The RSS Feed
Good Enough?
A
lthough a lot of us use the The same applies for video. Most people ooh
phrase, “It’s not quantity, but and aah at the beauty of 1080p HD, not realising
quality that matters”, how that even old movies captured on professional,
many of us practice what analogue film cameras can actually be scanned
we preach? Think about it, and displayed at several times HD resolution.
which of your senses is most It’s not done because the sub-standard analogue-
active right now? Thanks to the cramming of to-digital conversion technology hasn’t caught
our cities, sound and smell are certainly not our up yet. Decades ago, we could have had high-
favourite senses anymore. Everything is visual definition TVs (not LCDs, but HD still), but not
these days, from the ads that you’re bombarded many bothered to try, because it wasn’t economical
with, to the HDTVs you shell out the big bucks to send signals of that resolution over the air to
for — to watch those same advertisements, your home — and still isn’t. Why hurry to change
incidentally. The victory of consumerism seems that? You’re already buying expensive 1080p
Robert Sovereign-Smith, Editor to have happened a long time ago. TVs, are happy watching lower resolution videos
What this does, however, is put on a very distant on them, or you’re willing to buy expensive (Rs.
backburner the technological marvels that could 1,800) Blu-ray Discs, just to get a video experience
be accomplished for one of my favourite senses that you really should have got a decade ago. That
— sound. With all the supposedly space-age translates to win-win for certain people, and
technology at hand, why can’t we have a recording spend-spend for you.
studio-like experience in our living rooms? What Yes, everyone should have access to
happened to DVD audio? What happened to technologies — even the sub-standard ones of
those guys who promised to turn my walls into today — because it’s what’s revolutionising the
magnificent sounding speakers? Did they fail world. However, that shouldn’t stop us from
because my walls are now also someone else’s, and demanding more from our products. It’s the
my neighbours don’t share my taste in music? only way to ensure that technology regularly
These are questions I’ve asked myself, and surges ahead.
Decades ago, we the answers are usually simple. All of the above At Digit, we’re aware of the rather large
could have had already exist, as finished products, or at worst, as responsibility we carry on our shoulders, which
high-definition prototypes in labs around the world, but they’re is to ensure that each one of you is always aware
TVs, but not many way too expensive, or basically just not popular of what’s good, and what’s not. Through our
bothered to try, enough to find their way to the mainstream. monthly tests and reviews, we try and ensure
because it wasn’t We’re slowly but surely becoming a society that you choose the right products, and every
economical to send that is willing to “settle” for less. Previously in this December, we do the mother of all tests to bring out
signals of that space I’ve talked about the idiot box, and how the the Zero1 Awards. All this is done in the hope that
resolution over the programming we’re subjected to is just trash; the you will see the merits of buying good products.
air to your home — same seems to be invading every other aspect of If you only buy what’s good, brands are forced to
and still isn’t. Why our lives. Parents, who push their kids to get near innovate and improve to cater to your gourmet
hurry to change 100 per cent scores in school, then go out and buy tastes. This makes better technology cheaper, and
that? sub-standard stuff for their homes, because it was advancements faster.
cheap, or because it “looked good”. Yes, you may have to spend a little more (not
The YouTube generation — of which I am always) to help this along, but would you rather
also a part — is impatient, and wants everything spend your hard earned money on products that
quick, and easy. We moved from analogue sound are worth it, or would you rather continue buying
to digital, because it was easier to store — I have a things that are barely “good enough”?
quiet laugh every time I think of that, because the
same forces that drove that change are the ones
suffering today, because MP3 came along and
absolutely trounced their earnings with piracy.
editor@thinkdigit.com
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 1
December 2009 • Volume 9 • Issue 12
Managing Director
Dr Pramath Raj Sinha
Sales and Marketing To advertise
VP Naveen Chand Singh
Printer and Publisher Product Manager Navneet Miglani South East
Kanak Ghosh
Manager - Product Marketing Vinodh Kaliappan Jayanta Bhattacharyya
Publishing Director
Asheesh Gupta Chandan Kumar Singh Email: vinodh.k@9dot9.in Email: jayanta.bhattacharyya@9dot9.in
Assistant Brand Manager Mobile: +91-97407 14817 Phone: +91-93318 29284
Editorial Arpita Ganguli
Editor Phone: +91-80-2554 6370/73 +91-33-2231 7344/46
Co-ordinator, Scheduling,
Robert Sovereign-Smith Fax: +91-80-4151 8330 North
MIS and Ad-sales Aatish Mohite
Editor-at-large and Online Architect West Pranav Saran
Ahmed Shaikh
Head - Copy Desk Production and Logistics Sachin Nandkishore Email: pranav.saran@9dot9.in
Nash David Sr. GM - Operations Email: sachin.m@9dot9.in Phone: +91-93126 85289,
Writers Aditya Madanapalle, Shivshankar Hiremath Mobile: +91-99203 48755 +91-11-4160 8655/56/57/58
Siddharth Parwatay Production executive Vilas Mhatre
Phone: +91-22-2437 2214/19 International
Test Centre Logistics M P Singh, Mohd. Ansari,
Fax: +91-22-2448 2059/1123 Navin Chand Singh
Mgr - Test Development and Sourcing Shashi Shekhar Singh
Michael Browne Email: nc.singh@9dot9.in
Mgr - Testing and Processes Circulation and Subscription — Sales Mobile: +91-99013 00772
Rossi Fernandes Co-ordinator Vijay Mhatre
Trainee Reviewer Himanshu Pant Customer Service Prerana Panchal, Advertisers' index
Vrushali Londhe, Poornima Tendulkar Client Page No LIC 29
Multimedia
Project Head Robert Sovereign-Smith Customer Service (Helpdesk) Abacus 9 Lipap 136
Content Head Aditya Madanapalle +91-22-4078 9612/13/14 AOC 13 Map My India 37
Design Asus 17,89,127 Microsoft Inside Front Cover
Sr Creative Director Jayan Narayanan Head Office: Editorial, Marketing
Art Director Binesh Sreedharan and Customer Service AVG 53 Microworld Insert + Tab
Associate Art Director Anil VK
Nine Dot Nine Interactive Pvt. Ltd
C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, Benq Back Cover Mitashi 83
Lead Designer Vijay Padaya
Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station), Cooler Master 159 Priya ltd 149
Manager Design Chander Shekhar
Navi Mumbai 400 703
Sr Visualisers PC Anoop, Dell Booklet RX Infotech 141
Santosh Kushwaha Phone: +91-22-4078 9666
Sr Designers TR Prashanth, Anil T, Fax: +91-22-4078 9540, D-link 19 Sagarmatha 137
NV Baiju +91-22-4078 9640
EPSON 3 Sandisk 11
Illustrators Shrikrishna Patkar,
Chaitanya Surpur Cover design KG Hosting 133 Scrum System 129
Sr. Photographer Jiten Gandhi PC Anoop
Kingmax 35 Sun Microsystems 20,21
Kingston 15 Top Gun 59
Tell us what you feel about Digit KYE Systems Inside Back Cover Toshiba Insert + Tab
Each month, Digit walks through the technology maze to
bring you the most relevant, and the most researched Leo Security 139 Transcend 25
stories. If you have an opinion about anything published LG Mobile 63
in Digit, or about technology in general, please write to
editor@thinkdigit.com
Products reviewed this month
Product testing
Want your product reviewed by Digit? Bazaar........................108 Samsung Pixon M8910
Contact our Test Center at Ace Aspire One 751h Sony BDP-S360
testcenter@thinkdigit.com Altec Lansing MX6021 Sony DVP-NS728
Software on DVD Apple iPod Touch 64GB Sony VAIO CW VPCCW16FG
To submit and suggest software for AVG Internet Security 9.0 Wacom Bamboo Fun
inclusion in Digit DVDs, write to Benq V2200 Eco WD TV Live
dvd@thinkdigit.com Canon PIXMA iP4760 ZOTAC MAG
Help! Canon PIXMA ix7000
For subscription or copy-related issues, Circle Cosmo CC742 Desktop Comparison
send an e-mail to help@thinkdigit.com Cooler Master Sentinel Advance Test...............84
Endorsements / reprints Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 Acer Aspire IE3530
Interested in ordering article reprints, Corel Digital Studio 2010 Acer Aspire IE4750
or using our logos? Contact Genius G-Shot V1200 Acer Aspire X1800
reprint@thinkdigit.com HP LP2475w Apple iMac 20-inch
Business enquiries iolo System Mechanic Apple iMac 24-inch
For any business-related enquiries, contact Kensington Keypad-calculator and Apple iMac 24-inch
business@thinkdigit.com Mouse set Apple Mac Mini
News and new product launches Kingmax Super Stick Mini 16GB Apple Mac Pro
To announce new product launches, and press releases, Kodak EasyShare Z915 Dell Inspiron 545s
email us at pressrelease@thinkdigit.com LG Jazz Theatre 42LH60YR Gateway ZX2301
Disclaimer: For every Digit contest, there will be only one winner, unless Linksys WRT120N Intex Gold GD-16431
specified otherwise. In the event of a dispute, the Editor’s decision shall be final. Mitashi EL 3000 Intex Platinum PM-16431
Printed and Published by Kanak Ghosh, for Nine Dot Nine Interactive Pvt. Ltd. C/o KPT House, Plot Netgear WNR3700 Lenovo C300
41/13, Sector 30, Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station), Navi Mumbai 400 703
Philips 42PFL7409 Lenovo IdeaCentre A600
Editor: Anuradha Das Mathur, C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station),
Navi Mumbai 400 703 Philips BDP7500SL Zenith E7500
Printed at Printed at Silverpoint Press Pvt. Ltd, Plot No. A, 403, MIDC, TTC Industrial Area, Samsung Omnia HD Zenith E8400
Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400709
2 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Contents
DECEMBER 2009 VOLUME 9 \ ISSUE 12
QUICK
NAVIGATOR
008 ENTER
Inbox
Industry Connect
Buzz
CONNECTIONS
022 Mobile Entertainment
Web Watch
Mobile Watch
030 DIGITAL LIFE
Drool Maal
TED Mysore Highlights
More from HT systems
Blu-Ray in India
Online Movie Stores
TECH
054 SCI Interfaces
Touch
060 TOOLBOX
Data Compression
Zero1 Awards
A look at BSD
Tips and Tricks
Each year, we recognise the best products that deserve
QnA your hard earned money. Spanning 17 categories from the
smallest flash drives to the biggest LCDs, we bring you
116 ESC
Unwind this year’s best products.
Community
143 *SKOAR! 2
Colin McRae: Dirt
Brutal Legend
Modern Warfare 2
Bazaar
Uncharted 2
Dragon Age: Origins Exciting gadgets, accessories
Ninja Gaiden
and must-haves reviewed
108
TRIED &
084
DESKTOP PC TEST
109
SAMSUNG M8910
PIXON 12
110
IPOD TOUCH 64 GB
TESTED
A comparison of 16 The similarities are only
desktops worthy Mobile Photography from skin deep, but sports a faster
of your desk space Samsung part deux CPU and more RAM inside
4 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
THIS TIME IN DIGIT...
Industry Connect
We spoke to Lakshmi Pratury,
Co-Host, TEDIndia 2009
spoke to Digit on the various
ways in which India can
014 participate in TED’s activities
Connections
We check out the brand new
Google Wave, and give you the
032 dirt on how it works and what
it means for web users
026
Drool maal Open Source
Your dose of eye-candy. From dedicated twitter Linux not 1337 enough for
gadgets to lighter than Air laptops you? Try out BSD, an even
more marginal but free OS
022 Fun on the go 060
We look at the current options available for mobile Game Review
entertainment, an area where content is on the verge of a Loads of *Skoar! goodness
major explosion including Brutal Legend, every
034 More from Facebook
metalhead gamer’s fantasy
come true
143
A workshop on the more advanced aspects of the social
networking service REGULARS
[001] The RSS Feed
[006] DVD Content
[008] Inbox
[016] Buzz
054 057
TIPS [032] Drool maal
Touchables More for less
&
TRICKS 065 [081] Q&A: Your Q our A
We have an in-depth look at Find out exactly how compression
current and future touch screens works, and the quality - file size [124] Tech@work
tradeoff
l
l
DC++
Fring
[130] Developer’s Corner
l Disk Management
and more...
[134] Unwind
FIFA 10, UBUNTU
9.04, SCUMMVM,
DVDs AND EPISODE 2
OF DIGIT TV!
TURN PAGE TO SEE ALL
CONTENTS OF THE DVD Give us your feedback at
www.thinkdigit.com/d/dec09
111
SNOW LEOPARD
The latest OS
offering from
MAC, the OS X 10.6
113
WACOM BAMBOO FUN
A Wacom, now usable as a trackpad
070
ALTEC LANSING
MX6021
Sports a new face, but
is it as good as the
40+
PRODUCTS
MX5021? TESTED
inside
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 5
DVD Contents
Retro Gaming Pack Music
Utilities for playing DOS 15 full free albums
games, as well asv a whole
bunch of DOS games
Utilities
• DOSBox - Play DOS games on
modern machines
• DBFrontend - A frontend for
DOSBox
• Moslo - Slow down your • A.K.1974 - SEA, A Chilled
computer for playing DOS Experience Vol.1
games • Echo lali - C’etait l’homme
• ScummVM - Interpreter for • Keep Cool Vibration -
old DOS games Conquest of the empire
• King Dubby - Chapter II
Customization • VLC Skins: All 96 Games LEGO - indeledebile
Windows Shells Skins More than 300 Shareware, • Manicure - Gra Wstepna
Replace boring old explorer • Winamp: 500+ skins Freeware and Abandonware • Manuzik-Nouvelles
with these fun desktop • WMP: 300+ skins DOS Games including: Shortstories
environments • Mister Poison - Sacrifice
Plugins • Nikila - not too far
Increase the functionality of • Organic Despair - Marasme
popular software with plugins • Paul D. Miller aka Dj Spooky
• BB4Win (130 Plugins) • Piergiorgio Lucidi -
• Free Download Manager (All JazzMoves
plugins for the Lite version) • Skandalo Publico - Ay ay ay
• IrfanView (8 plugins and 4 • Steve Allen - Fly Free
plugin packs) • TriFace - 3 Saucisses Dans
• GIMP (200+ plugins) • Abuse Une Bulle
• Firefox (100+ top Add-ons) • Antrun
• Thunderbird (100+ top Add- • Assault Trooper Gaming
ons) • Bio Menace
• Winamp (200+ most used • Dangerous Dave
plugins) • Descent
• Windows Media Player (All • Doom
free plugins and visualisers) • Duke Nukem
• foobar2000 (50+ Plugins) • Galactix
• Talisman Desktop • Chrome (All 81 Plugins) • Heretic
• BBCLean • Hexen
• Aston2 shell Desktop Apps • Hocus Pocus Games
• BB4Win Add little applications to spice • Inner Worlds • Eufloria Updated Demo
• Blueberry 3D Desktop up your desktop and your • Invaders • FIFA Soccer 10 Demo
• Desktop X desktop sidebar • Ken’s Labrynth
• Emerge • Lemmings Games Trailers
• Bumptop • Skyroads • Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
• Tyrian • Dragonology
Skins • Wolfenstein 3D • Tiger Storm
Eye candy for major skinnable • Gran Turismo 5
application Entertainment
• bbLean: 350+ themes HD Trailers
• Chrome: 100+ themes • Shake Hands with the Devil
• Firefox: 400+ skins • Prince of Persia:
• Foobar: 50+ themes Sands of Time
• Miranda IM: 450+ skins • Microsoft Gadgets (300+) • Old Dogs
• Opera: 300+ skins • Google Gadgets (300+) • Red Cliff
• Talisman: 250+ themes • Yahoo Widgets (300+) • Edge of Darkness
• Trillian: 50+ skins • Opera Desktop (300+)
6 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
DVD Contents
Tools Lectures Licensed Software Linux Distros
The latest applications for all Collect all issues, or subscribe AtRise Lutcurve Just burn the image file onto a
your needs, including portable to get the entire course. CD, slide it in the CD tray, hit
apps, licensed software, 64 bit [F12] during system startup,
versions and applications for and select “Boot from CD/DVD
netbooks Drive” to experience Linux,
a viruses free OS with a low
Internet system footprint.
• Tweet Whistle 1.0.41
• CoffeeCup Photo Gallery 5.94 Ubuntu 9.04
• TomTom Home 2.7.2.1825 Game Theory Calibrate your monitor display A easy to use distro for office
• TubeSucker 5.2.005 Computer Science to give you that crystal clear and internet work.
• Social Traffic Network 1.0 image.
System Recovery Open SUSE 11.1
Lightweight distros for system Aneesoft HD Converter A secure and easy to configure
maintenance and diagnostics Downsize and convert HD distro with multiple desktop
videos to play on any portable environments.
RIPLinux media player platform
Recovery Is Possible is for Movies
recovering from system crashes. Plato DVD Copy Watch three free classic full
Take a backup of your DVDs, length movies
Trinity Rescue Kit or make a better copy of
scratched disks
Multimedia
• Miro 2.5.3 Abylon Shredder
• Sweet Home 3D 2.1 Securely erase history and
• WordRad 1.5 free space on your hard disk
• ContentaConverter Basic 4.7.2 Trinity Rescue Kit or TRK is to shred files beyond recovery
• Dynamic Draw 5.4L2 specifically for recovery and
• Google SketchUp 7.1.4871 repair operations on Windows. SoftOrbits Flash
Recovery
ERRATA
• Mayachitra Imago 1.0.3.90909
• Dragon Stop Motion 2.0.1 UBCD Flash data recovery tool to
recover photos, MP3 and
Mobile Tools documents from flash drives, There was an error on the DVD
Over 100 Freeware USB drives, digital cameras. facia and DVD contents page in
Applications each for: the November issue, where K7
ByteScout Movies Total Security branding appeared
Windows Mobile extractor scout in the DVD contents page and
Norton Symantec branding
Java Movies Extractor Scout Lite is appeared on the DVD facia.
Blackberry Run floppy-based diagnostic free utility that allow to view This was unintentional and is
Symbian tools from CDROM drives. and save flash movies. regretted.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 7
Industry Connect
A word with Prakash Advani, Partner Industry Connect
Enter Inbox 12 Manager of Central Asia at Canonical
about Ubuntu 14 Lakshmi Pratury, co-host, TEDIndia on
future plans for TED activities in India
) I am a serious gamer, Sana Khan
so, first of all I want to say Thanks for your wishes. We will
THANKS for packing “Fast add Fast Track requests to our list. You
Track to Gaming Consoles” will find Windows 7 in our June DVD.
with Digit November 2009 Robert
issue. In this issue, I’ve also
found an interesting article: ) I am a reader of Digit from
“Virtualisation Goes Mobile”. its very birth and now for
By 2012, you say that 50% of many years, I am a regular
new smart phones will use subscriber of Digit. I have tried
mobile virtualisation. But, many computer magazines
what about game console but found that no one is better
virtualisation? I am not than Digit. In both the contents
talking about trans-console of the magazine and two dual
virtualisation here, but layer DVDs, it is unparalleled
console virtualization on in the market. It is very good
PCs. We can use Yellow Dog to see that despite being the
Linux in PS3 making it a full number one IT magazine of
featured PC, but what about India you still try to be better.
the converse? We’ve seen In recent years, you have
graphics quality rendering to the store and buy a copy Digit team responsible for provided DVD ISOs of major
war between Gaming consoles of Digit. Then came second that. We are half way through distros, but now you are
and PCs. So, there must year when we were allowed to the construction. I’m sure you providing only live CD ISOs.
be another virtualisation have computers. Some guys guys have pretty nifty tips for I have waited month after
innovation. In another words, from another department self employed people like us. month, but I just get frustated
“How can I play PS3 & Xbox came to my room and asked Thanks guys, for giving every time an issue comes
360 games on a PC (probably me to buy them a computer me a self employed job which out. Why are you depriving
on Windows)?” because they’d always see me I enjoy doing. I dont know your readers in such a way?
Sachin Shekhar reading your mag. That was what would have happened You are the No. 1 Computer
the time when AMD had better if dad hadn’t bought Digit on Magazine in this planet. Can’t
The Idea has been cooking for processors than Intel and that day. Hope you continue to you provide i386 DVD ISOs of
some time now. While virtualization most of the students had never create more citizens of the Digit the latest Linux OSs? I think
of gaming consoles is in itself unlikely, heard of AMD and didn’t trust world. Once again thank you. you can, if you wish! If your
one can never say for sure. On Live it either. P.s. Could you guys do a test answer is affirmative then you
is just one of the many experimental I bought my very own on power supplies and have an please provide those with all
services that allow you to play PC, AMD system with an nVidia article on ww2 games? other Linux distros in your
PS3 and X-box games on your desk- 6600 with my limited budget. John Ranjith next issues with additional
top, irrespective of the Operating After that I bought another 15 mp3 codecs and common video
System that you have installed. This computers for my friends that Thanks for writing in John! The format codecs and extras.
however requires a high bandwidth year itself – with Agent001’s entire team loves to read stories of Please continue to give out
internet connection. help of course, and spent most our readers, and your mail touched screensavers, icons, cursors,
Siddharth of my nights fixing them even everybody working on the magazine. themes, gif animations with
during my mid term exams. Congradulations on your new venture. every issue, along with the
) First of all hats of to the I even searched for old Digit Robert mind blowing wallpapers.
Digit team for creating the mags on the second hand Roubhya Shankar Aluni
best tech mag and keeping us shops. I made a lot of friends, ) I am really a big fan of your
up to date, while filling our became the most popular magazine. This is the first time A DVD ISO takes up about one
hard drives with the software computer geek in my year and I am writing to you. I have half of a dual layer DVD, which is
you provide. I am a die-hard the most dedicated gamer too been reading Digit for over two a big waste of space for those who
fan of Digit and will always (although my aiming leaves a years, and all my friends who do not use Linux. Moreover, these
be indebted to it. It all started lot to be desired). read your magazine, really versions are bloated, and as most
on June 2005 when I started Your hardware, software appreciate your work. I am from Linux programs are pretty small, it
my engineering studies in troubleshooting articles, and a very small village in Bihar, is more sensible to build up your
Chennai. Before I boarded my tips and tricks helped me but the craze of your magazine systems from a light installation.
train, my dad bought me my immensely. Even when I come in my village is outstanding, for Additionally, choosing to put in Live
first issue of Digit, saying it home during the holidays which I want to congradulate CD iso’s allows us to give more open
might help me for my course. I would bring my old Digit you. The content you provide source content. However, we do plan
I had lived in a rural area collection and show it to my is just fabulous. I am a student to include the DVD ISOs for major
for most of my life so I had old friends who would marvel of B.C.A and I want to build my distros, and incorporate their release
absolutely no idea about at how much progress the career in IT Field. So, I request cycles into our issues. However, we
computers. I joined my tech world has made. Three you to please provide some Fast are working out on which distros to
college hostel and started months ago, my father came to Tracks on C# and provide the include and which to leave out. We
reading Digit on the very first me and asked me if I wanted new operating system Windows understand that codecs are a major
night. You people caught me my very own computer sales 7 Professional (Trial). I will be problem with Linux, and it is a great
hook line and sinker. Every cum repair shop. It was all I very thankful to you. All The idea to include these essentials in
hostel outing, I would run ever wanted and I hold the Best and keep up the good work. the DVD. You will be pleased to find
8 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Inbox Buzz Where to write in
CERN’s new Grid computer To reach the editor, mail editor@thinkdigit.com. For faulty DVDs,
16 network, Modern Warfare 2’s
controversy and more
magazines etc, write in to help@thinkdigit.com. For anything related
to the content on the DVDs, email us at dvd@thinkdigit.com
plenty of skins, widgets, and a load of LETTER OF THE MONTH
wallpapers for customization in this
month’s Playware DVD. ) I am a 14 year old reader, and I am Digit’s biggest whick are played in the background in the Digit
Aditya fan. I am at a loss of words on how to thank you, interface. I really liked the soundtrack of nov 2009
because I am called the tech guru of my class, and DVD1.If it is possible please mail me the nov 2009
) I am a new fan of Digit I proudly say that I am the reader of the No. 1 tech background tracks.
magazine in India (for me it’s the best in the world). I
magazine. I picked up my first Moses Prabhakar
am truly disappointed that many people don’t know
Digit copy this November,
about the illegal nature of the operating systems
and I think it is the best tech they use. I have moved from piracy to Open Source
Good to know that you are avoiding piracy, and even
magazine I’ve ever read. I because of Digit. Most of the people in India use better that you have embraced open source, which is
also appreciate your efforts pirated operating systems and download pirated one of the best ways to learn how computers work, and
in making the magazine very games, simply because most of them are too costly. get them to work for you. The songs used in our DVDs
fascinating. It’s DVDs are My friends call me the tech guru, but I tell them can usually be found in the Entertainment section of the
awesome, containing precious Digit is my tech guru. One last thing please provide DVDs.
day-to-day software which a the soundtracks of the Digit DVDs. I mean the tracks Robert
common PC lover needs.
As a newcomer in your Digit
family, my only suggestion to readership all across the XP SP2 on the 40 GB HDD.
you is to provide all previous Sign up for our forums, at www. world and one thing that hurts The entire 1TB hard disk is
issues (along with FastTracks) thinkdigit.com/forums. Readers like me is that in this period of just single partitioned and I
in eBook format inside your yourself post questions on threads, globalization, even the No. 1 can store data on it. However,
DVDs monthly. It would and these are replied to by a very magazine is not able to break I cannot partition it either
be very helpful for the new active community of readers. If you the boundaries. It is surprising using Disk Management or
readers like me to access the face any problems, you can send a that all the offers and contests using PartitionMagic 8. It is
tech-knowledge from the private message to one of our forum are only for Indian Readers. shown as Dynamic Disk (and
previous issues. I’m sure many admins, Cyberjunkie, Staticsid, Lucifer We over here (in Nepal) can not Basic). While installing
readers will welcome this too. or Anorion. not avail the subscription offer XP the system does not
Biswaranjan Nayak Rossi and get monthly issues at MRP. recognises the new HDD
If only the thousands of fans and while installing Vista
We give away past issues of the ) I am a regular reader of Digit from outside India there is no format option and
magazine in the DVD of December of Digit, all the way from could avail the various offers selecting the disk the NEXT
special every year. You will find past Kathmandu, Nepal and am and contests, I believe the option is not highlighted.
issues in the By Demand DVD. enthusiastic about each issue. readership will increase a lot, When I right click on the
Aditya This is my first letter to you in and help Digit be better than drive in DiskManagement the
years. The letter conveys my the best in the whole world. I ExtendVolume option is not
) I purchased your magazine congrats and wishes to the hope that you guys will look highlighted. With Partition
for the past three months team along with a complaint into what is possible with Magic 8-No right click option
purely for the Linux distros on cum request. respect to this matter. is availabe. Cannot format it
the DVD. Please give tips and I have read many other Hiron Shah from the menu either.
tricks on Linux too. technology magazines from
Lenin the South-Asian region and Thanks for writing in, and taking Dynamic disks work differently
found Digit to be the best of the trouble to read even the smallest from Basic disks. To create parti-
We keep a healthy balance them all. I firmly believe that elements in the issue. We are working tions, you need to convert the drive
between Tips n Tricks for Windows Digit may even be one of the on many ways to make subscriptions back to Basic. Once you have a
software, and for Linux based soft- best magazines in the whole and delivery mechanisms easier for dynamic disk, converting back to
ware. We have given Tips and Tricks world. For years Digit has our readers in the South-Asian region, Basic will destroy all the data on
software before, and the Fast Track to been an enlightening source as well as a system of selling issues the drive. To do this, go to Disk
Open Source contains everything you of the latest technologies to through our website. Management under Administrative
need to get started on almost any all its readers all over the Robert Tools > Computer Management.
Linux distro you will get your hands world. The November issue Right-click on the drive and click
on. Rest assured, you will find plenty with the design theme was ) I have been reading Digit Convert to Basic disk. Make sure to
of Open Source content between our awesome. The Industry for quite some time now but backup all your data first.
pages. Connect section was as usual this is my first letter to the Rossi
Nash helpful in making career magazine. I must admit that it
plans.The inclusion of Web has changed a lot (for good,of
) I am a subscriber of Digit 3.0 was the learning part course). ERRATA
for past 3 years. I want to ask and the news that 1Mbps Recently I have been facing On page 99 of this issue, we
one question related to internet broadband access was now a some issues with my PC. I have erroneously mentioned the
speed. However, I don’t know legal right to Finnish people have an old motherboard text “The best performer” when
where in thinkdigit.com to ask acted like salt on wounds due Intel-865, Pentium 4 3GHz, referring to the Zenith netbook
that and by what means they to slow internet speed. Please 1.23GB RAM, and a 40 GB in the Zero1 Awards. The text
will answer me - either to my continue with the tips and PATA Hard disk drive. A was supposed to read “The best
e-mail id or do I have to visit tricks on Windows 7, as we couple of days ago I bought buy”. The best performer in the
the site again. all are new to it. a 1 TB Seagate Hard Disk. I Netbook category is the ASUS
Arun Raj Now comes the bitter part have connected both disks Eee PC 1005HA.
of complaint. Digit has to my system and have Win
10 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Ubuntu help Wine
Access free documentation at With Wine, you can execute programs
Industry Connect help.ubuntu.com writtens for Windows in Ubuntu
On Cloud 9.10
How did Ubuntu originate? redefine the desktop. Going forward we
expect to exceed what Windows does today
Ubuntu is a community developed and in terms of ease of use and functionality.
supported project. Since its launch in Octo-
ber 2004, Ubuntu has become one of the What’s unique about Ubuntu?
most highly regarded Linux distributions
with millions of users around the world. Everything you need comes on one CD,
Ubuntu will always be free to down- providing a complete working environ-
load, free to use and free to distribute. ment. Additional software is available
With these goals in mind, Ubuntu aims online. The CD is a live CD and Ubuntu
to be the most widely used Linux system, can be used from the CD or from a pen
and is the centre of a global open source drive. The graphical installer enables you
software ecosystem. It contains all the to get up and running quickly and easily.
applications you need — a web browser, A standard installation should take less
an office suite, media apps, instant mes- than 25 minutes.
saging and more. It's free, open source and we don't
charge licence or subscription fees. It has
At Ubuntu we promise that: a large collection of open source applica- Prakash Advani, is
•Ubuntuwillalwaysbefreeofcharge,
along with its regular enterprise
tions which can be easily downloaded
and installed.
Partner Manager,
releases and security updates
Central Asia at
•Ubuntucomeswithfullcommercial What’s new in 9.10? Canonical, the
support from Canonical and hundreds commercial partner of
of companies from across the world Version 9.10 includes the latest the Ubuntu project
•Ubuntuprovidesthebesttranslations OpenOffice 3.1 that supports Micro-
and accessibility features that the free soft Office 2007 documents. Also, it edit PDFs. While Photoshop is not
software community has to offer has Firefox 3.5 with significantly available on Ubuntu, we bundle Gimp
•Ubuntucoreapplicationsareallfree improved performance. Additionally, for similar functionality.
and open source. We want you to use 9.10 has better support for 3G connec-
free and open source software, improve tivity, and has large scale user What about Ubuntu’s enterprise and
it and pass it on. experience improvements. server level capabilities?
Ubuntu One provides an enhanced
What does Ubuntu mean? desktop experience, simplifies backup, We have released Ubuntu Server with
synchronisation, and sharing of files with support for cloud computing. With this
Ubuntu is an African word meaning an expanded set of features including capability, we are the first operating
'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am Tomboy Notes and contacts synchronisa- system to support private clouds. While
because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu tion. It has a faster file system with Ext4 organisations love the concept of a cloud,
distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu and finally faster boot time. they do not prefer it due to security
to the software world. concerns. With Ubuntu Server, they can
What about Ubuntu's limitations? take advantage of the cloud and also keep
Do you imagine that Ubuntu could be Any possibilities of well known the data in their own data centre.
what Windows is today? applications such as Photoshop, PDF
converters being available for Ubuntu? Any India specific plans for Ubuntu?
When we started Ubuntu, our objective
was to give customers an operating system Yes PDF conversion facility is built We are working with several major
of choice. Today we have come a long way into OpenOffice, you don't need to OEMs in India. We already have a tieup
and are comparable to Windows in terms of purchase any additional software. In fact with Dell and have recently tried up with
usability and features. We are already there are lots of interesting plugins Simmtronics to ship with netbooks
doing a lot of work in the usability front to available for OpenOffice that can also pre-installed with Ubuntu.
12 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Organize a TEDx! TED India fellows
You can organize your own TEDX Find out who the Ted India fellows
event and screen TED.com videos. are and what they are up to at
Industry Connect Head out to www.ted.com for details www.ted.com/fellows
TED Comes to India
This is the first time TED has come an organisation to have three conferences
to Asia. How was India chosen as
the location? in a year and be true to the brand. But we
have a lot of other activities planned, and
TED, as an organisation is interested in there are many ways in which India could
getting more global voices. When we participate on our global stage. We are
conduct events in the US, most of the working on a lot of those ideas.
participants come from the western
hemisphere. But if you really want to get How can people be a part of
more thought on what’s happening in the TEDx events?
world, you got to listen to what they have
to say (the nations). If you consider the Well, there is a whole licencing process.
world’s most populous countries, six of If you go to the web site, you can have a
them are in Asia. In fact, between India look at the process. There are rules on
and China we have one-fifth of the world’s how many people you can have, that you
population. There are a lot of things cannot charge, that the sponsorship has
happening in Asia that are clearly of to cover the costs as this is not a money Lakshmi Pratury,
interest. Within that, India is the making conference. The whole idea is co-host, TEDIndia 2009
microcosm of the future because of the that we have all these videos, and how we spoke to Digit on TED’s
young population. Definitely, if you want
to know the future, you should go to
can make sure people can see them. They
can be shown at parties, or schools and
first Asian conference,
where the future lives. colleges, there is just so much that can be
TED’s plans for India
done, to take content that already exists to and its various global
How has the experience been and inspire people. activities
what kind of response has TEDIndia
2009 received? Are you looking at the smaller cities us, then we figure out what makes sense
and towns in India as well? and what fits in. There is an overall
We were very happy with the response. structure to our selection. We are looking
We had a lot of companies that financially Certainly, There is a woman who flits for an equal amount of artists, architects,
supported us, and a lot of participation between Dubai and India, who is scientists, social entrepreneurs, etc. We
from all over the world. Lots of Indians organising one in a small village in try to maintain that variety.
coming here, from something like 46 Rajasthan, which is about three-four
different countries. We were targeting hours away from Jaipur. One person is How do people attend a conference?
around 400 people, and we had over 900 holding one in a very small place in
people who came. We got really good Karnataka. It is being spread all across, We have an application process. People
feedback at the end — a lot of people felt not only in metropolitan cities. have to answer a few questions. We get
this was one of the most fun TEDs and it back to them, on whether they were
was great at showcasing what’s going on If our readers want to make a accepted or not, then they payto get in.
in this part of the world. presentation, how do they go about it? The reason we do that because we want to
have a mix of audience. We got in a
What are the plans for the future? Typically, we read the mails that are hundred TEDIndia fellows completely
Any more events or conferences soon? sent to us very carefully. Based on what for free, because we felt we needed to have
comes to us, we decide on how to take it that youth element, and the inability to
We have a very good product strategy further. But the fact is that if a person pay should not be a reason for deserving
in India. Some meets are independently comes to our notice with some credibility, people not to be there. We try to make
organised events. They are not editorial- from a path that we can trust, or some- sure as many people from a wide variety
ised by TED. Twenty TEDx events are body we know can vouch for their work, of backgrounds can get in to the confer-
already queued up. These are inde- it just makes it a little easier. That does ence, at the same time ensuring that we
pendent events, where the organisers get not mean this is the only way. We always can continue to provide the content that
to share some of the credit. It is hard for encourage people to send in their ideas to we do for free.
14 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Indian Cloud Services Airtel Tweets
Indian companies are joining the list of cloud Indian tweeple who use Airtel can now tweet
service providers. TCS, Infosys and Wipro are from their mobile phones for Re. 1 and get
Buzz among companies with their eyes on the cloud updates of tweeple they follow for free
HP “shrinks your world” Nokia will continue to
create tools for developing for
both platforms, and in fact the
When you hear phrases such upcoming versions of its Qt
as watch geographical boundaries multi-platform GUI develop-
dissolve or shrinking your world, ment toolkit will add support
ref
it is almost always a clichéd ref- for both devices.
erence to Video Conferencing. While Qt 4.6 supports
Naturally, when HP developing applications for
announces SkyRoom with the Symbian, a technical preview
tag-line With HP SkyRoom, geo- of Qt for Maemo 5 is available.
graphical boundaries dissolve in This stands to hugely simplify
no time, you expect something development for mobile plat-
The Nokia N900
more than just a Video Confer- forms, as applications devel-
encing solution. Unlike most screen sharing video conferencing solutions oped for Maemo can also be
While HP SkyRoom is software out there, HP Sky- which cost in lakhs, HP Sky- deployed to Symbian.
indeed a video conferencing Room allows you to select Room comes with a low price
solution, it brings enough to the an area of the screen, while tag of Rs. 8,400 ($149) for a Symantec crowns In-
table to deserve some attention. keeping the rest private. single permanent licence which dia as Prince of spam
HP SkyRoom is designed with The software also allows for can be node-locked or floating. Symantec’s November report
an enterprise audience in mind, sharing the control between on the state of spam and
and to that effect it focuses the participants of the confer- Nokia to abandon phishing, has some unnerving
more on better quality com- ence, allowing anyone to take Symbian? details on the increase of
munication and collaboration control of the sharer’s com- Despite Nokia’s resolute com- global scam originating in
than in ensuring that it works puter – one at a time. mitment to the Symbain India. In the four months since
on a wider number of systems. Each person can work on platform, it seems Maemo June, India overthrew Poland
Current video conferencing the open applications remotely. might be the future oper- as Vietnam overthrew South
solutions are designed more Korea from their places in the
for boardroom meetings with To know more about Skyroom visit worldwide spam charts.
people talking. http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/hpsk This does not mean
For people who need to use Indians are getting more
such solutions for collabora- The software encrypts the ating system for its N-Series. spam, but a large portion of
tion on projects, simple video video, audio and screen share In a Q&A with bloggers during worldwide spam originates
conferencing is not enough. information using a 256-bit the official N900 meet-up from computers in India. The
We got a demo of SkyRoom in AES cypher, and can thus recently, it was revealed that report outlines how coun-
action, sharing 3D modeling work securely on an organi- by 2012, Maemo will replace tries from the Asia-Pacific
files over a network at a recent sation’s existing network. Symbian in their N-Series region, including Japan, are
conference in Mumbai. While competing with high-end mobiles. Nokia has neither overthrowing the European
confirmed nor denied this. Union, which is currently the
While it is certainly less of a leap “King of Spam”, although the
than an official Android-based United States and Brazil are
Nokia phone, considering that in the first and second places
both Maemo and Symbian are respectively, as the countries
Nokia technologies, this is still of origin for spam.
a pretty big deal. This should not be read
Nokia has on many occa- as an increased number of
sions reaffirmed its com- Indians engaged in trying to
mitment to Symbian, and get a quick buck by spam-
continues to develop it. ming. The real scenario is far
Both Maemo and Symbian worse. This means that Indian
will hold a place in Nokia’s security is particularly lax,
court, and Maemo’s is and that infected Indian com-
A video editing application being shared in SkyRoom steadily increasing. puters form a large proportion
Orkut gets revamped, nobody cares Mumbai based Geodesic launches Spokn, an online telephony service Twitter debuts new beta features to a few selected users,
16 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
4G
Blackberry owners rejoice Transceiver chip maker Infineon ties
Canadian company RIM opens up the Blackberry up with Nokia to work on the next
Buzz app store for India situation. generation of 4G mobile phones
of major botnets. Botnets are to check the URL of every unravelling protein structures
computers that are captured by banking site carefully before to weather forecasting.
spammers, and used as a proxy entering any personal details. Although CERN and asso-
for sending large number of You can download the ciated organisations spent $6
mails and bypassing normal Symantec reports from http:// billion on the LHC, the amount
system checks to restrict the www.thinkdigit.com/d/sispr. of data that the collider would
number of connections from a churn out once it was opera-
single computer. Worldwide Grid tional was immense – around
All those viruses that launched by CERN 15 petabytes a year. Processing
don’t really seem to do any- The organisation that gave us this data would be immensely
thing to your computer, and the world wide web has put expensive. Apart from that,
all those infected USB drives the internet to good use again relying on traditional super-
are not just giving users a by deploying the biggest ever computer architecture to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
hard time. Their intention is grid till date. A grid is the exact process the data would be time
to spread from computer to opposite of a cloud, where data consuming as well. Grid com- data processing to more com-
computer, and form a part is processed simultaneously puting distributes all this data puters located close to these
of a botnet that can be used on individual computers, to machines located around nodes. The most active is
for various purposes. This after it is distributed to them, the world, reducing the oper- Atlas, with nodes mostly in
points to very loose, and the universities of the United
outdated security when it States. Europe hosts most of
comes to computers in India. the nodes in the CMS set,
Symantec however, notes with two nodes in India.
that the trend could largely
be because of the spread Russia bans COD
of internet and broadband Careless censorship has been
infrastructure in India. a problem that most popular
Thankfully, India does not culture items have faced time
feature as prominently on the and again. The latest victim
phishing part of the report. India of policing is Infinity Ward’s
comes in ninth place. What Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
is disturbing however, is that 2, with Russia recalling all
almost all the Phishing scams copies of the game from stores.
in India are related to Banking. The reason, of course, is the
India is a very susceptible target controversial ‘No Russian’
for Phishing attacks, because level in the game, which
of the lack of net-savvyness in depicts the player and a few
many people who bank online, Russian terrorists opening fire
and because online banking has The world’s largest Grid, used for processing the terrabytes of LHC data on civilians in an airport.
just started off. The airport level is obvi-
On the brighter side, the For a more detailed report, camp at ously a publicity stunt by
full spectrum of banking serv- http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/mw2 Infinity Ward in order to
ices are not yet offered online raise more word-of-mouth
by many banks, and people instead of centrally, on servers ating cost, putting more proc- publicity about the game.
have not yet adopted using the with a high processing power. essors to work at the same There have been online com-
online services of banks that Grid computing in itself is time, and providing a fail safe ments and blogs that call Rus-
do. There are indications that not a new idea, and has been backup for all the data. sia’s game recall as being hyper-
Indian users are going to leap used by scientific projects on CERN’s grid uses high- sensitive and hypocritical. The
frog over desktop based online a large scale before. One of bandwidth (10 Gbps) fibre- biggest reason for this is that
banking, and directly head out the earliest and widest known optic cables, to eight impor- the game is set in current times
into mobile banking, which is implementation of grid com- tant nodes located around using the name ‘Russia’, and
a much more secure approach. puting was Seti@home. Since the world. There are four does not depict a historical or
However, if you do bank then, scientists have used sets of nodes around the fictitious context like in pre-
online, we encourage you the grid for everything from world that distribute the vious Call of Duty games.
including notifications and retweet icons After Facebook, twitter plugs in to LinkedIn Google buys out AdMob, a specialised mobile marketing company
18 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Web watch Mobile watch
Connections 26 Everyone now seems to have Google Wave.
Great! We tell you what you can do with it 30 Stay tuned for more stories about mobiles
in our Mobile Watch section
Fun on the run
Mobile entertainment in India is really heating up. Find out where all the
action lies and what is in store for us in the years to come
Siddharth Parwatay The story so far... short code to the content provider, the rel-
siddharth.parwatay@thinkdigit.com According to Hiranandani, what is evant piece of information is sent back to
I
available to the consumer right now is a the consumer along with other options as
ndia has probably added its 500 mil- variety of data and entertainment serv- promotional material. The WAP platform
lionth mobile subscriber! That’s quite ices across various platforms. You have that came into existence some time ago is
a feat considering we’re still hailed as the SMS platform, the WAP platform, now gaining popularity with the masses.
an developing country. Over time the and the voice platform. Additionally, Still, with full-fledged web browsers built
mobile telephony landscape has changed entertainment applications are inbuilt into smartphones of today, soon you may
and mobile phones are not just merely used into handsets. You can access subscrip- no longer need mobile optimised sites.
for voice calling. They form the framework tion services that deliver alerts in the However, the opportunities for entertain-
through which entertainment content is form of Jokes, Cricket updates, Stock ment for WAP come along with imagery.
delivered to the masses. Lately the action alerts, Edutainment, etc. Basically, Basic wallpapers to MMS content,
is heating up quite a bit in this space with a variety of information options are themes, mobile games, casual games,
a number of innovative offerings from offered by an operator to consumers over multiplayer games, are found on direct to
various members of the mobile content eco- SMS. “The basic premise is that a lot of consumer mobile sites such as Handango.
system. Going by the numbers, it looks like information available out there on other com, Zedge.com or PhoneyTunes.com.
our appetite for entertainment is limitless. forms of media can also be made avail-
Just a small taste of this can be evinced by able to the consumer via text mes-
the fact that even caller tunes (technically saging,” adds Rajiv. This forms
known as CRBT – caller ring back tones) is the basis of infotainment.
apparently a home grown concept. There are many players
It won’t be long before almost every providing this content via
Indian holds a mobile device. The sheer operators. Mauj.com, hun-
number of users in the country is very gama.com and mobile2win.
high as a function of the population. We com are just some of the
have close to 500 million subscribers and players. Alert services may
our population is 1.1 billion. This creates not necessarily be operator
a large eco-system for entertainment bound. Even third-party
content providers to constantly innovate content creators can deliver this
and come up with interesting offerings to data. One way in which this can
catch the attention of users. The ultimate happen is by short code which
winner is the consumer who can enjoy of course has to be live. So when
the various offerings. the consumer sends a keyword via
“In this age of convergence, the promi-
nent growth driver in this sector is the con-
sumers’ desire of getting more from their
mobile phones. Content is definitely the
king in the mobile VAS segment,” opines
Simone, Co-CEO of Buongiorno.
“While GPRS usage is getting more and
more popular, the number is still low, say 35
Illustration: Chaitanya Surpur
million users across the country who access
mobile internet, WAP and premium con-
tent on their phone,” says Rajiv Hiranan-
dani co-founder of Mobie2Win, a leading
mobile entertainment company.
22 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Maybe not so sweet Saygus VPhone
LG’s latest Chocolate Touch claims to have integrated The Android-based handset is said to be able to deliver video
Dolby sound. It comes with a full HTML browser and calls at up-to 30fps on EDGE 2.5 networks and might open up
easy access to Facebook and MySpace the video calling market in the US in the near future Feature
is the huge amounts of user generated to endure daily. According to a research
content, be it in the form of pictures, conducted last year the Indian mobile
video, recommendations, reviews, and gaming industry alone is worth around
topsites. Many companies are going into $40 million a year. This accounts for about
the social networking play in a big way half of the electronic gaming market across
after realising the opportunities here. all platforms including consoles, handhelds
Nazara has just announced a tie up with and PC. Naturally, we will be seeing sig-
New York-based mobile social community nificantly better offerings with game sizes
called Cellufun.com. Much of the content moving up from a few KBs to multiple MBs.
on cellufun will now be offered by Nazara Perhaps turn-based MMORPGs (massively
through various operators. Cellufun multiplayer online role playing games) may
appears to be something like a SecondLife, be the next big step on the mobile platform.
but in the mobile format. People socialise,
Cutting edge innovations
“The next level of The value of content was identified long
Channels featured on peoplesound.com mobile telephony ago and there have been many innovative
is ‘entertainment initiatives launched by content providers,
Then and now... on the go’. Services networks and even handset manufac-
The next format in which action is heating are the key growth turers in an effort to gain the attention of
up presently is voice offerings, which start drivers, and it consumers. Early on, there were some
with the same kind of content that you get will be extremely failed experiments with content delivery
on the other platforms. Operators have important to mechanisms. For instance, the Hungama.
their IVR menus and their individual customise offerings com-backed MobileMagic initiative
numbers. You have third-party content pro- Simone Ranucci Brandimarte to target user announced a scheme in 2007, through
viders that offer their own content in this Co- CEO & COO, Buongiorno demands” which you could buy memory cards loaded
space too. Voice services include POWERED BY
with legal content. Users could
chat, dating (which is basically Post your comments at recharge their card with content
voice chat put to some interesting http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ such as movies, ringtones,songs,
use), blogs and marriage services. games and wallpapers through
The voice products offered by Mobile2Win buy virtual goods for self expression, retail partner tie-ups with Cafe Coffee Day
have seven million registered users across gifting, and for competitive advantage all outlets. The premise was that it’s difficult to
operators. This shows that the average in a game-centred environment. download rich content due to the limita-
consumer is hooked. Another popular mobile social network tions of GPRS. It failed.
Mobile communities are another area is peoplesound.com launched by Buon- A while ago, Reliance launched a
that have just taken off in India in a big giorno. It lets you update status mes- scheme by which novels would be delivered
way. Not surprising that according to sages and follow topic specific channels. to consumers via SMS. The first novel
Opera Mini’s state of mobile web report mobile2win.com is also looking to enter doled out was “Deaf Heaven”, and was
for August 2009, the mobile versions of this space in a big way with its soon-to- sent to subscribers through a total of 90
sites such as Orkut.com, Facebook.com be-launched product that will combine SMSs over a period of thirty days. Reliance
and Peperonity.com (a mobile-based social user generated video content and social also planned to make the book available
networking web site) figure high among networking. “We at mobile2win are in the as an audio book — at a cost of one rupee
the top ten. Mygamma.com also seems to market right now pitching couple of new a minute. The audio book was 60 minutes
be popular in this space. The rudimen- products which will be available with long and the cost of subscribing to the
tary versions of mobile networks started Indian as well as international operators. service was Rs. 30. It’s an interesting viral
coming up some time back when colleges One of the products is going to be a UGC way for books to be promoted, but we’re
and academic interest web sites such as video product, and our friends chat product still not sure how many people will be com-
pagalguy.com had their own SMS networks which we’re taking to the international fortable with reading / listening to books on
to disseminate important alerts to students. market,” informs Hiranandani. their cell phone.
Communities even on mobile format Gaming is perhaps the most popular Other interesting things happening in
are all about social networking and col- and most consumed form of mobile the mobile entertainment space are more
laboration. The mobile platform adds a entertainment in the country. We all like contemporary than others. Bharti Airtel
touch of ubiquity to social networking the distraction offered by mobile games on recently tied up with twitter to bring the
which is already popular on the web. A the seemingly long and endless commutes power of microblogging updates to the
natural outcome of such communities that many of us in the urban setting have masses by bringing it down to the SMS
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 23
Dell to make cell? Zii to get 3G
The long rumoured phone called Mini 3, based on If rumours are to be believed then Creative’s Zii Egg will
the Android OS will probably come out at the end get a 3G chip soon and transform into a smartphone
Feature of the year running on Android
CULTURE OF CONNECTIVITY
platform. The move puts Twitter in the
hands of millions of potential customers. Earlier mobile internet enthusiasts would These displays almost all web pages
download widgets or applications for exactly as they would be rendered on a
All customers have to do, is text the short-
accessing specific services online. So you desktop PC only scaled down for a smaller
code START to 53000. “There are over one would have an application for Gmail, an screen. Another similar browser is TeaShark
billion people with internet access on the application for Yahoo!, Wikipedia, and so or the newly released Bolt browser from
planet, but there are more than four billion on. The trouble with going this way was that Bitstream. With this new wave of always
you constantly needed to switch between on connectivity, people with unlimited
people with mobile phones, and Twitter applications to use the services. We now have advanced GPRS plans a.k.a mobile internet
can work on all of them because even the browsers (both native as well as third party) enthusiasts will also go to random web sites
the simplest of these devices feature SMS,” that give you a full internet experience so like icanhascheezburger.com, failblog.org or
says Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone on the people are moving away from using widgets the Photoshop disaster blog, and basically
and dedicated apps to using browsers just like find various means to stay entertained.
official Twitter blog. The deal will remain from their PCs. Most people prefer a third- This includes getting on to you tube and
exclusive for a month, after which opera- party browser such as Opera Mini or SkyFire. watching loads of streaming video
tors other than Airtel can offer the same
services to their subscribers. area as well. We see gaming take off in a big MB game. This will be released on several
Tata DoCoMo on the other hand way,” says Rajiv of Mobile2win. platforms as well. These games of the 3G era
was dabbling in Momics – comics on Samir Bangra, COO of Indiagames.com, will be far richer in graphic quality, sound
mobile. It was planning to bring Manga however has a slightly different view on the and gameplay.” We were very curious about
– Japanese comics which have their the multiplayer capabilities that can be
own peculiar style – via a downloadable “Players located achieved through 3G. “This is a question that
application called ‘Comix On The Go’ to as far apart as is on everyone’s mind right now, and I hate to
Indian consumers. Meanwhile Airtel has Mumbai and be a wet blanket, but we’ll still be stuck with
announced a comic portal on their deck Delhi can play turn-based gameplay. Pingpong, tennis,
that will provide 300 Indian and Inter- active games in cricket can be conceived, but not shooting
national comics. The comics are being real time when or racing where the lag might render it
offered through a partnership with ROK Rajiv Hiranandani 3G gets rolled unplayable. Realtime is too much to ask of a
comics. The site (wap.rokcomics.com) can Co-founder of Mobile2Win out in a big way” network, even 3G,” he added.
be accessed by anyone but data POWERED BY According to Simone, 3G will
charges will apply. We noticed a Post your comments at give an immense boost to music
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
few interesting Indian titles such content too. “Music content which
as Shivaji, Birbal the witty, and includes CRBT, ringtones, full song
Rani of Jhansi, while international titles whole 3G roll out. According to him, “As and music on demand (combined) is the
include BC and Hagar. If comics are not a mobile entertainment company, we’re of largest premium content market in India
properly ported to the mobile format, they course very excited, still, there’s what we and as per our estimate it is expected to
tend to get a little fuzzy. The text becomes call a ripple effect of the 3G roll out, that has grow at the rate of 50 per cent for the next 3
especially unreadable on the small screen. to be dealt with. This essentially is solving to 4 years. Next, with the introduction of 3G
the problem of spectrum availability of the this will increase only further”, he explains.
Who wins? You! operators. Networks are so badly choked, If we had to play soothsayer, we’d
Mobile entertainment consumers as well as that operators are not able to divert any of guess that mobile TV will come up in a big
content providers are going dizzy with the their bandwidth for data. While charges way thanks to the huge data pipeline 3G
possibilities that 3G is likely to provide in for data services will be taken by operators, promises. We’ll see loads of special made-
this space. Once the spectrum auctioning networks may not support them.” Bangra for-mobile episodes that will be 3 to 5
niggles are ironed out, it will expects at least 20 per cent minutes long, created specially for mobile
really mark the next stage of the market to switch to 3G delivery. Quickly following moibile TV,
of entertainment evolution. plans mostly from the category advertisers will figure out how to adapt to
Faster data speeds equals A circles and not the tier II and the small screen format, because people
richer content, including II towns. For these adopters will increasingly spend a lot more time on
multiplayer gaming. “So for Indiagames has some inter- their handsets. We will shoot rich content,
instance players can be located esting plans. “We’ll take them to in higher resolutions, and be busy posting
as far apart as Mumbai and a far superior gaming experi- it all on the social networking site of our
Delhi, and play something like ence than they’re experiencing choice. Honestly, we’ve ceased to think
cricket or tennis in real time. today. From 300 kb we’ll go “if” and are now only wondering “when?”.
You can bowl from one place up to 2 meg. A Bruce Lee game Keep your fingers crossed, because all
and take a shot from another. we’re working on right now for this could become commonplace in just a
We’re doing some R&D in this the iPhone is likely to be a 90 couple of years.
24 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Digit content planning wave The Digit magazine wave
This is where we will collaborate on brainstorming with ideas This is more like our chill out zone. Come hang out, play
for upcoming issues. Come, help us. Search by - with:public Sudoku, whatever. Search by - with:public “The OFFICIAL Digit
Web watch “digit content planning wave” Magazine Wave”
We’ve been on Google Wave for about a
Surf’s up
month now, and are enjoying it. Once you get
past the thrilling, albeit unnerving experience
of seeing people typing in real time, you are
faced with your second problem. “What do I
do next?”, you ask, and we’re here to tell you
With: Public? To edit a comment or main wave double-
After you login, you’re going to ask, “So click in the wave and select the edit option
where are all these waves I heard about?” in the menu that appears.
Just type with:public followed by a keyword
for any area that interests you (photography, Create a public wave
for example) and you’ll see a real time list of Making a wave open to public is slightly
all public waves on that topic. tricky. Ideally you’re supposed to add a ro-
bot whose address is public@a.gwave.com
Make a wave to your contacts and then drag it onto any
Once you open the wave and click one, it’ll wave to make it public. However, if you try
prompt you to add new people to it. to add the address via “add a new contact”
Wave will tell you “User does not have a
Add people Google Wave account.” The work around
Adding people to a wave is the simplest is simple. Find a public wave, look for the
thing. Most people figure it out intuitively. Globe in the people list and add the globe to
Like many functions in Wave this one too is your contacts. Now drag him onto any wave
drag and drop. Simply drag your contact on you want to make public. Come up with
to a wave’s tab. some interesting topic for a public wave and
you’ll find people pouring in.
Edit and reply
The beauty of a wave is the ability to reply Manage your Inbox
with a comment on any part of the wave. Jumping to any public wave will add it to
Simply highlight some text on which you your inbox. You’ll eventually need to un-
want to comment on and hit enter. This follow or even trash waves to reduce the
creates an in-line comment. If you wish to clutter. Access trash through the three dot
reply to an entire thread hit Shift + [Enter]. menu on the search pane.
26 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Bad, bad server.
No donut for you Web watch
Playback Playback is a nice feature that increase the functionality on the more actions, three
Often you will join a wave at a will allow you to rewind and of a Wave. By default your dots button (…) at the corner
very late stage of development. watch at your own pace how Wave client will have only of every wave, when editing
This might confuse you as the wave has formed over time. the “Yes/No/Maybe” and the wave. It will produce a
to where you should begin, “Maps” gadgets installed. drop down list from where
since you don’t exactly know Add gadgets The YNM gadget lets you you can add YNM and Maps
the kind of discussions that Gadgets are extensions in take quick polls on certain gadgets. However there’s a
have taken place till that point. Google Wave that help you matters. To add gadgets click whole universe of Gadgets
out there just waiting to be
added to your wave client. To
add more gadgets one way
is to go to the gadgets galley
which has Google’s featured
gadgets from the Dr. Wave
welcome wave. Or you can
click on the jigsaw piece in
the same drop down list and
add the URL of a third party
gadget. For instance if you
want to retro chat add this
URL: http://tinyurl.com/ybehm6l.
Gadget list at wavety
A great web site for finding
new gadgets to add to
your wave client is wavety.
com. You have things like
the brainstorming / mind
mapping gadget, the jumble
poetry gadget, and even a
gadget to play Sudoku.
Very irritating
Apart from the fact that Wave
is painfully slow and laggy, the
scroll bar is the most irritating
thing here. This is closely
Must surf waves followed by no undo feature,
works better with Chrome
A noobs guide to wave Budding authors are trying to write a novel together and the fact that you cant
One of the very best tutorial waves for Wave. using wave. Search for: with: public kick people once you invite
Search for: with:public “Google Wave: A “[WRITING EXPERIMENT]” them to waves. So if you add
Noob’s Guide to Figuring This Out” the public bot and make the
RSS collaboration wave wave public, you can’t make it
Graphic Design Wave Find the best RSS feeds out there. Search for: with: private again. Also Wave just
One stop wave for all things graphic design. public “Let’s collaborate our shows you how many unread
Search for: with:public “Graphic Design favorite RSS feeds and bookmarks” messages have accumulated in
Wave” a particular wave but doesn’t
Writing collaboration wave take you to them. It would be
nice if you could simply jump
from one unread message to
another. We hope Google fixes
these bugs soon.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 27
Google’s big WiFi Gift Berners Lee apologises
Google gave away free WiFi to many American Tim Berners Lee says he’s sorry for the inconvenience
airports as a year-end gift, but we suspect this of the double forward slash in web site addresses,
Web watch is a win-win situation which he now says was not really necessary
Windows Azure on other platforms and services on Social engineers still of the mischief, and believed
the horizon the web, almost anything can own you that someone in their own
Windows 7 is not the only plug in easily with everything Leading newspapers around friend circle was responsible.
recent operating system that else. Users can look forward to the world had headlines There are little chances of legal
was launched by Microsoft. great mashups that consist of screaming out a major com- repercussions to those who
Windows Azure is a var- Microsoft and Google services promise in the accounts of participated in the invasion,
iant that was also recently for example. The few demos Yahoo!, Gmail and MSN Live as they were from all over the
launched, and it is meant as currently on the Azure web site mail users. Various lists of planet. Most mischief makers
a cloud operating system for proves this point. Twitri, one compromised ids were hosted didn’t even use a proxy.
web services. There is sur- of the featured services, posts on pastebin.com, rapidshare There are very simple steps
prisingly, almost no media updates on Twitter, Facebook, and megaupload. Users were that you can take to avoid such
hype around Azure, and very and on e-mail, if you enter your encouraged to change their an incident from happening
few people have even heard of flight information. High flying passwords immediately. to you. Every time you enter a
it, probably why there are few tweeple apart, the only other Almost two months on, it username and password, check
developers using the API and featured app is some kind of a would be fair to expect internet- the URL to ensure that you are
SDK to create web based appli- race tracker. While not in beta savvy users to change their on the correct site. If you get a
cations for the platform. Post your comments at mail that says your password
Azure is a set of three prod- http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ for a web site has been replaced
ucts including Windows (Facebook is the most common
Azure, an operating system for stage, Windows Azure is open passwords. The sad truth is that target), do not click on the but-
web based applications, SQL to the public for use till the end despite all the publicity, a large tons no matter how close to the
Azure for handling databases, of January 2010. chunk of the compromised real thing they appear. Instead,
and .NET services which acts We have been waiting long accounts had passwords that cross check by going to the web
as a bridge between two Azure for the company that revolu- still worked. This lead to a kind site in question, and logging in.
based web applications, which tionized the desktop PC expe- of mayhem that can be very
can interact with each other rience to jump wholeheartedly troublesome and very personal. Check Point em-
directly instead of interfacing into the web and dazzle us. A It is not about under- powers business to
indirectly through the cloud. step in that direction is the Bing standing the protocols of the monitor web 2.0 use
The great aspect about this search engine, which seems to internet, or working some Check Point is actively devel-
magic in the wires, it really oping a security suite to address
never was. People are easily concerns of employees using
fooled, and security experts social networking sites. This is
often cite them as the weakest not a simple matter of employees
link in the chain. The problem wasting time on web 2.0 serv-
was that a lot of the usernames ices while at work, but a much
and passwords for the email deeper concern. A web 2.0 pres-
ids was the same as the login ence is an integral part of major
details of a major social net- companies, and Check Point
working site - Facebook. offers software that makes it
When the list was unleashed easier for companies to monitor
on a forum with the sugges- the activities of their employees
tion to wreck havoc on the not only on Facebook and
Facebook accounts, a number Twitter, but on games, widgets
of anonymous people went and other applications. Many
crazy, posting lewd photos employees have to interact with
The .NET Services that are part of Microsoft’s cloud offering on accounts, hijacking the customers on web 2.0 platforms,
accounts by changing the pass- and Check Point provides a
approach is that finally, soft- be making steady gains in the words, having conversations way to ensure that mistakes do
ware companies are coming search engine share because of with the friends of the com- not happen, such as the noto-
out with products that are com- the supposed higher search rel- promised accounts and so on. rious case where a Microsoft
patible with each other. This evancy, although many point Further, those who dis- employee broadcasted architec-
means that almost every new out that this may simply be covered that their Facebook ture plans of the next Windows
platform or service that comes because Bing is two keystrokes accounts had been compro- OS, code named Windows 8 on
out will be compatible with short of Google. mised had no clue of the origin his LinkedIn status.
28 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Lo Behold
iKorea Let there be a phone ! AMOLED screen, 5 MP camera
South Korea, a 47-million user market, and instant web connectivity. Samsung’s newest baby
Mobile watch will soon get its hands on the iPhone Behold II might shake up a few things
The Android’s shiniest
soldier
The world's moving towards mobile phones. In fact,
experts feel most of the content in the future will be like Motorola has outdone
driven significantly by the mobile industry. You'll find itself in the looks department
some interesting developments in this field... too. The black body goes com-
pletely away from the rounded
W
design philosophy that phones
e’ve told you Apparently Motorola sold one slide out QWERTY keyboard. were going towards lately. We
about so lakh phones in the first week. This is sure to keep the hard- cant wait for this aesthetically
many touted The device features the ware keyboard fans really elegant power device to fall
iPhone Eclair version (ver 2) of the happy, but the keys look flat into our hands.
killers in the days gone by.
But before you skip this To watch Chrome OS videos, go to It’s Open Chromium
piece as another such claim, http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/chrome/ Contrary to many web
hear this – this one may at rumours, Chrome OS the
least be the killer of all other Android operating system – and might not be very usable. path-breaking operating
iPhone killers if not the real the first phone to feature it. Multi tasking ie the ability to system from Google, is not
deal. We’re talking about the From initial reports, the Texas run more than one application just yet ready for launch.
Motorola Droid. The phone Instruments OMAP 3430 at a time is very important for a What it has however done is
has gained so much Smartphone. The OS has gone ahead and made it Open
popularity since its always supported multi- Source – its source code will
recent release, that it tasking, and finally there now be available for down-
will more likely be the is a processor on-board load to anyone interested. So
general, and not just a this machine that should basically, the people at Google
soldier in the Android perform it seamlessly. and external coders can now
army. Many people were Version 2 of Android work on the underlying oper-
contemplating that the allows home screen cus- ating system at the same time,
phone manufacturer tomisation with widgets said Sundar Pichai, Vice
would not be able to that let you access tons President of Product Manage-
stay afloat in today’s of stuff simultaneously. ment. The why of this ques-
cut-throat smartphone From the hundreds of tion is rather complicated, so
market. But judging by The Droid, featuring visuals available online of we’ll come back to it later. But
its sales in the opening the Eclair variant of the this nifty device, it looks in a gist it’s a similar strategy
Android OS
week of its launch, all
doubts are put to rest.
processor is giving the device
Safe driving all the extra juice that other
Messaging while driving Android phones lacked in
causes a lot of accidents all over
the world. Now there’s an app that
the past. Being a smartphone
will read out SMSs to you while it has a huge 3.7 inch screen
you’re driving. It’s called drivesafe. and 5MP camera which can
ly The only trouble is that the
application is only available for
capture video at a resolution
Blackberry and Android. But of 720 x 480. The phone is
worry not iPhone and Windows ever so slightly thicker than
versions are coming soon.
the iPhone and yet features a The Chrome OS
Opera announces Opera Mobile 10 beta for Windows Mobile phones with a look and feel similar to the Opera 10 desktop browser and Opera Mini 5 beta Apple tablet is
30 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Lenovo Smart Triple assault
With a view to promote smartbooks, Qualcomm’s Nokia added three handsets, the Nokia 1506, 6316, 3806 to
new Lenovo gadget will help users combine key expand its CDMA portfolio. Of these 6316 seems to be the
features from smartphones and laptops top of line with web browsing, music, imaging and GPS Mobile watch
adopted with Android. Being login screen in seven sec- finity92) managed to do exactly happy with the full QWERTY
an OS for the portability onds. Google said it will that - hack tons of iPhones. keyboards offered by phones
space, Google wants users to take only another three sec- Many users got this message on such as Blackberry. QWERTY
be able to log on to the web as onds to be on the Web and their phones “your iPhone has keyboards offer greater con-
much and as quickly as pos- browsing. Quite cool, that… been hacked because it’s really trol and accuracy, while the
insecure! Please visit so and so argument for full touch on
To watch Chrome OS videos, go to
http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/chrome/ website/iHacked and secure screen keyboards is that they
your iPhone right now”. The help keep the form factor
sible and so in turn use the Pichai stressed that the goals teenager was however only able small and retain the design
host of Google’s services. of Chrome OS are the same as to only hack jailbroken iPhones philosophy of the phone. Now
In a demonstration of the that of the browser – speed, and asked for $4.95 for instruc- there are two distinct factions
new Chrome OS at the Google simplicity and security. The tions on getting rid of the mes- within Smartphone user’s
headquarters at Mountain speed is obviously the reason sage. Jailbreaking an iPhone is market. One totally despises
View, California, Pichai that they are using only SSDs the technique used to be able the other’s philosophy and are
mentioned a few things that and not HDDs. To make sim- to install third party applica- mostly at war. There’s even a
are worth noting. First, that plicity a strong factor, the tions on to iPhones. While this small group that likes the tra-
the operating system is, as Chrome OS will be reliant greatly broadens your reach ditional 12 button keypads.
expected, a glorified version completely on the cloud with to applications, this teaches However we came across a
of the Chrome browser itself. almost no support whatso- iPhone users of the risks of research abstract that could
The look and feel are pretty ever for offline usage. There Jailbreaking. It may seem like a spell a truce between the war-
much the same, with just will be no desktop applica- cheap stunt or a mean trick but ring clans in the near future.
more eye-candy and features tions available – none what- this goes a long way to educate Strategy Analytics a
in the Chrome OS. soever! It’s all in the cloud users about using Jailbroken research firm has found that
Also, the Chrome OS iPhones. The phones consumers in both the US
will work only on SSDs said affected were mainly in and Western Europe want
Matthew Papakipos, Engi- the Dutch IP range. To be a touchscreen keyboard on
neering Director for Google fair to the hacker this is their next device, be it stand
Chrome OS. That’s right, what the hacker had to say alone, or in combination with
no hard disks with moving in his original post - If you another physical keyboard.
parts will be supported. So don’t pay, it’s fine by me. Respondents for the Strategy
if you planned on running But remember, the way I Analytics survey in the US
this on your computer with got access to your iPhone favour a touchscreen com-
a dual-boot system, think can be used by thousands bined with a QWERTY key-
again! More importantly, of others. And they can board while those in Western
Pichai said that the amount send text messages from Europe are most interested
of hardware supported will your number (like I did..), in a touchscreen only. Also
be selective and Google will use it to call (or record your despite strong interest in
support only ‘referenced calls), and actually what- touchscreens and hybrid
hardware’. The company will ever they want, even use it devices, a traditional 12-key
be tying up with hardware for their hacking activities! keypad is still appealing to
manufacturers to offer the I can assure you, I have no the Mass Market segment. No
new Chrome OS on selected intention of harming you wonder the Omnia HD which
A hacked iPhone
devices – netbooks, tablets, or whatever, but, some we had with us recently, fea-
laptops or anything else. An with this one, and aimed hackers do! It’s just my advise tured an on screen QWERTY
open-source operating system primarily at portability with to secure your phone (: Have a as well as a 12 button keypad.
on a closed line-up of devices? devices like netbooks nice day!)” “With interest in various key-
Irony, thy name is Google! board combinations differing
One extremely impressive Hacked iPhone – Pay On screen keyboard? by segment, it is important
factor of the demonstration me or else With the iPhone, came the first for both device manufac-
was the boot-up time. From Apple’s products, including somewhat usable on screen turers and operators to offer
a cold boot on what looked the iPhone have always had keyboard that didn’t neces- a variety of keyboard options
like an Asus EEE netbook this unhackable virus proof sitate using a painful stylus. within their device portfo-
PC, Chrome OS was at the appeal. Yet a teenager (PureIn- Till then most people were lios.” says the report.
still unofficial and yet it keeps getting delayed - how does that work? Ubuntu debuts Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook remix at the same time as the desktop edition
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 31
Featuring Facebook TEDIndia 2009 In touch...
Learn more about Facebook applications A Digit exclusive featuring Windows 7 is finally here.
Digital life 34 – from apps and games to professional
utilities, all in one place 39 TEDIndia speakers with all the
tech extravaganza from Mysore 43 We look at how hardware
around it would change
Motorola Aura Celestial Edition
The Motorola Aura was a deliciously expensive phone to begin with,
and now they are coming up with a whole bunch of even pricier
variants. The pick of the lot is the Celestial Edition, but the device
goes a little deeper than adding a few dozen diamonds and gold
plating. The Celestial Edition commemorates the 40th anniversary
of Man’s first mission to the moon. Earth received all transmission
from the moon on Motorola equipment, and the phone comes pre-
loaded with images and videos of the moon mission.
TwitterPeek
If you are one of those people who live in the
tweetosphere, and are responsible for half the
trending topics, then this is definately the gadget
for you. A dedicated, real-world twitter client
to keep you tweeting away to glory. The device
has a full QWERTY keyboard, a screen, and is
available in charcoal black and Twitter blue.
What’s more, for just $200 (Rs. 9,360) you get a
lifetime’s dedicated connection to boot.
Dell Adamo XPS
Looks like the Macbook Air has some heavy
competition headed it’s way, with the new desir-
ability factor in laptops being how thin and light
they are. The Dell adamo XPS seems to proudly
sport just one feature - that it is incredibly thin
at 9.99 mm - making it the thinnest laptop in the
world, and half as thin as the Air. The keyboard
is designed to “fold seamlessly into the display”,
and open with a finger. Packed in is a 1.4GHz Intel
Core 2 Duo processor. You can pick one up at Dell.
com, for 1,16,328, but they have an installment
scheme of Rs. 5,024 a month.
32 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Blu-ray Unwind at home
We’ve witnessed all the hype A slight modification of your room Online movies
46 surrounding Blu-ray as a standard.
But has it really caught up in India? 48 would improve the performance of
your home theatre system 51 The legal online options for movie
aficionados. Keep the pop corn ready! Drool maal
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
The race amongst dSLRs is now moved on to the
low light sensitivity and video capabilities. Canon’s
latest entry into the Arena boasts of a 102,400 ISO
rating, full 1080p HD video capture, and a stag-
gering 45 auto focus points. At $5,000 (Rs. 2,32,750)
one would expect a camera to at least have flash, but
strangely enough, this one does not. However Canon
has provided a great compensation, and we think it’s
the coolest feature on the cam – night vision!
Lenovo IdeaCentre B500
Lenovo unleashed the new Idea range of computers,
with the IdeaPad laptops and the IdeaCentre
desktops. The IdeaCentre B500 desktop looks like
something out of those cheesy
space-age interfaces for soft-
ware, but when you have some-
thing like that sitting on your
desk, it suddenly starts looking
pretty aesthetic. Under the
hood specs are not great, an
Intel Core 2 Quad Processor, 8
GB DDR3, 1 TB HD Space, and
a “discreet graphics solution”
– good enough for a great
multimedia experience and
some mid-level gaming. All
yours, at a very reasonable
price of Rs. 35,000.
Watch out for next
month’s Drool maal,
when we’ll feature
concept gadgets that
promise to change
our future
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 33
Facebook Lite Tagging friends
A version of Facebook that makes it easier You can now “tag” friends or companies that you
for those with bandwidth problems. Lite have mentioned in status updates simply by adding
Feature allows just the basics like Photos and Events the ‘@’ symbol before the name
Featuring Social networking web sites such as
Facebook
Facebook aren’t always about wasting
your time. There’s a lot you can do
with it. There are apps from games to
professional utilities – all at one place...
for free access to Facebook three of the most happening
– with all its pokes, updates games on the Facebook site, in
and egg sending – on your cell order of popularity.
phone, and Viacom’s MTV Farmville: While about 62
(India) for ‘Celebrity Connect’ per cent of the Indian popu-
– finding out which celebs you lation is actually employed in
resemble. Its failed attempt to the agricultural sector, all of
buy Twitter, and the recent a sudden, the population of
acquisition of FriendFeed – virtual farmers has boomed,
has also helped to keep it in thanks to Farmville. This
the public eye. online game in which anyone
The other reason is that it’s can set up and cultivate his/
packed with dozens of unique her own virtual farm has
features, an immensely inter- nearly 35 million users and
active, instantly gratifying is definitely the most popular
and deeply interesting range game on Facebook.
of applications (or ‘apps’), and Developed by Zynga, San
Illustration: Chaitanya Surpur
surprising tweaks that let you Francisco, it allows you to
have fun while being in con- become an online farmer –
stant touch with your friends plant, grow, harvest and sell
and family. Let’s take a peek crops, buy or breed livestock
at a few of the things that – to earn ‘coin income’. Each
you could do on (and with) crop requires a few hours to
Facebook to bring the ‘social’ grow (Tomatoes need eight
Madhusudan Mukerjee per cent of the time spent by back into your network and to hours, Raspberries need two,
readersletters@thinkdigit.com Indians on social networking, make it more exciting, enter- sunflowers need 23 and so on)
A
was spent on Orkut. But just taining and cool. and each give you an XP (short
significant shift ask your friends and family for experience).
has occurred in about which hangout they Applications The more crops and trees
social networking prefer while on the net and Log in to Facebook.com and you plant, the more experience
trends among the you’ll probably find the Com- take a good look at the bottom you earn. Farmers can invite
Indian youth over the last one score results surprising. Let’s left corner of the screen. You other Facebook friends to
year: almost everybody who face it: for a growing number can’t miss that little button on become neighbours and send
ever had an Orkut account of Indians, Facebook is the the toolbar, which says f appli- special gifts according to the
now has one on Facebook – new Orkut. cations. On the f applications level. Access to which crops
and few have even opted out One reason for Facebook’s toolbar, click on the link that you can grow depends on the
of Orkut altogether. Over the growing popularity is its says ‘Browse More Applica- number of points you’ve got
last four months, the number aggressive marketing strategy. tions’. This will open up a – and therefore, which level
of active users of Facebook has Facebook has ensured it stays Pandora’s box of applications you’ve reached in the game –
more than doubled and July visible in the media through for you to choose from. pineapple seeds, for example,
2009 saw more than 3.2 mil- tie-ups with various major are only available to you once
lion Indian users. Comscore, companies such as Aircel Games you reach level 15 (Professor of
the internet marketing and for mobile internet services, We’ll start this quick tour of Agriculture) having gathered
research company, says 68.2 Vodafone (and their ZooZoos) applications with a look at 4,500 points.
34 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Prototypes
Facebook Prototypes is something like Google Labs. It allows Voice Chat
you to access and use some experimental applications – or Vivox – the Boston based company that gave
‘product experiments’ – to check out if they’re popular or if integrated voice chat to Second Life is all set to roll
Feature they work at all out high quality voice chat services in Facebook
Mafia Wars: This is a multi- which gives every Positive Thoughts: Send a
player browser game that’s user a chance to positive thought to each of
on MySpace and Tagged as feel like genius. If your friends every morning
well but has an incredible you’ve got a great using the Positive Thoughts
23,367,984 monthly active idea and you think application and make their
users (and growing) on Face- people will like it, day. While not all of them
book alone. This is another just transform it are in English, they’re all
hit game by Zynga, but unlike into an applica- deep, philosophical, bright
the slow, domestic space of tion, sit back and and cheery. Try it out and get
Farmville, it encourages you watch how you can cheered up yourself when
to loot, rob, kill and create an change the world your Facebook friends write
Al Capone like empire. Set in Every character has its own speciality using Facebook. in to thank you.
New York City, Little Italy or Files: This is a
Cub, players must choose a There are other funky storage service from Box.net Business
character, do jobs to earn cash, hangout games like Yoville that allows you to upload and Social networking gives you
build a gang by recruiting and Living Social, which let store files directly from their access to all your contacts.
members and fight other you interact with friends and profile. Although it’s just 1 GB Although not comprehensive,
mafia conglomerates – all contacts in entertaining ways. and doesn’t even compare with here’s a list of business applica-
with limited stamina, energy Don’t forget to check out Pet remote storage facilities like tions on Facebook that can fire
and health Society, another game appli- MSN’s Skydrive, this is useful up your business and ensure
As in Farmville, you can cation that contains plenty of if you want to display these better brand recall without
‘level up’ by getting more games and decorations to play files on your profile. Friends the prohibitive expenses of an
points and gaining XP by around with. can then download these files. advertising campaign.
doing more jobs. As you rise This is really easy to use, but Promotions: Facebook Fan
up in levels, you are rewarded Utilities these files are visible to all Pages are full of potential cus-
with access to new features, Here’s a list of some useful your Facebook friends and tomers who stay online for
new weapons and new jobs. application in Facebook: you may not really want eve- prolonged periods on the site
MindJolt Games: More than NewsCloud: This is a social ryone to see them. discussing everything about
50 games clamour for your news application which Pixlr Editor: Pixlr is a free, their favourites. Any agency
attention on the MindJolt allows you to discuss socially Firefox-powered online photo or company could cash in on
Games application. Pre- relevant issues, aimed at editor. Whether you want to this by putting their advertise-
vent balls from reaching the gaining solidarity for partic- upload new photos or edit ments on the fan page.
bottom, break up brick walls, ular endeavours and move- older ones, Pixlr is an excel- Promotions for Fan Pages
play pool, destroy balls in ments. You can vote, read, lent application to help you lets you do just that. You could
combinations of three – there submit or comment on stories through the process. Anyone use it to create and launch
are innumerable options to right from your Facebook who’s accustomed to Pho- marketing campaigns in a
choose from. account. Every story you post toshop or Paintshop will find few minutes using the simple,
If you get bored of getting earns 10 points, a vote gets the interface smooth sailing. user-friendly interface of this
shot up in Mafia Wars, turn to you 5 points and sharing a Alternatively, you could use application. These must be
MindJolt for several hours of story or inviting a friend gets the Pixlr Express to crop, interactive and in the nature
unlimited gaming pleasure. you 25 points each. Newsfeeds resize and juggle photos of lotteries, contests, coupons
are a part of this around with ease. and discount tickets. Lately,
application. You DandyID: With accounts Facebook has begun to scru-
can also access on services such as Twitter, tinise these – especially the
v i de o s from Flickr and MySpace, and more promo-quizzer – and are set
reliable news or less the same set of friends on shutting any agencies that
sources here. on the list – and you’re get- appear to abuse this feature.
App Builder: ting bugged with the repeated Tag Biz Pro Business Cards:
About 5,00,000 logins and updates. DandyID Use Tag Biz Pro to create a
people have used has the answer to your woes. life-like business card form
this one. This is This is an application that a whole range of features to
the most inter- will synch all your accounts set up a business network on
active applica- and display them on your Facebook. You can attach your
Crazy Taxi is one of the fun apps on MindJolt tion on Facebook Facebook profile. business ‘card’ to all your
36 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
As big as a country
According to Facebook CEO Mark Saving Lives
Zuckerberg, there are over 300 million A teenager in the UK was saved when he
Facebook users, close to the US population announced his suicide attempt in a Facebook
Feature of 307 million conversation, in April 2009
Facebook messages and pick Memorable Web Addresses: iLike and SuperPoke. We’ve post and read reviews of the
a keyword which is then dis- Here’s an application that’s so listed some of the popular latest movies, find new movies
played in a business keyword useful that one wonders why and some not so well-known that you’d never have heard
tag on your profile page. no one thought of it before. entertaining applications that about otherwise and check
SlideShare: Now you can It’s a free application that can make life with Facebook your knowledge of movies.
hook up your favourite pres- allows you to create a direct more colourful. Quizzes: People just can’t stop
entation-swapping web site link to your Facebook profile Music by iLike: This one taking quizzes on Facebook.
to Facebook in such a way page, choosing a name of your allows you to add a music tab to These quizzes range from
that it automatically uploads choice. So you could create your profile, create and share being sensible to funny. You
to SlideShare, Facebook and a link such as http://profile. playlists with your friends, can spend years answering
LinkedIn at the same time. to/YourName/ or even www. receive concert updates, and all the different quizzes cre-
And it’s not just for your pres- profile.to/YourName, thus participate in DJ contests. It’s ated by users. Add this appli-
entations. The site supports making it easier for friends or already got about 10 million cation to find out which Sex
PPT, PPS, PPTX, ODP, PDF, contacts to search and finds users so don’t hang back. and the City character you are,
DOC, DOCX, ODT, Keynote, your profile with just a few Bumper Sticker: An incred- whether you resemble Maya
iWork pages and even allows clicks. Only thing is that you’ll ible range of typical bumper Sarabhai or Sahil Sarabhai
you to embed YouTube videos need to hurry because this has sticker blurbs abound in the more, who you were in your
on your profile page. This POWERED BY past life, etc. – there are too
could be of great help if you Post your comments at many to cover here. If you’re
want to exhibit the unique http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ really busy, skip this one. On
selling points of your busi- the other hand, if you want to
ness enterprise or you want to been catching on and already Bumper Sticker application act busy at your computer, this
showcase your own skills. has more than a million users. which allows you to view, share is the one for you.
InSide Job: This application Wildfire: This application and use stickers on your pro- My Plans: Organising a party
helps you to find and com- allows companies to conduct file and those of others. These or get together is usually
municate with Facebook marketing campaigns on are virtual stickers that range dependent on innumerable
users based on their old job, Facebook for as less as $5 and from the comic to the bizarre. calls to friends or family and
where they had their last as much as $250. It encourages A must-have application. often, by the time you end up
interview, or who they are users to visit your Facebook Caricature: Choose a picture making a concrete plan either
currently working with. You page, interact with it and then of your friend, apply the kind your cell phone battery has
can then get the inside infor- share the results with your of treatment you’d like to give run out or you’ve used up all
mation about these compa- friends, leading to even more it, and there, you’ve got a cari- your talk time. Try My Plans
nies and make an informed publicity for your brand. cature. You could post it on his on Facebook that allows you
opinion about a prospective wall or share it around with to notify, share and discuss
employer. You can also find Entertainment friends. There are a couple of meeting plans with all your
the right employee, find a Anybody who’s using Face- other applications, which do friends and family who are on
job or advertise a vacancy in book knows about the apps the same thing (like Get My Facebook, making the task a
your firm. that are most entertaining like Caricature), and you could whole lot easier.
try those too. The effects are So that rounds up our list
pretty hilarious at times and of six-pack applications for
you could add this application Facebook. Apart from appli-
just for kicks. Just be careful cations, there are other cool
what pictures you choose to tweaks that can enhance your
make a caricature out of unless interactions on Facebook.
you don’t mind getting your
kicks in the real world too.
Sketch Me: For more sober rep-
resentations, opt for Sketch Me. Sony confirmed reported
rumours about updates to the
You can choose how dark you’d PS3 firmware, via a post on
like your sketch to be and then the official PlayStation Blog.
publish it for your friends. With this update, PS3s can
Flixster: Flixster allows you to be integrated with Facebook.
Read the full story at http://
check out who likes the same www.thinkdigit.com/d/psf/
Spread your brand identity with Wildfire kinds of movies among friends,
38 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
SixthSense in Digit Mr. Splashy Pants
For a better understand of Pranav Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit spoke
Mistry’s SixthSense, flip to page 46 of about how the user community campaigned to
the May 2009 issue of Digit name a Greenpeace blue whale Feature
Indian aesthetics and
values are shaping
and giving rise to new
ideas and trends in the
fields of technology
and design – cheap,
eco-friendly, and for
those at the bottom of
the income pyramid
TED Tribe TED’s popularity owes much to the zest
and energy of its videos – a combination
comes to India
of rhetorical discourse, laptop-powered
techno-wizardry, slides and visualisations
that shatter popular myths with stats,
counter-points and analysis. Wit is a pre-
requisite to be a TED superstar. statistician
Sriram Sharma audience with something never seen or Hans Rosling, who gave the first talk at
readersletters@thinkdigit.com shared before. TED India is destined to be a classic. His
A
With millions of viewers watching software, Gapminder amazed Google so
n international clique of 40 these translated talks over the internet, much that they purchased it after seeing it
highly accomplished bof- the ideas discussed at TED India will demoed at a TED conference in 2007.
fins, raconteurs, artists, and resonate throughout the world. Behind The most popular videos to come
technocrats assembled at the the scenes, though, it was at the TED U out of this meme-plex include the Sixth
Infosys campus in Mysore on November sessions, (kind of an open-mic session Sense augmented reality demo by MIT
4th to give an 18-minute talk, which in all of shorter talks for upcoming speakers) whiz-kid Pranav Mistry. Steven Pink-
likelihood, was the speech of their lives. where some incredibly innovative ideas er’s lecture on the myth of violence that
The TED Talk format tries its best to were aired. argues we’re living in the most peaceful
be some kind of band-aid for a generation “The stories we tell ourselves define time of our species’ existence, and Hans
of Twitter-addled, fragmented minds, us and our potential,” said Shekhar Rosling’s lecture, told in the style of a
and has its own ten commandments, Kapur, in his talk. It was Ramachandra TV weatherman that narrates how the
asking of its speakers not to trot out Budihal, a ‘techno-heritage imagineer’ whole of humanity, the third world
the usual marketing schtick – no sales who captured the spirit of the event. “We included, is getting more educated,
pitches or selling from the stage, but don’t enter the future, we create it. And rising out of poverty, and seeing greater
to dream a great dream, and dazzle the we create what we imagine,” he said. life expectancy.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 39
Changing world-view TED talks to Digit
Google gave away a whole-Earth catalog To get a closer feel of TED, read our discussion
Feature inspired designer patch to all TEDsters with Lakshmi Pratury, co-host TEDIndia 2009
When asked about his favourite TED
videos, Chris Anderson recommends Dan
Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist’s talk on
happiness that suggests “We synthesise
happiness, but we believe happiness is a
thing to be found.” This revelatory piece
of pop psychology goes on to explain that
choice is an enemy to our innate sense
of happiness, and that our psychological
immune system works best when we are
trapped. “We are really bad at knowing
what will make us happy,” he said.
The event granted free entry to 103
TED Fellows - young visionaries born
or working in South Asia to even out the
demographics a bit, which usually veered
towards “fat, white, North American
and over 40,” quipped Tom Reilly, the
Fellows Director. TEDIndia Fellows are,
according to web site, “A diverse group of Pop singer Usha Uthup entertained the audience after the daily sessions
men and women... Engineers, environ-
mental scientists and pollution experts, “We come from a land of insight, intelli- India and could some day shape the rest
human-rights activists, musicians, ath- gence and spirituality. It would be a tragedy of the world.
letes and filmmakers.” to lose an entire generation to the goal of
One jolly-good fellow, Gyanesh Pandey financial success,” said Lakshmi Pratury, Technology
had left his cushy job in the semiconductor who co-hosted the event with Anderson. MIT whiz-kid Pranav Mistry, and digital-
industry in LA, to electrify 5,000 house- Pratury said she’s optimistic about the historian Ramchandra Budihal, dazzled
holds in 30 villages in his native Bihar, prospects of Indian youth, and that we the audience with a cypherpunk vision
using rice husk, an agricultural waste. Viraj need to encourage their spirit of creativity of future, augmenting reality using
Puri, CEO of Gotham Greens is creating and innovation. “We need to push our hardware that was cheaper than an Ap-
rooftop farms in New York. MIT Alumni kids into economically sustainable fields; ple iPod Touch (less than $300). While
Kamal Qadir, CEO of CellBazaar.com has we need writers, journalists, artists too. Pranav Mistry’s SixthSense interface
introduced a mobile-phone based elec- We need to let our children figure out uses a pocket projector, a mirror and a
tronic marketplace in Bangladesh. what they’re good at, and create profes- camera, Budihal’s E3iT system uses a
sions that suit them.” head-mounted camera and goggles.
TED has diverged from its core fun- Going solo in his latest demonstra-
damentals of Technology, Entertainment tion, he explained how he used the scroll
and Design, its scope has grown wider, wheels from a ball mouse to create an
and is now a culture-jamming network interactive 3D claw-hand user interface
for artists, free culture activists, social for just two dollars; less than a hundred
entrepreneurs and self-improvement rupees. “This is what we learnt from
gurus like Anthony Robbins and Sad- India, there is a lot of energy in the
guru Jaggi Vasudev. What is technology, scene. I was more excited about taking
anyway? Is it just silicon chips and the technology to the masses.” Pranav
software? One could argue that yoga is told Anderson in a post-demo discus-
an open source technology for self-opti- sion, where he famously declared that he
misation. An TED talk by Noah Feldman would go open source with his software
reflects on how both politics and religion in a month.
are technological frameworks. A Nokia employee who spoke to us
However, there was plenty of core later that day said he wasn’t convinced if
technology on offer, not just from the SixthSense going open source would have
speakers but also from the 103 fellows, a disruptive influence to the world of
Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs and the 800-strong audience. Here are consumer electronics. Given the variables
was among the speakers to address the audience at some of the trends – ideas that came from and the monopolised tech landscape
TEDIndia 2009
40 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Coffee and conservation Peak visualisation
M D Madhusudan explained the unlikely link between David Bolinsky’s H1N1 animation of the
organic coffee and deforestation in Karnataka disease was simply mind-blowing Feature
Hans Rosling, known for the GapMinder bubble Watch Pranav Mistry’s presentation at TEDIndia Budihal manages to augment reality with E3iT
graph making a point during a morning session 2009 in Mysore at tinyurl.com/TD0912PM (Engage, Entertain, Educate, Immerse Technology)
today, it seems true. 3M’s MPro 120 VGA this could take us? Will the stringers monuments with a layer of interactive
pocket projector costs around $350 as of of the future wear cyborg-chique gear data. “We are trying to explore the possi-
now, but that could change in a few years. and get paid for their live feeds? Allow bility of using human computer interface
The mobile computer needs some- me to regale you with another nugget of technology to explore the past.” he said.
thing similar to a PC revolution, where wisdom from a TED talk: The computer Scott Cook, founder of Intuit, demon-
consumers can customise their mobile was dreamt and conceived of centuries strated how farmers in India were able
hardware, choose a chipset, RAM, and before we achieved the means and the to net 20 per cent more income by tap-
battery out of easily available parts. technology to develop it. ping into local data about market prices
There’s a Tegra chipset the size of a RAM Budihal’s system, which he called on their mobile phones. It takes years
stick, which on the Zune HD consumes E3iT (Engage, Entertain, Educate, for them to get that kind of growth, but
less than 300 milliwatts of power, while Immerse Technology) can be worn like a a simple, low-end application created
rendering amazing graphics and HD pair of goggles, and takes the user into a by his group had enabled them to reap
video. Like everything, such movements virtual reality tour. His theme was Digital higher profit margins.
start from the fringe, who knows where Hampi, where he overlayed historical TED India fellow Sean Blagsvedt
runs a start-up out of Bangalore called
Babajobs.com. The web site connects
job seekers from the informal sector to
employers. Using a mentor-based system,
friends, relatives, NGOs, and cyber-café
operators can socially network maids,
cooks, drivers, and child-caretakers, give
them a positive reference so that they
can apply for nearby-jobs using mobile
phones. The web site lists 3,09,716 jobs
and 58,268 job seekers thus far. We
checked the web site twice in the span of
three days - it had added 1494 jobs, and
500 job seekers.
We asked Sean what was the biggest
ideas he had taken from TEDIndia. He cited
Anil Gupta’s presentation on rural entre-
preneurship. “The elites are not the only
ones with innovative ideas with spreading.
Each day had its dose of entertainment We must determine more ways to showcase
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 41
Photoshopped Nano Incubating lives
An obvious Photoshop job, showing a car Banny Bannerjee’s $25 incubator could
driver in a TATA Nano going to his owner’s transform lives in the rural world and reduce
Feature house, was sold as fact by Malsekhar infant mortality rates
innovations from the poor and let them TED conference. There was plenty of which invests in know-how and does seed
spread into viable businesses to help the comedy as well. In his talk about ancient funding in web startups like Ycombinator.
base of the pyramid.” He said. water conservation techniques, Anupam A talk by Guy Spiers stressed on the
Mishra humbly requested the audi- importance of checklists as a personal
Entertainment ence to turn off their internal spell and organisation tool. He had lost his wallet
The first session of TED India was broad- grammar checks for the duration of his in New York City cabs thrice, despite
casted live on the internet. Hans Rosling talk. He spoke in vernacular, but made his self-professed genius and academic
and Devdutt Patnaik both gave spirited the crowd laugh throughout, with superb credentials. His life improvement sugges-
talks that had the crowd on their feet. wit and timing. tion? Use checklists - they have drasti-
Both seemed destined to be TED clas- cally reduced hospital infection rates
sics. This feel-good trip almost reached Design by drilling hand-washing rituals into doc-
burnout levels when Usha Uthup came Design for extreme affordability - Gan- tors; there was a checklist which outlined
on stage. Half the crowd was in tears dhian Design was the mantra that reso- what to do in the event of an airplane
when she did a medley of an Arabic song, nated on Day 1 – “More for less, for more.” crash. (It’s a long bullet point checklist
followed by an Israeli number – what said Raj Malsekhar, in an inspiring talk that should be followed to the T) and
with her joyful gait, big puppy dog eyes, where he spoke openly about his poverty, more how using one yourself could help
magnified by plus power glasses. and how an educational scholarship you prevent losing your belongings. He
It was the perfect demonstration of the given to him by the Tata group was the has never lost another wallet again.
built-in empathy circuits in all of us, which ticket out of his humble origins. Other design ideas came from the TED
goodie bag: sadly, there were no iPods or
You’ll find a detailed article on SixthSense in the May 2009 iPhones – it was more Gandhian in that
issue of Digit. Pranav Mistry is also among Young Indian respect. Horst Rechelbacher, an ecopre-
Innovators featured in our October special. neur and founder of Intelligent Nutri-
ents, gave away a nutritious lip balm
neuroscientist V S Ramachandran had From the Jaipur foot to the Tata Nano, made out of herbal food ingredients. The
spoken about a day before. Mirror neurons India has always been an incubator for package proudly displays its eco-friendly
in our brains are fired when we see someone low-cost solutions. Anil Gupta’s talk on logo credentials – no animal testing,
perform an action – dance, play music, or rural innovations showcased a $1 non- manufactured with 100 per cent Certified
slip on a banana peel. “It’s only because of stick pan made out of clay, a pedal-driven Renewable Energy, Certified Organic.
a constant feedback from touch receptors bicycle-mounted washing-machine, and a “Everything we put in and on our bodies
that the human brain is able to differentiate mobile grain grinder created by a villager
between self and others”, he said. to grind meagre quantities of cereals for
Like a Bollywood movie, song and the poor.
dance were essential ingredients of the Banny Bannerjee, a design professor
from Stanford showcased a low-cost infant For those of you who want to see what happened at the
baby warmer that costs 1 per cent of what TED India conference, watch out for our DVD in January,
which will contain a lot of videos from TED Mysore.
incubators in the hospital do. This $25 baby
incubator does not require electricity, and
could save millions of lives in India and the must be nutritious and safe” says a quote
rest of the developing world. by Horst on the package. The lip-balm
Murray Freeman, a new-age Thoreau, costs $10, probably ten times more than
shared his architectural solution for low- petroleum jelly versions, but has a great
cost housing in squatter cities. He had pitch: it makes kissing more nutritious!
constructed a three floored 3,000 square There was plenty of India shining at
feet dwelling in Bangalore out of pallet TED India; the speakers were full of choice
racks used in warehouses for Rs. 6 lakhs. anecdotes that are par for the course for
According to him, pallet racks are cheap, email forwards on Independence Day.
durable, stackable, and can be assem- All this pride and congratulation begs
bled or disassembled in a couple of days, the question - is TED coming back? TED
leaving a minimal imprint on surround- India’s first event at Mysore was a celebra-
ings. He has also conceived the idea and tion of India, but now that we are done with
is developing the courseware for a One the 101s and the introductions, we need
Noted Director and Writer Shekhar Kapur tore his MP3 Player Per Child program, and runs more insight, less inspiration next year
notes before stepping on the stage at TED a company in Bangalore called Upstart, We’re Indians, and full of it, anyways.
42 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Covert help Wind Top
Apparently NSA (National Security Agency) A new machine from MSI’s Wind Top line has just
America’s premier security agency has been helping been released. It’s based on the ION chipset and
Windows 7 strengthen its security measures. features a 21.5 inch multi-touch screen Feature
With the launch of Windows
7 and its much vaunted touch
functionality, we’ll be seeing
a wave of new touch interface
gadgets like tablets and PCs built
for the new OS. Will Windows
7 change the way gadgets are
designed?
Siddharth Parwatay
siddharth.parwatay@thinkdigit.com
In touch...
with tomorrow
W
indows has for long been Windows 7 is an operating system legacy machine that has a single core
the platform of choice that many have hailed as one that quite processor and barely five hundred megs
for a vast majority of the simply does what it is supposed to and of memory. Yes, this is probably the
modern world. It has a with all the visual eye candy that people first time we have a Microsoft OS that
lot of elements working in its favour, when expect from operating systems of today. can run on a lower configuration than
compared to say Mac or Linux. The OS is Yet, it has maintained the spartan feel of its predecessor. Of course, on such a
hardware agnostic – within reasonable a robust OS that can be customised for system you can’t imagine doing Aero
confines, it will run on any hardware you performance according to the hard- and some of the other bells and whistles;
put together, and you can actually run ware that you run it on. Surprisingly, the classic mode sure comes in handy.
nearly all applications created including it runs as fast even on some machines The fact that it is light makes it an ideal
games without waiting for a OS specific of yesterday compared to Windows XP, operating system to enter the portability
version to come out. Another major benefit the last half decent release from Micro- arena on top of the Atom processor.
of the Windows ecosystem is diversity – soft. Half decent because it still needed Reportedly, the OS devours less battery
PCs come in all shapes and sizes. a service pack or two to iron out all the power too when running on portables.
Since October 22, when Windows creases. With the launch of Windows 7, Strangely, the journey to develop
7 was officially released to the world, a many users will probably be changing Windows 7 has not been an easy one for
lot has been said about the all new OS. their operating systems for the first time Microsoft. They enlisted a legion of testers,
Now that the dust has settled, we agree in five or six years. Those that will be looked at a horde of usage sessions from
that Windows 7 is way better than Vista. moving up from XP directly have surely previous versions, took a long time and
A clear indication of this, is the way 7 is only heard of the horrors someone or resources to realise something that any
selling, despite it still being the early days the other has faced with Vista and in average user can tell you within minutes –
of its launch, as compared to the sales of the process are entirely skipping 7’s we just want an OS that is fast, light, boots
Vista – 234 per cent higher according to younger sibling. The new OS is so light quickly and does what it’s supposed to
research firm NPD Group. in fact that we are running it on an old do. Well, no matter the long and arduous
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 43
Enterprise friendly Surface parody
Thanks to Vista, IT managers are now familiar Watch the hilarious Surface parody where they poke fun
with terms such as Device Manager, Services at the ten thousand dollar table computer from Microsoft.
Feature and Control Panel www.thinkdigit.com/d/surface/
journey, they’ve probably got it right The GPU is no longer just for
this time. Or so it seems... graphics. In Windows 7, the CPU
and the GPU create a co-processing
What’s new? environment. What makes this
Some of the best features that Win- co-processing possible is one of the
dows 7 offers include Aerosnap for most significant additions Windows
smarter window management and usa- 7 brings – DirectCompute which ena-
bility enhancements such JumpLists, bles applications in Windows 7 to take
taskbar enhancements and ubiquitous advantage of GPU computing to accel-
search. An all new Media Center adds erate applications. “Try Loiloscope
to the appeal of Windows 7 as the – the fun video creation application
new OS of choice for HTPCs. Yet one which supports our CUDA architec-
of the most talked about features of ture.” says Igor.
the new OS is the new multi-touch Windows 7 brings in touch interface capabilities, A lot of manufacturers are working
and is set to change the face of desktops
capability. Microsoft’s love affair with with touchscreen devices and the
touch began long ago with surface, the time we’ve got multi-touch available to possibilities with the Ion platform with
multi-touch, multi-user, projection-based a larger audience. And the form factors Windows 7 are limitless. The platform
tablet that has applications in the high we’ll be seeing in the touch space will be features lower power consumption, runs
end entertainment and retail space. But truly exciting. We’ve now brought the cool and still gives incredible compute
this is the first time multi-touch is being technology to a level where the adop- power. Perhaps the new generation of
embedded into an operating system that tion will increase due to the kind of imminent full touch tablets have found
is accessible to the masses. applications that can be built on top of their perfect engine.
it. The ease makes it potentially perva-
Touch hardware sive. More and more OEMs are building Revolution...really?
The prospect of touch and particularly PCs that make use of this technology,” While touch sounds exciting, before get-
multi-touch has always evoked a cer- he adds. The first of these Windows 7 ting carried away, we must ask ourselves,
tain thrill for all of us. We’ve been seeing touch products are already out from is touch just a gimmick? Or is there
such technology in science fiction for the stables of hardware manufacturers some functionality to it? So far whatever
ages; right from Star Trek to fancy hand such as HP and Dell and if the grape- we’ve seen in the market based on earlier
gestures in Minority Report. Microsoft’s vine is to be believed then the newest operating systems without multi-touch
Surface that debuted in CES 2008 fired entrant will be Acer. leaves you with the same nagging doubts.
Microsoft’s Surface for example, although
“Both Surface and Windows Of Atoms and Ions multi touch, has applications in novelty
had worked collaboratively Windows 7 being light is Atom environments like entertainment kiosks
to bring Surface and friendly. Still the processor is or airport lounges, and is not accessible
applications to the Windows not beefy enough to run fancy to the ordinary consumer. The other
7 PC experience” graphics. Enter NVIDIA’s Ion instances of touch PCs based on Intel’s
Rajiv Popli, Director, Windows Client, Consumer Platform. We spoke to Igor Intel Classmate PC concept are mainly
& Online Business, Microsoft India
Stanek, Product Manager for learning aids for kids. Net-tops such
up viewers imaginations as to the appli- ION / notebooks, EMEAI region from as the Asus Eee Top (also earlier based
cations that the table top device can have. NVIDIA to understand how this works, on XP) can’t possibly be conceived as
Windows 7 has finally made this some- and enhances the Windows 7 experience. something that can be used in day-to-day
what of a reality by bringing multi-touch “Our story with Windows 7 is all about computing. They’re something that can
to personal computing. CPU and GPU harmonics. The CPU at best be a second PC or a “Kitchen PC”
With its full multi-touch capability, operates on very complicated sequential as they are popularly being called; meant
Windows 7 will perhaps sow the seeds for codes, while the GPU operates on mas- primarily for viewing purposes. So in
a whole new set of devices and applications sively parallel operations. Windows 7 effect they remain some what of a nov-
in varied form factors from desktops to dif- uses this untapped power of the GPU, elty. With multitouch what will change
ferent designs in the portability space; from in this case the GeForce 9400M. If you remains to be seen.
netbooks to tablets. were to encode video on an Atom proc-
According to Rajiv Popli, Director, essor, you would take about 7 hours for Touchy issues
Windows Client, Microsoft, the journey a movie. The same on Ion will be done in It’s great that touch has been incorpo-
to touch began from an endeavour real time – one and a half hour, thanks to rated into Windows 7 but it’s not really
towards simplicity. “This is the first its 16 cores”, he said. woven into the DNA of the operating
44 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
TouchWall Ocean waves
For an interesting video on what touch technology should To get a first hand taste of Direct Compute check out this video
ideally be, head over to http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ that reproduces the physics of incredible looking wave crests –
and watch Jeff Han manipulate a touch wall www.thinkdigit.com/d/ocean/ Feature
system. We were speaking earlier about “We’ve been asked if we are creating
the iPhone and how it’s beautifully a new Touch UI, or “Touch Shell” for
achieved the status of the numero uno Windows – something like Media
touch device even today. This is because Center that completely replaces the
the device was built with touch in mind. UI of Windows with a version that is
Thought went into things like contextual optimised for touch. We are focused on
menus and design elements like big bringing touch through the Windows
buttons etc. Windows on the other hand experience and delivering optimised
has always been a mouse and keyboard touch interface where appropriate.”
interface. Now multi-touch is simply says the Windows 7 Touch Team on
being ported to the OS. the official blog.
According to Popli, the two platforms
simply can’t be compared. “Yes, for the Windows 7 assigns operations to multiple processing elements Future
iPhone the whole device was itself built Other applications of this technology
around touch functionality. But one is a Touch applications can be envisioned too. “What you can
phone while here we’re talking of a PC Still, there are some applications that do with it is entirely up to what uses it
operating system. We have a billion users wail out for a multi-touch interface but can be put to through the API. Photo
and we’re not expecting a billion users in the correct form factor. Maps and manipulation, making collages with
to move over to touch functionality over Google Earth is one example. Browsers drag and drop are just some of the
night. Not every PC has to incorporate are another area where touch can be a things that you can do. Application are
touch. But touch can and will greatly lot of fun. Imagine lying on the bed with being built for portfolio management,
enhance the user experience.” he said. a tablet and browsing Facebook pic- others include a newspaper reading
So basically all your basic mouse func- tures or YouTube videos. For whatever application that would allow you to
tions like clicking or scrolling are mapped little typing, you can always bring up easily flip between pages with intuitive
to the touch interface. But the mouse is an on-screen keyboard. Touch may gestures,” says Popli
surely more precise at doing most things even greatly improve functionality of Touch applications can be pictured
than fat old butterfingers, especially on graphics and image editing suites like virtually anywhere. “You can pick an
an operating system that was designed Photoshop or Illustrator. Alexander industry and see how touch applications
for the pointer. Phillip, a 3D modelling expert from can be relevant within those industries.”
There are a few gestures that work “In the Automobile segment I believe
universally throughout the operating “Low memory we’re partnering with some of the com-
system, which applications get auto- consumption is panies here for applications leveraging
matically as a result of mapping mouse very important, touch functionality. Let’s take for example
gestures or presence of scroll bars to drag icons or if you happen to go to a showroom you
which are mapped to the mouse wheel. windows around can see a car and the exterior, experience
These include two finger scrolling or the screen” a different look and feel. It will help you
zooming via pinch gestures (ala iPhone), Igor Stanek, Product Manager, manipulate those customisations and data
and right click via pressing and holding ION/Notebook, NVIDIA points in a much better way without going
a tap, in addition to some program- though the learning curve.” In medicine
mable ones for commons actions such as Mumbai other the other hand says teaching applications can be envisioned.
Copy and Undo. that he’d much rather use a mouse for You might be able to see a heart and touch
But for applications to use touch to precision or a Wacom Tablet. “Besides, a ventricle apply pressure to simulate a
the fullest, touch functionality needs to why do away with those thousands of blockage at that point and the programme
be specifically incorporated via the SDK. keyboard short cuts that you’ve grown can respond.
How smartly they do it is entirely up to used to over the years?” he adds. With mobility comes miniaturisa-
the application makers, since they too Consider the gaming scenario. Can tion over a period of time. “You’ll see
will have a fair bit of reinventing to do. you imagine the kind of micro you will smaller laptops or netbooks and even
So for now there’s no immediate getting be able to perform while playing an tablets. Each will appeal to a different
rid of the little rodent problem just as RTS? The inference we can draw here is type of user,” says Popli to round up.
yet. Other issues like the hand obscuring that touch support for application will But to truly have such tablet-like port-
the view in the table top form factor, not do away with conventional forms able computing devices to operate on
greasy screens, lack of tactile response of input. With Windows 7, you will be a full touch environment, we believe
to make up for the loss of the cursor, will able to use either touch, mouse, or key- there is no escaping a separate touch
also come into the picture. board as and when each makes sense. shell for Windows.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 45
PS3 Slim XBOX 360
Sony plans to price the 120-GB PS3 Slim around the Microsoft has once again denied rumours it
Feature same as the 80-GB PS3, but without any bundled games will release a Blu-ray drive for the XBOX 360
Blu-ray – The Indian Picture
We take a look at the Indian Blu-ray market and officially launched in the Indian market.
what it means for you Models that were not available in the
market have not been listed below.
Philips: Two models available in India,
Jasnoor Gill or 480p, Blu-ray video can go up to the BDP3000 and the BDP7500 have 7.1
readersletters@thinkdigit.com 1920x1080 or 1080p. Blu-ray discs surround sound as well as DivX sup-
W
also use better compression technology port in addition to standard features, the
e decided to go out to the resulting in better picture quality. Avail- BDP7500 is a premium model with sup-
market and take a look at ability of larger storage media, and high port for USB flash drives as well as the
the various options avail- definition sound formats such as Dolby AVCHD camcorder codec enabling it to
able to a consumer who Digital True HD, result in superior audio play videos directly. One issue with these
wants to get onto the Blu-ray bandwagon. quality. Blu-ray also has other enhance- players is that they are region locked (For
We went looking for both players that sup- ments such as picture in picture com- more on region locks – see Box). Both
port this format as well as the availability of mentary, improved navigation menus these players are priced at approximately
supported media at various locations. and downloadable content. Most Blu-ray Rs. 16,000 – Rs. 17,000 and Rs. 24,000 –
Sony announced the Blu-ray format to players also have the ability to upscale Rs. 25,000, respectively.
the technology world in February 2002 DVD content to improve its display Panasonic: It’s two models in India, the
with a lot of fanfare. The next generation quality for viewing on high definition DMP-BD30 and the DMP-BD60 have
format promised more storage space for TVs. All in all, Blu-ray is a definite AVCHD codec support and an SD card
playback of high definition video content improvement over regular DVDs. slot. In addition, the higher-end BD60
and other storage purposes. However, by has a USB port and support for 7.1 sur-
the time the standard was finalised and Players round sound. Both these players are
the first players were marketed in June Since the second half of 2007, many com- region locked as well.
2006, the HD DVD format supported by panies have introduced Blu-ray players LG: The BD370 comes with DivX and
the DVD Forum led by Toshiba had also in India. Here, we only look at players USB support, but is region locked and has
launched competing players. no support for 7.1 surround sound.
With both sides having Sony: The BDP-S300 and the newer
poured their fair share of BDP-S350 have AVCHD codec
time and money into the support. The BD-S350 adds USB
development of competing port and 7.1 HD sound decoding via
high definition formats, HDMI. Both of them are approxi-
neither side was willing to mately priced at Rs. 20,000 and
back down. This led to the Philips’ BDP7500 supports USB flash drives, DivX with 7.1 surround sound output Rs. 25,000.
HD format wars. Blu-ray
emerged as the victor in Feb- DO YOU REALLY NEED BLU-RAY?
ruary 2008 with Toshiba finally Even if you like to stay on the To get the best out of a Blu- need a player with compatible
withdrawing its support for the cutting edge of technology, you ray player, you should connect audio outputs as well as a
HD DVD format. With this, Sony need to figure out if you’ll get it to an HDTV with 1080 lines of capable home theatre speaker
could finally look forward to the any benefit from buying a Blu-ray progressive scanning, or 1080p. system to take advantage of
player. Usually, on TVs less than 40 the improved audio quality. A
broad adoption of Blu-ray by next inches or so, you will not be able Blu-ray player supporting 7.1
generation devices. Video to make out the improved quality surround sound is pretty useless
Many DVD players have an provided by Blu-ray playback. if it’s not paired with a 7.1
‘upscaling’ option that improves
Blu-ray vs. DVD the quality of SD (Standard
It’s best to go to a showroom
before making the purchase
speaker system as well.
So to conclude: Yes, the
Compared to conventional Definition) content for display and check if you think it makes Blu-ray format offers improved
DVDs, a Blu-ray disc of the same on high resolution LCD/Plasma a significant difference to justify quality. However, if you are
size can hold more data (50 GB TVs. Although not as good as the expenditure. mixing it with older equipment
actual high definition content, it or you’re buying new
vs. 9 GB for dual layer DVDs). does make a difference, and may Audio equipment, take advantage of
While the resolution of DVD appear fine to some. Blu-ray discs also include high
all the features in Blu-ray.
definition audio. However, you
video is limited to 720x480
46 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Blu-ray sales 100GB disks
Blu-ray sales in the US increased by 91 per cent in Sharp Japan has developed an improved Blu-ray
the first half of 2009 despite the global recession disk with a capacity of 75GB and 100GB Feature
Launched in India in April 2007, is that the PS3 is ubiquitous at almost DEMYSTIFYING REGION CODES
the Playstation 3 is the crown jewel in every store that you visit. Blu-ray discs sold in a particular region are also
Sony’s Blu-ray lineup. Sony took the While Sony and other manufacturers supposed to be played only in that region. For
example, a Blu-ray player purchased in the
risk of including a Blu-ray drive in the have not released any sales numbers for United States may not play certain discs, no
console by default. As a result, the PS3 Blu-ray player/PS3 sales in India, many matter how hard you try.
is now the largest selling Blu-ray player store managers we talked to confirmed For Hindi movies, discs from Sony and
in the market, whether explicitly pur- that they haven’t seen any major push Big Home Video are region free while those
from Excel Home Video are coded to Region
chased for this purpose or not. The PS3 from manufacturers, or demand for C (India). Out of the major English movie
supports multiple file formats including Blu-ray players from consumers. While studios, releases by Paramount, Universal,
DivX, supports wireless media the recent price cut of the PS3 from Rs. Sony and Warner are region free. Titles
streaming from your PC and enables 7.1 25,000 to Rs. 20,000 was expected to released by Lionsgate Films and Walt Disney
are a mix of both while those released by 20th
HD audio over HDMI. boost demand, sales stayed relatively flat Century Fox are region coded.
The fact that it doubles as a next even during the recent festival season, Depending on the model of your player
generation game console and has sup- trailing the XBOX 360 at most places. and its firmware version, you may be able to
find instructions online on how to change its
port for internet browsing works in its Only one of the store managers we talked
region or make it region free to play all discs.
favour as well. The only negatives one to was optimistic about sales of stan-
can think of are the lack of 7.1 analogue dalone Blu-ray players, with his store because Sony subsidises the hardware
sound support as well as the region lock selling around seven players a month. cost of the PS3 platform. Like most
on the console. The PS3 is priced at Rs. Pricing of media is a factor that console manufacturers, Sony expects to
needs to be kept in mind when we look recover its costs through sales of accesso-
at the availability and sales of Blu-ray ries and royalties from game developers.
media. Games for the PS3 in the Blu-ray While digital downloads for movies
format are priced in the Rs. 1,500 to Rs. haven’t really taken off in India yet,
2,500 range, Hindi movies are typically companies such as Bigflix have started
priced at Rs. 1,000, and most English experimenting with online models
movies range from Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 1,500 allowing users to download movies of
depending on the popularity of the movie. their choice to buy or rent for a certain
Compared to this, Hindi DVDs for pop- time period. Though currently restricted
ular releases are available from Rs. 99, to DVD quality content, these companies
Sony’s PS3 is the largest selling Blu-ray player
while English movies cost a maximum of can move into the high definition content
20,000 for the 80 GB version while Rs. 500. While manufacturers may talk space in the future. All they need is a
stocks of the older 40 GB version are about targeting quality conscious buyers more robust broadband infrastructure.
being sold at Rs. 15,000. until prices of Blu-ray media come down In case such services catch on, it may
Finally, which player should you buy? to more reasonable levels, a majority not even make sense for consumers to
It really comes down to whether you plan of Indian consumers will be hesitant to invest in an expensive high definition
to play games on the PS3 or not. For pur- invest in the format even if they are con- Blu-ray player when they can just hook
ists, assembling a home theatre set-up, sidering the switch to HD. up a laptop or LCD TV and stream a
a standalone player might make more As with any new technology, Blu-ray movie off the internet. With so much
sense, providing more features/options players are quite expensive. While prices money invested in the Blu-ray format,
in the audio department. For everyone of Blu-ray players have come down companies like Sony need to do all they
else, the PS3 is a value for money player, since they were initially launched. For can to increase awareness and adoption
if you really want to buy a Blu-ray device. example, from $1,500 to under $150 in of Blu-ray in the Indian market.
In fact, you'd prefer the newer 120GB certain cases, manufacturers hope to Looking at the challenges posed by
PS3 ‘Slim’. While it will be priced at the bring down prices even more with expe- online content over the long term, Blu-ray
same Rs. 20,000 price as the current rience and technological advances in the may actually never turn out to be compa-
80 GB model, it will not have any games future. Unfortunately, pricing of Blu-ray rable to the blockbuster that DVD was. If
bundled along with it. players in India is still quite high and they want adoption of the Blu-ray format
this is not conducive to the acceptance of to take-off in the Indian market, manu-
Sales trends the format. facturers will have to look at providing
Several large multi-brand electronic By the way, the only reason a next both hardware as well as content at a
stores we visited either did not stock Blu- generation console like the PS3 can incor- lower price. Only then will a large chunk
ray players or had only one or two models porate Blu-ray playback and still cost the of customers find it worthwhile to shift to
in stock. The saving grace for Blu-ray same as other regular Blu-ray players is high definition content.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 47
2.1 vs. 5.1?
A good quality 2.1 is better for music than a 5.1 vs. 7.1 surround sound?
similarly priced 5.1. However, the 5.1 is better for A 7.1 is overkill if there’s not enough room behind the
Geek life games and movies listener and the room is small in size
Jasnoor Gill information about such audio setups reflections and redirect the sound energy
readersletters@thinkdigit.com from online forums. throughout the room. The ideal seating
W
position should be some distance away
ith advances in tech- Acoustics from the back wall to avoid reflections.
nology, home theatre Room acoustics is one of the most The back wall and ceiling are preferred
systems have evolved so important and most neglected parts of spots to place diffusers. Something like
that they no longer are a home theatre setup. The only design a bookcase against the back wall is an
the domain of the super-rich. When you to absolutely avoid from an acoustics excellent method to diffuse sound as well
go out to buy a home theatre system, the standpoint is a square-shared room. as act as a bass trap.
demonstration is conducted in specially Anything else is acceptable. While you You can use soundproofing material
built rooms where the sound quality of can hire professionals to handle how like cork board, glass wool, fibre glass,
the system blows you away. However, your home theatre room will sound, or even simple foam in a pinch to absorb
when you listen to the same set at home, there is no reason why with a little work, reflections from the side walls. This
it doesn’t sound the same. you cannot do it yourself. doesn’t mean you need to line the whole
As far as the question of buying Make sure the room is isolated from room with the stuff. A completely dead
a home theatre setup goes, it’s a very outside noises. While there’s not much room is useful only for testing speaker
subjective matter. Speakers and sound one can do after construction, try to make response, and may actually be uncom-
quality are relative. What’s music to our the room as air-tight as possible to pre- fortable to our ears. Treating roughly
ears may be noise to others. That’s why vent sound going either in, or out of the 30 per cent of the room is a good rule of
Home sound home
Simple modifications like room configuration and speaker placement can
boost your home theatre experience
it’s very important to try out any system room. Use the basic ‘Clap Test’ to check thumb to follow in such cases. Stuff like
before actually buying it. Go to the show- the room for echoes. Stand in different heavy drapes on the windows, rugs and
room with a DVD of your favourite movie parts of the room and try clapping to see carpets can also be used to cover reflec-
or a CD (or another high quality audio the amount of echoes that you get. Our tive (literally) surfaces and absorb sound.
source) of your favourite band and then aim is to minimise these echoes in the Unless your speakers are designed to
get whatever sounds best to you. Other final setup. Concrete walls are not recom- radiate sound in all directions, it’s a good
than the well-known consumer names, mended for such a room. In case there is idea to place absorption material behind
there are many brands audio enthusiasts no other option, consider lining the wall the speakers as well to absorb unneces-
swear by that actually provide much with sound absorption material to avoid
better quality for similar (and higher) bass from booming against your walls.
prices. You won’t necessarily get the best For shaping a room’s acoustics, you
quality from a Sony or even a Bose for first need to take care of primary reflec-
that matter as compared to what you may tions from the walls. This requires the
end up paying for it. You can find detailed use of diffusers designed to diffuse sound
48 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Absorbing sound Basic home theatres
Heavy curtains and carpets can do a good Most consumer firms have home theatres
job of absorbing most reflected sounds starting at Rs. 15,000 Geek life
sary sound before it starts bouncing Speaker Placement
around the room. For a home theatre, at least a 5.1 or a 7.1
For more natural bass and to handle speaker system is a must to get the true
lower frequencies, bass traps can be used surround sound experience. Speaker
in the corners of the room where bass placement plays an important role in
is usually maximised. They can also be deciding how the system is going to
hung in corners of the ceiling for greater sound. Ensure all speakers are pointed at
response. Other than professionally the listening area and avoid any obstruc-
designed bass traps, something like a tions between the speaker and the seating
chair with big cushions can also do the location that may block or deflect the Diffusers prevent sound waves from reflecting over
job adequately. sound coming from the speakers. surfaces and creating distortion
Sound from a speaker may reach you putting it in a corner since that usually
through solid surfaces like the floor much 5.1 SETUP results in very heavy ‘boomy’ bass as
faster than air. To avoid such issues, you A 5.1 system consists of a five speaker well as in the middle of the room where it
need something to absorb the speaker’s channels and a sub-woofer (the .1). The won’t have much of an effect.
energy before it reaches the floor. Things sub-woofer can be placed anywhere in Move the sub-woofer around to
like spiked feet, speaker absorption pads, the room as long as it sounds good to you different distances from the walls and
plain foam, fibre glass or even a thick when placed there. The closer it is to a listen to it from the seating area to figure
carpet will serve the purpose. wall, the higher the bass output. Avoid out where it sounds best. A somewhat
silly looking, but more accurate method
is to place the sub-woofer at your lis-
tening area (after moving the sofa/chair)
and go around the room near the floor
looking for the place where the bass
sounds just right. That’s where you want
to place the sub-woofer.
The centre speaker is the most impor-
tant speaker in the setup since most of
the dialogue comes through it. It should
ideally be placed just above, or in case of
a wall mounted TV, just below the screen
facing the listeners, as close to ear level
as possible.
DVD’s usually contain 5.1
surround sound. Newer high
definition formats like Blu-ray
contain 7.1 surround sound
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 49
Wireless Sound
High end home theatre systems now support Further reading
wireless streaming for surround sound speakers, For more on home theatre set-ups,
Geek life thus cutting down on cable clutter read the March 2009 issue of Digit
Place the front left and right speakers back of the home theatre system. A Good quality audio equipment
at an inward angle. Ensure that they jumbled mess here can result in electrical including audio receivers and speakers
are both equidistant on both sides of interference and less than stellar sound are often quite heavy. Make sure that
the TV and from the listening area. quality from the speakers. Avoid cabinets the cabinet/shelves/speaker stands
They should be placed at ear level for or racks with one or two holes to run used can take the load. You don’t want
maximum effect and should form an cables through them. any of that expensive stuff falling down
approximately 45 degree angle from after a couple of days.
the seating location. The left and right Avoid placing sub-woofers and
surround speakers need to be placed speakers in general inside cabinets
on both sides of the seating location unless they come prebuilt. Optimal
or slightly behind it. They should be placement may require you to move
placed approximately 2 feet above ear them around, something that is not
level for the proper effect. possible when placed in a cabinet. The
power of the sub-woofer may also be
7.1 SETUP reduced. In case you do need to place
Most DVDs use 5.1 surround sound it inside a cabinet, make sure that it’s
while newer high definition formats like Absorbent materials reduce noise properly braced and padded to avoid
Blu-ray contain 7.1 sound tracks. 7.1 sys- unnecessary vibrations.
tems have two extra surround speakers These tend to cause interference since Cooling is an often ignored part
to give the perception of depth to the they combine power and audio/video sig- of home theatre systems even though
home theatre. However, these are useful nals. The metal edges may also tend to cut high-end equipment does tend to
only if you have a large room or at least the cables if pulled. Ensure all connectors generate a lot of heat. While passive
more than 3-4 feet of space between have good contact and are tightly coupled. cooling will be adequate in most cases,
your seating location and the back wall. Lighting dimmers as well as loose power semiconductors are designed to operate
The rear surround speakers should be plugs can also result in hum. in a particular temperature range, and
placed directly behind the listening area proper placement can ensure longer life
at the same height as the side surround General dos and don’ts for your hardware.
speakers, at approximately a 60 degree Double check all speaker wires to Consider additional cooling if the
angle to the listening area. ensure that the wires are connected to equipment is being placed in a cabinet
the correct polarity, positive to posi- without ventilation outlets. Heat gener-
Wiring tive and negative to negative. While ating equipment like power amplifiers
The cables and wiring of the POWERED BY found in audio/video equipment
home theatre system are also Discuss your doubts at should be placed on top so that
a neglected part of the whole http://thinkdigit.com/forum/ warm air can rise upwards and
setup. While cheap wiring is be exhausted quickly.
of course a no-no, it also doesn’t make it sounds minor, a mistake here can Most home theatre systems have
sense to buy some of the exotic and result in mismatched sounds from the integrated setup menus and some kind
extremely expensive cables/connectors speakers while you go crazy with the of sample CDs to calibrate the audio
available in the market. A cable’s job is settings trying to figure out what went and make sure that surround sound is
to make sure the signal is transmitted. wrong. working properly. If you are investing
A gold plated cable over a normal Power down all equipment while in high end equipment, it may be a
good quality one will not make a differ- making the initial connections. Switch on good idea to buy a Sound Pressure
ence in this case. The longer the length the system only after all connections have Level (SPL) meter to help with proper
of the cable, the smaller ‘gauge’ cable been securely made. calibration of the complete setup.
you need. Normal 12 AWG oxygen free Home theatres, speaker setup or even
multi-strand cables are good enough for room acoustics are vast topics that have
anything till 200 feet. Any audio speci- entire books and many web sites devoted
ality store will stock the required cables. Join the Digit Forum at www.thinkdigit.com/forum, and to them. We hope this article gives you
Just don’t fall for the extremely expensive discuss this article. You can find others who are also an idea of what to expect while setting up
pre-packaged quality cables that claim to interested in setting up home theatre systems. If you your own home theatre system to get the
haven’t already, the next step in spicing up a home
do everything including improvements in best out of the system. Feel free to experi-
theatre setup is to go the DTH route, but hang on, don’t
sound quality. ment with room interiors and speaker
miss our comparison of DTH providers next month
More importantly, power and audio/ (January 2010 issue) placement till you find a setup that is just
video cables must be separated at the right for you.
50 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Converting to DivX Quality conundrum
It is illegal to convert rented DVDs to If you have an HDTV, it’s better to rent or buy Blu-ray movies.
DivX and store them But if not, then Blu-ray won’t make much of a difference Feature
A f lick in a click
We take a look at the various ways by which you
Mihir Patkar
readersletters@thinkdigit.com can get a dose of your favourite films and TV
shows through the internet
P
irated movies have a lot of
pitfalls. You can never be There are three outfits that you need your usage, and then go in for a higher
sure whether the quality of to check out if you do intend on renting scheme based on that. The web pages of
the movie is going to be good movies in India: MovieMart (www. all the three sites have their plans laid
enough; in fact, you can never be sure moviemart.in), BigFlix (www.bigflix.com) and out in neat tables, but just to get you
whether the DVD inside is going to show SeventyMM (www.seventymm.com). started, here are the lowest and highest
you the movie that the cover says! And All three sites give you the option to comparative membership plans for the
the low quality of the physical DVD rent movies through the online portal, three services:
also has its own problems, as it can get which are then delivered to your home Once you have chosen a plan, the next
scratched easily and gets errors after a address. Once you’re done watching step is to figure out which movie you
few times you use it. the film, you can go back to the site and want to rent out. All three portals have
request for it to be picked up, and get the an extensive library of English, Hindi,
Renting online next movie delivered as well. regional language and other films, neatly
While chains such as BlockBuster have First, you will be required to register categorised for easy browsing. All three
started prominent DVD rental stores at the site, giving your details as well as sites offer the ability to create a ‘Wish-
in the US, this trend hasn’t caught on picking out a suitable rental plan. These list’ of the movies that you want to see,
in India. Local rental outfits were very rental plans are quite varied, made to and arrange them in order of priority.
BigFlix is the only service that offers the option of renting unlimited discs One of the three best movie rental sites in India, SeventyMM
popular during the time of VHS, but not cater to the various movie-watching Some services such as BigFlix, also
all of them managed the transition to habits of consumers. have retail stores where you can go and
VCD, and subsequently DVD. Renting With a wide variety of subscription exchange the movie yourself if need be.
a movie still remains the most econom- schemes, it’s really up to you to decide The one disadvantage of the movie
ical way of catching a flick, and thanks which one works out best for you. The rental system is that often, you might
to some sites, you can avail of this from most advisable way is to try the lowest get DVDs that are a bit scratched, which
the comfort of your home. price one-month scheme first, check could damage your player. While you
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 51
Best Blu-ray player Safe online
Even now, the Sony PlayStation 3 You can use dedicated internet-only
remains the best value-for-money credit cards such as HDFC NetSafe and
Feature option in Blu-ray products ICICI 3D Secure for safe online payments
may know how to handle a disc, most of up to 2 Mbps have been around for some 1,300 free-to-watch movies, we really
us have parents, siblings and friends who time, but now, firms like Airtel and MTNL can’t complain much. If you would prefer
would hold a disc on the wrong side, keep are making it viable for power users to downloading movies on to your hard
it flat on a corrosive surface or try to clean buy 512 kbps and 1 Mbps tariff plans drive, we have not come across any such
it without knowing how to. That is a fair with unlimited download options. With option as yet for Hindi movies.
portion of the audience of these sites as such speeds and such capacity, the idea of For English movies, you could try out
well, so be prepared for some discs that moving to a non-disc method of media is ZML (www.zml.com), which lets you down-
you would want to get rid of as soon as always tempting. load unlimited movies for a monthly rate
you are done watching the movie. Thank- However, while the iTunes store and of $39.90 (Rs. 1,850 approximately). The
fully, if you do get a damaged disc, all the NetFlix have availed American citizens price is a bit steep, but the site does offer
three services will offer to exchange it for of incredible ease in downloading and high-quality movies in different formats.
you, free of cost. streaming their favourite movies and TV But be very careful when you’re signing
shows, it is not quite the same for us in up. While ZML offers a trial period of one
Buying online India. There is still no viable option to day for $0.99 (Rs. 46), it will start charging
MovieMart also doubles up as an online download flicks or stream them, and most your credit card automatically from the
movie store with a collection of both Bol- of the ways have grey legal areas. next day for the full amount of $39.90,
lywood and Hollywood movies unless you cancel it yourself.
that finds little parallel on the
net. Movies, TV shows, docu- Conclusion
mentaries are available across LOWEST RATE AT A TIME LIMITATION Renting is still the best option
MOVIE MANTRA Rs. 179 per transaction 2 discs 3 days time period
various media, such as VCD, of the lot because of the large
SEVENTYMM Rs. 250 monthly charge 1 disc 5 discs in a month
DVD and Blu-ray. BIGFLIX
collections offered there while
Rs. 300 monthly charge 1 disc 7 discs in a month
Navigating the site is quite HIGHEST Rate At a time Limitation being extremely cost-effective.
a hassle, though. A lot of dead MOVIE MANTRA Rs. 3,499 per year 6 discs 96 discs in a year Even with an annual subscrip-
links, a clunky interface and a SEVENTYMM Rs. 3,499 per year 2 discs 96 discs in a year tion to rent unlimited movies,
BIGFLIX Rs. 3,500 per year 1 disc Unlimited discs
so-so search feature make this a you would not be spending more
browsing nightmare. But put up than Rs. 3,500. At the lowest
with all that and you are bound to rate of renting two DVDs a week,
get most of the titles you are looking for, A better, and safer, option for users would still be shelling out only Rs.
and at pretty decent prices to boot. streaming movies is to check out the free 33 per disc, approximately. It should also
streaming catalogue offered by BigFlix. be noted that BigFlix is the only service
Downloading / streaming Of course, most of this is Hindi, but you that offers the option of renting unlimited
Broadband internet is starting to look do get quite a few gems in there. discs, so serious cinema-watchers might
better in India. Limited download plans of Among new movies, you can stream want to go in for that.
99 for free. Hindi As for streaming and downloading
movies such as movies, the Indian market is infantile at
Bheja Fry in addi- best. BigFlix is the only saving grace here,
tion to other popular with no one offering services like NetFlix
movies are also or Hulu yet. And as mentioned earlier,
available. All you the free streaming movies on BigFlix have
have to do is select a limited catalogue and suffer greatly
the movie you want when it comes to quality of video. But as
to watch, ensure they say, beggars can’t be choosers.
your internet connec-
tion is working and
start streaming! On
a 512 kbps connec-
tion, we could watch If you’re not into watching movies online,
you’re probably renting DVDs or, ahem,
the movies without
getting them from elsewhere. Big hard
any lag. However, drives seem to be the need of the day,
as expected, the but before you run out to get yourself
quality left a lot to be one, you might like to know that we’re
desired. Still, with going to be testing terabytes of storage
in January.
Movie Mart has a superb catalogue of movies to buy, be they VCD, DVD or Blu-ray a catalogue of over
52 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Gains for loss Thick fingers?
Sci-Tech 57 Get a deeper understanding how file compression –
especially MP3 (for audio) and JPEG (for images) work
Projected Capacitive technology can detect
touches made on a screen up to 2 cm thick
The Touchables
Srikanth R some encounters, mere touch was not Resistive TS
readersletters@thinkdigit.com sufficient and significant pressure had This is the most mature among the
T
to be employed to get a response. This technologies and also the cheapest and
ouchscreens (TS) have been would disqualify that interface as a TS in the most widely used. Here, the TS is
around for a long time, and light of our definition. constructed using two flexible films
quite inconspicuously so, till whose proximal surfaces are coated with
the iPhone amazed people Technologies Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). ITO is a solution
with the multi-touch capabilities of its Broadly there are two parts to the of Indium oxide and Tin oxide, which
interface. Now, if you are dismissively whole touch experience. First, and most is conductive and, in thin layers, trans-
wondering how long before? you will be conspicuously, the mechanical interface parent. The two films are microscopi-
surprised to hear more than a quarter of itself - that merely generates the input; cally separated by an array of insulating
a century. Before we proceed, we need to and second, the underlying software - spacers. In working, when the upper
clearly understand what qualifies as a TS. that interprets the input into something flexible layer is pressed, it touches the
A largely satisfactory definition would meaningful. It is important to note, that lower layer which completes a circuit and
be – any transparent interface that gener- the software plays an important role and the location of the point is computed.
ates an input either on touch or proximity it can make and mar the touch experience Not so fast! The technique with which
with another object can be termed a TS. irrespective of the quality of the mechan- the point of touch is computed distin-
Now, those of you who have encountered ical components. For example, a slide of a guishes the subtypes of this technology.
a TS before, mostly at kiosks at the ATM finger on the interface is interpreted as a So a 4 wire Resistive interface uses two
or railway station, will recall that during “flick” by the software. wires on opposite edges of each on the top
Illustration: Shrikrishna Patkar
54 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Onyx Apple again
Touchpad maker Synaptics’ prototype TS phone Onyx “Multitouch” is registered as a
distinguishes touch based on the area of contact trademark by Apple Computer, Inc. Feature
and bottom layer to find the X and Y coor- discharge and resultant voltage change
dinates of the point of contact. An 8 wire which is picked up by the electrodes. The
Resistive interface is similar to the 4 wire, iPhone and many premium smartphones
but adds 4 more electrodes to improve use this technology.
the accuracy in TSs larger than 10 inches Advantages
(diagonal) and also counter the effects of True touchscreens, where mere touch
drift - a phenomenon where over time the generates input. Projected Capacitive
flexible film shifts position causing inac- screens allow detection of multiple points
curate readings. of contact, allowing multi touch opera-
A slight variation in the 4 wire tions/gestures. Compared to Resistive
design is the 5 wire design which has screens, these screens allow faster inputs.
4 electrodes on the bottom layer - one Since glass isn’t easily scratched, this is
each corner - and one on the top flexible more rugged than resistive TS.
layer. This design increases the screen’s Disadvantages
durability and accuracy. A further refine- Needs a conducting object to register
Resistive touchscreens rely on variation in resistivity
ment of this design is the 6 wire interface touch, so ordinary stylus or even a finger
which uses one additional ground wire glass making it more scratch resistant nail will not do. Scratches on the top layer
to reduce interference and increase than Resistive TS. The core property used can impact performance.
accuracy. A 7 wire interface adds two here is that of a capacitor - two conduc-
additional wires to the 5 wire design to tors separated by an insulator. Surface acoustic wave TS
reduce effect of drift. In Surface Capacitive screens, the This technology employs ultrasonic
Resistive TS require some pressure glass is coated with a conductive layer, waves (USW) to form a grid above the
to be applied to make the two layers usually Indium Tin Oxide, on the screen. Piezoelectric USW generators and
meet, mere touch doesn’t suffice, and this underside. A small amount of voltage reflectors are used to generate US waves
explains your encounter with the TS at is applied to uniformly charge the entire and stream them over the surface - usu-
the ATM. And this issue aggravates as surface. There are electrodes on the four ally glass. US waves are generated on both
the ITO layer gets worn with use. corners of the screen to check for voltage vertical and horizontal directions by gen-
Most PDAs that feature a POWERED BY erators, while receivers placed at
stylus use this technology. Also Post your comments at the opposite side monitor them.
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
seen in some mobile phones, When a finger or object is placed
notably the Motorola ROKR. Due on the screen or near it, some of
to the flexible top layer of the interface it changes. When a conducting object, like a the US waves are blocked. This is detected
is easy to spot a Resistive TS. human finger or any metal object held by by the receivers in both axes, and the loca-
Advantages the human hand, touches the screen, the tion of the point of touch is calculated.
Cheap to make. Any object can be used to charge is drained at that point (the glass Advantages
make contact. Accuracy is high, so this inter- acts as the insulator between the conduc- Since there are no layers involved, just a
face is ideal for note taking and character tive layer and the conductive object), glass sheet, visibility is very high. Works
recognition activities. and a voltage change is registered. Each with any object. The only TS technology
Disadvantages electrode detects this change, to arrive at that can also detect Z axis or pressure
Top layer is susceptible to damage. The the point of contact. changes if any.
interface is not usable once the top layer Projected Capacitive screens consist Disadvantages
is damaged. Since there are many layers of two parallel layers of conducting Since the network of US waves is above
piled upon the actual display, visibility material (ITO), similar to the set-up seen the surface, it is possible that false
is reduced. Usually around 75 per cent in Resistive TS. The difference is that touches are registered if objects come
transmission is promised. Cannot sense there are no flexible layers - both layers close. This doesn’t bedevil Guided
multiple points of contact Wear can are glass, and the conducting material Acoustic wave screens. Expensive.
result in the ITO coating to become less is etched into their proximal surfaces so
sensitive, therefore over time accuracy as to form a grid of electrodes separated Scanning infrared TS
decreases and recalibration is needed. by a film of air (thereby creating a grid Similar in concept and function as Sur-
of capacitors). The capacitance field is face Acoustic Wave TS, here IR diodes
Capacitive TS active above the surface of the top layer of and sensors are placed on opposite sides
Capacitive TS can be of two types - Sur- glass, and bringing a conductive mate- of the bezel to generate and receive IR
face Capacitive and Projected Capacitive. rial like a human finger even close (2 mm waves respectively. The obstruction in the
In both cases, the top layer is usually is enough) to the touchscreen causes a IR waves at the point where the object is
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 55
Touchy surface Price of touch
Microsoft Surface is multi-touch 15-inch TS monitors featuring the projected capacitive
capable and can recognise up to 52 technology are available in India for around Rs. 20,000.
Feature simultaneous touch points Resistive TS cost about half of that
placed on the screen is reduced to X and Optical technologies
Y coordinates. The HP TouchSmart All- This kind of TS relies on the principle of
in-One PC uses this technology as does Frustrated Total Internal Reflection. and
Microsoft’s surface computing concept, is utilised for transmitting light through
the TouchWall. fibre optic cables. Essentially, rather than
Advantages have the IR source below the screen, it
There is no need to overlay any screens, is placed around it, and the IR beams
just the bezel containing the IR transmit- are projected through it at an angle such
ters and receivers are needed. So vis- that the beams are internally reflected
ibility is maximum among TS types. and don’t escape the surface. When a
Since the circuitry can be completely Projected capacitive TS design
finger touches the screen, at that point the
sealed in the bezel, this technology offers internal reflection is frustrated, causing
the reliability even in tough environ- with it’s top side coated with ITO film in the IR rays to pass through the screen to
ments. Most preferred TS technology for a particular layout, and the bottom layer the outside. This is picked up by the IR
large screens. entirely coated with ITO. A protective cameras placed behind/below the screen
Disadvantages sheath is overlaid over the sensor. When and used to detect touch and gestures.
Since normal sunlight also contains activated, the sensor generates a elec-
IR rays, these screens do not perform trostatic field, that is disrupted by touch Haptic technology
optimally when placed in areas with with finger or grounded conducting While not exactly a technology that is
abundant sunlight. The density of the object. The driver circuit continuously used to create touchscreens, Haptics is
IR diodes determines the sensitive areas images the field, and change in the field expected to play a major role in enhancing
of the screen and detectable size of the is detected by comparison with previous TS interfaces. Haptics, simply put, is
object. Some of the narrow spread or images, and the point of touch is detected. similar to force feedback experienced in
newer technologies are touched next. NFI TS are considered the most rugged of gaming devices. As TSs become popular
TS and can withstand and work around and soft keypads take the place of normal
Hybrids dust and debris. keyboards, people used to touch typing will
To get the best of both worlds - POWERED BY be put off by the lack of proper
accuracy of tablets (not tablet PCs) Post your comments at sensory feedback from the flat
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
and flexibility of human touch, some screen. Haptics attempts to fill
companies have come up with hybrid this void by creating the touch
technology that combines the detection Force detection and feel of a normal key by simulating the
system used in tablets with capacitive TS This technology uses sensors (called strain edges and depressing action. This is just
technology. The Dell Latitude XT and HP gauges) placed at the corners of the screen one application of haptics, which is already
TouchSMart TX2 are examples of devices to detect the force applied to the screen implemented in high end phones like the
using the hybrid technology created by a during a touch operation. Based on the LG Cookie. Several phones offer Haptic
company called N-trig. readings recorded at the four edges, the experience, but this is mostly limited to a
Wave transduction location of the point of touch is calculated. timely vibration as feedback for any action.
This technology uses the property of
glass to propagate sound or shock waves The future
generated when touched. Receivers Multi touch screens and collaborative
placed at 4 different sides of the screen software make a strong team. It is easy
can detect the waves, and by comparing to picture a person using multi-touch to
the readings of each receiver the location rotate an image, but the true power of
of the point of touch on the screen is com- multi touch is in having multiple people
puted. This technology is fairly new, and collaborating on the same project. Two
also goes around under trademarks like people collaborating on the same screen
Acoustic Pulse Recognition (audio waves would be better. But nothing would beat
are detected) and Dispersive Signal Tech- having a third person adding his inputs
nology (shock waves are detected). over the net. As internet connections
Near field imaging speed up and appropriate software is
This is a proprietary technology, that created, such an intercontinental brain-
relies on a proprietary layout of ITO storming session would be possible. TSs
film to detect touch events. The entire and gestures are predicted to make mice
glass sheet is converted into a sensor, redundant. This is debatable.
Surface acoustic wave TS design
56 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
LZW compression Claude Shannon
Short for Lempel-Ziv-Welch, this is Laid the foundation of the most
a popular file compression method profound thesis of all times on data –
used in image compression information theory How stuff works
Gains from loss
Mohamed Rameez then replace them with references,
readersletters@thinkdigit.com making the file smaller. More advanced
W
methods create statistical distributions
hile most high quality of the various patterns available, with
movies five years ago the highest probability patterns giving
could fit into a couple of maximum compression. These types
VCDs, today’s demands of compression are often used to store
of high quality prints require high den- data, for example, ZIP and RAR, and in
sity media such as Blu-ray disks, capable certain important media applications.
of storing scores of gigabytes. Some formats that use lossless com-
Compression has indeed been a boon pression are PNG, GIF and ATRAC.
to the media world. You use compres-
sion in various ways almost every Lossy compression
day. You would’ve noticed how a JPEG Lossy compression, is popularly used A simple 2 pixel by 2 pixel BMP image in 24-bit colour
image of the same quality as a bitmap in media files such as images, audio
picture is just a fraction in size. Other and video. This type of compression the inclusion of information such as
methods of file compression such as have been designed after a fair amount shooting time, date and exposure time
ZIP or RAR are also popular. of study into human sensing abilities. in the image. Another common format,
The final product might look and sound is JFIF, utilised mainly on web pages.
Codec the same, but some data is irrevocably As we know, an image consists
At the heart of a compression tool such lost in the compression process and the of a large number of small pixels. In
as an MP3 ripper is a component known codec cannot generate the original data. the most rudimentary file type for an
as a codec – short for coder-decoder. A image, known as a bitmap picture,
coder is a program / algorithm that is JPEG each pixel is denoted by a block of data
capable of accepting uncompressed raw A common form of lossy compres- varying in size from 8 to 32 bits. In an
data (such as a bitmap picture or a wave sion used in image files, especially on 8-bit BMP, a pixel can take any of 256
file) as input and giving a compressed the internet, is the joint photographic colours, while a 32-bit pixel can take
low size file (such as a JPEG image or experts group (JPEG) and is used in 232 colours. The number of pixels in an
an MP3 file) as the output. Codecs are various file formats (file types with image increases with higher resolu-
often patented technologies, such as the different file structures). The most tions. JPEG compression utilises sta-
MP3 codec. Sometimes, the same type of popular among them is JPEG /Exif, tistical patterns found in nearby pixels
encoding (AAC for example) is possible used in digital cameras. This allows for so that a region in an image can be
through multiple types of codecs An image encoded in JPEG using successively higher generated using much less data.
(some open source, some closed). compression ratios from left to right. Notice the As such, JPEG is a compression
The compression ratio is the ratio successive reduction in quality format better suited for when
of the file size of the original file to nearby pixels are similar, like a
the final compressed file. Compres- photograph with soft gradients.
sion methods and their associated In images such as drawings with
codecs are largely classified into two sharper gradients, JPEG leads to
– lossy and lossless. observable loss in quality.
Lossless compression The JPEG file structure
If the original uncompressed file can A JPEG file consists of many
be regenerated from the compressed small building blocks known as
file by the codec, the compression segments. Each segment can be
method is considered lossless. In its different in size and characterises a
simplest form, this is often achieved small area on the image consisting
through algorithms that search for of similar pixels. Some segments
repeating patterns in the data and do not stand for any portion of the
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 57
JPEG2000 PNG
Successor to JPEG, version 2000 is effective Is an image compression format developed
with higher image resolutions, but fails with in the early 90s to replace GIF (graphics
How stuff works lower resolutions interchange format)
sition of the colour in terms of Red, wide is MP3. Developed in the ‘80s by the
Green and Blue colours. Moving Picture Experts Group (con-
2. The RGB image is converted into a sisting of engineers from Fraunhofer IIS,
YCbCr image, i.e. an image in which, Germany and Alcatel-Lucent, New Jersey,)
instead of specifying the three colour MP3 stands for MPEG 1, Audio Layer 3.
contributions of a pixel, its brightness This method of compression was ini-
(Y), and two components of colour (Cb tially developed by MPEG as a method
and Cr) are specified. of compression for the audio in MPEG 1
3. The resolution of the Cb and Cr com- video files, the format used in VCDs, but
ponents are reduced, often almost to soon found independent application.
half its original value i.e. many nearby
pixels are given the same average The MP3 file structure
colour. This is because the human eye An MP3 file consists of various frames,
The zigzag order of JPG picture segments is more sensitive to changes in bright- one after the other. Each frame con-
ness than changes in colour. sists of an MP3 header, and the actual
picture, but for information such as date 4. The image is split into 8x8 pixel sectors, data. In an MP3 file, the actual data in
and time of shooting. The segments of the and statistical techniques such as discrete each frame is 1152 samples long and is
image are in a zig-zag order starting at the cosine transforms and discrete fourier known as a block.
top left corner of the image. A sample is a discrete digital signal
When a bitmap image is opened in that is generated by a microphone
an application such as Microsoft Photo when audio is incident on it. The MP3
Editor, or Adobe Photoshop and saved as a header contains the essential informa-
JPEG, there is a reduction in file size by up tion required to play the block while the
to 90 per cent, with no perceivable drop in block contains the actual audio data.
visual quality. Let us see how this is done. A header and a block together make
1. The bitmap image, with each block up a frame of the MP3 file and is of
of 8 bits (or 16 or 32 bits, depending variable duration in playback, which
upon colour quality) standing for a is specified in the header. The header
different block, is converted to an RGB contains the following information.
image, i.e. a method of representation 1. A sync word, data to make sure the audio
in which each colour, instead of being and video are synchronised (MP3 was
represented by a number from 1 to originally meant to be used on VCDs)
255, is represented by the red, blue Each pixel is expressed as a linear combination of 2. Version of the MP3 codec
and green contributions to it. The Red these 64 squares, to enable better compressions. 3. Layer: The number of the layer to
Green Blue Representation of colours which it belongs
for a pixel. A pixel colour is specified transforms are applied depending upon 4. Bit rate: The bit rate (in kbps) used by
by specifying the percentage compo- whether the colour gradient across them that specific block.
is gradual or sudden. 5. Frequency: The speed with which the
5. The image is re-specified in terms of samples in the block are to be played.
similar pixels, their frequency of occur- 6. Error protection: A reference to a
rence and their locations. similar audio block somewhere in the
6. The resolution of the specifications for file that can be substituted for the cur-
very low frequency pixels is reduced. rent one, if the current one cannot be
In this way, the image is taken through played due to errors. More technical
multiple types of representations and information is specified in the header.
unnecessary information is eliminated. When you open an MP3 file using a
Most JPEG codecs allow you to choose player, it reads the first frame, opens the
the compression ratio you desire, so header, plays the block associated with
that the trade-off between size and the header according to the specifica-
quality is your decision. tions (in the header), moves to the next
frame and then repeats the process.
MP3 Sometimes the first block in an MP3
A pixel colour is specified by the percentage composition One of the most popular forms of lossy file is an ID3 tag. ID3 is a universally
of the colour in terms of red, green and blue compression used in audio files world- accepted format by which miscella-
58 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
H.120
The first video compression standard
was developed in 1984, as an attempt
to standardise file encoding methods How stuff works Non section opener
neous information regarding the file OTHER FORMATS
can be stored on the file itself. This In addition to MP3, some of the other
information includes the title, album compression formats are:
name, artist and date and are useful in
MP3PRO:
identifying audio tracks. A combination of MP3 with a technique
In older audio CDs, 3-4 minute known as spectral band amplification.
tracks were about 60 MB in size. These Here, sounds in different frequencies
are encoded separately, MP3PRO offers
were uncompressed audio files stored
comparable sound quality at file sizes
losslessly. When you use a CD ripper often half of that in MP3.
to convert this into an MP3 file, certain OggVorbis:
sections of the audio are removed. The This open source, free compression
mechanism produces similar quality to
MP3 standard, does not specify an exact
MP3 at much lower bitrates and file sizes.
algorithm for converting RAW audio Windows Media Audio (WMA):
into the final MP3 file. It however, gives A competing proprietary technology
extensive information on what sort of developed by Microsoft, WMA offers
different codecs for different applications
audio signals are inaudible / unper- such as music and voice. It also has
ceivable by the human ear and can be support for digital rights management,
removed. Based on research in psycho allowing an online vendor to prevent
acoustics (the study of how sound is copy and redistribution of a track. This
is a crucial technology that is lacking in
perceived by the human mind), it has MP3.
also generated a list of the types of While each codec has its own
audio signals which even though physi- advantages and disadvantages, current
cally perceived by the human ear, is still popularity, support on personal players
and widespread usage has ensured that
ignored by the brain. none will compete with MP3 for a long
Different types of MP3 encoders use time to come.
this information, to remove these types of
redundant/useless signals and then convert
the file. The following signals are removed: MP3 file will use 128 kilo bits of data for
1. Signals with frequencies above and every second of playback. Thus, the size
beyond the auditory spectrum (less of the file (in MB) will be Bitrate (in kbps)
than 20 samples per second and more * length of the file (in seconds) / 8 * 1024.
than 20,000 samples per second). A bit rate of 128 kbps is often high
2. Low amplitude signals (of any enough to make the final MP3 file
frequency) in the presence of certain virtually indistinguishable from a CD
types of signals of much higher version of the same song and is hence
amplitudes. popular. Lower bitrates often lead to
Codecs remove fractions of the perceivable differences in quality in
original file. While some remove only the high end speakers.
most inaudible of the sounds, leading to While you larger bitrates to main-
an output MP3 that is still considerably tain quality on a complex file with a
large, some remove a sizeable portion of large amount of randomness, single-
the whole file, retaining only the signals instrument audio files, often retain the
deemed most essential for the listening original quality even at lower bit rates.
experience, and produce much smaller While earlier MP3s used the same
files. Most codecs allow you to make this bit rate throughout the file, more recent
decision regarding what quality to retain, ones have started using the concept of
through the concept of bit rates. variable bit rate (VBR) where a dif-
ferent bit rate is used depending upon
Bit Rates the types of sounds in each frame of
Most codecs used to rip CDs into MP3 the MP3 file, leading to much higher
files allow you to select a bit rate. This lets efficiency in compression while
you control how much of the original file maintaining the quality of the file. The
will be removed, as well as the quality downside is that the file size is lesser
and file size of the MP3 file. A 128 kbps than in the case of constant bit rate.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 59
Tips & Tricks Q&A Hotmail
Tips to speeden up your tasks All your PC-related doubts Before it was bought by Microsoft,
Tool box
Section opener 65 in commonly used software
and applications 81 cleared. You could find solutions
to your problems here
Hotmail.com was hosted on servers
running BSD
Srikanth R and Creative goes a long way in facili- to get a Linux live CD and use the resiz-
readersletters@thinkdigit.com tating the search for drivers. FreeBSD ing tool to squeeze existing partitions to
T
is accompanied by a hardware compat- free about 5 GB of space. Of course, any
hings are slightly different in ibility list, which can be perused to be partition modification process is risky,
the IT arena, more specifically certain of success, or as is usual we can and it is best to make a backup of your
as a PC user. Switch to visit it if the installation fails! data to cover any eventuality.
Linux, and you are part FreeBSD takes up about 1 GB of space FB uses the term “Slice” to denote
of an exclusive club that only grants to install a basic GUI version. Depending disk area. In a Slice, partitions are
membership to one in a 100 PC users. on the packages you intend to install, carved out to allocate space for dif-
But, if 1 per cent is still too crowded for you need to allocate more space. 5 GB ferent files. In common parlance,
you, get BSD. With a 0.01 per cent market space should be adequate for installing a Slice would be equivalent to an
share of PC users (1 in 10,000), switching the OS with either of the main bundled extended partition, with logical parti-
to BSD is as close as you can get to window managers – KDE or Gnome. tions within it. FB recommends a
running your system on a custom OS. Those not acquainted with either root / partition to store core OS files,
window manager can install both, after a /usr partition to store user files
Requirements reserving about 10 GB of disk space. (including programs etc) and a /swap
System devices partition for temporary storage.
Since hardware manufacturers are not Preparing the hard disk
too enthusiastic to release non-Windows If your hard disk already has unparti- Installation
drivers of their products, the availability tioned disk space or an existing parti- FB is available as a DVD or as a pack
of BSD drivers of the latest hardware is tion can be deleted, the in-built partition of 5 CDs. To start off installation, pop
not guaranteed. To be on the safe side, it editor is all that is needed. But, unlike in the bootable CD1 into the optical
is best to get a distro with a release date the disk managers that are available drive, and modify the boot order in the
later than the purchase date of the hard- with Linux distros, the FB partition edi- BIOS and restart the PC. FB boots up
ware, on which it will be installed. And tor cannot resize existing partitions. The and presents a boot menu to choose
having a system built with components process of freeing up disk space is com- the mode of boot. For most users, the
of popular brands such as Intel, Realtek plicated due to this. The best solution is normal boot should be selected. If the
Getting High on BSD
60 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
NetBSD is considered the most widely
ported OS, capable of running on over Yahoo!
50+ hardware architectures—including A long time user of and contributor to
a PS2, and this toaster FreeBSD which powers many of its servers Open source
system crashes midway during the can be used to carve out space within by tweaking and compiling the source
installation, you can restart the system the slice for different mount points/disk code. Selecting any option in this menu
and try booting with ACPI disabled. labels. There is an auto option that can also brings up a screen asking for user
The next step is to allocate disk space. set the recommended partition labels permission to install the ports collec-
This is done in two steps—first a slice has and sizes without any intervention, and tion. Here it is recommended to choose
be to created, and then partitions need to in most cases that is sufficient. If you Yes. The Ports system is described in the
be created in the slice. For creating slices, would like to manually allocate space, section on installing applications. After
the Fdisk partition editor is launched. you can first Create a partition, then selecting the distribution option, you
Here you can view the partition table allocate the space for it, and finally set must proceed to the next step, by exiting
displaying the existing partitions in the a disk label. A / label denotes the root this screen.
drive, and the file systems on each. If partition, without which the installa- The next screen asks for the location
unused space is available, POWERED BY of the installation files. The
that entry will already be Give your feedback at choice here is obvious—FB
highlighted and you can http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ CD/DVD.
create a slice in that area A final confirmation is
by using the Create Slice command tion will not proceed. It is advised to sought before the process continues.
option displayed on the page. The size to allocate separate partitions for other Please note that so far no changes
be allocated for the slice can be set next mount points such as /usr and /var have been made to the disk. And if the
(“5G” to represent 5 GB), and finally the to segregate the system files from the process is aborted here, the changes
file system needs to be set. FB can only rest, for ease of maintenance. If sepa- made in Fdisk are not applied. So
be installed on a file system with id 165, rately set, the size of the /usr partition curious users can navigate unto this
and this is the type preselected. needs to be the highest since this is point without fear of data loss on the
After a slice has been created, the boot where bulk of the programs and user hard disk. Once the user gives his
manager installation screen appears. Here settings are going to be stored. If the assent on this screen, the installation
one can choose whether to install the FB partitions look fine, the changes can be begins and doesn’t require user interac-
boot manager, or just write a standard saved by using the Finish option. tion in between.
MBR with no boot manager, or leave the Once the Finish option is selected, Once the installation is completed,
MBR unedited. Using the first option the distribution selection screen comes a screen pops up offering the user the
is recommended, since this automati- up. Here one can set the different broad opportunity to set post-installation
cally includes any existing entries in the categories of applications that need options. Do not skip this stage. On
present boot manager. It needs to be to be included in the installation. A giving the go ahead here, a sequence of
noted, that unlike the boot manager brief description of the choices is also screens appear requiring user responses
installation process in most Linux distros, provided. Here it is best for first time to different queries. Through these
there are no options to edit the entries or users to choose the “X-User” option. screens various system parameters are
change the default settings. Nonetheless, This will install all packages and the X set. First, the detected network devices
the FB boot manager is satisfactory. window system, without their source can be configured. If you are using
After the boot manager is installed, files—which are needed only if the user dynamic IP based broadband connec-
the disk label editor is launched which intends to customise the installation tion through the LAN port, it is advised
to plug the cable in and switch on the
modem so that the DHCP settings are
correctly detected.
Alternatively, if you are using a
static IP for your system these values
can also be entered. Other screens that
offer to configure other services like
FTP and NFS can be dismissed for the
time being. Other options like time
zone selection, mouse function testing
can also be performed. Creating a user
account is recommended at this stage,
and one of the screens accomplishes
that. It is critical to add a system man-
ager password, since sans this it would
not be possible to login into the freshly
Allocating disk space
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 61
Linux on BSD TCP/IP
BSD can run most Linux applications as-is. The protocol on which the internet is
Open source For the rest there are Linux emulators based on was first tested on BSD
installed system. The screens for these Similarly, the Gnome desktop manager ttyv8 “/usr/local/bin/xdm
functions are straightforward and can also be installed. If needed the other -nodaemon” xterm off secure
require no elaboration. Once these steps packages in the list can be browsed, to ttyv8 “/usr/local/bin/kdm
are completed you are presented with and selected. Once the relevant pack- -nodaemon” xterm on secure.
an option to browse through the pack- ages are selected, the install command Change the xdm to kdm, and the off
ages collection. can be given. All selected packages are to on. Then save and exit the editor, by
This will produce a screen listing the extracted and installed, and when this pressing the [Esc] button to bring up
many packages that came bundled with process is over, the menu can be exited. the Menu, select Leave Editor which
the installation disks. As you can see the This brings us to the Post installation will bring up the screen to select Save
list is humongous. Of special interest configuration menu. Most of the entries Changes. After the editor is closed,
to us are the entries KDE and Gnome. in this menu have been covered by the the post install configuration menu is
Both are windows managers that offer preceding sequence of screens, but brought up, which can be exited to reach
a much better user experience than the there are some tools towards the end the main menu from where the installa-
basic X windows system installed as that are worth exploring. tion can be terminated. The system will
part of the basic install. The Configure system ttys reboot so the installation media should
The KDE system contains many option needs to be used to load the be removed before proceeding.
packages, and rather than selecting KDE windows manager on reboot. If On reboot, you will be presented
each, a quicker way is to select the the installation routine is exited before with the welcome sight of the KDM
package titled kde-3.5.10. This this step, the installation of the win- login window. Here you can login using
will automatically select all the other dows managers does not automatically the username and password of the user
packages as they are dependencies. modify the default start up routine. created previously. And you can select
It needs to be noted that the package You need to manually edit the /etc/ the window manager to be used for the
selection is not as liberal as the routines ttys file, which can be accomplished session as well.
found in Linux. So, selectively picking easily with the Configure System
packages within the KDE framework is ttys option. Once selected, after a Driver installation
not allowed. If you try to deselect any descriptive message, a command line text The first challenge is to check if all
superfluous package, say the personal editor comes up with the ttys file loaded. the devices are detected and relevant
information manager KPIM, a message The screen can befuddle many, so it is best drivers installed. The simplest way,
stating that it is required by another to stick to the basics. Use the down arrow without leaving the windows manager,
package comes up. It is left to the user key to scroll down to the line starting with is to use the device—play a song to
to figure out which the other package ttyv8 under the section # Virtual check audio, try connecting to the Net
is. And there is no way to dismiss the terminals. As can be seen, a file “xdm” to check the LAN connection etc. If any
warning and proceed at one’s risk. is being referred to, change the line from: test fails, make a note of the device that
seems to be non functional. In the case
of this writer, the on-board sound was
the spoilsport.
To check if a device has been
installed, you need the dmesg com-
mand. This needs to be run as super
user, and since a root user cannot log
into the system through KDM one
cannot issue commands at the ter-
minal inside KDE as well. For all such
purposes you need to access one of
the other virtual terminals. There are
7 other terminals (ttyv1 to ttyv7) that
can be used and each can be accessed
directly by using the [Alt] +
[Ctrl] + Fn key combination. So to
access the second virtual terminal use
[Alt] + [Ctrl] + [F2] combo,
and so on. The Windows manager is
loaded on the ninth virtual terminal
versatile OS and application management tool (ttyv8), and can be accessed with the
62 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
China
“If 386BSD had been available when I Is developing a secure OS for use
started on Linux, Linux would probably in it’s government sytems, based
Open source never have happened”—Linus Torvalds on FreeBSD
appropriate key combination. The Application Management Opera 9.6 is present under the www
beauty of multiple terminals is that one FB offers two ways to get additional menu. Once the entry is selected, and
can issue a command in one, and not apps installed in the system. One is as the install confirmed, the required files
wait for the routine to end to execute Package and the other is as Port. are extracted and placed in the appro-
another command, the latter can be priate folders.
entered at another virtual terminal and Package Management
will be executed parallelly. Package refers to pre-compiled applica- Ports collection.
Get to a virtual terminal and log in as tion executable/binary file. Since it is One way to get apps is to search the
root and issue the dmesg command. This pre-compiled, the installation process Ports tree. The Ports Collection
will output a flurry of system messages is much faster. To install a package, the system is a unique feature of BSD, and
most of which will not be readable. So best way is to rely on the sysinstall the Ports tree is at the centre of a system
issuing a dmesg | more command is tool which was also used for the first of installing applications after compiling
better since this will load a page of informa- installation. sysinstall uses the them from source. During the OS instal-
tion and wait for the user to press the Space command pkg_add in the background lation, the user permission is sought to
button before loading the POWERED BY install the Ports collection,
next page. If you know the Give your feedback at which gets stored under the
http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
on-board audio chip name, /usr/ports path. There
then you can also search for are thousands of folders in
the specific name with dmesg “Intel” or to do the actual installation, so one can the Ports directory, with each folder con-
similar. This will only display those mes- also directly install an application by taining information regarding an applica-
sages containing the text. this command, bypassing sysinstall. tion of the same name. Please note, that
The next step is to load a generic But the menu driven sysinstall has the folder DOES NOT contain the source
sound driver (snd_driver) and check if its advantages. of the application, merely the informa-
the hardware gets detected. To load the To install applications from the tion that would be needed to successfully
driver issue the kldload snd_driver installation media, first insert the compile and install the application when
command. This will generate a list of media in the drive, and log in as root at the need arises.
entries if the hardware gets detected, any virtual terminal. There issue the Unfortunately, there is no interface to
and rerunning the dmesg command will sysinstall command. The familiar meaningfully browse the Ports collection.
show the details of the newly detected sysintall interface pops up. Here select The closest one can get is by downloading
hardware. You can test if the audio the Post-installation Con- a listing of the Ports collection as HTML
system is working by playing a music file. figuration menu, and in that menu file from the freebsd.org site and searching
To ensure that the appropriate driver is select the Install Pre-packaged for an application or activity by name. If
loaded at boot time the /boot/loader. software for FB option. After the there are matches, read the application
conf file needs to be edited. Issue a source is specified, the list of apps in description to verify if it fits the need. If
ee /boot/loader.conf command the source are listed. We shall use the an application name is known, then the
and add the line in the following format installation media to install Opera, search is much easier -from within KDE,
_load=“YES”. so the source is FreeBSD CD/DVD. the /usr/ports folder can be searched. It
is important to note the path of the folder
matching the application name.
Conclusion
At the end of the journey, it would be
fair to state that the BSD membership
doesn’t come cheap and needs to be
earned! The fact that BSD focussed on
server based installations where GUIs
are not welcome and automounting is
a security threat explains the state of
affairs to some extent. Newer distros
that are better suited for desktop use
and come in live CD format (which
is considerably more attractive that
slicing up the hard disk) can change
Pre-compiled packages included with distro this scenario.
64 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
Windows 7 delay for animation. Although
Microsoft’s latest operating it looks better this way, you end
system has been creating up wasting quite an amount of
waves around the world time when your work involves
because of its improved fea- constant switching between
tures and better security multiple windows because of
and ability to remain light the time lag.
on resources. Here are some To reduce the delay, navi-
tricks to getting more from the gate to Computer\HKEY_CUR-
power of 7. RENT_USER\Control Panel\
Mouse in the left pane of the
Disabling disk space registry editor.
check Double-click on Mouse-
To prevent those annoying HoverTime key in the right
pop-ups due to low disk space, pane and change its value
type regedit in the run dialog from the default of 400 to
box. In the left pane, navigate Windows 7 ..........................................97 DC++...................................................102 around 200. Careful, reducing
to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_ Mac OSX...............................................98 Fring .....................................................104 it below 100 can lead to system
USER\Software\Microsoft\ hang-up in some situations.
Auto Hot key......................................99 Blockposter.......................................105
Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer. Disk Management.......................101 Pixarra’s Twisted Brush ..............106 Format sticky notes
Right-click on any free Google Apps...................................101 All my Movies.................................111 You can format your sticky
space in the right pane, go to notes in Windows 7 despite
the absence of a toolbar. All
not too low and that the value of you’ll need, is to remember
WaitToKillAppTimeout is keyboard shortcuts. Just select
greater than the other. the text that you want to apply
If you set it to a lower value, the new formatting to and use
some programs that appear the following shortcuts:
unresponsive while performing Bold – [Ctrl] + [B]
disk activity or rendering will be Italics – [Ctrl] + [I]
ended prematurely. Underline – [Ctrl] + [U]
Strikethrough – [Ctrl] +
Faster previews [T]
Windows 7’s new taskbar Increase size of text –
shows the thumbnail preview of [Ctrl] + Shift + >
each application you have open Decrease size of text –
when you hover your mouse [Ctrl] + Shift + named Animations and set
Administrative Templates its value to 0.
> Start Menu and Taskbar. In the Command
Right-click on ‘Add Search Prompt window (press
Internet link to Start Menu’ [Windows] + [R] and type
and click on Edit. cmd), type the following
Select the enabled bullet commands to restart the
and click on Apply to save. Desktop Windows Man-
ager Session Manager:
Aero on old systems Net Stop uxsms
Windows 7 automatically dis- Net Start uxsms
ables Aero on slower systems Right-click anywhere
to save resources. on the desktop and click on
However, you can still Personalise > Windows
enable it by brute-force in Colour and Appearance
case you want to enjoy the and select Windows Aero
smooth window transitions from the available Colour
and transparency, compro- Scheme menu. Solving graphical equations just got easier with two clicks
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 98 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
Graphical equations the d i c t : / / prefix
With Grapher, you can create before your word in the
appealing 2D and 3D graphs for URL bar.
almost any equations. To access
this, click on Go > Utilities Free calculator
> Grapher. It can handle a wide You can perform calcu-
range of coordinate systems lations from within your
(polar, cartesian, logarithmic programs such as Text
and spherical) and offers lots Edit, Mail, File Maker
of canned equations and math- and various supported
ematical building blocks for you third-party applica-
to enter your equations. If you tions in OS X. Just
are a calculus student, you can type in your equation,
even use this to calculate values, select it and press
intercepts, derivates, integrals, +Shift+[8] to replace
summations and products. it with the right answer.
Switch calc modes Activity Monitor
You can switch between the on your dock With Apple, your regular “task manager” can be docked
various modes in the calculator Activity Monitor gives
(simple four-function memory you the option of displaying ties > Keychain Access. It is completely customis-
calculator mode; scientific / a constantly running graph It can be used to store all your able and configurable so that
programmer mode for stu- of system usage right in your passwords for network access, you have complete control
dents, developers and scientists; Dock. Go to View > Dock file servers, web sites, FTP over how it is used, how your
Conversion mode that has the Icon and choose which servers and other secure items. computer is navigated while
ability to perform conversions activity you want to be vis- You can even create secure notes using it, how it handles web
on anything from area, volume, ible there. You can even have readable only in Keychain. As
temperature and speed in both it floating in a bar at the edge long as you remember your NOTE
Beware of the fact that some
US and metric measures; and of your screen by going to system password, you need third-party applications like
currency conversion mode for Window > Floating CPU not memorise your other pass- Mozilla Firefox have their own
world travellers) by repeatedly Window and choosing the words as Keychain will recover way of storing passwords and do
not use Keychain.
clicking on the green round position where you want it to it for you.
button at the upper left corner be placed. pages, and how your keyboard
of your application. Serious spying? and the multi-touch track pad
Managing passwords If you’re familiar with UNIX controls your Mac.
Search is easy OS X comes with an in built network diagnostics, OS X
There are several ways to look password manager. To access can be used extensively for Run graphical UNIX
up a word in OS X. You can this, go to Programs > Utili- internet detective work. You applications on Mac
use the Dictionary can find all the standard Mac OS X comes with its own
widget in the Dash- internet tools such as Net- inbuilt version of the X Win-
board [F12], the Stat, Ping, Traceroute, Finger, dows system meant to run
standalone Dic- Whois and Port Scan by going UNIX graphical applications
tionary program, to Network Utilities. The inter- that are otherwise not com-
by highlighting a face provided is excellent for patible with OS X. Click on
word in various common networking tasks Go and select Utilities in the
Mac and third-party and gathering information menu that pops up. Double-
applications like about web sites and netizens. click on X11 and you are pre-
Mail, Stickiesa and sented with a X Windows
Text Edit. Right- Speech control interface to accomplish what
clicking on it and With ‘Voice Over’ you can you intended.
clicking on ‘Look control menus and but-
up in Dictionary, or tons without ever using the AutoHotkey
even in your web trackpad or a mouse. You can If you thought command line
browser by using With an in built dictionary, you no longer need the net find it in Utilities. and scripting was restricted
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 99 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
Run “C:\Digit\” Send, ^c
or Run notepad
Run “C:\Digit\FT.doc” WinWait, notepad
in the script file that you made WinActivate
in Notepad instead of the web Send, ^v{Enter}
site address. return
For launching applications, Save the file and load the
the code will be similar to script by double-clicking on it.
#f::Run Firefox. This will Now whenever you select
open Firefox when you press text and press [Ctrl] +
[Windows] + [F]. [Alt] + [V], Notepad opens
up with your selected text
Quick search ready to be edited or used in
If you’re too lazy, just let Mac read the page out to you AutoHotkey script lets you other ways.
quickly run a search on
to Linux and Unix, you’re to remember (you can replace Google or Wikipedia. Just Insert date and time
mistaken. With AutoHotkey, sig1, sig2 with wrks for highlight your search term Sometimes it is necessary
you can speed up your repeti- work signature and prss and press a hotkey! to note the current date and
tive tasks in Windows. for personal signature). You Open Notepad and save time while taking notes or
should also make sure that it is the file as googlewiki.ahk researching on some work.
Generate signatures not a common word that could (All types). You can do this with a script
AutoHotkey can be used to unintentionally be replaced. Type the following in the file : in AutoHotkey that inserts it
generate all your signatures #g:: Send, ^c Run, when you type itime.
with the use of its super Assigning shortcuts http://www.google.com/ Open Notepad and save
handy text replacement fea- If you access a particular web search?q=%Clipboard% the file as datetime.ahk (All
ture. You can create short- site often, it’s convenient to Return types).
cuts for each signature and so have a keyboard shortcut #w:: Send, ^c Run, Type the following in the file :
whenever you need to repro- that takes you directly to the http://en.wikipedia.org/ ::ndate::
duce them, just type the 3 or 4 web page without you going wiki/Special:Search?search FormatTime, Current-
character long shortcut and it through the whole process of =%Clipboard% Return DateTime,, M/d/yyyy h:mm
will automatically expand to opening your web browser, Save the file and load the tt ; It will look like
your full signature. keying in the URL and then script by double-clicking on it. 9/11/2009 10:50 AM
Open Notepad and save the getting to it. After selecting the SendInput %CurrentDa-
file as sig.ahk (All types). Open Notepad and save text from any application, teTime%
Type the following in the file: the file as website.ahk (All the hotkeys that we have return
::sig1:: Your types). configured in this script Save the file and load the
Name[Enter]Your Type the following in the file : [Windows] + [G] for Google script by double-clicking
Title[Enter]Your Company #1::Run http://www. and [Windows] + [W] for on it.
Name[Enter]Your Contact thinkdigit.com; Wikipedia will result in the
Info # represents the Windows search being performed in Navigation
::sig2:: Your key on your keyboard your default web browser. You can configure keystrokes
Name[Enter]Your Phone Save the file and load the that correspond to backward
number script by double-clicking on it. Copy to Notepad and forward button on web
::sig1:: Your Now whenever you press You can create a script to copy browsers, Windows explorer
Name[Enter]Your email [Windows] + [1], your your selected text in Notepad. and other such applications. For
address default web browser will open Open Notepad and save example in this script, [Ctrl]
Save the file and load the with the site that you have the file as sendtext.ahk (All + [Alt] + [F] corresponds to
script by double-clicking on it. specified in the file. You can set types). the forward button and [Ctrl]
Now whenever you type all the web sites you browse Type the following in the file : + [Alt] + [B] corresponds to
sig1, it will automatically frequently with similar short- ;^ represents the Ctrl the back button.
be replaced by whatever it cuts and save time and trouble. key on your keyboard Open Notepad and save the
points to. It is important to Similarly, you can also ;! represents the Alt file as backfor.ahk (All types).
choose the keyword for your assign shortcuts to files and key on your keyboard Type the following in the
signature such that it is easy folders by typing ^!v:: file:
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 100 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
^!f::Send {Browser_ listoffiles.txt your data very simple and the same procedure, and then
Forward} @REM the /A switch easily organised. You can even choose a drive letter instead.
^!b::Send {Browser_ lists all hidden and do it with an external hard This can also be used to change
Back} system files also. drive. For instance, you can the drive letter.
Save the file and load the @REM the /S switch store all your music in it and
script by double-clicking on it. lists all subdirectories mount it as C:\Music\. Block pen drives
and their contents also. To mount hard disk parti- Pen drives can be used to
Disk Management @notepad c:\listof- tions as folders, open Control upload malicious code to
You can limit the amount of files.txt Panel from the Start Menu. your computer – either delib-
disk space that each user can @pause erately in the case of remote-
utilise using the feature called Save it as List.bat spying software or by acci-
Disk Quota in both Windows 7 Navigate to the folder where dent in case of viruses. They
and Vista if you share the same you saved it, right-click on the can also be used to copy and
computer with other people file and click on create shortcut. steal confidential informa-
and need to properly control Now open Wi n- tion from your computer
disk usage. dows Explorer and type when left unwatched.
shell:sendto in the Loca- Whenever a new USB
Enabling disk quota tion bar. device is plugged in to a USB
In My Computer, right-click Drag the shortcut into this port of your computer, Win-
on the hard-drive partition folder. Now when you want dows checks its device and
on which you want to enable the list of files in any folder, hardware ID to determine if
this feature and then click on right-click on the folder, point it’s a storage device or not. If
Properties. your mouse cursor to ‘Send to’ it determines that it is indeed
Go to the Quota tab and tick and click on List. Get the file list with a simple “Send to” a mass storage device or a
the Enable Quota Manage- The list of files will get pen drive in common lan-
ment checkbox. saved as C:\listoffiles. Double-click on Adminis- guage, it will load the appro-
Next, you can check the txt and it will open in trative Tools and select Com- priate driver, and display the
Deny disk space to users Notepad. You can save it under puter Management. device as a drive in Windows
exceeding Quota limit a different name or print it if In the left pane, Navigate to Explorer. All of this is handled
checkbox. you want it permanently. Storage > Disk Manage- by the usbstor.sys driver.
Select the Limit disk ment. So, to block your compu-
space to radio button, and Change drive letters Right-click on the partition ter’s ability to use USB drives
then configure it to the amount Mounting partitions as folders you wish to mount as a direc- follow these steps: Go to Start
that you want each user to in other partitions helps keep tory in the lower right pane > Run and type regedit to
have and also the disk space and select Change drive open the registry editor.
usage at which the user letter and paths... In the left pane, navigate
needs to be warned. Select the current drive to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_
Click on Apply and then letter and click on Remove. MACHINE\System\Current-
OK to save the settings. Then click on Add. ControlSet\Services\
Choose the Mount in the USBSTOR.
Get filenames following empty NTFS Double-click on the entry
from directory folder: button. named Start in the right pane.
If you want to see a list of Browse to the desired Change the Value data:
all the files and folders con- volume, C:\ in our case field to 4. Press OK to save it.
tained within a particular and add a directory for your If you want to revert back
directory, say your music drive by clicking on the New to the default configuration
folder, you can do it with a Folder button. Click on OK and enable your computer’s
simple batch file. after you are done in all the ability to use USB drives,
Open Notepad and type subsequent windows. just set the value of Start to
the following code. If you wish to return things 3 again.
@echo Saving the di- back to the way they were,
rectory listing to c:\ simply delete the current drive Google Apps
listoffiles.txt path (the directory location There’s more to Google than
@dir %1 /A /S > c:\ Set disk usage limits for optimum utilisation that you choose) by repeating plain Gmail, albums and net-
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 101 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
can still get it with Gbridge. You can also select the “Allow
GBridge is not a Google product. all friends” option. In this menu,
Download the 2.3 MB exe you may also opt to exclude cer-
file from http://www.gbridge.com/. tain types of files from the share
Upon completion of download, (bottom of the menu) or to pass-
double click to begin the instal- word protect the share.
lation process. While installing, A GBridge secureshared
you will be warned that one of folder is constantly synchro-
the drivers (A virtual private nised. However, you can
network driver) does not have browse the folder and sub-
the required security creden- folders even without syn-
tials. Choose ‘install anyway’ if chronisation, as it automati-
Change the Value data to ‘4’. To revert, make it 3 you wish to use GBridge. cally generates thumbnails
Once the installation is and slideshows. You can view
working. You can use Google or 1 way synchronisation and done, enter your gtalk id and secureshare folders by clicking
to sync all your contacts and synchronisation frequency. password to get connected. on your friend’s name in the
data across your mobile, PC Now add a calendar event The first step would be to user’s list. This gives rise to
and the web. Also, you can use or contact to your cellphone invite one of your friends to an expandable menu in which
Google to store data online. calendar, wait for the time use GBridge. This can be done his various secureshares can
you have specified in your cell by right clicking one of your be seen. Double-click one to
Google Sync phone and PC for synchronisa- online friends and clicking open it.
Synching your data isn’t as com- tion, and watch the contact or “Invite to use Gbridge”. Once Share desktops: To do this,
plicated after all. In fact, all you event appear in your Microsoft this is done, if he / she accepts click the DesktopShare
need to do is set up Google Sync Outlook. Google Sync would the invitation, you can share button. It will perform an
on your PC and cell phone, and access the internet while syn- files, desktops, etc. auto test of your system
let it synchronise. chronising. If you’re charged settings and then allow you
To set up Google Sync by data transfer you could end The GBridge interface to share desktops. Once
on your PC, go to http://www. up with a higher bill. Sharing files: All you need to you’ve turned on this fea-
google.com/sync/pc.html . Install do for this is click on the “Create ture, you can share desktops
the 700 kb download. At GBridge Secureshare” button. Browse with your friend by right-
the end of installation, select While Gtalk is still light, con- and select the folder you want clicking his name on your
two-way synchronisation. necting almost instantaneously, to share. In the small menu that contact list.
Also, choose how often you those who require the advanced pops up, choose your friends Backing up data: You may
want Outlook and Google functions such as file sharing you want to share this with. back up data on your com-
Calendar to synchronise. puter to a location either on
After this, set up Google your computer, or on another
Sync on your mobile phone. computer on which you have
To do so, go to http://www.google. GBridge installed. To do this,
com/sync/index.html from your first turn the data you want
cellphone browser. Choose backed up into a secureshare.
your handset model. If you Once this is done, click on
have a Nokia phone, select Add EasyBackup, choose the
Symbian S 60. Install Google secureshare you just created
Push email if you use the and choose the location to
iPhone or BlackBerry. For which you want it backed up.
your Nokia S60, download If you choose a remote com-
the Nokia Business suite soft- puter, you will have to grant
ware, available for free. Once permission from that com-
you’re done, you will be redi- puter for this function.
rected back to the Google page,
where you will be given step DC++
by step instructions to setting One of the most popular cli-
it up for Google Sync. Here too, ents for file sharing over hubs
specify options such as 2 way The Google Sync services page (using the Direct Connect pro-
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 102 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
the files of these extensions will remotely controls your DC
be downloaded to this directory. client. You can use this to
search and download files
File preview remotely or monitor uploads.
If you’re on a LAN, chances are You can even shutdown or
that a large video will get down- log off your system remotely
loaded in under 10 minutes. using this web server. You
However you don’t have to wait cannot access chat or send
for the file to finish downloading PMs using the web UI.
before you start watching it if you To enable the web server,
use Apex or Strong DC++. navigate to Advanced in set-
Navigate to Downloads > tings and check the Enable
File Preview in Settings and Webserver option.
click on Add. Go to Experts only in
Fill in the Name field with Advanced and set the user-
the name of the media player name, password and port. You
you want to use. can now access the web server
For the ‘Application’ field, by going to the URL http://
The GBridge interface makes sharing easy browse and choose your ip:port/ and logging in using the
tocol) is DC++. Free and open for that hub. If any field is left
source, DC++ is stable and blank, the default settings will
light on resources. be used for that field.
Choosing the client Search interval
Some of the popular DC++ cli- The default minimum time
ents for Windows are DC++, interval between searches in
StrongDC++ and ApexDC++. If Apex and Strong DC++ is set You don’t have to wait for the video to download completely before viewing it
you are a very casual user and do to 30 seconds. This gets irri-
not care about the extra features tating when you search for favourite media player. Don’t username and password you
then you can use DC++ otherwise many files. This interval can change the ‘Arguments’ field. set earlier.
go for StrongDC++ or ApexDC++. be reduced to 10 seconds. Finally, type in the exten- If you want to access the
Navigate to Advanced > sions for which you want to use webserver over the internet
Autoconnect ‘Experts only’ in settings this media player to preview. and you don’t have a static IP,
You can have different nicks Change the Minimum You can preview a file you can use a service like no-ip
and descriptions and even away search interval from 30 to 10. when it’s being downloaded by (www.no-ip.com) which creates a
messages in different hubs if In DC++, the default min- right-clicking on its download free hostname to point to your
you add them as favourites. imum search interval is 0. progress bar and going to pre- dynamic IP.
Add a hub to favourites view and choosing the media The webserver is not avail-
by typing /fav in its mainchat Associating file player of your choice. able in DC++
or right-clicking on the hub’s types to folders
tab and clicking on Add To ApexDC++ and StrongDC++ Enabling web server Choose the right file
Favorites. can automatically down- Apex and Strong DC++ have listing method
Access the favourite hubs load files to folders based an in-built web server that Apex and Strong DC++ have
window by clicking on the on their extension. two file listing methods: Get
gold star in the toolbar. You Navigate to Downloads > file list and Browse file
can also use the keyboard Favorites in Settings. list. Get file list downloads the
shortcut [Ctrl] + [F]. Click on add folder entire file list to your computer
To connect to the hub and enter the name, path and before opening it, and is the
on start up, make sure the the file extensions which better option if you’re on a LAN
checkbox to the left is checked. should be downloaded into or have a very fast internet con-
Right-click on the hub name this directory. nection. Browse file list down-
in the list and choose proper- If you add a favourite folder loads only the partial list and
ties to personalise your settings with extensions AVI, MOV all DC++ organises your files in to specific folders downloads more parts as you
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 103 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
including Gtalk/SIP/Skype/
Cellular based on the kind of
network connectivity you have
and the various tariffs. It sup-
ports a tabbed interface for each
chat window and social media
account, including a dedicated
tab for file transfers (one of the
very few mobile applications
to support this) and contact
book. Additionally, Fring also
supports call history including
mobile calls and roaming across
various Wi-fi hotspots.
You can increase the default search interval from 0 to between 10 and 30
Check Connectivity
To check your connectivity, call
browse deeper into the file list. the song currently playing the dummy user “Fring Test Get all your IM services in one client
This is only useful if you have a in Winamp on mainchat by Call”. It gives you a send/receive
slow connection. typing /w in mainchat. You can voice call option. Not only is the fix this, select 3G for voice calls.
You can change the default change the format of the spam presence of a network deter- On your mobile device, switch to
action when you double-click in Settings > Advanced. mined, but the speed or connec- “UMTS” mode instead of “Dual
on a user in the user list. To You can download a plugin for tivity strength too. Mode” or a “GSM/UMTS” mode.
do this, go to Advanced > ApexDC++ that adds support Fring can also be used as a This will force Fring to operate
Experts only in settings and for other media players from miniature twitter client with only in 3G mode. In Nokia
change the Userlist double the ApexDC forums (http://bit. full support of searching devices this can be found under
click action as per your ly/apexmpplugin). twitter.com for the latest Settings > Connectivity >
preferences. Network Mode.
Don’t get annoyed if you
can’t place a voice call to a
Skype user, even after it says
signed in. The fix for this is
simple – just wait for a minute
or so. What actually happens
is that you first get signed into
You can preview the files with a player
of your choice
DC++ lets you remotely control your client using web servers
Secondary away
message Fring tweets on any topic of your
You can also configure sec- Fring is a social media appli- choice. Fring supports an
ondary ‘away’ messages for cation available for a gamut intuitive interface, and is
a specific time period. This of devices running various touch friendly.
feature is available only in platforms like Symbian S60
ApexDC++ and StrongDC++. (3rd and 5th edition), Java ME, Improved experience
Go to Advanced > misc iPhone, Windows Mobile 5 There are two common com-
in settings. Set the secondary and 6 and even Linux. plains or annoyance reported
away message and the time Fring integrates the con- by users. Fring uses GPRS even
period during which it is active tact book you already have on when a 3G connection is avail-
your phone with your online able. Although this may not
Spam mainchat contact and you can select a make a significant difference
In Ap e x D C + + and contact and then select which with text, in case of VoIP calls,
StrongDC++, you can spam kind of call you want to make 3G would boost performance. To Networking is easy with Fring
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 104 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
Blockposter are smaller in size. However, poster will be. We selected 00.20
The cost of a simple A2 size if you find an image that is five A4 sheets, in the land- Stick the A4 size sheets
poster (four times the area of larger, you can always down- scape position (horizontal) to sequentially on your wall
the conventional A4) can set size it using programs like arrive at a size of around 5 feet using tape or glue.
you back by anything from Photoshop or IrfanView. x 3.9 feet. Blocky images are consid-
Rs. 2,00 to Rs. 1,000. So how ered quite artistic, so if you are
cool would it be if you could 00.10 00.15 of the same opinion, you won’t
simply print your own giant- Click on Browse to locate the Your poster is split as PDF mind a mildly pixelated image
sized poster? file on your computer. Click files. The PDF we downloaded of your favourite icon or land-
on Upload. This depends on was 3.3 MB, approximately 3.5 scape scene.
00.00 your internet connection and times the size of my original Now, the best part of the
www.blockposters.com allows you the size of the file. We played picture. site is that it’s completely
to create your own giant- around with an image from a The images you down- customisable. Also, most
sized posters, and more comic book. load will be pixelated. That sites that allow any degree
importantly customise the You then have to decide is, on close view, the image of customisation have ads or
content and the size so that how wide you want your will not be of extremely high embedded logos on the cus-
it fits your wall. It allows poster to be. The width is an quality. The amount of blur tomised items. The image we
you to upload an image on to integral multiple of the width that is visible on close range printed was spread across 30
the server, resizes the image, of the standard A4 size sheet. depends solely on the size pages. Effectively, the cost of
enlarges it and gives you a So, it’s advisable to figure out of your image uploaded and your poster is printing costs
link where you can down- the space constraints on your how blown up you want your for 30 A4 sheets.
load the stretched image as a wall. An A4 sheet is 11.54 poster to be. Each page has The entire process doesn’t
series of A4 size sheets. inches high (approximately borders. You may need to trim exceed 15 minutes. How-
The interface is extremely one foot). the image a little after printing ever, printing, trimming and
simple and easy to use. On If you’re unsure of the size, to take care of the borders, putting the poster up may
the main page of the site, click feel free to experiment. As you though again, if you have no take you up to an hour, but it’s
on Step 1 to get started. vary your selection, the site borders, the images might easier than shopping online
Most photographs or pics will tell you how large your tend to overlap a little. for artwork. Blockposters
works whether you want to
upload a photograph or a
scenic landscape. Also, sites
like www.deviantart.art have a lot
of fan submitted artwork for
your favourite books, movies
or series.
00.25
Once you’ve put your
poster up on your wall,
take a picture and upload it
to the blockposters gallery
( http://www.blockposters.com/gal-
lery.aspx ).
The gallery will give you
a decent idea of how good
the pictures look when put
up in your homes. It also
showcases some of the most
creative designs and appli-
cations of the software with
Slice your images user comments.
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 105 Digit | December 2009
Workshop
bare bone installation. It is features including answering Zooming
recommended to upgrade machine, voicemail notifica- Zooming is essential in
to Skype 3.0 or later version tion (including notification any design / art software.
for Windows to use many of by email if you wish), on the In TwistedBrush, it’s quite
these functionalities. fly MP3/WMA encoding, elementary. Scrolling your
exporting of voice messages, mouse wheel down and up,
Home surveillance recording voice memos and zooms in and out, respec-
Sign in to your Skype account so on. Get it at at http://www. tively. On a laptop, press +
from your home computer. Set prettymay.net/index.htm. and - to zoom in and out. { or
the Skype client to auto accept [ will zoom it to 100 per cent.
all incoming calls and launch Remote trouble-
the web cam functionality. shooting Choosing brushes
Now from any remote internet With Mikogo you can easily The brushes in TwistedBrush
enabled location, dial in to transmit your desktop to the come with reality effects. In
your Skype account! You have person you are communi- the brush palette, you’ll find
live video feed of your home. cating with. Not only can this a set of predefined and easy-
Since you wouldn’t want any be used for troubleshooting to-modify brushes. You can
random person also to view or remote support, but also also buy more brushes. You
Fring lets you place a Gtalk call as well your feed, switch off directory for various product demon- can modify size, opacity and
as cellular calls listing of your home surveil- stration and presentations. density from the sidebar.
lance Skype account. You can share your screen Another easy way to access
your Fring account, which is with a maximum of ten them is to right-click on your
like a meta account and then it Share the whiteboard people at the same time. Get canvas while working with
connects you to your all other While Skype lets you chat, talk it at https://extras.skype.com/1672. the brush tool.
accounts, so it can take a while and see the other person, after
before you actually sign into installing the “WhiteBoard- Share your music Choosing colour
Skype. Simple as it looks, it Meeting” Skype extra, you can You share information about Similarly, colour selection is
can be very annoying to open collaborate in a much more the current track you’re done from the palette provided
Fring every time only to find enhanced manner. This is a playing using players such as below the brushes. There are a
you not being able to make a fully functional whiteboard iTunes, WinAmp and Win- series of palettes with different
Skype call. where you can insert text and dows Media Player with your colours and viewing options.
images and share with mul- contact list. Get WinAmp Check them out to see which
Skype tiple people at the same time. Mood at https://extras.skype. colours you are comfortable
With Skype extras, you can You can even have multiple com/1892/view, Windows Media with. Changing other features
add functionality to your whiteboards. Get it at http:// Player Info at https://extras.skype. like RGB content, Hue, Satu-
www.whiteboardmeeting.com/ . In com/2040/view, and iTunes Info ration, Luminosity is also as
case you’re interested in a at https://extras.skype.com/2041/view. simple as scrolling.
very simple whiteboard, try If you’re unsure of how to
USeeToo at http://useetoo.com/blog. Pixarra’s Twisted- get the colour of your choice,
Brush but you’ve seen it before, the
Record audio Pixarra’s TwistedBrush Open colour chooser will help you
You would’ve wished to Studio is a simple lightweight get it. Again, as with the brush
record your communica- designing tool for the artisti- options, you may change colour
tions. Be it that sweet laugh cally inclined. You can down- by right-clicking the canvas.
of your little niece abroad or load it from http://www.pixarra.com/ The same pop-up allows you to
recording the call as proof, download.html. change colour options as well.
whatever be your reason Brushes are custom
PrettyMay is the answer for designed to simulate pres- Brush options
all call recording solutions. sure and motion. If you’re The free version of Twisted-
This is available in three dif- using an oil paint, the paint Brush does not allow you to
ferent versions including a will run out soon, so you need create or edit new brushes.
free version (allowing a max- to give exact strokes. With However, while working, if you
With so much packed in, how could imum duration of 15 minute water colour brushes, you’re realise that there is a specific
Twitter be left out? per call), it offers a gamut of painting will be smooth. configuration you like to use
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 106 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
A useful utility is the Filter
Panel or the Pattern Explorer
accessible from the Filter Menu.
Apart from having several pre-
sets, it allows you to tweak them
to suit your artwork. You may
also save your customised pre-
sets for later use.
Drawing aids
Concentric ellipses, squares
and even perspective grids
are useful in giving a 3D feel
to your art. It allows for a
maximum of 8 grids and/or
drawing aids. Selecting grid
number and grid type allows
you to superimpose them.
Zooming around Paint to AVI
You can record you work and
your brushes in, right-click the paint on wood or bricks, you can left click activation of the export it as a video to share
palette and click brush options select the canvas accordingly. tools in the toolbar. your work with others. This
to store the settings. The next helps showcase exactly how you
time you use that brush, the Changing the Filters achieved your end result. There
size, density, opacity and other mouse toolbar Most high end software come is an option on the tool bar,
features will be retained. The default mouse option to with inbuilt filters. Apart from which initiates movie recording.
access the tools in the toolbar modifying the canvas, filters This captures your every move
Canvas is the right-click. However, allow you to explore various into an AVI format. It can also be
TwistedBrush allows you most users are accustomed designs. Most common effects accessed using the Menu Bar >
to configure the brush such to left-click. To switch simulated include Blur, Water Record > Paint to AVI.
that the canvas behind is also between right and left, click Colour, Distortion, Warp etc.
painted for a more realistic feel. on the mouse button on the Filters can be accessed from the Undo
For example, if you want to toolbar. It toggles right and Main Menu Bar > Filters. You can customise the undo
tool. You can change the max-
imum number of times you
may undo in the Preferences.
A dock on the side also lets you
know how many steps you have
taken, and how many undo
options you have.
Layers
To access layers while painting,
a small dock on the side next
to brush options lets you cus-
tomise your layers. Double-
click on a layer to make it invis-
ible. This is a handy tool if you
want to ensure your effects stay
separate. Right-click on a layer
to access other functions like
moving up or down and even
Layers and Undo and Help flattening or merging layers.
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 107 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
Abylon Shredder tion, use the Fastmode delete
Deleting a file completely off option. In this case approxi-
your computer is slightly dif- mately 20 per cent of the files
ficult than merely sending a are deleted. Files smaller than
file to the Recycle Bin. Abylon 10 MB are completely wiped.
Shredder has several useful
features in addition to letting 00:10
you delete unwanted data. The first option is the Cleanup
We’ve included the sofware in Drives option. It allows you to
this month’s DVD. scan the selected drives and
clean up freespace, cluster
00:00 tips, directories and file
To securely wipe files off your entries. On hard disks, the file
hard drive, click on the wipe and folder names are stored Cleanup internet tracks
files sub-menu and click on in a central table. In order to
Abylon Shredder. Next, click find the file on the hard disk, for examination of the shred- sation that the Complete
on Add, and browse for the the memory location (address) ding process. It gives you a list Cleanup does not.
folder. Once the scanning is stands here. On NTFS sys- of all the files in the drive.
complete, it will show you a tems (most commonly used), 00:25
complete list of files that will the file attributes are stored 00:20 The Background Cleanup
be erased. Click on Wipe Files here. During the normal dele- If you ran Complete Cleanup Option allows Abylon
to completely delete them. tion, only the first character during startup, then this step Shredder to run in the back-
of the file name is changed. is quite unnecessary. Since ground. At the ewnd of each
00:05 Every further information the Complete Cleanup deletes interval as specified by the
Abylon Dupe Finder scans keeps on existing until the
the selected folders for not next overwriting.
just files with the same name,
but also for those with similar 00:15
content. In case the drive or The next option is the Wipe
folder to be scanned for dupli- Drives option. This deletes all
cates contains a lot of files, it the data on the drive. The dele-
is recommended that you use tion is irreversible. The drives
High Speed Search Mode will become completely empty
which scans only the begin- and a new operating system
ning and end of the file to may have to be loaded.
check if they are similar. The Scan Drive Option
If you are in a hurry to scans the selected drives for Cleanup drives
delete all that extra informa- files. This functionality is only
the Temporary Files, the user, it cleans up data from the
option is only if you wish to system. If the time is given as 0
do it one step at a time, drive minutes, then that specific task
by drive. Also, individual is not repeated at intervals. The
folders can be scanned for utility is specifically useful
temporary files. for those surfing on external
S i m i l a r l y, Cleanup systems who do not wish to
internet tracks deletes all leave tracks of their browsing
traces of internet usage. The activity or system usage.
option also deletes Program Abylon also has a USB
History (list of recently install option in the Settings.
used files). As with the ear- Go to View > Settings >
lier menu, this allows for USB Install to mount the
some degree of customi- software on to a USB drive.
Abylon Dupe Finder will find files with similar content
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 108 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
Browser Shortcuts (Cheat-sheet)
COMMON BROWSER SHORTCUTS (OPERA, CHROME, FIREFOX, IE, SAFARI)
SHORTCUT FUNCTION WHY SHOULD I ?
[Ctrl] + [T] New Tab For any of the browsers, instead of using your mouse to click that boring plus sign simply whack the keyboard
[Ctrl] + [W] Close Tabs Close the current tab
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [W] Close all tabs When the tab-clutter gets unmanageable, just hold down this shortcut and in seconds your browser window is devoid
of tabs.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [T] Restore Last Closed Tab For those oops moments
[Ctrl] + [N] New browser window Because we told you to
[Ctrl] + [F] Find keyword Lost that little word? Most browsers will even highlight it for you
[Ctrl] + [C] Copy Do you still right click ? Or worse, Highlight> Edit> Copy ?
[Ctrl] + [V] Paste Now that we've told you about copy you need to paste it right?
[Ctrl] + [X] Cut Yea sometimes you feel like cutting text too.
[Ctrl] + [+]/[-] Zoom In / Out The simplest way to enlarge the contents of a web page
[Ctrl] + [0] Default zoom When things get too big or too small
[ALT] + [D] Go to address bar The quickest way to move on
[Ctrl] + [E] Go to search bar Once the browser fires up it's either search or address bar right?
[Ctrl] + [Enter] Autocomplete a “.com” to an address and go Who wants to type so much anyway
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [D] Add a bookmark So that you can come back to stuff you like
[Ctrl] + [H] History See where you've been quickly
[Ctrl] + [Tab] Cycle to next tab It's the quickest way to navigate tabs
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [TAB] Cycle to previous tab Same as above
[F11] Go full-screen Because some things need a large screen (like wave)
INTERNET EXPLORER SAFARI
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
[Alt] + [Ctrl] + [B] Toggle menu bar
[Alt] + [Enter] Open the currently typed URL in a new tab
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [P] Open a new InPrivate Browsing window
[Ctrl]+ [K] Duplicate tab (open current tab in a new tab) [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [B] Open the bookmarks list
[ALT] + [Enter] Open the currently typed URL in a new tab Up Arrow or Down Arrow Select the next bookmark or folder in a collection
[Ctrl] + [J] Open Feeds Right Arrow key [?] Open a folder in a collection
[Ctrl] + [ALT] + [F4] Close other tabs Left Arrow key [?] Close a folder in a collection
[Ctrl] + [Q] Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Del] Delete browsing history FIREFOX
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
CHROME
[Ctrl] + Shift + [Enter] Autocomplete a .org address for the typed word
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
[Shift] + [Enter] Autocomplete a .net address for the typed word
[Alt] + [Enter] Open the currently typed URL in a new tab
[Alt] + [Enter] Open the currently typed URL in a new tab
[Backspace] / [Alt]+ Left Goes to the previous page in your browsing history for the tab.
[‘] Find keywords only in links on the page
Arrow
[Shift] + [F3] Find Previous
[Shift] + [Backspace] / Goes to the next page in your browsing history for the tab
[Alt] + Right Arrow [Ctrl] + [J] Toggle downloads dialog
[Alt] + [Home] Opens your home page in the current window [Ctrl] + Left Arrow Move tab left
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [N] Opens a new window in incognito mode [Ctrl] + Right Arrow Move tab right
[Ctrl] / [Shift] + [F5] Reloads your current page, ignoring cached content. [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [D] Bookmark all open tabs in new folder
[Shift] + [Enter] Find the previous match for your input in the find bar. [F7] Enable caret browsing and get rid of the mouse
completely
[Ctrl]+[1]..[8] Switches to the tab at the specified position number on the tab
strip. [Ctrl]+[1]..[8] Switches to the tab at the specified position number
on the tab strip.
[Ctrl] + [9] Switches to the last tab.
[Ctrl] + [9] Switches to the last tab.
[Ctrl] + [Page Up] Cycle tabs ahead
[CTRL] + [PAGE DOWN] Cycle tabs behind
OPERA
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
[Alt] + [Enter] Properties of the currently loaded page
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Shift] + [H] Boss is coming - Hide Opera!
[Ctrl] + Space bar Go to your home page
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [V] Paste clipboard text and go in current or new tab
[Ctrl] + [0]...[9] Display a speed dial website
[1] Switch to previous tab on tab bar*
[2] Switch to next tab on tab bar*
[Alt] + Right arrow Go to next page in history
[Alt] + Left Arrow Go to previous page in history
[Shift] + [I] Toggle loading of images for that little bit of speed boost
[Ctrl] + Click A shortcut for saving image as
*Check the box marked “Enable single-key shortcuts” in Preferences > Advanced > Shortcuts
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 109 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
CONTROL PANEL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT CONTROL PANEL
COMMAND FUNCTION COMMAND FUNCTION
control Control Panel appwiz.cpl Add or Remove Programs
control Administrative tools credwiz Stored usernames and passwords
admintools desk.cpl Display Properties
control color Manage appearance
devmgmt.msc Device Manager
control Display Properties
directx.cpl DirectX Control Panel
desktop
control Folder Properties Windows Run Command Cheat dpinst Install Drivers
folders Sheet dpiscaling Adjust Dots Per Inch scaling
control fonts Font Manager Quick access to applications and some of the eventvwr.msc Event Viewer
control Keyboard properties deeply hidden customisation options on Windows fonts Open fonts folder
keyboard
systems. The shortcut key for the Run command is gpedit.msc Group Policy editor
control Mouse properties
Windows + [R] hdwwiz.cpl Add hardware wizard
mouse
control Manage network con- intl.cpl Change regional settings
netconnec- nections javaws Java Control Panel
tions
lusrmgr User and Group manager
control Manage printers and
mmsys.cpl Audio management
printers scanners
control Manage scheduled tasks
TOOLS mscongif Change various aspects of the system
schedtasks COMMAND FUNCTION optional features Manage optional features
control user- Control usernames and calc Calculator powercfg.cpl Power management and lid options
passwords2 passwords (where applicable)
clipbrd Clipboard Viewer
regedit Edit registry
cmd Command prompt
rekeywiz Encrypt file system
dvdplay Play inserted DVDs
SESSION MANAGEMENT secpol.msc Security Settings
COMMAND FUNCTION excel MS Excel
secpol.msc Security Settings
logoff Log Off Windows explorer Windows Explorer sndvol Adjust sound volume
shutdown Shut Down Windows freecell Play card game sysedit Edit system configuration
frontpg MS Frontpage timedate.cpl Date and Time Settings
igfxzoom Zoom utility utilman Utility manager
INTERNET magnify Windows Magnifier wscui.cpl Security Settings
COMMAND FUNCTION mobsync MS Synchronisation wuapp Windows update application
iexplore Internet Explorer
moviemk Windows Movie Maker DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR
iexpress Internet Express Wizard
mplay32 Basic WMP, not WMP classic COMMAND FUNCTION
inetcpl.cpl Internet Settings
mrt Malicious software removal tool chkdsk Check Disk
ipconfig Configure TCP/IP
diskmgmt Disk Management and partitioning
firewall.cpl Windows Firewall mshearts Play hearts
dcomcnfg View and manage services
wf.msc Firewall and security mspaint MS Paint dxdiag DirectX Troubleshooting
inetwiz Internet Setup Wizard
mstsc Remote desktop cleanmgr Disk Cleaning
ipconfig/all Display current TCP/IP
settings msword MS Word dfrgui Defragment drive with GUI
ipconfig/displaydns Show DNS cache verifier Verify installed drivers
notepad Notepad
ipconfig/flushdns Clean DNS cache msdt MS Support Diagnostic Tool
osk On Screen Keyboard
ipconfig/registerdns Refreshes connection perfmon Perfomance monitor
pinball Play pinball sfc File checker
ipconfig/showclassid Shows DHCP class ID
powerpnt MS Powerpoint msinfo32 System information
ipconfig/setclassid Specify DHCP class ID
slui Windows Activation sysdm.cpl System properties
sdclt Backup
snippingtool Snipping tool for screenshots
syskey System security tool
soundrecorder Record sounds
FILES AND FOLDERS dfrg Defragment drive
COMMAND FUNCTION spider Spider Solitaire helpctr Help and Support
migwiz Migration wizard stickynote Add a sticky note to desktop sfc/scannow Start scanning system
comp Compare files taskmgr Task manager sfc/scanonce Scan at next boot
sigverif Verify file signatures sfc/scanboot Scan at every boot
winmine Minesweeper
c:, e:, d: etc Open Directory sfc/revert Return to default settings (of SFC)
wmplayer Windows Media Player
c:/path Open path sfc/purgecache Clear chache
findfast.cpl Quick search write Wordpad tcptest TCP tester
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 110 | www.thinkdigit.com
Tips & Tricks
All My Movies gram will download detailed
If your movie collection is a information about the movie,
rapidly growing one, it’s wise including the cover image,
to take some time off and description and ratings in a
organise it according to Title, few seconds (depending on the
and may be even director, speed of your Internet connec-
actors, script writers, etc. tion). Click OK to add it to your
There is a simple, easy-to- library or click on ‘Next Movie’
use, sleek and intuitive DVD if you want to add more.
catalog program called All My You might also have a
Movies by Bolide Software. digitally stored collection of
We’ve included the software movies. To add them to your
in this month’s DVD. All my movies adds relevant information about your collections as a movie card library, Just go to Movie >
Add from File, from the
Add your movies to menu. Browse to the location
the database where your movie is stored,
The easiest way to add a new select the movie file and click
movie is to go to Movie > on Open. The software will
Add, from the menu or press automatically read all the
[Insert] . On the empty technical information stored
movie card, fill in the fields for with the file and add it the
almost all items that you can movie card. Not all files have
think of associating, with a additional details stored with
movie in your collection. them except probably the
Do not get overwhelmed codecs used, bitrate, video
by the amount of details, you length and file size. You can
don’t have to fill everything also store screenshots of the
in. Just enter the name of the movie in your collection by
movie in ‘Original Title’ text going to the Screenshots tab,
box and press [Enter]. The finding the perfect frame that
program will automatically reminds you of the movie and
find all the information about You can easily follow your favourite actors’ works from IMDb.com clicking on ‘Save Screenshot’.
it from online movie data- The best part about
bases, which is set to IMDb to the Original Title Field and results with Watchmen in adding movies this way
by default. You can change the selecting another. the title. Now, you just have to is that the movie can be
default database by clicking on We searched for Watchmen click on the movie you intend started from inside your “All
the small down arrow adjacent and it brought up all the to select/choose and the pro- My Movies” collection by
You can select from a wide range of databases Browsing for your movie is also very easy
| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 111 Digit | December 2009
Tips & Tricks
You can easily identify your favourite movie by placing a screenshot of your
favourite scene Read all the information you want about your favourite stars from the database
using the button shown in adding more columns from You will get the option to either to export your database into
the screenshot. the ‘Display Area’ tab. You ‘Show only movies which fea- special formats so that you
You can also add DVDs can also group your movies by ture them’ or Search more can carry your collection
similarly by selecting Movie Genre, year or movies from the details about the respective around and view it on other
> Add DVD instead. same Director. For this, right- person. You can also access this computers. We recommend
click in the left pane and select feature by clicking on Direc- the MS Excel and HTML for-
Your movies the required grouping from tories > Names which con- mats for best compatibility.
Browsing and searching your the ‘Group Movies By’ list. sists of a list of all the people Go to Tools and select the
collection with All My Movies This feature is very helpful from your entire movie collec- chosen Export to format.
is easy, fast and fun. It dis- when deciding what movie to tion with their details which When you use the Export
plays the information of your watch. You can simply see the includes their photo, personal to HTML option you get to
movies in the right pane of the genres available in your movie details, biography and entire select a layout and then the
main window, while the left collection, select one according Filmography if that’s available program exports your entire
pane contains the list of your to your mood and then chose on the movie database. After movie collection in a way
movies. You can change the a movie from it. Alternatively, you’ve searched for their details ready to be uploaded over
layout of the display by going if you can’t decide on any and added them to the Names the internet and accessed
to View > HTML template in movie, just press [F8] and databases, their photo, birth like a web-page by your
the menu and trying out dif- the program will suggest you date and where they belong friends who may wish to see
ferent layouts. a random movie to watch. from will appear when your your catalogue and exchange
The list of movies on the left mouse pointer hovers over movies. You can even print
pane can also be configured in More information their name. your movie collection by
several ways from the View For more information on exporting it to an excel
in Menu bar or by going to actors, directors, script writers, Exporting databases spreadsheet as quick refer-
Tools > Preferences and etc. just click on their name. Probably the best feature of ence for times when you don’t
this software is the ability have access to your computer.
You can flip though your collection at ease with All My Movies You can view your database on other systems as well
Digit | December 2009 | vol 9: 112 | www.thinkdigit.com
Team Fortress 2 DirectX 11
Valve sells Team Fortress 2 on Steam for Unigine, the first ever DirectX 11
Rs. 125 ($2.5) for few hours during the benchmark launches and is available
Halloween weekend on their site – www.unigine.com Q&A
Digit at your service
From antivirus to overclocking, all your questions answered!
Blue screen are readable on my laptop. the trial version of MS RAM, Intel 865GBF mother-
I recently purchased a HP DV5- Other DVDs can even be written Office installed. The features board). I have a single OS -
1106 AX laptop that came pre- perfectly. Please tell me if I have might not be as rich as MS Windows XP (SP3) loaded on
loaded with Vista Basic. When I to buy a new writer or not. Office 2007, but I want to it. I have recently purchased
try to install Windows XP (SP3 Jignesh Lad be able to view and format an external USB hard drive
integrated), a blue screen of PowerPoint presentations (Seagate FreeAgent 1 TB),
death occurs and I am not able There is most likely some created on MS Office 2007. only to increase the storage
do so. I think my notebook has kind of compatibility issue with 2. Can I play games like FIFA capacity for my desktop.
a Hitachi SATA drive and there your drive if it’s really old. You 2010 or Ashes 2009 with the However, whenever I
no option of switching the SATA should try flashing its firmware. above configuration? If yes, switch on my computer with
suggest a good gaming pad the hard drive connected
for my PC within Rs. 1,500. to the USB port, the screen
3. I want to buy a 320 GB freezes at the Intel P4 screen
portable hard drive. Which and the OS does not boot at
is the best buy within a all. Without the hard drive
budget of Rs. 3,000? connected during startup, the
4. Also suggest a good noise boot is normal.
isolating earphone within I have disabled the USB
a budget of Rs. 2,000 for booting option in the BIOS
my PMP. I already have a setup. Now when I switch on
Creative EP630. my computer, there are fol-
Ashutosh lowing two scenarios:
1. If I simply restart the PC,
OpenOffice is probably the then the original problem
best free MS Office alternative still persists and the screen
nLite allows integrating of SATA controllers drivers into the Windows installer around. You can download it freezes at the initial Intel
from http://www.openoffice.org. Pentium 4 logo.
mode to IDE in BIOS. I couldn’t Remember, this is a risky task. FIFA 2010 and Ashes 09 2. If I shut down the system
find AMD ACHI/RAID 0 drivers Usually, the firmware adds should just run fine on your (including shutting down
anywhere. What should I do to support for newer media. We configuration. You might have the power supply to the
install Windows XP? suggest try ing some more Digit to reduce settings a bit. The external HDD) and then
Pranav Kumar DVDs to be sure. Xbox360 wired controller is start again, the system pro-
very popular these days and ceeds to boot, but there is
Without the SATA drivers Few Queries can be found for around Rs. a delay of almost a minute
integrated into your Windows I recently bought a Compaq 1,400 in major cities. Look for and the screen goes blank
installation disc, there is no Notebook with the following a WD My Passport 320 GB. between the loading of the
way to install Windows to your configuration. It should be just around Rs. OS and appearance of the
laptop. Your hard drive won’t • AMD Athlon X2 QL65 2.1 GHz 3,000. The EP630 is already XP logon screen.
be detected by the installer. • 3 GB DDR2 800 MHz memory a good noise isolation ear- I have undone the changes
You have to find drivers for the • ATI Mobility Radeon HD phone. There isn’t anything done in the BIOS setup
laptop on the driver disc or the 3450 512 MB graphics card a lot better for that price. The and now I have to always
manufacturer’s site. • 320 GB hard drive with Creative EP830 might be one physically disconnect the
Windows 7 installed to look at. drive before bootup and
DVD problems My queries are as follows: than reconnect it. I would
I’m using an LG DVD writer. The 1. Can you suggest a good Booting issues like my system to boot nor-
problem is that Digit DVDs are alternative for MS Office I have a Pentium 4 system (2.8 mally with the external hard
not readable while other DVDs which is free as I just have GHz HT processor, 1 GB DDR1 drive always connected
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 81
No Mac OS X
New Mac OS X 10.6.2 will be blocked N-gage shutting
from running on Intel's Atom Nokia to discontinue the N-gage
Q&A processors platform in the upcoming year
Windows normally flashes Now my drive is locked
the display just before it boots on Region 3 and I’m unable
into the desktop. It shouldn’t to access any DVD. I haven’t
cause any serious problems. played any other DVDS of dif-
The hard drive LED flickering ferent regions. It happened
could be because of highly accidentally and I only have
fragmented data. Try defrag- Region 5 media. Please help
ging the drive sometime. If the me overcome this problem.
hard drive is really old, it could Chandrakanth
be an issue with the drive. Try
running a diagnostic tool or DVD drives have region
use Speedfan’s internal drive protection built into them. For
Speedfan’s inbuilt hard drive diagnosing feature can display health of a hard drive diagnosing feature. The noise the sake of flexibility, a few
and the system instability changes are allowed every now
without any screen freezes • 2 GB DDR2 RAM suggests there’s something and then. You shouldn’t change
or delays. Please guide me • 160 GB HDD Hitachi wrong with it. Backup your the region at all. If you’ve
with understanding of the • Samsung DVD writer data before things get worse. exhausted all the allotted limit,
problem and help me with • Intex cabinet (450 W SMPS) The 450-W PSU will run an you can’t reset the region.
a solution to it. • Viewsonic 19-inch TFT with additional hard drive easily.
Gaurav • D-Sub connector Whether it runs the graphics Windows boots
I have both Windows Vista card depends on the kind of very slowly
If you have disabled USB and XP installed on my system. card itself. A basic entry-level I’m an avid reader of Digit
booting, that itself should magazine. I have an Intel Dual
stop the drive from booting. Post your comments at Core 2 with Windows XP SP2
Set your internal drive to http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ running on 1.5 GB RAM and
boot first. If the external 256 of graphics card memory.
drive still boots, set the next Whenever I boot in XP, Windows card won’t be a problem, but a I also use Kaspersky Internet
boot drive as your internal runs fine. But when I boot into high-end card might. Look for Security. Even then, my PC takes
hard drive. That should Vista, the monitor goes blank a GeForce 9600GT from Giga- too much time to start. I have
hopefully fix things. If that randomly for fraction a second byte, ZOTAC or ASUS. tried everything. I’ve removed
doesn’t help either, maybe it’s but rest of the time, it’s fine. unwanted startup programs,
a bug with the motherboard. My hard drive activity light DVD Protection defragmented my drive, but it
Look for a BIOS update and flickers without any program I have an LG Writer (GSA- still takes a lot of time. Please
see if there are any bug fixes running and its operation is H20N) that I purchased back help me. The Windows XP logo
for it. If yes, then flash the noisy too. Also, my operating in 2006. I have changed its stays on screen for long.
BIOS. Remember that this is system keeps failing every region settings four times so Jimeet shah
a Frisky thing to do and you now and then. far. Now, the region settings Try running a thorough
can end up spoiling the board. Is a 450-W power supply allowed shows up as only one. disk scan to make sure the
enough if I want to add an When I attempt to change hard drive doesn’t have any
Random flashing additional hard drive and a that setting, it shows up an problems. Also, make sure
My PC configuration is: graphics card? Also, suggest error message saying that you have all the drivers for the
• Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 a mid-ranged graphics card the region setting cannot be motherboard are installed. If
• Gigabyte S2C 945 GCM for my configuration. changed. Make sure that you nothing works, a format and
mother board Paramjit Singh have Administrator privileges. then reinstall is worth doing.
Everest showing an in-depth listing of the components of a system Region settings can only be altered a few times
82 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Zero1 awards Big bang IE9
Tried & Tested 92 A look at the best, with our
stamp of approval 108 You’ll enjoy this month’s fine
assortment that’s ready to consume
Internet Explorer 9 to introduce
hardware accelerated rendering
Desktop Warriors
Which one of these will be worthy for your desktop?
Rohan Naravane sales of portable computers in the day; thanks to the while two USB ports are
readersletter@thinkdigit.com such as laptops started sur- advent of LCD monitors and placed on the other. It comes
W
passing their clunky desk- small cabinets with smartly with a full-fledged keyboard
e live in an confined counterparts. packed internals. that's pretty convenient to
age where Currently, it has been our Today, we'll have a look type on and a typical mouse
the ke y observation that more and at some of the desktop PCs that works well. The C300 is
mantras for more people want to replace from a few segments across powered by a dual-core Atom
electronic devices are clear space hogging desktops with various price ranges. These processor and a fairly meaty
and simple - thin, light and ones that can be back-packed were our observations while ATi Radeon graphics chip.
small. At the centre of this to Timbuktoo. But it's still a using the PCs. This combo just about man-
evolution is the desktop PC. long way to go till everybody ages to get Windows Vista OS
Its progress has been one chooses to go for a laptop over Lenovo C300 run smoothly. But the combo
that is long and epic. Con- a desktop. For one, a desktop The C300 looks pretty sleek was evidently not powerful
sider the processing power still excels at the price-to- and occupies only a little enough to play a 1080p
of a computer a few decades performance ratio over a more desk-space than a con- hi-def video smoothly.
back, which would occupy an laptop. Second, the option ventional LCD monitor. The
entire room is now available to upgrade its periphery is screen is adequately large Gateway ZX2301
in a small hand-held device. wider. And its not like desk- and has a crispy 1600 x 900 The Gateway ZX2301 looks
We saw a trend beginning tops occupy a whole lot of resolution. A slot-in DVD clunkier than the other all-in-
just a few years back where space like they used to back writer is fitted at the side; ones but for a reason. It has a
Illustration: Shrikrishna Patkar
84 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Acer’s Aspire Revo gets OCZ’s Z-Drive PCIe slot SSD
upgraded with a dual-core gets tested and apparently
Atom processor and Windows 7 has a great performance Desktop PC test
front top and you Intex
can choose from (Gold GD-16431
various colours and Platinum
when you buy one. PM-16431)
There are cooling Both Intex desktops,
vents on one side the Gold GD-16431 and
and the top of the the Platinum PM-16431
cabinet. That, and came in a standard-sized
the rubber grips cabinet. The Platinum
on corners of one PM-16431 looks a little
side suggest that cooler than the Gold
you could put it series thanks
horizontally under to the glossy
Gateway ZX2301 a monitor to save black-and-silver
some desk space. front bezel. Both sport Lenovo IdeaCentre A600
sub-woofer built at the back. It came with a set of equally multimedia keyboards and
While the sound quality cool-looking 2.1 speaker set standard optical mice which machine we’ve seen that,
isn’t great, it definitely adds are pretty decent and usable. although mimicking the
more punch to the sound The Platinum series key- iMac’s concept, brings out
than the speakers on all the board is slightly thinner. This enough innovation to give
all-in-one PC’s speakers model also comes with a set of it a tough fight. It occupies
DECEMBER 2009
we’ve heard. The 18.5-inch horizontally-standing stereo almost the same amount of
screen has a basic 1366x768 speakers. They don't have a desk space as a 20-inch iMac.
pixel resolution. Below 3.5 mm headphone port, but It looks pretty cool in its black
that are touch-sensitive rather connect via shade. A pro over the iMacs
buttons that respond to USB as a sepa- we’ve tested; the A600 sports
the multi-media inter- rate audio device. a 16:9 wide-screen aspect
face overlayed on the It gets detected ratio screen that supports a
OS. Below that we have a automatically in full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel)
standard front-loading DVD Dell Inspiron 545s Windows, but we resolution. It was a pleasure
writer. There’s no dedicated couldn't use them to watch a 1080p video on it.
button to turn the screen off. that emits quite decent audio with the Ubuntu Linux dis- The screen is fairly bright and
It has just one USB port at the quality. It also has a nice tribution. Secondly, the USB is crisp. On the right bottom,
side. Above that is a volume round volume pad on a wired wire is too short. They provide it has a slot-in DVD writer.
roller that also can be pressed remote with a side control acceptable sound quality. There’s a higher-end model
to mute audio. The 160 GB for bass. The keyboard was also available with a Blu-ray
hard disk should prove suf- quite soft to type on but it Lenovo IdeaCentre drive – a perfect compliment
ficient for storing basic stuff did not have any multimedia A600 to the high-def screen. Unlike
but we feel that they could keys. The sheer performance The Lenovo IdeaCentre the Mac, it has a host of ports
have fit a larger hard drive advantage that this quad core A600 is probably the only (USB, FireWire) and a card
in it. The compact keyboard processor has is staggering. Windows-based All-in-one reader on its side for easy
is creaky and isn’t very com- access. We were slightly
fortable to type on. On the disappointed that the
other hand, the mouse has a speakers did not belt out as
good grip and is quite easy much thump as much the
to use. iMac did. Volume was also
slightly lacking.
Intex
Dell Inspiron 545s Gold GF-16431 You can’t expect great
The Inspiron 545s from Dell performance out of this
has a space-saving design. mobile processor but the
It's quite thin in comparison graphics solution – the
to typical cabinets, but its ATi Mobility Radeon 3650
height is at-par with others. really helps in performance
We got a cool red coloured in games. The Lenovo A600
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 85
Desktop PC test
DECEMBER 2009
can be controlled by a variety ALL IN ONES
of wireless input devices. BRAND Gateway Lenovo Lenovo
First up is its keyboard. Model ZX2301 C300 IdeaCentre A600
Aside from being blessed
Price (Rupees) Rs. 29,999 Rs. 32,380 Rs. 63,880
with thin and cool looks,
it is pretty nice to type on. Plus Built well Decent performance and price Good performance
In the place of a traditional Minus Too basic None in particular Pricey
num-pad, lies probably Grand Total (Out of 100) 28.07 42.64 70.27
every HTPC owners dream
Features (Out of 45) 8.55 17.55 22.73
-- a regular laptop touchpad.
Performance (Out of 55) 19.52 25.09 47.54
It offers fair response and
is as easy to manoeuvre the FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
pointer as it would be from AMD Athlon 2650e / 1600 Intel Core 2 Duo T6400
Processor Model No / Speed Intel Atom 330 / 1600 MHz
MHz / 2000
any laptop. This makes a
RAM (MB) / Type / Speed (MHz) 1 GB / DDR2 / 800 2 GB / DDR2 / 667 2 GB / DDR3 / 1066
lot of sense while using the
Chipset AMD RS690 Intel i945 GC Intel GM45
machine while sitting at a
ATi Mobility Radeon HD
distance. The only issue we Graphics Chipset ATi Radeon X1200 ATi Mobility Radeon HD 4530
3650
faced was the lack of any Audio Solution Realtek ALC262 Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC272
kind of scrolling mechanism
HDD Size unformatted (GB) 160 320 640
on the touchpad. It brought
Screen (Inches) / Resolution (Native) 18.5 / 1366 x 768 20.0 / 1600 x 900 21.5 / 1920 x 1080
back painful memories as
we started using the scroll- OS XP Home Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium
bar after so many years! The No of USB ports 4 6 6
mouse is quite comfortable to No of eSATA ports 0 0 0
use as well. No of FireWire Ports 0 1 1
Next up is Lenovo A600’s
Audio connectivity (Coaxial / SPDIF) N/N N/N N/N
trump-card, the multi-
Video Connectivity (VGA / DVI / HDMI) N/A N/A N/A
function remote. One, its a
full-fledged Media Center Memory Card Reader (Y/N) Y Y Y
remote that works in tandem Speakers Built-in 2.1 speakers Built-in Stereo Built-in Stereo
with Microsoft’s pro-media PERFORMANCE
interface by the same name. SYNTHETIC SCORES
Second, it also functions as
PC Mark 2005 (Overall Marks) 2162 2477 5783
an air-mouse thanks to the
built-in accelerometer. Thus CPU 2316 1925 5060
the mouse pointer can be Memory 2709 2303 4252
manoeuvred without the need Graphics 1059 2626 5434
for any surface. Its accuracy HDD 6294 6178 7533
isn’t as great as the Logitech
SiSoft Sandra 2008
MX Air Mouse, but it is fairly
Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) 3.65 2.48 4.45
usable, once gotten used to.
Lenovo also bundles a 3D Mark 2006 Score 306 2357 3142
few games that can be played 3D Mark 2006 CPU Score 621 846 1792
along with the remote; a la REAL WORLD TESTS
Nintendo Wii’s Wiimote. Last Cinebench R10 562 0 4105
but not least, – the top and the
WinRAR File Compression (kB/s) 327 588 997
base of the remote are fitted
4 GB Assorted File Transfer test (secs) 251 180 121
with a microphone/earpiece
like a telephone. The result, it Doom (fps) (800x600, medium detail) 14.6 32.3 112
pairs with to the computer as Webcam Quality (out of 10) 5 5.5 6
a wireless headset and can be Speakers (out of 10) 6 4 6.5
used while talking over VoIP/ Keyboard/Mouse usability (out of 10) 5.5 7 7
Voice chatting like a regular
phone. Of course, being 100MB DivX file conversion (secs) 231 165 69
86 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Acer join’s the All-in-one PC game MSI’s Wind Nettop gets a make-over,
with their Aspire Z5610 with a 24-inch with existing specs inside - Intel Atom,
multi-touch HD screen 1 GB RAM, 160GB HDD Desktop PC test
paired via Bluetooth, the HOW WE TESTED
T
range won’t cover your entire
he desktop PC test had a scores came from Cinebench Of course, scores and
house, but a nifty feature to lot of factors to keep in which any day is one of the best numbers aren’t all. We would
have nonetheless. mind. The tests consisted to measure performance of use the desktops to get an idea
of the usual desktop application multicore processors. WinRAR of the quality of the keyboard
Acer (Aspire X1800, benchmarks using PC Mark also measures CPU and and mice. We were expecting
2005 and 3D Mark 2006. memory performance. Most monitors with built-in webcams
Aspire IE3530 and Slightly older versions were users would use their desktops and so we would take down
Aspire IE4750) used so that the really slow for converting media and the scores for it as well. The same
The Aspire X1800 has a net top machines didn't have 100 MB DivX file conversion went with the speakers. Also, we
cute little cabinet. It should a major disadvantage. Most of test would tell us exactly how gave points for all the features
the desktops we were expecting good these systems were at it. that the desktops came with –
fit in nicely on any crowded didn't belong to any high-end The hard drives were stressed number of expansion slots and
desk. Despite its small size, or gaming desktops lineups. by transferring large 4 GB of USB ports, etc.
the X1800 has a plethora of We also used SiSoft Sandra as assorted files. For games, the For the Apple Macs, we
our synthetic benchmark for trusty Doom 3 benchmark had to use a different set of
ports. An eSATA port, sur-
the memory benchmark would still be valid – a great benchmarks – Geekbench and
prisingly not seen on most The proper real world test refined one. Cinebench R10.
other models, is available
on this one. The keyboard,
other than decent tactility, very few choices like this. The
also offered a nifty volume costliest model we received
knob at the corner. The came with a similar configura-
mouse also is quite ergo- tion but with an Intel Core 2
nomic thanks to its slightly Duo E8400 processor.
arc-shaped design.
The other two Acer Apple iMacs
models (the Aspire IE3530 The pioneer in the genre of
and Aspire IE4750) are full- all-in-one desktops, the latest
sized cabinets. But unlike the iMacs are still popular within
plain-jane looks that other the circles. Recent additions
Acer Aspire IE 4750
manufacturers chose, Acer's to the series included bodies
well-built cabinets have a dis- with a simple keyboard and keyboard is basic and is being carved out of the same
tinct designer top. Also at the mouse. The desktop comes good enough for most text aluminum used to build Mac-
top are four USB ports which with a very basic cabinet, related there. It's not meant book Pros. This gives the iMac
will be nifty for people who very small and doesn't have for gaming or anything of that a sturdy feel and a cool, exqui-
keep their cabinet under the too not much excitement. It's sort. For Rs. 20,000, you get site look that's hard to miss.
table. Lastly, the power button a standard designed used on a speedy Core 2 Duo E7500 They have an internal power
is placed at the top corner, many of their other desktops. with 2 GB of memory, and a adapter, as only a single power
the design reminding us of The system configuration is 18.5-inch display. If you're just cable draws from the back of
the Acer Revo we tested last decent and the performance looking for a basic desktop the machine. The screen,
month. in the benchmarks better to use at home to browse the which encases the PC inter-
All three models come with than some of the more internet or a PC to do nals, rests suspending on a
the same set of stereo speakers. expensive products accounting and some stand. They are easily titable
Unlike the ones bundled with we've received. The data entry, you'll find off the axis to roughly 20
Intex PCs, Acer’s desktop series DECEMBER 2009
degrees. A slot loading DVD
are powered via USB and with writer (dubbed the Super-
a standard 3.5-mm port to con- Drive) lies at the right. All the
nect to the PC. They give out ports and the power button
quite decent audio quality with have been placed at the bottom
stereo output. at the back. This is somewhat
inconvenient, as one has to
Zenith (E7500 and peek behind the machine to
E8400) add/remove anything. The
The offerings from Zenith are thin isolated-design keyboard
also quite simplistic in terms offers a good typing experi-
of design. They also come ence. Due to the removal of
Zenith E7500
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 87
Desktop PC test
DECEMBER 2009 DECEMBER 2009
DESKTOP PC TEST
BRAND Intex Intex Dell Zenith Zenith Acer Acer Acer
Platinum
Model Gold GD-16431 Inspiron 545s E7500 E8400 Aspire X1800 Aspire IE 3530 Aspire IE4750
PM-16431
Price (Rupees) Rs. 23,500 Rs. 28,500 Rs. 43,334 Rs. 20,000 Rs. 26,000 Rs. 33,499 Rs. 25,749 Rs. 28,749
Great Value,
Reasonably
Plus Well built Good performance Great value decent perfor- Decent value Decent build Decent build
upgradable
mance
Should be None in par-
Minus Pricey None in particular Plain looks Plain looks Overpriced Overpriced
cheaper ticular
Grand Total (Out of 100) 37.26 45.66 69.85 48.01 52.24 56.32 49.90 51.16
Features (Out of 45) 16.16 17.06 25.20 19.94 21.92 22.05 20.25 20.25
Performance (Out of 55) 21.10 28.60 44.65 28.07 30.32 34.27 29.65 30.91
SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES
Intel Core 2 Intel Pentium
Intel Pentium Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Quad Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Model No / Speed (MHz) Quad Q8200 / Dual E5300 /
E5300 / 2633 E7400 / 2800 Q8200 / 2333 E7500 / 2933 E8400 / 3000 E7500 / 2933
2333 2600
2 GB / DDR2 2 GB / DDR2 2 GB / DDR2 2 GB / DDR2 3 GB / DDR2 2 GB / DDR2 2 GB / DDR2
RAM (MB) / Type / Speed (MHz) 4 GB / DDR2 / 800
/ 800 / 667 / 667 / 800 / 800 / 800 / 800
NVIDIA nForce
Chipset Intel G31 Intel G31 Intel G33 Intel G31 Intel Q43/Q45 Intel G31 Intel G31
7100-630i
NVIDIA GeForce
Graphics Chipset Intel GMA 3100 Intel GMA 3100 ATI Radeon HD 4350 Intel GMA 3100 Intel GMA 4500 Intel GMA 3100 Intel GMA 3100
7100
Audio Solution Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC883 Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC662
HDD Size unformatted (GB) 250 250 500 320 320 640 320 320
Screen (Inches) / Resolution (Native) 19 / 1440 x 900 19 / 1440 x 900 18.5 / 1366 x 768 18.5 18.5 20 / 1600 x 900 20 / 1600 x 900 20 / 1600 x 900
Vista Home Vista Home Vista Home
OS Red Hat Linux Red Hat Linux Vista Home Premium None None
Premium Premium Premium
Upgradeability
Memory (no of slots) 2 2 4 2 4 2 2 2
HDD (No of SATA Ports) 4 4 4 4 4 2 4 4
No of additional ODD Bays 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2
PCI Express
x16 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
x4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
x1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
PCI 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 2
No of USB ports 6 6 6 6 6 9 8 8
No of eSATA ports 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
No of FireWire Ports 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Audio connectivity (Coaxial / SPDIF) N/N N/N N/N Y/N Y/N N/Y N/N N/N
Video Connectivity (VGA / DVI /
Y/N/N Y/N/N Y/Y/Y Y/Y/N Y/Y/N Y/N/Y Y/N/N Y/N/N
HDMI)
Memory Card Reader (Y/N) N Y Y N N Y N N
Speakers - Stereo set 2.1 (wired remote) - - Stereo set Stereo set Stereo set
PERFORMANCE
Synthetic Scores
PC Mark 2005 (Overall Marks) 4314 4347 6911 5142 5101 6067 4733 5507
CPU 6194 6809 7455 7421 7612 7396 6531 7357
Memory 4514 4999 5075 5376 5818 4657 4822 4972
Graphics 1286 1164 4938 1717 2169 1865 1560 1698
HDD 6688 6896 5548 6488 6420 6566 6807 6693
SiSoft Sandra 2008
Memory Bandwidth (GB/s) 3.6 4.43 6.82 5.3 4.67 4 4.46 5.1
3D Mark 2006 Score 230 228 2427 293 904 450 293 264
3D Mark 2006 CPU Score 1648 2334 3396 2457 2573 3373 2169 2464
Real World Tests
Cinebench R10 2471 5797 8727 6054 6310 8527 5260 6055
WinRAR File Compression (kB/s) 873 1011 1509 1122 1315 791 1001 1053
4 GB Assorted File Transfer test
206 180 147 166 154 134 156 167
(seconds)
Doom (fps) (800x600, medium detail) 10.7 14.5 98.3 16.5 18.5 23.1 14.7 14.9
Webcam Quality (out of 10) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Speakers (out of 10) N/A 5.5 7 N/A N/A 6.5 6.5 6.5
Keyboard/Mouse usability (out of 10) 6.5 6.5 7 6.5 6.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
100MB DivX file conversion (secs) 78 50 42 48 44 51 58 49
88 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Onkyo’s P3 is an NVIDIA ION Windows 7 Starter Edition will be replacing
based nettop with a removable Windows XP as the standard OS on
DVD drive Netbooks and other low-cost computers Desktop PC test
using the keyboard on belly. They belt out decent a DisplayPort to connect to
your lap; as you fear the audio quality and volume. a monitor. But thankfully,
mouse might be pulled The Mac Mini, touted as Apple has provided a Mini
off the table. the smallest and cheapest DisplayPort to DVI converter
The entry-level iMac Mac, was earlier criticised with the bundle. The only
came with a 20-inch for having under-powered thing stopping it from being
screen (1680 x 1050) hardware. Apple has notably a great HTPC solution is
and the two above in made changes that are seen the lack of an HDMI port. A
line came with 24-inch in current editions. It still DisplayPort-to-HDMI conver-
displays; bearing a comes in a petite lunch-box sion cable could be the answer
1920 x 1200 pixel reso- shaped casing which is pos- to that riddle.
lution. All screens
Post your comments at
portrayed very good
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
clarity and adequate
Apple iMac 24-inch brightness. They are sibly one of the smallest Considering how portable
great to use with multimedia cabinets we've seen. It's alu- the Macbook adapters are, the
the numpad, the keyboard's applications. We only com- minium wrapping gives it Mac Mini surprisingly has a
smaller in width, which turns plain about the glossy nature solidity and rubbery grip at fairly chunky one. To achieve
out to be a bit too small while of the display, due to which the base prevents it from slip- this tiny footprint, all the inter-
using it on the lap. It is com- the reflections, especially ping. A slot-loading optical nals of the Mini are fitted with
plimented by their “Mighty while seeing dark content on drive sits in the front. At the laptop components. But still,
mouse”, that provides fair screen were little irritating. back, we have a good number it packs quite a punch when
level of accuracy. It has a tiny There are a pair of stereo of USB ports and a FireWire compared to a similarly-sized
trackball like the Blackberry’s speakers placed at the iMac's port. On the body, it only has Nettop with its Core 2 Duo
which provides accurate processor at 2 GHz and
scrolling. The button on an NVIDIA GeForce
the side is useful to easily Apple Mac Pro 9400M GPU.
switch between windows.
Having just one physical So, what do
clickable button is an we make of all
issue when you activate this?
the 'right-click' function- All the desktops we
ality in OS X; the response received were designed
is a hit-and-miss affair. for different uses and
Another qualm with the for different kinds. The
mouse is that its wire is all-in-one PC segment's
simply too short. While Best Buy winner was
Apple may argue that the Lenovo C300. It was
one of the two USB ports marginally costlier than
on the keyboard can be the Gateway ZX2301 at
used to connect it, its not Rs. 32,380 but it beats it
convenient when you are in many tests. Of course,
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 89
Logitech’s Notebook kit lets you use a
Apple’s Q4 earning reports USD 1.67 billion laptop like a desktop with its pivoting stand,
Desktop PC test profit, Mac sales gone up by 17 percent wireless keyboard and mouse
APPLE MACS
MODEL Mac Mini iMac 20-inch iMac 24-inch iMac 24-inch Mac Pro
Price (Rupees) Rs. 48,200 Rs. 70,200 Rs. 1,04,900 Rs. 1,25,900 Rs. 1,88,900
Great components, superb Superb performance and
Plus Amazing form factor Superb build Superb display and build
build config
Minus A bit pricey Expensive More expensive Very expensive Weak GPU, Its price
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
Intel Core 2 Duo E8135 Intel Core 2 Duo E8335 Intel Core 2 Duo E8435 Two 2.26 GHz Quad-core
Processor Model No / Speed Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 / 2000
/ 2660 / 2930 / 3060 Intel Xeon E5520
RAM (MB) / Type / Speed (MHz) 2 GB / DDR3 / 1066 2 GB / DDR3 / 1066 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 6 GB / DDR3 ECC / 1066
Graphics Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 9400M NVIDIA GeForce 9400M NVIDIA GeForce 9400M NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 NVIDIA GeForce GT 120
HDD Size unformatted (GB) 320 320 640 1024 640
Screen (Inches) / Resolution (Native) N/A 20 / 1680 x 1050 24 / 1920 x 1200 24 / 1920 x 1200 N/A
OS Mac OS X v10.6 Mac OS X v10.6 Mac OS X v10.6 Mac OS X v10.6 Mac OS X v10.6
Specifications & General Features
No of USB ports 5 + 2 on keyboard 4 + 2 on keyboard 4 + 2 on keyboard 4 + 2 on keyboard 5 + 2 on keyboard
No of FireWire 800 Ports
Video Connectivity mini-DVI, Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort, DVI
Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y
PERFORMANCE
Geekbench (overall) 2813 3688 4007 4178 12073
Cinebench R10 4374 5891 6486 6764 20190
4 GB Assorted File Transfer test
167 91 97 85 91
(seconds)
Webcam Quality (out of 10) N/A 7 7 7 N/A
Speakers (out of 10) 5 7 7 7 5
Keyboard/Mouse usability (out of 10) 7 7 7 7 7.5
if you want something like E7500 is our choice for best
4 GB of memory and a
this, that is much more buy. There are very desktops
discreet graphics solution
powerful, with an even that you can get for this cheap
– Radeon 4350 make it a
better screen, the Lenovo – Rs. 20,000. Don't expect
good workstation that can
IdeaCentre A600 is your to do any kind of intensive
have many uses. It can be
next best option. That gaming on it, but for very
a workstation for some
on the other hand costs basic computing needs, it's
graphics designer or as
Apple Mac Mini
around twice as much. more processing power than
an entry level gaming
The Dell Inspiron 545s product in terms of design but you'll need.
machine. Either way, a
was one of the costliest desktop also in performance and wins The Macs are in a different
larger screen would be nice.
PCs. We like the styling and our best performer award. group of their own. The fastest
As far as value for money
customising options you get The quad core processor, Mac we tested is the Mac Pro
goes in this section, the Zenith
when you buy this PC. The priced at Rs. 1,88,900. The
desktop topped the charts Post your comments at dual quad core Xeon proces-
in both the features and http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ sors and the 6 GB of DDR3 all
performance. It's a quality add up to the cost. For those
who want something a
Contact Sheet little more affordable, the
Brand Phone Email Web site Mac Mini is a good option.
Acer India Pvt. Ltd. (Acer / Gateway) +91-80-4070 8700 NA www.acer.co.in At Rs. 48,200, it's the Best
Dell India 1-800-425 4026 dell_enquiries@dell.com www.dell.co.in Buy for Macs. It's cute and
Lenovo +91-22–6766 8800 directlenovo@lenovo.com www.lenovo.com/in compact but more impor-
Intex Technologies (India) Ltd 1-800-425 3353 info@intextechnologies.com www.intextechnologies.com tantly, it makes Macs very
Zenith Computers Limited 1-800-222 004 info@zenith-india.com www.zenithpc.com affordable for everyone
Apple 1-800-425 0744 indiasales@mac.com www.apple.co.in to use.
90 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Zero1 Awards
Winner take all
The hardest efforts reap the most
rewards. Sound familiar? No? —
That’s because we made that up
ourselves...It’s true nonetheless.
Here’s where all that sweat gets its
most deserved shine...
I
t’s December, time to award the
sweat and tears put in by manu-
facturers the world over. As a trib-
ute to our readers and a reward
to hard working, innovative maun-
facturers, we present our Digit Zero 1
Awards. Since we already give awards
(Best Buy, Best Performer etc) in our
comparison tests, one might wonder...
why? Well, new products keep entering
the market and it’s just not possible to
test every category, every month —
which would be the only way we could
be sure of the best product in the year.
Which is why Zero 1. The podium
belongs only to the best. We therefore,
scour the market for products we feel
might be better than the products we
tested (and awarded) in our compari-
son tests. These products acquired,
subjected to the same rigorous testing
procedures and parameters. If they’re
better, they replace our Best Buys
and Best Performers and get a Zero 1
Award. If not, the earlier winner gets
the grand prize. Dig in...
Imaging: Anil T
92 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Zero1 Awards
Photo Printers
With everyone so quick to go out and buy a camera these days, there’s still the need to
print the photos they take. The demand for a cheap, easy-to-use photo printer still exists.
This year, we focused mainly on photo printers that could offer users such functionality.
Best Performer
HP Photosmart D5468
One of the most expensive printer this year was the Canon
PIXMA iP100 which was close to Rs. 21,000 back then. The
best performer however, was the HP Photosmart D5468. It’s
great feature set was something to die for. A printer priced at
Rs. 6,500 that gave decent results and had these features made
great sense.
Canon PIXMA iP1980
The Zero 1 goes to the Canon PIXMA iP1980. We tested the
new Canon PIXMA iP4760 this month and although it’s a
good performer, it’s way more expensive. Sometimes, people
just need something that lets them print photographs. They
need not be the best quality but they should be cheap. The
Canon PIXMA iP1980 does just that – decent quality but
Camcorders
for a fraction of the cost some of the other photo printers.
Camcorders are your best best to preserve memories, and the sheer
experience of captured video cannot be compared to a relatively lifeless
still image. HD camcorders are hot at the moment, watch out for them.
Best Performer
Sony’s XR100-E
Sony’s XR100-E is a camcorder we’ve used
extensively and can testify for its greatness.
80 GB of storage space, a resolution of 1080i
and very good image stabilisation means
your shooting is as professional looking as
is possible using a compact camcorder. The
price tag of Rs. 39,999 sweetens the deal
— great value for the discerning buyer.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 93
Zero1 Awards
Speakers
Speakers are fun. We love them and we think all of us should have a really good set at
home. This being a popular product, the market has been flooded with makes using all
kinds of gimmicks while not focusing on just producing great quality speakers. It then
becomes our job make sure that you only get the best and that’s what we did in our com-
parison test.
2.1 speakers
UMAX UPB3200
The best buy award winner in the cat-
egory of 2.1 speakers went to an UMAX
pair – UPB 3200. The quality of sound
was pretty impressive. It was very close
and in many cases, better than speakers
that were more than twice its price. By
our calculations, it turned out to be the
5.1 speakers best buy winner.
Altec Lansing VS3251
The 5.1 surround sound hype has attracted companies to make all kinds of audio
solutions. All of us would like one but the cost has been a problem. The best buy
award for the 5.1 speaker segment goes to the rather looking Altec Lansing VS3251.
It wasn’t the most powerful speaker set that we heard but it was a nice sounding
set. The price of Rs. 5,200 was equally attractive. With all motherboards these days
coming with support for 5.1 audio at least, this comparatively small investment con-
verts your everyday desktop computer into a multi-channel entertainment system.
Best Performer
Logitech Z-5500
The top performer this year was
the mighty Logitech Z-5500 5.1
speakers. It is oneof the most pow-
erful speakers, has a good bassy
neutral sound. They are perfect even
for home theater systems where
HTPCs and enthusiast level CD
players with digital ouput. We wish
the price was a lot lower but then,
we can’t have everything, can we?
94 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Zero1 Awards
Desktop PCs
Buying desktop PCs are far easier than assembling a PC. There’s no hassle or worry of anything going wrong. With ready made PCs,
the manufacturer provides support and warranty on it. The industry giants recognize that and which is why we have so many of
them in the market selling their PCs.
Zenith E7500
The Acer Aspire NX4440 was a decent system
at its time. It had an entry-level processor that
ran on a NVIDIA GeForce 8200 board. It has a
comparatively low price tag of just Rs. 29,299.
This month, we tested the Zenith E7500. In
performance, it beats the older Acer Aspire in
many areas. It’s ridiculous Rs. 20,000 pricing
makes it one of the best value systems around
that money can buy. The Zenith E7500 becomes
the Zero 1 winner of the Desktop PC category.
Post your comments at
Best Performer http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
Dell Inspiron 545s
In performance desktops, the Dell Opti-
Plex 960 had a blazing fast Intel Core 2
Quad Q9550, a processor very few sys-
tems came with. This month, we tested
the Dell Inspiron 545s. It’s a fancy looking
desktop but one that has more than just
beauty on its side. While the OptiPlex
960 has brute processing power hidden
under its compact little shell, the Inspiron
545s gives the user style and perform-
ance — in games and graphics intensive
applications. With a price, that’s lower
than the OptiPlex, we give it our
thumbs up and also the Best Per-
former award.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 95
Zero1 Awards
Laptops
Ultra compacts
Dell XPS Studio 1340
Like it’s larger sibling the Studio XPS
1340 offers great components under a
well designed chassis. It adds compact-
Laptops — a product category that surely needs no ness as a much desired feature and for
introduction. Laptops are about as diverse a category the mobile warrior wanting something
as one can find — there’s truly something for everyone. powerful, this is as good as it gets.
Desktop replacements
Up to Rs. 40,000
Acer Aspire 5738Z
A very nice notebook, a decent con-
figuration and a reasonable price.
Suitable for those wanting something
basic to replace their desktop. A
unanimous Zero 1 Award winner.
Corporate Notebooks
HP ProBook 4410S
A suave looking, superbly well built
Between Rs. 40,001 and very well finished notebook, this
and Rs. 60,000 one oozes style, but it’s a minimalistic
styling that goes well with the corpo-
Acer Aspire 5738G rate stereotype. Priced at Rs. 40,000
A great all rounder and one that offers
the ProBook 4410S is excellent value.
a good configuration for its price.
It’s well built, looks neat and has a
very decent screen. A well deserved
Zero 1 Award winner from Acer.
Post your comments at
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
High-end Desktop Best Performer
Sony Vaio VGN-Z48GD
Replacements When a notebook is just 20 per cent
Dell Studio XPS 1640 larger than a netbook and has one of the Basic Ultra Compacts
This is one Dell that has it all – a great fastest dual core processors made for Acer Timeline 3810T
display, superb performance, rock-solid notebooks, 6 GB of RAM and two SSDs A beautiful notebook – excellent finish
build quality and Studio-grade looks. It’s in RAID 0 there is very little that can best and good build quality. It’s slim and sleek
configurable as well and offers good value it at the performance level. Just a won- and offers great battery life. The price
for those looking at powerful components. derful product. is pretty excellent too — Rs. 31,999.
96 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Better quality Fedora 12
Canon’s PgR technology promises to deliver It released recently with security improvements
Bazaar superior plain paper printing and virtualization enhancements
Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
Symbian meets capacitive touch…finally
A
t first you’ll be sur- keypad works well for anyone pretty sapping and disabling
prised by the sheer used to Symbian – not as good this speeds things up further.
footprint of this as a hardware keypad, but not The battery, despite its huge
phone – it’s slim bad. The onscreen QWERTY rating, drains pretty soon,
(12.9mm), but as long as Nokia’s keypad is a nice option, but isn’t thanks to the large screen and
E90. Then you notice the large as usable as the number keypad, even with moderate usage
(obviously) touch screen and although the large screen means needs charging daily.
the narrow size bezel and you well spaced-out keys. The camera takes good
realise you behold something Grunt is provided by an photos, but a better flash would
well designed. The shiny black ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz be welcome. Video quality is
body that is only relieved by a processor and there is a dedi- also good – a bigger resolution
chrome bezel running around cated graphics chip in the (720p) does help when viewing
the screen is constructed well, form of the PowerVR SGX – on a bigger screen. Low-light
but it lacks the sheer solidness thanks to this virtually eve- shooting is not as good. Signal
of metal. The large call buttons rything is snappy, but the quality is one region where we
are placed on either side of screen transition effects are weren’t satisfied, and although it
the menu button and lie slap- shares an interface with Nokia,
bang amid the chrome trim. the Omnia HD cannot
The battery cover is a firm fit. hold a candle to many
The 3.5mm jack is on top of the Nokia phones including
phone under a rather large flap. the N97, when it comes
The volume switch is located to signal strength, signal
on the left, while there is a tiny integrity and call clarity.
screen lock button on the side; In-call volume is good, but
Contact the camera button although only in a silent environ-
Samsung India raised, is not the easiest to use ment – it should have been
Electronics Pvt Ltd thanks to iffy feedback. louder. The loudspeaker
Phone: +91-11-4151 1234 We loved the interface. quality is not as good as we
Email: sarfaraz.b Symbian on a capacitive expected from a phone in
@samsung.com touch screen is very rare, this price bracket. It should
Web: www.samsungmobile.com and the shortcomings of have been louder, since many
Price: Rs. 33,990 the touch interface on will use this to watch videos.
the Nokia N97 have been That’s not to say its bad, but
Specifications fully addressed here. there’s headroom for improve-
Weight: 148 gm; Screen: Although Symbian icons ment. Hands-free clarity is good,
3.7-inch, capacitive touch, 360 are distinct, the widget- and the earphones while decent
x 640 pixels; Camera: 8 MP, heavy, TouchWiz for music are not superlative
720p video recording; Battery: interface will leave and the volume should be have
1500 mAh; Details: Inbuilt some Symbian been around 20 per cent more.
Wi-Fi, GPS, 8/16 GB internal users nonplussed at Browsing is a nice experience,
storage, microSD expansion first. The screen is with the ability to resize web
responsive and the pages at a finger swipe.
RATINGS touch interface is At a price of Rs. 33,990, the
Features .................... 8 quite fluid, except Omnia HD is a very good effort
Performance ............ 8 for the scrolling that and has a really sweet interface,
Build Quality ............ 8 still relies on a scroll bar a huge screen, good camera and
Value ......................... 6 unlike Apples uber- decent hardware, but a few sig-
Overall ................... 7.5 slick, gesture-based nificant glitches prevent it from
scroll. The number being heartily recommended.
108 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Bug fixes
Rumors are, Motorola Droid will get an Portable 3D
over-the-air update by December that Acer is the first PC vendor to bring
will fix Droid’s auto-focus issues the world’s first 3D laptop Bazaar
Samsung M8910 Pixon 12
Photography part deux
T
he Samsung M8910 To be honest, the the Java
is built well, with a platform is disappointing,
Contact metal battery cover. we’d have prefered a Sym-
Samsung India Electronics The screen is pretty bian one.
Pvt Ltd crisp, but menu text should The document viewer
Phone: +91-11-41511234 have been smaller. and the menus are pretty
Email: sarfaraz.b@samsung. The front keys are well basic, but are at times more
com laid out, though not backlit. intuitive than a Symbian-
Web: www.samsungmobile.com The camera has a lot of set- based device. Those new to
Price: Rs. 29,990 tings available, but the phones will not have prob-
onscreen controls can feel lems using this device.
Specifications non-responsive, thanks to However, the biggest
Weight: 120 g, Screen Size: the resistive-touch display. drawback of this phone is
3.1-inches, AMOLED, resistive Auto-focus tracking is pos- the touch interface. There’s
touch, 400 x 800 pixels, sible, and the camera takes no stylus provided, and
Battery: 1000 mAh pretty good photos, thanks the rather non-responsive
to the powerful Xenon flash. resistive touch screen will
RATINGS Video shooting also pro- find complaints from users
Features .................... 7 duces good results, albeit who try and use the touch
Performance ......... 7.5 only in bright sunlight. Call gestures. At Rs. 29,990, the
Build Quality ......... 7.5 quality is mediocre, as is Pixon 12 faces stiff com-
Value ......................... 5 signal reception. The head- petition from others; the
Overall ...................... 6 phone connect is sadly a pro- camera is the only true
prietary micro USB jack. standout here.
HP L2475W
Pixel-lent!
T
argeted at business not a PVA panel.
users, HP’s L2475W Red is saturated Contact
has an 8-bit, H-IPS and appears almost HP India
panel that boasts of neon at times, Email: anurag.gupta
being able to display 100 per pleasing for movies, @hp.com
cent AdobeRGB colour space. but not so for image Web: www.hp.com
It’s built very well — from the professionals. Price: Rs. 43,000 (+tax )
solid metal base to the rugged Watching
matte finish, and well spaced movies on this Specifications
connects. The stand is height- display absolutely Size: 24-inches; Resolution:
adjustable up to 10 cm, and rocks. Games such 1920x1200; Weight: 9.1 kg;
landscape mode is also sup- as Crysis Warhead Connects: D-Sub, DVI, HDMI,
ported. The six USB ports sur- throw up superb, DisplayPort, 6 x USB ports
prised us, as did the presence crisp colours, and highlights With virtually all connects,
of an SPDIF audio out. and finer details come to life. this display is suitable for a RATINGS
Calibration was easy and Image editing professionals very wide audience and will Features .................... 9
the OSD menu is well laid out. and enthusiast PC users alike satisfy everyone’s visual needs. Performance ......... 8.5
Brightness needs to be turned will appreciate the sterling The only demand it will make Build Quality ............ 8
down, lest your retinas pay the quality of this display. There though, and a stiff one at that, is Value ......................... 6
price. The contrast is good, and at is no overdrive bypass for the on your pocket — at Rs. 43,000 Overall ...................... 8
times it’s hard to believe this was slight input lag that we noticed. plus tax, it certainly isn’t cheap.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 109
Improved Flash support Bose
Adobe launches the pre-release of Flash Bose Corporation was formed by Prof.
Player 10.1 Now available in 64-bit, it allows Amar G. Bose with the slogan “Better
Bazaar applications, content and video across devices Sound Through Research” back in 1964
Iolo System Mechanic 9
Wrenches, grease and some tuning
B
asically a tune up continuously updating itself dreds of software installed on
package, System and working with data col- them over time, this difference
Mechanic works lected from other PCs running will be more noticeable.
by analysing and the software, sort of similar to Priced at Rs. 1,500, System
fixing faults or potential bot- an antivirus program. Ener- Mechanic 9 is good for begin-
Contact tlenecks on your PC. The three gyBooster is another tweak ners, but more advanced
Aladdin Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. PC licence version we got has that increases performance by users who can tell the differ-
Phone: +91-98202 33816 individual tweaks for various disabling unused background ence between defrag and disk
Email: rajiv@aladdinindia.com aspects of your PC like the programs that consume pre- cleanup might not really need it.
Web: www.aladdin.co.in registry cleaning, drive errors, cious resources. This can
Price: Rs. 29,990 disk and file fragmentation, also be customised and
configuring start-up programs saved as a profile that can be
Requirements and the obvious freeing up of run later for a performance
Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 unnecessarily utilised space. boost when needed. It also
64/32-bit, 80 MB available space These modules can be run indi- defragments the registry
vidually, or as a tune up wizard pretty well. Although, this
RATINGS that does everything. is dependent on the current
Features .................... 8 The menu system is fairly state of repair required — we
Usability ................ 7.5 intuitive and the options pretty found improvements of up to
Performance ......... 7.5 detailed. Among the new fea- 10 per cent after running the
Value ......................... 5 tures of this version is Tune- entire suite on our software
Overall ................... 6.5 up definitions, that makes the test machine. Obviously, on
program run more smartly by older machines with hun-
iPod Touch 64 GB
Similarities are only skin deep
Contact
E
xternally alike, the Sound quality remains Apple India
32 and 64 GB ver- identical — excellent — and Phone : +91-80-4140 9000
sions of the Touch the large screen remains a Email: indiasales@mac.com
are pretty different favourite for movies. Evi- Web: www.apple.com/in
from previous versions inter- dently Apple hasn’t upgraded Price: Rs. 24,400
nally – they have the same the battery, since this would
hardware as the iPhone 3GS. make the device heavier and Specifications
Unlike the earlier Touch that bulkier, and owing to this bat- Weight: 115 grams; Display:
had a 533 MHz ARM CPU, this tery life is lower than the 2G 3.5-inches, capacitive-touch,
model has a faster 800 MHz model, but it’s more than the 480x320 pixels; Features:
CPU and double the RAM at earlier model. Gaming is a Inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
256 MB. Voice control is also better experience and in gen-
possible with this Touch, eral, the device is snappier. RATINGS
and the microphone and It’s expensive, more so than Features .................... 8
volume controls are located many phones out there, but Usability ................ 8.5
on the headset – similar to the there’s a premium experience Performance ............ 9
iPhone. We also discovered awaiting you. The only sore Value ......................... 7
full support for Bluetooth 2.1 spot remains the ever-present Overall ...................... 8
including EDR. iTunes.
110 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
3D photography
Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W1 claims More Android
to be the world’s first Point-And- HTC to make Google’s new phone
Shoot Digital 3D Camera expected in 2010 Bazaar
OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard
No hibernating cat this
T
outed as being of the problems associated better file viewing experience
faster than its pred- with a multi-threaded core in general. QuickTime X (10)
ecessor, OS X 10.6 away from developers, by has a much cleaner interface,
boasts of a native providing a simple interface for example, move the mouse
64-bit design, improved where they only need to tag away and the video loses all
multi-core efficiency is more individual clusters of work/ borders and buttons and
Contact resource frugal, and has a tasks. The last significant there’s also a new system for
Apple India smaller footprint – 10 GB change is the OpenCL API encoding video and audio clips
Phone: +91-80-4140 9000 as opposed to the 16 GB on for utilising the processing and even captured screens.
Email: indiasales@mac.com Leopard. Of course, it loses power in any GPU later than The improved Dock now
Web: www.apple.com/in printer drivers and Power the GeForce 8600 series. allows dragging files to a rel-
Price: Rs. 1800 (single user) PC binaries in lieu of this, Working with images has evant application.
the later meaning 10.6 will become faster using iPhoto The changes seem small,
Requirements run exclusively on Intel and the HDD subsystem also and those under the hood
Intel-based Mac or Macbook, hardware. On account of the seems to have sped up. Fun- are yet to realise any poten-
8 GB installation space, Apple smaller footprint it installs nily, Photoshop CS4 shows tial as third party applica-
Tiger or Leopard around 35 per cent faster. no increment in performance, tion performance lags. The
More than 4 GB of while CineBench R 10 gave a 2 changes to the interface are
RATINGS memory is addressable as the per cent higher CPU score. cursory too, but they all add
Features ................. 7.5 OS natively runs in 64-bit Expose now has text up to improved usability. It’s
Performance ......... 7.5 mode. Apple also dropped labels for each window when not path breaking, but the
Usability ................ 7.5 in Grand Central Dispatch zoomed-out – useful if there upgrade from Leopard costs
Value ......................... 8 (GCD hereon) — a system that are many images open. The a mere Rs. 1,800, making it
Overall ................... 7.5 maintains queues and blocks new Stacks allows scrolling something that every Mac
at an OS level, taking much in grid view – nifty and a user will want to consider.
Canon PIXMA iP4760 Contact
Canon India Private Ltd.
A little brighter than we’d like Phone: 1-800-180-33-66
Email: info@canon.co.in
C
anon’s brand new But being a photo printer, colours looked washed out Web: www.canon.co.in
offering to customers print quality is more impor- in the final prints. Text prints Price: Rs. 8,155
looking for home tant than speed. There isn’t suffer the same problem but
photo printers is the much difference in the dif- the clarity in all prints is fine Specifications
PIXMA iP4760. The printer has ferent modes with time and and in the case of text, crisp Resolution: 9600x2400 dpi;
an elegant design, with a good quality. The prints look good. and rounded. Media: A4, envelopes, photo
build quality. Our only complaint is the You only have to shell out stickers, T-shirt transfers;
Setting up the cartridges Rs. 8,155 for this Dimensions: 431x296x153 mm,
isn’t as simple as the USB photo printer. For a Weight: 5.7 kg
installation. There are five home printer, it may
cartridges in all, and the seem like a lot, but RATINGS
process is a bit cumbersome. is actually worth it Features .................... 7
The tray at the top is some- when you think value Performance ............ 7
what misleading since paper for money. The col- Build quality ............ 7
can be fed through the tray at ours could have been Value for money ...... 7
the bottom. Fortunately, the a bit more saturated Overall ...................... 7
manual explains it all. though.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 111
New arrivals Competition growing
Viewsonic launches PC mini series with Orkut now has a new face; although it feels
Bazaar many digital entertainment features like a copy of Facebook
Cooler Master Silent Pro M600
Silently efficient
O
ne of the key fea- make it a good candidate for a The price is decent, although
tures of this power performance HTPC. we’d love if it was priced around
supply is an 80 Performance is flawless - it Rs. 6,000. The power rating of Contact
PLUS certified one can easily run graphics in SLI 600W is overkill for someone Cooler Master
which is an industry rating for and CrossFire configuration. building a mid-ranged gaming Phone: +91-94225 01592
PSUs. The Silent Pro PSU has Plugging in SATA power con- system for approximately Email: tanmay_l
a similar quality as the Corsair nectors after connecting the Rs. 30,000. For a system that @coolermaster.com
HX series of power supplies. SATA cables was slightly dif- isn’t run all day and night, the Web: www.coolermaster.com
It’s a modular power supply ficult. We had to unplug them power efficiency certification Price: Rs. 7,000
with the primary power cables and force the power cables in might be just a novelty. Still, we
sheathed. The others can be place. This happened with two feel anyone spending over Rs. Specifications
plugged as per your needs. different hard drives we set up 50,000 on a system must buy 600 W output, modular design,
This for one means less clutter for this rig. something of this calibre. 2 PCIe (8-pin), 4 floppy pins, 9
in your cabinet. The PSU has SATA power
a large 135-mm fan that blows Dimensions: 150 x 86 x 150 mm
towards the inside of the cab-
inet. The PSU is quiet, except RATINGS
for a very faint clicking sound Features ................. 7.5
Performance ............ 8
Photographs: Jiten Gandhi
that can be heard if you’re right
next to the fan. Rubber frames Build quality ............ 8
are provided to cut down vibra- Value for money ... 6.5
tions transferred from the PSU Overall ................... 7.5
to the body. All these qualities
Contact
Philips Electronics India Ltd.
Phone: 1860-180-11-11
Philips BDP7500
Feature rich beauty
Email: customercare.India
T
@philips.com he player is indeed a support for directly connecting a very intuitive. It supports XviD
Web: www.india.philips.com beauty. Brushed alu- 7.1 channel speaker system. The and can play MP3 or picture
Price: Rs. 24,990 minum body and a HDMI cable supplied with the files off the USB with ease. The
mirror finish on front player was of very high quality. upscaling is the best we’ve seen.
Specifications panel will make it look good as a In terms of performance However the remote has clackity
Media: DVD-R/-RW, Video part of any home theater setup. we found the DVD playback to navigation buttons that are just
CD, USB; Connectors: HDMI, It’s got that retro LED display be top-notch. In terms of Blu- plain painful to use. Overall a
Component, Composite, coupled with three touch but- ray quality, the colours appear good blu-ray player and an excel-
Digital optical/coaxial out, 7.1 tons for eject, play and pause. slightly washed out and the lent feature rich media player.
Analog connects; 12 bit / 150 Power on the player and it’s film grain is more pronounced. The Philips BDP7500 is cost-
MHz Video DAC; Dimensions: visual appeal goes up a notch (if Nothing that some tweaking lier than Sony’s BDP-360, but
245 x 55.7 x 435 mm that’s possible) thanks to the soft with picture settings on the overall, it’s also better. However,
blue glow it emanates under- player and TV can’t solve. The it would be easier to recommend
RATINGS neath. It has a USB input on the player’s settings interface as well if it were priced lower than the
Features .................... 7 front panel covered with a nice as the data navigation interface is curent tag of Rs. 24,990.
Performance ............ 7 snap on slider so good dust pro-
Build Quality ......... 6.5 tection there. On the back panel
Value ......................... 6 we find a component, composite
Overall ...................... 7 and HDMI output. There’s even
112 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Moving on
WinXP Mobile Linn, makers of high-end music
Viewsonic names its upcoming equipment announced the end of
Windows XP phone the VPC08 production of their CD players in 2010 Bazaar
Wacom Bamboo Fun
A Wacom, now usable as a trackpad
T
he Wacom Bamboo wheel. It only has four buttons 2D artists, who move from
Fun isn’t meant to – two for the mouse clicks, one paper and pen to a digital
be for professionals, that is customisable and one for tablet with a stylus. It per-
but for those who turning “Touch” on or off. With forms well and although the
are getting into CG. it turned on, the Bamboo Fun tracking while hovering the Contact
This model is pretty com- can be used like an oversized stylus isn’t accurate, it’s good Wacom
pact – the size a regular mouse track pad. The drivers allow when working on intricate Phone: +91-98103 75390
pad. Installation is simple multi-touch for up to two fin- shapes and designs. Using Email: rajeev.nagar
and build quality is like the gers and gestures for Windows a small pad can be a little @wacom.co.in
Intuos4 we reviewed earlier. can be allotted as well. painful on the wrist, so we Web: www.wacom.com
The Bamboo Fun lacks a few However, the primary use prefer a larger Bamboo. Price: Rs. 7,200
features including the scroll of a device such as this is for Also, you don’t get any
nibs with the Bamboo Fun. Specifications
Sensitivity is decent, but not Pressure levels: 1024 pres-
comparable to the Intuous4. sure levels; Dimensions:
That’s something you realise 248x176x8.5mm; Active area:
minutes after using it on 147 x 92 mm
a good painting applica-
tion such as Corel Painter. RATINGS
The missing tilt function Features ................. 6.5
is also something that we Performance ......... 6.5
miss. Priced at Rs. 7,200, it’s Build quality ......... 7.5
become more affordable. It’s a Value for money ...... 7
great utility for every novice. Overall ...................... 7
It gets our thumbs-up!
Contact
Kodak India
Kodak EasyShare Z915
Phone: +91-22-6641 6300 Easier to forget
Web site: www.kodak.com
K
Price: Rs. 10,999 odak’s popularity mode selection dial feels loose. face is slow, especially when
in the market The screen is only 2.5 inches zooming into photos.
Specifications has been steady and the quality isn’t great. Quality is strictly average,
Sensor: 10MP 1/2.3-inch mainly because of Operation is simple and the and with the ISO settings low-
CCD; Screen: 2.5-inch; Speed: the low market prices of their on-screen display is basic, but ered to 400 or less, it’s difficult
16 to 1/1250 second; ISO: products. The Z915 comes is presented well. The inter- to get shutter speeds even in
100 to 1600; Dimensions: with a 10X optical zoom lens well-lit rooms.
106.68x73.66x35.56 mm, with image stabilisation. The Z915 doesn’t impress.
Weight: 221 g The design is plain, the Sure, the large zoom lens is nice
body rock solid, and buttons to have, but it should perform.
RATINGS and dials are made of a cheaper If the quality issues and inter-
Features ................. 6.5 material. The controls for the face are tweaked, this could be
Performance ............ 6 timer, macro and flash func- a decent camera. Still, at just
Build Quality ............ 6 tion are positioned on the top Rs. 10,999, it’s around the same
Value ......................... 7 of the camera, next to the zoom cost as some of the ultrazooms
Overall ................... 6.5 and shutter release button. The from Canon.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 113
Iomega and Sonic
Next step.. Iomega partners with Sonic solutions
Firefox 3.6 Beta 3 gets enabling consumers to buy as well as
Bazaar released on the internet rent premium content from home
Kensington keypad and mouse
Good notebook companions
T
he Kensington
keypad calculator Contact
and mouse set is a Milestone Interactive
unique little acces- Phone: +91-22-2820 3319
sory set for the netbook user Email: kensingtonsales
or even a laptop user. The lack @milestoneinteractive.com
of a numerical pad on the right laggy and also doesn’t have Web: in.kensington.com
of the the keyboard can be a high resolution. The range in Price: Rs. 2,999
problem for those accounting. our scenario wasn’t more than
A mouse is also bundled as 3 ft. Still, that’s sufficient for Specifications
part of this kit. use on a laptop and decent for USB wireless dongle, optical
The devices are powered by even without the USB wireless basic desktop applications. mouse and wireless calculator-
AAA batteries. The keypad- dongle connected. The price for this bundle numerical keypad
calculator is built very well – The mouse isn’t so great in is a rather expensive Rs.
it’s sturdy and has nice rubber comparison. It’s very compact 2,999. We wish the mouse
pads at the corners to stop it and light – that makes it easy would be a little better in per- RATINGS
from sliding on your table. to carry around. Kensington formance. If you’re someone Features ................. 7.5
It can be used as a calculator has even provided a carry- who has a lot of numbers to Performance ............ 6
as well as a numpad. You can pouch with a small pocket in calculate and obviously can’t Build quality ......... 6.5
switch modes for the device it to carry both the mouse and depend on the line of number Value for money ... 5.5
from a number pad to a dedi- calculator around. The mouse keys on your keyboard, this Overall ................... 6.5
cated calculator that works doesn’t perform very well – it’s is an invaluable resource.
Contact
Sony India
Sony VAIO CW
Phone: 1800-11-11-88
Shiny performance
S
Email: sonyindia.care@ ony VAIO VPC- are fun. Benchmarks showed life is good considering the dedi-
ap.sony.com CW16FG belongs to it can play DOOM3 at 157 fps cated graphic chip. The battery
Web: www.sony.co.in the new CW series which is impressive. is loose and there is play in the
Price: Rs. 57,990 of netbooks. This The built-in web cam is battery compartment when you
already smart looking note- decent for video conference. hold the laptop in your hands.
Specifications book is available in five dif- Speakers are loud and quality is Overall, it’s beautiful, fast
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo ferent colours. An Intel P8700 above average. It features VAIO and an all round performer.
P8700 (2.53 GHz), Memory: is in the core of the notebook Gate which adds to its beauty Easy to carry as it
4 GB DDR3, HDD: 320 GB, running at 2.53 GHz. The and lets user find programs weighs only 2.4kg.
Display: 14-inch display, NVIDIA GT 230M with easily. Wi-Fi communication
GPU: NVIDIA GT 230M, OS: 512MB memory can handle is fast and dedicated button
Windows 7 Home Premium 3D games very well. Installed is provided to turn it on/off.
(64-bit) with 4 GB of DDR3 memory Optical drive is little bit noisy
makes this notebook work and makes vibra-
RATINGS fast. The touch-pad and key- tions. Battery
Features .................... 7 board are good and short cut
Performance ............ 7 keys are placed intelligently.
Build Quality ......... 6.5 Screen is bright and vibrant
Value ......................... 6 but viewing angles are
Overall ...................... 7 average. Watching HD content
on it is enjoyable and games
114 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Crazy resolutions Media centre gadgets
Hasselblad introduces the 50 million Viewsonic VPD500 is a five inch multimedia
pixel H3DII-50MS player and comes with 8 GB onboard memory Bazaar
Contact we faced some slowdown
Western Digital after playing some HD clips
Phone: +91-93210 29204 over the network. This hap-
Email: amarjeet.singh@wdc.com pened pretty often. A reboot
Web: www.wdc.com fixes everything though.
Price: Rs. 10,500 The video playback per-
formance is great – there is
Specifications no framing whatsoever on
Ports: HDMI, Component, 720p and 1080p content.
WD TV Live
Composite A/V, Ethernet, DTS audio decoding is sup-
2xUSB 2.0; Dimensions: ported now. YouTube videos
125.5x100x40 mm; can be accessed as well. It
Weight: 303 g Coming to a network near you even supports Flickr and
W
streaming audio.
RATINGS estern Dig- W D h a s n’t f i d d l e d All in all, it’s still a great
Features ................. 8.5 ital’s WD TV around too much with HD player. There are a few
Performance ......... 6.5 Live is an old the interface of the player performance bugs that we
Build Quality ............ 7 player with either. That means it’s still hope will be fixed in future
Value ......................... 7 an added network function- as user friendly as it was. firmware upgrades. The price
Overall ................... 7.5 ality. You can connect it to the We quickly updated the is a little more than the older
display using HDMI, Compo- firmware over the internet. WD TV but so it’s still pretty
nent or Composite. The interface is quick but good value for money.
ZOTAC MAG
An ideal HTPC solution
W
e’re testing a lot an average framerate of 27.4 Being an Ion based platform
of LCDs and fps on 800 x 600 at medium isn’t enough to run HD – you
we are very detail and PCMark05’s overall need to configure some of your
aware of the score is 2447. The case gets software properly. Once that’s Contact
lack of media playback devices pretty hot while running done, 1080p is a breeze. That Vardhman Technologies
for them. Building a HTPC can intensive applications. said, it’s perfect as a HTPC. If Pvt. Ltd.
be a little annoying when you use heavy HTPC soft- Phone: +91-22-2500 7002
you’re looking for the right ware, the processing power Email: amit@panache.co.in
chassis and other compo- of the CPU itself isn’t suffi- Web: www.panache.co.in
nents. ZOTAC’s MAG is cient at times. Price: Rs. 17,500
their first PC that is perfect At Rs. 17,500, it will be
for such needs. a good purchase over any Configuration
The desktop comes with other dedicated media Intel Atom 330 (1.6 GHz), inte-
just the PC – it’s compact, playback device. You only grated GeForce 9400M, 2 GB
designed well and looks need to setup the oper- DDR2 memory, 160 GB hard
pretty. It runs an Intel Atom ating system and the soft- drive, eSATA support, memory
processor with NVIDIA’s ware for it. Ideally, we see card reader, Gigabit network.
Ion platform. There’s this as a full fledged com- 802.11 b/g/n support
a 160 GB laptop hard puter that sits next to your
drive in it and even WiFi TV accessing streaming RATINGS
802.11n connectivity. media content wirelessly Features ................. 7.5
The scores from over your home network. Performance ............ 7
the benchmarks aren’t We wish it came with Build quality ............ 7
extraordinary either – bundled wireless Value for money ... 6.5
graphics performance is keyboard and Overall ...................... 7
decent. Doom 3 can run at mouse though.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 115
Budding studios
No hands! Activision Blizzard announces the
Project Natal is Microsoft’s launch of their new Sledgehammer
Bazaar upcoming hands-free peripheral studio in California
Sony DVP-NS728
Offers you the standard fare
P
layers seem to be
going old school
lately. At least that’s Contact
what it seemed like Sony India
judging by the displays on the Phone: 1800-11-11-88
ones we got for review this video/photo etc. It does how- Email: sonyindia.care@
time. All of them featured one less vibrant, with ever sport some interesting ap.sony.com
of those retro 7 segment LED output appearing features such as it’s own Web: www.sony.co.in
displays like the ones VHS slightly more grainy than chapter and title browsing Price: Rs. 5,290
players of yesteryear used to you would like. We used an menu (with thumbnails),
sport. Surprisingly this juxta- LG Jazz 42 inch LCD to check an audio sync buffer of 100 Specifications
position of old and new makes upscaling of low quality 700 ms to sync mismatching Media: DVD, CD, VCD, SVCD,
for a classy recipe. But that’s MB XviD clips to 1080p and audio with video, and vari- CD-R, RW; Formats: MP3, DivX,
the only thing that’s retro it faired quite well. The play- able playback speeds of AAC, WMA, JPEG; DAC: 12-bit,
about this player. er’s settings interface, as well .4x to 1.4x. 108 MHz
It features an HDMI as the one for browsing USB A player with similar
port, however the playback data is quite cumbersome. It features from other makes RATINGS
quality is strictly OK. We neglects certain expected ele- would normally be under Features .................... 6
looked at scenes from some ments like ease of switching the Rs. 4,000 mark. We’d be Performance ............ 6
of our test DVDs as well as between Disk and USB. To willing to recommend this Build quality ......... 6.5
XviD clips. There’s no skip- view different types of con- product if it were a consid- Value for money ... 6.5
ping or motion blur but the tent you need to go to specific erably better product than Overall ................... 6.5
colours on DVD video are viewing modes like music/ those though.
Altec Lansing MX6021
Contact Sporting a new face...
Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd.
A
Phone: +91-22-6709 0828 ltec Lansing’s older
Email: response MX5021 was one
@rptechindia.com of the best desktop
Web: www.alteclansing.com speakers to hit
Price: Rs. 13,999 the market. The new MX6021
model has a design seen on
Specifications some of the newer models. The
Power: 200W RMS; woofer is huge and one of the
Drivers: 3-inch midrange largest you’ll come across. The
(x2), 1-inch tweeter (x2), satellites have two drivers – one
6.5-inch woofer, Frequency for the mids and then tweeter. ports are present on it. It’s not The woofer also mixes up bass
range: 40 Hz to 20 kHz These are suspended on a flat accurate at all and we preferred guitars and voices of certain
plastic surface. to adjust the volume from the artists. There is no distortion at
RATINGS There is no wireless remote, source itself high volumes however.
Features ................. 7.5 instead a new fancy wired The speaker is loud, but All in all, this is a good per-
Performance ............ 7 remote control replaces the one that’s about it. The bass isn’t former but nowhere close to the
Build quality ............ 7 used on the MX5021. It uses a punchy. The mids and extreme MX5021. The cost should how-
Value for money ...... 5 spring dial and two buttons to high-end frequencies are ever be much lower. Right now,
Overall ................... 6.5 control the bass and treble. Aux- well pronounced, but the gap the model sells for a rather high
iliary input and headphone out between those ranges isn’t clear. price tag of Rs. 13,999.
116 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
AMD GPU cores Powering mobiles
AMD unveils Radeon HD 5970 - NVIDIA have built next-generation
their dual-chip graphics card Tegra for Chromium OS Bazaar
LG Jazz Theatre 42LH60YR
Beautiful stranger
L
Gs Jazz theatre
42LH60YR was
Contact reviewed with much
LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. anticipation since
Phone: 0120-2560900/40 we had a very good experience
Email: VivekSingh with the LG 42LG80FR. The
@lgindia.com wine-red highlights have given
Web: www.lgindia.com way to a marble finish with
Price: Rs. 76,990 blue highlights — not to every-
one’s taste. It’s heavy and very
Specifications well built. The blue lighting on
Size: 42-inches; either side doesn’t interfere with
Resolution: 1920x1080; watching videos but is very dis- other HDTVs. The display has regard. The 200 Hz panel seems
Connects: 1 USB, 3 HDMI 1.3, tracting and cannot be turned slight backlight bleeding notice- more like marketing hype, since
2 Component, 1 D-Sub off. Styling on the front is mini- able on the two top corners. we haven’t noticed issues with
malistic and the remote similar This also intrudes in darker regular 60 Hz panels, but the
RATINGS
to its predecessor. The on-screen scenes in movies. Colour ren- feature is there. Connectivity
Features ................. 7.5 menu system is excellent. dition is very good, not the best options are good – 3 HDMIs and
Performance ............ 8 This display has what LG we’ve seen, but are lively. The a USB to go with the regular con-
Build quality ............ 8 calls a 5.1 speaker system, but contrast ratio is good, but a little nects. It’s a bit pricey however,
Value for money ... 6.5 quite frankly this is under- deficient for hardcore aficio- at Rs. 76,990 – we reckon you
Overall ................... 7.5 powered compared to what we nados – a PVA panel would be either wait a bit for the price to
expected, but is still better than better than an IPS panel in this fall, or skip this.
Philips 42PFL7409/98 Contact
Sleek, suave beauty Philips Electronics India Ltd.
T
he 42PFL7409/98 42-inch HDTVs — but isn’t. LG 42LH60YR. The contrast is Phone: +1860-180-11-11
is a change from The stand is a mixture of what is really excellent though, Email: customercare.India
the other HDTVs thin plastic and solid metal — this display aced the grey-scale @philips.com
we’ve tested. The build quality is good, but not intensity test, missing only the Web: www.india.philips.com
bezel is really slim, and as excellent. The remote unit has first grey square. The issue of Price: Rs. 1,04,990
a result the display looks all possible controls and is backlight bleeding is present,
a little smaller than most solid. Advanced display set- but only visible in dark scenes. Specifications
tings are missing from the Movies are great overall, but Size: 42-inches, Resolution:
menu, but there is an easy we noticed a tearing of the 1920x1080; Contrast ratio
setup when the display is movie frame — turned out to be (claimed): 80000:1;
used for the first time. the “Pixel Precise” feature, and Brightness: 500 cd/m2
We were surprised at all was OK once we disabled
how bright it was – we had it. Games are also fun thanks
to keep brightness down to the enhanced contrast ratio. RATINGS
to around 50 per cent and This can make a pretty decent Features ................. 7.5
even then our usually computer monitor, and is a Build Quality ......... 7.5
dark test room looked like really nice 42-inch HDTV, Performance ......... 7.5
a 40-watt bulb had been but we will not recommend Value ......................... 6
switched on. Colours are it at an astronomical price of Overall ...................... 7
very good, on par with the Rs. 1,04,990.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 117
New Nu-Tyx
Thierry Nuttens has announced the release Not here...yet
of NuTyX 2009.1, a French desktop-oriented BlackBerry Bold 9700 is out for
Bazaar distribution based on Linux sale at AT&T
Sony BDP-S360
Back in black
R
ight out of the box CDs or DVDs but surprisingly by the Blu-ray format itself. It Contact
this player looked this player does not feature plays DVD better than most Sony India
like it means busi- DivX support — quite a downer other standalone DVD players, Phone: 1800-11-11-88
ness. The black considering almost every player but not better than the Philips Email: sonyindia.care@
body, minimalist buttons and worth its salt can do that. Still, Blu-ray we spoke about earlier. ap.sony.com
LED display on the front panel at heart being a Blu-ray player, As for interface, it features the Web: www.sony.co.in
only add to its visual appeal. it performs that function bril- familiar Sony interface found Price: Rs. 19,990
Some of the things you would liantly. The quality was fantastic; on the PSP, PS3 and VAIO P. It’s
notice before firing up this bad colours not just vibrant but real. fast and easy to navigate. Specifications
boy include a LAN port for Every line, every detail stark At Rs. 19,990, it’s a good Video DAC: 12bit / 148.5MHz;
accessing BD live content from and clear – pure visual bliss. bit cheaper than the Philips Decoders: Dolby Digital Plus,
the internet. The back panel Frankly Iron Man never looked BDP7500, but it’s also some- Dolby TrueHD, MP3, PCM;
also has a USB port in a sort so good. We’re unbridled in our what lacking in features. If Dimensions: 16.9x2.2x8.1
of recessed hard to reach spot. praise, even with factoring in the you need a really good Blu-ray inches
We initially wrote this off as a basic quality increment offered player, this is it.
design flaw. However we later RATINGS
found out that the USB con- Features .................... 6
nect is only for caching BD-Live Performance ......... 7.5
data and not for data playback, Build quality ......... 6.5
which means you’d hardly ever Value for money ...... 7
want to pull it out. It reads data Overall ...................... 7
such as MP3 and photos from
Acer Aspire One 751h
Quite possibly a new star
T
he slim design of the large screen and the keyboard Quality of the speakers is
Contact netbook will make that’s very much like Acer’s full satisfactory and the inbuilt
Acer India Pvt Ltd. it stand out in the fledged laptops, it comes with web cam is good for video
Phone: +91-80-4070 8700 crowd. Specifica- dedicated buttons to quickly conferencing. Video playback
Web: www.acer.co.in tions are like any other netbook access Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. is fine because of the screen
Price: Rs. 23,500 in its category. Other than its The multi-touch trackpad resolution but watching
features gestures but the movies on any netbook can’t
Configuration trackpad is very small. The be a good idea.
Processor: Intel Atom Z520, keyboard is well spaced out The large battery adds to
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 RAM, and easy to type on. the bulk of the netbook at
HDD: 160 GB, Display: 11.6- The netbook per- the back but it doesn’t match
inch, Windows XP Home formed well in all the the performance of the ASUS
synthetic tests. It beats Eee PC 1101HA. The battery
RATINGS the similarly config- life difference between this
Features .................... 7 ured Eee PC 1101HA and Eee PC 1101HA is almost
Performance ......... 6.5 in some tests. one hour.
Build quality ............ 7 To sum it all up, this new
Value for money ...... 7 Aspire One is perfect for
Overall ...................... 7 those who need something
small and stylish.
118 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
3G in Chennai More Google!
BSNL announces the commercial SPDY, pronounced as “SpeeDY”, is Google’s experimental
launch of 3G services in Chennai protocol under the “Let’s make the web faster” initiative. Bazaar
Canon PIXMA iX7000
Crisp and Fast!
T
he Canon PIXMA
iX7000 is a new
printer in their A3
Contact line, featuring Can-
Canon India Pvt Ltd on’s Pigment Reaction (PgR)
Phone: 1800-345-33-66 technology, which supposedly
Email: info@canon.co.in lets you get great print quality
Web: www.canon.co.in even on plain paper. This
Price: Rs. 29,995 model has a separate tray for
photo paper, and features net-
Specifications work printing. The combi test document, printing modes, but there
Resolution: 4800x1200 dpi, The printer is fast, and took which consists of a mix of text, was a noticeable difference
Interface: USB2.0, Ethernet; only one minute fifty seconds and colour images, showed in colour saturation.
Ink: 6 colour; Media: A3+/A3; to print the test photograph decent results with the print We printed an image to
Duplex: Yes, auto with the print quality set to quality set to standard. the plain paper with the print
high. The printed test image The text in the docu- quality set to high to test the
RATINGS
was a little grainy, but had all ment was crisp and even PgR feature. The quality was
Features .................... 7 the finer details intact. There is the tiniest of characters was impressive. Networking works
Performance ......... 6.5 a clear separation between con- readable — only tiny yellow flawlessly, and fast.
Build quality ............ 7 trasting colours, and although text seemed to merge with At a price of Rs. 29,995. It’s
Value for money ... 5.5 colours are pretty natural, black backgrounds. There is a decent photo printer, but is
Overall ...................... 7 there are very slight problems only a two second difference better suited for documents
with producing reds. between the normal and fast with both text and images.
Corel Digital Studio 2010
Media editing made easy!
C
orel Digital Studio It scans the local drives for the audio. All the common Contact
2010 is a bundle of media on the first launch, and video, audio and picture Corel Corporation
four video and photo a nifty little application called formats are supported. You Phone: +91-99450 12340
editing applications — Corel Digital Studio Gadget lets need to install an add-on Email: sathish.venugopal
DVD Factory, PaintShop Photo, you launch all applications. pack to work on Blu-ray and @corel.com
VideoStudio and WinDVD. The applications are easy HD DVD content. Web: www.corel.com
to use, even for novices, and You can import media Price: Rs. 5,500
the interfaces are all very directly from cameras or
similar. PaintShop Photo mobiles, and after editing, Requirements
takes care of all your image upload them to YouTube, Processor: 1.83 GHz, Memory:
touch-up needs. Facebook and Flickr, or even 1 GB RAM, 128 MB VGA VRAM,
Video editing and cre- email them to a friend. Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP1 / 7
ating DVDs is simple, and Our verdict? Its low price RATINGS
WinDVD includes features makes it a good buy for those Features .................... 6
like Time Stretch which who need to do basic editing, Performance ......... 6.5
lets you adjust the video and keep their media files Ease of use ............ 8.5
length easily. You can watch organised. It can’t be com- Value for money ...... 8
videos at half or double- pared to an advanced media Overall ...................... 8
speed without distorting editing software.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 119
Philips LED TVs Android on SE
Philips has announced its new LED TV Sony Ericsson announces their first
Bazaar range which offers LED Pro technology Android phone, the XPERIA X10
Genius G-Shot V1200
12 MP mega-madness!
Contact
T
he newly released The image quality of indoor Data transfer rates to KYE System Corp
Genius G-shot shots without zoom is decent the PC are good. Video test Phone: +91-11-4158 0611
v1200 is a 12 MP although not very crisp or shots taken at 640 x 480 Email: sales_india@
camera with a 3x vibrant. In zoomed shots, dis- were good but a little noisy. geniusnet.com.tw
optical zoom. The camera is tant objects lose detail. It supports the widescreen Web: www.genius.com
pretty huge. The camera has The navigation keys are resolution 720x400 (16:9). Price: Rs. 10,950
support for upto 32 GB of well placed. The controls are Video recording requires
external memory. easy to use and the screen is good lighting conditions Specifications
The menu and functions bright. The flash is a little too though, especially with dis- Sensor: 12 MP; Zoom: 3x
are placed at the bottom right strong but images do not get tant objects. optical; Screen: 2.7-inch; Video
corner of the camera. The washed out. The camera has a decent resolution: 640 x 480 @ 30fps
function button provides con- number of features for
trols for choosing different anyone interested in get- RATINGS
image sizes, smile capture ting into photography but Features ................. 6.5
function,portrait mode and the definitely not for a profes- Performance ......... 6.5
other useful stuff . sional or a serious enthu- Build quality ............ 6
We took some indoor shots siast. At a price of Rs. Value for money ... 6.5
at the 4000 x 3000 resolu- 10,950, it’s pretty expensive. Overall ................... 6.5
tion with and without zoom.
Linksys WRT 120N
802.11n on the cheap
L
inksys already has the familiar Linksys firmware points behind the WRT160N.
a full range of Wi-Fi interface is very intuitive. In Although Linksys recom-
routers confirming to zone 1, this router did rather mends the higher models for
Contact the 802.11n standard. well although to be honest video streaming, we were able
Cisco Systems (India) The only chink in their portfolio there’s little to compare, since to stream 1080p content seam-
Pvt. Ltd. was the lack of an entry-level most routers perform similarly lessly in zone one, although
Phone: +91-22-4043 4020 solution. The cheapest Linksys here. In zone 2 it lagged behind zone two had a couple of stut-
Email: jdabrai@cisco.com wireless n router we tested was its by a fair bit, but was slightly ters it worked. Zone three was
Web: www.linksys.com the WRT160N, that was still faster than the Belkin Wire- a disaster – this is definitely
Price: Rs. 2,850 around the Rs. 6,000 mark. less N Router and especially not for the large household
The WRT120N comes into the the sequential transfer was a with moderate demands
Specifications bottom of their product line, very respectable 2.1 MBps – on Wi-Fi, go for one of the cost-
Standard: 802.11n; Ports: 4 x although there is supposed to good. Signal strength in Zone lier models.
RJ45 LAN (100 MBps); Security: be a WRT110N, we haven’t seen 2 was 34 per cent, which is 2 The price was the shocker,
WPA, WPA2, WEP it yet. The WRT120N looks we’d expected it to be
identical to the WRT160N around the Rs. 3,800
RATINGS with an all-black finish and mark, but the price is a
Features ................. 5.5 the internal-antenna design mere Rs. 2,850 making is
Performance ......... 5.5 they now follow. very affordable as a basic
Build quality ......... 7.5 This is a 2.4 GHz only part 802.11n router – something
Value for money ... 7.5 and has a maximum theoret- very suitable for a smaller
Overall ................... 6.5 ical throughput of 150 MBps. household with no more
Setting it up proved a snap; than 2-3 clients.
120 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Android netbooks Nokia N97 Mini
Acer launches D250, the world’s first Nokia launches the compact
Android netbook version of the N97 in India Bazaar
Kingmax Super Stick Mini 16 GB
Smaller than its name
I
t’s not very often that proof despite, it not having Kingston, that managed a whop-
a flash drive garners any rubber in its outer frame. ping 13.81 MBps, this one just
Contact admiration but the Thanks to the extremely small about managed 2.83 MBps – this
Salora International Pvt Ltd Super Stick Mini was form, it feels sturdy, but the would be a poor show normally,
Phone: +91-98717 77591 passed around quite a bit. The lack of any sort of rubberised but this isn’t meant as a high
Web: www.kingmax.com concept of carrying around up protection means you won’t performance drive. Moreover,
Price: Rs. 1,450 to 16 GB (15 GB formatted actu- want to bend it unnecessarily. its performance was better than
ally) of data in so compact a Transfer speeds were good the PNY Micro Attache 8 GB,
Specifications form was tempting. This drive for read operations but very which is of a similar form factor,
Capacity: 15 GB; is super compact; in fact it’ll fit mediocre for writes. Compared so kudos to the Super Stick Mini.
Bundle: lanyard and pouch just about anywhere, and can to our chart topper the Data At a price of Rs. 1,450, it
easily be carried in a wallet Traveler HyperX 8 GB from strikes a very sweet deal for a rel-
RATINGS inconspicuously. It ships with a atively large capacity
Features .................... 6 small lanyard and a rubberised in such a tiny foot-
Performance ......... 5.5 pouch that will protect it from print. Highly recom-
Build quality ............ 6 sharp impacts. There is no cap, mended, though we
Value for money ... 8.5 and the USB contacts are on wish for an identical-
Overall ...................... 7 the outer body itself, meaning looking, faster, 64 GB
this drive is actually water one in the near future.
BenQ V2200 Eco
Cutting-edge, but average
W
e’re firm reprieve from the garish piano should be, and you will not
believers in finishes, and all that black. notice a great deal of variation
new tech- Using DisplayMate, it in this shade. Viewing angles
nology, up to was evident that the contrast are also not good, though
the point that we praise such ratio was poor, the grey-scale this is not a fault of the LED- Contact
risk takers. After all, teething intensity test proved this. The backlighting, rather a fault of BenQ India Pvt. Ltd.
issues pervade just about eve- colour tests showcased prob- the TN panel. What we did Phone: +91-98717 77591
rything in its infancy stages. lems with the colour gamut for notice, much to our disap- Email: garima.kundanwar
BenQ’s V2200 Eco seems such blue and red, the colour gamut pointment, was the evidence @benq.com
a product – it’s a 21.5-inch dis- for green was somewhat wider, of backlight bleeding – a fea- Web: www.benq.co.in
play with a resolution of 1920 but reds aren’t as red as they ture in all entry-level panels Price: Rs. 14,999
x 1080 pixels, making it these days, but we were
more suitable for movie expecting more from Specifications
watchers rather than office the LED-backlighting. Size: 21.5-inches; Resolution:
work and gamers. Even in It’s not even suitable for 1920x1080; Connects: HDMI x
Windows, we didn’t think gaming – Crysis looked a 1, D-Sub x 1
much of the contrast and little washed out. Priced
colour; the default Vista at Rs. 14,999, there are RATINGS
background looks rather better LCDs based on Features .................... 6
washed out with very soft the proven CCFL-back- Performance ............ 5
looking greens and yel- lighting that are available Build quality ......... 6.5
lows. It’s built well, and the for less. The LED revolu- Value for money ... 5.5
minimalistic styling (matte tion is here, but we’re still Overall ................... 5.5
white finish) is a welcome waiting to be impressed.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 121
CUDA power Sony’s content service
NVIDIA’s new ION graphics processor makes full Sony’s online service will connect the whole
Bazaar HD possible on small form factor desktops range of its gadgets to downloadable content
CoolerMaster Sentinel Advance
A breath of much needed fresh air
A
new gaming mable buttons with support for and accurate. There is 64 KB of Contact
mouse is always configuring macro keys built inbuilt memory for user based CoolerMaster
refreshing and a into the software. There are also profiles and macros scripts. Phone: 9422501592
new one from CM, five weights of 4.5 grams each There are LEDs inbuilt, that Email: tanmay_l
rare. The Sentinel Advance to configure the feel and drag can be configured in 5 shades @coolermaster.com
has surely got the looks. The of the mouse to suit individual and the OLED display can be Web: www.in.coolermaster.
faux rubberised finish ensures tastes. Sans weights, it feels configured to display your com
a proper grip while the mouse lighter than a Logitech MX518 gamer handle or clan name – Price: Rs. 4,900
is nicely contoured but not by a fair margin. neat addons that provide some
ambidextrous. The twin laser DPI switching in the form much needed customisation Specifications
sensors feature a sensitivity of of two adjacent buttons is options for hungry gamers. Sensitivity: 5600 dpi, Buttons: 8
5600 dpi and the mouse also possible – a must for such a At a price of Rs. 4,900 this total; Weights: 5 x 4.5 g; Others:
has an OLED display, a first, high-sensitivity mouse but mouse is definitely a decent deal, inbuilt OLED display,
and a large number of program- because of the Teflon feet being although it faces competition onfigurable
vertically arranged the mouse from the likes of Logitech’s G9x
slides easier when making ver- and Microsoft’s Sidewinder. We RATINGS
tical actions, while there is a feel CM did a good job with the Features .................... 8
slight (but noticeable) amount comfort – this one is better con- Performance ............ 8
of drag (not lag!) when moving toured than the competition, at Build quality ......... 7.5
it horizontally – due to the least to our hands. Hardcore Value for money ... 6.5
surface area of the feet. Other FPS gamers – you have some- Overall ................... 7.5
than this, tracking is spot on thing worth owing.
AVG Internet Security 9.0
Security made simple
A
Contact VG’s new Internet from this menu. Scans can also the properties window for every
Milestone Interactive Group Security 9 arrives be scheduled to be run at certain component, a more advanced ver-
Email: sales@milestoneinter- to make life a little times of the day. sion is also available.
active.com simpler for novice The firewall component is On a system with 512 MB of
Web: www.avg.in computer users who are worried effective. There are rules that can memory, it puts some load on it
Price: Rs. 1,599 about viruses and worms. Instal- be set specific to programs. While but nothing that slows it down
lation of the suite is simple. The basic settings are displayed in terribly. Memory consumption
Requirements set of wizards towards the end is around 30 to 35 MB most of
CPU: 1.5 GHz or faster; ask you what kind of a system the time. Updating of the virus
Memory: 512 MB; Space: and network you’re on. The definitions and program are
390 MB; OS: Windows 2000/ installation ends with a choice done automatically with little
XP/Vista/7 of optimization of the scanning. trouble. If you don’t have an
Little has changed in terms internet connection, updating
RATINGS of design. The interface shows a can be done using update files.
Features .................... 7 list of all its components. Double For those looking for a good,
Performance ............ 7 clicking on each of them opens feature-rich security solution
Ease of use ............... 7 the settings window for the for their home PCs, this is one
Value for money ...... 6 component. A separate pane for to check out. The pricing for a
Overall ...................... 7 scanning is also present. Manual year’s subscription is Rs. 1,599 —
scan operations can be started a little expensive in our opinion.
122 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Skin displays IE Exploits
University of Pennsylvania Hacker posts code that could be
have developed LED tattoos, used to break into PCs running
could turn skin into screens older versions of Internet Explorer Bazaar
Netgear WNR 3700
A disappointing flagship
T
he WNR3700 breaks out and between them and
ground for design as Linksys the better one is purely
Contact far as Netgear goes. It’s a matter of preference. This
Netgear Technologies wall mountable and router did well as was expected
(India) Pvt. Ltd. the router itself, although large, for a flagship of their “Range
Phone: +91-11-26207270 is well designed and built solidly. Max” series. In fact, in zone
Email: sales@netgear.com The top is piano-black and the one with a sequential transfer
Web: www.netgear.com front has a transparent plastic speed of 13.16 MBps, this beat
Price: Rs. 11,000 bezel that has a nice effect on the our performance king the
embedded LEDs underneath. Linksys WRT610N. Assorted
Specifications It’s clearly meant as a high-end scores were also an all time
Standard: 802.11n, Frequency: product for larger homes with high. It managed 50 MB in 9
Dual simutaneous, Band: 2.4 lots of clients as it features dual- seconds flat i.e. 5.56 MBps. This
and 5 GHz, Gigabit LAN, WPA/ simultaneous bands — both 2.4 was not to be consistent how- 1080p content was a snap in
WPA2, WPS GHz and 5 GHz bands. There’s a ever, as the scores dipped below zone one, a little annoying with
USB port (storage link) as well. 1 MBps in zone two and below the occasional lag in zone two
RATINGS The front panel has indicators 0.5 MBps in zone three. and a sporadic affair in zone
Features .................... 8 for everything including both Therefore the WRT610N three. Priced at Rs. 11,000, the
Performance ............ 8 frequency bands along with the remains the king at longer dis- WNR3700 isn’t the best router
Build quality ......... 7.5 de facto LAN port indicators. A tances and with obstructions around, but it’s the costliest one
Value for money ... 6.5 Security indicator was missed. meaning its antenna and chipset we’ve tested to date, making it
Overall ................... 7.5 Setting it up was a snap, are better and more suited to languish close to the bottom of
Netgear’s firmware is well laid intensive tasks. Streaming our recommendations list.
Circle Cosmo CC742
Better than some in its class
C
abinets can either be eliciting any envious stares. We slots. Button quality for the reset Contact
functional or flashy. were impressed by two features and power buttons is strictly OK. Circle
This one belongs to the in this cabinet: One, that it has an As for build quality the Phone: +91-22-6671 1234
functional enclosure- eSATA and four USB ports on the metal is a little too pliable than Email: completecare
of-important-innards category, front panel along with the regular one would ideally want and @entercircle.com
so you can forget about any microphone and audio jacks. The the cabinet has no rubber stop- Web: www.entercircle.com
other impressive feature is an pers at the base. The side panel Price: Rs. 1,850
HD audio optional connect can be conveniently slided
for the front audio besides the of with the help of thumb Specifications
regular AC97 support. Other screws, to expose internals Form factor: Full ATX; Fans: 2 x
than that the cabinet is pretty free of sharp edges. The power 80 mm; Dimensions: 400 x 182
standard in all aspects. It has supply lets out a sheathed x 421 mm, Weight: 5.8 kg
two 80 mm fans; one at the mother board power connect
back and one behind the front along with two Molex and two RATINGS
panel for circulating air from SATA connects. The lack of a 6 Features .................... 6
side vents. The front panel is pin connect is quite a downer Performance .........NA
made of plastic and comes off considering it’s used by most Build quality ......... 5.5
with a snap on mechanism – graphics cards of today. Go for Value for money ... 6.5
very handy for fitting drives it only if you’re building a PC Overall ...................... 6
in the three front 5.25 inch on a tight budget.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 123
Spirit of enterprising Connect with .NET
We took a close look at three small businesses
127 130
Learn how to create your own .NET
to understand how they function and what it
Tech@Work
web site using Microsoft Visual
takes to run a small business Studio 2010
Campaigning online
You started your business, and it’s been tough, but you’ve gotten through the
rough patches. Now what? Time to grow your business like never before, and
the good news is, it only costs you some time and very little money
Siddarth Raman “special offers” on your products or Display advertising
readersletters@thinkdigit.com services. Today, it’s likely to cause For those of you who are not fluent with
N
you more harm than good. Of course, online advertising jargon, display ads are
ot everyone can afford large email marketing still produces the basically any sort of visual advertisement.
marketing budgets, and best results (often 150 per cent better These are the most expensive kind, and
with sites like Facebook and than other media), but this is now you’re charged in various ways, depending
Twitter, which have millions done with care, and only to opt-in on the site you advertise on. For example,
of registered users (potential clients), subscribers. some sites may charge you based on a CPC
thankfully, you don’t really need deep Today, you have a number of other
pockets anymore. Curious? Think about options also available to you, and
it, you probably are already registered at we’re going to walk you through some
some of these online hubs, and without of them, analyse the costs involved,
even trying have hundreds of friends. and help you understand how effec-
Imagine the possibilities if you actually tively you can measure RoI (Return on
put some effort into marketing your small Investments).
company the same way...
The most obvious method of
internet advertising came about when
this little invention called email made
it big. Before spam became the big-
gest plague on Earth, and as a result,
spam filters got popular, you could
get away with mailing thousands
(or millions) of addresses with
Imaging: Chaitanya Surpur
124 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Video is next India over internet Local advertising
Advertisements attached to streaming videos is Experts feel online marketing in India is short- WebVisible’s 2009 Quarter 3 report states that all around
the fastest growing sector in online marketing, lived, and mobile marketing will take over as the world, SMBs are increasingly moving on to the
with a staggering 46 per cent growth rate more people have mobile phones internet as a cost-effective and high-returns alternative Feature
value. That’s Cost Per Click, or basically, people that react to display ads, 31 per cent
you pay a small amount for each person of those people directly click on ads, while
who clicks on your ad. Another form of 27 per cent use search engines to look for
advertising that’s offered up by sites with a brand, offer, or product. It’s obvious you
large traffic is CPM, or Cost Per Mille need both search engine marketing / optimi-
(thousand). Since these large sites usually sation as well as display advertising.
have millions of visitors, you’re charged
for impressions — or basically how many The social media collage
times your ad is displayed. Social Media Marketing, by itself is a
Now this is expensive — consider that vast field, but the major advantages are
the average cost of advertising on Yahoo! that it’s free, and not enough compa-
is $6,000 for 300,000 impressions in a nies have realised its potential, just yet.
month. That is a CPM of $20 per 1000 Search Engine Optimisation involves a lot of analysis We don’t think we need to stress how
impressions, or Re. 1 per display. important it is to grab the advantage
Other sites, such as Facebook, offer content of your web site in order to of being a first-mover in your domain.
more dedicated, user-focused adver- ensure that it is highly ranked on a search Companies such as Dell and Gillette
tising. Go to www.facebook.com/ads/create, and results page when people search for cer- have run exhaustive campaigns, all of
you will find that the minimum CPM tain keywords. SEO works by improving which showed very positive results. In
rate is $0.02, but you also get an estimate the framework and infrastructure of your India, the Vodafone ZooZoo campaign
of how many people you can expect to web site, and is no simple task. For one, hit Facebook even before it hit television.
reach. Advertising on Facebook is a bid- you need to know how search engines Before you get all gung-ho and run out
ding process, and you enter the details index web sites. People are often mis- to start marketing yourself, remember,
of your target audience, and depending taken about the nature of SEO, with most there are a few prerequisites.
on the popularity of the advertising believing that repeating a chosen key-
space, you pay accordingly. This is most word over and over again A web site
definitely something you should check on your web site will help it Campaigning media We’re stating the obvious,
out, because at last count, a little over 8.2 rank higher. The credibility and we know that, but we
Let’s look at all the mediums
million Indians are registered there. to your content depends available to a company cannot stress enough the
on the number of visitors, or brand interested in importance of having a site
Search the number of sites linking establishing a brand image that acts as a link-back to
online.
Search engine marketing, or SEM, is a to you, the number of your campaign.
form of internet marketing that seeks competitors with similar 1. Display advertising
to promote web sites by increasing content, originality and a a. Banner ads A blog
their visibility in search engine results long list of other factors. b. Video ads A blog is your mouthpiece
2. Search
through the use of contextual adver- SEO is often so complex a. Search engine optimisation to the public. A web site is
tising and paid inclusion. that companies leave b. Search engine marketing good for corporate informa-
Ad programs such as Google Adwords the job to professionals, 3. Email marketing tion, a contact us page, sales
4. Social media
allow marketers to bid on terms. Once choosing to pay experts, figures and other publicity,
a. Social networking sites
b. Multimedia sharing sites but a blog is personal, and
Post your comments at c. Information sharing interactive. Your blog should
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ d. Corporate blogging / blog be indicative of the persona
marketing
you wish your brand or
e. Microblogging
you bid and buy these phrases, your ads instead of learning how to f. Social bookmarking company to project.
will appear on sites that have Google do so. What makes SEO so Then, let’s look at the
AdSense enabled. This is the bread and important is that results few prerequisites any good Marketing 101
marketing campaign should
butter of companies like Google, and are quantifiable, and easily As of today, Orkut is still
have. Considering the internet
is their biggest source of revenue. The verified — just check your is an open forum, care must the leading social net-
CPM per keyword is variable, and often search engine rank. be taken not to seem too working site in India with
adjusted by Google itself based on tools. One thing to remember irritating. Other factors that the maximum number of
need to be considered
Terms such as “search engine optimiza- is that none of the methods • Cost Indians registered on it.
tion” could cost you over $20. listed earlier can work alone. • Outreach However, Facebook seems
Search engine optimisation, on the A recent article by SearchEn- • Interaction with users to rank higher as an option
other hand, is passive marketing. It gineLand mentioned a study • Interest generated in for marketers, and it’s
campaign / market buzz
focuses on improving the quality and which reports that of all the growing really fast.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 125
IAC Awards 2009 No ads on Twitter
Kalamazoo won the best agency, and Design Lab won Advertising is still not a part of the road-map
the award for the best e-mail campaign at the recent of Twitter, although they may show up down
Feature Internet Advertising Competition awards 2009 the line
Socialising looking at sites such as Facebook first. application on Facebook this Diwali.
Popular campaigns, such as Vodafone’s However, you should still do both, it’s The application was extremely popular
ZooZoos, had close to 3,20,000 fans. just that you have to get your priorities and turns up the moment you search
Facebook’s fan pages allow you to embed right, base don what it is you’re trying to for “Facebook Happy Diwali”. US
videos, pictures, update information, and achieve for yourself. president Barack Obama uses social
more. Apart from a web site, or a media, and is one of the
blog, a wholly social media driven Post your comments at most followed celebrities
campaign can be launched from http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/ on Twitter — both before
Facebook itself. and after becoming Presi-
Most social networking sites also Become a star! dent. The Sunsilk Gang of Girls site for
have groups and forums. This allows for If you’re running an online campaign, women was popular only for a while.
active user engagement with questions, multimedia sharing is essential. What The Jaago Re campaign against corrup-
answers, discussions on topics of interest, you need to do is launch simultaneously tion / for voting by Tata Tea utilises
and more. on several platforms. The web site, the a micro-site along with social net-
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com) is also blog, the social networking account, working. Of course, for good success
a good place to start. It focuses on profes- Twitter and of course, the multimedia stories, check the ZooZoo campaign.
sional networking, and as with other sites. For videos, YouTube is the most
sites, allows you to expand your network popular destination. Create a YouTube THE INTEGRATION
and create groups. It also allows you to channel for yourself, and keep uploading
1. Create a web site.
create an official company page, and this videos. If it’s still images that you want to 2. Create a blog. Direct people from your
is something you should certainly do. use, Flickr is your best bet for a host. blog to your web site and vice versa.
If you’re looking to promote your com- 3. Use SEO for your web site.
pany’s image, LinkedIn is the place you Too much info? 4. Use SEM (contextual advertising) and
display ads for your brand. Display ads
should start. However, if you’re trying to If you’re looking at information sharing, should link back to your web site
increase the popularity of your products remember, the focus is more on brand 5. Create a Wikipedia page.
and/or services, you will be better off reputation and brand awareness, as 6. Create a Facebook and Twitter account.
7. Create LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr and
opposed to direct marketing. Sites such as
other accounts if deemed essential
BEST PRACTICES www.mouthshut.com have user ratings 8. Release updates to engage with your
for brands. Forums such as Yahoo! QnA, audience as multimedia / conversations
1. Create a fan page / official brand
Rediff QnA (Questions and Answers) have 9. Simultaneous updates on your blog,
account (fan page recommended)
Facebook fan page, Twitter, etc.
(alternatively create a forum) users commenting and asking questions 10. Once there is some interesting content,
2. Regular interaction with regular content about brands. It is essential to revert back start gaining followers and fans on
sharing – videos, pictures, links
to these questions and answer as truthfully Facebook and Twitter
3. Any press release, notification, on web
and as positively as possible. Having a page 11. Use e-mail marketing once you have a
site / blog should be accompanied
loyal group who won’t mind e-mails.
with release of content on the fan page on Wikipedia is considered mandatory This is a basic online marketing
urging active discussion nowadays. Wikis and QnA sites, along with campaign guide. However, to
4. Invite friends and fans. Start by inviting
product review sites like MouthShut or personalise this, try being innovative.
trusted associates / employees of the
ThinkDigit help a lot in terms of informa- Try engaging users by asking them to
company. Build a good user base, then
upload multimedia.
start inviting friends of known people. tion sharing and brand reputation.
5. Have a personality. While on Twitter,
it is essential that your brand have
a personality. Hence, humorous and Microblogging When it comes to cost, and popularity,
opinionated tweets are appreciated If you find something interesting, Tweet it. social media is still growing. Though the
6. Engage your followers. If someone The principle is simple. Follow people who cost is close to zero, the lack of knowledge
comments on your tweet, reply back.
are interesting, get followed by people who prevents most brands and companies
Chat. Also, re-tweeting your followers’
tweets will earn you re-tweets yourself, think you are interesting. Update your from experimenting with it. The mar-
which helps spread your word / brand status message regularly, and tell people keting trend in India mirrors the West,
around. what you think / what you’re doing. though with a far lower budget. Search
7. Do not have too many updates in a day.
Twitter is a very good platform to engage Marketing accounts for 60.1 per cent of all
Flooding someone’s feed with mindless
tweets is irritating and frowned upon. with people. It's completely unobtrusive. digital media marketing budgets, display
8. Use hash tags # if Plus, it’s free and simple to use. advertising accounts for 30 per cent, and
running a campaign with some specific Indigo Nation started a “Wacky at social media, 2.8 per cent. Online media
name. A good example is the #moonfruit
campaign which was so popular, it was the Work” contest which asked users to as a whole accounts for 12 per cent of
trending topic on Twitter for days. send crazy pictures of them at work. all advertising expenditure. So don’t sit
Cadbury started a “Gift a Chocolate” around, get started; make some money.
126 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Free MS Office Dell eyes Indian SMBs
The Office 2010 Beta Build now available Dell is gearing to release solutions for
for download will be fully functional till the lucrative small and medium sized
October 2010 businesses in India Feature
Many people are increasingly looking
at running their own businesses.
We look at three such businesses that
are run out of small offices...
Jacob Cherian
jacob.cherian@thinkdigit.com has always hovered
between nine and
Pixeltek ten. They started
Vitek Goyel is the 26-year old founder out in a basement in
of this game studio. They do outsourced Mumbai and then
work for international gaming companies. shifted to Ben-
galuru in their third
What’s this SoHo about? year in an effort to
Animation studios are a plenty in India. cut costs. Eventu-
Most of these studios have scores, if not ally, for a range of
hundreds, of artists working in plush issues they shifted
offices, building 3D graphics for interna- back to Mumbai.
tional gaming studios. Pixeltek is a lot like They now operate
these studios that outsource game assets, from a 1500 square
except that it takes on the SoHo model. foot ground-floor
This studio has 12 people, that work out of office by the sea. Pixeltek started off as a small studio, but today works with the likes of Vivendi
a South Mumbai office. You would have
seen their work in games like TimeShift, How does technology help further ask for an upgrade. This ensures that
where they built the characters, or in their business? they always have the latest hardware
Ghostbusters where they built some of the This studio has 12 high-end desktops and are not burdened with enor-
buildings or in the game iRacing where to churn out those 3D graphics. In mous investments. Some of the older
they built the cars and the race tracks. order to save on investing in rigs that machines were bought on an install-
will eventually require an upgrade, ment program.
How does this SoHo run? Pixeltek rents some of their machines. However one of the biggest expenses
Pixeltek turns five years old in Feb- When an upgrade is required, they for an operation like this is the licensing
ruary 2010. The team of graphic artists just send the machines back in and for the high-end proprietary software.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 127
Toshiba’s new Strata 3X deploys cloud
Toshiba’s Strata Messaging services is an 3X systems has launched private cloud storage
affordable unified messaging service for solutions for SMBs to save their documents in
Feature SMBs and SoHos a private central location
Where is this SoHo headed? The particular office space is equipped nology to keep track of payments due to
The first couple of years showed them with three desktops and a laptop. His other product partners and affiliates.
the trouble that most creative agen- partner sits about five kilometres with
cies go through, which is the lack of a the other two team members. Each of the Where is this SoHo headed?
portfolio. Their big break came a year employees take care of a particular product. The partners, Sundeep and Abhishek,
into the venture when a big inter- Right now, products are logos, web site project a revenue of Rs. 20 Lakhs in the
national studio handed first year and Rs. 3 Crores
them a project. Since Post your comments at by the end of the third year.
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
then, they’ve worked Eleven months from now
with studios like Vivendi, they expect to cross the
Foundation 9 and Sierra. templates, articles, e-books, illustrations 12-person mark thereby easing their
Pixeltek has found that some of the and animations. Vendors for each of these way out of the SoHo category.
really big companies will only outsource products upload their wares to the site and
work to a studio if it has more than 25 name their price. When an aspiring SoHo Digital Inspiration
people, due to the scale of their projects. chooses to buy a certain product, like an Amit Agarwal runs one of India’s top
To reach this level, Vitek plans on dou- e-book or a logo design, they pay for it and technology blogs from Agra. His aim is
bling the staff over the next two years. Contentmixi gets their cut. to demystify technology to make people’s
lives more efficient.
Contentmixi.com
Sundeep Tibrewal and Abhishek Rungta What’s this SoHo about?
run a SoHo that caters specifically to The blog was launched in 2004, and
other SoHos. They call it Contentmixi. is now among the Top 100 Tech-
com, simply because it offers customers nology Blogs on the Internet. The
both textual and graphical content. site aims to get its users to make
the most out of software tools and
What’s this SoHo about? web technologies. Through his blog,
SoHos have design and content needs like
any organisation. At some point every com-
pany looks for a logo or a web site template The team at Contentmixi is young
designer. This is the space that Contentmixi.
com targets. For example, if your company How does technology help further
is looking for a logo design and doesn’t their business?
want the hassle of rummaging through the The company uses open source soft-
designers in your city, then log on to the site ware to save on the licensing fees of
and choose the kind of logo you want. Pay the various office applications across
for it and Contentmixi.com passes on the the seven machines that this start-
payments to the vendors. up uses. SaaS-based collaborative
tools like Google Docs which is free
How does this SoHo run? helps the dispersed team to improve
The company is now a couple of months efficiency. Social media like Facebook,
old, has a team of seven and works out of Twitter are used to save on the mar-
two small offices in Kolkata. Sundeep and keting dollars.
three of his team members sit in a small 100 The team also built customised web A blog can be a lucrative business, as Digital
square foot room in the heart of the city. applications, using open source tech- Inspiration has proven to be
128 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
SaaS a growing trend AT&T for SMBs
SMBs and SoHos are re-thinking their Frost & Sullivan awarded AT&T the 2009
approach to software and are moving to New Product Innovatin Award for their Tech
purchase it as a service rather than a product Support 360 software for SMBs and SoHos Feature
Amit tells you how to do things like Since his screens are usually dedi-
‘Designing a magazine cover’, ‘Unde- cated to his own browsing and testing
lete old files and folders in Windows purposes, he has his information input
Vista Home’, ‘How to purchase books coming in from another window. He
online for less’ and just about on has hooked up one of his laptops to
any new application that’s getting a large wall-mounted LCD screen in
released out there. front of his desk. This thereby ensures
that almost everything that happens in
How does this SoHo run? his field does not escape his eye.
Up till a year ago, Amit blogged from
Increasing your team size is vital with small
home. He now works from a sepa- Where is this SoHo headed?
businesses
rate room, which serves as an office This blogger is very happy being a
space, built on the one man army and has no set
Post your comments at
same premises as his plans for growth. He is con-
http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
house. His office has tent living in Agra with his
one tablet, two laptops family and he adds that this
and a desktop. How does technology help further location makes it difficult for him to
On another wall he has a whiteboard their business? expand his team. His income is based
to help him take notes. Across all the Amit has to stay on the absolute cut- purely on advertising and he cur-
machines he runs different operating ting edge of information to stay ahead rently makes a 5-figure income (in US
systems (Windows 7, XP and Ubuntu) of the curve. dollars) on a monthly basis. With his
to test their compatibility with various This means that he has to keep following growing at a steady pace,
softwares. He says he’s lined his office a track of a number of information he says he expects to touch a million
with potted plants to enhance the sense sources, like blogs, news sites and dollars of advertising revenues in a
creativity in his work space. Twitter feeds. couple of years.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 129
IntelliSense F#
Microsoft’s way of auto-completion of code, is Inspired by C#, this is the latest
part of Visual Studio so that programmers don’t programming platform from Microsoft
Developer corner have to remember all the syntax that supports the .NET framework
Connect with .NET
Rahil Banthia the design surface. On this surface, drag Adding controls
readersletters@thinkdigit.com and drop items such as buttons, text Click on the Design tab at the bottom of the
main window to ensure that you are in Design
M
boxes, labels and so on from the toolbox,
view. Click on the pushpin icon in the title bar
icrosoft’s Visual Studio (present on the left edge of the main
of the Toolbox to pin it in place.
2010 beta 2, or its free screen), and they will automatically Expand the Standard category of the
counterpart, Visual Web become a part of your web page. The Toolbox by clicking on the plus symbol.
Developer, makes creating source view allows you to see the same You will see a number of basic controls
listed in the Toolbox, such as “Label,”
web pages and adding features to them as controls displayed as HTML and ASP.
“TextBox,” and “Button.”
simple as dragging and dropping. After NET mark-up. Click on some Button controls, Label
this workshop, you’ll be able to create controls and Textboxes in the Toolbox and
your own personal web site — with Adding controls drag them onto the design surface inside
the div element one by one. Arrange
minimal coding. You’ve already created your web page. them as you like to place them on your
To make your page live, you need to add web-page.
Create a new web site some controls (building blocks of the
Open the Visual Studio 2010 IDE. Go to web page’s GUI) to it, including buttons, ated with them. Clicking on anything
File > New > Web Site. Select the check boxes and list boxes. yields no response as of now. Creating
language as Visual C# in the left pane, and As you progress through developing the event handler for the Click event is as
the template as ASP.NET Web Site. Finally, your web site, stop and run to see what it easy as it gets. In the design view, double-
select the directory where you want to save does so far. To do this, click on the menu click the Button control. This instructs
this and click OK. The Solution Explorer item Debug > Start Debugging, or the IDE to create an event handler for
(right pane) will have all the files that make press [F5]. Click on the Start Debugging that button and name it.
up your web site. Double-click on Default. icon on the toolbar. The IDE displays the code behind the
aspx and page mark-up: HTML plus ASP. When you run your web site for event handler and lets you complete it.
NET declarations and controls will open the first time, the IDE detects that your Here is where you add your own custom
in the main window. This centre pane has project is not set to allow debugging and code, to specify the operations you want
three tabs at the bottom, known as Labelled will offer to make that adjustment for the handler to perform when it’s called.
design, Split and Source. You will be using you. After you click OK, your application If want to set the text property of the
these three tabs quite often as you create begins, your default browser opens, and label control, which is named Label1,
your web site. the page that contains your controls is to the phrase Good Morning, you need
When you click on the design tab, the displayed. Unfortunately, none of them to assign that string of letters to the
middle window of your IDE becomes have any events (event handlers) associ- text property of the label. Click inside
the event handler stub, and then type
Label1.Text = “Good Morning”;
After you’ve added the code to your
event handler, save the file by clicking
the Save button on the toolbar. Run the
program again by clicking the debugging
icon or pressing [F5]. When the page
opens in your browser, click the button.
Your event handler is working now, so
you should see the text label change to
Good Morning.
With the file open, select the code
behind, either from the tab at the top of
the window, or in Solution Explorer. Go
to the click event handler, and change
the text from Good Morning to whatever
you like. Switch back to the ASPX file.
Select the type of project, and pick the objects you need in your web site Select some control, and check out the
130 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Get VS2010 Oslo
You already have the VS2010 DVD free with Microsoft’s ‘M’ modelling language has been
this issue, but if you have a friend who also codenamed Oslo. The underlying technology
wants one, SMS “Digit VS10” to 567678 is SQL Server modelling CTP Developer corner
Properties window next to the Solution
Explorer. There’s more here than just
setting the text, as you’ve done so far. Go
to the Appearance section of the Proper-
ties, and play around with them to your
liking. After you’ve kicked the tires a bit,
run your application to see how it looks.
Visual Studio offers a number of dif-
ferent controls, to create lists from which
the user can make a selection. These
include the ListBox, the DropDownList,
RadioButton and CheckBoxes. These
controls work more or less the way you’d
expect them to. There are several ways
to display dynamically generated read-
only text in your page — you can set the
property of a label control, or you can use
a read-only TextBox control.
Working with images is easy in Visual Studio
Adding images and links AutoPostBack to True, and Text to the image in your directory. Because
An image can be a photograph, a drawing Display Image. Also, set the TextAlign you put this image in the base directory
or even a logo. Visual Studio provides property to Centre. of the application, you do not need a
several controls to work with images. Set the ID for the image to Image1 path name.
ImageControl is used to display an and the ImageURL to the file you would The name of the file itself will suf-
image. ImageButton is used to create use. Once you have the file, simply drag fice. On our web page, the CheckBox
an image that can be clicked, acting like and drop it on to the Website1 folder in control offers the user the opportunity
a normal button. An ImageMap control Solution Explorer. You’ll see the image to control the image visibility. It has its
provides an image with multiple click- file appear in the file tree alongside your AutoPostBack property set to true so
able hotspots. Each hotspot behaves like other solution files. You can also use any as to force a post-back every time the
a separate hyperlink. image file you have handy. checked property changes. To make
To insert an Image control into the The Image control has three essen- use of this, of course, you will have to
form, drag a CheckBox and an Image tial properties: the ID (so that you write an event handler for the Checked-
control onto the form. In the Properties can address the control via code), the Changed event.
window, set the ID of the CheckBox to ubiquitous runat=“server”, and the Double-click the CheckBox to create
cbDisplayPhoto, and be sure to check ImageUrl that identifies the location of an event handler for CheckChanged, and
add the following line of code:
Image1.Visible = cbDisplay-
Photo.Checked;
This event handler changes the Vis-
ible property of the image to the checked
property output. When the property
is set to false, the image isn’t rendered.
When you uncheck the box, the page
posts back, and the image vanishes.
Hyperlinks provide immediate redi-
rection to another page in the application
or to a location elsewhere on the internet.
We’ll use a HyperLink control to provide
a link to Digit’s home page, serving
here very much the same function as
an tag would do in HTML. Drag a
HyperLink control on to the bottom of
your form. Set the ID to hypContact,
Browse to the image you want to place in your site and add the relevant information. Visual Studio will do the rest its NavigateURL to http://www.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 131
Free CMS
Wolfram | Alpha You could also consider opting for theme-based open
Microsoft’s Bing search engine has now teamed up with source content management systems such as WordPress,
Developer corner Wolfram | Alpha to increase its reach of algorithms Joomla or Drupal to create your own web site
thinkdigit.com, and its text (which FORM AUTHENTICATION You can change the order of rules and
will become its inner HTML) to Think hence the priority. If you have a large
Digit Homepage. Finally, set the Target Enable forms authentication and denying number of rules to create, it’s easier to
to _blank to render the content in a new anonymous users in the web.config: edit the web.config file. Once you’ve
unnamed window without frames. specified the authentication mode and
... the authorisation rules, you need to
Setting up Users and Roles build the actual login page, which is
You’d prefer your personal web site to an ordinary ASPX page that requests
make sure users “log in” before viewing information from the user and decides
your personal content. This allows the whether the user should be authenti-
site to restrict access to random people, cated or not.
and also allows the user to personalise
the site to their individual needs. ... Putting together
Not long ago, creating the frame- ... the pieces
work of logging in was a tedious and You’ve run all the pages from within
Now, users will be redirected to a
time consuming job: you had to create a Visual Studio 2010, and the web server
login page named Login.aspx that you
database to track users, create the ability need to create. When the user clicks you’ve been using is the ASP.NET
to maintain secure passwords by hard on the Login button, the page checks Development Server that’s built into
coding, ensure authorisation on each whether the user has typed in the Visual Studio. This set-up is good for
password ‘zxcvqwerty’ and then uses the
page, assign users to “roles” (such as RedirectFromLoginPage() method to log testing. However, you can’t run a public
guest, member, owner and wizard), and the user in. Here’s the complete page web site this way. For starters, it’s
so on. You also had to write code for all code: unlikely that your computer is set up as
the controls that allow the user to log in, public partial class Login : System.Web. a web server.
UI.Page
to recover passwords, to change pass- { The ASP.NET Development Server
words, and so forth. protected void cmdLogin_Click(Object that you’ve been using can’t be used
Click the Security tab. You’ll see a sender, EventArgs e) to serve a public web site as it accepts
window that gives you links to set the {
requests only from the local computer.
if (txtPassword.Text.ToLower() ==
authentication type, define authorisa- “zxcvqwerty”) You have a couple of options to get your
{ site live that depend on how much of the
FormsAuthentication. site administration you want to take on.
RedirectFromLoginPage(
The easiest and most common option is
txtName.Text, false);
} to rent space from a hosting company and
else link it to your domain. Another option
{ is to host the web site on a computer you
lblStatus.Text = “Try again.”;
maintain yourself. This is less common,
}
} but certainly possible.
} There you have a functional web site
with user registration, your personal
tion rules (using the access rules sec- information, photos, session state, and
tion), and enable role-based security for a consistent look and feel, all coded
your web site. by you. You can now go out and create
To set an applica- POWERED BY
tion to use forms Post your comments at
authentication, click http://thinkdigit.com/d/dec09/
on Select Authen-
tication Type. Choose From the sites that you didn’t dream were pos-
Internet. Click on Done. The appro- sible – before you read this, that is.
priate authorisation tag will be created There are plenty of more features that
in the web.config file automatically. you could add to this site, such as more
Next, define the authorisation rules complex validation, user profiles, data
for different types of users. To do so, handlers, image gallery and LINQ. The
click on the Create Access Rules link. example here provides a good start for
Set parameters for your web site, without bothering To manage multiple rules, you’ll need additional exploration in web develop-
about code to click the Manage Access Rules link. ment using Visual Studio.
132 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Community COD: MW2
Digit’s “Reader’s of Trust” Dirt 2 The lowdown on the
Esc 138 awards, and a modding
thread on the forum 144 We review the latest in
off-road racing 150 controversial Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 2
DIARY
Geek culture: Posthumanism v gt a lot of mails n sms lngwj, so v thot v wud nflict sm of d
torture on u n dis mnth’s dgt diary. cybrjnky is d wthrman
Posthumanism, or Transhumanism is an umbrella term for a
arnd here, nd is much b8r thn thos wthrmen in nuz chans,
wide spectrum of beliefs about the direction in which bcoz of his hbt of campng at strng sites no1 relly goes 2. nd
technology should accentuate the human evolution. whn the frst reprts of dis mnth’s cyclone strtd comn in, cj
hd googl wthr on his scrn b4 any1 cud say “lets tk d rest of
d day off.” Mst of us cudnt rly see nethng in d green n blu
dat was on his scrn, mch less mk out d cntry. Thr was hwvr,
Body
a bg swrl of vite, whch was d cyclone, bt cybrjnky sd it ws
“prtty fr off”, nd dat it “wudnt hit da city”, so we hd to sty
bk at wrk. hw v wish v wer at schl.
cyclones nd tyr pnctrs wer no excuz 4 a nu schm dat
rabo came up wth. ne1 who came 2 wrk l8r thn 10 hd 2 pay
rs. 50 fr evry hlf hr dey wer l8. no1 cme on tme, n teh ktty is
gting bigr. At ths r8, rabo vil b d nxt mbani.
Now wasn’t that fun? Please remember to write to us
IMMORTALITY CYBORGS CLONING in English that others can understand, or we’ll write the
Medicine progressing Think RoboCop, Human cloning is whole magazine like that next time. You’ve been warned!
enough to allow or Vader not another primary
immortality, some Terminator. Human objective of
say the first are bodies merging posthumanists, as is
Flash Games: N
already born. with machines. genetic modification. This flash game has a net.art styling, and is a lightweight
but futuristic environment. You are a small ninja in one of
three episodes, collecting golden cubes (actually squares),
and jumping around in a gamespace with very interesting
Mind
physics. Some blocks wobble, N almost flies when he jumps,
and you have to be on the look out for all sorts of things
thrown in your way, including heat seeking missiles.
NEUROHACKING MIND UPLOADING AUGEMENTED
Fiddling around Feeding your brain Reality: Digital
with the neurons in into computers, living overlays in real life,
the brain to amp it in virtual reality and sort of like the HUD
up and for better transfer to another in popular games
memory. body, say an android. and MIT’s sixth sense.
Species
1337sp33k
Stay up to date with internet lingo, so you don’t wt? the next
time you are chatting with someone
COLONISATION OMEGA POINT POSTGENDERISM
ttfn: tata for now, used to sign off at the end of a conversation
Moving out of the The point at which Blurring the lines
homeworld and evolution ends, and between male and tubes: wires, network, whatever makes stuff on the net go from
seeding colonies on we reach the status female to create one place to another. Used as a substitute for the internet.
other planets and of the ultimate a unisex species Cake: from the popular game Portal, Cake is something that
systems. beings. through medicine.
is imaginary, as in the answer to the square root of pi.
How we unwind
Movies Game
Music
Paranormal Activity: We were STAR WARS, The Force unleashed:
Transcend: A free album by Indian
caught up in the storm of hype We succumbed to the dark side
rock artist Sridhar. Available at
this small budget Cloverfield like by playing the Sith Unleashed
http://www.sridharsmusic.com.
film threw up. Ultimate Edition of the game.
134 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Uncharted 2 Origins
152 We check out if Among
Thieves is worthy of honour 154 Is the new Dragon Age iteration
worth all the hype? 158 Sigma 2
A rehashed version of Ninja Gaiden 2 Unwind
NEWS
Google StreetView does it yet again www.sketchfu.com
It seems that the Google StreetView team has not learnt from
it’s mistakes in the past. Reader’s will remember the passed out
Australian, the litigation by just another person in her front garden
who felt her privacy was invaded, and a person flashing the finger
as the StreetView car passed by.
This time around, Google has managed to capture a spaniard
taking a leak on a beach. Funnily enough, this is not the first
time that Google StreetView has made this very same mistake.
Previously, bookmarks and diggs showed a man in San Fransisco
watering the plants, and a woman in Madrid hiding behind a car
for some privacy. What takes the cake, however is that Google offi-
cially promoted the particular link as a holiday destination. Instead
of wiping the image using a photoediting software, the image was
removed entirely with a notice “This Image is no longer available.”
Some of us spotted the StreetView cars roaming about in Mumbai. A great Web 2.0 site for creating and sharing basic sketches. You
We wait to see if India throws up anything interesting. can start right away, or login to save and share sketches. All sketches
record a complete history of your work, and this can be edited at any
stage by the people that you share your sketches with. If you do dive
in and are unsure about what to draw, then there is a great widget on
the side that throws up interesting ideas. We got “insane python”, but
we did this instead. Really great, but we wish there were more tools.
The Jargon file
Muddled by all the terms we use? Here’s your short guide to the
tech terms used in the magazine
Open Source: Software which allows users to have the source
code, or the programming of the software itself. This means that
users have the freedom to modify the software they use. The
source code is either free, given free with the software license, or
sold seperately. Closed Source software don’t distribute, share
or sell the source code at all.
Compression: Reducing the footprint of files in system memory.
DirectX: A trademark Microsoft product that acts as a mid-
dleman between games and system hardware such as graphic
cards and sound cards. Instructions from a game engine are
interpreted by DirectX and passed on to the hardware.
Image Credit: Joshua O’Neill
tech art: Digital Painting
Digital Painting is the technique of using digital painting software,
along with a tablet to simulate real world materials and substrates.
This can range from canvas to paper, and the paints could be oil, water
colour, or other mediums. The portfolio for this particular artist is
located at www.noonanworks.com.
Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 135
Follow Agent 001 We speak your language
For regular updates from Digit go to Think you have what it takes to be a coder? Presenting Digit’s
Community www.twitter.com/digitindia platform for developers. Log on to devworks.thinkdigit.com
October Digit Festival Contest Winners.
Let the modding festivities begin ! Lucky participants who answered daily questions and won all
Some machine men of the digit community just cant get enough of modding. Take Rollercoaster this cool stuff are mentioned below. All prizes will be received
a compulsive modder who even took apart a UPS to try and mod it with funky LEDs and increase before 10th December 2009. If you do not receive the same
battery life. Here’s his latest thread on modding where he shows off his CoolerMaster Scout mod
till this date, please mail us at subscription@thinkdigit.
with neon. http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122108 com. [Winners of the Grand/Mega prizes on next page.]
WINNER’S NAME CITY
DIGIT FAST TRACK
Rachit Kalia Ludhiana
Pushpa Lakra Jamshedpur
Rohan Mathew Waynad
Rahul Kharyal New Delhi
Anita Bhanja Bhubaneswar
Ratan Gupta Jabalpur
Sonal Jindal Meerut
Hidaytullakhan Parmar Banaskantha
Arun Prakash Coimbatore
Vishal G Mistry Umbergaon
Gagan Jindal Meerut
Aditya Bansal Agra
Adarsh Mishra Noida
Chetan Shetty Thane
Rohan Mathew Waynad
David Baruah Guwahati
PEN DRIVE
Anand Doshi Mumbai
Indranil Nanda Calcutta/Kolkata
Mohamed Fasilm NA
Ravi Shukla Akola
Srinath H. R. Bangalore
Anand Bhopal
TECH BOOK
Rajat Bhatnagar Secunderabad
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Mir Muzafar Altaf JammuTawi
Urmilla New Delhi
DIGIT SUBSCRIPTION
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Nirmalya Royn Guwahati
Prashant Shah Calcutta/Kolkata
PHOTO FRAME
B.Uma Maheswara Reddy Secunderabad
Manish Maini Delhi
tezguru.com languages like C++ and
then eventually PHP”
he says in his rustic
It's not everyday that search me to a cybercafe which is 16 English. He even printed
engines get launched. Especially kilometers away by motorcycle. promotional leaflets to
by 15 year olds from unheard I sit there for eight hours a day locally popularise the
of rural areas like Siwan in and work on the search engine” engine's ability to sniff
the heart of Bihar. But this he says. What about the engine out songs in regional
is precisely what Shivendu itself? “It's back-end is not languages and he
Madhava, a proud member based on any other search also promotes it on a
of the Digit community since engine”, he explains. How developmental forum
2006, has done by launching a then did a 15 year old kid with called biharbrains.org.
new search engine called www. very limited internet access His efforts seem to be paying capital to fund two other
tezguru.com, while struggling build a search engine from off. “Tezguru.com gets upwards projects in the pipeline. One is a
against considerable odds. scratch? “I've got interested in of 3,000 unique hits on a daily mail service called Tezmail and
“Since internet connection IT four years ago. Since then, I basis”, he says. Now this bright the other an Indian blogging
is a scarcity, my dad drives started learning programming boy is looking for venture service called Tezpress.
138 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Microscopic recognition Green cola
A microscopic photograph of a flea that looks like a Coca Cola goes green by bringing paintless cans that would
Community glowing alien wins a top photography prize help save energy while reducing air and water pollution
GRAND PRIZE MEGA PRIZES
Hero Electric MAXI
Vigneshwar Bose, Ooty MapmyIndia GPS device Gift from TECH-COM
Rohan Mathew, Wayanad • Hidaytullakhan Parmar, Banaskantha
GRAND PRIZE • Krishnamoorthy, Chennai
Hero Electric contest Genius Camera • Rohit Rajpal, Ghaziabad
winner for September09 Pushpa Lakra, Jamshedpur • Amanpreet Singh Arora, Ghaziabad
Deepak Patel, Kanpur Narendra Dhande, Navi Mumbai • Vaithianathan D, Chennai
Consumer Protection
T
he service aspect of any the limits and extent of the warranties company arrive a suitable resolution of the
technology product you buy as offered. The small print usually lists all issue. Although making a complaint over
consumers, is often neglected. the liabilities of the manufacturer or the the phone may seem as a more direct way
The service has a history of company providing you with service. to communicate, e-mails are a better and
being so abysmal, that consumers tend When you complain, there are steps you more fruitful way to contact a company.
to take all responsibility of the product at can take to make sure that your problem Anyone who replies the mails is
the point of sale. is addressed quickly, and you and the very likely to know more about the
When things go wrong however, it can be problem, and guide you towards the
a horrible experience running from pillar procedure in a better manner. This also
When you do face terribly bad service,
to post just to get things to work again. It is and don't know what to do next, we are serves the purpose of recording all the
a doubly frustrating experience when you there to help you out. Write in a mail to communication between you and the
have no single person to hold responsible. servicewatch@thinkdigit.com, and we will company. If you do call up the company,
take up your problem with the company.
In such situations, being prepared and demand that you get a complaint number
When you mail in to us, make sure you
knowing your rights as a consumer will include all the e-mails back and forth, and to track the progress of your complaint,
take you a long way in finding solutions. the details of all telephonic communication and note down the date and time of the
When you make a purchase, be sure to you had with the company. This makes us call, as well as the name of the person you
better equipped to tackle the problem.
carefully file the bill, and understand spoke to, along with their designation.
December 2009 Digit is taking interactivity to a new level, and will be organising events every month. You get
to meet and interact with people that you wouldn’t in the normal course of your life — industry
experts, Team Digit, and other readers with similar interests. Stay updated and stay ahead of the
curve by looking for this page in every month’s magazine.
Career Webinar Mobile Technology
In the last few years telecom industry, especially mobile phones, have changed the way people look at telephones.
The ‘6-inch’ device has changed the rules of the communications game and now has become the first digital device
that the next generation acquires. The Mobile phone has already started challenging the computer, both in terms
of capability and cost. It is the ‘In’ thing now. Siddhartha Singh, a technology enthusiast who works as Senior
Technology Manager in Mavenir will talk about the mobile industry as a whole as well as its potentials and future
DECEMBER 11 role in shaping the next generation. He will also talk about various application like LBS and others in the webinar.
TIME: 1500 HRS Send in specific questions before the webinar to careertalks@thinkdigit.com with a subject line “Mobile”.
Digit Webinar Demystifying HTPCs
Setting up a Home Theatre PC to satisfy your downloading and media entertainment needs has never been
so easy. Since prices are at an all time low, the timing cant be better to go in for an HTPC – join us and find
out how. In this webinar we’ll talk about the hardware you’ll need, how to assemble it, and the software
you can install to set up your own HTPC. Explore the world of Mini-ITX cabinets and cool media centre
software like XBMC media software. Learn about air mouse remotes, wireless keyboards, and the tricky
DECEMBER 12 art of setting up DVR on an HTPC.
TIME: 1700 HRS
For details on upcoming webinars and to view past webinars, visit thinkdigit.com/webinars
140 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
Back on track On-demand abuse reporting
CERN scientists successfully restart the Large The social networking site Bebo has set up a special onscreen
Community Hadron Collide after a year long delay panic button for users to report abuse without delays
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Readers of trust trophy winners
Ever year we have our Icons of Trust initiative which rewards brands for listening to the needs of the users, and
providing excellent products and service. But this year we added a new spin to it. We started a category called
Reader of Trust, to felicitate those readers who have spread awareness, helped and educated their peers. So it was Twenty-five years in IT has given Prashant Joshi plenty of
payback time for many readers who have for years been imparting their knowledge for free. If you’re one of them – learning room and 1000s of people who have gone with his
a guidance guru, you would surely know how everyone from your family, friends, neighbours, and even the clueless recommendations before making their purchase. Prashant
local assembler pretty much depends on you for all their tech shopping needs. Such readers had to nominate says he is in the ‘business of faith’, because so many people
themselves for a chance for fame and glory while 10 other lucky participants won Digit subscriptions. Three of these have trusted his word before buying their computer. “In my
who garnered the most number of votes won the Readers of Trust Trophy. And here they are. twenty-five years of association with IT, I am happy to see the
spotlight turned on the readers for the first time, a pioneering
effort, which would pave way to a growing community of
‘reader-contributors’ in future.” he adds.
ROHAN MATTHEW,
23 YEARS OLD, KALPETTA TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE AT A
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
He says that there is an increased need for advice in his
neighbourhood and he seems to have become the local
consultant for gadget-buying advice. Friends, family and
ANISH SAWANT
24 YEARS OLD, VASAI, MUMBAI, ENGINEERING STUDENT
people he’s never met call him up regularly to make sure they
He says that his subscription to Digit has been good guidance make the biggest bang for their buck. He recalls how he’s
for his recommendations. His recommendations have spanned made the most recommendations, based on the Monitor-
10 years. Yes, that’s right. Since he was 13 years old which he special issue of Digit. “I am honoured to receive this trophy
calls the “AIWA CD player days” he has been the guidance guru and being selected as Reader of Trust by Digit. This gives me PRASHANT JOSHI,
to most of his peers. even more confidence in providing IT advice.” he says.
46 YEARS OLD, NAGPUR, SELLS HARDWARE AND CONDUCTS IT TRAINING
142 Digit | December 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
144 Colin McRae: DiRT 2
146 Brütal Legend
150 Call of Duty :
Modern Warfare 2
152 Uncharted 2:
Among Thieves
154 Dragon Age: Origins
158 Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
SKOAR! Special
Colin McRae:
Dirt 2 Review
Reviewer: Faiyaz Shaikh
Genre: Racing
Platform: PC, Play-
Station 3, PSP, Microsoft
XBOX 360, Nintendo
DS, Nintendo Wii
Developer:
Codemasters
Publisher:
Codemasters, SCEE
game will use to refer to you.
Price:
This follows into a video tutorial
PlayStation 3- Rs. 2,499/-
PSP- Rs. 1,499/- that walks you through the ropes. Along
with your race cars, the game provides
A
you with a trailer that acts like a hub and
doubles up as the game’s menu system.
fter the untimely demise of Races in Dirt 2 takes places in multiple
the Scottish rally legend, locations and across four continents—North
Dirt 2 comes across as much America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
as a tribute, as it is a follow- The racing events in each of these places
up to success of Dirt. As are laid out on an events map as they become
far as this game goes, the void left by Colin available. The primary objective of your career
What We Like McRae’s absence has mainly been filled by is to earn experience points and money.
l Variety of race tracks two American rally drivers—Ken Block and Experience points are earned by winning races
and locations Travis Pastrana. and reaching certain milestones in your career.
l Rally races are a joy As expected, experience points add up
l
l
Difficulty scales well
Immersive
Of Races and Places to advancing your character level; which
The game’s career mode starts off with your is essential since racing events become
What We Hate racer profile by selecting you name, gender, only available after reaching a certain
nationality and picking a nickname that the level of experience. Money is obviously
l Race loading time
earned by winning events; however the
Too
l few upgrade
and customisation amount of money earned per event
options depends on the difficulty level that you
THE SKOAR !
Graphics.......8 8
Sound ..........6
Gameplay ....9
Mojo ............7
144 SKOAR! | December 2009 | www.skoar.com
select before each race. Money is me, the best experience was racing in rally
used to purchase new rides or to events—essentially racing solo in a point-
upgrade cars you already own. to-point event over some beautifully
There are two types of race tracks crafted tracks. The games graphic engine
in Dirt 2—traditional rally circuits does a pretty good job at delivering
that are completely off-road, dirt the whole experience of racing through
tracks and hybrid tracks that are the rugged race tracks. You get to race
a combination of dirt and tarmac through wilderness of Malaysia, deserts of
sections. There are several event types Morocco, gravel-filled roads in China.
available on these two tracks—circuit Perhaps word of caution to casual
races, last man standing, one-on-one racers— even on lowered difficulty level,
challenges, rally, etc. There is another the game keeps you on the edge. Being
race type worth mentioning called the first to cross the finish line requires a
Gate Crasher where the objective is touch of finesse— push your car in one
to achieve the fastest lap and smash direction too hard and you’ll find your car
through as many “gates” as you can. spinning out of control. The “Flashback”
All the races on the map essentially feature of this game comes as a savior for Pole Position
add up to be qualifiers for bigger the lesser-skilled racers such as me. Overall my experience with Dirt 2 was
events like the X-Games and World For a limited number of times, quite enjoyable, although there were
Championship events. Winning these the game allows you to correct your times when I wished those Buggies
big events reaps a major payout in mistakes by letting you “rewinding” were not so damn difficult to handle.
terms of cash, XP and sometimes even the race within a specific timeframe. Thankfully, the way the events are
new rides. In absence of this feature of course, setup, you can avoid certain races
one mistake could potentially compel and still achieve major landmarks in
The Bounty and the you to completely restart the race. The your career. There is a good variety of
Beast number of Flashbacks available per vehicles in this game.
Other bonus rewards come in the form race and varying degrees of driving In spite of near 4 GB installation
of liveries (skin) for cars, dashboard assists are available depending on on the PS3, there were instances of
and windshield toys, horn types and the difficulty level you choose before texture pop-ins. Also, the relatively
rally partners. each level. These features combine to high load-times are especially
When you sum all this up, there is do an admirable job at satisfying the unpleasant during multiple race
plenty in the game to keep an average casual racers, Zen masters of racing and events like the World Championship—
gamer busy for about 15- 20 hours. For everyone in between. often times, the rush from a previous
race is lost staring at the loading
screen. I recommend this game;
especially to those that are looking for
something that is right in between an
arcade-style racer like NFS or Midnight
Club and racing simulations like Gran
Turismo or Forza Motorsports.
SKOAR! | December 2009 | www.skoar.com 145
SKOAR! Special
up of
h a gro
ship wit d
He fi nds kin aracte r name
by a ch
A
is
ds a nd ts, led ied by h
etal Go dissiden compan
trib ute to M the lford w ho is ac rest in the
across Lars Ha love inte
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Brutal Legend glo be—Tim labor o
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’s latest ss a bun for their
Review his team een the me acro upport
s finally s will co ey g arner s econd-
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Reviewer: Faiyaz Shaikh tal Lege ythos— ainst th
e Em
whyte.
day. Brü d roll m fight ag ral Lion
Genre: Action, Adventure light of rock an art d, Gene se
world o
f on man this cau
Platform: Microsoft fantasy d based in-com ght for
ft ed worl nd M etal Eddie fi etal
Xbox360, PlayStation 3 rtly cra ology a Helping al of m
an expe e myth uch al arsen battlea
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Developer: Double Fine of Nors st as m is his person uitar, a
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Productions This ga ds of yo
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Price:
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PlayStation 3, Xbox 360- owed. EN
that foll AND M
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INR 2499/-
U TION O
OF RETRIB ame is a red u refre
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should
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The prota the na me en gine, th
re one of those e
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WHAT WE LIKE disillu form, E
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Great tracklist for
l ht at ho
Metal fans feels rig ot well
world . All is n
Captures the spirit
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of Metal mythos in his n nds
Good humor
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WHAT WE HATE out tha al
tyrannic
l than satisfying
Less by the
game play r
Empero
Offers little to those
l s.
who are not fans of D oviculu
metal music
146 SKOAR! | December 2009 | www.skoar.com
was created and ruled by a great fire-and-metal beast
called Ormagöden. After the beast’s fall, the world was
inherited by a race of super-humans called The Titans who’s
greatest contribution to the world is Heavy Metal music.
For most part, the game plays like a typical open-world
game. However, what sets this game apart from the rest is
the intricately crafted architecture and landscape. Strewn
across the world map are triggers for the game’s main
campaign mission and a host of side-mission. Completion
of these missions is rewarded with Fire Tributes—a
currency of this world, used to purchase upgrades.
Providing these upgrades is the Guardian of Metal— a
role expertly played by Ozzy Osbourne.
In addition to completing these missions, Fire Tribute The game has a fair bit of variety when it comes to
can be earned by unlocking points of interest scattered combat. Combination of guitar and battleaxe can be
throughout the game world— each with its own, used to attack your enemies with some devastating
additional unique reward. For example, freeing a fixed combos, most of them stylized after the on-stage
number of gagged Dragon Statues will be rewarded with antics of Metal bands. Ranged fire power is available
a boost to character attributes like health. Other rewards by using only the guitar—either in the form of
come in the form of new guitar solos, additional music combos or guitar solos.
tracks that can be played on The Deuce’s radio, insight Guitar solos take on the traditional role of magic
into the origin of the world and a panoramic view of the spell and works a lot like note matching style of music
world’s many landmarks. games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Some of these
guitar solos are context sensitive, while most of them
VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER have unlimited uses. To prevent spamming however,
Fire Tributes are exchanged to purchase, among other some of these powers have a cool-down timer.
things, upgrades for your guitar, battleaxe and the hotrod. Additional combos and weapon upgrades become
Most notable of these upgrades are the ones available for available as you progress in the main campaign and
your car— on complete upgrade, it transforms The Deuce they can be accessed by visiting Guardian of Metal at
into one of the best looking cars ever seen in a game. one of the several Metal Forges in the game world.
It’s not all about looking cool however, as there is some
serious fire power available for your machine, along with BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE
performance and armor upgrades. SLAUGHTER
Apart from the solo exploration missions, the game
will throw you into a group battle called Stage Battle.
This mode has some elements from the RTS genre
and some from squad-based games like Overlord and
Pikmin. In a Stage Battle, a concert stage acts as a base
of operations and the battle commences with each
side setting up their own stage.
The ultimate goal here is to destroy the
opposing forces’ Stage. To achieve this goal, you’ll
need to recruit combatents from your Stage—
SKOAR! | December 2009 | www.skoar.com 147
SKOAR! Special
more powerful units will
only become available after
you upgrade your Stage. To
purchase upgrades and recruit
units, you’ll need to spend Fan
Tributes that can be acquired by
building a Merch Booth (merchandise
booth) on top of Fan Geysers. Hence,
having more Merch Booths than your
opponent becomes essential a part of your
winning strategy.
For most part, Eddie will play a more indirect
role in this type of battle by issuing commands and
buffing his own units or de-buffing enemy units.
He can also team up with any of the available units
to unleash some special attacks. If the enemy units
get too close to your Stage, a last line of defence is to seven hours. Additionally,
available in the form of speakers and spot-lights. like with most open-world
games, the side mission can
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS get a bit repetitive. For me
In terms of game-play, Brütal Legend does not offer however, the biggest gripe
anything revolutionary. What it does well is combine was the control and camera
some of the tried-and-tested elements from other system, particularly during the Stage Battles.
games to a generally satisfying effect. The game has a Issuing commands to you units (especially individual
brilliantly funny script that we all have come to expect commands) during the heat of the battle can be a
from Tim Schafer, which is further supported by some bit difficult and may take a bit of practice to master.
solid voice acting from the likes of Rob Halford, Lita To that effect, the game does offer you an option to
Ford, Tim Curry and David Cross, among others. practice your Stage Battle skills with the game’s A.I
Most notable of the lot is voice acting by Ozzy before you challenge others in the unforgiving world
Osbourne with his signature broody voice and the of online multiplayer gaming.
work of self-styled messiah of Rock ’n’ Roll, Jack All in all this is one solid game and a must have
Black— who has given the voice to the game’s for all music fans, especially Heavy Metal. For others,
protagonist. The game serves its intended audience there is the prospect of exploring a well-crafted game
of Metal fans well, featuring a track list that can be world with unique art style. If none of these tickle your
envy of any music game. Consisting of over 100 tracks fancy, then you can count on the game’s script that
by over 70 different bands, the track list reads like a ensures there is never a dull moment.
Who is Who of Metal Legends, along with some lesser
known cult classic and some original composition for
good measure.
THE SKOAR !
HARD AS A ROCK Graphics.......7 8
Like all the other games out there, Brütal Legend also
has some flaws—most of them minor and none that
Sound ........10
are game breaking. For one, some people may find Gameplay ....6
the main campaign a little short spanning over six Mojo ............9
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REALISM REDEFINED THE SKOAR !
A COMPELLING EXPERIENCE Graphics ...... 9 9.5
The storyline of Modern Warfare 2 picks up
Audio ..........10
where the prequel left off, recapping the
events in a title sequence. There is nothing Mojo ............ 9
spectacular in the plot, but it’s still an Gameplay..... 9
imaginative take on how the next big war
Modern Warfare 2 could happen: an American mass-murderer in amount of realism. It’s your choice whether
Reviewer: Mihir Patkar Russia gives Kremlin the opportunity to go for to shoot someone or not, and whether to put
Genre: Action, Shooter an all-out war. anyone out of their misery; but the level of
Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, PS3 Over the course of the game, there are realism that the graphics have achieved goes
No of players: Single, Coop, Multi several plot twists, intriguing sub-plots and against the game here. It’s almost like the
some amazing character-development. The Uncanny Valley effect.
Developer: Infinity Ward player alternates between the role of US Army
Publisher: Activision, Square Enix Ranger Pvt James Ramirez and an agent in SOUNDS GOOD
www.modernwarfare2.com a multinational special ops unit, named Sgt. Infinity Ward went all-out in this department,
Gary ‘Roach’ Sanderson. In your journey, you hiring renowned multi-Oscar-winning composer
SyStem RequiRement will meet popular characters from the first Hans Zimmer for the game’s soundtrack. A fast-
OS: Windows XP, Vista and 7 game – such as original ‘Soap’ MacTavish – and paced score while battling multiple enemies
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 encounter interesting new ones like a covert in an urban slum makes you instinctively hold
GHz or AMD Athlon 64 3200+ agent who goes by the call-sign ‘Ghost’. the button to sprint; flat, deep notes greet
processor or better | RAM: 1 GB The essentials of your objectives in the game you when you are looking down the scope of a
Graphics: 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce are quite clichéd: proving America’s innocence, sniper rifle.
6600GT, or ATI Radeon 1600XT finding the truth behind the entire war and And yet, all of it is so wonderfully gelled
HDD: 12 GB free HDD space administering justice. Yet, the way Infinity Ward into the background that it never dominates
Other: Microsoft DirectX(R) 9.0c has handled these tried-and-tested elements is the gaming experience, and only adds to the
| 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible what makes MW2 such a special treat. ambience. The sound that comes from the gun
sound card | Internet Connection you fire is just as important as the feel of the
required for activation WHAT? THAT’S NOT REAL!? fun, and MW2 knows that.
The lighting and smoke effects in the game
have no parallel; from dim light to bright, FEELS JUST RIGHT
everything looks just perfect. The snow-based The ‘feel’ of a game is often talked about in
levels even have spots that reflect the light reviews. It’s an unquantifiable and largely
harshly, causing a bit of snow blindness. inexplicable term, yet one of the most intuitive
It’s the attention to detail that grabs you aspects that everyone understands easily. This
in MW2. A soldier standing for a long time appeal to a base instinct is a remarkable aspect
shifts weight from one foot to the other; when of video games, one that is often experienced
sneaking up on someone through bushes, the with music but not as often with cinema.
squad leader ahead of you slowly moves a Modern Warfare 2 packs a punch. It delivers
fallen twig aside; and the blood splatter when great highs and sombre lows; it gets you
you are hit by a bullet looks frighteningly real! involved and makes you care; it challenges your
skills and wit; and overall, it goes beyond being
THE AIRPORT MASSACRE just a game. Play the game for its incredible
+ What We Like: Now, this isn’t the first time that a terrorist bridging of cinema and games. Play it for
Pretty much everything. act has been depicted on screen, or in a video its amazing action sequences and addictive
But a special mention for Hans game for that matter. And with games like gameplay. Play it for the incredible visuals and
Zimmer’s incredible soundtrack Carmageddon and Grand Theft Auto, it’s also not the inspired soundtrack.
the first time you are killing civilians and cops. But beyond all that, Modern Warfare 2 has a
- What We hate: What is different, though, is that when solid ‘feel’, and that alone makes it a game that
The end credits played from a first-person perspective with this no one should miss out on.
150 Digit | June 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
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WORTHY
Uncharted
Reviewer: Faiyaz Shaikh
of Honour
U
Genre: Action, Adventure
Platform: PlayStation 3 ncharted 2: Among female associate Chloe Frazer. Making
Developer: Naughty Dog Thieves is a follow-up a comeback from the last outing are
Publisher: Sony release by Naughty Elena Fisher and Drake’s most trusted
Computer Entertainment Dog to 2007’s runaway friend Victor “Sully” Sullivan. The game
hit Uncharted: Drake’s introduces a few more characters as the
Price: Fortune. Among Thieves does not add adventure will take you from Istanbul to
PlayStation 3- INR 2,499/- anything significantly different to the the jungles of Borneo, from the urban
series—it continues to be everything streets of Nepal to the snow-capped
that made the first game so much fun, Himalayan Mountains.
only with a lot more polish. The visuals
are slicker than the last time thanks to Drake’s Fortune
the use of smoother animation, coupled Endures
with improved lighting and physics. This Just like in the first game, you’ll be solving
game has all the elements you would puzzles and scaling heights as you inch
expect to find in a typical summer action closer to your destination. For combat in
flick—a reluctant hero, camaraderie, the game, it retains cover-based shooting
WHAT WE LIKE betrayal, romance and some over-the- mechanism coupled with occasional
Great tracklist for Metal fans
l top set pieces. melee bouts. Use of stealth in the game
Captures the spirit
l
This time around Nathan Drake is on has been expanded over last time;
of Metal mythos
Good humor
l the trail of Marco Polo’s ill-fated return however the system is anything
journey from China, in a quest to find the but perfect— in fact it could use
WHAT WE HATE Chintamani Stone and discover the fabled a lot of polishing. Everything
Less
l than satisfying city of Shambala. Joining Drake on his else pretty much remains the
game play
new adventure, are two new characters— same— which is actually a good
Offers little to those
l
who are not fans of Harry Flynn, a long time friend and his thing in this case, since there
metal music
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was not a lot in suspend logical reasoning for about 10 –
the first game 12 hours it takes to finish the game.
that needed fixing.
You can still carry only Extra Booty
two weapons—a side-arm and a primary Earning medals by locating hidden treasures
weapon—along with a limited number and achieving combat-related landmarks will
of grenades. Speaking of which, it has bring greater reward this time around. Each
become a lot simpler in this game to use time you earn a medal, the game rewards
and control throw of a grenade. There you with in-game dollars which can be used
is a decent variety of weapons in the to unlock bonus content like concept art
game and certain set-pieces are designed and behind-the-scenes videos. Majority of
tightly around usage of the right weapon. this reward will be spent unlocking character
Platforming remains an integral part of the models, skins and weapons for the games
game, but this time expert use of dynamic multiplayer mode.
camera angles gives it a more dramatic feel. The most significant change in Uncharted
High tension, the constantly changing 2 is the addition of multiplayer game
locations and often relentless action adds modes—something that was completely
excitement to what would otherwise be a absent in the first game. There are both
repetitive task of ducking and shooting. co-operative and competitive game modes
The more tranquil parts of the game that available for online play. Co-operative
are spent solving puzzles and finding your game mode supports a maximum of
way around, are nicely filled in with well three players with missions similar to
directed cut-scenes and banter between the ones you find in the single player
the game’s characters. campaign. The four competitive modes
with a maximum limit of ten players
Last Action Hero are—Deathmatch, Plunder,
Just like an action movie this game Elimination and Chain
requires suspension of disbelief in order Reaction. All four of
to truly enjoy the roller-coaster ride them are essentially
that it offers. Stage and puzzle design variation of traditional
sometimes seem a bit too convenient multiplayer games like
giving the impression that the ancients capture-the-flag a nd
designed the place specifically for last man standing.
someone like Drake to access.
During gun-battles you will be Among
up against what would otherwise be Friends
considered overwhelming odds. By the .The multiplayer portion
time you are done with the game you will of the game is updated
have destroyed a decent sized well-armed using content streaming
battalion backed up with some heavy- method we often seen
duty firepower. So to get the best out in an MMORPG. The
of Uncharted 2, you’ll probably have to game patch and
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online updates collectively took a few attempts
to execute and about 20 minutes to download.
After logging on to the server, you have options
to either join an existing public game or host a
private game with gamers from your contact list.
We had little luck playing online— each time
the game took a few minutes before finding an
appropriate match. On a couple of occasions we
were kicked out of the game right after it started.
This could very well be a case of bad fortune
since according to the server stats, there were over very little to the challenge. However, this game comes
70,000 users connected at that time. highly recommended even if it is only for the 8- 10
After a few attempts we did manage to get into a hours of game play it offers. The game is a designing
game and stay there. The game selected for us by the success due to well-spaced out sequences of gun
server was a co-operative mode called Plunder, which battles, platforming and puzzle solving. Game-play is
is essentially capture the flag with ancient artifacts. We further supported by cut-scenes with the right kind
did not experience even the slightest lag during the 30- of lighting, camera work voice acting and a fitting
odd minutes we spent playing the game. Taking down background score—all the drama you would expect
enemies, rescuing you teammates and completing the from a Hollywood movie. If you own a PS3, this game
game objective, all earns you experience points that should be on top of your must-buy list—Uncharted 2
goes towards increasing character level. Usage of certain is the reason for the season.
weapons is restricted by the player’s character level.
Along with experience points, the game also rewards
you with currency just like in the single player mode.
As bonus online features, the game allows you to save
THE SKOAR !
Graphics.......8 9
video grab of your online match on the PS3 hard drive
and comes with built in support for Twitter. Audio ...........7
Mojo ............7
X Marks the Spot Gameplay ....9
Overall Uncharted 2 is a fun-
filled proposition; however,
it not by far a perfect game.
We noticed several issues
with AI scripts of both the
enemies and companions.
On occasions we experienced
game crashes and graphical
errors. Also, the set-pieces
are so tightly choreographed
that once you have finished
the game, playing it again
on a higher difficulty adds
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An Ancient Tale
Origins introduces us to this universe character creation, the process requires
through its denizens, their culture and you to select your background story; which
Dragon age: origins their religion – to that effect the game in turn determines the “Origins Story”.
Review by Faiyaz Shaikh deals with a phenomenon called the Blight. Various combinations of race, class and
Genre: RPG According to the religious beliefs of the background yields six unique origin stories.
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
humans of this world, their god, the Maker
Number of players: 1
ruled the world from the Golden City. The quest
On behest of the Old Gods, the Tevinter The background and race selected during
Developer: Bioware Imperium laid siege to the Golden City in the character creation will determine your
Publisher: EA an attempt to usurp the Maker’s throne. social standing in the game world. This
dragonage.bioware.com
The siege was a failure but it left the city subsequently affects disposition of the
corrupted; so the Maker banished them world towards you and will also offer a
for this transgression. Those corrupt are suitable starting point for your game.
referred to as the Darkspawn and when A common thread connects the six
they return in large numbers led by a unique Origins stories: each will invariably
corrupted Old God, you get the Blight. This lead to an encounter with a veteran Grey
is where an order of elite warriors called Warden and your recruiter. Without
The Grey Wardens come in – a response spoiling the game for you, the main quest
to the threat. You, of course, play one of in the game is that as one of the few
these wardens. surviving Grey Wardens in the area, you
need to garner support against the Blight
Be yourself; or not from humans, elves and dwarves. There is
You can choose from three archetype no morality (alignment) system is Dragon
fantasy races – Human, Elf and Dwarf. Age; however you will face choices that
Humans and Elves can choose between can be placed within a spectrum of good
fighter, rogue or the mage class; whereas and evil.
dwarves can choose either the fighter
or the rogue class. In the Dragon Age Hard to the core
universe, Dwarves do not get to be The effort it must take to create a
mages as they are racially resistant to tactical combat system is quite evident
the effects of Lyrium – the fuel of magic. with Dragon Age. Battle terrain plays a
After choosing your race and class during significant role in combat tactics, and
154 Digit | June 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com
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along with a combination of skills, talents Origins is unlike any recent Bioware game
and spells, the combat system offers a when it comes to the game’s mechanics;
wide variety of options to form a winning it’s hardcore.
strategy during hostile encounters. Spells While the game comes quite close to
use the caster’s pool of magic energy (or delivering on its promise of old-school
mana) and they come with cool-down tactical combat; it disappoints on the + What We Like:
timers. Similarly, Talents also have a cool- story front. Deep Combat System
down timer and they use the character’s Variety of strategic options
stamina instead of magic energy. There New plot, same as the old Improved party system
are also persistent spells and combat skills The one thing that stood out for me with - What We hate :
that reserve a certain amount of mana or Baldur’s Gate 2 was its main plot – it was Same old plot
Frequent crashes
stamina respectively. both personal and epic. Dragon Age can
Another layer of depth is added to the be summed up as clichéd. It offers the tired
combat system through implementation storyline of saving the world from imminent !System Requirements:
of spell combinations. Casting spells in a destruction. There are instances of déjà vu Minimum:
certain order (or combination) will yield with the main story and it often feels like old OS: Windows XP (SP3), Windows
Vista (SP1), or Windows 7
additional benefits, like increased damage. wine in a new bottle. The developers have
CPU: Intel Core 2 SINGLE 1.6 GHz
It is quite unlikely that you will be able to certainly experimented with presentation processor (or equivalent).
explore all these possibilities in a single and have approached aspects that are RPG RAM: 1 GB (1.5 GB for Vista &
play-through, so this works as an incentive staple; the game feels refreshing at that. I Windows 7).
to replay the game. believe that with role-playing games, what Disc Drive: DVD-ROM drive
required.
The specialised classes that you unlock leaves a lasting impression is your *role* in
Hard Drive: 20 GB HDD space.
are carried over to all subsequent play- the game world and how you fulfill that role Video: ATI Radeon x850 256 MB
through. This coupled with a better or achieve your objective. or greater, or NVIDIA GeForce
understanding of the game world, combat All the dialogues are spoken, so it 6600 GT 128 MB or greater.
mechanics, and items, should help you spares you from reading reams of text. Vista: Radeon X1550 256 MB;
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB
create a stronger, more focused character However, this is hampered by repetitive
Sound: Direct X-compatible
build from an early stage. A word of and irrelevant character animation during sound card.
caution – the game dictates a greater level conversations. There also appears be to
of patience and investment of time that we lack of variety with NPC models as you
are generally used to. often encounter characters with striking
Some enemy encounters, especially resemblance to each other.
tougher ones may require you to reload Technically the game is certainly an
the game a few times to rethink your improvement for Bioware; however it
strategy and approach. To slightly digress: is not without problems. There are a
the game recorded my total play time at few quest related glitches and crashes
over 60 hours with only 40 percent of game that had me scouring through various
completed! Levelling may thus be perceived discussion forums. The game patch and
as quite slow after the first four or five the official support forums were of little
levels as after spending 60+ hours in the help; thankfully this was offset by active
game, my character was just level 20. community based forums and wikis.
This much can be said about the Conclusively, Dragon Age Origins is a
combat system in Dragon Age Origins: pretty good game; however in its endeavor
those who revel in a tactical approach to to succeed Baldur’s Gate—it is a battle only
encounters will enjoy playing this game. half-won.
THE SKOAR
Graphics.......8 8
Audio ...........7
Mojo ............7
Gameplay ....9
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Ninja Gaiden
Sigma 2 Review
Reviewer: Faiyaz Shaikh
Genre: Action, Beat-em Up
Platform: PlayStation 3
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo, Tecmo Koei
Price:
PlayStation 3- INR 2,799/-
Hack,
Slash,
WHAT WE LIKE
l Plenty of content
l Good replay value
l Rebalanced difficulty
Rehashed
WHAT WE HATE
l Recycled plot
l Poor voice acting and script
T
omonobu Itagaki has left the building and yet the Additionally, veterans of Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox will find
show must go on. What’s left of Tecmo’s Team Sigma 2 far easier to beat— almost a walk in the park. Enemy
Ninja studio have gotten together to develop encounters in a chapter (or level) have been reduced and the
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for the PlayStation 3 number of enemies you find at a time on the screen is also low.
console. As most of you might have expected, In spite of more bosses in the game, the battles themselves are
Itagaki’s departure has had a significant effect on some of the far easier to win as the damage done by the player is greater and
key elements of the game. no longer dependant on which body part is hit.
The Two Nin Ninja Dog
You can either look at this game as a sequel to Ninja Gaiden Playing on “Warrior” difficult level, which is the highest
Sigma, which was released on the PS3 in 2007 or you could available during the first play-through, I was able to breeze
call it as a port of Ninja Gaiden 2, an Xbox 360 exclusive through the first eight or nine chapters without the need
released in June 2008. Whichever way you look at it, Ninja to cast Nimpo (magic) or purchase any healing items. In
Gaiden on the PlayStation 3 is a very different beast com- fact, Nimpo feels more like an added luxury rather than an
pared to its Xbox version. essential strategic addition to your arsenal as one can beat
Even though the game retains the dismembering the game without ever casting Nimpo.
Obliteration moves from Ninja Gaiden 2, blood is a rare sight in Ninja Gaiden games have always been reputed to be a
this game. Most enemies (like Spider Ninjas) bleed some kind difficult game to play, let alone master it and that has made it, to
of glowing liquid of various hues while others have green blood a certain extent, an elitist game. With rebalanced difficultly more
or oil oozing out of their corpses. Overall, gore in the game has people should be able to enjoy the awesomeness that is Ninja
been drastically toned down. Gaiden since the game still retains its tight combat mechanics.
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WMD output graphics at full HD resolution (1080p),
Ryu’s weapons stash has changed a bit something that is not very common on the
compared to Ninja Gaiden 2. There are PlayStation 3. Also, textures appear to be of
two ranged weapons available including a higher quality and the colors are more vivid. On
new one called Howling Cannon. All other the flipside however, there are stray issues with
ranged weapons from the Xbox360 version collision detection while in combat.
have been left out. Simple shurikens are
permanently mapped to a button on the Feat of Hundred Slashes
gamepad and always available to be thrown If you have not played Ninja Gaiden before, mainly
in conjunction with any of the other two due to the challenging combat, we would suggest
ranged weapons. giving this one a go. Even though this game is not as
On the other hand, all melee weapons simple as most of the other beat- ‘em ups, Sigma 2
have been retained and additionally has been rebalanced to favor the player.
Dabilahro makes a comeback in its new Relatively speaking, the game also packs
avatar of Enma’s Fang. Upgrading weapons a lot of content— for a first timer, the single
does not cost anything in this version, but player campaign can take about ten hours to
it is tightly controlled. Not all Muramasa complete. After you’ve done that there are
shops will have the option of upgrading “Chapter Challenge” and “Team Mission”
weapons and the upgrade level is locked modes to keep you busy for another few
with progress of the game. hours. At the end of all this, if you are
feeling cocky you could attempt to
From the Dojo of beat the game at Mentor and sub-
Colossal Bosoms sequently Master difficultly—not
Rachel, the demon huntress from the a simple task by any means.
first Sigma game makes a comeback as a If you like collecting game
playable character. Joining forces with her trophies, there are trophies for
are two other familiar maidens—the ninja mastering all four playable char-
Ayane and the shrine maiden Momiji. They acters, their weapons, Nimpo and even
each come with their exclusive arsenal— a some special moves.
melee weapon, a ranged weapon and a Ninja Gaiden is one of the best action
Nimpo power— along with the infamous game series ever made and if you
Sixaxis Support. are apprehensive about investing in
There is also one level dedicated to each this one, you should at least try the
of the three characters, woven into the main demo of Sigma 2 which is avail-
storyline. Once you have finished these able on the PSN store—you may be
chapters, that particular character becomes pleasantly surprised.
available for the multiplayer co-op mode.
These female characters may appear to be
frail and even vain; however they are well
designed and can easily hold their own
against the enemy horde.
Master Ninja
Visually the game appears to be an
improvement over the X360 version. It
justifies the 3GB+ installation with visibly
improved frame rate. The game can also
THE SKOAR !
Graphic ........8 8
Sound ..........6
Gameplay ....9
Mojo ............7
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