4 / TECH

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010

Home ScreenDigital FutureDo you ever wonder what will happen when TECH goes digital? Will you miss holding this magazine in your hand, flipping through the pages, carrying it around and showing it to people? Well, the debate is a part of this issue. Digital distribution has silently stolen the hearts and lives of people, and believe it or not, it is here to stay.

Retail distribution of nearly everything as we know it – books, music, games, movies and television programmes – is dying out. There is no more space in our homes to keep books and preserve them. You no longer have to worry about yellowed pages of your favourite classics. There are no more music or movie CDs taking up space in your room. And soon your collection of games will no longer occupy a section of your CD rack. But herein also lies a problem, wouldn’t you gladly pay the price to dedicate room space to hold onto the collectibles, be it games or books, rather than something ‘virtual’? Well, digital distribution does have its merits. Flip through these pages to find out what it really means to people.

Also featured in the gaming section is Castlevania. Explore the latest in headsets from Jawbone. We also bring to you some of the highlights from the GITEX Technology Week that took place in Dubai this October.

So have fun reading through these pages.

-Ed

Talk to us! If you have any queries, contact us at tech@deenarmedia.com

Printed at Oman Printers & Stationers, Sultanate of OmanModel: Christina Constantinou

Photography: Shakeel al Balushi

Produced by

Deenar Press and Publishing LLCPO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman

Tel: + 968 24 696868, Fax: +968 24 693569E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Hatim al Taie

Content Head Malcolm X Crasta

Content Manager Sujata Sengupta

Asst. Content Manager Poornima Ramani

Senior Designer Shyniben Koyakkil

Designer Muneeb Khan

CORPORATEManaging Director Abdullah al Taie

General Manager Rathish Ramachandran

Asst. General Manager Terry Mathukutty

Sales Sami Dalwai

Emily Matthews

Mehri Vantanparast

2010 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.

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OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

CONTENTSCONTENTSLetters to the Editor

Tech News

Nouvo Tech

Video Zone

Photography

Breakthrough

Audio Zone

Computing

Time Zone

Dashboard

Op-Ed

Mobile Zone

Gamers’ Delight

DVD Review

Business Tech

Quiz

Tech Favourites

Tech Directory

If you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue. You may even be the lucky winner of a HP wireless optical mouse!

This month’s winner:Archana

Hi TECH Team,I am a regular reader of your articles. Here is my doubt about the USB support in our entertainment equipment like TVs and music systems. If a flash drive is infected with a virus and then used in the TV /music system/players slot, how can we know if it has infected the device?

RegardsArchana

Dear Archana,Viruses are designed to infect specific operating systems such as Windows and MacOS as such it is extremely unlikely, borderline impossible, for them to infect these devices because most use proprietary operating systems. While there are some devices that use the Linux OS, they use very small and restricted set of commands when they read USB drives and in almost all cases not get infected.

-Ed

Hi Tech Team,You guys are rocking in "tech" field.

Please can you explain to me what exactly RCA line level input and Air frame technology is. (Purity of Sound Article, October 2010 issue)

ThanksRamya.K

Dear Ramya,

Thanks.

As for your question, RCA line level input refers to a high quality, but standard, RCA connector, sometimes called a phono connector or cinch connector, commonly used to used to transmit analogue sound between audio components such as CD and DVD players, TVs, audio amplifiers, and mixing consoles, and sometimes MP3 players. Air frame technology is used by Martin Logan to secure their XStat panels are to speaker cabinets. AirFrames, manufactured from aerospace-grade billet and extruded aluminum alloy, make the panels extremely rigid while maximizing playable surface area and dipole sound radiation. At the same time, they provide electrical and acoustical isolation, minimizing intermodulation distortion caused by vibration and resonance. By using this technology Martin Logan can drastically enhance low-level sonic detail, accuracy, and efficiency.

-Ed

Lettersto the Editor

Seems like sueing other companies has become a trend in the mobile industry. In October this year Motorola announced that its subsidiary, Motorola Mobility, has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iTouch and certain Mac computers infringe Motorola patents. Motorola Mobility also filed patent infringement complaints against Apple in the northern district of Illinois and the southern district of Florida.

Overall, Motorola Mobility’s three complaints include no less than 18 patents, which relate to early-stage innovations developed by Motorola in key technology areas found on many of Apple’s core products and associated services, including MobileMe and the App Store. The Motorola patents include wireless communication technologies, such as WCDMA (3G), GPRS, 802.11 and antenna design, and key smartphone technologies including wireless email, proximity sensing, software application management, location-based services and multi-device synchronisation.

Motorola Mobility has requested that

the ITC commence an investigation into Apple’s use of Motorola’s patents and, among other things, issue an Exclusion Order barring Apple’s importation of infringing products, prohibiting further sales of infringing products that have already been imported, and halting the marketing, advertising, demonstration and warehousing of inventory for distribution and use of such imported products in the

United States. In the District Court actions, Motorola Mobility has requested that Apple cease using Motorola’s patented technology and provide compensation for Apple’s past infringement.

Just to give you an idea of how bad this whole litigation overload really is, we have included a picture of various companies that have sued each other recently.

Hybrid Power

Litigation Overload

Wattayah Motors has launched its most technically innovative model ever, the new Touareg, at an exclusive media unveiling ceremony and dinner held at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Hotel in Muscat. The

Oman launch reinforces the Middle East as one of the first markets to distribute the completely redeveloped flagship petrol engine Volkswagen sport utility vehicle, which unites the world of off-road vehicles

with the comfortable dimensions of a luxury sedan and the dynamic attributes of a sports car.

With characteristics that will prove popular with Oman customers, the new era Touareg is longer, lighter, sleeker, safer, and roomier than its predecessor. Now weighing 208 kilogrammes less than before, the nimble new Touareg manages to attain 1,642 litres of cargo space despite its improved aerodynamic design, and large variety of new assistance and safety systems.

World-first innovations include bi-xenon headlights with Dynamic Light Assist, and a standard eight-speed automatic transmission – the first of its kind in the world in the SUV segment. The plethora of new innovations also include a pushbutton parking brake, automatic Stop-Start engine shut-off system, electronic oil level display, panoramic sunroof – the largest ever used on an SUV – multi camera operated Area View safety system, Lane and Side Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) plus Front Assist, automatic tailgate, and proactive occupant protection.

The new Touareg also boasts a range of engines that are nearly 20 per cent more fuel efficient, and is the first and only SUV of European origin to be available in a hybrid version.

NEws

GITEX Mobile Apps and Content WorldThe Gitex Technology Week presented Gitex Mobile Apps & Content World, a dedicated area which acted as a bridge between telecommunications and the consumer electronics market. It offered opportunities for B2B, marketing and retail as well as offering an interactive educational platform for consumers. Featured were handset manufacturers, mobile service providers, independent app stores, OS developers, mobile gaming companies, mobile accessory companies, content providers and application developers, mobile and online payment gateways.

The Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) made its first appearance this year in the Gitex Technology Week and Egyptian software developer Vimov announced its top-selling iPad app ‘Weather HD’ which is now available for the iPhone.

The Nokia stand attracted visitors who were looking to experience the latest Nokia smartphones, including the recently launched Nokia N8, as well as other popular models such as the Nokia N900, E72 and N97 Mini.

Garmin-Asus had an integral part to play in the first Gitex Mobile Apps & Content World. The co-branded strategic alliance was formed to enable Garmin and ASUSTeK Computer to combine their complementary resources to develop LBS-centric mobile phones.

GITEX Business SolutionsGitex Business Solutions is internationally recognised as the largest business-to-business IT Trade Event for Corporate,

Enterprise and Small & Medium Businesses that exist for the Middle Eastern, African and South Asian markets. Over thousands of IT professionals and decision makers converged provided a forum to do real business and also a channel to gauge a company’s investment with real returns.

Following a successful debut at last year’s event, Tensator, the leading queue management software specialist, showcased the latest they had to offer in crowd control technology. Hard Disk Drive manufacturers Western Digital (WD) were also present to discuss its strategies with channel partners and exhibited with its distributor FDC.

Electronics pioneer Panasonic dazzled visitors with images from its new 152-inch 3D plasma display – the screen that made its debut appearance in the region – alongside the firm’s complete range of end-to-end solutions for creating and consuming 3D video.

The consumer electronics and office products giant, Sharp, set out to demonstrate the breadth of its offering, with its LCD TV range.

Accel Frontline launched its ‘Business in a box’ solution which gives customers the opportunity to purchase a unique all-in-one Oracle identity management package containing hardware, software and services.

Kingston Technology also made its

mark with its new SSDNow solutions that provides businesses with the most cost-effective performance upgrades for existing or new hardware.

GITEX Cloud ConfexGitex Cloud Confex, which took place on the 19 and 20 October served as a forum for cloud computing specialists to showcase their newest services and innovations, compare and research new ideas, develop partnerships and share their knowledge of the market. A large

number of leading players from the global cloud sector participated in the Cloud Confex, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), CA, HP, IBM and Microsoft.

Participants at this forum discussed key areas that shape the cloud landscape, including the availability of hosted services for business and governments and the development of equipment and services. The event also discussed the pros and cons of this new IT strategy, including dynamic infrastructure, flexibility and increased reliability.

The Cloud Confex also hosted high-level speakers from a number of leading regional end-user organisations, including Emirates Flight Catering, Kamal Osman Jamjoom, Qatar Foundation and Saudi Aramco.

GITEX Highlights

Nov ‘10 / 13

Master MathematicianCasio Computer has just launched the PRIZM (fx-CG10), advancing the world to the next generation of graphing calculators with its shiny high- resolution colour LCD and various functions designed to assist with maths lessons. The colour LCD offers full textbook-style display with the highest

pixel resolution (82,944 dots) and widest colour reproduction (65,536 colours) of any calculator. It even comes with high-resolution fonts up to 18x24 dots. The Blanview LCD delivers superior visibility and low power consumption, enabling an estimated run time of 140 hours on four AAA-size alkaline batteries.

It also includes the world’s first Picture Plot function that enables users to plot graphs over curves and other familiar shapes in real life. This creates a whole new way to learn maths by enabling students to experiment by creating their own graphs over pictures of real-life scenes, and then understand the functions from the

graphs that they created on their own. Furthermore, colours can be added to a multitude of graphing objects including dotted lines, circles, and bars, as well as grid lines on graphs, labels of coordinate axes, and coordinate values displayed during tracing. The Colour Link function links the colours used in graphs to the designated values in the spreadsheet screen to aid the visual comprehension of trends and changes in values. It colour-codes brackets when entering equations with multiple brackets, as a visual aid to facilitate the entry of complex equations. The PRIZM is expected to go on sale in January 2011 with an MSRP of USD129.99 (approx. OMR50.000).

Plug inThe Pogoplug was already a nifty product and now Cloud Engines have just upgraded it with the ‘Pro’ tag. The Pro includes all of the popular features of the second generation Pogoplug, including the ability to connect up to four USB drives and to print from any mobile device. In addition, Pogoplug Pro adds built-in wireless connectivity. The

new Pogoplug Pro delivers even more flexibility to store, access, and share personal content from anywhere

on the Internet.

It allows users to easily and securely access, share, and stream their personal content from anywhere, without uploading. Content remains safely on USB hard drives connected to the Pogoplug device in their home or office, and is available from any Internet enabled device, including apps for the iPhone, Android, iPad, BlackBerry, and Palm. Owners can place the device anywhere in their home without having to physically connect it to their router. Pogoplug Pro will retail for an expected MSRP of USD99 (≈OMR38.100).

Downsizing the AirApple has finally unveiled an all-new MacBook Air, the first of a next generation of notebooks which will replace mechanical hard disks and optical drives with Internet services and solid state flash storage. These next generation notebooks will be faster, more reliable, lighter and smaller. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch

models and weighing as little as 2.3 pounds, the new MacBook Air is Apple’s lightest and most portable notebook ever. It uses the same solid state storage technology as iPad to deliver instant-on responsiveness, up to seven hours of battery life and up to 30 days of standby time. With an expected starting MSRP

of USD999 (approx. OMR384.700), the affordable MacBook Air defines the next generation of MacBooks. Look forward to our next issue for a more detailed look at the new MacBook Air.

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NOuVO TECh

Terabyte race

Desire the best

Computer hard drive capacities are on a constant rise and WD has just raised the bar even higher by announcing the world’s largest capacity SATA hard drive. As the latest addition to its WD Caviar Green family of SATA hard drives, the new hard drives deliver up to a massive three terabytes (TB) of storage capacity on a single drive. WD is currently leading the industry in capacity for SATA hard drives by utilising 750GB-per-platter areal density and Advanced Format (AF) technology.

The Caviar Green drives are an eco-friendly storage solution with WD

GreenPower Technology, which reduces power consumption by enabling lower operating temperatures for increased reliability and decreases acoustical noise for quiet operation. The WD Caviar Green 2.5TB and 3TB hard drives are designed for use as secondary external storage and next-generation PC storage in 64-bit based systems.

Drives with capacities in excess of 2.19TB currently present barriers for PC hardware, firmware and software. To satisfy the new set of requirements of which users must be aware to successfully integrate larger

capacity drives, WD is bundling its WD Caviar Green 2.5 and 3TB hard drives with an Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)-compliant Host Bus Adapter (HBA), which will enable the operating system to use a known driver with correct support for large capacity drives.

Alongside the launch of the next generation HTC Sense, the company also unveiled two new flagship smartphones, the Desire HD and HTC Desire Z. HTC Desire HD showcases outstanding multimedia content with its bright 4.3-inch LCD display and Dolby Mobile and SRS virtual sound. It is the first in the range to be powered by the new 1GHz Qualcomm 8255 Snapdragon processor. The HTC Desire HD enables 720p HD video recording and includes an eight-megapixel camera with dual-flash. HTC Desire Z features a unique ‘pop hinge’ that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard for fast, convenient typing. HTC Desire

Z’s keyboard also includes a variety of keyboard shortcuts and two customisable keys for providing instant access to common functions without the need to open menus. For people constantly on the go it makes it quick and easy to stay connected with friends on Facebook and Twitter or with colleagues and customers at work. The Desire Z also includes 720p HD video recording and a five-megapixel camera with automatic flash. It is the first phone to utilise the new 800MHz Qualcomm 7230 processor for improved performance and battery life. The new HTC Desire HD and HTC Desire Z will be available through mobile operators and

retailers across major European and Asian markets before the end of the year.

Bigger is betterIt’s been a while now since we saw the first 3D LCDs and it was only a matter of time before the size race began. Samsung

Gulf Electronics showcased the gigantic C8000 Full HD 3D TV at this year’s GITEX, which took place from October 17-21. The C8000’s ultra-slim 65-inch screen is the world’s largest LED TV that is Full HD capable and supports 3D rendering. Furthermore, it has an ultra-slim design that takes virtually no space in any room, at a thickness of only 23.9mm. It sets a new standard in cinema-style home theatre experience, using explosive 3D capabilities and the immersive Samsung HyperReal Engine to deliver the world as never seen before. Superior picture quality courtesy of Samsung’s proprietary 3D processor, combined with unique Precision

Dimming Technology for improved black point accuracy and the impressive motion clarity of 800 CMR, make the Samsung C8000 the pinnacle in rich, Full HD 3D content viewing. It comes with the ability to stream content using AllShare, which enables content from your PC or mobile devices – such as music, videos and photos – to be shared and displayed directly on your TV wirelessly and effortlessly. Other features like Internet@TV offer users the benefit of downloading movies, music widgets and apps like Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter and more, enabling a richer and more immersive streaming and browsing experience.

Nov ‘10 / 15

Closer TogetherCisco umi gives you a lifelike video communications experience

Meet the Cisco ūmi telepresence, a consumer product that brings family and friends together in HD video. The ūmi connects to any existing HD television and a broadband Internet connection to create a video communications experience that is clear, natural and lifelike. It includes an HD camera, a console and a remote

to deliver an immersive video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and various room sizes to provide superior video and audio performance.

Once the ūmi is connected to an HD television and a wired or wireless

broadband connection, a remote control provides access to an on-screen user interface through which users can make ūmi calls, access video messages, manage contacts, and customise their profile and settings.

VIDEO ZONE`

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Users enjoy an amazingly clear and lifelike full HD experience and a HD television and broadband Internet connection are all that is needed

Users will never miss a call thanks to video messages which can be checked on-the-go with a laptop and with new video message notices arriving via text on a mobile phone

The ūmi is easy to set up and simple to use and video calls can be placed and received on any computer with a webcam and Google video chat

From the comfort of the couch users can pan the room and zoom in to get up close and personal, or pull back to include the whole family

Videos can also be created and shared on Facebook, YouTube or email

Privacy features like call screening and blocking, and a camera shutter that closes, keep users in control of their privacy

You can personalise the ūmi with unique video greeting, ringtones and calling favourites while its stylish design is a perfect match for nearly any living room and television

Nov ‘10 / 17

The NX100 boasts one of the fastest AF on the market today and an ISO that is raised to a maximum of 6400 for action shots

The NX100 features a supersonic dust reduction feature to remove any foreign particles from the lens before shooting

The lightweight, compact and modern design of the NX100 is inspired by the simple shape of dew forming on a leaf, which can be seen on the camera’s shutter button and curved body, and comes in four different colours: black, white, brown, and silver

The lens priority mode provides scene options optimised for the lens being used – when users change to a specialised lens, the camera will recognise the lens type and automatically configure the settings that would best match with the attached lens

Each lens is clearly marked with icons that illustrate their main usages, so beginners can quickly understand which lens they need to select for any given scene

The latest mirrorless camera from Samsung, the NX100, incorporates a unique new i-Function lens to give beginner and expert photographers seamless control and creativity

MirrorlessCreativity

Following the success of the NX10, Samsung’s first mirrorless camera and the first in the world to feature an APS-C size sensor, the NX100 incorporates some of the

industry-leading technology from its predecessor, including the sensor and three-inch AMOLED screen, and improves on other areas of the camera’s performance and design.

Coupled with its new i-Function lens and a new range of accessories, the new camera gives photographers the full package to explore their creativity.

PhOTOGRAPhY

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The NX100 features the intuitive i-Function lens which allows users to change settings without the need to take the cameras off the target by toggling between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO by simply using the i-Function button and ring on the lens

The NX100 contains a ‘Sound Picture’ mode that can record audio when a photo is taken

The camera provides a very creative feature called ‘Smart Filter’, allowing users to apply seven different effects to the picture, such as the vignette, soft focus, fish-eye or miniature effects

Image Sensor

Useable Lens

Display

Video

Storage Media

Dimensions

TECH Specs14.6 megapixels

Samsung Lenses

3.0-inch VGA AMOLED

720p (H.264)

SD, SDHC (up to 32GB)

120.5x71x34.5mm

The lens line-up which has been launched with the camera includes a compact zoom 20-50mm lens to provide both high image quality and portability. A small and light 20mm wide angle Pancake lens will be introduced shortly after. Two additional lenses will be available in the first half of 2011 – a 60mm Macro lens and 18-200mm Super Zoom lens. To expand the lens line-up even further, three more lenses will be introduced by the second half of 2011, including 16mm, 85mm, and 16-80mm lenses. The NX system will be further enhanced with more accessories, including an Electronic Viewfinder, Flash and GPS tracker, to capture the user’s exact geographical location.

Accessories galore

NX 100

Nov ‘10 / 19

The new 60D camera features a large Vari-Angle three-inch Clear View LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings for bright clear viewing from any angle

Another first for the EOS system is the camera’s new Multi-Control Dial, which places a Multi-Controller and Set button inside the Quick Control Dial, streamlining camera navigation and enabling a cleaner camera design; it also features a locking mode dial which prevents inadvertent changes to the photographer’s selected shooting mode

The 60D also features in-camera processing of RAW image files, new reduced resolution image copies and post-processing creative image filters for exceptional flexibility in digital image rendering

Continuing the video paradigm shift, the 60D features Full HD video capture at 1920x1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p

Along with the adjustable LCD screen, the 60D features an 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, a proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, a nine-point Autofocus system and Canon’s exclusive iFCL Metering System, giving it the power of a professional-level camera

The camera can shoot full resolution still images up to 5.3fps and records its images and video clips to the photographer’s choice of SD, SDHC or new extended capacity SDXC memory cards

Feast your eyes on the latest DSLR offerings from the two leading professional camera manufacturers – Canon and Nikon

Designed primarily for advanced amateurs, the EOS 60D replaces the EOS 50D and boasts a broad array of new features that make it easier for photographers to add personal creativity to their images. For the first time on an EOS camera, the 60D features a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, Full HD video recording and in-camera functionality for RAW image processing and Creative Filters to manipulate images after taking them.

CanonEOS 60D

TWICE THE CHOICE

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Continuing the tradition of innovative technology that began with the revolutionary D90, the new D7000 was engineered as an ideal balance of durability and functionality. It features a multitude of new enhancements and updated Nikon technologies which result in stunning photos and amazing full HD movies.

With its new 16.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor and Nikon’s new EXPEED 2 image processing system, the D7000 DSLR delivers improved image quality with low noise

The D7000 offers variable frame rates and resolutions, and can record 1080p at a cinema-like 24fps, or a web-friendly 720p at either 24 or 30fps for up to 20 minutes per clip

EXPEED 2 also manages the D7000’s speedy 50-millisecond shutter response, blazing AF speed and rapid six frame-per-second burst speed for up to 100 images

The durable camera body consists of a magnesium-alloy top and rear covers, has a 150,000 cycle-rated shutter system, is dust and moisture sealed and is equipped

with Nikon’s dust reduction system to remove image-degrading particles

from the image sensor

The D7000 features an all-new 39-point AF System, which includes nine centre cross-type sensors that operate with more than 60 NIKKOR lenses; and also provides superior subject acquisition and fast tracking capabilities

The camera features twin SD card slots with SD, SDHC, SDXC memory card compatibility that offers several recording options including designating separate NEF (RAW) JPEG and movie files

D7000Nikon

*MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time

TECH Specs D7000EOS 60D 23.6x15.6mm CMOS sensor

16.2mn

39 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensors)

EXPEED 2

Full HD (1920×1080, 24p); ~ 20 minutes

132×105×77mm

~ 690g

USD1199.95 (~ OMR462.000)

22.3x14.9mm CMOS

~ 18mn

9 cross-type AF points

DIGIC 4

1920x1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps); 29min 59sec

144.5x105.8x78.6mm

~ 755g

USD1,099.00 (~ OMR423.200)

Image Sensor

Effective Pixels

Autofocus Type

Image Processor Type

Video Recording

Dimensions (WxHxD)

Weight (body only)

MSRP (body only)*

Nov ‘10 / 21

Casio has further improved its original Dynamic Photo function, available in both models, which makes it easy for users to create ‘moving photos’ and is now possible to extend the background video up to as long as 20 seconds, and move multiple characters independently of each other

This 12.1-megapixel camera has dedicated Shoot, View, and Delete buttons to provide quick access to each of these basic operations

This 14.1 effective megapixel model packs a three-inch Super Clear LCD screen with a resolution of approximately 460,000 pixels

The camera has a long 1,000-shot battery life on a single full charge and is even capable of shooting high-resolution HD Movies

Premium Auto is a state-of-the-art, fully automatic function that analyses the image at the level of individual pixels and performs different corrections for human subjects and the background

Both cameras utilise a wide-angle 24mm 10x optical zoom and features a CCD-shift image stabilisation mechanism

The various photo modes – Landscape, Make-Up and Lighting function modes – make the most of the camera’s high-speed image processing technology

Both cameras feature the new EXILIM Engine 5.0 which increases image processing speed by 30 per cent and feature advanced colour reproduction and rich tonal gradation

The camera features an HD Movie function that takes beautiful movies at 1280×720 pixels

The EX-H5 and EX-H15 are currently priced at OMR 89 and OMR 110 respectively and the price for both includes an additional 4GB memory card and a carrying case

With improved Dynamic Photo function, the H5 and the H15 pack quite a punch

Casio Computer recently announced the release of two new EXILIM Hi-Zoom cameras, the EX-H5 and EX-H15. The newest addition to the EXILIM Hi-Zoom series of stylish

digital cameras sport a high-powered zoom lens in a slim, compact body. With these two clever devices it is double the fun – the fun of creating images, and also fun sharing them by

easily uploading to YouTube using the included software. The EX-H5 comes in three different colours: silver, black and red and the H15 comes in silver, black, pink and brown.

Compact and powerful

EX-H15

EX-H5

Available at: Shah Nagardas Manji, 24703803

22 / TECH

Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business,

recently announced the successful completion of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo (SS2), named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 13,700m.

The spaceship was piloted by Pete Siebold, assisted by Mike Alsbury as co-pilot, during its first flight. The main goals of the flight were to carry out a clean release of the spaceship from its mothership and for the pilots to free fly and glide back and land at Mojave Air and Space Port in California, the renowned flight research centre that hosts the latest and most advanced aeronautical designs.

The flight also had other objectives which were successfully completed, such as verification that all systems worked prior to and following the clean

release of Enterprise; initial evaluation of handling and stall characteristics; qualitative evaluation of stability and control of SS2 against predictions from design and simulation work; verification of performance by evaluating the lift-to-drag ratio of the spaceship during glide flight;

practice a landing approach at altitude and finally descend and land.

As anyone can imagine, preparations for the milestone flight were extensive. The WhiteKnightTwo mothership (Eve) flew 40 times including four captive carry flights

Book your place in space as VSS Enterprise completes its first manned commercial space flight successfully

Milestone flightBREAkThROuGh

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of spaceship and mothership mated together. This demonstrated that all the systems required for a free flight by the VSS Enterprise were functioning correctly without any safety issues.

As SpaceShipTwo was much bigger than SpaceShipOne, if it were to be mounted, the new mothership would require exceptionally high ground clearance and excessively

long undercarriage. A twin fuselage was chosen for this. Each of Eve’s fuselages has a dihedral wing and the spaceship was placed centrally between them, where the wing tips are joined at the highest point of the elongated W-shape wing. With its fuselages some 50ft apart, Eve’s payload area is large and readily accessible from the ground. And with its powerful spoiler flaps, it can duplicate the spaceship’s approach flight path angle, making it a highly useful in-flight simulator. So in addition to its role of carrying and releasing SS2, Eve plays the secondary role in passenger and pilot training.

The SS2 is 60ft long with a 90-inch diameter cabin similar in size to a Falcon 900 executive jet, albeit with no floor dissecting the cabin. It allows maximum room for the astronauts to float in zero gravity. And the best part: every passenger gets the best seat – a seat with two large windows, one on the side and one overhead. So whether you want to float free in space or remain in your seat, you still get a great chance to see the view.

The most radical safety feature employed by the SS2 is the unique way it returns into the dense atmosphere from the vacuum of space. This part of space flight has always been considered one of the most dangerous and technically challenging. It relies on aerodynamic design and laws of physics to control speed and altitude. Once out of the atmosphere, the entire

tail structure of the spaceship can be rotated upwards to about 65 degrees. The configuration allows automatic control

of altitude with the fuselage parallel to the horizon. This configuration is also highly stable, giving the pilot hands-free re-entry capability. Following re-entry at around 70,000ft, the feather lowers to its original configuration and the spaceship becomes a glider for the flight back to the spaceport runway.

Basically, there are two types of rocket propulsion: liquid engines and solid motor. There is also hybrid motor rocket propulsion that offers simplicity and safety and this is the type of motor that the SS2 employs. The use of hybrid motor ensures that pilots will be able to shut down the rocket motor at any time during its operation and glide safely back to the runway. The SS2 also employs Carbon composite construction techniques, which makes the spaceship light and strong, with virtually unlimited fatigue life.

And with this successful space flight and with 370 customer deposits totalling USD50mn Virgin Galactic is now well on the way to becoming the world’s first commercial space line.

Redefining EntertainmentHome theatres with sound identical to the studio master recording

Featuring sensational surround sound that immerses you in an unrivalled audio environment, Samsung’s HT-C6950W redefines your entertainment experience. With features such as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, this home theatre lets you enjoy audio the way it is meant to be.

Samsung’s exclusive Internet@TV technology lets you enjoy all the content the Web has to offer by effortlessly connecting to the Internet; you can organise, add and delete content via the Samsung Applications library

The Samsung BD Player makes it easy to incorporate your iPhone and iPod into your home theatre system and is controlled with the home theatre remote

With Samsung’s All Share feature you can wirelessly sync a PC and Samsung mobile phone with the TV, streaming content and keeping tabs on who’s calling and texting you with real-time monitoring on the screen

Whether you want to connect your game console or a next generation disc player to your system directly, Samsung’s home theatre system makes it easy with a convenient HDMI input and your entertainment experience is enhanced by the system’s multi-channel sound

Anynet+ is an AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video (AV) device and there is no need to use different remote controls for different devices

AuDIO ZONE

26 / TECH

Samsung’s Smart Volume technology lets you make adjustments and determine settings so that volume levels are evened out and you can enjoy your favourite shows, movies and sports without constantly fussing with the remote

With their HDMI (v1.4 with 3D) connection, Samsung Blu-ray Home Theatre Systems are capable of transmitting the highest resolution digital data in pure, uncompressed streams and this upgraded feature ensures that future-forward technology, such as 3D Full HD movies and games, can be expressed with purity and precision

Vertical sound movement has been added to Samsung’s already existing horizontal sound to deliver the complete audio experience, with supporting 7.1 channel surround sound and Dolby Prologic IIz

Samsung BD Player immerses you in a cinematic audio environment as it supports DTS-HD Master Audio, the new standard for Blu-ray lossless audio codec format which delivers positively all of the information from the original master recording, and Dolby TrueHD formats that delivers high-definition sound, as well as Dolby Digital Plus

You can experience full-room audio, minus the hassle and tangle of unsightly wires, as the system’s speakers plug in to the wireless receiver module that communicates with the receiver unit at the front of the room

Total Power

Playable Disc Type

Connectivity

Number of Channel

Disk Capacity

Price

Available at

TECH Specs1,330W

3D, Blu-Ray Video, MP3, DIVX, WMA, WMV, JPEG

Anynet+, USB, iPod Dock, HDMI, Composite, Component, SCART, Optical, WLAN

7.1

1

OMR340.000

SARCO - 24795503

Samsung HT-C6950W

Nov ‘10 / 27

Genelec tri-amped 8260A DSP loudspeaker system provides exceptional clarity and sound stage imaging

The new 8260A is the latest addition to Genelec’s range of DSP loudspeaker systems and is a masterpiece in electronic acoustic system thinking, where mechanical, acoustical and signal processing designs are intimately linked together. The revolutionary MDC coaxial midrange/tweeter loudspeaker driver design eliminates all acoustical discontinuities.

The 8260A combines, for the first time, a coaxial driver with a modern waveguide technology, ensuring that the drivers couple coherently over their full operating bandwidth, as well as creating coincident mid-frequency/high-frequency single point source

The die-cast aluminium enclosure with rounded edges and integrated waveguide minimises cabinet edge diffraction and provides constant directivity for a flat frequency response on and off axis with exceptional clarity and sound stage imaging

The robust die-cast aluminium enclosure is designed with the most advanced computerised modelling tools to provide optimum mechanical structural rigidity that makes it completely immune to vibrations

The 8260A speakers have analogue inputs as well as digital inputs that accept sampling rates ranging from 32 to 192kHz

In addition to their range of DSP Loudspeaker Systems, Genelec also produces a range of professional analogue small two-way loudspeaker monitors, larger three-way loudspeaker main monitors and a range of matching subwoofers

TECH SpecsMaximum Sound Pressure Level

Frequency Response

Drivers

Amplifier power per channel

Weight

Dimensions (HxWxD)

Available at

Genelec 8260A113dB

29-21,000Hz

Bass 10 + Midrange/Treble MDC

Bass 150W+Midrange 120W+Treble 120W

27.5kg

593x357x347mm

HiTec Centre, 24497384

All Genelec DSP loudspeaker systems have an independent, dedicated DSP (Digital Signal Processing) engine responsible for all loudspeaker functions, such as the crossover filters, driver equalisers, driver position alignment, phase alignment, room response alignment, calibration, and equalisation related filters, as well as distance compensating delays

The DSP provides a combination of shelving filters for adjusting acoustic loading and also notch filters for room modes

The DSP is designed to work with a specially developed software called GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) that features a unique automated calibration alignment method called AutoCal, that correctly sets audio signal levels, distance compensating delays, phase (for subwoofers) and room response equalisation for stereo and multichannel audio systems in widely varying room environments

28 / TECH

TradiTionof excellenceJBL Professional has been a pioneer in the field of sound

James Bullough Lansing (JBL), the founder of JBL Professional, was born on 14 January 1902, in Macoupin County, Millwood

Township, Illinois. As a young lad he was interested in all things electrical and mechanical and at the age of 12 he built a small radio transmitter from scratch.

The Lansing Maunfacturing Company was setup in 1927 by James and was later joined by his brother Bill Martin, in 1930, and another brother, George, at a later date. Some of the early products

introduced by the Lansing Manufacturing Company included armature loudspeakers, which are known today as museum curiosities.

Two very famous systems that Lansing perfected in the years with Altec include the 604 coaxial loudspeakers of 1943, and the A-4 theatre system, a large two-way system standing about eight feet high. The work done during the mid-fifties on theatre systems provided the basis for a major thrust into the professional sound

business in general. The first area to be pursued by the company was that of studio monitor systems.

The professional line as we know it today took form in the late sixties. Thus, in a relatively short period of time, JBL came up with a full-blown line of products to serve many segments of the professional market.

Here are two well renowned JBL products, currently on sale, that are perfect companions for your PMP and laptop:

JBl creaTure ii

JBl on TiMe docK

JBL’s 40W Creature II three-piece speaker system produces high-quality stereo sound for music, MP3s, movies and gaming experiences

All docking versions of iPod (including nano G3, iPod classic, iPod touch), iPhone, MP3 and CD players, desktop and laptop computers (all platforms), are compatible with the On Time Dock

The dock comes with two one and three-quarter-inch full range JBL Phoenix transducers

It has a frequency response of 70Hz–20kHz

An easy-to-read LCD display and easy-to-use touch controls make things easy as well

The audio system utilises a straightforward interconnect technology, which provides an effortless user interface with minimum desktop wiring

The mini stereo jack connection allows you to enjoy audio from a variety of devices such as digital music players, computers (all platforms), stereos and portable listening devices

The powerful subwoofer provides clean, low bass

Creature II features easy-to-use touch volume controls and it also remembers your last volume setting

Available at: Oman Modern Electronics, 24702555

Nov ‘10 / 29

Focused on design and performance and aimed at meeting users’ everyday computing needs, the L655 is the latest model in Toshiba’s Satellite range to reach the Oman retail market

The Satellite L655 has 5.5 hours of battery life and comes loaded with an Intel Core i3-350M processor that runs Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

Depending on the model it features either an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD or an ATI dedicated graphics card with VRAM of up to 1GB*

COMPuTING

The L655 is equipped with a 15.6-inch Toshiba TruBrite HD widescreen display with power-efficient LED backlighting

The large Multi-Touch Touch Pad makes everything incredibly easy to control – just scroll, rotate, click and zoom with a simple swipe, pinch or rotation of your fingers

The new exterior design has sharper lines and comes in a new glossy Fusion Finish with Dual Mesh pattern while its low table height adds to the flatter, wider look

30 / TECH

Pre-installed on the Satellite L655, Toshiba LifeSpace is a multi-featured productivity suite designed to save time and make your life easier by allowing a uniquely personalised approach to accessing files, organising daily activities, projects and more

With its hard drive space ranging from 250GB to 500GB and RAM from 3GB to 4GB DDR3 (expandable to 8GB), it is ideal for both consumers and SMBs

Display

CPU

System Memory

Operating System

Hard Disk

Graphics Adapter

Physical Dimensions

Quick Facts15.6” Toshiba TruBrite HD LED backlit 16:9

Intel Core i3-350M Processor 2.26GHz

3,072MB - 4,096MB* DDR3 RAM (1,066MHz) expandable to 8,192MB

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit or Windows 7 Home Basic 32-bit

250GB – 500GB

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD or ATI Mobility Radeon (up to 1GB Dedicated)

Weight : starting at 2.50kg / W x L x H : 380.0x250.0x28.0 (front) / 37.9 (rear) mm

Two noteworthy programmes of the productivity suite are the Bulletin Board, an easy-to-use visual organisation tool that lets you create a space for managing projects, viewing tasks, photos and more; and ReelTime, a unique visual timeline of recently accessed files to help you cut through your cluttered desktop and multiple file folders so you can quickly find whatever you’re looking for

The Toshiba Media Controller makes content streaming between connected DLNA capable devices easy and the Controller Plug-In for Internet Explorer allows users to comfortably stream Flash videos stored on the YouTube video platform directly to a connected DLNA capable TV set’s large screen

Like most laptops today, the L655 also has an HDMI-out port which lets you connect your laptop directly to a home TV via a single convenient cable, so the whole room can enjoy HD content on a big screen

L655

Nov ‘10 / 31

R.A.T.pocAlypse

R.A.T

R.A.T

The latest range of gaming mice from Mad Catz takes user customisability and precision technology up a notch

Mad Catz Interactive is one of the leading worldwide third-party interactive entertainment accessory providers. Their Cyborg brand is best known for ergonomic and fully adjustable flight sticks, gaming

mice and keyboards. The latest range from the venerable brand incorporates the same market-leading design principles and applies them to gaming mice. For the first time ever on a mouse the key points

of contact between the gamer’s hand and the mouse are fully adjustable, allowing it to be customised for any grip preference – welcome to the world of the R.A.T. mice.

Although it is equipped with the lowest resolution gaming-grade laser of the bunch, at 3,200dpi it is still a very capable beast

The R.A.T. 5 is the first of the models to feature a length adjustable palm rest

A step up from the R.A.T. 3, the R.A.T. 5 features a 4,000dpi gaming-grade laser.

It has three programmable buttons combined with the two regular left and right mouse buttons to give you a total of five buttons to punish the competition

Five six-gramme weights can be added or subtracted in an instant and when not in use, the weights can be safely stored in the supplied container

The R.A.T. 5 features two more programmable buttons than the R.A.T. 3 for a total of seven buttons

You can assign your choice of key gaming actions to the programmable buttons to create your own custom profiles

Holding down the Precision Aim button slows down mouse movement to a level that works for you, giving you a deadly weapon that cannot be matched by other gaming mice

The R.A.T. 5 features a lightweight metal chassis which forms the core of the mouse forenhanced rigidity

32 / TECH

R.A.T. And R.A.T. Whether you ‘palm’ the mouse or ‘claw’ it, the R.A.T. can quickly and easily adapt by adjusting in length to suit your hand size and grip style while the thumb panel moves forwards, backwards and pivots outwards, giving you perfect positioning for effortless gaming

Both mice come with three interchangeable pinkie grips and palm rests

Five six-gramme weights can be added or subtracted in an instant, giving you the perfect weight for a perfect feel and when not in use, the weights can be safely stored in the supplied weight storage container for the R.A.T. 7 and in the supplied charging dock of the R.A.T. 9

Like the R.A.T. 5, both mice feature the precision aim mode

Both mice feature a new generation 5,600dpi ‘twin eye’ laser sensor that reads each axis separately for pinpoint accuracy and tracks up to a stunning six metres per second

Just like the R.A.T 5, both mice feature five programmable buttons and a lightweight metal chassis

Unlike the wired R.A.T. 7, the R.A.T. 9features zero latency 2.4GHz wireless technology — staggering 1ms response time ensures that your lightning fast reactions remain lightning fast

The R.A.T. 9 is also a 24/7 wireless beast, shipping with two custom built lithium-ion battery cells – one powers the R.A.T. while the other one charges in the dock, allowing the gamer to perform a ‘hot swap’ whenever and wherever needed

The entire range of R.A.T. mice come with four custom DPI settings — toggled by using the rocker switch below the mouse wheel

Powerful ST programming software allows you to change your DPI sensitivity, create custom profiles for each game, and assign commands to your programmable buttons

All mice in the range come with three ‘Cyborg Modes’ which can be toggled at the touch of a button, allowing you to change the sensitivity or programmable button actions of the mice in an instant and gain immediate access to a mind-boggling 15 commands

DPI

Tracking Speed (m/s)

Acceleration (G)

Number of buttons

Max. Polling Rate (Hz)

MSRP in GBP (~ OMR)

Quick Facts R.A.T. 3 R.A.T. 5 R.A.T. 7 R.A.T. 93,200

1.2

20

5

500

34.99 (21.400)

4,000

2.8

30

7

500

59.99 (36.600)

5,600

6

50

7

1000

89.99 (55.000)

5,600

6

50

7

1000

119.99 (73.300)

Nov ‘10 / 33

Provocative, beautiful and mysterious, the Mystère Rétrograde is the diva of the IWC Schaffhausen Portuguese family

The Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère owes its mysteriousness to the illusion that the fine cage containing the balance appears to rotate in a void

On reaching the end of any month with 31 days – January, March, May, July, August, October, December – the date indicator springs back automatically to ‘1’ and in shorter months or if the watch has not been worn for some time, the date indicator can be advanced by the rapid adjustment function and flies back to the first day of the month

Mysterious Diva

The Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère has for many years been one of the most beautiful watches with a rotating carriage escapement, but the Mystère Rétrograde takes this beauty to the next

level. Its splendour can be attributed to its generous proportions, its special class and the remarkable setting of its tourbillon escapement – as an ‘animated twelve’ against a deep black background.

Furthermore, the designers at IWC Schaffhausen have now refined this coveted and exclusive timepiece with its seven-day power reserve to include an extraordinary date display.

TIME ZONE

34 / TECH

On the right half of the dial, the indicator for the seven-day power reserve displays information about the remaining available power of the spring barrel, which is supplied to it in a highly efficient manner via the proven Pellaton winding system of this calibre family

In addition to the 500-piece limited edition of the variant in 18 carat red gold with solid gold appliqués and a silver-plated dial, a 250-piece limited edition of the variant in platinum with a ruthenium-black dial and rhodium-plated hands and indices is also available

The graduated scale for the supplementary flyback date indicator extends over one quarter of the surface of the generously dimensioned dial

The flying minute tourbillon, that is to say it is supported on only one side, consists of 81 parts and weighs 0.433 grams

Unlike in the previous model, where the tourbillon was still embedded in a plate segment decorated with cylindrical grinding, in the Mystère Rétrograde it is set in a ring that is mirror-finished on the inside, in which the parts of the escapement are reflected once again

Movement Calibre

Beats

Power Reserve

Winding

Water-resistant

Tourbillon Weight

DiameterxHeight

Watch Materials

Strap

Glass

Back

Available at

TECH Specs Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde

51900

19,800/h

7 days (168h)

Automatic

3 bar

0.433g

44.2x15.5mm

18 ct red gold with silver-plated dial/Platinum with ruthenium-black dial

Brown (or black) alligator leather with 18 ct red gold (or platinum) clasp

Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides

See-through sapphire-glass back

Khimji’s Watches, 24699173

Nov ‘10 / 35

The new 2011 GL is here and brings with it the best of Mercedes’ engineering and technology

Photography: Shakeel al Balushi

PamPer your senses

On the outside the GL is every bit a Mercedes as one would expect it to be. It looks very much like an oversized muscular ML, especially with those twin bulges on the bonnet, but with an

air of class and elegance all its own. No matter where you are, whether off the beaten path or luxuriously trotting around town, the GL makes for a very stylish companion.

Exterior

DAshBOARD

The cabin is definitely a very welcome place to be. It is extremely roomy regardless of where you will be seated. Both the driver and the front passenger seats offer ample articulation and so does the steering column, so getting comfy is never a problem regardless of your build. The dash itself is extremely well laid out

with clearly visible dials and displays and easy-to-reach controls. The gear selector is steering mounted and is as easy to use as the indicator stalk. The visibility all round is generally good but rear visibility can be hampered by the third-row headrests. And finally the orange ambient lighting is a nice touch.

Behind the wheel

There is no disguising the bulk of the GL. This is a big car and certain concessions on city usability is expected. Parking and manoeuvring in tight traffic won’t be easy. However, given the right road, the GL is an absolute joy to drive. Its steering provides enough feel and is quite responsive. Mercedes has done a great job with the GL’s body control around corners. The air suspensions do a great job of smoothening out surface discrepancies of the road.

Normally low profile tires and a huge boxy shape mean that you should expect some road and wind noise to intrude into the cabin. Surprisingly though, this is not the case with the GL. Mercedes has again

done an impressive job with the sound suppression in the cabin with only the engine noise becoming audible inside the cabin and only when pushed to its higher limits.

Ride andHandling

Refinement

Engine

Power

Torque

Dimensions (l x b x h)

0-100kmph/Top Speed

Price (as tested)

TECH Specs 2011 GL450 4.7l V8

340hp @ 6,000rpm

460Nm @ 2,700 – 5,000rpm

5,099x2,124x1,840mm

7.2s/235kmph

OMR33,495

38 / TECH

The GL is available with either a 4.7l or 5.5l V8 engines, both of which are more than a match for the massive bulk of the SUV. The vehicle that we drove was the GL450 which was equipped with the former of the two. With 340hp and 460Nm of torque under the bonnet, the

GL450 can hit 100kmph in just 7.2s. Move a step higher to the GL500 and you are talking about 388hp, 530Nm and a 0-100kmph time of just 6.5s. Suffice to say performance will never be an issue regardless of which model you purchase.

Mercedes has always been at the forefront of technological developments. While this may not be apparent at first glance, even a small amount of time spent behind the wheel in the GL will alleviate any doubts. Mercedes has done a great job of keeping most of the technology hidden away from sight, working discretely in the background. These include the Direct-Steer system, for a more direct and effortless steering; AIRMATIC air suspensions, including adaptive shock absorbers that adjust itself to suit prevailing road conditions; Adaptive Damping System, which further changes the way shocks work, depending on road conditions, driving style and load; an ingenious all-wheel-drive system, and a lot more. Outside of the regular safety features such as airbags, traction control and stability control, there are a number of optional extras. These include the likes of adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, adaptive headlights with all new LED daytime driving lights and more.

Mercedes’ innovative PRE-SAFE system is also present in the GL as standard, making the GL one of the safest cars you can drive on the road today.

In terms of interior equipment and entertainment the GL has almost everything you could think of either as standard or an option. The vehicle we drove came equipped with the COMAND APS system adorning the centre console. This system incorporates everything, from the radio and MP3 player, hard-disk navigation, 6.5-inch colour display, DVD player and more, all in one device. All audio and video played on the system sounded heavenly thanks to the Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system. Rear entertainment came courtesy of the Rear Seat Entertainment Package which includes two individual rear screens and headsets, for complete private viewing, and another DVD player mounted into the centre console at the rear. Each screen can switch between

either of the two DVD players or can play videos via the auxilliary inputs at the sides of the screens; perfect for keeping the kids busy on those long cross-country commutes.

Other nifty features include the electrically operated tailgate, electrically folding third row seats, Hill descent control, rear view camera with parking assist and a lot more. All these features make living with the GL a breeze.

Performance

Technology and Equipment

Nov ‘10 / 39

Lamborghini has redefined the future of super sports cars with its unique technology demonstrator launched at this year’s Paris Motor Show – the Sesto Elemento

Unlike most Lamborghinis, which are named after famous bulls, the name of this technology demonstrator is derived from the periodic table, where carbon is classified as the sixth element

Due to its lightweight engineering, the car improves fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; above all, however, it improves the power-to-weight ratio – the crucial factor for a sports car – and thus the performance

With its sensational power-to-weight ratio of only 1.75 kilogrammes per hp, the Sesto Elemento is capable of hitting 100kmph in only 2.5 seconds and onto a top speed of well over 300kmph

In addition to the lightweight carbon-fibre structure, the entire front frame, the exterior panels, crash boxes, major suspension components and propeller shaft are also made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP)

The tailpipes are made from Pyrosic, which is an advanced glass-ceramic matrix composite, able to reach and stand very high temperatures up to 900-degree Celsius

The entirely carbon fibre rims offer a clear view of the high-performance brakes with carbon-ceramic discs

Boasting an extremely lightweight construction thanks to advanced carbon-fibre technology, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento has an overall curb weight of just 999 kilogrammes – including V10 power unit and permanent all-wheel drive. This makes the Sesto Elemento a

unique demonstration of the technological expertise of Automobili Lamborghini. Innovative carbon-fibre technologies are being used here for the first time in an automotive application. As a 100 per cent subsidiary of AUDI AG, the Italian carmaker also benefits from the undisputed

expertise of the German manufacturer when it comes to lightweight construction. So, if this is what supercars will look like in our environmentally restricted future, passionate auto enthusiasts have nothing to worry about.

40 / TECH

The body is finished in a new, matte-shimmer clear coat; also some carbon fibre parts received a newly developed and patented coat of fine crystals with a red shimmer giving them a red glow and delivering an outstanding effect

The fascinating heart of the Sesto Elemento is familiar from the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera – the V10 produces 570hp, all of which is available at 8,000rpm and a torque peak of 540Nm and 6,500rpm

The whole internal structure is obtained and defined directly from the Forged Composite tub

The seats are made from optimally formed cushions, upholstered in hi-tech fabric and affixed directly to the carbon-fibre monocoque

Only three piezoelectric buttons grace the centre console – one to start the engine, one to shift into reverse gear and another one for the lights

The instruments provide information primarily on engine and road speed, as well as all parameters relating to engine condition

Nov ‘10 / 41

GoingDigital

Digital distribution, often known as electronic software distribution (ESD), is the practice of delivering content without the

use of physical media. What this implies is that content can be downloaded via the Internet straight to a consumer’s home. This also means that digital distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media, such as paper or DVDs. Also, fully downloading the content to a hard drive or other forms of storage media allows for quick access in the future.

Digital distribution, however, represents different things to different people. To some, it implies the loss of freedom that is associated with digital rights management. To others, digital distribution is just a convenient way of avoiding the shops. Now that services like Xbox Live, and the iPhone App Store have proven digital distribution as a market force to be reckoned with, it’s time to start examining what this change means to publishers and developers. And more importantly, hardcore collectors, be it of games, books or software.

And what exactly does digital distribution mean for the common man? It means a lot

more than you think. What we’re seeing at the moment is a tectonic shift in the way we buy and play games, read books, watch movies or television programmes. The main issue is associated with adequate infrastructure (primarily bandwidth and download caps in a variety of countries).

As Mahmood al Zadjali, student at GUtech, says, “The problem with Oman is the fact that our Internet (currently) is an imbalanced deal between the user and ISP. The user will either have to fork out a hefty amount of cash per month to enjoy what others around the world may enjoy per year for much less, or have the inconvenience of using prepaid accounts that may match the high speed of the landline operable ADSL connections but does the job only after you have recharged your account every one to three days. In addition, a lot of the media files are relatively big in size and therefore users are reluctant to download these files due to data charge from the ISP.”

But it is not just the infrastructure that creates a problem. Retailers and publishers are also worried about the effect digital distribution will have on the price of games, books and other

products. And piracy is a major concern. Tariq al Barwani, founder and president of Knowledgeoman.com, says, “It tends to be difficult to control copyright issues with digital distribution. Once one gets a copy of the original production, he/she can distribute the same to others illegally.”

And Mahmood supports this theory. “Despite my lack of knowledge in

Digital distribution represents different things to different people

Mahmood al Zadjali

OP-ED

42 / TECH

functionality of physical media storage such as DVDs or Blu-Ray discs, the formality needed to burn a copy of a movie directly from a DVD is very difficult. You must possess a certain level of software literacy to figure out which application best suits the type of DVD you are trying to back-up. This however is where the pitfall is of being able to turn the digital information on a disc into one that can easily be distributed via volatile peripherals, i.e. flash disks, external HDD, memory sticks. Even though a user like me may intend to have only a back-up of these discs, others may find it to be an easy way to profit from. In most cases around the world of course this is illegal, and the Omani government is implementing piracy penalisations on a somewhat more forgiving level. But nevertheless it exists here as well.”

Of course, it is not all negative. There are pros and cons to any issue. And Tariq says that the most important advantage of “delivering content via the information superhighway... is accessibility and reach”.

He adds, “Today, wherever you are, be it in the sultanate or elsewhere, you can virtually get any content you wish, be it music, pictures, books, or the like, from anywhere in the world. The geographical restriction is reduced and the education gap is filled. Yesterday one would need to actually go to country X or Y to get physical material - books, music, movies, etc. Today thanks to the gifted means of information and communications technology all that is now available via the Internet.”

And Rizwan Kazi, Occupational HSE Consultant and Instructor, also accepts that digital distribution has a far reaching hand. “The more obvious advantage is definitely the reach that digital distribution has, coupled with the monetary aspect, i.e. it is definitely cheaper than the physical means, be it books or CDs or any other physical medium. Digital distribution is both beneficial for artists, writers, singers, publishers and any other person who wishes to reach out to their target audience. The content needn’t be complete either; digital distribution can enable you to throw teasers for the audience and at the same time give you a lot of flexibility and time for the rest of the content as and how the current vagaries demand it.”

But what has the effect of digital distribution been in Oman, apart from the whole issue of the Internet infrastructure? According to Tariq the effect has been positive. “As of date, (digital distribution has affected Oman) positively and that’s by allowing everyone with means to access information, globally, not just locally. If you’re connected online, then you’re connected to the world.”

And for hardcore collectors, “depending on what side of the fence they are on, it would either mean simplicity or frustration. Simplicity for ease of collecting the materials and storing digitally where physical space is no longer an issue, and frustration for some due to the need to learn about the different digital devices, tools or the likes, be it mobile, notebooks, PCs, iPads, etc in order to accept and utilise the medium. If they are digital savvy, then this is going to be good news, otherwise... this might seem like a nightmare,” adds Tariq.

Mahmood, however, feels that hardcore collectors will be disappointed with digital distribution. “For fans of collectibles this (digital distribution) may mean a necessary trip to selected stores or online shops that may or may not make collectible action figures of a particular media title. So with games, for example, one may have to purchase online or even download for free ‘the making of…’ videos that are usually available as a courtesy disc to special edition owners. I do see however other digital bundles online that could be introduced should digital distribution become more imminent.

Hardcore collectors will be fairly disappointed due to the phenomena of intangible collections but I believe that should this occurrence of digital distribution take place, tangible collections will certainly be reintroduced into the market again to gain profit from an audience who are willing to pay for these goods.”

In spite of the fact that digital distribution is here to stay, “there will always be a group of old school aficionados to whom digital distribution wouldn’t mean too much. The attraction of a good hardcover book can never be overwhelmed by a screen,” Rizwan emphasises.

And as he very rightly puts it, “You can’t snuggle in bed with an Amazon Kindle, can you?”

So, as long as there are hardcore collectors in the world, digital distribution cannot take the place of actually holding or collecting games, movies or books.

Rizwan Kazi

Tariq al Barwani

ICON Of perfeCtION

The Jawbone ICON has finally hit the Omani market and we wasted no time procuring one for a test

MOBILE ZONE

44 / TECH

Looks and Build Quality

packaging and Goodies

Being a premium headset, build quality is expected to be high and in this regard the Jawbone ICON definitely doesn’t disappoint. The finish is great and the quality of materials used is on par with what you would expect. It is also really light so ear strain shouldn’t be a problem either. The best part though, is the style. Its small form factor is a joy to behold and because there are six different designs to choose from there is a good chance at least one will suit your taste.

The ICON comes in similar packaging to other Jawbone products. The headset itself rests on a transparent plastic pedestal on a black box containing all the accessories and documentation. We have to give kudos to Aliph for keeping the packaging completely recycleable.

Once you open the flap on the box you will find a bevy of different sized ear pads. Suffice to say, no matter how big your ears are, you will definitely find one that fits your size. And for those that are not comfortable with the unique ear bud-only holder, there is even the good old ear loop option. Aside from the documentation and the guide, you will also find a hard-flex USB-to-micro-USB cable and a wall adapter.

Nov ‘10 / 45

LxBxH (mm)

Weight (gms)

Battery Life

Connectivity

Range

Price

Available at

TECH Specs45x18.25x24mm

8.2

Approx. 4.5 hrs talk time and 10 days standby

Bluetooth V2.1 with EDR support

Up to 10 metres

OMR39.900

Al-Emad Computer, 98221234

functionality and controlAliph has made some great design choices with the ICON in terms of comfort and ease of use. For starters there is a dedicated on/off switch on the inside of the headset which makes pairing the device a lot easier than most regular headsets that require you to hold down a button, or sequence of buttons, to start pairing . The ICON also uses a pin-free pairing system and can remember up to eight different devices making pairing the device a breeze.

Aside from this switch, there is only the micro-USB port and multi-function button next to the earbud. The latter of the two handles all the operations of the device using an ingenious system — it is used to answer phone calls (single click to pick up or hang up calls; double click to redial), checking battery level

(single click) and launching a DialApp (hold down the button) and more. And since the Jawbone’s Active Dynamic Range Management normalises all caller volumes around your preferred volume, as controlled by your phone initially, there is no need for volume buttons on the ICON either.

The ICON has also gotten rid of all the beeps and bops that come with regular headsets to warn of low battery, incoming calls and the like. Instead you will be hearing vocal notifications for which a custom voice is used. The type of voice is directly based on the persona on which the ICON is named.

The ICON also provides the first and only integrated application platform. This allows you to go to mytalk.jawbone.com to

explore the new Jawbone MyTALK feature and download apps that allow you to use your voice to send text messages, check your email, and tweet — all using just the ICON. And finally, you can even listen to podcasts or music, turn-by-turn driving directions using the navigation systems on your phone and more.

ICON

46 / TECH

Audio Quality

Conclusion

All these functions and features mean nothing if the audio cannot live up to its claim, especially when Aliph claims that the ICON uses the world’s first and only military-grade noise-eliminating technology. Aliph calls this technology NoiseAssassin and from the brief time we spent with the headset we can clearly say that it is not a gimmick and contributes greatly to the ICON’s great audio quality. Background noise was effectively subsidised and although from time to time our voice was slightly saturated it still retained good clarity overall. Suffice to say we came away impressed.

While the ICON may not be cheap, it certainly makes up for this by being extremely well built and easy to use. There are also six designs to choose from, each with its own persona and custom voice notifications. And to top it all, it has very impressive audio quality and noise cancellation technology. If the price is not an issue this headset is definitely worth a purchase.

Nov ‘10 / 47

The smart four

Nokia E7

Take a look at Nokia’s new range of smartphones which feature the new Symbian^3 OS

As a smartphone family, Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6 share more than just the same platform – the Symbian^3 OS. The new family of Symbian smartphones will also include a completely updated Ovi Store experience, which has exclusive applications such as Audiotube, Tesco and others, along with favourites such as Fring, Shazam, and Asphalt 5.

Symbian remains the market leader for smartphones but has lost a huge chunk of its market share in recent years with the rise of the iPhone and other competing platforms. The fact that the Symbian^3 has been receiving lacklustre reviews hasn’t helped matters either. As such Nokia’s next flagship smartphone, the N8, will be the last N-series phone running

Symbian software. After its release Nokia’s N-Series will be shifting to the MeeGo platform, which merges Nokia’s Linux Maemo software platform with Intel’s Moblin, which is also based on Linux open-source software.

Equipped with a four-inch polarised AMOLED widescreen capacitive touch display, the Nokia E7 features Nokia ClearBlack technology for improved outdoor visibility

It has 16GB mass memory and 350MB internal memory It comes with an 8MP

camera, 720p HD video capture and a dual LED flash

This smartphone has Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound and HDMI Connection

Live updates from Facebook, Twitter and RenRen are also available

Nokia E7 supports WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g/n connectivity and Micro-USB 2.0 for file transfers and charging

With pre-installed productivity applications including Vlingo, F-Secure Antitheft, QuickOffice and World Traveler, and with business applications from Ovi Store, this is the ultimate business smartphone

48 / TECH

Nokia C7

Nokia C6 Nokia N8

Equipped with a 3.5-inch HD AMOLED touch display with a glass window, the C7 is 10.5mm thick

The Nokia N8 is equipped with a 3.5-inch AMOLED capacitive touch display

It sports a 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics and 720p HD video capture capabilities

Nokia C7 also supports WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g/n connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0

Equipped with a 3.2-inch polarised AMOLED widescreen capacitive touch display, the C6 features Nokia ClearBlack technology for improved outdoor visibility

It has 340MB internal user memory and support for up to 32GB MicroSD memory card

Nokia C6 also supports WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g/n connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0

Similar to the E7 and the C7, Nokia C6 comes with an 8MP camera, 720p HD video capture and a dual LED flash

Additional features include secondary camera for video calling, the latest applications and games from Ovi Store, Ovi Maps with free navigation and location sharing, access to millions of songs via Ovi Music

It has an internal memory of 16GB and MicroSD memory card slot, hot swappable, up to 32GB

Nokia N8 supports WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g/n connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0, similar to the C7 and C6 smartphone

Additional features include Ovi Maps with free global drive and walk navigation and Ovi Store for games and applications

Similar to the E7, Nokia C7 comes with an 8MP camera, 720p HD video capture and a dual LED flash

It has 8GB mass memory, MicroSD memory card support up to 32GB and an internal user memory of 350MB

Display

Memory

Processor

Talk Time/Standby

(WCDMA)

Weight (with battery)

Dimensions (mm)

TECH Specs E7 C6C7 N84” 640x360 pixels AMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen

16GB Internal

680MHz ARM11

5h/20d

176g

123.7x62.4x13.6

3.5” 640x360 pixels AMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen

350MB+8GB Internal, MicroSD

680MHz ARM11

5h/27d

130g

117.3×56.8×10.5

3.2” 640x360 pixels AMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen

340MB Internal, MicroSD

680MHz ARM11

4.5h/15.5d

131g

103.8×52.5×13.9

3.5” 640x360 pixelsAMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen

16GB Internal, MicroSD

680MHz ARM11

5.5h/16.5d

135g

113.5×59×12.9

The very first console Castlevania title, released in 1986 by Konami, was a typical platform game in which the player takes the role

of Simon Belmont, a descendant of the Belmont clan, a family of vampire hunters. He travels to Dracula’s demonic castle, Castlevania, and fights his way through destroying Dracula and the castle. For this new game you can forget this back story entirely as the game follows an independent tale all its own. In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow players take on the role of Gabriel Belmont, voiced by Robert Carlyle, the hero of the game and part of the legendary Belmont clan. Gabriel is also a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who protect and defend the innocent against the supernatural. His beloved wife was brutally murdered by the evil forces of darkness and her soul trapped for eternity. Neither living nor dead she realises the horrific truth of what is at stake and guides her husband to his destiny – and hopefully salvation for the world. While demonic creatures of the night wreak havoc on the land, the souls of the dead are trapped on Earth and unable to find peace. Gabriel must track down the mysterious Lords of Shadow in order to unite the pieces of a relic called ‘The God Mask’ that can purify the world

and has the power to bring the dead back to life. Thus Gabriel must travel the destroyed world, defeating the evil tyrants in order to use their powers to bring balance back to the world. Armed with the versatile Combat Cross – the world’s last hope must encounter the three factions of the Lords of Shadow and end their unholy rule.

In addition to Robert Carlyle, the game’s all-star cast includes the likes of Natascha McElhone, Sir Patrick Stewart (who also narrates the story), Emma Ferguson and more. With such talent working behind the scenes it comes as no surprise that the game is extremely well acted. The story itself as we mentioned before follows its own independent tale and is a lot more sombre and serious than its predecessors.

The epic tale is both captivating and fascinating and hooks you in right through to its stellar yet unexpected conclusion.In terms of gameplay, Lords of Shadow follows the traditional action game route with a touch more platforming than we would have liked (more on this later). Anyone familiar with games like God of War and Dante’s Inferno will be perfectly at home here. Throughout the course of the game you will traverse over 50 diverse and beautifully realised stages with little reason to revisit them other than non compulsory hidden collectibles not reachable on your first playthrough. The levels while well designed and diverse can be problematic to traverse due to some cumbersome platforming mechanics, vital omissions and some frustrating puzzles. The problem with the platforming is that the controls during

So far there is yet to be a 3D Castlevania title that can match the success of its 2D forbearers. Does Lords of Shadow turn this around or does it fall victim to this curse

GAMER’s DELIGhT

50 / TECH

these sequences can be inconsistent and a lot of times you will be forced to make daring jumps which, if not timed correctly, can lead to a frustrating death. Also, the game doesn’t clearly mark the paths you need to take through the level leaving you to fend for yourself, most of the time leaving you hopelessly lost looking for the correct path. Then there is the camera which a lot of times doesn’t provide an optimal view for the intricate platforming and terrain traversal sequences making these unnecessarily troublesome. A mini map of sorts would have easily remedied the issue. And finally there are the intricate puzzle sequences. These are scattered throughout the game and can be quite difficult. You can skip through most of these if you choose to forego the experience reward but not all. And some of those that you can’t skip are actually some of the hardest in the game requiring you to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to solve them. Despite the story we would have by now given up on the game were it not for two features that

literally redeem this game of all its flaws – the graphics and combat.

The battles in Lords of Shadow are by far one of the most cinematic we have ever seen in a game even rivalling those in God of War 3. Especially so are the boss battles that offer a ton of variety and a level of challenge that is, for lack of a better word, perfect. Standard combat also follows suit, thanks to the ever upgrading Combat Cross and constantly expanding move-sets that can be purchased through points earned from killing enemies. The controls are spot-on making it easy to pull of these elaborate moves. In addition to these regular moves, which you will easily be upgrading throughout the game, the game also features light and dark ultimate attacks and magic that adds a great deal of depth to the combat. The same cannot be said for the handful of Titan battles

that, although epic in scale, boil down to just path memorisation.

In terms of graphical technology the game

is right up there with the best but in terms

of sheer

variety and beauty it goes unmatched. Throughout the course of the 20 hours or so that you will spend with the game you will visit some of the most beautiful and artistic levels you will ever come across in a game and most of the time you can’t help but stare at these sights. At the very least it makes those hours lost in finding the way forward a lot more bearable.Were it not for the platforming, the

omission of a mini map and the other inconsistencies, we can’t think of a reason why this game wouldn’t have been placed among Castlevania’s greats. But it seems that somewhere along the development process the developers forgot this. We are left with a game that falls short of our expectations. Despite this, Lords of Shadow is a game that must not be missed, even if it’s only for its cinematic combat, captivating story and the sheer artistic beauty of its levels. Believe us when we tell you – whatever frustration you may face is worth the experience.

Publisher: KonamiDeveloper: MercurySteamPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360Genre: ActionESRB Rating: Mature

SCORE

7.7All Star Cast and a captivating story, Breathtaking Visuals, Stunning cinematic combat

Broken platforming mechanics, absence of a mini-map, some frusterating unskippable puzzles

The Good

The Bad

Nov ‘10 / 51

Game Release CalendarNovember 2010

November 19

ASSASSIN’S CREED: BROTHERHOODPublisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft MontrealPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360Genre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

November 10

MICROSOFT KINECT

November 9

CALL OF DUTy: BLACK OPSPublisher: ActivisionDeveloper: TreyarchPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, DS, WiiGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

Publisher: MicrosoftDeveloper: MicrosoftPlatform(s): Xbox 360Genre: FamilyESRB Rating: R/P

NEED FOR SPEED: HOT PURSUITPublisher: EADeveloper: Criterion GamesPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3Genre: DrivingESRB Rating: R/P

November 25

EPIC MICKEy

Publisher: Disney Interactive StudiosDeveloper: Disney InteractivePlatform(s): WiiGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

November 26

SPLATTERHOUSE

Publisher: Namco Bandai GamesDeveloper: Namco Bandai GamesPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, WiiGenre: ActionESRB Rating: Mature

November 5

DEF JAM RAPSTAR

Publisher: 4mm GamesDeveloper: Terminal RealityPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, WiiGenre: SimulationESRB Rating: Mature

GOD OF WAR: GHOST OF SPARTAPublisher: SCEADeveloper: Ready at DawnPlatform(s): PSPGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

JAMES BOND 007: BLOOD STONEPublisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Bizarre CreationsPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, DSGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

52 / TECH

Beginnings are always important, be it a book or a movie. The opening scene of a movie sets the pace for the entire film – it has the power to either glue its audience to their seats or make them walk out for an evening of much better fun. However, there is no doubt that Predators has the power to keep you glued to your seats.

The opening scene, which involves people free falling into a world with alien species, is spectacular.

A word of warning: don’t have any drinks near your hands. You just might send it flying. And your heart will keep racing and won’t slow down till the end.

Directed by Nimrod Antal, Predators is a well executed film that takes the franchise back to its roots.

The plot revolves around a group of elite warriors hunted by the infamous and merciless alien race – the Predators.

Laurence Fishburne’s (Noland) performance, though only for a few minutes, adds weight to the movie. And he brings to mind his performance in The Matrix. And what can be said about Adrien Brody (Royce). His character is as far removed from his role in The Pianist

(2002) as it is possible to get. But he has done justice to his role as

a mercenary in Predators.

With minimal dialogues and background music, this is

definitely a serious action film. And with the toned-down background

score, every cry of the aliens and creatures in the ‘rainforest’ can be heard with chilling effect. Of course, the plot is quite similar to movies on ‘survival of the fittest’. But with no cheesy dialogues or subtle love attractions to distract the serious action lovers, this movie lives up to its heritage.

Conclusion: Following in the wake of some sub-par sequels, Predators finally goes back to its roots. The end result is a great action flick that is equal parts action and nostalgia. And with the perfect combination of a solid cast, special effects, sets and costumes, the movie is worth watching.

Finally going back to its roots, Predators is worth watching

DVDRELEASES

NOVEMBER

The Last Airbender16 November

Action/Adventure - PG

Vampires Suck

30 NovemberComedy - PG-13

Knight & Day

30 NovemberAction/Comedy - PG-13

The Disappearance of Alice Creed

23 NovemberDrama/Thriller - R

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

30 NovemberAction/Adventure - PG

DVD REVIEw

Nov ‘10 / 53

The history of Public Address (P.A.) systems has started in ancient Greece where amphitheatres were designed so well that even the turning of pages by an orator could be heard in every seat. Panasonic P.A. systems combine the very latest technology in amplifiers,

microphones and speakers to bring this ideal audio environment to modern public spaces. With these equipment so carefully designed, it looks as good as it sounds. This unbeatable combination of auditory and visible quality has made Panasonic P.A. systems the choice of acoustic

professionals for more than forty years. Innovations spanning the full spectrum of Panasonic electronic expertise now make them better than ever, whatever your application is.

Panasonic takes public address systems to the next level

In developing its wireless microphone system, Panasonic has taken the many scenarios into account of which this system will be used and as such the system is full of easy-to-use ingenuity, from microphones to speakers

Panasonic’s wireless public address system has greatly improved upon traditional technology; if a wireless receiver with a built-in amplifier such as WS-X77F2 is adopted, wireless public addressing can be realised, along with space-saving

The new Conference Microphone System was developed from a user perspective, it combines easy setup, a host of convenient features, and elegant, functional design

To offer flexibility and precision, Panasonic offers a range of amplifiers to suit any sort of mike and speaker combination and come in two varieties – regular amplifiers and MIXING POWER AMPLIFIERS

The WR-210AE supports both separate zone announcement (10 broadcasts) and all-zone announcement capabilities while the WR-201E has MIC and LINE buttons which allow selection of mic audio or line audio for announcements

The new Conference Microphone System was developed from a user perspective, it combines easy setup, a host of convenient features, and elegant, functional design

The champagne gold microphone unit adds a delicious, high-status feeling to every occasion, while the system is easy to upgrade with camera or wireless device capabilities

technology for the public

Panasonic System Solutions offers two different PA line-ups. The first of which is geared towards larger businesses and include the following systems:

Wireless microphone systems

remote Microphones

Conference Microphones

Speakers

Amplifiers

BusINEss TECh

54 / TECH

When used in rooms surrounded by walls, outside infrared signals are blocked and an interference-free operation environment is obtained and at the same time infrared signals also remain inside such, thus preventing interception

You have a choice between bass-reflex ceiling type speakers or the all-in-one portable speaker, WX-LP100, which incorporates a 2ch infrared receiver, infrared sensor, amplifier and speaker into a compact unit

The WX-LZ150 takes about eight hours to charge the battery and up to two microphones can be charged at a time and can even be used while connected to the charger

The WX-LZ150 takes about eight hours to charge the battery and up to two microphones can be charged at a time and can even be used while connected to the charger

Available at:OMASCO System Solutions, 24565696

Panasonic offers a range of Infrared Receivers / Amplifiers or just plain Receivers, all of which allow the simultaneous use of four microphones

Aside from the two PS line-ups, Panasonic also offers a range of RAMSA professional audio systems which include various audio mixers, power amplifiers, digital signal processors and speaker systems. Since its debut in 1979, Panasonic’s professional audio systems RAMSA (Research for Advanced Music Sound and Acoustics) has continually applied state-of-the-art technology to create better audio spaces and those available today are no exception.

There are two types of microphones to choose from - The pendant microphone integrates the infrared emitters, microphone and processor into an all-in-one, easy to use unit, for cable free operation while the lightweight the handheld microphone provides trouble free operation by placing the emitting diodes just below the microphone preventing them from being blocked by the user’s hand

The second PA line-up provides products on a smaller scale and are Ideal for classrooms, lecture and conference rooms; here is what’s on offer:

Infrared wireless microphone system

Speakers

Infrared Sensor

rAMSA Line-up

Battery Charger

Infrared receiver / Amplifier

Nov ‘10 / 55

Makita’s BMR100, the Job Site Radio, covers the FM band from 87.5 to 108MHz and the AM range from 520 to 1710kHz – enough frequency capacity to cover most national, local and special interest stations

The BML185 Rechargeable Flash Light has four position head pivots for greater versatility and a soft grip that swivels 90 degrees

The radio withstands up to five minutes exposure to rain while bumpers and metal pipes protect against rough handling

It has high illumination and emits 4,500 Lux and comes with a new Xenon bulb for extra brightness

The radio has a digital quartz display with a blue backlight that illuminates for 15 seconds after operation of any button or dial on the front control

The flash light runs up to 4.3 hours per charge

The front control panel of the radio has auto-scan, clock-set and the timer button

TECH SpecsFrequency Range

Dimensions

Net Weight

Available at

BMR100FM: 87.50 - 108MHz / AM: 520 – 1710kHz

261x167x433mm

4.2kg

Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies, 24811238

TECH SpecsContinuous use

Dimensions

Net Weight

Voltage

Available at

BML185260minutes (3.0Ah Battery)

284x84x96mm

0.36kg

18V

Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies, 24811238

Music on-siteMakita enters the popular music-on-site market with the advanced BMR100 radio – a rugged and robust twin channel radio unit that has a powerful 5W output and a wide AM/FM frequency band.

Designed to survive in the harsh

outdoor construction site environment, the new Makita radio has a moulded ABS casing with neoprene end panel protectors, chrome control panel ‘bull-bars’ for protection and an anti-shock loudspeaker system. Weighing just 4.2kg, it has a retractable handle grip for ease

of carrying, sprung antennae aerial and a digital push button channel selection system. A single rotating control adjusts both volume and frequency selection.

Designed to survive in harsh outdoor environment

56 / TECH

1. Google (www.google.com) is a

3. ‘.JPG’ extension refers to what kind of file?

2. What kind of data can you send by email?

4. What is the name of the language you use to write a web page?

a) Search Engineb) Number in Mathsc) Directory of imagesd) Chat service on the web

a) System File b) Image Filec) MS Office Document d) Animation/Movie File

a) Audio b) Videoc) Pictures d) All of the above

a) HTTP b) FTPc) URL d) HTML

Name ___________________________________

Age ______ Mobile ________________________

Email ____________________________________

Occupation _______________________________

Company _________________________________

Please send us your entries by 24th of Novemberfor a chance to win a SAMSUNG DVD-C360.

Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing and Emax cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified. Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.

Last month’s winner:

Sahil Vermawins his Spectra 300

Fax to24693569

Choose the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win

Gift courtesy of EMax

Welcome to our ‘TECH Favourites’ section. With these lists we aim to keep you updated with our favourite products in a concise format. Please give us your feedback on the basis of which we can further improve it.

3D TVs

Players

LG 42LE5500 OMR680.000 This is a 42-inch, full HD, 2MP, LED TV with wireless AV link. It sports four HDMI inputs, Bluetooth and Net Cast.

LG 55LX9500 OMR1899.9003D LED 55-inch screen, THX certified display, Wireless HD streaming, Magic Wand remote control, Internet enabled

Samsung PS63C7000 OMR2099.0003D Plasma 63-inch screen, Dolby Digital Plus, SRS Theatre Sound, Real Black Filter, motion judder canceller

Panasonic TH-P50VT20M OMR1499.0003D Plasma 50-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, THX surround sound, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio

Samsung UA55C9000 OMR2799.0003D LED 55-inch display, touch-screen remote control, two High Definition tuners, four HDMI connections

Sony DAV-DZ910 OMR 194.900 HDMI Up-Scaling, Wireless Rear speaker, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX

Panasonic DMP-BD45 OMR74.900Blu-Ray, DVD, CD player, full HD, SD Card Reader, Dolby Digital, Optical Output

LG HB954TBW OMR319.900Full HD 1080p, Wireless Rear speaker, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX

Samsung 3D HT-C6950W OMR330.000 Full HD 1080p, Wireless Rear speaker, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DVD-R

Sharp LC52LE820M OMR1399.000This is a 2MP RGB LED screen with full HD 1080p 52-inch LED TV. It has four HDMI/PC inputs and supports USB DIVX HD.

Samsung UA32C5000 OMR359.000This is a 32-inch LED TV with a stunning picture quality and a 1080p display. It has two Dolby Digital and DTS decoders for a lush soundscape and includes four HDMI inputs.

Sharp LC60A77M OMR1359.000This 60-inch LCD television has a full-HD panel and a pure black filter that reproduces deeper black. It also has STS TruSurround, bass enhancer and RGB backlight system.

Philips 46PFL9704 OMR1205.000Besides the excellent design, this 46-inch LED TV is known for its ‘Ambilight’ technology. It supports various types of multimedia playback and has a three-way hybrid tuner that supports CI+ encryption.

Sony KLV40EX700 OMR499.900This is a 40-inch, full HD, 2MP, edge-lit LED display with 100Hz motion flow. It sports four HDMI inputs, a USB port, P.I.P and Internet TV.

Panasonic THP-50U20M OMR535.000 This is a 2MP, full HD 50-inch TV with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 and 600Hz sub-field drive. It has three HDMI inputs and an SD card slot.

Sony KLV46NX700 OMR999.900 This is a 2MP, full HD 46-inch edge-lit LED TV with 120Hz motion flow. It has four HDMI inputs, Internet TV, Wi-Fi, USB port and P.I.P.

Flat-Panel Displays

EW PdaTEd

NB: Due to the ever changing world of technology, prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change on a weekly basis. Please check with your local dealer for updated costs of your favourite gadgets.

Netbooks & Ultra Portables

HP Pavilion dV6-3060 OMR545.000 Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 6GB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch full-HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Dell 1012-SAM-0055 OMR138.500 Intel Atom N450 processor, 1.66GHz CPU speed, 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 10.1-inch TFT

Asus 1201N OMR199.900 Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, 12.1-inch LED display, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

HP TM2-2090 OMR459.900Intel Core i3 processor, 3GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB HDD, 12.1-inch HD LED HD screen, 512MB VRAM

Sony Vaio VPC-CM126AG/L OMR219.900Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 10.1-inch WXGA LCD, 3-in-1 card reader

LG X200L-AGL4E1 OMR189.900 Intel Atom N450 processor, 1.66GHz CPU speed, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 10.1-inch screen Asus G51J OMR799.900

Intel Core i7 720QM, 1.6GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD Glare LED, DVD multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

HP ENVy 14-1099ee OMR839.900Intel Core i7 740QM processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 8GB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 640GB HDD, 14.5-inch HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera.

Packard Bell TM86-JO-103AC OMR314.900Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.26GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED LCD, DVD super multi DL drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 card reader, 1.3MP web camera

Toshiba Satellite P500-1F7 OMR655.000 Intel Core i7 7400M processor, 2.8GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 1GB VRAM, 1,280GB HDD, 18.4-inch TrueBrite HD LED screen, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

HP Pavilion dV8-1290ee OMR697.900Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 6,144MB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 1TB Dual HDD, 18.4-inch full-HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Samsung NP-R590-JS02AE OMR509.000 Intel Core i7 620M, 2.66GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1GB VRAM, 1.3MP web camera

Dell Inspiron 5010-0089 OMR439.900Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.4GHz CPU speed, 6GB RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray disc ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 8-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Sony Vaio VPCEA26FA OMR449.900Intel Core i5 520M processor, 2.40GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 14-inch screen, DVD super multi DL drive, ATI RADEON HD 5650 Graphics (1GB), Wireless, Bluetooth

Toshiba QOSMIO F60-12D OMR625.000Intel Core i7 740QM Processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1GB VRAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED screen, DVD Blu-Ray, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Laptops

WD My Book Essential External HD OMR67.900Customisable e-label, automatic, visual backup, password protection, high-performance FireWire 800 interface

Life Cam HD6000 OMR29.900 720p HD-quality video at 30fps, auto focus, TrueColour Technology, Notebook design with 360 degree lens rotation

Creative HS-1200 Wireless Headset OMR49.900 Virtual surround headset, response range of 20Hz to 20kHz, USB rechargeable battery

Linksys Router WRT610N OMR75.900 Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router, WEP, WPA and WP2 security features, three internal antennas for each 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio band

GoFlex 1.5TB Portable Drive OMR119.900 Seagate launched the latest FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB portable drive, obtained by increasing the capacity of the platters – 375GB per platter

Computer Accessories

Canon IXUS-130 OMR89.900 This is a 14.1-megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera. It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It has a 28mm wide angle HD movie capture capability.

Canon IXUS-300HS OMR142.900 This is a 10-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 3.8x optical zoom. It comes with an optical image stabiliser and a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The camera also has a Smart Auto and Smart Shutter mode.

Leica DLUX-4 OMR296.900The D-Lux 4 is a premium compact digital camera featuring a new 10-megapixel sensor with more light-sensitive area on each pixel, a 24 – 60mm wide-angle optical zoom lens, and RAW shooting capability.

Sony TX5 OMR160.900This is a 10.2-megapixel, three-inch wide touch-screen with 4x optical zoom. It comes with iSweep Panorama Mode and has ‘Exmor R’ sensor. Its airtight construction is waterproof up to 10ft.

Samsung ST1000 OMR134.900This has built-in GPS, GEO Tagging technology, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The camera has a recycling bin, preventing the accidental deletion of photos. It has a 5x optical zoom lens with a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Olympus mju8000 OMR144.900The MJU8000 is shockproof, waterproof and freeze proof. It comes with a 12MP sensor, a 3.6x wide angle lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It is compact and more robust than the previous models in the Olympus range.

Olympus SP-800UZ OMR169.900This is a 14.1-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 30x optical zoom. It comes with an Intelligent Auto mode. Taking and sharing photos is easier with the new Photo Surfing tool and the [ib] software.

Sony DSC-W390 OMR112.900This is a 14-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 5x optical zoom. It comes with a BIONZ processor and the Sweep Panorama and self-portrait feature. It captures HD video at 30fps and has an Intelligent Auto mode.

Panasonic TZ10 OMR180.000Ideal for anyone looking for extra zoom power in a small camera, it comes with a 12x zoom lens and has manual exposure settings, aperture and shutter priority. GPS technology is built-in.

Samsung ST550 OMR119.900The ST550 has an LCD screen on the front and the back. There is a face recognition feature that can recognise up to 20 faces and a touch and tilt mechanism for rotating a picture.

CamerasCamcorders

JVC GZ-HD500 OMR269.900200x digital zoom, CMOS optical sensor, Built-in lens shield, face detection, Dolby digital AC-3 recording

Sony HDR-XR550 OMR509.90012 megapixel resolution, 10x optical zoom, Exmor R CMOS sensor, 240GB HDD, Image Stabiliser, 3.2-inch LCD screen

Canon LEGRIA HFM36 OMR339.0008GB dual flash memory, relay recording, easy HD shooting, 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD, Dynamic OIS and Powered IS

Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5K OMR89.9005MP resolution, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen, HD Video 1920x1080, built-in USB, 270 degree swivel lens

Sanyo VPC-CG10 OMR69.90010.66 megapixel resolution, optical zoom, auto focus, built-in flash, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen

Sony A550 OMR399.90014.2 megapixel, quick auto focus live view, Smile Shutter technology, dual media slots, three-inch LCD screen

Nikon D300S OMR639.90012.3 megapixel, CMOS image sensor, 51-point auto focus, three-inch super-density VGA LCD monitor

Canon EOS 1D Mark 4 OMR2329.90016.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10fps shooting, three-inch Clear View LCD, HD video recording

Canon EOS 50D OMR529.90015.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, three-inch Clear View VGA LCD, HDMI connection

Olympus EPL1 OMR399.9002.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, computerised focal-plane shutter, interchangeable lens system

DSLRS & Micro Four-Thirds

iPod Docks

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S OMR249.900Samsung’s latest smartphone is Android-powered and boasts of an AMOLED touch-screen. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus, HSDPA Internet connectivity, and 8GB storage. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

JBL ON TIME OMR97.000iPod dock, back light display, AM/FM radio, Aux input, bass control

Logic3 iStation Studio OMR49.900iPod dock, 40W RMS, Line-in connection, AM/FM radio, clock display

Logitech Pure – Fi dream OMR95.900Bass and treble controls, alarm clock, AM/FM radio, integrated audio amplifiers, two speakers, built-in LCD display

Bose Sound Dock-10 OMR249.900iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input

iHome Studio Series OMR89.900 Speakerphone stereo system for iPhone/iPod, features Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station, Class-D amplifier technology

Nokia N900 OMR175.900 With a touch-screen and full QWERTY keypad, this mobile sports a 5MP camera, a dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM and a 600MHz processor. It also supports Wi-Fi and 3G.

Acer NeoTouch S200 OMR239.900 With a 3.8-inch TFT resistive touch-screen, the mobile comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. It supports Bluetooth, v2.1 with A2DP.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro U8 OMR148.900 This phone sports a 3.2-inch touch-screen. It sports a 5MP camera and comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It also supports Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, A-GPS and Geotagging.

Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro (U201) OMR149.900 This smartphone sports a 5MP camera with auto focus, QWERTY keypad, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This phone runs on Android OS 1.6 and has a 600MHz processor.

Samsung SGH S5620 OMR74.900 With A-GPS support, the handset is filled with additional features like the one-finger zoom, accelerometer sensor, image editor, a 3.2MP camera, geo-tagging and smile detection. Video recording is also possible.

Nokia NK C6 OMR135.000 The Nokia C6 comes with 3.2-inch AMOLED ClearBlack capacitive touch-screen, runs Symbian 3.0 OS. It sports an 8MP full focus camera and supports Bluetooth 3.0.

Samsung S8500 Wave OMR169.900The Wave is the first mobile handset to be released on the Samsung’s new, open mobile platform, Samsung Bada. It offers super AMOLED display, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 1GB storage and a 5MP camera.

Motorola Milestone OMR199.000 Milestone has a full QWERTY keyboard with five-way navigation keys, multi-touch, high resolution screen. It is a smartphone that is Android-powered, with a 5MP camera with dual flash.

Sony Ericsson U10i Classic OMR122.900 This smartphone sports an 8MP camera, three-inch touch-screen with a resolution of 240x432 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 3G support and stereo Bluetooth.

MP3 Players

Creative Zen Mozaic EZ300OMR32.9004GB, 1.8-inch video screen, built-in FM radio, voice recorder, picture viewer, built-in speaker

Apple iPod Nano 5G OMR89.900 16GB, VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, 1.54-inch (diagonal) colour TFT display, Live Pause feature

Sony Zappin NWZ-W252 OMR36.9002GB, high speed connectivity, built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, water-resistant

Apple iPod Touch OMR99.900 8GB, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, multi-touch display, 720p HD video capture, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

Creative Zen X-Fi2 OMR69.90016GB, flash memory, audio enhancements, expandable memory, touch-screen user input mode, charges via USB port

Phones

Service EmaxOffers

Refrigerators

General ASG18-HTR OMR253.900 This 1.5-ton split air conditioner comes with a Blue Fin coated condenser, silver nano health system, hyper tropical compressor, deo air filter and a plasma pure filter.

LG GR-762-DEPF OMR288.900 760l capacity, double doors, frost free, tempered glass shelves, multi air flow

Toshiba GRy-60UD OMR199.900 580l capacity, double doors, frost free, hybrid plasma, twist ice tray, adjustable insulated wired shelves

Samsung RR82WE+RZ80EE OMR589.500620l capacity, digital display and control, child lock, double doors, BRITA filtered water dispenser

Samsung RS22HKNTS1 OMR469.500 620l capacity, LED lights, twin cooling, nano silver anti bacteria filter, multi air flow system

Sharp SJK42SSL OMR149.900 382l capacity, double doors, frost free, nano deodoriser, twist ice tray, insulated wired shelves

Panasonic CS/CUC18KKF OMR197.900With power cooling at 55 degree Celsius, this 1.5-ton capacity air conditioner has a Blue Fin coated condenser and an Eco sensor/plasma filter.

Whirlpool AMD-333 OMR139.900This 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is a super tropical model that can withstand temperature up to 52 degree Celsius. It comes with a LED on the front panel.

Toshiba RAS-18SKP OMR198.900With a compact design and precise operation, Toshiba’s SKP series has a seven-layer air filter that cleans pollutants from the air. It operates at an extremely low 20 decibels in quiet mode.

Electrolux ESSD-18 OMR127.900This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a reciprocating compressor with a digital temperature control and smooth air flow. It also has washable filters.

Samsung AWT18WHBM OMR118.500Samsung’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner with a rotary compressor has a digital temperature control, anti-corrosion body, fuzzy logic feature and a silver nano health system.

LG E2463PP OMR370.900This is a two-ton capacity Art Cool air conditioner with a three-way air flow system. It comes with a slim design and a picture panel frame.

Samsung AS18UU OMR185.500Samsung’s latest 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is best known for its antivirus plasma filter and silver nano health system.

Sanyo SA186M5 OMR116.900Sanyo’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner is a low noise design with a rotary compressor and comes with an anti-bacteria filter. It is easy to clean and allows smooth air flow.

Hitachi RAN-209CP OMR132.900This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a high energy-efficient compressor with a super quite air flow. There is a symmetric twin flow air discharge, washable filters and a rotary compressor.

Washing Machines v Whirlpool AWG-5061M OMR131.500 5kg capacity washer, 10 programmes/600rpm, no-spin option, rinse hold option, temperature selection

Toshiba AW-SD150SB OMR185.90013kg capacity, six wash programmes, memory option, digital display, water level selection, hydro twin power

Panasonic NAF-11Ty OMR166.400 11kg capacity top load washer, eight programmes, foam wash, fuzzy logic, Aqua Beat technology

LG WD-12396TDK OMR147.9007kg capacity, 13 programmes, 1,200rpm, direct drive motor, child lock, no spin option

Samsung WD8704 OMR274.5008kg washer, 5kg dryer, 11 programmes, 1,400rpm, silver wash, air wash, delay start, child lock

Air Conditioners

Vacuum Cleaners

GE GMOH30UCPSS OMR56.900A 30l convection microwave/grill with electronic touch control, GE’s latest in this series has time and weight defrost feature and express cook. It has a 1,000W grill power and 900W microwave power.

Sharp EC-CW1000 OMR32.900 Wet and dry vacuum, 1,000W power, washable filters, 15l capacity, convenient wheel

Panasonic MC-761020 OMR62.2006.2l dust bag capacity, Anti bacteria filter, three-speed control, 1,600W power

Samsung SD9420 OMR69.500Aquatic canister vacuum cleaner, 2l dust capacity, HEPA 12 filter, two-step brush, steel telescopic pipe, bagless

Karcher SV1802 OMR230.000Steam vacuum cleaner, four suction settings, five steam-flow settings, coarse dirt filter, foam filter, HEPA filter

Hoover V091PB OMR73.4002,400W vacuum cleaner, variable power control, washable central HEPA exhaust filter, 3.25l dust capacityLG MC9287 OMR99.900

This is a 42l microwave/grill/convection from LG’s HealthCare Collection, which includes some nutritious menus. It has auto-cook and auto-reheat functions. It also has Steam Chef and Crispy Cook options.

Samsung CQV513S OMR184.500A 36l oven with 800W microwave output power and 1,540W grill power, Samsung’s latest family-size combi steam oven has six power levels for cooking. It also has auto steam cook and auto power defrost.

Panasonic NN-CD997S OMR149.900With a 42l oven capacity, three stage memory, delay start, two level shelf cooking, Panasonic’s exclusive Inverter technology is the only microwave technology that offers real power level control.

Samsung GW73 OMR24.900 This is a 20l microwave/grill with a maximum wattage of 750. It employs the Triple Distribution System (TDS) technology and comes with touch control. It also has an electronic time control.

Black & Decker TRO60PB OMR40.400 This 42l electric oven has 1,800W input power. The oven comes with temperature control and a timer. It also has a function selector and a power indicator lamp, along with shelf supports.

Panasonic NNS235 OMR32.500 With a 22l oven capacity and 800W power, this microwave oven comes with a one-touch menu. It also has child safety lock, turbo defrost and auto-reheat options.

Sharp R-898SLMA OMR72.000 This 26l convection microwave/grill has a 900W power. With Express Cook and Defrost features, the oven comes with six preset menus and five variable cooking power levels.

Elekta EBRO-444HP OMR28.900 This is a 43l capacity electric oven with five stages of heating selec-tor. It comes with two hot plates, with 500 and 800W power, respectively. It has a temperature selector between zero and 250 degrees Celsius.

Sharp R-85STMA OMR95.000A 26l convection microwave/grill with touch control operation, the oven has Instant Cook, Express Cook, Express Defrost automatic features. It also has an electronic timer with an easy-to-read LCD display for precise cooking and defrosting.

Domestic Appliances

Tefal Actifry OMR87.9001,400W power, digital display, only one spoon of oil for 1kg of crispy chips, easy basket handling

Black & Decker FX800 OMR30.900800W power food processor, 2.3l processing bowl, 1.7l blender, five speeds plus pulse

George Foreman GVR160S RO39.900Grill machine, patented sloped design, preheat indicator light, dishwasher-safe tray and spatula, nonstick-coating

Philips HR2094 OMR35.500750W power, 2l with serrated blades for superior blending and crushing, smoothie making, illuminated switch

Moulinex ‘ODACIO 3’-FP7131 OMR69.900900W power food processor, 33 functions, five speeds plus pulse, security lock, comes with juice extractor

Microwaves & Ovens

For a copy of TECH on your desk, call 95413571

XBOX 360 250GB OMR129.900With a stylish design, the internal 250GB hard drive allows you to save games and content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. It has built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and 5.1 surround sound.

Our Current Top 5Recommended Games

Castlevania Lords of Shadow OMR28.900 Publisher: KonamiDeveloper: MercurySteamPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360Genre: ActionESRB Rating: Mature

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West OMR28.900Publisher: Namco Bandai GamesDeveloper: Ninja TheoryPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3Genre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

Medal of Honor OMR28.900 Publisher: EA GamesDeveloper: EA GamesPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PCGenre: ActionESRB Rating: Mature

Halo Reach OMR26.700Publisher: MicrosoftDeveloper: BungiePlatform(s): Xbox 360Genre: ActionESRB Rating: Mature

StarCraft 2 – Wings of Liberty OMR25.700 Publisher: BlizzardDeveloper: BlizzardPlatform(s): PCGenre: StrategyESRB Rating: Teen

*All lists are in no particular order and prices are subject to change at the retailer’s discretion

Logitech G19 OMR85.800 With a colour GamePanel LCD and 12 programmable G-keys, this gaming keyboard supports multi-key input and has two high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

PSP 3000 + 2 Games OMR75.500This current version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen that is even able to resist glare and so works better outdoors.

PlayStation Move Starter Pack OMR28.500 The Move is broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’. The Motion Controller contains built-in motion sensors.

Logitech G9X OMR48.200The G9X Laser mouse ramps up to 5,000dpi and boasts a customisable grip and weighting system. It also has customisable LED lighting and uses Teflon feet to ensure smooth gliding over difficult or dusty surfaces.

Logitech G13 OMR42.800 The GamePanel LCD in this gaming keyboard keeps you informed of the game stats and other vital information to help you claim victory. It includes programmable G-keys that let you create macros on the fly.

Logitech G27 OMR152.000 Logitech racing wheels and flight controllers simulate remarkable realism. Force feedback lets you feel every slip of the tyre, every shudder of the wing and the controls feel like the real thing.

Nintendo DSi XL OMR91.200The DSi XL is the longest, widest and heaviest of the DS models and features two 4.2-inch screens.

Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pack OMR94.400The fastest selling console in history just got better. The Wii now sells its Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus accessory bundled into the console package at an extremely competitive price.

PS3 Slim 320GB+2 Joysticks OMR 198.500 The PlayStation 3 returns with more capacity than ever (320GB), and has lower power consumption. It supports media streaming and its drive allows you to play Blu-Ray movies as well.

Gaming Consoles

Company Product Showroom Service Dept.Al Khalili Group Acer Wadi Kabir 24816303 24816303

Bahwan Electornics Asset, Carrier, Ignis, Napro, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Tempstar, Cooline, Corning, Print electronics, Dolphin, Benq, Ausonia, Daewoo, VIP, Dometic, Corby

Ruwi 24796629/32 24501965 / 66

Jawahir Oman Bang & Olufsen Qurm 24563213 24563213

Belltel Nokia Ruwi 24798222 24798222

Genetco Sanyo, Videocon , Fujitsu, Thomson, York, Yamaha, Canon , HAAS, AEG, Sure, Caravell, Gulf Star, Safari, Admiral, Francia, Mitsubishi, Marc Climatic, Vortice, Guntner, Zanussi , Ziegra Imesa, Bitzer , Manitowoc, Bremer, Dito- Electrolux, Metro , Taylor, Costan

Al Qurum 24568806 Al Qurum 24561948 Muttrah 24713138 Ruwi 24830919 Seeb 24422797 Shatti al Qurum 24693292

24503653

HiTec Centre Boston Accoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio Azaiba 24497384 24497384

Jumbo Electronics Sony, VAIO, Sony professional Products, Blackberry, Supra, Midea Air-conditioners, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP, Dyson, Gorenje

MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845 QCC 24470529, Salalah 23291984

Wadi Kabir 24814815, 24814751, Fax 24815267

Khimji Luxury Krups, Moulinex Ruwi 24796161 99881627

K R Household O General, Siemens Wadi Kabir 24813333 24814793

MHD Fagor, Pioneer Ruwi 24732440 24732440

Meta Galaxy Hitachi Ruwi 24503653 24503653

Muscat Electronics Daikin, Ricoh, Sony Professional products, Chigo, Sansui, JBL

Ruwi 24702982 24813408

Mustafa Sultan Samsung, Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool Al Khuwair 24636015 Wadi Kabir 24799450

Oman International Electronics & Trading Co.

Bose, Nec, JVC Qurm 24565490 24830606

Oman Trading Est. Bosch, LG, Palson, TCL, Prolux, Promate, Pearl, Souq Technia, GHanz, White Westinghouse, Hostess, Kenstar,

Ruwi 24834162 Al Araimi 2456148, 24810522

24810522, 24810156, 80075545

OMASCO Raymond Weil, Kolber, Westar, Alba, Maxima, HMT, Panasonic, Xper, Aftron, Black&Decker, GE

Qurm, 24564310 Ruwi 24833630

24560232

OMASCO - System Solutions Panasonic 24565696 24565696

SARCO Samsung, Frigidaire, Technoflame Ruwi Ghala 24593025

Sayed Bin Nasser Al Hashar Ariston, Rinnai, Voltas, JBL, Kirloskar, Kardex, Lexmark

Ruwi 24700571 Ruwi 24706004, 24796007 Ruwi High Street 24834460 Salalah 23291405, Sohar 26840763 Sur 25544613

24704494

24700883

Oman Modern Electronics Co. Sharp, JBL, Mastergas, Harman/Kardon, Onida, Nikai,

24702555 24702555

Shah Nagardas Manji Co. Kodak, Olympus, Yashica, Cokin, Case Logic, Lexar, Noritsu, Durst, Bushnell, Eiki, Iriver, Steiner, Tasco, White Westinghouse, Igloo, Venus, Russel Hobbs, Addis, Noritake, Ocean, Wenger,

Ruwi 24703803, Qurm 24562656 Lulu Baushe 24593806, Nizwa 25410184

Emax Multibrand MCC 24558062, Fax 24558063

Technical Trading Co. Westinghouse Ruwi 24703515, Fax 24700010

Photocentre Amano, Archivtechnik Kunze, Unomat Intl., Broncolor, Delkin Devices, Fuji Film, Epson, Green Clean, Hama, Hasselbald, Marumi, Mitsubishu Electric, Peli, Sigma, Sinar

Qurm 24565305 Al Khuwair 24479296

P&G Brawn, Oral-B 24815474

Salman Store Seb, Janome, Coolex 24799332

Abu Hani La Germania, Starway, Westar, Starline, Tatung

24495141 24491327

Jashanmal Mytag, Hoover 24702312

Loay Macintosh, Benq, Epson, Sokkia, Acer 24708795 24708845

If you would like to be listed, e-mail: tech@deenarmedia.com

Al Moayyed Integrated Enterprise Daewoo Electronics 24488795 24488795