SmartbuyWednesday, December 29, 2010

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

Business Line

Microsoft Kinect experienced

New MacBook Air reviewed+

Nudes all the way!Fashion’s ’skin-deep’ formulaPage 12

Nudes all the way!Fashion’s ’skin-deep’ formulaPage 12

The G73Jw from ASUS is a 3D-ready, HD gaming laptop from theRepublic of Gamers. The laptop

features a 17.3-inch glaredisplay with a 3D LCDpanel. The gaming machinefeatures an output throughwhich you can connect to a3D-enabled TV via the newHDMI 1.4 standard andcontinue the actionwithout any loss in fidelity.The ASUS G73Jw runs onIntel Quad Core i7-

740QM, has a 1TG harddrive, a 2-meg cam

and comes bundledwith a 3D

receiver and apair of 3Dglasses.

Rs 1,21,499

2 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

Break into 3D!ASUS G73Jw

The most premium of theWave series, the 523features a brushed metalback cover and integratedleather flip. It includes a5-meg camera with LEDflash, music player and a3.5mm headphone jack. Italso allows easy access tosocial networking sites likeFacebook, MySpace, Flickrand YouTube. It also hasBluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi andUSB to keep youconnected.Rs 13,500

The Android 2.1 powered Zen Pad is the latest Indian attempt at a tablet. You can accesssocial networking sites, chat, and watch videos on the built in YouTube app. It comes with anHDMI port so you can connect it to your TV. It also features a 0.3-meg camera at the rear.The screen is an LED backlit with a resolution of 800x480, with the only gripe being aresistive touch screen. Rs 13,990

Desi offering Zen Pad

Team SmartbuyEditorial

Anushya Mamtoraanushya@thehindu.co.in

Ketaki Bhojnagarwalaketaki@thehindu.co.in

Mahananda Bohidarmahananda@thehindu.co.in

S.Muralidharmuraliswami@thehindu.co.in

Design

Bryan Gaughanaqua@thehindu.co.in

Balakrishnandesignkbala@thehindu.co.in

Advertising ContactR.Diwakarramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in

Web Advertising ContactN. Amarnathamarnath@thehindu.co.in

Circulation Contact

R. Mohanrammohanram@thehindu.co.in

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Cover photo courtesy: Lanvin

Media splashSamsung Wave 723

3 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

This ultra-slim LED monitor from LG measures just 7.2mmin thickness, adding a dash of style to your PC. It is available

in a screen size of 21.5-inches, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Aresponse time of just two milliseconds means you always

see sharp images even in fast moving sequences. Themonitor is also equipped with HDMI output. By reducing

power consumption by up to 40 per cent less thanconventional displays, the E90 is eco-friendly too.

Rs 16,900

Slim display LG E90

The 3D cam from Fujifilm lets you capturehigh-definition movies in 3D effortlessly withits 3D Auto function. Equipped with 3xoptical zoom lens, you can go as close as 38cmwhen shooting macro. The 10-meg clickercomes with Super Intelligent Flash and ScenePosition features that give you optimumresults without manual intervention. Thecam, equipped with two lenses, allows you tocapture two images of the same frame withdifferent colour patterns, different sensitivityand telephoto and wide-angle shotssimultaneously.Rs 27,999

True to lifeFujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3

The latest from the glitteringMeridiist range of handsets is thePython. With a stainless steel bodywith satin finish on both sides, theluxury handset is studded with 208diamonds. The display is a smokedsapphire crystal glass and the camerashutter is a polished stainless steel onewith the Tag Heuer logo encrusted indiamond. The On/Off buttons on theMeridiist Python too feature theunderstated bling of a green EastAfrican tsavorite and red ruby. Rs 6.5 lakh

Looks that killTag Heuer Meridiist Python

NOTEBOOK review

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala

At the Apple keynote address in October thisyear, Steve Jobs jokingly asked the audience,“What would happen if a MacBook and an iPadhooked up?” But he wasn’t kidding then as he

later unveiled the new range of MacBook Air laptops –they truly are the ‘next generation of MacBooks’. With theaddition of 11 and 13-inch notebooks to the MacBook Airrange, Apple is clearly sending a message - that the futureof laptops are devices which are ultra light, ultra portableand ultra performers – all without the help of an opticaldrive. We tell you why the Air might be a worth consid-ering – whether you swear by Macs or PCs.

For the MacBook userIf you’re an Apple loyalist, you’ll love it, though you mightthink that the Air would be a downgrade from the Pro. Thefolks at Cupertino have a different take on the subjectthough – they feel that the Air is the notebook of thefuture. The Pro has been marketed as a complete solution– a notebook to take care of your work and personal needs.So let’s see how the Air matches up to it. We got hands-onwith the 11.6-inch version.

When you first lay your eyes on the Air, you’ll wonder ifit can really pack in everything that the thicker and largerPro has to offer. The 11.6-inch Air weighs just 2.3 pounds,and we found it really easy to carry around. It’s alsoincredibly thin - measuring just 0.68 inches at its thickestpoint and 0.11-inches at its thinnest. Its 13.3-inch bigbrother isn’t so big either – weighing just 2.9 pounds and

measuring the same in thickness.We’re used to the sturdy build of the Pro, so we natural-

ly wondered about the Air being flimsy. But the Air too isconstructed from a single piece of aluminium, just like thePro, and is equally resistant to bumps and falls.

If you’re used to the Pro, you may think that an 11.6-inchnotebook might be a compromise on functionality, but wefound that the Air incorporates a full size keyboard andtrackpad. The trackpad supports a variety of multi-touchgestures, which we explored in detail in our Apple MagicTrackpad review.

Inside, the software isn’t very different from what youget on a Pro. It’s powered by a 1.4 GHz Core 2 DuoProcessor and Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics. The 13-inch is slightly more powerful, with a 1.86 GHz processor.We had multiple windows open – a few Safari browsertabs, iPhoto, iTunes, TextEdit and QuickTime, and all theapplications ran smoothly.

The screen is LED backlit, and at 1366x768 pixels, it’shigh def. Apple promises five hours of battery life, and the

Air didn’t let us down when it came to that. Other features that the Air has to offer is a FaceTime

camera and the new suite of iLife applications.

For the PC-userIf you’re wondering whether its time to change loyaltiesfrom a PC to a Mac, the Air might just be the laptop thatchanges your mind, however it does come with its share ofnegatives.

When it comes to looks, most notebooks fail to match upto Apple’s pure aluminium, minimalist design. And wehave to say that the compact Air is one of the most beauti-ful feats of manufacturing we’ve laid our eyes on.

One of the most interesting things Apple has done withthe Air is to eliminate a conventional hard drive, and optfor flash storage instead. The Air achieves its size-zeroform-factor by doing away with the exterior casing of ahard drive, and using just the flash chips themselves.While this makes the notebook ultra portable, you get onlya limited amount of storage. The 11-inch Air is sold in

Mac to

64GB and 128GB capacities, which is really limited whenyou compare it to the 250GB-500GB standard that mostnotebooks seem to be loaded with nowadays. The 13-inchisn’t much better when it comes to storage – you can optfor a 128GB or 256GB version.

It could be argued that you can increase your on boardstorage by using a portable hard drive, however, the Air isequipped with only two USB 2.0 ports, which could be abit of a hindrance if you like your notebook to be a mediahub. The Air also lacks a card reader, which is prettystandard on most notebooks today. However, it does in-clude a Mini DisplayPort, for digital video output.

These negatives might deter you from making the moveto Apple, but there are some positives you can consider.

What you do get with an Apple product is amazingly fastsoftware. The Air took us less than a minute to boot up,which is a refreshing change if you’re used to a regularWindows boot up time. It offers up to 30 days of standbytime, without draining any of the battery. We woke up theAir from sleep mode after two days of it being on standby,

and found that the Instant On prom-ise that Apple makes really works.The battery levels were the same fromwhere we left off, and the notebookgave us a few hours of juice before thebattery died out.

Like we mentioned earlier, a fullsized keyboard and trackpad are awelcome addition, especially becausemost laptops with a small form-fac-tor tend to compromise on thesefeatures.

The lack of an optical drivecould be a big set back for many notebook users, butApple does allow DVD or CD sharing wirelessly from anyother Mac or PC that’s nearby. Given the fact that mostcontent can now be shared on a memory stick, or isavailable for download, the lack of an optical driveshouldn’t be a deterrent.

the future

What we thinkWhen we first saw the Air at a special Apple preview eventa few weeks ago, we were under the impression that thelack of the optical drive and small size classified the laptopas a netbook. However the team from Apple were quick topoint out that this was in fact a notebook – because itspowerful processors and graphics make it almost as capa-ble as the Pro. The first generation of MacBook Air laptopsdidn’t make a mark as performers, but our hands onexperience with the new breed of Air laptops only rein-states what Apple says – “It’s a real MacBook in everysense of the word.”

11.6-inch – 64GB/128GB: Rs 60,900/Rs 72,90013.3-inch – 128GB/256GB: Rs 79,900/Rs 98,000

Photo: S.S. Kumar

DESKTOP review

Photo: S.S. Kumar

Mahananda Bohidar

Every time we buy a desktop, most of us are both-ered about the OS and the hardware specs, andare subconsciously sifting through the technicalmumbo-jumbo that choosing a computing device

always involves. But all of us have at least that one familymember who couldn’t care for the specs or the graphicsquality, but just wants a device that’ll satisfy their simpleexpectations from a personal computing/ multimedia de-vice.

Designed especially for that purpose is the HP Dream-Screen that landed on our desk for review. The Dream-Screen 400 is a touch-based desktop with an impressive18.5-inch display. Power on the system and you have theoption of logging in as a guest user or creating a newprofile, either that of a ‘Student’ or ‘Adult’. The one usuallyadopted for kids (Students) prevents them from accessingcertain subscription privileges via the DreamScreen.

The homescreen has all the icons that you’ll need accessto, very similar to a smartphone. Powered by an Intel(ARM-based) processor, the desktop is based on the ideaof letting you access services and apps at a touch. So youhave an app called ‘Education’ that might put an end to thegruelling hours (mostly for the kids) you spend super-vising the completion of homework. You can get them toselect their own study schedules and revise their lessons.Simple concepts in the sciences and Mathematics areexplained with the aid of graphics (albeit low-end andsimplistic) and each little virtual chapter ends with a quickassessment.

However, the experience of navigating through theDreamScreen 400 is slackened by the poor touch sensitiv-

ity. Suffice to say that it’s inaccurate enough for you tohave to tap at least two to three times on an icon to activateit. This, however, was not the case when we played acouple of games on the system.

Every new user profile you create comes with its ownID number. This number is used to make video calls fromthe DreamScreen. The best part about making video callsfrom here is the fact that the people who you want toconnect to need not have a DreamScreen or any other chatclient on their PCs. They can just log in to the website(www.hp-ds.com), register a user id and PIN, and they canmake or receive calls from you. When we made calls fromthe DreamScreen to a PC, it connected almost immediate-ly with a small window relaying the video at the bottomleft and an option to use the internal mic or connect anexternal one.

Although the DreamScreen comes with a virtual key-board, you cannot use it for browsing the internet which isa real let-down. Thankfully, the peripherals come bundledwith the DreamScreen.

The Travel facility is a remarkably convenient app thatlets you book train and flight tickets online. You don’t evenhave to log in to the IRCTC website or any other travelwebsite to book your tickets. All you have to do is enteryour destinations and it’ll show you the list of trains orflights available. The online payments are made through asecure gateway, says HP. There’s also an Airfare calendarthat displays fares throughout a month (within the next 6months) and lets you book accordingly, although thisfeature wasn’t very accurate when we used it.

The DreamScreen needs to be connected to the internetto access most of its features. We used an internet dongle

but you could also plug-in an Ethernet broadband connec-tion that you might have at home.

This HP DreamScreen also has an ‘Utilities’ app thatincludes a bunch of productivity tools like File Manager,apps to create text documents, spreadsheets and presenta-tions that are based on Open Office, and a DVD Player.

It also has ‘Movies’ that come pre-loaded with a bunchof Bollywood flicks and a dedicated channel that lets youwatch shows featuring the who’s who of the B-tinsel town.The DreamScreen also has a ‘News’ app that gives you anexhaustive list of shows to choose from and that’s not justrestricted to hardcore news. Lifestyle, humour, gadgetsand sports are some of the genres you can choose from.

The ‘Music’ app already has a couple of albums loadedon to it. You can listen to all the songs listed for free butwill be charged a small sum for downloads. Buffering timewas negligible but the quality of some of the files wasn’texactly outstanding.

While the DreamScreen has a bunch of multimedia andutility options, there’s no multi-tasking, which means ifyou are listening to music you have to close it to accessTravel or Documents.

For people who couldn’t bother themselves with thenitty-gritty of technology or computing, the DreamScreenis a decent one-stop solution for everything they mightwant to use a personal computer for. And although HPdoes have a line-up of all-in-one touch-interface desktopsthis one seems to have been slotted in a price range similarto most other entry-level PCs in the market. Rs 19,999Love –Nice bunch of apps and servicesHate – Bad touch interface, low-end graphics

The screen of your dreams?

7 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

CONSOLE review

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala

Hardcore gamers have always beenbranded as couch potatoes. Ninten-do changed that perception whenit launched the Wii, which kick-

started motion control gaming. This yearSony’s Playstation followed suit with the introduction ofthe Sony Move.

So when Microsoft announced that it’s highly antici-pated motion control gaming sensor, Project Natal, wasfinally going to hit the shelves as the Kinect for Xbox,people wondered how it would be different from the otherconsoles in the market.

The answer was controller-less gaming. There is noth-ing to strap on to your wrist! The Kinect makes you, thegamer and the controller. You interact directly with theKinect interface, and gaming makes a shift from a GraphicUser Interface to a Natural User Interface.

With a bunch of games already in the market, and a lotmore on the way, we literally jumped in to our TV screensto find out what the Kinect had to offer.

Inside and outThe Kinect is surprisingly compact for its capabilities. It isencased in a rectangular, black, shiny plastic body. Thecamera and sensor console rests on a motorised stand,which automatically adjusts its tilt for calibration. On thefront surface there is a RGB camera, with a VGA resolutionof 640x480. The other two cameras are depth sensors,which are in fact infrared projectors, allowing the Kinectto capture 3D video under any ambient lighting condi-tions. There are also four microphones which pick upnoise from anywhere in the room.

All new Xbox 360 Slim consoles have a Kinect port atthe back, so you can just connect it to the sensor unit withthe supplied cable. For older Xbox models, the Kinectships with a USB connector cable and an AC adapter.

Starting upSetting up the Kinect is as easy as plugging in the cable to

your Xbox. Once that’s done the Kinect will take sometime to configure its settings. Microsoft recommends thatin order to play, you should stand at least 6 feet away fromthe sensor, if we came any closer it was impossible to play.

We had to practically rearrange the furniture in theroom in order to play, and for people in cramped or smallerrooms, this can be quite hard to do. But in the interest ofsafety the space recommended is the best bet.

Once the Kinect detects you, the next step is voicecalibration. This takes a while to do, but it’s worth it,considering that it allows the sensor to differentiate be-tween voice commands and sounds coming from your TV.

NavigationNavigation took a while getting used to, since we’re usedto just flicking buttons on a controller. When you waveyour hands in front of the sensor, it allows you to navigatebetween different menus. After a few minutes of awkwardwaving and waiting, we got the hang of it. In order to selecta function, you simply have to hold your hand on top of atile.

To get back to the Kinect Hub, even if you’re in themiddle of the game, you have to stand straight with yourleft hand held at a 45 degree angle, which should bring upthe screen in a few seconds. It’s pretty accurate, but it ledus to inadvertently bring up the Kinect Hub even when wedidn’t mean to.Another way of navigating is voice com-mands. You simply have to shout ‘Xbox’, and you’ll get awhole range of other voice commands that you can promptthe sensor with.

GamingMicrosoft sent us four titles to try on the Kinect. Here areour impressions.Dance Central

We had a lot of fun playing this one. You can choosefrom a couple of levels, ranging between easy and hard,and imitate the dance moves on the screen. The Kinectdetects your entire body for this one, so you’ll have toperform the moves correctly, and this includes moving

your hands, legs and upper torso. The menu also camewith easy to use swipe features which were easy andintuitive to navigate.Kinectimals

This one is sure to be a favourite with the kids. Thehardest thing in the game was to choose which cub toadopt, but once that’s done its fun all the way. You gainpoints for grooming and playing with your cub. A pair ofvirtual hands will track your movements on the screen andlet you literally ‘pet’ your cub, something that really wonus over. What we didn’t like was the quality of the narra-tion and the storyline which was kind of slow moving. Joy Ride

This is a pretty standard racing game, where you have toliterally steer with your hands. You don’t get much controlover the way the car moves – it’s mostly just hit and miss.There are some fun features like power boost and stuntsthat you can perform, to help you gain an edge overcompetitors. Kinect Sports

This comes with your usual package of gaming sports,such as Bowling, Boxing, Table Tennis, etc. Bowling was alot of fun, and very addictive. With Table Tennis we didn’thave the same level of control that we got on the Play-station Move. It’s a pretty standard line-up of games, butwe prefer Wii Sports.

BottomlineThe Kinect is futuristic, to say the least. Many mightcompare it to the Wii or the Move, but the fact remainsthat it is controller-less gaming. Most of the games theKinect has launched with right now are family oriented, soright now we don’t feel that they would appeal to hardcoregamers. Having said that, the Kinect has immense poten-tial, and with games like Star Wars in the making, theKinect could possibly take gaming to a whole new level.

Kinect Sensor only: Rs 9,990 With Xbox 360 (4GB): Rs 22,990(Both ship with a free copy of Kinect Adventures)

Time to Kinect

8 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

AUTO focus

Matthew Oakley

Cresting a hill out of a fast triple right-hander intoa chicane on a Kawasaki motorcycle, I commit aclassic mistake, the kind that tends to create amess of broken machinery and bone.

I downshift too early, my back wheel locks and fishtails.I freeze, arms locked, eyes like dinner plates fixated on thegravel trap racing toward me. Somehow I manage to coastthrough the piles of stone chips, slide across the grass andget back onto the track unscathed.

“Nice save,” says instructor Graham Knight, giving methe thumbs up once we’re back in the pit lane. “Basically,you did everything wrong on the track and everythingright off it. Generally it’s preferable if you stay on thetrack.”

The stomach-churning moment taught me several rulesof motorcycle racing all at once. Which is why I’ve paid$1,850 to take part in Knight’s three-day Highside Toursevent in the Thai resort town of Pattaya.

While budding bike racers can head to academies likethe California Superbike School in Los Angeles, or the RonHaslam Race School at Silverstone, England, the BiraInternational Circuit mixes the high-octane buzz withbeach relaxation and Thailand’s most frantic nightlife.Half an hour after hanging up the leathers, you can have acocktail in hand and your toes in the Gulf of Thailand.

As travelers increasingly seek out new experiences onholiday -- like leaping off bridges, scaling rock walls andswimming with sharks -- bike racing as a pastime still

tends to prompt uncomplimentary adjectives that suggestvarying degrees of stupidity or mental imbalance.

High-Speed YogaThe desire to climb relatively unprotected onto a fastmachine and lean it over to the point where parts of yourbody are skimming the road is, admittedly, a little suspect.But, as Knight makes it repeatedly clear, the people whodo it best are not hot-blooded, cackling lunatics intent onmaking the world unsafe for the elderly.

They are those who have mastered a level of calmness,mental discipline and physical coordination akin to somesort of high-speed yoga. Only sometimes do they cackle.

“Slow it down and the speed will come later,” Knighttells me and the other seven riders in my group.

Slow is a word I hear a lot from the experienced racerssharing the track with us -- men on 1,000cc superbikeswho fly past me on the straight as if I’m driving a golfbuggy.

Off the bikes, they are not whooping, high-fiving andbutting chests. They are soft-spoken, modest and self-effacing fellows who give measured answers to each awe-struck question, usually containing the word slow.

Booby TrapsThe second day, with the track now familiar and thecorrect body position learned, I try to put their advice intopractice on the Kawasaki ER6-NR, a light, powerful andnimble 650cc streetbike that’s ideal for the less-experi-

enced trackster. Bira is a short, technical circuit, sprinkledwith booby traps for the novice.

“A racetrack designer’s job is to fool you into driving itlike its road,” Knight says to one of the riders. “In yourcase, they’ve succeeded admirably.”

The first task is to build a mental map of the circuit withvisual triggers to guide you through each lap – start brak-ing next to that oil stain, turn in at the end of that curb, aimfor that paint splash, and fix eyes on that tree.

Without it, the track becomes a series of challenges thatare rushing by too fast. You get confused. You get scared.You panic. You crash.

Death GripIn the rising tropical warmth of the second morning, I’mtrying to do many counter-intuitive things all at once. Likenot holding the handlebars in a death grip, or acceleratinginstead of slowing down when the bike starts to run wide.

After another half-day trying to piece it all together, itfinally starts to work. I’m getting into a rhythm. Thecorners are flowing, the bike is leaning over further, I amhanging off the machine with a modicum of grace. I evenindulge in the occasional cackle.

Then, approaching a hairpin bend I surrender to aflicker of doubt. For a second, my eyes wander to the edgeof the track. Next thing, I’m up against a wall of tires asKnight rides past, shaking his head.

(The author writes for Muse, the arts and leisure section ofBloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

Surviving superbikes

Photo: NewsMarket

9 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

AUTO news

Mahindra & Mahindra has launched its legendry 4x4 offroader, the Thar CRDe, in India, for offroading enthusiastsand ‘retro look seekers’. An evolved version of the Mahindra CJ340, MM 540, the Classic and the Legend, the

Thar CRDe reflects the rugged DNA of the company and interprets it in the form of a stylish offroader. The Thar is amanual 4x4 machine with a powerful CRDe engine 77kw (105 bhp) and features drive by wire technology, which iscapable of providing it variable speeds and acceleration. Its tough rigid ladder frame chassis helps handle this excesspower, and light and responsive integral power steering gives it good manoeuvrability. Modern suspension layout ofIFS and abuse resistant rear leaf springs delivers a great balance between ride and handling.

It’s been priced at Rs 5.99 lakh (ex showroom Delhi, BS IV variant) and Rs 4.47 lakh, (ex showroom Jaipur, BS IIIvariant). The Thar is also available with a DI engine as a base variant, which will be positioned as a lifestyle vehicle forthe rural market with both two wheel and four wheel drive options. It will be launched in New Delhi, Bengaluru,Chandigarh, Jaipur and Mangalore this month and in other cities in January 2011.

Mahindra’s new offroading adventure

BMW launched the compact X1 luxury sports utility inIndia last week. The X1 joins the larger and better

appointed X6, X5 and the X3 siblings to complete a quartetof offerings from this German marquee in this popularvehicle category.

The X1 is a significant launch for BMW here also be-cause of its price position. Since BMW has decided tobring in completely knocked down kits it can offer the X1at a starting ex-showroom price of just Rs 22 lakh, makingit the most affordable vehicle from the brand.

The X1 sports the same classic modern crossover looksthat the other three too share, and yet has a very differentcharacter to its design. It has been launched in threevariants – the X1 sDrive18i (petrol), X1 sDrive20d (diesel)and X1 sDrive20d Exclusive (diesel).

The interior of the BMW X1 is characterised by clearfunction and a modern style. In the cockpit, the centreconsole is tilted slightly towards the driver so that therelevant operating functions are arranged to provide asense of personal control. The elevated seating position,the feeling of space, a wide range of storage options andthe variable interiors are meant to enable the user of the X1to get the most both in an urban environment and beyond.

The interior of the X1 can also be flexibly adjusted toindividual requirements. It has room for spontaneitythrough fully variable rear seats with separately foldingcentre section and adjustable backrest angle. The rear-seat backrest comes with ten-stage tilt adjustment from 1to 31 degrees. The backrest is also divided in three parts (asplit of 40/20/40) and can be individually folded down to

increase the luggage compartment capacity from 420litres to a maximum of 1,350 litres.

A turbocharger with variable intake geometry and com-mon-rail fuel injection gives the 4-cylinder diesel in thenew BMW X1 sDrive20d a maximum output of 177 bhp at4,000 rpm as well as a maximum torque of 350 Nm all theway from 1,750 to 3,000 rpm. It accelerates to 100 kmph in8.3 seconds with the ability to achieve a top speed of 205kmph. The average fuel consumption is said to be 15.24kmpl as measured by ARAI for the Indian market specifi-cations.

The 150 bhp 4-cylinder petrol version featured in thenew X1 sDrive18i provides a similarly economical entry

into BMW’s X models. This engine delivers peak torque of200 Nm at 3,600 rpm reaching its maximum output at6,400 rpm. Acceleration from a standstill to 100 kmphcomes in 10.4 seconds with a top speed of 200 kmph. Theaverage fuel consumption of the X1 sDrive18i is 11.24 kmplas measured by ARAI.

All versions of the new BMW X1 are equipped as stan-dard with a six-speed automatic transmission with shortreaction and gearshift times.

A BMW communiqué said that in India, the new X1comes with the dynamic rear-wheel drive system whichmeans the driver enjoys typical BMW agility and drivingpleasure.

BMW launches the X1 in IndiaW

11 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

MELANGE luxury redefined

Making a fragrant entrythis week is The BodyShop with its DreamsUnlimited range ofperfumes, body lotionand body wash that’sfeminine in its orangeoil, blackcurrant, greenchilli, iris andcedarwood notes.Available at its outlets.Rs 475 to Rs 1,495

A dream to remember

Montblanc’s single gusset briefcase from itsNightflight Cruise collection is classic in itsmidnight blue silk cotton fabric and printed calfskin. Available at Montblanc exclusiveboutiques.Rs 50,950

Office fashion

Bold, playful andchic, Vogue’s

Spring Summer’11‘Retro-Glamour’

collection isstriking in its

vintage inspiredshapes, colours and

styles. Head toselect eyewear

outlets and headback to the 70s.Rs 4,580 to Rs

4,970

Vogue goes retro

The nutritional and rejuvenating honeybee secretion can now be your beautysecret. Jafra Ruchi Cosmetics India’s Royal Jelly line includes a lift concentrate,

milk balm, body complex cream and hand complex cream. Rs 1,101 to Rs 4,101

A step up from honey

Porsche Design’streat for perfume

lovers is this freshwoody-floral

composition casedin an ‘ice block’

resemblingcontainer. The

Essence SummerIce is available at its

store in EmporioMall, New Delhi.Price on request

Ice, ice baby

A day cream, serum, eye cream, night repair and cleansing mousse –Pond’s Gold Radiance anti-ageing kit is infused with real gold micro-

particles and promises to keep your youthfulness alive. Head to lifestylestores and other outlets for more.

Rs 599 to Rs 899

Gold glam

12 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

FASHION fundas

If you had sat in front of the television wide-eyed atthis year’s Oscar awards, the number of sophisti-cated nude gowns and accessories that dotted thered carpet was unmistakable. Whether it was Miley

Cyrus glittering in a buff-coloured Jenny Packham gown,Demi Moore’s ruffled Atelier Versace, Victoria Beckham’snude ensemble with black detailing or Mariah Carey pair-ing her blue Valentino dress with nude peep-toes, thecolour sizzled on the red carpet, caught the attention ofshutterbugs and received the thumbs up from critics too.

The Little Nude Dress is now touted to be a wardrobeessential, right in line with the LBD, and that is saying a lot.But sporting a nude need not be a ‘washed out’ affair. If youcarefully choose the right kind of nude to go with yourcomplexion in the case of a dress, or pick the perfectaccessories that goes with almost anything, you have justfound your fashion saviour.

Elegant EnsembleNude can seldom be bold or aggressive. Its neutral colourseems more elegant and apt for flowy gowns and chic

knee-length dresses. However, winter collections of somepopular brands show nude overcoats blending in perfectlywith black knee-length boots.

Dominating your look with the colour is a popular trend,where you can pair a nude Lanvin cocktail gown withmatching sling backs, clutch and even neutral make-up,with variations in its texture and shine.

Fashion labels are also combining nude and black for abetter effect, in the form of black lace, embellishments,detailing or belt in a striking nude dress.

You can also play up the subtle look by popping in acolour by way of a loud accessory - black pumps and tote, asiren red peep-toe with hot red lipstick, or simply a col-ourful chunky neck-piece or cuff.

Some neat picks from international fashion labels in-clude pieces from Burberry Prorsum, BCBG, Herve Legerbandage dress, Valentino embroidered lace dress, Alexan-der Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin and others. Indiandesigners too experiment with the colour - from KrishnaMehta’s nude tunics with intricate white motifs, to TarunTahiliani’s blingy saree and Rocky S’s shimmering dress

with a black belt.

Accessories to off-setLouboutin’s classic pumps, Fendi’s ‘propah’ tote, StellaMcCartney’s flirty hobo, Diane Von Furstenberg wintergloves… the colour finds a prominent place in the lookbooks of the biggies in the fashion business. While nudeaccessories can be teamed with a similar ensemble, it alsohelps tone down bright colours and clashing patterns withits neutral effect.

Interesting buys include Fendi’s Fendishire Mid-Shaftsuede boots and clutches and bags, Stella McCartney’stie-up sandals and hobo with a black handle and a pair ofespadrilles from Jimmy Choo.

While Christian Louboutin nude peep-toe pumps hasbecome a wardrobe staple,

Alexander McQueen’s Nude Studded Britannia Clutch(a smooth leather box in nude with gold tone studdedunion jack detail and a gold tone trim and Swarovskicrystal detailed skull clasp) is a quirky hit.

There are also labels that pair nude shades with a bright

Going nude and

lookinggood!

When vibrant reds,electric blues, neon

pinks or even theclassic black and white

give way, this colourwill help you sail

through a fashion faux pas. ANUSHYAMAMTORA tells youhow the nudes tone

down your ensemble,yet up the style meter

Burberry

13 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

colour in footwear and bags, and is ideally paired with adress of the second colour.

Natural lookNude make-up is delish when used intelligently and withthe right outfits. It doesn’t make your face look pale butactually gives it a softer touch. While it blends in effort-lessly with a nude ensemble, it lends innocence to the facewhen sporting a power look and cuts down on the kitschyquotient when donning a mix of loud colours.

Most brands have exclusive nude shades of foundation,concealer, lip gloss and balm and eye make-up. The trick isto pick the nude that goes best with your complexion andhighlight it with the right colours for the perfect look.

Must-haves include Lancome’s Juicy Tubes Rose Fish-nets, a rose-nude shade lip gloss, Burberry’sNude Glow and DiorSkin Nude fluidfoundation.

Want to go nude? Don’t worry, it nolonger raises eyebrows!

What is nude colour?This colour is a fashion controversy of sorts. There has been a lot of debate about the use of theterm nude and its racist allegiance to the fair skinned. Critics say the ‘nude’ shade varies with thewearer’s complexion. Despite all the hullabaloo, ‘nude’ remains high up in 2010’s hottest trend list.Nude covers a range of subtle and pastel hues which are fleshy, creamy and peachy. The coloursused by fashion labels that fall under its umbrella are chalk, crozo, dust, birch, putty, light beige,tan, buff and others.

For that diva look● Pick a silhouette that

flatters you and is not tootight

● If you want to maintainthe subtle look yet experi-ment with colours, team yournude drape with ivory, lightgold or grey accessories

● Nude pumps go bestwith black, green, yellow andred dresses

● Wear a bright belt on anude cocktail dress for justthe right pop of colour or anude belt with a brilliantdress for that much-neededbreak

● Also pick up nude jew-ellery if you want to seal thelook

Stella McCartney hobo

Fendi bag, clutchand suede boots

Diane Von Furstenbergwinter gloves

14 December 29, 2010Smartbuy

TASTER’S choice

John Mariani

Far be it for me to perpetuate the idea that cham-pagne is only for holidays, business deals, wed-dings and World Series wins, but year-endfestivities are upon us and drinking a good cham-

pagne seems almost requisite. To my mind there is none more celebratory than rose,

which was once disparagingly regarded as “the pink stuff.” Rose champagnes are something of an anomaly in a

region where the winemaker’s goal is traditionally to makeas white a wine as possible, even when using black PinotNoir grapes. In most regions, still or sparkling rose is madeby macerating the red grapes at pressing to achieve colour.Champagne is that rare appellation that allows roses to bemade by blending in red wine, and today 90 per cent ofRose champagnes are made this way.

Despite Rose’s perky image, the top champagne pro-ducers have for some time now put the same diligentefforts into their Roses as into their Blanc des Blancs andprestige cuvees, and the astronomical prices can be aboutthe same. Still, there are currently so many superb Roses inthe market, selling for well under $100 a bottle that theidea of spending $200 and more for a vintage Rose seems abit excessive.

Also, I find that so many of the top-of-the-line Roses aredeliberately made to be bone dry, which I think robs themof the component of fruit that is essential to any wine,sparkling or not. I found a 2002 Nicolas Feuillatte Palmesd’Or Rose Brut ($170) more than austere, even a littlesoapy, and 2004 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne BrutRose ($225) drier than I recall in other years, without theblossoming fruit I’ve always loved about this marque.

Balanced StyleI will admit to being in thrall to Perrier-Jouet’s 2002 Fleurde Champagne Brut Rose, whose signature style has al-ways been to balance fruit and citrus flavours with finesse.Unfortunately, it sells for $250-$300 a bottle.

At a media tasting at New York’s Felidia restaurant,with a first course of smoked salmon and radicchio and asecond of risotto with seafood, I found a wide array ofdelectable bubblies, with the best of them priced wellunder $100. Here are some of my favourites. Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Rose non-vintage ($47-$55)

Unlike the 2002 vintage cited above, this is a sleek,gorgeously constructed wine with perfume and ripeness.If this is a workhorse champagne, it’s from very fine stockindeed. G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Rose non-vintage($56-$63)

Good old Mumm-sy, the Champagne you always see inmovies being splashed about. Its former predictability hasevolved into admirable consistency in a style that hasdepth and celebratory sparkle. Bruno Paillard Rose Brut Premiere Cuvee non-vin-tage ($60-$75)

The charm of this pretty Rose is in its adaptability to somany foods, from lobster to chicken, from smoked salmonto light desserts, and its high colour is a joy in itself. Henriot Brut Rose non-vintage ($56-$60)

If you expect fruit in a Rose, Henriot delivers gushes ofit, which makes it a fine aperitif to kick off the evening andideal with holiday sweets and cookies and dark chocolate. Charles Heidsieck Brut Rose Reserve non-vintage($70)

Deep salmon-pink colourmarried to floral, almost rose-like notes, with a good ballast ofcitrus in tandem with the fruit. Louis Roederer 2004 BrutRose ($65-$76)

Absolutely luscious anddownright creamy. For me,this is the very essence of aRose champagne. Ayala Brut Rose Ma-jeur non-vintage($47-$55)

Since Bollingerbought this small es-tate in 2005, it hasimproved greatlywith a light-bodiedstyle in direct con-trast to Bollinger’sstaid, classic auster-ity. Though perhapsit doesn’t haveenough body for af-terwards, everyoneshould enjoy a glassor two before din-ner.

(The author writes onwine for BloombergNews. The opinions

expressed are hisown.)

Pink is in this season

Photos: B

loomberg

BEVERAGE launch

FineWinesnMore andItalian winemakerRoberto Bava have joinedhands to unveil the RosatoMonferrato Ciaret DOC,created specially for theIndian market. Made inthe Piedmont region, thewine has a flavour of freshforest berries with cherrycompote and rubygrapefruit. ‘Gulab’ and‘chandan’ dominate thenose and the finish isrefreshing with a deeptang of pomegranate.Teamed best with sautéedmussels or clams fromKerala or Goan fish curry.Rs 1,345 (Mumbai) and Rs 1,540 (New Delhi)

A rosefrom Bava

New-year celebrationsget a whole new highwith Piper Hiedsick’s

Cuvee Brut champagnecrafted from Pinot Noir

and hand-selectedparcels of Pinot

Meunier andChardonnay. While the

nose is replete withcitrus fruits, ‘Granny

Smith’ apple and hintsof warm ‘toastiness’,

the palate is fresh withmature notes of

pineapple, nutmeg,white pepper and

oriental zest. Rs 6,040 (New Delhi), Rs

4,700 (Mumbai) and Rs4,067 (Bengaluru)

Pop the champagne

India saw the release ofa specially selected

Glenfiddich Vintagefrom 1961, a rare single

malt that has beenbottled from a single

cask. The Vintage has avibrant aroma with

zesty, fruity notes and aunique ripe pear

character. It also has atangy citrus, lavender

and oaky flavours with amellow and sweet

finish. Availableexclusively at Hyatt

Regency, New Delhi.Price on request

RareGlenfiddich

Cased in an exoticpackaging designed byTarun Tahiliani madewith exquisite leatherand embellished with 18kgold electroplating andBlue SapphireSwarovski, JohnnieWalker Blue Label’s‘Heirloom’ is an ideal giftif you want to make aclassy impression.Available at selectpremium wine stores.Rs 20,500(Mumbai)

Blue -blooded‘Heirloom’