Nokia unveils Asha 308 and Asha 309 full-touch smartphones

Nokia today unveiled the Asha 308 and Asha 309, the latest additions to the Asha Touch family of mobile devices. They are tagged as the Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date giving consumers fast web access at low cost. The Nokia Asha 308 features easy swap Dual SIM and Asha 309 is the single SIM variant with WiFi. Asha 308 and 309 deliver a full smartphone experience enriched with new Nokia web services and developer tools. Nokia estimates the retail price for the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 to be about Rs 5300, excluding taxes and subsidies, with shipping expected to start in the fourth quarter 2012.

                      

The new devices offer a fluid 'swipe' user interface and an open environment for third-party application development, characteristics that have earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC."Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone experience with lower running costs," said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "By introducing the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, we're expanding our affordable smartphone lineup and bringing new mobile experiences to more people."

                                           

The Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 are Nokia's most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date. A view shared by independent analysts is that the Asha line represents great smartphones available for less than USD 99. "Nokia's Asha Touch family delivers all the core smartphone experiences, and with the new software developer kit, provides ever-increasing flexibility for developers to build compelling new experiences for consumers," said Will Stofega, Mobile Phone Program Director, IDC.

                                   

The Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 are 2G-enabled devices featuring a 3.0'' WQVGA capacitive display, multiple home screens, stereo radio, loud speakers and up to 32GB microSD card support. The Nokia Asha 309 is the single SIM variant with WiFi, while the Nokia Asha 308 is a dual SIM device featuring Nokia's industry-leading Easy Swap technology. Easy Swap enables people to switch between multiple SIM cards quickly and easily to get the best local tariffs without having to remove the battery or turn off the phone.

    

The phones also come with the free* gift of 40 premium EA games, social features such as standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, the Nokia Messaging Service, and video streaming through the browser from sites like YouTube - a first within the Asha Touch range.

                                 

Nokia Asha 308 key specifications
Nokia OS>br> 3-inch WVGA capacitive touch display with 400x240 pixel resolution
Dual-SIM
2MP camera
Bluetooth 3.0connectivity
1110mAh
64MB internal storage, expandable upto 3GB via microSD
FM Radio with RDS

                 

Nokia Asha 309 key specifications
Nokia OS
3-inch WVGA capacitive touch display with 400x240 pixel resolution
2MP camera
WiFi and Bluetooth
1110mAh
64MB internal storage, expandable upto 3GB via microSD
FM Radio with RDS

                      

Nokia also introduced two extensions to its Xpress Browser Internet platform, the only cloud-based web browser to support web apps. The Nokia Nearby web app helps people discover new places by searching nearby locations and presenting the options on a map.

                        

The service is available via Nokia Xpress Browser or as a feature within Nokia Maps.The Nokia Life+ web app will give millions of people access to content that spans education, health and infotainment to enhance their daily lives. Nokia Life+ is available in English across 18 countries, with local versions coming to India, China and Indonesia in the fourth quarter of this year.

    

Nokia Life+ can be accessed through Nokia Xpress Browser or the Nokia Store.Both services work with Asha Touch smartphones. In addition to these services, Nokia introduced a new web-based tool that makes it even easier to build new applications. With Nokia Xpress Web App Builder, publishers can create appealing web apps for Asha Touch devices, and even novices can turn their web content into a fun and sophisticated web app for Nokia consumers

    

Road test: Renault Duster

     

Review: Jabra clipper Bluetooth headset

     

Asus launches ultrabooks, notebook in India

     

Test drive: Nissan Evalia

     

Review: New Audi A4

    

Sony Nextep: computer

Sony Nextep: Designed by Hiromi Kirik from Japan
Developed to be worn as a bracelet, this computer concept is constructed out of a flexible OLED touchscreen.
with holographic projector (for screen), & pull-out extra keyboard panels..

      

Mahindra launches Quanto compact SUV

Available in four variants – C2, C4, C6 & C8, the Quanto is powered by a 1.5 litre mCR100 diesel engine giving a category best output of 100bhp and 240nm of torque. The mCR100 engine has India’s first twin

    

Quanto with a sub 4m length and a tight turning radius of 5.4m has the compactness and convenience of a city car, packaged with 5+2 seats. It is a perfect blend of smart city run about and capable weekend SUV.

    

The Quanto also boasts Mahindra’s revolutionary micro hybrid technology which has further enhanced its mileage, which is certified by ARAI at a class leading 17.2 kmpl.

   

The chunky alloy wheels, stylish rear stepney and sporty roof rails add to this SUV’s stature and character. All this makes the Quanto a real head turner on the road.

    

It comes with a two tone granite themed dashboard giving the interiors a premium feel and a touch of elegance

    

Quanto is available in 4 exciting variants and 6 elegant colours to suit a variety of tastes. These include Fiery Black, Mist Silver, Toreador Red, Java Brown, Diamond White and Rocky Beige

   

Quanto offers its customers plenty of space and flexibility, as it is the only sub 4m SUV in India with a 5+2 seating arrangement.

   

This places the vehicle in all together different league, while the folding third row increases luggage carrying capacity when needed. Other features include foldable snack trays and individual arm rests for the driver and co-passenger.

   

The Quanto also has plenty of utility spaces, including 5 bottle holders, magazine pockets and under-seat storage.

   

Quanto comes packed with the Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS), Intellipark Reverse Assist, 2 DIN music system with CD, MP3, USB & Aux in, state of art 5MT320 transmission and Micro Hybrid technology.

   

Discovering India, with the Honda Brio

For most of us, Karnataka means the 'erstwhile garden city' of Bangalore, which has now been transformed into a concrete jungle. But beyond the city, there's a pristine, unexplored expanse of countryside spread over the profusely green Western Ghats. Honda's Drive to Discover programme explores such unexposed splendour of India while rediscovering the joys of driving a Honda car. So when Honda invited me to drive the Brio from Goa to Bangalore across the Ghats as part of the Drive to Discover event, I didn't think twice about joining them.

My tryst with the Brio began with a ceremonial flag off at Coastal Honda in Goa. It was a rainy morning; the party capital still asleep, streets deserted, hymns from nearby churches wafting through the raindrops...what an ambiance to begin the drive!

Since there was no predetermined route or timetable to stick to, we started sauntering along the coastal highways of Goa in two sticker-clad Honda Brios. As we crossed the Goan border, monsoon clouds slowly drifted away and the morning sun shone through the Brio's window.

The broken letters on the 'Welcome to Karnataka' signage were suggestive of the broken roads ahead. Heavy monsoons have carved craters all along the coastal highway. But the Brio remained unfazed on the roads completely ravaged by rain. There was very less noise sneaking into the cabin and I was really impressed with the Brio's ride quality.

Karwar port is the only natural harbour in Karnataka. Also, Karwar is the only naval base in India exclusively available to Indian Navy. Near the port, the highway passes along the beach front and we took the Brios briefly onto the beach for a photoshoot. Wheels of the blue Brio got stuck in a tricky patch of sand but it was no sweat for us to extricate this extremely light machine from the wheel-deep sand. The beach was getting hotter in the humid weather and we rushed back to the comforts of the Brios. I must mention here that Honda Brio has one of the most powerful air conditioners in its class.

A few kilometres from Karwar, we started a steady ascent along the road that tore through the luxuriantly green Western Ghats. As a preview to the magnificent Jog Falls, there were gorgeous streams awaiting us at every turn. Weaving through the meandering curls toward Jog Falls, the Brio behaved beautifully, keeping good poise and balance.

It's monsoon and needless to say, Jog Falls looked as majestic as ever. With half the day at our disposal and pit stop for the day being just 100 kilometres away, we decided to trek down to the base of the falls. There are 1500 steps that take you down from the view point and we ran down fervently. Oh boy! words fall short of expressing how it felt basking in the waterfall mist and also how we managed to climb up the same 1500 steps. Phew!

The second day's drive was mostly across the deserted highways across farmlands. There was hardly anything to distract us from appreciating the many facets of the Brio. Even so, we passed by some breathtaking sunflower and marigold fields against the backdrop of which the Brio looked absolutely dazzling. Moreover, the little car's high speed stability and braking prowess were remarkable.

Although we were all drained after the two day drive, it was still fun to zip the Brio around in Bangalore's crazy traffic. Brio's light steering, compact dimensions and the i-VTEC motor's wonderful low end grunt make city driving less nerve-wracking.

Finally, I handed over the Brio's key to Honda's officials. Two days and 630 kilometres with the Brio was an exquisite experience, thanks to the car's fantastic i-VTEC engine, sedan-like comfort and impeccably crafted interiors. And yes, the Brio returned a mileage of 14.7 in city and 16.9 on highway.

The Brio's journey doesn't end here; an automatic variant is all set for next month's launch and testing of the diesel Brio is on full swing.

The Dark Energy Camera

570-Megapixel Dark Energy Camera (DECam), The Dark Energy Camera is the most powerful survey instrument of its kind, able to see light from over 100,000 galaxies up to 8 billion light years away in each snapshot. The camera's array of 62 charged-coupled devices has an unprecedented sensitivity to very red light, and along with the Blanco telescope's large light-gathering mirror (which spans 13 feet across), will allow scientists from around the world to pursue investigations ranging from studies of asteroids in our own Solar System to the understanding of the origins and the fate of the universe..

                          

Check out Samsung's latest Series 9 laptop.

         

Check out the Panasonic Pro Twin-Lens 3D Camera.

The cars billionaires celebrities drive

According to the Forbes Billionaires List, Mexican telecom giant Carlos Slim Helu is the world's richest man. He drives a Bentley Continental Flying Spur which costs around 1,70,00,000 Indian rupees.

   

Reliance India Chairman Mukesh Ambani with a net worth of $22.3 billion is the world's richest Indian in the Forbes list. He drives one of the most luxurious cars, a Maybach 62 along with a Mercedes S Class and a Mercedes SL500. The Maybach is worth a whopping INR 5 crores.

   

Industrialist Anil Ambani drives a car that suits his personality, a Lamborghini Gallardo. The Gallardo accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 325 km/h. Its V10 engine offers 500 hp and 376 lbs-ft of torque.

   

No, Ratan Tata doesn’t drive a Tata Nano. He uses a Mercedes S Class instead. His fleet also includes a Ferrari California, a Maserati Quattroporte, a Cadillac XLR and a Chrysler Sebring.

   

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is famous for his passion for vintage cars. However, among his daily drivers is the pricey Maybach 62.

   

The miserly side of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is no secret. He owns one of the cheapest cars, an Acura TSX. It costs about $30,000 (Rs 17 lakh)

   

Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ daily drive is a Porsche 959 Coupe. Only 230 examples of this car were built and each one costs 2.2 crore Indian rupees.

  

Another modest billionaire, Steve Ballmer, drives a hybrid Ford Fusion which is worth around 10 lakh Indian rupees.

   

Financial data tycoon Michael Bloomberg drives an Audi R8 that’s worth more than a crore.

   

Heiress of the Wal-Mart fortune, Alice Walton, is the second richest woman in the world. But she owns a simple car, a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch. It is worth Rs 22 lakh

   

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, the nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, certainly drives the royal car. However, his Rolls-Royce Phantom is an entry level version and costs around Rs 3.5 crores in India.

    

Warren Buffett drives a Cadillac DTS which, according to Business Insider, he bought to support the then failing General motors

    

Billionaire Michael Dell drives a cool 2004 Porsche Boxter.

   

Google’s current executive Chairman Eric Emerson Schmidt loves the nature and drives a Toyota Prius, which is among the cleanest vehicles in the world.

    

French businessman and the chief executive officer of PPR François-Henri Pinault drives a Lexus LX SUV.

   

Ikea founder Ingvard Kamprad is worth an estimated $28 billion according to Forbes. However, he seems to be the humblest among the billionaires and has been driving a 1993 Volvo 240. According to Business Insider, if the car sold today, it would only be worth about $1500 (Rs. 83160)

   

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has a huge collection of pricey cars but the most prestigious possession is a McLaren F1. Production of this car was stopped in 1998 and only 106 were produced. This car could accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds. This car is currently worth $4.1 million.

   

Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs drives around in a silver Audi A5.

    

Phil Knight, co-founder and chairman of Nike, owns an Audi R8.

   

What's new in Apple's new iPhone 5

The iPhone5 sports a larger four-inch retina display screen that is 18 per cent thinner and 20 per cent lighter than its predecessor.

   

The roomier screen of the iPhone 5, which has 40 per cent more colour saturation, can be used by apps makers to provide most accurate display in the industry.

   

The iPhone's width is just right for navigating with one's thumb, to make it easy to send text messages, swipe through pages and browse the Web. The additional vertical space on the iPhone 5 screen will let users add a fifth, additional row of apps on the home screen - more room for Web browsing and reading.

   

The iPhone 5 comes with Apple's newest 'A6' processor, which executives said runs twice as fast as the previous generation. It will pack three microphones -- enhancing built-in voice assistant Siri -- and an 8 megapixel camera that can take panoramic views.

   

The iPhone 5 has chips that support additional bands and frequencies and it's capable of delivering up to 100 Mbps per second.

   

The iPhone 5 is getting a new connector to attach to computers and chargers. It had been using the same one from the iPod. That means the new iPhone won't be compatible with old accessories, though Schiller said accessory makers were already working to update their products. Apple will sell an adapter to work with older accessories.

   

One popular enhancement was improved battery endurance -- the iPhone 5 can support eight hours of 4G Web browsing.

   

With the iPhone, it is shipping new 'EarPods' audiophones, designed after digitally scanning hundreds of ears. 

Apple is releasing a new version of its phone software, iOS 6. It will have a new mapping software, as Apple ditches the one from Google it had been using. The new software will have turn-by-turn voice navigation ' a feature Google had limited to Android versions of its mapping app.

   

Upgrades to the software include voice navigation for driving, a feature already available on many Android smartphones, as well as 'Passbook' for storing electronic boarding passes, sports tickets and gift cards.