giant crystal, clawset pearl ring and one in black crystaltoo – MAWI’s little pieces ofstatement jewellery doesmake the point loud andclear. Available atOzel, New Delhi. Rs 15,000

Swarovski pleases the brides thisseason with a sparklingcollection to choose from.This Power Jet eveningbag is a hand-heldcrystal meshminaudiere with aremovable ruthenium-plated snake chainhandle that can makeheads turn on thatspecial day. Available

at Swarovskiboutiques.

Rs 42,000

For the trousseau

Tathaastu’s latest is thislittle hamper for the man– body deo, shaving geland aftershave which hasthe right dash offragrance and is free ofsulphates and parabenpreservatives. Pick oneup at its store in DLFPromenade, New Delhi.Rs 750

Kit for ‘him’

… with these new pairs ofRunning shoes from FILA.The range includesIntercept, Skylite, Hexon,Surge, Alloy and Racer,all highly competitivewith cushion support.Available at leadingfootwear stores.Rs 1,699 to Rs 2,399

Run along...

For those whoswear by this NewYork brand, thegood news is thatthe yummy lipbalms, nourishingshampoos, creamsand moisturisers,and other skin andhair preparationscan be picked upright here. Octoberonwards,Ambience Mall,New Delhi. Rs 495 to Rs 3,800

Kiehl inIndia

Black velvet with a gold-fringe taking pride ofplace, gold-tone hardware and brown satin lining,this Baguette Fringed Velvet bag from Fendi is a

delightful gift to own. Available at its store inEmporio Mall, New Delhi.

Rs 52,978

Velvety baguette

Enchanting trinkets


EVENT meter

The luxury crystal major has launched itsnew boutique design concept in Chennai.

Located at the newly opened ExpressAvenue Mall, the 450 sqft boutique

interprets the ‘Crystal Forest’ themeusing an array of stainless steel prisms,

fascinating displays, vibrant colourtouches and light and floating window

boxes. The boutique features the AutumnWinter 2010 collection of Swarovski

which include limited edition pieces andspecials, and its jewellery and watch

range.

Swarovski’s newconcept boutique

Getting together ace jewellerydesigners under one roof, therecently concluded IndiaInternational Jewellery Week hadmodels and showstoppersshowcasing gorgeous pieces ofbling. From brands like Mirari,Gitanjali, Ganjam Nagappa,Amrapali and Tanishq to designerslike Farah Khan, Varuna D Jani,everyone had exclusive collectionslined up.

Dazzling displayNeeta Lulla forNakshatra Vivah

Jewellery

If you are travelling to Italy the coming month and have a thing for champagnes,then a visit to the first Dom Pérignon Lounge bar at The Bulgari Hotel Garden in

Milan is a must-visit. While one can savour Dom Pérignon Blanc and Roséchampagne paired with caviar and an exclusive selection of titbits, the high red

beech hedge that surrounds the stylish bar can add to the experience. A toast to that!

Lounge bar for connoisseursChennaities can now look forward to add glamour to their wardrobe with French

Connection opening its first exclusive store in the city at Express Avenue mall. Likeits edgy style, the store too has been made spunky yet sleek and houses the latest

collection as well as some all-time favourites. And the models sporting the key looksdidn’t sizzle the ramp but had visitors gaping in admiration as they doubled up as

mannequins. FCUK went the live installation way!

FCUK it!

issue dated september 1, 2010

Documents

u x u r y

this103inch display

external display

thesefunky new headphones

new skinhard drives

video applications

demanding graphics

music lover