smartbuy issue dated march 16, 2011
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Smartbuy issue dated March 16, 2011TRANSCRIPT
SmartbuyWednesday, March 16, 2011
G A D G E T S | A U T O | L U X U R Y www.blsmartbuy.com
Business Line
Geneva 2011From the show to the showroomPage 8
2 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
this weekWHAT’S HOT
This stylish USB hub from Belkin in a ‘Drumstick’ design features 7 USB ports – perfectfor connecting your hard drive, printer, phone, camera, etc. Its slim design doesn’t takeup much space on your desk, and the ports come with a transfer speed of 480 Mbps, alongwith a USB 2.0 cable and power adapter.Rs 1,359
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Cover photo: S. Muralidhar
24/7 connectivity Belkin Hi-Speed USB Hub
Best of bothworldsNokia X3-02This phone from Nokiafeatures a 2.4-inch resistivetouch screen as well asalphanumeric keypad,making it easy to navigate.Support for HSPA network,3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1and a 3.5mm headphonejack makes it extremelyconnectible. Entertainmentoptions include a musicplayer, FM radio and a5-meg camera with 4xzoom. Based on the S40 UI,the phone has 16GBexpandable memory. Rs 8,839
In twominds?LG P520
This fun touch screenphone from LG isdual-SIM enabled. Itfeatures a dedicatedSNS client to keep youconnected to multiplesocial networking sites,as well as built-in MSNMessenger. The homescreen can bepersonalised withwidgets of your choice,while the Opera 5browser enables high-speed surfing. Thephone also features a2-meg camera.Rs 7,399
3 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
This multi-functional tablet from Motorola features a 1GHz dual-core processor and a10.1-inch widescreen HD display. Video chat to your heart’s content with the front-facing 2-meg camera, or get snapping with the 5-megger rear camera which alsorecords 720p HD video. Android 3.0 Honeycomb gives you an improved OS. TheXOOM also fully supports tabbed browsing and Adobe Flash Player.Rs 35,000 (pre-order price)
This Android 2.2 smartphone from Samsung will wow you with its sleek design andcurved edges. It features a 3.5-inch HVGA TFT display, and an 800 Mhz processor. TheSocial Hub gives you access to your favourite SNS sites, and the ThinkFree office allowsyou to create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. The camera isa 5-megger with flash, and memory is expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD card.Rs 18,290
Top of the pack Samsung GALAXY Ace
Frames in focusSony á33
XOOM-ing in! Motorola XOOM
This DSLR from Sony isequipped with TranslucentMirror Technology, which
enables continuous AF of up toseven frames per second. The
technology also enablescontinuous phase AF whenrecording Full HD AVCHDmovies. This 14.2-megger
features a 15-point AF detectionsystem, as well as ISO up to
12,800. A full Auto mode and 3DSweep Panorama are some of the
other features.Rs 37,990
4 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
NETBOOK review
Ketaki Bhojnagarwala
Hawaiian Blue, Lavender Purple, Lime Green andCandy Pink - if colours like these are in thisseason, why should you limit your fashion senseto your wardrobe? The latest in Acer’s Aspire
One series of netbooks is the ‘Happy’ range. When weunpacked our little blue baby from the package, it was loveat first sight. But will its performance match up to its looks?
First biteThe Happy series from Acer isn’t meant to be a power-horse. Lightweight, trendy and multi-functional – it’smeant to be flaunted. Sony’s VAIO series made a statementwith its bold colours, and more recently, HP introducedsnap-on laptop lids in a variety of colours. The colourscheme Acer has chosen will appeal more to the ladies, andat just 1.25 kg, it’s light enough to be slipped into a large toteand function as an ultraportable computer.
Our unit had a glossy blue lid with silver lettering. Every-thing else on the netbook is white, except for a matchingthick, blue strip that runs below the length of the keypad -which holds the touchpad and hand rest.
Acer has opted for an island style keyboard, which iscomfortable for long hours of typing and gives good tactilefeedback. The screen is a 10.1-inch TFT Active Matrix LCD.The small touchpad supports multi-touch such as pinch tozoom, but we found scrolling difficult because of its size.The left and right click buttons are encased in a single,narrow, plastic strip which made them difficult to use.
The netbook offers the regular line-up of ports – 3 USB
ports, a VGA display port, Kensington lock slot, Ethernetport and multi-functional SD card reader. It also comeswith a headphone and microphone slot and a 1.3-megwebcam.
The netbook comes packaged with a foam sleeve, whichwe advise using because the lid tends to get scratchedeasily.
Starting upThe netbook is pre-loaded with Windows 7 Starter, whichis the most basic of Windows 7 editions. While you getaccess to most features of the OS, simple things like chang-ing the desktop background with your own picture isn’tpossible. The netbook is powered by an Intel Atom 450processor, with a speed of 1.66 GHz – which other AspireOne and ASUS Eee PC netbooks also feature. It features1GB DDR2 SDRAM, and offers 320GB of internal storage –which is plenty for all your media usage.
An interesting feature of the netbook is that it comeswith Android boot-up as well. This is convenient if youwant to quick-start your computer for basic functions likebrowsing – but not for playing media as the Androidedition only has 4GB of storage. Also Android doesn’tsupport .avi files, and you don’t have access to the Market.While we like the idea of dual boot-up options, using amobile phone OS on a netbook doesn’t really seem towork. We got stuck with navigating, because there’s noAndroid ‘Back’ button and it took us a while to figure outthat we had to press the Esc key for that. An Android OSwould have worked best for a netbook with a touch screen,
we feel. When the netbook boots to Android, it gives you a10 second gap, during which time if you don’t move thecursor or click on any key, it boots to Windows. You canalso switch from Android to Windows at any time usingthe arrow located at the top left, but not vice-versa.
MediaThe standard definition 1024x768 screen isn’t ideal forwatching movies, but we played ‘The Butterfly Effect’ and‘Transformers’ to test the screen quality. There was nostagger between frames, neither was their any visibleblurring. The same can’t be said for the speakers, theoutput of which was barely audible. We’d advise using apair of headphones if you plan to watch a film or listen tomusic.
The netbook also comes pre-loaded with the Acer Ga-meZone Console, which features demo games like ‘CakeMania’, ‘Galapago’ and ‘Big Kahuna Reef’ too. There arealso various others you can choose to download from theGameZone. These games don’t take up much graphicsusage. Considering the fact that it only comes with an IntelGMA GPU, we didn’t bother to venture trying out moregraphics-heavy games on it.
The netbook comes with Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, foreasy file-sharing.
PerformanceWhile Acer has gone all out on looks, this isn’t really anetbook that’s loaded with all the goodies. The single-coreIntel Atom N450 processor is increasingly being used for
More than just arm candy?
5 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
tablets, with most netbooks now shifting to the morepowerful dual-core N550. The limitation of this is seen inthe netbook’s performance. Startup took about 1 minute 30seconds. And while simple tasks like web-browsing withmultiple tabs worked fine, when it came to commands likeright-click, the netbook took a few seconds to bring up themenu. It was also slowed down when it came to operationsas simple as My Computer or Control Panel.
When we had multiple programs open, like WindowsMedia Player, Internet Explorer and GameZone, the lagwas even more intensified.
Battery life is estimated at 8 hours, and we got close to 6,with a couple of hours of videos, games and browsing.
Our VerdictThe Acer Aspire One Happy netbook won us over with itschic looks, but failed to impress us when it came to per-formance. However, it’s unfair to expect any better for theprice you pay. This is a netbook that would appeal to userswho want it largely for internet usage and storing media. Love: Colourful exterior, comfortable keyboardHate: Ships with Windows 7 Starter, slow processorRs 17,999
APPLEMobile Formula1.comThis official F1 app gives you access to premium serviceslike Live Timing, Video, Downloads and Ringtones. Price: FreeF1 2011 PremiumThis application gives you xclusive live commentary, topstories, results, schedule and standings.Price: $1.99Formula 1 Trivia QuizIt’s time to test your F1 knowledge with this quiz app,which features 250 multiple choice questions. Availablein single and multiplayer modes.$0.99F1 CircuitsGet satellite images of all Grand Prix venues from 1950.Also, all the information you need about F1 circuit history,lap records and more, courtesy of Wikipedia.Price: $ 0.99
ANDROIDLivesports 24 F1 RacingThis app brings you live commentary, lap-by-lap racepositions, live coverage of qualification sessions, real-time leaderboards, circuit guides and plenty more.Price: FreeF1 Calendar FREENever miss a race again with this lightweight app. It usesyour active data connection to give you a F1 calendarbased on your local time. Price: FreeF1This gives you the latest news, results, current standingsand schedule.Price: FreeFormula 1 BuzzView conversations between experts about the drivers,get prognoses on races, and find out all the latest news.Price: Free
OVI STOREF1 Latest NewsAll the latest F1 news about races, drivers and the circuits- delivered as it happens to your mobile phone.Price: Rs 25Motor Sport MagazineInstall this app for up-to-date information on the latest F1news and prototype racing around the world.Price: Rs 25James Allen on F1James Allen is a leading F1 commentator, who now blogsabout Formula One racing. This app gives you a live feedof his blog right on your phone.Price: FreeFerrari World Championship2009If you want to be a part of racing action, why not try thisFormula One game? Be a part of Ferrari’s F1 team andrace your way to victory.Price: Rs 75
Lap it up!Minute by minute updates, racer profiles and exclusive games – get all the F1 action on
your mobile phone! Here’s a list of the hottest F1 apps out there
Photos: S.S. Kumar
6 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
SNEAK preview
It’s a common joke that the collective consciousnessof the internet has a better idea of what’s going on atSony than its own employees. We’ve had leaks foreverything from the PS3 Slim to the Xperia Play.
The absolute motherload however was the PSP2.Yes, it was expected, given that the PlayStation Portable
sold over 50 million units. In fact it was overdue, whatwith execs and developers talking it up at various eventsprior to an official announcement. And it finally did hap-pen at Sony’s PlayStation Meeting event at the WorldMobile Congress, rechristened as NGP for now. Short forNext-Generation Portable, this handheld sports just whatyou’d expect from
Sony’s top-end hardware. Modern trappings such as 3G(on specific models), OLED capacitive touchscreen, quadcore processor and dual cameras all make an appearance.
It’s encased in a stunning form factor dubbed by the
boffins at Sony as ‘super oval’, which we’re sure translatesfor the rest of us as ‘similar to the PSP’. Never a bad thing,really. There’s dual analog sticks too, making controllinggames like Resistance, Killzone and Metal Gear twice asmuch fun to play. Similar to Moto’s quirky Charm, there’sa touch pad on the rear which could result in interestingcontrol schemes for new games.
Changes aren’t restricted to just specs, gone is the all toofamiliar XrossMediaBar which we’ve come to know andlove across Sony devices. It was great for accessing yourcontent when negotiating with buttons. In a post-iDeviceworld, however, the interface has been rebuilt ground upfor something more touchscreen friendly.
Dubbed as LiveArea, it integrates games, music, moviesand of course, the all-important social networking fea-tures into one neat screen. For all practical purposes, it isthe hub of the action.
The biggest difference though is in the form of media.Unlike the PSPgo that had you saying goodbye to all yourUMDs (Sony’s proprietary format for PSPs), the NGP willsupport both physical and digital media. While the latterwould be available from the PlayStation Network, you’dstill be bidding farewell to your collection of PSP discs, asthis time around there’s flash-based cards to deal with,oddly acronymed as NVG. No, we don’t know what itstands for.
Mysterious short-forms aside, flash media will allow forfaster access times. A much needed change from the noto-rious loading times on the disc-based PSPs. Also, it comeswith some interesting anti-piracy tech ensuring that youwon’t be up to ‘no good’ anytime soon. Given that the NGPwill debut in winter, expect a price point closer to launch.Till then there’s more than enough screenshots to keepdrooling at. We know we all are already.
The next step in portable gaming:Sony NGP
SpecificationsProcessor - ARM Cortex-A9 core GPU - SGX543MP4+Touch Pads - Rear, multi-touch,capacitiveCameras - Front and rear Sound - Built-in stereo speakers and microphoneSensors - Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), three-axis electronic compassConectivity - GPS, Wi-Fi-based location support, 3G, Wi-fi, Bluetooth
This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved
Mahananda Bohidar
In the age of small cars and condos, the age-old adage‘bigger is better’ has taken a backseat. At a timewhen everything is getting compact and space-effi-cient, few of us would want a home theatre system
that takes up as much space as a king-sized bed! Petit is inand for those of us who want a not-so-elaborate setupwithout having to compromise on the home theatre expe-rience, there are a couple of options in the market. TheLifestyle 235, 2.1 channel system Home theatre systemfrom Bose seems to fit the bill rather nicely. We hooked itup for a long-term review and here’s what we have to tellyou.
UnboxingThe Bose Lifestyle 235 comes with the Media Console, anAcoustimass module that performs the role of a sub-woof-er in the system, two Gemstone ES speaker arrays (withrubber feet in case you want them mounted on the wall), anADAPTiQ headset and an iPod dock.
‘Unify’ing itOnce you wire up the system and switch the main consoleon you’ll be guided through a couple of steps by Bose’sUnify intelligent integration system that helps you withthe initial set-up.
After this, you’ll find yourself meandering through a‘Connection Setup’ guide which lets you hook up variousaudio-video sources to the Lifestyle 235. The list of devicesyou have the option to connect with the home theatresystem is quite exhaustive – Blu-ray Disc player, DVDplayer, Cable box, Set top box, gaming system, Apple TV –to name a few.You can also choose to run through ADAP-TiQ, an audio calibration system that takes about 10 min-utes to analyse your room dimensions and acousticcharacteristics to maximise the audio effects of the Life-style 235 accordingly.
With the ‘Source’ button on the Bose remote you canshuffle through all the devices that have been hooked upwith the Lifestyle 235. We had our iPod Nano (and later aniPod Touch) docked with the system and tried out a coupleof songs after we had gone through most of the ‘Unify’steps.
Grooving to the beatsWe tried out the percussion-heavy Sufi track ‘Man YehBaawra’ (from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi) with some boldand complex vocals which played back quite well on theLifestyle 235. We went on to try the mellow Hallelujah(the Jeff Buckley cover) and with minimal music and astrong focus on vocals much like ‘Let’s Call The WholeThing Off’, the duet by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Arm-strong, and both the tracks were a treat to listen to in theLifestyle 235.
While we were listening to music, apart from adjustingthe Bass and treble levels on the system we also had theoption to choose between two audio compression presets– ‘Smart Volume’ and ‘Enhance Dialogue’. This feature isnot something that brings about a marked difference in thesound quality when you are listening to music; you’d bebetter off toying with the two options while watching‘Independence Day’ or ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
The system is ‘Made for iPod/ iPhone’ and works withall Apple products featuring a click wheel. Apart frommusic, the system also lets you playback videos that youmight have stored in your iPod. The exception, of course,was a range of old generation iPods that do not supportvideo playback.We tried out some music videos and pod-casts that we had stored on the iPod Touch and bothplayed back decently on the HD telly and the sound qualitywas as good as the music playback earlier.
BenchmarksThe Gemstone ES speakers that the Lifestyle 235 comes
with delivered decent detail while audio played back al-most as efficiently as the higher-end Jewel Cubes, al-though compared to the latter the Lifestyle 235 did lose outon the depth and overall loudness during playback. Thepatented Gemstone ES speakers deliver superior soundfrom within a compact 2.1-channel system unlike the nau-tilus-shaped port and Direct/Reflecting speaker technol-ogy of the premium Jewel Cubes.
Also, the Lifestyle 235 is a definite improvement upon asimilar 2.1-channel setup from Bose, the 3.2.1 GS HomeEntertainment System. While certain features like high-def video playback, Videostage 5 decoding and the Acousti-mass Module remain the same, the Lifestyle 235 ups theaudiophile quotient a notch by using a revamped version ofGemstone speaker (Gemstone ES arrays) which have threedrivers in each speaker and create a wider soundstage thanthe original ones. Other additions include a bunch of multi-media input/output sources which include four HDMIconnections (three in, one out) and two HD audioconnections.
One last wordOne niggle for households with older-generation displayscould be the fact that the only option you are given for avideo-out source is an HDMI one. There are two USB slots(front and rear), however, you can only view JPEG filesfrom external storage USB plug-ins. All the software up-dates on your system will be done via the USB ports.
However, as a system that’s ultra-compact, pretty easy tosetup, with just two speakers and yet capable of reproduc-ing rich detail, the Lifestyle 235 is an ideal system for anuclear family.
Rs 1.63 lakh
Love – Typical Bose sound quality from small speakersHate –Restricted USB playback, clunky remote control
7 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
SOUND bytes
When size no longer matters: Bose Lifestyle 235
AUTO focus
S.Muralidhar
Though it is not the first motor show of the yearand only recurs every March, the Geneva MotorShow often sets the trend for the rest of the year’sshows. It is also a good barometer of the automo-
bile industry’s current state.This year’s edition of the Geneva Show was exactly that.
There was a lot of evidence that the recession story and theslowdown that came after maybe a thing of the past. Thepremieres and unveilings that were made raised hopes andactually stirred up a lot of excitement. Of course, there wasalso a fair share of concepts, a unique feature often atGeneva – concepts that point towards the future path ofthe industry.
This year’s edition was again loaded with electric con-cepts and a further popularisation of hybrids. Are theybeing developed for just meeting legislation that is gettingmore stringent by the year? Not really. The future forhybrids is very bright and it is very possible that most carswithin a decade will be plug-ins or at least some form ofhybrid technology too.
Geneva 2011 had both really quirky and really promisinghybrids and all-electrics. Take the Volkswagen Bulli con-cept for example. Volkswagen has reinterpreted the com-pact form of its automotive legend called Bulli orMicrobus, and has given it a futuristic touch in the form ofa concept vehicle for a new generation.
VW Bulli
Looking very much like its iconic microbus of the 1950s,the new Bulli concept is powered by an electric motor andfitted with six seats and infotainment control via an AppleiPad. Its electric motor outputs 85 kW of power and animpressive 270 Newton metres of torque. The silent motoris supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery with amaximum storage capacity of 40 kWh.
This electrifying combination enables driving ranges ofup to 300 km – a high value for an electric car. The newBulli accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 11.5 seconds, andits top speed is 140 kmph (electronically limited). In termsof dimensions, it’s also only as long as the VW Polo.Apparently, it stands a good chance of going intoproduction.
Electric Rolls?The other most talked about electric car concept at thisyear’s Geneva Motor Show was the Rolls-Royce 102EX. Itis the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment and continues a tradition of experimentalcars running through the model generations.
The 102EX bears the famous hallmarks of the Rolls-Royce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand crafts-manship, fine detailing and iconic design cues like thepantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy (though in frosted
glass) which celebrates its centenary in 2011. However, at the core of its design is the essence of an
experimental vehicle, establishing this car’s status as a testbed, while subtly alluding to its electric power plant. It isthought to have the largest passenger car battery in theworld. Peak current is 850A, delivered at 338V DC.
Overall capacity is 71kWh. An electric Rolls-RoycePhantom…unbelievable? Believe it. Who knows it mightgo into production in a couple of years.
Land Rover Range_eLand Rover’s first fully capable 4WD, Plug-in Diesel isbased on the Range Rover Sport and is equipped with anadvanced plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain thatLand Rover expects to make available in future productionmodels, following the scheduled launch of its diesel-elec-tric hybrid in 2013.
Range_e uses the current 245 PS 3.0-litre TDV6 dieselengine, working with an eight-speed ZF automatic trans-mission and a 69kW electric motor. Using a parallel hybridsystem, with a 14.2kW/h lithium-ion battery that can berecharged from an external 240V power source, the Rang-e_e can be driven on electric power alone for more than 20miles (32km), with zero harmful tailpipe emissions.
Apart from these there were many other electrics andhybrids including concepts such as the Mercedes-BenzSLS AMG E-CELL, the Nissan ESFLOW sport concept,
Audi A3 Concept Porsche Panamera Hybrid
Bentley SuperSports ISR Aston Martin Cygnet
Charged up Geneva!
the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4 and the Porsche PanameraHybrid.
Despite all that focus on electricity, this year’s GenevaMotor Show also rekindled hopes that performance mo-toring still has a bright future, with at least two fantasticnew super luxury, super performance cars being dis-played.
More details about the Ferrari FF are given in the nextpage. The other one of course was the LamborghiniAventador.
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
This new Lambo flagship replaces the Murcielago andboasts an innovative concept, entirely new technologypackage, unique and powerful functional design languageand innovative carbon-fibre monocoque. A new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 litres displacement, produces a mind-blowing 515 kW / 700 bhp of peak power and bringstogether the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with aston-ishing low-end torque.
Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472lb), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, theweight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms perhp. Even the 0-100 kmph acceleration figure of just 2.9seconds and the top speed of 350 kmph do not fullydescribe the Aventador’s extreme performance. And yet,fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around20 per cent compared with its predecessor, despite theconsiderable increase in power (up 8 per cent).
Volkswagen Bulli Concept
Range Rover Plug-in HybridNissan ES Flow
Rolls Royce 102 EXNew VW Tiguan
Lamborghini Aventador
10 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
Ferrari Family tomake India debut
Photo: S. Muralidhar
Team Smartbuy
One…oh, make that two…of the most excitingnews announcements were made during the lastfew weeks for Ferrari fans at home. First was theunveiling of the Ferrari FF and the official in-
troduction at the Geneva Motor Show 2011. And thencame the announcement that Ferrari has finally appointedan Indian franchisee and dealership.
First, a bit about the FF. Ferrari says that its new FF willbe a revolution, though many purist fans of the brand willbe very upset. What will they be sore about, you ask? TheFF will be first Ferrari to offer four-wheel drive!
While the purists fret about brand attributes dilutionand about how this Ferrari can’t possibly offer them theedgy joy of the two rear-wheel drive standard from thebrand, the rest of us can rejoice that the FF is finally one ofthe most practical, yet, surely, will be one of the most funto drive cars that has ever rolled out of the gates of thefamous House of Maranello.
It would seem that this new model from Ferrari is alsotargeted at buyers in the emerging Asian markets, whereits practicality and easier drivability maybe appreciatedmore.
The FF is an acronym for Ferrari Four and refers to thefour seats and four-wheel drive. This all-new grand tour-er, which also sports Ferrari’s first shooting-brake design,is meant to be a replacement for the 612 Scaglietti. TheFF’s front draws a lot of obvious inspiration from the 458Italia.
Ferrari says that the FF offers a completely new take on
the sporting Grand Tourer theme. It is a model that hails amajor break with the past for Ferrari, effortlessly meldingextreme sports car performance with the versatility andusability of a genuine GT. The FF brims with innovation,not least in its engine, the first GDI V12 to be coupled withthe seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The V12 un-leashes a massive 660 CV at 8,000 rpm, and maximumtorque of 683 Nm at 6,000 rpm with 500 Nm alreadyavailable at just 1,000 rpm. This ensures the performancefigures of an extreme sports car, with the 0-100 kmphsprint being covered in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335kmph. Efficiency has been significantly boosted too, withfuel consumption now standing at just 15.4 litres per 100kms, and CO2 emissions at 360 g/km, a 25 per cent reduc-tion compared to the previous V12s, thanks in part to theHELE (High Emotions- Low Emissions) System whichincorporates Stop&Start technology. The FF also guaran-tees this exceptional performance on terrain with very lowgrip coefficients, thanks to Ferrari’s own patented 4RMfour-wheel drive system. Torque is still delivered by therear wheels, but the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) ensuresthat as much as is required is also transferred to the frontwheels when necessary on low grip surfaces. The FFintelligently distributes torque to each of the four wheelsindividually, thanks to the fact that all of the dynamicvehicle controls (E-Diff, F1-Trac and PTU) have beenintegrated into a single CPU. Despite seeming like a four-seater hatchback or estate with a large luggage area (450litres of it with the rear seats up), exceptional sportydriving is also guaranteed by the FF’s transaxle architec-
ture (mid-front engine with gearbox over the rear axle)and the positioning of 53 per cent of weight to the rear ofthe car. Meticulous attention has been taken in lighteningthe engine (new castings), bodyshell (new aluminium al-loys and production processes) and a host of other compo-nents. The interior has also been optimised through theuse of high-tech materials such as magnesium for theseats.
Third generation Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes arenow lighter and longer-lasting, with virtually negligiblewear during normal use on the road. All of these in-novations have combined to produce an absolutely excep-tional weight-power ratio of 2.7 kg/CV, a new benchmarkfor this kind of car. Styled by Pininfarina, the FF’s lineseffortlessly reflect its signature uncompromising balanceof sportiness and versatility. It can comfortably accommo-date four in its bodyhugging seats and spacious cabin, saysFerrari.
For Ferrari fans in India, the wait won’t be for very longto lay their hands on the 458 Italia or the Ferrari Cali-fornia, though we do hear that the FF’s first productionrun might have already been sold out. Ferrari has appoint-ed the Shreyans Group as the official importer for Ferrariin India.
The first Ferrari dealership will open its doors in NewDelhi soon, and a second one is scheduled to open inMumbai in the second half of 2011. The Shreyans Groupwill also setup an independent Ferrari India office withFerrari experienced professionals to manage the upcom-ing dealer network
S.Muralidhar
Ever since the Nano was first unveiled, Tata Mo-tors and its premieres have had a huge followingat the Geneva Motor Show. The Tata Nano Eu-ropa, the European version of the ultra low-cost
car was unveiled at the 2009 edition of the show and thisyear too Tata designers and engineers had come up withan exciting new concept to keep the interest going for theNano.
The new Pixel is Tata Motors’ interpretation of the citycar of the future. This concept is based on the Nanoplatform and despite its smooth, almost cartoonish designthe Pixel’s genetic background is all too easy to see. From adistance, it looks like a toy you might be tempted to stringonto a key chain, a futuristic concept that maybe put to usein a movie directed by John Lasseter.
Tata Motors says that the Pixel is a new city car conceptparticularly meant for Europe. And though it is based onthe Tata Nano, the Pixel is smaller – at just over threemetres in length. Yet, it is claimed to be the most packageefficient four-seater in the world, and capable of comfort-ably accommodating four adults, unlike a typical Europe-an city car which is either a two-seater or canaccommodate two adults and two children only.
The Pixel has been designed and conceptualised byTata Motors’ European Technical Centre. Though thedesign is more jelly-bean like and rounded, the Pixel’soverall construction is very similar to the Nano withwheels pushed out to the extreme and the same swoopingroofline.
The big difference between the Nano and the Pixel isthe elimination of the B-pillar in the latter. The Pixel is stilla concept so there is not much information on the possibil-ity of the current construction being viable, but the ab-sence of the B-pillar does seem to open up the possibilitiesof enhancing space inside the passenger cabin. Most otherstructural features will also be similar including locatingthe engine at the rear and just below the rear passengerseat.
Possibilities include a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-charged diesel engine, positioned at the rear of the TataPixel, though it does seem like it will be a task to packagethe mill in that small a space. The engine is said to be alow-friction design, featuring variable coolant and oilpump and rapid warm-up technologies. With optimisedaerodynamic drag, low rolling-resistance tyres, stop-starttechnology, and intelligent battery charging, the Tata Pix-el returns European combined cycle (NEDC) fuel econo-
my of 3.4 litres/100 kms and CO2 emissions of just 89gms /km, according to an official Tata Motors statement.
To take the concept of it being a European city carfurther, Tata engineers have also added some nimble fea-tures to the Pixel. One of them is its unbelievable ability topark in the tightest of slots in typical crowded city condi-tions. In addition to its small footprint, the Tata Pixel’sability to manoeuvre and park is made possible by its ZeroTurn toroidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmis-sion (IVT), which assists rotation of the outer rear wheelforwards and the inner rear wheel backwards, while thefront wheels turn at acute angles. The result is a turningcircle radius of just 2.6 metres. Adding to the noveltyfactor and assisting in its tight parking ability are the‘scissor’ doors, which rotate upwards from the front toallow passengers to effortlessly enter or exit the TataPixel.
Another unique aspect of the Pixel concept is the dem-onstration of ‘My Tata Connect’ - the first integratedhuman-machine interface (HMI) concept from Tata Mo-tors. The system is designed to provide a high level ofconnectivity for the Pixel user by just connecting andintegrating controls for the key functions in the driver’ssmart phone! By connecting the tablet or smartphone(Samsung Galaxy Tab in the demo unit) and the runningHMI, the user can access key functions and check neces-sary data by just touching the screen of the handset. Inaddition to doing its job as a phone, the tablet or smart-phone also serves as the infotainment display allowingchanges to temperature, ventilation and aircon settings.
The steering wheel and related controls in the Pixel arealso very simple and focus on ease-of-use. In the concept,the smart steering wheel, with the cut-away bottom sec-tion, sports ‘+ / –’ controls on the thumb holds, possibly toallow manual gear selection (a variation over the paddlegear shifters in current day cars). The controls could alsobe for controlling the volume of the infotainment system.
The Pixel concept displayed also featured a very funkyautomatic gear selection knob, which was simply posi-tioned on an appendage sticking out of the driver’s seat.With the clutch pedal being absent, the throttle and brakepedals were again just marked with large ‘+’ and ‘–’ signs torepresent their functions.
P i x e l - e l a t e d !Photos: S. Muralidhar
1. RATIONAL CULT RANGEPrimarily in dark oak veneer, thewall units also include glass. Thisnot only creates a lighter feel butenhances the horizontal lines.L-shaped doors in the bass unitopen out to provide 45- degreeshelf access.Rs 9 lakh onwards
2. PHILIPS AIRFRYERChips cooked in this have 80 percent less fat than those done inconventional fryers. Bring in thefries!Rs 12,000
3. CUISINART SOUP MAKERSoup is a cheap and nutritiousdish but a bit tedious to cook. This1.4-litre gizmo solves that. It’s a500W blender with integratedheater that stirs and cooks soupfor you.Rs 10,500
Fight the FlabAlready given up on your New Yeargym promises? Take a more subtle
ascent to health by changing what youeat and drink. There are a host ofgadgets that can reduce fat, retainvitamins and turn vegetables into
tempting delights as opposed to foulmush. We’ve placed them in thisgorgeous Rational Cult kitchen
12 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
KITCHEN trends
Steaming additionCUISINART COOK AND STEAMThis versatile device combines arice cooker with a steamer,cooking rice in 20 minutes andvegetables, meat or fishsimultaneously using theintegrated stainless steel steamtray. A ‘hold’ function keeps foodwarm and the pot is non-stick forconvenient cleaning.Rs 4,000
On the go smoothieKENWOOD SMOOTHIE 2GOFor those who can’t go without theirmorning fruit fix but are pressed fortime, this smoothie maker’s jugdoubles as a travel mug. Just whip itoff the motor part, which has high,low and pulse settings, remove theblade assembly and plonk on thedrink-through, resealable lid.Rs 2,500EX
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4. WARING PROFESSIONAL JUICEMAKERThe easiest, tastiest way to getyour ‘five-a-day’ quota of fruitsand veggies. This juicer’sinduction motor and stainlesssteel blade will marmalise yourfruit and vegetables in seconds.Rs 21,000
5. TEFAL VITA CUISINE COMPACTTefal’s 1800W steamer has threetiers so you can simultaneouslycook three elements of a meal.Steaming retains more vitaminswithout mixing flavours. There’s adigital timer and LCD, along withauto shut-off and keep-warmfunctions.Rs 7,500
6. LE CREUSET SQUARE GRILLITThis cast-iron grill pan’s groovesusher fat away from your food,and sear meat to delicious effect.Suitable for gas, electric andinduction hobs.Rs 4,000
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13 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
Hydrate in styleBRITA ELEMARISDrinking water is good for you:doctors say so. This 1.6-litre waterjug expunges impurities, improvingtaste and preventing limescalebuild-up in your kettle. Built-inprobes measure hardness, volumefiltered and time while the built-inLCD shows how much longer thefilter cartridge will last.Rs 1,500
Barbeque made easyTEFAL JAMIE OLIVER GRILLThis 1700W electric health grill hasdual drip trays to catch fat and opensout 180 degrees for some indoor BBQaction. The grill is compact and easy tostore, while removable, dishwasher-safe plates mean keeping it clean is asquick and easy as one of Jamie’s 30-minute recipes isn’t.Rs 4,500
This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of orlicensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used
under license. All rights reserved
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* Approximate prices for all products
Your vanity case hassome new friends.The Body Shop andLondon College ofFashion’s ‘Brushwith Fashion’,limited editionmake-up has astylish range of facebase, cheek tints,mascara, brush kitsand more. Availableat its stores acrossIndia.Rs 495 to Rs 1,995
Blush withBrush
14 March 16, 2011Smartbuy
MELANGE luxury redefined
William Penn’s latest is a wide variety ofwallets from Chamois, made of high-qualityleather, in different designs and available in
neat range of colours at its stores.Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000
Pocket this
Jewelled writingsOpulence at its best, Goenka Diamondand Jewels has crafted gorgeousdiamond studded pens, in rose goldand yellow gold. Be dazzled atRavissant, Mumbai. Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh
Giving handsome hunks some beauty indulgence, L’Occitane haslaunched its Verdon range, which includes a face moisturiser, showergel, shave gel and face splash. Head to its stores in New Delhi andShoppers Stop stores in Bengaluru and Kolkata.Rs 850 to Rs 2,100
For the Greek Gods
Sleek designs in innovative materialsfor ‘him’ and chic frames, gradientlens and bright and bold prints for‘her’ – Fossil’s sunglasses collectionwill fancy your eyes. Available acrossLifestyle and Shoppers Stop stores.
Rs 2,795 to Rs 4,795
Bold and behold
The Rajasthani craft takes theshape of Jaipur Gem’s neckpieceswith uncut diamonds, rubies and
emerald beads.Available:
Jaipur Gems – Mumbai, Chennai, Coim.batore
JewelledJadau
15 March 16, 2011Smarttbuy
BLING corner
‘Entice’ing you with large diamonds,coloured stones and all things precious,KGK group’s newly launched brand hassome exquisite pieces.Available: Entice, New Delhi
A tempting offerLuscious tear-drop rubies and diamondsgrace Goenka Diamonds and Jeweller’schandelier earring from Ceres.Available: Its store Ceres, Mumbai andRavissant, Mumbai
Seeing Red!
Freshwater pearl drops, pink-huedpearl string and diamonds in this
Victorian lace motif – inspiredjewellery by Mirari.
Available:Mirari, Emporio Mall,
New Delhi
A thing for lace
Symbolised by the mysticCeltic knot, Poonam
Soni’s platinum pendanthas been accentuated
with tanzanite anddiamonds.
Available:Check out her boutiques in
Mumbai for more.
Eternal love
Price on request for all products
Photo: S. Muralidhar