With the new year looming in the near future we felt that this issue would be the perfect platform to recap everything ‘tech’ in the year 2011. And as part of this venture, one of our special features is a list of the top 20 gadgets of the year – which covers everything from mobile phones to home products. As most of these products are available in major electronic stores in Oman, it is still not too late for you to grab your favourites – so add them to your Christmas and New Year shopping list.

We have also got another surprise for readers and electronic stores in town – our very first TECH Showroom Awards. Take a look at the winners and the runners-up of the best stores in the city. Stores have been evaluated on the basis of their display, customer service and their product portfolio. Visit these stores and find out for yourself why they have deserved a mention in these pages.

After a small detour from the norm in our previous ‘Steve Jobs-Photography’ issue, we are back again with a whole range of new products and reviews. Check out the innovative technology in our Home Zone with the new ‘learning’ thermostat from Nest. We have also featured quite a bit of products available in Oman and ones that can be ordered online. So keep your wallets wide open and be ready to bring out the rial notes for the end-of-year bash. And hope you all have a wonderful new year.

- Ed

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Deenar Press and Publishing LLCPO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman

Tel: + 968 24696868, Fax: +968 24693569E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-chief Hatim al Taie

Content Head Sujata Sengupta

Dy. Content Head Poornima Ramani

Content Asst. Sangeetha Gopi

Senior Designer Shyniben Koyakkil

Designer Muneeb Khan

CORPORATE

Managing Director Abdullah al Taie

General Manager Rathish Ramachandran

Asst. General Manager Terry Mathukutty

Sales Mary Gonzales

Sami DalwaiLeticia Meneses

2011 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2011

Printed at Oman Printers & Stationers, Sultanate of Oman

Home Screen

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Model Jui Nikita Mendonca

Photography Shakeel al Balushi

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VOL 2 ISSUE 8 DECEMBER 2011

CONTENTS

Tech News

NouvoTech

Quiz

Tech Favourites

Tech Directory

Regulars1014555663

Special Feature- Top 20 products of the year 2011- TECH Showroom Awards

Photography- Lytro: First consumer light field camera- JVC GC-PX10 is a powerful hybrid- 3M CP45 is a next-gen camcorder projector

Audio ZoneAltec Lansing lets you accessorise your lifestyle

computing- Dell all-in-one desktop is intuitive- The Eee Pad Slider is a gadget worth owning- Series 3 Notebooks from Samsung are trendy - Get ready for the silky Amazon Kindle Fire

InterviewSanjai Satsangi, CEO of Omani-Korean Company

Mobile Zone Samsung Galaxy Note enhances creativity

Life TechMOTOACTV and Garmin FR70 are the ultimate performance trackers

how Stuff Works Inner workings of an automatic watch

Dashboard Nissan PIVO 3 is the next in urban mobility

Gamer’s Del ight - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is legendary- WWE’12 changes more than just its name

Movie ZoneA new mission for Tom Cruise in Ghost Protocol

Tech ArtAdd fire effect to your text

home Zone- Dyson Hot warms faster- Intelligent heating from Nest

Business Tech - Panasonic KX-MB2061 is the next-gen in office tools- Latest vacuum power from Makita

Time Zone Montblanc Star is like the world on your wrist

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Hi TECH team,

I really loved the November issue of TECH. It was interesting and very different. My question to the team is: what is the difference between DVD and Blu-ray?

Thanks,Suchitra

Dear Suchitra,

We are glad that you liked the issue. Now moving on to your question: DVDs were designed with standard-definition TVs in mind. While they look great on standard-definition sets, they’re not able to take advantage of the benefits of high-definition TVs. As televisions have become more advanced, the DVD’s limitations have become more apparent. Blu-ray, on the other hand, is a high-definition disc format designed to maximise the viewing experience available from today’s HDTVs. Blu-ray discs and players offer several advantages over the regular DVD format, including improved picture and sound quality.

- Ed

Letters to the EditorIf you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue

Hi TECH,

Can I use my iPod with both my home and work computer?

Thanks, Sanjay

Dear Sanjay,

You can use it, but the iPod can only be set up to ‘Auto-sync’ with one computer, which it considers its ‘home’ computer. From the other system you can drag and drop files onto your iPod. Music transfer happens only one way: from the computer to the iPod. This means you cannot use the iPod to move music directly from one computer’s iTunes library to

another’s. However, you can transfer music files between computers by using the iPod as an external hard drive. Remember that both must be using the same operating system (that is, both must be Macs or both must be PCs).

- Ed

Dear TECH,

I have seen cameras with a viewfinder and an LCD. Why is this?

Aisha

Dear Aisha,

It’s easy to frame shots using the camera’s LCD screen. However, the glare from the sun makes it difficult to compose pictures. This is when having a traditional viewfinder is a great bonus. And when you frame shots with your viewfinder, you can steady the camera against your cheek, helping to prevent accidental camera shake. Taking pictures using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen also saves battery power.

- Ed

Hi,

What is satellite radio? What does it offer?

Kavita

Dear Kavita,

Satellite radio is a subscription radio service. It provides a wide range of programming not available on traditional AM/FM radio, for a monthly fee. It includes multiple music channels, news, sports, and entertainment. It provides

commercial-free music. There is no static or interference. It also transmits text information like sports scores alongside musical signals.

- Ed

Dear Editor,

What equipment would I need to watch 3D movies at home?

Regards,Faisal

Dear Faisal,

First, you’ll need a 3D-ready Blu-ray player that can read the more detailed information encoded on 3D Blu-ray discs. Some players, like a few new Sony models, have the ability to upgrade to 3D via a free update over your Internet connection. Just be sure to look for the ‘3D-ready’ logo on a Blu-ray player’s box. Next you’ll need an HDTV, a pair of special 3D glasses and HDMI cables.

- Ed

twitter.com/#!/techmagz

twitter.com/#!/techmagz

T E C H N E W S

Wearable technologyWIMM Labs announced the WIMM One Developer Preview Kit to registered developers. The WIMM One Developer Preview will give developers the ability to create more personal and intuitive applications that break through the access barriers of typical mobile technology. Fundamental to the WIMM Platform is the 36x32mm module with an elegant, full colour touchscreen interface. The WIMM One module comes pre-loaded with a selection of beta productivity Micro Apps, and developers will have the ability to upload and test new Micro Apps in the WIMM forums.

Seagate is streamlining its flagship family of desktop drives under a single product that hones in on performance and big capacities. The new Barracuda family makes it easier for consumers to find the product they need. It is designed for desktop, tower or all-in-one personal computers; workstations, home and small business servers; network-attached storage devices; direct-attached storage expansion; and home and small-business RAID solutions. Capacities range from 250GB to a massive 3TB. The hard drive features a SATA 6GB/second interface; 7,200rpm spin speed and up to 64MB cache to deliver high performance across all capacities. Seagate’s SmartAlign technology, a feature of Seagate’s Barracuda Green drives, will continue to ship with the flagship Barracuda drives to help the hard drive industry segue from the current 512-byte sector standard for hard drives to the new 4,096-byte sector size.

Panasonic Corporation announced that the EVOLTA Robot finished its toughest challenge yet, the EVOLTA World Challenge IV. The challenge began on October 23, 2011 in Hawaii, USA, at the Ironman Triathlon Course. Three EVOLTA Robots powered by three EVOLTA AA rechargeable batteries took on the 230km triathlon with a goal of finishing within 168 hours. The EVOLTA Swim Robot finished the 3.8km swim in

five hours and 36 minutes. The Bike Robot finished biking 180.2km in 97 hours and 42 minutes. And the Run Robot finished the 42.2km run in 63 hours and 38 minutes. The official result of the 230km triathlon challenge was 166 hours and 56 minutes.

Tomotaka Takahashi, who is known internationally as one of Japan’s leading creator of robots, the founder of ROBO-GARAGE and a Research

Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, said at the goal ceremony, “We are happy to have made it to the finish line. I want to thank everyone, every member of the crew and the people of Hawaii. These days, robots are evolving rapidly due to the technological evolution of batteries and various other devices. I believe Panasonic EVOLTA batteries and this challenge have turned a new page in history for the robot industry.”

Streamlined Barracuda

Powerful EVOLTA

10 / TECH

Universal controlGriffin Technology and Dijit Media have announced a new Android-only version of the Beacon Universal Remote Control System. The wireless AV controller pairs with Android devices via Bluetooth

and works with Dijit’s free Universal Remote App, enabling complete control over the entire home entertainment system directly from the Android interface.

Beacon works by converting Bluetooth signals from smartphones and tablets into infrared signals required to control consumer electronics devices. It gives users complete control over TVs, DVRs, stereos

and other home entertainment devices, but with the flexibility of a touchscreen interface. Best of all, it’s a remote that people will never lose.

It is powered by four AA batteries. Set-up is quick and easy. Just pair via Bluetooth and download the free Dijit app for Android, which now boasts compatibility with tablets and smartphones running Android OS 2.3.3 or greater.

Melody outdoorsRussound, a leader in the multi-room audio market, introduced the AirGo Outdoor Sound Station, the first portable, weather-resistant, amplified speaker dock for use with Apple AirPort Express. AirGo can be placed anywhere. And with the AirPort Express and AirPlay, the music from an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC fills the air with full-range sound quality.

Installation and setup is simple. Users only need to configure the AirPort express and install it into the AirGo Outdoor’s protective pocket before plugging it into an outlet and enjoying great sounding music. AirGo offers the added advantage of serving as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

The M110 is an ultra-mobile projector device that gives the connectivity and storage you need, with bright, radiant colours. It is designed for performance. It supports bright, high-resolution LED projection, and comes with built-in speaker and optional HD. With optional wireless connection or HDMI input from an array of media sources, including DVRs, Blu-ray Disc players, and video game consoles, you can enjoy it all on the big screen. With 1GB internal Flash memory, the M110 can store your media with ease for grab-and-go mobility.

Portable projection

Mad Catz Interactive recently announced the shipping of the Trigger Stereo Headset, for use with the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, stated, “The Trigger is the second of our co-branded headsets to be released for the Xbox 360 and we are excited to bring high quality professional gaming audio to a mass market consumer in time for the holiday season.”

The Trigger Stereo Headset includes precision balanced 40mm neodymium drivers and an in-line audio controller allowing gamers to separately adjust volume and in-game chat levels.

Trigger the entertainment

DECEMBER 2011 / 11

Panasonic recently unveiled the Toughpad family of professional-grade Android-powered tablets, which includes a ten-inch and seven-inch device. The devices will be supported by an eco-system that includes an enterprise-focused app store, peripherals, developer tools, deployment support and more. The ten-inch Toughpad A1 is ideal for highly mobile outdoor workers in markets like aviation, construction, field sales and the public sector, where exposure to extreme environments is a constant challenge. The device can also be used as a tool to optimise business processes. The seven-inch Toughpad B1 targets similar markets, but in applications where screen real estate is not as critical and where device mobility and portability are critical.

The Toughpad family can be managed with a custom set of low level controls that provide IT Administrators with unprecedented power over their Android-powered devices. The Toughpad A1 offers a stylus and active digitiser, enabling flexible data entry in the field, as well as signature capture and handwriting recognition functionalities. Other features include integrated cameras, a serviceable battery, multiple options for peripheral connectivity, and a battery life that will accommodate a full day of work. The A1 will be available in 2012 starting at USD1,299 (RO500) and the B1will be released later.

T E C H N E W S

Superior BlackBerry performance and the elegant Porsche Design styling place the P’9981 smartphone in a class of its own. With an enhanced 1.2GHz processor and 8GB of onboard memory that powers a responsive browsing experience, the P’9981 supports 720p HD video recording and dual band Wi-Fi. It comes with a built-in compass and access to a selection of exclusive apps. The Wikitude World Browser app helps you find, identify, access, and forward relevant information instantly. The smartphone is equipped with a Liquid Graphics 2.8-inch high-resolution full touchscreen, and a wide BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard for easier messaging and enhanced technology.

Engineered luxury

LG Electronics has unveiled the LG A530, a premium 3D notebook that offers the joys of seeing, shooting and sharing 3D content. A 3D dual webcam above the 15.6-inch Full HD 3D LCD screen lets users shoot their own 3D videos and photos. The metallic chassis envelopes innovative features that deliver an impressive stereoscopic 3D experience. The A530 allows simple, hassle-free playback of 3D content from the notebook to LG’s other cutting-edge 3D devices, such as smartphones, TVs and monitors. It includes a free pair of the lightweight 3D glasses and clip-ons. In addition, the LG A530 features an SRS Wide 3D Sound system for truly immersive audio.

The LG A530 sports a luxurious, modern exterior in a sturdy, ebony black case. Its metallic look has a solid brushed aluminium finish, while the touchpad’s edges have been rounded using real diamonds as the cutting element. A wider touchpad and pebble keyboard make the notebook’s interior more ergonomic and comfortable to use. The LG A530 is now available in Oman at all leading retail outlets.

Three dimensional thrillTough family

12 / TECH

Qualcomm acquires new tech

Qualcomm Incorporated announced that it has acquired substantially all of the technology and other assets of HaloIPT, a leading provider of wireless charging technology for electric road vehicles.

“We are immensely proud of what has been achieved by our team at HaloIPT over the past 18 months,” said John Miles, Executive Chairman of HaloIPT and a Director at Arup. “In that short space of time, we have brought world-class university research to the attention of the global automotive industry and, through really innovative design, demonstrated the potential for wireless charging in front of several of the world’s leading OEMs. That has been a terrific achievement.”

In addition to the HaloIPT transaction, Qualcomm and Auckland UniServices, the commercialisation company of the University of Auckland, have committed to a long-term research and development arrangement to promote continued innovation in the field of wireless charging for electric road vehicles by way of inductive power transfer.

Embracing entertainment

Epson has unveiled its new Moverio BT-100 head-mounted display (HMD), which offers up a bespectacled qHD resolution of 960x540 via two 0.52-inch displays capable of conjuring up a virtual screen measuring some 80 inches across (and a viewing distance of 5m). The Moverio BT-100 also boasts dual transparent lenses for improved spatial awareness (the first such HMD to do so), along with support for 3D visuals that pander to the current spate of movies and videogames embracing entertainment’s extra dimension. Other fixtures and fittings

include built-in ear buds with Dolby Mobile technology, an unobtrusive touch-sensitive control unit powered by version 2.2 of Google Android (Froyo), support for Wi-Fi connectivity, 1GB of internal memory, and an SD card slot for pushing storage to 4GBs. The Epson Moverio BT-100 is expected to hit retailers in Japan from November 25 and will cost around USD775 (RO300).

Ideal partnershipSamsung Electronics announced an exclusive agreement with Arabian Radio Network (ARN), the UAE’s largest radio network and leading commercial radio brands. The agreement will allow SMART TV users to access all eight ARN radio channels through a tailor-made Samsung Smart TV application. ARN’s range of radio stations include Virgin Radio Dubai 104.4, Al Khaleejiya 100.9, City 101.6, Hit 96.7, Dubai 92, Dubai Eye 103.8, Al Arabiya 99 and Radio Shoma 93.4. “Samsung is committed to partner with

local companies and develop business and consumer applications tailored to the region’s Smart TV viewers,” said Vinod Nair, general manager of TV Business, Samsung Gulf Electronics. “As a leader in content development, Samsung is the ideal partner for media houses such as ARN who are looking to diversify their channels and reach new audiences. We are proud to partner with ARN, a leading radio network and provide our viewers with more choices in home entertainment.”

DECEMBER 2011 / 13

The Doxie Go is a modern new mobile paper scanner that’s tiny, cordless and simple. Without the need for a computer you can scan anywhere. Just like a digital camera, Doxie’s app syncs scans and then organises multi-page documents, creates searchable PDFs with ABBYY OCR, and sends to the cloud. It scans everything from bills and receipts to reports, recipes, ideas, cards and photos. It can scan full colour pages in just eight seconds. With a built-in memory, Doxie Go scans up to 600 pages. You can also insert a USB flash drive or SD card for endless storage. Doxie even syncs direct to iPhone and iPad. Doxie Go comes with the cordless scanner, Doxie 2.0 software and a carrying case. It is available for about USD200 (RO77).

The en&is MegaPhone is a speaker dock for the iPhone. It amplifies the audio coming out of the iOS device without using any electricity. Built in a shape similar to that of the gramophone, it has a small opening to place your iPhone. There’s no 30-pin connector for you to charge your device. The MegaPhone is made from ceramic and comes with a matching wood base. It is available in black, white (USD550 each) or gold plated (USD820). The amplifier is based on a thin wooden frame that allows the object to float off the table. This increases the vibration of the object and optimises the emission of sound.

Scan anywhere

GET UP AND GET HEALTHYUP is a revolutionary wristband that tracks the user’s daily activity, sleep patterns and eating habits. The wristband features a sophisticated motion-tracking engine in an attractive, durable, and water-resistant design. UP helps you stay engaged in reaching your health goals through a collection of friends and people you choose known as your ‘Team’. Based on the concept of reciprocal motivation, the Team structure creates an environment where individual achievements can be shared with all members so they can cheer on, motivate or compete against their Team. The band comes in three sizes and seven colours. It is available for about USD100 (RO38).

The Logitech Mini Boombox is a compact sound system for music, movies and games. It also supports calls that pairs easily with smartphones, tablets and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. It features a specially designed acoustic chamber that lets you enjoy great sound with enhanced bass, and the handy speakerphone with built-in microphone gives you clear calls in the office, in the car or in the back yard. It features an internal battery that charges over USB and stays powered for up to ten hours. And with a backlit touch control panel, you can easily control it night or day. It is available for a suggested retail price of about GBP70 (RO43).

Big on performance

Mega sound

14 / TECH

Big on performance

The LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker allows you to become a director and capture Lomographic movies on 35mm film of any kind: no sound, no special effects, and no post production – just simple Lomography in motion. Simply load the film of your choice and wind the crank of the magic box to capture 144 shots on one roll of 35mm film, or approximately 50 seconds of LomoMovie. You can use any kind of 35mm film for different effects: slide film, colour negative, red scale or B/W. After developing the film, spool it into the specially developed LomoKinoScope, point it to a light source and watch your Lomographs moving over and over again. It sports an irresistible design that takes you back in time. Linking the simple technology of the LomoKino with the website, you can upload, watch and share your LomoMovies online. The LomoKino retails for about USD80 (RO30) and the LomoKino-LomoKinoScope for USD100 (RO38).

Philips Lighting announced the launch of a new, complete and innovative water disinfection solution, Philips InstantTrust. This solution is based on cutting-edge disinfection technology. The new Philips InstantTrust solution can be integrated into any point-of-use application including taps, water pitchers, under-the-sink water filters and portable counter-top systems. It solves many of the limitations of current UV disinfection technology and enables equipment manufacturers to provide consumers with access to safe drinking water anytime, anywhere. It is compact in size. Furthermore, the revolutionary solution works instantly to produce safe water from the first second onwards, eliminating waiting time.

Simply creative

Recon Instruments, the award-winning innovator of Micro Optics Display technology for action sport athletes, announced the MOD and MOD Live. The two innovations are the company’s first to feature a new snap-fit, modular design, making them compatible with any Recon Ready goggles. Both models of GPS-enabled goggles provide skiers and riders with a variety of data including speed, jump analytics, vertical, altitude, location, distance, run-counter, and temperature. The Android-based MOD Live ships with four new, industry-first applications: Buddy Tracking, Smartphone Connectivity, a Navigation app pre-loaded with

the largest database of trail maps in the world, Music Playlist Mode, and Camera Connectivity. The MOD and MOD Live are available for an MSRP of about USD299 (RO115) and USD399 (RO154).

Snap-fit display

Trusty drink

Go freestyle with SwannSwann, a global leader in security monitoring solutions, unveiled its first high-definition wearable video camera with a detachable LCD viewer – the Swann Freestyle HD. Whether capturing 1080p video with up to 3x digital zoom or snapping JPEG images with its 8MP camera, Swann Freestyle HD lets you capture stunning hands-free video and share it with the world. Housed in a sturdy case that is waterproof, the camera can be worn on the body or mounted to bikes, cars, helmets and skateboards via a range of included interchangeable mounts and brackets. It can also be used as a standard point and shoot camera, featuring both single-shot and rapid-fire picture taking. Real-time viewing is possible with the detachable 1.5-inch LCD screen. It is available at an MSRP of about USD280 (RO108).

DECEMBER 2011 / 15

The Best of ‘11a hot-list of our favourites across this year

Samsung Galaxy IIA vividly fast and slim mobile phone, considered to be the best of the year 2011. The 4.3-inch SUPER AMOLED Plus display provides enhanced readability, a slimmer design, and better battery consumption. The dual-core processor provides fast browsing, quick multi-tasking, a smooth UI, snappy streaming and efficient gaming. It sports an ultra-slim 8.49mm form factor.

Motorola ATRIXWith its advanced dual-core processing technology, the ATRIX puts the power of a PC in your pocket. It features webtop, a Web-based application used with optional docks that mobilises your desktop. With an optional compatible dock you can enjoy movies on a large qHD display virtually anywhere. It also sports a front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing camera.

Apple iPhone 4The iPhone 4 features FaceTime, which makes the dream of video calling a reality, and Apple’s stunning Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone, resulting in super crisp text, images and video. In addition, iPhone 4 features a 5MP camera with LED flash, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 processor, a three-axis gyro and up to 40 per cent longer talk time – all in a design of glass and stainless steel.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Slide out the controls of your Xperia PLAY and get behind the wheel of a race car. Or jump into a street fight. This PlayStation-certified phone lets you immerse yourself in the games you want. Xperia PLAY is a super-efficient, full-featured Android mobile phone. Update your Facebook status or explore apps on the Android Market. Other features include multi-tasking, Wi-Fi, a refreshed user interface and keyboard improvements.

MOBILE PHONES

special feature

16 / TECH

Apple iPad 2 Thinner and lighter than the original iPad, the iPad 2 sports an entirely new design. It features a stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen, Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor, two cameras – a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video.

Sony VAIO F SeriesThe VAIO F Series includes Full HD screen resolution for enjoying high definition movies wherever you go. Fast-moving action is smooth and crystal clear with Motion Reality HD and high performance NVIDIA graphics. You can also enjoy cinema-style surround sound with Dolby Home Theater and S-FORCE Front Surround 3D.

BlackBerry PlayBookPacked with a blazingly fast 1GHz dual-core processor, a high resolution seven-inch multi-touch display and up to ten hours of battery life, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet handles even the most demanding of tasks. With the new OS, you get true multitasking. It brings in best-in-class multimedia experience with rich stereo sound and display optimised for HD content.

Samsung Series 9 The Series 9 is designed with mobility in mind, thanks to the duralumin enclosure complete with arching curves and remarkable durability. The Series 9 also includes a backlit keyboard, brilliant LCD display screen and a large multi-touch click pad. It’s a minimalist look that is both simple and sophisticated. With Samsung’s SuperBright screens you can enjoy HD movies, games and other favourite media even when viewing in direct sunlight with no annoying reflections.

LAPTOPS/NETBOOKS/ALL-IN-ONE

TABLETS

DECEMBER 2011 / 17

Amazon KindleA light, small, fast e-book reader with the most advanced E Ink display, the Kindle comes with built-in Wi-Fi. There is a massive book selection of over 800,000 titles. The Kindle hardware devices use an E Ink electronic paper display that shows up to 16 shades of gray. It minimises power usage and simulates reading on paper.

Philips 21:9 Cinema WidescreenPhilips’ new Cinema 21:9 TVs perfectly match the original movie format used by directors with a 21:9 aspect ratio. So no matter which movie, you can now watch it in its original aspect ratio and without the black bars. Ambilight Spectra 3 is a unique technology that enlarges the screen by projecting a glow of light on the three sides of the TV, from the back of the screen onto the surrounding wall.

Samsung SMART TV D8000Experience interactive home entertainment with Samsung LED 8000’s Smart Hub. The simplest way of getting more from your TV, you can now harness the full potential of the Internet with new features such as Search All and Web Browser. The TV combines the screen with an ultra-slim bezel, reducing clutter and delivering a truly immersive experience. It is framed with a super-narrow silver metal outline for sophistication.

LG 72-inch 3D TV Maximum 3D experience is now possible with the world’s largest 72-inch Full LED 3D TV. Pictures are brighter, clearer and ever more realistic on the incredibly large screen. Local Dimming feature provides individual control of every LED block behind the screen, enabling the LZ9700 to display everything from the deepest blacks to the most dazzling colours.

TELEVISIONSCOMMUTER GADGETS

18 / TECH

Samsung BD-D7500Samsung Smart Blu-ray player allows you to easily search for movies, TV shows, explore Samsung apps and find many other types of new interactive content. It brings style and performance together. The slim wall-mountable design, high gloss finish, touch sensor control and integrated blue disc lighting effect makes it a stylish addition to any home. A Search All feature enables you to find videos or files on both apps and other connected devices via AllShare DLNA Technology. Samsung Smart Blu-ray Players lets you discover a new world of web-connected entertainment.

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8The BeoSound 8 offers complete freedom of placement. It sports flexible placement options that can be activated by means of a manual position switch. The three switch positions will change the equalisation of the bass channel. This unique feature was introduced to ensure accurate sound reproduction at all times. The conical speaker backs are excellent even if you want to place the BeoSound 8 in a corner.

BLU-RAY PLAYERSDOCKS

Olympus E-PL2The PEN E-PL2 continues the PEN family’s legacy of a small, light and simple design, intuitive interface and DSLR image quality and expands creative potential with new lens technology, Live Guide, new in-camera creative features, new auxiliary lenses, a new Close-Up Spotlight accessory for macro photography and the new Olympus PENPAL Bluetooth accessory. And the newly designed E-PL2’s ergonomic body makes capturing amazing still images and HD video more fun than ever before.

Canon EOS 600DA compact, lightweight DSLR that makes capturing creative images easier, the EOS 600D is a perfect choice for aspiring photographers. It sports a range of automatic shooting modes that beginners can use to instantly express their creativity. With an unrivalled range of EF lenses, Speedlites and other accessories to enhance your shooting, the EOS system holds the key to the perfect shot.

CAMERAS & CAMCORDERS

DECEMBER 2011 / 19

Sony PlayStation MovePlayStation Move offers you an engaging and emotional game adventure. Your moves give you ultimate control over the game. The sensors in the Move offer a high level of accuracy. The advantage comes with the camera’s ability to track the cute little glowing ball’s position in 3D space with surprising accuracy. Not only does this give you far better control of the game but it also allows the game to superimpose 3D graphical overlays in the ball’s place for an impressive augmented reality experience. This system is not restricted to the remote.

Nintendo 3DS Incredible gameplay with real 3D graphics and with no need for special glasses – the Nintendo 3DS was a breakthrough in portable entertainment, a truly cutting-edge piece of hardware. The stereoscopic 3D display gives objects within the game world a feeling of space and depth that extends far into the back of the screen. A built-in 3D Depth Slider allows you to immediately adjust the intensity of the 3D settings.

GAMING

Philips AirfryerThe Airfryer’s patented Rapid Air technology enables you to make the tastiest fries that contain up to 80 per cent less fat. It has adjustable temperature control and comes with a food separator to fry different dishes at the same time. The integrated air filter keeps your kitchen fresh and clean.

Garmin Nuvi 3790TThe Nuvi 3790T is less than 9mm thick. It has a full glass 4.3-inch diagonal multi-touch display. Dual orientation capabilities allow you to use it either horizontally or vertically, fitting smartly in your hand when walking. The sleek design also disappears neatly into your pocket or purse. With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it’s ready to guide you by car or foot. With its innovative speech recognition, you can control it with your voice. Tell Nuvi ‘Find Address’ and speak an address to start navigating.

GPS UNITS HOME PRODUCTS

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Jumbo Electronics

Mustafa Sultan Electronics

Bahwan Electronics

With a well-stocked showroom in both Ruwi and Qurum, Jumbo Electronics allows for the personal touch with a separate area for customers to enjoy and experience their gaming products, such as the PlayStation Move.

The Bahwan Electronics showroom in Ruwi is very well organised. The home appliances section, in particular, is beautifully arranged, so you know how perfect your kitchen will look once the products are installed in your home.

This showroom has an amazing ambience where you can truly experience the wide range of televisions without any interruptions. Some of the products are very creatively displayed in the space on the walls.

DECEMBER 2011 / 23

The people in charge of this small, yet well-stocked store in Qurum understand your needs and help you make the right choice.

With a wide range of products to choose from, you never have to worry about making the wrong choice. The people in the showroom are quite eager to help you.

You are always welcomed with open arms and a huge smile at the Bose showroom in Qurum City Centre. With a well-equipped demo room, the showroom-in-charge is always willing to let you experience Bose the way it should be. Hats off to them.

Photocentre

Bose

Panasonic

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With quite a huge variety of gadgets to choose from, the Sarco showroom in Ruwi has one of the best collections of televisions and refrigerators.

The showroom in Qurum has a well-displayed range of home appliances, with quite a range of refrigerators and washing machines.

This huge store in Muscat City Centre has everything you can imagine – from hi-tech electronic goods to home appliances. And the variety of brands and models is just overwhelming.

Samsung

Emax

Souq Technia

DECEMBER 2011 / 25

Stunningly smallWorld’s first consumer light field camera instantly captures interactive, living pictures

DetailsTECHNOLOGY Lytro Light Field Sensor, Lytro Light Field Engine 1.0DISPLAY 1.46-inch Back-lit LCD Display with Glass TouchscreenLENS 8x Optical Zoom; Constant f/2 LensCOLOURS Red, Graphite, BlueSTORAGE Red: 750 pictures, Graphite, Blue: 350 picturesMEMORY Red: 16GB, Graphite, Blue: 8GBPRICE Red: USD499 (RO190), Graphite, Blue: USD399 (RO150)AVAILABLE AT www.lytro.com

Cool FeatureWith no unnecessary modes or dials, the camera features just two buttons – power and shutter – and has an intuitive glass touchscreen.

DimensionsWIDTH 112mmHEIGHT 41mmDEPTH 41mmWEIGHT 214g

DESIGNAnodised aluminium structural skin; shutter button; intuitive multi-touch screen

SHUTTERNo auto-focus motor, instant shutter, instant power on

Key features• Unique, compact, sturdy, lightweight anodised aluminium body, with 8x optical zoom lens and a constant f/2 aperture • Light field sensor captures 11 million light rays of data (11 megarays), including the direction of each ray• As there is no need to auto-focus, it has no shutter delays• Performs well in low-light environments without the use of a flash

photography

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Lytro has finally unveiled the much-awaited consumer light field camera, the first in the world. It introduces a new way of taking and experiencing pictures. Unlike conventional cameras, this light field camera captures all the rays of light in a scene, providing new capabilities, such as the ability to focus a picture after it’s taken. The pocket-sized camera offers a powerful 8x optical zoom and f/2 lens in an iconic design. It creates interactive ‘living pictures’ that can be endlessly refocused.

Lytro cameras feature a light field sensor that collects the colour, intensity, and the direction of every light ray flowing into the camera, capturing a scene in four dimensions. With the light field engine, the information is processed allowing the users to refocus pictures directly on the camera. When the Lytro’s living pictures are shared online, the light field engine travels with each picture so anyone can interact with them on nearly any device, including Web browsers, mobile phones and tablets, without having to download special software.

The Lytro light field camera is accompanied by Lytro’s desktop application, a free software download that easily imports pictures from camera to computer. The desktop application lets people view, interact with, organise and share their light field pictures, which can then be uploaded to Lytro.com to be shared via Facebook, Twitter, blogs, or as links in email messages.

Powerful hybridJVC GC-PX10 offers professional performance and features

DetailsSENSOR 12-megapixel Back-illuminated CMOS SensorSCREEN Three-inch wide touch panel display, 230K dotsSTORAGE Internal: 32GB, SD, SDHC and SDXC Memory CardsZOOM 10x Optical Zoom, 64x Digital Zoom, 19x Dynamic ZoomCONNECTIONS USB 2.0, Mini HDMIPRICE USD889.95 (RO345)AVAILABLE AT www.jvc-me.com

OTHER FEATURES• Optical Image Stabilisation with JVC’s

Advanced Image Stabiliser• 10x Optical Zoom (19x Dynamic Zoom

with no image degradation when zoomed)

• KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS• Mode Dial for automatic and manual

settings (white balance, aperture and shutter)

• Microphone output and headphone input

DimensionsWIDTH 131mmHEIGHT 67mmLENGTH 122mmWEIGHT 435g

DISPLAYA tiltable three-inch touch panel LCD makes recording low-angle shots or self-portraits easy

Manual Adjustment DialEnables precise adjustment for various manual settings

Cool FeatureSmile Meter gives a percentage display of the subject’s smile. With Smile Shot, the camera automatically takes a picture every time the smile percentage reaches a certain level.

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The new digital camera from JVC uses FALCONBIRD, a new high-speed imaging engine, to shoot both high-quality digital still images (12MP) and stunning Full HD (1,920x1,080/60p) video. FALCONBRID is a single-chip technology with the processing power that allows the GC-PX10 to record Full HD progressive video at 36Mbps for rich, detailed images. A true hybrid offering professional-level capabilities, the camera can shoot 8.3MP stills while recording Full HD video for clear, high-quality still images from recorded video. The camera sports a 1/2.3-inch

12MP back-Illuminated CMOS sensor The GC-PX10 comes with an ISO6400 mode – this increased sensitivity is useful when shooting in dark environments. Rapid-fire still shooting of 8.3 megapixel (3,840x2,160) stills is possible at 60 shots-per-second, up to 130 shots total per burst, or 12 megapixel stills at 30fps. For super-slow motion shooting, the GC-PX10 can shoot video at 300fps, with an image resolution of VGA (640x360), making it more than sufficient for online posting and viewing. This mode can be used for approximately two hours straight.

TINY POWERHOUSEA simple pocketable camcorder with a projector

DetailsSCREEN 2.4-inch LCDSENSOR RESOLUTION 5MPSTORAGE Internal: 2GB, microSD Card (Up to 32GB)ZOOM 4x Digital ZoomBATTERY LIFE Project for up to 100 minutes or record for 150 minutesCONNECTIONS USB 2.0PRICE GBP299.99 (RO185)AVAILABLE AT www.Shop3M.com

DimensionsWIDTH 61mmHEIGHT 24mmLENGTH 124mmWEIGHT 190g

Cool FeatureA camcorder with a built-in pico projector that lets you beam your recordings and pictures at an 800x600 resolution with 20 lumens of brightness, up to a maximum size of 65 inches.

Other features• 20 lumens for 100 minutes• 2GB of built-in memory• Built-in 5MP camera with fixed focus‚ LED flash and 4x digital zoom

DECEMBER 2011 / 29

The CP45 is a next-gen 3M Camcorder Projector. As the name implies, it is a camcorder, camera and projector, all in one. And it is really stunning to look at. With the CP45 you can now create HD video and photo content‚ project and share it instantly. There is no downloading and no syncing. The only connector is your finger. Just press a button and start projecting. It projects up to 65 inches. And any surface is a screen, be it a ceiling, a wall or even a T-shirt.

And the best part of it all – it works with other devices. So, if you want to enlarge your screen, simply connect to another device and project – maybe a DVD player or a gaming console. And with the help of an Apple Composite AV cable, you can even connect to your Apple devices.

The CP45 has a user-friendly interface, with just a few buttons to perform all tasks – a button for the camera, one for the camcorder and one for the projector. Apart from this there are a few more for on-screen scrolling.

Altec Lansing’s new inMotion 630 ultra-portable speaker, known as iMT630, is perfect for on-the-go music fans. A flawless combination of form and function, the iMT630 provides precision audio clarity with crisp top-end notes

and deep bass tones through the dual two-inch drivers. With the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, you can enjoy your favourite tunes for up to seven hours. A wireless remote, part of the package, offers full iPod navigation. And more

importantly, it has its own magnetic storage space, so you can never lose it. Onboard controls let you access the music directly. With fluid aesthetics and rounded corners, the iMT630 Classic packs a colourful punch in red and teal.

Utilise Altec Lansing’s iOS apps, including the Music Mood App and the Alarm Rock App, to enhance your experience with the iMT630. You can customise sound with Music Mood’s Graphic Equalizer (EQ). Customised sound – from basic, preset options to a more advanced seven-band graphic EQ – can be saved and accessed.

Music Mood App includes Ambient Sound library that allows users to relax to a number of serene sounds, including a crackling fireplace, a calming river stream, a relaxing beach or a mountain breeze.

Alarm Rock App acts as a full-featured digital alarm clock with time display and an oversized snooze button.

Classic soundsAccessorise your lifestyle with the iMT630

Enriching app experience

Key featuresPortability – Ultra-portable speaker for iPod and iPhonePrecision Audio – Crisp top-end Notes, Deep Bass TonesDesign – Fluid aesthetics with rounded cornersControl – Wireless remote; onboard controlsConnectivity – An Auxiliary input jack allows others to connect their device and share their music

audio zone

DimensionsWIDTH 310mmHEIGHT 135mmDEPTH 35mmWEIGHT 425g

DetailsSPEAKER Two two-inch Neodymium DriversBATTERY TYPE Lithium-ion Rechargeable (Up to seven hours of play time)CONNECTIONS 3.5mm Aux in jackCOLOURS Red, TealPRICE USD149.95 (RO58) AVAILABLE AT www.alteclansing.com

Professional chain saw with ergonomic designed body

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Professional chain saw with ergonomic designed body

Dell Inspiron One 2320 is more than just good looks. Available with Intel Core i5 or i7 processor options, and optional discrete graphics, it delivers outstanding performance, connectivity and entertainment capabilities. With built-in Wi-Fi and HD webcam you can stay connected. The large high-definition (1080p) display is perfect for home entertainment, combined with the immersive SRS audio and optional JBL speakers. Viewers can also stream full HD movies and video. The Inspiron One

2320 is also available with a multi-touch display option, offering a simple, intuitive experience for accessing content. Dell Stage is a user interface which places shortcuts to documents, music, and frequently used Web pages right on the desktop. It also includes SyncUP powered by Nero, which synchronises content across other supported devices in your home network. It offers 2GB of free personal cloud storage. Dell Stage also comes pre-loaded with fun touch games like Bug Blast and Drum Zone.

Stay connected Sleek, all-in-one desktop with fun, intuitive technology

Other features• HD Webcam• Optional remote• USB mouse and keyboard as standard with wireless keyboard and mouse options• Integrated HD Audio with SRS and optional JBL-branded speakers• 8:1 Media Card Reader

computing

DimensionsWIDTH 567mmHEIGHT 397mmDEPTH Touchscreen: 68mm, Non-touchscreen: 66.5mmWEIGHT Touchscreen: 9.35kg, Non-touchscreen: 8.65kg

Conclusion A clutter-free all-in-one with entertainment capabilities

DetailsPROCESSOR 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 and i7DISPLAY 23-inch WLED with 1,920x1,080 (full HD) resolutionHARD DRIVE 1TB SATA, up to 2TB SATAGRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GT 525MMEMORY 6GB DDR3 (Standard), up to 8GB DDR3PRICE USD949.99 (RO365)AVAILABLE AT www.dell.com/inspironone

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Slide Style

with

The Eee Pad Slider is neither a tablet, nor a notebook

Key features• NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU• Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) OS with Adobe Flash Support,

upgradable to v3.2• Full QWERTY keyboard• Built-in USB port• Ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle IPS panel• Good SRS sound

DimensionsWIDTH 270mmHEIGHT 180.3mmDEPTH 17.3mmWEIGHT 960g

A gadget worth owning – the Eee Pad Slider SL101 from Asus comes with built-in QWERTY keyboard. This provides intuitive tablet usage while simulating a laptop-like user experience. And with just a slide the gadget metamorphoses from a tablet into a notebook. With 16/32GB eMMc, MicroSD Card Reader, USB port, and ASUS WebStorage, the Slider lets you store and share your data anytime, anywhere.

With the power of the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, browsing the Web and HD video playback is quite snappy. And thanks to the fast response time and better multi-tasking performance, the Slider is a

mobile entertainment powerhouse. Built-in SRS Sound technology provides a dynamic audio experience, with maximum bass response. An IPS panel made from durable and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla glass is viewable at angles up to 178 degrees. It also produces crisper and more accurate colour range.

The 1.2MP front camera and 5MP rear camera are other additional features.

With the convenient ASUS Launcher you can now launch software, manage content, access online services, and connect devices with a few simple taps.

DetailsOS Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)DISPLAY 10.1-inch LED Backlight WXGA Screen (1,280x800 pixels)PROCESSOR NVIDIA Tegra 2MEMORY 1GBSTORAGE 16GB or 32GBCAMERA Front: 1.2MP, Rear: 5MPCOLOURS Brown, White

Unique applications • Music on-the-go• MyLibrary consolidates downloaded books, magazines and newspapers in one location• MyNet streams digital media wirelessly within home network devices• MyCloud is a total cloud solution, providing access to digital content; users can use it to

remotely access and control PC or Mac systems

DECEMBER 2011 / 33

BE TRENDY

Conclusion A choice for consumers who pursue sleek design and functionality

DimensionsWIDTH NP350U2A: 299mm, NP300V5A: 367mmHEIGHT NP350U2A: 21mm, NP300V5A: 31mmDEPTH NP350U2A: 198mm, NP300V5A: 240mmWEIGHT NP350U2A: 1.4kg, NP300V5A: 2.5kg

Key features• Exclusive Fast Start

technology• Slim bezel display• PowerPlus Battery

technology

With the Series 3 notebooks you get a choice of personal style

Cool FeatureWith Samsung’s exclusive Fast Start technology, close the lid of the laptop to enter a hybrid sleep mode. When the lid is opened, you are up and running in less than three seconds.

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amsung’s latest Series 3 notebook range boasts ultra-portable design features and a narrow bezel. The style is a streamlined shell design. The NP 350U2A and the NP 300V5A are quite

light, without compromising on screen size. The notebooks sport an ergonomic high-quality, full-size, island-type keyboard. The 350U2A is equipped with a 12.5-inch HD LED screen, while the 300V5A sports a 15.6-inch screen. With the latest Intel Core processors, the series allows users to enjoy fast Web browsing. And with the inherited exclusive Fast Start technology, users can get started from hibernation to opening the display in three seconds.

Series 3 adopts PowerPlus charging technology, which retains 80 per cent of the original battery capacity for up to 1,000 recharges, making it more economical and durable than a typical battery. With the PowerPlus technology users can carry their notebook anywhere to check the latest status updates on social networking sites and stay connected with friends.

S

DimensionsWIDTH 120mmHEIGHT 190mmDEPTH 11.4mmWEIGHT 413g

DetailsDISPLAY Seven-inch multi-touch display with IPS technology CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, 3.5mm stereo audio jackSTORAGE 8GB InternalBATTERY LIFE Up to 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback

Fire up the New Year with the new tablet from Amazon

AMAZON SILKThis is a revolutionary, cloud-accelerated browser that uses ‘split browser’ architecture to leverage the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services cloud. It supports Adobe Flash Player.

Silky tab

DECEMBER 2011 / 35

he new Amazon Kindle Fire brings movies, magazines and books alive with its seven-inch colour touchscreen that delivers 16 million colours

in high resolution. With the IPS (in-plane switching) technology, it provides extra-wide viewing angle, which is perfect for sharing the screen with friends. The Kindle Fire lets you enjoy your favourite magazines with glossy, full-colour layouts, photographs and illustrations. The Fire has a simple, intuitive interface.

Over 100,000 movies and TV shows, including thousands of new releases, are available to stream or download, purchase or rent. Amazon Prime members can also enjoy unlimited, commercial-free streaming. The Kindle Fire features a state-of-the-art dual-core processor for fast, powerful performance. You can also enjoy games, including Words with Friends, Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies and more, from top developers. You can also stay in touch using the built-in email app that gets your webmail into a single inbox. Additional email apps are also available in the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Kindle Fire uses Amazon’s Whispersync technology to automatically sync your library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across your devices. Whispersync also extends to video. Kindle Fire gives you free storage for all your Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud.

T

Sanjai Satsangi talks about the first ‘Made in Oman’ brand of LCD and LED TVs to storm the Omani market

An MBA graduate with over 25 years in the field of consumer electronics and telecommunications, Sanjai Satsangi is the CEO of the three-

year-old Omani-Korean Company (OKC). A family man with two sons, he enjoys travel. Amsterdam, a city that his wife loves too, and Macau, are two of his favourite destina-tions. As a man of business, Sanjai thirsts

for challenge. He admits that the opportuni-ty to lead the Omani-Korean Company, after his 18-year stint in Dubai, was a challenge he certainly wanted to accept. He also saw a lot of potential in this move.

Having been in Oman for just about three months now, Sanjai says that he loves the Middle East for its business opportunities.

Three years since establishing the OKC (a joint venture between Omani and Korean partners), with a production facility in Sohar and corporate office in Muscat, the group recently launched their ‘Made in Oman’ extensive range of LCD and LED TVs, with the brand name ‘SULY’, the first of its kind in the country. The SULY range of TVs is being distributed in major hypermarkets

The Emotional Quotient

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interview

and electronic stores like Emax and Lulu, besides being distributed to government departments and banking sectors, where the product is being proudly received as the “pride of Oman”.

Sanjai explains that the motivation behind establishing this company was the thought of starting something for the nationals – something in the technical product sector, consumer electronics or IT products. “As of now, there is no other company producing anything locally in the entire region, not just in Oman. The idea, therefore, was to produce and give Omanis something that is owned by them as a brand and as a technology, hence the tag line ‘By us. For us’. We have started off with a manufactur-ing plant managed exclusively by Omanis and Koreans, with premises big enough to allow further expansion. The objective of the plant is not just to produce our own brand but to also start making the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) prod-ucts for other companies. We are already producing other multi-national brands such as Hyundai. Our major advantage is the duty exemption. As an Omani company and as a member of Greater Arab Free Trade Area (Gafta), there is no custom-duty on products produced by us and imported to the 19 Gafta member countries in MEA (Middle East and Africa), including the GCC. The prevailing custom duty in these countries ranges from five to 42 per cent. Other advantages are the quick production cycles and short transit time. Also, the pric-ing of our products are quite attractive.”

Quite excited about the response from the market, he adds, “Although production started just last year, SULY’s response in the market has been quite exciting. It has been very well received by Omanis, thanks to the emotional attachment to the product’s ‘Made in Oman’ tag. One of the USPs of this product is that we offer ‘free replacement’ warranty, besides the fact that the products are well priced with quality second to none.”

With high distribution rates in Oman, the OKC is also looking to appoint regional distributors in other countries. “We will be selling SULY in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen from December. And talks are on about distribution in the UAE, Saudi Ara-bia and other Middle East countries. SULY, as a brand, is a small portion of our busi-ness. Our major business is to produce

TVs for other brands. Currently we are producing huge quantities for brands like Hyundai, Wansa, and IKON,” he explains.

As to future plans, Sanjai declares that there is scope for expansion in the field of LCD and LED TVs, with the technologi-cal innovations. “In the next three months we will be entering into the field of Smart TVs. We have already placed orders and the stock will soon start coming in. We will be making Smart TVs for SULY as well as other brands from Korea, China and the Middle East. Apart from this we are also planning to produce air-conditioners. So the next phase of expansion, starting next year, will involve the assembling of air-conditioner units, both split and window units, as requested by many of our existing OEM partners.

“As part of our marketing strategy, we are receiving enquiries from as far as South America, the US, Japan and Europe. We are in the process of working out the feasibility of producing for these countries. One of our major strengths is in having a high-tech production facility in Oman – an assembly line with all the latest technol-ogy, equipment and competent people. Our capability is 25,000 to 35,000 TV units per

month. And in the next six months, with the air-conditioner units set to be assembled, we are confident of achieving our complete production rates,” Sanjai adds.

The marketing strategy of OKC also involves offering hire purchase schemes for institutional sales. “We are participat-ing in all the national celebrations and promotions. The Omani-Korean Company has been authorised by the Government of Oman to install SULY TVs in the Royal Op-era House Muscat. This is the only brand to be installed there,” Sanjai proudly states.

The charismatic CEO concludes by thank-ing the Government of Oman for giving them the necessary support. “The govern-ment has supported us a lot in terms of setting up the plant, finding the Omani expertise, key people, and subsidiary in imports, including help with the govern-ment procedures.” He also thanks the founders, HE Sayyid Harib Hamed al Busaidi and Sheikh Sulaiman Mohamed al Yahyai, for their encouragement.

On a very positive note, Sanjai states that he wants the Omani-Korean Company to become a 100-million-dollar business group in the next two to three years.

“The Omani-Korean Company has been authorised by the Government of Oman to install SULY TVs in the Royal Opera House Muscat. This is the only brand to be installed there.”

The production facility of the Omani-Korean Company (OKC) in Sohar

DECEMBER 2011 / 37

NOTE YOUR DESIREmobile zone

Enhanced creativity with advanced S Pen feature

Dimensions WIDTH 82.95mmHEIGHT 146.85mmDEPTH 9.65mmWEIGHT 178g

GALAXY Note features a large 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED display – an expansive high-resolution smart screen. With the large display, multi-tasking is now much more fun and easy. Minimising the need to switch between applications, the screen is large enough to allow split-screen operation. The most frequently used native apps can now be operated side-by-side, reducing interruptions. Additionally, an advanced pen-input technology, called the S Pen, combined with the touchscreen, introduces a unique user experience. Superior handwriting recognition lets handwritten text be accurately converted into digital characters.

The 1.4GHz dual-core processor ensures seamless usability. With the HSPA+ or LTE-enabled device’s connection, fast network speeds are enabled. So you can stream videos in real-time or engage with friends through online gaming platforms, facilitated through Samsung’s Game Hub.

DetailsPROCESSOR 1.4GHz Dual-Core ProcessorDISPLAY 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED DisplayOPERATING SYSTEM Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)MEMORY 16GB Internal MemoryCONNECTIVITY Bluetooth v3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/nAVAILABLE AT SARCO, 24593025

S PenSamsung has launched ‘S Choice’, a new category menu under the Samsung Apps, with applications specially designed for the Note’s S Pen feature. New applications will include Soonr Workplace that enables team collaboration, OmniSketch that helps users sketch drawings using the S Pen as a brush, and Zen Brush that provides oriental brush simulation. ComicBook! and iAnnotate PDF are other applications.

38 / TECH

The new fitness device from Motorola Mobility, the MOTOACTV, is a lightweight, wearable performance tracker. It also works as a smart music player, making burning calories a lot more fun. You can sync the device with your PC – this helps you track your workouts, set goals and even create workout competitions with your friends via the MOTOACTV Web Portal. With a touchscreen display you can instantly launch a new workout or a song.

Motorola AccuSense technology and GPS helps measure your time, distance, speed, heart rate and calories burned. This can then be uploaded to MOTOACTV.com, where you can also get workout tips and training plans from fitness experts. This cool gadget is quite intelligent. The smart music player learns what tracks motivate you most by measuring your performance against the music and then uses those songs to create a personal high-performance playlist. There is also an option for you to stay connected to your Android-powered smartphone, so you can answer calls and receive texts.

The FR70 fitness watch is a sleek workout tool that tracks users’ time, heart rate and calories burned. Available in both a men’s and women’s version, it sports a low profile design. It supports wireless ANT+ technology, which allows it to connect to other ANT+ compatible devices, like the included heart rate monitor, optional foot pod, speed and cadence sensor or even ANT+ compatible fitness equipment like treadmills, spin bikes and elliptical trainers.

The FR70 can also be paired with the Tanita BC-1000 body-composition platform, which helps track weight, body fat, body water and six other measurements. The information is stored directly on the FR70, and then automatically sent to Garmin Connect when in range of a user’s computer. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, pace and heart rate in the form of charts, illustrations and reports.

Ultimate performance

Healthy living

MOTOACTV is a fusion of music and fitness

Garmin FR70 keeps you motivated

Key features• Ongoing tracking of fitness performance stats, with automatic wireless syncing of data to MOTOACTV.com• 1.6-inch colour touchscreen display that is sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant• Corning Gorilla Glass that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting• Up to five hours of battery life for outdoor workouts, ten hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby

life tech

DimensionsWIDTH 46mmHEIGHT 46mmDEPTH 9.6mmWEIGHT 35g

DetailsPRICE 8G USD249 (RO180) 16G USD299 (RO210)AVAILABLE AT www.motorola.com

DetailsPRICE USD129.99 (RO90)AVAILABLE AT www.garmin.com

DECEMBER 2011 / 39

Ever wondered why automatic watches function only when tied to your hands? Well, don’t jump to the conclusion that it has

anything do with your body heat, which is a major misconception. Before we figure out the mystery, first know the parts of a mechanical watch. It has a mainspring, gears, balance wheel and an escapement. The working is quite simple to understand – the mainspring (located in the barrel) is constricted when the watch is wound. The constricted spring then uncoils, creating the energy to run the watch. The barrel is connected to a jagged wheel interlocked with the gear train, which transfers the energy stored in the barrel to the escape-wheel. As the spring unwinds, the barrel turns and drives the wheels of the watch which in turn moves the hands.

Well, wasn’t that simple? Moving on, automatic watches do not run on batteries. They are basically mechanical watches that do not need manual winding on a daily basis. The movement of the watch is mechanical but the watch itself is self-winding. So how does wearing the watch help in its self-winding functionality?

In addition to the basic parts, an automatic watch also has a semicircular rotor, which is the weight that pivots inside the watch case.

The normal arm and wrist movements of your hand cause the rotor to swivel back and forth on staffs attached to the

winding mechanism. This movement of the rotor sets a series of gears in motion which then winds the mainspring. A fully wound mainspring can store enough energy for the watch to run for two days even if not worn. This enables the watch to remain functioning throughout the night when it is not on your hands.

Here is a look at the inner workings of an automatic watch

AutomA-tickHOW STUFF WORKS

TipsWind your automatic watch twice a week if you do not wear it regularly

Take your watch to a certified watchmaker once every couple of years to ensure that it’s working perfectly

40 / TECH

Nissan has introduced six other EV concepts since the featuring of the PIVO 1 at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. All the EV concepts have one thing in common – Nissan’s dedication to creating exciting and innovative zero emission mobility solutions. PIVO 3 is the eighth EV concept and is not just a show car. Nissan envisions it to be a more ‘realistic’ EV of the near future.

With its home-charging capability, Nissan LEAF liberates the driver from

dependence on gasoline. It also has the potential to store renewable energy and even supply the household with electricity. PIVO 3 expands the possibilities to include the entire electrical grid. When EVs represent a larger percentage of all cars, collectively serving as part of a city’s infrastructure, advanced electric vehicles like PIVO 3 could help balance electric power supply and demand. Such a powerful synergy of smart cities, cloud computing and EVs opens the door to the urban society of tomorrow.

PIVO 3 evolves in the direction of ‘smart community’, with greater feasibility, credibility and an extended scope of mobile performance. PIVO 3 stands alongside the Nissan LEAF as a practical approach to sustainability for the real world. The latter is a compact hatchback, whereas PIVO is an ultra-compact city commuter targeting families enjoying an urban lifestyle.

dashboard

Nissan’s PIVO 3 is the next stage in urban mobility

THE FUTURETHE FUTURE

Electric power and by-wire control technology allow freedom of layout and the elimination of many mechanical parts. PIVO 3 uses in-wheel motors (IWM) to give wheels great freedom of movement, and more space in the vehicle chassis. By keeping wheel rotation in a range that will maintain a natural steering feel, PIVO 3 balances the advantages of IWM with user friendliness. One of the engaging features of PIVO 3 is the Robotic Agent interface. The car acts as a partner or personal assistant to the driver, with companionship conveyed by the Robotic Agent. With this, PIVO 3 supports a life of seamless mobility, using cloud computing and infrastructure to connect with the city.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

42 / TECH

The interior design centres on the driving controls. The centre console features an ultra-wide display for GPS and other information. Side-view monitors take the place of mirrors. And using Nissan’s Around View Monitor system the surroundings are revealed and blind spots minimised. The fenders extend out of a crouching chassis. Long body lines and angular planes combine in a dynamically active form. Trim and stylish mobility is promised by the new stance, which attractively reveals narrow rear track width.

Conclusion: Compact cabin dimensions, distinctive design, smooth surfaces, seamless integration of the interior and exterior styling, and stitched leather and silver-hued trim in a white-and-blue colour scheme, add to the refined feel.

PIVO 3 is remarkably compact, measuring less than 3m in length and seating three in a 1+2 layout. The compact body and narrow-tread wheels with IWM (in-wheel motors) enable an extremely small turning radius with zero turn gap. PIVO 3 is very agile and can effortlessly park in tight spaces. With Automated Valet Parking (AVP), PIVO 3 will revolutionise the parking experience by connecting to and responding to infrastructure. While the driver shops, PIVO 3 recharges itself or sells excess power to the grid. Later, the driver can call PIVO 3 and summon it to the driver’s location using a smartphone. This AVP function not only creates more freedom in private life, but it can also contribute to society and benefit the environment by supplying electric power on the regional grid.

PARKING

DESIGN

DECEMBER 2011 / 43

It is not just mind-blowing, it’s legendary

Yet another award-winning entry into what’s become a multi-million dollar success story – Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) is a standard that all other FPS

titles have desperately been trying to either match or overcome for the past few years.

The shallowest of features that Modern Warfare 3 has to offer is the campaign mode, which is yet another breakneck entry into a story that is about as over the top and believable as the Die Hard films. Gamers pick up where Modern Warfare 2 left off, taking the role of soldiers around the world to give an overview of events as they occur. America is in a desperate struggle to overthrow Russian forces in New York; Price and Nikolai struggle to keep Soap alive while running away from Makarov’s forces who are trying to destabilise the planet through various acts of terrorism.

Anyone buying Modern Warfare 3 for the single player experience alone either has brain damage or otherwise lacks an Internet connection. This is a game almost entirely dedicated to the multiplayer component, and even with just a minor bit of polish, the experience shines. MW3 at its core is an arcade shooter meant for players to jump in and out of action with as little interruption as possible, and while this sort of non-committal setup to online gaming is almost completely the opposite of where community gaming seems to be heading, for MW3 it works.

Players still select individual builds that feature a primary weapon, a secondary weapon and customisable components for each gun, in addition to perks and tools.

A few new perks have replaced older, less balanced ones, and the same classic features such as being made invisible to radar, faster aiming, and rapid reloading are still staples to the core gameplay. Unlocking new weapons remains the same, as players earn kills and contribute to their overall score. They eventually enter levels to be granted access to new features. By using an individual weapon, earning kills and assists, players slowly unlock more features for the gun. It’s similar to the way the old system works, but far more clear in what will be unlocking. It also provides players with an easy way to determine exactly what weapon is thoroughly used and what gun should be used a bit more.

The sound in Modern Warfare 3 hasn’t really strayed far from the other engagements in the series, and the graphics (while slightly updated) also hasn’t seen much of a facelift. That being said, the game still looks quite good visually, and the most important part is even when there’s a lot going on in scenarios like Ground War there’s never any slowdown or graphical lag. Anyone looking for dramatic changes to the combat is being unrealistic,

but those who have already committed quite a bit of time to the online play of Modern Warfare 2 or Black Ops should find themselves fairly satisfied. It’s simple enough to pick up and play; the levels are complex enough to provide quite a bit of strategy for just about any game type, and kill streaks still have that brutal satisfaction to them that has made Call of Duty popular as a franchise.

SCOREGameplay 10Graphics 9Sound 9Replayability 10OVERALL 9

Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Sledgehammer Games Platform(s): Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, DS Genre: ActionESRB Rating: MaturePEGI Rating: 18

gamer’s delight

44 / TECH

The game changes more than just in its name, with this latest installment

Let the competition hit the floor. There isn’t much competition out there in the wrestling entertainment genre but if there was then WWE’12 would have

them for breakfast. Forget about what you knew from the Smackdown vs. RAW series because this game is how we envisioned a WWE game would eventually be. WWE’12 changes its core mechanics to give players a smoother transition from light to power moves. It’s almost as if you finally get to control the superstars the way they naturally perform in the ring. Matches have a sort of natural progression that leaves you to the comeback moments that is typically found in the squared circle today. The grappling animations, submissions and transitions are much more fluid, although there are the occasional odd moments where a ladder to the face doesn’t quite come off with the intensity you’d expect. The game controls have been improved. And the AI has got an uplift as well.

Some of the presentations could still use some work especially in Road to Wrestlemania but WWE’12 gets it close to near perfection. In fact, some would argue that THQ and Yuke’s decided to do what WWE itself should do and that’s focus on the substance and not the spectacle. I don’t know why but I’m just a sucker for visual flare. RTW has been revamped to focus more on the history of how stories unfold during WWE. It takes months and months to create a good heel (bad guy for

those unaware) in regular programming and RTW does its best job to date at duplicating the real programming.

For what it was, Road to Wrestlemania works, but it’s the WWE Universe 2.0 mode that shines. It lets you take on the entire programming as you see fit. You can edit brands and matches. If you want to change WWE into the extreme ECW, then go right ahead. If you want to create an entire roster, then go ahead. And speaking of player characters, WWE’12 returns with another deep (seriously deep) player creation tool. It’s overwhelming in fact, but you can spend literally months with the player creation tool on its own. Allowing gamers to control what they see, how they perform, the arena they perform in, moves, entrances and so on – it is just madness.

As for the online multiplayer, fancy a 40-man Royal Rumble? Yes you do. Taking WWE’12 online is really where the competition gets serious. Going against other players really tests your skill. And when there is lag, it tests your skill even more. We ran into a few matches where we were stuck in a delay that caused us to miss some reversals and body slams. There’s a lot to do online especially with the 40-man Royal Rumble.

WWE’12 changes more than just its name with this latest installment. It changes what

you thought a wrestling game could be. It takes story, action, gameplay, creation, presentation… turns them sideways and choke slams it right onto us.

SCOREGameplay 9Graphics 8Sound 8Replayability 9OVERALL 8

Publisher: THQDeveloper: Yuke’s Platform(s): Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 Genre: ActionESRB Rating: TeenPEGI Rating: R/P

The game changes more than just in its name, with this latest installment

DECEMBER 2011 / 45

The fourth film in the Mission Impossible series, Ghost Protocol stars Tom Cruise as IMF (Impossible Missions Force) agent Ethan Hunt. A terrorist bombing destroys the Kremlin while Ethan is carrying out an undercover operation in Moscow. The premise of the movie is that Ethan is blamed for the bombing and is disavowed, along with the rest of the agency, when the President initiates ‘Ghost Protocol’. Left

without any resources or backup, Ethan must find a way to clear the agency’s name and prevent another attack. To complicate matters further, Ethan is forced to embark on this mission with a team of fellow IMF fugitives whose personal motives he does not fully know. Several BMWs, including the futuristic Vision Efficient Dynamics concept and 6 Series Convertible are featured in several action sequences.

Robert Downey Jr reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr Watson. In A Game of Shadows there is a new criminal mastermind at large – Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) who is Holmes’ intellectual equal with a capacity for evil and complete lack of conscience.

The investigation into the alleged suicide of the Crown Prince of Austria becomes dangerous as it leads Holmes and Watson across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland, with the cunning Moriarty always one step ahead. One new character in this movie is the role of Mycroft Holmes reprised by Stephen Fry.

Captain America: The First Avenger Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Conan the Barbarian Action | Adventure | Fantasy

The SmurfsAdventure | Animation | Comedy

Horrible Bosses Comedy | Crime

5 December 12 December5 December 19 December

Mission iMpossible: Ghost protocol Genre: Action | Adventure | thriller Director: Brad Bird Cast: Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, tom cruise

Genre: Action | Adventure | crime Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Jared Harris, Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr

DVD Releases DECEMBER

Sherlock holmeS: A GAme of ShAdowS

movie zone

46 / TECH

Create a new document (400x400 pixel) with a black background. Let the text colour be white.

Now rotate the image again (90º CW). Apply Gaussian blur with a radius of 1.5 and reapply this filter once more.

Learn how to create and apply a fire effect to any font

Now duplicate the text layer from the menu and merge it to the black background. Hide the original text layer for now.

Use the Liquify filter to make the flames and go to Image>Hue/Saturation (H:47, S:100, L:0) and click on Colorize.

Rotate the canvas 90º CCW. Go to Filter> Stylize>Wind (Method: Wind, Direction: Right). Now reapply the same filter twice.

Reapply the Hue/Saturation but this time without clicking on Colorize (H:-47, S:100, L:0). From Window Levels select Color Dodge.

Now show the original text layer and go to Blending options (right click directly from the Layer window and choose Blending options). Apply a Gradient (we’ve used grey to black) and outer glow and inner glow. Use a yellow-like colour for the last inner and outer glow. The final result will be something like this :

Burn it up1

4

2 3

5 6

7

TECH ART

DECEMBER 2011 / 47

Dyson Hot fan heater warms the whole room faster than any other

Intelligent heating

Details

Conclusion

GooDbye ColDConventional heaters and central heating are two extremes that can never truly satisfy your requirement for heat in the house – the former, because they can’t always heat a whole room quickly with their limited settings; and the latter, because the heating is sometimes wasted on the whole house when you only need to heat a room. And the solution that Dyson’s offering is the new Hot, which is engineered to heat the whole room faster than any other. It comes with temperature controls and an intelligent thermostat, and the variable airflow and oscillation can be controlled by remote.

Dyson Hot can be set between 32 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit to heat a room. An intelligent thermostat keeps it there. Dyson Hot monitors the room temperature by measuring the surrounding air, and when a drop is detected, the heater turns back on to maintain the set temperature.

Material Tough Acrylontride Butadiene Styrene (ABS), a thermoplastic with good shock-absorbing properties

Colour Iron, blue and white, and silver

Weight 2.4kg

Dual-function tool (heater and cooling fan) that is safe, easy to clean and tough, available at the suggested retail price of USD399.99 (RO154)

2.5mm ApertureAir is forced out to create the jet

Mixed Flow ImpellerA combination of the technologiesused in turbochargers and jet engines generates powerful airflow

How Dyson Hot worksUsing the patented Air Multiplier technology, air is drawn in through a mixed flow impeller, a combination of the technologies used in turbochargers and jet engines. It is then accelerated through a 2.5mm aperture set within the loop amplifier. This creates a jet of hot air which passes over an airfoil-shaped ramp channelling its direction. Surrounding air is drawn into the airflow, amplifying it six times in a process known as inducement and entertainment.

Fun factDyson Hot involved 22 engineers, including experts in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, and three years of research, development and testing of the patented Air Multiplier technology.

HOME zONE

48 / TECH

A thermostat that ‘learns’ human behaviour and programs itself

Check out the really cool Nest Learning Thermostat – with a combination of sensors, algorithms, machine learning and cloud computing, the tool learns your preferences and adjusts temperature. With this you’ll always be comfortable when you’re at home, and will save energy when away. With no hassle of programming or re-adjustments, Nest takes care of everything – simply answer a few setup questions and make a week’s worth of temperature adjustments. Nest learns your personal schedule and starts turning down the heating or cooling accordingly. It also keeps refining its schedule over time.

Nest also helps save energy, thanks to the Auto Away feature. With the help of sensors, this feature detects when you’re not home, lowering the temperature automatically. And when the temperature is at an energy-efficient setting you get awarded a green Nest Leaf (displayed on the thermostat) – how wonderful. Also, browse through the Energy History to find out how much you saved.

The thermostat is quite easy to install. And once you’re all settled in, connect the Nest to your home’s Wi-Fi. With the

help of your laptop, smartphone or tablet you can now change the temperature, adjust your schedule and even check your energy usage.

Using the Nest Learning Thermostat is quite simple. Simply rotate the outer ring to adjust the temperature – the display turns blue when cooling and red when heating. And to open the menu, just push down on the gadget.

DimensionsWIDTH 81mmHEIGHT 81mmDEPTH 40.6mmWEIGHT 198g

DetailsSECURITY AES-128, SSL/TLS, WEP, WPA/WPA2COMPATIBILITY Works with most systems, heat pump with auxiliary, conventional 2 Heat/1 CoolPRICE USD249 (RO175)AVAILABLE AT www.nest.com

IntellIgent heatIng

Design The display is framed by a brushed stainless steel dial. The ring’s curved, neutral-silver finish sports a chameleon effect – it picks up the colour of the wall upon which it’s mounted.

DECEMBER 2011 / 49

A new-concept state-of-the-art office tool

AMAZON SILKThis is a revolutionary, cloud-accelerated browser that uses ‘split browser’ architecture to leverage the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services cloud. It supports Adobe Flash Player.

MultifunctiOnal FRIENDThe next gen in office products,

the Panasonic KX-MB2061 is a new-concept printer that merges the standard multifunction

imaging device with an expandable office communication system.

Designed specifically for small businesses, remote offices and home offices, it offers print, copy, scan and Fax capability. This multifunction printer also offers many

state-of-the-art features such as a built-in digital answering system and DECT 6.0 cordless telephone system with corded handset, which is expandable up to six handsets. There’s no need to purchase a separate cordless phone as Panasonic’s DECT comes as standard equipment.

The built-in digital answering system can store up to 30 minutes of voice messages, conversations or voice memos. And by

utilising the built-in 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet, it can automatically convert those voice messages into a .wav file and transmit them to an email address, which can be listened to on most smartphones.

In addition, the Ethernet interface provides convenient device sharing in multi-user office environments. It also provides the ability to manage and configure the device using a standard Internet browser.

DesignWith a reliable print engine and an easy-to-open clam shell design, this office tool makes consumable replacement and the removal of the occasional paper jam extremely easy.

DimensionsWIDTH 420mmHEIGHT 305mmDEPTH 432mmWEIGHT 12kg

DetailsPAPER CAPACITY 250 SheetsPRINT SPEED Up to 24ppmPRINT RESOLUTION 600x600dpiMEMORY 32MB COPY SPEED Up to 24cpm

BUSINESS TECH

50 / TECH

PrintThe KX-MB2061 includes a Windows-based GDI printer driver which has been optimised for maximum printing productivity. The advanced printing features of the printer driver include the ability to add watermarks to printed documents, print or create document overlays, merge up to 16 documents on a single sheet of paper, and enlarge your document to a wall size poster.

ScanThe KX-MB2061 is able to scan documents directly to a PC, email, Shared Network folder or FTP server, using the built-in 20-sheet automatic document feeder or the flatbed scanner. The scanned documents can be saved as a PDF, JPG, TIFF or BMP file. The KX-MB2061 is capable of scanning documents in full colour with resolutions up to 19,200x19,200 dpi (Interpolated).

CopyThe KX-MB2061 can also be used as a desktop copy machine and it offers convenient copy features such as image repeat, N in 1 copy, separate N in 1 copy, quick ID copy and proof copy.

FaxThe high-speed 33.6kbps modem built into the Panasonic KX-MB2061 is designed for fast and efficient document transmissions (up to four seconds per page). With the Ethernet interface standard on the KX-MB2061, received documents can automatically be forwarded to an email address as a PDF attachment once they are received, which is great for reducing paper consumption or for mobile users who are away from the office. The Fax Preview function will also let you save, delete or print documents which have been received, using a standard Internet browser remotely.

Cool FeatureThe KX-MB2061 features the Panasonic Easy Print Utility, an intuitive application that allows you to merge multiple documents into a single print job, which can then be previewed on the computer monitor before actual printing. You can add a header, footer or watermark before printing. After editing, you can save the image as a PDF file. This greatly reduces the number of trial prints and misprints.

Featuring the latest tools from Makita

Makita UB1100

Makita 407

VacUUM power

The UB1100 is a compact tool that can be used as a blower. And with an optional dust bag attached to it, the Makita blower can also be used as a vacuum cleaner. The UB1100 is equipped with anti-static function to protect the user from shock through electrostatic build-up in the ‘vacuum’ mode. The tool sports a newly designed ergonomic handle for comfortable operation. It keeps the user’s wrist at the same angle in any application, thus reducing fatigue. The UB1100 also sports a large trigger switch that can be pulled with two fingers, which helps in reducing fatigue during operation.

The 407 from Makita is wet and dry type vacuum cleaner. It accepts the standard 45L plastic trash bags. It sports a big stainless-steel tank that can contain a maximum of 32L of dust or 30L of water. One of the unique aspects of the Makita 407 vacuum cleaner is that it allows wet and dry dust collection without the need for changing a filter.

Ergonomically designed handle for comfortable operation

With an optional dust bag, it can be used as a vacuum

Large trigger switch for reduced fatigue

DimensionsPOWER SUPPLY CORD 2.5mOVERALL LENGTH 480mmNET WEIGHT 1.75kg

DimensionsPOWER SUPPLY CORD 5m OVERALL HEIGHT 699mmNET WEIGHT 10.3kg

DetailsCONTINUOUS RATING INPUT 600WAIR VOLUME 2.8 cubic metre per minuteAIR PRESSURE 5.5kpa (560mm Water Column)NO LOAD SPEED 16,000rpm

DetailsCONTINUOUS RATING INPUT 1,050WMAXIMUM PEAK AIR FLOW Three cubic metre per minuteMAXIMUM SEALED SUCTION 20.6kpa (2,100mm)RECOVERABLE CAPACITY Dust: 32L, Water: 30L

Easy-to-use timepiece that simultaneously indicates the time in all the time zones

An instrument aimed at business people, the Montblanc Star World-Time GMT Automatic puts two different time zones on its dial, simultaneously indicating the time in all the world’s 24 time zones. Easy to use, all functions are easily operable with just the three positions of the screwed crown. In the neutral (or unscrewed) position, a clockwise turn winds the automatic movement and a counter-clockwise turn resets the outer ring which indicates the 24 time zones. When the crown is in the first extracted position, a clockwise turn resets the date and a counter-clockwise turn triggers the GMT hand (with the red tip) to advance in hourly increments. In the second extracted position a clockwise turn adjusts the 12-hour and the minute-hand as in most wristwatches.

The 12-hour hand, permanently coupled to the movement, shows the time in the wearer’s present location. The smaller GMT hand, ending in a red tip, comes with a contrastingly coloured 24 hour-scale indicating whether people are at work or asleep in the distant time zone. The outer ring simultaneously indicates the corresponding time on all the global time zones.

The device controls all indicators with the help of a winding stem. And when a time-zone correction is made, it disconnects the movement from the wheels of the time-zone and world-time indicators. The device is based on a special ‘toothing’ system by which both the flange and the watch movement can be activated.

TIME zONE

DimensionsDIAMETER 42mmHEIGHT 12.6mm

DetailsMOVEMENT Calibre MB 4810/405TYPE Mechanical with automatic winding in both directionsJEWELS 21POWER RESERVE 42 hoursWATER RESISTANCE 30mCROWN Screwed with Montblanc emblem

World on Wrist

Design The back of the watertight case features a pane of sapphire crystals, with the dial protected by another pane. The timepiece is available in two versions: one variant boasts a black guilloche dial, silver-coloured Arabic numerals and rhodium-plated hands, affixed to a black alligator-leather strap; the other has a silver-coloured guilloche dial with black numerals and blue hands, attached to a bracelet made of articulated steel elements.

54 / TECH

Name ___________________________________

Age ______ Mobile ________________________

Email ____________________________________

Occupation _______________________________

Company _________________________________

Previous quiz answers:1 – (b) 2 – (c) 3 – (d) 4 – (a)

Please send us your entries by December 24 for a chance to win a 3D Blu-ray Movie

Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified. Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.

Fax to24693569

Choose the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win

(a) 1,600x1,200 (b) 5,616x3,744(c) 3,008x2,000 (d) 7,212x5,142

3

(a) Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (b) Simple Mail Text Protocol(c) Super Mail Transfer Protocol(d) Super Mail Text Protocol

1 What does SMTP stand for?

What is the resolution of a 6MP camera?

(a) Unprocessed System(b) Uninterrupted Power Supply(c) Unpredictable System(d) Unavoidable Power System

(a) iPod Touch (b) iPod Nano(c) iPod Classic (d) iPod Shuffle

2 What does UPS stand for?

Which iPod doesn’t have a screen?4

Last month’s winner:

Denny Rajan

Welcome to our ‘TECH Favourites’ section. With these lists we aim to keep you updated with our favourite products in a concise format. Please give us your feedback on the basis of which we can further improve it.

Philips 52PFL5605H RO899.900 This is a 2MP, full-HD 52-inch TV with three HDMI inputs, USB port and PIP. It features Pixel Plus HD and HD natural motion.

Suly LE40M1PTK RO259.000 This is a 40-inch LED, full HD, 2MP TV. It

sports four HDMI/PC inputs, and 120Hz motion flow. This is the first made-in-Oman series of TVs from this brand.

Panasonic TH-L32X30M RO199.900 This is a 32-inch TV with an edge LED backlit panel. It sports three HDMI inputs and two USB ports. It also features Eco Navigation, VIERA tools and Easy IPTV. It has a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1.

Samsung UA46D5000 RO439.000 This is a 46-inch full HD TV with an ultra-slim design. It sports four HDMI/PC input, and USB port. It has a wide colour enhancer and comes with AllShare feature.

Sony DAV-DZ840K RO160.900 DVD, CD, MP3 and DivX playback, 1,000W RMS, digital sound, USB port, play and record, 5.1 channel surround sound

Samsung HT-D555WK RO190.000 HD home theatre system, Wireless rear speaker, DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DivX playback, USB port, 1,000W RMS, HDMI up-scaling, karaoke function

Philips HTS-3580 RO179.000 3D Blu-ray home theatre system, DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DivX playback, 1,000W RMS, digital sound, full HD 1080p, USB port

Samsung UA40D6000 RO399.000 3D LED 40-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, USB port,

Internet TV, 200Hz Clear Motion Rate, Smart Hub, two megapixels

Panasonic TH-P50ST30M RO599.000 3D Plasma 50-inch screen, full HD, 600Hz motion drive,

Wi-Fi Ready Internet, Eco sensor, three USB ports, four HDMI/PC input, SD card slot

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.

LG 65LW6500 RO2,799.900 3D LED 65-inch screen, full HD Smart TV, four HDMI/PC input,

two USB ports, two megapixels

LG 55LW5700 RO899.900 3D LED 55-inch screen, 2MP full HD, Smart TV, 100Hz Tru-motion

flow, four HDMI/PC input

Players

Flat-Panel Displays

Sharp LC-46LE830M RO649.000 3D LED 46-inch screen, full HD, two megapixels,

2D to 3D Converter, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Ready, four HDMI/PC inputs, three USB ports

Samsung PS51D550 RO500.000 3D Plasma 51-inch screen, full HD, two megapixels, 600Hz sub-field motion, USB port, PIP system, four HDMI/PC input, Internet TV

3D TVs

Sony KDL60NX720 RO1,599.900 3D LED 60-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, Internet TV, USB port, PIP system, Wi-Fi built-in, X-Reality Picture Engine, 200Hz motion flow

Sony KDL55EX720 RO899.900 3D LED 55-inch screen, full HD, two megapixels, USB port, four

HDMI/PC input, Internet Video, PIP system, 200Hz motion flow

Asus G51J RO699.900 Intel Core i7 720QM, 1.6GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB

HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD Glare LED, DVD multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Acer Iconia Tab A500 RO179.000

Android v3.0 upgradable to v3.2, dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, 10.1-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 5MP camera with autofocus, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, 16GB/32GB

Apple iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G RO314.90032GB, 9.7-inch LED backlit screen, 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, Wi-Fi and 3G, two cameras

BlackBerry PlayBook RO299.900 32GB, 1GHz dual-core processor, seven-inch capacitive display, 1GB RAM, dual cameras – 5MP rear and 3MP front

Asus Transformer RO209.900 Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor,

Google Android 3.0, 32GB/16GB internal memory, 1GHz processor speed, 10.1-inch LED, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5MP camera, 1.2MP front camera

Motorola Xoom RO264.900Android 3.1 (Honeycomb), 1GHz dual-core processor, 5MP front camera, 2MP web camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 10.1-inch display, 32GB on-board memory

Toshiba Satellite L755-16C RO299.900 Intel Core i5 2,410M processor, 2.53GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM,

1GB VRAM, 500GB SATA HDD, 15.6-inch TruBrite HD LED screen, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Asus N53S RO452.000Intel Core i7 2,630QM processor, 2GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch LED screen, DVD super multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera, 4x Blu-ray player, TV tuner

Acer 5750-G50M RO314.900 Intel Core i7 processor, 2.2GHz CPU speed, 15.6-inch HD LED,

4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Wireless, Bluetooth, DVD super multi-drive, Nvidia GeForce GT540M, 1GB VRAM

Toshiba Satellite P755-10C RO649.000Intel Core i7 2,630QM, 2GHz CPU speed, 6GB RAM, 500GB SATA HDD, 2GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD LED, Blu-ray and DVD super multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth

HP Printer 2050A RO18.900 Inkjet printer, Print, scan and copy features, 19ppm (pages per minute) black, 15ppm colour, 1,200x600 resolution

Microsoft Keyboard 4000 RO18.800 Advanced ergonomic split keyboard design, zoom slider, curved key layout, reverse slope for natural wrist posture

WD My Book Essential RO48.900 2TB, USB 3.0 and 2.0 compatible interface, WD SmartWare visual backup software, automatic, continuous backup

Linksys WAG160N RO38.900 High-speed ADSL2+ router, four 10/100 Ethernet ports, built-in Wireless N Draft 2.0 compatibility, MIMO technology with multiple radios to reduce dead spots

Laptops Netbooks & Ultra Portables

Computer Accessories

HP ENVY 14-1111ee RO599.900 Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz,

6GB RAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 500GB HDD, 14.5-inch HD LCD, DVD super multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Samsung NP-R580-JS05AE RO299.900 Intel Core i7 620M processor, 2.66GHz CPU Speed, 4GB DDR3 RAM,

320GB HDD, 512MB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Sony Vaio VPCCA15FA RO379.900 Intel Core i5 2,410M processor, 2.3GHz CPU speed with

Turbo Boost, 1GB VRAM, Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System, 500GB HDD, 14-inch display

HP Pavilion dV7-6B00 RO649.900Intel Core i7 2,670QM second generation processor, 2.2GHz CPU

speed, 8GB DDR3 SDRAM, 160GB+500GB HDD, 17.3-inch HD BrightView LED, DVD super multi-drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader, HD web camera

Dell XPS-L502-195 (ALM) RO479.900 Intel Core i7 2,630QM processor, 2GHz CPU speed, 6GB RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi-drive, 2GB dedicated graphics, Wireless, Bluetooth, card reader, web camera

57

Sony DSC-W570 RO69.900 The W570 sports a 5x optical zoom lens and a 16.1-megapixel

sensor. It supports Sweep Panorama mode, and 720p HD movie recording capability. It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD and a BIONZ processor.

Sony DSC-T110 RO89.900 This is a 16.1-megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera. It comes with a

three-inch wide LCD screen and a 25mm wide-angle lens. It supports Sweep Panorama Mode for the perfect landscape images.

Canon A3300is RO71.900 This is a 16-megapixel camera with a 28mm wide-angle lens and 5x optical zoom. It offers the flexibility of a high-resolution image sensor. Canon’s latest DIGIC 4 image processing provides excellent quality shots.

Samsung WB700 RO139.500 This is a 24mm ultra-wide 18x zoom camera with a three-inch TFT LCD screen. The dual image stabiliser feature automatically adjusts to compensate for hand or body movements, resulting in steadier photos.

Panasonic FH5 RO75.000 The FH5 sports a 4x optical zoom lens and a 16.1-megapixel sensor.

It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD and supports HD movie recording capability. It comes with an optical image stabiliser.

Olympus SZ20 RO149.000The SZ20 sports a backlit CMOS sensor for low-noise shots, an impressive 12.5x super wide optical zoom. With 1080p full HD movie recording and 16MP, the SZ20 features Smart Panorama and 3D still photo shooting.

Panasonic DMC-S1 RO34.900 This is a 12.1-megapixel camera with a 2.7-inch LCD. It has 4x optical zoom. It also supports HD movie recording capability and comes integrated with Mega Optical Image Stabiliser.

Fujifilm X100 RO579.900 The X100 features a custom 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS

high-performance sensor. It sports a 2.8-inch TFT colour LCD. The main technology employed is the Hybrid Viewfinder.

Olympus TG610 RO159.000 The TOUGH TG610 from Olympus is waterproof, shockproof

and freezeproof. It features a 14-megapixel sensor with 5x wide-angle optical zoom. It sports a three-inch LCD screen.

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.

Digital Still Cameras

EXCELLENT RANGE

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CamcordersSony HDR-PJ10E RO299.900 4.5mm Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor, 30x optical zoom, three-inch Clear Photo LCD touchscreen, built-in projector

JVC HM970 RO449.000 10x optical zoom, 3D converter, 3.5-inch touch LCD screen, Super LoLux with F1.2 Super Bright Lens and back-illuminated CMOS sensor

Samsung HMX-H300 RO149.500 30x optical zoom, 4.9MP, three-inch LCD screen, OIS Duo stabiliser, three-hour battery time

Panasonic SDR-H101 RO149.900 70x optical zoom, 80GB HDD, 2.7-inch wide LCD screen, backlight compensation, advanced Optical Image Stabiliser

Sony TD-10E RO619.900 10x optical zoom, 3D Full HD, 2D Optional,

3.5-inch LCD screen, 64GB internal memory, 7.1MP

Nikon D5100 RO349.900 16.2 megapixel, 11-point autofocus, three-inch LCD screen, HD movie, 4fps

Canon EOS-600D RO501.90018 megapixel, nine-point autofocus, 3.2-

inch LCD screen, full HD video

Olympus E-PL2 RO339.000 12-megapixel sensor, 11-point autofocus,

three-inch LCD screen, LiveView feature, HD movie

Sony SLT α55 RO399.90016.7 megapixel, three-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, 10fps, 3D Sweep Panorama mode

DSLRs

Canon SX150 IS RO99.900 It sports a 14.1-megapixel sensor and Canon DIGIC 4 image

processor. It features 12x wide-angle optical zoom, a three-inch LCD, and Smart AUTO features. It also captures 720p HD video in stereo sound.

58

iPod DocksHTC Cha Cha RO139.900 The HTC ChaCha sports a 2.6-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen. It features a Gorilla Glass display and operates on an 800MHz processor. It runs Android v2.3 (Gingerbread) OS. It sports a 5MP camera.

Philips DC-291 RO39.900 Play and charge your iPod or iPhone, 10W

RMS total output power, MP3 Link for portable music playback Altec Lansing M602 RO38.500 Dock and Play, recharge for iPod, video output for iPod video, wall-mountable

Gear4 PG490 RO39.900 iPod and iPhone dock, FM radio, alarm, clock

Logitech S715i RO57.900 Plays and charges iPhone and iPod, eight-hour rechargeable battery, two three-inch laser-tuned neodymium drivers

Bose Sound Dock-10 RO279.000 iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play RO214.900 The Xperia Play offers immersive gaming experience. It sports a 5MP

camera, and comes with Wi-Fi and A-GPS support. This phone runs on Android OS v2.3 (Gingerbread).

Samsung Galaxy SII RO259.900 The Samsung Galaxy SII has a 4.3-inch super AMOLED Plus display with a Dual Core Application Processor. This 8.49mm slim phone operates on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and features an 8MP camera with LED flash, 16GB storage, Wi-Fi and A-GPS support.

Apple iPhone 4 RO329.000 It sports a 3.5-inch LED-backlit TFT capacitive touchscreen. With an

internal memory of 32GB and a 512MB RAM, the iPhone 4 supports Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP. It has a 1GHz Apple A4 processor.

Samsung Google Nexus S RO199.900 It sports a four-inch super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 5MP camera with LED Flash, and ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor. It runs Android v2.3 (Gingerbread) OS.

Nokia N9 RO243.000 The Nokia N9 comes with AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. Its features include an 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and 16GB storage. It operates on MeeGo v1.2 and is powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor.

Samsung Galaxy S Plus RO199.900 Samsung’s Galaxy S Plus smartphone is Android-powered and boasts a super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus, HSDPA Internet connectivity, and 16GB storage.

BlackBerry Curve 9300 RO95.900 It sports a 2.46-inch TFT screen, 2MP camera, BlackBerry OS v5.0

upgradable to v6.0, and supports A-GPS and BlackBerry Maps.

LG Optimus P920 RO299.900It sports a 4.3-inch 3D LCD capacitive touchscreen. It features touch-sensitive controls and operates on a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor. It runs Android v2.2 (Froyo) OS, upgradable to v2.3. It sports a 5MP camera.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo RO149.900 This Android smartphone sports an 8MP camera and a 3.7-inch TFT

screen with a resolution of 854x480 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS and Bluetooth.

MP3 Players

Apple iPod Touch 4G RO99.500 8GB, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, multi-touch display, 720p HD video capture, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

Sony NWZ-E453 RO39.900 4GB, 50 hours of music playback, SensMe, Lyric Sync, Karaoke Mode and Clear Audio technologies

Philips SA3RGA04R RO19.900 4GB, without case, FM radio and FM recording, one-inch screen, FullSound technology, 22 hours battery support

Sony Walkman NWZ-B162 RO20.900 Built-in equaliser, Bass boost, voice recording, power illuminator, style-up clip, quick charge

Samsung YP-U6A RO24.000 4GB memory, Voice recording, MP3 and

WMA playback, FM radio

Phones

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MAX ELECTRONICS LLC - OMANSEEB - MUSCAT CITY CENTRE (LEVEL 1) TEL: +968 24558062 FAX: +968 24558063 EMAIL: memcs@cplmg.com

SOHAR - CENTER POINT MALL TEL: +968 97666631 FAX: +968 97666631BAHRAIN OMAN SAUDI ARABIA QATAR UAE

59

Refrigerators

Hitachi RAN-209CP RO132.900This 1.5-tonne window air conditioner has a high energy-efficient compressor with a super quite air flow. There is a symmetric twin flow air discharge, washable filters and a rotary compressor.

Samsung AS18TSL RO199.500 Samsung’s new air conditioner sports full high density filter that ensures your room is kept fresh and clean. It has a powerful cooling system and an effective anti-corrosion coating. It also supports turbo cooling technology.

Toshiba RAS-18SKP RO204.900 This is a 1.5-tonne capacity split-type wall-mounted air conditioner. It has a seven-layer air filter and a self-cleaning function that eliminates mould. It also has a new compact chassis.

Toshiba RAS-18G RO139.900With a compact design and precise operation, this 1.5-tonne

window air conditioner has an eight-in-one air filter system. It is a flat type window air conditioner.

Panasonic CS-C18MKF RO199.000 The CS-C18MKF incorporates the ECONAVI technology. Advance+ Plus e-ion is designed to monitor changes in the degree of air cleanliness. AUTOCOMFORT is another important feature.

Sharp KC-850EW RO149.000 This is an air purifier with high-density Plasmacluster technology,

humidification function and circulation airflow for home use. This appliance is recommended for a floor area of approximately 38sqm. It comes with washable deodorising filter.

LG T186RC RO288.900 This is a 1.5-tonne capacity split air conditioner with virus and allergy-safe filter. It has a four-way swing and jet cool feature. It also employs a multi-stage tropical compressor.

Hitachi RAS-18CPX RO192.900 This split-type air conditioner has a Green Fin condenser that is durable, thanks to the green rust-resistant coating. It also employs Nano Titanium technology in its stainless steel filters.

Washing MachinesDaewoo DWC-141KC RO209.900 9kg capacity, 1,400rpm, air bubble wash, child lock, delay start, direct drive motor

Sharp ES-N80GSA RO111.000 8kg capacity, six washing programmes, water level selection, revolutionary cylindrical design, hole-less stainless steel tub

LG F1443KDS RO482.900 11kg capacity, 15 wash programmes,

1,400rpm, steam wash, quick wash, language selection, six motion washer, and allergy care

Ignis FL1207S RO127.900 7kg capacity, 1,000rpm, 12 wash programmes, child lock, delay start feature, electronic control, stainless steel drum

Samsung WF8590NGW RO124.5006kg capacity, 1,200rpm, child lock, no-spin option, diamond drum, self-cleaning filter, delay start feature, durable ceramic heater

LG GR-B227WTQ RO355.000 616L capacity, frost-free, side-by-side refrigerator, tempered glass shelves, digital control, child lock

Toshiba GRRG-70UT RO263.000 700L capacity, glass finish, frost-free,

insulated wire shelves, platinum deodoriser, and twist ice tray

Samsung RT77SSW1 RO284.500 770L capacity, frost-free, double-door refrigerator, LCD internal lamp, adjustable glass shelves

Sharp SJ-GC48V RO290.000 492L capacity, frost-free, double-

door refrigerator, adjustable wired shelves, Plasmacluster Ion

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.

Air Conditioners & Air PurifiersSharp AHAP18HME RO200.000 This 1.5-tonne split air conditioner is a low-noise design with Plasmacluster technology. By releasing the cluster ions, it enables the creation of an environment that is very close to that found in nature.

GREE GSFS24SR RO289.900 With an automatic slip design, this is a floor-standing type two-tonne air conditioner. It has an independent dehumidifying function, with electrostatic de-dusting effect. It supports four-angle air supply.

60

Vacuum Cleaners

Elekta EBRO-443 RO21.900 This is a 43L capacity, 2,000W electric oven with a zero to 250 degrees Celsius temperature selector. It has a four-stage heating selector and comes with rotisserie function. It also has a 60-minute timer with a bell signal.

Philips FC-8146 RO48.900 1,800W vacuum cleaner, bagless, HEPA washable filter, 300W suction power, dust container-full indicator

LG VC4920NHTS RO38.9002,000W vacuum cleaner, innovative Ellipse Cyclone System technology, simple dust-bin design, powerful suction power

Karcher VC 5200 RO77.000Dry vacuum cleaner, 3.3L dust bag capacity, 1,800W input power, indicator for full bag, HEPA 12 filter

Samsung VCC 8780 RO59.500 2,000W bagless vacuum cleaner with

Samsung Twin Chamber System technology, HEPA H13 filter, silver nano system, power slider on handle

Godrej GMX25CA2 FIZ RO29.900 This is a 25L microwave, grill, convection combo. It sports ten power levels, 40 InstaCook menus, jet defrost and express cooking features. It also supports multi-stage cooking, and features auto deodoriser and child lock.

Sharp EO18LW RO20.000 This is an 18L electric oven with a power consumption of 1,200W.

This oven from Sharp comes with a 60-minute timer with chime, adjustable temperature control and automatic shut off feature.

LG MC8289BRC RO79.900 This is a 32L microwave, grill, convection combo with 900W

microwave power, 1,250W grill power and 2,050W convection power. It features touch control, child lock, auto defrost and auto cooking modes.

Samsung GE109MST RO69.500 This is a 28L grill microwave oven. Designed for performance, it has a wide tempered glass door. This microwave features the Triple Distribution System and Steam Clean function.

Black & Decker TRO2000 RO26.700 This is a 1,380W toaster oven that features a 19L capacity. It comes with an adjustable timer, a wire rack and a food tray handle. It also has a removable crumb tray for easy crumb disposal.

Samsung MW6194ST RO54.900 A 55L microwave oven with 1,000W output power, Samsung’s one-touch sensor cook provides easy cooking at the touch of a button. It sports an LED display that shows microwave settings and other information.

Panasonic NN-CF770M RO127.400 Panasonic’s NN-CF770M features flatbed and inverter technologies. This allows for greater space inside the microwave. It includes turbo defrost, a child lock, variable power levels and an easy-to-read LCD display.

Samsung CS1660ST RO109.900 This is a 45L convection microwave oven that is designed for large families. It has a sensor cook function, where the humidity sensor allows for auto-mated cooking. It sports a trendy easy-to-read LED display.

LG MH6589UR RO49.900This is a 25L convection microwave with grill function. It includes four auto defrost and four grill/bake programmes. Additional features include quick defrost, child lock and quick start functions.

Microwaves & Ovens

Domestic Appliances

Russell Hobbs 14178 RO14.900 Sandwich maker (plus kettle), on and ready indicator, non-stick coated plates, hinged lock, stand for easy storage

N Espresso C120 RO180.000 Single-serve automatic espresso machine and milk frother, 19 bars of pump pressure, maximum power of 1,710W

Philips HR7772 RO49.900 700W power food processor, three speed

settings, pulse button, 3.4L bowl volume capacity, colour-coded accessories and speeds

Kenwood KM800 RO199.900800W power kitchen machine, 6.7L bowl capacity, three coated bowl tools – a beater, whisk and dough hook, glass blender, glass multi-mill and meat mincer

Tefal TFRK40070 RO19.9001,000W rice cooker, 2.5L capacity, hinged

locking, LED, automatic warm function

61

Nintendo 3DS RO129.000 A built-in 3D Depth Slider allows you to adjust the intensity of the 3D settings on the new Nintendo 3DS system. Other features include the built-in motion and gyro sensor.

Our Current Top 5Recommended Games

Batman: Arkham Asylum RO28.900 Publisher: EidosDeveloper: Rocksteady StudiosPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PCGenre: ActionESRB Rating: Teen

Dark Souls RO28.900 Publisher: Namco Bandai GamesDeveloper: From SoftwarePlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360Genre: RPGESRB Rating: R/P

Forza Motorsport 4 RO28.900 Publisher: Microsoft StudiosDeveloper: Turn 10 StudiosPlatform(s): Xbox 360Genre: DrivingESRB Rating: R/P

Gears of War 3 RO28.900 Publisher: Microsoft Developer: EpicPlatform(s): Xbox 360Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature

RAGE RO18.900Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: id SoftwarePlatform(s): PC, PS3, Xbox 360, iPad, iPhoneGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

Logitech G27 RO160.000Logitech racing wheels and flight controllers simulate remarkable realism. Force feedback lets you feel every slip of the tyre, every shudder of the wing and the controls feel like the real thing.

PSP 3000+4 Games RO76.000This current version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen that is able to resist glare and so works better outdoors.

Thrustmaster T500RS RO241.000The T500RS employs new H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) on the wheel’s steering and so offers precision, force feedback and a realistic angle of rotation. The controls feel like the real thing.

Logitech Z906 RO160.000Successor to the highly acclaimed Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System, the new THX-Certified Z906 delivers 500W of pure power.

Logitech G13 RO37.000 The GamePanel LCD in this gaming keyboard keeps you informed of the game stats and other vital information to help you claim victory. It includes programmable G-keys that let you create macros on the fly.

XBOX 360 Kinect 250GB RO177.000With a stylish design, the integrated internal memory of 250GB allows you to save games and content. It has built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) and 5.1 channel surround sound.

PS3 320GB + Move Bundle RO160.000 The Move is broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’. The Motion Controller contains built-in motion sensors.

Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pack RO90.000 Wii Sports Resort has lots of fun activities with more than 18 sports to try, ranging from water sports like canoeing, power cruising and wakeboarding, to ball games like basketball and golf.

SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB RO53.600 This is a premium quality, wired headset designed for Xbox 360. With the custom-built soundscape via 40mm SunDancer (SCS) units, you can pinpoint the direction of noises and movement throughout the game.

Gaming Consoles & Accessories

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Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.

62

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Abu Hani La Germania, Starway, Westar, Starline, Tatung 24495141 24491327

Al Khalili Technology Fijitsu, Siemon, Coral Telecom, Honeywell, Epson, Camtron, Pyronix, SD3, Tripp-lite, Cummins, Schnider Electric, Sanyo, Sakar, Sterline, Sonicwall

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Company Products Showroom Service dept.

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CANON EOS 550D

ASUS 3D LAPTOP

SASMUNG LED TV

NIKON 1 JI

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE

Treat your loved ones thisfestive season at Emax

SAMSUNG GALAXY S2

SONY LED TV

Treat your loved ones thisfestive season at Emax

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SONY PS3NINTENDO 3DS

MAX ELECTRONICS LLC - OMANSEEB - MUSCAT CITY CENTRE (LEVEL 1) TEL: +968 24558062 FAX: +968 24558063 EMAIL: memcs@cplmg.com

SOHAR - CENTREPOINT MALL TEL: +968 97666631 FAX: +968 26844610BAHRAIN OMAN SAUDI ARABIA QATAR UAE