The improvements to Opera’s look and feel are many, but the result is a leaner browsing experience, so users have more room on screen for content. The new Opera menu button replaces the traditional menu bar, so there is a single-point to access all of Opera’s groundbreaking features.

Opera 10.50 runs on a new JavaScript engine, Carakan, and a new graphics library, Vega and allows users to browse privately in a tab or in an entirely separate window.

Other features include:

• Opera Turbo – When bandwidth is slows, Opera Turbo compresses Web pages on the main servers. and because less data is transferred, Web content gets to you faster.
• Opera Unite – Opera Unite combines the flexibility of a Web application with the capability of a Web server, easily accessible from your browser.
• Opera Link – Synchronize your Speed Dial, notes, search-engine preferences and more; then, just log into any other Opera Web browser or even Opera Mini, the world’s most popular mobile Web browser.

“Opera 10.50 is the fastest browser in almost all speed tests,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera. “But, more important than any speed test is the real-world speed during use. We designed Opera 10.50 to be easy to use, while making our unique features stand out, so you can get more out of the Web.”

Opera 10.50 includes improved standards support for HTML5 and CSS3, giving Web designers the tools they need to make eye-catching Web applications that work on completely open technologies.

Opera 10.50 is available completely free from www.opera.com or via Microsoft’s browser choice screen. It is currently available for Windows and comes in 42 different languages. Mac and Linux versions will be launched soon.

All four netbooks have several display features to enhance the viewing experiance. The 10-1-inch LED anti-reflective display enhances the movie viewing experience. This netbooks comes with an integrated webcam for video conferencing and live messaging.

This netbooks are based on Samsung’s new crystal pattern design and comes with innovative hardisk freefall sensor which helps to protect the data in case the netbook drops. The device is also split resistant.

The N210 features a Instant-on that allows ther user to go online without booting the window. All these featuers the Intel’s latest processor, the Intel Atom N450.

The Samsung N210, N220, N150 and NB30 will be available in market by January.

Housed in a lightweight carbon-fiber chassis, the X Series weighs just 1.6 pounds (with standard battery) and is just over a half-inch thin – roughly the width of a cell phone.

It features a 16:9 aspect ratio packed into a compact 11.1-inch (diagonal) footprint. The scratch-resistant LCD display has LED backlight technology.

The X Series is also supplied with both a standard and super-extended capacity battery, delivering extra-long battery life for day-long productivity-up to 3.5 hours for the standard battery and up to 14 hours for the super-extended capacity battery.

“It’s one thing to make a notebook thin but when you consider the fact that the X Series also boasts industry-leading battery life and wireless WAN – you now have a game changer-altering the way people use and think about their PC,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony.

The laptop’s uniquely configured keyboard is designed with spacing between the keys for a comfortable typing experience. The keystroke is firm and solid creating a user-friendly touch and feel that makes finding the keys more intuitive.

The unit’s touchpad features a multi-touch functionality commonly associated with touch-enabled smartphones. This means that you can zoom in and out, flip through pictures, rotate items clockwise and counterclockwise, and scroll vertically and horizontally without ever touching your mouse.

The X Series integrates wireless 3G Mobile Broadband technology provided by Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In, Wi-Fi (802.11n), and Bluetooth wireless technologies-so you will always be connected. For 3G Mobile Broadband technology, a separate Verizon service subscription is required.

The model also incorporates real-time GPS functionality. Destinations can be found by simply typing in an address or keyword and then following the turn-by-turn directions. It even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination (United States or Canada only). No Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.

The X Series incorporates a solid state drive (SSD) used in place of the spinning hard disk drive found in most computers. This provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications, while reducing the risk of hard drive damage-an ideal feature for those on-the-go who are in situations where sudden movements are common. It will come with Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

The VAIO X Series notebook will come in two colors, black and gold, and start at about $1,300.

Stay tuned for the info on the India launch.

And in case you own the Xbox360 version of the game, you’ll be glad to know that both DLC packs – The Lost and The Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony will be available in stores on disc by the end of the month for Rs. 1999.

Oh and before I forget PSP owners should keep an eye out for the PSP port of Chinatown Wars that should hit stores this week as well for Rs. 1499.

Ultimate Ears by Logitech earphones deliver customized comfort by creating a “magic” seal between your ear and the outside world, limiting ambient noise. Both the MetroFi 170s and the 200s provide 16 dBs of noise isolation.

MetroFi noise-isolating earphones use silicone ear-cushions that are soft enough to conform to the unique shape of the ear canal, yet strong enough to help create exceptionally accurate sound quality.

You get three silicone ear-cushions to choose from ensuring you find a fit that makes the MetroFi 170 or the MetroFi 200 earphones perfect for you.

Featuring a titanium-coated speaker that delivers a crisp sound signature, the MetroFi 200 earphones give a fuller mix with more detail in the higher-frequency range for deeper bass and clear treble.

The 170s and 200s also include a red-colored right earphone to help you distinguish between left and right earphones. A pocket-sized carrying case is also bundled.

All MetroFi earphones are compatible with any iPod digital device, MP3 player or laptop with a 3.5 mm jack.

The MetroFi 170 and the MetroFi 200 earphones are available in iPhone- and BlackBerry- compatible models – with voice-integrated technology. For handsfree calling, the MetroFi 170vi and MetroFi 200vi earphones offer a miniature high-performance microphone that lets you switch between making calls and enjoying music and video on your iPhone or BlackBerry.

The MetroFi range of Ultimate Ears earphones from Logitech are available for the following prices:

MetroFi 170 – INR 3495
MetroFi 170vi – INR 3995
MetroFi 200 – INR 5495
MetroFi 200v – INR 6495

All the products enjoy a replacement warranty of 1 year and are distributed by Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd.

Sony Vaio VGN-SR46GD/B
MRP:Rs 74,000

The VAIO series is known for its elegance and premium functionalities. A glimpse at the spec sheet and we believe that it would tempt you to grab the device. The VGN-SR46GD/B laptop is nothing less than the most powerful computing device that comes with Intel Core2 Duo processor supplemented by 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, Genuine Windows Vista Business 64-bit with Service Pack 1 and 320GB HDD. The laptop boasts of an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics card with 512MB of dedicated video memory. The compact device is built with 33.8cm wide WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT color display. It features a front side camera, supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR as well as Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 network connectivity functionality. For those who wish to enjoy music, videos and other multimedia format, the VAIO laptop is fully capable of providing finest experience with its Intel High Definition Audio compatible sound chip as well as its built-in stereo speakers. The Sony laptop measures 315mm x 24.9-34mm x 233.8mm and weighs around 1.99 kg including battery. The ultra-tech VGN-SR46GD/B is retailed for around Rs. 74,000.

Dell Studio 14
MRP : Rs. 43,900

If you are looking for a laptop with premium graphics capabilities then the Dell Studio 14 could be a great option. Dual Core processor is no longer a luxury but more of a necessity. The laptop is equipped with Intel Core2 Duo Processor and operates on Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium OS. As far as the storage capacity is concerned, it includes a 320GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive that is accelerated with the help of 4GB dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM. To enhance the graphics functionalities, the Dell laptop packages a 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 graphics card. The Studio 14 sports a 14-inch High Definition 720p WLED (1366×768) display. The notebook also captures snapshots with its 2 megapixel integrated camera. The laptop is inclusive of Dell Wireless 365 2.1 Bluetooth adapter, 8-in-1 memory card reader, internal 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 (802.11a/g/n) Half Mini-card, Dell keyboard with touchpad as well as integrated speakers. The Studio 14 comes with a price tag of Rs. 43,900, inclusive of a one year hardware warranty.

HP Pavilion dv6 1154tx
MRP: Rs. 64,990

An all rounder device that would delight the techie’s eye is the dv6 1154tx, one of the models belonging to the dv6 series of HP Pavilion lineup. Let’s get into the crux of the notebook. The dv6 1154tx is powered by 2.40 GHz Intel Core2 Duo processor, 6-cell Li-ion battery and driven by Windows Vista Home Premium OS. Gamers would be delighted to know that the notebook is packaged with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 graphics card with 1024 MB dedicated memory. It is inclusive of 2 x 2048MB memory and 500GB of internal drive. The HP notebook features 15.6-inch HP Brightview display (1366 x 768). For a premium audio experience, it incorporates Altec Lansing speakers. The laptop is equipped with an integrated HP Pavilion webcam featuring digital microphone as well as LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±RW with double layer support optical drive. The dimensions of the device are 37.85cm x 25.8cm x 3.4cm (min.) and it weighs about 2.88 kg. This HP laptop can be purchased for Rs. 64,990.

Acer Aspire 5739G
MRP : Rs. 54,859.

The innovator in notebook technology has brought to fore a notebook that aims to fulfill your technological aspirations, the Acer Aspire 5739G. The Aspire series is extensive, however the 5739G looks robust with an Intel Core2 Duo processor and carries a Mobile Intel PM45 Express chipset. Now-a-days memory is not a constraint, the computing device is equipped with 320GB SATA HDD. The Aspire series notebook employs the latest technological innovations is proven by the fact that it incorporates 4X Blu-ray Disc/DVD SuperMulti double-layer drive. The notebook comes with Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic, Ultimate or Premium. It is inclusive of a 5-in-1 card reader that supports Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card. The 15.6-inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution seems satisfactory. The sturdy notebook has passed several tests that certify its robustness including spillage test, acoustics test, shock and vibration tests and other complex tests. Multimedia capabilities of the notebook are also appreciable. It presents Dolby-optimized surround sound system with two built-in stereo speakers and Acer Tuba CineBass booster supporting low-frequency effects among other audio-video capabilities. Security of the system and data is ensured via Acer Bio-Protection fingerprint solution, featuring Windows log on, computer protection, FingerLaunch, ProfileLaunch, MusicLaunch, password bank, MyLaunch and Acer FingerNav. The 5739G measures 16.14″ x 11.25″ x 1.37/1.63″ and inclusive of 8-cell battery pack, it weighs around 2.8 kg. The notebook comes with one year international travelers’ warranty and is offered for Rs. 54,859.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL400
MRP: Rs. 44, 650

People yearning for a mid range laptop in terms of configuration as well as pricing can look forward to the Lenovo ThinkPad SL400. Like most of the laptops that we have mentioned so far, even this one incorporates a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The spec sheet highlights 2GB DDR2 SDRAM along with a 250GB hard disk and genuine Windows Vista Business. The 14.1-inch WXGA VibrantView TFT display is commendable and offers 1280 x 800 resolution. As far as the connectivity features are concerned, the ThinkPad is equipped with Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100 as well as Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR. The device employs ThinkPad UltraNav pointing device and is boosted by 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery. It also features dual layer DVD recordable. To acquire the SL400, you will have to invest Rs. 44, 650.

HCL Leaptop Z3919
MRP : Rs. 57,340

HCL presents their collection of notebooks in an innovative way and calls them as leaptops. Among their range of leaptops, the Z3919 appears to be more prominent than the others in terms of its functionalities as well as design. Even this leaptop, is packaged with Intel Core 2 Duo Processor like the others in the lineup. The high configuration device from HCL is equipped with 8GB DDR2 RAM and 500GB SATA HDD. The Z3919 appears to be handy with the 14-inch WXGA Wide Screen TFT (1280x 800) display. The technologies that boost the performance of the HCL leaptop include Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M-HD, Realtek ALC268 High Definition Audio controller, 4 in 1 Card Reader and more. It features Slim DVD DL Super Multi Drive with DVD RAM support and incorporates integrated Bluetooth and 2 megapixel web camera with internal mic. The 2.4 Kg leaptop packages 6-cells Li-ion battery. With a one year warranty, the Z3919 Leaptop is priced at Rs. 57,340.

Toshiba L500
MRP : Rs. 45,450

When it comes to Toshiba, we can expect nothing other than the best at least in terms of performance. The Satellite series presents the best of technologies together in a compact device. However, our pick among those is the L500. It may appear that its specifications are same as that of the others that are enlisted. But, the tact with which Toshiba blends the different technologies definitely stands out. The Satellite laptop comes with a 2.1 GHz Intel Core2 Duo Processor and Windows Vista Home Premium OS. The L500 is inclusive of 3GB DDR2 RAM as well as 320GB SATA HDD. It packages a 40.64cms CSV screen that offers 1366 x 768 resolution. The graphics capabilities are taken care of owing to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD. Users can experience ultimate connectivity features with Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR, Intel 802.11 a/g/n WLAN as well as 10 / 100 Mbps LAN / NIC. The Satellite L500 is inclusive of a one year International Limited Warranty. The laptop is retailed for Rs. 45,450.

Asus G50V
MRP: Rs.1,15,000

Our next pick seems to be every gamers’ delight. A gamer always looks for a high-speed device that couples amazing graphics capabilities. The Asus ‘gaming laptop’, the G50V runs on Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium edition and is supported by 2.4GHz Intel Core2 Duo Processor. To display the premium graphics quality that is portrayed in games, the G50V packages Nvidia GeForce 9700M GT with DDR3 512 MB VRAM. The Asus notebook facilitates users to hoard games in 320GB HDD. The gaming gadget comprises of 4GB DDR II RAM. The laptop is rather heavy, weighing 2.8 kg with 6-cell battery. Some of the other specifications of the Asus device include an 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0 support, 8x Multi-Dual ODD, 2-megapixel web camera and Altec Lansing speakers. With this device, Asus offers a two year limited global hardware warranty. Asus retails this gaming machine for Rs.1,15,000.

LG R510-L.A2M8A2
MRP:Rs. 36,900

One of the appealing features of the LG R510-L.A2M8A2 is its sleek design. The specifications are similar to most of the premium devices, however it scores the ‘brownie points’ in terms of its look-and-feel. The LG laptop packages a 2GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor and is functional on Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic OS. Memory of 2GB DDR2 RAM is quite suitable for any application. It also incorporates a 2.5-inch 5400rpm 250GB SATA HDD. The R510 boasts of a 15.4-inch LED WXGA (1280 x 800) display and a SATA DVD Super Multi Dual Layer ODD. Apart from the QWERTY keypad, it also presents a touchpad with scroll function. The LG laptop can be termed as a multimedia device with its 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Slot, SRS WOW HD, SRS TruSurround HD and stereo speakers. It packages a 1.3 megapixel LG Smart Cam camera with an internal mic. Getting connected is easy with this laptop that offers Bluetooth v2.0+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet and supports (802.11 b/g/n). The 6-cell powered device weighs 2.7 kg. However, LG also offers a weight saver measuring 2.55 kg. The LG R510-L.A2M8A2 can be purchased for Rs. 36,900.

Samsung NP-R522
MRP:Rs. 41,919

Samsung might not be the leader in the notebook arena, however the innovative NP-R522 notebook packages a host of interesting features. The NP-R522 is driven by 2.16GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor and runs on Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic OS. The Samsung device features a 15.6-inch LED HD (1366 x 768). Though it does not offer a massive storage capacity, the 160GB HDD is satisfactory. The Samsung notebook appears to be an ideal entertainment tool with SRS 3D sound effect, 3 watts stereo speaker. Some other functionalities that the NP-R522 carries, include 802.11b/g WLAN and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. Further, it incorporates 2GB DDR2 RAM. The dimensions of the notebook are 376mm x 255.8mm x 31.3mm (max 37.2) and it weighs around 2.55 kg. It can be owned for Rs. 41,919.

Wear your ‘tech-cap’ and choose a comprehensive device that would invigorate your personal and professional lives. Do not wait any longer to grab these laptops, hurry up you may avail some festive discounts too. The pricing of these laptops may vary according to the reseller.

Philips 32PFL5609
MRP – Rs. 47,990
MOP – Rs. 38,000

Philips is another one of those brands that contribute to the development of a technology on the whole, and series like their Ambilight range had gained immense popularity years back when it launched. This model we have is a new 32-incher by them, called the 32PFL5609. It’s from their 5000 series, and this one too is Full HD. The design is curvaceous, with rounded corners and glossy black finish. The power LED is a small simple white one on the left corner, and that’s about it on the bare bezel.

The connections include 3 HDMIs (only TV on this list that has 3), 2 component video, 2 composite Headphone out, and last but not the least a USB, that plays MPEG4 video files like DivX etc., also MPEG1 files like .dat and .mpg files, besides MP3s and JPEGs. The panel is 1920 x 1080, brightness is 500 cd/m2, response time is 5 ms, and finally DCR is 50,000:1.

The TV, once switched on, has something very different from the rest: a setup wizard, which runs a set of images in 2 different settings, and you have to choose which one is suitable. The TV then tries to calibrate according to your preferences. It doesn’t do the best job, but it’s really interesting. The pure black levels are quite deep and impressive, plus there is an automatic light sensing preset that adjust brightness according to ambient light. This works very well. The Grayscale performance was very good, with good detail in low blacks and no clipping of higher whites. The backlight is clearly a notch brighter than the rest, this we could see subjectively itself, before the use of any meter. Colors also are very vibrant and full bodied. I cannot say that it is bang on target in terms of saturation, but it takes on a balance that suits the eye well. It is a bit on the warmer side and skin tones look intense in this model. Motion video was as good as any other LCD TV in this price bracket; with just a little blur coming up once in a while in hard to render scenes.

FOR: Full HD panel, very good contrast, Nicely saturated colors, especially warmer hues, reasonable price
AGAINST: UI can be gimmicky

Sony KLV 32V550A
MRP Rs.49900
MOP Rs.46,900

Sony’s V series always has the speaker grille clinging on to the bottom edge, under a plastic strip, transparent in the middle. This strip has touch sensitive buttons on it, etched in white. The rest of the bezel is a glossy black, a solid rectangular affair with no fancy contours or grooves.
Overall we have a healthy buffet of connectors: 4 HDMIs, 2 component, 3 composite in, one headphone out and last but not least a USB 2.0 slot (plays .mp3,. jpeg and .mpg files). This TV has the latest Bravia Engine 3 doing the video processing, and also comes with Sony’s acclaimed XMB, or the Cross media bar user interface like they have in the PS3. Thus now, to change brightness we have to press 4 buttons instead of one.There are other nice features like Ambient Light Sensor, 24p True cinema, and Live color, which enhances colors.

As for rated specs the main USP is still the Full HD panel, a 1920 x 1080 resolution makes up this LCD. The Brightness and contrast ratings are not given. This model does not have 100 Hz Motionflow feature – that one is for the higher W series 32-incher.

This TV does have a healthy brightness, and hardly any clipping and blooming at high whites.
Blacks, are decent for LCD standards, as in it doesn’t look like a faded T shirt at medium backlight and 50% brightness. It’s not deep and spectacular though. Speaking of luminance curve, or simply speaking, we saw a bit of reddish saturation at higher whites. Colors are vibrant, but as mentioned, clearly a bit amped on the red channel, this we could gauge in our RGB pluge pattern, where high intensity red bars were merging together. Thus the overall image has a warm saturated feel to it, which does not look bad really, just intense skin tones and the like.

Motion and detail are very good. The sharpness setting should not be raised above midpoint (15) because that is when haloing starts occurring. We watched Valkyrie Blu-ray, and played Killzone (on PS3). The details in both different types of video, were very impressive: sharp edges with hardly any blur, even in the game.

FOR : Full HD panel, good features, good brightness
AGAINST : More expensive than the rest, heavy reds.

Samsung LA32B530P7R
MRP Rs.44,000/-
MOP Rs.38000/-

Aesthetics-wise the TV is simple yet classy – a clean design with a glossy black exoskeleton. There is also a thick glass sleeve running along the bottom border to add effect. Connections are usual with 2 HDMIs, 2 component, 1 composite and a headphone out. The panel is Full HD 1920 x 1080, with a contrast ratio of 60,000:1 (dynamic), brightness rating is not given.

The best thing about this TV is the parameters the menu offers to dial in a good image: there is white balance, gamma, black level adjust, dynamic contrast, variable backlight etc. And of course the images look very sharp and crisp due to a higher definition of the panel itself. Grayscale wise, the TV is not so hunky dory and spectacular, rather it is a sober, decent performer, with black levels being its Achilles’ heel – they are not so deep. Whites are still better with accurate color temp at pure 100 IRE white, no tinges and coloration.

FOR : Full HD panel, Very good parameters in the UI to calibrate, Quite pure whites even at high contrasts, Reasonable
AGAINST : Weak blacks

The winner will have to be Philips here, as the price is quite decent, but moreover we have no real compromise in the image performance department. Besides a UI that has too many bells and whistles, one can actually dial in a great image if patient enough. The panel is bright and motion has respectable accuracy.

All wires are attached to their respective units. No free dangling ones are included, thus this increases ease of connection and use. The sub is a straight up rectangular affair, with a lead rimmed reflex port on the front face. The woofer is downward firing, and measures about 4-inches diameter. Each satellite speaker has a single 2-inch driver housed in the front cross section, hidden safely behind a permanent cloth grille. Overall, I must say that this model really looks very good and has a finish quality like some of its more expensive counterparts. The output power is rated at 30 watts total. Frequency response is rated at 30Hz – 20 KHz.

Performance
We plugged the little boys together, and into our PC. Before starting music, we played some single sine tones and frequency sweeps to see the response. The bass goes low. It’s audible clearly till 35 Hz, after which it tapers off fast. The highs too are quite impressive at the fag end of 12 -16 K, no spikes or ‘jagged edges’ in the sound, meaning the treble’s sibilance was smooth sounding. Overall frequency balance was above average, with no boomy bass, something I was afraid of.

We moved on to music MP3s, and then played a rip of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. It was during these stages that I realized this model’s main flaw. It’s not powerful enough, not loud at all. Even for a single bedroom, private audience scenarios, the speaker lacks the dB SPL. It’s a sad scene, as everything else is very good, be it frequency response or purity at its highest volume setting. It actually doesn’t distort, like other low priced budget models. The amp should have/could have been more powerful.

Conclusion
At an MOP of Rs. 1,499, this model really comes reasonably priced, but lacks power. It looks very cute and neat, has high portability, and also has a more than decent frequency output balance. Anyone not really interested in louder sound levels, will appreciate the model. But that is a rare bunch, and the rest will surely find this one too soft for audio fun.

Nokia N900
At the top of the list is Nokia’s new mobile computing solution – the N900. This is not like the N800 Series tablets that we’ve seen before. The N900 somehow manages to take things in a new direction. The company has decided to go with an open source Linux-based platform called Maemo. Its ARM Cortex-A8 processor should make it quite a speedy device and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration should really make the visual experience pop.

The Nokia N900 will feature –
- a 3.5-inch touch-sensitive widescreen display with an 800 × 480 pixel resolution
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard and on-screen virtual keyboard as well
- 3G (HSDPA, HSUPA), EDGE/GPRS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0 (Micro)
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS support (Ovi Maps preloaded)
- Maemo browser powered by Mozilla technology and Adobe Flash9.4 support
- 32GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48GB via a microSD card
- 3.5mm earphone and handsfree socket (AV out)
- 5 megapixel autofocus camera (Carl Zeiss optics and a Tessar lens) with a Dual LED flash
- Video playback includes XviD support (FINALLY)
- Built-in FM transmitter and radio

LG BL40 Chocolate
LG’s latest in their previous popular chocolate series is the new uber sleek BL40. It’s a large handset with extreme widescreen capabilities. LG has gone with a slightly varied version of their S-Class UI that features multitouch. It appears to be quite a feature rich fashion phone that has a lot to offer users looking for multimedia provisions as well as good looks.

The long and slim (sorry, but there’s no other way to describe it) BL40 comes with -
- a 4.01-inch touchscreen with a widescreen resolution of 345 x 800 pixels
- 3G (HSDPA), EDGE/GPRS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0 (Micro)
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS support
- 1GB of storage, which is expandable via a microSD cards
- 3.5mm earphone and handsfree socket (AV out)
- 5 megapixel autofocus camera (Schneider-Kreuznach optics) with an LED flash
- DivX and XviD video support
- Built-in FM transmitter and radio
- Dolby Mobile sound engine

Sony Ericsson Xperia X2
SE’s Xperia 2 or X2, is definitely a better looking version that the previous. It has a slightly more refined and sleeker look, especially draped in black. Hopefully the QWERTY keypad will prove to be a little more comfortable as well. The layout of the handset does seem a little better as well especially with the larger optical trackpad for navigation. This upgrade will be released with Windows Mobile 6.5 (Professional) so we’re looking at a better looking UI as well.

Other features that the X2 will have will include -
- a 3.2-inch touchscreen with resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
- Slide out QWERTY keyboard and Optical trackpad
- 3G (HSDPA, HSUPA), EDGE/GPRS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0 (Micro)
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS support
- microSD card support
- 3.5mm earphone and handsfree socket (AV out)
- 8 megapixel autofocus camera with an LED flash
- XviD video support

Samsung Corby
Samsung’s Corby is a cute little handset that is slated to be in the low end touchscreen category. In fact the approximate pricing is about Rs. 10,000 (non-confirmed) which could easily make it one of the cheapest. The TouchWiz UI’s themes are light and colorful just like the handset itself. It has replaceable rear panels and honestly it seems like it’s directed at the female of our species considering the variety of the colors themselves. This is the cheapest handset on the list but it’s something that a market like ours can really look forward to.

The handset will feature -
- a 2.8 inch touchscreen with a 240 × 320 pixel resolution and 256K colors
- EDGE/GPRS
- Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
- MicroSD card support
- 2 megapixel camera
- FM radio

HTC Tattoo
In the Android Section, HTC is still the leader in terms of handsets, with a new model being announced on what seems to be a monthly basis. Their latest is the Tattoo, so called because of the interchangeable and customizable panels. The Tattoo is also being marketed as a lower end Android handset directed at the younger segment simply because of this customization option. It’s not going give the Corby a run for its money but for those looking to experience a new OS and the new HTC Sense UI, the Tattoo Android powered handset should fit the bill.

The handset will also feature -
- a 2.8 inch touchscreen with a 240 × 320 pixel resolution and 65K colors
- 3G support EDGE/GPRS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0 (mini)
- GPS with A-GPS support
- 3.5mm handsfree socket
- MicroSD card support
- 3 megapixel camera
- FM radio

Motorola CLIQ
It seems like Motorola has risen from the ashes with the announcement of their first Android powered handset the MOTOBLUR. The handset is going to be marketed with today’s fad, Social Networking, as its key element with features that will allow users to always be connected and sync information between their favorite Social Networking sources like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Gmail et al. This feature is what the company is calling MOTOBLUR.

This touchscreen handset also features –
- a 3.1-inch touchscreen with resolution of 320 x 480 pixels
- Slide out QWERTY keyboard
- 3G, EDGE/GPRS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0 (Micro)
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS support
- microSD card support
- 3.5mm earphone and handsfree socket (AV out)
- 5 megapixel autofocus camera with an LED flash

There’s plenty more that we can expect to see soon, as mobile technology is only getting better with time. I can say much for the designs of some handsets but this sentiment may not be shared with everyone. To each his own. At least we can be assured that there will be something for everyone and that manufacturers have decided that not everyone has the monetary capacity to pay for what they claim to be the best they can offer. So we can finally look forward to seeing some pretty good handsets in the mid range segment equipped with enough features to keep most users satisfied.

“Samsung’s R1 beat player provides a rich multimedia experience for users who prefer a small form factor but don’t want to sacrifice quality,” said Joo Ho Song, Vice President, Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung is committed to launching additional multimedia players with advanced features and designs.”

This light weight PMP weighing in at about 50G is just 8.9mm slim and Samsung has it running on their TouchWiz UI. It also features -

• a 2.6-inch touch screen
• DivX-certificated
• DNSe 3.0 (Digital Natural Sound Engine)
• Bluetooth
• FM radio
• e-Book reader

The R1 will be available in 8GB or 16GB capacities. Right now the information is that the PMP is heading for Europe this month and willlater on be available in other markets that includes Russia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Sadly India doesn’t seem to be on the list but you never know.

Walk into any mega retail showroom, chances are you will spot this Sony kept smugly separate from the lot, with its own Blu-ray system attached to it, playing back a trailer of maybe Kung Fu Panda. We like. It is a new V series model, and it’s a part of a new breed of soldiers, the Full HD 32-inch LCD TVs, which was not available until last year. In our 32 inch LCD shootout, we covered the Samsung and Philips Full HD ones of this caliber. Today this Sony is luckily getting individual treatment, not that we are biased, it’s just walked in fashionably late. So let’s see what the Sony KLV 32V550A has to offer.

Design and Features
The V series of Sony has unique bottom panels; this one too has the speaker grille clinging on to the bottom edge, under a plastic strip, transparent in the middle. This strip has touch sensitive buttons on it, etched in white. The rest of the bezel is gloss black, solid rectangular affair, no fancy contours or grooves.

The back panel is bare with a small i/o window at the left corner, and another connection strip on the left side panel. Overall we have a healthy buffet of connectors: 4 HDMIs, 2 component, 3 composite in, one headphone out and last but not least a USB 2.0 slot. This TV has the latest Bravia Engine 3 doing the video processing, and also comes with Sony’s acclaimed XMB, or the Cross media bar user interface like they have in the PS3. Thus now, to change brightness we have to press 4 buttons instead of one, but wait a sec, we love the PS3, thus the XMB is more than welcome.

There are other nice features like Ambient Light Sensor, which is basically an auto set up mode which detects the light in your room, then sets the brightness of your TV, thus saving your eyes and wallet from strain. All the old goodies are still there like 24p True cinema, which is for watching Blu-ray discs at the correct 24 Hz frame rate, and Live color, which enhances colors.

As for rated specs the main USP is still the Full HD panel, a 1920 x 1080 resolution makes up this LCD. The Brightness and contrast ratings are not given. This model does not have 100 Hz Motionflow feature, that one is for the higher W series 32 incher.

Performance
The first we noticed about the TV was its very good detail – this was out of the box without even going to the menu. Sailing in its native Full HD, we first ran our software tests, for checking grayscale and extreme white/ black levels. This TV does have a healthy brightness, and hardly any clipping and blooming at high whites. This is a good point.

Blacks, are decent for LCD standards, as in it doesn’t look like a faded T shirt at medium backlight and 50% brightness. It’s not deep and spectacular though. Speaking of luminance curve, or simply speaking, in the purity of black to white, we saw a bit of reddish saturation at higher whites. This will not make the image look bad, just that some people need accuracy.

Colors are vibrant , but clearly a bit amped on the red channel. This we could gauge in our RGB plugs pattern, where high intensity red bars were merging together. Thus the overall image has a warm saturated feel to it, which does not look bad really, just intense skin tones and the like. It works for drama cinema, where there are a lot of natural human and indoor shots.

Motion and detail are very good, just the sharpness setting should not be raised above midpoint (15) Then haloing starts occurring. We watched Valkyrie Blu-ray, and played Killzone (on PS3). The details in both different types of video were very impressive – sharp edges with hardly any blur, even in the game.

Conclusion
The Sony KLV-32V550A LCD TV is for Rs. 49,900 MRP, which is still expensive compared to other brands on the market. It can be availed for as less as Rs. 46,900 MOP, so then it scores more in the value for money category. The image is very much above average, with decent contrast and better than decent details and motion. Blacks are not the best, nor are the colors bang on accurate, but still this TV deserves to be an option for you.

Meet the Nokia 6350 fold, a phone that just appeared over at the Bluetooth SIG.

As its name suggest, Nokia 6350 fold is a clamshell – just like the 6750 and the 6650 (the latter launched by AT and T in November 2008).

The Nokia 6350 picture below may be small, but the AT&T logo is clearly there.

As further evidence that this is an AT&T-bound phone, the FCC approved it a while back (850/1900 3G bands included), although under the RM-455 name and with AT&T’s logo covered:

Feature-wise, the Nokia 6350 fold offers GPS, internal (QVGA) and external displays, a 2MP camera and probably S40 on board.

It’s not clear yet when AT&T will release the Nokia 6350 fold. Its price should be under $100 on contract.

Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3: ODST will be a stand-alone expansion for Halo 3 in which you step into the boots of an unknown Orbital Drop Ship Trooper (ODST) before the events of Halo 3. Unlike the iconic Master Chief, you’re a run-of-the-mill grunt so don’t expect to just run into the heat of the battle and regenerate health; you’ll have to survey the situation, move carefully and even use stealth to your advantage as and when possible.

Shadow Complex

Announced at E3 2009 by the makers of the Gears of War series in conjunction with Chair Entertainment, Shadow Complex is an all out, balls-to-the-wall side scrolling shooter for Xbox Live Arcade. I normally don’t mention XBLA games in such lists but this one grabbed me by my throat with its fast paced action, gorgeous visuals and a 3D open-world game design.

GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Since the first episode of downloadable content for GTA IV impressed the crap out of us we sure have high hopes for the second one in which you’ll step into the boots of “Luis Lopez, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince (aka Gay Tony)”. Betrayal, loyalty, guns, glamor and copious amounts of Liberty City night life is what’s been promised to us so far.

Forza Motorsport 3

A wet dream for gearheads, Forza Motorsport 3 is all about realistic racing in pretty cars. Besides that expect visuals running at 60 frames per second, over 400 vehicles to choose from, user-generated content and the ability to upload your very own fully customized high-definition videos on Xbox Live.

The wireless router simplifies surfing, emailing, playing online games, making Internet calls and streaming high definition video. The router is compatible with 802.11n, 802.11b and 802.11g standards and eliminates the need for range extenders, repeaters or external antennas.

On this occasion, Atul Jain, Country Manager, Netgear India and SAARC said “WNR3500 RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Routers’ compact, antenna-free design, great range, and unparalleled performance sets it apart from its competitors. Moreover our innovative “Push ‘N’ Connect” feature is really exceptional, and makes setup flawless.”

The wireless-N technology and Gigabit Ethernet port combine to provide incomparable wireless range and an improved wired network connection. Apart from this, users can also connect up to four wired devices via built-in switches. The wireless security encryption protects the data.

He adds “The NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router delivers the highest Wi-Fi performance for today’s Wireless-N notebooks and dual-band adapters while providing simultaneous support for legacy 802.11g devices as well as clients based on 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz Wireless-N. In addition to an array of eight patented metamaterial antennas, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router supports 5 GHz Wireless-N, avoiding interference from household appliances, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, and even other neighboring Wi-Fi networks, and maximizes wireless performance and range to deliver faster downloads, high-quality media streaming, and better online gaming.”

The router features an easy setup via a Smart Wizard Installation CD while the Push N Connect feature connects the new devices securely and easily. The router also automatically checks for updates and new firmware versions. It also supports Wi-Fi protected Setup standards.

Netgear WNR3500 RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router comes with a lifetime warranty and will be made available in India via Rashi Peripherals and Ingram Micro. The router will be available for Rs.7500.