Editorial_Feb_08.qxd 5/13/2008 10:32 AM Page 1

Editorial

It’s In The Air...... Or Is It?

I WAS IN Boston, in a Mac store, buying myself a Macbook. At approximately the same time, not very far away, Steve Jobs pulled out the world’s slimmest laptop from an envelope and revealed it to the world. The reason I was out shopping for a new laptop was because I was tired of lugging my aging Lenovo around, and my shoulders were pleading for some respite. Apart from just looking cool, the smallest laptops are just extremely convenient. While out shopping, I was quite taken by the Sony Vaio TZ series and the ASUS Eee. I remem- Sujay Nair Editorial Director bered what Agent001 told me before I left: “There is only that much you can fit into this space, you know.” Just a few days later, the guys at Apple “Now, I am not the kind of user Iseemed to disagree, and packed in so much more who goes by looks alone. into so much less! I need functionality...” However, while most of the world ooh-ed and aah-ed over the Air’s design elements, a select few shook their heads in disgust. A tech savvy Ryer- future holds for the Air. Will the killer looks of the sons student said, “How could Apple have for- Air impress the masses and silence its critics, or gotten to add mobile broadband to it? I have no will the lack of functionality be its undoing? real reason to trade in my Macbook. It makes the What I find curious is that despite knowing all whole Air thing pointless.” they knew, and saying all they said, when I asked Other power users are miffed about the inbuilt the dissenters whether they’d get the Air if I just battery. “I can’t even pack an extra battery for long- gave them $1,800, most said “Sure!” haul flights back to India,” says Anita Sharma, a stu- dent of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The claimed five hour battery backup with WiFi turned on is something that remains to be seen. Another enthusiast said, “Stuff like this is meant for the connected. There is a lack of func- tionality here. The product seems to be a proto- type, what with no 3G functionalities built in.” Now, I am not the kind of user who goes by looks alone. I need functionality—Firewire, Eth- ernet, replaceable battery, etc. The choice was obvious for me: rather than spending USD 1,799 on a cool looking Air, I decided to get myself a normal Macbook. With Steve Jobs himself admitting that the Air lacked features, not much is left to be said in this matter. However, I can’t help but wonder what the [email protected] Colophon-Feb 08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:08 PM Page 6

Tell Us What You Feel About Digit Advertisers’ Index Each month, Digit walks through the technology maze to bring you the most relevant, most researched stories. If you have an opinion about Client ...... Page anything published in Digit, or about technology APC ...... 23 in general, please write in to YOUR TECHNOLOGY NAVIGATOR [email protected] Cincom ...... 15 Cisco ...... 25 February 2008 • Volume 8 • Issue 2 Product Testing Cricket Today ...... 53 Managing Director Want your product reviewed by Digit? Dell ...... 12-13 Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha Contact our Test Centre at sanket.naik@thinkdig- it.com Enjay ...... 31 Editorial Editorial Director Sujay Nair Epson ...... 43 Assistant Editor Robert Sovereign-Smith Software On DVD/CD Senior Writer Nimish Chandiramani Esys ...... 26-27 To submit and suggest software for Writers Samir Makwana, Asfaq Tapia, Fujitsu ...... Inside Gatefold on Cover Bhaskar Sarma inclusion in the Digit DVD or CD, contact Senior Copy Editor Ram Mohan Rao us at [email protected] Intel ...... 36-37 Jam ...... 91 Test Centre Assistant Manager Sanket Naik Help! Logitech ...... Back Cover Reviewer Jayesh Limaye, Michael Browne, For subscription or copy-related issues, Rossi Fernandes send an e-mail to [email protected] Monster ...... Inside Back Cover Product Reviews Co-ordinator Yogendra Bagle You may also contact the following MSI ...... 33 executives for local queries: Design Bangalore: Devaraju N (09341809286) Nanopoint ...... 99 Creative Head Kabir Malkani Art Director Rohit A Chandwaskar Chennai: L R Laxmanan (09380229283) Nikon ...... 21 Delhi: Samir Mehta (09313195354) Chief Designer Shivasankaran C Pillai Ricoh ...... 19,49 Senior Designers Vijay Padaya, Sivalal S Hyderabad: Norbert Joseph (09396229281) Designers Chaitanya Surpur, Kolkata: Jayanta Bhattacharyya (033-22317344) RX Technologies ...... 58 Shrikrishna Patkar, Nilanjan Ghosh Mumbai & Pune: Mahesh Malusare (022-40789614) Photographers Jiten Gandhi, Sandeep Patil Soft Aid ...... 105 Endorsements/Reprints Timex ...... 101 Multimedia Interested in ordering article reprints, Content Head Nimish Chandiramani Top Gun ...... 51 Content Co-ordinator Asfaq Tapia or using our logos? Contact [email protected] Viewsonic ...... 7 Sales & Marketing XFX ...... 45 Vice President Bibhor Srivastava Assistant Brand Manager Arpita Ganguli Disclaimer: For every Digit contest, there will be only one winner, unless specified otherwise. In the event of Marketing a dispute, the Editor’s decision shall be final. Marketing Communication Thomas Varghese Senior Executive-Sales Support Ramesh Kumar Products Reviewed This Month

Production and Logistics Cell Phones ...... 74 Samsung G600 Blu-ray Combo drives GM - Operations Shivshankar Hiremath Production Manager Mangesh Salvi ASUS M530w Sony-Ericsson W910i ASUS BC-1205PT Logistics MP Singh, Vilas Mhatre, Mohd. Ansari, Apple iPhone Sony-Ericsson K810i Shashi Shekhar Singh ASUS P526 Sony-Ericsson K850 Bazaar ...... 54 ASUS P750 Sony-Ericsson P1i Hardware Circulation & Subscription — Sales GM Circulation Milind Prabhughate BlackBerry 8120 DVD Writers ...... 46 Buffalo MiniStation TurboUSB 80 GB Co-ordinator Rahul Mankar LG KE970 ASUS DRW-1814BLT Canon PIXMA MX318 Subscriptions Mahesh Malusare LG KE770 ASUS DRW-2014L1T Genius iTempo 800CD Customer Service Prerna Panchal Motorola RAZR2 Moser Baer DH-20A4P23C Intel Skulltrail Head Office: Editorial, Marketing Motorola Moto Q8 Philips SPD2414T Lenovo Y410 and Customer Service Motorola SLVR L9 Philips SPD2514T MSI P6NGM Jasubhai Digital Media Nokia N95 8GB Samsung SH-S203 Palit 8500GT Super+ 1GB C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30 Nokia N81 8GB Sony DRU-190A Palit 8800GT 512 Sonic Near Sanpada Railway Station, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400703 Nokia E65 Sony DRU-845S XFX 8800GTS Alpha Dog Edition Phone: 40789666 Nokia E51 Blu-ray Writers Software Fax: 022-40789540, 022-40789640 Palm Treo 750 Sony BWU-200S Browse Control 3.1

Cover Model Myra Rajput Photographer Jiten Gandhi Cover Design Rohit Chandwaskar To Advertise South Phone: (022) 40373636/ International Representative Sanjay Bhan 40373626/24494572/24467130/1 Taiwan Printed and published by Jasubhai Digital Media E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 24482059/24481123 Mr.Marc Sonam, Image Media Pvt Ltd, a member of the 9.9 Media group Mobile: +91 9341829285, 2F-2, No. 35, Sec. 2, C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30 Phone: (080) 25546370-73 East Fushing South Road, Taipei 106, Near Sanpada Railway Station, Vashi Fax: 41518330 Jayanta Bhattacharyya Taiwan, R.O.C. Navi Mumbai 400703 Phone: (044) 28235186/88 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (886) -2-87734199 Fax: 28230731 Phone: +91 9331829284 Fax: (886) -2-87734200 Editor: Sujay Nair Phone: (040) 27894167/ 55221051 (033) 22317344/46 [email protected] C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, Near Sanpada Fax: 27720205 North Railway Station, Vashi Navi Mumbai 400703 West Manish Sharma Suvarna Shringarpure E-mail: [email protected] Printed at Magna Graphics (I) Ltd, E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +91 9312658374, 101 C & D Government Industrial Estate Kandivli, Mobile: +91 9324928247 (011) 41608655/56/57/58 Mumbai 400 067

6 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 Contents Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:12 PM Page 8

Enter DIGITAL PASSION 30 Days with Tech Careers iPod Touch 8GB 32 Digital Business Mapping A Future 95 Everything pod deserves a review, preferably Spatial image processing and analysis, Tomorrow one written after having spent 30 days with it. Smart SoHo Photogrammetry, GPS Hurrying Data Along 38 This month’s reviewer tries to see whether @ The Office technologies, and more—the there’s more to the Touch than the touchscreen The amount of data we generate is Well, you’ve decided on the office furniture and 98 stuff a mapping career is made exceeding predictions; more and more more—and it’s about time you got your official of, that is, everything to do Insight 16 data needs to be transferred over wires site up and running. What, where, how? Here’s with positioning, location, and and networks at various scales. We spoke with Settling Differences a simple walk-through of what you need to do such Ajai Chowdhry of Considering this, what future technologies Any two semi-techies can HCL in the will come to the fore? get into a verbal context of deathmatch about ultraportable whether Windows or Linux Smart Business computing is better, though most The Numbers Game agree that the latter is As an online business, there are two sides 22 more secure. So, well, to this story: firstly, you can get an insight Google.org gets which is better, and if into who visits your site and when and so busy applying tech to a Linux is more secure, why? on; but second, you need to be able to use humanitarian that information. Here’s about Web cause 29 Analytics 22 The MacBook Air—the world’s 104 Trends thinnest laptop, Droolmaal they claim Biometrics For Security Would you believe there exists a quad- 102 We’ve written countless words about biometrics 24 Xbox360 system, complete with fans to blow the wind in your face as you race? This and 34 and how they’ll lead to a more secure future. So Psiphon: other more-than-attractive gadgetry— how many people have gone ahead and circumventing implemented it? We rang some doorbells to Net censorship including a pair of headphones touted as the world’s best! find out... Contents Magazine February 2008

DIGITAL TOOLS Test Centre Digital Leisure Escape Burning Up Test Centre They’re ubiquitous, Ion Maidens cheap, necessary, and Individual reviews of our cell phone pick—for now. 74 taken for granted... that’s 109 (Yes, we know it’s all going to change a year from DVD-Writers. Well, so now.) But you do want that new phone now—so go which one? Touched By Tech ahead, get a glimpse of what’s on offer! No Holds Barred Here’s a sort of round-up of what’s 117 Don Davies Agent 001 46 happening in the world of the blind or near-blind. People are doing things to invented Packet Shh... The Movie’s help them, with the help of Switching—and 72 the ARPA lapped Starting technology; and they are using it up The choice is too wide (pun!), there are quite technology to help themselves a few terms, and you don’t even know what Game On 119 size. So how do you buy an HDTV? This month’s intrepid 112 In the search for Tabloid Tech reviewers try their terrestrial intel- Five months ago, we said Pamela Anderson loves her Wii; hand(s) at four mobile games, in ligence, scien- 124 then just a couple of months ago, we reported the same addition to Team Fortress 2 and the tists write soft- about Jessica Alba. And now, it turns out Queen Elizabeth II newest NFS iteration—Need for ware to decipher 54 loves her Wii, too—only it isn’t hers Speed: ProSpeed dog-speak Know More About Opinion Poll...... 17 Droolmaal...... 34 Whatever Happened To ...... 116 Bazaar The Digital World ...... 18 Q&A ...... 68 Bluff Your Way Through...... 118 Root, Boot, Etc. ARS Beat That ...... 20 Agent ...... 72 Digit Diary ...... 119 A monster of a motherboard from Intel—and an iPod dock that fails to impress. Here’s about the Linux directory structure— Stat Attack ...... 22 A List ...... 92 Blogwatch ...... 119 94 Then there’s the Palit 8800GT 512 Sonic which looks a winner, and then an GUL which you really should know about, and Buzzword Of The Month ...... 22 Tech Quiz ...... 115 Inbox ...... 122 about which there isn’t a man page overpriced external HDD from Buffalo... a mixed bag of products this month RE

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My Review of Creative EP-630

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Security Watch Yahoo! Goes OpenID Netscape Navigator Retires Excel Under Attack The project has solid Microsoft’s—like Corel Draw, Internet giant Yahoo! Recently announced that it would now The most popular browser during much of the 1990s— backing, with Google alone Lotus, and Quattro. WiMax be possible to use Yahoo! user IDs on Web sites that support Netscape Navigator—has retired, with parent company AOL The Problem having invested $5 million Microsoft claims to have The broadband the OpenID system, a decentralised sign-on system that announcing that it would stop security updates and A vulnerability—rated as (Rs 20 crore). It has also dropped support due to the technology that will authenticates a user based on a URL assigned to that user by connect us all. technical support beginning this month. It will, however, “Extremely Critical” by security received investments from formats being “less secure” an OpenID provider. allow nostalgic users to download archived versions. We’ve witnessed firm Secunia—has been the Rockefeller Foundation than the current-generation WiMax trials reported in Microsoft Excel. As for $1 million (Rs 4 crore) Office 2003 and 2007 throughout 2007, even getting you’d expect, it can be exploited and is expected to receive formats. Though this may Internet access out in the Enter by Men With Malicious Minds to another six-figure be true, many users are one middle of the sea! And now, compromise a system. Reliance has even started investment from John again pointing fingers at providing WiMax Internet in It has something to do Doerr, a well-known Microsoft for being the some parts of the country... with how Excel handles files, venture capitalist. bully and forcing newer HUMANS FOR HUMANITY but what exactly it is has not products on them. As yet been specified. The COME SP3... companies and individuals vulnerability can be exploited It Sucks! Helping, The SN Way alike back up more and ...well, the service if an attacker uses a specially- Microsoft more data, Microsoft’s does, to be fair. In crafted Excel file with planned obsolescence of a Google search for Ajai Chowdhry malformed header Drops “reliance wimax”, Founder, Chairman and CEO, older file formats is HCL Infosystems Ltd ere’s more reason to directly reaches the number). The software can information. worrying. Not only that, SP3 the first result is a Successful exploitation, as Support— Web page that tells you HCL Infosystems Ltd, the take the social volunteer group closest to send out these feeds based is reportedly riddled with you’ve come to expect by now loudly, “Reliance Wi-max pioneers behind India’s first Hnetworking you. If you send a text on the geographical bugs, with many users services—don't go for it!” microcomputer, first Desktop PC phenomenon seriously. message from a different location of the patient and when something is rated Highly Again reporting frequent crashes Sounds like the broadband and first home PC, recently Google.org’s executive location, the software will of the volunteer. Critical, allows execution of and instability of Office bitching is never going to launched a range of ultra- director Dr Larry Brilliant is detect the change and the Since the project works arbitrary code on the victim’s after the upgrade. Even a end for us... portable laptops: the MiLeap X & running a project called process will repeat. using existing free computer. According to ith the arrival of complete re-install of the Y series. We had a quick round of Microsoft, this is currently questions with Ajai Chowdhry, Innovative Support to technologies and Service Pack 3 program does not seem to Founder of HCL and Chairman Emergencies, software like being actively exploited. W (SP3) for Office solve the problem. entries manually— and CEO of HCL Infosystems Ltd. Diseases and Google Earth, Live 2003, Microsoft has decided The company does offer something potentially very The Solution How different are computing Disaster (InSTEDD; Maps, Geo-coding to stop support for older file workarounds to fix the dangerous for end-users! habits and environments in talk about silly- Web services, and There isn’t any—at least, there formats—Word 4.x and problem, and in an effort The misery doesn’t end India from those in the rest of sounding applications built wasn’t at the time of writing. If below for Windows and 5.x to wave the olive flag, has there: those Registry the world? acronyms), which on ASP.NET, they you get an e-mail with an Excel for Mac. What this means is described two ways of entries are different for Not very different. The external will leverage the can be built and attachment, don’t open the that if your company has doing so. One method different versions and physical environment, however, attachment unless you’ve in which Indians operate is very use of existing deployed quickly any Office document involves downloading the language settings of Word, different; laptops here are sub- social networking and inexpensively spoken with the sender backups from before 1992, Office 2003 Service Pack 3 which means that if jected to a lot of dust, pollution, technologies like over a large, beforehand, or unless you’re they will not be readable Administrative Template someone has backups from and climatic extremes. The Facebook Mini-Feeds populous area. expecting it. Check with this update. Apart and set templates for users Word 2 and Word 3 French, MiLeap series is very rugged and http://tinyurl.com/yotn2k designed to sustain normal wear and Twitter updates Twitter is being used from that, this update also across a domain— he will have to edit entries and tear; the MiLeap model in to reach out to as the worldwide SMS when you read this to see if a removes compatibility for something not for the end for both those versions in the X-Series comes with a leather individuals in gateway, while patch has been released. older spreadsheet products user. Another method separate places in the casing, giving it the appearance distress. Facebook is being used that compete with involves editing Registry Registry; find detailed of a leather-bound diary. Here’s how it to geo-tag incoming What usage scenarios and works. As a patient, requests with its Mini- What are your views on electronic publications? application areas do you plan you can text- Feed feature, and send Opinion Poll to target with future products (You, too, can participate in this poll—at www.thinkdigit.com) in this category? message the out requests for help The ultraportable form factor, InSTEDD number to volunteers in the A You just can’t beat the feel of paper B I only read small articles online; it’s still print for me full functionality, and the asking for help. region. fiercely competitive price are InSTEDD Brilliant is also C I’d rather read the electronic version than not read at allD Dump paper! Save the trees! Make Digit an e-mag! the USPs of the MiLeap range. The convenience factor has volunteers, who considering the opened up limitless possibilities can locate your expansion of a Web I’d choose B. The current e-publication I’ve chosen B because I’m introduced to I’ll take C; I do prefer reading a book, but I in new usage scenarios. exact position via crawler (software that methods are not conducive to sustain read- topics or articles at the computer, so I like to have e-books for them as well. It’s ing them over an extended don’t mind reading small the best way to save the books Having introducing the Google Earth, receive this Illustrations Harsho Mohan Chattoraj indexes information period of time. It is possible to articles on the monitor. But as well as space. MiLeap series, do you believe message. Once your position from Web pages) used by read them if the articles are that the near future of short and concise. Nothing it strains the eyes more. Naveed Patel is located, they search for As a patient, you also the Canadian Government Hence nothing beats paper Pune personal computing in India is UN or other humanitarian have the option of called the Global Public beats the convenience of read- ultra-portable? ing a book on your couch. for me. Targeted at consumers who need aid volunteers in the region subscribing to updates Health Intelligence Shubhankar Dattagupta Antonio Anastasio Bruto da Costa to stay connected, informed, and forward your query to from the closest volunteer Network. This will monitor Pune Margao, Goa entertained, and productive them. The volunteers reply group in your area. This 20,000 Web sites in seven anytime and anywhere, these to you with a description of helps spread warning languages, which could I vote for option A. Electronic reading laptops’ weight and size makes it I’ll go with option B. Small articles may be Reading magazines on a computer is defi- so convenient that a user need what medicines you should messages quickly to a large search for keywords used read in e-media, but it’s painful to read a puts a stress on the eyes. I have tried nitely not tiring. E-mags have some nice, not think twice about carrying it take, or with their address. number of people. There is on Web pages from a whole magazine like Digit and reading e-books of my engi- useful features like Web links to the office, home, gym, or park, Once the conversation is talk of improving response specific location, and based its Fast Track in electronic neering-related e-books... but I and search features, which or using it in a train, bus, plane, complete, software time by having volunteers on the time difference media. Don’t convert the mag- never completed them—I had you can’t get with a paper or metro. This revolution in automatically links your from all around the world between these, can actually azine into an e-mag! to buy printed books for magazine. So I choose D. personal computing in India will those topics. mobile number with the subscribe to GeoRSS feeds warn of a possible outbreak Sujit Kumar Ghosh Milind Alvares be sustained by four critical Digboi (Assam) Ravi Shekhar Goa Parra factors: price, size, features, and group that last assisted you, (feeds delivered to users of either a disease or an act Delhi most importantly, availability of so that when you send a based on the geographical of terrorism to volunteers high-speed broadband. message next time, it location of their contact in the area! (You, too, can participate in this poll—at www.thinkdigit.com)

I Microsoft’s Project Shiksha trains 200,000 Computer Teachers in India over 5 years ending 2007 I Polish teen hacks train network, derails tram I I Gamer uses medic training from America’s Army to help save a life I NASA requests freelance game developers to create America’s Army clone I

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Enter The Digital World A Round-up Of Technology News From Across The Globe

CHINA Officials admit that they are losing the war on Internet piracy and plead for international help in making an ongoing crackdown more effective. CANADA About 40,000 porn sites have been High tech driving licenses shut down in the crackdown. with embedded RFID chips to be introduced which will work as passports for entry into US via sea and land

AFGHANISTAN SOUTH KOREA Journalist student sentenced Google launches a to death for violating Islamic localised Korean tenets by downloading a version of YouTube to PANAMA document from the Internet take advantage of local Hackers deface the Website of and printing it. content. Panama’s National Assembly and put up an American flag as revenge for electing a legislator accused of murdering a US soldier as president.

BRAZIL Popular games like Counter- Strike and EverQuest blamed in Brazil for ruining health of players and inciting violence.

instructions at program called “My SHC Harles claimed that SHC cookie on your computer. If http://tinyurl.com/3apmna. Community.” When “goes to great lengths to you delete your cookies or Users are complaining customers provided their e- describe the tracking use CS3 products from that the least that Microsoft mail address to the aspect”. Spyware expert other accounts on your could have done would be company Web site or at the Benjamin Edelman computer, you will have to to set up a tutorial for store, they would receive an strongly disagrees. repeat the opt-out process. circumventing the blocks e-mail inviting them to join In another such Users are not on third-party file formats— the SHC community. The incident, Dan Moren, a impressed, with many of as they did with their own mail discloses that blogger, found out that them complaining that it products—or directed users participants would have to every time he used any would be much better if to the correct source on download software on the Adobe CS3 product, an Adobe had mentioned to the Internet. computer that would track outside connection was them that they were being their surfing habits made to 92.168.112.2O7.net. monitored. As for Sears, IT’S IN THE EULA anonymously. What it does What’s so strange about most participants who not mention, however, is this is that though this came to know—from online My Spyware that the program will log all looks like an internal IP reports—of this activity the Web sites a user visits, address, it ends with quickly uninstalled the Community along with the items he “.net”—something no software. Spy if you must— buys, will store all the data internal IP address does. If but with a little more he enters on any Web site you look closely, the last class, please! ore and more and track his online group has the letter “O” companies are personal and health records. instead of a zero. What this ALL IN ONE PLACE Mmonitoring user There is no mention of means is that your usage activity following an this anywhere in the invite statistics might be reported Copy And installation of their e-mail, and only a reference to Adobe when you use any software. Reporting to this can be found when of the CS3 line of products. Paste... anonymous user statistics is reading carefully through When this address is considered all right if the the End User Licence followed in a browser, it user opts for the Agreement of the software leads to Omniture, a large t could get annoying to programme, but some to be installed; it occurs user statistics and set up a profile every companies want the user to mid-way through a analytics firm. Itime you create a new opt for various programmes paragraph, without a There is, however, a account on the Web. For without knowing. heading or any bold namesake opt-out example, social networking Sears, an American lettering to inform users of procedure you can follow; sites: you create an chain of departmental the extent of monitoring. to do so, you’ll need to visit account, add friends, add stores, recently launched a When this was reported http://tinyurl.com/29z3r8. This photos, add interests, etc. customer relationship to Sears, vice president Rob page will install the opt-out and then you sign up at

I Buggy KDE 4 releases to much disappointment from fans I India’s first Digital Entertainment City sets up shop in Hyderabad I

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Enter

Digit Caption Road Rash, anyone?

Last Month’s Winner! Abdul Khader J, Hyderabad “That’s what Crysis did to my laptop”

E-mail your caption with the subject “Beat That”, and your postal address, to [email protected] and win 1 Hour Web Site by Utvich, Milhous and Beylinson

, Published by arry a caption for a photo. Come up with somethingth of funnierthis month. Each month Digit will c cepted by the 20 Photograph Deepak Verma and beat the Digit team at their own game! Entries ac

another site and do the put aside their differences charges, asking for SCIENTIFIC SORTING same all over again... and work with clarifications on details of A group of companies participating members, the the keyboard that LANCOR Google Gets that believe in securely privacy angle can be sorted claimed had been infringed sharing predefined user out, though. upon. Instead of Science-y data across the Internet is These are, of course, communicating with the promising to change all early days, with companies lawyers, LANCOR filed a that. Their Web site, only just having signed on. Motion on Notice in the earch (and other things) www.DataPortability.org, We’ll keep our eyes and ears federal high court of Lagos, giant Google is all set to encourages online open on this one. which stopped the OLPC Sstore the world’s open companies to leverage Foundation from donating source scientific data at existing technologies to NIGERIAN SCAM? its laptops in the country. domain http://research.google share user data across The court has slapped a .com. The project has been other Web sites. What this OLPC Sued In temporary injunction on dubbed Palimpsest. Since the means is that you won’t LANCOR, and this stops the data will be open source, it have to re-enter details (like Nigeria company from closing a $1 will be accessible by all— interests) or upload million (Rs 2 crore) order scientists and non- photographs all over again with the Nigerian professionals alike. The on that new Web site you ANCOR, a Nigerian government. project was set to be just signed on to. manufacturer of Some believe there is showcased at the Science Foo Leading developers L lingual keyboards, has actually an Intel Camp—a science fair at the from Google and Facebook, accused the OLPC (under)hand in all this. Google campus in August among many others, have Foundation of infringing on They believe that the last year, but missed its recently agreed to take intellectual proprietary Motion of Notice allows deadline and is scheduled to part in this path- rights from two of its Intel enough time to be launched soon. breaking project. products. It claims that the convince the Nigerian Since the amount of For you, the end user, OLPC purchased two of government to choose the data it will host is vast, this means an Internet LANCOR’s keyboards—and Classmate PC, a small PC there are technological that is completely reverse-engineered its XO similar to the OLPC’s XO challenges like being able to personalised to your keyboards to be more like and designed for kids, transfer large volumes of interests and tastes, with the KB-201s. Although the instead of the OLPC laptops. data quickly to the end user. all your data and company shows no proof, it These rumours have The company will leverage relationships seamlessly expects the OLPC to pay $20 gathered more ground with the data visualisation accessible, while saying million (Rs 80 crore). Intel recently having technology it acquired from bye-bye to your privacy. If The company’s lawyers distanced itself from the Trendalyzer, and will offer the industry pundits can responded swiftly to the OLPC foundation. algorithms on the site for

I Dish TV In Talks For DTH Services With Indian Railways I Sify announnces plans to enter thin client market in India; talks on with Microsoft I

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picture just by looking at idea of including GPS it? It is, now. The act of receivers in the cameras, entering this metadata is which will automatically called geotagging; it is geotag every image with

On a typical day (over 2006 and 2007; source: Pew becoming increasingly details like latitude, Internet), percentage of users who did the following: One in six British popular as more and more longitude, and altitude. pounds is now users start to upload their GOOGLE WHAT? ternet 70% gine photos online. Used the In o f spent online. When users upload ch en 60% 69 Internet shopping their photos to Flickr or “Google 50% eather in the UK in 2007 Picasa, they have an option Used a sear 40% to enter the name of the Generation” 41 g was 50% higher g online

eived IMs eived place where the photos

30% eligious / spiritual in hecked the w hecked C than in 2006 Not Too

or r were taken. When you run 20% 22 t and rec Did bankin a search with that location Sen ooked f ooked 10% 14 Bought somethin Bought L name, your uploaded Good At It Made a phone call online 10 6 6

0% 2 photos will also be As of January displayed. Thanks to The average Internet user is 2008, 48% of geotagging, it is now new study conducted 46.6 years old. 71% of senior internet users possible to search for by the British Library (above 65) Internet users had been to almost anything accurately. A and the Joint have received a video link, Recently, mountaineers Information Systems video-sharing have been using geotagging Committee dispels the myth and 50% of them have to enter the altitude at that those born after 1993 forwarded links. sites. Traffic which photos were taken are capable of using the Source: Pew Internet, July 2007 to such sites with the help of GPS Internet much more End of 2007, traffic from has doubled in receivers. These effectively and that they are Macs accounted for 8 per cent photographs allow other generally better at of Web traffic. Windows use the past year mountaineers to determine gathering information from fell in the past year. the mountain surface at the medium. various altitudes. Based on log analysis This is just one of the from British Library Web examining and probing the wants to send they data to examples of the advantages sites and search tools, the data. The site will also Google. Anyone interested of geotagging; there have committee studies the include YouTube-style gives Google the file tree, been reports of books rented out by kids commenting and and they SLURP the data off professional bird-watchers based on search engines as annotating features, which the drive. I believe they can using it to keep track of their referring links. The will allow for quicker extend this to a larger array the migratory paths of study claims that this new sorting of information. This (my memory says 20 TB).” birds and drawing a path generation is neither better will allow for making based on the location of nor worse than those in the massive data sets—like all GEOGRAPHY WITH A CAUSE the geotagged images. last 30 years. However, it the images from the Hubble The only hindrance to does note some serious Space Telescope—accessible Geotagging more detailed geotagging changes in today’s to the public. currently is that it involves knowledge culture. So how will all this data Adds Value fiddling with another The study notes that be uploaded to Google? In a device like a GPS receiver since knowledge is post by a Science Foo To Images or a computer after the primarily sought from attendee, the collection plan photographs are taken. Wikipedia or Google, there was described thus: “(They) Flickr estimates that only 5 is no real “expert” these are providing a 3 TB drive id you imagine it per cent of their photos days. The only knowledge array (Linux RAID5). The possible to find the have simple geotags on that exists is peer array is provided in ‘suitcase’ Dlocation, altitude, them. However, camera knowledge, found mostly on and shipped to anyone who latitude, and longitude of a makers are toying with the online communities. It also MacBook Air One of Apple’s best-kept secrets thus far, the MacBook since the PowerBook 2400—which was company says the MacBook Air is the “world’s released in May 2007—to ship without a CD/DVD thinnest notebook” at 1.93 centimetres. The drive. However, users can use share the disc drive off standard-configuration MacBook Air sports a 14-inch other computers wirelessly, or buy the external USB LED screen, an 80 GB PATA drive, a 1.6 GHz Intel SuperDrive from Apple. Core 2 Duo, 2 GB of DDR2 SDRAM soldered to the The notebook’s aluminium case engages a logic board, 802.11 a/n, inbuilt camera, microphone, magnetic latch when being closed. The trackpad on and speaker, and Bluetooth. The battery life is the keyboard includes multi-touch features, which is around five hours. an advancement over other models. There is no Ethernet port, but users can purchase The MacBook Air ships for $1,799 (Rs 72,000), but a USB-to-Gigabit Ethernet converter. This is the first will not be available in India anytime soon.

I Wikipedia starts allowing videos in wikis I Blu-Ray crushing HD-DVD in Japan I Orkut profiles to now be added to Google Search results

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notes that the “Google organisation. Nicholas further updates on the generation” prefers visual Negroponte recently Windows-run XO, rather over textual information, reported that the OLPC than any other source. but that text is still Foundation was working in important—and visual collaboration with ONLINE COMMUNITIES SCARY! media can lose its appeal Microsoft to create a dual- very quickly. The study also boot version of its laptops What Psiphon notes that this generation meant for children, the has scant regard for XO. This was, however, Parents Interesting name. What is copyright laws, and that quickly squashed by a Psiphon? Think It’s a system that allows people plagiarism is rampant. statement made by a in countries where the Internet Interestingly, this Microsoft representative, is censored (like China and Iran) generation is multitasking who went on to say, “While to view any Web page they’d like almost all the time, and we have investigated the recent survey by the to. Say you’re in China, and the the demand for instant possibility in the past, Center for the government has blocked access gratification is constant; Microsoft is not developing A Digital Future at the to Wikipedia. You have the however, there is no hard dual-boot Windows XP USC Annenberg School for address of a Psiphon node (a evidence that young people support for One Laptop Per Communication—for Psiphonode)—a computer are more impatient. Child’s XO laptop.” parents with children who running the Psiphon software in In spite of the results, Though this might regularly logged on to the a free country—and an account the study warns libraries seem a flat-out denial from Internet—found that two- there. You log on to that node, from trying to be more Microsoft, there seems to thirds of parents are then type in the Web page tech-savvy by, say, opening be some confusion in the uncomfortable with their address. The request is routed communities on Orkut, statement here. It is true children participating in through the Psiphonode and suggesting that this may that Microsoft is working online communities, and your browser displays the page. result in the younger with the OLPC Foundation half of them think online So who sets up Psiphonodes? generation seeing it as to bring Windows XP to predators are a threat. People and institutions willing “invading their space.” the XO. This will, however, However, 80 per cent to help. Anyone can install the be done in a different agreed that the Internet is Psiphon software on his MORE OLPC WOES manner. Microsoft’s plan is a valuable source of computer, and it becomes a Web to load the OS onto a 2 GB information, and ranked it proxy for Psiphonites (those Two’s A SD Flash memory card, higher than newspapers, whose access is censored) to which can then be used to television, radio, and connect to. Crowd, Says run on the XO. This is even books. Where do Psiphonites get the because the Windows The survey has been on address of a Psiphonode? Microsoft environment requires at for the last seven years, People post requests for server least 1 GB of space to run and trends have emerged. addresses on forums, or call even a stripped-down Logging on to the Internet friends and family. If you run a ust when news about version of Windows XP, is no more considered by Psiphonode and see a request the OLPC Project started along with any other parents as a distraction— from someone, you might send Jslacking, there came program on the XO. To naturally. Thirteen per him your server address, and another bit to trouble the revert to the XO’s Sugar cent of the parents felt create an account for him. interface—its their wards spent too OS—one needs much time online—a figure Why can’t censoring to shut down that has increased since governments block Psiphon? the XO, last year, an not The Psiphonite connects to remove the surprisingly. Another trend Psiphonodes whose addresses SD Flash that has emerged is that only a few people know. (To card, and more and more parents are block access to a site, you reboot. finding it worrying that need the IP...) Still, the forums Since this is their kids are involved in where Psiphonites make requests for Psiphonode different from a online communities, but addresses have been known to traditional dual- they don’t deem chatting be blocked. boot system, this and e-mailing as harmful is where—we or potentially dangerous. When did the system go live? believe— Obviously, the next In December of 2006. Forums Negroponte was generation’s voice is the are active, though we don’t confused. exact opposite—most kids know how many people are Taking a pot- polled report being avid using the system. shot at the users of community Web How does the whole thing OLPC sites, with 71 per cent remain legal? chairman, claiming that their social It doesn’t. In some countries, Microsoft membership was bypassing censorship is illegal. also “extremely important,” and But a Higher Law would say suggested 54 per cent logging in to censorship is illegal, that’s why that they be their online communities people are trying to help out. contacted for every day.

I Microsoft plans standards compatability mode in IE8 I AOL/ICQ develop technology to help the blind use instant messengers I

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Digital Tools l Jumpstart DigitalPassion Fuelling The Pursuit Of Technology Knowledge 32 30 days with... 34 Droolmaal 34 xxxxxxxx

Insight DIFFERENCESDISETTFFLINGERENCES Any Linux geek would tell you Linux thrashes Windows in more ways than one. But does it? And why? What makes a system better than another? At this stage, are they even different at all?

Nimish Chandiramani that if you turned the tables and made Linux the world’s most used OS, you’d find just as f there were no Windows vs. Linux battles, the many malicious programs for it as you do for geek life would have been notably duller. Windows now. ITechnology forums would inevitably get There is some logic to both the statements, boring, and life would generally never be the but here’s what the Linux community usually same. The most contentious issue, of course, is comes back with: nearly half of the world’s security—Windows is notorious for not having Web sites run on Apache, either on Linux or a much in that department. However, Vista is BSD. Since this is obviously the most popular loaded with a bunch of new security measures, platform, there’s plenty of incentive for hack- and claims to be able to thwart malicious soft- ers to spend their time taking it down—and ware better. yet, you don’t see Apache’s vulnerabilities in What makes an operating system more the news as much as you see those of secure? The way it’s built, of course. And that is Microsoft’s IIS. Not that the hackers aren’t the question we’re asking. But trying to take down Apache servers— first, some myth-busting. they’re just not having as much success with it as they are Popularity Contest with IIS servers. The favourite theory to explain the low number of viruses (or Trojans, or other such malicious code, for that matter) that exist for Linux is that it’s not popular enough—they say

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Digital Passion l Insight Digital Passion l Insight

All this is very leading, but it really doesn’t continue their reign of terror uninterrupted. grated into the core of the system, even though Only the most say anything. IIS servers are often taken down by Since the virus can now do anything to your they don’t need to—IE and Outlook Express exploiting vulnerabilities in Windows (an unfor- system, it’ll be allowed to kill the anti-virus serv- immediately spring to mind. Remember the essential tunate side-effect of Windows’ integration with ice, corrupt the virus definitions, modify its Windows 98 + IE4 combination, when you could- components of its software; more on this later), and not neces- Registry entries and much more. In Vista, if this n’t tell where the OS ended and the browser the operating sarily in IIS itself. Secondly, while the Netcraft same virus manages to attack the service, all began? system are list of sites with the longest uptime is domi- damage is restricted to the service and its The upside to this approach is a smooth, integrated into nated by Apache servers, there’s no information domain—you won’t necessarily be happy, but you hassle-free user experience—all these programs on the actual availability of the servers—they won’t be feeling silly, either. get a little extra love from the OS kernel, so the Linux core could have been under a DDoS attack for half Windows Vista basically accomplishes what they’ll inevitably perform better than third- that uptime, but as long as they haven’t Linux has been doing for a long time—ensure party programs. The downside—which we see rebooted, they’re on the list. that regular users don’t have access to critical often enough—is that any vulnerability in these Bottom line: there is no bottom line. For operating system files and services; they don’t programs can potentially bring down the every (seemingly) logical statement, there even have access to files owned by each other! entire system. This is why you hear of vulnera- exists an equally logical retort. We could write The all-powerful root account is never used, and bilities in IE and Office letting hackers gain the arguments and counter-arguments for in Ubuntu, it’s actually disabled: you’re control over Windows PCs. In fact, in Windows twenty pages if we felt like it, and you still expected to use the “sudo” command (or gksu XP, even the graphics engine that draws won’t walk away with a definite conclusion. for GNOME applications) and enter your pass- windows on your screen runs in this privileged Windows’ Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service has Let’s just move on. word to execute commands that affect the space, so if your graphics freeze, your only many things working against it—nearly every applica- system in general. Unless you deliberately use option is to reset your system. tion on your PC needs it, so it’s a favourite target for Your OS And You these commands to run a suspicious executable, Linux, on the other hand, is designed to be hackers, and even a moderately resourceful amateur Windows Vista The biggest security breaches occur when the worst it can do is affect the files you have modular. Only the most essential components will stumble upon neat little GUI tools like this to malware is allowed to run with on your system access to. Even if, for whatever inexplicable of the operating system are integrated into its exploit the service basically with elevated privileges—which means that it reason, you do decide to run a malicious script core—the rest are loaded only when needed, accomplishes has access to critical programs and data that with sudo, your services are still safe... and don’t have access to critical system files. A what Linux has only your system’s kernel should have. Once it’s Services in Linux run as separate users, vulnerability in Apache, for example, stays in little root wizardry, it can be brought back to been doing for a reached that level, your PC becomes its humble with access only to files that they own; more Apache. The Linux we’re talking about here is life again. long time— servant, and can be brought down at the slight- often than not, they don’t even have the rights the core OS, and not the Desktop Environ- Bottom line: for daily desktop use, both est whim. Who gives this malware its privileges? to use the terminal, so they can’t run ments, mind you. GNOME and KDE may not systems are equally secure—but if things do go ensure that Well, you do. commands or start other services. This is where integrate with the Linux kernel, but within wrong, they go more wrong with Windows. regular users With Windows XP, the person who installs the multi-user approach comes handy again— themselves, they are quite integrated. The disad- [email protected] don’t have the operating system becomes the Administra- since users are isolated from each other, serv- vantage is the same as for Windows—if one access to critical tor, so if you’re the only one using your PC, ices can’t access the data used by other component of GNOME fails, the Desktop Envi- operating you’ve got the privileges to wreak all sorts of services. The Apache server, for instance, runs ronment fails, taking all the applications havoc, should you choose to. Consequently, any as a user called www-data, which only has running in it down. However, the OS kernel system files and application you install and run is also accorded access to the Web pages it serves. If a hacker isn’t affected, so all you have to do is a simple services the same royal treatment, no questions asked. exploits an Apache vulnerability to get into the [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Backspace], which Now add to that the fact that Windows’ system www-data user account, he can’t really do ends your GNOME / KDE session and lets you log services run under a user account called SYSTEM much to the other services, because www-data in to your system again. (you can check this out in the Task Manager)— doesn’t own those files. He can, however, mess This is where Linux (and UNIX, and the BSDs) the most powerful account on your system, with with Web pages, so while this isn’t a doomsday clearly take the lead in terms of security. It may access to everything critical—and that the first scenario, it’s certainly not ideal. not feel as nice as Windows while you’re using processes that malicious programs hijack are You’ve probably noticed the parallels it, but it won’t let something silly like a flaw in system services. You’ll be drawing pretty accu- between the two operating systems by now—for a text editor take it down, either. rate conclusions by now... your use at home, both systems are quite Vista, thankfully, changes this. The user who secure. Unfortunately, they both have one crit- Endgame installs Vista is still part of the Administrators ical flaw: PEBKAC—Problem Exists Between So really, which is better? Let’s look at it step group, but even this administrator runs with Keyboard And Chair. No operating system can by step, starting with the potential for mali- regular, limited privileges. When administrative plan for human ignorance—Vista, unfortu- cious software to enter your PC. Both systems tasks—including installing new programs—need nately, allows you to disable UAC (and it’s are on equal footing here—malicious software performing, User Account Control (UAC) kicks annoying enough for you to want to), and even getting into your PC is usually your fault in, telling you that you need to give the task a then, it can’t guard against people who click OK (assuming you don’t have security software go-ahead before it, well, goes ahead. If you read without realising what they’re doing. Linux installed). Step two: malicious software does the UAC prompt and don’t know the program developers do all they can to ensure that you get into your PC; what is the scope of the it’s warning you about, you can prevent it from never feel the need to use the root account, but damage it can do? Again, with both Linux and running. But what if you’ve blindly allowed the there’s always the daredevil who can’t resist. If Vista, damage caused by malware is restricted task to continue? you keep your head on your shoulders and read to the service it exploits, and the files that the Unlike XP, malware has little or nothing to what’s on your screen, your PC will be as secure service can access. So far, so good. Finally, step gain from hijacking a system service in Vista— as you want it to be. three: what happens when the malware goes instead of giving services unlimited rights like True, there are more people working on about its dirty deed? With Vista, if a critical before, Vista runs them with low privileges, Windows viruses than Linux, but popularity service—like the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) giving them access only to critical files and isn’t all that makes Windows popular with the service—is compromised, all manners of chaos Registry entries that they need; each service is hacker community... may ensue. Every application under Windows given a Security ID (SID), which it uses to request needs to use RPC, so you’re sunk without it. permission to these objects. Consider this Package Deal With Linux, services aren’t as tightly inte- scenario in XP: a virus has hijacked your system’s Unfortunately, the thing we love about Windows grated with the OS, so while your Linux PC can innocuous Plug-and-Play service and has is also its undoing. Windows is designed as a be crippled—some applications won’t run, you acquired its privileges. One of the first things single unit, so a lot of features (or modules, may not have network access and so on—the viruses do is disable the anti-virus so they can depending on what you’re looking at) are inte- kernel is still safe, which means that with a

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Digital Passion l 30 days with...

iPod Touch 8GB

Michael Br owne Having pla yed around wit sudden pang of reg h m y Nano 3G for a couple of months and loving it, I was totall ret follo long t wed by a flash of good old jealousy when the iPod Touch was palmed on to me f erm revie w. While PMP shopping, I had told myself I could do wit y un prepared f or the was I fooling m yself? hout t he allure of the larg or a e touchscreen; Day 1: Change the World —Eric Clapt The package’s nice—USB cable for dataon and default earplugs are crap as usual, and y charging, typical Apple earbuds and tr better of f dum ping them s ou’re plas ansparent traight a way than tic stand—all accessories present. Still no punishing y our ears. iTunes bundled. The Touch is r PMP ather heavy f or a , court esy the s teel back. The chrome Day 14: Another day in Paradise finished rear looks hot, but scr Thank —Phil Collins atches easy s to the gorg eous screen, all photos look . good on the Touch; just don’t zoom in— Day 2: Many Rivers to Cross graininess and loss of detail will g —UB40 I upg raded the f seems t reet y ou. It irmware to v ersion 1 hey’re optimised for full screen viewing, anything still requires iTunes (sigh), though.1.3; y syncing and that’s it. Batt ery life nosedives when y can int errupt t he process with the swipe of a ou fiddle around with the screen. I got 8 hours of ou fing er. U nlike t he N ano or t MP3 playback with moder he Video models, y ate t ouchscreen use— don’t ha ve t o disconnect the device from iTunes ou mostly around albums, playlists and such. The to int erface with it (play music, watch videos new f irmware (1 .1.3) was supposed to add 3 hours etc)—a serious plus for me, since I lis to music playback—I got 1.5 hours; not too bad. while my device is connected. ten t o music Day 19: Life in the fast lane Day 4: The Look Safari—the W —The Eagles —Roxette eb bro wser—is a little slo I ripped my copy of transfers w w. WiFi Beowulf to t he Touch. Syncing ork well, and the Touch makes f movies is painful—iTunes creat great companion at cong or a es anot es the movie in the relevant f her copy of WiFi access. For me, this puts theted Touch airports int with open syncing occurs. Video playbackor ismat, good—nearl and then t he league of its o wn. o a good as on the PSP (Pla y as yStation Portable)—high praise indeed! Day 22: Feels Like Heaven This is a great PMP, good video- playback,Peter Cetera a v Day 6: Can I touch you there good music pla ery —Michael Bolt yer, and a functional and funky Played with the touchscreen some more; it won touchscreen that will g well, f or t orks et y ou envious glares on t he most part. V ery gimmicky, and once street, trains and buses. What’s not to like? The he the initial glamour dies down, it’s jus price, for one—Rs 14,500 is a little t another PMP. I lo ve t he f expensiv inger-swipe browsing and the tw e for m y tas tes. Besides, finger stret ch t o enlarg o- the Touch is a little heavy t e photos—nifty and ultr o jog cool! Bro wse t hrough albums, tracks, and videos a or work out with. That’s it; with just a f inger—and the Touch w no more complaints. better t orks much han mos t t ouch devices I’ve w michael_browne@ thinkdigit.com orked with. Day 9: Meadows of Heaven A f —Nightwish ew fa vourites ha ve been playing—Jim Mor (The Doors), Eric Clapton, Dire S rison I’ve caught myself unabashedly tappingtraits myand f U2, and Music is spot on, vocals ha eet. timbre, Jim Morrison soundsv re a v ery natur al Clapton’s guitar in ustic, and Layla and comes to life with realistic mids.She’s Apple’s Waiting

32 Droolmaal_Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:36 PM Page 34

Digital Passion l Droolmaal Digital Passion l Droolmaal LG HT762TT

ome Theatre systems are generally all about quality, power H and detail, but LG thinks design can’t be ignored. Presenting the all new HT762TT—it’s got 5 speakers and a subwoofer that total up to 700W of power that should be enough to blow the windows off the walls. While it may all be about aggressive power and chaos, its design is elegant and soothing and blends in well with your designer room. To take it beyond being just another Axiotron ModBook fancy speaker set, they have put in VSM (Virtual Sound Matrix) which delivers a he iPhone isn’t the only Apple gadget to get cloned by companies from our side of the world. There have been talks of sensation of surround sound like you T ASUS apparently working alongside Apple on a “Mac-tablet” for some time now, but a company called Axiotron has would get from 10 satellite speakers already beaten them to it. Yes, there is, in fact, an Apple tablet that isn’t made by Apple. The Modbook, as it’s called, is instead of 5. Plug in your USB devices to based on the Macbook. A quick search on Google reveals 2 models of the Modbook—both between the price of $2,279 (Rs 94,000) the system and you can playback MP3s, and $2,479 (Rs 1,02,000). This isn’t some handicapped version of the Macbook, it’s the whole shebang—a Core 2 Duo processor, a WMAs, DivX videos or even photos from 80 / 160 GB hard drive, a 13.3-inch touchscreen (obviously), a stylus powered by WACOM’s Penabled technology, WiFi, and even a your outings. inbuilt GPS! All this runs on the OS X Tiger operating system. It’s not like they were running out of space to stuff in more things either. They even give you the option to put in 4 GB of memory and up to 570 GB of disk space!

Droolmaal The good stuff l Stuff to lust after l Stuff for the well-moneyed

Olive OPUS N°5

he Olive OPUS N°5 is in a class of its own when it comes to high-end music players. It T comes in flavours of 400, 500 and 750 GB, which translates to weeks of non-stop, non- repeating, high quality music. The creators have ensured perfect audio quality by choosing the best

VRX Mach4

he Mach4 is a Quad-Xbox360 chained together to power the three T gigantic 37-inch Sharp 1080p screens. A Microsoft Force Feedback DACs (digital to analog converter) and sophisticated Steering wheel is used to steer. The fourth Ultrasone Edition9 power supply components to isolate any Xbox360 powers the smaller 7-inch screen disturbances. It’s not lacking in features either—it f there’s anything more desirable than a set of ultra-high quality head- that is your rear-view mirror. There’s a can be controlled through a PC or a mobile phone phones, we don’t really want to know. The Ultrasone limited head- Sparco racing seat and a 1900-Watt thanks to wired and wireless connectivity. This also I phones that cost $1,500 (Rs 63,000) are touted as the world’s best, vibration system to ensure you feel every means you can also stream music from over the and many audiophiles would agree! The ‘phones use 40mm Titanium plated bit of unevenness on the track, and two Internet. There’s even provision for plugging in USB Mylar drivers, and they can play frequencies from 8 to 35000 Hz—well beyond fans to help you feel the wind in your hair. devices and you can use it to burn CDs as well. The the human ear’s capacity. Ultrasone’s S-Logic technology gives a great sound The price? £12,500 (Rs 10,50,000)—much price for the 400 GB model is $2,999 (Rs 1,22,000), stage performance to the Edition 9. To keep your head pampered, exotic more sensible to buy a real car, isn’t it? $100 (Rs 4,100) more gets you the 500 GB model, Ethiopian sheep leather has been used on the earpads and headband. and another $100 for the 750 GB.

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Digital Passion l Tomorrow Digital Passion l Tomorrow current bus transfers data rates simply can’t keep Security is an demand a lot of processing power. However, by up. If we have to go with current architecture, important 2015, your 10-year old kid’s computer will have that would mean that most of the cores would be these beasts sitting inside it. And quad core starved of data, and instead of speeding up indi- aspect, and would look so, well, last decade. Hurrying Data Along vidual applications, they would slow down. adaptive To get around the inter-chip networking networks will be Smart Wires bottlenecks, companies like Intel and Rambus able to detect Back to life-sized scales. Networks of the future have been working on prototypes of newer archi- security attacks will be worlds apart from today’s relatively dumb humans upload more and more data from their tectural models. Rambus has a program called ones that simply carry packets from one end to The society of Bhaskar Sarma gadzillion devices, the networks that support Terabyte Bandwidth Initiative (TBI), while Intel’s and to fight the other. With the explosion of P2P, high defini- the future will these data transfers will need to get more robust, programme is called Terascale Computing back—almost like tion video streaming and ubiquitous computing- ommunication depends on networks. both in quantity and quality. Research Program. Last February, Intel has what the immune projects like Internet 0 are looking at a scenario depend on fast Period. While networks can mean many released an 80-core chip that delivers supercom- where even light bulbs and toasters would have IP Inside The Chip system does for networks more C things in many contexts, it’s the physical puter-grade speeds on desktop computers. The our body addresses and will be hooked into the Internet— than ever before. networks, the wires and the waves that enable it Before talking about megascales, let’s focus a bit fingernail-sized Teraflops Research Chip’s networks as we understand them today may be all. As the technological revolution proceeds at on nanoscales. Inside the processor, we have performance metric is 1.81 Teraflops (trillion overwhelmed by the load of data. Already, doom- Here is a look at breakneck speed, more and more digital data is been seeing an increased concentration of cores. floating point operations per second) at speeds of sayers have been predicting how the “exaflood” that future created than ever before. And this data isn’t The latest processors have four cores, though 5.7 GHz while data transfer rates peak at 2.92 of data is going to clog the pipes, and there have created by huge corporations, universities and manufacturers like Intel and AMD have released Terabits per second. Rambus has also unveiled been quite a few apocalyptic predictions. Those governments—each one of us, when we send an roadmaps for octal core processors by 2009. And new data transfer models that could easily go up on the other side of the fence are less sure, and SMS, click a picture or shoot off an e-mail, create then the stage will be set for 12, 15, 25….. to 1 Terabyte per second—about 20 times the intra- many believe that Judgement Day, when data which will invariably be added to the repos- With all these cores in a tiny sliver of silicon, chip data transfer rates in the PlayStation 3. networks will just give up, is not far off. itory of global digital data. In fact, IDC—a networking and data transfers between cores in How is this being implemented? In Intel’s That said, networks of the future will look research body—estimates that 70 per cent of the the die will need to have a quantum change. case, each core has a 5-port message passing different, and will possibly work on different 988 exabytes of data (one exabyte is equal to Unlike today’s processor architecture where router which is connected in a two dimensional protocols. Such networks will not need full time 50,000 hours of DVD quality video)—projected to running different applications means that the mesh network with other cores that implements chaperoning which is the job of today’s system be the global digital output by 2010—will be processor switches rapidly between them, future message passing—an efficient LAN on a chip; administrators. Called adaptive networks, they created by individuals. designs with say, 100 cores will have separate cores will communicate with each other better, would provide a personalised experience for Even by conservative estimates, that number cores devoted to individual processes. This and the router will ensure that the right data every user, with minimum maintenance. is huge. The thing to note is that most of that means that encryption would get the attention goes to the right chip. This architecture is much Adaptive networks would also seamlessly data is not going to be static. It will exist in the of one core, video encoding would be the more scalable than present day multi-core chip support different applications like VoIP, video Cloud—a term recently much in use and which domain of another one, gaming will be handled interconnects in terms of speed and perform- conferencing, video surveillance, wireless appli- roughly means the Internet. Everyday, as by the third…you get the drift. In such a scenario, ance. On the Rambus side, we see new techniques cations, computing on demand or any other new like Full Differential Memory Architecture application that users throw at them. Currently, (which means in plain English, sending electrical most networks have a one-size-fits-all philosophy signals across different wires at the same time, when it comes to applications, and when newer instead of across only one wire), 32x signalling demands arise on the network, it starts to show (transferring data at 32 bits per I/O operation per its cracks. Security is also an important aspect, clock cycle, compared to DDR’s 2 bits per I/O oper- and future networks will be able to detect secu- ation per clock cycle) and FlexLink for command rity attacks and take steps to fight back. Almost / address routing (using the same type of high like what the immune system does for our body. speed signals which are in the data lines on the This scenario seems to be a bit too Utopian, command / address line). but already companies have started work on These technologies are going to be in the plans that would make this a reality. ProCurve, market by 2010, the companies say. In this the networking arm of HP has a neat solution context, we had talked about IBM’s technology that would make networks of the future “think” where multi-core chips use light rays to transfer they way they’re supposed to. Each port on the data from one core to another, eliminating phys- router and switch on the network will have indi- ical connections altogether. If and when the vidual silicon chips that would monitor the traf- technology is perfected, such chips are likely to fic flow in the network. These mini-processors be first used in servers and high-end computers, would have software installed that could be opti- especially for gaming and specialised tasks like mised to run different applications like VoIP, video editing and scientific modelling that video streaming, P2P file sharing, virus scanning, et al. Because the software is programmable, ports can easily switch data types from, say, VoIP to video in the event of heavy demand. Such architecture would ensure that the available capacity is optimised for all these band- width-hungry applications. Another big draw for this decentralised architecture is that there will be no single choke point in the network, there- fore ensuring that even in the case of a disaster, some part of the network would always be up and running. Contrast this with today’s scenario, where networks are only as strong as the weakest link—hubs, routers, switches. For naysayers who forsee difficulties like keeping the network soft- ware patched and updated in absence of any A comparison between the data flow rates in DDR2 and TBI centralisation, ProCurve has a solution—use a

Chaitanya Surpur 38 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 39 Tomorrow - Feb 08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:40 PM Page 40

Digital Passion l Tomorrow

smart console to manage all these intelligent Can a human ports and regulate bandwidth. This is still in the body live planning stage, but there is a working prototype expected in about three years. 24/7/365 in a state where Personal Networks strong wireless Networks in the future will get more personal. fields blast Not the kind of personal as in Bluetooth or PAN through every (Personal Area Networks), but personal as in data packets getting exchanged between different mitochondrion in organs in a living body. Some researchers have living cells? suggested that future human beings could have tiny chips implanted inside their bodies which would be linked to the Internet. Consider: patients with heart conditions would have Internet-enabled pace makers implanted in their hearts. No matter where these people are, the The world’s first cyborg, Kevin Warwick implanted a pacemakers would keep sending data to a central chip into himself that could connect to the Internet server where doctors would monitor the condi- tion of the heart in a real time. In the future, we The Infrastructure would be cyborgs, our bodies carrying tiny sili- We’ve talked about all the forms and functions of con chips that would keep a constant touch with the networks of the future, but what about the chips in other people. This has already been basic architecture behind it? That has to change if attempted by Kevin Warwick—a professor of networks are to wow us with this ubiquity. Since Cybernetics at University of Reading—who has networks are made up of protocols, these proto- implanted a chip in his hand. It was connected to cols have to change for evolution to take place. the Internet, and the purported aim was to move IPv4, the current Internet Protocol which the hand using commands sent online. Though governs, among others how IP addresses are the experiment failed—Warwick had to take the distributed will pave way for newer generation chip out after two months—it is a picture of what IPv6 with a much larger address space. This could be. address space will be sorely needed when we start Even if we manage to wire our bodies up to giving pacemakers and toasters IP addresses. the Internet and exchange data packets with Some of the newer research activities are each other, there are several moral dilemmas aimed at finding a replacement for the venerable that have to be overcome. One of them is obvi- TCP and UDP protocols. One of TCP’s major limi- ously privacy: already the proposal to implant tations is that if a packet is lost on its way to you, RFID chips on criminals and sex offenders in the the protocol prevents you from receiving any US have been met with strict opposition from more packets till the lost packet is re-transmit- civil rights activists, who fear the technology ted. This is quite nice for sequential data, but could be misused for other, less ethical awful for video and voice, where the benefit of purposes—think about dictatorships implanting continuous transmission outweighs the draw- these chips on dissidents. Apart from that, there back of a lost frame or a skip in audio. This is are other technical problems to sort out—can a where UDP came in, but it’s not as reliable, so it human body, for instance, live 24/7/365 in a state isn’t good for anything but video. where strong wireless fields blast through every Some probable candidates and complements mitochondrion in living cells? Would we see new are TCP/UDP with Bigger Addresses (TUBA), diseases, or newer tumours? And what about the Simple Internet Protocol (SIP), Internet Protocol strain on routers and servers who would see an Next Generation (IPNG), Connectionless Network incremental jump in data transfers? That’s Protocol (CLNP) and CIDR (Classless Inter Domain where newer protocols come in. Routing). Some of these are on paper, others are being tested in a restricted environment. Pandora’s Box Future Shock? ith the entire hullabaloo over networks, security is going to be one of the biggest From the domains of science fiction to being Wheadaches. Network security has always been a game of cops and robbers, with tantalisingly within our grasp, ubiquitous security applications needing to play catch up to threats. A Denial of Service (DoS) computing and networking has come a long attack will no longer mean that you would be unable to access the effected Website; way. Most of its promises are way off the mark in the future such attacks might even cost lives. Just take the case of hackers messing even today, and early visionaries were being a up the server in a hospital which monitors signals from pacemakers and tweaks the tad too hasty when they were predicting the electric signals depending on the cardiac activity: depending on how malicious the rise of machines that would do everything from attack is, lots of people are going to have anything from heartache (literally!) to talking out the trash to driving buses. We are, cardiac arrests. How about computer viruses that affect our implanted gadgets? That however inching slowly towards that, and would be like any natural viruses. This will make hackers from being tolerated as maybe will arrive in such a world in a century nuisances to becoming as feared and despised as terrorists and gangsters. Apart and half. Until then, it’s only fair to hope that from this admittedly extreme scenario we could see networked cars breaking down in we get that broadband connection deliver on its the middle of the road, supermarkets not accepting credit cards or light bulbs promised speeds so that there are no coffee refusing to switch on. Not to mention us living in a world where we could not breaks in the middle of the YouTube video. Not communicate with gadgets, or even with each other. Scary thoughts. too much to ask, is it? [email protected]

40 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DigitalDigital Tools Tools l Jumpstart l Enhance Digital Tools Xxxxxx xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Technology For Personal And SoHo Productivity 00 00 106 xxxxxxx Enhance In Place Getting mails in order and cutting that Inbox down to size will have a positive impact on your life… take it from us!

Asfaq Tapia

nbox” has a meaning: it’s a place where mails have come into, waiting to be read and processed, then “Ieither discarded or kept in an appropriate place. The Inbox was never meant to be a heap of hundreds or even thou- sands of mails. It’s not an idle matter of perfection. Consider this. If your Inbox is too large, you could spend too much time finding a mail you’re looking for – if you know it exists. Second, if there are too many mails there, there are probably some important ones whose existence you’ve forgotten about – and no appro- priate action has been taken. Third, if you’re struggling to “catch up on your e-mailing,” you’d tend to begin at the begin- ning – of that huge Inbox, and two things could happen: (a) Looking at that heap, you might never start; and (b) If you do, your attention would be divided as you juggle between per- sonal and official mails, less important ones and more impor- tant ones. There’s more: if you only use the standard mail folders in Outlook (we’re assuming, keeping numbers in mind, that Out- look is your mail client), and you have too many mails, the file could get corrupt (meaning you could lose all of them). To get to the point, it is this: that it’s desirable to have a trim Inbox, well-organised folders, and a ready backup for when things go wrong. While talking about all this, we can’t avoid the subject of spam, either. And so, while there are many phi- losophies one can subscribe to on one’s journey to becoming a good e-mailer, we’ll keep what follows to the essentials. A Few Obvious Things Almost all of e-mail wisdom can be put in three concise lines: Keep unwanted stuff from getting in. What gets in, classify into what needs action and what doesn’t.

january 2008 DIGIT 65 Digital Tools l Enhance

For the items that do need action, have a con- what will show up in Outlook. To avoid confu- sistent plan; those that don’t, put them where sion, you might want to keep the filename and they should be. this name the same. ePerhaps w should add a fourth concise line: The newly-created file will open up immedi- Back up often. ately in Outlook, unpopulated, of course. Move You should formulate a policy for yourself to your “personal” messages into this one by drag- keep things in order, but we’ll tell you a couple ging and dropping. (Before that, if you’d like, of things just so you’re aware that you don’t you can create sub-folders by right-clicking on have a proper policy in place! the name and choosing the appropriate option.) First off, constantly being alerted of new Then, you can choose to close it (again, by right- mail is a distraction. We’ve gotten used to it, but clicking on the name). Whenever you need to ask yourself if you really need Outlook to check open it, you just do File > Open > Outlook Data for mail every five minutes – and whether you File. need to be notified each and every time. Chances When you try to open an Outlook Data File as are you don’t. You’ll deal better with e-mail if above, Outlook will look for files in the default you give it a time and a time-slot. (Only you can location – note that path. Later, in Explorer, decide whether you need that to be twice a day look under that folder, and you’ll see all your or six times.) It’s a generalised suggestion, but .PST files. Back these up on a regular basis, very how about choosing to only be alerted to impor- preferably to a different hard disk or to DVD. tant mail – that is, mails from a certain sender, You’ll be able to use them after you re-install or those with a certain subject line? Windows or Office – or on a different com- Now, for when you do sit down to “deal” with puter. Restoring the files to a new installation your mail, you can reduce some of the clutter of Outlook is as simple as it gets: choose File > immediately: look at the list of unread e-mails Import and Export..., then select Import from and quickly respond to those that demand just a another program or file. Click Next. Highlight couple of lines. Let those not remain on the list Personal Folder File (PST) and click Next again. – and in your head. To reduce the clutter a little Say Browse, and select the .PST files you want more, delete what you’re not never going to deal to recover. (Make sure you’ve selected Replace with. Accept it: you’ve got a hoard of e-mails that duplicates with items imported.) Then click Next you’re never, ever going to respond to or take and Finish. some action upon, but they’re there. Learn to decide what items belong in this category, and The Clean Inbox, #1 delete them when they arrive. The straightforward way to make every incom- Well, here’s a gentle way out (because we ing message go where it should – the appropri- know it hurts): spend some time right now and ate folder, that is – is to use Rules in Outlook. move all such items to a newly-created folder Thankfully, there’s a Rules Wizard. (more on this later), take a backup (more on this If you’re hearing the term “Mail Rules” for later), then delete them forever. Three months down the line, look back on whether you needed them! Cases in point: forwards you’re not going to read. Newsletters you’re not going to read. Social networking requests you’re not going to respond to… Of course, keeping spam out is rather more than half the story. We’ll come to that in a while. Folders And Files If you’ve never bothered to organise your Outlook folders and have left them at the default, you probably have one very large file that contains all your mails. This .PST file (like we said) could get corrupted, and Outlook could take longer to open. Then there’s the matter of good organisation: if you split your mail into multiple .PST files, you can choose to open only the one(s) you want – and you’ll see them listed separately in the folder list on the left. If you have sub-folders, you’ll get smaller lists when you expand a particular folder than if you had one, large folder. Let’s take a typical scenario and say you have three kinds of mails – Work, Personal, and Newsletters. Right now, they’re all in one .PST file (unless you’ve archived some of them). What you need to do is create two more. Go to File > New > Outlook Data File. Supply a filename, and you’ll get the options to set a password for it, Caption and to name it. This name – say “Personal” - is

66 DIGIT January 2008 Digital Tools l Enhance the first time, it’s like this: say you want mails The Clean Inbox, #2 from your (two) siblings to go into a folder called POPFile, many have been saying for years, is the Family. you tell Outlook that if an incoming best spam filter there is. It needs to be trained mail has either of their e-mail addresses in the to recognise spam, but it gets trained pretty “Sender” field, it should automatically divert quickly (if you receive a respectable number it into the Family folder instead of sending it of e-mails). Now POPFile as it is can be a little to the Inbox. That becomes a Rule for Outlook. off-putting in terms of the user interface, but Similarly, if you want to be alerted with a sound there’s Outclass, a little program (which works when there’s a mail from your boss, you could when POPFile is installed) that integrates with tell Outlook about that, too. Moreover, it’s not Outlook as a toolbar. limited to the “From” field – rules could be Space doesn’t permit a complete discussion based on a whole bunch of parameters, such as of how to use the Outclass toolbar. We’ll point out what time they arrive, whether they have attach- and clarify a few things here; the easy-to-follow ments, whether there are certain words in the (with screenshots) documentation is at www. subject line, and so on. vargonsoft.com/Outclass/release-1.2.4.1.aspx. To use the Wizard, go to Tools > Rules and Outclass hasn’t been tested by the developers to Alerts, and in the E-mail Rules tab, click New work with Outlook 2007, but it does, it seems. Rule. You’ll then have the option of going with Outclass isn’t just for spam filtering – the the provided Templates or to “Start from a blank idea is called “buckets,” which you can think rule”. Let’s look at what happens when you start of as imaginary folders. Say you define three from a blank rule and choose to “Check mes- buckets – Work, Personal, and Spam. Outclass doesn’t know that “Spam” is some kind of evil thing; when it “reads” a message, it decides what bucket it belongs in, depending on how it’s been trained. It can then route the contents of the buckets to appropriate folders as you’ve defined. In case you’re wondering what “training” is about: just after Outclass has been installed and a mail comes in, it’s marked as “Unclassified”. You use the buttons on the toolbar to classify it as Personal, Work, or Spam. The act of doing this for many messages is called training... simple enough. There’s a useful feature on the default toolbar, called “Safe View”. Some spam contains “Web bugs,” which means that if you open it by mistake, you could send out a confirmation to the spammer that yours is an operational e-mail address. When you choose to view a potential spam message using the “Safe View” button, you’ll view it without triggering the “Web bug.” At the left of the Outclass toolbar is the Out- class Options button; in the options dialog, the first tab is Buckets and Inboxes. “Inboxes” refers to the Outlook folders to be monitored; refer to the documentation for this. The Buckets are the Define actions here categories. You can define as many buckets as you want, choose whether the button (to clas- sages when they arrive” (which is the first thing sify mail into a certain bucket) should be on the you’ll need to select). toolbar, and what its name should be. It’s pretty intuitive. As you select your con- When you click on the Inbox and then on ditions in the top part of the rules Wizard Edit, you’ll get a dialog where you can specify window, your Rule gets “built up” in the bottom what should be done to a message depending on part. So if you select “with specific words in the which Bucket Outclass puts it into. subject”, those words will appear below – and you click on the words “specific words” to define Remember... those words. You could go with rules, or you could let Be sure to go through all the options you’re Outclass automatically classify mails for you. provided with under the conditions to be You might want to do the latter if there are too checked for – for example, all mail where your many unspecified people who send you mail. If name is not in the “To” box could be sent to a you have a large network of connections, you’ll special folder, which you might want to examine often get mail from people you don’t know, only once a day. Then, when you’re done cre- and if the only classification you need is, say, ating the rule, you could choose to run it on all into Personal, Work, and newsletters (apart messages in your Inbox right then – do that and from Spam), Outclass will do the job well. Also watch all your mails make their way to the right remember that you could set rules in Outlook place! (Assuming, of course, that you’ve set up first, then install Outclass to work only as a the appropriate folders.) spam filter.

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FEATURES We have no Availability of media, however, is a rather large thorn in the format’s side. Supported Speeds complaints In our last test, we saw one DVD writer domi- about any of the Additional Features nate the rest with a maximum write speed for trays this time, The two Philips drives are the only ones to not DVD-Rs of a whopping 20x. This time around, unlike a couple allow setting the BookType of DVD+R media almost all the drives support 20x writes, with of years ago when burning. Setting the BookType allows you BurningBurning UpUp none going faster, because we seem to have to set the DVD you create to appear as a stamped reached the maximum speeds for DVDs. Only DVD-ROM to standalone DVD players. This is the ASUS DRW-1814BLT supported a maximum helpful if your DVD player acts finicky when write speed of 18x, which shoul still be fast playing DVD-Video discs that are burnt on PCs. With prices falling and media becoming more readily available, almost everyone can enough for most. What’s funny here is that its Just like DVD-RAM, LightScribe is a feature reading speed tops out at 16x—giving us a DVD that is fast losing ground due to waning inter- afford a dual-layer DVD writer. But which one to buy? That’s where we come in... writer that can write faster than it reads! ests. Again, expensive and hard to find media When it comes to DVD-RW and DVD+RW is the cause for this. LightScribe basically speeds, all the drives support 8x and 6x respec- allows you to burn a CD/DVD label on to the es such as ASUS, Samsung and Sony, and some tively. All the speed changes seem to have disc, using the same drive that you’re using to Jayesh Limaye from newer entrants such as Moser Baer and occurred in the dual-layer race, and although burn data on to it. You can create your own Philips. In fact, Moser Baer makes its DVD all the drives can write to DVD+R DL media at labels using text, images or both, and this cus- t’s that time of the year again, and we set out Writers in collaboration with Lite-On—a famous an acceptable 8x, the Sony DRU-845S is capable tom label is burnt to the DVD/CD face using an in search for all the optical drives we could get brand of DVD Writers. Philips DVD Writers have of 12x and the Samsung SH-S203 manages a additional laser. Only the ASUS drives—the Iour hands on. Surprisingly, variety doesn’t been around abroad for many years, and are whopping 16x! That’s the fastest we’ve seen for DRW-1814BLT and DRW-2014L1T—support seem to be sought after when it comes to DVD now available across India. dual-layer burning, ever. LightScribe this time. writers, as we only found eight drives to be the Interestingly, most optical drives are now With DVD+R DL media available for as little popular choice amongst retailers. In addition, we SATA drives, and IDE seems to be dying of old as Rs 100, and prices only seeming to fall more, Build Quality also got our hands on a couple of Blu-ray drives to age. The drives we got with the SATA interface there’s never been a better time to invest in a When we talk about the build quality of an see what the near future has in store for us. were ASUS DRW-1814BLT, ASUS DRW-2014L1T, dual-layer burner. optical drive, it is the tray that we are talking Philips SPD2514T, Samsung SH-S203, and Sony All the drives also feature the ability to about. We have no complaints about any of the

a Surpur The Drives DRU-845S, while those with the IDE interface write to DVD-RAM at 12x. The exception was trays this time, unlike a couple of years ago, y We got DVD Writers from different manufac- were Moser Baer DH-20A4P23C, Philips the ASUS, which claims 14X DVD-RAM write when this was a serious issue with quite a few

haitan turers. Some drives came from the old warhors- SPD2414T, and Sony DRU-190A. speeds. DVD-RAM is great for video profession- drives. The ASUS, Samsung and the Sony DRU- C als, because you can treat your DVD-RAM drive 845S seem to have the best trays and load/eject as a hard drive—make folders, create files, even mechanisms. Another thing to note here is that edit them from within the disc, etc. the ASUS, Moser Baer, and Samsung drives were How We Tested he drives were connected to the second SATA port or set as located towards the middle of the media) of our test DVD to the Tmaster and connected to the primary IDE channel, according hard drive, and the time taken for this was noted. to the type of the drive. The test process consisted of two sections: writing to and reading from different types of media. The Writing Tests These included logging the time taken to write to CD-R, CD-RW, Test Rig DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. An assorted data of 700 Processor Intel Pentium 4 540 3.2 GHz MB—the latest Digit CD—was used to write to CD-R, CD-RW and RAM 1 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 DVD-RW and the time was logged. Sequential data consisting of Motherboard ECS PF5 Extreme a 700 MB file—the same Digit CD zipped without compression— Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 7300GS was used to write to a CD-R. Similarly assorted and sequential Hard Drive Western Digital 80 GB SATA-II data of 4.38 GB was used to write to DVD-R and DVD+R media Power Supply Antec Neo480 480 Watt and the time taken for this was noted. OS Windows XP Professional SP2 Burning software Nero 8 Ultra Edition The Media The media used were 52x CD-R from Moser Baer, 10x CD-RW The Reading Tests from HP, 16x DVD-R from Sony, 16x DVD+R from Sony and 4x Nero CD-DVD Speed was used to note the data transfer rates, DVD-RW from HP. A point to note is that most of the DVD- access/seek times, CPU utilisation, burst rate, etc, for CDs as Writers can burn DVDs at speeds in excess of 16x, but since well as DVDs. This comes bundled with Nero 8 Ultra. such media is unavailable, the 16x media was burnt at the highest supported speed. We used Moser Baer DVD+R DL for SiSoft Sandra Pro Business 2007, which is a system-wide dual layer media write test and an assorted data of 8.5 GB was performance benchmark as well as diagnostic utility, was used burnt to these at their certified speeds of 8x where possible. to measure the DVD read speeds and access times. Other Features dbPowerAmp, an audio format conversion and CD ripping tool Other features such as support for various DVD types, was used to rip three audio tracks of our test audio CD, located LightScribe capability, capability to set Book Type, tray build at different positions on the CD. The tracks were ripped to 44 quality, silent operation and bundled accessories such as data KHz MP3 format at 128 Kbps, and the time was logged. cable, media, bezels, etc., were also noted and rated to derive the final score. Please note that the specified read and write DVD Decrypter is a tool used to rip DVD video files to the hard speeds were not rated, instead we rated the read and write drive. This was used to rip a select chapter (a .VOB file, 1 GB speeds in real world tests.

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the quietest when burning, which makes them On the software front, Nero 7 Essentials is better suited for HTPCs. the burning software of choice for all manufac- turers, while only Samsung bundles Nero Bundled Accessories Express 7. There is no separate DVD playback With attempts to make optical drives dirt software bundled anymore because Nero cheap, this is one area where all manufactur- Showtime is a part of the Nero package and can ers are cutting costs, and as a result, the bun- play even HD movies. Samsung’s decision to dles are miserable. Samsung drives are the bundle Nero Express 7 gets it some brownie only drives that come with SATA and power points here because you also get Nero BackItUp cables, the rest expect you to buy these your- (backup utility) and ReCode (video encoding) in self. The ASUS DRW-1814BLT comes with two addition to all the regulars that Nero 7 LightScribe discs, so you can try out the tech- Essentials contains. Only the ASUS DRW- nology before deciding to buy any more 2014L1T and the Sony DRU-845S come with media—which isn’t exactly cheap. extra bezels to let you change the colour of the drive to match your cabinet. Philips SPD2515T Expensive performer PERFORMANCE Reading SiSoft Sandra Pro Business 2007 Nero CD/DVD Speed The SiSoft Sandra file transfer index reconfirmed our pre- All the drives performed well in this test and vious test, with most of the drives scoring between 12 and did not show any abnormal drop in read 13 MBps, with the ASUS drives lagging with just 10 MBps. speeds during any part of the test. Most of the drives lingered around average speeds of Audio CD And DVD Ripping about 12x for DVDs, but the ASUS drives Finally, one of the ASUS drives decided to put up a fight! underperformed with 9x. In the CD speed The ASUS DRW-1814BLT was the fastest at ripping the tests, the Moser Baer drive and Sony’s DRU- audio CD—taking just 39 seconds—miles ahead of the rest. 190A ruled the roost with 37 MBps. The rest of There was no conclusive winner in the DVD ripping test, the drives managed around 30 MBps. A burst with most drives completing the task in around a minute. rate of over 60 MBps for DVDs was typical for The ASUS DRW-2014LT was the slowest—it took just under Sony DRU-845S all the SATA drives. two minutes to rip the DVD file. Fancy looker Writing Media Compatibility Blu-ray Newcomers We faced certain media compatibility issues with some of the drives, despite using certified media that is commonly ext-gen optical drives featuring blue lasers have been available and popular. Nlaunched in India well over a year ago, but have found it hard As far as rewriteable media is concerned, there were no to get a footing. The reason is the excessive price and issues with any of the drives. CD-Rs did have some issues— inaccessibility of the media. Our test labs received just one Blu- while most drives supported 48x and recognised the 52x ray drive last year and no HD-DVD drive. This year too, the certified media at this (48x) speed, some such as the Sony picture did not change much. We received two Blu-ray drives— DRU-845S and ASUS DRW-1816BLT could only recognise the ASUS BC-1205PT and Sony BWU-200S. While the Sony can read media as 40x and 24x respectively. as well as write to Blu-ray media, the ASUS is a combo drive and Only the Moser Baer drive could recognise the DVD-R as its capabilities are limited to only reading from such media. 20x, while both the ASUS drives recognised it as 16x, and Nevertheless, both drives are completely backward compatible this affected their performances. The rest of the drives and can write DVDs as well as CDs. could recognise the DVD-R as 18x. When it comes to our Both drives sport attractive-looking black bezels with the DVD+R media, most drives correctly recognised it as 16x— Blu-ray logo. We found that the tray mechanisms of these Asus BC-1205PT except for the Moser Baer and Sony DRU-190A, which drives was noticeably different from conventional DVD writers ‘Combo’ is the keyword reported the media to be 18x. that we tested—it seemed more rugged and slid precisely and smoothly. They come with a SATA interface and feature an 8 took the Sony around six minutes to write to a DVD, which is MB buffer, necessary for smooth HD playback. par for the course, while the ASUS was understandably slower The Sony BWU-200S can write to BD-R and BD-RE media at and took over seven minutes and ten seconds. In the Nero 4x and 2x respectively. While the Sony sports a DVD writing DVD Speed read test, the Sony clocked 12.29x, which is a good speed of 16x, the ASUS can do just 12x—too slow when you score, while the ASUS lagged behind with just 9.44x. consider that 20x is the Unfortunately, we could not test these with BD media—none norm today. It are available. Both these Blu-ray drives come with CyberLink BD Solution suite—a full-fledged suite of applications that consist of CD/DVD/BD burning application, HD playback software, backup tools, as well as video authoring and editing application PowerProducer. The ASUS BC-1205PT is priced at Rs 15,500, while the Sony BWU-200S costs a whopping Rs 38,000, making both this drives out of reach of most mortals. We fail to justify the absurdly high price tag and just cannot recommend any of these. We suggest that you wait and watch Moser Baer DH-20A4P23C Sony BWU-200S Almost a winner As expensive as a high-end PC! as the prices are slated to plummet in the next few months.

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Scoreboard DVD Writers FEBRUARY 2008 BRAND ASUS ASUS Moser Baer Philips Philips Samsung Sony Sony MODEL DRW-1814BLT DRW-2014L1T DH-20A4P23C SPD2414T SPD2514T SH-S203 DRU-190A DRU-845S

Price (Rupees) Rs 1,850 Rs 2,100 Rs 1,350 Rs 2,990 Rs 3,190 Rs 1,200 Rs 1,600 Rs 1,750 Comments + Good bundle + None in particular + Performance, inexpensive + Good performance + Good performance + Performance, inexpensive + 20x DVD write speed + Good performance – Media compatibility – Media compatibility – None in particular – Too expensive – Too expensive – None in particular – Slower performance – A bit slower in DVD+R Total (Out of 100) 65.04 62.54 67.41 66.42 67.60 76.64 67.21 71.00 Features (Out of 35) 22.33 21.49 17.64 16.03 17.15 24.64 17.43 19.88 Performance (Out of 65) 42.71 41.05 49.77 50.39 50.45 52.00 49.78 51.12 Features Drive Specifications Write Speeds DVD+R/-R (X) 18 / 18 20 / 20 20 / 20 20 / 20 20 / 20 20 / 20 20 / 20 20 / 20 DVD+RW/-RW (X) 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 8 / 6 DVD+R DL/-R DL/-RAM (X) 8 / 8 / 14 8 / 8 / 14 8 / 8 / 12 8 / 8 / 12 8 / 8 / 12 16 / 12 / 12 8 / 8 / 12 12 / 12 / 12 CD-R/RW (X) 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 48 / 32 LightScribe/BookType (Y/N) Y / Y Y / Y N / Y N / N N / N N / Y N / Y N / Y Interface (IDE/SATA) SATA SATA IDE IDE SATA SATA IDE SATA Data Buffer Size (MB) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Tray Build Quality (Scale of 10) 8 8 7 7 7 8 7 8 Silent Operation (Scale of 10) 8 8 8 7 7 8 7 7 Package Contents Data Cable (Y/N) N N N N N Data, Power N N Manual/Quick Setup Guide (Y/N) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Media—CD/DVD (Y/N) 2 LightScribe CDs N / N N / N N / N N / N N / N N / N N / N Software—Burning Nero 7 Essentials Nero 7 Essentials Nero 7 Essentials Nero 7 Essentials Nero 7 Essentials Nero Express 7 Nero 7 Essential Nero 7 Essential Software—DVD Playback Nero ShowTime Nero ShowTime Nero ShowTime Nero ShowTime Nero ShowTime Nero ShowTime Nero Showtime Nero Showtime Software—Other None None None None None BackItUp, ReCode None None Miscellaneous (Extra Bezels, Etc,) Leather CD Pouch Black bezel N N N N N Black bezel Performance READING TESTS Nero CD/DVD Speed (DVD) Avg. Transfer Rate (x) 9.08 9.07 12.17 12.11 12.16 12.14 12.12 12.14 Random Access/Seek Time (s) 19 19 3 3 3 3 3 2 CPU Utilisation (4X) 16 % 14 % 33 % 24 % 13 % 11 % 26 % 13 % Burst Rate (MBps) 61 60 26 26 66 68 25 68 Spin Up/Down Time (s) 4.02 / 2.8 1.1 / 2.11 1.81 / 3.34 1.66 / 3.33 1.65 / 3.25 1.61 / 3.15 7.88 / 4.26 1.52 / 3.13 Eject/Load Time (s) 2.28 / 1.05 1.56 / 1.74 1.49 / 1.43 1.58 / 1.02 1.63 / 1.02 1.63 / 1.01 1.57 / 1.66 1.69 / 1.05 Recognition Time (s) 17.9 s 17.74 s 15.19 13.44 12.88 13.26 15.38 12.68 Nero CD/DVD Speed (CD) Avg. Transfer Rate (x) 30.93 30.93 37.16 31.46 31.55 31.55 36.91 31.43 Random Access/Seek Time (s) 16 16 3 3 3 3 3 3 CPU Utilisation (8X) 3 % 3 % 12 % 7 % 4 % 4 % 12 % 4 % Burst Rate (MBps) 44 43 22 17 27 29 17 30 Spin Up/Down Time (s) 2.91 / 2.9 5.69 / 1.77 5.5 / 4.88 1.76 / 2.68 1.74 / 2.67 1.76 / 2.56 2.48 / 2 1.74 / 1.29 Eject/Load Time (s) 2.15 / 1.04 1.6 / 1.03 1.49 / 1.35 1.58 / 1.03 1.64 / 1.02 1.63 / 1.01 1.51 / 1.62 1.68 / 1.05 Recognition Time (s) 15.27 14.97 s 11.07 9.35 9.45 10.15 12.02 9.09 SiSoft Sandra Pro Business 2007 (DVD) Drive Index (MBps) 10 10 13 12 12 12 13 13 Access Time (ms) 93 83 115 85 106 124 114 119 Audio CD Ripping—dbPowerAmp (s) 39.1 47.5 44 51 49.9 49.5 51 50 DVD Video Ripping—DVD Decrypter (s) 78.1 113.9 65.1 57.5 59.4 59.2 60.4 60.3 WRITING TESTS CD-R Assorted/Sequential (s) 230.2 / 231.5 235 / 236 163.8 / 167 175.3 / 173.8 181.2 / 178.7 169.9 / 169.7 168.2 / 167.9 183 / 182 DVD-R Assorted/Sequential (s) 439.8 / 444.3 368 / 369 326.8 / 307 312.9 / 310.6 310 / 309.7 312 / 311.3 312.5 / 311.5 311.6 / 307 DVD+R Assorted/Sequential (s) 363 / 371.8 364 / 366 339.4 / 325.6 346.8 / 339.3 345 / 345 310 / 308.2 330.2 / 323.4 343.6 / 349 DVD-RW 700 MB Assorted (s) 151.4 152.7 141.4 136.8 148.9 137.9 140 138.7 DVD+R DL (s) 1147 1146 1144 903 906 903 1018 904

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CD Writing The Moser Baer drive was the quickest in the Editor’s Pick CD-R write test, followed closely by the Sony DRU-190A and Samsung. ASUS drives were the slowest and this is attributed largely due to the media compatibility issues that they face. Sony, Samsung and Philips drives were quick- er in writing to CD-RW media. DVD Writing The Philips SPD2514T was the found to be the fastest in assorted DVD-R writes, though not by an especially large margin; it was closely trailed by the Sony and Samsung drives. The Moser Baer and Sony DRU-845S were the he award for fastest in sequential DVD-R write test, taking Tthe Editor’s Pick as Samsung SH-S203 just seven seconds over five minutes. The well as the Best Performer The best of all! Philips and Samsung were close behind. were swept up by the Samsung Media compatibility issues dogged the ASUS SH-S203. It sports 20x writing speeds for DVD+R and DVD-R and we drives as they delivered considerably slower were surprised to see that it can write to dual layer DVD+Rs at 16x! performance. Coming to DVD+R writing, we Without any exceptions, this drive delivers top-notch performance and found that it was the Samsung drive that out- tops the chart in all the writing and reading tests with all kinds of performed all the other drives this time, and media. It took just over five minutes to burn 4.38 GB data to the DVDs, by a commanding margin. The slowest drives in both the assorted and sequential test. It completes burning a 700 MB were yet again the ASUS drives, but the per- CD in less than 170 seconds. It excels in the reading tests too, with a formance difference was not as much as in score of 12.14x in Nero DVD Speed. The price of this drive is the lowest the case of DVD-R writing. Writing to dual amongst the lot—just Rs.1,200 and yet it comes with a great bundle that layer media did not change the picture, the includes SATA data and power cable as well as Nero Express 7 suite, only difference was that the Moser Baer drive which includes DVD playback, data backup as well as video encoding could not keep up with its earlier perform- software. We were left with no choice but to award all the awards to the ance. But in general, there was not a huge dif- Samsung SH-S203. ference between the performance of the drives in this case, the leaders here were is the reason why they ended up at the bot- Philips, Samsung, and Sony drives. tom end of the chart. Winners Closing Thoughts If we took a look at raw performance, most of As we have seen, there is not too much that sets the drives did fairly well. We took a final call these DVD Writers apart, especially in terms of by taking into consideration, the price. There writing speeds. What does differ is the prices was a huge difference between the prices of and the warranty and service offered. Now we DVD Writers—some were priced at a high of can’t test how long these drives will last, but around Rs 3,000, while some were priced warranty is something you should keep your as low as Rs 1,200. The price was therefore, eyes open for. the decider. With falling prices, combo drives (DVD- Trailing behind the Samsung, the Sony ROM/CD writer) have all but disappeared, and DRU-845S misses out from topping the per- you should refrain from buying one—stick to formance chart by just a whisker. It comes DVD writers. Also, because optical drive read with a decent bundle of Nero 7 Essential and and write speeds are a lot slower than hard also a black bezel that lets you match its drives, the performance difference between appearance with your PC cabinet. Boasting of writers based on interface—SATA or IDE—is dual layer DVD write speeds of 12x and priced negligible. Most newer motherboards will at just Rs 1,600, this drive deserves a special have enough SATA ports, so you can safely opt mention here. for a SATA DVD writer—the difference lies not Moser Baer was next in line, along with in the performance, but in the cable clutter. the Sony DRU-190A—both these drives per- SATA cables being thinner, your cabinet can formed well and were priced well too. do without wide IDE cables getting in the way Although the Philips drives performed well— of everything. better than the other drives in some tests— The optical drive market is in turmoil their prices are unreasonably high, and that because of the stalemate between the Blu-ray and HD-DVD camps. With more movie studios Contact Sheet DVD Writers preferring Blu-ray, it could be the format of Brand Company Phone E-mail Web site the future. This will be good for us con- ASUS ASUS Technology Pvt. Ltd. +91-22-67668800 [email protected] in.asus.com sumers, because finally manufacturers will Moser Baer Moser Baer India Ltd +91-11-40594500 [email protected] www.moserbaer.com pick a side and prices will start to plummet. Philips Philips Electronics India Ltd +91-22-66912325 vishal.d.jamdar@philips www.india.philips.com Only time will tell though, and unfortunate- .com ly, for now, Blu-ray drives remain a rarity, and Samsung Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd. +91-11-41511234 [email protected] www.samsung.com/in quite expensive. Sony Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd. +91-22-67090909 [email protected] www.sony.com [email protected]

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We test the latest hardware and software products Bazaar available in the market

Lenovo Y410 which switches between With an overall PC Mark MSI P6NGM power modes to optimise 2005 score of 3251, a 3D Another HTPC Candidate! Y So Plain Looking? battery or performance. Mark 2005 score of 673 and There is a neat array of a SiSoft Sandra 2007 drive ased on NVIDIA’s new ports. The P6NGM supports he Y series from Lenovo panels have a quality multimedia keys that Index of 39 MBps, the Y410 BMCP 73 platform, the 1333 MHz FSB (officially) so Tis touted as the home finish, and this 14.1-inch allows you to listen to doesn’t really excite as a P6NGM is a mid-sized PCB. It all Penryn dual- and quad- entertainment series—the unit feels sturdy. music without logging in to “high-end” product—at supports all Core 2 Duo and cores should work fine. A good speakers and a few The glossy, 1280 x 800 Windows (after inserting an Rs 38,500, it makes sense as Core 2 Quad processors; 4-pin CPU power connector additional multimedia but- display is clear, crisp and audio CD). an excellent value solution. there are 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe defies the new 8-pin stan- tons are a step in the right vibrant, with good contrast The Y410 is available in It’s got loads of pre- x16 slot for a discrete card, 2 dard. The onboard graphics is direction; the plain décor ratio. The keypad offers configurations including a installed software; we’d memory slots, and 4 SATA a GeForce 7050 solution— isn’t! The Y410 is a good- good feedback, but it’s a speedy Core 2 Duo T7100 have liked to see Windows looking notebook overall, little squishy. The shortcut (1.8 GHz) and an NVIDIA Vista Home Premium though—the outer body keys are well-laid-out, and GeForce 8400M GS with instead of Basic, though. MSI P6NGM VS Intel G33 chipset you’ll have no issues 128 MB of video RAM. Whether you’re looking at a with using the nifty The one we received multimedia notebook, or 10000 little add-on keys like had a Core 2 Duo T5450 something to use in college 8000 6.7 72

8 Specifications the volume adjust- and Intel’s GMA 950 or in office—the Y410 has 8660.3 D-Sub and HDMI connects 8101 2 7467 ment, mute, or even graphics solution, which is both your needs and your 6000 7414 have been provided as well. NVIDIA MCP 73 chipset; 1 x16 the “Novo” key, good enough for most mul- wallet covered. 712 PCIe, 2 x PCI, 1 x PCI X1 slots; 4 x 2 9

4000 40 5631 556 521 timedia work, including 52 SATA 2.0, 1 x IDE ports, 1 x D- 91 85 . . 91 Specifications 99 RATINGS Sub, 1 x HDMI connect HD movie playback; just 2000 90 16 .2 15 3 1585 .6 28 1018 .8 1000 1385 Core 2 Duo T5250; 1 GB RAM; 35 26.7 612 don’t expect to game 2 Features 2664 2 18 0 1856 y without a graphics card. Graphics: Intel GMA 950; 1280 x g Contact: Micro-Star International

all Performance CPU CPU HDD er

800; 14.1 inches; 160 GB HDD, 2005 Phone: 011-41758808 aphics ystone Ease of Use Ov Doom 3 Floatin Memor 3D Mark RATINGS 5400 rpm; Weight: 2.4 kg Gr E-mail: [email protected] Dhr Whetstone (640x480)

Multimedia Value for Money Features MSI P6NGM MSI G33M Web site: www.msi-india.com CPU Arithmetic CPU Arithmetic

CPU Multimedia Overall Performance Contact: Lenovo India Price: Rs 8,500 Build Quality Phone: NA E-mail: [email protected] Value for Money Web site: www.lenovo.com/in Overall Genius iTempo 800CD Price: Rs 38,500 A Costly iPod Dock That Fails To Impress

Buffalo MiniStation TurboUSB 80 GB enius’ iTempo 800CD is finish. The Ga product aimed at iPod quality of Portability With God Speed users, but it does a lot more buttons and than just playing music volume dial is he Buffalo MiniStation achieve the same in encrypt files and from your ‘pod. There is an poor, and the TTurboUSB 80 GB TurboUSB mode in just 43 folders, but also SD / MMC slot and space for mesh on the portable hard drive is in a seconds flat—an increase of has an option a USB drive as well, so you speakers looks new class of high- 23 per cent! TurboUSB isn’t that lets you don’t have to own an iPod cheap. performance external hard a drive “mode” as such—it’s encrypt the to use this. Dump some The remote drives featuring the a software implementation, entire drive, music on your USB drive or control has the TurboUSB function that so you need to install the making it pop in a CD, plug it in, and same set of claims to increase speed. utility and enable this virtually you’re ready to go. It’s also buttons as on the It’s a laptop SATA hard feature on any PC that you impossible to access an AM / FM radio receiver. player, and it drive housed in a tough wish to use this drive with, the contents without The slot-loading optical disc resembles black plastic casing to get the extra entering the password. what stops us from reader only reads CDs, remotes that came with adequate for the size. You fashion accessory for your surrounded by cushioning performance. Memeo Backup is yet recommending this drive. though. The drive has no some early CD ROM drive can use the auxiliary out to living room either. material that absorbs The bundled another useful tool that foam padding to prevent kits—thin, light and very connect to better speakers. shock. One of its major SecureLockWare software comes with the drive—it Specifications dust from getting into the clunky buttons. There are a few equaliser Specifications drawbacks is that it uses the powerful AES lets you take automatic 80 GB 5400 rpm SATA; player, and the mechanism Sound quality isn’t settings, and the only 2.1 Speakers, 20W RMS, AM / requires an extra USB cable encryption algorithm to and manual backups of Interface: USB 2.0 High-speed; that pulls the disc in is a impressive. The speakers manual changes you can FM Radio Tuner, SD/MMC and for power. safeguard your data from your data on the drive. Dimensions: 12.7 (W) x 2 (D) x little crude. are a total of 20 W RMS, make are to the amount of USB supported, Antenna and TurboUSB dramatically prying eyes. It can not only The Buffalo MiniStation 8.4 (H) cm; Weight: 190 gm For a product that will which isn’t a lot, but bass and treble. The menus remote control supplied. increases the drive’s speed; TurboUSB 80 GB impresses end up in people’s living and the working of the by default, this is disabled, RATINGS with its performance, costs rooms, the iTempo is not RATINGS iTempo 800CD need some but you can enable it using Feature Rs 3,960, and comes with a exactly attractive. The body Feature time getting used to. Contact: KYE Systems Corp the accompanying Performance two-year warranty. For just Contact: Advent Infotech Pvt Ltd is heavy and sturdy, but has Performance We aren’t impressed by Phone: 011-41580611 software. It took 56 seconds Value for Money a little more, you can get a Phone: +91-011-41436751 a plasticky feel. The blue Build Quality this product, especially E-mail: sales_india@geniusnet. E-mail: [email protected] com.tw to write 1 GB of assorted Build Quality portable drive with twice backlit screen on the front Value for Money since it retails at Rs 13,500. Web site: www.buffalo-asia.com Web site: www.geniusnet.com files to the drive in the Overall that capacity and a year looks decent, and the panel Overall It’s an average performer normal mode; it could more of warranty—that’s Price: Rs 3,960 surrounding it has a glossy and doesn’t make a great Price: Rs 13,500

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Digital Tools l Bazaar Digital Tools l Bazaar Palit 8500GT Super+ 1GB XFX 8800GTS Alpha Dog Edition 8500GT Super+ GB (FPS) FPS 1 Gig Too Much? Pull Her Dog Tags Mate… Prey (1280x1024) 17.9 he first time we saw the seen most 8600GTs with 256 Prey (1024x768) 33.5 FX’s “serious gamer” noticeably cooler than the T1 GB badge on the Palit MB of memory working fine Company of Heroes (1280x1024) 16 22 Alpha Dog Edition is 8800GTX and Ultra cards; 8500GT, we did a double- with huge textures. Company of Heroes (1024x768) FEAR 1280x960 (SS on) 13 here, featuring all the it’s a lot shorter, too—9.5 take to make sure—this is a The card does with a X FEAR 1024x768 (SS off) 28 128 shader units it’s inches opposed to 11 inches lot of memory to waste on a minimal cooling setup— supposed to. The only thing on the older cards. Priced core that has 16 stream circular heatsink with an 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 distinguishing it from the lower than its older sibling, processors (half the number embedded fan—but then the GTX / Ultra models is the running cooler and on the 8600GT). We figure 8500GT is a very cool were right. The Core doesn’t cost just Rs 1,500 more. We 256-bit memory interface. basically having less power half this memory will just customer. Benchmarking really have enough wouldn’t recommend this The card features a core requirements seems like be sitting around doing the Palit 8500GT showed us horsepower to keep all that card to a gamer, and factory overclocked to 678 the XFX 8800GTS 512 Alpha nothing—after all, we’ve that our initial reactions memory busy. However, at neither to someone looking MHz (the default Core is Dog Edition has all the higher resolutions we were for an HTPC. Look for 256 650 MHz), and here’s where accolades in its kitty. more than the price of a Specifications able to get a couple of extra MB of RAM—its all you’ll the fun begins—the core is Lost Planet is a sweet single 8800GTS, and use 128 Shader Units; Core Speed: frames compared to other need in this category. now faster than an bundle. At Rs 25,000, the them in an SLI setup. 678 MHz; Memory: 2,000 MHz; 8500GT cards. 8800GTX, and the scores XFX is costly now. Yes, it’s Memory Bus: 256 bits Rs 5,250 doesn’t seem Specifications show it. Shader clocks are around Rs 5,000 cheaper RATINGS much for a 1 GB card, but GF 8500GT chipset; 16 Shader also up to 1700 MHz from than the cheapest Features Contact: Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd an 8600GT will outperform Units; Core: 450 MHz; Memory: the default of 1625 MHz. Of 8800GTX, but the new Performance Phone: 022-67090909 the Palit 8500GT Super+ by 800 MHz; 1 GB video memory course, the 8800GTS Alpha 8800GT core changes Value for Monery E-mail: [email protected] around 200 percent and Dog still has the restriction things considerably. Eighty- Bundle Web site: www.xfxforce.com Contact: Mediaman Infotech Pvt Ltd Price: Rs 25,000 RATINGS Phone: 022-23828100 / 23823100 / of 16 ROPs (Raster five per cent of the Overall Operations), as opposed to performance at nearly half Features 011-26293001 / 3002 the 24 ROPs on the GTX / the price! This card is a Performance E-mail: dinesh@mediamangroup. Ultra cards. mite too expensive to be of 140 Bundle com / himanshu@ Nevertheless, this card any use to the discerning amigointernational.biz .5 Value for Money 120 has some serious gamer who will likely buy 131 Web site: www.palit.biz/en/ 121 Overall horsepower, and runs two 8800GTs for a little 100 Price: Rs 5,250 3 .7 106 .9 10 2.4 .1 106 .3 10 101 .4 91

80 90 .5 83 86 .6 .9 82 .3 77 76 79 79 73 Palit 8800GT 512 Sonic 60 76 BrowseControl 3.1 Sonic Boom! 40 Basic Network Administrating Utility For The Cyber-Café Owner

20 he 8800GT Sonic utilises Palit has really got the rowseControl is an loading certain file formats a very simple and Sonic’s thermals spot on! 0 Internet management can be denied. Other than ey

T ey B .H. .H. Pr Pr .A.R. radically different cooler Tomb Raider Anniversary is .A.R. tool with an easy to use that, external storage C.O C.O .E .E F from the stock NVIDIA bundled—sweet for all the F interface that gives you real- devices like CD/DVD drives 20x1200) 20x1200) 9 9 (1280x960) (1 (1 (1600x1200) (1600x1200) cooler, and isn’t bad for it. Lara Croft fans floating (1600x1200) time control over multiple and USB drives can be dis- Though not as attractive, a around. ASUS EN8800GTX Palit 8800GT XFX 8800GTS 512 Alpha Dog Edition computers on a network. abled by a couple of clicks. simple circular heatsink and The 8800GT Sonic proved The installation is rather Machines can also be highest settings that gamers 8800GT Sonic without any simple—you first need to forcibly shut down. are generally likely to use— qualms—we guarantee install the package on the An interesting thing 4x AntiAliasing and 8x satisfaction. If you’re the machine that will be the with BrowseControl is that Anisotropic Filtering have kind who wants to run main machine. The client there are no traces of the been enabled; all other games at maximum detail, installer can be installed software running, so users settings are at their invest in an SLI board and over the network or manu- on the client machine will maximum values. pick up two of these. ally by installing the pro- find it a bit difficult to Priced at Rs 14,750 gram on every client bypass the software. The (chances are you’ll get this machine. other good thing with card a bit lower on the Specifications Client machines are BrowseControl is that it street), the Palit 8800GT 112 Shader Units; Core Speed: assigned to groups, and per- allows you to set multiple Sonic is an impressive 600 MHz; Memory: 512 MB; missions for groups can be time schedules for pretty This software is fairly where strict Internet access offering that delivers 1800 MHz; Bus Width: 256-bit set, which will affect all the much everything—you can easy to use and the permissions need to be performance with a cool machines in that group. even ensure that certain Windows help file is there implemented. head. If you’re looking for a This way, you can allot all programs cannot be run for those who still need it. fast DX 10 card, buy the members of a team in one during the day, for example. It has a good explanation Specifications a large embedded fan do get to be a pleasure to test. It Contact: Mediaman Infotech Pvt Ltd group and give suitable per- of all the features along Requires Windows 2000 / the job done better. The comes really close to RATINGS Phone: 022-23828100 / 23823100 / missions to each group RATINGS with screenshots making it 2003 / XP / Vista heatsink extends to strips embarrassing its older Features 011-26293001 / 3002 depending on requirements. Features even easier. that run over the memory siblings at half the price, Performance E-mail: dinesh@mediamangroup. Most of the features and Performance BrowseControl would be Contact: Codework Solutions Pvt Ltd chips, passively cooling even less. For reference, Bundle com/ himanshu@ permissions are (obviously) Ease of Use perfectly fine for cyber-cafés Phone: 0484-4055678 amigointernational.biz E-mail: [email protected] them. Temperatures are we’re throwing in our stock Value for Money to do with the access to Value for Money or smaller educational insti- Web site: www.palit.biz/en/ Web site: www.browsecontrol.com around 15 degrees less than 8800GTX for a real Overall Internet sites. Access to sites Overall tutions. It can also be imple- the stock cooler, meaning comparison. We’ve used the Price: Rs 14,750 and permissions to down- mented in bigger offices Price: Rs 1,001; 5-user: Rs 2,761

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Digital Tools l Bazaar Digital Tools l Bazaar

Canon PIXMA MX318 Intel D5400XS Benchmarks W Prime (32M) 6.562 Yay! For Features, Nay! For Performance Gross XS-es PC Mark 2005 CPU 10208 he PIXMA MX318 is the network port. It supports f you thought Intel’s latest of ECC memory through Memory 5452 Tlatest All-in-one (AIO) high-speed Super G3 fax, IX48 chipset was really four DIMMs and the ability Graphics 11918 from Canon. It is a lustrous with 20-destination auto- something, wait till you see to house two quad-core HDDSiSoft Sandra 2007 5782 grey with a gloss finish, dialling; the fax memory this—we got our socks processors, the D5400XS is CPU Arithmetic (Dhrystone) 114876 along with black; this MFD of 50 pages is ample for knocked off and the tingle bound to leave a trail of CPU Arithmetic (Whetstone) 90840 does not have the best build most needs. left behind in our toes was skulls in its ponderous CPU Multimedia (Integer) 682306 quality—particularly Print speed is very slow: enough to assure us we wake... CPU Multimedia (Floating) 372881 questionable are the trays. it takes over half a minute were looking at something And it’s a Desktop- 3D Mark 2006: The input tray can to print black text at the radically different. In fact, oriented board too—with Doom 3 (640x480, 1600x1200, 4xAA, 4xAF) 247.6 accommodate 100 sheets of best quality, while printing this motherboard is so new, Intel’s latest IDT STAC Doom 3 (1600x1200, 4x AA, 8x AF) 200.6 paper—just enough for a the combi-document takes there were no details of it 9274D 8-channel HD- Far Cry (640x480) 317.67 SoHo setup. Print over a minute at normal background well. Black-and- Specifications on the Net as of this supporting audio codec, six Far Cry (1600x1200, 4x AA, 8x AF) 154.59 resolutions up to 4800 x quality and well over white copying takes 28 Printer: Resolution: 4800 x writing. SATA ports, two E-SATA 1200 dpi are supported, and hundred seconds at best seconds per page, while 1200 dpi (effective); Input tray: Presenting the ports, and even nifty add- shenanigans to a minimum definitely appreciate the the optical scanner quality. It is relatively faster colour copying takes 41. It 100 sheets Skulltrail in its desktop ons like power and reset (despite the fact that Intel sheer horsepower at your resolution is 1200 x 2400 at printing photos, taking does a rather bad job at (yes, Desktop) avatar—Intel’s buttons, and an HDD helpfully provided us with fingertips. With multi- dpi—promising remarkably just under four minutes for this, and the copies appear Scanner: Type: Flatbed and tasking or even multi- good print and scan quality. an A4 photo, and it does a washed out. Sheet-fed; Resolution: 1200 x threaded applications, the Sheet-fed as well as flatbed good job at it with brilliant Canon bundles along 2400 dpi (optical); Media size: difference astonishes— scanner options are colours and good definition. the Scansoft PaperPort A4; ADF: 30 sheets especially with the two available. A 30-sheet The black text does not have application that lets you QX9775 Core 2 Extreme document feeder lies hidden clear edges, though it is not scan as well as manage Fax: Speed: 33.6 Kbps; Memory: processors, which are until you flip it open. smudged. Combo documents. It even has OCR 50 pages; Speed dialling: up to basically 45nm, 3.2 GHz The control panel is documents are printed capability, thus saving you 20 numbers quad-cores. Note that the fairly simple to use, with relatively better, the colour the cost of buying OCR pin layout on the board is buttons dedicated for each part in particular. It even software. Control Center 3 General specifications: slightly different—Socket of the multiple functions. manages to print yellow brings all the features of Dimensions: 46.5 (W) x 44 (D) x 771 (LGA) CPUs are A single line mono LCD text against a black the MFD at your fingertips. 23 (H) mm; Weight: 8.6 kg; supported. (Regular displays all the necessary The Canon PIXMA Power consumption: Standby: Desktop CPUs are in the status and settings RATINGS MX318 has the features, but 1.8 W; Off: 1.8 W; Max: 16 W LGA 775-pin format.) information. It features Performance doesn’t have the Check out our PictBridge port, but the Features performance to back them Contact: Canon India Pvt. Ltd. benchmarks (above) to see absence of memory card Ease of Use up, and the considerably Phone: 1800-345-33-66 how this monster kicked slots was conspicuous. It Value for Money high price tag of Rs 10,995 E-mail: [email protected] hindquarters. Web site: www.canon.co.in connects to the PC via a Overall does nothing to help things We don’t expect the USB port, but there is no in its favour. Price: Rs 10,995 D5400XS to break any sales records—just benchmarks. This platform may just kick off in the workstation market, particularly for rendering machines, where the enormous multiprocessing CPU and GPU power will be harnessed better. The entire platform is power-hungry. If you’re looking at SLI, two quad- cores, and around three D5400XS—a consumer activity LED right on the unlocked CPUs) was that at hard drives, opt for a 1000- board featuring dual board. There’s also a two- 3.2 GHz, we felt these quad- watt power supply... Also processor support, and digit POST (Power on Self cores were close to their invest in a decent air four, SLI-capable PCIe Test) debugger. The BIOS is thermal limits. The thermal conditioner—and/or good graphics slots, among chock-full of overclocking specs of these 45nm cores aftermarket CPU coolers; other things—but don’t say options—CPU, memory and are even better than the G0 these babies dissipate 150 that out aloud. The FSB overclocking and stepping Core 2 Quads we watts each. D5400XS is based on Intel’s overvolting are supported, tested earlier, but we didn’t Buy this only if you can MCP 5400 Northbridge and strangely enough, want to push anything. really afford to—at around (MCH), and a 6321ESB I/O recommended. All this While you won’t really Rs 25,000 for just the ICH. Somewhere between makes the D5400XS one appreciate the power of board, it’s one of those lie two MCP 100s from helluva desktop board, two processors with most luxuries that’ll just add to NVIDIA—that’s what although its overclocking regular tasks, if you’re a your collection of nice enables SLI on this board. potential is yet to be seen. 3D designer, animator or things, right beside the With support for 16 GB The reason we kept our hardcore gamer, you will Rolex and Porsche!

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Digital Tools l Tips & Tricks Digital Tools l Tips & Tricks

detect. In such cases, you can manually they can be undone. Go to Tasks and Settings. Under the Automatic volume. This, in some cases, does not add folders and files by clicking on the Settings > Change Advanced Protection Settings tab, there is an work effectively, and could result in low Add a file or Add a folder buttons in the Settings > Undo & Exclude. option for ignoring low-risk threats. recording volume. The feature can be Backup Settings window. There are tabs for Virus & Spyware, This is set to Ignore by default, and disabled by going to Tools > Options Browser Settings, and Network you can set it to Automatically > General > Audio Settings. The Phishing Bar In Internet Addresses. Any changes to these Remove if you want. Click the Threat Uncheck the Let Skype Adjust my Explorer components can be restored by clicking Categories tab if you want to disable Audio Settings box. Here, as you’ll The Phishing Bar in Internet Explorer is on the item and clicking Restore or any kind of threat if you use different see, you can also force a volume for the there to warn you of sites that could Restore item to System. software to check for those. microphone and speakers. possibly be fakes. Norton 360 refers to its own database and provides warnings Enabling And Disabling SKYPE Using Your PC’s Internal through the bar. This bar, if you do not Automatic Tasks Speaker As A Ringer want it, can be disable by clicking on During a complete PC Tune-up, Norton If you’re using a headset for Skype, View > Toolbars > Show Norton 360 runs a whole lot of tests, which you or those who aren’t aware yet, there’s no way of knowing if you have a Toolbar. If you want to disable the might not want it to do. To disable some Skype is a dedicated software for Skype call when you aren’t wearing the Phishing detection feature completely (if of these, click on Tasks and Settings F making phone calls over the headphones. An easy trick to use the you use a browser not supported by > Change Advanced Settings > Internet to another PC for free, or to internal PC speaker as a ringer. Go to Norton 360), you can do so by clicking Undo & Exclude. For example, if you land lines (which requires you to pay a Tools > Options > General > SECRETS THAT KEEP YOU AHEAD IN THE RACE on Tasks & Settings and then on fee). Here’s a look at a few of Skype’s Audio Settings. Under the Ringing TIPS 30 MINUTES EXPERT Change Advanced Settings. On the important features, and some section, check the Ring PC Speaker Norton 360 ...... 60 mIRC ...... 63 right, uncheck the Transaction Security recommendations on add-ons. box and click Save. Skype ...... 61 niBiTor ...... 65 box. You can also disable pop-ups and FFDShow ...... 62 updates from here if you wish to. Checking Audio Quality Skype On The Move River Media Jukebox ...... 66 Ever wondered what you sound Like many other software, Skype like to the person on the other end of a can be used as a portable application. Skype call? Well, you need to make a This means you can carry your (personal) NORTON 360 here has the Backup Location. Click call to echo123. First make all necessary Skype installation around with you on on Change and select your CD-Writer or audio setting changes. When you’re your portable music player or USB drive. DVD-Writer drive. Click OK. Choose the Add the Norton anti-phishing toolbar to IE ready to test it out, click on the address First install Skype like you normally ven though the competition has folders to be backed up like you normally bar at the bottom of the Skype window would on your hard drive. Then, from increased in the anti-virus and (in would. This time, when the backup PC Tune-up Schedule and enter echo123. Press [Enter] and the installed location, which is usually Egeneral) the security software process starts, the data will be put onto Setting a schedule for the PC Tasks that run automatically can be disabled the call will be made. You will be asked C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone, market, Norton continues to steam disc instead of a local hard drive. Tune-up is a good idea, we tend to hate to wait for a beep, after which you can copy Skype.exe to a folder on your USB ahead with its variety of suites and Once you’ve activated your copy of running the whole line-up of scans don’t want to do a disk backup, you can speak. Your recorded message will then drive. Create a folder called Data inside applications. We reviewed Norton 360 a Norton 360, you’ll get free online when we’re working. It’s best to set a uncheck the checkbox for the Backup be played back. You can use this to that folder.Start Notepad, type in few months ago and thought it pretty storage where you can back up your schedule time or an automatic weekly task. Click Close when done. tweak your audio recording settings. Skype.exe /datapath=“Data” good. It was a little lighter than most data to. In the same window where you or monthly tune-up schedule. Go to /removable. Save the file as Symantec products and, more selected the CD / DVD drive as your Creating Firewall Rules Skype Live Skype.bat in the same folder as importantly, it was easy to use for a backup destination, you’ll also find Click on Tasks and Settings and A nifty new addition to Skype, Skype.exe on the USB drive. Run it and newbie. Hidden away behind its Secure Online Storage. then on Change Advanced Settings > Skype Live allows users to create public enter the information like you normally colourful yellow interface lies a few Firewall Protection Settings. voice chat rooms. You can connect and would in a fresh installation. Check the advanced features, and these are what The Controls? Here you’ll see two tabs—Firewall talk to people on all kinds of topics. box for Sign me in when Skype we’ll be looking at here. Any newcomer to Norton 360 will General Rules and Firewall Such meetings can also be planned well starts if you want to be able to double- be baffled by the interface—sure, it Program Rules. Firewall General in advance, and a listing of current click on the BAT file and log in Backing Up Data To Disc looks nice, but there are no clear Rules contains simple rules sets for the conversations can be found on the Skype automatically from any computer. Backups are important to keep all buttons for scanning or for any of the entire system, not for any particular site or from the Live tab right in Skype. your important data safe from virus other tasks. Go to Tasks & Settings. program. The Firewall Program Contact Management attacks. Norton 360 can back up data to a This window has all the functions. To Rules screen lets you add your own rules Disable Sound Recording Contacts in Skype are just like in specified location, even to CD or DVD. scan, click the Run Scans link and for a program. All the programs using the Normalisation any other program. You might have a Click on Tasks & Settings, then on choose from the type of scan you want Scheduling PC tune-up sessions; it’s a good idea Internet and the network will be Skype has a feature that changes the bunch of friends from school and some Change Backup Settings. Step 2 to run. You can run a custom scan with to have the tune-up running when the PC is idle displayed. Click on the drop-down next to volume at which your voice is recorded— others who don’t have everyone in their only a few checks done by clicking Let the program and choose from the type of depending on any sudden changes in list. Skype allows you to forward these me Choose. Tasks and Settings, and then click access you want to assign. If you choose contacts to others. Select on Change Advanced Settings from Custom, a set of rules will be displayed Tools > Send Contacts. Full Backup the menu on the right. Select Task from which you can choose. Click Add to Hold down [Ctrl] and There is a big difference between Scheduling Settings. By default, add a new rule of your own. Follow the click on the contacts you the Quick and Full Backup in Norton the schedule for PC Tune-up is set to steps in the Wizard and the new rule will want to send. In the Send 360. Quick Backup is used to back up all Automatic, and Norton 360 runs the be created. You can create many rules for contacts to field, enter the the important documents from your My schedule whenever it finds it suitable. a single program in the same manner. contact to whom you want Documents. The Full Backup will scan Click on the drop-down and click on to send the list. Click Send. your entire hard drive for important Weekly or Monthly scans. Choose the Exceptions In Detecting The other interesting files to back up. The Complete Backup is days or dates and the time you want the Viruses And Spyware feature people usually miss therefore the preferable one. To choose tune-up to start. Similarly, a schedule Exceptions can be made to the different out on is Groups. Go to Complete Backup, click on Tasks & can be set for the backup as well. kinds of viruses and spyware scans that View > Contact Groups Settings. Click Change Backup Norton 360 does on your system. One > Enable Contact Settings. At the top right, click on Undo And Exclude such setting exists; you can find it by Groups. In the small Full Backup and click Save Settings. The Undo and Exclude feature is going to Tasks and Settings > Groups bar that appears Data backups can be made onto CD or DVDs The Full Backup might still miss out implemented so that, should Norton 360 Change Advanced Settings > Disable Skype’s control over the volume control if the feature above your contact list, as well on certain important data that it can’t make any drastic changes to your data, Virus & Spyware Protection doesn’t work effectively click on the + icon to create

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a new group. You can now drag and them as well. This should allow you to ffdshow Video Decoder, then choose drop existing contacts from your list be able to control Skype without having Codecs. Under the Decoder column, into any of these groups. it in focus. click the current decoder and choose a mIRC The Groups feature allows for new decoder for the codec. Restart the flexibility. For example, you can right- Installing Add-ons For Skype player or the video to check if it works. If A quick guide to mIRC, the ultimate IRC client! click on a group, say all your You can enhance the functionality you get a blank output for that format, colleagues, and click Start Group Chat. of Skype using add-ons. Go to Tools > follow the same steps and set it to the the same time, so it’s difficult to make You can also send contacts and files Do More > Organize your Extras. previous decoder. Rossi Fernandes out if your friends are chatting—there (like we mentioned). Here, you can choose from a categorised are so many messages scrolling by so list of add-ons. Some of these might Enabling Deblocking And Other RC (Internet Relay Chat) is a real-time quickly! mIRC can highlight your require that you have Skype Credit. Here Quality Enhancements Icommunication system that was friends’ nicks. Select Tools > are some that are worth trying; click on One of ffdshow’s unique features is the around before the first instant messenger Address Book and then Nick the green Open link on an add-on to ability to enhance the quality of video. in 1996. Even today, it is used by commu- Colors. Check Enable nick colors. download and install it. Most of the videos we watch are heavily nities of all kinds—from software devel- Click Add, then enter the nick you want opers to gamers. to highlight. Set a nick colour from the Development on mIRC is not as drop-down menu and click OK. Make your own pop-up menus for your FFDSHOW active as it used to be, but it’s still the favourite actions tool of choice for IRC users. Customising Colours When you’re staring at channels, the menus can be handy for tasks like fdshow is a filter that can Automatically Connecting To Channels default black text on a white back- quickly switching status, joining chan- be used to decode a huge In mIRC, every time you connect to a ground can be distracting. Recent ver- nels, and making actions. Remember, f number of formats, which server, you need to join a channel to chat sions of mIRC come with a few presets. however, that there’s a lot more that can means you don’t have to go with people in that channel. It can be be done with mIRC scripting! about installing all those codecs irritating to have to type the join com- Give Skype a makeover! out there. Media Player Classic mand every time you want to join a Connecting To Multiple Servers and ffdshow work as a great channel. Select Favorites > All your favourite channels might not be Giving Skype Some Style combo, and we will be using Organize Favorites, and click Add. on the same server, so you need to switch MPC to demonstrate some of Enter the channel name with a hash servers to join them. Fortunately, mIRC Skype hasn’t changed a lot through ffdshow’s features. ffdshow is sign, #linux, for example. Click Add to added support for multiple servers so the years. There are few settings that can constantly under development, choose the network on which the users could stay connected on many improve on the default look. You can and new releases are brought Deblocking can help reduce the pixelation you see on channel exists, select the server on servers at once. Go to File > Select change the wallpaper (the background out very often. http://ffdshow- highly-compressed and low-resolution videos which the channel exists, and click OK. Server. Select the network and double- you see on your Skype window). Go to tryout.sourceforge.net/ and Check Join on connect and click OK. click the server you want to connect to. File > Personalize > Change http://www.x264.nl/ are good Next time you connect to the server, you Check the New server window box. Wallpaper. There are many preset sites to find updates for ffdshow. These compressed, and some of them have will be automatically connected. Click Connect; a new window will wallpapers you can choose from. Other updates bring in optimisations like better pixelation, which is especially noticeable Another easy way to join a channel is appear, and the connection to the server than that, you can set a custom support for multi-core processors. If on large LCD screens. You can reduce this to create a Windows shortcut to the will be made. There is another way to wallpaper by clicking on Browse.You you’re using the K-Lite codec pack that’s by enabling deblocking. Right-click on the channel. Right click on the Desktop (or create a new server window while con- can choose a plain colour by clicking on on our CDs, you’ll have ffdshow installed. playing video and select Filters > any folder, for that matter) and select Have alerts come up when anyone mentions necting to the server—if you know the the Pick a preset color radio button and ffdshow Video Decoder. Check the New > Shortcut. Enter the location as your name on IRC exact address of the server. Enter then using the slider to select a colour. Disabling ffdshow For Codecs box that says Postprocessing.To get irc://ServerName/ChannelName, /server -m irc.ServerName.com. It’s a similar problem for ffdshow an idea of how much the quality for example, irc://irc.freenode Click on View > Colors. Choose from For example, /server -m Enabling Keyboard Shortcuts with some codecs (like with some enhancements are affecting the video, .net/linux. Double-click the icon and one of the schemes in the drop-down irc.freenode.net will create a new Keyboard shortcuts for Skype are applications). Certain codecs won’t work check the Only right half box. Check mIRC will join the channel and server. menu. You can customise the colours as server window and connect to Freenode. disabled by default; they can be enabled as well with ffdshow as with some others. one of the processing modes available and well; to change fonts, select View > by selecting Tools > Options. Click Like we’ll soon mention, ffdshow has set a processing strength using the slider. Highlighting Your Nick Font. Select the font and click the Undock A Channel Window on Advanced and then on Hotkeys. quality enhancements settings which can When you’re pleased with the quality, IRC users usually keep their clients in checkbox that says Set as default The mIRC interface houses smaller Check the box that says Enable cause performance drops. To disable uncheck the Only right half channels all day, idling. You obviously channel font (if you want to use this channel windows within it. When you keyboard shortcuts. You can change ffdshow for a particular codec, right-click checkbox and click the Process whole won’t be looking at mIRC all the time, so font for all channel windows). want to chat on only one of the many the shortcuts and enable and disable on the playing video, select Filters > image checkbox. Click OK to finish. you’re going to miss out on the conversa- channels you’re on, you can undock the Some of these processing methods tions going on (in the channel) that may Creating Your Own Menus window from the mIRC interface and can be highly CPU-intensive, so you might have been directed at you. The highlight You’ll notice that if you right-click in any have it run in a full-screen window. Right- want to select a different processing feature highlights your nick every time window or on a nickname, there are click on the tab you want to undock and method such as fast SPP deblocking. anyone calls it out. Select Tools > menus that allow access to certain func- click Desktop. To send the undocked Lowering the processing strength (by Address Book, then the Highlight tions. You can add your own functions window back to mIRC at any point, right- moving the Processing Strength tab. Check Enable highlight. In the and menus. Go to Tools > Script click on the window’s menu and click slider) can also help. field for choosing the words that trigger Editor > Popups. Choose, from the Desktop again. the highlight, enter $me to have your View menu, for which window you want [email protected] Changing Contrast Ratios And nick highlighted. Choose the type of to create the pop-ups. Enter a name for a Levels alerts you’d want—colours, sounds, alert menu or function. To create a submenu, The other type of enhancement can be messages—whatever. Click OK when add a dot in front of the menu name, for done to the colour saturation and done. In the same manner, you can add example, .Menu1. To set a function for a contrast levels of the video. The more keywords to be highlighted, and menu item, enter the name of the menu parameters can be different from video also use wildcards with the words. followed by a colon and the command, to video, but if, generally, you find for example, Join Linux:/join abnormalities in the amount of colour, Setting Nick Colours #linux. This will create a menu item you can change it. Right-click on the Chat rooms can have hundreds of called Join Linux. Clicking it will make Undock your favourite channel away from Media Player Classic window with a people, with many of them chatting at you join the channel called linux. These mIRC’s flooded interface The Extras Manager has a showcase of add-ons for Skype video running, and click Filters >

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ffdshow Video Decoder. Choose Saving And Loading Preset Go to the ffdshow Video Decoder and check the Picture properties box. Settings window by and check Subtitles. Click Use the sliders for the Luminance All the settings you’ve made can be saved on the File radio button and click on … NiBiTor gain (contrast) and Luminance through ffdshow for use at a later time, to browse and point to the subtitle file, offset (brightness) to change the for example, on another computer. Start which may be where you downloaded it Tightening a few nuts in your NVIDIA graphics card… brightness and contrast. Here, again, the ffdshow Video decoder configuration. to, or in the same folder if it came along select the Only right half checkbox Make sure you have all your settings with subtitles. Select the position where from the top of the window to get a done, then click on Image settings. you want the subtitles to be displayed by Rossi Fernandes preview of half the screen. Next, move Click on Save to file… to save the using the Horizontal and Vertical the slider for the Saturation till you preset. Select a location and give a name sliders. To change the style of the fonts, iBiTor, or the NVIDIA BIOS Editor, get a suitable result. When the settings to the preset. To load a preset, click on click on the Font item from the left. Set Ndoes just that: it edits the BIOS of are done, click OK. Read from file... To create a a suitable font, shadow, colour, etc. and NVIDIA cards. (Download it from completely new preset from a saved click OK. www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Video- Disabling ffdshow For Certain preset, go to New > From file and There are a few more advanced Tweak/NVIDIA-BIOS-Editor.shtml). Applications select the file. To enable a preset, double- features. You can set a folder where all Note: Before we go through some of the ffdshow can forcibly lock itself to certain click on it. your subtitles are stored—just be sure to important features of NiBiTor, we must warn applications and games. This can result ffdshow can also auto-load a preset rename the subtitle filenames to match you that modifying the BIOS is very risky; in poor performance or other issues depending on which format or codec your video files. For example if your you could end up permanently damaging movie is called MovieTest1.avi, rename your card. your subtitle file to MovieTest1.srt. Check the Heuristic search box; it Acquiring And Saving The BIOS can help in auto-detecting the subtitle Before editing the BIOS, you need to file. If you don’t mention a path, first get it from the card. To do this, you ffdshow will look for the subtitles in the first select the card you want to flash by same folder as the video file. going to Tools > Read BIOS > Select Device. Choose your card and You can assign speeds for different profiles The temperature monitor can be enabled on Capturing Images From A click OK. Next, go to Tools > Read some cards that have it disabled by default Video BIOS > Read into NiBiTor to have can find fan speeds for 3D, 2D, and ffdshow does a lot more than image the firmware loaded into NiBiTor. Throttle. Enter the values as a the graphics card. Make any changes, or enhancing—you can have screenshots Clicking on Read into file will save percentage of the maximum speed of put your own text here. If you click on the taken at regular intervals during a the ROM as a file. Choose a location and the fan. With this, your system can run drop-down for Boot Display mode, movie. This can be enabled by right- click Save. You can load this ROM by quieter when there isn’t heavy gaming you can set a resolution, and you’ll have clicking on the movie and clicking on selecting File > Open ROM. You can going on. Again, you have to be careful coloured text instead of the standard Filters > ffdshow Video load previously saved or downloaded not to run your fans too slowly, grey using the drop-down menu for text Decoder. Check the box for Grab. Select firmware in the same manner. otherwise the GPU will begin to colour. Click Apply when done. at what frequency you want the frames Once all changes are done, you will overheat. Depending on the type of card NiBiTor only allows you to modify to be captured. Click on the button next need to save the BIOS by selecting File you use, you should see more options in bits of the BIOS; it doesn’t flash the card to Path to select the location where the > Save BIOS. Choose a location and the Temperature tab in NiBiTor. for you. Once you’re done tweaking, you images should be dumped. Finally, set a click Save. need to use a BIOS flashing tool such as suitable format and a quality setting. Enabling / Disabling Temperature NVFlash to flash the card. Put NVFlash Click OK and start playing the movie to Overclocking Functions Monitoring on a floppy disk along with the BIOS file start the capturing. To disable the The overclocking tab shows the speeds Temperature monitoring is a feature you edited. If you don’t have a FDD, you capturing, uncheck Grab. of the card at different presets that the you’ll find on most of the higher-end can use a USB drive and get DOS driver tells the card to run at. There are cards, but it might not always be running on it. A software called HP USB ffdshow can have issues with some games—it can be disabled for them Enabling And Using Keyboard three main settings—3D, 2D, and enabled on entry-level cards. Modifying Boot Storage Format Tool can be used to Shortcuts For ffdshow Effects Throttle. The speeds you set will be the BIOS could enable the feature. Click format a USB drive with a bootable DOS while playing. One of the biggest you’re using (or any other parameter). In Effects can enabled on the fly while used instead of the default speeds for on the Temperatures tab and check the image on it. (Get it at problems was The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion; the same Image Settings view, check playing videos using ffdshow. The those profiles. Be sure your card isn’t box that says Enable 6600GT temp http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.p people had instability and performance the box that says Automatic preset shortcuts are assigned, but not enabled already running hot. Any drastic change monitor trick. On the other hand, if hp?f=197) Use a bootable DOS image to issues. In such cases, it’s a good idea to loading. First click the preset you want by default. To enable the shortcuts, start in speed could physically damage your you don’t want the temperature to be create a bootable DOS drive. Set the USB disable ffdshow. (Oblivion is one of several to use, then click Preset autoload card. Enter suitable speeds in the monitored (if you want any throttling drive as the primary boot disk in your games that have now been added to the conditions. Here, select the Extra fields. For this, you could use feature to be disabled, for example), you BIOS. Before writing the BIOS, make a Ignore List of ffdshow in the releases parameters you want to check before overclocking tools such as Rivatuner can do it by checking Disable temp backup on your drive of the existing one. that followed.) enabling the preset. For example, if we (www.guru3d.com/rivatuner/) and monitoring. This will come in handy if anything goes Right-click on the playing video and want all XviD images to make use of a PowerStrip (www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ wrong during the flashing procedure. select Filters > ffdshow Video preset, check the On FOURCC match ps.shtm). When you use them, you’ll get Setting Boot Display Settings Decoder. Click on Info & debug from box, click the button next to it, and a good idea of how far you can Every time you power up your machine, Rescuing Cards the menu on the left. Here, check select XVID from the list. Click OK. overclock your card and monitor its idle there are a few lines of text that appear at There’s always a chance of ending up whether your application is already and load temperatures. the top of the screen—information about with undesirable results while playing mentioned in the text bar next to Don’t Using Subtitles your graphics card. NiBiTor lets you set with BIOSes; problems can also occur use ffdshow in. If it doesn’t, click A few media players like Media Setting Fan Throttling your own custom text and colours—your during the flashing procedure. Again, Edit and then Add to add your Player Classic and VLC have support for The controls for temperature levels and name, for example, and other fun bits of be extremely careful while modifying application. Browse to the location of the displaying subtitles while playing fan speeds can be found under the text (you could make it look like you have the card’s BIOS, but if you do get it program and select the EXE of the movies. If you don’t use Media Player Temperature tab. We’ve spoken about an 8800 Ultra). With the BIOS loaded in messed up, you’ll have to use a backup application. Click Open. In the earlier Classic or VLC, then you might not be profiles as well as speeds for the core on NiBiTor, click on the Boot Settings PCI card to rescue your graphics card— menu, you can also use a similar able to see subtitles in movies. ffdshow those profiles. NiBiTor can also change tab. The OEM Signon tab has a preview of restore the backup of the ROM that you procedure to mention which programs can enable subtitles in pretty much the fan speeds depending on the what the default text looks like. Adv. took before flashing it. you want to use ffdshow with as well. every media player. Shortcuts are useful in enabling effects profile. On the right of the window, you Signon has detailed information about [email protected] without accessing the menus

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the ffdshow configuration window. Click Assuming you saved the equaliser settings Downloading Cover Art For The arrow keys can be used to the files you want to rename. Right- create a cover for your discs and for the on Keys & remote. Click the to an EQF file, click on the Load Winamp Albums control the playback and visualisations. click on the selected files and click labels discs cover as well. Keyboard control checkbox; you’ll preset button. Browse to the location. When we collect music, we generally Use the up and down keys to change the Library Tools > Fill First select the tracks that you plan see all the effects and features that can Enter the File name as *.eqf and point sorting and rename it in an orderly type of control—playback, visualisation, Properties from Filename to have on putting on the CD by holding down be enabled through shortcuts. You can to the file you saved. A small entry should manner. Almost all well-known media volume, etc. Use the left and right keys the tags filled with information from the [Ctrl] and [Shift] keys. Then, go double-click on any one of the effects to appear next to the button. Click it to load players have support for cover art, to change the value. the filenames, or click Rename Files to Tools > Advanced Tools > change the shortcut. Hold down [Ctrl], the preset. Click OK when done. which is displayed alongside the song from Properties to use the ID3 tag Disc Labeler. At any time, you can [Alt], and [Shift] along with the key playing. Click on the Playing Now A Game In J River Media information to rename the files. From get a preview of the finished print by for the effect to toggle it. This feature link on the left, and the album art for Jukebox! the drop-down menus, you can choose clicking on the Preview button. can be especially useful in cases when J RIVER MEDIA the song and album will be displayed at One of the visualisations that come one of the fixed presets that suits the Themes for the print can be selected by you want your processing settings that JUKEBOX 12 the top of the playlist. with Media Jukebox 12 has a game in way your files have been named. The clicking on the Themes dropdown you earlier set up to be enabled instantly. Most media players don’t download it—Pong! By default, the visualisation same can be done while converting title menu. The CD Info option will show you If you want to see the status of all the covert art for you; you are to depend on a has both players as AI, but you can details to filenames. the list of songs and the name of the effects currently in use, you can enable ome of us are used to Winamp, and standalone application for downloading control the left paddle by pressing [W] artist and CD titles which you can the OSD feature in ffdshow. Click the OSD some have stuck with Windows album covers and then set it for each to move it up and [S] to move it down. Creating Audio CDs change. The last three menus on the left checkbox. By default, some other SMedia Player... but don’t forget that album. Media Jukebox 12 can download Media Jukebox can create Audio CDs have customisation options for the front, information will be displayed. Disable there are alternatives. J River Media the album art for all songs and albums. Downloading Podcasts as well as standard MP3 CD or DVDs with back cover, and the CD label. In each one these details by un-checking the boxes Jukebox 12 is one of the latest releases To download album art, select all the J River Media Jukebox can manage its inbuilt CD / DVD burning feature. Click of them, you have the option to use the and clicking OK. Now, every time you of the Media Jukebox application. It is songs and albums from the playlist, right and download podcasts and then play on the Action tab on the left and choose cover art as the background for the label enable an effect, a notification will completely free and fully-functional click-on it, and click Cover Art > Get them whenever you want. Click on Burn Disc. Choose whether you want to and also a listing of the tracks on the appear on the screen for a short duration. (unlike J River Media Center). The From Internet… Click OK and the Podcasts to access the podcasts burn a Data CD or an Audio CD. If you use CD. You can also click on Go To Label Settings for the font used on the OSD can interface is similar to that of iTunes, images will be downloaded. Depending feature. If you know the address of the the Data CD or DVD, you can even use it Editor to be able to modify every detail be changed from the Font menu. and it has a lot of impressive features. on the number of songs, it can take a RSS feed for a podcast, click on Add to burn data files like you would in any of the design and label. while. You can also acquire the cover art New Feed. Enter a name and the exact ffdshow’s Audio Decoder Recording Your Own Tracks using a scanner—click on Get From URL for the RSS feed. Click OK. You can ffdshow’s Audio Decoder Media Jukebox 12 can record tracks Scanner… to do that. If you find a good also use Google search to browse and component can be used to play back all through the line-in or microphone. The album cover while you’re browsing the find podcasts feeds right through music formats. You will need to set your Sound Recorder that comes with Internet, you can copy it to your Media Jukebox. media players to use ffdshow. For Windows has a limitation of 60 seconds; clipboard. Right-click on an image in Once you have the podcasts added to example, in Winamp, go to Options > Media Jukebox 12 doesn’t. your browser and click Copy. Right click your list, you’ll find them under the Plug-ins > Input. Double-click on To start the recorder, go to Tools > on a song and click on Cover Art > Podcast link to the left. You can choose to Nullsoft DirectShow Decoder. Add Advanced Tools > Record Paste from Clipboard. You can also have all the podcasts automatically the formats that you want ffdshow to use Sound…. Click on Options to configure use an image URL. downloaded, or you can manually separated by a semicolon, for example: download the podcasts you want. To MP3;MP4 Click Close. Album View download a podcast, click on the Now when you play a song in Assuming you Download link in the Episode Status Winamp, you should see the ffdshow have all your music column in the podcast of your choice. To Audio Decoder icon in the System Tray. sorted into albums and have podcasts automatically downloaded, All the effects can be viewed and settings all the album art click the Edit This Feed button at changed by first clicking on ffdshow downloaded, you can the top. Use the Download drop-down Audio Decoder. The different plugins can use the Album View, menu and select All Episodes to be enabled by checking on the boxes next which displays a very download all the episodes. to the names. The rest of the attractive presentation functionality is similar to that in ffdshow of all your music. Click Using Smart Playlists The Audio CD burning feature can be used to burn data CDs and DVDs as well Video Decoder. on Audio from the left The Smart Playlist is a unique, and menu, then click on an equally useful feature in Media CD / DVD burning application. Just Using iPod Support Using Winamp Plugins the View menu and Jukebox. It allows you to filter out music beware that Media Jukebox doesn’t Music Jukebox 12 can also sync with When you use ffdshow on other then on View very accurately. So for example, you can include subdirectories when you choose most iPods. Connect your iPod like you media players, it gives you the option to Settings > Album have a list of all the songs in your library the files and folders to be burned. Drag normally would and start Media Jukebox use Winamp’s inbuilt plugins, like Thumbnails.You can that are 192 kbps and from 2007. To add a and drop the files you want to burn on 12; your iPod should be detected by the special equalisers. Start the ffdshow Media Jukebox 12 comes with an inbuilt recorder so you can double-click on any of new smart playlist, right-click on the disc. Click on Burn to burn the disc. program. If it hasn’t detected it, go to Audio Decoder. Click the Winamp 2 record your own tracks the albums to start Playlists and click Add Smartlist. Before you do that, you can customise and Tools > Options > Handheld. Click checkbox to enable this plugin. Locate playing all the tracks Choose the parameter by clicking on the change the settings for the writer. Click on Redetect all devices to detect the path for the Winamp folder using the settings. Click on Encoding to see on it. You can also choose how many Rules drop-down menu, and enter a on Details to see the sequence of songs the devices. Now, click on Drives and the button at the top. All the plugins the encoder settings. Click on the album covers should be displayed on a suitable value. In this case, choose on the CD. You can drag and drop them in Devices, and you should see your iPod will be listed in the drop-down menu at Encoder drop-down button and select a page. Use the slider at the top right of Bitrate and enter the value as 192. the order you want them to be in. in the list—and all the songs and media the bottom of the window. Choose the codec that you want to use. Click the window to alter the number of Multiple rules can be added in the same If you click on Options > Burn on it. You can now drag and drop songs plugin you want to use. In this case, Encoder Settings to set the advanced covers displayed. manner by clicking the Add New Rule Settings, you can choose the speed into your iPod. iPod users can now we’ll use the Shibatch Super Equalizer. options for that encoder—quality profiles button, so we add another rule—Year, that the disc should be burnt at. Click acquire album art for their songs and Click on Configure to set the options and the bitrates. Click on Recorder to Switching To Full-screen View and the value as 2007. There are also lists on the drop-down next to the drive and then transfer it to their iPods and have for the plugin. Click OK when done. select the input settings. Select the device Media Jukebox 12 has a dedicated of preset rules that can be added by choose the speed. cover art displayed on them. and the source—it could be a line-in or full-screen mode, which can be useful as a clicking on Add Stock Rule button. This same feature can be used for Using The Inbuilt Equaliser And microphone or mixer. Set a higher dedicated media playback system. The full Creating CD Labels non-iPod music players. You can set the Importing Winamp Presets recording volume if your microphone screen can be used for navigation mode, Auto-renaming Tracks J River Media Jukebox 12 comes as folder or location on the player’s drive You can also use the inbuilt equaliser isn’t loud enough. When done, click OK. and the cover art we just talked about can Our music collections are often a 12 MB installer, and it includes under Tools > Options > instead of Winamp’s by clicking on the Click Start to start to start recording. be displayed as a full-screen image. You not titled properly, and the files have everything—a CD / DVD writing feature Handheld. Click Add Device and give Equalizer checkbox. Make any changes You can split a continuous recording into can double-click on the visualisation random names. You can have MP3s and even a CD Label Creator. The CD it a name. Next, click on Browse and to the equaliser and click OK.You can also multiple tracks by clicking on Split being displayed at the bottom left of the renamed using the ID3 tag data in the Label Creator feature is great for choose the location of the media load presets from the Winamp equaliser. Track at any time. screen to switch to full-screen mode. files or vice versa. To do this, first select burning Audio CDs. The software can player. Click OK.

66 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 67 Q&A February_08 New.qxd 5/13/2008 10:22 AM Page 68

ous things—for example, you might have Chop And Change the checkbox. Here, click I have video files in the MPG format Question changed the power management settings in on Advanced to access the of the the BIOS after XP was installed. If that is the and want to convert them to an AVI. encoding options such as Month case, revert to the original settings, or try Is there a way to get them onto one CD in resolution, bitrate, and loading the defaults. Another common reason the AVI format? more. You can select a is the installation of a device that does not Bhuvnesh Goel certified profile, or specify custom support power management (or supports it settings. Check the box next to Limit partially); this could be a PCI device such as a You can use DivX Converter to get Filesize to and set the maximum LAN card or a TV-Tuner card. Try to upgrade your job done. Download and expected size of the encoded file (this the drivers of the device, and also run install the DivX Bundle from would be 700 MB in your case, since you Windows Update. If that doesn’t help, you www.divx.com. Go to the DivX program Use DivX Converter to combine two AVI want to get the files onto a single CD). If might need to remove the device from the PC group and launch DivX Converter. A files the source files have different resolu- to restore Standby functionality. small Converter window will open; click tions, you should check Use Custom on View List to open the list window. Click Add to browse Resolution and specify an appropriate resolution (specify Notnet for and add your MPG files one by one. When you add either a resolution matching one of the files, or a standard I have a Seagate 120 GB hard disk with more than one file, you will see that the greyed box next video resolution). If necessary, click on the Lock icon so that Windows XP SP2. My PC has recently started to Combine videos into a single DivX file and include you’ll be able to specify a custom aspect ratio. Finally, check showing a .NET Framework error message—as in menu will become available; check it. the box next to Limit Total Average Bitrate to—this will let the screenshot. Click on the icon with an exclamation mark just below you specify the video and audio bitrates individually. Your Questions, Our Answers Indrajit Bose Make sure you have the .NET Framework such as Notepad. Locate the line containing 72 Start EasyBoot. Select Tools >Replace All your computing niggles and nags installed: check that the C:\WINDOWS\ Ar. Change the number in that line to reflect the Text, browse to C:\easyboot\disk1\ are dealt with here! Microsoft.NET\Framework (assuming that XP desired output resolution, but keep in mind that ezboot\xppr.bin, and specify i386 as Text is on the C drive) exists and this number should be greater than 100 and less to Replace, XPPR as Replace to, and click that it is not empty. If the than 9600. (For example, you can set it to 800 Ar.) Replace; one occurrence should be replaced. A One-Step Fix folder doesn’t exist (or if it’s Repeat this procedure for each instance of 72 Ar. Repeat this for C:\easyboot\disk1 I use Windows XP. Whenever I try to install a empty), then install the Save the file in text-only format and close the text \xppr\setupldr.bin, replacing i386 by xppr; software, I get an MSI (Microsoft Installer) error. .NET Framework. editor. You’ll now be able to open it in Illustrator. four occurrences should be replaced. Open Nawajeevan Panthee Otherwise, open the The .NET Framework initialisation error c:\easyboot\disk1\xppr\txtsetup.sif in Registry Editor, and You’ll, Umm, Need To Pay... Notepad, search for SetupSourcePath, and Download the latest MSI installer redistrib- navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ When I try to create a movie DVD using my DVD- change SetupSourcePath = “\” to utable and you will not get any further errors Microsoft\.NETFramework. In the right pane, Writer with Nero, I get a message like “install SetupSourcePath = “\XPPR”. Set the menu while installing an MSI package. You can find the double-click the (or create a) String entry named multi-channel plug-in.” item’s command as run xppr.bin. Save the file. MSI Installer 3.0 redistributable for Windows XP InstallRoot. Set its value to C:\WINDOWS\ Yogendra Sharma Repeat these steps to add more version of at www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx? fami- Microsoft.NET\Framework\. Exit the Registry The version of Nero usually bundled with Windows, but make sure that you use a differ- lyid=5FBC5470-B259-4733-A914-A956122E08E8 Editor and restart Windows. DVD-Writers does not contain the audio plug- ent name for the folder XPPR and the file (http://tinyurl.com/2jsmzd). in that allows you to copy multi-channel DVDs. xppr.bin. After you’ve prepared the Errant Programs You will need to purchase it online from contents, save the compilation by clicking Just A Download Away My Windows XP computer takes a long time to www.nero.com. It is available for €1 9.99 (Rs 1,150). Save. Click Make ISO, select the name and My SanDisk Cruzer 1 GB with U3 used to work shut down. What could be the problem? location of the place to save the ISO image well, but the U3 application launcher now gives Anuj Shreshta The Version Matters file to, and click Make. an error. Please help. I get the error message “direct x 9.0c not found” Ayush Sobti There could be many reasons, though the when I try to run Spiderman 3. Other games run Gone, Yes, Gone! most common one is a program that runs in fine. Please help! I had encrypted some files on my E drive. I Download and install the SanDisk U3 the background and refuses to close. You’d know Sahil Naik formatted and installed a fresh copy of Windows LaunchPad Installer from best which program this is: try and recall if you You must install the latest version of DirectX XP because of a virus, and I am now not able to open http://u3.sandisk.com/download/apps/LPInstaller.exe. recently installed a program after which the prob- 9.0c, which is the November 2007 edition (it’s these files. Is there a way to recover them? This is a small file—less than an MB. Make sure lem started, and see if you can afford to uninstall on our CDs and DVDs starting December 2007). Karthikeyan Kshatriya your Flash drive is plugged in before you launch it. Also try to speed up your system after referring the program. Follow the on-screen instructions, 30 Minutes Expert: Keeping Your PC Prim And Proper in Do-it-all Discs When you encrypt files in Windows XP, a and after a few seconds, your U3 disk will be ready our October 2007 issue. How can I make a multi-boot CD with Windows unique encryption key is generated and used, with the latest U3 application. Note that this XP Professional and Media Center Edition? and this makes it virtually impossible to decrypt installer is not compatible with Vista, so use it Resolving Resolution Alok Kumar and view those files from another installation of only if you have XP or Windows 2000 SP4—we’re When I try to open a file in Adobe Illustrator 9, I Get Help Now! XP or any other OS. Unfortunately, therefore, get an error message that reads something like assuming this is the case. Also, at no point of time E-mail us your computing You can use a tool such as EasyBoot from there is no way to recover files encrypted in an during the installation should you try to remove “Can’t open the illustration. The illustration contains problems along with your www.ezbsystems.com to create multi-boot CDs unbootable installation of XP. the USB drive; you could permanently damage it. an illegal operator. Offending Operator: ‘Ar’ Context: contact details and of different Windows versions. Remember that it 72”. When I click OK, the file opens, but there are complete system is illegal to do so unless both versions of Windows No Access For You! Greyed Out! missing items. configuration to are legal. Here are the steps to add Windows XP. I use BSNL NetOne to connect to the Internet. The Standby button, which used to be avail- Prakash Sharma [email protected], Create a folder named XPPR under For the past few days, I have not been able to able as a shutdown option on my computer, and we might answer C:\easyboot\disk1. Copy the files win51 and connect; I get an error message that says “Error 775: is now disabled. What could have caused this? This problem can be solved by editing the them here! Since we get win51p from the root directory of the XP CD to The call was blocked by the remote computer.” Ram Ramesh PostScript code of the document and remov- many more mails per day . Copy the i386 folder to Vipul Paliwal than we can handle, it C:\easyboot\disk1 ing the incorrect output resolution information. may take some time for C:\easyboot\disk1\XPPR. Copy wxp.bat The disappearance of the Standby button Make a backup of the original file before proceed- your query to be from C:\easyboot\resource to C:\easy- Though the error says the call was “blocked” means XP is not able to properly use the ing. Write down the portion of the error message answered. Rest assured, boot\disk1\XPPR and run it. Copy w2ksect.bin by the remote computer, nothing is really power management functions of your moth- that follows the word Context:, in your case, 72. we are listening! from C:\easyboot\disk1\ezboot to a new wrong. The error only occurs if the username and erboard. This could have been caused by vari- Open the Illustrator document in a text editor file named xppr.bin. / or password are incorrect, or if your account has

68 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 69 Q&A February_08 New.qxd 5/13/2008 10:22 AM Page 70 Get Vista’s Productivity Features In XP expired. Of You’ve Got To Tell It! course, you could I recently purchased an NVIDIA 7600GS PCI- Get the six-year-old XP up to Vista speed with a few nifty additions! even be dialling Express graphics card, but it doesn’t display the wrong anything on my ATI RS480 motherboard. The graph- The Vista Start Menu The BSNL NetOne connection ics card works when it’s installed in my friend’s appear. The text field in the sidebar number, but error message Rossi Fernandes computer. My computer can still boot using the can also be used. TEP This is a little different from the screen- Another well-known indexing tool S 5 from the one in XP: it has shot you’ve sent onboard graphics, so my motherboard is not faulty. t’s quite probable that you don’t is Copernic Desktop Search 2 a search bar. Vista Start in, it appears to be correct. So if you’re sure about Pankaj Thorat want to move to Vista right now, (www.copernic.com). Like the Google Menu Emulator (http://vseproject. the validity of your details and your account, Iand that you still have an urge to Desktop indexing feature, you can use extra.hu) is a little application that contact the BSNL Helpdesk. It looks like your motherboard is still using try some of its features. The whole Copernic Desktop Search to look for brings Vista’s Start Menu to XP. If you the onboard graphics to boot. You need to Vista thing being called the biggest files and e-mails. Because the initial have a good Vista theme installed, this Here’s Your Link! set the PCI-Express graphics card to initialise tech failure of 2007 isn’t encouraging, indexing is a slow process, it’s a good Start Menu replacement will work as a My computer is infected by the Brontok virus; it first. Enter the BIOS, look under Integrated either. However, there is hope in the idea to force the indexing process in great combination. resides in the My Document and My Pictures Peripherals > Init Display First, and form of standalone add-on programs Copernic Desktop Search whenever you A very good alternative to Vista folders as an HTML file. I’ve tried deleting it many set it to PCIEx. for XP that can give you close to the aren’t going to be using the computer. Start Menu Emulator is called ViStart times, but it reappears. I’ve tried to download the entire Vista experience. Go to Tools > Options > (http://lee-soft.com). removal tool from Softpedia.com, but it does not get The Indian Connection Note: A lot of these programs are in Indexing & Performance. Uncheck downloaded. Please help. I use Yahoo! Messenger to voice-chat with my development phase, and some of them two boxes: Suspend indexing while I Flipping Windows! Tushar Dharashive friends. I recently purchased a webcam. When I www.otakusoft- try to chat with the webcam on, the audio quality might modify system files—so proceed use my computer, and Suspend index- TEP Top Desk ( Download the Brontok virus removal tool with caution. ing while computer resources are S 6 ware.com/topdesk/) is a from http://dnl-pr1.kaspersky- becomes very poor, and it is often inaudible. highly used. neat little utility that labs.com/utils/klwk/klwk.zip. This is a Rajesh D Using A Sidebar allows you to get the effect Vista small (70 KB) file and can be easily downloaded. Taskbar Visual Tips TEP Sidebars may have existed gives you when you multitask Extract the contents to a folder and run the You need a broadband connection to be S 1 since the early days when TEP Visual tooltips are small between applications. After you executable file. Reboot the computer after the able to video-chat; your Internet band- details of Vista were being S 3 visual previews of install Top Desk, pressing [Windows removal process is done, and install a good anti- width is probably not enough to support video leaked onto the Web. windows; they appear Key] + [Tab] will show you a virus software to prevent future infections. chat—try and see if you can get a faster connec- Sidebars are a great way when you move your mouse pointer visual list of all running applica- tion! If you can’t, you could reduce the size of to have instant access to over an item in the taskbar. You can tions. You can keep pressing the key The Way It’s Read the video stream by reducing the resolution of information such as get Visual Tooltip from combo (or use the arrow keys) to Is there a way to make numbers show up the webcam under the webcam’s advanced weather, RSS feeds, and www.chrisnsoft.com/ visual-tooltip/. switch between applications. with the thousand separator (by default) in properties. Also, do not download while chat- mail all the same time on Unzip the file and run Word 2007? ting; this eats up bandwidth. your Desktop. If you want VisualToolTip.exe. Now move the Santosh Bhide a sidebar today, you have mouse pointer over the taskbar and Out With The Old several good ones to you’ll be able to see previews of Choose the Insert tab on the Ribbon and I tried to install Office 2007 from the Digit DVD, choose from. The most programs. You can modify the size of select Quick Parts > Field. Select the and it displays an error: “An error occurred famous has to be Google each preview by right-clicking on the item =Formula in the list and click Formula. during installation and setup was unable to Desktop (http://desktop. system tray icon and then selecting Type your number in the Formula field preceded complete.” When I clicked on PowerPoint setup, it google.com). You can down- Options. Click the Thumbnail tab. Any by the equals symbol. Enter #,##0.00 in the shows “Error 1731.” I have Media Center Edition. load it or free. Once other changes to the look of the Number format field and click OK. Done! Kiran Kumar Sripati installed, right-click on tooltips can be done by clicking on The flip effect from Vista on Windows is To make changes to the value, click on the the icon in the system the Display tab. possible with Top Desk number and press [Shift] + [F9]. This will This error occurs when you try to update, tray and make sure you show the fields so you can change the value. Press reinstall, or install an additional feature of a set it as a sidebar. Click Getting The Vista Look Performance Boost [Shift] + [F9] to retain the format—you’ll see Windows Installer setup-based program from a Google the + sign at the top of the TEP XP themes have been TEP ReadyBoost is one of what we mean when you try it. different version of the source setup. In your case, Desktop sidebar to add gadgets to S around for quite a while, S Vista’s performance you may have an earlier version of Microsoft comes with 4 7 A Patch To Match a great it. You can shift them all and designers have been boosting features. Office installed. You need to uninstall that version sidebar about the sidebar by drag- working on themes that look a lot ReadyBoost works by using a USB I want to play Quake 3 Arena online, but I’m not before trying to install the newer version. You may ging and dropping. like Vista. For custom themes to work Flash drive as additional memory. able to connect to some servers even though need the original installation source files of the Another software that on Windows XP, you first need to For ReadyBoost, you can find a they are listed in the multiplayer option of the game. older version of Office to be able to uninstall it. can used to install a sidebar is patch the UXTHEME.DLL file. If you’d commercial software called eBoostr Raghav Chari Desktop Sidebar (www.desktopside- like, you can download an automated (www.eboostr.com). Once you have the Sound Off! bar.com). Desktop sidebar, too, is patcher from program installed, reboot the Verify that you have installed the latest patch When I try to play a song on my computer, I get powerful, but not as attractive or www.softpedia.com/progDownload/ computer. Start the program, and for Quake 3 Arena; it is 1.32c, available for this message: “Cannot play back the audio Vista-like looking as Google Desktop. UXTheme-MultiPatcher-Download- you can now add a Flash drive that download from www.idsoftware.com. If, when you stream: no audio hardware is available, or the hard- You can always download skins for 2369.html. Run the patcher and Cancel you want it to use. Enter the size of click on the server in the list, you see the default ware is not responding”. I use Windows XP. it, though. any warnings about Windows files the cache file you want to use. Quake 3 logo, then you do not have the map or Sarang Phadnis being replaced. Reboot, and you’ll be mod the server is using, so you won’t be able to File Indexing And able to use custom themes. Copy the Windows Media Player 11 connect to it. Go to Game Options in the game This error occurs when the computer does Searching TEP theme files you download into TEP Every major Windows and set Automatic Downloading to On (this not have an external sound card, when your S 2 Google Desktop is more C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. S 7 release is highlighted by allows you to download the required map auto- sound card is not working properly, or when the than just a sidebar—it is Double-click the .theme file to the release of a new matically). Some game servers require sound hardware acceleration is set too high. also an indexing tool. These can scan preview the theme. In the Display Windows Media Player. Vista came out PunkBuster to be installed and enabled, and this Install the latest drivers for your sound card. your drive for documents and other properties window, click on Apply to with Windows Media Player 11, but is mentioned after the server name in the list. Open Sound and Audio Devices in the files, and locating files becomes apply the theme. Sites like Microsoft also has it out for XP. It is The latest Quake 3 patch comes with this anti- Control Panel. Click on the Audio tab, then on much faster than if you were to use www.themexp.org and available for free download from cheat software, but in case you opted to not the Advanced button under Sound Playback. the default Windows search. To look www.deviantart.com have loads of www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme- install it, you need to do so by downloading it Click on the Performance tab and move the for files in Google, press [Ctrl] themes—and quite a few that mimic dia/player/11/default.aspx from www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page= Hardware Acceleration slider a notch closer twice, and a search window will Vista’s default theme. [email protected] pbsetup.php. (Download the version for your OS.) to None. Click OK, and restart your computer.

70 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 71 Agent 001 Feb 08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:42 PM Page 72

Agent 001 Shh... The Movie’s Starting New year, new home... Agent 001 goes out shopping for an HDTV

good friend is about to the tie the knot next month, costlier manufacturing process. If you’re looking for a big inch Bravia from Sony’s V “value” series—for Rs 89,990. and we’d been window shopping to check out stuff screen—say 50 inches or so, then consider only a plasma It seems the new LG Pearl Black is the new “in” thing. These A for his new place—a generous gift from his invest- panel—much better value for money. However, plasma TVs are as gorgeous as Samsung’s shapely Bordeaux, and ment broker dad. During our sojourn we chanced across a screens aren’t made in sizes smaller than 50 inches, so if decked in the same Pearl Black colour (the Bordeaux can be showroom with few flat screen panels on display. Like any you’re looking for something around the 32-inch mark, had in white too), and the swivel portion of the base has a tasty good movie junkie, he was hooked—he wanted a flat screen then you’re stuck with nothing but LCD. Also remember dark wine-red hue which attracts looks even when switched and he wanted something big! that large screens look terrible at close range; 32 inches is off. These panels feature 10000:1 contrast ratios (dynamic, of Flat panels are of two types—LCD and Plasma panels. Let’s plenty for a viewing distance of 12-18 feet, and 40 is better course) and a brightness of 600 cd/m2—quite good. bust a myth here: Plasma screens are actually better than LCD if you can put 20 or more feet between you and the TV. A 50-inch Hitachi plasma screen was also on display for displays in general—they have better contrast ratios (1500:1 A Samsung showroom had a couple of LCDs on display— Rs 55,000, although the salesman pointed out that service and better), and better, more natural colour tones. A plasma one each from their costlier Bordeaux and cheaper Mosel might be an issue. It seems brands like Sony, Samsung and display will also display better blacks, and greater varieties of models. The Bordeaux has a sleeker look and a higher con- LG garner votes mainly due to hassle-free service. There was grey—all because of the improved contrast ratio. However, trast panel and the 26-inch is priced at Rs 32,000, while the an Akai 32-inch LCD at Rs 38,000—the cheapest 32-inch we LCDs aren’t far behind, and the latest S-PVA panels sport Mosel is priced at Rs 2,000 less. The 32-inch Bordeaux is a bril- came across—but one look at the picture quality told us improved contrast ratios from earlier MVA panels, while the liant deal at Rs 42,000. This showroom had EMI facilities avail- we’d be better off spending a few thousand more. cheaper TN panels play with the masses interested in some- able, and my friend was all smiles. A 42-inch Samsung plasma After deliberation, a couple of (soft) drinks and a pizza, thing cheaper. I also cautioned my friend not to look at the screen was also available for Rs 55,000—a sweet deal if you my friend had built up enough fortitude to fork out a good “dynamic contrast ratio” figure. In fact most panels’ contrast want a plasma screen. We came across the same two LCDs at bit of cash. We finally decided on the Samsung plasma ratio won’t exceed 1500:1, though many advertised as 3000:1 a large mall—and the salesman assured us he’d match the best (PS-42C91H) for Rs 55,000; a half hour of gentle persuasion will have an actual contrast ratio of around 800:1. An actual price we got from anywhere after we scoffed at the higher had us at Rs 53,000. After paying half the amount in cash contrast ratio of 1000:1 ought to be sufficient for most users. quoted prices. The Sony Bravia 26-inch LCD was priced at Rs and swiping his credit card for the rest, we got a deal of

ar Also remember that LCDs get prohibitively costly after 33,000, while the 32-inch equivalent was Rs 8,500 more. The Rs 52,500, and he drove home with his purchase as happy tk a a certain size (42 inches or so), and this steep price hike Bravia uses the same panel as the Bordeaux (both S-PVA as a child at an ice-cream stand. hasn’t got anything to do with better performance—just a panels) but has a better display processor. We also saw a 40- [email protected] Shrikrishna P Agent 001 2nd page OFeb 08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:44 PM Page 73

Ask Agent 001 Digital Tools l Agent 001

Channel Muddle is Rs 40,000. Please suggest some good models My PC configuration is: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, with exact prices. Intel DG965WH motherboard, 1 GB Transcend Sumita Dey RAM at 667 MHz, 250 GB HDD, 19-inch LG TFT, Sony DVD-Writer. I want to upgrade the RAM to 2 GB. Should Samsung’s DC230, at Rs 24,995, should be I go for a 1 GB Transcend at 667 MHz in dual-channel, a good camcorder for you: good build or can I use 1 GB at 800 MHz also in dual-channel? quality and quite ergonomic. We also liked the Which will be faster? Can I use 3 GB? Will it show any quality of the image after zooming—all in all, suit- improvement? What brands do you recommend? able for an amateur on a shoestring budget. I’d rec- Aniket Gaikwad ommend the Panasonic SDR-H20 (HDD-based) since its Image Stabilisation is excellent and per- You seem confused about the concept of formance exemplary, but you have specified a dual-channel memory. Firstly, you need DVD-format-model only. If you can spend around two sticks of memory to even get dual-channel Rs 50,000, then the Canon DC51 is excellent. mode enabled, so a single 1 GB DDR2 800 MHz module won’t work—but two 512 MB modules will, One Fits In Your Pocket… if the memory speeds are the same. I recommend 2 GB over 1 GB anytime, simply because DDR2 is I want a console for casual gaming. What is the dif- ultra-cheap. 3 GB would be better under Windows ference between the PSP and PS2 with regards to Vista, although under Windows XP, I’d expect the gaming performance? Would it be worthwhile to go for difference under demanding applications would the PSP due to its other features on offer? be no more than 10 per cent. 2 GB of DDR2 667 Raghav Kanwal MHz memory will cost you around Rs 2,400, while 800 MHz memory will cost an extra Rs 600. Tran- First of all, the PSP is a handheld multi- scend is a good brand—stick with it. media device, not really a console like the PS2, PS3, or Xbox. If you want to game on the go The Question That Won’t Go Away and even listen to music or play movies, the PSP is very suitable—it slips into your pocket, and it has I bought an XFX GeForce 8800GT, and my system a good screen. The PS2 will require connectivity to configuration is Core 2 Duo E6300 at 1.86GHz, Intel a TV set, and is a better gaming solution than the original motherboard DG965RY, Transcend 1GB RAM at PSP, except it isn’t portable. The Xbox 360 is a good 533 MHz, Seagate Barracuda 80 GB, LG DVD-Writer. I’m alternative to the PS2, although it’ll cost around using a 400-watt PSU from Odyssey; is it sufficient or Rs 18,000, while the PS2, having been around for should I upgrade? Do recommend a PSU taking into con- a while, will cost in the region of Rs 7,000. The PSP sideration that I will add a 320 GB HDD. will cost around Rs 7,500. Vicky Fernandes I Need Two That power supply is a serious hazard in such a high-end PC. I recommend a 500- My current configuration is the following: Intel watt PSU from VIP (Rs 2,300 or thereabouts), or Pentium III 866 MHz processor, 256 MB SDRAM, even a 550 W CoolerMaster Extreme Power, 40 GB Seagate HDD PATA, 80 GB Samsung HDD PATA, which should cost you around 3,000 bucks. Don’t and Windows XP Pro SP2. I would like to upgrade, compromise on system stability or even compo- with a budget of 15K. Here are my specs: Intel Core 2 nent life with a power supply that can’t handle Duo E4400 2 GHz (Rs 5,500); Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H all that processing juice. (Rs 5,950); 1 GB DDR2 667 MHz RAM Transcend / Cor- sair/ Kingston (Rs 1,450—1,700). The problem is that I have two PATA drives, and the motherboard I men- Shades Of Grey… tioned has only 1 PATA port. Also, I mostly play only I want to buy a digital camera, and I’m looking the FIFA series of games. So, of my 15K budget, at the Canon PowerShot A650 IS. I checked with 12,900-13,150 is spent, and with the rest, I can buy a some big stores in Mumbai, but they don’t have that new cabinet / PSU combo, maybe also squeezing in a model; the PowerShot A570 IS is available. Should I USB keyboard. What say you? go for it? Is buying an A650 IS from the grey market Karthik at Rs 14,500 a good option? Tejas Unnikrishnan If you really need both PATA drives and cannot do without upgrading your storage, To be honest, most people buying cam- then I’d suggest the Zebronics 650 SLI mother- eras these days prefer the grey market Ask Away! board. This board is one of the only ones to feature where the additional cost of a bill with the tax Want a tech product, but two PATA ports. It should cost around 4,500 bucks incurred is saved. Add to that the fact that there don’t know how to go now. Also look at the E4300 and save some money, are hardly any fakes for cameras, and you are rea- about buying it? E-mail as the performance difference is minimal. If you sonably safe. The PowerShot A650 IS will be a [email protected] decide to ditch both PATA drives, then go for a Sea- better option than the A570IS, especially if your with your complete gate 7200.10 series 160 GB hard drive, or if you can budget is as large as Rs 14,500. contact details, and he afford it, the 250 GB series, which should cost might answer them here! Rs 2,200 and 3,000 respectively. Please note that The extra bit you squeeze in should allow you Moving Pictures On A Budget Agent001 only answers to go for a decent cabinet + SMPS combination. A I would like to buy a digital camcorder with purchase-related questions in this space. USB keyboard should cost around Rs 500; Logitech either the DVD or mini DV format. My budget has some decent entry-level offerings.

DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 73 Cell Phone Test-Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:53 PM Page 74

Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test

Nobody’s looking for just plain old telephony from a cell phone any more; they’ve become a Ion part of our work, and a part of our play....

Sanket Naik

hen it comes to cell phones, the country is at a sweet spot right now—the place where Maidens demand and supply curves intersect, and maximum sat- isfactionW is achieved. With portable productivity becoming a necessity, we’re seeing multimedia phones with PDA-like functions, and PDAs with superb cameras and great PMP capabilities; people want one device to do it all, and they’re prepared to shell out the premium. Be it the Apple iPhone, Nokia N95 or Sony Ericsson W910i, every cell phone has some- thing new on offer—something radically dif- ferent that promises to change the way we use them today. A year ago, cameras and music players were considered luxury features, and only cell phones above Rs 10,000 used to come with them. Today, even entry level models from most vendors have two megapixel cameras and a decent music player. Cell phones are being increasingly used for listening to music, watching videos, taking causal photographs, playing games, chatting on messengers, read- ing e-books—the possibilities are unlimited. They reflect our lifestyles, and new innova- tions are based around our senses—touch, movement—something natural. In this comparison, we were in for some surprises; the first was the iPhone—something so radical it changed our perceptions of how a phone should be. Second was the Sony Ericsson W910i, another example where move- ments are used for changing music tracks. Third, the three phones with five megapixel cameras that are as good as digital cameras. Fourth was Motorola’s RAZR V2—a style icon— and lastly, the svelte Blackberry Pearl 8120. Then there were some that amazed us—the sheer value for money that is the Nokia E51. Read on to see the best for you.

Jiten Gandhi DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 75 Cell Phone Test-Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:53 PM Page 76

Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test LIFEST LG KE970 Samsung G600 Born to shine! One great slider!

he LG KE970—also known as the Shine—is aptly Sony Ericsson models such as the K550i. The amsung makes the best slider phones, and the music player). Tnamed, because the first thing you notice auto-focus system requires delicate use of the Sthe G600 would make you agree. It is a quad- The G600 joins the ranks of the Nokia N95 and about the phone is the brilliant shine from the dinky shutter release key; a little clumsiness, band 2G slider; the fit and finish are exemplary. the Sony Ericsson K850i by cramming in a 5- brushed stainless-steel body. Even the main dis- and you’ll see blurred, washed-out photographs. At 105 grams, it’s light, and the proportions are megapixel camera. During our tests, the camera play is mirror-finished, and when the screen is Tonal accuracy isn’t that great either; the photos just right—the phone fits snugly in one’s palm. performed well; the images were clean, and the inactive, you can actually use it like one! are generally overexposed. Outdoors, the camera And it looks good, too—you might say “sophis- tonal balance good; outdoor photographs were This tri-band phone is based around a slider fares better, and the colours are more natural. ticated”; it sports a black-grey combination better than indoors. A good camera overall, but design. The slider mechanism feels smooth; Video recording is strictly okay; it is limited by with silver accents. it’s not quite close to those on the Sony Ericsson opening the phone takes just a nudge. Build the resolution and fps. The front facia is dominated by a (large) 2.2- or Nokia. The camera is on the slider, and it needs quality is good, and the phone is comfortable to Music on the KE970 was good; the phone han- inch display capable of 16 million colours. The to be opened before you can click; though it pro- hold. The (largish) 2.3-inch high-resolution display dles MP3, AAC, and AAC+. The Inline control with display is sharp and the colours crisp. Outdoors, tects the lenses, clicking snaps with the slider looks brilliant indoors; however, it pales out- 3.5 mm jack allows you to connect different pair the screen goes pale, but it remains perfectly leg- open isn’t practical. doors—this can be attributed to the glossy screen. of earphones, though the bundled pair is okay. ible even in direct sunlight. The navigational The G600 supports most music formats, and The volume control buttons are on the right With our reference Bose in-ear phones, the buttons are well-spaced-out and the Call and End has a great media player. The headphone con- along with the shortcuts to the camera and music volume level was good and the quality crisp, but keys are huge. The five-way roundel is superb, nector is, unfortunately, proprietary, so replace- player. To use the memory card slot, you need to there is still room for improvement. and can be used to navigate the menu without ment 3.5-mm-jack earphones can’t be used. remove the battery cover, but it is hot-swappable. PhotoID, Bluetooth, mobile e-mail, USB mass looking at the phone. Performance-wise, the response of the G600 is The phone’s 50 MB of internal memory can be storage, and a document viewer for MS Word, The spring-loaded slider can be operated good; skipping from menu to menu is fast. Signal augmented using microSD cards. Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF are some of the other with the minimum of force; it’s the best slider reception is great, and so is voice clarity. The The keypad is flat but easy to use because the notable features. mechanism we’ve yet seen. The keypad is large speakerphone is loud enough, and doesn’t suffer individual keys are large. The navigation keys On the performance front, the phone is and tactile, and therefore easy to use. But here’s from echo problems like those on most phones aren’t the best we’ve seen, though. The snappy, with no apparent lag in the user inter- a damper: when you enter a number, the digits do. Battery life is healthy—two and a half RATINGS rocker in the middle scrolls though the face. Signal reception is good; however, voice on the screen appear as if written using a cal- days with nominal usage. RATINGS Features menu and can be pressed to activate the clarity could have been better. With nominal use, ligraphy pen (complete with the “scratching” Retailing at Rs 18,000, the G600 seems Features Performance menu. The adjoining keys allow horizontal the phone goes two days before the low battery sound)! reasonably priced. As a phone, it shines in Performance Build Quality movement but they are small and tight— alarm pops up. The G600 is equipped with 40 MB of internal all departments, but if you want a multi- Build Quality Value for Money uncomfortable, we thought. The LG KE970 is a stylish phone, and is rea- memory with support for hot-swappable microSD media device, we should say there are better Value for Money Overall The 2-megapixel camera, though sonably priced at Rs 11,990—if you can put up cards. Samsung doesn’t bundle any, and the options. If what you really want is a quality Overall good, can’t match the ones on entry-level with the operational glitches and the extra bling. internal memory is too low (for the camera or for slider phone, the G600 should fit the bill.

LG KE770 Motorola MOTO RAZR 2 V8 Sleek, cool, affordable RAZR fans, listen up...

he KE770 is the second phone in the Shine posed. Outdoor images retain tonal accuracy ith the release of the MOTO RAZR 2 V8, better than that of the older Motorola phones (the Tseries from LG. It’s a candybar; “sleek and but lack crispness. WMotorola has yet again raised the bar for ones we’re used to cursing!). shiny” is the best way to describe it. At 9.9 mm, it’s Music quality is not really great, but given stylish cell phones. In fact, just “stylish” doesn’t The multimedia, especially the music player, slimmer than the Motorola L9 phone (on which it that it isn’t touted as a music phone, we’d say the do it justice—it’s stunning! In its second iteration, is excellent. Playback can be controlled without is modelled). Built from stainless steel with no music capability is reasonable. There are no the body of the MOTO RAZR is built from exquisite opening the flap, thanks to the touch-sensitive moving parts, the KE770 exudes the built-to-last external playback controls. MP3, AAC, AAC+, 3GP, materials; it comes with two large screens, a buttons. Audio quality is excellent, and the bun- feel. and MPEG4 are supported, but files need to be revamped keypad, and a great music player. dled earphones are good. The phone supports the When the display is in inactive mode, the copied to the right folder on the phone—else the The RAZR 2 feels slimmer than the original MP3, AAC, and AAC+ formats, but there’s no FM mirror-finished display screen can be, well, a media player can’t search through to them. Video RAZR, thanks to a less pronounced chin. The 2.2- radio. Also, bundled memory is just 512 MB, with mirror. The well-lit, flat keypad is a joy to use, with playback is just about okay—it is seriously limited inch LCD on the flap is the first of its kind on any no expansion allowed—lame, from a media distinct tactile feedback. The navigational keys are by the screen size. phone—it’s sharp, and the clarity is amazing. player perspective. well-spaced-out and free from the glitches you’ll The phone has a good bundle of applications: Near the bottom of this screen are touch-sensi- The camera is reasonably good—about as see on the KE970. The Call End button is placed MS office file viewers, PDF readers, a health chart, tive electrostatic keys. All the keys on the new good as any other 2MP cell phone camera. near the top and to the side; it also acts as a Power and a data wallet. The phone also support the Lost RAZR, including the touch-keys, vibrate when Indoors, photographs turn out dark; colours also Down switch—strange placement, we’d say, but Mobile Tracking System (LMTS). You’ll also find pressed—this, we think, is good in terms of haptic get affected in low-light conditions. Video effective for one-handed operation. regular applications such as the clock, calculator, feedback. recording is strictly okay. The volume control buttons, Camera / MP3 games, and more. The interiors of the V8 are pretty similar to In our tests, signal reception was good in all button, and USB connectors are on the same side. Signal reception was good, but voice clarity those of the original RAZR except for the keypad the conditions we put the phone through. Voice Internal memory is 70 MB, which can be could do with a lot of improvement—especially layout and the overall feel. The main display is sim- clarity was good, with no crackling or echo when increased via the microSD card. The memory slot that of the speakerphone. The volume is too low, ilar to the one on the flap—2.2-inch, 256K colours. we used the speakerphone. Battery life, when is placed below the battery, and it isn’t hot- and it crackles as well. Flight mode figures, and The display is sharp and completely legible out- compared to the earlier model, is much RATINGS swappable. that’s a plus. Battery life is around a day and a doors. The keypad has changed for the better—it better: with nominal usage, the phone RATINGS Features The 2MP camera with the photo-assist half with nominal usage. has more feedback, and the backlight is much remained alive for two days. Features Performance light and self-portrait mirror is on the A price of Rs 7,990 means the KE770 is a good better than on the original RAZR. The Motorola RAZR is expensive at Performance Build Quality back of the phone. The camera is similar buy if you are looking for a sleek, cool-looking The most significant change, however, is in Rs 16,799; you can get a better-featured Build Quality Value for Money to the one on the KE970, and the per- phone. If you’re planning on using multimedia the user interface. The phone is based on the phone at that price point. However, there is Value for Money Overall formance is similar, too. Indoor shots lack features on a regular basis, we’d suggest you look Linux+Java platform, called MOTOMAGX. The a RAZR fan following, and the new phone Overall tonal accuracy, and are often overex- elsewhere. interface is visually more refined and definitely strikes the right chord.

76 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 77 Cell Phone Test-Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:53 PM Page 78

Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Motorola SLVR L9 Sony-Ericsson K810i A no-nonsense candy-bar Good as a camera phone

he MOTO SLVR line features typical, no- phone has just 20 MB of internal memory). he K810i comes from Sony Ericsson’s Cyber- mode is activated. There are two buttons near T nonsense, slim candy-bar phones with a With many phones supporting up to 4 GB of Tshot series. The 3.2-megapixel camera the top, for changing the shooting mode and reasonable amount of features. The SLVR L9 is additional memory, this is a bit of a disap- sensor is what differentiates this phone from scenes. The Auto-focus works well and locks on the successor of the L7; in the looks depart- pointment. The user interface on the L9 hasn’t the crowd and from other SE phones. The 810i the subject immediately, but in low light, it ment, the two are nearly identical. been upgraded to the newer MOTOMAGX—it is aimed at causal shutterbugs, and has some takes a while. There is a reasonably powerful Despite it being entry-level, the fit and uses the older, not-so-polished UI. Well, we neat features that should go down well with xenon flash to light up the subject. Perfor- finish of the L9 are surprisingly good. The should say it is easy to work with, but visually- that audience. mance is quite what you’d expect from a 3- pearl-grey finish is as good as that on the speaking, Symbian’s revised Series 40 is The translucent body with steel buttons megapixel camera. Colours, sharpness, and more expensive RAZR 2. The back cover is more intuitive. gives the phone its unique appearance. The detail were perfect; more importantly, the finished in rubberised material, and Coming to multimedia, the SLVR L9 sup- phone is quite long, but is comfortable to hold. shooting experience is great. therefore offers good grip. ports the MP3, AAC, AAC+ and MPEG4 formats. The back cover is finished in rubberised mate- The K810i can play music too, and the A 2-inch, 256 colour, 176 x 220 The media player is mediocre compared to that rial, and that gives the phone excellent grip, quality is above average; it can’t match that of LCD is more than enough for this on the RAZR, and indeed, that of any music which is good for clicking snaps. the Walkman series, though. Further, the bun- phone. The screen is sharp and phone today. Audio quality is reasonably good. The navigational keys are similar to those dled earphones are the regular ones (which bright, and stays perfectly legible out- The 2-megapixel camera is pretty much on older SE phones such as the K750i. The joy- come with entry-level Sony-Ericsson phones), doors. The navigational keys consists of a similar to that on the RAZR 2. The camera per- stick is much better, though, and well-recessed. not the Fontopias. The K810i supports MS roundel and two soft menu keys. There are forms admirably outdoors; in low-light condi- The soft menu keys and additional shortcuts micro memory cards; though SE has bundled two additional buttons (for Cancel and tions and indoor environments, photos turn keys are small and tightly placed; this could 128 MB, it might not be enough if you plan to launching FM). out dark. It’s also capable of recording video turn out to be a problem for some. The keypad carry music and click photographs at 3 The keypad is well-spaced, with each key in the MPEG4 format, but the quality is is well-spaced-out, and consists of little round megapixels. being separated from the other by small nothing to write home about. keys—much better than those on the K550i or We had no issues with the phone perform- RATINGS ridges; however, the tactile feedback We had no problems as far as signal recep- the W880i. At first sight, the keypad might ance; signal reception was good, and so RATINGS Features isn’t as good as that on the new RAZR 2, tion goes, but the speakerphone clarity could seem uncomfortable, but you’ll find it’s not. was the voice clarity. Battery life is okay— Features Performance despite the visual similarities. have been better. Battery life is strictly okay— The 3.2MP camera is well-protected by a expect around two days unless you plan to Performance Build Quality One of the prominent differences we got around two days with nominal usage. At sliding lens cover. Being a Cybershot, it has surf the Internet and use Bluetooth a lot. Build Quality Value for Money with respect to the older L7 is the fact Rs 8,399 the L9 is reasonably-priced; one-touch shortcut keys to change flash The K810i retails at Rs 15,500; we say Value for Money Overall that the memory slot is on the right. The however, we can’t see any compelling reason modes, timer, Macro, and megapixel rating. it’s reasonable. In fact, we’d recommend L9 accepts microSD up to 2 GB (the to recommend it to anyone. One row of the keypad has the appropriate the K810i to anyone looking out for a Overall markings, and gets highlighted when camera good camera phone. Sony-Ericsson W910i Sony-Ericsson K850i The Ultimate Walkman slider Some of this, some of that—and a great camera he W910i is the latest in the Walkman sensors (gyroscopes, to be precise) to control T series of phones from Sony Ericsson. It music playback. Shake the phone in one direc- he K850i is the flagship model in the Cyber- The K850i is designed to deliver a digital- comes with a new media-browsing interface, tion to switch to the next track and in the Tshot line-up from Sony-Ericsson. Based around camera-like experience, and it doesn’t disap- and an inbuilt motion sensor for games other direction for the previous track—you’ve a 5-megapixel camera, it’s pitted against Nokia’s point. The camera controls have evolved over the and music. no doubt seen this in the advertisements for N95 as far as the camera is concerned. The K850i K810i, and the ergonomics are much better. The slim W910i employs a smooth slider the phone. The feature works overall, but it comes in at a notch above the K810i. Since the K850i doesn’t have any additional ded- mechanism. The front facia is dominated by a needs refinement. SenseMe is a kind of media The phone sports a completely revamped icated buttons, most settings can be changed (huge!) 2.4-inch LCD screen—strikingly beauti- browser where tracks are sorted by tempo design, with hardly any resemblance to earlier SE from the single touch-sensitive button. ful, and it remains perfectly legible even in (like fast or slow) and mood (happy or sad). For models. It is blocky, but the fit and finish are Camera performance was superb; colour direct sunlight. a song to be tagged with the right mood, it excellent. A nice, luminous green strip runs accuracy is pretty impressive—better than that The navigational keys include a small steel needs to be uploaded via the Media Manager around the edge. on the N95. The K850i feels snappier five-way rocker which doubles up as the application (otherwise it remains hidden The navigational D-pad is a squarish ring that throughout; it starts in an instant, file saves are Playback control when using media player, from SenseMe). surrounds the 2 and 5 number keys. The edges fast, and it switches back to the phone in a and two soft menu keys. Two additional keys The camera on the W910i is decent, but not are raised for proper contact. There is no action second. Indoors, the camera has a tendency to are placed near the top, which are configured the best; you’d have expected SE to do better. button; rather, there are touch-sensitive buttons underexpose if the flash is used. for the photo album by default; they can be As with all 2MP cameras, it performs better out- just below the screen. They are context-sensitive The K850i comes with 40 MB of internal used while gaming as well. The flat keypad doors; image quality decreases with light. Video and are dynamically assigned the proper func- memory, and a 512 MB MS micro card comes lacks tactile feedback and feels mushy—not recording is okay. tions, similar to soft menu buttons. The touch- bundled, but with a 5 megapixel camera and good if you SMS a lot. The Power On and The phone itself is typical SE—a simple user sensitive buttons work flawlessly, but require music, you’ll have to buy more memory. Music- Walkman buttons at the top are rather interface and snappy performance. A 2 GB some time to get used to. The backlight at times wise, the phone is on par with the K810i, and difficult to operate. card is included, and you also get a USB read- seems overpowering, and distracts. The keypad it betters the N95, but can’t match any of the Music is the forte of the W910i. er with this phone. The only gripe we had with consists of small square buttons—usable, but no W series phones. RATINGS Playback quality is awesome; the bun- the phone was the keypad, which has no tac- fun when texting. Priced at Rs 21,000, the K850i is 10K RATINGS Features dled earphones are simply superb, plus tile feedback, and feels like the buttons on The camera is at the back, and the lenses have cheaper than the Nokia N95. It misses out Features Performance you can use any 3.5 mm earphones washing machines. their own retracting cover. A hard plastic sheet is on GPS and WiFi, but it has a much better Performance Build Quality you’d like. Two features have been The W910i is easily the best of the W series drawn over the length of the phone, covering the camera and music player, and longer bat- Build Quality Value for Money added, called Shake control and of phones from SE. Retailing at Rs 18,899, we’d lens. It protects the shiny back of the phone, but tery life. Let’s just say the K850i fits the bill Value for Money Overall SenseMe. Shake Control, as the name recommend the W910i to someone looking for also attracts fingerprints; when clicking, you’ll if you want a good smartphone with an Overall suggests, implies the use of motion a suave, slim music phone. need to clean the portion near the lens. excellent camera.

78 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 79 Cell Phone Test-Feb_08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:53 PM Page 80

Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Nokia N95 8GB BUSI- Nokia E65 This is it! Not quite the E…

he successor to the acclaimed N95, this new has been dropped in this new incarnation—and s much as common sense tells us to avoid folder. Contacts can be read out, as can phone Tincarnation just got better all round. that’s not something we approve of. A slider phones for obvious reasons—as in numbers, recent calls, and the time. You also The navigational console has been completely Image quality is similar to that on the N95. moving parts, wear and tear—they’re hot! The get a voice assist while dialling, which will revamped. The oblong buttons are easy to use, The camera performs admirably outdoors; E65 is red-hot (literally), and it’s available in help in the event of miss dialling while in a and the directional pad is much better than that colour saturation is perfect, and so is the expo- mocha, too. The entirely matte-finished body hurry (only if you remember the number). on the N95. The extra chrome on the buttons sure. Indoors, in low-light conditions, the focus offers good grip, and it manages to also look Still, we think the software needs a lot of could have been avoided, we think—it picks up tends to hunt for a while, and tonal accuracy classy. Red—russet brown really—might not work to be decently functional. finger smudges and is likely to peel off. The suffers as well. appeal to all, but the soft contours are nice. The phone is slow, though, especially number keypad is well-laid-out, but the The phone comes with 160 MB of internal With Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, EDGE, and while using the voice functions— hard-touch keys, combined with the memory, which is well-supplemented by 8 GB of more, the E65 is a business-oriented device which bespeaks low memory. Call slightly raised surface, makes flash memory. No expansion is available for with some artistic flair. The number keypad is quality is good, but not on par finger-pad touch-typing a pain. memory cards, but it’s not required. There’s a well-laid-out with raised demarcations on with some of the other The music player is fea- fully-functional GPS application inbuilt. This each key, similar to the N95—but remember Nokia phones we’ve tested. ture-rich—you can shuffle works well in conjunction with a GPRS connec- there’s no QWERTY. Keypad backlighting is Calls disconnect easily and repeat tracks, tion. WiFi (g) is inbuilt, as is the mandatory Blue- good. The 2MP camera and the music player when signal strength is at there’s a functional tooth (version 2.0, now with A2DP), and the are pretty ordinary. one tower. equaliser, and a visualisa- jurassic infrared. For the radio fan, the N95 8 GB Pop the hood and it’s a Symbian S60 9.1 At Rs 16,800, the E65 isn’t tion function too. Audio incorporates FM radio. device. Quick Office has been provided, but the definitive business phone that quality seems to have The new N95 8GB comes with higher-capacity it’s Word and Excel editing at its barest (doc- the E series label might indicate. A phone RATINGS improved over the N95. Music batteries that extend its life by two hours over the ument creation is out of the question). GPS with very similar specifications and func- Features quality is decent on the supplied N95. With nominal use, we got around two days software is bundled: it’ll work with any tions with a cheaper price tag comes to Performance earplugs, and this phone is just great of battery (45 minutes of talking, 2 hours of lis- Bluetooth GPS device. There’s also a pretty mind—the N80. But then all new phones Build Quality RATINGS with better earphones! Sony Ericsson tening to music, and intermittent GPRS use). nifty text-to-speech module that will read out are costly, and a couple of price cuts may Value for Money Features still rules the game with their Walkman In conclusion, the Nokia N95 8 GB is a superb data whose menus are placed in the Voice Aid see this one become popular. Overall Performance series of phones, though. convergent device. Be it music, camera, GPS, or Value for Money The 5MP camera is another first—great Internet connectivity, it just does everything Build Quality image quality and a good flash unit. How- better than most devices on the market. Priced at ever, like all cell phone cameras, the zoom Rs 28,000, this is the device to have—if you can Overall is useless. The lens cover you see on the N95 cough up the money. Nokia E51 A classic reborn

Nokia N81 8GB f you are an executive in the market for a cell frequent fliers, comes bundled too. Iphone, Nokia’s E series offers the best bang for The Nokia E51 has an abundance of connec- Good enough music, not-so-good camera the buck. tivity options. It’s a 3G quad-band phone with The E51 has a superb 2-inch display capable HSDPA, WiFi (802.11g), Bluetooth, Micro USB, he N81 marks Nokia’s entry into music-related alphanumeric keypad isn’t quite what we of 16 million colours. The resolution of 240 x as well as infrared (just in case). The Tservices similar to that offered by Apple (as in expected from Nokia; it is flat, hard, and frus- 320 is very high for a small screen, so fonts WiFi locator feature helps a great iTunes). Like the N73 and N95, the N81 comes in trating to use. appear sharp and crisp. In direct sunlight, the deal in searching for nearby WiFi two editions—Standard and Music. The former The music player is similar to that on the screen is completely legible—even at half the hotspots. Multimedia features has a memory card slot, while the latter has 8 GB N95 and other Symbian-based phones. However, maximum brightness! include an MP3 player (it sounds of flash memory and no memory slot. the Navi-scroll gives it an edge in terms of As compared to the E50, the new phone has good), a 2MP camera with still and The N81 is handsome—rounded edges, black usability. We’d like to see Nokia ironing out the a completely revised keypad with dedicated video shooting, and FM radio. lustrous finish, and you’ll notice the use of con- chinks in the touch-sensitive UI. Eight GB of keys for Contacts, Calendar, E-mail, and Home. The phone performed admirably trasting brushed silver on the edges. Build memory means enough space to pack in your This approach has its advantages: you can during our tests; signal reception was quality is excellent, and though the body entire collection. Transfer times are reasonably directly access essential information at the good, and so was the voice clarity. has a plastic feel to it, it’s rugged, and fast. Audio quality is good, and nearly equals touch of a button. The soft menu keys, how- Internet browsing was fast as compared should take the rigours of everyday life. that of the N95; what we liked was the place- ever, are a pain to use—they are too small for to the E50 or E61, thanks to the revised The slider mechanism is taut, but we’ve ment of the 3.5 mm jack—it’s on the top. The comfort. The keypad is a delight to use—good Web browser. The pictures from the seen better ones on Samsung phones bundled earphones are good, but we liked our tactile feedback, and the key spacing is immac- camera were above average, but not in low (and lately, the Sony Ericsson W910i). music with the Bose in-ear plugs. ulate. The rubberised keys for volume up / light. The speakerphone is clear, with little The front facia is dominated by The camera is a complete let down, be warned: down, push to talk, and the power switch are or no echo on the recipient’s side. The a huge, sparklingly-clear 2.4-inch just 2 megapixels doesn’t cut it anymore—at least hard to operate, and require some serious speaker is placed on the anterior side of the display. The screen equals that on not on a high-end phone. poking to work. phone, and though it’s loud enough, when the N95 (which has the best among Three games come preinstalled—all of them The E51 is peppy—it uses the same processor it’s placed on softer surfaces such as a bed or cell phones). demos. The games are based on the Ngage plat- as the flagship N95 model. With 130 MB of sofa, the ringer volume gets muffled. Battery Just below the screen is a whole new form, and gaming is fun thanks to two additional memory onboard, you can do lot of multi- life is good—we got around three days RATINGS navigational console. The directional pad keys and the excellent display. Internet browsing tasking without the phone getting slow, and with nominal usage and a terrific seven RATINGS Features (D-Pad) now also acts like a touch-sensitive is great—thanks largely to the Web browser which the memory can be expanded to 4 GB via the days of standby. Features Performance scroll wheel, but the keys can also be used is the best you’ll get on a handheld today. microSD slot. The E51 runs on Symbian OS S60, The Nokia E51 retails at Rs 13,000, and Performance Build Quality like regular keys. Though it works OK, the The Nokia N81 8 GB retails at Rs 19,400. That and crams in a lot of additional features. For we say that’s how Nokia should price all its Build Quality Value for Money touch-sensitive scrolling needs refinement. price is reasonable, but we feel the N95 is a example, the Advanced Call Manager lets you phones. For truckloads of features, snappy Value for Money Overall The playback control keys are cramped much better overall device—we’d recommend manage incoming and outgoing calls more effi- performance, classy looks, and terrific Overall near the D-pad and are frustrating. The it over the N81. ciently. WorldMate, an application meant for pricing, the Nokia E51 is a must-buy !

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Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Palm Treo 750 ASUS P750 Windows on a Palm! The über business phone

he Treo 750 is the latest PDA phone from Treo 750 is anaemic, and Windows’ dodgy he ASUS P750 is top-of-the-line, 3G capable onboard 3 megapixel camera delivers reason- T Palm; it promises one-handed operation (a memory management doesn’t help either. TPDA phone that has every possible feature ably good photographs , provided there is Palm trait), though it’s a Windows Mobile Palm has done its bit to revamp the interface you’d ever want. The design is gorgeous, and adequate light; video recording is passable. based device. The phone has a lot in and make it easy to navigate without touching the phone looks great in its matt black outfit. The phone comes with 65 MB of memory, common with its predecessors on the stylus—something we really like about Palm Though oriented towards executives, the which can be augmented to up to 2 GB the design front, and it has the devices. The “Today Screen” shows information P750 lacks a QWERTY keypad; it does have via the microSDHC slots. distinctive Palm device feel such as messages, e-mail, voicemail, appoint- touch screen, which in combination with Win- Internet browsing was relatively to it—nice! ments, and more upfront; each of them can be dows Mobile 6 makes up for the lack. There are fast, and setting up WiFi network is The new phone is tad accessed using just the navigation keys. To place five input options available, and the XT9 smooth, without any hiccups. Other slimmer than its predecessors; it a call, a contact name can be directly keyed in option works like a charm—it can predict connectivity options include Blue- feels lighter, and the curvaceous from within the Today Screen. words better than the old T9 dictionary most tooth, GPRS, HSDPA and USB. ASUS design helps hide the bulk. On the performance front, the phone is no other cell phones have. has been generous with the bundle— The 2.5-inch LCD screen domi- slouch; the UI is generally zippy—applications The 320 x 240, 2.6-inch touch screen is nice leather pouch, USB cables, nates the front. It is sharp and com- open in a snap. We did encounter some instances good; it lacks brilliance (only 65K colours) but adapter, in-car phone cradle, and a pletely legible in direct sunlight. The when the phone nearly crawled when a lot of it works. The joystick and jog dial have excel- box full of manuals. navigational console (buttons) consists of applications were open, but then no-one opens lent tactile feedback, and they never jump a The P750 performed a five-way rocker, two soft keys, and four too many applications simultaneously in a real- menu. The alpha-numeric keypad is well admirably. The signal reception additional pre-defined keys (Call, Windows world situation. We encountered no signal issues, spaced out and works out great for typing was good; in low reception areas key, Hang up, and OK). and voice clarity was good with no background short messages. calls weren’t dropped. Voice The dinky QWERTY thumb-board still noise or echo. The speakerphone quality is good, The P750 comes loaded with an abundance clarity is great, and the speaker- remains one of the best we’ve seen thus far; too; however, the ringer volume needs improve- of pre-installed applications—Microsoft Office phone is loud and clear. On nominal usage—45 though small and cramped, the chances of ment. The camera quality is average. 6.1, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Notes minutes of talking, some Internet access RATINGS mistyping are very low. At Rs 22,990, the Treo 750 is expensive con- and Calendar, is the highlight. The P750 also and music—the phone stayed alive for RATINGS Features The phone is powered by Window sidering that competing models offer a better fea- features GPS, a business card reader, UR time three days. Features Performance Mobile Version 6; given that the phone ture set at a lower price. Palm is giving away a home screen, Remote presenter, Java, ASUS At Rs 32,000, the P570 is a good deal Performance Build Quality runs a 300 MHz processor, this may not foldable Bluetooth keyboard along with this launcher, etc.—this phone is a treasure trove. for the hardware and the software on Build Quality Value for Money have been a smart choice—Windows phone, but that still doesn’t justify the price. Nev- The media player supports MP3, WMA, offer. Most importantly, the P750 Value for Money Mobile version 6 requires a speedy ertheless, discounting the high price, the Treo AAC, AAC+ and 3GP. The audio quality is good, delivers in the area that matters the Overall Overall processor. As available memory goes, the 750 is a good Windows-based PDA phone. considering that this is a business phone. The most—usability.

Motorola Moto Q V8 ASUS P526 A great bundle—but that’s about it PDA for the masses

he Moto Q marks Motorola’s entry into the The Moto Q runs on Windows Mobile 6, and he P526 is an affordable PDA phone that consistent colour accuracy. The phone comes Thighly-competitive PDA cell phone market. the user interface is zippy. By default, the Moto Q T goes head-to-head with the Sony Ericsson with 128 MB of internal memory, and that can The company has earlier tried getting into this uses Motorola’s theme, but we prefer the Win- P1i and Nokia E61i. Priced at Rs 17,000, it offers be increased via the microSD card. market via their A series of phones (Moto dows theme. The Today screen can be customised a good value as an entry level touch screen Internet browsing on GPRS was slow, but Ming), but failed to garner any footing. to show events such as meetings and birthdays, as based cell phone. The handset’s design is very that’s more of a provider issue. No WiFi is a For the Moto Q, Motorola has gone well as e-mails and text messages. similar to its high-end sibling, the P750. The serious shortcoming; the competition with the tried-and-tested design for a The “Documents To Go” application comes P526 is well-proportioned, and feels more com- has it, and they also have the newer QWERTY phone. It is wide but well pro- preinstalled, and it’s great; it ably handles Word, fortable to hold than Nokia’s E61i. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, while portioned, and therefore feels much Excel, PowerPoint, and ZIP files. A default Win- The P526 doesn’t have a joystick, and com- the P526 just has version 1.2. better to hold when compared with dows file manager helps browsing the device pletely relies on the touch screen for naviga- The ASUS P526 has good Nokia’s E61/61i. Lessons learnt from the effectively. System tools include a memory man- tion, which isn’t very intuitive. The soft menu signal reception, and RAZR have been used to good effect on ager and a task manager. (The task manager is buttons and two dedicated buttons are in the we had no problem the Moto Q; the phone is slim for a PDA useful for when you need to know about back- form of a small thin strip, and are difficult to with dropped calls or phone. ground processes and kill them.) operate. The keypad is well spaced, and offers static. Voice clarity Finished in jet black, the exterior has a Multimedia features are mediocre; Windows good tactile feedback. was good, and the bat- rubberised feel, and the body offers excel- Media Player can be used for MP3s and video. The The P526 is also comes bundled with the tery survived for two days lent grip. Except for the navigational D-pad, 1.3MP camera is strictly okay; the photographs are necessary applications—Mobile Word, Excel and on 45 minutes of talk, all the buttons are flat and at times difficult passable, and video capture is jerky. Connectivity Powerpoint. PIM functions include a Meeting GPRS usage and tinkering to press. The QWERTY keypad offers excellent options include USB, Bluetooth, IR, GPRS, and Time Planner, Remote Presenter, Voice com- around with GPS. tactile feedback and equals that of those on EDGE. Motorola has been generous with the mander, business card recognition and Java To summarise, the ASUS P526 high-end PDAs such as those from Black- bundle: a portable adapter, a good-quality leather support. The phone also includes GPS, but the performs well, comes pre-installed with RATINGS berry and Palm. pouch, a headset, the USB cable, the 1 GB miniSD corresponding software needs to be installed useful applications and has loads of fea- RATINGS Features The 320 x 240, 2.4-inch, 65K colour card, and two batteries. The higher-capacity bat- separately. tures but misses out on essentials such Features Performance screen seems dated; the Nokia E61 has had tery is fatter and requires a different battery cover, Audio quality is so-so, and can’t match the as WiFi. If you want an affordable touch Performance Build Quality a 16 million colour screen for a long time. which also comes bundled. Nokia E61i or Sony Ericsson P1i. The 2 megapixel screen PDA phone, then the ASUS P256 Build Quality Value for Money The Moto Q has an anaemic 40 MB of Rs 17,325 is expensive for the hardware on camera delivers decent photographs, but only in fits the bill. However, also consider Value for Money Overall internal memory, which can be augmented offer. The Nokia E61i with WiFi and better multi- well-lit rooms. Outdoors, it performs like any Nokia E61i and Sony Ericsson P1i as Overall via the bundled 1 GB mini SD card. media features is available for less. other 2 megapixel camera; good exposure and viable options.

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Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Sony Ericsson P1i Blackberry Pearl 8120 Fixing old mistakes Style++

he P1 is the latest in Sony Ericsson’s busi- slapping on a screen guard the second you open he 8120 is the latest in Blackberry’s Pearl tions are well implemented, and are quite T ness line, succeeding both the P990i and the box—the screen’s responsiveness will suffer Tseries. Though venerable in the business easy to grasp. the M600i—bringing the former’s func- a tad, but it’ll be worth it. The stylus is longer domain, Blackberries were devoid of any con- The 8120 supports most music formats, tionality to the latter’s form factor. and easier to write with, and its locking mecha- sumer frills which other phones offered—thus and does a good job of playing them. It Its dimensions are nearly the same nism seems much firmer than the M600i’s the Pearl 8100 was born, but it came with some even plays MPEG4 video. The 3.5 mm jack as the M600i, adding a couple of flimsy setup. The QWERTY keypad is the same shortcomings. The 8120 improves on many lets you plug in better earphones if you millimetres to the thickness, and as the M600i—two letters to the key—and is just aspects but one—3G—but that shouldn’t matter want them. The jack is placed near the top its style statement is in Chinese— as easy to get used to. in India anyway. edge, and will be uncomfortable when in the shiny plastic sides and the The 3.2 megapixel camera is respectable, The 8120 is simply gorgeous—something you your pocket. The phone comes with a chrome details look downright though not exceptional—indoor photos are a will fall in love with at first sight. The phone is paltry 64 MB of internal memory, but sup- tacky, and we prefer the M600i’s bit grainy, but overall, the clarity and colour slim, lightweight and feels superb to hold. Its ports a hot-swappable microSD card. Black- matte finish. It’s based on the same balance of the photos satisfies. There’s a dimensions are perfect—comfortable in the palm berry hasn’t been able to fix the basic issues Symbian UIQ 3 platform as the P990i second camera on the front for video calls, but and the pocket. The 2.2-inch display may not be with their cameras—photographs lack and M600i, with a few minor changes. you can’t take self-portraits with it. Like the the best, but it is bright enough to get your work sharpness, and tonal accuracy suffers. The OS is definitely quicker, which is P990i, this model also comes with a business done. Properly aliased fonts are easy on the eyes Internet browsing using WiFi was great; probably due to the oodles of program card scanner—just take a photo of a business and make the most out of this screen. not so much with GPRS. The phone also sup- memory that the phone comes with— card, and the OCR software will create a new The 8120 makes do with a pseudo-QWERTY ports Bluetooth and USB. When it comes to 128 MB, doubling the M600i’s 64. Other contact for you. The feature works just as well keypad—two letters per key, and text entry is pre- the core function of being a telephone, than that, there’s nothing remarkably (or as badly, as the case may be) as the one dictive. It takes a while to get use to this format, Blackberry outshines most and the Pearl 8120 new here. on the P990i. but we got up and running on it within an hour. is no exception. It has the best call reception in Just like the M600i, the phone doesn’t fea- In the connectivity department, the P1i The roller ball (pearl) at the centre is used for this entire test. During our test, the phone ture any soft-keys, and you’re expected to supports 3G (but no EDGE) and WiFi—802.11b, navigating menus, pages, etc., and works like a remained alive for four days before operate it using either the stylus or your to be precise. WiFi connection speeds are quite charm. The unusual input method feels odd, but needing a recharge. RATINGS RATINGS fingers on the touchscreen. There’s also decent, and battery life thankfully doesn’t once you get used to it, going back to another At Rs 25,000, the Pearl 8120 is an excel- Features Features the three-way jog dial, which thankfully suffer for it. format is boring. lent business device with just one short- Performance Performance does away with the annoying protrusion The P1i isn’t really light years ahead of the Business features are the forte of Blackber- coming—no 3G (high speed internet). If Build Quality Build Quality that featured on the previous phones. The P990i, but it definitely nudges it off top spot. ries, and that requires no introduction. The you are interested in this model for the Value for Money Value for Money screen itself is wonderfully vibrant and There’s no annoying flip top, the audio levels are phone can easily handle most commonly used multimedia capabilities, we’d advise you Overall Overall quite responsive to touch, but is naturally louder and the huge program memory lets you files types—DOC, XLS, PDF, etc. The PIM func- to look elsewhere. a fingerprint magnet. We recommend multi-task like you’ve never multi-tasked before. Apple iPhone ASUS M530w Bliss… Nokia’s bane he iPod changed the way we listen to highs, just mids. The headphone jack is Tmusic, and the iPhone is bound to recessed, and all earphones don’t fit it change the way we use a cell phone. It’s not directly—they need an adapter, curse Apple. he M530w is another entry level PDA phone You get the ClearVue viewer for Word, Excel, available in India yet, but we went ahead Video playback is simply the best we have seen T from ASUS—it lacks a touchscreen, but PPT and PDF file formats. Other applications and bought one to give you a glimpse of this on any portable media player. Viewing photo- includes a full QWERTY thumb board. The include Java, Remote presenter, Task Manager Next Best Thing. graphs is fun, and you can use your fingers to M530W goes head to head with the Motorola and a business card recogniser. The 320x480, 3.5-inch display dominates zoom in and out—very natural. MotoQ and the Nokia E61i—right down to The M530w’s multimedia features—espe- the entire length of the phone. The screen is Safari does a great job of rendering non- the slim design. cially music—are just passable. It supports MP3 sharp, crystal clear and has excellent colour optimised Web pages—more so if you rotate The ASUS M530w is offered in two and video playback, but entry level phones reproduction. Watching videos is an the phone to view sites in landscape mode. colours—white and black. We got the from other makers will easily beat the M530w amazing experience. To read, you can zoom in and out on any pearly white for review, and the pho- at this. The 2 megapixel camera is quite similar There is no keypad or QWERTY on this part of the page. The phone is completely tographs don’t do it justice—it may to one on the P256, and delivers decent photo- phone—hence the huge screen. You use a vir- locked and installing additional appli- look like the old Sony Ericsson graphs—nothing particularly remarkable here. tual keyboard—touch the letters to type cations requires hacking the phone; we T100, but the white body with There numerous connectivity options— them in. It’s fun once you master it, but can don’t recommend this. orange detailing manages to WiFi, 3G, GPRS and Bluetooth. Internet be inaccurate if you use your thumbs. To conclude, this is the best look quite appealing. The navi- browsing speeds are decent on WiFi and GPRS, The user interface is hard to describe in phone we have reviewed, period. gational buttons are well laid though the battery life takes a beating when words—once you get used to the touch, It’ll be wise to wait for the out—they are large, comfortable these features are used. We managed around using the phone becomes plain instinct. iPhone’s official release in mid- to use and have good tactile feedback. two days of battery life on nominal usage. We Getting around menus is fun; swipe your 2008, though. However, the numeric keys have an didn’t encounter any problem with signal finger up or down to scroll any list, swipe it RATINGS orange glow thanks to the backlight, and reception, but voice clarity could do with left or right to move left or right. The single RATINGS Features the screen-printed numbers on them are work—some crackles creep in. button is used for exiting all applications— Features Performance not easily legible. At Rs 18,500, the M530w goes head to head as simple as it gets. Performance Build Quality The M530w runs on Windows Mobile with the Nokia E61i, which has a similar fea- The iPhone also has all the features of Build Quality Value for Money 6 and has all the standard features set of ture set. Given a choice between the two, the iPod. Music quality is good, but the Value for Money Overall the mobile OS. There is no ASUS choosing one is a tough call; we’d stay with iPod sounds better. The bundled ear- Overall launcher application pre-installed here. Nokia E61i just for Symbian. phones are rubbish as usual—no bass, no

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Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test

Scoreboard Lifestyle Lifestyle BRAND LG LG Motorola Motorola Nokia Nokia Samsung Sony-Ericsson Sony-Ericsson Sony-Ericsson MODEL KE970 KE770 RAZR2 SLVR L9 N95 8GB N81 8GB G600 W910i K810i K850

Price (Rupees) Rs 11,990 Rs 7,990 Rs 16,799 Rs 8,399 Rs 28,000 Rs 19,409 Rs 17,999 Rs 18,899 Rs 15,534 Rs 20,995 Comments + Good build quality + Good value + Stylish + Slim + Great converged device + Sturdily built + Stylishly built + Superb music quality + Excellent camera + Great looks – Mediocre camera – Multimedia lacks bite – No memory slot – Rudimentary UI – Expensive – Mediocre camera – None – Bad keypad – Audio could be better – None Features Physical Specs Form Factor Slider Candybar Clam shell Candybar Slider Slider Slider Slider Candy bar Candybar Dimensions (L x W x H) (mm) 99.8 x 50.6 x 13.8 105 x 46 x 9.9 103 x 53 x 11 113 x 49 x 11.5 99 x 53 x 21 102 x 50 x 18 101 x 47.8 x 14.9 99 x 50 x 12.5 106 x 48 x 17 102 x 48 x 17 Weight (grams) 119 79 117 96 128 140 104 86 103 118 Screen Resolution (pixels) 240 x 320 176 x 220 240 x 320 176 x 220 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 320 Screen Size (inches) 2.2 1.77 2.2 1.9 2.8 2.4 2.2 2.4 2 2.2 No Of Colours (Screen) 256 K 256 K 256 K 256 K 16 M 16 M 16 M 256K 256K 256K Touchscreen (Y/N) No No Yes No No No No No No Semi Dual Screen (Y/N) No No Yes , 2.2-inch 256K No No No No No No No Network Bands Triband Triband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Memory Phone Memory 50 MB 70 MB 420 MB (or 2 GB) 20 MB 8 GB 8 GB 55 MB 40 MB 64 MB 40 MB Expandable Memory/Type microSD microSD None microSD microSD none microSD MS micro (M2) MS micro (M2) MS micro (M2) Other Features Keypad (Regular/QWERTY) Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular Address Book Capacity 1000 1000 1000 NA Memory Limited Memory Limited 1000 NA 1000 1000 No Of Calls In Register (Made/Rec./Missed) 50 / 50 / 50 50 / 50 / 50 30 / 30 / 30 10 / 10 /1 0 30 days 30 days 30 / 30 / 30 30 / 30 / 30 30 / 30 / 30 30 / 30 / 30 Voice Recorder Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Voice Dialling No No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Talk Time (Claimed) (hours) 3 2.5 7 4 6 4 3.5 9 10 9 Standby Time (Claimed) (hours) 280 200 330 350 280 410 300 400 400 400 Operating System Firmware Firmware Firmware Firmware Symbian S60 Symbian S60 Firmware Firmware Firmware Firmware Connectivity Browsing (GPRS/HSCSD/EDGE/3G) Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / Yes / No / Yes Yes / No / Yes / Yes Connectivity (WiFi/Bluetooth/IR/USB) No / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / Yes / Yes No / Yes / No / Yes Camera Specs Camera (Y/N) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resolution (Mega Pixels) 2 2 2 2 5 2 5 2 3.2 5 Video Capture (Y/N) Yes Yes Yes Yes yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Dual Cameras No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Flash (Y/N) Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Auto Focus (Y/N) Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Camera Settings (Scale Of 10) 5 5 5 4 7 7 7.5 7.5 8 8 Multimedia Music Formats Supported MP3, AAC++ MP3, AAC++ MP3, AAC, AAC+ MP3, AAC, AAC+, MPEG4 MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC, WMA MP3, AAC, MPEG4 MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA MP3, AAC MP3, AAC, MPEG4 MP3, AAC, MPEG4 Playlist Features (Scale Of 10) 5 5 6 5 6 6 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 Audio Quality (Scale Of 10) 5 4 7.5 7 7 7 6 7.5 7 6.5 Bundled Earphones Quality (Scale Of 10) 5 5 6.5 6.5 7 7 6 7.5 5.5 6.5 Video Playback Quality (Scale Of 10) 5 5 6 5 6 6 6 5 5 6 FM Radio (Y/N) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Build Quality (Scale Of 10) Body 7.5 7.5 7.5 7 6.5 8 7.5 7.5 7 7 Keys 7 7 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 7.5 4.5 5 6.5 Ergonomics (Scale Of 10) Interface (UI) 6 6 6 5.5 7 7 6 6.5 6.5 6.5 Navigation & Menus 6 6 6 5.5 7 7 6 6.5 6.5 6.5 Keypad Layout and comfort 5 6 6.5 6 7 6.5 6.5 5 6.5 7 Performance Signal Reception (Scale Of 10) 6 6 7 7 7.5 7 7 7 7 7 Voice Clarity (Scale Of 10) 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 7 Processing Speed (Scale Of 10) 6 6 6.5 6 7 7 7 6.5 6.5 6.5

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Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test

Scoreboard Business Business BRAND ASUS ASUS ASUS BlackBerry Motorola Nokia Nokia Palm Sony-Ericsson Apple MODEL M530w P526 P750 8120 Moto Q V8 E65 E51 Treo 750 P1i iPhone

Price (Rupees) Rs 18,490 Rs 16,990 Rs 32,000 Rs 24,990 Rs 17,325 Rs 16,800 Rs 13,000 Rs 22,990 Rs 22,500 NA Comments + Slim design + Good value for money + Great features + Excellent business phone + Slim and light + Stylish + Excellent value for money + Great one handed operation + Feature rich + Great user experience – Small screen – No WiFi – No QWERTY – Lacks 3G – Relatively expensive – Feels filmsy – None – Relatively expensive – None – No 3G, video recording Features Physical Specs Form Factor QWERTY Phone Candy bar Candybar Candybar Qwerty phone Slider Candy bar Candybar candybar Candybar Dimensions (L x W x H) (mm) 117 x 65 x 14 110 x 58 x 16 113 x 58 x 17 107 x 55 x 14 116 x 64 x 12 105 x 49 x 15 114 x 46 x 12 111 x 58 x 22 106 x 55 x 17 115 x 61 x 11 Weight (grams) 135 115 130 grams 91 115 115 100 154 124 135 Screen Resolution (pixels) 320 x 240 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 260 320 x 240 240 x 320 240 x 320 240 x 240 240 x 320 320 x 480 Screen Size (inches) 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.4 2.4 2 2.6 3.5 No Of Colours (Screen) 65K 65K 65K 65K 65K 16 million 16M 65K 256K 16 M Touchscreen (Y/N) No Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes Dual Screen (Y/N) No No No No No No No No No No Network Bands Quadband Quadband Triband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Quadband Triband Quadband Memory Phone Memory 256 MB 128 MB 64 MB 64 MB 40 MB 128 MB 130 MB 60 MB 160 MB 8 GB Expandable Memory/Type miniSD microSD microSD microSD miniSD microSD microSD miniSD MS micro No Other Features Keypad (Regular/QWERTY) QWERTY Regular Regular Semi-QWERTY QWERTY Regular Regular QWERTY QWERTY Touchpad Address Book Capacity Yes Memory Limited Memory Limited NA Yes Memory Limited Memory Limited Memory Limited Memory Limited Memory Limited No Of Calls In Register (Made/Rec./Missed) 20 / 20 / 20 20 / 20 / 20 memory limited NA NA 30 days max 30 days Memory Limited Memory Limited Memory Limited Voice Recorder No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Voice Dialling No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No Talk Time (Claimed) (hours) 5 4 6 4 5 6 4.5 4.5 10 8 Standby Time (Claimed) (hours) 250 150 240 360 240 265 310 200 440 250 Operating System Windows Mobile 6 Windows Mobile 6 Windows Mobile 6 Firmware Windows Mobile 6 Symbian S60 UI Symbian S60 Windows Mobile 6 UIQ 3.0 Mac OSX Connectivity Browsing (GPRS/HSCSD/EDGE/3G) Yes / No / Yes / Yes Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No/ Yes/ Yes Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / No / Yes / No Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / No / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / No / Yes Yes / No / Yes / No Connectivity (WiFi/Bluetooth/IR/USB) Yes / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / No / Yes Yes / Yes / No / Yes No / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes No / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes / No / Yes Camera Specs Camera (Y/N) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resolution (Mega Pixels) 2 2 3 2 1.3 2 2 1.3 3 2 Video Capture (Y/N) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Dual Cameras Yes No Yes No No No No No yes No Flash (Y/N) Yes No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No Auto Focus (Y/N) No No Yes No No No No Yes Yes no Camera Settings (Scale Of 10) 6 7 6.5 6.5 5.5 5 6.5 5.5 6 5 Multimedia Music Formats Supported MP3, WMA MP3 MP3 MP3 MP3, AAC MP3, AAC, MPEG4 MP3, AAC MP3 MP3, AAC MP3, AAC Playlist Features (Scale Of 10) 5.5 6 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 8 Audio Quality (Scale Of 10) 5.5 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 Bundled Earphones Quality (Scale Of 10) 5 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 6 5 Video Playback Quality (Scale Of 10) 5 5 5.5 5.5 5 6 5 5.5 5 5 FM Radio (Y/N) No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Build Quality (Scale Of 10) Body 7 7 7 7 6.5 7 7.5 7 7 7 Keys 6.5 7 7 7 6.5 7.5 7.5 7 7 7 Ergonomics (Scale Of 10) Interface (UI) 6 6.5 6.5 7 5.5 6.5 7 7 6.5 9 Navigation & Menus 6 7 7 7 5.5 6.5 7 7 6.5 9 Keypad Layout and comfort 6.5 6 6 6.5 6.5 6.5 7 7 6.5 7 Performance Signal Reception (Scale Of 10) 7 7 7 7.5 6 7 7.5 7 7 7 Voice Clarity (Scale Of 10) 7 7 7 6 6 7 7 7 6.5 7 Processing Speed (Scale Of 10) 7 7 7 7 6 6.5 7.5 7 6 7

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Digital Tools l Cell Phone Test Decision Maker

n this comparison test, we’ve omitted prod- Top Of The Line Iucts we reviewed in the last comparison; The Nokia N95 and N82 have 5 megapixel cam- most of those products are still available in the eras, and they deliver crisp photographs in all market, though. Given the choice, choosing conditions—with a few tweaks in settings. Both the right phone for the right kind of applica- have extensive in-camera controls, and also tion can be confusing. offer a TV out cable. If the N95 is too expen- sive for you, go for the N82. The Sony Ericsson K850i delivers good photographs, but there are MUSIC PHONES few issues—photographs tend to under-expose Entry Level when the flash is used; hopefully, a firmware At the entry level, nothing beats Sony Eric- upgrade will fix this. sson’s Walkman phones—the W200i is where it starts from, but if you can stretch you budget BUSINESS PHONES by a couple of thousand, we recommend the W610i 0r W810i. Both these phones have excel- Entry Level lent music quality, and are available for under The Nokia E51. Nothing beats this newcomer— Rs 10,000. 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, IR, USB—you’re always connected in every possibly way. A good Mid-range screen, decent multimedia features and a Here you have options from both Nokia as well sweet price of Rs 13,000 gives it an edge over as Sony Ericsson. The SE W850i and W660i every other phone in this category. have excellent audio quality, and come with good earphones. Nokia N73 Music Mdition and Mid-range the XpressMusic 5160 and 5130 have good The ASUS P526, the Motorola Q, the ASUS music players too. Most of these phones fall in M530w, the Nokia E61i and Sony Ericsson P1i the Rs 10,000-15,000 price bracket. The Sony are few of the better options here. Nokia’s E61i Ericsson phones win here for their excellent has been our favourite. It is feature-laden, sound. delivers good performance and is priced rea- sonably—it’s still difficult for us to recommend The Best something else. However, if you want a phone Nokia’s N95, the Apple iPhone and the Sony with a touchscreen, then the ASUS P526 and Ericsson W910i are you best bets here. There Sony Ericsson P1i are your best bets. isn’t much difference in music quality between the N95 and W910i. While the N95 is bulky, the High-end W910i is light and slim—it also has the “shake” The Blackberry platform is hard to beat when controls and SenseMe technologies. The N95 is it comes to core business-oriented features. a more complete package, so we recommend The Curve 8300 and 8830 World Edition are that. The iPhone offers a great user experience, the best, but if you care for better multimedia but the sound quality can’t match the other options, we suggest the Nokia E90—it’s sturdy two—especially on the bundled earphones. and powerful. The Blackberry Pearl 8120 is a great phone if you don’t want to carry a bulky business phone. If you want more PDA fea- CAMERA PHONES tures—and a touchscreen to boot—you should Entry Level look at the ASUS P750. Here, the Cybershot phones from Sony Eric- sson are your best option. The SE K550i is a PHONES TO FLAUNT superb entry level camera phone, which also The Apple iPhone! No one has it, and that’s has a good music player and FM radio. The good enough reason to buy it. That apart, the trusted K750i is still a worthy phone here. The iPhone is a gadget in its own class, and will get Nokia N70 also has a comparable camera, but you noticed wherever you go. it’s an old phone and not everyone might like The Motorola RAZR V2 is the phone to have to own it. if you want something that’s a little more, well, legal. The pearl-grey finish, large LCDs Mid-range and intricate detailing makes the phone stand The Sony Ericsson K810i is an excellent 3.2 out from the crowd. The new RAZR is not all megapixel camera phone, and at Rs 15,000, is show—it has a lot of practical features and a quite a package. The K790i—the first 3.2 megapixel completely revised user interface too. It’s also phone in the market—is now available for Rs much cheaper than the iPhone. The Black- 11,000, and makes for terrific value. Nokia fans berry Pearl 8120 is another classy-looking can get similar camera quality in the Nokia N73 phone, but only for serious businessmen and N73 ME. The camera on the XpressMusic on the move. Nokia 5160 is also in the same league. [email protected]

90 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 Digital Tools l A-List Digital Tools l A-List

External Portable Hard Internal DVD-Writers Digital Cameras Graphics Cards (High-End) Desktop PCs Intel P35-based Home Inkjet MFDs PCI TV-Tuners Drives Samsung SH-S203 (High-End) Galaxy GF8800Ultra Sahara 20CK16 Motherboards Canon PIXMA MP160 Leadtek Winfast PVR2000 WD Passport Portable (Black) Performance, inexpensive Canon PowerShot A570 IS Sheer performance ASUS P5K Premium Good performance Excellent video quality and Excellent performance, good None in particular Good overall performance Heats up Great performer No memory card reader software Lacking in macro Contact Technology and Gadgets Expensive value Slightly bulky Excellent enthusiast solution Contact Canon India Pvt Ltd None in particular Contact Samsung India performance Phone +91-22-23823331 Expensive Web site Contact Sahara Computers & Phone 1800-345-3366 Contact Topnotch Infotronix (India) Electronics Pvt Ltd Contact Canon India Pvt Ltd www.technologyandgadgets.com Electronics Ltd E-mail [email protected] Pvt Ltd Contact Champion Computers Phone +91-11-41511234 Phone 1800-345-3366 Contact ASUS Technology Pvt Ltd Price Rs 35,000 Phone +91-120-4397777 Price Rs 5,995 Phone +91-44-42042565 Pvt Ltd E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-22–67668800 E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-11-26214751 Price Rs 1,200 Price Rs 13,995 E-mail [email protected] Web site ww.championindia.com Price Rs 40,000 Price Rs 15,870 Price Rs 5,500 Price Rs 6,500 Mono Laser MFDs Brother MFC-7420 Great cost per page, fax No Ethernet Port Contact Brother International India Pvt Ltd Phone 1800-222-422 E-mail [email protected] Price Rs 18,000 Digital Cameras Internal SATA Hard Drives Internal SATA Hard Drives Graphics Cards AMD AM2 Motherboards Intel Integrated Graphics Mono Laser Printers (High-End) (Mid-range) WD Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS WD Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H Motherboards HP LaserJet 1020 TECH-COM DSC-524X PLUS ASUS EN8600GT Value for money, Fast transfer speeds Gigabyte GA-G33-DS3R Good combination of speed, Good features and Well priced, fast performance None in particular Well built, feature rich print quality, and warranty performance None in particular None in particular None in particular Very good layout A bit slow in comparison to Contact Champion Computers Average macro performance Contact Asus Technology Pvt Ltd Expensive others Contact Champion Computers Pvt Ltd Phone +91-22-67668800 Contact Gigabyte Tech India Ltd Contact Shree Sagarmatha Pvt Ltd Phone +91-11-26214751 Web site http://in.asus.com Phone +91-22-30616666 Distributors Pvt. Ltd. Contact Gigabyte Tech India Ltd Contact Hewlett-Packard India Phone +91-11-26214751 Web site www.championindia.com Price Rs 8,800 E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-11-26428541 Phone +91-22-30616666 Sales Pvt Ltd Web site www.championindia.com Price Rs 7,500 Price Rs 6,900 E-mail techcom@airtelbroad- E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-124-2566111 Price Rs 4,500 band.in Price Rs 9,500 E-mail [email protected] Price Rs 5,250 Price Rs 6,999 The best products tested so far in different The A-List hardware and software categories

Wi-Fi Access Points MP3 Players up to Rs 4,000 Processors LCD Monitors (19-inch) Multimedia Cell Phone Business Device Office Inkjet MFDs Mice Linksys WAP54G MobiBlu DAH-2100 Intel QX6850 Core 2 Extreme AOC 197S above 20,000 Nokia Communicator E90 HP Photosmart C4188 All-in- Logitech MX Revolution Great performance Good performer Extreme performance Good looks and performance Nokia N95 8 GB Extremely powerful One Has a flywheel None in particular Tiny screen for video Expensive Gloss finish catches smudges Great all round Heavy, bulky Good print quality Expensive Contact Intel Tech India Pvt Ltd Little bulky Contact Ingram Micro India Pvt Ltd Contact AOC India Contact Nokia India No fax Contact J.J.Mehta & Sons Phone +91-9833823474 Contact Logitech Electronic Phone +91-9323112279 Phone 1800-425-4318 Contact Nokia India Web site: www.nokia.com Phone +91-22-24306356 E-mail [email protected] Contact HP India Sales Pvt. India Pvt Ltd E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Web site www.nokia.com Price Rs 40,499 Ltd. Phone +91-22-26571160 Price Rs 52,000 Price Rs 12,000 Price Rs 3,816 Price Rs 4,000 Price Rs 28,000 Phone +91-124-2566111 E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Price Rs 8,000 Price Rs 7,999 5.1 Speaker Sets MP3 Players up to Rs 10,000 Projectors Performance Laptops HP DV6226tx Artis S6600R/FM Sandisk Sansa e250 Acer PD726W PC Webcams Funky Looker, features Good performance, radio Good performance, Great overall performance Logitech QuickCam IM Needs better graphics None in particular feature-rich No remote sensor at rear Strong performer Tacky scroll wheel Manual focus Contact Hewlett-Packard India Contact Kunhar Peripherals Pvt Ltd Contact Acer India Pvt Ltd Phone +91-22-66345758 Phone +91-124-2838700 Contact Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd Phone +91-9880544226 Contact Compuage Infocom Ltd E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-22-67090909 E-mail [email protected] Phone +91-22-65297356 Price Rs 8,500 Price Rs 56,990 E-mail navinderc@ Price Rs 1,35,000 E-mail india_getcreative rptechindia.com LCD Monitors (17-inch) @ctl.creative.com Price Rs 1,995 Price Rs 8,150 AOC 177V Good performance None in particular Below Rs 12,500 Value Executive Phone Contact AOC India Sony-Ericsson W910i Nokia E51 Phone 1800-425-4318 Great sound Loads of features E-mail [email protected] Flat and clumsy keypad None Price Rs 9,800 Contact Sony Ericsson Mobile Contact Nokia India Comm. India Pvt Ltd Web site www.nokia.com Web site www.sonyericsson.com Price Rs 13,000 Price Rs 19,000

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Digital Business l Tech Careers BusinessDigital How Technology Can Help Your Organisation Biometrics Number 98 @ The Office 102 for Security 104 Game

Tech Careers

Mapping A Future P Shrikrishna Fascinated by technologies like GPS? Here’s how to make it a career! a tk that—use a satellite to tell you your position on ar Samir Makwana the Earth. This is easily the most widely used GIS, and is a great enabler for many more. t’s important to know where you are in the Remote Sensing: Remote sensing is the science world; this is why we have Global Positioning of obtaining information about locations on I Satellite (GPS) even entering our daily lives— Earth—its natural resources, for example—with- the latest high-end mobile phones, cameras and out physically going to the location. The Earth’s who knows what else. Industries like logistics surface is scanned by using the sensors on satel- have depended on it to get to their destination on lites, and can then be analysed using electro- time. But where does all the information on your magnetic radiation. GPS device come from? Photogrammetry: Photogrammetry is the GPS is part of a much larger umbrella technique of creating 2D or 3D models, called Geographical Information Systems (GIS). images, maps or scale drawings of a region, By definition, Geographical Information based on photographs. Put simpler, it’s the Systems are computer-based tools and tech- technique of telling how high a mountain is by nologies used to collect, convert, analyse, clicking a couple of pictures from different model, produce and demonstrate spatial infor- angles and making a few calculations. The art mation. Simply put, it’s all the information is incredibly old; today, Microsoft’s from your geography textbook put into a data- PhotoSynth represents its future. base. Today GIS is used in natural resource Spatial Image Processing And Analysis: Spatial management, environmental planning, disas- means ‘pertaining to space’. Digital images from ter management, defence, transport and logis- satellites are analysed to create data structures, tics, urban development, public utilities and then analysed mathematically. This also works, and business applications where you involves conversion (from analogue to digital and need to know the geography of the area. so on), enhancement, display and finally drawing information from those images. I’m Special Projection System: The method of transforming Let’s start with what you can specialise in: real-life surfaces to two-dimensional maps is GPS: Global Positioning Satellite systems do just called a Projection System. This process requires

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Digital Business l Tech Careers Digital Business l Tech Careers applications being developed. Courses Universities Offering Courses In GIS And Related Areas The GIS Manager is in charge of the At this stage, they're expected to acquire overall planning, control and management comprehensive knowledge and experience of In India, there are a number of courses that you Institute of Remote Sensing-Anna Univ. Dept. of Geography-Univ. of Madras of all activities—from data collection to the usage as well as development of GIS can opt for: a B.Sc. / M.Sc. in GIS or Remote Faculty of Science-Banaras Hindu Univ. Dept. of Space Sciences-Pune Univ. data analysis. software and tools. Sensing, an M. Tech in GIS or Geo-informatics, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing Dept. of Earth Sciences-Roorkee Univ. “The beauty GIS as a career is that it absorbs Analysts: These are professionals who have and so on. At the Master’s level, students can (National Remote Sensing Agency) Dept. of Geography-Gujarat University enthusiasts with both core and non-core GIS strong fundamentals of mapping, are excellent choose electives to specialise their education. In Dept. of Applied Sciences,Environmental Dept. of Geography-Jamia Millia Islamia skills. Individuals can be recruited by with GIS applications, and have had some work addition, to several short-term courses like Science and Engineering Group/Dept. of School of Environmental Sciences- organisations that create GIS products, or experience as developers or technicians with GIS diplomas and certifications are also available. Remote Sensing-Birla Institute of Jawaharlal Nehru University those who use these products and offer GIS projects. Their job involves the study and analysis Many institutes—both Indian and internation- Technology National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land services. However, for any industry, the main of GIS projects, and where necessary, suggest al—even offer distance learning, some online. The Centre for Environmental Planning use Planning, Nagpur problem lies in creating the data related to our tools to meet the project’s requirements. Do remember to thoroughly evaluate your uni- and Technology (CEPT)-Ahmedabad Space Application Center, Ahmedabad country’s demography, geography and GIS Analysts with enough experience can also versity if you’re pursuing an online education. “Data conversion Even government institutions and organisa- GIS Institute, Noida Geological Survey of India Training infrastructure—this isn’t tailor-made and thus choose to be independent consultants. is the core Project Co-ordinator/ Manager: After tions like the Indian Space Research Organisation Centre of studies in Resources Institute, Hyderabad needs lot of effort to build”, says Manideep business area Engineering/Dept. of Earth Sciences-IIT NBSS & LUP, Nagpur Saha, Head-Infrastructure for India and SAARC managing GIS projects for about five or more (ISRO), the Geological Survey of India, the Space Mumbai Survey Training Institute, Hyderabad Region, Autodesk. years, one can expect to be at the position of a currently with lot Application Centre at Ahmedabad, the National Dept. of Civil Engg-IIT Kanpur Centre of Studies in Resource Though GIS a multidisciplinary career, GIS Project Co-ordinator/ GIS Manager. In GIS of opportunities Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), and the Survey Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Engineering, Mumbai work experience and knowledge at different services providers, project managers play Training Institute at Hyderabad and offer short- arise due it’s and long-term courses, and also conduct work- Sciences-Indian Institute of Science Dept. of Geography-Utkal Univ. levels can be categorised under: crucial role in getting more business. Usually, applications in professionals stay at this position for 5-8 years shops frequently for an affordable fee. Indian School of Mines Dhanbad Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres Digitisers / Executives / Operators: Fresh multiple business Dept. of Environmental Science-Pune Univ. at Kharagpur, Nagpur, Dehradun, Jodhpur, graduates from an IT background, with strong but in exceptional cases, they manage to jump Internships National Remote Sensing Agency Bangalore fundamental knowledge of GIS / CAD software, directly to the top level before that period. domains.” hardware like GIS Servers and geographical are Administrative Positions: Administrative Manideep Saha One of the most important and exciting parts of expected for such a role. The job profile positions like Business Development Manager Head-Infrastructure for a career in GIS is the internship—real-world expe- lot of accuracy—the Earth is round, maps are involves tasks like geo-spatial database editing involve interacting with clients, and bringing India-SAARC region, rience is a must. GIS employers are always look- flat. Moreover, the special features of the area and processing, Computer-aided Mapping and in more projects for the organisation. Their Autodesk ing for cheap labour for low- and assistant-level under consideration also come into play. drafting by creating 2D and 3D environments, roles bend more towards the management GIS tasks like data conversion. On the GIS soft- Employment opportunities range from organ- quality checks and analysis of existing databases side, but knowledge of GIS technologies and ware development side, interns could be given isations developing GIS software solutions, com- and creating analytical presentations from market trends—both domestic and module programming, GIS software engine pro- panies providing GIS services, and different spatial data available in figures and tables. international—is crucial. gramming and documentation, or even trained departments with the Government. “A strong fundamental understanding of Verma echoes, “New technologies are constantly as research and development assistants for GIS software. Students with internships with GIS The Situation databases and database relations is necessary. It coming, and this is a fast evolving field, requiring is necessary to know how to structure queries candidates to stay abreast with the latest companies obviously get preference over others, A typical GIS project would be something like and execute them with an eye for detail, happenings—they must take the initiative to stay but having no experience is not a demerit. developing roads in a village to connect it to the accuracy and quality. In data, each element is up to speed if they want to keep growing at the Companies are always open to employ interns, nearest town. There’s a lot of work involved, and unique and needs special attention, whereas in pace of the industry.” given the current dearth of a skilled workforce. there are many roles that need playing: programming, once you write a program The Future Data builders, well, collect data about the everything comes out correct”, informs Rohan System Requirements area—temperature, soil quality and other Verma, founder and head of MapMy India.com. Careers in GIS start with a passion for “Today, the structure and uniform spatial infor- geographical information. This data comes Those interested in working on the GIS geography—ideally cultivated in school. mation about different regions of India isn’t from photographs of the location and images software development are required to learn “Graduates from myriad fields such as civil readily available as data sets with the taken by remote sensing, and then compiled programming languages like C, C++, C#, engineering, geology, zoology, geo-technology, Government, but this indicates immediate into maps, tables and figures. ADO.NET and Java, while those looking to work geo-informatics, botany, statistics, economics, opportunities in the data conversion business, Digitisers convert all that data to a digital on the Web development side should know commerce and business, geography including and also multiple opportunities in its application format, which can then be used in software scripting languages (both server-side and client- cartography, remote sensing, environmental in several domains,” says Mehta. and databases. side) like JavaScript, AJAX, ASP, PHP and Perl. science and sociology are eligible pursue Though the pace of the GIS industry growth GIS Developers use GIS software “The major tasks for beginners in Web career in GIS”, says Mandar Mehta, CEO and is slow right now, there is a great demand for applications to model the area based on the Development involve using JavaScript (AJAX in founder of Datapoint Computer Services, skilled GIS professionals—not only for data, and customise it based on the needs of particular) and interfacing with APIs such as which offers Engineering Services Government, but also for commercial businesses. the project. Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and other services”, Outsourcing, KPO, BPO, ERP, Project Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister for Science and GIS Analysts use the GIS data and the says Kaushal Gala, ex-GIS Web Developer Management, Digitization/CAD, GIS and e- Technology, at the Map World Forum in January original data to check for possible challenges in currently working at Dell Inc. in the US. Governance services. 2007, mentioned that the Indian GIS market is the project and develop a plan for its execution. At the beginner level, you can get to know Interested students from Computer expected to shoot beyond the $1 billion mark by the work cycle of GIS projects, and generally Science and Engineering, Programming, Civil 2012. The estimated data conversion services Points To Ponder get exposed to the industry. You can super- Engineering, CAD / CAM professionals, exports were $100 million in 2007, and are specialise in a particular domain by working database systems specialists and Web expected to achieve $500 million in the next five GIS is a growing industry, and there are companies also look to the government technology specialists find their place in GIS years. The global geospatial industry growth rate initiatives that need to be taken to for geospatial data”, says Mehta. with organisations that offer GIS services in that area. After working for about two to software and Web development. ranged between 12 to 15 per cent annually. increase its popularity and fill the There is also a need for including Verma anticipates, “The future prospects of employment void. GIS-related topics at the secondary three years, you advance to the level of Engineer / Technician. the Indian GIS industry are huge, because of the “Along with awareness about GIS school level itself. “GIS and related Payday upcoming demand for premium quality digital as mainstream and upcoming career, subject courses are rarely available at Engineers / Technicians / Developers: Developers are expected to design and develop maps and consumer navigation services. There there is need to develop and follow a the undergraduate level in India”, Designation Salary Experience will be demand at all levels of the value chain— uniform academic curriculum at the notes Saha. Though many private applications using GIS software engines and Per Annum (INR) (Years) GIS servers to meet project requirements. from collecting GIS data in the field accurately, university level. Increased support institutes offer courses in GIS and Administrative Positions 10 lakh and above 8—10 quickly and smartly, to compiling and processing from Government for using GIS in all related areas, the cost of training at These applications function with the database Project Lead/Project Manager 8—10 lakh 6—7 of the digitised files at the back end. Engineers that to create digital navigable maps, building its departments for generating trained these institutes is much higher Analysts 6.4—8 lakh 3—5 products and services—both for consumers and work force is expected, since GIS compared to universities. and Technicians are required to keep the Senior Designer 4 -6 lakh 1—3 database servers in sync with the GIS enterprises—on top of the maps.” Digitizers/Executives/Operators 1.2—3.2 lakh - [email protected]

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choose. Refer to the box What you need, What it the URL, you might well end up in a situation Forget about Nimish Chandiramani is for what to look for when you’re out Web where your visitor ends up at the squatter’s site running your host-hunting. instead of yours. In extreme cases, you might end t’s a daunting proposition to develop a Web Then there’s the question of where to host up in the same situation that the White House did business with site for a home business, especially while your site—India or abroad? In India, the phys- not too long ago—the domain www.whitehouse.com the phone and Iyou’re juggling between all sorts of tasks to ical proximity helps—users will be routed was taken over by a squatter with pornographic keep the business up and running. Thankfully, through fewer servers before hitting your site, links all over, so people who thought they were personal you now have a choice of many free tools to help so they’ll get better access speeds. If you’re visiting the White House home page (www.white- meetings—here’s you do just that—but it’s not that simple. Many going to cater primarily to Indian customers, house.gov) came away with a nasty shock. Court all the of these tools are built with personal sites in we’d have unhesitatingly recommended battles ensued, and today, www.whitehouse.com goes mind, so choosing what’s right for you requires hosting your site in India. Unfortunately, there to a real Web site. information you a discerning eye. are caveats: Web hosting here is still in its nas- Cybersquatting is illegal, and while some are need to set up a But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The cent stages, and the odd infrastructure issue content to just choose another URL, you should first (and possibly the most important) part of can crop up from time to time. There’s also the file a complaint with the Asian Domain Name Dis- site that’ll take a setting up a new Web site is choosing a good fact that the prices here seem criminal com- pute Resolution Centre [ADNDRC] (www.adndrc.org) load off you Web host. pared to hosts in the US. This is, of course, to get your URL freed. The site can be daunting bound to change, but it’s a chicken-and-egg sit- with all the legal jargon, though. If you don’t The Ground Up uation—more people need to buy hosting for want to do much dirty work, hire a third party like Choosing a Web host isn’t easy—you’ve got all prices to fall, and vice-versa. For now, you’ll get DNRecover (www.dnrecover.com). Just fill up their those colourful proclamations of unlimited much better deals with a US host like GoDaddy form and they’ll give you a cost estimate in 24 storage space and bandwidth to sift through, (www.godaddy.com) or HostGator (www.hostgator. hours; once you give them the go-ahead, they’ll and the catches (there’s always one) are pretty com). For a whole lot of features—unlimited sub- do the footwork for you, and when your domain is tough to pin down. Your best bet is to get plenty domains, unlimited e-mail addresses and such finally freed, you pay. of reviews from people who’ve been using these (at a price, of course)—visit A Small Orange Host? Check. Domain? Check. Now it’s time for services, preferably someone you know person- (www.asmallorange.com) or SoftLayer (www.soft- content. ally. In any case, don’t cough up till you’ve vis- layer.com). The prices are significantly higher, ited the WebHosting Talk forums (www. but you pay that price for much better relia- Choices, Choices webhostingtalk.com) and checked out what people bility and service. If you don’t want to pay an overpriced Web design @have to say about the host you’re about to So you’ve chosen a host and are ready to reg- firm to design your site for you, don’t: there are ister your domain name, but to your frustration plenty of (perhaps even too many) open source find that not only is your domain of choice CMSes for you to choose from. From our own expe- taken, it’s taken by a squatter... riences and the sheer number of new sites that are adopting them, we can tell you that you don’t Get It Back need to look beyond Joomla (www.joomla.org) and Cybersquatting is just what it sounds like— Drupal (www.drupal.org). Both are quite easy to The Office parking your virtual behind on a spot that administer, though if you don’t have geeky lean- should belong to someone else, and then ings, you might find yourself more comfortable demanding a ransom to let it go. Depending on with Joomla’s graphical control panel. Both are tremendously customisable, and you’ll also have a wide choice of extensions you can install for even more functionality. Joomla has another edge over Drupal in that it supports advertisement management right out of ar atk the box. You can create clients, associate ad ban- ners with them and tell the system how many

Shrikrishna P impressions the client has purchased for that par- ticular banner. When you’re managing banners, you can also get data on how many times the ad was clicked. You can get all this in Drupal too, but only after installing the Advertisement module. Drupal’s categorisation—called Taxonomy— takes a little while to understand; at the most basic level, it lets you put content under multiple categories, so you can file an item under “Job” and “Mumbai” at the same time. Joomla, however, sup- ports this only after you install an extension. Finally, there are more themes—both free and paid—available for Joomla. This shouldn’t make too much of a difference, since the option to hire a freelancer to design a theme according to your specifications as always open. Overall, if you’re maintaining your site yourself, pick Joomla for its straightforward approach. Google To The Rescue One of Google’s more interesting projects in recent times is Google Apps for Your Domain. It lets you, in short, use Google services like Gmail, Calendar and so on with your domain. So when

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What You Need, What It Is

Storage Space: If you’re building a databases. Look for a host that offers Among other things, it features site that’s mostly text, even a 500 MB at least five free MySQL databases Fantastico, an installation script that hosting plan will do. For many hosts, with their plan. Beware of some Indian automates the installation of a variety the average is around 5 GB, which is hosts: their plans might look of CMSes. quite ample. attractive, but you’ll have to cough up Load Balancing: This is a feature of Bandwidth: This is the amount of data extra for each new database. more expensive hosting plans: your transfer allowed to and from your site. Overselling: One of the universal site is hosted on two different servers, If someone downloads a 400 KB image truths of hosting: just like hotels so visitors are intelligently directed to from your site, for example, you’ve overbook rooms and airlines overbook the one that has less load. In addition, used up 400 KB of your bandwidth. flights hoping that someone will if your site has to be updated, it’s You’ll usually be well under your decide not to show up, Web hosts sell done one server at a time, so the site bandwidth limit (mostly around 25 GB you storage space and bandwidth itself is never down. or so) in your site’s early days. hoping that you won’t use it all up. Shared Hosting: Like the term Content Platform: The language that They might sell 5 GB of space to ten implies, this means that your site your site’s content is written in. PHP is people, but host all those sites on a 20 won’t be the only one hosted on the standard for a CMS, so hosts that GB hard drive. It’s a relatively safe server. This is your best choice in the don’t support it should be crossed off bet—for a small business site, even beginning, when your site isn’t getting your list. You might have to pay extra 500 MB is a lot, so no upper limits bombarded with traffic. Once visitors for Ruby on Rails support—the might be hit. Just remember that to the site increase—or if you face platform has started to gain a lot of everybody oversells—that’s how they performance hassles—you can attention. It’s not as hassle-free as get their plans to look so attractive. consider moving to dedicated hosting, PHP, though. cPanel: This is a site administration where you’ll be the only site on a Databases: Where PHP is standard for control panel that’s filled to the gills particular server (naturally, this is content, MySQL is the standard for with features, and is very easy to use. more expensive).

and integration with Google Calendar. If you pay for the Premier Edition ($50 per account per year, with 25 GB storage for each), you even get a 99.9 per cent uptime guarantee and 24- hour support. If visitors need to know your schedule for upcoming weeks or months, you can use Google Calendar to publish them. Thanks to configurable access restrictions, you can choose to show visitors only when you’re free or busy, and hide the information about the actual event. If you’re working with someone who you can’t meet with every day, Calendar becomes an invaluable collaboration tool as well. Also included in the package are Google Docs and Spreadsheets, though they’ll be more useful to you and your team than to your visitors. Some Random Wisdom You can check out demos of Joomla and Drupal at OpenSourceCMS (www.opensourcecms.com) to see how they suit you, but we recommend actu- ally downloading and setting it up on your PC using software like WAMP, which installs Apache, PHP and MySQL to your Windows PC, then uploading the lot. If you’ve chosen cPanel hosting, you don’t even need to do that—just use Fantastico to install the CMS you want and start building your site. If you decide halfway through not to use it any more, you can unin- Joomla’s (top) graphical administration is easier to get stall it just as easily. used to than Drupal’s (above) minimalistic approach Finally, always get yourself a .com domain— nearly everyone uses the [Ctrl] + [Enter] com- people sign up for e-mail on your site, they’ll bination when they enter URLs (thinkdigit + see the familiar Gmail interface (complete with [Ctrl] + [Enter] takes you to www.thinkdigit.com the counter that shows them how big their in any browser, for instance), so if you get your- inbox is getting), but they’ll have an address self, say, a .net domain, you’re just making vis- that ends with @yourdomain.com. You’ll also get itors type four characters extra, and nobody all the other natural goodness that Gmail wants that. offers—rugged spam protection, IMAP access [email protected]

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Trend

e noticed that employees had unrestricted access to all ince installing this system, we have found reduced areas of the company and we wanted to curtail this. We absenteeism amongst our Class IV employees, counter staff “W recently installed a protected access system, which not only “Sand technicians. We were also able to stop proxy punching of provides access based on fingerprint analysis, but also does time tracking attendance cards. This has resulted in time saved, as we don’t have to and payroll related work. physically verify the presence of our employees. Apart from this, the “With this system in place, we are now able to restrict employee system is updated in real time so attendance records are always up to access to only their workstations. Once you have the data for all the date with the most relevant information. employees fed in, the system accurately records the time when an “We found that the two most important cost savings we made with employee entered and left the office premises. this system were the man-hours saved and the reduced stationery “We have noticed quite a few benefits since the system was installed, expense since there are no punching cards or ledgers involved.” foremost amongst them being savings on stationary items. Apart from that, the ability to accurately track employee working hours and payroll is an added benefit. Jayesh Pancholi CEO, Jet Pharma. Manish Ved, Manager, Information Technology, Bombay Hospital. Biometrics for Security

With a spate of companies employing Biometric tools to safeguard their businesses, we asked a few t our company, we have installed the ADF500 Biometric Reader, which allows us to secure the premises with if it really made a difference. “A various forms of security. Apart from being a fingerprint scanner, the device has a number pad, which allows you to assign numerical passwords. The system also works with RFID cards, e’ve installed a fingerprint access which can be carried in-person to authorise access to any area of control system which also keeps the company. “W employee time. This ensures that These systems have been more reliable in granting conditional employee access to the office is access to employees than the earlier methods we adopted and compartmentalised while attendance records are personnel authorisation at entry and exit points is as good as kept up to date automatically. personal verification. This system has helped us save cost on issuing “We have noticed that after installing this new punch cards to all employees every month and reduced our biometric system, we save approximately four man- expenses considerably. These biometric readers are installed in most hours every month on recording and maintaining of our offices, since they also provide up to date information on the attendance records. Our efficiency is also Bhavaniprasad Chaurasiya, attendance and this helps us calculate payroll efficiently.” improved since all data is available instantly. The Deputy Manager—IT, Reliance Capital fingerprint access control system ensures that Asset Management Limited. bookkeeping is eliminated and access to important areas of factory such as the warehouse is restricted Sachin Shah

ar to only authorised personnel. The biometric

tk n the Business Process Outsourcing and Knowledge Process

a CEO, Avadat Apparel Pvt. Ltd. scanners themselves are very efficient and work Outsourcing business, we have to use the latest technologies to help only when they detect a fingerprint pattern. This “I us save time, and the biometric scanners installed at all our decreases battery and electrical consumption too.” facilities help us do so. Shrikrishna P “The biometric installation at our premises is a multi-functional he Bombay Stock Exchange has installed the NAC2500 series of personal identification device that takes a three-dimensional scan of a biometric fingerprint scanners for use in its premises. These person’s finger and compares it against a previously enrolled record. “T installations are networked to a central server over LAN. Security guards are immediately alerted to unmatched prints. The scanners “Apart from securing our premises, these systems give us the are networked via our Intranet, and once a record is enrolled, it can be ability to streamline the procedure of attendance, leave records, and accessible across all our sites if needed. The biometric installation also allow us to retrieve this data immediately when required. We also rely allows for alternate methods of identification like entering a numerical on this system to generate various reports such as attendance, leave password on the number pad or using an RFID-enabled security access status and compensatory offs. card. The system allows us to create groups with different access levels, and “Since its installation, we find that the system is able to provide very users can be quickly added to those groups. robust security measures apart from streamlining the attendance “Since the installation is networked via the intranet, employees can procedure. We have seen cost savings in terms of manpower, man-hours Krishan Moorjani, check their attendance stats themselves. Their attendance is automatically and stationery cost.” Asst. General Manager, recorded in the main attendance database even if they log in from a Datamatics Technologies Ltd. different facility. The cost benefits with stationery expenses are hard to ignore too. Since its installation, we have found that there is a marked Vinay C. Dhopavkar, reduction in proxy punching and employee punctuality has increased.” AGM—Human Resources, Bombay Stock Exchange As told to Asfaq Tapia ([email protected])

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User Sessions: This is the metric used for rate can also be measured as the percentage of determining the number of visitors that actu- people who visit only one page, or do not click ally spend time on your site—it is usually on any links; this definition depends on the recorded for 30 minutes of users’ activity. It tool you are using. If the number is high, it THE accounts for both IP addresses, and the means that something is seriously wrong with number of users logged in, if applicable. User your site, and you need to fix it. For most Web sessions are great for understanding the behav- sites, bounce rates between 20 and 35 per cent iour of viewers, as data about which links the are acceptable, and rates higher than 50 per NUMBERS viewer visited and how much time the visitor cent are worrisome. However, in case of blogs, has spent on each link.. This raises a few prob- high bounce rates may not indicate that some- lems, for example the activity of the users who thing is rotten—most people visit a blog to read might have remained inactive for 30 minutes a single post, or check if there are updates. and then started clicking would be neglected. How well you know Like Hits, this metric should not be taken at what your users are Conversion: This is a complex metric which face value either. looking for, and how indicates how many visitors to your Web site quickly you can act on did what you wanted them to do. Consider a A E Unique visitors: This metric determines it—is one of the most Web site that has a Donate button, Register G M the number of persons who has visited the important parameters link or shopping cart. You want your readers Website within a definite interval of time. that contributes to to click on these types of links, which are Unique visitors are determined by the combi- any online portal’s called Goals in anlyticspeak. When a reader Websites are only effective if they’re attracting the right visitors. Web nation of user agent (usually browsers, though success” clicks on such goals, that’s considered a other programs like search engine spiders and conversion. High conversion rates (the percent- analytics helps you know them better Suvomoy Sarkar screen readers are included) and IP address. Head of Analytics age of visitors that actually click on the goals) The time interval can be a day or a week or a Info-edge indicate that all’s well. If this percentage disap- month- it depends on the type of Website. So if points, then it’s back to the drawing board. jargon is called goal conversion. Your business is the time interval is one week and a visitor visits However conversion rate is entirely user deter- Bhaskar Sarma obviously not becoming profitable, and you it twice in two consecutive days, it would be mined, depending on the goals. need to do something about it. With Web counted as one visit. ustomers are the lifeblood of any analytics, you get to know about this in Traffic sources: Traffic sources are the business. For businesses that depend advance and hopefully do something before Bounce rate: This is a metric which indi- places from which visitors come to a site. Tools on Web visibility for their growth, the bills start arriving and the creditors start cates the percentage of visitors who have left usually divide traffic sources for a Web site into customers mean visitors on their queuing outside your doors. Without Web immediately after visiting the site—usually five four types—direct traffic (by keying in URLs), Web sites—those who come once Analytics, you would be in for a rude shock. seconds. For a site with multiple pages, bounce referring sites (other sites which have link to shouldC be interested, and visit more often. Whether you’re a business Web site, blog, (Don’t) Bluff Your Way Through forum, hobbyist site or news site—any site that And now, time for the customary round of earns money, in fact—you should care about jargon-busting. Web analytics being a subject visitors. And before caring about them, you which uses maths, most of these terms must know about them, where they come describe percentages and numbers which most from, and what they want. This, and a variety tools use: of other answers, can come from the wonder- ful art of Web analytics. Hits: This is one of the most widely used terms when any talk regarding the popularity, Why Analyse? or otherwise of a Website comes up. However, As you might have already guessed, Web ana- it is also the most widely misused. While hits lytics means number-crunching. It means in general parlance means the number of visi- using tools to collect data on the server side, tors, the technical definition of hits is any and then analysing that data to understand request for a file from a file server. For exam- where you, as an investor, are getting your ple, if a page has three images and there are expected ROI (Return On Investment). At the requests for them, this is considered as three more basic level, the data will let you know hits. Depending on the page elements like CSS whether you have succeeded in reaching out and JavaScript, a single viewer can generate to your intended audience. multiple hits, so remember that this figure is Consider this: you’re running a business never as high as it seems. selling diapers, and it’s not a brick-and-mortar business in that you have no outlets—just the Page views: This is what people mean when Web site. Being a new business, you don’t have they are talking about hits. A page view is the a widespread distribution network and for now successful loading of a document on a server, aim to cater to local needs. As a businessper- and doesn’t include visits by search robots or son, you are necessarily interested in how error messages, requests for sound and video many people are visiting your online shop. You files, or even CSS and images. Page views don’t run a Web analysis where you find that there denote the number of people visiting the site, is only a minority of your visitors come from because a single visitor can visit multiple pages your city, or neighbouring areas. And what’s and request a number of documents. worse, there are very few who click on the cart and make a purchase, which in Web analytics

Shrikrishna Patkar

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widely used. It is suitable for small sites and is integrated with AdWords. However, the free account has certain limitations: it can be used only if your site has less than five million page views per month: if page views exceed five million then it has to be linked to an active AdWords account that has a minimum budget of $1 (or equiva- lent). Another commonly used tool to Some of the many metrics in a typical analytics report track user statistics—especially on blogs—is StatCounter. This provides your Web site), search engines (visits coming rudimentary data like number of visitors over from search engines) and Other (online a certain interval: nothing as detailed, or as campaigns, newsletters, etc). intimidating as Google Analytics. Microsoft is launching its own analytics package called Using This Data Gatineau (still in private beta), which will Now that the definitions are out of the way, how incorporate several new metrics like gender do you use that data harvested from your tool patterns as well. How exactly they plan on find- for your advantage? From the data about page ing out visitors’ genders, they aren’t telling. If views, visits, pages per visit, bounce rate, aver- you don’t mind shelling out the cash, you can age time on site and percentage new visits over use ClickTracks, WebTrends, Omniture, Mint a period of time, you can get a picture of or WebSitStory. All these come in different whether your site is delivering the goods. For versions and have a wide range of uses. These example, if your site has a total of 20 pages, and Answer the question tools are more suitable if you host your own the pages per visit is something 5.6, this means why your Web site site, or have a need of getting customised that less than half of your site gets visited. In exists, then identify reports. Mint, for example, provides an relation to this, you can make use of another the two or three installer which has to be downloaded and statistic which indicates the number of visits per metrics that are installed on the server. page. This combination will show you which critical to goal At a basic level, the data generated by these sections of your site aren’t giving you the desired conversion.” tools is self explanatory, but to make sense of results. With this information, you can now Avinash Kaushik that data and make appropriate changes to decide what corrective steps need to be taken. It Google Analytics Evangelist your site, it takes a professional. Companies might also mean that you need to tweak the who maintain big Web sites have dedicated site’s design to make sure that the areas you teams of analysts to monitor the latest trends want people to go to are easily accessible. Google of visitor behaviour, and help businesses target Website Optimizer, a free tool which predicts the audiences better. Suvomoy Sarkar, Head of change of user data depending on design Analytics at Info-edge (which is in charge of elements is very useful in this scenario. Naukri.com’s traffic analysis) feels that This brings us to keywords and traffic analysing the search histories of users can tell sources. Face it: unless your site is very well companies what customers are looking for, known, most of your visits are going to come while also identifying the most important either through search engines or referrals from keywords you should optimise your site for, or other sites. Web analytics tools show which the Ad-words you need to buy. “Web Analytics keywords have generated the maximum has impacted a many-fold increase in profit number of visits—this is a very good indicator from our online marketing efforts, and nearly of what people expect from your site. Add this two-fold increment in the user experience for information to the traffic from other sites, and our search,” says Sarkar. you have a fair idea of what your visitors come looking for. Accordingly, you have a number of The Bottom Line strategies for improving the visibility of your Though Web analytics seems to be a forbidden site, starting from SEO and SEM (check out Get domain with an extremely high learning Noticed, Get Clicked, November 2007) as well as curve, it’s not very difficult to apply some patronising your referral sites. Conversely, if small insights to optimise a Web site. Avinash you have invested considerably in a referral site Kaushik, Google Analytics Evangelist and and you find that very few visitors have come author of Web Analytics: An Hour A Day, opines through that door, you can terminate the that even without going deep into technicali- agreement before you spend too much. You ties or bellyaching about low unique visitors or might have also launched other Internet hits, there are plenty of things that can be publicity campaigns like paid advertising and fixed by a cursory look at an analytics report. email newsletters -traffic source statistics are a “Look at the bounce rate for your [promotional] great way to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns…and understand which of these campaigns. No matter how insignificant these campaigns stink. Or look at the bounce rates numbers are, they help provide an insight into for your top entry pages…. you’ll immediately customer behaviour. know which pages are not even engaging enough to get your visitors to make one click.” Tools Of The Trade Fix the obvious, is the message, and we could- Google Analytics, the analytics tool from n’t agree more with that. Google is one of the most well known, and is [email protected]

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Lead Feature Nimish Chandiramani

e’ve got a Core 2 Duo rig with an NVIDIA 8800 Ultra and 4 GB of RAM The Wfor our game reviews, and we’re quite happy with the situation. Then comes Crysis, which knocks the wind out of it with everything set to Very High. Suddenly, our world is plunged Stingy into darkness—we didn’t spend all that time harassing the Powers That Be for a gaming rig only to find out that we’ll have to settle for... ugh... lower settings. Do we go SLI? How do we explain the dunking of another Rs 30,000 (or Gamer thereabouts) to the Führ... er... boss? That’s beside the point, actually. While our professional lives are brightened by the ray of ...or, how I learned sunshine that is the corporate budget, most of us game at home on fairly modest machines—a to stop spending and mid-range AMD64 (Socket 939 at that), an 8600 love my old rig GT and 2 GB of RAM. Yes, we are content, and yes, we still call ourselves gamers. Our secret? Noth- ing complicated, just the realisation of a few simple truths... The Early Adopter’s Caveat This happens to us too often to laugh about—on day 1, we go out to our local electronics hub and blow a good portion of our salaries on an upgrade, and on day 3, prices plummet and we feel like complete asses. You don’t realise it, but we can see you nodding your head. Now consider the plight of someone who sprung for an NVIDIA 8800GTX back when it was Rs 40,000—the newly-released 8800GT is only slightly behind it in performance, but costs half that much. If you spend the same amount today, you can use two 8800GTs in SLI and elicit a performance that surpasses even the 8800Ultra! The situation is the same in the ATI camp. Our point is this: early adopters adopt early mostly because they can, not because they need to—they are fully aware of the fact that prices are going to fall soon; they just don’t care. With graphics cards today, jumping the gun comes at a price, so hang tight and buy a new card only when there’s nothing you can do to improve your gaming experience, or till your old card goes poof. Until then... Ugly Is Beautiful The most obvious—don’t lose heart if you have to play games at lower settings on your current PC. A good case in point is Crysis itself—even

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Digital Leisure l Lead Feature Digital Leisure l Lead Feature

with all the effects turned down, it looks better It won’t—specifically in the gaming mice than Far Cry, and that’s not bad at all. Turns department. If you can’t strike fear in the out we won’t have to spring for that extra card hearts of your opponents with a run-of-the- after all—and even at home, we’ll get ourselves mill mouse, forget about being able to do so some visual joy. with a 5000-rupee mouse and a 2000-rupee Then there are the times when we just have to mousepad (yes, you get those). Sure, gaming turn on all the special effects. To offset that, the mice are more precise and you can’t beat on- strategy that’s worked beautifully—more on CRTs the-fly sensitivity adjustment, but nothing than LCDs—is to turn down the resolution, all makes up for solid skill. The usual victors of the way down to 640 x 480 if need be (and if the our Quake III sessions are people who have game supports it, of course). In fact, if you turn some of the most awful mice in the office. down the resolution to 512 x 384, graphics even If you must get yourself a gaming mouse, acquire an interlaced effect—reminiscent of get a Logitech MX518—it’ll cost you around cutscenes in old-school games. Rs 1,300, and it’s a good mouse for general Recent games won’t let you go below 1024 x Windows productivity to boot. As for the 768, unfortunately; but why must we always talk mousepad, pick up one that’s preferably got about the latest games, anyway? a fabric finish and is a single solid colour— it’ll cost around Rs 20. To hack up your own gaming mousepad, check out our June 2007 issue. But wait... Consoul Curry All this while, we’ve been talking about PC gaming—but the best way to save money as a gamer is to shift platforms altogether. The PS2 has been a viable gaming solution for nigh on ten years, so while we’ve been running to upgrade our PCs every time a new game comes out, PS2 owners have been pointing at us and laughing. From the looks of it, the Xbox 360 and the PS3 do have the potential to last another ten years—games haven’t even begun to fully exploit the hardware—but we wouldn’t be surprised at Games like Katamari Damacy are still a big argument in favour PS2 a new console in five years, for marketing reasons if nothing else. Even so, you’ll be paying only once in these five years, and the cost of a They’re Not Going Away next-gen (or current-gen, now that they’ve been Just recently, this writer completed Max Payne 1 around a while) console is less than what you’d and 2 on his modest rig—which, incidentally, pay for a killer PC (not counting the cost of an runs the game at 1280 x 1024 (probably more, if HDTV, though). The games are a bit expensive, it weren’t for the monitor) with all the bells and but the wait-for-prices-to-drop approach will whistles—and enjoyed it thoroughly. Today’s work here too. hardware lets yesterday’s games look much better Even the PS2 still has plenty of steam, and if than they did back then... you’re new to the platform, this is the best time If you’re upgrading now and don’t have the to buy. You can get your hands on it for as little budget for a high-end gaming machine, just as Rs 7,000, and titles are finally going below the invest in the best your budget gets you and take Rs 1,000 mark too. You’ll have a huge collection a trip back in time. Buy games that wouldn’t of legendary games—the God Of War duo, the have had a prayer on your older PC and play Burnout titles, and many more—to keep you busy them—it’s gameplay that makes a game enjoy- for a long time, and new releases are lined up till able, so what was good then is still good now. July this year at the very least. The cherry on the cake is that these games are If you’re a first-person shooter (FPS) or real- even cheaper now! time strategy (RTS) fan, though, don’t go the As for the latest lot, they’ll still be there when console way even in a moment of weakness— you’re ready for your next upgrade. For less such games are best enjoyed with a keyboard money. If you wait for hardware prices to fall and mouse. before buying, who’s to say you can’t wait for game prices to drop, too? Cheat Code And then there are some things that you If all else fails—if you’ve already spent your life shouldn’t even consider buying... doing the same things we’re telling you to do here and can’t take it anymore, get those The “Professional” Gamer books out and brush up on your grammar. One of the biggest ploys that budding gamers Then apply for a job here at Digit and start succumb to is the “Made for professional reviewing the latest games as soon as (and gamers” tag on products. “Well”, they think, “if sometimes before) they release—that’s what we the professionals use it, maybe it’ll help my did, anyway. game too!” [email protected]

108 DIGIT FEBRUARY 2008 Touched by tech_Feb 08.qxd 5/12/2008 5:31 PM Page 109

Digital Leisure l Touched By Tech No Holds Barred

Freedom philosophy. Today, Mane is a free soft- Technology now Samir Makwana ware developer, teacher, and activist who helps the works with Dr Nagarjuna, computer head at visually- oday, if you ask a visually-challenged Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, person conversant with computers about Mumbai. Mane is currently co-developing Orca, challenged hear T Braille or Talking Libraries, don’t be sur- a free screen-reading software for GNU/Linux things they can’t prised if he says “They’re so last decade!” Tech- meant for the visually-challenged. nology has broadened their horizons. What Jyotindra Mehta is known amongst his see follows is about what it’s like right now... peers for his proficiency in IBM Mainframe what’s happening in India, and what people technology. He currently works with IBM are doing. Global Services India as Advisory Software Engineer. Born blind, Mehta is India’s first soft- They Aren’t Sitting Idle ware programmer to have been awarded the Shanti Raghavan, founder and managing Shell Helen Keller Award (in 2004) by the trustee, Enable India (a charitable trust that National Centre for Promotion of Employment helps people with disabilities), avers, “Tech- of Disabled Persons. nology has proved to be a boon for visually- Raghavan goes on to say—with no mention challenged people. It’s due to technology that of names, though—“A shy group of three people these individuals are now able to pursue edu- with limited knowledge of the world are now cation, entertainment, and, most importantly, working in the challenging field of medical employment, to make their lives better and transcription. It requires perfection—being more meaningful.” very careful with spelling—which they mas- (The term “visually- tered in the face of several challenges.” challenged” refers to There are many other visually-challenged those who have individuals who have learnt to earn their living entirely lost their sight with the help of technology. The dynamism of as well as those with their talent has taken them beyond basic data very poor vision.) entry work or writing code to software devel- In 2002-03, Krish- opment and even troubleshooting. nakant Mane became India’s first visually- Getting Them Up To Speed challenged IT engi- Screen readers, text-to-speech software, and neer. Inspired by other things which we’ll soon mention, are cru- friends with engi- cial aids: they enable differently-abled people neering back- to perform various tasks, by helping them grounds, he started learn how to use technology for education, off on GNU / their main occupation, and of course, enter- Linux, and began tainment. They are, in short, intended to make promoting the them independent. Free as in In the last decade and a half, screen readers, screen magnifiers, text-to-speech software, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software has evolved to a great degree. These aids, along with text-to-speech software, audio / MP3 players, audio book readers, and more have fuelled the hunger for knowledge in visually-impaired people. A number of cyber-cafés, Government-supported training centres, and NGOs

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Digital Leisure l Touched By Tech Digital Leisure l Touched By Tech

imparting computer courses to visually-chal- The IT industry pages should be formatted using W3C-certified Tools Currently Used In India lenged people are functional across India. has expressed scripting languages. Resource centres at colleges, like Xavier’s the interest in The cheaper and affordable Indian-version Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged screen reader called SAFA (Screen Access For Software and hardware aids widely used Symbian Series 60 Edition cell phones. Software that provides translation, (XRCVC) at Mumbai, managed by Dr Sam Tara- employing All) is under development, led by Dipendra by various NGOs and Resource Centres www.codefactory.es/en/products.asp? formatting, and word-processing porewala, imparts computer training to the visu- visually Manocha, director for IT and Services at the id=24 facilities to automate the process of ally impaired using various technological aids challenged National Association for the Blind (NAB). SCREEN READERS working from regular text to Braille and state-of-the-art computers. individuals Manocha also works as assistant project man- JAWS: Job Access With Speech is a TALKS: A screen reader that supports 20 and vice-versa. “Along with screen readers, screen magni- through NGOs ager for DAISY for All-India, a project of the proprietary screen reading software that languages on Symbian Series 60 phones. www.duxburysystems.com/dbt.asp fiers, and book players, we use other hardware- DAISY consortium; DAISY (Digital Accessible converts text to speech and reads it out www.nuance.com/talks based aids like Mountbatten MB Pro (a talking like Enable India Information System) is an open standard used at an adjustable place, with options for WinBraille: A Braille editor meant for / typing Brailler), SARA (Scanning and Reading for developing tools such as digital voice (male/female), tone, languages, Call History: Software that allows Index Braille embossers. Appliance), Prisma (a CCTV-based device for talking books. and speech engines. visually-impaired users to hear a www.indexbrailleaccessibility.com/downlo low-vision users) and Zoom Ex (an instant At XRCVC, e-Signs (banking software for the www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/so description of dialled, missed, and ads/winbraille.htm photo scanner),” says Prashant Naik, Training visually-challenged) is being tested and devel- ftware_jaws.asp received calls, along with voice- and Development Officer, XRCVC. The Centre oped by CMC Ltd; it was conceptualised by the prompt-based navigation. Shree-Lipi Braille (Indian-language also serves as a test-bench for upcoming Web Centre. This software will help banks with ORCA: An open source application for the www.tinfomobile.com/ Braille translation software): sites to check for accessibility features and soft- thumb-print recognition reach an expected accu- visually challenged with many features, Applications.html Has support for Indian languages ware meant to help the visually-challenged racy closer to 100 per cent for thumb-prints by including a speech synthesiser; it including Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, cope with technology. the visually-challenged. Besides, the Centre supports Braille and also a text magnifier. SCREEN / TEXT MAGNIFIERS Gujarati, and others, with the main At these junctions, computer training recently tested an open source screen reader http://live.gnome.org/Orca MAGic: Screen magnification software function of enabling translation of text courses are offered to make the visually-chal- called AccesibilityWorks, developed by IBM, with hotkeys different from those in to Braille. The file created can be used lenged conversant with basic packages like which works with Firefox on Linux. Emacspeak: An open source text-to- Windows. with a Braille embosser to print out Microsoft Office and with the Internet. “Besides On the open source front, at LinuxAsia 2007, speech interface meant for visually- www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/so content in Braille. computer-centric training, we at Enable India Klaus Knopper with his wife Adriane (who is visu- challenged users as an enabler to ftware_magic.asp www.modular-infotech.com/html/ provide training programmes that involve the browse the Web and use various braille.html development of communication skills in Eng- programs without assistance. ZoomText: A text magnifier and lish, analytical skills, and error-proofing tech- http://emacspeak.sourceforge.net reading software for low-vision users. PLAYBACK SOFTWARE niques to help the visually-challenged perform www.aisquared.com/index.cfm AMIS: (Adaptive Multimedia well even in difficult situations—that is, those SAFA (Screen Access For All): A Information System) for the DAISY where proper eyesight would be considered a cheaper alternative to the JAWS screen TYPING Book Reader must,” says Raghavan. reader, which uses an Indian-sounding Talking Typing Teacher: Meant for An open source book-reading software We’re now seeing several instances where the synthesiser for the speech engine. novices as well as advanced users, this for talking books saved in the DAISY visually-challenged are employed for even chal- http://safa.sourceforge.net is a typing tutor with speech used for format, with support for South Asian lenging tasks. The IT industry has expressed every function languages. tremendous interest in employing such individ- MOBILE PHONES www.braillebookstore.com/talking-typing- uals through NGOs like Enable India, as part of Mobilespeak: A screen reader teacher.htm This list represents software widely their social responsibility. Enable India provides, application with Braille support for Braille: Duxbury’s Braille Translator used in India; it is not exhaustive. for the visually-challenged, workplace solutions involving job identification, system configura- tion, and troubleshooting. choices which make us what we are.” Visually- challenged people are ready to take up the chal- The Next Step lenges of life—now with technology at their side. Three major areas where development is Many tech evangelists have predicted that the taking place on a major scale in India in terms Krishnakant Mane talks to software developers and students, helping them future of computing is mobile; usage patterns of software are: understand what the visually challenged need from software seem to indicate the truth of this. Neha Trivedi, Project Officer, XRCVC, says, Indian-sounding text-to-speech synthesiser ally-impaired) announced the development of “In the near future, a multifunction portable engines for screen readers, Adriane Knoppix, a free operating system gadget / device that can do nearly most func- Tactile imaging embossers (embossers that (GNU/Linux) specially for the visually-challenged. tions will increase the flexibility of performing convert images to embossed dots), and An IT student of Agra College recently devel- tasks like text-reading, scanning, and the use Screen readers for different browsers. oped E-Netra, a device using which the visually- of speech technology almost anywhere. This The Internet being the ocean of knowledge challenged will hear the text they can’t read; it’s could make the visually-challenged more inde- that it is, a majority of the developments in a gadget with a zoom lens and unique software. pendent.” existing and upcoming software is taking place Various aids, including software, audio for better Web accessibility. “Go Open Source” players, and multifunctional gadgets do exist Loads of screen readers, as well as tools like Mane reminds us that almost 80 per cent of Web for the visually-challenged. But they’re expen- Opera’s voice-commands feature are available, servers run on GNU/Linux-based operating sys- Mane himself is quite comfortable on his laptop sive for the most part, and quite unaffordable but why aren’t Indian citizens being made aware tems. IT giants and many big multinationals now for most of those who need them. of them? Well, there is the accent problem with use GNU/Linux-based OSes for their servers. This idea has hit Kerala state. Today, over 80 You can help. Donate old working PCs to IT us Indians, and not every Web page is designed Now, though GNU/Linux-based OSes and pro- IT resource centres provide training facilities to resource centres run by your state government, with a screen reader in mind. grams are free, why is the common man still people in rural areas as well as to visually-chal- or trusts for the visually challenged, or at NGOs Web pages scripted with different lan- unaware of their benefits? Mane laments, “Free- lenged people on computers running open like Enable India and many more (take a look at guages—for instance, AJAX carrying dynamic of-cost programs are very costly, as the willing- source OSes with the Orca screen reader the Touched by Tech section in our July 2007 JavaScript—make it difficult for screen reader ness to share is rare. If the government and installed for the benefit of the latter. issue). At the Talking Libraries and resource cen- software like JAWS to cope. To combat the people gain some awareness soon, they’ll realise tres—like XRCVC in Mumbai—you can volunteer browser issue, Mane, with other global devel- the benefits of viable and affordable open source Future Expectations to scan printed material for conversion to audio- opers, is working on the Accessibility functions systems over the costly proprietary ones that lack Like J K Rowling wrote in Harry Potter and the books. A lot of people will be happy. in the Firefox browser. He believes that Web Indian speech synthesis and language support.” Order of the Phoenix, “It is not our abilities but our [email protected]

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om work actually ? e fr ou treet er assists, y ... S ensure that the five-minute breaks you tak Er cing— -based ra e minutes, and if you turn onfeel. all C thear customisation driv is funace ack last fiv NFS fect your r ck some of that old ges can af also goes back to good old trere as wicked and can get ba al chan ProStreet acks w ab, , even physic ? In y’re really dr formance. t ame e’d too, and this time e per ven or eigh ve while this would be goodames if thein the tr series, the -end cars, w ome ds ha wer aerodynamics, and hencis a decent game—perhaps a se t’s c hat, I must ask myself, do I expect, myin an standar NFS g wonderful as the older g , ProStreet ou look at wha wing Most Wanted ell asleep driving them in the loawk at outside the Alone t cold, if not the time follo and if you f ’t even much to g e. Car ’ll be lef -realistic- on ten, hence no strike three—bute, y whenou y ety of just e you. There isn e in the middle of nowher . risen considerably—Ifast want, the the saf adrenaline rush of forgiv e plac ’s garage befor really e cars crash. all races tak ve to drive (yuck) carefully out of EA driving really, tracks— ou’ll ha f. W ck too, so y actually ticked of [email protected] NFS: ProStreet ounded. y damage is ba t—especially the enough physics, and thewev sadisticer, is tojoy be of conf watching policves the territor wo. aces ’t expect, ho y Strike t t r What I don . I ma y stylish. The shor , but not quite On the plus side, thetion game is looksver brillian is easily the most befuddling titleacing of simulatorthe lot—it lea y life, but it esenta ars—and the pr ade racing to become a r . c of arc or only an hour iname m . Strike one have driven a Volkswagen Golf f didn’t feel like the truck I’m made to drive in this g a Surpur y haitan C

Rating: 5/10 (7/10 if you’re new to the series) Developer: EA Black Box GAMING PC Publisher: Electronic Arts XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra, Distributor: Excel Interactive Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, Contact: customercare 4 GB DDR2 RAM, Windows Vista @excelinteractive.co.in Ultimate x64 Fortress.qxd 5/12/2008 5:22 PM Page 113

Digital Leisure l Game On

Cartoon Capers

eam Fortress has returned riding on The sound acting for each of the char- Asia, and even in Europe. There’s the peace the Source engine for its second acters is just impressive and there are so of mind knowing that Valve has brilliant coming. It’s a strictly multiplayer game many of the voice commands for the most Net-code in almost all their online games, Twhere you can choose to play as one joyful and painful of situations you may get so don’t worry about not having single digit of 9 classes. Each class has its own into. There are different kinds of emotions pings to servers. strong and weak point. To give you an example and gestures that are shown by the models, There’s no doubt that Team Fortress 2 for kind of chaos that goes on in game—the depending on the situation. has to be one of the most innovative and Heavy who is like the tank can be depended on The performance doesn’t suffer a lot most unique multiplayer games to come to take the battering while he is healed by a either in Team Fortress—if you could run Half along in a long time. You can buy Team Medic following him. Your Scouts and Soldiers Life 2 on your rig, you can run this pretty Fortress 2 as a standalone game through can sneak and take out the opponents. There nicely as well. Do remember that you’ll need Steam or you get it as a part of the Orange are flamethrowers and grenadiers that can a better processor as you’re going to see any- Box, which is the cheaper option. The price help fend off incoming attacks. There are spies where upto 32 players running about the for the Orange Box is just Rs 999 for India— that can turn invisible and camouflage them- place with all kinds of projectiles and parti- a lot cheaper than what you’d pay online selves into players of the opposite team. cles flying everywhere—it is a chaotic game. (Rs. 2,100 or $49.95). Let’s put it this way, Snipers can be found picking out unsuspecting There are some 3 types of gameplay for a maximum price of Rs. 999, you get Half prey—weak medics and retreating heavy’s which are linked to the type of map—capture Life 2, Episode 1 and 2, Portal and Team from high sniping points. the flag, where you run straight into the Fortress 2, which by itself is worth the entire Everything in the game has a cartoon team’s base and grab their ‘intelligence’ and Rs. 999. Be warned though—many people theme to it. This means the graphics are very run back to your own. The Control point cap- have had problems with discs in the Orange colourful and the maps and player models are turing map and territory capturing map are Box here in India—they don’t work, so be one brilliant visual treat—much like you’d similar, and involve capturing important prepared to use backup plan of down- expect to see in Pixar movies. Each player type points in the map. The gameplay in all the loading the games through Steam. Team is a work of art—each with their own identity maps is fresh and it will make you laugh your Fortress alone will take a day on a 256kbps that comes out through their image and their guts out. There’s voice chat in-game, so you connection but its well worth it. voices. If there’s something wrong with the can plan out your rushes and ambush strate- We’re giving Team Fortress 2 a 9 out of game then, it’s that there are only 6 maps but gies with your teammates. 10 rating, and here’s why: brilliant addictive more will be coming out pretty soon. What is the scenario for us here in gameplay, great maps (and more to come), India? Well, there’s a buzzing Indian Team great netcode, good numbers of servers to Fortress 2 community on Steam that’s play on, cheap, and it make you makes you growing stronger by the day and a few wet your pants and your tummy explode Rating: 9/10 Indian servers as well. More importantly when you’re done laughing…isn’t that Developer: Valve Corporation there are many servers in the east—Singa- reason enough? Publisher: Valve Corporation pore, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc. Ping times range between 100 and 150 ms to servers in [email protected]

FEBRUARY 2008 DIGIT 113 Mobile Games.qxd 5/12/2008 5:21 PM Page 114

Digital Leisure l Game On 8 Super Cricket: 10 One Day Wonders Mobile Games hat Indian game maker can resist Wmaking cricket games? Mauj’s Super Cricket: One Day Wonders makes Prince Of Persia 8 for good company on long trips, 10 and is surprisingly fun even if Classic you’re not a cricket fan. The controls are simple and onfession: I’ve never played are workable with one hand: Cthrough the original Prince of Persia (PoP), and given the games while batting, use different num- available today, it’s hardly likely that ber keys to play different strokes, I’ll ever play it on my PC again. This is, and play a little mini-game to however, one for the phone. The name place the ball while bowling. You is self-explanatory: good old PoP, can play a quick match, an ODI or brought back to life in your pocket. The a knockout, depending on how graphics have been updated to look much time you have on your better, but the game controls exactly hands. You get to choose your as you’d remember it (or not, depend- country, but not your opponent. Site: www.Mauj.com ing on your age). Your princess has The latter would have been nice, Price: Free been captured by the evil wizard Site: www.gameloft.com even though it’s inconsequen- (plus service Jaffar, who has given her an hour to Price: $4 (Rs 160) tial—the only difference between message costs) either marry him or die. You must res- teams is the colour of their cue the princess within this hour, or deal with the guilt of her blood on your clumsy hands. clothes. If you find yourself fumbling too Theoretically, this means that the game is only much, you can sharpen you batting and / or an hour long, but it’s quite unlikely you’ll be fin- bowling skills in the nets. ishing it in that time. The prisons are Good stuff, this, and gets our seal of labyrinthine, and if you don’t fall into a chasm approval. Just turn the music off—it’s awful. eventually, you’ll walk into spikes. Such is the prince’s life. Whether you yearn for nostalgia or 9 you want to see what the big deal was with PoP, 10 this is one game worthy of your phone. Brain Challenge 2 ver have one of those days when you’re 6 Efeeling unnaturally dumb? When even the most mundane tasks seem like mountains Against All Odds 10 to your dulled brain? Now you can measure n Against All Odds, you play Malaika that dullness! IRudeski—a female Indiana Jones—whose Brain Challenge 2 puts you fascination for all things Egyptian leads through a bunch of challenges to her right into a pyramid with all sorts of see how sharp you are today—all cool ancient gadgetry. Obviously, mini-games that last a few seconds, she trips on something she should- at the end of which you get statis- n’t have, and unleashes the tics like how much of your brain Pyramid’s Curse. you’re using, how much stress This is your good old side-scroll- you’re under and so on (we’re suf- ing platform game, and isn’t far fering at 90 per cent stress right from what you’d expect—walk now, incidentally). It’s perfect for around the pyramid, avoid obstacles when you want to take short breaks and fight scorpions, mummies and from work, and since your first other miscellaneous nasties. There score is usually shameful, it’ll be a Site: www.gameloft.com are some parts that can get irritat- long while before you decide to stop Price: $4 (Rs 160) ing, though. Ms. Rudeski is quite del- competing with yourself. The result icate, and dies from the shortest Site: www.mauj.com is (so the developers claim) that you end up fall—which happens a lot, because Price: Free stimulating your brain, which will lead to your as soon as you ascend a platform, (plus service overall well-being, or something to that effect. there’s usually a mummy waiting message costs) Our verdict: BC2 is easily one of the best there to push her off. mobile games we’ve played so far—the only Against All Odds isn’t an outstanding thing that bothers us is that it gets hard if your game, but it’s still better than sitting and screen is too small. doing nothing at all.

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Think, Think!

The longest legal domain registered dot com domain 1 What do Isaac Asimov’s 4 Three Laws of Robotics names can be… names? talk about? (a) 127 characters, starting with a (a) Think.com (a) The rate of letter or numeral (b) Xerox.com increase of robots’ (b) 63 characters, starting with a (c) HP.com computational powers letter or numeral (d) IBM.com (b) What factors will (c) 64 characters, starting with a influence when they letter, numeral, hyphen, or 8 What did people in China will overtake us underscore Google most in 2007? (c) What they should (d) Any number of characters as (a)”QQ,”—according to Reuters, an and shouldn’t do long as sets of 64 characters are “instant message service and a (d) What they might or might separated by a hyphen brand of car” not do (b) “speak english” 5 Which is not true about (c) “USA visa” “YouPod” or “youPod”? (d) “sex” 2 USB 3.0 is beginning to (a) It’s a social Web site (a .com) appear. Compared to the 480 (b) It is Mac-related software Mbps of the 2.0 iteration, what is (c) It’s the nick of a 23-year-old Did You the speed of the newer version? single male in Wisconsin ere’s an interesting Know? (a) 960 Mbps (b) 1100 Mbps (d) It’s a YouTube video that Hlist. The United (c) 4.7 Gbps (d) 9.4 Gbps features an iPod States, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, The 3 Think about .af (Afghanistan) 6 Which company recently domains. Which is true? shipped the “world’s most Netherlands, and Mexico were Got an (a) You can register them, but there capacious laptop hard drive,” and the first ten countries to have interesting aren’t any .af sites! what is the capacity? Internet connectivity. question? (b) We made this up! There’s no (a) Seagate, 1 TB Send it in with Internet in Afghanistan! (b) Western Digital, 750 GB Answers

the answer to (c) You’ll be able to register for a .af (c) Maxtor, 1 TB (d) Hitachi, 500 GB D . 8 B .

[email protected] not before 2020! 4 A . 7 D .

Mark “TQ” in the (d) The names are there, but even Which of the following is not 3 D . 6 C .

7 2

D . 5 C . subject area. internet.af is available! in the list of first ten 1

Crossword January’s Winner Yashodhara K Win! ACROSS 15. Discounts offered on shopping sites (7) Mulki, Karnataka 7. Using a web browser as the desktop interface in a client 18. Buttons on an input device attached to the monitor (4) machine (6) 19. Type and style of text letters and characters seen Send in your entries to 8. To quit a programme (4) in documents (4) [email protected] on 9. Advanced Mobile Phone Service(abbr) (4) 21. An essential function (4) 10. Signaling code of dots and dashes (5) or by 20th of this 11. GNU Network Object Model Environment month. One lucky (abbr) (5) participant 13. Location of a web site (7) will win 16. Contributor to an online journal (7) 17. ------or free ware (5) Photoshop CS3 Bible 20. Delete (5) By Fuller & Fuller 21.----art—set of scanned images used for Published by illustrations (4) 22. Search-----—online programme to help users find information on the Internet (6) January’s Solution 23. Display area of a computer monitor (6)

DOWN 1. An input/output device that allows you to send commands to a computer (8) 2. Convergent Technologies Operating System(abbr) (4) 3. Unsolicited commercial e-mails (5) 4. To make a new version of a product (7) 5. Conduct a systematic investigation on the internet (8) 6. Round, read-only optical storage medium (4) 12.------effect-power to attract iron or steel objects (8) 14.’S’ in ISP (7)

Crossword by Nitta Jaggi

DIGIT SEPTEMBER 2007 115 Escape Feb_08.qxd 5/13/2008 10:40 AM Page 116

Jailbook Know Thy Phone People Who If you are displeased about something it might not be a Do you need advice in understanding your phone, the way good idea to be frank about it, especially on Facebook. you do when selecting a wine. If you are in Japan, the My t-shirt just hung! Changed Four Lebanese university students found it out the hard answer is yes. Japanese handsets are getting so complicated Computing way when they had to spend a week in the cooler for that they are considering licenses for experts who will walk ridiculing the singing talents of a young lady. customers through their handset purchase. Phew! Last month’s winner:

Firs Vaibhav Jayant Deshpande Talk! Navi Mumbai His is one of Escape t Participate and those names win next month: you can’t afford not to The Essential Guide to be familiar MUSIC MANIA User Interface Design with: a multi- Whatever faceted Don Davies Sharing Blues “computer Happened To… genius,” Briton Donald Usenet Davies invented Packet e’ve been talking the courts. Both these are KaZaA. However, they have Switching (we’re hoping by Wilbert O. Galitz a lot about file unrelated, but they serve to not been accused of isusenet,” it might be you aren’t wondering what W sharing in these underscore the uploading that particular better called today. Published by that is). In 1965, while at “DIt’s more probable pages over the months, and underhanded and often file. In case you want to the UK’s National Physical regular readers following desperate tactics in this know how anyone could that you haven’t, but you might Laboratory, he saw (it the script would know that campaign. In the first case share something which was just have heard about Usenet, wasn’t obvious to everyone RIAA, the recording defendant Tanya Andersen, not uploaded, let us clear and thought it was an old-style WIN! at the time) that industry body in US has a disabled single mother things up. RIAA—in its bulletin board system (BBS) or computers would be more Send in your entry and you could win an exciting gift by sharing an amusing picture with a tech angle to it. been doggedly pursuing had to face mafia-style infinite wisdom—has possibly a Web site where useful if they could talk to people posted things on The picture should have been shot by you, and should not have been published anywhere earlier. individuals who have tactics like invasion of decreed that even if a song E-mail your picture with “DigiPick” in the subject line, mentioning your postal address, on or before the 20th each other. He went on to various topics. Actually, it’s not uploaded, or downloaded privacy and attempts to is in a shared folder of this month to [email protected]. One prize-winning picture will be published each month. develop a system that pirated music. They’ve clandestinely contact her named, say, “For KaZaA”, a BBS (though it resembles allowed machines to send slapped court cases, won eight-year-old daughter to from where it could be one); it is not an organisation, “packets” of information nor a public utility, nor an hefty fines and have dig up files-haring theoretically shared this JOB GONE is the best thing created no one told the bloggers at backward and forward generally gone about skeletons. After a long and would consist of academic network, nor is it a this side of the wheel. And Gizmodo that. They went over public treating music fans like two year wait, the committing the heinous software. According to one Blog roll those slick salesmen do around merrily clicking telecommunications criminals—guilty until concerned courts have crime of music piracy. If Web site, Usenet is “the set of manage to achieve what their remotes and shutting networks. Small chunks proven innocent. Readers dismissed the allegations of you intend to illegally people who exchange articles they started out to do—in down whole walls of were sent separately so as will also recall that while RIAA that Andersen was distribute music, you tagged with one or more he annual Consumer most cases. TV displays play displays, leaving the people to minimise the risk of RIAA swears it’s doing all pirating gangsta rap on the would be screwed: this is universally-recognised labels, Electronics Show (CES) an important role in this in charge with a what-the- congestion. The ARPA in this dirty work for the P2P site KaZaA, and RIAA’s view of the perfect called ‘newsgroups.’” T at Las Vegas is where shock-and-awe campaign, heck-happened expression the US liked it so much benefit of musicians and awarded her the hefty world. The Electronic For more than 20 years, thousands of people from and if in the middle of a on their faces. The cheeky that they straightaway artists, the supposedly lawyer’s dues. Additionally, Frontier Foundation (EFF)— Usenet was considered the all over the world gather fabulous presentation your bloggers also disrupted a incorporated it into the affected parties have said it allowed a class action the privacy watchdog in best way to read and post together to gawk at new display suddenly conks out, Motorola presentation ARPANET—and Packet that they are not happy lawsuit filed by her to go the cyber world—has messages over the Internet. consumer electronics you would be mighty ticked. twice, leaving the presenter Switching remains the with RIAA’s tactics and through, which essentially thrown its hat in the ring The network grew into products. We know that And if that happens not with an undoubtedly bad basis of the Internet. prefer that music means that anyone who and has basically told the thousands of discussion part. Products like huge 150- once, but multiple times taste in the mouth. This was After graduating from companies change their was accused by RIAA of file- judge that RIAA is spouting groups; topics ranged from inch LCDs, sleek laptops, without anything then posted on Imperial College London, business model and adapt sharing can join the bovine excreta. We hope Olive Ridley turtle booming music players— apparently wrong with the Gizmodo.com. And all hell Davies joined a small team to the times. lawsuit and claim the judge agrees, and the conservation to scuba diving in about 20,000 products in hardware, you would be broke loose. led by Alan Turing (again, Recently, the RIAA got compensation. world remains imperfect. the Thames. all, on the brink of flooding justified in thinking a Ironically, most of the we’re hoping you aren’t another bloody nose in its Which we recommend And while we are at it, we So what’s happened to the world’s stores in the poltergeist was haunting brickbats came from other wondering who that is!), ongoing slugfest with the the Howells to do. They do hope the RIAA gets Usenet? One is blogs: they’re coming months. Naturally, your system. bloggers, not the corporate which was developing Common Man, when two of have been accused of kicked where it hurts for more user-friendly, and the people who visit this You’d never think that a types. The blogging computers. The group’s its cases were shot down by sharing music, again over their copyright Nazism. prettier. Second, the majority Mecca of electronics are TV-B-Gone remote is behind community has been work led to the Pilot ACE of Usenet newsgroups are now pumped up, salivating over these blackouts, though— fighting hard for passes that computer; it was one of populated by un-read-worthy the new electronics that are nobody could be that are usually given out to the first few electronic My Desktop content, off-topic stuff, and likely to replace the same immature. TV-B-Gones, members of the fourth stored-program digital No Winner! spam. In 2005, AOL stopped products we bought a few incidentally, are used to estate, and it’s only recently computers in the world. Better luck next time! access to Usenet. months ago. All right, so we shut off annoying TV that they have managed to Davies had done much of Usenet is very old-style. A know that part too. screens when they’re get accreditation as “real” the detailed design and Participate in this contest certain site about Usenet CES being what it is, disturbing your meditations journalists. They fear that development of the and win next month sternly tells you: companies try very hard to on the great mysteries of such antics from members machine, as well as that of “Furthermore, the people who 3D Animation and sell their products. They go life. Okay, we made that up, of their tribe would its full-fledged successor. run the news systems are to great lengths to tom-tom but everyone agrees that endanger their reputation, Davies was one of the Filmmaking using called news administrators, Game Engines the fabulous features, give idiot boxes can get very and they would be barred lucky few pioneers who not sysops. If you want to be by Paul Marino painstaking demonstrations annoying sometimes. from all future events. That, saw his work come into full Send us your desktop with a description of how you understood, be accurate.” Published by and generally try to make However, such a remote was or face strip searches. The fruition: he died in 2000 made it to [email protected] with the subject Today, no-one has the time for everyone—especially the never intended to black out Gizmodo staffer who had his when the Internet was up “My Desktop”, and tell us your postal address, too. (or can stand) this kind of media—believe that their screens in the middle of a finger on the remote has and running, so to speak. uppity, censorious attitude. TV, MP3 player, or computer product demonstration—but already been banned for life I RIAA Website wiped clean by hackers I Microsoft says ODF can be supported, negating the case for its own OOXML format I Tech support call answered by Microsoft after 10 years I A federal agency in US without Net connection since 2001 due to bungled lawsuits

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Escape Escape

becomes outdated. Maybe there should be a special Wild Wild Web school for these judges. iGo That would make such e never really expected it to happen. from someone rather special—or rather, WikiTrash! mostly gay men who dress as the lyrics in Britney Spears’ bloopers redundant. WRam—our innocent, spaced out, someone attached to something rather There’s actually a Wikipedia nuns, often on rollerskates. songs, with commentary. blissfully inebriated Ram—has quit smoking. special—the iPhone. Picture a room full page—http://en.wikipedia.org/ Guilty not proven: A Here’s about the first stanza WOOF Web 2.0 Technologies We don’t know what to make of this. Before, women around a baby—pinching, wiki/Wikipedia:Unusual_article controversial Scots law of Oops: if we saw no Ram at his desk, we’d naturally prodding, saying things like, “Aww, cho Ah, so you’ve mastered the s—that lists out weird articles verdict for those neither Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Dog Day jargon, but how much can you assume he’s in the smoking bay. Now, when chweeeet!”—only replace the women with with links. Some are so weird, guilty nor innocent. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah we see no Ram at desk, we panic. untidy male geeks, and the baby with the spew about the important stuff? you’d wonder why Wikipedia Vril: A belief that aliens “Critical Analysis”: “The 12 AJAX: This technology allows Not that it matters any more, though. iPhone, and change the words to doesn’t edit them out; you controlled Nazi Germany and ‘yeah’s set an affirmative tone ow do you know what Webmasters to reload or You see, Ram has discovered that there’s a something more manly like, “The Force is could (and perhaps should) helped Hitler and others to for the rest of the song, which, your pug is thinking Real World outside Digit (well, so they tell strong in this one”. That’s what it was like. process only specific sections spend a lazy Sunday escape to the South Pole when as we shall see, actually sets up of the Web page. This means Hof when it is barking us) and by the time you read this, he’ll Zivalal’s bike got itself towed the other afternoon at this page, the war was lost. the pivotal irony, which is that that content on a page can be madly at you? Some have set out to see what’s really out there. day, and this has made him rather jumpy— clicking the links. the message of the song is updated without the reloading ingenious gadget maker Maybe he’ll meet a fire-breathing dragon, “Main Vashi nahin jayega!” (I won’t go to the entire page. So well, to convince you The Significance Of Six actually one of negation and from Japan had made a and maybe it’ll light him a cigarette he Vashi!). You know how the office grapevine Widget: A piece of code that about that Sunday We swear on our paychecks rejection. This ironic structure similar device for cats, and won’t smoke. We don’t know. We will miss is—the story was twisted, and as of this allows you to add dynamic afternoon, here’s a sampler the following was on a real parallels the theme of the song we had predicted that him, though, despite all the practise we’ve writing, the women are worried he’s some functionality to Web pages. For (article name followed by MIT Web page a little while in that its initial tone of similar things ought to be got from his frequent disappearances. sort of sex offender (he’s not). example, a status widget on description). ago. The author now has it up acceptance and joy are actually out for man’s best friend. In other news, we had Ah, well. Another month, your blog that lets readers know Pig War: A war between on a Geocities page false pretences, which will later We knew we were good, but ourselves a late-night visit another scandal... when you’re online. the United States and the (www.geocities.com/tagonist/ be revealed as a miscomm- we didn’t know we were this XML: The Extensible Markup British Empire that almost britneyanalysis/index.html), unication. The significance of good. We also didn’t realise Language allows Webmasters erupted over one dead pig. after complaints that the the 12 is unclear; the 12 that Digit had a readership situations guaranteed to through the motions which software is in human-dog to define their own elements Sisters of Perpetual page was too frivolous for months, disciples, and signs of in Hungary. pique their interest—getting produce results. interaction, though what when creating a Web page. This Indulgence: An organization of MIT, no doubt. Well, it’s about the zodiac are some theories.” Okay, about that a treat, playing with a ball, This dog-deciphering could be the possible use allows for sharing of data Hungarian readership meeting a stranger, fighting software had a much of understanding whether across multiple sources linked from participating in future commands were used for security professionals the statistics part—we made it with other dogs—situations better strike rate than the dog is ecstatic or together with the same CES events, and it’s likely this tracing—all ordinary heebeejeebies, is that the up. But what we didn’t that usually make dogs bark human ears, as it could simply happy escapes us. element names on the Internet. that when it comes to tools that your average judge in North Dakota make up is the human loud enough to wake the understand the cause of Maybe it would promote FOAF: An acronym for Friend of a Friend, this is the handing out press passes, system administrator would seems to view at using understanding dog part. dead. In the present case, barks, yaps, howls and better understanding structure used by social organisers wouldn’t want to use in such a scenario. perfectly ordinary Scientists at Budapest’s ELTE the dogs barked loud growls more accurately between Homo sapiens and networking sites to describe touch Gizmodo with a barge Among them were Unix commands and methods University have designed enough, and with sufficient than humans could. The Canis lupus familiaris—that people’s profiles—name, pole. Talk about shooting commands like “host -l” illegal. By this judgement’s software that figures out emotion to make the code inventors acknowledge is always laudable. Maybe country and how you are yourself in the foot. which causes the execution standards, all anti-spam the emotional response of in the software perform that they could do better, it would enable an related to another person. of zone transfer. In plain analysts are a bunch of dogs to different situations. function calls, execute and the software is no invention that would make Computers use these LEGAL SPAM English, this means hackers, and what they do Fourteen canine volunteers loops, and check boundary where near perfect. A dogs understand! Now structures to find matching accessing information that is every day is criminal. were exposed to different conditions; basically go possible use of such that’d be a gizmo to buy. elements when running a Blind Justice stored on a DNS server for Enough to scare the living search, like for users staying public viewing. When Sierra daylights out of anybody. Steve Bralovich added features, but which I find are not really user in Hyderabad. found out that Ritz was In a perfect world, Save Windows XP Petition friendly. Simply, there are still a lot of bugs to be fixed. XFN: The XHTML Friends hey say the law is an accessing this information courts are supposed to keep http://pdatoday.blogspot.com/2008/01/save-windows- I’m all for change, but the change has got to be for the Network is an attribute, which ass. Well, we do, which could be used against in touch with latest xp-petition.html (http://tinyurl.com/35rk8k) better... you can use in a blog or Web T anyway. While you it, they filed a court case to technology. In real life, the Microsoft would like to end nearly all sales of Windows page to define a relationship normally don’t expect prohibit Ritz to access this law takes its own sweet XP on June 30th of this year, in spite of hesitance by Mary Jo Foley when linking to another many businesses and individuals about moving to Vista. ZDNet Blogs courts to understand the (publicly available!) time to update itself, and by Microsoft plans to person. E.g. Windows XP from are expected to follow some Most of the case technology it already InfoWorld has decided to rally XP users to demand that …There are a couple of problems here. First, Windows Web APIs: These are common sense while documents have been sealed June 30, 2007 and XP be kept available. XP is not being ‘discontinued’ on June 30. Instead, as interfaces for letting Web there is already an With 27 years of computer and tech experience, I of that date—unless the software maker issues developers interact with delivering the judgements. under court orders, but online petition never make a change of operating systems until I buy a another reprieve like it did in September 2007— other Web applications and Or is it that common sense from what is available on new laptop or device. This assures me of the widest 3rd Microsoft will no longer make XP available to OEMs allow them to extract and as defined by the law and the Net, it seems that the against this move. We present data across Web common sense which is unfortunate Ritz was track the blogosphere party software support and zero compatibility issues. for preloading and/or via retail sales. pages on the Internet. understood by us folks are convicted and fined to follow the Unless there’s a compelling MUST HAVE reason, I stay Microsoft isn’t pulling the plug on XP support this two different things? $60,000 (Rs 24,00,000), reactions. away. This policy has served me well and I recommend year. Mainstream (free) support for XP from Microsoft Usage David Ritz was an anti- because he performed the that others do the same. ends in April 2009. Extended support (free for I use XFN on all my blog links. spam researcher who had online analogy of looking security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014. This is picked up by the XML suspicions that Sierra up information available in Jme Solivas Infoworld is advocating for Microsoft to continue elements in FOAF profiles of Corporate Designs, a Web a public document and Law and ICT to offer XP indefinitely. Fat chance. Why would Social networking sites and hosting company was using that information to http://lawandict.blogspot.com/2008/01/xp-vs-vista- Microsoft give customers more incentives not to that gives me a better search hosting spammers, or was nail a crime. Anyone forcibly-replacing-old-with.html upgrade to Vista—beyond the ones it has ranking on Google. I also use actually involved in would agree that this (http://tinyurl.com/2f8rgf) inadvertently provided by delivering a first- AJAX to run all the Widgets on spamming. So what he did cannot be considered …Personally, I’d choose Old School XP over New Age generation product that had driver and application my blog and I hope to learn was routine: check the origin unauthorized access. Vista any day. Vista is just too darn slow, complicated, compatibility issues; performance problems; and the use of Web APIs soon. of the spam and attempt to Anyone with sense, and bug-ridden. For me, it boasts of alleged value- reliability glitches? trace it back. Several anyway. What’s giving I Hacker Safe labelled Web site suffers security breach I MPAA admits that it is using false data to bolster its case about movie piracy I French researchers working on AI software that can declare fatwas I McAfee labels popular sites like ESPN and Friendster as risky

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Write to the Editor Digit will publish the best letters on these pages. Letters may be edited for clarity. Please include your complete address in all communication. E-mail: [email protected] For subscription queries Snail Mail: The Editor, Digit, KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, send an e-mail to [email protected] Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400 703 Inbox

something like a “Fast Track Compendium” to of Digit, where we’ve tested cell phones and DVD interesting I find your magazine to be. months. We’re glad you like the UI for the Whoops! write to [email protected] and express writers. Now, in December 2008 or January But please, try not to make it any discs, as some of us slaved day and night for their desire to do so. 2009, when we announce our Zero1 Awards, for better, or I’m going to fail! over two months creating it. I was reading through your article about Pen drives, Letter the “Best Product” award for these categories for The January issue was great, especially Team Digit 2008, is it fair to just give the award to the and unfortunately find of the the Fast Track. This was perfect for people Team Digit that the article is very A Sad Farewell current test’s winners? With technology changing Month like me, who have no IT background. badly put up. There are a almost overnight, it wouldn’t be fair to either our I thought that the magazine would Thanks to the Fast Track to Tech Jargon,I Warriors Of The Future? lot of comments that have readers or the manufacturers of cell phones and improve with 9.9 media buying it... but it can hold conversations about technology I am a regular reader, and I must say gone haywire at different DVD writers now would it? has not. The magazine contents are not with my engineering friends with the January issue is wonderful. The points of time. We know for a fact that if we awarded a that good: a review of only flash drives? I confidence! Thank you so much for that. Wars Of The Future article was very To quote some: On Page 68, in the product that is almost a year old with a Zero1 have got used to two sets of shootouts / interesting and informative. After Slightly Overweight 2GB features, it Award, and there was a more deserving product reviews in each magazine, and I refuse to Bhushan Thombre reading this article I have found a was mentioned about the Kingston already available, passionate readers like you accept only one, even if you have the Nagpur strange desire within myself to become Data Traveler Reader, that “It’s not built would not fail to remind us of our errors. Also, Zero1 Awards to print, which is just copy- a hacker and protect Indian servers. very well though.”, but in the table on January 2008 all of our tests involve telling you exactly why Unfortunately, Bhushan, although we love our page 71, in the comments row, the plus pasting from previous reviews anyway. Please tell me, are there any courses we choose one product over another, so doing doctors, we think it’s time you switched point says “+ Well built”. Now this is Personally I feel the Zero1 Awards is a that will help me become a hacker? International Flavours? the Zero1 awards in 3 pages is as good as us professions. Sadly, we’ve already promised really a contrast. Either one of the waste of pages. We buy the magazine the I’d also like to suggest that you telling you, forget the other cell phones, just go everyone that we’re going to get even better, statements is not true. Don’t you guys entertain mails from whole year anyway, so we already know increase the frequency of mobile out and buy a network hacked iPhone! Instead even if it means causing one of our beloved In the 8 GB section, the Buffalo Turbo outside India? I have written several times what’s good from the reviews, and the content in your magazine—such as of just telling you what to buy, we justify it with readers to fail his exams! Still, we hope you with a price of Rs 5,220 has a minus to you and you haven’t published my contenders in most of the sections of the mobile accessories and the latest hard facts and reviews, to help you make a pass with flying colours, and wish you best of point of “- Costly”, but at the same time, mails. I am from Nepal, and in our friends Zero1 Awards were the previous tests software for mobiles and PDAs. better judgement for yourself. luck for your exams. the Sandisk Cruzer with a price of circle, I am the only one to read Digit—the runner-ups! Come on, you can do better Now, getting to the second part of your Rs 7,990 is said to be “- None in particular”. others borrow from me. Thanks to you I than this. The Zero1 Awards should be a 2 Raju Kumar This seems that the additional Rs 2,500 mail, it’s always a sad moment for all of us Team Digit have become the tech geek amongst my or 3 page article—just name the winners Bihar that you pay for Sandisk is justified— when we hear readers telling us that they’re friends. They consult me for any problems and runner-ups with a little description. how? Their speeds don’t really show any moving on. The majority of our team consists of Open Up That Source they face, and I consult the magazine. The Last but not least, the Fast Track was We thank you for the positive feedback, and difference, and in fact the Sandisk is people who were Digit readers, and we archives you gave in December have really hopeless this month. Most of us already I have been purchasing Digit every month are glad it appealed to your patriotic nature. slower than the Buffalo. understand what you’re saying. Digit became helped in that regard. Please put more know all this stuff just by reading your since January 2000, (when it was called There are no courses that will teach you “hack- I don’t mean to demean what you India’s top selling and most respected software for Linux on your DVDs. You magazine itself! Chip). The couriers refuse to deliver to my ing”, which is often considered an art form of have written, but when a person looks technology magazine because of its innovations guys do a great job. The first time I bought Digit in June remote location, which is why I cannot sorts. Every “hacker”, ethical or otherwise, is a at these tables, or what’s written in a and because it filled a rather large void in our 2001 it had in-depth reviews of firewalls, subscribe, and have to buy it from the programmer and does immense amounts of magazine as revered as Digit, it’s taken lives. It can take you from being bored in front Nitesh Rijal antivirus etc... It was much more stalls. Wars of The Future (January 2008) research and learning. You need tremendous as the words of the Gods of technology. of the PC playing Solitaire and make you so We rate your magazine very highly, and Ranchi technical... Digit is getting boring for me, was a really interesting read. I actually networking knowledge and know everything passionate about technology that you soon find errors like this don’t look good. and you have stepped down a level on the believed that it was a true story written there is to know about the C (C, C++, etc.) lan- yourself employed as a technology professional! It looks like the proof reader was Thanks for being a loyal reader, and yes we are technical part to appeal to a broader by a hacker himself, until I noticed the guages. You can aspire to work for Indian secu- We’re not going to try and kid ourselves, half-asleep as well: the contact sheet on planning to increase the Linux content in the audience. The number of pages and January 2013 date! Also, the tip about rity specialist firms and become an “ethical we can’t please everyone, but we will try our page 75 is totally out of order. DVDs, so keep an eye open for that. articles keep decreasing, and it’s just 128 using the GreaseMonkey script was great, hacker”, which is basically testing and fixing level best to get you interested in Digit again, Anyways, the tests are really helpful to pages now! I won’t complain about the and I have been looking for such a plug- the security of Indian servers and sites. and soon. We’re also very happy to hear that me. I own a 1 GB Transcend V10, which I Team Digit Ads, because I know a magazine needs in for a long time. you’ve gone off piracy, and are glad to have bought three years ago. And thankfully, them to keep costs down, but don’t I also appreciate your drive to increase Team Digit been the catalyst for that. Thanks for the it’s still working great. I am impressed A Faster Track decrease the number of pages and awareness against piracy. The best way to with the performance tests of the V10, as loyalty, we truly appreciate it, and hope to soon I bought Digit for the first time this articles. Personally I buy the magazine for do that is promote Linux and OSS. The I Love You Digit it outperforms the V30 and V60! see a mail from you like the one that follows... month and I must say that the free Fast the articles and not for the stuff you give inclusion of a Linux distro in the DVD is a Everyone in Team Digit is like the drops Overall, I would still like to thank Track booklet was amazing. I have on the DVD, I can download those myself! positive step, but there is still a part you of water that make the sea. I am proud Michael Browne for a great article. Team Digit decided to buy Digit every month from I am sorry to say, but I am switching are overlooking—making the CD and DVD of your all. I really love the Digit Diary user friendly to Linux users like me. I now on, as long as you continue the to a different mag. In the end I would You Will Make Me Fail section. Please keep injecting tech fuel Vincent Thomas Fast Track series. Is there some way in like to thank Digit for converting me into really hate to boot into Windows just to into me. I was really sad to bid Deepak Bangalore which I can buy all the previous Fast an open source and free software junkie, I am an MBBS student, and just another browse the disks. I do love the disk UI Ajwani adieu, and though I have never Track books? and moving me away from piracy. It was fan of Digit, the greatest IT magazine in though, and the cool background music. I met him, I actually cried. I guess I love Sorry about the contact sheet, it’s obvious a nice journey, and I have been loyal to India. I have to tell you that Digit is have a suggestion though, why not put an Digit that much. something went horribly wrong there. A Nithianandam you for 7 years. My favourite article in becoming more and more informative SWF version of the UI on the discs as well, As for your first comment, I think you're Digit last year was the G80 vs R600. Give and interesting every month. When I so at least us Linux users can browse the Pankaj Kumar getting mixed up with the Kingston Due to the popularity of the Fast Track series, me more articles like that and I will buy bring it home at the beginning of every disk and use the UI—even if we cannot Rourkela, Orissa DataTraveler and the Kingston DataTraveler we’ve received a lot of queries like yours. We’ll Digit again. month, I can’t stop reading it—sometimes install the software. Reader 2GB, which is right next to it in the look into finding a way that will allow you to get I read it all through the night! Then the That’s the most emotional letter we’ve table. No errors there as far as we can see. your hands on all the Fast Track books in one Shashank Shekhar Katyayan next day I just read it all over again. Now Nirupam Biswas received. Just when we thought we’d heard The second error you’ve caught is spot shot. Currently, however, we only provide PDF Ranchi you can imagine what happens... Ranchi, Jharkhand it all you come along proclaiming your on, and we've goofed up. It’s readers like you versions on a regular basis in the DVDs of Like I said, I’m an MBBS student, so undying love. All we can say is, whether our who keep us on our toes, and we’ll try our special issues. In order to help us understand We understand the sentiment you have. However, what am I doing reading a tech We’ve been pondering the same points you’re other readers share your feelings or not, we level best to not give you cause for exactly how popular this feeling is, we request we urge our readers to understand the rationale magazine, and not touching a single making for a while now, and are working on a love all our readers unconditionally as well! complaints in the future. all readers who would like to purchase behind the Zero1 Awards. Let’s look at this issue text book. I guess you can see how solution for our Linux-based readers. Hopefully we’ll have something concrete rolled out in a few Team Digit Team Digit

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Ozzy Osbourne Kills Bear On Stage

hat’s called an “Attention- grabbing headline,” but it Tisn’t true. Actually, Osbourne got a cell phone. Which is news, because he’s 59, and we’re wondering what someone who eats rabbits on stage would do with a phone People And Events That Grabbed The Headlines—For Better Or For Worse except to throw it at the head of someone in his deluded audience. (Officially, he’s known as a Black Sabbath rocker, HM Wii not as a stage-rabbit-eater and former slaughterhouse apprentice.) In any case, he got the phone as a gift, and though we know the model, we’d rather not tell you because of the uncalled-for negative publicity. O. O. apparently loves his new gadget, and his primary use for it seems to be to call his daughter Kelly. The news is that he recently phoned her to say he’s a fan of her album Sleeping In The Nothing. (Oh well, this is Tabloid Tech after all.) Kelly says about her natively bloodthirsty father’s calling that it can be annoying. (She didn’t call him “natively the time. I was out having bloodthirsty”; we are.) dinner with my friends the According to the daughter other night and he called me... of the man who once allegedly I spent half the night talking encouraged suicide among the to him instead of my friends.” members of the audience, “He Is there a lesson here for never had a mobile before and near-60-year-olds with new cell I f***ing hate it. He calls me all phones?

ever mind that she taps human. Prince William was A Different Type Of people on the shoulder gifted a Wii by his girlfriend, Nwith a sword and all and—gasp!—instead of trying it after which they become out and ordering one for Queen... Knights. Queen Elizabeth II is herself, HM shares it with her very much a modern person, grandson. A source at oves gaming, too. games these days.) At an expo just like you and I. Some Buckingham Palace told The Well, we don’t in of some sort (something like a Britons might like the idea of a People—a newspaper—that when ...Lany way encourage CES with pornography monarch writing letters with a she saw William playing a or condone the viewing of involved, or so we hear) the quill and having her Royal game, “she thought the pornographic material, organisers asked several Butler collect it and despatch it Nintendo looked tremendous whether in print or audio- actresses of the adult via a Royal Messenger on the fun and begged to join in.” visual form, but we must give persuasion about their take on back of a Right Royal Horse, but “She played a simple ten- you the full picture. video games, and here’s what it doesn’t happen. The Queen pin bowling game and by all If a real Queen—as in Jenna had to say: “Do I like uses e-mail; in fact, she’s had an accounts was a natural. Queen Elizabeth II—can love nerds? I am a nerd. I have e-mail account for decades now. “It was hilarious. William video games, so can a porn shelves full of books at home Then in 2001, she got her was in fits of laughter. He was queen (that’s slang for a about vampires and first mobile phone, and sources enormously impressed at pornographic actress who is werewolves. And I always have say she’s been regularly having such a cool gran. popular among those who are my PSP with me. Right now I’m upgrading to one with the latest “And although she is 81 the regular consumers of playing Jeanne D’Arc, which is features. In 2005, she bought an Queen’s hand-eye co-ordination pornographic material). just awesome. Also, I’ve got a iPod, though we don’t know was as good as somebody half A certain Jenna, whose last PS3 and I’m dying for the new what version; and in June of her age.” name rhymes with “ways,” Final Fantasy to come out. See? I 2007, she added a trendy So what’ll she be called loves video games too, as told you I was a total nerd.” BlackBerry to her tech collection. now—“Qwiin Elizabeth”? Sorry gaming site GameDaily found Well, this is just to remind Now comes even more news your majesty, but we couldn’t out. (Actually, it seems you they’re regular human that she’s human, all too resist that poke! everyone loves computer beings too...

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