Chip Dec09

DECEMBER 2009 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1 Rs 200 0
12 09
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worth of prizes including games, movies, books, and PC accessories and n
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LOOK INTO THE

FUTURE
INTEL, AMD, NVIDIA, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT AND APPLE
are all set to shake up the world in 2010. We show you exactly how the big six are going to change your life.
Look Into the Future
| MP3 Players, 5.1 Speakers, External Hard Drives | Car Technology
TESTED
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 HTC Touch 2, Samsung Corby, ATI Radeon 5750/5770, Nvidia GeForce GT240 MP3 and portable video players 5.1 channel speakers External hard drives
Rs 200
THE FUTURE-PROOF PC
All the technology you need to make sure your next PC can handle anything that comes up in the next six years.
FUTURE CAR TECH

Intelligent traffic signals and cars that call for help on their own arent as far in the future as you might think.
YEAR OF THE SUPERVIRUS

2009 has seen the largest number of threats yet, and it's only going to get worse. Learn how to protect yourself.
EDITORIAL
Making a prediction is a tricky affair. You take the best information you have, weigh it against your gut feelings, and compare every shred of data you have about the past to get an idea of where things are headed. A year ago, CHIP made five predictions for 2009. Its the right time to refresh those, but before moving ahead were going to measure our own past performance. Just for perspective, the world was very different in December last year: no one really understood how the global economy would melt down, the world was generally in good spirits, and things looked very bright indeed. That said, on to our results! First off, we said the Windows 7 launch would be a major event. The only possible hitch would have been a postponement like Vista launch, but things played out very smoothly. Excitement ran high this entire year, and the launch was greeted with universal cheering. Users seem to love it, hardware makers are shouting about it to anyone who will listen, and Microsoft must be very pleased with itself indeed. Whether all this was a triumph of technology or PR, our prediction came true. Well give ourselves this point. Second, we said home networking would take off. While media streaming isnt too hot just yet, pretty much everyone with a laptop has installed Wi-Fi at home and is sharing files and broadband access between multiple PCs. TVs and multimedia hard drives with Ethernet connections became commonly known this year but photo frames are still novelties. Well say this prediction came true too.
These companies will undoubtedly change the way we use our computers and devices.
Third, we said LCDs would become ubiquitous in 2009, and theres no way this was wrong! Theyre everywhere! Barely any CRTs are available in the market, and even then they have zero price advantage. We got everything right except pricing, which we said would remain flat. Today, even full HD 22-inch monitors cost less than Rs 10,000. That aside, well mark this one as a success as well. We hit a rough patch with the fourth prediction: 3G. Had the government cleared all the hurdles lying in operators ways, we might have been able to say this came true. But we also said that mobile operators would finally usher in good broadband at decent prices, which has come true in the form of high-speed dongles, if not 3G on cellphones. Today, laptop users with broadband dongles provided by cellular operators are a common sight, and fixed-wire ISPs have responded by offering better speeds. This leaves us scraping half a point, though not because the technology didnt come through. Our last prediction was that solid-state drives would become economically viable for mainstream users, and storage would move beyond the PC and into the personal network or cloud. Ouch, that first part just never happened! But the second part is quite true. External storage is booming like never before, and online cloud storage is not an alien concept at all. This gives us another half point. And so we score 80 percent in total. Not perfect, but not too shabby at all! This year we put a slightly different spin on our peek into the future by focusing on six blockbuster technology companies. Each one has an arsenal ready to unleash upon the world in 2010, and will undoubtedly be responsible for massive shakeups in the way we use our computers and devices. From cloud computing to supercharged Web browsers; incredible graphics power to hybrid CPUs, the year ahead already looks like it will give us plenty to get excited about!
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP
12/2009
Contents
DECEMBER 2009
78 FEATURED LOOK INTO THE FUTURE Our take on the six biggest tech companies have in store for us in 2010, plus what the industry has to say
NEWSWIRE
10 In the News
Get your dose of news from the world of computers and technology.
60 Software of the Month

Corel Digital Studio 2010 lets you create your own movie DVDs at home.
100 Mobile Entertainers

The best MP3 and personal video players you can get, compared and evaluated for you.
62 Software Tested
Get your fix of useful utilities, fun tools and even a few security programs to keep you safe.
108 All-round Sound

Surround sound gives you the best experience with your movies and games. Upgrade your speakers to enjoy truly immersive multimedia.
16 New Products Launched

The latest products from some of the biggest brands in the Indian market.
68 CHIP CPU-GPU guide

A comprehensive listing of every chip you can find today, along with comparative performance scores for each.
114 Desktop Databanks

Nothing's growing faster than our appetite for media. Store all your heavy movies and music files on your pick of the lot.
20 The Technology Graveyard

What happens to the old PCs and gadgets you throw away? Some people are trying to change your habits.
74 Anand's Picks and PC Configs

Anand takes you through the jumble of P55 motherboards available today. Also, check out the best options for your next upgrade.
122 Future Drive

Some of the brightest minds in the world are working on giving you a faster and safer drive. Check out what's in store for the roads ahead.
TEST CENTER
28 Product of the Month
Sony's latest compact camera is great to use and captures superb images too.
FEATURED
78 Look into the future
We've dived deep into the inner workings of the six biggest tech companies in the world to bring you a guide for tech in 2010. Also, check out what these industry voices have to say, and learn about the best tech investments.
126 Ten Years of Innovation

CNBC-TV18 turns 10 years old, and a lot of technology has gone into helping it get there. Go behind the scenes at their studio with CHIP.
30 Hardware Tested
This month we feature some cool phones and a bunch of the latest graphics cards.
128 Year of the Super Virus

Threats were just off the charts in 2009, and
12/2009
Contents
30 TEST CENTER HARDWARE Cameras, laptops, and all kinds of gadgets
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ON DVD ON D90-day trial plus full, free VD Windows 7

Ubuntu 9.10 Linux OS
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122 FEATURED FUTURE DRIVE See how your car is getting ready for the future
60 TEST CENTER SOFTWARE OF THE MONTH Corel Digital Studio 2010
you'd better watch out for what's coming up in the near future. Stay armed and informed!
146 Share With Picasa

This simple free tool can perform a whole bunch of neat trioks.
168 GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

You're the partner of a club owner, but partying just isn't on the cards yet.
132 Web Watch

Check out some new things to do with your time online, brush up on a few lessons, and see how Hindi on the Web is progressing.
148 Streaming from Windows 7

One of Windows 7's lesser known capabilities can free your music and movies from any PC.
169 Dragon Age: Origins

Brilliant tactics and a fun story make this one worth picking up.
HANDS ON
136 Dr CHIP
Solutions to all your nagging hardware and software problems.
UNWIND
160 Borderlands
A radically different visual style isn't the only thing this game has to offer.
171 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Sith Edition

A series that could have been much more.
171 Mini Ninjas

Unabashed fun with these lovable ninjas.
140 Relive the Classics

Rescue your old music cassettes from the shoebox they've been thrown in, and enjoy them once again.
162 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Controversies aside, this is one of the most engaging games in recent memory.
REGULARS
03 Editorial, 08 Colophon, 10 In the News... 16 New Products Launched, 24 Personal Tech, 76 PC Configs, 132 Web Watch, 136 Dr CHIP, 150 Tips & Tricks, 184 Market Watch, 186 Letters, 188 Contests, 194 Last Word
142 Blog Elements

Jazz up your Web presence with any or all of these enhancements.
164 Tekken 6
Old wine comes in a new bottle, with just a bit of effort put in to make it feel different.
144 Back it Up
Use Robocopy to automate your backup routine.
166 Motorstorm: Arctic Edge

An exhilarating adventure in the ice!
12/2009
DECEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 01

ASSISTANT EDITOR - TECHNICAL NATIONAL SALES HEAD
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HEAD - MARKETING
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TECHNOLOGY WRITERS
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HEAD OFFICE
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Intelligent Computing CHIP is printed by Mohan Gajria and published by Lakshmi Narasimhan on behalf of Infomedia 18 Ltd. and printed at Plot No. 3, Sector 7, Off. Sion-Panvel Road, Nerul, Navi Mumbai - 400 706 and published at `A Wing, Ruby House, 2nd Floor, J.K. Sawant Marg, Dadar (W), Mumbai - 400 028. INDIA EDITOR: Lakshmi Narasimhan
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
Abacus Peripherals Pvt.Ltd. 35 ACI Infocom Ltd. 11 Acro Engineering Co. 179 Aptech 167 Ashcom 182 Asus Technology Pvt.Ltd. 17 AVG Back Cover BenQ India Pvt. Ltd. Inside Back Cover Best IT World (India) Pvt.Ltd. 9 Big Home Video 145,192 Buffalo Inc. 7 Burrp 73 Busy Infotech Pvt. Ltd. 65,67 Champion Computers (P) Ltd. 175 Circle 189 Com IT 157 Electronics Corporation Of Tamilnadu Ltd. 37 Excel Interactive 190 Express Interactive Software Pvt.Ltd. 193 Hewlett Packard 55 IIT Kharagpur 71 Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. 15 Kestone Integrated Marketing Services Inside Front Cover Leo Impact Security 174,180 Marvell 43 Microworld 19 Mitashi Edutainment Pvt.Ltd. 39 Next World Polytela E-Commerce Pvt.Ltd. Sanyo Energy (S) Corp.Pte.Ltd. Scorpio Net Security Services Scrum System Security Solution Inc SG Systems Stanley Lifestyles Ltd Strontium Technology India Pvt.Ltd. Sun Microsystems India Pvt.Ltd. Symantec Software Solutions Tecktronixs Audio Visual India (P) Ltd. Top Notch Infotronix (India) Pvt.Ltd. Top Victory Investment Toshiba Transcend Trek Technology (India) Pvt.Ltd. Unicorn Infosolutions Pvt.Ltd. Verbatim Marketing India Pvt. Ltd. Wiley India Pvt.Ltd. Xpress Computers Ltd. Zee Business 131 149 41 120,121 13 182 183 51,59 181 26,27 25 53 178 5 33 23 172,173 176 161 188,191 177 47
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12/2009
NEWS SNIPPETS
NEWSWIRE
DANGER BAROMETER
HIGH RISK
IN THE NEWS...
COMPILED BY JAMSHED AVARI
Hackers have started using loopholes in Windows 7, since many users have still not installed any virus scanners
WEB
MEDIUM RISK
Non-Latin URLs to change the Web as we know it

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, has put all steps in place to allow website addresses in nonLatin characters, after years of debates on the challenges and merits of doing so. The move opens up millions of possibilities for new website URLs to be registered using characters in scripts as diverse as Devanagri, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, in addition to accented Latin characters and other symbols. URLs have so far been restricted to the
LOW RISK
FAKE SECURITY APPS

JANUARY 22.218 FEBRUARY 45.712 MARCH 43.156 APRIL 89.383 MAY 132.624 JUNE 152.197
The number of fake security apps is on the rise. These tools spy on computers while pretending to be protecting them.
Source: Antiphishing.org
letters AZ, numbers 19, and hyphens. The new rules would expand that to nearly 100,000 possible characters. This is the biggest technical change to the Internets addressing systemthe Domain Name Systemin many years said a senior ICANN spokesperson in a press statement. Countries will also have top-level domains in their own national languages. For the rst time, Internet users who don't understand English at all will be able to use addresses completely in their own scripts. A fast-track registration process opened on November 16. Immense overhauls to the backends of the Internet's DNS system were required. However security companies fear that the new rules will widen the scope for spoong genuine URLs, allowing attackers to send out links with familiar-looking characters or subtle unnoticeable accents. Intellectual property rights holders will also have to register dozens of new similar-looking URLs to protect their own sites from spoong, and the potential to nd new lookalike URLs will be much greater.
SPAM TRENDS
Spam share in mails
100% 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% DEC 2008 FEB 2009 APRIL 2009 JUNE 2009 AUG 2009
WEB
The end of an era: Geocities shuts down for good

Geocities, once the most popular free online web host in the world, has nally shut down after nearly 15 years in existence. What began in 1995 as a small, community-themed listing service eventually turned into one of the easiest, free ways to create an online presence when the general public rst started ocking to the World Wide Web. Once the third-most popular destination on the Web even with a reputation for hosting pages with horribly illegible text and ashing graphics (cached versions of which are now regarded as artifacts), Geocities was acquired by Yahoo in 1999 for US$ 3.5 billion. Several controversies ensued, including the introduction of paid accounts and subsequent crippling of free ones, disbanding the Community Leaders, and claiming full ownership of all content posted by members including private photos. After watching it decline steadily for a decade, Yahoo nally shut it down on October 27.
When large-scale spammers are caught, their advertising networks break only for a short time and then bounce back. Over 90 percent of email traffic today is spam.
Source: Symantec
FIGURE OF THE MONTH
220 million
private records have been compromised in 403 separate major data breaches during 2009.
Source: Symantec
10
12/2009
SMS us!
Story code: NSN to 51818
NEWS SNIPPETS
TELECOM
NEWSWIRE
Number portability from Dec 31, says TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is all set to introduce mobile number portability in India, allowing cellphone subscribers to keep their numbers but switch between operators. This removes one of the biggest obstacles in the way of switching operators if one is unhappy with the service quality. Subscribers will have to pay a maximum of Rs 19 to have their number ported to a new operator's service. The move will also greatly increase competition in the sector, since subscribers won't be inconvenienced by a switch. The main metros and a few big cities will have portability from Dec 31, while the rest of the country will have it in early 2010.
SECURITY
Malware infighting could cause more harm than good

Evidence has surfaced that several large botnets are now ghting each other, trying to disable or even take over their "competitors". The Bredo and Zeus botnets, both responsible for millions of phishing scam emails per day, are currently ghting each other. Bredo now uses Zeus' known autorun instructions to prevent its main executables from starting up, before replacing them with its own. Thus, botnets are actively invading each other and claiming the territory they conquer. Similarly, a Trojan known as FRuWL hides its entire binary structure in the Windows registry rather than an autorun path, so it can supersede other infections.
WEB
The Pirate Bay kills its tracker, but still refuses to die
After losing all its highly public and protracted legal wrangles, the Pirate Bay has nally shut down its tracker, which was the largest and most active in the world. However instead of shutting down completely, search results now show magnet links which allow users to add les directly to their clients, and is trying to rally support for the DHT standard, a decentralized, tracker-less torrent infrastructure. The site blog states this will help reduce downtime, but it will also reduce the chance of law enforcement being able to shut it down entirely.
12/2009
11
NEWS SNIPPETS
NEWSWIRE
SECURITY
SECURITY
SECURITY
NEW SECURITY RISKS DETECTED AND PATCHED
New password-stealing worm targets Skype, Wikipedia

A new variant of the Koobface worm, which has already wreaked havoc for millions of Facebook and Twitter users, looks like it's going to target Skype next. Not only does the worm steal users' demographic data, but it also signs itself into their accounts and initiates fake conversations with them. Any of a set of chat lines in multiple languages including "Hello again" and "So what do you think" will be sent to all the user's contacts, along with a link that will infect them as well if clicked. Even more alarming, Sophos researchers seem to have uncovered a potential future threat to Wikipedia, Blogger, Yahoo, YouTube and Google accounts as well. The new Koobface variant searches infected PCs for login credentials to these sites, though instances of it actually attacking them are not yet recorded. It therefore seems inevitable that these are the next big targets.
OS X "game" makes losing hurt
A new game for Mac OS X called Lose/lose, pitched as a kind of art project, has been classied as malware. The arcade-style game is played by shooting at aliens, with the twist that killing them will result in random les from users' drives being deleted permanently. The game doesn't spread like a virus, and is only available on the developer's website. A warning is displayed when the game launches, but many would doubt it, and mischievous people could pass the game on to others to cause trouble.
WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER

Attackers can smuggle harmful code into a computer using a bug in the ATL library. The affected versions include 8.1, 8.5 and 14.0. If you do not install the update, you will no longer be able to log in. SOLUTION: An update is available.
OPENOFFICE
A loophole in the free Office package by Sun can lead to heap overflows and thus give hackers access to the PC. SOLUTION: Version 3.1.1 fixes this loophole and patches a few smaller bugs as well.
SECURITY
SECURITY
APPLE QUICKTIME
Four critical loopholes have cropped up in Quicktime for Windows. Hackers can use them to infect a system when a manipulated video file in the H.246 format is delivered and played. SOLUTION: The current version, 10.5.8, rectifies this fault.
Highly sensitive govt security tool Scams delivered leaked on the Internet via email too
A security tool developed by Microsoft to help criminal investigators recover forensic evidence from PCs has leaked onto the Internet and into the hands of the general public. COFEE, or the Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor, is designed to help law enforcement ofcials recover evidence from any computer used at the scene of a crime, regardless of their own level of computer skill. The tool, available in the form of a USB pen drive with software preloaded, captures volatile information such as records of active system processes that could be destroyed when the computer is powered down to transport it to a forensic lab. With less than 10 minutes' training, an ofcial can capture this data through a simple graphical interface. Just a few months ago, Microsoft proudly announced its association with Interpol, which began using COFEE. Now that it is in the hands of online criminals who will undoubtedly study its inner workings, the tool's effectiveness is sure to be compromised. A new wave of malicious spam and phishing mail has been detected. This time, email messages claiming to be from troubled African princes or banks requesting you to change your password, come with attachments in HTML or PDF format including elds for users to type in their account details. Because they are not loaded from external servers, even browsers with built-in fraud detection systems might not highlight these as threats. The information is of course still relayed to criminals and used to steal money.
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER

A vulnerability in the way IE 6 and 7 handle certain style elements can allow attackers to execute arbitary code on a machine or trick users into visiting bogus web pages. SOLUTION: A browser fix is not out yet, but updated security software should keep users safe.
APPLE SAFARI
Several holes exist which could allow remote attackers to read private information or crash the browser. SOLUTION: The updated version 4.0.4 fixes all known vulnerabilities.
12
12/2009
NEWS SNIPPETS
SCIENCE GAMING
NEWSWIRE
Large Hadron Collider back online after accident

The world's largest-scale physics laboratory to date, CERN's Large Hadron Collider, is back in action after over a year. The LHC was rst switched on in September 2008 in preparation for experiments to begin, but suffered a serious setback within days as faults discovered in the electrical connections to a series of supermagnets led to considerable damage. The repairs and subsequent upgrades carried out to improve safety measures have taken nearly 14 months. Proton beams are already circulating around the collider again, preparing for the kind of acceleration needed to perform atom-smashing experiments in early 2010. Lowenergy collisions are expected to be performed in the rst week of December.
COD:MW2 toned down in Russia
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 created quite a stir by including a scene where users have to kill innocent people in a Russian airport. Immediately
GAMING
after its release, rumors hit the Web that the game had been banned in Russia due to public outcry, though in fact publisher Activision had released a version with the scene edited out. The scene has been slammed because it can be skipped and its outcome doesn't affect the storyline at all, making it pointless.
Ill-fated Nokia N-Gage gaming finally laid to rest

Nokia's N-Gage gaming brand, originally intended to be a series of game-oriented handsets but then later demoted to being just a software platform on certain devices, has now nally been discontinued. No further games will be developed for N-Gage, and current users have a year before the store closes down and existing games' online features will cease to work. Nokia will focus on selling games through its general-purpose Ovi store from now on.
12/2009
13
NEWS SNIPPETS
HARDWARE TELECOM
NEWSWIRE
Emerging "smartbooks" vs netbooks? More functions drive mobile growth

A new category of hardware is emerging, positioned between multimedia smartphones and netbooks. These so-called "smartbooks" might look like smaller netbooks, but will run OSes such as Android and variants of Linux. The devices will also ditch Intel Atom processors in favor of leaner ones from companies such as Freescale, Qualcomm and even Nvidia. These would most likely use ARM architecture, and therefore not be able to run Windows or traditional PC software, making them more like the iPhone, which would need to develop their own ecosystems for software and applications. A common OS will be unlikely. Form factors include the traditional folding netbook style, larger-screened tablets, and even some experimental types which fold or ip over in different ways. Manufacturers including Sharp, Lenovo, Foxconn, and Mio are said to be developing prototypes already, with several others expected to be seen at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2010. Other OEM companies are building devices that will be sold through mobile service operators around the world, capitalizing on their built-in 3G or highspeed data connectivity. The availability of more and more functions on mobile phones is driving renewed growth in the segment, according to a new study by the Mobile Marketing Association and Solidiance, an Asian marketing and strategy consulting rm. Advertising and marketing is growing as more people invest in higher-priced, multimedia-rich handsets and take advantage of new services including mobile downloads, music, gaming and healthcare. Lower income users are moving to more capable handsets as their prices drop and service plans become cheaper. The study named India, China and Indonesia as the cheapest markets, thanks to immense competition. Singapore and Hong Kong were found to be the most mature markets for mobile payments. Korea saw the fastest growth in mobile music, and users in the Philippines send over 400 SMSes per month on average. Mobile healthcare in Asia is pegged to be growing at 80 percent yearon-year, while gaming also saw increased adoption of in-game advertisements which subsidize the cost of the games.
VIRTUAL WORLDS
BUSINESS
PLATFORMS
Second Life users angry over free content being sidelined

In what amounts to the latest in a long series of setbacks for fans of the online virtual world Second Life, its creators Linden Labs have announced that free content will no longer be listed in Web search results of the world's virtual store. Users will have to pay to have their listings visible to others, effectively eliminating free content from the store, since such content isn't easy to discover in other ways. Protests have erupted over what are being seen as imsy excuses by Linden Labs. Second Life was heavily in focus a few years ago when it emerged as one of the only successful online worlds, and was generating money for users who sold or traded virtual commodities. Sociologists and economists alike ocked in to study Second Life, and mainstream corporations including IBM, Nike, Pepsi, American Apparel and Reuters invested heavily in establishing their online presences there. However the world appears to have lost steam, with noteworthy in-world happenings becoming extremely rare, and people have been leaving it in droves. This might be compelling Linden Labs to nd new ways of generating revenue.
AOL-Time Warner Developers give to demerge Android a miss
The AOL-Time Warner merger, often regarded as the most disastrous business move in history, is nally being undone. The two merged in 2000 at the height of the dotcom bubble, aiming to combine their strengths in media creation and distribution. However things went wrong right from the beginning, with inghting and a lack of any unifying vision. Time Warner will now spin AOL off into an independent company, though one in a far weaker position than it was a decade ago. Over 2,500 jobs are estimated to be cut. Its properties ICQ and Mapquest are likely to be sold off too.
One of the world's largest mobile game developers, Gameloft, has announced it is withdrawing from the Android platform. Citing Android's low user base as compared to the iPhone, the company does not want to continue investing resources in it. Gameloft's Finance Director, Alexandre de Rochefort, said the company sold 400 times more games for the iPhone/iPod touch than for Android devices, and suggested that Google isn't doing enough to popularize the platform. If many more developers follow suit, Google will have a hard time keeping interest in Android high enough.
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NEWS SNIPPETS
WEB
NEWSWIRE
Webby Awards name the 10 most influential Web moments of the decade
The Webby Awards, which honor excellence on the Internet every year, have come up with a list of the 10 most inuential Internet moments of the past decade. "The Internet is the story of this decade because it was the catalyst for change in not just every aspect of our lives, but in everything from commerce and communication to politics and pop culture," said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of The Webby Awards in a press statement. The list is not presented in any particular order. in 271 languages today, the free opensource encyclopedia epitomizes the Internet's power to bring strangers from around the world together. Flash Video combined to launch the online revolution that has reshaped everything from pop culture to politics.
Facebook and Twitter take off (2006-7)

Facebook allowed anyone with a valid e-mail address in. Twitter took off in 2007. Both radically changed the way we connect, collaborate, and communicate.
Napster shut down (2001)

Although Napster was shut down in 2001, it opened the le-sharing oodgates. Its demise sparked a wave of innovation
The iPhone debuts (2007)

Half a million sold in the rst weekend. The iPhone inspired Google Android as well as an app for just about every aspect of modern life.
Craigslist expands (2000)

The free classieds site expanded outside San Francisco, frightening newspaper publishers everywhere. Today Craigslist is a model for no-frills business success. that forever changed how we obtain and experience music and video.
U.S. Presidential Campaign (2008)

With web video clips shaping the debate and social media mobilizing voters, the way campaigns are run was permanently transformed.
Google IPO (2004)

Google's IPO, one of the largest in history, put the six-year-old search engine on the path to becoming the most dominant and inuential company of the decade.
Google AdWords launches (2000)

Google turned advertising on its head, allowing advertisers to target their customers with laser-sharp precision.
Iranian election protests (2009)

When Iran's 2009 presidential election produced shy results, the opposition took to the tweets. Since most users don't access it through a central website, it's nearly impossible to censor.
Wikipedia launches (2001)

Boasting of more than 14 million articles
Online video revolution (2006)

In 2006, bandwidth, camcorders and Adobe
12/2009
15
NEW PRODUCTS LAUNCHED
NEWSWIRE

COMPILED BY JAMSHED AVARI
INTEX
Atom 330 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz for day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, e-mail, social networking, office productivity etc. It packs display connectivity options with integrated HDMI and DVI-I for compatibility with HD TV sets. Expansion options include PCI Express x1, mini PCI Express, 4 SATA 3.0 Gbps ports with RAID 0, 1 and 0 + 1 support, and 10 USB 2.0 ports. resistant portable hard drive. The HDD SH93, a super strong hard disk drive designed specically for students, road warriors, and sports enthusiasts incorporates a rubber-plastic mix and special cushion materials to sustain a 1M waterproof test for 30 minutes and the military standard MIL-STD-810F drop test which addresses a broad range of environmental conditions. With the USB cable MSI has announced the Wind U210, its 12.1-inch display netbook. With a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, the Wind U210 provides 14 percent greater display area compared to other netbooks in its size class. Weighing only 1.3 kg including the battery and sporting a super svelte form factor, the Wind U210 is convenient, highly cord tucking into the side of the SH93, it is beautifully designed. It is easy for users to conveniently carry around massive documents without the fear of damaging les in case of accidental drops or water spills.
Budget CDMA phone

The newest mobile phone from Intex is the CDMA handset IN20. This phone is a musical treat for CDMA users. It rides on its feature-richness comprising of a FM radio, 1.5 CSTN display, three hours of talk time, 150 hours standby time, one-way call record mobile tracker, phonebook with 500 contacts memory, sound recorder, etc. If you are looking for a basic CDMA handset having great music capabilities, the Intex IN20 holds the key.
PRICE: TBA WEBSITE: www.zotac.com
MSI
Comfortable netbook
PRICE: Rs 1,600 WEBSITE: www.intextechnologies.com
ZOTAC
Mini-ITX integrated system

Zotac has introduced its value Ion-based platform, the ION ITX- G Synergy Edition. The demand for small form factors is increasing and the new ION ITX Synergy Edition brings a full high-performance experience and features including the Nvidia Ion graphics processor with PureVideo HD for full 1080p Blu-ray video playback and high-performance video editing capabilities with CUDA technology. The ION ITX-G uses a dual-core Intel
PRICE: TBA WEBSITE: www.adata.com.tw
NETGEAR
portable and allows users to easily carry it in a handbag. It integrates a LED-backlit high-resolution 1366 x 768 display. The battery is pushed to the edge to provide you with 4 hours of life. The Wind U210 allows effortless typing on the Ergonomic De-stress keyboard that has 51 percent larger key surfaces. This feature ensures unhindered and comfortable typing for long hours.
Enthusiast wireless router

Netgear has announced its versatile, high-performance RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNDR3700 to fulll the unique lifestyle needs of different customer segments. Designed for prosumers, media enthusiasts and people on the go, the full-featured WNDR3700 offers dual band reliability, gigabit performance, storage access and green features. Compatible with DLNAcertied products, the WNDR3700 enables media enthusiasts and gamers
PRICE: Rs 23,500 (starting) WEBSITE: www.msi.com
A-DATA
Shock-resistant hard drive

A-DATA has unveiled the industrys rst ever waterproof and shock
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The products and services listed here have not been reviewed by IC-CHIP. These are not endorsements or recommendations. All prices, specifications and claims are as stated by the respective manufacturers and publicists.
NEWSWIRE
to stream digital content to new HDTVs and consoles. Additionally, it is the rst to include broadband usage metering to let users monitor their usage and stay within the ISPs limits. Dual band technology enables concurrent use of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, offering twice the bandwidth with better connections and less interference.
MOTOROLA
Affordable multimedia phone

Motorola has launched the stylish multimedia MOTO ZN300, a sleek slider with 3.1 megapixel camera for great imaging. The ZN300 is designed for those who thrive on content consumption and creation. It combines familiar digital camera functionality with strong features, giving you the freedom to shape pop culture, on your terms. Controls light up on the MOTO ZN300 screen to offer an uncluttered and intuitive experience as the camera moves between Capture and Review modes. You can choose to send the images to friends and family or print them Bluetooth. And you can store music and memories with up to 32GB of optional removable memory. The MOTO ZN300 features Video Mixer, which gives you the option to add customizable or preloaded transitions and sound effects to your videos.
global threat intelligence from the most precise and comprehensive threat intelligence system in the world. Appliance Clustering with Load Balancing lets multiple units share scanning responsibilities for improved resilience, scalability and consolidated management. The appliance also autodetects network settings and provides an easy to use conguration wizard.
PRICE: Rs 11,000 WEBSITE: www.netgear.com
HCL
Innovative youth netbook

HCL has launched its new netbook under the name ME Series 04. ME i.e. Mobile Excitement reects the persona of todays youth and caters to their on-the-go lifestyles, offering seamless connectivity to the virtual world. Self
PRICE: On request WEBSITE: http://www.mcafee.com/ ews
WILEY
Windows 7 book
Wiley India has released Windows 7 Secrets, the ultimate insider's guide to Microsoft's most exciting Windows version in years. You already know the ups and downs of Windows Vista now it's time to learn Windows 7! Internationally recognized Windows experts, Microsoft insiders and authors Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera cut through the hype to reveal useful information not found anywhere else. Regardless of your level of knowledge, you'll discover little-known facts on how things work, what's new and different, and how you can modify Windows 7 to meet your own specic needs. A witty, conversational tone tells you what you need to know to go from user to expert.
PRICE: Rs 7,999 WEBSITE: www.motorola.com/in

recovery features like One Touch support and One Touch Recovery are incorporated into the product. The laptops come with innovative features like LOCK ME that prevents data theft by ensuring that data cannot be copied on to external devices, USB memory sticks, optical disks etc without authorization from the user. Secure ME can be used to lock any application installed on the PC e.g. the Internet browser. The new range also comes with features like face recognition and ngerprint recognition. McAfee has announced the Email and Web Security Appliance 5.5 to help protect customers against the latest email and Web-borne threats, manage Web and email traffic and usage, and reduce system administration requirements. Designed for small and midsized businesses (SMBs), the solution provides comprehensive email and Web security in a single, integrated appliance. Artemis and TrustedSource Technology Integration links it to
MCAFEE
SMB security appliance
PRICE: Rs 19,000 onwards WEBSITE: www.hclinfosystems.in
PRICE: Rs 599 WEBSITE: www.wileyindia.com

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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
NEWSWIRE
Jagdish Limbachiya
The Technology Graveyard

Your discarded gadgets and components can still be of use to someone, somewhere long after you're done with them. Here's how it all happens.
BY ANAND TULIANI, FRANCIS D'SA AND SANDEEP BALACHANDRAN
have become indispensable parts of our lives. Try switching off your phone or not using your computer or laptop for the entire day and youll know how much you depend on them. Newer technologies make electronic devices faster, lighter and cheaper. But at the same time the rate of obsolescence is increasing. A cell phone has an average life of two to four years before it just feels outdated, while a personal computer is usually obsolete within ve to seven years. On an average around 4,000 old computers are dumped daily in India alone. If an average computer weighs around 28 Kg, imagine a total of more than 15,000 tons of e-waste being dumped into the environment each year. A large part of electronic waste can be recycled and reused in various industries. Electronic waste is actually very valuable but only if it is processed using techniques which wont harm the
omputers, laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and other such electronic devices
environment. E-waste contains toxic substances such as lead, phosphor, mercury, cadmium, gallium arsenide, and a number of other such substances. For example, a CRT monitor contains more than six percent of lead which is very toxic and when inhaled, can cause harm to the kidneys, nervous and reproductive systems and can impair mental development in children. When e-waste is dumped in a landll or incinerated, it can spew toxins into the groundwater and pose severe health hazards.
then either sold to recyclers and chiplevel repair service centres, or revived and used in smaller towns. Components such as rear panel connectors and plastic headers are used for repairing hardware whose components arent available easily. The table below gives an indication of how much money your dead hardware can fetch you.
The e-waste trade

Picture an e-waste processing plant as a big repository where youll nd colossal heaps of printed circuit boards from PCs and other electronic
Dead hardware Hard disk 80 GB to 500 GB Power supply Motherboards DDR RAM Intel P4 CPU Power cables (per Kg) Cabinet with SMPS Laptop charger CRT monitor Price (Rs) 300 - 600 30 50 to 100 100 200 15 to 20 130 300 to 500 500 to 1000
At the roadside
If any component of your computer (motherboard, graphics card, hard drive, power supply, optical drive) is out of its warranty period and dead, dont throw it in the waste bin or sell it to the scrap dealer down your lane who buys stuff by weight. You can earn a good amount of pocket money by selling it at the right places. There are several scrap dealers in the computer hardware market who buy dead computer hardware. These are
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HEALTH HAZARDS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC WASTE

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES FOUND IN DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
SUBSTANCE Barium / Lithium Beryllium Zinc sulphide PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) Arsenic / Gallium arsenide Cadmium Lead Mercury Toner Dust FOUND IN CRT tubes and Lithium batteries Power supply units with silicon rectifiers Interior of a CRT screen Condensers, transformers Light-emitting diode (LED) Rechargeable batteries, CRT screens, printer inks and toners CRT screens, batteries, circuit boards Fluorescent backlights in LCDs, alkaline and mercury batteries Laser printer / copier toner cartridges EFFECTS Develops explosive gases (hydrogen) Harmful if inhaled Toxic when inhaled Cancer, effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system Acutely poisonous and on a long-term perspective injurious to health Acutely poisonous Damages nervous system, circulatory system, kidneys, causes learning disabilities in children Acutely poisonous and on a long-term perspective injurious to health Health risk when inhaled, risk of explosion example, there are separate recycling and disposal processes for CRT monitors and for PCBs. The next step is dismantling the equipment with tools in a protected environment. The dismantled components are then further segregated as useful or not useful. Further, the remnants are classied into metals, plastics, etc. Metals are segregated into copper, aluminium, gold, silver, lead and tin and plastics are segregated into ABS, polycarbonate, polyethylene and so on. These plastics and precious metals are then sold to industries (local
devices (motherboards, graphics cards, expansion cards), cables, hard drives, monitors, cabinets and printers. Imagine taking a stroll through mountains of discarded hardwarewhat a sight it would be! Electronic waste disposed of by individuals and enterprises ends up here. E-waste processing plants and rms who are into the e-waste trade have logistics in place to pick it all up from within their coverage areas. While some plants and traders deal with hundreds of kilos of waste, some even arrange for picking up smaller quantities
offices or individuals. And by smaller quantities we mean as small as a single PC, television set, music system or washing machine. Prior to processing the e-waste, the plant determines what can be refurbished or reused as whole units and what must be disassembled for further processing. So the rst step is to nd out what can be reused. After segregating the usable components, the non-usable ones are further segregated depending on their composition. The recycling and disposal is then planned accordingly. For
REUSE
Repaired / upgraded for resale
RECYCLE / DISPOSAL
Resale to system integration and service centers Used by glass/ plastic industries
Second-hand vendor
Electronic components
Plastic / Glass extraction
Exchange offers After use Dismantler
Scrap dealer Relatives/ Friends Donated to Institutes / Employees E-waste Individuals Enterprises
Con mer Consumer
Land lling / disposal
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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
FEATURED
INTERVIEW WITH MANNAR MANNAN

What type of e-waste do you deal with? Any electronic waste, but mostly with computer parts. How do you deal with e-waste after its picked up? In the waste management hierarchy the first thing is reuse. So whatever components we think can be reused are sorted out. Can you please describe the entire process of managing e-waste in short? The most important process is dismantling. Everything is dismantled into various components and the larger ones like cabinets are sent for recycling. Metal and plastic are also sent for recycling. There is a category-wise segregation of metal and plastic. If the components are in working condition they will be sent to people who can use them but if they are not only the valuable materials are extracted and the remnants are stockpiled or disposed of. How do you deal with CRT monitors? Here only the front glass can be reused. So only that is taken out and the remaining portion is sent for recycling. The dismantling is done in a vacuum chamber so that the phosphor inside doesnt escape out. Is phosphor recycled or disposed? As per the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board it may be landfilled. There are designated vicinities in the country for landfilling such hazardous materials. It is supposed to be stored by the e-waste recycler and once you reach a specified limit it has to be sent to the landfilling authorities. programs for extracting precious metals in a safe and environment-friendly manner. The regulation is yet to come into force. Mannar Mannan
Head of Operations, Global E-Waste Management Services
Which are the companies that use recycled materials / components? In the case of monitors, the glass is collected by every leading manufacturer but no manufacturer buys electronic components and computer hardware. This mostly goes to system integrators or chip-level service engineers. How do you deal with finer components such as chips and capacitors found on motherboards? Motherboard or PCB treatment is the third level treatment which is not done by the e-waste recycler. It used to be exported to Belgium, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, but this has recently been banned by the government. So as per the government guidelines we are supposed to retain it. Also, extracting valuable materials from PCBs is a very hazardous process, so it is not done by a normal recycler. However, there are a couple of recyclers in the unorganized sector who do this kind of recycling in our country. Isnt it illegal to extract precious metals from PCBs using methods that are hazardous to the environment? The government has only set a guideline for such activity; its not illegal as of now. So if someones doing it, no one can question him. In fact the government is conducting training and awareness
How do you deal with batteries? We are not supposed to accept batteries. Battery recycling requires specialized skills and equipment. Only manufacturers recycle batteries. Recycling batteries requires special permission from the Central Government. He also needs to have the facility for recycling batteries. How much of e-waste is recycled by GEM every year? Our capacity is 400 metric tonnes a year which does not include the cabinet and metal waste since they are not hazardous. So the figure includes only computer waste. Do you charge a disposal fee or do you buy e-waste? There are recyclers who charge a disposal fee but we buy e-waste at Rs 8 to Rs 30 per Kg depending on the percentage of recyclable and reusable material. How does hazardous waste impact human health? Lead is one of the most hazardous elements as it can lead to skin and bloodrelated problems. Exposure to mercury can lead to heart diseases. Which are the most high-value materials that are obtained from computer hardware? Palladium, gold, silver, tin, copper, aluminiumgold and palladium are found mostly in PCBs.
and international) that use them. For example, footwear for the rainy season and polythene bags are made from non-virgin plastic. Such businesses are a few of the major sources of revenue for e-waste processing plants. The most complex treatment is that of CRT monitors and television sets which have the highest amount of toxic materials such as lead and phosphorous. The rst step is dismantling a monitor, which involves removal of the plastic casing, picture tube and yoke. Fully functional picture tubes are used by local brands for manufacturing cheap television sets. Those with the terminal pins of the electron guns intact are
re-gunned and sold to local brands. The yoke has a good amount of copper in the form of a coil which is sold to smelters. The picture tubes are split open under vacuum and the phosphor powder is removed. Finally, the glass left behind is either reused or sold to waste traders. Printed circuit boards are found in all electronic devices, but disposing off them is one of the biggest challenges since they contain lead, mercury, silver and gold. Since there are no facilities in India to extract valuable metals from PCBs using environment-friendly processes, they are sent abroad for disposal. Hazardous substances and other non-reusable materials are landlled on
government approved sites or stockpiled by the plants. However, there are a few recyclers in the unorganized sector who extract precious metals from PCBs. The easiest way to extract metal from PCBs is to burn them at a high temperature and collect the molten metal. Some small-time recyclers burn piles of PCBs in the open to do so while some roadside recyclers use blowtorches to burn them too. This process poses a severe threat to the environment and to the human beings who inhale such toxic fumes, though they may not be aware of it. The government needs to enforce laws to end such hazardous activities.
feedback@chip.in
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PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY
NEWSWIRE
CABINETS CAN MORPH, LAPTOPS CAN SHRINK, MONITORS CAN STAND LOPSIDED, BUT PLEASE PEOPLE, LEAVE THE KEYBOARDS ALONE!
JAMSHED AVARI, ASSISTANT EDITOR - TECHNICAL
SINGING WAY OFF-KEY

D
esigner touches are popping up everywhere in the PC world, but manufacturers have in many cases lost all sense of subtlety. Some also compromise a devices function in order to make it look different. One particular thing that annoys me is how companies regularly fi nd new ways to deform their keyboards. Im not even talking about springs versus membranes here; I just want the basic layout to be respected! I am an unapologetic power user; a keyboard junkie with shortcuts or hotkeys for nearly everything, and I need to be able to type rapid fi re with the full confidence that what I want to say is whats ending up in my documents. First of all, can everyone please stop messing with the paging block? Thats the set with [Ins], [Del], [Home], [End], [Pg Up] and [Pg Down]. Some might not use them very much, but theyre invaluable to me. Long documents, page layouts, visual designs and even web pages fly past with [Ctrl] and [Shift] combos. I need to precisely select individual words and paragraphs all the time so Id like them where they should be, scattered about because some industrial designer decided theyre not so important. Most laptops today have turned these into a vertical strip, but none are consistent on which keys should be where. Apple, blazing new design trails, has dispensed with them altogether in favor of unmarked [Fn] key combinations. Today only Lenovo ThinkPads and Dell Latitudes respect the layout, meaning that business consumers can have their functionality but ordinary users will be stuck with whatever works design-wise. And while were at it, Dell, please stop leaving the [Pause|Break] key off your Inspirons and Studios. Yes, I've noticed. Lets also decide on one place for the [Fn] key. Laptop makers please note: this should NOT be in the corner rightfully occupied by the left [Ctrl] key. Next to that is fi ne. Yes, Lenovo, your Thinkpads earn critical acclaim all the time, but this is one big mistake. I shouldnt have to relearn shortcuts because I use both a laptop and a desktop. Equally important is the row of [F] keys on top. Theyre supposed to be in clusters for a reason: its easier to grope for them. But no, theyre mercilessly split, grouped, and even spaced out individually. I need to just fl ick out to pull down mail, refresh web pages, open palettes and toolbars, close tabs Stop making me physically look for them each time! And stop giving them multimedia functions by default and forcing [Fn] combos to make them do what theyre really supposed to. Put in extra shortcut keys around the edges, but don't cross this line. Next up, Apple, youre really in a league of your own by killing the numeric keypad on your desktops altogether. Its just silly. No purpose has been served at all. I used to assume that at least the QWERTY block was safe, but oh no, international variations aside I now have to deal with the arrow cluster pushing the lower right corner inwards. That means theres often no [Win] or [Menu] key on the right. And the next netbook I see with the left [Shift] beyond an arrow key is going straight out the nearest window. Seriously though, the keyboard is one thing that should be non negotiable.
- jamshed.avari@chip.in
I AM AN UNAPOLOGETIC POWER USER; A KEYBOARD JUNKIE WITH SHORTCUTS FOR EVERYTHING
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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
DIGITAL CAMERA
SONY DSC-WX1
VERDICT: A feature-packed camera with stellar performance and a very user-friendly interface. FOR: Exceptional low-light performance, 720p video capturing, 24 mm wide angle lens, quick focusing. AGAINST: Heats up, fringing in bright sunlight, poor macro range.
makes photography easy and fun for everyone. The all-black Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is the latest compact digital camera by Sony that promises outstanding low-light performance thanks to the latest image sensor. This slick camera weighs only 148 grams (with battery) and is about the size of a deck of cards. The most striking features are the 5x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 24 mm at the widest angle and 720p video capturing capability very rare for a compact digital camera. It features an optical image stabilization mechanism and the rmware has a raft of fun features.
onys new range of digital cameras and w rang rang nge digita camcorders feature the Exmor R sensor and a bunch of innovative features that
auto mode allows you to adjust the resolution, EV, smile detection sensitivity, face detection and so on, easy mode only allows you to set the image size to large or small and enable/disable ash. The camera automatically detects the type of scene and adjusts the exposure automatically. If youre well-versed with parameters such as white balance, ISO settings, focus, metering and bracketing, you can switch to the program mode which is the most advanced mode in this camera. To make shooting in low light easy, Sony added the anti motion blur and hand-held twilight modes. These modes ensure you get steady and wellexposed shots in low light. When enabled, the camera captures a burst of six shots taken at high ISO speed and manipulates them to give a single best shota very neat feature. Next up, the scene selection mode has presets such as reworks, beach, food, pets and twilight. A very useful preset here is soft snap in which the camera automatically adjusts the aperture for capturing subjects with soft background. The most fun-to-use mode is sweep panorama. With this mode enabled, you simply have to hit the shutter release button and move the camera from left to right or right to left to capture a 180 degree panorama. The capturing and stitching is done automatically by the camera. The shooting direction can be set to top to bottom or bottom to top, and the white balance, focus and metering can be set manually in this mode. The Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 can seamlessly capture videos at 720p (1280x720) at 30 fps
Features
The Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is clearly targeted towards those who want something thats compact and powerful but at the same time fun and easy to use. It has a 24 mm wide angle lens - you can shoot a person from head to toe from a distance of just 3 feet. Face detection and smile shutter comes in very handy while shooting people. With the smile shutter option enabled the camera automatically clicks the picture when the subject smiles. The intensity of smile can be set to slight, normal or big. So you choose between the three depending on how broadly you want the subject to smile. Unlike mega-zoom cameras that offer complete and partial manual modes, the WX1 is sweet and simple with just auto, easy and program mode. While the
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which is very respectable for a compact digital camera. Exposure parameters such as EV, white balance and metering mode can be set depending on the ambient lighting. Optical zoom and image stabilization are operational while shooting videos. The camera lets you show off your photos and videos in style both on the cameras large 2.7inch or TV. It also offers a slideshow mode with background music. You can choose between four music loops (two soothing, one techno and one rock) depending on the mood of your photos. Plus you can choose between four effectssimple, nostalgic, stylish and active. While the simple effect displays photos one after the other after the set time interval, the rest feature fancy transition effects. The nostalgic effect displays all images in sepia tone with soothing music playing in the background. The playback mode also offers options for printing images (using PictBridge) and retouching images and can be accessed directly from the off state. No need to rst power up the device and then switch to the playback mode. The camera comes with a strap, common cable for transferring data and AV out and a 4 GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card.
mode along with a one line e description as you rotate the ription dial. The 5-way d-pad, which has good tactility, has four shortcutssmile shutter, timer, ash and screen display ter, settings. A hotkey for burst mode is present on the ngs. top right of the shutter release button. The menu is ight displayed in a vertical strip at the left edge of the ayed screen with its parameters listed horizontally.
Performance
The tiny little WX1 is a great performer during the day as well as at night. The reproduction of color and details is excellent in well lit conditions. However, we noticed strong chromatic aberrations when we shot close subjects against bright light. But we didnt see this problem with distant objects. Macro shots look good, but the shooting range isnt as less as high-end cameras. When you shoot close-ups from a distance of 2 inches or greater the camera auto-adjusts to macro mode. There is no dedicated macro mode. The image stabilization and low light performance deserve special mention. As soon as you lock the focus, the image stabilizer springs into action. Its so good that you can capture blur-free shots at shutter speeds as low as 1/10 of a second. The brilliant performance of the new Exmor R sensor is very evident in low lighting conditions. We shot some subjects at night in poor lighting conditions without ash and the results were outstanding. The noise was unbelievably less at ISO 800. The handheld twilight mode is very useful at nightcrisp shots guaranteed, but the amount of noise is quite high at ISO 3200 in very poor light. The quality of video recording is also great. Videos recorded at 720p look very good on a big screen and the result is stutter-free. The only quirk we thought needed attention was heating up of the device after prolonged usageshoot a 10 minute video or capture around 25 shots and it feels uncomfortable.
Design and build quality

The Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is encased in a sturdy plastic shell with the front shielded by a metal housing. The quality of the zoom rocker, dials, buttons, cables and battery compartment lid is top notch. Cover the LCD display with a scratch guard lm as it is prone to ngerprints and scratches. Even though this compact camera is packed with loads of features, its very easy to use thanks to its ergonomic design and intuitive user interface. The one-inch wide control panel to the right of the screen comprises a zoom rocker, mode selection
SPECIFICATIONS
dial, playback button, 5-way d-pad, menu button and delete button. The rim of the mode selection dial is teethed so its easy to rotate with the thumb. The right side of the display shows the active
Rs 19,990
www.sony.com
Dimensions (WxHxD): 91 x 52 x 20 mm; Weight: 148 g; Resolution: 10.2 MP; Lens: 24-120 mm, 5x optical zoom; ISO: 160-3200; LCD: 2.7-inch; Video: 1280x720 @30 fps; Storage: MS Duo.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Final words
The price tag of Rs 19,990 (MRP) completely justies the lengthy list of features and the stellar performance of this camera. Although you can pick a compact mega-zoom for a lesser price, you get a wide-angle lens, 720p video recording capability, 4 GB memory card and a big bunch of handy features to play around with in one compact device that can slide into your pocket. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
Sony India 1800-103-7799 sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY ERGONOMICS FEATURES PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
12/2009
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TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
YOU CAN GET A MUCH BETTER BANG FOR THE BUCK FOR ITS PRICE BUT YOU WONT GET THE COMPACTNESS.
CAMCORDER
CANON LEGRIA FS22

FOR: Small and comfortable, high optical zoom level. AGAINST: Average picture quality, mic is sensitive to ambient sound.
The swivel display comes in very handy while shooting with the device held high.
he Canon Legria FS22 is ergonomically designed, which allows you to shoot for long periods of time without feeling
in 16:9 mode and 46x in 4:3. The zoom denitely seems more than satisfactory but the problem is that the electronic image stabilization built into the FS22 is not strong enough to handle it. With a tiny 1/6-inch CCD Image sensor (1.07 megapixel sensor resolution), you only get standard denition video output. Considering how widely camcorders are being used these days for videocasting, the absence of an external mic can make the audio extremely muddled. Luckily you don't have to worry about that on the FS22, as it has jacks for both a mic as well as a pair of headphone that's easily accessible. Overall, the picture quality of the FS22 was good, but it did have a tendency to under-expose indoors, even in cases when the room was brightly lit. The biggest draw of the FS22 is its compact size and ergonomics, but besides that it's pretty much a standard camcorder. - gagan@tech2.com
the stress. Weighing only 230 g its light enough to carry along wherever you go. It uses a 32 GB internal hard drive for storage with an option for memory expansion via its memory card slot. Considering that this camcorder records only in standard denition, the internal memory gives you around 7 hours of record time in XP mode (9 Mbps), which
SPECIFICATIONS
is the highest quality and close to 21 hours in LP mode (3 Mbps). The 2.7-inch LCD display is quite good, and just like most other camcorders, it does make the video look a lot better than it actually may appear on your PC or TV. But as most manufacturers move towards touchscreen displays, Canon decides to keep this one old-school with its handy joystick and soft touch buttons. The optics on the FS22 support 37x Optical Zoom, but you can up that to 45x
Rs 39,995
www.canon.co.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 102 x 18 x 76 mm; Dimensions (WxHxD): 55 x 59 x 121 mm; Weight: 230 g; Storage: 32 GB hard drive; LCD: 2.7-inch; Optical zoom: 37x.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Canon India Pvt Ltd 1800-180-33-66 info@canon.co.in
RATINGS
30
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
THIS ONES STYLISH AND PACKED WITH FEATURES BUT THE PERFORMANCE TAKES A HIT.
DIGITAL CAMERA
SAMSUNG ST 550
FOR: Front LCD, 3.5-inch touch screen, loaded with features. AGAINST: Oversaturated colors, average battery life, cables are small in length.
The tiny zoom lever located on the top right corner looks odd but it's useful for one-handed use.
W
portrait shots.
eighing in at 165.7 g, the Samsung ST 550 is a compact camera overloaded with features.
might seem a bit confusing at the start but once you get the hang of it, you understand how well the features have been organized in the UI. At the top left corner of the screen, is the simple scene selection tab, which gives you the options for Auto, Program, Smart, Movie, Dual IS and Manual Scene Selection. With various face detection settings, taking portrait shots cannot get simpler. The ST 550 is also equipped with accelerometer which lets you select modes by tilting it. Coming down to performance the camera isnt that great. The ISO sensitivity starts from 80 and goes way up to 3200. The image quality plummeted at ISO 400disappointing for a camera of this stature. The ST 550 has no issues in capturing colors but it boosts the colors to make the images more vibrant, which is not good. Videos are recorded at 720p and the quality of videos is good. - dhruv@tech2.com
With a complete black body and a gold lining running between it, the camera is a sure treat for the eyes. A trend setter by all means, Samsung ST 550 is the rst camera to feature a front LCD screen for The camera runs on a rechargeable li-ion battery, and the images and videos are saved on a micro SD card. The topside of the camera feels a bit crowded. Along with the power and shutter button ,the zoom lever tries to squeeze itself in there. While a few might nd this very frustrating, we found it to be very well placed as it is perfect for one-handed use. The ST 550 has a 12.2 MP CCD sensor and a 4.6x zoom lens. The cameras functions can be accessed via the fulltouch 3.5-inch LCD (800x480 pixels). It
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 24,990
www.samsung.com/in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 100 x 60 x 18.5 mm; 165.7 g; Resolution: 12.2 MP; LCD: 3.5-inch; ISO: 80 to 3200; Focal length: 27-124 mm (4.6x optical zoom); Shutter speed: 1/8-1/2000 sec; Video recording: 1280x720 pixels; Storage: microSD.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Samsung India Electronics Ltd 011-41511234 zion.kim@samsung.com
RATINGS
12/2009
31
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HARDWARE
VERDICT
PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS LOW POWER CONSUMPTION IS WHAT THE 5700 SERIES PROMISES.
GPU
ATI RADEON HD 5750 AND HD 5770

FOR: Good performance, low power consumption. AGAINST: None.
L
SPECIFICATIONS
ooks like AMD has been hitting all the right notes of late. First it was with the 5800s and now with two simultaneous launches of the
and 1.2 GHz for memory speed. What sets them apart are the number of stream processing units which boils down to a total of 800 for the HD 5770. Alternatively the Radeon HD 5750 is t with an open air cooler that resembles the shape of an egg. The core and memory are clocked at 700 MHz and 1.15 GHz respectively with a total of 720 stream processing units under its hood. Both these cards include a Dual DVI port, an HDMI port and display port thereby allowing you to connect a total of three display devices. Both cards handled games rather well with Crysis (1680 x 1050, 2xAA) and Left 4 Dead (1680 x 1050, 8xAA) returning a score of 26 fps / 51 fps for the HD 5750 and 31 fps / 55 fps for the HD 5770 respectively. Even with so much power under its hood the HD 5770 topped out at just 170 W when on load. Thats 45 W lower than the previous HD 4770. - sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
5700s. They couldnt have hit the sweet spot anytime sooner with the Radeon HD 5750 and Radeon HD 5770 especially with the recent launch of Windows 7. With support for DirectX 11 and low power consumption these cards are the current kings for mainstream gaming. Coming back to the cards, both the Radeon HD 5750 and Radeon HD 5770 are built on a 40 nm manufacturing process and hold the same number of transistor counts which add up to 1.2 billion each. That said, they even have the same memory bandwidth of 128-bit. Almost similar to what the two 5800s shared. The HD 5770 is a tad smaller than the HD 5870 but share the same cooler. In fact both the Radeons HD 5770 and the HD 5870 are so similar that they share the same 850 MHz for clock speed
Rs 7,999 and Rs 9,999

www.amd.com
GPU: ATI Radeon HD5770/HD5750; Stream Processors: 800 | 720; Process: 40nm; Memory: 1 GB; Core | Memory speed: 850 MHz | 1.2 GHz / 700 MHz | 1.15 GHz; Video output: HDMI, Display port, Dual DVI.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
AMD 1800-425-6664 fusion.india@amd.com
RATINGS
FEATURES PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
32
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
GRAPHICS CARD
ZOTAC GEFORCE GT 220

VERDICT: A low-cost solution for casual gaming and CUDA-enabled applications. FOR: Good cooling, low power consumption, good value for money. AGAINST: None.
T
SPECIFICATIONS
he GeForce GT 220 is Nvidias latest offering for casual gamers and home theater PC enthusiasts.
HDMI port which makes this card ideal for HTPCs. The Zotac GeForce GT 220 is around 50 percent faster than the 9500 GT with the same amount of DDR2 memory. At 1680x1050 it churned out a good 50 fps in Left 4 Dead at medium settings and 36 fps in Race Driver Gridvery respectable for an entry-level card. The closest competitor to the GT 220 is the Radeon HD 4650 which is a tad slower. The GT 220 was faster by 3 to 5 fps in all the games. The performance in Crysis Warhead also wasnt too bad48 fps at 1680x1050 with AA turned off in Performance mode. If your budget is lean, buy this card instead of the 9500 GT. anand.tuliani@chip.in
Built using a 40 nm process, it is the rst
member of the GT 200 family to support DirectX 10.1. The GPU features 48 stream processors and is clocked at 625 MHz, which places it somewhere between the 9500 GT and 9600 GSO which feature 32 and 96 stream processors respectively. We received the rst sample of the GT 220 from Zotac, which sports 1 GB DDR3 memory running at 790 MHz. The card measures about 6-inches in length and occupies a single slot. The heatsink tted on this card is of aluminum and is cooled by a 48 mm variable speed fan. The rear panel has dual-link DVI, D-sub as well as
Rs 4,600
www.zotac.com
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 220; Core | Memory speed: 625 MHz | 790 MHz; Memory amount: 1 GB DDR3; Memory bus width: 128-bit; Stream processors: 48; Directx support: 10.1; Video output: D-sub, DVI and HDMI.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Adiya Infotech Ltd 011-46665666 sales@adityagroup.com
RATINGS
3D GLASSES
NVIDIA GEFORCE 3D VISION

VERDICT: If you want to take gaming to a new level, this is it!!. FOR: Everything about it. AGAINST: Works with only specic monitors, may strain your eyes.
D gaming!! Thats going to be the new mantra for gamers around the world. With the new 3D Vision by
with a 9600GT card. With the new 3D glasses on, games looked way different than conventional 2D ones. This is true especially when you take into consideration racing and FPS games. The overall depth and feel that you get with these on is nothing compared to games played in 2D. Over and above all this the 3D Vision has support for over 300 games with Resident Evil 5 and Batman: Arkham Asylum being the most compatible of the lot. In other words they are 3D Vision ready. You can also view the overall compatibility of a game by accessing the Nvidia control panel where the games are given a rating such as 3D Vision ready, Excellent, Good and Fair. sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
Nvidia, gaming is going to look a whole lot different in the years to come. So what exactly does it take to make your system 3D ready? Apart from the obvious, which includes a 100 Hz monitor and the 3D Vision glasses you will need at least an Nvidia 8800GT card to be able to play games in 3D. As of now there are only a couple of monitors that support refresh rates of over 100 Hz. These would include the Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ and the Viewsonic VX2265wm. The monitor that was used to test the Geforce 3D Vision glasses was the Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ along
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 11,490
www.nvidia.com
OS: Windows Vista / 7; CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2; Memory: 2 GB; Display monitor: 120 Hz (LCD), 100 Hz and above (CRT).
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Aditya Infotech Ltd 011-46665666 sales@adityagroup.com
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY FEATURES PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
34
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
GRAPHICS CARD
ZOTAC GEFORCE GT 240

VERDICT: The best graphics card in a budget of Rs 5,500. FOR: 3D Vision Discover glasses, low power, good performance. AGAINST: The heatsink should have also cooled the memory.
he GeForce GT 240 GPU will suit those who dont have high budgets for a gaming PC. This Zotac variant features 512 MB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit
bus. The GT 240 is manufactured using the 40 nm process and features support for DirectX 10.1. Thanks to this, power consumption is so little that it doesnt have a PCIe power connector. The Zotac GT 240 sports a single slot design and has a nned aluminium heat sink tted with a 55 mm fan. At rst it seemed like the heatsink cooled the memory chips under it, but on close observation it wasnt the case. The rear panel has D-sub, DVI and HDMI ports. 3D glasses (red/ cyan anaglyph type) made of thick card paper are included so you can play games and watch
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 5,500
www.zotac.com
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 240; Core | Memory speed: 550 MHz | 850 MHz; Memory amount: 512 MB DDR5; Memory bus width: 128-bit; Stream processors: 96; Directx support: 10.1; Video output: D-sub, DVI and HDMI.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Adiya Infotech Ltd 011-46665666 sales@adityagroup.com
RATINGS
movies in 3D anaglyph mode. You have to congure the settings in the Forceware driver. Unfortunately it also strains the eyes and leaves you disoriented after prolonged use! The GT 240 performs well considering its low power consumption. In Crysis Warhead it churned out 48 fps at 1440x900 in Mainstream mode which is 50 percent faster than the GT 220 with 1 GB DDR3. It also lagged behind the 9600 GT with 512 MB DDR3 memory by a small margin. In Left 4 Dead (4xAA) and Race Driver Grid (2xAA) the average frame rate was around 60 fps at 1440x900. Thus you can rest assured that this card will suffice for gaming with a moderate level of eye candy on a 19-inch LCD monitor. anand.tuliani@chip.in
12/2009
35
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
A QUITE DISAPPOINTING MOBILE PHONE BUT A REALLY GREAT GPS DEVICE.
MOBILE PHONE
ASUS GARMIN G60

FOR: Fluid UI, brilliant mapping apps, audio sounds good via handsfree. AGAINST: Could have used a 3.5 mm jack, speaker volume is too low, no Bluetooth le transfer.
Maps look great on the large screen but the G60 should have been able to play videos.
ts become downright common these days to have a GPS module in a mobile handset, however Garmin seems to have gone in the opposite
included makes it quite easy to place the handset anywhere in the car that you nd comfortable for viewing. The Linux based UI is comparable to the iPhones although not as vibrant. Its a smooth UI thats also very responsive. What we really liked is that the accelerometer works on the entire system. In landscape mode, the handset auto rotates everything with no exception in any function. The virtual on-screen keypad in portrait isnt QWERTY but ABCD. Oddly enough, in landscape mode it switches to QWERTY which makes it so much easier to use. The Audio player is simple and easy to use. While audio tones are clear and crisp through the comfortable bundled headset, the loudspeaker is disappointingly soft. Shockingly the handset doesnt support video playback of any kind. The talk time averaged in at just about four hours. shayne@tech2.com
direction by incorporating a mobile phone into what could easily be construed as a stand-alone GPS device. The G60 looks nothing like a stand alone GPS device as the screen isnt large enough for that purpose. Nevertheless the 3.5-inch resistive touchscreen is still big enough for easy viewing while navigating. It has no buttons except for the volume keys on the side, shutter release key and a large screen lock button on the top. A microSD card slot is located on one side above the docking port for the car stand (included with car charging kit) and mini USB port. A 3 megapixel camera is mounted at the rear near the built-in speaker. The rubberized exterior coat makes it easy to handle. Its great for grip and also gives the handset a slightly rugged look and feel. The docking station
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 30,000
www.asus.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 58 x 110 x 12.2 mm; Dimensions (WxHxD): 58 x 112 x 14 mm mm; Weight: 137 g; Display: 3.5-inch, 272x480 pixels; Camera: 3.15 MP; Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Asus Technology Pvt Ltd 022-67668800 media_india@asus.com
RATINGS
36
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
A GOOD HANDSET IN TERMS OF FEATURES AND LOOKS BUT ITS WAY OVER PRICED.
SMARTPHONE
HTC TOUCH 2
FOR: Neat overall design, good sound quality, good battery life. AGAINST: No Accelerometer, xed focus camera, screen is not scratch resistant.
T
SPECIFICATIONS
he HTC Touch 2 is the rst handset in India that comes with the new Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional OS. It has a
Booster application with EQ presets and 10 band customizable EQ. It adds a lot to the overall tone of the handsets audio. The bundled handsfree is comfortable enough to use but for a truly enjoyable audio experience, we suggest getting a better set of earphones. Video support is limited to MPEG4 and 3GP formats. If converted properly youll be able to watch videos quite comfortably. Other media features include a pretty good FM radio and a voice recorder that has good range. The Touch 2 is equipped with just a xed focus 3 MP camera. Settings include White Balance, brightness adjust and ISO settings up to 800. It also records video at a resolution of 352 x 288 pixels at 30 fps. The battery life of the handset is not bad at all. With Wi-Fi active throughout, we got two days of usage from net browsing to calls and messages and even a little bit of music thrown in. Stand alone talk-time came in at over 4 hours and 40 minutes which is excellent. - shayne@tech2.com
very comfortable and simplistic form. The chrome rim around the brown handset gives it a touch of class. However, even though it looks good the design does have a few aws. Those include the 2.8-inch resistive touchscreen display not being scratch resistant and the microSD card slot only being accessible by removing the rear panel. The 240 x 320 pixel display is clear but should have been a little higher to really make the colors on the screen pop. HTCs TouchFLO UI can be loaded onto the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional OS. This version of TouchFLO doesnt bring anything new to the table in terms of features but its a lot more colorful as compared to the earlier. Its easy to use and extremely nger friendly. The Touch 2s media capabilities work
Rs 22,490
www.htc.com/in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 55 x 104 x 13 mm; Weight: 11o g; Display: 2.8-inch, 240x320 pixels; Camera: 3.15 MP; Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; Rated talk time: 7 h 30 min.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Bright Point (India) Pvt Ltd 011-66567000 sales.india@brightpoint.com
RATINGS
quite well. HTC has included an Audio
38
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
ITS RICH YOUTH ORIENTED FEATURE SET AND JAZZY DESIGN MAKE IT STAND OUT.
MOBILE PHONE
SAMSUNG S3650 CORBY

FOR: Simple yet chic design, responsive UI, plenty of social networking tools, good audio. AGAINST: Gaudy color options.
Corby's camera offers interesting shooting modes such as smile shot and panorama.
here arent many brands in the market that offer touchscreen technology to the average mobile users on a low budget.
the multiple desktops with active widgets and multiple menu pages to gesture control for Samsungs Smart Unlock feature, its all there. The Corbys music player is great. Although the higher frequencies tend to be a just a little shrill, the handset still packs quite a punch in terms of a bass line and decibel level. The FM radio also worked out really well. It took under 15 seconds to nd all the stations and preset them. The large display makes it quite conducive to watching videos. Acceptable formats are 3GP and MPEG4. With support for up to 8 GB of external memory youll have plenty of space for plenty of music and video. The battery life of the Corby is one more feature that makes the handset a good choice for purchase. On a single charge we used it quite thoroughly for little over two days. Talk time alone was well over 4 hours and 45 minutes. shayne@tech2.com
Samsungs Corby is going to give them a very serious run for their money with its funky styling coupled with a host of very relevant features. Its 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen features a 240x320 pixel resolution, which may seem a little low considering the display size. On one side are the volume keys that are placed just above the proprietary universal docking port for charging, USB connectivity and the handsfree. A dedicated camera key is placed on the other side with a screen lock button. The tapering design is brilliant. It gives the handset a very sleek look from all angles and yet theres a sincere simplicity in it. The Corbys version of Samsungs TouchWiz UI comes with all the features youd expect in any other handset including the higher ended models. From
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 9,600
in.samsungmobile.com
Dimensions (WxHxD): 56.5 x 103 x 12 mm; Weight: 90 g; Display: 2.8-inch, 240x320 pixels; Camera: 2 MP; Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, and Bluetooth; Rated talk time: Up to 9 hours.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Samsung India Electronics Ltd 011-41511234 vikas.tagra@samsung.com
RATINGS
40
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
THIS PHONE OFFERS QUITE A BIT IN TERMS OF FEATURES AS WELL AS AN EXQUISITE DESIGN.
MOBILE PHONE
NOKIA 6700 CLASSIC

FOR: Superb design, audio player is loud and clear, social networking tools. AGAINST: Fingerprint magnet, no Wi-Fi.
The 6700 Classic is comfortable, feature-rich and looks like it could be a CEO's best friend.
he Stainless Steel encased 6700 Classic is without doubt a stunning handset. Its elegant, clean cut with slim sleek lines,
basic EDGE/GPRS support as well as Bluetooth with A2DP. So why not include Wi-Fi? The browser doesnt have any new tricks. For those who prefer it, you can choose to use Operas version thats also part of the feature set. Social networkers will be pleased to nd widgets for Facebook, MySpace, MSN Messenger and Share on Ovi all present for uploading images or staying in the loop with friends. who are online. The 6700 Classics 5 megapixel camera comes with an LED ash and video recording that goes up to a resolution of 352x288 pixels. It lacks geotagging although the handset has a GPS antenna. The battery of the 6700 on a single charge lasted for over two days with nominal usage. Standalone talk time was just a little over four hours, which is pretty good. With GPS active the battery drains a lot quicker than usual. - shayne@tech2.com
very well weighted to give you that extra feel good factor and its a nger print magnet like no other handset weve come across so far. The body also tends to lose its perfect sheen after a while with nominal usage as youll start to notice small scratches all over it. The handset is very well laid out and the keypad is comfortable to use. On one of its slim sides youll nd the volume/ zoom keys above the camera button thats also on the same side. Nokia has gone with an oddly shaped proprietary USB/hands free jack at the bottom. The good thing is its fully compatible with a normal micro-USB cable. With a handset that looks like it could be a CEOs best friend, the absence of Wi-Fi makes a little difference. Its got everything else from 3G connectivity to
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 14,000
www.nokia.co.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 45 x 110 x 11.2 mm; Weight: 116 g; Display: 2.2-inch, 240x320 pixels; Camera: 5 MP; Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, and Bluetooth; Rated talk time: Up to 5 hours.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Nokia India Pvt Ltd 0124-4199358 communications.india@nokia.com
RATINGS
42
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
A SUPERB MIX OF FEATURES AND VERY GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY.
LAPTOP
ACER ASPIRE 4736Z

FOR: Great feature set and build quality and a good price point. AGAINST: An eSATA would make the feature set complete.
The laptop has a rich feature set, excellent build quality and is a good performer.
his variant of the Aspire 4736Z has everything that it takes to enjoy multimedia, be it on the go, at home or at work. At a
native resolution of 1366 x 768 and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Audio jacks include line-in, and there are three USB and a VGA port, a multi-card reader and a DVDwriter. Finally, the unit comes pre-loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium. Overall, the strongest point is its rich feature set. Built around an Intel GL 40 chipset, this laptop is powered by an Intel Dual Core T4300 processor, which is clocked at 2.1 GHz. Theres 3 GB RAM and the onboard graphics are courtesy an Intel GMA 4500M HD GPU. All-in-all, apart from being able to play stutter-free movies and music, the hardware will manage some demanding applications. Design-wise, this is a sturdy and goodlooking laptop. Also, ergonomically it is quite comfortable, except that the mouse buttons are a bit hard unless you click all the way at the edges. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
little over 2 Kg, its easy to carry around. The high feature set, excellent build quality and good performance make this laptop an ideal pick for those who want everything in a laptop. Mainly intended for multimedia
SPECIFICATIONS
fans, this laptop houses a 320 GB hard drive, has an HDMI port, two hotkeys, dedicated volume control and physical switches for controlling wireless activity. It offers the latest Wi-Fi N and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and has Bluetooth as well. Whats most striking about this laptop is the heady mix of features. In addition to multimedia-centric provisions, theres a ngerprint scanner and a fax modem, which are usually common to business laptops. Other features include a 14-inch widescreen display with a
Rs 35,032
www.acer.co.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 342 x 38.6 x 239 mm; Weight: 2.26 kg; Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T4300, 2.1 GHz; Memory: 3 GB DDR2; Hard disk: 320 GB; Screen size: 14-inch; Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Acer India Pvt Ltd 080-40708700 dinesh_nair@acer.co.in
RATINGS
44
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
FOR USERS WHO WANT A NETBOOK WITH A LARGER SCREEN AND MORE FEATURES.
NETBOOK
BENQ JOYBOOK U121

FOR: Good keyboard, large screen and light weight. AGAINST: The touchpad could have been bigger.
The BenQ Joybook Lite U121 has a good number of connectivity options.
ooking at the variety of netbooks today, its clear that theres little to differentiate one from the other, especially in terms of hardware
offered via 10/100 Ethernet, Wi-Fi b/g and Bluetooth. Finally, this netbook ships with Windows XP pre-installed and the package includes a sleeve for the unit. Its design is straightforward, yet elegant. Whats uncommon about it is that the screen folds out 180 degrees, an attribute usually seen in laptops. In fact, this one looks more like a mini office laptop, thanks to the form factor and color scheme. The dark-grey bezel has a matt nish and the screen frame is glossy. As far as the build quality is concerned, it is one of the best weve seen. While the keyboard - which is much better than that of a standard netbookis really comfortable, the touch pad needs to be a lot bigger. Performance-wise, though this netbook is weaker in comparison to those powered by the Atom N270 and 280 processors, for mainstream office applications, this netbook will certainly be enough. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
and performance. The trend of offering
better usability and larger form factor is noticeable. Following this trend is the Benq Joybook Lite U121 Eco which has the standard netbook hardware, but with a much more convenient form factor and classier looks. Its hardware conguration, form factor and performance are almost identical to the Acer Aspire One 751H, which is mainly due to the common hardware involved. This one too is based on a rather older Intel Atom processor, the Z520 which is clocked at 1.33 GHz, has 1 GB RAM and a 160 GB hard drive. Also, the 11.6-inch screen and its native resolution, 1366 x 768 are the same. The U121 Eco has all the features that are expected from a good netbook, such as a 1.3 megapixel webcam, three USB and a VGA port, audio jacks, a Kensington lock slot and a memory card reader. Connectivity is
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 23,990
www.benq.co.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 290 x 31 x 210 mm; Weight: 1.42 kg; Processor: Intel Atom Z520, 1.33 GHz; Memory: 1 GB DDR2; Hard disk: 160 GB; Screen size: 11.6-inch; Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
BenQ India 0124-4501400 sales.enquiry@benq.com
RATINGS
12/2009
45
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
A SLICK, STYLISH AND LIGHT-WEIGHT LAPTOP WHICH IS IDEAL FOR BASIC USE ON THE GO.
LAPTOP
ASUS UX30
FOR: Ultra-light weight, sexy design and looks. AGAINST: No optical drive.
The port aps protect the ports on the side while enhancing the overall aesthetics.
t rst glance the Asus UX30 comes across as one of the most stylish laptops. Its design resembles the Asus EeePC
brush-nish lid, slim form factor and port aps lend to the good looks of this laptop. To add to it are the black glossy screen frame and bezel, and the ashblack matt keyboard. Build-wise, with the strong hinges and the tough bezel, this laptop is studier than it looks. Wed say, it scores highest in design aspect. The UX 30 performs much better than an average netbook but is slightly weaker than an entry-level laptop based on a single core processor. The UX30 is powered by an Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 processor that is clocked at 1.4 GHz. Theres 3 GB RAM and the onboard graphics is courtesy an Intel GMA 4500 GPU. Whats most striking is the presence of a 500 GB hard drive, which seems less needed. Nonetheless, the more the storage space, the better. Overall, this laptop will suffice for the intended audience. Mainstream office applications, such as casual Internet surng, emails, office work and such will be a breeze. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
1008 HA, only that this ones bigger and is more elite. It measures less than an inch in thickness and weighs merely 1.5 kg, so it is as convenient as carrying a netbook. The absence of an optical drive while adding to the slick looks can be considered as a downside. Considering the lightness and features such as an
SPECIFICATIONS
HDMI port, a 13.3-inch glossy screen, the pre-loaded Windows Vista Home Premium and the presence of a whopping 500 GB hard drive, its clear that this fulledged laptop is for stylish home users and regular travelers. Other features include 3 USB and a mini-VGA port, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a memory card reader. Connectivity options are Wi-Fi N, gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth. Finally, the unit ships with a mouse, a mini-VGA to VGA dongle, and a recovery and a driver disc. The curved edges, aluminum
Rs 54,000
www.asus.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 330 x 25 x 222 mm; Weight: 1.51 Kg; Processor: Intel Core 2 Solo U3500, 1.4 GHz; Memory: 3 GB DDR2; Hard disk: 500 GB; Screen size: 13.3-inch; Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Asus Technology 022-67668800 media_india@asus.com
RATINGS
46
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
THE TOP-OFTHE LINE BOARD FOR A HIGH-END WORKSTATION OR GAMING PC.
MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD6
FOR: Loads of features, extremely stable, excellent layout. AGAINST: This hardcore board should have looked beastly!
The eSATA ports on the rear panel double as USB ports with the combo design.
he Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 doesnt boast a fancy cooling system or bright colored components, but its packed
The list doesnt end here. Gigabyte has also included a TPM chip for securing your data with a 2048-bit key and a FireWire controller. The motherboard has all-solid capacitors and the power supply for the CPU features a 24-phase design for extreme stability during overclocking. The software bundle adds to the value of the motherboard. The P55-UD6 comes bundled with utilities for backing up and updating the BIOS, backing up and restoring data, overclocking your PC from Windows, conserving power, and conguring the dual-Ethernet adapters. After going through the never-ending list of features, we were wondering how Gigabyte must have managed to layout the components. But the motherboard sports an excellent layout and doesnt look cramped at all. The power connectors, headers and ports are placed such that minimal cable routing would be required. On-board buttons for power, and reset are also present for enthusiasts who prefer open setups. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
to the gills with features that any enthusiast would kill for. This beast of a motherboard offers all features that the feature-rich P55 chipset offersdualchannel DDR3 memory support up to 16 GB, CrossFire in dual-x8 mode, 14 USB ports for all your peripherals and storage devices, 8-channel audio (Realtek 889A codec) and six SATA ports. In addition to these, Gigabyte has thrown in a slew of features that makes this board
SPECIFICATIONS
the ultimate choice for super high-end workstations and gaming machines. The P55-UD6 also supports SLI and has two additional SATA controllers that support two eSATA ports on the rear panel and four additional SATA ports. The SATA controllers are tted with a heatsink and connect to the chipset heatsink via a heatpipe. The chipset heatsink also interconnects with the heatsinks for the voltage regulators around the CPU area.
Rs 19,900
www.gigabyte.in
Socket: LGA 1156; Chipset: Intel P55; Memory: DDR31333 (16 GB max); Expansion slots: 3x PCIe x16 (CrossFire or SLI in dual x8 mode), 2 PCIe x1 and 2 PCI; USB | SATA: 14 | 10; Ethernet: dual gigabit.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Gigabyte Technology Co 022-40633222 sales@gigabyte.in
RATINGS
48
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
BUY THIS IF YOUR SOLE INTENTION IS TO BUILD AN HTPC.
MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE MA785GMT-UD2H
FOR: Good layout, all solid capacitors, HD playback. AGAINST: No sideport memory.
he Gigabyte MA785GMT-UD2H makes for a great upgrade mainly due to its versatile and evolved chipset, the Radeon
The MA785GMT-UD2H is well designed with spaced out components which makes installation a breeze. Another point worth noting is the color coded front panel headers that more or less would eliminate the need to refer to the motherboard manual. Just like most of their boards, the MA785GMT-UD2H includes 2 ounces of copper spread across the entire PCB to enhance the overall cooling of the motherboard. The board also includes Gigabytes patented DualBIOS protection system that automatically recovers main BIOS data in case of a crash or failed BIOS ash. Keep in mind that the MA785GMT-UD2H does not include any Sideport memory. So it basically shares the amount of onboard memory with the amount of RAM installed. We have said this before and we will say it again the HD4200 IGP is not built to break any performance barriers but will handle full HD playback at 1080p without the need of a discrete card. - sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
HD4200. If you compare the 780G and 785G there arent too many differences that can be made out other than the HD4200s support for DirectX 10.1 and Shader Model 4.1. Just like their previous chipset the 785G motherboards bring together three major video outputs; HDMI, DVI and VGA. But there is one notable difference that comes with the 785G chipset and that is the support for HDMI 1.3 as opposed to HDMI 1.2 that featured in the 780G. Another signicant aspect is the implementation of UVD 2 which basically offloads the CPU from decoding two video streams thereby ensuring smooth playback of Blu-ray movies. The board supports a total of six SATA ports, twelve USB ports (six rear and six via headers). There is also 1394a Firewire port, Gigabit Ethernet, 8-channel audio along with an optical S/PIDF and the conjoined PS2 mouse and keyboard port.
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 6,900
www.gigabyte.in
CPU socket: AM3; Chipset: AMD 785G; FSB: 2600 MHz; Memory support: DDR3-1333 (16 GB max); SATA/ IDE: 5/1; eSATA: 1; USB ports: 12 (6 via headers); HD audio: 7.1 channel; LAN: Gigabit; Expansion slots: 1 PCIe x16, 2 PCI and 1 PCIe x1.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Gigabyte Technology Co 022-40633222 sales@gigabyte.in
RATINGS
12/2009
49
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR BUILDING A FUTUREPROOF MIDRANGE GAMING PC.

MOTHERBOARD
ASUS P7P55D
FOR: Excellent layout, good feature-set for the price. AGAINST: SLI support would have made this board a good bang for the buck.
The rear panel has abundant USB ports, an eSATA port and optical S/PDIF output for surround sound.
W
make it robust.
ith the launch of the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors (socket LGA 1156 package), a good
to build a powerful gaming machine. Between the two PCIe x16 slots lie two PCIe x1 slots. The three PCI slots below the second PCIe x16 slot round out the lavish set of expansion slots. The six SATA ports supported by the chipset are placed just below the Intel P55 chip tted with a fancy aluminum heatsink. Two additional SATA ports and an eSATA port (rear panel) are supported by the JMicron controller. The rear panel comprises PS/2 ports, eight USB ports, optical S/PDIF output, gigabit Ethernet port, FireWire port, and jacks for 8-channel audio. The layout of the motherboard is excellent and so is the quality of components that Asus has used to build this board. The components are laid out such that theres ample breathing space and minimal cable clutter over the board. As far as the performance goes, this board is extremely stable and the BIOS with plenty of tweaks will amuse enthusiasts. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
number of Intel P55 chipset-based motherboards have already hit shelves. The solidly-built Asus P7P55D is one of the P55 motherboards that have been around since the time CPUs had just launched. Without many bells and whistles this board is the most basic model of the Asus P7P55D series. While
SPECIFICATIONS
it offers all the features supported by the Intel P55 chipset, Asus has enhanced the feature set to boost the performance and The P7P55D supports up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory in dual-channel and the memory slots sport a single-clip design so as to prevent the retention clips coming in the way while installing a graphics card. The two PCIe x16 slots can be used to congure two ATI cards in CrossFire (dual-8x mode) if you want
Rs 12,275
www.asus.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 102 x 18 x 76 mm; Socket: LGA 1156; Chipset: Intel P55; Memory: DDR3-1333 (16 GB max); Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 2.0 x16 (dual-x8 in CrossFire), 2x PCIe x1 and 3 PCI; USB | SATA: 14 | 8; Ethernet: Gigabit; Audio: 8-channel.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Asus Technology 022-67668800 media_india@asus.com
RATINGS
FEATURES PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING WARRANTY
50
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
USB FLASH DRIVE
KINGSTON DATATRAVELER 200

VERDICT: A rugged USB ash drive for backup and sharing secure data. FOR: Rugged build, good transfer speeds. AGAINST: Software CD not provided.
lash drives are manufactured by several companies and each one has their own distinguished
is almost invisible, This DT 200 64 GB USB ash drive is a basic ash storage with high data transfer speeds. We tested the USB ash drive using 1 GB of data in single and multiple formats. We found the DT 200 to have read/write speeds of approximately 26.42 MB/s and 8.08 MB/s respectively, which makes this drive great for data sharing. These USB ash drives can hold an average 13,000 MP3 songs or 90 DivX movies. The ash drive features bundled password protection software called Password Traveler, which allows you to create a secure area on the drive called Privacy Zone which is password protected for your data security. - francis.dsa@chip.in
feature. While some are superfast performers, others might be slack but higher in capacity, while the rest might be cheaply priced. Kingston, a renowned manufacturer of memory products in the market, creates a blend of features in every product. Usually optimized with speed, the ash drives from Kingston are also secure and have an aesthetically appealing rugged body. The DT 200 has a retractable USB connector, and has a good build quality. The USB connector cap is retractable and clicks well in place when opened. A small LED light for indicating connectivity and data transfer
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 10,999
www.kingston.com
Dimensions (WxHxD): 78x12x22 mm; Weight: 15 g; Capacity: 64 GB.

CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Kingston Technology 022-26592961 sales_india@kingston.com
RATINGS
TABLET
WACOM BAMBOO CTH-460

VERDICT: Use it as a touchpad or as a creative tool to edit photos and sketch. FOR: Very convenient gestures, ergonomic design, fun to use. AGAINST: None.
W
SPECIFICATIONS
hile tablets are a boon for designers and digital artists, Wacom has come out with
support for multi-touch gestures makes viewing websites, images and documents very easy. You can scroll by moving two ngers - the index and middle nger vertically on the surface. Zooming in and out is as simple as placing two ngers on the surface and moving them apart or bringing them together. The hotkeys can be customized to launch an application, insert keystrokes or perform mouse clicks. This device can sense up to 1024 pressure levels which is very useful while using imaging applications. Selecting portions of the image, sketching, painting, and editing image are much more convenient than using the mouse. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
something novel thats primarily meant for home users. Wacom's Bamboo Pen and Touch (CTH-460) doubles as a big touchpad that can replace the tiny one on your laptop or your mouse. It offers a work area of 4x6-inches and has four customizable hotkeys. Depending on whether youre left or right handed, you can place this device with the buttons on the left or right so that the hotkeys are placed right next to your thumb. In touch mode the tablet functions exactly like a laptops touchpad, but
Rs 7,200
www.wacom.co.in
Dimensions (HxW): 7x10 inch; Active area: 4x6 inch; Pressure levels: 1024; Hotkeys: 4; Connectivity: USB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Wacom India 9810375390 rajeev.nagar@wacom.co.in
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY ERGONOMICS FEATURES OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
52
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
AN ELEGANT WI-FI N ROUTER WITH A BUILTIN STORAGE SERVER AND AN INTERNET PHOTO FRAME.
WI-FI ROUTER
D-LINK EXTREME N DIR-685

FOR: Very feature-rich, easy to use. AGAINST: Sluggish menu interface, hard drive not supplied.
The DIR-685 can support up to 1 TB of storage to be used as a NAS device on the network.
he latest entry to the D-Link wireless router family is the Extreme N DIR-685, which enables a wireless network
view streamed video content, weather forecasts and RSS feeds using content from the FrameChannel website. Setting up the router is quite easy and simple. It features the usual settings of a regular router but has a few more advanced and important features. For example, guest zone network is possible through which one can give access to a new computer (guest) on the network. It will keep its network isolated to prevent intrusion into the local network unless required. The DIR-685 has a good build quality with a rugged and aesthetically appealing body. It features two USB ports on the back panel for sharing external storage and printers on the network. The routers power saving feature helps save power when the display, hard drive and internet are not in use. You can also schedule the router with specic timings to start or shut down the router and/or internet. - francis.dsa@chip.in
to share high-speed Internet with all the computers in a fairly large home or office, game consoles and media players too. What actually makes the DIR-685 distinctive is that it includes a hard drive bay that can support a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive to create an NAS system. One can store les, print and share photos
SPECIFICATIONS
with all the computers on the network as this router doubles as a network storage device too. The DIR-685 features a BitTorrent client (download directly to internal HDD), FTP server and iTunes server. It also features a built-in UPnP AV server, which can stream videos to compatible players such as a PS3 or an Xbox. A 3.2-inch, 1.6 million color LCD display doubles as a photo frame. You can also
Rs 21,000
www.dlink.co.in
Dimensions (WxHxD): 111.76x147.3x30.4 mm; Weight: 226 g; Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/g/n; Ethernet support: Gigabit; Storage type: Up to 1 TB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
D-Link (India) Ltd 022-26595765 divya.shetty@dlink.co.in
RATINGS
54
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
VERDICT
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR MOVIE BUFFS AND MULTIMEDIA JUNKIES.

MEDIA PLAYER
WESTERN DIGITAL WD TV LIVE

Support for playing media from PCs over the network is one of the key features of WD TV Live.
FOR: Excellent feature set, reasonably priced, good performance. AGAINST: Minor issues with VC1 playback.
M
SPECIFICATIONS
edia Players seem to be the next best thing these days. Soon our entire rack of DVDs will be obsolete, what with
component video out. The key feature in this model is network capability. One can access les stored on home servers and PCs on the network. Also WD has tied up with a few major names like YouTube, Flickr and Live365 for online access. This model is Wi-Fi capable too, but a separate USB dongle is required. Nothing much has changed from the previous model (WD TV) in terms of picture playback, as we could watch full HD video clips one after the other without much hassle. With our high bit rate MKV les (encoded in VC1) the player took a second or two extra to load the le, even the preview. Motion wise there was a very slight jaggy line formation in minutely detailed portions, but color wise we could not pin point any real fault. The GUI is slick, the remote control works well, le format support is wide, and the product physically looks very cute. - siddharth@tech2.com
hard drives carrying our entire library of lms and music. With products such as Western Digitals media players with USB host support, one can watch movies and photos and listen to music directly off external hard drives and USB ash drives. With a small enough footprint to enhance portability, this piece comes in a lead colored chassis, with a very smooth and neat nish. The faade has a small panel with two tiny LED indicators for power and USB connection. One side has a single USB slot, while the other side is bare, just cut out into grilles. Connections are lined up in a row on the back panel, which from left to right sum up as follows: AC power in, USB slot (second one), HDMI 1.3, optical out, Ethernet port, composite AV out and
Rs 10,500
www.wdc.com
Dimensions (WxHxD): 125.5x40x100 mm; Weight: 303 g; Interface: HDMI, Ethernet, Componsite, USB host and Wi-fi (requires dongle); Video formats: AVI, MPG, VOB, MKV and MP3; Audio formats: MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, MKA, OGG and Dolby Digital DTS; Photo: JPG, TIFF, GIF, BMP and PNG.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Amarjeet Singh 9321029204 amarjeet.singh@wdc.com
RATINGS
56
12/2009
TEST CENTER
HARDWARE
HEADPHONES
EXTERNAL 2.5-INCH STORAGE
USB SPEAKER
CREATIVE AURVANA X-FI

VERDICT: Buy this if youre seeking aural nirvana. FOR: Good wearing comfort, excellent sound quality, very good design. AGAINST: CMSS-3D is gimmicky.
IOMEGA SELECT 250 GB

VERDICT: Just an ordinary external USB drive for daily backups and regular storage. FOR: Good build quality. AGAINST: No backup software or synchronizing switch. SPECIFICATIONS
ALTEC LANSING ORBIT USB

VERDICT: An excellent product for a laptop when travelling. FOR: Great audio output and build quality. AGAINST: No control buttons, mono only. SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 19,999
www.in.creative.com
Rs 3,600
go.iomega.com
Rs 2,999
www.rptechindia.com
Weight: 265 g (with batteries); Frequency response: 20 Hz 20 KHz; Drivers: 40 mm neodymium; Cables: 1.5 m standard
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Dimensions (WxHxD): 86x18x135 mm; Weight: 148 g; Capacity: 250 GB; Connectivity: USB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Dimensions (WxHxD): 87x87x57 mm; Weight: 164 g; Connectivity: USB; USB cord length: 16-inchs.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Compuage India Ltd 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com
neoteric Infomatique Ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in
Rashi Peripherals 022-67090828 response@rptechindia.com
RATINGS
ERGONOMICS PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
eres a treat for audiophiles who need a fancy pair of headphones to caress their
aural senses. The Aurvana X-Fi by Creative is designed for extreme comfort and offers superior audio quality. The ear pads are sufficiently large to cup your entire ear and are padded with lots of foam. The adjustable headband is also padded and the overall feel is very good and non-fatiguing even after long hours of use. The key features of the Aurvana X-Fi are the built-in sound processor and noise cancellation. It draws power from two AA batteries and has an on/ off switch and volume control on the right phone. Also present are buttons for noise cancellation, X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D. The noise cancellation works great and the audio quality is phenomenal. The Aurvana X-Fi ships with a travelling pouch and two AA batteries. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
olding 250 GB of storage capacity, the Iomega Select is just an ordinary 2.5-inch
external storage drive and features a 5400 rpm internal hard drive. The Select has an average read/ write speed of 20 MB/s and 27 MB/s respectively with multiple les, and 21 MB/s and 29 MB/s with single les. The drive can be used greatly for backups and storage. One can save almost 40 hours of DVD quality video or 360 DivX movies or around 50,000 songs. Weighing just 148 grams it can be easily carried along in your laptop bag to tag along your office data or media collection on the move. The Select 250 GB has an excellent build quality and the case is made of a matt nish plastic body which is resistant to heat and scratches. The manufacturer could have bundled backup software along with the drive to improve the product value. - francis.dsa@chip.in
perfect companion for a laptop, this small USBpowered mono speaker, Orbit,
is a stylish product from Altec Lansing. Built with a strong and rugged metal body, the Orbit can take bumps and knocks without any fear of damage. The speaker does not have a 3.5-mm jack, but instead uses an in-built USB sound card that connects directly to the laptop without the need of a driver, enabling digital audio directly to the speaker. The product is not battery powered and it draws power from the USB port itself. Bundled along with the speaker is a protective carry bag and hand-strap for porting the speakers with ease. The sound quality is excellent though it tends to jar very slightly at higher volumes. The power output and audio quality of this USBpowered mono speaker is sufficient, making it an ideal replacement for your laptops pitiable speakers. - francis.dsa@chip.in
58
12/2009
TEST CENTER
TESTED
SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT
PHOTO AND VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE
COREL DIGITAL STUDIO 2010

VERDICT: Now nally process digital content directly from the camera and create your own movie and photo DVDs right at home. FOR: Ease of use, complete photo and video editing utilities in one single package. AGAINST: Resource hungry.
mateur photographers and videographers can now manage their digital content very easily with Corel Digital Studio 2010,
and Quick Fix options can help process the image at one go. Straighten, crop and red-eye removal are available as standard options. Unfortunately, nding particular photos in the large jungle of pictures stored on your computer is very painful as it lacks the search/nd featureyou would need to import the particular photo. VideoStudio is great for creating personalized videos. Just import the videos from a folder, camera, TV tuner, webcam or mobile phone and get on with the editing. Simply drag the video clips to the media tray on the bottom half and choose to either re-arrange the video clips or edit/trim/split the individual clips. Finally, a single click on the Create button takes you ahead for adding transition effects. Finalize the movie in formats such as 4:3 or 16:9 and save them in
be it photos or videos. This software is a fully featured multimedia content managing utility, which consists of four applications in one single packagePaintShop Photo, Video Studio, DVD Factory and WinDVD. Capture, edit, burn, share and play using one single software package. With PaintShop Photo, a photo editing software, one can correct digital photos with great ease. Effects such as B/W, sepia, antique or soft focus other than different frames, can be applied to portraits. Color corrections can be done using the Makeover tool and the Fine Tune option. If in case you do not know much about photo editing and correction, the Suggest button
Corel PaintSHop Photo is a very easy-to-use portrait editing software. Correct and enhance photos and also add elements such as frames.
Create audio, MP3 and video discs using Corel DVD Factory. This alternative to other burning software such as Nero..
60
12/2009
SMS us!
Story code: ASM to 51818
ON DVD
RED HOT APPLICATIONS
Corel WinDVD includes color and sound enhancing features giving you a rich movie watching experience.
DUAL LAYER 8.5GB
Autodesk Maya 2010 Autodesk 3DS Max DESIGN 2010 Autodesk Softimage 2010 Autodesk Mudbox 2010 3D-Coat 3.1
standard/high denition content. Add titles and menu options and nally save the videos to the hard drive, DVD, portable player or mobile phones or simply share them with friends via YouTube, Facebook or Flickr. DVD Factory is a one-stop utility for burning movies, audio or data les and can be used as an alternative to the usual burning software such as Roxio or Nero. Preserve all your content on CDs or DVDs using a single application which can help you create professional-quality DVDs in minutes. Adding special effects to your videos and also creating DVD labels are possible. Create data backups, burn Audio/Video/MP3 discs, copy movies and music to iPods and other mobile devices or record videos and TV shows directly to a DVD with just this single application. WinDVD is a playback utility which can play all video formats including DVD, Real media, QuickTime and Windows Media les. The player is capable of HD or AVCHD movie playback and also features Dolby Digital sound. The player includes color and sound enhancing features giving you a rich movie watching experience. Sadly, the player does not support the most popular MKV format.
- francis.dsa@chip.in
FULL SOFTWARE
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Final Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 5512 Final
FU LL FR E E N VERSIO
FREE Accounting, Inventory & Billing Software

McAfee VirusScan 10 NOD32 AntiVirus 4.0.468 Norton AntiVirus 2010 17.0.0.136 Norton AntiVirus Virus Definitions
LINUX
LINUX TOOLS
Banshee 1.5.1 Collabtive 0.6.1 FBReader 0.11.1 Beta IndiMail 1.6.2 Kamoso 1.0.3 UpYou 0.1
Trillian Astra 4.0.0.117 uTorrent 2.0.0 Beta 16850 Vuze 4.2.0.8 Window Washer 6.6.1.7761 Windows Live Messenger 2009 Yahoo! Messenger 10.0.0.542
SYSTEM
A Note 4.2.1 ABC Amber NBU Converter 1.03 Adobe Reader 9.2 Compass 1.0 Beta 13 EnhanceMySe7en 1.6 exPressit SE 3.1 GPU-Z 0.3.6 HLP Free PC Cleaner 1.3 MS CashBook 0.1 Nitro PDF Professional 6.0.1.8 PerfectDisk Professional 10 Pimero Free Edition 2009.R5 Build 4.5.3541.28387 PowerArchiver 11.60 PrimoPDF 5.0.0.19 Recover My Files 4.0.4.448 RonyaSoft PDF Printer 1.01.05 Wink 2.0 Build 1060 Alpha WinZip 14.0.8652 Word Reader 5.3 XLS2CSV Converter 1.0.0.127
MOBILE
ESET Mobile Antivirus (Symbian) Fast Flash Recovery 2.1 Build 316 Free 3GP Video Converter 3.2.1 Mr. Lock 1.10 MyPhone Book Dialer 9.1 Noki Nokia Software Updater 1.7.3 Norton Smartphone Security Python for S60 (PyS60) 1.4.5/1.9.7 Safe Deposit Box 1.00 Symantec Mobile Threats Removal Tool 1.0.5
TOOLS
MULTIMEDIA
Art Flash Gallery 1.0.1 CursorFX (formerly CursorXP) 2 Flash Drop Down Menu 3.0.0 FlashBrite 3D 2 Free Audio Converter 1.2.1.58 Free Video Dub 1.5.1.53 FREE Wave MP3 Editor 2010.3 IrfanView 4.25 IrfanView ALL plugins 4.25 K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.20 K-Lite Video Conversion Pack 1.6.0 Kodak EasyShare Software 8.0 LiveSwif Lite 2
SECURITY
Ad-Aware 2009 8.1.0.0 AntiVir Personal 9.0.0.407 a-squared Free 4.5.0.21 Avast! Home Edition 4.8.1356 avast! Virus Definitions 4.x VPS AVG Free Edition 9.0.698 Avira AntiRootkit Tool 1.1.0.1 BitDefender 10 Free Edition BitDefender 8 Virus Definitions ClamWin 0.95.2 Cloud Antivirus 0.08.83 Beta4 Comodo Internet Security 3.12 F-Secure Virus Definitions G DATA Internet Security 2010 Kaspersky Anti-Virus 9.0.0.736 Kaspersky Anti-Virus Update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.40 McAfee Virus Definitions 5776
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 5,500
www.corel.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
INTERNET
CCleaner 2.24.1010 Core FTP LE 2.1 (Build 1612) FileZilla 3.2.8 FlashGet 1.9.6.1073 Free Download Manager 3.0.870 Google Chrome 4.0.222.12 Beta Google Talk 1.0.0.104 Beta Improved Video Downloader 0.9 iVisit Presenter 4.0 Build 28 Beta KitePlayer Online TV 1.0.3 Maxthon 2.5.9.2246 Opera 10.10 Beta 1 (Build 1833) Pidgin 2.6.2 Skype 4.1.0.179
MUST HAVES
ATI Catalyst Drivers 9.10 Vista ATI Catalyst Drivers 9.10 XP DirectX 9.0c (Aug 09) Java Runtime Environment 1.6 Microsoft .NET Framework 4 NVIDIA Forceware 191.07 WHQL Vista / XP
OS: Windows XP SP3 and above; RAM: 1 GB RAM, 128 MB VGA RAM; Disk space: 4 GB; Hardware: Intel Core Duo T2400 or AMD Athlon 64 X@ 3800+ and above
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL Corel Corporation 9945012340 sathish.venugopal@corel.com
RATINGS
EASE OF USE FEATURES PERFORMANCE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
E-BOOKS
CHIP ARCHIVES
October 2008 to September 2009
TEST CENTER
TESTED
VERDICT
A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO SUITES BY OTHER MAJOR BRANDS.
INTERNET SECURITY SUITE
GDATA INTERNET SECURITY SUITE 2010

You can either create a boot cd or choose to boot from the given GDATA CD in case of a severe infection.
FOR: Dual scan engine, parental control, good rewall/scanner, low on resources. AGAINST: Not much to complain about.
T
SPECIFICATIONS
he new GDATA Secrity Suite 2010 has also gone through a much needed makeover that makes navigating between
the infection since the interface itself doesnt have a remove or clean button nor is there a selection box to select multiple infections. You will actually have to double click each infection to be able to clean or quarantine. Even though the process can be automated via the scan options it would make life a little simpler if options such as remove and clean were implemented. The rewall is unobtrusive and automatically selects the most appropriate setting for applications that need Internet access. The Parental Control included with the Suite allows you to set permissions where you can adjust the time frame to access not only the Internet usage but also user login. Detection rates have also improved signicantly with fewer false positives taking the overall percentage to 99.8% (as reported by AV Comparatives). All in all this new and improved Security Suite does a good job at keeping your desktop or even laptop secure without compromising on performance. - sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
settings a breeze. To make things simple and easy the main menu is divided into three different sections with the topmost being Virus check followed by Updates and nally Internet, which includes important aspects such as Web/ Phishing protection, Firewall, Email/Spam protection and Parental Control. Changes to these settings cant get any easier since each category can be individually changed from the status window itself. On the performance front, the G-Data Internet Security Suite 2010 performed well during scans and consumed less than 30 MB of memory when idle though there were instances when the system paused for a brief period during a manual scan. Scan speeds are also decent with the Suite taking approximately 8 minutes to scan 17 GB of data. The only confusion that a user would face in case of detection would be the removal of
Rs 999 (single user)

in.gdatasoftware.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows XP SP2 / Vista / 7; Disk space: 300 MB; Memory: 512 MB
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL ACI Infocom Limited 022-40371999 gdatasales@aciinfo.com
RATINGS
62
12/2009
TEST CENTER
TESTED
VIDEO ENHANCEMENT TOOL
VREVEAL
VERDICT: A great tool that enhances videos with just a few mouse clicks. FOR: Simple one-click video enhancements, preview mode, GPU acceleration. AGAINST: Doesnt export to formats other than raw AVI and WMV.
ropping and enhancing videos cant be easier than just clicking a few buttons to get the desired output. vReveal is one such tool that presents six simple
tools for giving your videos a facelift. The software features a tabbed interface for organizing your videos, enhancing them and uploading them to YouTube or saving them to your PC. On launching vReveal for the rst time you can tell it to automatically scan your hard drive for videos. The videos are displayed as thumbnails in the gallery and its very easy to locate them using the built-in search tool. Enhancing a video is as easy as rst selecting it from the Gallery tab, and toggling the tools in the Enhancement tab. With a click of a button you can remove noise from videos, sharpen them, adjust
SPECIFICATIONS
$49.99 (approx. Rs 2,500)

www.vreveal.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows XP / Vista; Disk space: 50 MB; RAM: 1 GB

CONTACT MotionDSP
RATINGS
EASE OF USE FEATURES OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
the contrast and add ll light. If videos with resolution less than 352x288 pixels arent clear, you can improve their quality by doubling the resolution. If youre an advanced user, you can ne-tune each parameter to your preference. When done you can upload the enhanced video to YouTube or save it to your PC in WMV or uncompressed AVI format. Since vReveal supports Nvidia CUDA, you can save a lot on the processing time if you have an Nvidia graphics card. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
12/2009
63
TEST CENTER
TESTED
PHOTO ENHANCER
MEDIACHANCE PHOTO BRUSH

VERDICT: For editing photos without having to use complex and expensive software. FOR: Easy to use, powerful, small in size and great price point. AGAINST: Layers function is absent.
he most striking point of the Photo Brush is that it offers a useful, powerful and efficient set
of other highlights include perspective correction function and chromatic aberration. Another exciting and fun to use feature is the Little Planet (Stereographic projection). If you have some Adobe plugins installed, those can be used too. Performance-wise, it is easy on the hardware and is fast in comparison with other heavy photo editors. Considering its simplicity, you might not need help. But, its worth mentioning that the help and support offered on its website is impressive. Individual topics are explained in detail with examples. Overall, photographers will like this program. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
of features at a very attractive price. At Rs. 2,250 you get features comparable with Photoshop Elements, except for a few advanced ones such as working with layers. Nonetheless, it's for photographers and designers who prefer not to work with complex programs and just want their work done faster. Be it for pictures taken indoors or outdoors, the minutest of corrections can be made. Use the polarizer lter for getting rid of a harsh glare, which spoils a picture or the barrel distortion lter to straighten an image. A couple
SPECIFICATIONS
US$45 (approx. Rs 2,250)

www.mediachance.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows Vista / XP; Disk space: 32 MB; Memory: 512 MB

CONTACT EMAIL MediaChance support@mmbgroup.com
RATINGS
FEATURES PERFORMANCE EASE OF USE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
DEFRAGMENTER
RAXCO PERFECTDISK HOME

VERDICT: A neat defragmenter that will keep your drive at its peak performance. FOR: AutoPilot mode, low on resources, ease of use. AGAINST: None.
I
SPECIFICATIONS
t is a known fact that defragmenting the hard drive not only keeps your system up and running but also prolongs the
sets. The top consists of tabbed menus, the middle displays a list of drives that are currently connected and the bottom half gives you a representation of les that are fragmented along with an overall percentage of fragmentation. Drives can be defragmented in three different ways; SMARTPlacement (default) optimizes as well as consolidates free space; Consolidate Free Space aggressively consolidates free space and Defrag Only defragments fragmented les. The AutoPilot Scheduling on the other hand seamlessly scans for drive fragmentation in the background thereby eliminating the need to depend on the program manually. - sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
overall life of your system. While Windows has a built-in defragmentation tool it doesnt quite defragment les thoroughly. This is where Raxcos PerfectDisk comes in. This ingenious little defrag tool installs with no fuss and provides a brief and precise conguration wizard that allows you to choose a setting that best ts your need. It basically consists of two options that allow you to choose a conguration either for a notebook or desktop PC. Rather than limiting itself only to hard disks the program also allows you to defragment USB, rewire and ash drives. The layout is divided into three distinct

www.perfectdisk.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7; Disk space: 150 MB; Memory: 512 MB

CONTACT PHONE EMAIL PerfectDisk 1-800-546-9728 CustomerService@perfectdisk.com
RATINGS
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12/2009
TEST CENTER
TESTED
TEMPORARY FILES CLEANER
WEBROOT WINDOW WASHER

VERDICT: Great to protect privacy and free disk space. FOR: Erases all Web/apps history, one-click cleaning. AGAINST: No support for Windows 7 yet.
eb browser cache, cookies, temporary les created by applications, and history of recently used les, consume disk space and also puts your privacy at
risk. You may not want to disclose your Internet history or the les youve accessed. Cleaning the browser cache and getting rid of temporary les requires you to know certain folder paths and the location of program options. For example, how would you get rid of the list of recently opened les in Windows Media Player? Window Washer helps you protect your privacy by providing a simple way to eliminate temporary les and program history. The software automatically scans your PC for the installed programs and adds them to the Wash list. It has a built-in database of over 600 programs that can be monitored for redundant les and le access history. In addition to
SPECIFICATIONS
$29.95 (approx. Rs 1,500)

www.webroot.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows All; Disk space: ???? MB; Memory: 64 MB

CONTACT Webroot Software, Inc.
RATINGS
FEATURES EASE OF USE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
installed software, Window Washer also monitors popular web browsers and components of Windows such as document, search and run histories, recent registry commands, and clipboard contents. After conguring the software you only have to hit the Start button in the Wash section and everything is spic and span in a few seconds. You can also schedule the wash to take place every 15 minutes, every hour or once a day. Window Washer also features a tool called System Eraser that can make deleted data unrecoverable. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
12/2009
65
TEST CENTER
TESTED
PDF UTILITY
CONTENT MANAGEMENT
NOKIA BACKUP EXPLORER
NITRO PDF PROFESSIONAL 6.0

VERDICT: Great for serious PDF users. FOR: Good feature set and performance. AGAINST: None. SPECIFICATIONS
ASHAMPOO PHOTO COMMANDER 7.21

VERDICT: Good digital media manager. FOR: A comprehensive package. AGAINST: No advanced search options SPECIFICATIONS
NOKISOFT NOKI
VERDICT: A great tool for exploring your phone backup. FOR: Extracts all items from backups, export option. AGAINST: Doesnt export to PDF format. SPECIFICATIONS

www.nitropdf.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
USD$49.99 (approx. Rs 2,400)

http://www.ashampoo.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
USD$49.5 (approx. Rs 2,500)

www.nokisoft.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7; Disk space: 300MB; Memory: 512 MB

CONTACT PHONE EMAIL Nitro PDF Software +33 (0)1 44 10 41 16 sales@nitropdf.com
OS: Windows Vista/XP; Disk space: 39 MB; Memory: 256 MB

CONTACT PHONE EMAIL Ashampoo +49 441 93379-0 info@ashampoo.com
OS: Windows All; Disk space: 4 MB; Memory: 64 MB;

CONTACT Han Zhao
RATINGS
FEATURES EASY OF USE OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
RATINGS
RATINGS
itro PDF professional is a comprehensive program for creating PDF les such as
ebooks, presentations, user-guides, online documentation and such. The ability to convert PDF les to Word documents and vice versa, is one of the main strong points of this program. Other functions let you edit existing PDF documents where you can insert images and watermarks, apply security and authenticity proles such as passwords and certicates, edit text and other elements and so on. You can even scan documents and convert them to PDF from within the program. As far as the usability is concerned, the interface is quite simple to use and Microsoft Office 2007 users will relate well to the tabular user-interface. Overall, its a great program for serious PDF le-format users who can leverage on the multitude of features. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
shampoos PhotoCommander is a comprehensive management tool for digital
media such as photos, videos and music. Hobbyists such as photographers and music buffs can playback content and even edit and share photos. Although the ease of use isnt the strongest point, once you start exploring the features, its a good tool to have. This program works with most standard formats such as JPG, GIF, TIF and so on. Performance-wise, it is fast and opens even a 20 MB le without much delay. Its highlighting features include the panorama function and creating web albums. The downside though is that serious photographers who have gazillions of photos to store will miss features like tagging and adding keywords to photos. Overall, its a good program, but not one of the best. - dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
okia should have provided an option in the PC Suite for exploring the contents of the
phone backup securely. At least the users would have been able to explore the contents without having to restore the backup to their phones. Noki is a nifty tool that allows you to do so without any hassles. You just have to specify the backup le and the software lets you browse through the all contentsphonebook, messages, calendar, notes, bookmarks, MMS and more. You can also export the phonebook and messages to a text le, Excel spreadsheet or HTML le. Noki supports all Nokia phones including those based on Symbian S60. This tool is very useful for restoring the contents of the backup to phones by some other brand. The shareware version allows you to view and export only 50 items per category. - anand.tuliani@chip.in
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12/2009
TEST CENTER
TESTED
DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARE
PHOTO ENHANCING SOFTWARE
RECOVER MY FILES
VERDICT: A must have, convenient data recovery software for ofces and homes. FOR: Ease of use, support for RAID volumes. AGAINST: Slightly over-priced.
PORTRAIT PROFESSIONAL
VERDICT: An easy to use portrait editing software with the efciency of professional software. FOR: Ease of use. AGAINST: The outline markings are not very perfect.
T
CONTACT PHONE
his is a very simple and straight-forward software for recovering data lost by either deleting, emptying the recycle bin or from formatted or corrupted drives. The including hard disk
software works well with any type of digital media storage
f you need a basic portrait editing software which does not need any expertise in photo editing, then try Portrait Professional. With this application, one can edit a portrait very easily and give it
SPECIFICATIONS
a professional touch. Available in Standard and Studio versions, the latter is able to import Adobe DNG les and camera RAW images with possibilities of batch conversions. Import the image into the software and the wizard takes care of the restby marking crucial outlines such as eyes,
SPECIFICATIONS
USD$70 (approx Rs 3,500)

www.recovermyfiles.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
drives, USB storage, CF, SD and such. Recover My Files is available on two versions standard and professional. While the standard version can rescue data from FAT and NTFS le systems, the professional version can recover data from a MAC storage as well as optical media too.
USD$70 (Approx Rs 3,500)

www.portraitprofessional.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows 98/XP/NT/2000/2003/Vista; Disk space: 7 MB; Memory: 128 MB;

GetData +61-2-8208-6053
OS: Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000; or Intel Mac OS X (10.4 or later)

CONTACT PHONE EMAIL Anthropics Technology Ltd. +44 117 230 7792 info@anthropics.com
RATINGS
RATINGS
The software is easy to usejust select the option to recover lost or deleted les from the hard drive or from an accidental formatted or corrupted hard drive and choose the respective drive letter or physical drive. Recovery from RAID too is possible. The rescued data can be burned on optical media too. - francis.dsa@chip.in
pupil, eyebrows, nose, mouth and face structure. Each of these markings needs to be conrmed by the user if they are in place matching the image. Finally, the wizard makes the necessary changes and gives the output on the screen. If you are not satised with the result, minor manual adjustments can be further made to the portrait before being exported. - francis.dsa@chip.in
12/2009
67
CPU GPU GUIDE
HARDWARE
CHIP CPU-GPU Guide

Are you planning to buy a new desktop PC or a laptop? Do you want to upgrade your system? Our guide will give you an overview of the processor and graphics chip market.
BY ANDREAS VOGELSANG AND ANAND TULIANI
evident from the market prices. The Intel Core i5-750 is at the top position in the most popular products in the desktop CPU category and the Core i7-860 ranks four among the most popular CPUs. Thus, Intels tentative plan of selling a million Lynneld processors by the end of the year seems to be falling into place. Even the customer has a reason to rejoice despite the high demand, the prices of Lynneld chips that are only a few weeks old, are already beginning to drop considerably.
ntel seems to have achieved great success with Lynneld: the new chips are really doing well, which is
games do not fall under this. The attractive price tag of the Core i5-750 makes it our purchase recommendation of the month. Even the only new entrant in the desktop CPUs category deserves a mention. The AMD Athlon II X4 620, priced at around Rs 5,300 is one of the most affordable quad-core processors in our top 50 list and makes it to rank 30 with regard to performance. In the case of mobile CPUs for laptops, this month is characterized by the mobile Nehalem CPUs from Intel. The three new Clarkseld processors Core i7-920XM, 820QM and 720QM are now in the top three position of our top 50 mobile CPUs. What is striking is the low clock frequency of the three Core i7 CPUs. The 1.6 to 2.0 GHz specied in the table however, do not stand for the maximum, but the minimum clock frequency. It can be increased by up to 75 percent through the automatic overclocking feature of the mobile Nehalem CPU called Turbo Boost. Although the Core i7-720QM is relatively affordable, considering its top performance, the Purchase recommendation of the month title goes to another new entrant: the Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 supersedes the long-time winner, the P8600. With a high clock frequency of 2.53 GHz and an equally
sparing 25 watt TDP, this new CPU offers a striking balance of great performance and affordable price tag.
Graphic chips: ATI clearly leads the pack with DirectX 11

At present the ATI Radeon HD 5870 is officially the new top scorer in our GPU top 50. The DirectX 10.1 already makes the HD 5870 faster than both the dual-GPU graphics cards that dominated so far Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 and ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2. The second new DirectX 11 card, the ATI Radeon HD 5850 makes its way between these two. Also, thanks to the 40 nm process technology, the power consumption of the two newcomers is absolutely within limits, with 188 and 151 watts of TDP respectively. Now, even Nvidia has introduced the rst 40 mn GPU, the GeForce GT 220. In spite of the affordable purchase price of Rs 4,600, this newcomer does not warrant a purchase recommendation. This month, this title still goes to the ATI Radeon HD 4730. With 512 MB GDDR5 memory and a memory speed of 3,600 MHz it offers better value for money at the same price. An alternative in the new 40 nm production is the ATI Radeon HD 4770. It consumes 20 watts lesser power but its a little more expensive.
feedback@chip.in
Desktop CPUs: the Lynnfield CPUs are already becoming affordable

In recent times, the prices of the Core i7-870, Core i7-860 and Core i5-750 that have been launched so far have dropped by about 15 percent in the European market and the same is expected in India very soon. The Core i5-750 cannot process eight threads at a time using Intels Hyper-threading technology, but the i7 chips can. But the absence of this feature is not necessarily a disadvantage, as only programs that use all processor cores to their fullest capacity can run faster with Hyper-threading. In most cases, home / office applications and
TIP: Purchase recommendations of the month

DESKTOP CPU MOBILE CPU GPU
Intel Core i5-750

Quick and more affordable, the i5-750 performs better than some of the more expensive CPUs. PRICE: Rs 10,500 approx. INFO: www.intel.com
Intel Core 2 Duo P8700

A value for money mobile chip in the top class with the lowest power consumption. PRICE: Rs 14,000 approx. INFO: www.intel.com
ATI Radeon HD 4730

A GPU suited to gaming with GDDR5 memory at an absolute bargain price. PRICE: Rs 4,500 approx. INFO: www.amd.com
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SMS us!
Story code: HCG to 57007
CPU GPU GUIDE
HARDWARE
Overview of desktop CPUs

This table reects the overall market of the 50 most important CPUs. The range extends from the AMD Sempron 140 which is ideal for entry-level PCs to the high-end Intel Core i7 CPUs meant for professional workstation and killer gaming rigs. The choice of the processors depends on the application area and budget. A performance index below 60 is sufficient for office suite and Internet browsing. Those with an index of between 60 and 75 are ideal for home theater PCs. Gamers can grab a processor from the top section.
INDEX
Price-performance index
The performance of the processor has a direct impact on its price. The longer the green colored bar in this table, the better is the price-performance ratio of the respective desktop processor.
Rank
Processor
PCM ark Vid Cin Nu Van eo mb -En eben tag Ma er Pr ch eA co UT xp od of de Nu 20 ud III ow uc tra Sy io-T 03 mb Go 12 tio Clo ste er ns Co rd ran er 80 np los ist ck L2 m ian max re sco So of C x1 or co ro sp s( .C Ca Co Kn din ck s nn ces PU TD 02 ch de et PU c eed ot g (K ec e( P) 4( s (s na s (n (milli ( typ or (se tio MB B/s fps me (W on ec. m) es GHz) c.) n e ) ) ) ) ) )
Pe rfo
rm
an
ce i
nd
PRICE/PERFORMANCE STANDARDIZED TO 100

ex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Intel Core i7-975 XE Intel Core i7-965 XE Intel Core i7-870 Intel Core i7-950 Intel Core i7-940 Intel Core i7-860 Intel Core i7-920 AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE Intel Core i5-750 AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s AMD Phenom II X4 945 AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400s Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 AMD Phenom II X4 920 Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 AMD Phenom II X4 810 Intel Core 2 Duo E7600 AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE AMD Phenom II X4 905e AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 AMD Athlon II X4 620 Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE AMD Phenom II X3 710 Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 AMD Phenom X4 9850 BE Intel Pentium Dual Core E6300 AMD Phenom II X3 705e AMD Athlon II X2 250 AMD Phenom X4 9750 AMD Phenom X4 9650 Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 AMD Phenom X4 9550 AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE AMD Phenom X3 8750 BE Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 AMD Phenom X3 8650 AMD Athlon X2 7750 BE AMD Phenom X3 8450 Intel Pentium Dual Core E2220 AMD Sempron 140
Bloomfield Bloomfield Lynnfield Bloomfield Bloomfield Lynnfield Bloomfield Deneb Lynnfield Deneb
1366 1366 1156 1366 1366 1156 1366 AM3 1156 AM3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
3.333 3.200 2.933 3.066 2.933 2.800 2.667 3.400 2.666 3.200
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 12 12 2 2 6 6 6 4 6 2 4 6 6 2 3 1 2 1 4 2 3 2 1 6 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
QPI6400 QPI6400 DMI4800 QPI4800 QPI4800 DMI4800 QPI4800 HT4000 DMI4800 HT4000 FSB1333 FSB1333 HT4000 HT3600 FSB1333 FSB1333 FSB1333 FSB1333 FSB1333 HT3600 FSB1333 FSB1333 FSB1333 HT4000 FSB1066 HT4000 HT4000 HT4000 FSB1333 HT4000 FSB1066 HT4000 HT4000 FSB1333 HT4000 FSB1066 HT4000 HT4000 HT4000 HT3600 HT3600 FSB800 HT3600 HT3600 HT3600 FSB800 HT3600 HT3600 HT3600 FSB800 HT4000
45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 65 45 45 65 45 45 45 65 65 45 65 65 65 45 65 65 65 65 45
731 731 774 731 774 731 758 731 774 758 820 820 758 758 410 820 820 820 410 758 820 820 410 758 410 758 758 820 758 300 410 463 758 410 463 410 758 234 463 463 410 463 463 463 410 463 463 463 167 234
130 130 95 130 130 95 130 140 95 125 95 65 125 125 65 65 95 95 65 125 95 95 65 95 65 95 65 80 95 95 65 125 95 65 125 65 65 65 95 95 65 95 95 95 65 95 95 95 65 45
1086 1046 1000 1007 951 898 879 933 914 884 881 882 823 812 1034 822 821 818 974 767 774 774 930 720 941 765 687 841 722 700
140 140 138 136 136 137 135 130 137 129 126 126 123 118 112 113 114 112 108 116 106 110 105 111 93 119 114 103 105 102
199 205 213 211 224 230 240 224 242 236 263 263 253 269 240 300 302 301 251 286 324 324 264 293 275 269 299 250 340 300 285 329 289 293 341 300 300 271 352 365 336 382 306 352 347 366 355 396 375 463
54 56 58 59 61 63 66 79 78 84 79 82 90 90 126 86 87 88 131 97 94 96 138 103 138 123 107 159 100 108 145 106 133 155 110 154 137 171 115 120 165 125 184 150 172 156 188 170 206 366
100.0 97.2 94.2 93.9 90.5 87.9 85.2 82.6 81.3 79.1 78.4 77.5 74.8 73.3 73.2 72.4 72.1 71.8 70.4 69.7 68.1 67.9 67.8 67.0 66.7 66.6 65.5 65.1 65.1 65.0
31.2 28.0 46.6 46.1 39.6 74.1 67.5 82.0 87.9 81.0 70.1 43.5 78.2 73.6 44.6 49.7 61.3 69.2 57.1 68.2 63.6 48.2 62.8 65.6 64.7 77.3 49.0 90.3 90.3 60.2 89.9
Yorkfield 775 4 2.833 Yorkfield 775 4 2.833 AM3 4 3.000 Deneb AM2+ 4 3.000 Deneb Wolfdale 775 2 3.333 Yorkfield 775 4 2.666 Yorkfield 775 4 2.666 Yorkfield 775 4 2.666 Wolfdale 775 2 3.163 AM2+ 4 2.800 Deneb Yorkfield Yorkfield Wolfdale Deneb Wolfdale Deneb Deneb Deneb Yorkfield Propus Wolfdale Agena Deneb Wolfdale Agena Wolfdale Heka Regor Agena Agena Wolfdale Agena Kuma Toliman Wolfdale Toliman Kuma Toliman Conroe Sargas 775 775 775 AM3 775 AM3 AM3 AM3 775 AM3 775 AM2+ AM3 775 AM2+ 775 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM2+ 775 AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ 775 AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ 775 AM3 4 4 2 4 2 3 4 2 4 4 2 4 3 2 4 2 3 2 4 4 2 4 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 1 2.500 2.500 3.000 2.600 3.066 2.800 2.500 3.100 2.333 2.600 2.933 2.600 2.600 2.666 2.500 2.800 2.500 3.000 3 000 2.400 2.300 2.600 2.200 2.800 2.400 2.500 2.300 2.700 2.100 2.400 2.700
NEW
902 90 685 98 719 116 826 98 662 96 851 84 686 113 810 85 639 93 611 92 784 589 725 637 761 615 716 555 644 534 72 91 77 91 67 89 75 85 61 78
64.5 70.2 63.4 51.3 63.2 73.4 62.1 52.2 61.7 38.4 61.6 94.1 61.4 55.1 100.0 0 61.2 100.0 59.9 46.9 58.2 64.5 57.1 56.5 56.4 55.8 55.4 54.3 53.8 50.9 49.9 42.3 97.5 36.3 62.6 56.8 80.9 52.4 62.7 40.6 59.1 66.0
12/2009
69
CPU GPU GUIDE
HARDWARE
Overview of mobile CPUs

Mobile CPUs are a part of the laptop you buy and are very difficult to buy as an upgrade component. So you can consider this table as a laptop purchase guide. In entry level and mid-range laptops you will nd CPUs from the bottom two sections. All-rounder laptops which are also suitable for gaming and photo editing use CPUs from the middle section. Powerful gaming laptops are powered by the powerful CPUs from the top section. Be prepared to sacrice battery life if youre planning to buy one.
INDEX
Pr Price-performance index
The performance of the processor has a direct impact on its price. The longer the green colored bar in this table, the better is the priceperformance ratio of the respective mobile processor.
Rank NEW NEW NEW
Processor
Ge Ge Fo Fo rce rce Go G Ma eb eb Av 74 3 o 76 3 3D en en era PC xp 3D 00 DM 00 DM Nu ch ch Ch Ma /G a /G a Ma ow 6 b ge Ma mb Cl ips rk eF rk eF rk rk er atte run rk0 200 200 Co er ock et 05 or 05 or 05 05 3 3 los re r 5 of sp L2 C for (d ce (d ce (d CP s ( y ce time CPU 1 x 2 x Co CP ee ac U( gra efau 840 efau 860 efau TD CP CP lls w de Uc d he po U( U( P) na (m ith (poin ph lt) 0M lt) 0M lt) (GH (M int FS fps fps me ores z in) 2 (W ics GT GT ts) B) s) B ) ) ) ) Cin Cin
Pe rfo
rm
an
ce i
nd

ex
NEW
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
1
Intel Core i7-920XM Intel Core i7-820QM Intel Core i7-720QM Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9100 Intel Core 2 Duo T9900 Intel Core 2 Duo T9800 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 Intel Core 2 Duo SP9400 Intel Core 2 Duo T7800 Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 Intel Pentium Dual T3400 Intel Pentium Dual T4200 AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80
Clarksfield Clarksfield Clarksfield Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Penryn Merom Penryn Penryn Penryn Merom Penryn Penryn Griffin Penryn Merom Merom Penryn Griffin
4 4 4 4 4 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2
2.000 1.733 1.600 2.533 2.266 3.066 2.933 2.000 2.800 2.667 2.533 2.533 2.600 2.533 2.533 2.500 2.400 2.600 2.400 2.266 2.400 2.400 2.100 2.100 2.400 2.000 2.000 2.166 2.000 2.100 2.000 1.800 1.666 1.600 1.600 2.200 2.100 1.400 2.133 1.200 2.000 2.000 1.866 1.400 1.200 1.600 1.666 1.300 1.600 1.333
8 8 6 12 12 6 6 12 6 6 6 6 6 6 3 6 6 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 4 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 3 3 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 0.5
FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB800 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB800 FSB1066 FSB800 FSB1066 FSB1066 FSB800 FSB800 FSB800 FSB800 HT1800 FSB800 FSB800 FSB667 FSB800 HT1800 FSB667 FSB800 FSB667 FSB800 FSB667 HT1800 HT1800 FSB800 FSB533 FSB800 HT1800 FSB533 FSB533 FSB800 FSB800 HT1800 FSB667 FSB800 FSB533 FSB533
55 45 45 45 45 35 35 45 35 35 25 25 35 35 25 35 25 35 25 25 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 32 35 35 34 10 17 31 31 10 30 10 35 30 30 55 55 15 25 5 25 2
98 120 120 120 120 154 154 120 154 154 216 216 154 154 216 154 216 154 216 216 154 154 154 154 154 154 154 154 154 169 154 154 159 540 318 174 174 540 180 540 154 180 180 720 720 360 1080 750 1080 1350
7955 7725 7651 7555 7489 6922 6845 7234 6564 6488 6514 6512 6867 6435 5866 6455 6385 6455 5793 5745 5805 5942 5433 4977 4300 4934 5307 4989 5006 4100 4934 4533 4274 3566 3682 2085 2008 3405 3525 3322 1600 3411 3308 3121 3049 2150 1551 1588 1491 1018
623 611 598 464 459 558 541 394 481 491 467 464 472 454 469 451 430 423 423 405 437 415 402 379 342 353 334 357 352 303 322 315 274 298 261 318 302 238 342 229 240 315 300 249 247 231 94 142 90 69
1563 1494 1470 1459 1340 1034 956 1172 873 903 854 847 840 834 836 827 782 767 755 735 810 744 753 686 609 618 613 656 621 570 608 555 501 543 431 604 556 471 342 399 531 315 300 249 247 231 141 142 135 102
13876 13670 13220 12255 12127 11487 11223 11458 10756 10205 10631 10551 9812 10623 10075 9355 10103 9223 10006 10360 8533 8136 8261 6901 8750 6855 6600 5413 5460 8171 5350 4512 4125 4003 5352 5122 5002 3821 2825 3566 4912 2712 2634 3612 3600 4951 1086 655 1071 693
6000 5950 5900 5850 5800 5750 5700 5650 5600 5550 5500 5300 5450 5400 5350 5250 5200 5150 5100 5050 5000 4950 4900 4850 4800 4750 4700 4650 4600 4550 4350 4500 4450 4400 4300 4250 4200 4150 4100 4050 4000 3950 3900 3850 3800 3750 3700
22000 21500 21000 18000 17700 17400 17100 16800 16500 16200 15900 15600 15300 15000 13800 14700 14400 14100 13500 13200 12900 12600 12300 12000 11700 11400
35000 34500 34000 30000 29500 29000 28500 28000 27500 27000 26500 26000 25500 25000 23000 24500 24000 23500 22500 22000 21500 21000 20500 20000 19500 19000
100.0 97.3 95.4 87.4 84.9 80.8 78.0 77.2 72.5 72.3 71.2 70.8 70.6 70.1 68.1 67.7 67.0 65.1 64.4 63.7 63.6 61.0 59.6 53.7 52.0 51.2 50.8 49.3 48.6 48.2 46.8 42.7 38.7 38.3 37.9 37.2 35.4 34.1 32.3 31.7 31.1 30.4 29.2 28.4 28.1 27.0 12.0 11.8 11.6 8.2
57.0 87.5 99.0 40.1 44.1 60.1 67.6 84.6 77.6 76.9 64.3 33.7 43.6 70.1 100.0 0 100.0 61.0 34.3 31.4 84.6 81.8 66.6 43.1 67.0 73.5 40.1 76.5 83.0 97.6 97.6 87.2 58.0 89.9 55.5 41.3 5.3 15.5 32.6 31.6 4.5 27.4 4.5 11.4 20.0 21.8 4.4 5.1 14.0 1.4 1.9 1.8 0.6
NEW
NEW
Intel Pentium Dual T3200 Merom Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 Merom Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 Merom Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 (ULV) Penryn Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 (LV) Merom AMD Athlon X2 RM-75 Griffin AMD Athlon X2 RM-72 Griffin Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 (ULV) Penryn Intel Celeron M 560 Merom Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 (ULV) Penryn AMD Athlon X2 QL-62 Intel Celeron M 550 Intel Celeron M 540 Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 (ULV) Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300 (ULV) AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 Intel Atom N280 VIA Nano U2250 Intel Atom N270 Intel Atom Z520 Griffin Merom Merom Penryn Penryn Lima
2 1 1 1 1 1 Diamondville 1 Isaiah 1 Diamondville 1 Silverthorne 1

2
Mobile CPUs are usually available only with a laptop
Estimated runtime with integrated graphics, discrete graphics chips reduce the runtime by up to 40 percent.
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CPU GPU GUIDE
HARDWARE
Overview of graphics chips

Almost every week, new games brimming with breath-taking effects appear in the market, which lead to a continual demand for more powerful graphic cards and also new test procedures. We have taken that into consideration and integrated a whole line of new measurement values and benchmarks in our GPU tests. The tests should give a fair picture of the 3D capability of the graphic chips. Hence we chose graphics-intensive games such as Crysis, Quake Wars, World In Conict and Company of Heroes.
INDEX
Pri Price-performance index
The green bar reveals at a glance which graphics chip delivers the best 3D performance. The longer the bar, the better is the priceperformance ratio, which means higher fps for the same price.
Rank NEW NEW
Processor
En em Ma yT xim err Me um Co Pr ito od mo po ry Wor mpa Sh Tra uc we Me ry Clo :Q ad tio Me ns Un ua ld in ny o (no mo con r lo ck er np ist (M m ifie f ke Co n sp sp r s B) or or ro dS nf Hero W ee ee mina y sp ecti s (m s (TD Crys an y s d( d( ha cess o e d t ize is ( ars ( lict P) illi MH l) (M eed n (B MH de (nm (fp s (fp yp fps fps (W on Hz it) rs z) z) s) s) e ) ) ) ) ) )
Pe rfo
rm
an
ce i
nd

ex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
ATI Radeon HD 5870 Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 ATI Radeon HD 5850 ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 Nvidia GeForce GTX 275 Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 ATI Radeon HD 4890 ATI Radeon HD 4890 ATI Radeon HD 4870 Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 Nvidia GeForce 9800 GX2 Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 ATI Radeon HD 4870 ATI Radeon HD 4850 ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 ATI Radeon HD 4850 ATI Radeon HD 4770 ATI Radeon HD 4850 Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX+ Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 ATI Radeon HD 4730 Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT ATI Radeon HD 4830 Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT ATI Radeon HD 3870 ATI Radeon HD 3870 Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT ATI Radeon HD 3850 ATI Radeon HD 4670 ATI Radeon HD 3850 ATI Radeon HD 4650 Nvidia GeForce GT 220 Nvidia GeForce 9500 GT Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS ATI Radeon HD 3650 ATI Radeon HD 4550 ATI Radeon HD 4350 Nvidia GeForce 9400 GT Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT ATI Radeon HD 3450 ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS
1024/GDDR5 2 x 896/GDDR3 1024/GDDR5 2 x 1024/GDDR5 1024/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 896/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 1024/GDDR5 1024/GDDR5 1024/GDDR5 896/GDDR3 2 x 512/GDDR3 896/GDDR3 512/GDDR5 512/GDDR3 2 x 512/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 512/GDDR5 512/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 1024/GDDR3 512/GDDR5 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 1024/GDDR4 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 256/GDDR3 512/DDR2 512/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 256/GDDR3 256/GDDR3 512/GDDR3 512/DDR2 512/DDR2 256/DDR3 256/DDR2 256/DDR3 256/DDR2 256/DDR2 256/DDR2
850 576 725 750 702 702 700 702 602 900 850 780 655 600 575 750 675 825 625 750 625 750 738 738 750 755 700 575 720 600 775 775 650 730 750 690 600 650 550 745 800 600 650 550 450 400 700 600 525 450
1242 1584 1512 1400 1512 1296 1404 1500 1242 1890 1836 1836 1840 1700 1782 1500 1625 1360 1375 1620
4800 256 1600 1998 2 x 448 240 4000 256 1440 3600 2 x 256 800 2664 512 240 2592 512 240 2300 512 240 2520 448 240 2214 512 240 4000 256 800 3900 256 4000 256 2250 448 2000 2 x 256 1998 448 3600 256 2300 256 1800 2 x 256 1986 256 3200 128 1986 2300 2200 2200 3600 2350 2000 1800 2000 1800 2250 1800 1800 1900 2000 1680 1000 1800 1600 2290 256 256 256 256 128 256 256 256 256 256 256 256 256 256 128 256 128 128 128 128 128 64 64 128 128 128 64 64 64 64 800 800 216 256 216 800 800 640 800 640 800 128 128 128 640 128 112 640 112 112 320 320 64 320 320 320 320 48 32 32 120 80 80 16 16 4 40 40 40 16
40 55 40 55 55 55 65 55 65 55 55 55 65 65 65 55 55 55 55 40 55 55 55 55 55 65 65 55 65 65 55 55 65 55 55 55 55 40 65 80 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 65 65
2154 2800 2154 1912 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 959 959 956 1.400 1.508 1.400 965 956 1.332 956 826 956 754 754 330 956 754 754 956 754 754 666 666 505 666 514 666 514 486 314 289 378 242 242 314 1.400 1.400 1.400 181 180 210
188 289 151 314 183 183 236 216 236 190 190 157 182 250 182 157 114 200 114 80 114 141 141 141 100 156 110 80 110 110 106 106 95 100 59 100 48 58 50 71 75 25 20 50 190 190 190 50 33 50
80 87 68 66 63 62 50 59 53 57 54 50 52 38 46 37 38 28 34 33 33 38 32 36 31 32 30 31 27 27 21 20 21 18 20 17 11 15 8 8 6 7 5 4 4 3 2 3 1 0
124 88 105 97 78 76 96 72 92 85 83 79 64 87 57 76 67 69 62 54 62 43 60 41 45 41 57 52 56 37 40 39 44 33 32 35 17 23 9 15 14 11 6 9 9 3 3 3 1 4,1
82 90 82 84 92 91 92 90 91 79 80 79 86 92 84 82 78 85 73 71 74 82 81 80 72 82 74 67 76 69 67 65 58 65 51 60 30 12 27 29 22 19 12 13 11 10 8 6 6 6
59 56 58 57 55 54 55 54 50 56 53 50 49 53 45 47 44 52 43 49 41 36 33 35 45 33 31 37 33 28 27 28 26 25 22 17 16 13 10 4 8 8 8 5 5 5 4 2 1 0
100.0 98.5 90.6 88.4 85.1 83.9 81.8 81.3 80.6 80.4 78.1 74.0 73.9 73.7 68.0 66.9 63.7 63.5 59.5 59.1 58.6 58.3 56.8 56.2 55.7 53.9 53.0 52.9 52.3 46.0 42.7 41.7 40.7 38.8 35.2 34.6 21.0 18.5 15.6 15.1 13.3 12.7 9.2 8.5 7.8 6.0 4.8 4.1 2.4 2.2
35.9 29.5 47.4 25.3 35.7 34.0 25.7 46.5 29.0 48.1 54.5 58.1 54.7 35.6 53.4 52.6 53.4 25.0 68.0 82.6 49.1 56.3 37.6 58.9 100.0 45.2 74.0 83.1 83.1 59.8 68.0 67.1 58.2 53.9 81.3 73.8 87.0 58.5 33.3 39.2 47.5 33.5 35.6 38.7 26.7 27.9 21.4 12.1 17.2 7.6 9.1
NEW
NEW
NEW
1800 1800 800 1350 800 900 400 800 375 750 800 400 900 800
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PC CONFIGS PC CONFIGS CONFIGS NFIG FIGS
Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 Rs 7,600

www.gigabyte.com.tw
verdict Duability, features and

performance; all packed in one compact motherboard. Great for a gaming rig. love Excellent layout, all-solid caps, 6-phase power design. hate No PCIe x1 slots.
SPECIFICATIONS
Form factor: Micro-ATX; Memory: 16 GB DDR31333; USB ports: 10 rear and 4 via headers; SATA ports: 7 and 1x eSATA; Expansion slots: 2x PCIe x16, and 2x PCI.
ANAND'S PICKS
BUDGET P55 MOTHERBOARDS

Motherboards for the new Intel Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs for those who are on a shoestring budget.
Intel DP55WB Rs 6,500
www.intel.com
MSI P55M-GD45 Rs 8,000

www.msi.com
verdict A no-nonsense board with just the

bare minimum features for those who are on a tight budget. love Very affordable, compact, good layout. hate No CrossFire support, very lean on features.
verdict Out of all boards here, this one

offers the best blend of features, but is a bit rough around the edges. love Good feature set, all-solid caps. hate The quality of plastic used feels feeble.
SPECIFICATIONS
Form factor: Micro-ATX; Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1333; USB ports: 8 rear and 6 via headers; SATA ports: 6; Expansion slots: 1x PCIe x16, 2x PCIe x1 and 1x PCI.
SPECIFICATIONS
Form factor: Micro-ATX; Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1333; d USB ports: 10 rear and 4 via headers; SATA ports: 6 and d 2x eSATA; Expansion slots: 2x PCIe x16, 1x PCIe x1 and 1x PCI.
ECS P55H-A E R Rs 8,800

ww www.ecs.com.tw
MSI P55-CD53 Rs 9,000

www.msi.com
v verdict A good attempt by ECS to offer a

bu budget P55 gaming motherboard, but it has a few minor issues. lo love Optical S/PDIF output, POST debugger, go good looks. ha hate The heatsinks and plastic used could ha have been of better quality.
verdict This one is the ATX version of

the P55M-GD45 with a few more expansion slots but without CrossFire support. love Good layout, nice tools for overclocking. hate No CrossFire support, no eSATA ports, 6 phase power design would have been better for overclocking.
SPECIFICATIONS
Fo Form factor: ATX; Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1333; USB ports: r 8 rear and 6 via headers; SATA ports: 6 and 1x eSATA; Ex Expansion slots: 2x PCIe x16, 1x PCIe x1, 1x PCIe x2 and 2x PCI.
SPECIFICATIONS
Form factor: ATX; Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1333; USB ports: 10 rear and 4 via headers; SATA ports: 8; Expansion slots: 1x PCIe x16, 3x PCIe x1, and 3x PCI.
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ANAND'S PICKS PC CONFIGS
TEST CENTER
DON'T JUST RUSH OUT AND UPGRADE JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING NEW HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.
ANAND TULIANI, HEADTEST CENTER
NEWER VS BETTER
o upgrade, or not to upgrade, that is the question. This might seem strange to you because given a choice between the latest and older versions of software, youd probably choose the former. So whats the big deal? Because its the latest and a lot better than the older version. Absolutely correct! The latest version of any program offers more features, looks and feels better and is recommended by your friend or computer repair technician. Who doesnt want Windows 7 and version 2010 of your Internet security suite? Wouldnt you download the latest version of Winzip? In this day and age, where things are changing every second and security and uncertainty are big concerns, keeping up to date with the latest in technology is the key to being secure. You could lose your entire collection of movies that took years to download or your entire contact list of clients could go poof the next time you start your PC just because you didnt upadate your antivirus software. Lately I witnessed a close friend losing gigabytes of important data because one of his hard drives partitions came inaccessible after a reboot. Luckily an older version of RecoverMyFiles (which was initially free) that I always carry around on my USB flash drive did a brilliant job of recovering all the lost data. Hence, its crucial to update/upgrade the operating system and certain programs such as antivirus and Internet security suite, from time to time. The same goes with device drivers and the motherboards BIOS to keep the system running smoothly. However, there
are certain non-critical programs such as download managers, fi le archivers, and media players that neednt always be upgraded. In fact in some cases, older versions are better. Surprising but true! Why upgrade your fi le archiver to the latest version when the older version does the job of compressing fi les well? The newer version may look good and offer features such as stronger encryption that may not be useful to you. Upgrade only if the newer features are useful to you. I still use the good old version 1.73 of FlashGet (download manger) because it does what I need perfectly. Plus it looks simpler, hogs less system resources, doesnt show annoying ad banners and its free! If you ask me what my favorite DVD burning application is, Ill say Nero Burning ROM version 6. Ever since version 7 released, Nero has kept bloating it with every release. The older version of Nero burns DVDs as perfectly as the latest versions! Bloatware is one of the biggest reasons for the PC slowing down. If thats the case with you, I suggest downgrading to a lower version or using alternative programs that are lighter. The best place on the net to fi nd older version of programs is www. oldversion.com. The next time you upgrade your software think twice, because newer isnt always better!
OLDER VERSIONS OF SOME PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN THE LATEST ONES.
12/2009
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PC CONFIG PC CONFIGS CONFIGS GS
PC CONFIGS
GAMING (MID-RANGE)
Processor
Rs 72,548 GAMING (HIGH-END)

10,500 8,700 5,398 4,200 9,300 1,100 10,100 950 1,400 6,700 2,800 4,650 4,150 2,600 72,548
Processor Motherboard RAM Hard disk Graphics card Optical drive Network card Monitor Keyboard Mouse Speakers Sound card PC Case Power supply unit Operating system Office suite Intel Core i7-860, 2.8 GHz
Rs 1,34,850
16,500 14,250 6,100 4,200 29,000 1,100 12,500 4,200 4,900 16,000 5,000 4,000 8,200 6,300 2,600 1,34,850
Intel Core i5-750, 2.66 GHz MSI P55-CD3 2x 2 GB Strontium DDR3-1333 MHz Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 - 1 TB SATA Sapphire Radeon HD 5750, 1 GB LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE Benq E2200HD - 22-inch TFT Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 Logitech MX518 Altec Lansing MX5021E Onboard high-definition audio Thermaltake Matrix VD2000BNS Tagan BZ500 Windows Vista Home Basic Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student
Motherboard RAM Hard disk Graphics card Optical drive

Network card
Asus P7P55D Pro Corsair TW3X4G-1333C9, 4 GB DDR3 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 - 1 TB SATA Zotac GeForce GTX 295 - 1792 MB DDR3 LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE BenQ E2400HD - 24-inch TFT Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Logitech G9 Laser Creative Gigaworks T3 Asus Xonar DX 7.1-channel Cooler Master Gladiator 600 Cooler Master Silent Pro 700W Windows Vista Home Premium Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student
Monitor Keyboard Mouse Speakers Sound card PC Case Power supply unit
Operating system Office suite
TOTAL
TOTAL
HTPC
Processor Motherboard RAM Hard disk Graphics card Optical drive Network card Monitor Keyboard and mouse combo Speakers Sound card PC Case Power supply unit TV tuner card Operating system Office suite AMD Athlon II X2 245, 2.80 GHz Asus M3N78-EM, GeForce 8300 2x 2 GB Strontium DDR2-800 MHz Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 - 1 TB SATA Zotac GeForce GT 220, 1 GB Sony BC-5100S-OB, 24x SATA Blu-ray combo Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE BenQ E2400 HD, 24-inch Full HD Logitech Cordless Desktop EX90 Logitech Z-5500 Digital Asus Xonar DX 7.1-channel GlacialTech Altair A381 Included with the PC Case Leadtek WinFast PVR3000 Deluxe Windows Vista Home Premium Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student
Rs 93,898 HOME PC
3,600 4,500 4,498 4,200 4,600 8,700 Processor Motherboard RAM Hard disk Graphics card Optical drive Network card Monitor Keyboard and mouse combo Speakers Sound card PC Case Power supply unit Operating system Office suite Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300, 2.60 GHz Asus P5KPL AM-PS, Intel G31 2 GB Zion DDR2-800 MHz Western Digital Caviar Green - 320 GB SATA Onboard graphics LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE Samsung SyncMaster 933SN - 18.5-inch TFT Microsoft Desktop 500 Creative Inspire T3130, 2.1-ch
Rs 29,990
3,300 2,450 2,340 2,300
1,100
12,500 1,400 21,000 5,000 10,600
6,900 800 2,600
Onboard high-definition audio Circle Delight Grey Included with the PC Case - 400W (max) Windows Vista Home Basic Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student
1,450 4,150 2,600 29,990
4,400 6,300 2,600
TOTAL
93,898
TOTAL
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PC CON GS CONF S CONFIGS NFIGS
LAPTOP CONFIGS
MAINSTREAM
PROCESSOR Intel Pentium Dual-Core, 2 GHz or higher, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GHz or higher. MEMORY 2 GB or 3 GB HARD DRIVE 250 GB or 320 GB DISPLAY 14.1-inch or 15.4-inch GRAPHICS On-board WEIGHT 2.3 Kg to 3 Kg OTHER Bluetooth, DVD-writer, Wi-Fi b/g or n, Webcam PRICE RANGE Rs 33,000 To Rs 45,000
DESKTOP REPLACEMENT
PROCESSOR Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz to 2.8 GHz MEMORY 3 GB to 6 GB HARD DRIVE 250 GB to 500 GB DISPLAY 15.4-inch to 17-inch GRAPHICS GeForce 9300M or higher, Radeon HD 4650 or higher WEIGHT 2.5 Kg to 3 Kg OTHER Bluetooth, DVD-writer or Blu-ray Wi- n, Webcam, TV Tuner PRICE RANGE Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,50,000
NETBOOK
PROCESSOR Intel Atom N270 / N280 / Z530 MEMORY 1 GB HARD DRIVE 80 GB to 160 GB DISPLAY 9-inch, 10-inch or higher GRAPHICS On-board WEIGHT Up to 1.5 Kg OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g or n, Webcam PRICE RANGE Rs 17,000 to Rs 35,000
ACER ASPIRE 5738 VHP Rs 36,100

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T6600, 2.2 GHz MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 320 GB; DISPLAY 15.6-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 2.8 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DVD-writer
HP PAVILION DV6-1154TX Rs 67,000

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, 2.4 GHz; MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 500 GB; DISPLAY 15.6inch; GRAPHICS Radeon HD 4650; WEIGHT 2.8 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi n, DVD-writer
ACER ASPIRE ONE D250 Rs 19,900

CPU Intel Atom N270, 1.60 GHz; MEMORY 1 GB; HARD DISK 160 GB; DISPLAY 10.1-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 1.1 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g, card reader
HP COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ40-423TU Rs 38,500

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T6500, 2.1 GHz; MEMORY 3 GB; HARD DISK 320 GB; DISPLAY 14.1-inch; GRAPHICS On-board WEIGHT 2.3 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DVD-writer
DELL STUDIO XPS 16 Rs 75,905 + taxes

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo T9550, 2.66 GHz; MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 320 GB; DISPLAY 15.6-inch, 1920x1080; GRAPHICS Radeon HD 3670; WEIGHT 2.9 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi n, DVD-writer
LENOVO IDEAPAD S10-2 Rs 20,640

CPU Intel Atom N270, 1.60 GHz; MEMORY 1 GB; HARD DISK 160 GB; DISPLAY 10.1-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 1.2 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g, card reader
HP COMPAQ PRESARIO DV4-1319TU Rs 42,500

CPU Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200; MEMORY 3 GB; HARD DISK 320 GB; DISPLAY 14.1-inch, GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 2.2 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DVD-writer
SONY VAIO VGN-FW45GJ/B Rs 79,900

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo P8700, 2.53 GHz MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 400 GB; DISPLAY 16.4-inch, 1440x900; GRAPHICS Radeon HD 4650; WEIGHT 3.1 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi n, DVD-writer
ASUS EEE PC 1000 HE Rs 23,500

CPU Intel Atom N270, 1.60 GHz; MEMORY 1 GB; HARD DISK 160 GB; DISPLAY 10.1-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 1.4 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi n, card reader
DELL STUDIO 14 Rs 42,800 + Taxes

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T6600, 2.2 GHz; MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 500 GB; DISPLAY 14-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 2.4 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DVD-writer
APPLE MACBOOK PRO (MC226ZP) Rs 1,57,000

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.8 GHz MEMORY 4 GB; HARD DISK 500 GB; DISPLAY 17-inch, 1440x900; GRAPHICS GeForce 9600M; WEIGHT 3 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DVD-writer
BENQ JOYBOOK LITE U121 Rs 23,990

CPU Intel Atom Z520, 1.33 GHz; MEMORY 1 GB; HARD DISK 160 GB; DISPLAY 11.6-inch; GRAPHICS On-board; WEIGHT 1.42 Kg; OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g, card reader
12/2009
77
COVER STORY
THE BIG SIX
Jagdish Limbachiya
78
12/2009
SMS us!
Story code: CPF to 51818
COVER STORY
THE BIG SIX
t takes years of research and development for multinational tech companies to come out with
The six biggest names in personal technology are all cooking up plans to change the world as we know it. Weve scrounged through masses of information, piles of technical documents, and sifted through the most improbable rumors oating around to bring you our take on the most important things to watch out for. Youll get an idea of whats coming up, what you can buy, what you should wait for, and how your life will be affected.
Whats more, weve brought in a number of experts from Indian and multinational companies to weigh in on the matter and explain what their companies are looking forward to in 2010. The diverse range of opinions and experiences is truly enlightening. Our feature ends with a look at the hardware you can buy right now which will keep your PC in good stead for at least six years. Welcome to your own guide to the future of technology!
the products that dazzle us every so often, but the cycle is so regular that we hardly ever consider what goes into making them. Thats why we can say the future is already written, and we can tell you that the amount of incredible technology coming out in the year 2010 is going to make it unlike any other in recent memory.
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COVER STORY
THE BIG SIX
INTEL
W
CPUs
2010 will see the consolidation of Core i5 and i7 CPUs as older Core 2s are slowly phased out. But the lineup isnt yet complete; early 2010 will see the Core i3 and i9 series launch to take over the low and extreme high end segments respectively. Core i3 CPUs will most likely come in more than one variant, and will for the rst time feature a GPU core on the same die as the CPU. This unique offering will probably result in quite a bit of cost high-performance machines, and those intended for thin-and-light designs. Core i-series mobile CPUs will include quad-core, eight-threaded chips as well as ultra-low voltage ones. Cores will adjust their speed and power consumption on the y depending on the workloads they face. Solid-state storage will be more visible, especially for ultralight laptops. Beyond the CPU, features for data protection, remote administration and even alerts in case of theft will show up more and more in consumer-targeted models. New-generation server chips are already in the pipes. The Nehalem-EX (expandable) and Westmere-EP (efficient performance) architectures carry Core i-series designs into the server space with potential for multi-CPU congurations which would scale to immense processing capabilities. EX chips with 8 cores and HyperThreading each could be combined in 8-way systems with a staggering
Nehalem EX will be highly scalable. Multiple CPUs can interface with each other for massive amounts of processing power. The newest Core i-series CPUs can increase clock speeds on demand depending on how many cores are under pressure.
hat a ride its been for Intel this year. The company has largely gone from strength to strength, with virtually no
competition at the high end of the desktop market at all. The Core 2 series wont disappear overnight, but Core i-series CPUs are undoubtedly the way for enthusiasts to go right now.
128 simultaneous threads running. In the latter half of 2010, Intels traditional tick-tock schedule calls for Sandy Bridge, the next architecture on the current manufacturing process, to be ready. Unconrmed reports however state that this will be delayed in order to let Nehalem CPUs have a longer shelf life. Sandy Bridge designs should have 4-8 cores with the option of graphics cores in addition, and include the same Turbo Boost functions as todays Core i5 and i7 CPUs. Atom CPUs evolve with the Pine Trail generation, which will replace the current set commonly found in netbooks and smaller, cheaper PCs. A huge number of products will be launched in January, timed with the world-famous Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. These will also combine the CPU, graphics and memory controller onto a single die, and should therefore nd homes in even smaller devices with longer battery lives.
savings for customers, and paves the way for Intels CPU-GPU hybrids in the future. Core i9, or Gulftown, will have six cores (12 threads thanks to HyperThreading) and will take the over ultimate performance slot in Intels lineup. Performance will come at the cost of heat and power consumption though. Motherboards for these CPUs will begin to sport USB 3.0 and SATA 3 interfaces for speedy peripherals. The other interesting news for desktop CPUs is that Intels next-gen 32nm process is ready and waiting. 32nm chips are expected quite early in 2010. As with any process shrink, this leaves Intel with more headroom for higher speeds, lower power consumption, and better production efficiency. On the laptop front, well see a bit of stratication between mobile CPUs intended for
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COVER STORY
THE BIG SIX
Larrabee
One of Intels most inscrutable yet fascinating projects so far has been Larrabee. This project aims to create a hybrid CPU-GPU processor, but approaches the concept from the opposite end that AMD and Nvidia have. Larrabee is a fully programmable processor that uses concepts originated from CPU architecture but optimized for video as well as other massively parallel operations. Larrabee differs from traditional GPUs in that it has no xed units for performing specic tasks, but rather be entirely exible so that suitably programmed games and applications can allocate resources based on what they need. It will be difficult to compare this approach to traditional graphics cards until working samples are available for review, but Larrabee has been demonstrated in public and it is denitely a working piece of hardware. Larrabee will rst be available as a standalone graphics card, and later nd its way into more integrated platforms, eventually ending up as a part of the CPU (or future hybrid chip). This is roughly the same direction that both AMD and Nvidia are also heading in, and while no complete shift to this new approach will happen in just one year, it will be interesting to see how all three companies stack up against each other by the end of 2010. with a new one based on optical cables. It could theoretically be used to connect any type of device, be they internal storage devices or external peripherals which currently use USB or FireWire. It would not only reduce the variety of ports and standards we have today, but also increase speeds, simplify connections, and provide lots of spare bandwidth for future devices. It would not replace USB or FireWire as protocols, but simply carry their signals via a new medium. Exact wire and plug specications are yet to come out, but they could be much smaller and thinner than todays USB cables. Light Peak is already being viewed with interest by many in the industry.
Several Westemere-generation CPUs will come with CPU and GPU dies on the same package. This replaces the model of graphics integrated in the chipset.
Light Peak
One of Intels less known projects is called Light Peak. This is an optical communications standard that hopes to replace a computers usual assortment of peripheral interconnect standards
Westemere moves the memory controller and integrated graphics into the CPU package, resulting in one fewer chip on the motherboard. Costs will go down and PC sizes will become smaller.
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AMD
antitrust allegations. The major chunk of this settlement involves Intel paying out a whopping US$ 1.25 billion while they also stop engaging in anticompetitive practices such as giving cash incentives to PC makers for holding back or delaying AMD-based products. AMD now has a lot less work to do convincing PC makers to use its chips, and wont be at such a disadvantage in the marketplace. PC makers also are more free to develop products with AMD chips.
MDs biggest piece of news of late is that it has nally settled a long-standing legal dispute with Intel regarding
strategy for blending the power of discrete CPUs and GPUs through unied platforms. Now, Fusion will come about through APUs, or Accelerated Processing Units. AMD explains that these are super-specialized CPU cores derived from traditional GPUs, which will sit on the same processor die. These could be used to render graphics for a computer, or to accelerate parallel processing much like graphics cards have been offloading for a while now. Fusion CPUs will still be able to connect to external discrete graphics cards, which will let the APUs concentrate on general processing, say for physics or media encoding. Fusion will be AMDs big strategy, changing the entire topology of a current-day PC. It will be the year 2011 before AMD will make its big splash with Bobcat and Bulldozer, the rst two Fusion core types which will go into CPU products aimed at ultraportables and enthusiast desktops/ servers respectively. A lot of software will have to be written from scratch to best balance loads between the two types of processing resources. In the meanwhile, 2010 will see a whole raft of new launches. AMD is committed to a yearly cadence of major product refreshes with equal emphasis on CPUs and GPUs.
Desktops
AMD has chalked out plans for the Leo platform, an
On the server side, users will have up to 12 cores per CPU in 2010. Multiple CPUs can be used together for those who need intense processing power.
enthusiast-driven offering of six-core CPUs, Radeon HD5xxx graphics, and all-new RD890 chipsets. The thrust will be on DirectX 11. Going mainstream will be the Dorado platform with 800-series chipsets and upto quad-core Athlon II processors. These will have to go head on with Intels 32nm Core i-series offerings, so how they are priced will be interesting. 2011 will also mark the launch of AMDs upcoming Bulldozer and is brought out in the form of the Zambezi CPU. The bulldozer is set to run a total of four to eight cores and will be compatible with the existing AM3 socket. Sadly the Zambezi CPU will not come etched with a GPU core but will only
This comes at a good time for the company, which has been struggling to put up competition to Intels latest Core i-series processors. AMD has had to be content at the lower end of the market, where it has ercely cut prices and has been fairly successful too. And AMD seems to be enjoying the moment indeed. Not even a week after their antitrust settlement, AMD revealed an invigorated new roadmap, along with the concrete plans for the future of its Fusion initiative, including the milestone Bobcat and Bulldozer CPU products.
Fusion
Initially the codename for CPU/GPU hybrid chips, Fusion has come to stand for AMDs
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implement the Bulldozer architecture. When exactly will the Bulldozer make use of the on-die GPU is anybodys question?
Laptops and Servers

Next year will feature two new platforms, Danube for mainstream laptops and Nile for ultrathin models. Both will have DX 10.1-capable graphics onboard, with the option of adding discrete DX 11 cards. Again, these will be built on the existing 45nm architecture. Nile products should offer around 7 hours of battery life. Going forward into 2011, new platforms will include APUs as well. Power consumption will drop to around 8 Watts under load and 1 Watt at idle. On the server side, things are looking rather positive for AMD. Coming out in the rst half of 2010 will be the Maranello platform which will include 8- and 12-core processors with four channels of DDR3 memory. Magny-Cours server CPUs will aim for raw power and performance, while San Marino CPUs will be more power efficient and cost effective and will be aimed at small businesses and server farms for cloud computing operations.
Platformization continues, which takes advantage of AMD's CPU and GPU divisions. Some interesting product refreshes will be seen in 2010.
making waves for being the rst DX 11 cards out, long before Nvidias will be ready. AMD has built another unique feature inEyenity, its name for cohesive multi-monitor setups. Most cards will support at least three displays, while the top end of the line will drive up to six independent monitors. These should drive some incredible resolutions for immersive gaming as well as scientic visualization and general entertainment and productivity. AMD will spend much of 2010 rening its Fusion APU products and preparing developers to use them, while marketing its existing technology. They might not get the upper hand over Intel in terms of raw performance, but as more information comes out and we see actual performance details AMD will start attracting loads of enthusiasts and industry watchers.
ATI Eyefinity
ATI is working in perfect harmony as a part of AMD. Its last few generations of products have been quite strong, taking the top performance spots in many situations in contrast to the Phenom CPUs. The current Radeon HD5000 series GPUs are
AMD will offer products tailored to thin-and-light portables, with its first APU-endowed parts coming out only in 2011.
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NVIDIA
N
vidias fortunes have been up and down this year. It hasnt had anything really fresh to offer consumer graphics enthusiasts higher graphics performance and more shader capabilities (Ion has 16 shaders while the Ion 2 is expected to have more than 32). Graphics power should be comparable to the 9400GT GPU, which is still impressive for an integrated solution. apart from tweaked versions of older products, but its had a good run with its non-graphics areas of focus. In particular, the CUDA architecture for accelerating tasks on a GPU has received a lot of attention, and extra touches like 3D vision give it a unique advantage over the competitionin fact it has needed to push these things to make up for a lack of excitement where general graphics are concerned.
Graphics cards
Nvidia has lost some of its ability to defend the graphics performance crown. The GeForce family has seen many changes through the years but has stagnated a little of late. A dramatic overhaul is expected in the rst quarter of 2010, with the GTX 3xx series. Currently codenamed Fermi, the entire architecture is new, unlike recent refreshes. Lower power consumption and improved clock speeds take full advantage of the 256-bit GDDR5 memory with higher clock speeds and will be more powerful than the present cards. Nvidias workstation card series, Tesla, has just been updated with the Tesla 20 cards based on this architecture. Fermi is a huge and complex design, which can be carved and reduced for lower-end chips such as entry-level desktop parts. The Tesla version includes the full set of features for higherlevel technical and enterprise computing such as double-precision oating point operations and errorcorrection in the memory. The Tesla series will nd its way into high-performance computing systems such as workstations, super computers and largescale clusters. The Fermi architecture works natively with C++ programming, allowing massive amounts of processing to happen on the GPU. This will trickle down to your desktop computer in 2010 too. CUDA support will be found in more and more applications, including video editing, encoding, game physics, le encryption, compression, etc. Nvidia will use these to spur demand for its own products. Fermi-based GPUs will be based on the 40 nm process and could theoretically top out at three billion transistors, over 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, 512 CUDA cores, and 1 MB of L2 cache. For certain types of applications, splitting tasks into a massively parallel operation across these cores will offer amazing performance increases. Nvidia is also focusing on setting up institutes to train software developers for programming future games and applications to utilize the power of the GPU via CUDA. 3D Vision enables a stereoscopic 3D experience
Chipsets
Nvidias chipset business is also set to take a huge hit, now that it no longer supports competitor AMDs CPUs and Intel is holding out on a license for its Core i-series chips. The only avenue left is for Atom and older Core 2 CPUs, which Nvidia will serve with its second-generation Ion offering. The key highlight of Ion has been its superior graphics, which improve HD video support for home entertainment usage. Power efficiency is also a concern: Ion-based PCs can be smaller in size and support DirectX 10 graphics with full 1080p HD video along with 7.1-channel audio. Expect notebooks and small form-factor desktop PCs in 2010 to be a lot more capable and even eco friendly, thanks to smaller designs, less packaging, and better power efficiency. Ion 2 is poised to support the last generation of Core 2 CPUs, the ultra-low voltage ones currently nding favor in netbooks and slim laptops. Ionbased nettops are currently quite expensive; and Nvidia has a pending court date with Intel over alleged anticompetitive pricing which favors those who buy Atom CPUs and Intel chipsets as a package. Considering Intel and AMDs recent settlement, Nvidia could walk away from that ght with quite a few advantages. Even so, Ion will spread further in 2010, nding itself in netbooks, notebooks, and all types of desktops from almost all major manufacturers. Ion 2 is expected to be based on the 40 nm manufacturing process, which allows more processing power in smaller space with less power consumption. It will undoubtedly have
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3D Vision will also come to laptops, which will have the required panels integrated. LG is planning to fully support NVIDIA 3D Vision technology with their next generation of 120Hz notebook panels.
Portable Devices
Nvidia will also heavily push Tegra, its family of general-purpose processors which enable small on your computer. It uses high-tech pair of wireless glasses and software called 3D Vision to transform regular PC games, photos and movies into full stereoscopic 3D. It is available in two forms3D Vision (LCD based electronic glasses) and 3D Vision Discover (red/cyan cardboard glasses). The former works only with 3D Vision ready LCD monitors, the latter can work on all CRT and LCD monitors. 3D Vision Discover glasses will be bundled with Nvidia graphics cards so users can try it out, while 3D Vision is sold as a complete kit for a full HD experience. Youll need a compatible LCD monitor, and these will also become more common in 2010. Games currently compatible with 3D Vision are Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Resident Evil 5, while the others such as Age of Empires, Call of Duty, F.E.A.R and others are enhanced to create a virtual 3D effect using 3D vision software. handhelds to have enhanced graphics while reducing the strain on the battery. Handheld devices such as smartphones, media players, GPS units and mobile internet tablets using the Tegra platform will have enhanced graphics ranging from 720p to 1080p full HD, and advanced multimedia features while delivering longer battery life. Microsofts Zune HD is one of the rst handhelds to use a Tegra chip. HTC will also use the Nvidia Tegra 650 chipset on an upcoming Android phone. The Tegra 600 series has key features to provide full 1080p HD video playback and over 100 hours of audio or 10 hours of HD video playback. The Tegra APX series are application processors which enable visual computing in small handheld devices.
A letter from Jen-Hsun Huang, Co-founder, President and CEO, Nvidia to CHIP
There are three key trends were really excited about for the year ahead. The first is stereoscopic 3D. When you think about it, 3D Vision is a no-brainerup to now, weve put all this technology into making games 3D then projected them back into 2D for the player! It just doesnt make sense, so weve fixed it. NVIDIA brought 3D Vision technology to the Indian market this year and the reception has been fantastic the level of immersion and engagement it brings to gaming has made it a must-have for enthusiasts. In the future any PC sold for gaming enthusia will com packing stereoscopic 3D as standard. come second hot tip is cloud computing. Thanks Our se processing power of the graphics to the pro processing processin unit (GPU), we now have the capability to render scenes in stunning photorealistic rend quality on remote servers and stream them qua to any device, from a desktop PC to a smartphone. Making the compute sm capabilities of the GPU, in the form of ca NVIDIA Tesla, available in this way means N end users dont need high-end hardware in every workstation - unprecedented graphics quality can be accessible on even low-power handheld devices. In the near future this is going to be truly game-changing for professional graphics users like architects, car designers and movie makers. Looking further ahead, it also has some really interesting possibilities for gamers too! And finally 2010 is going to be the year youll be truly amazed by new mobile technology. In 2009, the world has had a glimpse of what NVIDIA Tegra can do, in the form of Microsofts Zune HD and Samsungs YP-M1. Imagine what you could do with full Flash-enabled internet, perfect HD video and breathtaking 3D gaming in a totally mobile device with a battery life of not just hours but days. Well, get ready thats exactly what Tegra will be delivering for 2010! This year has seen NVIDIA exploring new ways we can use our GPUs to bring more delightful experiences to the world, whether youre a gamer, a home video enthusiast, a graphics professional or a scientist. We cater for many different groups but were still laserfocused on one thing: visual computing. Thats what allows us to create the most fabulous, innovative technology and why 2010 promises to be our most mind-blowing year yet. We cant wait to share it with you!
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MICROSOFT
the majority of the world today uses. Windows is key to keeping customers within the Microsoft fold although it has often been slow to adapt to trends like decentralized storage and the Internet itself.
hen speaking of software giant Microsoft, the rst that comes to mind is the Windows operating system. This is what
Windows
Windows 7 is already out, but will be heavily promoted in 2010. Whether because of good engineering or good PR, general impressions have been favorable. The software base has been readily accepted; next year will see interest in hardware that takes advantage of multitouch, environment sensors, quick booting, and better battery life. Internet Explorer 9 will debut with an emphasis on page rendering speed especially for intensive Web applications. The Windows Live suite will also see refreshes to keep things from stagnating. Security will be a prime concern, and Microsoft will be measured by how quickly it can respond to any major vulnerabilities that might pop up. capacity which would otherwise go unused. Silverlight is growing up rapidly, and 2010 will see it going down the road that Google has started to pave. Essentially giving Web apps a framework to run that isnt limited by a browsers capabilities, Silverlight 4 will introduce HD 1080p video, improved access to system resources including input/output and processing capabilities. Courier is Microsofts series of tablet concepts which might or might not see the light of day. This is essentially a netbook with screens on both inner surfaces, capable of mimicking a book. Software based on OneNote will let users scribble notes, copy sketches, and organize information. Project Natal will provide gamers on the Xbox 360 a new way to control and interact with their consoles. A new generation Xbox isnt expected in 2010, so Natal will give gamers plenty to freshen up what they already have. More and more prototype games that use its motion-sensing and natural movement capabilities will be shown off, though actual availability might only be very late in the year. Bing has already picked up a decent amount of market share and is adding features like integrating results from Wolfram Alpha, and new ways to visualize page content. Searching through social media and real-time updates will play a big part in setting Bings results apart from its competition's. Travel, maps, shopping, local businesses, video, and user-generated content and improved display of results on screen will also play bigger roles. Bing is also working towards changing search so that users get the information they want on its own pages rather than links to other sites which have the information.
Office 2010's new Backstage View replaces the File menu and makes document handling more intuitive.
Office
Consumers and businesses can look forward to Microsoft Office 2010, which will enhance the user experience with intuitive navigation, visual effects, improved copy-paste options, advanced OpenType typography, in-line photo editing, illustrations, unsaved document recovery, and more. The Ribbon interface is cleaner and more customizable, and the all-new Backstage View function puts a lot more control over features such as printing and distribution at users ngertips. Office Web Apps will offer users an online platform for sharing and editing, which could keep them from trying out Google Docs. Expect to see mobile versions too; an app for Windows Mobile phones, and a browser-based version for others. Most interestingly, there will be a Starter Edition with heavily limited versions of Word and Excel with on-screen ads. This will kill off the venerable Microsoft Works. The programs will only be able to view les and make basic edits. Even features like Track Changes and graphics will be stripped out.
Other products
Microsofts Azure platform for hosted services will offer server resources which would traditionally be out of reach for small businesses and allow exibility to those who occasionally need spikes of
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GOOGLE
W
hile Googles search engine business has continued to grow at a phenomenal native applications such as professional video editingthose will always run better on proper desktop or laptop computers. With Chrome OS, Google focuses on simplicity, speed and security. Also, since the company really wants to push the web, their focus is on HTML 5 and other current and upcoming Web technologies, whether or not they are mass accepted standards yet. Collectively, these will let applications work primarily from the cloud as effectively as they would work natively, which will make Chrome OS more attractive for users. As for speed, operating systems usually search for peripherals and run numerous background processes especially whilst booting, and Chrome OS will ditch cuts many of these to present users with a browser nearly instantly. The OS essentially is a browser, albeit one which can run much more powerful Web apps and give them access to far greater processing resources than a regular PC would. The browser sandboxes each app in its own tab, locking it down to avoid a domino effect in case anything crashes or tries to break through security. The booting procedure involves something called veried boot, where the OS auto-updates itself with security patches. Since everything is in the cloud, several security issues such as virus infections could largely be bypassed. And with all data safe and retrievable in the cloud, it should all be safe and synchronizable to a new device if you lose or damage yours. Chrome OS devices should appear in several shapes and sizes, probably sitting below netbooks in terms of size and price. Chrome OS might also eventually merge with or be available as a part of
Google Wave will open up to more users and gain in popularity as a unique take on real-time information sharing between contacts.
pace, the company is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the biggest digital advertising players around, and is diversifying into mobile and in-game placement ads. Its also building and improving an arsenal of tools to let people move their digital lives online, from email to calendars and from documents to phone calls. Googles escalation doesnt look like it will level off anytime soon, especially after looking at the rate at which it acquires companies and diversies into new areas. Now, partly to consolidate them all and partly to establish its products with end users as well as hardware makers and programmers, Google is working on one of its most ambitious projects to dateChrome OS.
Android for some classes of devices.
Other ventures Chrome OS

Google has only just shared details and images of what it hopes to achieve. What we nally know is that Chrome OS is not immediately meant to displace Windows or other desktop operating systems. While its full capabilities might not be known yet, Google says Chrome OS will power peoples secondary computing devices and will mainly enable and enrich a computing-on-the-go experience rather than working with high-end First it was search, then advertising, followed by a mobile operating system, a browser for desktops PCs and then Chrome OS. Amidst all of this, the advertising spree never seems to have slowed down. In fact, its hard not to wonder whether all these tools and services were developed purely to grow the advertising base, for instance by introducing new platforms and services for them to be displayed. The search engine giant has been capitalizing its
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search business for a while, and adding to the list is a unique mobile Voice Search application for Nokia handsets. The application uses speech recognition technology to comprehend Indian accents and is free to use. Another venture related to the search business is the launch of a commerce search engine intended for shopping portals. Typical of Google, where oneif not mostof its services directly or indirectly relates to another, this commerce search will most likely attract users to use Google Checkout service. Google also announced its plans of launching an ebook store in rst half of 2010. It will be called Google Editions and will have over 400,000 books to begin with. The books will be downloadable onto netbooks, laptops, smartphones and basically anything that has access to the Internet. If rumors are to be believed, Google is also researching a phone of its own, above and beyond its Android software platform. The phone, which might hit the markets sometime in 2010, will be unique in that it will use only a cellular data connection to make VoIP calls instead of regular cellular voice calls. This would undoubtedly trigger off a huge shift in business models for cellphone carriers, several of which currently block VoIP altogether fearing revenue losses. Google has recently acquired Gizmo5, a VoIP provider specializing in mobile phone and PC communications. Google will also renew its efforts in social networking, either with Orkut (one of its few failing products) or something built onto Google Wave and/or other services. Then theres the free service Google Sites, which has escalated a level with the launch of templates. Here, users have more customizing options to enhance the functionality and look of their website. Human interaction is also a focus area, with new ways of visualizing search results and more specialized searches for particular target markets. Google wants to give people powerful tools to get onto the Internet with, and to point them in the right direction when searching for anything under the sun.
Google's Image Swirl is an experimental feature that uses similar visuals to help users browse through image search results. Expect more innovations around data presentation in 2010. We finally have a real idea of what Chrome OS will look like. The entire OS is a browser window, although a lot more power lies behind it.
Google has also made ambitious announcements such the launch of their new programming language called Go, which aims to be faster, simpler and more fun to use than current environments that Web developers have at their disposal. Another project brewing in Googles labs involves the development of a new protocol called SPDY. If the project is successful, it will make Internet browsing twice as fast as the current HTTP protocol. Clearly, Google has its ngers in many pies. It will continue to upset slow-moving processes and deliver new products and upgrades at a rapid pace, but will also need to carefully manage and unify things with a strong central identity and purpose.
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APPLE
A
pple is the most difficult company to write about, because its policy has always been to keep upcoming products secret. Apple substandard. Yet, users want something portable, and Apple must ll the void. does not discuss any plans, partners, component sources, or choices of technology adoption. Even its ad agencies are sworn to secrecy, which further drives up curiosity and thus create sensational buzz. Any remotely plausible leak is thoroughly scrutinized in message boards, and entire websites exist dedicated to ferreting secrets out of the companys tight control. Without any rsthand information this is all mostly speculation, although we do have a few leads. Leaks from Chinese contractors and suppliers have become increasingly trustworthy, and there are plenty of these to believe. Apple consumes a massive proportion of the worlds Flash memory supplies, for instance, so any change in its demand will surely be noticed. And most recently, accessory makers usually reveal the physical size and shape of unlaunched devices along with interesting details such as holes for cameras.
Other directions
All products will go through their yearly refreshes, with Intels latest Core i5 and i7 CPUs making their way through the lineup. Laptops will get thinner, might take on slight design changes and probably see battery life improvements, but theres no telling if something dramatically new will come up. Likewise, Mac Pro desktops need upgrading, but the iMac line is already set till late 2010. The iPhone should be refreshed to take advantage of newer data standards and better speeds. A major software update will be due (multitasking please?), but the main story will be in distribution where the exclusive grips that carriers have in markets around the world will expire. iPods will gain new functionality and more storage spacethe Classic might nally be put to rest if a larger capacity Touch comes out. Space remains for Apple to offer more for home media enthusiasts. More capable hardware for Apple TV or new hardware to connect TVs to the iTunes store would be welcome. Apple has long shied away from Blu-ray, even calling the licensing conditions a big bag of hurt. However its high-end products now feel quite lacking without it, so Blu-ray support might need to happen this year.
Patent Office filings often give secrets away when information is scarce.
The long-awaited tablet

Nothing can really be conrmed, but in 2010, Apple is widely expected to introduce a tablet device. What we know about this tablet apart from the fact that it inspires worldwide excitement, is that it will use a powerful processor and graphics subsystem, come with a more capable OS than the iPhone runs, most likely have a 10.6-inch multitouch screen, and have wireless Internet access through Wi-Fi and cellular 3G. Pricing should start at US$ 800, though carriers might offer it cheaper with a bundled contract. The device will browse the Web, send and receive email, play movies music and games, and show digital books and magazines on screen. If it doesnt run the full-blown desktop version of OS X, an App Store equivalent will emerge. Media houses will jump on board to offer digital content including magazines, newspapers and comic books, and hosted Web apps will have a new playground to take advantage of. Of course in this case a rabid community will also spring up dedicated to breaking the devices locks and restrictions! Apple needs this product out because it doesnt have any portable between the iPhone and its cheapest MacBook. Though this space didnt even exist a few years ago, it is now crowded with netbooks: Apple remains the only company which doesn't offer a netbook, considering the devices
Apple users often create elaborate mockups of products they want Apple to launch for them. This imaginary tablet was painstakingly designed by a fan.
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INDUSTRY VOICES
COVER STORY
INDUSTRY VOICES
CHIP handed over some of its pages to some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. Here's what they had to say about their hopes, plans and expectations for 2010.
BY TEAM CHIP
Reputation vs Cybercriminals in 2010 SYMANTEC (Security)
moneymaker. Todays online thieves will stop at nothing to steal anything youve got: your money, your identity, even your good name. We cannot ignore the fact that cybercriminals are now destroying lives rather than computersand they are likely to step up their efforts in the year ahead. Key security trends that Symantec expects for 2010 are:
yber crime has surpassed illegal drug trafficking as the worlds number one criminal
of the le is updated. This is critical when a le is new, likely to be a threat, and traditional defenses are not likely to detect it.
Social Engineering will become the Primary Attack Vector

Cyber criminals are increasingly going directly after end users to trick them into downloading malware or divulging sensitive information. Social engineerings popularity is in part spurred by the fact that the operating system and Web browser on a users computer are irrelevant, as it is the actual user being targeted, not necessarily vulnerabilities on the machine. Symantec estimates that the number of attempted attacks using social engineering techniques is sure to increase in 2010. Instant Messaging Spam IM threats will largely be comprised of unsolicited spam messages containing malicious links, especially attacks aimed at compromising legitimate IM accounts. By the end of 2010, Symantec predicts that one in 300 IM messages will contain a URL. Also, in 2010, Symantec predicts that overall, one in 12 hyperlinks will be linked to a domain known for hosting malware. Thus, one in 12 hyperlinks appearing in IM messages will contain a domain that has been considered suspicious or malicious. In mid 2009, that level was 1 in 78.
Gaurav Kanwal
Country Sales Manager, India, Consumer Products and Solutions, Symantec
Antivirus is Not Enough

With the rise of polymorphic threats and the explosion of unique malware variants in 2009, the industry is realizing that traditional approaches to antivirus, both le signatures and heuristic/ behavioral capabilities, are obsolete. Symantec security researchers see more than 200 million attacks every month, most which are never-seenbefore threats delivered via the web. At least 10.7 million of them are unique. To combat cyber crime, users must arm themselves with a new weapon: reputation-based technology. The reputation-based security model featured in Norton 2010 detects malware beyond traditional signature and behaviour-based detection. It tracks le application attributes through tens of millions of users in the worldwide Norton Community Watch. As a le is distributed across the Internet and these attributes change, the reputation
Rogue Security Software Vendors Escalate Their Efforts

In 2010, we expect to see the propagators of rogue security software scams step up their efforts, even by hijacking users computers, rendering them useless and holding them for ransom. Symantec has already observed some rogue vendors selling rebranded copies of free antivirus software as their own. Users are technically getting the antivirus software that they pay for, but the same can be downloaded for free elsewhere. As the threat landscape looks set to become more treacherous for consumers, Symantec believes that reputation-based technology is the greatest weapon against cyber criminals in 2010. The new security model lends unparalleled strength to traditional solutions in empowering consumers to deny digital dangers and allow a safe online experience.
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COVER STORY
XXXX X XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXX
Internet Any-Ware
CA (IT Management)
with MiFi, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity built in. These devices feature a smaller capacity hard drive and lack a fast processor. They also lack a high price tag thus making them affordable to a larger consumer base. Device affordability and exibility, increased Internet access and cheaper bandwidth are giving rise to expanded service and content demands over the Internet. This is the evident by the meteoric growth of application and content delivered via the Internet and the emergence of cloud computing. Delivering portability to the market means that users will no longer need a big laptop with a fast processor packed with memory and bristling with built in drives and other I/O devices. With cloud computing, intensive processing occurs on the backend with a service provider. For example, applications like Computer-Assisted Design (CAD) can crunch numbers with results served back to the client over the Internet and data stored into the cloud. With Internet anywhere, user demand for data sharing between devices and applications and content accessibility will impel innovators to pressure the market to relax arbitrary and articial impediments to technology accessibility. The growing strength of open standards is testament to this pressure. This will speed diversication of services, further building demand. New business models will emerge to serve the demands for a prot. Instead of purchasing an application or an upgrade, users will subscribe, pay per use or pay by the amount of storage consumed. That is the beauty of technology capitalism. It is a Darwinian economic system. The near future brims the possibility of ubiquitous computing through multi-functional mobile devices, accessing a rich array of data and services in an ethereal, virtual environment. The development of technology far outpaces our ability to conceive how it might be applied. pplications drive adoption and content drives usage. These fundamental principles of the
acceptance of technology will accelerate connectivity, ubiquity, and hardware convergence. Public Wi-Fi, MiFi, 3G data networks, and in-ight airline connectivity are already making Internet anywhere a reality. This means on-demand video, audio and textual entertainment, GPSbased services, email, IM, tweeting and other forms of networking (professional and social) have potential 24-hour access and location independence. When content and services are available, people want access to them. And people who use portable content do not want to use multiple devices for access. So where cameras, e-readers, MP3 players, data-enabled devices, laptops and telephones used to exist independently, we will see convergence into multi-functional, digitally connected devices that can extend their capabilities by docking into other devices or environments when not in portability mode. The docking entity may be a PC, a TV, or any device with a USB port. The trend will be towards smaller, less powerful, cheaper netbooks and increasingly powerful smart phones, all
William Bauman
Senior Vice President & General Manager, CA
Opportunities and Challenges for Digital Entertainment HUNGAMA DIGITAL MEDIA (Digital Entertainment)
he growing focus on digitainment will be at the centre of innovations in 2010. Indian
ease of navigation and unrestricted reach to anything that you wish to know. And then there is the king: the content! Until now, we have seen good entertainment being corrupted by the piracy bug. However, the uptake of digital media will be instrumental in eradicating piracy and creating content which is rich in both variety and quality. Therefore, at Hungama we see convergence of Internet, Mobile and Great Quality Entertainment as a
quantum leap that will mark the era of unlimited entertainment on the go. This vision is being supported by the launch of Hungama.com, Indias premiere destination for the digital entertainment through its vast library of over 2,00,000 pieces of content, accessible to you from your PC and mobile.
consumers are increasingly becoming digi-savvy. They are unleashing the potential of digital platforms on a plethora of devices. Amongst these devices, the mobile phone is topping the popularity charts. It has moved beyond voice and SMS functionality and emerged as the gadget which practically rules our lives. It allows accessibility,
Siddhartha Roy
COO, Hungama Digital Media
12/2009
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COVER STORY
Security Trends for 2010

E-SCAN (Security)
space. Attack vectors are fast evolving and new avenues are being explored to spread infections and steal identities and data. We are witnessing the start of targeted attacks due to large scale usage adoption of web 2.0 and social networking. Earlier, attacks homed in on vulnerabilities in software, but now we are seeing increased usage of command injections, database injections and cross-site scripting attacks that take advantage of websites with inherent security aws. We also predict an increase in the attacks on Mac OS and iPhones due to the increase in their user base. Another trend we are witnessing is drive-by download attacks on users with an unsecured Wi-Fi, especially through public hotspots. Another major area where the
n addition to the old challenges, there will be new challenges that we can expect in the Information Threat
number of threats will increase is through web applications like Skype, Google Docs and social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc. These new technologies are prone to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cyber criminals, be it to steal passwords and identities or to add computers to a botnet. They are largely successful as they hack into the databases and steal the logins of the users. These can be used to spam and Phish unsuspecting friends of the users. Highly advanced rogue security software masquerading as security solution will also be a major issue. Organizations will be restructuring their IT spends and revisiting their security budgets. The slowdown has forced businesses to rethink virtualization and they are exploring the benets of cloud computing as a solution that can help them have a lean IT infrastructure and reduce cost. So cloud computing will be a key aspect that will drive IT security
spending too. To address this growing need eScan will be launching the eScan Cloud Service very soon. The number of malware detections has more than doubled, making the malware signature database huge. To offset this, the eScan Cloud Service will reduce the system footprint by hosting the database in the cloud thereby not affecting system performance. Also the endpoints of networks have widened and now include portable computing and storage devices like iPhones, Blackberrys, netbooks, etc. This has increased the risk of data leakage and many companies have started to understand the importance of having Data Leak Prevention solutions. Regulations will be another factor that will drive the spending on IT security. Regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will play a major inuence on corporate, making them relook at their existing systems and strengthen data security.
New Products and Better Service ASUS (Hardware)
channel network for our component and system business and introducing various innovative products in the market. Focus will be on the customer and providing innovative products to satisfy his needs. Weve recently launched our Garmin Asus series nuviphonesphones for the location based lifestyleand will work to enhance brand awareness about the same. We may also launch some variants of the revolutionary Eee PC netbook in a convertible tablet form and with multi-touch. In our component
SUS has many plans for 2010 for the Indian market. We will be looking at strengthening our
products segment, we will try to replicate the success of our P5KPL-AM/ PS motherboard, which was the rst motherboard especially designed for the Indian market with the unique Anti-Surge technology. We will be introducing more such products that are conceived and developed for this market to provide customized solutions to users. We will also undertake various initiatives to revive and strengthen our Wireless and LCD business. 2010 surely seems to be a promising year with a number of new technologies emerging in the technology sphere and we will try to harness these technologies to provide the end benet to our customers. Overall, we will look at expanding our channel base, strengthening our service network and increasing our market share across segments.
Albert Tung
Managing Director ASUS (India)
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INDUSTRY VOICES
COVER STORY
Touchscreen PCs: Set to Capture Imaginations

RASHI PERIPHERALS PVT. LTD. Distribution)
he year 2010 will belong to touchscreen technology, whether in mobile phones, LCD
Microsofts newly launched Windows 7 operating system which supports touchscreen technology will further add to the usability of this technology in the PC segment. They will gain more ground in rural environments as the touch interface being the most natural and intuitive interface will require very basic training to use unlike any other input devices and will add to an increase in PC usage in the rural segment. It will also be widely accepted as an educational tool in classrooms and the educational sector will generate a good demand for the technology simply for its ease of use for multimedia functions and other learning programmes and methodologies. The prices of touchscreen products will drop. There will also be increased functionality in these products and their market share will grow over time. Consumers worldwide can look forward to many innovations in the future as touch-enabled surfaces are popping up everywhereincluding laptops, cell phones, remote controls, GPS devices and now all-in-one desktops. Currently, the Asus Eee Top PC is available in the Indian market, and is gradually showing an upward trend in terms of acceptability by the consumer. The ideal plan would be to focus on enhancing demand for touchscreen technology by conducting informative sessions for channel partners to better equip them to promote the technology. With more touch-enabled desktops and laptops expected next year, the evolution from the 30-year-old mouse and keyboard has begun in earnest. On desktops, this shift is building steam in all-in-one PCs. With touchscreen technology becoming more popular, a lot of vendors have already begun to announce new products based on it. The vendors are all gung ho about touchscreen-based laptops and desktop PCs, so get ready. Wish you a Happy New Tech Year!
monitors, or all-in-one desktop PCs. 2009 saw the revolutionary iPhone and other touchscreen phones take center stage, and 2010 will be the year for touchscreen-enabled all-in-one PCs. Touchscreen technology has existed for years but it was initially the tool for single users and small monitor based applications. The hospitality industry has been using touchscreens for quite some time now. Today they have gained popularity because consumer electronics like mobile phones, cameras, projectors, DVD players, music systems etc have started making them accessible to the common man. We foresee the technology to evolve and integrate itself completely into IT. Growth drivers like tech savvy users, lifestyle buyers, people looking for a high tech home computing system and rst-time users, both students and the elderly, will nd the human touch interface easier to use than the traditional keyboard and mouse. Rapidly falling touch panel prices will trigger demand for all-in-one touchscreen PCs.
R Rajesh Goenka Rajesh Goenka h k

VP, Sales & Marketing, Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd.
GPS Technology to Make Lives Simpler

SATNAV TECHNOLOGIES (GPS navigation)
SatNav is looking forward to 2010. The team aims to make GPS technology based devices and services accessible to every individual at a nominal cost. Their prime focus is to increase the awareness about GPS technology and services amongst the masses. India enjoys one of the biggest chunks of mobile users across the globe. SatNav
fter a successful year of launching many new products across the country, the team at
already offers a range of products and services catering to the mobile users community and in the coming year, this space will see a lot of innovation. Of the BRIC nations, India is amongst the fastest growing nations in the social media platforms. Amit and the team aim at expanding their presence in the GPS applications space and reaching out to every individual to empower them with location and related usage. Tracking the locations of children,
personnel and drivers, or getting directions on phone have been major irritants for users in India, leading to a loss of valuable hours in ones daily schedule. SatNavs new offerings will help enhance safety, security and reach of these to a much wider audience than ever before.
Amit Prasad
Founder MD & CEO, SatNav Technologies
12/2009
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COVER STORY
Plans, focus, strategy and highlights for 2010

AVG TECHNOLOGIES (Security)
went past gave rise to a new breed of cyber-criminals, motivated by the lure of easy money. Stealthy and sophisticated, these cyber-criminals have been hard to pin down as transient threats saw a phenomenal rise. For businesses, actions by people working inside them, whether mistaken or malicious, account for the vast majority of security incidents. And cyber-criminals are always on the lookout for such weak links in the security system. In the coming year, too, we expect this trend to continue to rise. With the increase in the quantum of online activities, chances of threats from cyber-criminals go up as well. This poses a risk not only to the unsuspecting individual but also to the unprepared businessman. Social engineering will continue to evolve as more individuals get onto the social networking bandwagon and an equally increasing number of businesses turn to e-Commerce. Criminals currently
here theres money to be made, cyber criminals will go! The recession-hit year that
produce 20,000 to 30,000 new and unique pieces of malicious code every day in order to make it difficult for signature scanners to keep up. Because this is an automated process, the number can easily double or even triple by the end of 2010. The result of this will be that traditional signature scanners will be augmented by behavior-based detectors and/or cloud-based solutions. AVGs focus has always been on protecting usershome and businessfrom cyber criminals, utilizing the latest technologies. With AVG 9.0, this has meant combining techniques like heuristics, behavioural analysis, and real-time security checks against hacked websites to keep our customers safe against new and unknown threats on top of the traditional anti-virus. In the coming year, AVG will continue to focus on developing technologies and solutions that will pre-empt the growing sophistication of cyber-crime. Cyberwellness is AVGs foremost concern and we will continue to look at ways to make the cyber-environment safer for Indian users. India continues to remain an important market for AVG as PC and broadband penetration continues to grow exponentially. According to industry estimates the broadband subscriber market is expected to increase to 30.1 million by 2013 with growth expected to touch 8.9 percent. AVG aims to leverage this growth and expand its base here with. We expect that with the kind of economic growth that India is witnessing, cyber-criminals will continue to be lured to the Indian cyber landscape. It is for users to remain alert and well-armed with sufficient security software to ensure that their personal data and businesses are protected. AVG aims to be at the forefront of providing such comprehensive security products.
Roger Thompson
Chief Research Officer, AVG Technologies
Customers Want More Personalization

TARGUS (Accessories)
2010 holds. Over the last year, we conducted in-depth studies across various markets to understand the unique needs of our customers in different countries. The insights have truly been enlightening. One of the key insights that has contributed to our new strategy is that our customers no longer want their mobile computing accessories to reect
hile 2009 was a year of insight for us, we are excited about the possibilities that
the black & grey laptop computer, but instead want their accessories to be unique and complement their personalities, with colors to choose from and conveniences to customize their usage experience. Our latest range of laptop and notebook cases, mice, presenters, and cooling pads, all reect this modern, consumer-focused approach. To stand alongside our customers in their efforts to be green consumers, our Eco Spruce range of bags is made of material that is fully
recycled. One Eco Spruce carry case actually features the equivalent of 60 plastic bottles! 2010 for us will be the year of getting even closer to our customers, and we have expanded our presence in retail stores as well as in the traditional IT channel. We are now present in over 200 outlets, and in all major name retailers like Staples, Croma, and others.
Pallikara Sukumaran
General Manager India, Targus
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COVER STORY
Mobile Entertainment and Business Apps Will Grow
CANVAS M (Value Added Services)

to develop applications that require minimal literacy, like using the number keys and using multilingual IVR support for the rural population in India. Besides this also facilitates virtual shops and business centers. The year 2010 will bring in an opportunity to boost VAS prots with innovative strategies, utility-based content for end users and a winning business model. CanvasM builds on the technology which can empower people to discover content easily e.g. selecting ringback tones, smart posters, and enabling multifactor authentication for banking services through ngerprint recognition etc. The growing awareness of mobile applications and rich utility services will provide easy access to information and the latest offers while on the move. We expect more widespread use of technology to be accepted, replacing the users physical credentials with a mobile connection and device that exists with him all the time.
ith the evolution of lifestyles and maturing of technology, consumers today are
grow, however with special focus on utility applications that deliver day to day consumer needs and also enterprise apps that go beyond email and give businesses the ability to improve productivity of their workforce. It is possibly the time to get into advanced communications with mobile enterprises apps. Enterprise mobility holds strong potential in user-friendly, easy-to-use versions of email, calendaring and corporate portal access applications. Todays communications market is moving quickly toward the promise of communications, commerce, and content available anytime, anywhere, and on any device. The future implementation will encompass several new and exciting areas in utility solutions such as mobile internet, location-based services, mobile advertisement and regional contentbased services. This will provide rich and interactive media for the end consumers. CanvasM seeks to inspire innovation with its hi-tech portfolio of VAS offerings while adding value for end users and contribute to enriching the overall customer experience. We intend
demanding seamless access to media services for their divergent needs. This is being facilitated by the rapid deregulation of telecommunications markets and the strong emergence of services known as Multi-Play services, enabling convergence of voice, data and video over a single IP infrastructure. As urban markets become saturated
and as mobile telecommunications transcend technologies, operators and operational zones, the largely untapped rural markets can no longer be ignored. Indeed, the proportion of new mobile subscribers from rural areas indicates the importance of this market segment to sustained growth in India. Rural India is the driver for this revolution with 100 million users today and in coming times it is expected to add over 60 percent of the total telecom subscriber base according to a recent report. We see that entertainment services which have been the foundation of the Indian VAS industry will continue to
Jagdish Mitra
CEO, Canvas M
Addressing Threats and Optimizing Security

FORTINET (Enterprise Security)
in the Unied Threat Management (UTM) segment into an end-to-end security vendor with key competencies in email, web, database and endpoint security. This evolution forms the foundation for us to entrench our capabilities in the network security space in 2010. We will continue to align closely with the channels and end customers to ensure that our security solutions address the key challenges faced by
009 saw a year of dynamic changes for Fortinet as we evolved from a worldwide leader
key industry verticals such as nance, government, service providers, education and healthcare in 2010. Target customer sets include service providers and enterprises of all sizes, including large enterprises, mid-market and SMB companies. The third area to focus on the interest garnered during the economic downturn. We want to demonstrate how the unied threat management (UTM) approach can continue to help organizations secure their networks in a very effective yet cost-competitive manner. Fortinet believes that security consolidation, with virtualization, will bring a strong solution to large enterprises, as virtualization appliances allow customers to further optimize their security operations to get more out of their investment.
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP 12/2009
Vishak Raman
Regional Director, SAARC & Saudi Arabia, Fortinet Inc.
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FUTURE-PROOF PC
COVER STORY
Future Proof PC
The latest CPUs in the market are from the Intel Core i5 and Core i7 line-ups. These new quad-core CPUs in the LGA 1156 package feature on-die PCIe controller and dual-channel DDR3 memory support. Core i7 CPUs support hyper-threading and hence can process up to eight threads at a time. Budget-friendly Core i5 CPUs are perfect for gaming PCs and entry-level workstations.
PRICE RANGE: Rs 10,500 to Rs 32,000
Since the newer chipsets support only DDR3 memory, youll need a good amount of DDR3 memory to keep your PC happy. We recommend at least 4 GB of memory for Windows 7 and most of the latest games to run smoothly. The speed, latency and brand depends on what applications youll use and of course your budget. The cheapest modules are by Strontium, Transcend and Zion.
PRICE RANGE: Rs 2,500 (2 GB DDR3-1333) to Rs 7,500 (4 GB DDR3-1600 kit)
It goes without saying that a 1 TB drive is the least that you should consider today. If you want blistering speed and high storage capacity club two hard drives in RAID 0. The fastest hard drives on the market are solid state drives which have read speeds of over 150 MB/s and negligible seek times. But they command a hefty premium for the benets they offer over conventional motor-driven drives.
PRICE RANGE: Rs 4,300 (1 TB) to Rs 13,000 (64 GB SSD)
If you really want to enjoy forthcoming DirectX 11 games, theres no better choice than the graphics cards from AMDs Radeon HD 5000 series. With new additions every month, the series currently has a good number of options for high-end and mid-range gaming PCs. You can expect cards for entry-level PCs and home theatre PCs in the next few months.
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COVER STORY
With the latest generation of components you can rest assured your PC won't get outdated very soon. Be it building a new PC or upgrading your current machine, these tips will help you pick the right hardware for a future-proof PC.
The latest in this category is Nvidias 3D Vision technology which allows you to play any game in immersive stereoscopic 3D with full color delity. You need special LCD shutter glasses, a 3D Vision-ready monitor (at least 120 Hz) and GeForce 8 series or higher graphics card. Other cool gaming accessories are Logitech Rumble Pad 2 and the usual steering wheels, joysticks and gaming pads.
A case with good ventilation and layout is very crucial for a gaming rig. Keep in mind points such as the number of drive bays and cooling fans (front, top and rear), tool-free design, damping material and front panel connectors while buying a case. As for the power supply unit, make sure it has enough juice to power the components (especially the graphics card) and sufficient power connectors.
PRICE RANGE: Case - Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000 PSU - Rs 4,500 to Rs 16,000
All motherboards have at least a 5.1-channel audio chip on-board. Hence, people dont buy a discrete soundcard. However, if you want rich audio quality we dont recommend using on-board audio. High-end sound cards have components (DAC and capacitors) of good quality that deliver pristine audio quality. Audiophiles and home theatre enthusiasts should consider an external sound card to please their ears.
Price range: Rs 5,000 to Rs 14,000
Although the stock CPU cooler is sufficient to keep the CPU cool, a good cooler with more surface area, heat pipes and a powerful fan would help to lower the temperature further. Larger CPU coolers also move the air around the memory and chipset areas, thereby cooling other core components too. Water coolers are most efficient but theyre more expensive and a bit tedious to install.
PRICE RANGE: Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000 (water cooling kit)
12/2009
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MPMP3/PMP COMPARISONON MP3 AND PMP COMPARISON 3 AND PMP COMPARIS COMPARIS MPARISON
FEAT URED FE ATUR ED FEATURED
Mobile Entertainers
There's nothing like listening to music or watching a movie while on a long trip. Here are 12 MP3 and portable media players for you to choose your travel companion from.
BY CHIP TEST CENTER
usic makes the world go round. From the very rst portable device like the Walkman
function, full featured portable device that will allow users to enjoy both video and audio as well as other features that would include connectivity with other such devices or the Internet. Although the standard MP3 player or DAP (Digital Audio Player) is still very much as popular now as it was when it was rst introduced, even this format of device has undergone a few upgrades. Sure the basics are the samean MP3 player is still primarily designed to offer the user strictly audio based entertainment, but with a few tweaks. FM radios have been incorporated into the devices with the capabilities to record from the same medium for future playback on the same device or to be transferred to a PC. Another addition to the MP3 players list of features a microphone with which users will be able to use the device as a dictaphone for recording conversations or creating voice memos. The technology has changed but the ideology of portable
media has been retained. Devices have also taken on a variety of forms in order to entice the consumer from large screen PMPs with tactile buttons for navigation and now the more modern touchscreen options offered by media player giants such as Cowon, Apple, Archos and so on. The MP3 player market has also made a few alterations to the designs offered. For the sake of convenience you have the pen drive-styled device that comes with a USB port built in, so no need for additional cables, its purely plug, charge, transfer and play. Companies have also managed to t these otherwise-very-basic players with extra features and even displays so you can see track lists and even enhance the audio quality using equalizer presets. For those of you having a hard time making up your mind which MP3 player or PMP to buy, here are a few relevant options we believe should help you pick the one to keep you entertained.
cassette player, to the ultra spacious 160 GB hard drive players like the iPod, the concept has always remain unchanged. The ability to comfortably tote around your music for listening to anytime anywhere has always been the trend. It almost seems like the species are just beings that constantly require some form of entertainment. Of course in this modern day and age of technology thats also very visually simulting, the trend is still the very same but the requirements have undergone a few changes. Its not enough now for us to simply take our audio collection with us wherever we go for auditory satisfaction, thats old school. Now its become equally important for us to be visually stimulated by also being provisioned to port videos. Enter the PMP (Personal Media Player) era! The Term PMP is associated with a more full
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Jagdish Limbachiya
SMS us!
Story code: HIM to 57007
MP3 AND PMP COMPARISON
FEATURED
TEST PROCESS
When it comes to choosing a simple MP3 player or a more sophisticated device like a PMP there are few very simple but relevant pointers that are kept in mind while testing and for creating a suitable selection process. Certain aspects would remain universal to both of course.
SONY NWZ B143F
MOBIBLU A7
Build quality and Ergonomics:

An important aspect to consider is the aesthetics of the device. Not merely from a supercial standpoint but one has to consider the overall layout of the device, the materials used in construction, the placement of the keys and how comfortable they are for navigating through the various functions. The tactility of the buttons is also important. What we also keep in mind from the external stand point is what the manufacturer includes with the packaging. The quality of the cables and most importantly, since we are dealing with audio, how good the bundled earphones are in terms of wearing comfort and quality.
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 3,990
Display: Monochrome; Memory: 4 GB; Audio support: MP3, WMA, WAV; Battery life: 13 hrs; Number of presets: 8.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 2,875
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Importstuff 022 26735709 shahsk@gmail.com
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY ERGONOMICS FEATURES PERFORMANCE WARRANTY OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
RATINGS
he best performer overall is the USB pen drive-styled Sony Walkman
he MobiBLU A7 is a chic player with a sleek glossy nish so its easy on
B143F. Theres no arguing about the Walkman brands audio quality but the design and layout of the device also makes for rather convenient usage as well as portability. Its bulky design also adds a certain edge to it giving it a rugged sort of feel. Its light-weight and comes equipped with a monochrome display thats clear enough to read in almost all conditions. The bundled earphones are more than just good enough. The device's button system and navigation options are also well placed with shortcuts for specic features easily available. Audio quality is crisp and tones are well balanced to provide a rather wide dynamic range. A one-touch option for enhancing the bass is also on hand and it does make quite a signicant difference for those peppy tracks. The only issue is that the FM radio doesnt always provide good reception but its not too bad in most areas. VERDICT: The NWZ-B143F is a really good MP3 player for the price, equipped with very relevant features. FOR: Audio quality is good and the voice recorder has good range, it also offers good battery life. AGAINST: The FM radios reception was not too good, the USB cap can be misplaced easily.
the eyes. Like the others in this group, the A7s display is vivid and clear. The menus are animated to add a little uff to the players UI. What is a bit of an issue is the slightly quirky navigation system that may take a couple of minutes to get used to. Its a feature-rich device and comes with quite a few useful features options like an ebook reader. It reads .TXT les by showing three lines at a time, but It may not be the best device for it but it's there anyway and its quite crisp. The audio quality is better than just good and you wont necessarily need to substitute the bundled earphones as they are comfortable enough to use and deliver good sound quality. Equalizer presets are also available (which are mundane) but what really makes the difference is the 5-band graphic equalizer thats customizable for a more personalized tone. It also comes with FM radio which could be its only Achilles heel as the reception quality wasnt too good. VERDICT: MobiBLUs A7 MP3 player is a neat looking, feature rich device with good audio output. FOR: Quite a few features as well as manual settings to make the audio quality a little better. AGAINST: The navigation system takes getting used to, the keys are a bit cramped, FM reception is average.
Performance: The next section in the

testing process is the audio clarity. Its important to know that although every player comes with earphones, in some cases, the players audio capability could be far superior to what the bundled earphones are capable of dishing out. This affects the rating. The device's audio quality is the most important factor but for those who are very particular, its also important to know if the device has EQ presets as well as manually customizable settigns for a bit more personalization.
Features: When it comes to features

the supported audio and video formats are very relevant. In case conversion is necessary, its also important to know how long it takes for a video to be transcoded to the supported format and more importantly, does the company bundle software for the same. Video playback and clarity depends on the conversion of the le. The second most important factor is the battery life. When it comes to MP3 players, users should have a clear idea as to how long a player can run music on a single charge. The same applies to a PMP but in their case youd also need to know how much video you can watch.
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FEATURED
SONY NWZ 202
MOSER BAER MBI MP-565
COWON D2+
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 4,990
Display screen: NA; Memory: 2 GB; Audio support: MP3, WMA, WAV; Battery life: 13 hrs 20 min.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 1,490
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 8,750
Display: 2.5-inch touch; Memory: 8 GB; Battery life (Audio | Video): 15 hrs | 5 hrs 20 min; Number of presets: 10.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Moser Baer India Ltd. 011-40594500 prithwish.dev@moserbaer.in
Lipap Systems Pvt Ltd. 022-40032653 iaudio@lipap.com
RATINGS
RATINGS
RATINGS
he W202 is a headset styled MP3 player with a heart-shaped design.
oser Baers MP565 can easily be classied as the player thats the
he Cowon D2 has undergone a few minor changes and emerged as the
Built for right-handed people, its the right earpiece that has all the controlsa mini USB port to connect it to the USB dock, volume keys, a multifunctional jog dial and a shuffle switch. Sony has included a variety of earplugs to make sure it suits your ears correctly, as well as a plastic casing to keep the player intact while traveling. Its lightweight so its not difficult to wear or carry around. The player comes with Sonys Walkman Content Transfer PC application for smooth transfer of les to the player. Considering that theres no display to view les or playlist function Sony has incorporated the Zappin function which plays a portion of each track on the player so that you can choose tracks without the need of a screen. The Content Transfer application allows you to drag les from your PC to the player. Sony expects the W202 to provide users with a 14 hour non stop playback, which is reasonable for any MP3 player. The W202 however, clocked in at 12 hours and 50 minutes with volume peaked out. VERDICT: This ones a great device light weight and quite comfortable to wear while running or working out. FOR: Comfortable to wear, good sound quality and battery life. AGAINST: Youll have to memorize the button locations and settings.
best value for a low budget. It comes with a limited set of features and it still manages to offer a fairly good audio experience. To be blunt, the design is very generic and looks too plain. The metallic clip located at the rear of the devicealthough extremely handy when it comes to toting the player aroundis a bit unsightly and tends to clash a bit with the overall design. The monochrome display is clear enough to make out the details of the track thats playing or the settings and such, however the No Playing screen is just a little bit too cluttered with information. Navigation through the sparse menu system is quite simple and easy thanks to the well designed joystick. The earphones do leave a little to be desired as they arent too comfortable and dont really do much for audio quality either. The equalizer presets do help adjusting the tone quality a little bit. On the down side the battery life is quite average. the MP565 lacks features but you cant go wrong with the price. VERDICT: The Moser Baer MP565 is a very simplistic MP3 player with no frills. FOR: Audio quality is good and the FM radio fares quite well in almost all locations. AGAINST: The battery life is not as good as it should be.
D2+ which looks exactly the same but a bit on the bulky side. Its honestly the best performer in this category simply because of its versatility to handle multiple video formats negating video conversion and the full range of features included. The D2+ is available in 4 GB and 8 GB models both of which support external memory (standard SD cards) and are quite reasonably priced. Its touchscreen makes it very interactive although the UI is just a little bit on the sluggish side. But nevertheless, its well laid out for comfortable navigation. The Cowon D2+ is capable of providing very clear, crisp tones with a very resounding thump. The bundled earphones are comfortable and are provisioned to handle the audio really well. The display is clear enough to be easy on the eyes for watching videos and all other functions like reading .TXT les for ebooks. The device also supports TV out but the cable is sold as an optional accessory. It also has a stylus that doubles up as a stand. VERDICT: The D2+ has plenty to offer including memory expansion and native XviD playback. FOR: You don't need to convert videos as it supporte Xvid Natively. The audio quality is very good. AGAINST: The UI is a little sluggish.
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FEATURED
APPLE IPOD NANO
CREATIVE ZEN MOSAIC
ENTER E-M500
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 9,400
Display: 2.2-inch TFT; Memory: 8 GB; Battery life (Audio | Video): 15 hrs | 3 hrs 30 min; Number of presets: 22.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 6,499
Display: 1.8-inch TFT; Memory: 8 GB; Battery life (Audio | Video): 20 hrs | 5 hrs 35 min; Number of presets: 8.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 8,750
Display: 2.4-inch TFT; Memory: 2 GB; Battery life (Audio | Video): 12 hrs | 2 hrs; Number of presets: 7.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Apple India 1800-425-0744 indiasales@mac.com
Vinod Thakkar 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com
Fortune Marketing Pvt. Ltd 011-30890000 sales@fortune-it.com
RATINGS
RATINGS
RATINGS
pples latest Nano is a PMP that really stands out amongst its peers.
he Mozaic lives up to the reputation with pride. Its a neat little player
he cheapest device in this list is the Enter M500 and considering the
While this is still essentially an iPod that still requires you to download and use the latest version of iTunes to transfer media, the addition of a built-in VGA video camera to the mix makes quite a difference. The other feature is a bonade FM Radio that manages to get a fair amount of reception even in areas that other MP3 players struggle. One more new feature is the built-in microphone for voice recording. The VGA camera, although lacking the ability to shoot stills, comes with plenty of modes for shooting which makes it a really fun feature and is great for the YouTube fans.The built-in camera is a bit of an issue though and can make it a little difficult to use when holding it with the right handyou have to hold it by the edges so that your nger doesn't come in the way. The audio quality is still really good but the earphones should have been upgraded from the older design. Nevertheless, Its still a very sleek device and is available in a wide range of colors. VERDICT: Apple's new iPod Nano is a great portable media player for the price with a rich array of features. FOR: The camera is fun to use and the FM radio that has really good reception with Live Pause is another great addition. AGAINST: The on-board camera doesnt take still photos and it isn't placed well.
thats light weight and easy to carry around and the mosaic design on the keypad (what gives it its name) gives it a very eye-catching look. The biggest drawback is the 1.8-inch color display which is too small for watching videos and photos. The devices audio capabilities are much better than average or being categorized as just good. It offers plenty of equalizer presets and the Zen Mozaic also comes loaded with a Bass Booster setting in addition to all this. The FM radio has really good reception even in areas where signals are usually a little weak. The battery life is also really good and denitely one of the device's better features on the whole. Its available in 4 GB and 8 GB capacities which are reasonably priced. While it is a feature-rich device the fact that videos arent easy to watch makes that feature a little redundantthats something to keep in mind. FOR: The audio quality is really good and FM reception is exceptional. The battery life is very good. VERDICT: The Zen Mozaic offers great good audio features but watching videos on its small screen isn't a good idea. AGAINST: The display is too small and the pixels are quite chunky due to the low resolution.
range of very relevant features it comes loaded with, it makes it the best value for your money. The M-500 has two major aws, the display is too dull and the navigation and selection system of the UI is very annoying and hasnt been designed too well. Other than that its a simple, light weight device that comes in 2 GB capacity with support for external memory via microSD cards. The M-500 comes with quite a few setting for audio control including 3D sound settings. The decibel level this player dishes out is higher than quite a few like it and youll rarely ever have to peak the volume. The earphones provided are decent but a better pair will only make it sound better. It supports quite a few of the common video codecs that mobile handsets do (not DivX or Xvid) so if you switch the memory card from your mobile to the player rest assured youll have all your media ready and waiting. The FM radios reception was very average and not too strong in most areas. VERDICT: Its an extremely affordable PMP and offers a lot for the price tag. FOR: It supports external memory and reads most common video formats. The battery life is decent. AGAINST: The display is very dull and navigation is an issue. The FM radios reception wasn't too good.
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FEATURED
PERSONAL TAKE
SpecScan 1
SHAYNE RANA shayne.r@web18.in One of the only reasons why I got into this business is because of the audio video angle that my job gives me allowance for and of course Im a video freak! Its always a thrill getting to test new devices and technology especially those which are portable. I have to travel two hours a day to get to work and back and the commute is really the only one place I have time to actually relax (as much as one can in a Mumbai local) and either listen to music or watch a movie on some device. With that in mind Im quite particular about the kind of device I have on me and due to my job profile its not always that I have a device thats conducive or comfortable for video watching while commuting. One of the things I hate most about PMPs is that quite a few companies insist that you download or install software thats required for transferring your media to the device. What that also usually implies is that the device wont come equipped with support for too many video formats which also means youll have to convert your videos to an acceptable format to be used on the player. Conversion, although usually a pretty simple task, isnt always quick and with most devices and converters takes quite a while. Thankfully there are those manufacturers who believe that the whole conversion process is the long way round and have deemed it fit to install every possible video codec including DivX and XviD support right into their devices. These are the best kinds of players to have. Although they may be priced a little steep, the bottom line is they are hassle free. Just copy paste your videos and music and youre good to go, instant playback, no lengthy conversion and software for transfer required. Unfortunately that system hasnt quite caught on with the entire PMP industry. But can you imagine a world where the iPhone and its compatriots in the world of the iPod would have a free file system that allowed you to just copy paste your videos and music right onto the player for immediate playback? No iTunes, no worries. Using a media player should be purely about enjoyment.
2
MOBIBLU A7 Importstuff 022-26735709 shahsk@gmail.com Rs 2,875
65 79 54
CATEGORY NAME Contact Phone E-mail Price* OVERALL Features (40%) Build quality (10%) Ergonomics (15) Performance (30%) Warranty (5%)
MP3 SONY NWZ B143F Sony India 1800-103-7799 sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com Rs 3,990

64 66 63 90 100
0 50 100
85 50
0 50 100
Overall Value for money FEATURES Form factor | Weight Onboard memory | Expandable memory type Display screen Audio support: MP3 | WMA | FLAC | OGG | WAV Video support: DivX | XviD | WMV | MPEG4 Functions: FM | Video playback | Voice rec | TV out Equilizer mode: Manual | No. of presets File browser | Delete option Playlist management | Line-in Direct encoding | Built-in speakers Battery life: Audio Package contents: Strap | Case | AV cable | software Aesthetic appeal BUILD QUALITY Quality: Shell | Earphones Use of metal in construction | Port flaps Sturdiness of buttons | Resistant to scratches ERGONOMICS Buttons Size Spacing Tactility Navigation aid Ease in file navigation Ease of operation Hold button | Grip Headphone type PERFORMANCE Audio quality (out of 5) High Mid Lows Video quality (out of 5) WARRANTY Warranty period
74
70
Pen Drive | 26 g 4 GB | Monochrome |||| NA ||| |8 | | | 13 hrs, 20 min | | NA | Good looking Very good | Very good | Very good |
Bar | 18 g 4 GB | Monochrome |||| NA ||| |8 | | | 12 hrs | | NA | Good looking Good | Good | Above average |
Very good Very good Very good D-pad Good Good | Very good Regular
Good Good Good None Good Good | Above average Regular
4 4.5 4.5 NA 1 year
4 4 4 NA 6 months
* Prices are indicative and are subject to change, taxes extra.
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FEATURED
3
SONY NWZ 202 Sony India 1800-103-7799 sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com Rs 4,990
65 79 54 85 50
0 50 100
4
CREATIVE MUVO T200 Compuage India 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com Rs 4,599
65 79 54 85 50
0 50 100
5
APPLE IPOD SHUFFLE Apple India 1800-425-0744 indiasales@mac.com Rs 4,800
65 79 54 85 50
0 50 100
6
MOSER BAER MBI MP-565 Moser Baer India Ltd. 011-40594500 prithwish.dev@moserbaer.in Rs 1,490
65 79 54 85 50
0 50 100
65
64
60
59
Headset | 35 g 2 GB | NA |||| NA ||| |0 | | | 13 hrs, 20 min | | NA | Good looking Good | Good | Good |
Pen Drive | 20.6 g 4 GB | 65 K color |||| NA ||| |8 | | | 7 hrs | | NA | Good looking Above average | Average | Above average |
Clip | 10.7 g 4 GB | NA NA | NA | | | NA ||| |0 | | | 9 hrs | | NA | Good looking Good | Average | Average |
Clip | 35 g 2 GB | Monochrome |||| NA ||| |6 | | | 7 hrs | | NA | Average looking Average | Below average | Average |
Good Good Good Jog dial Good Above average | Above average In-ear
Good Good Good D-pad Good Above average | Above average Regular
Average Average Below average None Satisfactory Average | Good Regular
Average Average Below average Joystick Satisfactory Below average | Below average Regular
3.5 4 4 NA 1 year
3 3 3.5 NA 1 year
3 3 3 NA 1 year
3.5 4 4 NA 6 months
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FEATURED
SpecScan 1
CATEGORY NAME Contact Phone E-mail Price* OVERALL Features (40%) Build quality (10%) Ergonomics (15) Performance (30%) Warranty (5%)
0 50
2
APPLE IPOD NANO Apple India 1800-425-0744 indiasales@mac.com Rs 9,400
80 62 59 80 100
100
0 50
PMP COWON D2+ Lipap Systems Pvt Ltd. 022-40032653 iaudio@lipap.com Rs 8,750
69 80 68 78 100
100
Overall Value for money FEATURES Form factor | Weight Onboard memory | Expandable memory type Display screen Audio support: MP3 | WMA | FLAC | OGG | WAV Video support: DivX | XviD | WMV | MPEG4 Functions: FM | Video playback | Voice rec | TV out Equilizer mode: Manual | No. of presets File browser | Delete option Playlist management | Line-in Direct encoding | Built-in speakers Battery life: Audio Package contents: Strap | Case | AV cable | software Aesthetic appeal BUILD QUALITY Quality: Shell | Earphones Use of metal in construction | Port flaps Sturdiness of buttons | Resistant to scratches ERGONOMICS Buttons Size Spacing Tactility Navigation aid Ease in file navigation Ease of operation Hold button | Grip Headphone type PERFORMANCE Audio quality (out of 5) High Mid Lows Video quality (out of 5) WARRANTY Warranty period
76
74
Bar | 91 g 8 GB | SD 2.5-inch, Touchscreen |||| ||| ||| | 10 | | | 15 hrs | 5 hrs, 20 min ||| Average looking Above average | Good | Above average |
Bar | 36.4 g 8 GB | 2.2-inch, TFT LCD |||| ||| ||| | 22 | | | 15 hrs | 3 hrs, 30 min ||| Good looking Good | Above average | Very good |
Good Above average Above average Touchscreen Good Good | Good Regular
Good Good Good Touchpad Very good Good | Above average Regular
4 4 4 4 1 year
3.5 4 4 4 1 year
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FEATURED
3
CREATIVE ZEN MOSAIC Vinod Thakkar 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com Rs 6,499
77 46 57 80 100
0 50 100
4
PHILIPS GOGEAR OPUS Philips India 1-860-180-1111 customercare.india@philips.com Rs 7,200
68 80 64 78 100
0 50 100
5
SONY NWZ-S544 Sony India 1800-103-7799 sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com Rs 6,990
74 46 59 80 100
0 50 100
6
ENTER E-M500 Fortune Marketing Pvt Ltd 011-30890000 sales@fortune-it.com Rs 2,400
50 34 64 78 100
0 50 100
73
73
72
57
Bar | 43 g 8 GB | 1.8-inch, TFT LCD |||| ||| ||| |8 | | | 20 hrs | 5 hrs, 35 min ||| Good looking Good | Good | Good |
Bar | 95 g 4 GB | 2.8-inch, TFT LCD |||| ||| ||| | 10 | | | 6 hrs | 6 hrs ||| Good looking Above average | Very good | Good |
Bar | 68 g 8 GB | 2.4-inch, TFT LCD |||| ||| ||| |5 | | | 13 hrs | 4 hrs, 35 min ||| Good looking Good | Good | Good |
Bar | 45 g 2 GB | MicroSD 2.4-inch, TFT LCD |||| ||| ||| |7 | | | 12 hrs | 2 hrs ||| Average looking Average | Average | Average |
Average Above average Good D-pad Good Good | Good Regular
Good Good Good D-pad Good Good | Good In-ear
Good Good Good D-pad Good Good | Good Regular
Average Average Average None Satisfactory Average | Above average In-ear
4 4 4 4 1 year
3.5 4 4.5 3.5 1 year
4 4 4 4 1 year
3 4 4.5 3 1 year
12/2009
107
5.1 SPEAKER COMPARISON
FEATURED
All-round Sound
CHIP tested twelve 5.1-channel speakers spanning all budgets. Be it gaming, watching movies or sheer listening pleasure, you'll find them all here.
BY CHIP TEST CENTER
need transducers to recreate the same waves in the air. Even in today's highly fast-paced life, each and everyone of us does need some tune, for some it may be the thick wall of sound generated by rock music concert or for the other its the dazzling colors of a cutting edge animation ick. Some need it to work, some need it after work, thus the conclusion is we all need speakers and good ones obviously, and ones which are bang for the buck. Then comes the segregation based upon usage and application, thus we have full edged home theater speakers, and then more personal mini systems, and now, in the past decade years, 5.1
ntertainment makes the world go round. It really does. And for enjoying all that jazz (no pun) we
speakers for the PC or Mac. Its pretty obvious, we do everything on our desktop PCs, including listen to music and now, watch high-denition movies on a big screen. Thus the PC speaker market has exploded, and is swarming with brands from the east and west; all trying to offer the listener a good deal on surround sound reproduction out of our computer. But what exactly is a good deal. What do we want from a speaker, especially one attached to our computer? At a generic level its the same as any speaker requirement that is well balanced, clear and loud. But then we realize that a PC speaker obviously has to have a different response because its more personal since we are closer to the speakers. More importantly the
aesthetics and designs need to be worth its salt, as there isnt much desktop real estate to keep huge speakers. Features such as magnetic shielding and self powering are all part and parcel of this segment of speakers, and last but not least, they have to look good. Actually every product has to, but these little workhorses have carved out a niche for themselves in terms of design. Thus we have called all the players in the market to send us their 5.1 speakers, and have received cooperation from Altec Lansing, Artis, Creative, Logitech, Philips, Techcom and Zebronics. Thus you will realize that we have quite a varied sample of the available options, and now we are going to put them all to grind with loads of audio material.
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Jagdish Limbachiya
SMS us!
Story code: FSP to 57007
FEATURED
TEST PROCESS
So what does one exactly look for in a speaker system? Our test process covers all the basics. are assessed, this is especially important for those systems without a remote control.
LOGITECH Z-5500 DIGITAL
Build quailty
First and foremost, we look at aesthetics, which is the simplest and in your face method of actually putting the speakers in your face, and seeing if it can t it any decor, also whether the design is wacky enough or too wacky, as there is a thin line between futuristically cool, and just plain over the top tacky. Aesthetics go hand in hand with build quality. Thus plasticky edges and boring nishes are frowned upon.
Performance
After the physical test, we move on to audio performance tests, and this is a whole ball game totally. We have in-house created test tones, plus the trusted test CDs from Sheffield and pristine recordings of Chesky. Our attention goes initially to the bass response, and immediately full frequency response. For this a sine tone sweep is launched and checked for inconsistencies in level, of course we already negated our room effects. Lower limits of bass response are checked by audibly checking how low our tones reach. Then we play transients like drum beats and bass guitar sounds to check timing and accuracy of the bass. Any boominess in the output is caught red handed here in this test. Since we are dealing with surround, we listen to a full 5.1 surround sound AC3 track that pans around, exerting each speaker. Pure loudness was gauged by both highly compressed recordings and open live recordings of classical music, to see how the speakers handled output at highest volume level. Here there should be no distortion, as that would be the weakness of the speaker. It should not drift in heavy bass thuds and intense parts in movies.
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 27,995
Satellites: 62 W RMS; Center: 69 W RMS; Subwoofer: 188 W RMS; Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 KHz; SNR: >70 dB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Logitech 022-26571160 kavita_nath@logitech.com
Ergonomics
The weight of the system is a factor, and from the weight comes portability and ease of positioning. Since there will be ve speakersone pair will have to be kept at the back. Stuff like wire lengths and their arrangements are taken into consideration, this is mainly because in a 5.1 system one is dealing with a amount of wire enough to hassle you. Color coded wires are given preference, as that adds to the ease of setup and use.
RATINGS
he most expensive product in the comparison, frankly this should
be looked at more with an individual attitude as its in a different segment. Its one of Logitechs agship speaker system. Aesthetically the satellite is futuristic looking, with a single 3-inch driver, and adjustable stands that can be used as wall mount brackets. The subwoofer with a 10-inch driver is huge for a PC speaker system. The system comes with a huge control module that acts as the hub for connections and processing. A silver huge volume knob takes center stage. Speaking of processing this model does Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, and DTS 96/24 processing. Critically speaking, the bass is a little wobbly, strictly considering the higher premium the product is commanding. But it is denitely a low extending response with ample power in low frequency. Mids and highs were quite chunky and clear respectively, and the separation of stereo tracks into 5.1, was not that bad by the Pro Logic processor. We also found the sound open enough for games and movies, though not for pure audio listening. FOR: Very good features, clear high and
Features
Then comes the features and connectivity options. Generally the subwoofer is the house of the amplier for the system, and all connections need to be made to it. Any product with remote gets extra points, and Dolby or even DTS decoding is an added plus. Thus these can be connected to without the help of a 5-channel soundcard, remember here we are not using an AV receiver. The accessibility to volume knobs and the design of the control pod
Value for money

We calculated this index by stacking the sum of features, performance, build quality and ergonomics against the price of the speaker.
A speaker set with an IR remote control gains higher weightage in the Features section.
The LCD screen on the Logitech Z-5550 control pod helps in setting the sound parameters with ease .
mid frequency response, very loud. AGAINST: Bass is not so tight.

109
FEATURED
ALTEC LANSING FX5051
ARTIS S-5555
ZEBRONICS SW7000R
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 11,999
Satellites: 12 W RMS; Center: 13 W RMS; Frequency response: 30 Hz to 20 KHz; SNR: >75 dB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 2,750
Satellites and Subwoofer power: NA; Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 35 KHz.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 3,200
Satellites: 10 W RMS; Subwoofer: 30 W RMS; Frequency response: 40 Hz to 20 KHz; SNR: 80 dB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd 022-67090828 response@rptechindia.com
Kunhar Peripherals Pvt Ltd 022-66345758 sales1@kunhar.com
Top Notch Infotronix India Pvt Ltd 044-43936000 enquiry@zebronics.info
RATINGS
RATINGS
RATINGS
o PC speaker comparison can be complete without Altec Lansing,
he most reasonably priced of the lot consists of ve small size bookshelf
ebronics, a comparatively new player in the IT channel, has a good line-up
and their FX5051 is quite a hit in recent years. It has ve metallic accented satellites, with similar permanently xed stands. The connectors are simple RCA jacks for each speaker with color coded wires connected to the speaker permanently, thus making it easy to setup. The control pod provided is a small square set with a circular arrangement of translucent buttons that light up green. It has controls for power, bass, treble, and also buttons for center and rear speakers. An IR remote control comes bundled with this speaker system. The sound output is pretty impressive in terms of frequency response, though we must say that bass is comparatively weaker than the others. It goes low, but does not have the power and thump. Its laid back, and in a way more smooth as there is no enhanced low frequency response. For movies and hip hop music, this can be a deterrent, as the entire punch intended by the director might not come out. The highs and mids are very nice as they have no spikes or excessive levels in any frequency banda well rounded response for a PC speaker system. The loudness is also more than adequate. FOR: Very good looks, clear and crisp mids and highs, very good build. AGAINST: Bass could be more powerful.
style speakers, and rectangular black cabinets make up their exterior. The subwoofer is a bit tall though with LEDs in the front arranged vertically in a column (seven in all), below a similar row of at silver buttons, on the right extremity of the front panel. The color is black with a matte nish for the whole set. The product is lightweight and easy to lug around, not to mention very simple to connect with RCA connections lined up at the back panel for both stereo and analog 5.1-channel inputs. Even the individual speaker outs are yellow RCA connectors. What we really wanted to see is whether the sound has bad distortion levels, and thankfully the speakers didnt have that problem. There is no real separate tweeter in this speaker unit. The frequency response yielded not so clear highs and mid frequencies, with too much forward sounding mids. But the sound is loud enough, and also the low end is not bad, it is warm and extends quite low. Surround sound mode is fun as the bass is hard enough to watch and enjoy a lm or play games. Overall the loudness does t the bill, but frequency response in the high end is skewed. FOR: Good features, impressive high and mid frequency response. AGAINST: Could have been louder.
of products for those who don't have a high budget for speakers. This system is surprisingly the only one, with a 2-way satellite, tweeter and mid woofer separate. The mini bookshelf shaped satellites have a red circular accent on the front, and so does the subwoofer with red LEDs lined up vertically. The red and black color scheme looks pretty nice overall. The system comes with a remote, and also has volume control for individual channels. The subwoofer is front ported, and slightly curved towards the top edge. Sound wise we were pleasantly surprised at the depth of the bassthis speaker system can surely go low. The tightness is still lacking, anyways we did not expect accuracy wonders at this price range. The mids and highs are more dened and surely a little smoother than its counterparts with single drivers. Its not too open and airy though; there is still a planar quality to the sound output. We found that the crossover point is a little uneven in its response, but the overall experience wasnt too bad. We were quite impressed by the response but this system should have been a little louderthe output is not all engulng FOR: Good features, impressive high and mid frequency response. AGAINST: Could have been louder.
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FEATURED
PHILIPS MMS460
TECH-COM SD4201R
CREATIVE T6160
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 7,990
Satellites: 5 W RMS per channel; Subwoofer: 30 W RMS; Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 KHz.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 3,199
Satellites: 10 W RMS per channel; Subwoofer: 25 W RMS; Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 KHz; SNR: >70 dB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 4,999
Satellites: 6 W RMS per channel; Subwoofer: 20 W RMS; Frequency response: 40 Hz to 20 KHz; SNR: >75 dB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Philips Electronics India Ltd 011-66001111 customercare.india@philips.com
Shree Sagarmatha Distributors Pvt Ltd 011-26428541 techcom@airtelmail.in
Compuage India 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com
RATINGS
RATINGS
RATINGS
hilips, not so much a regular in the PC speaker market, but nonetheless,
his humble brand is actually gaining popularity in the super budget
his is Creatives heavily outed offering to the market, a reasonably
the brand is respectable in all their endeavors, thus we gladly accepted this model of theirs for scrutiny. Its clearly the most uniquely designed piece out of the bunch. The ve satellites are globular, like half ellipsoid, with the driver jutting out of the cross sectionit looks like the thrust nozzle of a spaceship. The silver accented drivers are 4 inches in diameter, and there are no tweeters in the system at all. The sub is medium sized with slightly more depth than usual, with connectors at the rear. The unique thing about this system is that the satellites have a common connector, thus no mixing up can happen. The center speaker also acts as a control pod, with buttons on top. Once on, we gured out that the bass wasnt the most powerful in the group. It extends low, but its lacks that thumping quality. The response of the system is more rened rather throughout the spectrum, with no real spiky levels poking out in any frequency range. The highs are clean and clear and the loudness of the system is decent. It does not distort at high levels, but at the same time its not all super loud. FOR: Very good looks, doesnt distort at high levels. AGAINST: Bass is not powerful enough.
category, and they have not disappointed in the past. The aesthetics are cute with a black and white driver, the dust cap and surround being black, that too glossy. The front panel is also glossy black, while the rest of the rectangular body is regular black painted MDF. Each speakers comes with attached RCA plugs that go into the sub, the latter also being a looker. The faade has a LED screen, and at rectangular silver push buttons to control whats on the screen. The reex port is on the side, and it comes with a remote Setting it up was easy, partly due to the wires all being pre-attached and having simple RCA jacks. The specs are not so honest at stating the obtainable low end, which was audible at around 43 Hz upwards, but it wasnt too boomy. For the price, there sure was a nice level of tightness in the bass, we were afraid we would be subject to wobbly lows, but thats not the case with the SSD-4201R. Moving on to a full frequency response test, as expected we have a striking mid and high mid frequency bump, which makes voices and dialogue sound clearer and crisp, but its certainly not meant for music lovers. FOR: Decent bass response, very reasonably priced. AGAINST: Shrill mids and highs.
priced yet full edged surround sound system. The aesthetics are simple and subdued, but not boring looking, due to the metallic are surrounding the rims of the drivers, and smooth black nish for the cabinets. The structure is straight up from the typical satellite speaker brethren, each speaker perched on an L-shaped stand and metallic mesh grille covering the facades. A small control pod is wired to the powered sub, which has a green LED and the volume control on the side, which is also the on/off switch. Performance wise, we noticed that the bass gets boomy at the frequency point between the satelllites and subwoofer. At about 120 Hz to 140 Hz there is an audible increase in level, as tested by our sine sweeps. Its not too much of a problem when auditioning a movie. The highs are decent for the price they dont sound edgy and denitely dont cause ear fatigue. Overall loudness wise there is room for more, but the power is enough for a regular sized bedroom (about 120 square feet). We could not detect any serious distortion at higher levels, so that too is a plus point. FOR: Decent build, doesnt distort at high levels, reasonably priced. AGAINST: Bass is not so tight.
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FEATURED
PERSONAL TAKE
SpecScan 1
SIDDHARTH BHATIA siddharth.bhatia@web18.in These days, just like any other market segment, there is a pulsating dynamic environment when it comes to entertainment on the PC. Everything is becoming digital, especially the source, be it a movie, a live concert or good old stereo music. The zenith of any transducer trying to replicate the source file is accuracy, and power. Any speaker system has to depict what is intended to be viewed, and emanate what is meant to be heard accurately and moreover with good definition. Thus the computer speakers of today have a difficult job, as there is a demographic of users to consider, and exorbitant budgets arent an aspect of that demographic. But at the same time we know what we want, and its not just "the louder the better". Thus in our current roundup we have looked at various aspects of the systems, and then pitched it against the price it asks for, as in the end value for money is the most important factor. The results prove that Altec Lansing, a respectable company that has been around for more than eight years in India, have impressed us with their FX5051, just one of the models from their varied range. Its not an entirely perfect speaker system, but you get a sturdy build, great looks and more importantly a frequency response that is very even. An even frequency response curve is one in which all the bands of audible frequencies are similar in level, relative to each other. Thus the graph of a level vs frequency band will be a flat line, and a pure flat line is never possible especially for a home systema more or less linear curve is good. Avoiding too much enhancement in the high frequency range ensures a sound that is free from edginess and excess harsh treble. Clarity is still retained though. The bass response also makes an honest attempt, and doesn't have much unevenness at the problematic frequency point where the subwoofer stops and the satellites take over, bandwidth wise. Lastly, our winner is a very loud and powerful unit, with almost negligible distortion at the max level. It was the only one that came with a discrete Dolby Digital / DTS processing unit.
2
ALTEC LANSING FX5051 Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd 022-67090828 response@rptechindia.com Rs 11,999
78 64 60 83 100
0 50 100 0
NAME Contact Phone E-mail Price* OVERALL Features (25%) Build quality (20%) Ergonomics (10%) Performance (40%) Warranty & Support (5%) Overall Value for money FEATURES Dimensions (WxHxD) Subwoofer Satellites Power rating (RMS): Subwoofer | Satellites | Total Subwoofer reflex port | Satellite drivers Frequency response | Rated SNR Control type: Inline | Control pod | IR remote Controls: Type | Volume control | Mute button FM tuner | Aux input | Headphone jack BUILD QUALITY Quality: Cabinet | Buttons/knobs | Cables Removable grilles: Speaker | Subwoofer Scratch resistant body Aesthetic appeal ERGONOMICS Gradation on controls Color-coded cables | Power supply type Satellites: Stand | wall-mountable Detachable cables for satellites Location of controls (Volume and Bass) PERFORMANCE Music mode (Scores out of 5) Electronica | Rock Pop and Hiphop | Jazz Orchestral | Hindi Test tones (Scores out of 5) Bass sine tone sweep Full fequency sine tone sweep Sheffield audio Depth test White noise transients White noise sweep Solo drums transients Peak level distortion test Movie mode (Scores out of 5) Game mode (Scores out of 5) WARRANTY Warranty period
LOGITECH Z-5500 DIGITAL Logitech 022-26571160 kavita_nath@logitech.com Rs 27,995
74 69 60 83 50
50 100
77
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10.1x10.1x10.1 inches 3.6x2.7x7.5 inches 188 W | 62 W | 505 W Side | 1 33 Hz - 20 KHz | 93.5 db || Digital | | || Very good | Good | Good | Good looking | External | IR remote and control pod
9.8x9.8x13 inches 3.2x2.3x7 inches 28 W | 12 W | 89 W Down | 2 30 Hz - 20 KHz | 75 db || Analog + digital | | || Very good | Good | Good | Good looking | External | Control pod
4.0 | 4.0 4.0 | 4.5 4.5 | 4.0 4 4 4 4 4 4.5 4.5 4 4.5 2 years
4.0 | 4.5 4.5 | 4.5 4.0 | 4.0 4 4 4 4 4 4.5 4.5 4 4.5 1 year
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3
ARTIS S-5555 Kunhar Peripherals Pvt Ltd 022-66345758 sales1@kunhar.com Rs 2,750
60 71 61 74 50
0 50 100
4
ZEBRONICS SW7000R Top Notch Infotronix India Pvt Ltd 044-43936000 enquiry@zebronics.info Rs 3,200
59 46 76 76 50
0 50 100
5
PHILIPS MMS460 Philips Electronics India Ltd 011-66001111 customercare.india@philips.com Rs 7,990
48 71 40 74 50
0 50 100
6
TECH-COM SD4201R Shree Sagarmatha Distributors Pvt Ltd 011-26428541 techcom@airtelmail.in Rs 3,199
60 46 51 71 50
0 50 100
7
CREATIVE T6160 Compuage India 9223325430 vinod.thakkar@compuageindia.com Rs 4,999
41 46 50 75 50
0 50 100
67
64
62
60
57
13.4x6.8x9.1 inches 5.6x3.3x4.4 inches 25 W | 5 W | 50 W Side | 1 35 Hz - 20 KHz | NA || Digital | | || Above avg | Above avg | Above avg | Avg looking | External | IR remote and subwoofer
13x6.1x8.1 inches 5.5x2.7x4 inches 30 W | 10 W | 80 W Front | 2 40 Hz - 20 KHz | 80 db || Analog + digital | | || Above avg | Above avg | Above avg | Avg looking | External | IR remote and subwoofer
5.7x9.4x5.6 inches 3.5x2.4x3.5 inches 30 W | 5 W | 55 W Back | 1 20 Hz - 20 KHz | NA || Digital | | || Very good | Good | Good | Good looking | External | Satellite
12.2x6.8x9.5 inches 4.5x3.0x3.5 inches 25 W | 10 W | 75 W Back | 1 20 Hz - 20 KHz | 70 db || Digital | | || Above avg | Above avg | Above avg | Avg looking | External | IR remote
10.2x6.3x7.5 inches 5.9x3.0x3.5 inches 20 W | 6 W | 50 W Front | 1 40 Hz - 20 KHz | 75 db || Analog | | || Good | Above avg | avg | Avg looking | External | Control pod
3.5 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 4 4 1 year
4.0 | 3.5 4.0 | 3.5 4.0 | 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 4 4 4 1 year
4.0 | 4.0 3.5 | 4.0 4.0 | 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 3.5 4 4 3.5 1 year
3.5 | 4.0 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.5 3 3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 3.5 1 year
4.0 | 4.0 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 | 4.0 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 3.5 4 4 4 1 year
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3 3.5 INCH EXT DRIVE 3.5 INCH EXT DRIVE COMPARISON
FEAT FEA URED FE ATURED FEATURED ATUR
Desktop Databanks
Looking for an external hard drive to store all your movies, music, documents and more? We tested 12 drives ranging from 500 GB to 2 TB.
BY CHIP TEST CENTER
connectivity, more sources of data, better hardware, and many other factors have sped up the rate at which we create and download data. At the same time, le sizes are bloating thanks to high-denition video formats, the increasing complexity of game engines, and so on. Not too long ago, a couple of gigabytes on a USB ash drive would suffice to store a movie or two along with a few songs, photos and documents. But today, people want to store their entire music collection, favorite movies, photo albums, documents, ISO images, and more. Havent you ever wished you
igh-capacity external storage devices are becoming a huge necessity. Faster Internet
had huge hard drive storage to save your entire collection of movies? 3.5-inch external hard drives have come a long way, thanks to the advancements in storage technology. Today, the capacity of these storage devices has doubled to 2 TB and higher. Unlike before, you also have a choice of interfaces. If you own an Apple Macintosh, you can opt for a drive with
FireWire interface for better transfer speeds. A drive with backup software and a data encryption feature is ideal for students and office users who want a backup device to secure their critical documents and synchronize data between PCs and the storage drives. If you want to transfer voluminous amounts of data and still havent picked up an external storage device, pick up a 3.5-inch external hard drive. USB ash drives are cheaper, but look at the price youre paying per GB. An 8 GB ash drive priced around Rs 700 offers a gigabyte for around Rs 90, whereas you pay only Rs 6 per GB if you buy a 1 TB drive that costs Rs 6,000. In addition to this, you get much higher transfer speeds. In this roundup, we compared 12 external desktop hard drives from most of the major brands on the market. Youll nd all that weve spoken about in the next few pages. But before we move on, heres what the drives went through in our tests:
Jagdish Limbachiya
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3.5 INCH EXT DRIVE COMPARISON
FEATURED
TEST PROCESS
We compared the drives on the basis of four parametersFeatures, Build quality, Performance, and Warranty and support.
IOMEGA ULTRAMAX
IOMEGA PRESTIGE
Features: Here we logged the physical

characteristics and the technical specications of each drive. Next in precedence were the bundled software. We looked out for useful features such as scheduled backup, data synchronization, and data encryption. Finally, we checked the package contents whether the manufacturer included a FireWire and eSATA cable.
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Rs 9,950
Dimensions (WxHxD): 79x128x200 mm; Capacity: 1 TB; Weight: 997 g; Interface: USB, eSATA, FireWire 400 and 800.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Rs 4,950
Dimensions (WxHxD): 81x15x131 mm; Capacity: 500 GB; Weight: 860 g; Interface: USB.
CONTACT PHONE EMAIL
Build quality: The quality of the shell

is important as it needs to be sturdy and also look good at the same time. We noted if the surface of the shell was resistant to scratches. More points were given to drives with matt nish. Glossy surfaces look sleek but attract ngerprints and scratches very easily. At the end of the day, looks do matter.
neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in
neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY FEATURES PERFORMANCE WARRANTY OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY FEATURES PERFORMANCE WARRANTY OVERALL RATING VALUE FOR MONEY
Performance: This section formed

the core of the test and was allotted the maximum weightage. The overall performance was evaluated using synthetic and real-world tests. We used HD Tach 3 which is a low level hardware benchmark for evaluating random access time and linear read/write speeds. In addition to this we also used the removable storage benchmark in SiSoft Sandra 2009 SP2. This test evaluates the read/write speeds by simulating le transfer using data chunks of various sizes (256 KB, 2 MB, 64 MB, and so on). The real-world scores were obtained by timing le transfers between the drive and the test rig. The tests were carried out using single and multiple les amounting to 2 GB.
he Iomega Ultramax resembles a shrunken Mac Pro. Packed in an
he Iomega Prestige was one of the very few drives in the roundup with
aluminum casing with a meshed front bezel, this external drive is one goodlooker. Going by the specications, this drive had to win because it has an array of connectivity options. In addition to the standard USB 2.0 connectivity, you can also hook it up to an Apple Macintosh using the FireWire 800 interface. The eSATA interface will give you the fastest transfer speeds but your motherboard should have an eSATA port. Iomega has provided high-quality cables for all the interfaces so you wont have to go hunting for eSATA or FireWire 800 cables which are expensive and difficult to nd. The build quality of the drive is excellent and so is the the bundled vertical stand which holds the drive steady. The base and inner portions of the stand are lined with rubber pads so that the drive doesnt slip. We used the eSATA interface to allow the drive to perform at its best and the results were astounding. A whopping 90 MB/s write speedthree times faster than with the conventional USB 2.0 interface. Also, the drive doesnt heat up due to its metal shell. VERDICT: If you need style and performance, this one deserves serious consideration. FOR: Good design, aluminium casing, all cables provided. AGAINST: The backup software has to be downloaded.
such a lowstorage capacity. Although 500 GB isnt very little, its the lowest that you can nd on the market. The drive sports a sturdy aluminium shell with a brushed nish and the meshed front bezel is of plastic. It looks plain vanilla and offers only USB 2.0 connectivity. The rear panel has an on/ off switch and a Kensington security slot for fastening the drive to your desk. The drive comes with a USB cable and a stand to keep it vertical. You have to use the stand unless youre ne with the exterior getting scratched due to the absence of rubber feet. The stand should have been of better quality as it doesnt grip the drive rmly. One thing we really like about this drive is the provision for replacing/ upgrading the hard drive. You simply have to unfasten two screws on the rear panel and it gently slides out of the casing. The drive installed in this device is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 with SATA interface. The average read and write speeds were 32 MB/s and 30 MB/s respectively as per our tests. VERDICT: Performance wise the Iomega Prestige is just like another external drive with USB interface. FOR: Attractive price, aluminum shell, user-replaceable hard drive. AGAINST: The backup software has to be downloaded.
Warranty & support: The biggest

drawback of hard drive-based external storage devices is that they are delicate and prone to uncertain failure. Therefore it is very important that they are backed by robust warranty and support. Brands that offer a longer warranty period scored well in this section.
Value for money: We concluded

the tests with the Value for Money index. This was calculated by summing up the devices overall features and performance scores and dividing the result by its price. The drive that scored the highest VFM index was awarded Best Value.
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FEATURED
PERSONAL TAKE
SpecScan 1
NAME
FRANCIS D'SA francis.dsa@chip.in When opting for an external drive, one needs to put a finger on his or her exact needs before considering aesthetics and price. Of all the external drives that came into the Test Center for the comparison, the finest drive I would recommend for any professional use is the Iomega UltraMax. It has a superb build quality with a silver matte-finish aluminum body which also gives you the satisfying feeling of a owning an elegant computer peripheral. Secondly, it has all the interfaces one would look for, be they a PC or a Mac user. The performance delivered by the UltraMax is well suited for programs such as audio/video editing and graphic designing which require high-speed data transfer equivalent to the internal storage drive. I would also recommend the Verbatim 500 GB drive as it also features an eSATA interface which eliminates the bottlenecking of data transfer speeds.
2
VERBATIM ESATA AND USB 2.0 Ramesh Tuli 011-46525661 ramesh.tuli@verbatim.co.in Rs 8,999
IOMEGA ULTRAMAX neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in Rs 9,950
Contact Phone E-mail Price* OVERALL Features (30%) Build quality (20%) Performance (40%) Warranty (10%)
87 100 96 60
0 50 100 0 50
60 90 79 60
100
Overall Value for money FEATURES Capacity Dimensions (WxHxD) Weight Interface USB 2.0 | eSATA FireWire 400 | FireWire 800 Software features Backup: Selective | Scheduled Data syncrhonization Data encryption Package contents Cables: USB | FireWire | eSATA BUILD QUALITY Quality of shell Quality of cables Use of metal in construction Resistant to scratches Aesthetic appeal PERFORMANCE Synthetic tests HD Tach 3.0.1.0 Random Access Time Linear read Linear write SiSoft Sandra 2009 256 kB files (Read | Write) 2 MB files (Read | Write) 64 MB files (Read | Write) Real world tests Single file: Read | Write Multiple files: Read | Write WARRANTY AND SUPPORT Warrant period
90
74
1 TB 79x128x200 mm 997 g | | | || Excellent Excellent Downright sexy!
500 GB 114x40x202 mm 893 g | | | || Excellent Very good Average looking
ANAND TULIANI anand.tuliani@chip.in The most important parameter I consider while buying an external storage device is transfer speed. So I prefer those with eSATA interfaces which can transfer data as fast as an internal hard drive. While USB 2.0 hard drives cant transfer data at speeds more than 35 MB/s, eSATA drives are 2.5 times faster. This big difference in transfer speeds is very timesaving when it comes to transferring huge amounts of data. USB 2.0 would take five minutes to transfer 10 GB of data while eSATA would take a little less than two minutes. My personal favorite is the Iomega UltraMax. Its rock-solid, looks gorgeous, has a variety of connectivity options, and moreover its an allround package with all the necessary cables and backup software. It commands a premium for all these features, but I wouldnt mind it because I believe in getting the best.
15.4 ms 92.5 MB/s 95.8 MB/s 87.75 MB/s | 49.77 MB/s 53.23 MB/s | 82.97 MB/s 93.87 MB/s | 91.73 MB/s 37.69 MB/s | 105.43 MB/s 35.79 MB/s | 90.79 MB/s 3 years
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3
IOMEGA EGO neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in Rs 6,950
4
IOMEGA PRESTIGE neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in Rs 4,950
5
WD MYBOOK STUDIO Amarjeet Singh 9321029204 amarjeet.singh@wdc.com Rs 8,500
6
SEAGATE FREEAGENT DESK Fortune Marketing 011-26414468 sales@fortune-it.com Rs 6,900
55 100 50 60
0 50 100 0 50
52 96 49 60
100 0 50
58 66 45 100
100 0 50
54 65 46 100
100
62
60
59
58
1 TB 89x18x132 mm 1 Kg | | | || Excellent Excellent Downright sexy!
500 GB 81x15x131 mm 860 g | | | || Excellent Excellent Good looking
1 TB 48x165x135 mm 872 g | | | || Above average Excellent Downright sexy!
1 TB 33x175x172 mm 1 Kg | | | || Good Excellent Average looking
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FEATURED
OBSERVATIONS
Nothing much has changed in the external storage scenario since the past few years. Weve only seen bumps in storage capacity and facelifts in design. The lowest storage capacity available last year was 250 GB, but today 500 GB is the least you can find on shelves. This is because desktop hard drives have become so cheap that it doesnt make sense offering anything lower. Currently the price difference between a 500 GB and a 1 TB hard drive is Rs 1,200. When this margin reduces further, 500 GB hard drives will become extinct. The same will be the case with 1 TB drives when 2 TB hard drives become cheaper which will happen after a year or so. At present the eSATA interface delivers fastest transfer rates, but surprisingly Western Digital has withdrawn support for eSATA in their latest generation of the MyBook series. Seagate's FreeAgent Xtreme (with eSATA support) is also on the verge of extinction. Thats because eSATA hasnt gained enough popularity globally. The major reasons for this are the absence of eSATA ports in entry-level motherboards and the need for external power. But USB 3.0 compliant motherboards and storage devices are launching next year, so we should see external storage devices adopt these quickly. We saw a lot of innovative designs this year. The best were from Iomega followed by Western Digital who has introduced a capacity gauge on the hard drive that uses an electronic ink display. It displays the free capacity along with a string of text of your choice, and it requires only a 10 second charge to keep the label active for six months. The plain-Jane hard drives with only USB 2.0 interfaces are the cheapest ones you can find if you want the best bang for the buck. Thus theres something for everyone out there.
SpecScan 7
NAME Contact Phone E-mail Price* OVERALL Features (30%) Build quality (20%) Performance (40%) Warranty (10%)
0 50
8
BUFFALO DRIVESTATION Buffalo India 011-41538059 b-milinda@melcoinc.co.jp Rs 12,500
VERBATIM USB 2.0 Ramesh Tuli 011-46525661 ramesh.tuli@verbatim.co.in Rs 9,790
48 90 48 60
100 0
41 71 48 60
50 100
Overall Value for money FEATURES Capacity Dimensions (WxHxD) Weight Interface USB 2.0 | eSATA FireWire 400 | FireWire 800 Software features Backup: Selective | Scheduled Data syncrhonization Data encryption Package contents Cables: USB | FireWire | eSATA BUILD QUALITY Quality of shell Quality of cables Use of metal in construction Resistant to scratches Aesthetic appeal PERFORMANCE Synthetic tests HD Tach 3.0.1.0 Random Access Time Linear read Linear write SiSoft Sandra 2009 256 kB files (Read | Write) 2 MB files (Read | Write) 64 MB files (Read | Write) Real world tests Single file: Read | Write Multiple files: Read | Write
57
51
1 TB 114x40x202 mm 922 g | | | || Excellent Very good Average looking
1 TB 45x175x156 mm 934 g | | | || Very good Very good Good looking
15.5 ms 45.7 MB/s 26.9 MB/s 28.29 MB/s | 5.39 MB/s 32.03 MB/s | 25 MB/s 13.73 MB/s | 38.4 MB/s 26.67 MB/s | 39.55 MB/s 31.25 MB/s | 31.25 MB/s 3 years
The E-Ink displays on the MyBook Elite and Studio work even when not powered.
WARRANTY AND SUPPORT Warrant period
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FEATURED
9
WD MYBOOK ELITE Amarjeet Singh 9321029204 amarjeet.singh@wdc.com Rs 6,800
10
WD MYBOOK ESSENTIAL Amarjeet Singh 9321029204 amarjeet.singh@wdc.com Rs 12,500
11
IOMEGA SELECT neoteric infomatique ltd 022-40859600 sales@neoteric.co.in Rs 5,950
12
WD MYBOOK MIRROR EDITION Amarjeet Singh 9321029204 amarjeet.singh@wdc.com Rs 14,500
43 66 49 60
0 50 100 0 50
51 51 44 60
100 0
30 51 49 60
50 100 0
45 72 45 60
50 100
54
51
49
49
48
1 TB 48x165x135 mm 872 g | | | || Above average Excellent Downright sexy!
2 TB 48x165x135 mm 989 g | | | || Good Excellent Good looking
1 TB 111x38x206 mm 794 g | | | || Excellent Excellent Average looking
2 TB 98x166x154 mm 1.9 Kg | | | || Good Excellent Good looking
17 ms 31 MB/s 21.7 MB/s 28.94 MB/s | 17.08 MB/s 29.47 MB/s | 21.83 MB/s 33.07 MB/s | 24.53 MB/s 31.80 MB/s | 31.59 MB/s 31.79 MB/s | 27.5 MB/s 3 years
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FUTURE DRIVE
FEATURED
Future Drive
Cars are turning into computers on wheels! CHIP shows you how road traffic will soon be much smarter and safer.
BY DANIEL WOLFF
oure in the year 2019, speeding along a superhighway anywhere in the world. Its early morning,
In the opposite lane, however, a fully loaded 40-tonne vehicle was not as lucky. In spite of its own modern electronics system, it cannot defy the laws of physics, and unfortunately collides with the guard rail. The driver is fortunately unhurt, but within a few milliseconds, the sensors in his bumpers report the impact to a central emergency response center. Drivers approaching the site are also warned of the accident, and possible detours calculated and displayed immediately on their navigation devices. Once he is sure he is safe, the driver of the unfortunate vehicle calls for a repair shop mechanic with help of a video transmitter, and also requests his head
office to reboot the truck and run a remote system check to evaluate the damage it has sustained.
and a sudden blast of torrential rain has made the road severely risky. The car which is driving ahead of you is a very new model, and sensors in its chassis detect this and alert its driver about the alarming traffic conditions with a subtle vibration of the steering wheel as well as a ashing icon on the video console. Furthermore, all following vehicles including yours are also warned via wireless signals between them; these vehicles in turn forward the warning to the cars behind them. This is how rearend collisions due to sudden braking are avoided.
Computers on wheels
For such a scenario to become real, we require technical infrastructure which is way beyond the level of current cars. Although a few higher-end models already use polished technologies, these are very expensive and till now have been largely proprietary, i.e. they are different for different manufacturers. In the future it will be necessary for cars to communicate with each other irrespective of the manufacturer possibly across the country, no matter what the vehicles cost, and maybe Continued on pg 124
Car manufacturers
Gas stations
Toll plazas
Navigation providers
Community programmers
VISION: ALL SERVICES FOR EVERY DRIVER

SOURCE: INTEL LABS EUROPE
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
APP
The Business and Accounting Model (BAM) for automobile infrastructure has service providers such as car manufacturers, gas stations, etc and the drivers (i.e. customers) connected via an infrastructure cloud to ensure secure, barrier-free communication in all directions as well as trustworthy billing.
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FUTURE DRIVE
FEATURED
AUTOMOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

In the future, cars will be equipped with all the communication capabilities of a modern smartphone and will additionally be fitted with video cameras and radar range finders.
VIDEO CAMERAS GPS RADAR
GSM/3G/WIMAX
BLUETOOTH
ELECTRONIC COLLISION WARNINGS (PRE-CRASH ALERTS)
2.5 seconds before the accident

Optical collision warning through a virtual road sign.

A slight vibration in the steering wheel, faint warning signal.

Vigorous vibration in the steering wheel, loud audio warning
CAR-TO-CAR COMMUNICATIONS
In future traffic scenarios, cars will communicate with each other in real time. Electronic collision warnings and virtual road signs will help avoid accidents and jams.
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY CALLS (E-CALLS)
1. Emergency call trigger

Sensors in the airbags and crush zones of the car register a severe collision
2. Signal transmission
3 2 4
An emergency signal will be transmitted via satellite or GSM/3G
3. Emergency center
Within a few seconds, one will be informed of the exact location of the car accident
4. Emergency measures
The emergency center calls for support (police, ambulance, tow-truck, repair shop)
PHOTOS: INTEL; GETTY IMAGES; ISTOCKPHOTO; UNIVERSITT KARLSRUHE ILLUSTRATION: JAGDISH LIMBACHIYA
FUTURE DRIVE
FEATURED
VIRTUAL ROADSIGNS
even incorporating cross links with the local public transport systems. Only car-to-car communication will make it possible for cars to warn each other about accidents and traffic jams. In addition, even the ow of the traffic can be easily optimized. A body of leading car manufacturers in the industry called Car 2 Car Communication Consortium (www.car-to-car.org) is working towards this goal. Besides this could result in a uniform electronic standard in the auto industry, which could ensure enormous cost cuttings. Up to now, there have been a number of non-universal standards which have made production very expensive. The auto industry works very differently from the PC industry when it comes to using standardized components and accessories.
1. Video recording
One or more front video cameras record the traffic event, which is also stored.
2. Video analysis
The powerful onboard electronic systems analyze the traffic situation in real time.
3. Risk identification
Safe cars and those at risk of collision will be identified (green/red).
4. Visual warning
A warning sign will be superimposed on the console and/or on the windshield.
ELECTRONIC BILLING (ADVANCED BILLING)

2 3
Computer chips in cars

For obvious reasons, low-voltage, lowheat chips such as the Intel Atom series are looking like potential ways to solve this problem. Such CPUs are embedded
in numerous industrial devices, and such systems can easily be tted in the head unit of a car without any additional devices. Using mainstream CPUs would
Bank
mean that a wide range of operating systems, application software and

Maestro
Max Musterman n 123456 84777489
development tools will be compatible and available. Furthermore, such systems would be able to communicate
1. Request
The on-board electronic system wirelessly requests passage (in case of toll or car park) or payment (gas station).
2. Acknowledgement of payment
On behalf of the toll check / fuel station, the car obtains an acknowledgement receipt from the authority.
3. Clearance
The barrier opens or as the case may be the fuel station or electric power station will clear the car for refuelling.
outside the cars, for instance via WiFi, Bluetooth, WiMAX or cellular networks. The standards at the foundations of these CPUs have already been around for decades, so long-term expansion and compatibility are also quite certain. At this years CeBIT, German car stereo manufacturer Harman/Becker introduced a possible design of such a head unit. A BMW X5 was integrated with a ready for production prototype. Its system not only enabled quick access to the Internet and playback of all audio and video formats, but also made a number of new, somewhat graphically complex Infotainment applications and the communication over UMTS or WLAN possible. In the process, it consumed in all 10 Watts, a fraction of the energy consumption of current systems with a similar range of functions. However, there is a limiting factor too: separate controllers are needed for safety functions like ABS, airbags, etc.
DIGITAL REMOTE MAINTENANCE (REMOTE REPAIR)

2
1
1. Malfunction message
In case of a malfunction in the car, the on-board electronic system establishes contact with a service centre either automatically via 3G/ WiMAX or at the press of a button.
3
3. Video conference
The driver will now be able to talk directly with the service center expert.
4
4. Analysis and necessary repairs
The car mechanic identifies the problem using the car's diagnostics and recommends action. He might be able to make it fit for driving again.
2. Connection establishment
Bi-directional channels are set up for the transmission of video, audio and car detail.
At CeBIT 2009, Intel demonstrated a BMW X5 in which an Atom-based computer was integrated (circuit board shown in detail).
Cutting edge research

Several research organizations are working on car technology. One prominent establishment which is investigating the potential of a standard electronic platform for cars is the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which employs 8,000 researchers and has an annual budget of 700 million Euros. (It is probably just coincidence that KIT sounds similar to David Hasselhoffs talking wonder car from the hit TV series Knight Rider!). The goal of its research is to arrive at a standard, easily understandable user interface which can display data calculated by the system in real time, as well as control intelligent systems and ad-hoc networks that use Wi-Fi, 3G or Wimax. Active and passive safety functions are examined, such as the potential of Car to Car communications. KITs work is largely divided into three categories:
office applications more attractive (for passengers, of course). And a standard billing system for parking bills, toll or fuel as well as for remote diagnosis for basic access repairs may also be conceivable.
components need to be able to work together, for example the road condition sensors should be able to inuence the directions offered by the navigation system. Furthermore, concepts such as pop-up visualizations in the dashboard play an important role. Last but not least, is the importance of protection against hacking so that the systems remain safe for drivers.
Business & Accounting: Research

work for a successful operation and the necessary billing scenario has to be
A playground for applications

Another compelling attraction would be the development of an applications store. Once the technology and billing procedures are standardized, a concept similar to Apples App Store for the iPhone would allow individuals to customize their cars with downloaded apps such as instant networks for those stuck within a certain radius in a traffic jam or a destination nder that uses satellite maps and images. Such
A car's systems can be integrated with mobile devices, for example using an iPod touch to control the music system from the rear seat.
Services & Applications: Call center

or development tools should make it possible for interested providers to integrate their range of products with the system structure quickly and efficiently. Concrete applications would most probably be in regards to active safety, for instance automatic emergency calls or electronic collision warnings. A powerful computer unit in every car would provide the latest traffic information, weather reports and toll information. Due to better data availability, virtual road signs in the drivers console could become more important. It should also be possible to connect the cars entertainment options (radio, video, TV), irrespective of the manufacturer. Easy Internet access should make working with mobile
possibilities are tantalizing! With components similar to a PC, one might even deal with the continuously changing challenges of driving with simple software updates rather than requiring manufacturers to install new equipment. All this could be a reality only if the majority of car manufacturers decide to do it together, which in turn will only be possible if the technological capabilities and production methods of a standard electronic platform are proven. So one is only left to hope that most of the manufacturers in the car industry are convinced soon, since a mammoth proposition such as to have one standard car infrastructure is only possible at an international scale.
feedback@chip.in
carried out, to make it easier to convince car manufacturers. The focus of this research is on questions such as user or usage-based tariffs or at-rate models: What is actually marketable? Which technologies are required to build and implement the ideal business model?
Backend Technology & Architecture: A cost-effective

architecture is necessary for the implementation; therefore, similar to the IT world, it should be standard for the actual devices inside and outside the vehicle as well as at the manufacturers and service providers data centers. On the vehicle end, the electronic
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TECH BEHIND CNBCTV18
FEATURED
Ten Years of Broadcast Innovation

B
ehind Indias largest TV business news operation is a nationwide team that manages all its information pouring in every day from the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, whose feeds pour into the CNBC-TV18 systems in real time. Millions of stock ticks are recorded per second, and they all come rushing in for logging and analysis which happens the y thanks to custom software developed in house. CNBC-TV18 needs to monitor all the scrips and detect newsworthy uctuations in their values, and also be able to present these as meaningful information to viewers. The custom software can push all that information out to the production control rooms to insert live tickers into the video feeds in the correct format and with the bare minimum of manual intervention. Each value appears on screen for roughly two seconds the ticker has been calibrated for the best possible balance between speed and readability. The numbers are live, which means they to show the most recent values even in that tiny twosecond window. All the infographics viewers see on screen are also controlled by the same software. Every graph, chart and diagram shown during a newscast or show is generated the same way. Data is simply pulled out of the analytics engine based on the companies, commodities or indices being discussed, and turned into visually attractive slides that producers can integrate into their shows on the y. These illustrations need to reference historical data which is picked up from technology. With 24-hour broadcasts in English and Hindi, the job involves not only looking after over a thousand PCs, but also the video cameras, editing and transmission equipment, data storage, satellite uplink controls and even mobile vansno small feat.
Raj Lalwani, Better Photography
As CNBC-TV18 turns ten years old in India, CHIP takes a look at the technology behind running Indias largest English and Hindi business news channels.. BY JAMSHED AVARI
the companys archives, but they can still update themselves in real time, even while theyre actually on the air! That means they aren't just static images or canned animations; they are more like templates which display only the most current information even while they are on viewers screens, updating themselves based on the information that pours in every millisecond. Producers can also manipulate them livethey often have to prevent animations from refreshing because uctuations are so rapid that the numbers cant be read on screen!
What the viewers see

CNBC-TV18 runs from ve studios spread between the head office in Mumbai and a superbureau in New Delhi. The English and Hindi channels have their own studios from where the anchors present their segments each day, as well as additional facilities for features and chat shows with sets, props, and live studio audiences. Outside the newsroom, there are 17 locations across the country which broadcast feeds to the production controllers in Mumbai via ber optic links (satellite links arent as effective or reliable for the time being). Additional feeds come from the miniature setups installed at the offices of more than 20 brokerage houses and consultancies with which CNBC-TV18 has tied up, allowing a select panel of experts from the eld to give their inputs on breaking news and market uctuations without delay of travelling to the nearest studio or waiting for a video van to arrive. Another challenge is managing the hundreds of gigabytes worth of
Behind it all
All of this illustrates CNBC-TV18s biggest strengththe automation and simplicity of its market information systems. The organization says with full condence that this is the easiest and most exible system in use by any media house in the country today. In fact they have received several inquiries from other rms about selling or licensing it out. This kind of live information also empowers journalists. Without the benet of its historical archives and zero turnaround time while accessing live or old data, the anchors and experts would not be able to make such quick analyses on air, and would not be able to advise viewers with the same level of authority and incisiveness that they can today. With just a few keystrokes, journalists and editors can call up any information they need about a
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TECH BEHIND CNBCTV18
FEATURED
CNBC-TV18S PROUDEST TECH ACHIEVEMENTS

Compact video vans: An innovation that lets CNBC report from crowded locations easier than it could before. Software development team: Loads of software developed inhouse lets CNBC be stronger and more flexible. Complete automation of workflows: Empowering journalists and production staff with easy access to data and zero turnaround time.
company or a past news item including corporate details, executive proles, notes, and other metadata for reference whenever needed. Dozens of algorithms pre-programmed into the system alert editorial staff about sudden market movements, allowing them to zero in on the most newsworthy happenings of the moment and put them on air. Of course all this data needs to be backed up, and the networks considerable investments and interests are protected with daily automated backups. Archived video segments are stored on digital tapes, while critical data is also duplicated to a remote location in case of physical damage such as a re or natural disaster. Behind the scenes, journalists, editors, producers, anchors and researchers are constantly shooting video and creating footage for broadcast. All the equipment they use is also selected, managed, and cared for by the technology team. From the cameras to the editing machines and from the production control rooms to the uplink stations, the equipment must all be carefully tuned to work together and make life easy for the news staff. Its an interesting blend of cutting-edge technology and older legacy devices, to get the best efficiency and cost effectiveness without compromising the channels directive of breaking the news rst. Video is recorded in any convenient format. Digitization happens centrally, and video is edited across 30 stations equipped with Mac Pro systems running Final Cut Pro (in addition to dedicated Autodesk Smoke and Flint workstations for the more demanding clips and channel promos). The central video storage and archiving system allows access to the stored video from anywhere, including the editing stations, production controllers, and even editorial and assignment desks running ordinary desktop software. Not only does this allow exibility in using the same clip for multiple purposes, but it allows producers to make simple edits like cropping a quote out of a long speech for immediate use on air. Video is routed between the edit stations, studios and desks in full resolution HDI, which translates to 270 Mbps. Dedicated 128x128 channel video routers handle this load in addition to the regular networking equipment and cabling that any office environment requires. Another example of in-house ingenuity is the industry-rst use of compact video
vans. Where every channel was used to custom-building huge enclosures on the backs of commercial vehicles, CNBC-TV18 was the rst to stuff all the required guts into a consumer van like a Toyota Innova. These mobile RF vans are as good as any other in the industry and are easier to deploy and park in crowded areas, not to mention being more fuel efficient. The same van can upload two signals simultaneously, so even if separate anchors are required to cover an event in English and Hindi, two vans arent needed. This helps the journalists get close to the action without jostling for space. All of these situations show how CNBC-TV18s technology staff has been
The Production Control Room is where audio and video are controlled and mixed during live shows or recordings.
constantly innovating and developing new ways to give Indias business news audience the best and most timely updates, so they can make the most informed decisions about their money and investments.
The Master Control Room, where satellite uplink and downlink feeds are checked for integrity.
Racks and racks of servers handle all the video and manage the central storage systems.
This is the Ingest Room, where video in any format can be digitized for editors to begin working on.
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2009: YEAR OF THE SUPERVIRUS
FEATURED
2009: Year of the supervirus

Conficker has come and gone, and hackers are now using more dangerous weapons. See whats in store and learn how to protect yourself. BY CLAUDIO MLLER
toes. A Windows loophole allowed it to spread like wildre and infect millions of computers all over the world. Concker is now only a vague memory, but a new virus called Gumblar has spread over the web in the meantime with very little awareness about it. Security experts warn that it is much more dangerous than Concker was. Approximately 100,000 English websites including reputed lifestyle portals like www. variety.com, were victims of this virus between March and June. Gumblar is exceptionally malicious, but it is still only one example of the new weapons used for cybercrime. The trend is clear: malware doesnt try to damage or delete data anymore, but is used to steal sensitive information such as user accounts, credit card numbers, log-in credentials and other personal information. Hackers are continuously rening the techniques they use to spread viruses through the web and hide them on computers. It has never been more clear that a PC cannot be allowed to exist without adequate antivirus and antimalware measures.
t the beginning of the year, the Concker worm kept computer users on their
Gumblar: a dynamic virus

What makes Gumblar so dangerous is its clever methods of building nests on harmless websites: it never uses the same code again, but rewrites the script for every website. This dynamically generated code makes it difficult for hosting companies to discover that their servers have been compromised. When a user opens a manipulated site, Gumblar infects the browser on the computer through any of a few known security loopholes in the Flash and PDF plugins. It then keeps a log of the surng pattern of the user and spies on login data and passwords. In Internet Explorer, it also manipulates Google search results. If a user clicks on one of these links, he or she is directed to another site that loads further malware on the PC. And as if this is not enough, Gumblar also creates a backdoor through which hackers can misuse the PC as a bot to send spam. In order to avoid such an attack, you must install the latest security software and keep it updated. There is still no concrete solution, since new variants of Gumblar are still popping up today. Many will be faced with the painful process of formatting their hard disks and reinstalling Windows to fully get rid of it.
NUMBER OF NEW MALWARE DETECTIONS

Since viruses now modify themselves, the number of variants discovered in the wild increases rapidly
1,5 Mio. 1.656.227
FAKE ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS

Already in the first quarter of 2009, more disguised virus scanners were revealed than those in the entire last year.
453.392
1,0 Mio.
224.423
SOURCE: SYMANTEC
92.215
20.547 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008
2008 gesamt
2009 Q1
2009 Q2*
2009 Q3*
*Projected
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0,5 Mio.
111.086
FEATURED
Analytics site, which was also infected and loaded malware onto the users computer using the common browser and plug-in loopholes. In the past, it was thought that if one does not visit dubious download or porn sites, one would not be at risk of picking up malware. However, modern viruses no longer hide only on dubious sites. Nowadays, approximately 85 percent of viruses spread through known harmless sites such as the popular technology blog Gadget Advisor that fell victim to such a
Hackers hide malware in trusted sites. The popular portal Gadget Advisor fell victim to such a trick.
TOP THREATS OF 2009

TOP 5 RISKIEST CELEBRITIES
Michael Jackson: The King of Pops death sparked off a deluge of spam and malware campaigns just hours after his death. Serena Williams: The famous tennis stars outburst at a line judge during the September 2009 U.S. Open had people eager to see the video of the incident. Patrick Swayze: Similar to Michael Jacksons death, cybercriminals took advantage of people searching for news. Harry Potter: Spammers and scammers took advantage of the summer craze around the sixth film in the Harry Potter series. President Barack Obama: Not only did the United States 44th President win the votes of Americans, he also won favor among cybercriminals.
virus at the end of May. Hackers abuse the fact that users trust these sites and download information from them without much thought. The onus of security therefore also falls on website owners.
Browser plugins
In addition, you must keep your browser and all its plugins and extensions up-to-date using automatic updates. It doesnt help much to deactivate plugins completely since those such as Flash are required for loads of websites. Like in the past, most attacks are targeted at ActiveX functions which are supported only by Internet Explorer. In versions of Windows prior to Vista, ActiveX allows extensive access rights to the system and makes it easy for hackers to read data or to take the complete control of the PC. Owing to improved access rights management in Vista and the increasing popularity of other browsers like Firefox or Chrome, hackers are increasingly focusing on the weak points of these applications. They often smuggle malware into a computer using browser extensions such as Java, QuickTime Player or PDF and Flash plugins.
Blackhat SEO
Another trick of cyber criminals is to attract as many users as possible to infected sites with the help of Google. Using its public reports and analytics tools, they determine the most frequently searched-for terms and create websites that match these search requests optimally and therefore are listed near the top on results pages. Using this kind of negative search engine optimization (also called Blackhat SEO), hackers attack ever-popular search topics such as YouTube or TV online as well as current issues like tragedies, events, and pop culture. These specially adapted sites are often hosted on free services, and might be taken down soon, but serve their purposes anyway. These are normally not infected themselves, but automatically redirect users to other sites that install the malware. Without the protection of updated security tools, the computer soon starts teeming with malware.
TOP 5 MALWARE OUTBREAKS

Conficker: Originally discovered in November 2008, Conficker caused a worldwide stir among computer users in March and April 2009. W32.Dozer: W32.Dozer began spreading on July 4, 2009, creating a Distributed Denial of Service attack against government, financial and media sites in the U.S. and South Korea. Operation Phish Phry: In October 2009, the FBI launched Operation Phish Phry, busting an identity theft ring that has victimized thousands of people. Fake Antivirus Software or Scareware: Also known as fake security software, these trick people into downloading an application through unfamiliar websites. Albert Gonzalez: In August 2009, US authorities announced the indictment of Albert Gonzalez, responsible for some of the largest data breaches in history.
FTP servers
In order to spread malware to the largest possible number of users, hackers chose well-known and frequently visited sites as the routes of propagation. The creators of Gumblar found an easy way to spread the virus quicklyif it nds the FTP username and password for any server, it infects all websites connected with it. The sites most at risk are those that offer large amounts of downloadable material, such as the research institutes or download portals. Hackers also abuse this FTP trick. In June, hackers infected approximately 40,000 websites within a few days using stolen FTP access data. If a user opened one of these sites and invoked the malicious JavaScript code, he/she was automatically directed to a fake Google
Social networks
Apart from Google links, other options are used by hackers to direct the users to dangerous sites. They often spread hazardous links via popular social networks such as Facebook, the largest network in the world with approximately 200 million registered users. Hackers use special tools to create hundreds of user proles automatically. These tools can break through the Captchas (distorted text ID tests) displayed at the time of registration. These are supposed to ensure that real person is registering
TOP 5 SPAM SUBJECTS

RE: Do you owe tax debt? Read on No health care and cant afford pills? You can now! Obama Sponsored Med Program Who killed Michael Jackson? Your friend invited you to twitter! Get swine flu medicine here
SOURCE: SYMNATEC
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FEATURED
In 2008, hackers concentrated on Microsoft Office formats for spreading viruses. This year, trends show that PDF files are being targeted more than any other format. These files are usually circulated via email attachments.
34% DOC (MS WORD)
2008
29% PDF (ADOBE READER) 20% XLS (MS EXCEL) 17% PPT (MS POWERPOINT) 39% DOC (MS WORD)
2009
49% PDF 7% XLS (MS EXCEL) 5% PPT (MS POWERPOINT)
on the site and not a machine, but can now be circumvented as well. Such fake proles are then used to send messages to other users. These messages contain links to sites from which users are prompted to click on fake ads or warnings, thus unknowingly triggering malware downloads. Hackers use the same ploy for the microblogging service Twitter. Here too they create fake proles and spread links to infected sites. In order to stand out from the numerous Twitter messages (Tweets), hackers use key words (Hashtags) that are most popular at the moment. This is similar to the trick used for Google search queries. Owing to the limit of 140 characters per tweet, hackers often shorten the long and cryptic links using services like TinyURL and thereby conceal the target sites URLs. At the end of May, such an attack on Twitter contained links to a few purported video sites that prompted users to install a video codec to view the lms. Instead of the codec, users received PrivacyCenter, a fake antivirus program. After installing it, the program recommends users carry out a system scan which it does not actually do anything, and then shows a series of fake warnings. Privacy Center directs users to a website to clean these ctitious threats, but then tells users they have to enter their credit card information to buy the full version. Of course, their accounts will soon be emptied. Facebook users have also encountered an exceptionally nasty virus. The worm Boface has spread across the web with at least 56 variants. It is hazardous for Facebook users since it lies dormant until one logs into the site. It then sends short mails containing a link to a video site to all the users
File hosts such as RapidShare are used to distribute virus-infested files quickly and anonymously.
of these threats and hence they do not download security updates for these programs. In Adobe Reader, you can disable JavaScript and rule out this risk by selecting Edit |Default Settings | JavaScript.
File transmission
Infected les spread via two main paths, websites that directly load PDFs in the browser window and email attachments. Since PDF is the standard format for documents on the web and (still) has a good reputation, few users are wary enough to anticipate malware in PDF attachments. Other le formats that transport viruses prefer le sharing and le hosting services. According to Symantec, approximately two thirds of virus-infected EXE les in 2008 were spread via le sharing. One-click hosts like RapidShare and MediaFire are increasingly being exploited by cyber criminals. They can upload les anonymously and then spread their download links across forums and social networks. The anonymity, large server capacities and the fact that most hosts are not blacklisted as hazardous sites work in favor of hackers. This is in fact considerably more effective than spreading hazardous links via spam mail. If the amount of spam and phishing increases at the same pace it has been throughout 2009, the user must understand that attacks by cybercriminals will be more frequent and more dangerous too. The only solution therefore is to stick to a regime of continuous updates. The open dangers of the Internet can simply not be ignored, and no user should be out there without effective safeguards.
feedback@chip.in
contacts. This site then propagates the virus further, and also uses the fake antivirus tactic to con users out of their credit card details. It has been estimated that nearly two million users have already fallen prey to the Boface virus, and the number is still increasing.
PDFs are the weakest

Fake antivirus programs that steal account and credit card information are considered to be the biggest threats. Experts estimate that the number of rogue antivirus programs will double per quarter till the end of 2009. Likewise, there has also been also a steep increase in attacks using manipulated PDF les. Until now, Microsofts Office formats were considered to be popular targets. However, almost half of all infected office documents today are PDF les. Three factors are at play: rstly, hackers regularly nd new security loopholes in Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which allow them to take the control of a system or sneak viruses in. Secondly, PDF documents can be manipulated with little effort, such as concealing malicious JavaScript in a le. Thirdly, many users are not aware
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ATTACKS ON OFFICE DOCUMENTS
WEB WATCH
FEATURED
Web Watch
HOW TO DO THINGS WINDOWS 7
t rst you might be tempted into comparing www. howtodothings.com, with the
colossal website www.howstuffworks.
very time a new Windows operating system is released, there ought to be queries in the users minds as
The site is built around the Wordpress 2.8 CMS system, and doesnt have many levels as far as the navigation is concerned. It isnt much of eye-candy either. But all the stories are well categorized and elements such as subscription widgets, recent posts, polling and such, are in place too. This is typical of a decent Wordpress blog. A similar but smaller blog is www. windows7start.com, which is dedicated to the Windows 7 operating system. This one mainly offers tips and tricks
to what its going to be like. Heres a website which will not only give a good head start with the recently launched Windows 7, but also offers tips on computer hardware and software. Its called www.pctipsbox.com. Call it a blog or a website, the strongest point of it
com, which is a guide for practically everything under the sun. But there is no comparison between the two, except that the concept is slightly similar. This website is packed with numerous articles on various elds such as automotive,
is the variety and quality of content. The main categories on this site include Computer hardware, Linux, Mac, Internet, Software, Ofce, and so on. The front page is rather text-heavy, but it's properly categorized with summaries of two latest posts from each category. The featured section displays what is currently the most talked about topic, such as The Windows 7 Product guide. Not to mention, there are separate categories for various other Windows operating systems.
business, career, computers and Internet, education, electronics, nance, real-estate, travel and so on. These elds account for the main categories of the website and each one has sublevels. Also, the content and language is extremely comprehensive. Lets say you've selected the hobbies section. Here youll nd subsections such as activities and pastimes, arts and entertainment and such. The articles talk about topics like, how to write a movie review, how to learn glass blowing and such. The design and navigation are very simple. Though the site isnt visually appealing, if youre looking for quick guides on how to subjects, this is a good website to visit. While you learn how to do things, you might want to visit www. mygoals.com. Here, you can make plans of how you work towards your time-bound goals. Its a fairly simple to use and focused site, where you can set goals for almost anything you want to achieve.
The rich arsenal of content includes news, tips, guides, DIY workshops and so on. Some of them are The ten things to do for Windows 7, Make Windows 7 faster, Microsoft Patches 34 security vulnerabilities, UI changes to expect in Firefox 4.0, hardware support for Windows 7, 20 tips and shortcuts for OSX and list is quite exhaustive. on the how-to of Windows 7. For instance, open command prompt in any folder, preorder Windows 7 and save 80 dollars, Force activation of Aero in Windows 7 and so on. The site's main menu includes News, Tips and Tricks, Tweaks, Downloads and Forum.
WELCOME 2010
eres a fun website to visit before New Year's Eve, it's called www. newyearfestival.com. Though,
it isnt the most visually appealing website, youll nd enough reasons to stay glued to it. Read about how New Years Eve is celebrated in different parts of the world. Browse through New Year SMSes, prayers, poems, recipes and such. Learn about how signicant this special occasion is to people from various religions across the globe. Know how New Year's is celebrated several times a year at different places and so on. Overall, this is a small and amateurish but informative website on this subject.
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WEB WATCH
FEATURED
CHIP searches high and low to bring you new websites for fun and productivity each month.
COMPILED BY DUSHYANT KHILNANI
EARN MONEY BY SHARING KNOWLEDGE
WEB DESIGN
called www.bukisa.com and is a smaller version of www.articlesbase.com, which is a much larger website with gazillions of articles on almost all subjects. Bukisa has a 3-step process where you rst upload your articles and other
eres a website that lets you share your knowledge online and earn money while others use it. Its
Development, relationships, dating, marriage and the list is endless. You can even become a reviewer of books, movies, music, restaurants and so on. One can choose to use the information for free, add to the rich information bank or do both. Bukisa is developed by Webika Ltd. and involves the founders of www.articlesbase.com.
or aspiring web designers and for professionals, www.smashingmagazine.com is
a great blog to visit. Although most
of the tutorials and guides revolve around the design part of a website or blog, such as CSS, wallpapers,
fonts and icons, you will also nd information and downloadable freebies for web development at the front and backend. Some of the guides are Mastering CSS coding and CSS differences Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8. In this mixture of posts youll also see other topics for back-end development such as 10 Wordpress coding techniques, and Coding an HTML 5 layout from scratch. We recommend you visit the digital media such as videos, spread the word and invite people to see and eventually get paid as your work attracts trafc. So if you have a zest for writing and want to make a quick buck doing it, chances are that what you want to share will most likely fall into one of the categories at this site. The broad ones include family, fashion and beauty, hobbies and craft, automotive, education, Internet, self-improvement and so on. While your profession or hobbies might involve various things, you can choose to write for subcategories like business, nance, insurance, marketing, or culture and society, nature, politics, science and so on. Other elds include clothing, jewelry, skin care, alternative medicine, diet and nutrition, rst aid, mental health, computers, Internet safety, Web Speaking of which, Articlesbase is one of the most comprehensive websites that offers user-generated content. It is much larger and more elaborately segregated. Also, it has a more professional outlook and to list all its categories would be really exhaustive. There are over 25 main categories and some of them have over 20 to 30 subcategories. Lets say if you want business-related information, you can browse through fund raising, home business, management, sales, strategic planning and so on. Or if you want to read up on law, select your domain from bankruptcy, cyber-law, immigration, patents etc. You can even write for this website to increase selfcredibility and be exposed to humongous amount of trafc that this website receives everyday. Inspiration section, where youll see posts based on ideas that inuence and enhance the design of your blog. A couple of posts are, Beautiful examples of Kinectic photography and How to be a Samurai designer. All-in-all wed say its a must-visit site, especially if youre in the designing stage of your blog. Even otherwise, the ideas herein are very useful for further developments for professional bloggers. Whats most reassuring is that each post is articulately and pictorially presented and also, there is decent amount of discussion taking place between readers and developers. The design of this blog is fairly straightforward and browsing through it will be very easy.
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E-LEARNING
FEATURED
Back to the classroom

Online certification courses are a dime a dozen, but making the correct choice takes some effort. CHIP gives you a head start and takes you through some useful online resources.
BY DUSHYANT KHILNANI
ven as you read this, a plethora of online courses are being held where people attend classroom
sessions. There are various aspects to consider when opting for e-learning. Lets discuss a few online sources where you can learn and even earn certicates and credits online. Logon to www.gcearnfree.org,
where all the courses are free of cost. Some include online classes and some are simple tutorials for self-paced learning. Online classes let you choose your schedule, earn a certicate on successfully completing a course and even interact with tutors and fellow students. One of the beauties of e-learning is that, as opposed to opting for an entire course, you can choose individual subjects. Creating an account is free and takes merely a minute. Just create a username and password, provide a valid email Id, and youre set. There's a wide variety of topics such as food and culinary, tax documentation, math basics, computers and so on. Though this site isnt one of the biggest, it offers some very useful courses. Heres a website that offers free study material, ocw.mit.edu. Short for Open Course Ware, OCW is by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and is a free publication of the courseware, which reects the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT. Although there is no accreditation solely on the basis of the courseware, its a great opportunity for students who want to know what is taught at the institute. The lecture notes and assignments are all properly categorized. The various elds include architecture and planning, engineering, health sciences etc. There are around 1900 courses to choose from. If you want to know what courses are offered at various institutes across India and abroad, logon to www.shiksha.com. Here, you will not only nd a multitude of courses and elds of study, but you can even narrow down your search with the help of the Career options section. Have your queries addressed online, read about preparing for various tests and browse through upcoming educational events. More than study material, this website is an excellent source for information on career and education. read about how e-learning works, what courses are available and where to nd them and accreditation information. There are articles that discuss how to choose an online school, 4 ways to balance family and school, how to use an online class syllabus and so on. Youll nd almost everything you want to know about the subject.
The future
One of the main reasons why e-learning may have tremendous growth-potential is that even people who are already in jobs can leverage on the technology to learn online without having to go to classes physically. They save time, get to continue their jobs and learn more in their elds which will help them climb their career ladders.
- dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
OTHER RESOURCES
education.newkerala.com onlinelearning.kontis.net www.britishcouncilonline.org www.123-online-management-training.com www.shiksha.com www.manipal.edu www.knowledgepresenter.com www.elearning-india.com www.indiaedu.com www.digitaltutors.com www.thegnomonworkshop.com www.pixologic.com
Being well-prepared beforehand

Enrolling for an online course might be easy, but there are factors such as being able to cope with the teaching style, the level of interaction needed and so on. Although theres ample help provided, its best to do some research beforehand. We recommend that you visit www.
Sachin Pandit
Distancelearn.about.com. Here, you can
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DUSHYANT'S COLUMN WEB WATCH
FEATURED
WITH THE GROWING INCLUSIVENESS OF THE WEB, EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AND BENEFIT
DUSHYANT KHILNANI, TECHNOLOGY WRITER
LANGUAGE NO BAR
A
lthough computers have been around for a long time their usage has been restricted and one of the major reasons for that has been the language barrier. Fortunately now that the development and acceptability of Language Interface Packs (LIPs) is more evident learning how to use a computer could be much easier for the masses. One example of how LIPs are being used is the presence of numerous websites in Indian languages. To your right is a list of a few Hindi websites. There are not only websites, but even Hindi-speaking bloggers are making the most of new technology. Also, there are transliteration bots, such as those offered by Google, which allow chatting in Hindi. Even mailing in Hindi has been around for while. So perhaps the language barrier isn't the only thing holds back people from using computers. There could be other factors such as illiteracy and more importantly the lack of availability, awareness and encouragement. Maybe more emphasis on computer education by the governments could help. It is common to stumble upon instances like the one reported by CBS news reporter Bootie Cosgrove-Mather. He has reported on a project called Infothela which is funded by the central government of India. Conceived in 2003 by the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, its aim is to use technology for the improvement of education and health, and to make agricultural information accessible to Indian villagers. Its highlight is a cart designed like a temple carriage that bears Hindu deities during festivals. Thats a common sight in rural India, except that this cart carries in it a computer equipped with a high-speed Internet connection and is accompanied by an instructor to educate people for free. Then there's a much more recent endeavor by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. This was where we, the CHIP Test Center, tested a handful of computers from various companies. After fi nalizing on a couple of them, the MP government was to install a huge number of PCs in remote villages across the state. It won't be surprising to see similar projects brewing and being implemented across our nation. With greater penetration will come greater demand for content, and locallanguage websites to fi ll the void. One might wonder how computers can be continually operational in places where power cuts are inevitable. Governments are working towards making things work. For instance, Ram Dutt Tripathi for BBC News reported about a pilot project in Uttar Pradesh where solar power is used to run computers in villages. There have also been other projects to introduce automation in the agricultural sector such as triggering water pumps with cell phones. Another example is the use of biometric ATMs being installed in small towns. The point is that as more villages, and smaller towns are equipped with PCs and instructors, the higher the chances of web literacy are. Wikipedia suggests that literacy in India has grown from 42 percent in 1981 to 66 percent in 2001, which is impressive, but still below acceptable global averages. This could change rapidly with the available of local-language content, and innovative online solutions customized for these non-urban scenarios. So, all in all, collective effort from all the sides can certainly makes things work for the better.
- dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
HINDI WEBSITES
khabar.josh18.com awaaz.in.com hindi.moneycontrol.com www.hindi.business-standard.com www.patrika.com www.barclays.in/hindi/index.htm www.ezeego1.co.in/live/ezeego. do?language=hindi www.webdunia.com www.businessbhaskar.com aajtak.intoday.in www.tehelkahindi.com www.bbc.co.uk/hindi
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Dr CHIP
SEND YOUR QUERIES TO: drchip@chip.in
Sachin Pandit
[Q]
Hello Dr CHIP. I am facing a
with his computer. His LAN card and the switch that his computer was connected to were damaged due to lightning during the rainy season. Most of the users connected to the same switch in the building either damaged their Ethernet cards or onboard LAN chip resulting in their mother board getting damaged too. Is there any way we can protect our computers from these types of natural problems? Is there any device available to protect the PC from lightning? Please mention the place/shop where I can buy the device. When I purchased my IBM laptop ve years ago, I got a special cable for the dial up modem, which IBM claimed could protect against any electrical surge. It had some weird part attached to the cable. Is such a cable available for Ethernet too? Joylet Dsouza
[A] Hello Joylet. Yes there are surge

protectors available for Ethernet/LAN cards in the market. I am not sure of the approximate cost, but they are not very expensive. You should try searching in Lamington Road, Mumbai (Spectra Connectronics, Proctor lane, Grant Road might have one). I would not know of any other shops in Mumbai who keep these cables. These cables have a lter unit which helps bypass or neutralize excessive voltage surges and spikes. But these too have a tolerance level. If the spike or voltage surge is too high, they will burn out too. Some cables also come with a fuse to prevent these types of occurrences and save the electronic unit from a possible damage. To prevent any future damage from lightning, it is usually a good practice to disconnect all appliances from the mains socket, and also disconnect all the wires coming from outside the house. Usually telephone wires, LAN cables, cable TV and DTH cables have a possibility of transferring the lightning from the roof to the device inside the house via the cable itself. So if you sense bad weather, I would advise you to stop using electronic devices at home till the weather stabilizes. It is also a good idea to disconnect cables when you leave the house for work or go on holiday.
problem with my computer. Whenever I open my local drive E, a Windows Explorer error comes up. Please help me as I am not able to open my local drive E. What could be the problem? Sanu Kumar
[A]
Hello Sanu. Please scan your
computer for viruses as this seems to be a symptom of the autorun virus. After scanning and cleaning the drives completely, delete the hidden les named autorun.inf from the root directory of all the drives/partitions of the hard drive. Restart the computer once and it should work ne. Do install a good antivirus on your computer and ensure that you update it every day.
[Q]
Hello Dr CHIP. One of my close
friends has recently faced a problem
Software utilities can disinfect autorun.inf virus infections and prevent the system from infection.
Surge protection power distribution boards can filter spikes from Ethernet, modem and cable TV.
[Q]
Hello Sir. I have a Sony CyberShot
DSC 50 camera. Recently, its lens got
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stuck and I'm not able to take pictures. When I switch on the camera, the screen displays an errorTURN OFF AND ON AGAIN. When I do so, it again shows the same message. When I switch on the camera, the lens moves forward and backward for some time and then it comes to rest and shows the error message. Help me solve this problem. The camera's warranty period has expired. Jestin
[A] Hello Jestin. The problem could

have been caused due to moisture, fungus or a broken gear inside the lens housing. I would not advise you to repair the camera yourself. The parts inside the camera are very delicate and the gears need to be aligned properly, failing which, the camera would be useless or permanently damaged. Contact the Sony service center in your area or a good camera repair person and get it serviced.
Enabling the S.M.A.R.T feature can detect failing hard drives before a permanent data loss.
Reconnect the hard drive power and data cables to make sure there are no loose connections.
same page, the screen reads 3rd Master Hard Disk: S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD, Backup and Replace. Press F1 to Resume. Now every time I restart my PC, I have to press the F1 key. Please suggest a solution. Akshay Raut
the data can be accessed. If it does not, you might need to further investigate the problem if the power and data cables of the hard drive are functioning. Also the motherboard IDE/SATA controllers could be faulty. In this case you would need to ask a computer engineer to look into the matter and point out the exact fault. If the Ubuntu operating system detects the hard drive and shows you data on it, then it clearly seems to be a virus attack on your Windows operating system. Attach an external storage drive and backup your data and then format the hard drive and install Windows again. According to your email, you have stated that you do not have a Windows XP CD, which clearly mentions that you have either lost your original CD or you are using a pirated version of Windows XP. Make sure you are using an original Windows XP operating system and avoid piracy. This will also help securing your data from viruses.
[A] Hello Akshay. The problem you are

facing is not the result of a virus. The BIOS is reporting that it has detected a fault or an arising fault in the hard drive. The S.M.A.R.T. feature of the BIOS helps detect signs of a failing or faulty hard drive and noties the user about it. If you press F1, the system will work ne, but the notication states that the hard drive is at a stage of failing without further notice. I would recommend that you backup your data and replace the hard drive completely. If the warranty exists,
Mishandling a camera can damage the internal zoom lens motor and break some gear teeth.
opt for a replacement from your dealer or from the manufacturer. Keep your purchase bill handy.
[Q]
Respected Dr CHIP. I scanned
my computer using Kaspersky Antivirus 2008 and found a virus in the system memory. It was not disinfected immediately, but instead, Kaspersky required the "Neutralize" option to be performed. And then it asked to restart the computer. I restarted my PC, scanned it with the antivirus but once again found the virus and had to use the neutralize option. After two days I received a message while booting my PC. It appears just after the screen showing the name of the motherboard and other hardware components appears. The screen displays Press DEL to run Setup, Press F8 for BBG POPUP, PC2-4300 Single Channel Mode, Checking NVRAM. Initialising USB Controllers... Done. 1016 MB OK and so on. Finally at the end of the
[Q]
Dear CHIP. My computer runs
[Q]
Hello CHIP. My AverMedia TV
Windows XP and whenever I start it, it does not boot, instead displaying a message saying BOOT FROM CD: DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER, and the problem is I dont have the Windows XP installation CD. Please help. Thank you. Shweta.
Tuner card is not working. Its warranty does not exist anymore. Also Windows XP SP3 does not detect it. When I try to install its software, it also gives the error message prompting me to install the tuner card rst. Please help me to solve this issue? My Windows and computer hardware seems to be all right. The problem is only in the card. What should I do? Angat
[A] Hello Shweta. The problem states

a failed hard drive or a possible virus attack to the operating system. Try opening the case and reconnect the hard drive power and data cables to make sure there are no loose connections. If the problem is not still solved, try using an Ubuntu Live CD/DVD and boot the system from it. This method will help conrm if your hard drive works and if
[A] Hello Angat. As you have mentioned

that the tuner card is a problem, there is very little that you can do from your side. You can try cleaning the contact points with an eraser or very ne grade sandpaper. Finally, carefully clean the contacts and the entire card using
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that you are installing might not be compatible with your motherboard. Check with your dealer and conrm that the module is of the right frequency according to the requirement of the motherboard. Inform him about the motherboard model or take your motherboard or PC along with you when you are visiting your dealer. Though it looks like the problem is only a mismatch of the memory types, it could also be a case of a faulty RAM.
Carefully clean the contacts and the entire card using Isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush.
can also cause system slowdown and hanging issues. Clean the computer from inside to remove possible dust and dirt to prevent the components from heating. Make sure there is enough room for air to pass within the cabinet and around the computer cabinet from the outside too. System slowdown is also caused by virus infections of the operating system. Update your antivirus and operating system to ensure that your system is not infected. Finally, keep your system clean from unwanted junk les and temporary les. Use a good junk and registry cleaner (Ccleaner would help) and defragment your computer once a week. A pirated operating system can attract viruses and cause problems too. Ensure that you use a legal copy of Windows to avail support and future updates to prevent computer problems.
[Q]
Hi Dr CHIP. What is the minimum
Isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush. Be careful and use the brush gently and do not apply any pressure or force to avoid breaking any delicate components. Once the card is completely dry, check if the card works on the computer. Alternatively also try the card on another computer to check if the card works ne. If it works on another computer, then there could be a problem with your computer's motherboard, else the card is faulty. You should buy a new one as repairing the card would be almost impossible or can be expensive too. Check with your computer dealer and nd out if the card can be repaired. I would advise opting for a new card.
requirement for installing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 on my computer? Karthik
[A] Hello Kartik. The minimum

requirement for installing Windows XP SP3 is a 233 MHz processor, 128 MB of system memory and hard drive space of at least 1 GB and above. If you intend installing only the Service Pack 3 patch over your previous installation of Windows XP, the minimum requirement would be Windows XP with SP1. Make sure you are using genuine Windows as pirated Windows would not get updated.
[Q]
Hello CHIP. My computer
conguration is as follows: Intel Core 2
[Q]
Dear Dr CHIP. My computers
duo E7300, 2.66GHz 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GEFORCE 9400 GT graphics card. My problem is that my computer does not work fast even with 4 GB RAM. When I copy something or play a game such as Wheelman or any other graphics game, the computer starts hanging. I cannot run multiple programs at the same time. I defragment the hard drive, clean and check for viruses regularly. I have Avira Antivirus installed. I dont have a legal copy of Windows installed, but I will be installing Windows 7 by December. Please help me out. Naman Lahoti
Clean the computer from inside to remove dust and dirt to prevent the components from heating.
cong is a Pentium D 2.8 GHz, Jetway motherboard with Intel 865 chipset, 160 HDD and 256 MB of system memory. The problem is that I am unable upgrade the RAM. If I use a new 1 GB or 512 MB stick, my PC does not show any display. If I install the old RAM, it runs perfectly ne. What should I do? Where am I going wrong? Rajesh
[Q]
Dear CHIP. I own a Sony MiniDV
Handycam. My problem is that when I transfer my video from my Handycam to my computer, the le becomes too large. For example, a 10 - 15 minute video takes up 1 2 GB of hard disk space. I want to know if there is any way to compress my video without losing its picture quality. Please reply! Gaurav
[A] Hello Rajesh. The memory module
[A] Hello Naman. Increasing the

memory capacity does not conrm a fast performing computer. Factors that affect the computers performance are the processor type, memory capacity, graphics card and the hard drive speed and capacity. If you need faster gaming performance, you will need to install a discrete graphics card and sufficient
The memory module should be of the right frequency, according to the motherboard.
[A] Hello Gaurav. Transferring your

videos from your Handycam to the computer can be done in different ways and can affect the amount of disk space being used on your hard drive. If you are using a FireWire cable to transfer the videos to the system, you can complete the video editing and then save the nal le and later compress the video. In case you are using a TV tuner to transfer the video, you can use the recording
memory too. Also check if the system components are overheating as heat
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software properties to compress the video directly. This will save space but you might lose out on the quality of the video. I would suggest that you rst copy the video to the hard drive, do the necessary editing and enhancing of the video and save the nal le. Then later use a video compression tool such as ImToo MPEG Encoder or HandBrake to reduce the size of the video.
playing a game, then the temperature rise is not good for your hardware. You need to stop overclocking the system or install sufficient cooling fans or even a water cooling liquid to the system if you want to keep overclocking the system. I would not recommend overclocking your system unless really necessary. But if you wish, use a good liquid cooling kit for the processor and graphics card. If the motherboard northbridge also features a water-cooling block, then install a
You can just use the ghost file and refresh all the data on your computer.
[Q]
Hi CHIP. I have been running
an Internet cafe for the past eight months. Recently I started facing problem with Internet Explorers default settings. The option where the home page address was set to default as www.google.co.in for past one month is automatically changing to http://h1.ripway.com/poojasharma/ index.html. When I start Internet Explorer, the home page mentioned above opens and the net slows down. Also my system has become very slow. As per my service engineer's advice, I formatted my system twice, but the problem reoccurs within 15 - 25 days. I am presently locking my system with Deep Freeze version 5.0. I am not using any antivirus. Please advise me. Thanking You. Anilkumar Barry
water-cooling kit for that too. Also check if you are using a good quality CPU coolant paste between the CPU cooling fan and the CPU. Check if the CPU fan is mounted properly and there is no play in the attachments.
system, you can use HijackThis.exe and scan and clean the registry. But this will not guarantee that the virus will be removed unless you have a good antivirus installed on your system. I would advise you to format your computer completely and install fresh copies of the operating system and all software and antivirus and nally make a copy of the hard drive using Norton Ghost. Whenever you face a problem that might take time to rectify, you can just use the ghost le and refresh all the data on your computer. In this way, you can save time and trouble too.
[Q]
Hello Dr Chip. I have an Intel Core
2 duo E7400 2.8GHz, ASUS P5KPL-CM motherboard, 2 GB DDR-2 800 MHz RAM, XFX GeForce 9400 GT 512 MB based system. Whenever I switch on my system the CPU temp shows 100 degrees Celsius. The temperature remains constant even if I play games for a few hours. Also I have overclocked my graphics card core to 690 MHz and memory to 500 MHz. If I play games such as Crysis Warhead for an hour, the temperature of the graphics card rises to 62 degrees. Is it okay? I have not overclocked my CPU. The CPU temperature remains stable at 100 degree Celsius and the graphics card temperature rises from 55 degrees Celsius to 62 degrees Celsius. I have changed the Intel stock CPU cooler fan and added a cooler with a bigger heatsink. Still the problem persists. Please reply soon. Kaushik Das
Liquid cooling kits keep the processor, graphics card and northbridge cooler when overclocking.
[Q]
Hello Dr CHIP. I am upgrading
my system to: Intel Core2 Duo E8400 or Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 processor, Gigabyte GAG41M ES2L motherboard, 4 GB DDR 2 TRANSEND RAM, Palit GE FORCE 9600 GT SONIC 1 GB DDR3 graphics card and Windows XP SP2. Does it qualify as an entry level gaming computer and is it capable of playing high-denition video too. Sanjay
Using recording software properties will save space but you might lose out on the quality.
[A]Hello Sanjay. Your cong is an ideal

entry-level gaming PC and it will support high-denition playback because of the graphics card. But use a compatible player such as Cyberlink PowerDVD with Nvidia PureVideo enabled to utilize the power of the GPU for video playback. Instead of the Core 2 Duo E8400 I recommend the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400. The price difference isn't much and you will get four cores instead of two cores.
Send your queries to Francis D'Sa at drchip@chip.in
[A] Hello Anil. As you mention that

you are running a Cybercaf and your systems are not running any antivirus, you are bound to get issues such as these. People come to the cybercaf and browse through numerous pages which might contain viruses and malware, but are not usually bothered about it. Installing an antivirus, internet security suite and antispyware will help you to avoid such problems in future. Presently to get rid of the browser hijack in your
[A] Hello Kaushik, The temperature of

the CPU is denitely abnormal. If the graphics card temperature is rising when
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Relive the Classics

Digitize your old audio cassettes and vinyl records by converting them to audio CDs or MP3 format.
BY ANAND TULIANI
cassettes have lost their glory. Hits of the yesteryears are easy to nd on audio CDs or in MP3 format. But you might have hung on to your old audio cassettes and vinyl records because those albums arent easy to nd on audio CDs. Or you have safely kept the audio cassette on which you recorded the rst words your baby uttered 20 years ago. Listening to those precious audio cassettes and records would be more convenient if they were in audio CD or MP3 format, wouldnt it? In this hands-on session we will show you how you can do just that in six easy steps. Before we proceed to the steps heres what you need: cassette/record player,
n this digital age where listening to songs on cellphones and portable media players is common, audio
audio cable to connect the player to the PC, Audacity (audio editing program) and patience.
In Windows XP: Double-click on

the volume icon in the system tray and enable line-in.
In Windows Vista / 7: Right-click on
Step 1: Connecting the source and setting up Audacity

Depending on the line-out/headphone connector of your cassette player youll need a suitable cable (2 RCA to 3.5 mm EP or 3.5 mm EP on both ends). Connect the player to the line-in jack of the soundcard or motherboard which is color-coded light blue. Launch Audacity (get it from audacity.sourceforge.net) and go to Edit | Preferences. Set the recording device to line-in. Also enable line-in output in Windows volume control so that you can hear the playback of the audio cassette.
the volume icon and select recording devices. Double-click on line-in from the list and check the option Listen to this device in the Listen tab. The line-in volume can be adjusted in the Levels tab.
Step 2: Setting the optimum recording volume level

Now play the cassette and you should be able to hear the playback on your PC/ laptop. Click once on the recording level indicator (right above the microphone icon) in Audacitys tool bar to activate it. You should now see red bars for left and right channels in action. Set the line-in recording volume in Audacity to around
A VISUAL GUIDE TO CONVERTING AUDIO CASSETTES TO MP3 FORMAT

STEP 1a STEP 1b
STEP 2
STEP 3
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90 percent (using the slider next to the microphone icon) and then increase/ decrease the volume level of your cassette player so that the peak volume doesnt shoot beyond the -6 mark or else the recording will be distorted. Rewind the tape entirely or to the starting position of the song you wish to record. Hit the Record button in Audacity, play the cassette and wait till the song/entire side is over. Click the Stop button when its done and save the project at this point to be on the safe side.
Noise reduction parameter in the dialog box. Be warned that setting the value too high will degrade the sound quality.
Step 6: Splitting the recording into tracks

Press [Ctrl]+Home to go to the beginning of the track and press [Ctrl]+B to add a label at the current position. Type the name of the track in the label eld thats added below the waveform. Scroll through the waveform horizontally and go to the beginning of the next track which can be found out by the presence of silence at the end of the track. Note that the waveform corresponding to silence will be a straight light with negligible frequencies. Add labels for all the tracks in the recording. When done go to File | Split multiple which will bring up a dialog box. Check the options Split les based on labels and Name les using label/track name. Specify the export format and location and click the export button to complete the process. You can use the exported les to compile an audio CD or copy them to your phone or MP3 player.
Step 4: Enhancing treble, vocals and bass

Unlike digital audio, recordings from audio cassettes lack brilliance. To enhance bass, go to Effect | Bass boost and adjust the Frequency and Boost until you get the desired punch. Use the Preview button to hear the difference and click OK to apply the effect. There arent any tools in the Effect menu for enhancing mids and highs. However, you can use the Equalization tool (also in the Effect menu). The bands in the mid and end sections affect the mids and highs respectively.
Step 3: Removing tape hiss

The output of audio cassettes has prominent hiss which is due to the friction of the tape with the players head. To eliminate the hiss, select the silence at the end of the song and go to Effect | Noise removal. Click the Get noise prole button in the dialog box. When the dialog box closes select the entire recording by pressing [Ctrl] + A and run the noise removal tool again. Click the Preview button to hear the difference and click the OK button if youre satised with the result. You can ne tune noise removal by adjusting the
Step 5: Normalizing the volume level

Normalization is important as it ensures the volume level isnt too high or lowit keeps the frequencies within safe boundaries. Go to Effect | Normalize and set the value to -1 dB to ensure distortion-free audio. Click OK to apply the effect to the recording.
Note: To export the songs to MP3

format you will have to download the Lame MP3 encoder library from the FAQ section of Audacitys homepage.
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6a
STEP 6b
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Blog Elements
much easier and quicker. While CMS handles all the coding at the back end, the front end proves to be very simple. Nonetheless, the beauty of web development applications is that users can manually ne tune the design, the elements and the code. In this workshop, well use Wordpress as an example of CMS and add various elements to a self-hosted blog.
raditionally, websites were made using web development applications such as Microsoft Front Page and Dreamweaver. Today CMS (Content Management System) has made things
Inserting FLV files (Flash videos)

For people who host their blog using CMS such as Wordpress, you'll need a plugin and a Flash Media Player, so that people can play videos within the blog post. For the plugin well be using WordTube, and for the player, well use the open source JW FLV Media player.
Steps: Download WordTube.zip from http://wordpress.org/extend/

plugins/wordtube/, uncompress the les on your computer, and you will receive a folder named wordtube. Do not rename it. Upload the wordtube folder into the plugins folder (/ wp-content/plugins/) of your blog using an FTP program. Download mediaplayer.zip from http://www.longtailvideo.com/players/ jw-v-player/, uncompress it, rename the le player.swf to mediaplayer.swf and upload it into to the wordtube folder of your blog. Login to enter the admin area, activate the wordtube plugin from the list, and then go to Settings | Wordtube to congure the plugin. Go to Media | WordTube, and youll land on a page that says Manage Media les. From here, upload a ash video. Now create a post or open an existing one if you want to use the video therein. Before previewing the post and video, enter a tag [ media id= id] in the content box and at the desired location inside the post. In this tag, replace id with the number of the video reecting in the Media Center. Also, add the playlist tag as listed therein. Finally, hit the preview post button to see how the video plays, when published.
Tip: For changing the looks and

functionality of the player, you can download skins from the official webpage, http://www.longtailvideo.com/.
Comments
While the comment function is already built into the Wordpress CMS, you can enhance the user experience by adding a plugin called Wordpress thread comment. This allows users to create a thread of individual comments and alternatively post an unrelated comment too.
Steps: Download it from http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpressthread-comment/. Uncompress the contents, copy the folder to the plugins folder, install the plugin and activate it.
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With the availability of open source CMS platforms, self-hosted blogs are easy to setup. But enhancing them takes effort. CHIP gives you a head start with this workshop. BY DUSHYANT KHILNANI RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
Steps: Content syndication works both ways, one is where your blog pulls feeds
from your favorite sites and displays them, and the other is where readers of your blog subscribe to updates that you post. For pulling feeds, go to Appearance | Widgets and activate RSS. When prompted for the feed URL, look it up from your favorite sites RSS page. It looks something like this http://tech2.in.com/rssfeed/rss_news.xml. Enter the feed URL and the title, which will be displayed on the sidebar of your blog and click 'save'. Now, updates from that site will be automatically displayed on your blog. To enable users to subscribe to your blog and to keep a track of how many subscribers you have, you need to create an account with a service such as Feedburner, which is free of cost. Go to www.feedburner.com and enter your email address, feed title, feed address and click 'activate feed'. On activation, youll see a message that says, Congrats! Your Feedburner feed is now live. Youll also see your feed address which looks like http://feeds.feedburner. com/yourblog. Write down this address for future reference. The next step will show you how to enable the tracking of statistics. To integrate the feed with your Wordpress blog, download the plugin called Feedsmith from http://feedburner. google.com/fb/static/feedburner_feedsmith_plugin_2.3.zip. Uncompress it and copy the extracted folder into the plugins folder. Activate the plugin and go to Settings | Feedburner. Enter the feed address that you wrote and click save.
DHTML
Functionality and design: If you have a static website intended for passive
content, then inserting elements is very simple.
Slide-in menu bar: Visit http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex1/

slideinmenu.htm and youll nd two pieces of code. Open the Index.html le of your website, copy the rst piece into the <head> section of the le and the second piece right after the rst <body> tag. Save the Index.html le and youre done. Now open the Index.html le in a browser and see the menu work. You can now edit code to insert desired hyperlinks.
Flying message script: This script

allows you to ash a news snippet in a box which ies across the screen to get a reader's attention. Go to http://www. dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex10/ ymessage.htm, copy and paste the code pieces from here into the Index.html le as shown above and save the le. The ying box is a separate html le, so download the given sample, edit it to insert the news pieces and save it in the same folder where index.html is saved. These are just two of hundreds of scripts you can use to enhance your website, and the instructions are given online, so using them is really a cinch even for novice users.
dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
Jagdish Limbachiya
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Back it up
Automatically synchronize files and folders without the need to install third-party software.
BY SANDEEP BALACHANDRAN
anyone can execute. Two clicks and you are done. Its as simple as that. But what if the need is to copy only a couple of les that have either been changed or created? While transferring them one by one is an option, it is quite a time consuming task. There are a number of software utilities that will do the trick but that is not exactly what we are looking forward to do. In fact, Windows itself comes with a built in data backup and synchronization tool. Robocopy or Robust File and Folder Copy, as some call it, is a powerful little command line tool that allows you to copy as well as synchronize les. Since this tool is completely a command line based tool it is devoid of any fancy GUI. You will need to type robocopy.exe followed by the source folder and then the destination folder in the command prompt. There are also a number of wild card entries that you can use to enhance the overall copy process. Now, if you want to copy the contents of a particular folder to a specied destination, for example a pendrive or external drive, open command prompt by going to All programs | Accessories | Command prompt. Now type the following commands as shown in the example: robocopy Source folder Destination folder [command options] Example >> robocopy.exe d:\chip i:\ chip _ backup /copyall /purge /mir /e /log+:c:\rbcpy.txt (all commands are without quotes) This is what the command means: robocopy.exe this entry allows Windows to run robocopy d:\chip the source folder that needs to be copied i:\chip _ backup destination where the les need to be copied to /copyall copies only les within the folder
opying les from one destination is a no brainer and is denitely one of the simplest tasks that
/purge - deletes destination les and folders that are non-existant in the source folder /mir copies the entire folder content (including sub-folders) /e copies subdirectories, including empty ones /log+:c:\rbcpy.txt - generates a LOG le at the specied destination and appends it to an existing log. You can make le transfers even simpler by creating a batch le. The advantage of creating a batch le is the ability to copy multiple les and folders from various partitions. After you are done adding the folders that need to be backed up save the le. For that click on File | Save as. Change the Save as type to All les and save the le as My_BkUp.bat.
The "/mon:?" command backs up files automatically when a specific number of changes occur.
Here is how you go about it:

Example: Open notepad and type the following command:
Note: You can name the le to whatever

you please but you will need to save it with a .bat extension. Depending on the amount of data that needs to be backed up the rst run might take a little time. All other consecutive runs will check and update modied and newly created les. Another handy process is the le and folder monitoring option. You can either specify it to run when a specied number of changes occur or set it to scan for changes in a given timeframe. Robocopy d:\chip j:\chip _ backup / copyall /purge /mir /e /mon:2 Here /mon:2 basically species the command to run whenever there are at least two changes detected. However, if you want the backup to run at regular intervals interchange /mon:? with /mot:m where m species the waiting time in minutes.
@ECHO OFF echo Do you want to continue with the transfer? CHOICE IF errorlevel 2 goto ABORT IF errorlevel 1 goto COPY :COPY Robocopy d:\chip i:\chip /copyall /
purge /mir /e Robocopy d:\chip\12 _ december _ 09
i:\12 _ december _ 09 /copyall /purge /

mir /e
ECHO ****************************** ECHO **ALL FILES HAVE BEEN COPIED** ECHO ****************************** PAUSE cls exit :ABORT ECHO ****************************** ECHO ****** FILE COPY ABORTED ***** ECHO ****************************** PAUSE cls EXIT
For the above example you will only require to change the ones that are highlighted in red while leaving the rest as it is.
Remember: Files will be overwritten

once you proceed with the copy process. The commands might look tough to remember but once you get the hang of it you wouldnt like to try out anything else for transferring your les. If you are eager to give it a shot, you can get your hands on a whole list of commands by simply going to http://ss64.com/nt/ robocopy.html.
sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
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Organize, edit, upload and share your favourite pictures using Picasa. BY SANDEEP BALACHANDRAN
Share with Picasa

Step 2: Picture format selection
Here you can either choose to use Picasa as the default photo viewer or you can leave it as it is. The choice is yours. The application will now scan for pictures in the location that have been specied.
ets say you have a large collection of photographs stored on your laptop or desktop PC. Now each
to make use of these salient features. Before we begin,you will need to rst download Picasa. To do this go to http://picasa.google.com and click on Download Picasa. Once you are done downloading, install the application and follow these steps.
time you need to share or even edit those pictures you will need to access their respective folders individually. Sending pictures across via E-mail can also be quite a pain staking task especially if the need is to send multiple les. This is where youll nd a photo
Step 1: Adding pictures

When Picasa is run for the rst time you should get a screen similar to the one shown in Step 1. Choose Only scan My Documents, My Pictures and the Desktop. Click on continue.
Step 3: Specifying folders

To be able to specify a different folder location go to Tools | Folder Manager. Here you can remove and add folders that need to be scanned. Select the folder where you normally store your
organizer like Picasa helpful. It allows you to organize, edit, upload and even e-mail your favourite pictures across the web with ease. So those who are new to Picasa read on to nd out how
ADDING AND CROPPING IMAGES IN PICASA

STEP 1 STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
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ENHANCING AND SHARING YOUR IMAGES

STEP 5 STEP 6
STEP 7
STEP 8
pictures and choose scan always. Alternatively you can disable the folders that do not require a scan.
Step 6: Adding effects

Here you have various options which you can use to sharpen, convert to sepia or black and white, warm and saturate the photos and many more. While some effects are totally automatic there are a few that allows you to adjust their overall intensity.
Step 4: Crop
Double click the image that you would like to upload or email. Select the crop tool from Basic xes and crop only what is required. Click on "Apply" when you're done. There are also various other settings present that you can do some experimenting with.
Step 7: Copyright your images

To copyright your images go back to basic xes and select Text. Now point the mouse on a desired location on the picture and left click. You can now add your name, resize, change font and size as well as increase and decrease its overall transparency. Click on apply once you are done making changes. and sign in to your G-Mail account. Choose the size that you would like to upload and select the privacy setting for the picture. Click on upload. Note: You can always come back to the edited picture and undo the changes made in Picasa. Changes are never permanent till you save the entire album
sandeep.balachandran@chip.in
Step 5: Adjusting color tones

The next step here is to adjust or ne tune the colors in your picture. Here, the way you tune or enhance the picture is totally up to you. For example, you can use the ll light slider to brighten an underexposed image and the shadows slider to darken the overall picture. This is the one feaure that cannot be taught but needs to be learned through trial and error.
Alternatively you can also attach and mail selected pictures by clicking on the Email button.
Step 8: Uploading to Picasa WebAlbums

You are now ready to upload your photos to Picasa's WebAlbum. Click on "Upload"
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Streaming music from Windows 7

Listen to your favorite music without having to carry your laptop from the living room to the kitchen. Share your music library on a wireless network. BY DUSHYANT KHILNANI
media such as videos and pictures can be accessed using the same method.
W
Step 1
hile this workshop shows you how to stream music from one laptop to another, digital
HomeGroup and then What is a network location?. Youll see a window with three options. Select the rst one that says Home Network. In the following window, select what you want to share and click Next. Follow the onscreen instructions and Click Finish.
the same wireless network as the server laptop, using the procedure in Step 1. Vista users can right click and directly select Connect to network. Assuming that both laptops are in the same network, open Windows Media Player and see of you can nd the shared server laptop in the left pane.
First well connect the server laptop to a wireless home network. This laptop has Windows 7 with Media player 12 and it has all the music, videos and media that you want to share. Right-click on the Internet notication area and select Open network and sharing center. Now, click on Connect to a network and from the list of networks, choose the preferred one and connect. Enter the secure network key when prompted.
Step 3
In Network and Sharing Center, click Change Advanced Sharing Settings and make the changes. Then go to Media Streaming Options and allow people you want access to your les. Open Windows Media Player, go to Stream and click Automatically allow devices to play my media. The content you chose to share is now on this network.
Step 5
To nd shared media on the network and to share media from the client PC, in WMP, right-click on Library and click Media Sharing. Here, you can allow or deny access to other PCs and nd the media youre looking for. Click Ok when you're done. Now, the server PC will appear in WMP and other functionalities will remain same. Youre now ready to play the music which is stored on the server PC.
dushyant.khilnani@chip.in
Step 2
Lets create a HomeGroup. From Network and Sharing Center, click
STEP 1
Step 4
To access this content on a client PC or laptop, rst connect the machine to
STEP 2
STEP 3a
STEP 3b
STEP 3c
STEP 4 & 5
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Tips & Tricks

DECEMBER 2009
SHARE YOUR TIPS. Write to: tnt@chip.in
Sachin Pandit
TIP OF THE MONTH

Windows XP, Vista
OPTIMALLY CONFIGURING THE ANTI-MALWARE PROGRAM WINDOWS DEFENDER
Windows Defender automatically transmits data to Microsoft. But exactly what data? And can this be prevented?
Microsoft SpyNet is not a security threat. It is a user association that gives tips to deal with suspicious activities based on collective experience. If Windows Defender detects unknown software, it sends a report to Microsoft. Apart from file name, size, date and manufacturer, this also includes collected URLs for the origin of the file, computer data such as IP address, OS version, browser version and search terms entered or form data. Normally, Windows Defender automatically registers you as a member of SpyNet, but you can decide not to participate or allow data to be sent. In order to change your SpyNet status, open Windows Defender and click on History. The line highlighted in blue shows the current status. Click the Change settings link. If you dont trust the program, select the Do not join Microsoft SpyNet now option and click on Save. In this mode, the program does not transmit any data. On the other hand, if you join as a premium member, Defender also raises an alarm in the event of suspicious activities by programs that are not yet analyzed. But this mode transmits even more data to Microsoft.
WINDOWS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Windows Vista Windows XP, Vista Windows Vista Windows XP, Vista Windows XP Windows XP Comfortably deactivate unnecessary functions
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Check the system for security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations Limit shadow copies and save storage space Automatic user log-in in the system Delete backup files and recover disk space Get rid of messages about swap files that are too small
APPLICATIONS
7. 8. 9. Word 2003, 2007 Word XP, 2003, 2007 Office XP, 2003, 2007 Do not open documents automatically in the reading layout Apply adjusted page layout to other documents Determine the sorting sequence in the File open dialog box Test programs safely and surf without risks Check installed programs for updates Enlarging picture details without any visible losses Using the underwater case for cameras correctly Removing the prompt for downloading the Windows Search Searching for references to particular websites in the Internet Using an alternative search machine for scientific contents Expand the search field in the toolbar dynamically Determine safe senders for junk filters automatically
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10. Kaspersky 2010 11. All applications 12. Photoshop CS-CS4 13. Photography 14. Internet Explorer 8 15. Google Search 16. WolframAlpha 17. Firefox 2.x, 3.x 18. Outlook 2007
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among other things. Make up your mind as to which programs you never need. Finally, conrm your choice with OK.
are missing and where unnecessary security risks are lurking, are divided into categories. Even though Windows automatically takes care of some updates, it is likely that you have still not installed some updates or service packs for Office. For every test result, you can open a website with detailed information using the Subject of Verication link. The Result Details link shows which settings are right and individual updates that are missing. Here, you will also nd links for the required downloads. If service packs are missing, rst install these and then conduct the test again. If individual updates are still missing, you can separately install these.
Windows Vista
Comfortably deactivate unnecessary functions
Windows XP, Vista

Check the system for security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations
Vista loads a whole lot of functions and system programs on the hard disk during the installation. Many of them are never used but still take up space and possibly even system capacity.
Although the automatic update function is activated, you really cant rely on it. Have all important updates and mainly hotxes been installed for Windows? Or are there still any vulnerabilities?
3
You can use this dialog to simply turn off unused system components and give Windows a break.
Windows Vista
Limit shadow copies and save storage space
Storage space is a rare luxury, even in times of huge hard disks. In the case of notebooks, you quickly run short of it, especially if you are into video editing. Deactivate the system brakes. Open the start menu using Start and enter the term Optional Features under Start Search. The result appears above the eld. Here, right-click the entry Optional Features under Program and select the context command Run as Administrator. If the currently used account does not have any administrator rights, you must select one that does in the dialog box and enter the respective password. If you are already working with an account that has the respective rights, a double-click on Optional Features is sufficient. Windows now collects information about the optional functions and lists them in a Windows Functions dialog box that could take some time. The operating system subdivides those entries that are followed by a plus sign into further sub-functions, which you can activate or deactivate, independent of each other. Click on the plus sign for a list of the subordinate functions. Active functions are marked with a checkmark. You can now deactivate an entry by removing the checkmark in front of it. You can do this for instance, in the case of games, XPS Viewer, Tablet PC Components, Windows Teamwork With the Baseline Security Analyzer, Microsoft offers a free of cost tool for administrators as well as private users. It checks Windows and many other Microsoft programs such as Office, IE or servers for missing updates, hotxes and vulnerabilities and generates an XML report. You can download the program free of cost from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/ en/default.aspx. In the search eld type MBSA and follow the link to download the le. For installation, open the MSI le and follow the set-up. Then, start the tool. The rst page refers to a new version. However, that is not available since MBSA 2.1 is still up-to-date. Follow the Scan a computer link. The name of your own computer is already preset under Computer Name. Leave the other options in their standard setting and click Start Search. The tool rst loads all the latest security information from the Internet and then checks your computer. This process takes several minutes. The concluding report shows the components that are correctly congured, the updates that Delete unnecessary les without having to forego important functions. For instance, Vista regularly creates shadow copies, which are used to recover the system or to access older le versions in case of emergency. This function takes up a lot of storage space. But if you regularly create backups of your data you can limit the storage space allocated to the shadow copies, without foregoing an important security aspect. However, Vista does not offer any dialog box for the conguration. Not a problem: Simply switch to the command line program vssadmin.exe. First, start a window of the command line with administrator
The Baseline Security Analyzer looks for holes and explains what you can do about them.
You can use the tool "vssadmin" to limit allocated storage space for shadow copies.
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rights. For this, write cmd in the search eld in the start menu, right-click cmd. exe and select the context command Run as Administrator. Subsequently conrm the user account control query with Next. Now use
QUICK TIPS
OPENING THE START MENU FOLDER
In XP, you can quickly open the start menu folder in Windows Explorer using the command Start | Run, shell:start menu and a click on OK.
which will also need to be created if its not visible. But keep in mind that your user account password will now be visible to everyone in the registration database. This is a security risk, if the computer is accessible to other persons, without supervision. If you need to log-in to a specic domain, enter it under DefaultDomain Name. Otherwise, you can do without this value. Close the Editor with File | End. From now on, you need not log in manually, Windows does this automatically. You can temporarily bypass this function by keeping system start [Shift] pressed.
vssadmin list shadowstorage

to query the current status of the shadow copies. Windows lists how much storage space is allocated for the shadow copies, where and for which drive is already being used. Use the following command for adaptation:
CD DRIVES IN A NEW WINDOW

You can even open CD or DVD drives without the autostart function in a new Explorer window using the context menu command Explore.
vssadmin resize shadowstorage / on=[drive] /for=drive / maxsize=[specify size]

For Drive, enter the drive letter followed by a colon, where and for which drive you want the shadow copies to be saved and specify the /Maxsize option without fail, otherwise Windows does not limit the size.
COMFORTABLY MANAGING WINDOWS

The new key combinations of [Windows]+[Up Arrow] and [Down Arrow] simplify the maximizing and minimizing of windows in Windows 7.
NOTE: this automatic login works only

if the users account you intend this for is protected by a password. Otherwise, this process fails.
REMOVING THE ZIP FUNCTION FROM XP

You can do this in the command prompt using the command regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll. Use regsvr32 zipfldr.dll for activation.
Windows XP
Delete backup files and recover disk space
/on=c: /for=c: /maxsize=10GB

As a value for Size, use a number followed by the respective unit such as MB or GB. You can subsequently check the current status once again using:
Windows uses backup copies for the installation of a service pack or an update, so that the modications can be cancelled again. If everything works smoothly after some time, these les become unnecessary and only take up valuable storage space. Away with the space-consumers! For this, open Start | My Computer and double-click the system partition; normally C:\. Now, open the Windows installation folder, normally C:\ Windows. After a long system run-time, there are many compressed folders that have accumulated here, whose names have a dollar sign in the start and at the end. Mostly, the names begin with $NtUninstall. But you might possibly also detect names that start with $MSI
CLEARING DNS CACHE

For clearing the Domain Name System Cache, open a command prompt and enter the command ipconfig /flushdns there.
vssadmin list shadowstorage
Windows XP, Vista

Automatic user log-in in the system
and open the Registry Editor. For this, click Start | Run, type regedit. exe and conrm with OK. In Vista, you can directly enter the command in the search eld of the start menu. Navigate to the left side of the tool to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOTWARE\ Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ Winlogon key. Now you only need to change some values on the right side for activating the automatic log-in. For this, double-click the entry and enter the new conguration in the Edit String dialog box under Value. Subsequently, conrm this action with OK. If one of the values described in the following do not exist, create it. Use the command Edit | New | String for this and name it AutoAdminLogon. Double click the AutoAdminLogon and change the value to 1 which basically turns on the automatic login. If you subsequently wish to turn off the mechanism, replace the 1 with a 0. Enter the name of the user account that you wish to log in to, under DefaultUserName. If its not there create it. You also need to enter your password under DefaultPassword,
You have secured your user account with a password. But since you, for the most part, use the computer alone, you want to bypass the password entry at the system start without deleting the password. Windows can automatically log in a user on starting. Log in to a user account with administrator rights
You can enter your access data in the "Winlogon key so that Windows automatically logs you in.
Numerous uninstall folders for the updates that are brought in stay in the Windows system folder.
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or $NtServicePack. But all folders have Uninstall as a part of their name. If you do not nd any such folders at all, ensure that you have activated the option Display all Files and Folders in Extras | Folder Options | View in the Advanced Settings list under Hidden Files and Folders. The specied folders contain information for canceling an installed update or service pack. In order to clear the disk space occupied by this data, select this folder and press [Del]. Conrm the security query that follows by clicking on Yes. There is an important exception: do not delete the $hf_mig$ folder. It does not even have Uninstall in its name.
CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management and open the PagingFiles entry to the right by double-clicking. You can Edit Multiline Strings in the following dialog box. Windows displays C:\pagele. sys 384 768 as a value for instance. Change it into C:\pagele.sys 512 1024 and click OK. Then close the registry and restart the computer. After that, the error message will most likely not keep you from your work. If this message still continues to appear, you can gradually increase the values.
With this command, you can easily apply the current page layout to other documents.
APPLICATIONS
Certain documents such as company writing papers are normally based on adjusted Page Setups so as to be able to print them on a certain type of paper. You can apply these settings to other documents as well. A simple trick can be used to apply the page layout quickly and without programming. Open the document with the correct page layout and the document to be adjusted. Then use the File | Page setup command in the nished document. Do not make any changes and conrm the settings dialog box with OK instead of Cancel. Now switch to the next document. In the Edit menu, you will now nd the Repeat New Blank Document command using which you can congure all the settings. If the command after Repeat is different, then you probably did not conrm the dialog box with OK or performed another action in the meantime.
CAUTION: the moment you delete the

directories, you can no longer remove the installed updates and service packs. Thus, only delete the directories if you are sure you can do without this option. Hence, work carefully with an eye on the date and only delete folders that are older than six months for instance.
Word 2003, 2007

Do not open documents automatically in the reading layout
Word opens documents received via email in the reading layout. It is well meant, but you prefer the normal view. Hence, you always have to change the display rst.
Windows XP
Get rid of messages about swap files that are too small
Windows always displays a message reminding of a missing swap le or one that is too small. Here, there is nothing you have changed in the standard settings, the le is available and also sufficiently large. Where does the problem lie? Here, an intervention in the registry is of help. Open the editor by starting Start | Run, Typing regedit and clicking OK. In the program, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ You can deactivate the display of the reading layout permanently in the program options. For that, open Tools | Options and change to the General tab. Deactivate the Allow starting in Reading Layout check box there and conrm with OK. From now on, documents will appear in the edit view on opening. The manual switching option using the View menu remains unaffected by this and can be used further.
This option decides whether Word opens a document in the reading or editing view.
Office XP, 2003, 2007

Determine the sorting sequence in the File open dialog box
By default, the entries in the le dialog box are sorted alphabetically. It would be better if the last edited documents are right at the top in the list. Just like in the Windows Explorer, the sorting sequence can be adjusted as desired in the le dialog boxes as well. However, that option is hidden. Click File | Open in one of the Office programs. In the dialog box, click the arrow next to the View tab and select the Details setting. The column headings are now visible in the display
A little tweak in the registry will stop Windows from pestering you about a small swap file.
Word XP, 2003, 2007

Apply adjusted page layout to other documents
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QUICK TIPS
CREATING A DISTRIBUTION LIST QUICKLY
The keyboard shortcut [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[L] directly opens the dialog box for creating a new distribution list for emails in Outlook.
Right-click it for setting other options and select the Delete the data of the safe environment when closing context command for instance so that all the changes that have been made are rejected again. You can thus quickly set a private mode for every browser, which does not save the course of the session and does not affect any other applications. You can identify this mode by the superimposed brush on the program icon. To simplify the call, you can create a link on the desktop using the Create Link context command. In addition, you also have the option to specify this safe mode as standard for all the program starts in Windows using the Always start in safe environment context command. You should not set it for Windows system programs or else an error-free operation is not ensured. Use the Common folder set up during the installation for the data transfer between the safe environment and the normal system; this folder is generally found in %AllUsersProle%\ ApplicationData\KasperskyLab\ SandboxShared.
MOVING A PARAGRAPH
For moving a paragraph in Word, you need to position the cursor on the paragraph, keep [Alt]+[Shift] pressed and then use the arrow keys.
You can sort the sequence in the file dialog box by clicking the column title once as desired
FINDING SYNONYMS FOR TERMS

Right-click a word and find suitable suggestions with Synonyms to use the Thesaurus easily.
area. Now click once or double-click the respective column heading to sort the display in ascending or descending order depending on this property. You can right-click a column heading and see the other properties via the context menu, according to which the list can be sorted as well. You can Cancel the process without opening a le. The changed sorting sequence is then applicable in other Office programs as well, independent of the view setting selected there for the le dialog box.
TARGET DIRECTORY FOR ARCHIVES

To extract files with WinRAR into another directory, open the archive with the program and then press [Alt]+[E].
CONVERTING THE NUMBER FORMAT

You can convert Arabic numbers into Roman numbers in Excel with the =ROMAN(cell) function. For instance, the result for the number 345 is CCCXLV.
CHANGING THE COLOR DEPTH

In Paint Shop Pro, you can use [Shift]+ [Ctrl]+[<Number>] to change the depth: 1 to 5 reduces to 2, 16, 256, 32K and 64K colors; 8, 9 and 0 increases to 16, 256 and 16.7M colors.
NOTE: In Vista, the necessary column

heads are visible in every view. It can also happen that the particular settings have not been saved permanently.
11
All applications
Check installed programs for updates
Whereas Windows automatically takes care of important updates, you often do not know in case of the installed programs whether they are up-to-date or not. Many programs already have an integrated update function but not all of them. In addition, it is not activated in most cases. However, missing updates put the system safety at risk. Hence, it is recommended that the status is checked with a freeware tool such as Secunia Personal Software Inspector, which can be downloaded from http://secunia. com/vulnerability_scanning/personal. For installation, open PSISetup.exe, select the language and start the wizard. Click Private Use and then Next in the user agreement. You can start the tool subsequently. After a few minutes, it displays the test result in the form of a list. It shows the list of programs for which updates are missing and gives a link for the respective downloads in the Solution column at the same time. You
10
Kaspersky 2010
Test programs safely and surf without risks
Environment. The rst one accepts all the changes for the regular browser instance and the second one again rejects the changes that have already been made. Click Add and the Search to install other programs. Navigate to the program le and click Open. Kaspersky adopts It is best if you rst test the the program icon in the selection area.
A number of tools can be found on the Internet. But are they really safe to use? Or do you end up downloading harmful Trojans on your PC?
programs downloaded from the Internet in a safe sandbox environment. This need not be done on a separate computer real or virtual. As a new function, version 2010 of Kaspersky Internet Security offers the option to run programs in a secured environment such that they do not cause any damage to the computer. Right-click the program icon in the info area, start Kaspersky Internet Security and select the Program Control category. Two links to the Internet Explorer have already been provided there for the Safe
10
You can run programs in a safe environment within the Kaspersky Internet Security Suite.
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11
still be less, basically when you want to enlarge a small detail in the picture. Conventional enlargement techniques hamper the effect of the photo, which leads to loss in details in the photo. At the latest when the resolution falls below 100 dpi (Dots per Inch, pixels per inch) because of upscaling the picture contents, it has a negative effect in print. It is not only the blur edges then, which spoil the joy of a large format print. You can get optimum quality
the area. If you want to set accurate dimensions, enter them in the eld in the options bar. Important here: release the Resolution eld, otherwise Photoshop will integrate the missing pixels.
UPSCALING THE PICTURE: Now

call up the Image Size function with [Alt]+[Ctrl]+[I]. Activate Re-apply image with and select Bicubic smooth. Enter the desired value in Resolution, e.g. 300 dpi, and change the height and width if necessary. Clicking OK executes the command.
Secunia PSI checks your system for loopholes and informs you if updates are available for programs.
even for bigger prints with a resolution of approximately 300 dpi. Detail enlargements are basically possible hundred times more. The achievable result naturally depends on the subject and its sharpness largely. The reason being that soft and unfocussed area look rather unpleasant in the enlargements.
RE-SHARPENING THE EDGES: The

enlarged pictures looks relatively soft at rst, basically at the contrast edges such as letterings. You must re-sharpen them at any cost and it is best if you do it with the Unsharp Mask function, which is below the Filter | Sharpen menu. In case of large format prints, you can easily sharpen more strongly. You can carry out a quick Before-After comparison by just clicking the preview picture once.
must possibly conduct a check again after an update such that the relevant entry is removed from the list. The tool is integrated into the system and conducts new checks every week automatically. Even if the risks have been eliminated, you have still not gotten rid of all the danger sources. Right-click Advanced above in the program window conrm the info dialog box with OK for a detailed analysis with instructions for the programs, for which there are no simple solutions. Then check all the entries in the Unsafe and Outdated tabs. Click one single program entry to get detail information. Depending on the situation, the program shows which updates from the manufacturer are necessary. Take further steps for eliminating the respective risk using the elements in the Toolbox that is displayed. You can request for the Technical Details here, call up important websites of Secunia and the manufacturer via Online references or Open Directory. You should Ignore Program only if the doubtful le is present in the Backup folder for instance. You can Download Solution here itself in many cases. You can get to the discussion space of the respective product on the Secunia website via the Community Forum link. You can search for advanced help in English here. It is best if you uninstall outdated software if you do not need it anymore.
ELIMINATING IMAGE NOISE: Scaling

not only enlarges the desired image contents but also interfering artefacts. It is better if you try and eliminate them beforehand. First remove the image noise since the lter does no longer recognizes this as such later. For that, click Filter | Noise Filter | Reduce noise (from CS3 onwards, Noise | Reduce noise previously) and adjust the effect of the lter on your subject. However, proceed cautiously otherwise you will end up eliminating too many details. After this treatment, the photo looks a bit soft at rst. Never mind, it can be sharpened later.
13
Photography
Using the underwater case for cameras correctly
The winter season has started. The right moment for a short trip in warmer elds, in which you can indulge in your underwater hobby. You should have your own camera along this time, because after all you have the suitable underwater case for it. What do you have to keep in mind when using it? Underwater cases are made of tough polycarbonate material in most cases and water-proof up to 40 meters deep provided you use it in the right manner. See to it that the rubber ring is properly in its groove before locking. You
SPECIFYING THE DETAIL: Now

specify the desired picture detail. Activate the Crop tool for that; the fastest way to do it is by pressing the key [C] and drawing a frame. Adjust its size more accurately using the controls. Double-clicking the selection releases
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Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4

Enlarging picture details without any visible losses
Today, a 12 megapixel resolution is almost standard; in spite of that, it can
You will be able to enlarge details in photos if you use the right process.
Many cameras have suitable underwater cases, which protect them from water damage.
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must conduct a sample test in a bucket of water without the camera before going ahead and submerging it in the ocean. For that, lower the closed case in a bucket lled with water. It is watertight if there are no bubbles even on pressing the pushbuttons after some time. You can use the camera locally in the hotel as well and close the plastic cover. Sand can accumulate on the seal at the beach. Remember to attach the case safely to the equipment. The camera will thus not ow off should you let go of it underwater.
which of the hits contains a link to that particular site. This would be useful to search for links of the particular homepage for instance. By specifying certain keywords, you can also request for information in the Google Search, which goes beyond the normal hit list. This also includes links. The link:<website> command can be found on all Internet sites, which contain a link to the typed address. If you are only searching for a search term in the text of the websites and want to ignore Internet addresses, titles and links in the process, then use intext:<searchterm>. inanchor:<searchterm> results in the exact opposite of this. Use cache:<website>, i.e. cache:www.chip.in to view the version of a site stored in the cache of Google. At the upper border of the browser the search engine also informs you the date and exact time when the image was created in a grey area. The related:<website> command nds websites, which have a textual link to the specied site. If you enter related:www.chip.in, a list of contents regarding different journals that deal with computer-related topics is created. This works well with your own homepage as well. Use the related command to nd sites that are similar in content.
The search engine WolframAlpha is said to generate comprehensive answers if requested.
16
14
Internet Explorer 8
Removing the prompt for downloading the Windows Search
enter randomly formulated requests. It interprets these and determines suitable elds from the requests, from which it then compiles the information being searched for. At present, the search system that is still under construction processes requests in English only. It rst determines the topic searched for from the entries, but also offers other variants for selection. WolframAlpha supplies quite comprehensive and structurally processed information with graphics and tables for the respective topic. Separate sections for different thematic categories give an overview of important information and frequently offer access to more detailed data via the More link. Even if this variety is still no competition for Google, it is still worth the try to get a comprehensive answer without ads for a short question in English.
When typing in the address eld, the browser always suggests Download Windows Search as the rst prompt. You want to get rid of this annoying prompt since you do not want to use this Windows Search. A prompt appears if Windows Search is not installed or deactivated. You can get rid of the prompt permanently via a registry entry. For that you need to open Run in the start menu, enter regedit and click OK. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ Main\Windows Search in the Registry Editor. Click in the right part of the window and open Edit | New | DWORD value. Then type Show-Prompt and press Enter. Leave the specied value as 0 and close the registry. From now on, whenever you start Internet Explorer, you will never come across this annoying prompt. Nevertheless, if you want to install Windows Search again later via this path, simply re-delete the newly created registry value by selecting it in the Editor, pressing [Del] and answering the subsequent security prompt with OK.
16
WolframAlpha
Using an alternative search machine for scientific contents
17
Firefox 2.x, 3.x

Expand the search field in the toolbar dynamically
You are mainly doing research on scientic topics in the Internet. It is very annoying in the process that you often come across websites in the Google hits and have to compile the information you are searching for from numerous sites. You increase the size of the A completely different method for searching and nding information on the Internet is being used by the WolframAlpha (www.wolframalpha. com) project of the physicist Stephen Wolfram. His special search machine does not refer to other websites, but processes suitable, comprehensive information from different elds for a request. The website allows you to search elds by customizing the toolbar however, this is done to the disadvantage of the address eld. It is clever to increase the eld size dynamically only when required. You can do this with the free add-on Searchbar Autosizer. This plug-in supports almost all Firefox Themes and many search bar add-ons. For conguring, open Tools | You quickly fall short of the space available when entering terms in the integrated search eld of the browser. You can no longer identify all the words then.
15
Google Search
Searching for references to particular websites in the Internet
Google displays a long list of results after you enter a website as a search term. Unfortunately, it does not show
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TIPS & TRICKS
HANDS ON
17
18
acquaintances do not wrongly end up in trash. This is a complex process. Allow Outlook to help you. Open Tools | Options and click the Settings tab in the Options dialog box and click Junk Email in the Email eld. The following dialog box allows various detailed settings of the Junk email lters. Activate the Safe Senders tab and put a checkmark in front of Automatically add persons to whom I send emails to the list of safe senders.
Adapt the behavior of the Autosizer plug-in for a dynamic search field in the Settings wizard.
Activate this option so that Outlook automatically places every receiver in the Whitelist.
Then close all the opened dialog boxes with OK. Now as soon as you write an email to a contact, Outlook automatically adds this address to the list of Safe Senders.
Add-ons, then search and select the Searchbar Autosizer entry in the list and click on Options. A wizard will help you from this point onwards. For instance, select the Customize step-by-step for every letter option and click Next. You specify the minimum width in the next step. For that, you drag the search eld marked with brackets to the desired size and check the value in the wizard. Then click Next and repeat the process for the maximum width. The next step offers a couple of additional options,
which you can activate if desired, e.g. to reset the search machine to the old familiar standard automatically. Once done click the Finish button.
CAUTION: You can also receive spam

mail from a sender on the Whitelist. This can happen basically when his PC has been infected with malware such as an email worm, after which you have added him to this list. The worm uses the system as a relay station and spreads spam on the Internet via the system.
Compiled by Team CHIP send your tips to tnt@chip.in
18
Outlook 2007
Determine safe senders for junk filters automatically
The Junk email lter protects the inbox from undesired messages. You can maintain a Safe senders list so that messages from colleagues, friends and
12/2009
157
GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
THIS MONTH
160 Borderlands One of the funkiest-looking games of the year 164 Tekken 6 Old wine, kinda new bottle. 166 GTA 4: The Ballad of Gay Tony The San Andreas legacy comes to a fitting end. 168 Motorstorm: Arctic Edge Very nice visuals and nail-biting action. 169 Dragon Age: Origins Roleplaying with some awesome stories thrown in. 171 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Sith Edition Lots of promise, but this one is an opportunity cruelly missed. 171 Mini Ninjas Billiant art and superbly fun gameplay make it a real gem.
COD: Modern Warfare 2

162
Not the best single-player campaign, but the multiplayer will keep you busy for ages.
COLUMN
UNWIND
WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER RELEASING THE BEST GAME OF THE DECADE? MAKE THE NEXT ONE EVEN BETTER.
AVINASH BALI, CHANNEL EDITORGAMING
A UC3 WISHLIST
U
ncharted 2 is one of the fi nest games to have come out in 2009. It is without a doubt the most exciting, intense and gorgeous gaming experience of this generation. Not only does it offer a lengthy single player campaign but it also added in a robust multiplayer mode that increased the games longevity significantly. Still there are a few gripes that Im hoping Naughty Dog can fi x in the next installment. As most of you know, Uncharted was a pretty short game so Naughty Dog obviously felt the need to increase its length. While I have no problem with that, the last few levels felt tacked on during which the game felt like a boring grind. Also the fact that you had respawning enemies throwing insanely accurate nades at your feet didnt really help. would let me add a bit of my personality to the game. Uncharted 2 may have nailed the whole Indiana Jones vibe better than any game out there but one aspect that did feel off was the platforming. Im not saying it was bad; its just that you HAD to climb the ledge the game wanted you to. There was no room for exploration or experimentation and there were times when Drake couldnt even scale a tiny ledge, just because he was not supposed to go in that direction. No I do not want the next Uncharted to be a free roaming game but a little freedom would really benefit exploration. Uncharted 2 was also full of high octane cinematic moments but except for the last boss fight there really werent any impressive fights to talk about. Ive fought a tank and a chopper tons of times in games before and even though UC2 did those fights better than most, there was room for more epicness. On the multiplayer side I would appreciate a more refi ned matchmaking system the next time around. It takes way too long to fi nd servers even though there are thousands of people playing online. Also for some reason even though I partied up with a friend, I found myself on the opposite team multiple times. The co-operative mode, while a welcome addition, should be implemented into the single player campaign itself. Now I hope I havent come across as too much of a nitpicker but I really think some of these suggestions could improve UC3. I mean with Uncharted 2 Naughty Dog raised the bar significantly and I hope that they can live up to their own and our expectations.
- avinash@tech2.com
WITH UNCHARTED 2, NAUGHTY DOG RAISED THE BAR SIGNIFICANTLY AND I HOPE THEY CAN LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS
Taking enemies down was no problem for the most part of the game since gunplay mechanics were sweet, but hand to hand combat felt a bit lacking and extremely context sensitive. Now I know Nathan Drake is an everyday man so expecting him to fight like a ninja would be stupid, but maybe for the next iteration we could get a deeper combat system that could even be upgraded. And speaking of things that can be upgraded, how about letting me customize the exact appearance of my character a la Rainbow Six Vegas? That
12/2009
159
GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
A highly entertaining romp that should not be avoided.

BY AVINASH BALI
shooters with a number of high prole games under their belt. Theyve worked on certain Half Life expansions and are behind the critically acclaimed Brothers in Arms series as well. Now
earbox Software may be new to the whole RPG genre but theyre vets of rst person
their latest foray, Borderlands, attempts to fuse both RPG and FPS elements to create a new genre called Role Playing Shooter (RPS). Unlike most RPGs on the block, Borderlands isnt particularly story driven. Sure you have a wafer-thin narrative that talks about a hidden vault full of alien technology and
wealth beyond your mindless dreams, but a few hours into the game and you will forget all about that, instead concentrating solely on the games incredible looting system. Loot is the high point in any RPG but in Borderlands its the star of the show. Through a randomly generated program, Gearbox Software has managed to implement thousands of weapons into the game. Dead enemies drop weapons, dead creatures drop weapons and there are even crates of weapons stashed all over Pandora for you to raid. Now with such a high number of weapons, you cant expect each one of them to be drastically different from the other. Some are colored differently, some are fused with different elemental magic and so on. In addition to this you can even purchase weapons from vending machines scattered all over the planet. Besides weapons youll also come across ammo, shields, and lots more all over the place. There were times when I actually deviated from an intense ght
Thousands of weapons are implemented in the game, though they aren't very different from each other.
to loot a nearby chest or grab that shiny new weapon irking my teammate.
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Gameplay in Borderlands is your staple RPG fare. Youll start off by selecting your class from Soldier, Hunter, Siren and Berserker. Initially, all classes seem similar but its only once that you hit Level 5 do you unlock their skills giving each one of them their own distinct style of playing. The Soldier while essentially a force to reckon with can also branch out to improve his healing skills while the Siren (or the Assassin) can use her magic to not only cause more damage but protect her teammates as well. Quests in Borderlands are handed over to you by various NPCs via a text heavy menu. Soon youll descend into the predictable yet enjoyable RPG grind of accepting newer quests, leveling up and moving on to explore newer areas. Ever so often youll also come across a boss/mini-boss who may or may not drop some totally rad loot. Borderlands is simple to get into even if you havent been playing RPGs since Diablo and this is one of its strongest points. The inventory system takes a bit getting used to but thankfully, its not overtly complicated. Like I mentioned in my intro, Borderlands is part or rather 3/4th FPS, which means you cant pause the game to heal yourself, change spells or issue orders. All the action takes place in real time so you will need to hone those shooter like reexes because headshots will cause critical damage. Thankfully, the gunplay in Borderlands is tight and feels as responsive as a rst person shooter. On the ip side I felt the world a bit barren at times and traveling from one place to another wasnt all that much fun especially since you unlock Quick Travel only after Level 15. Also the quests felt a bit too similar to each other and I could see myself getting
bored by this game real fast, had I been playing it by myself. Luckily this game can be played co-operatively by up to four players and that denitely makes the looting and exploring a lot more enjoyable. As you can see by the screens, Borderlands has a pretty zany art style depicting the highly overused post apocalyptic scenario using Cel Shaded technology. This comes as a relief from the usual art style associated with this kind of a setting. Right from the time the credits started rolling I was digging the games tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top stylish world that has most denitely been inspired by the mad Max series and Fallout 3. Like I mentioned earlier, most of the quests are displayed via text heavy messages so theres hardly any voice acting of sorts but whatever little bit is present in the game is bang on target.
RATINGS
ROLE-PLAYING SHOOTER
Borderlands
PRICE PUBLISHER DEVELOPER DISTRIBUTOR PHONE EMAIL PLATFORM
Rs 699 2K Games Gearbox Software Express Interactive Ltd 022-29961017 info@expressgames.in PC, PS3, Xbox 360
RATINGS
GAMEPLAY ENVIRONMENT OVERALL RATING
FOR
Addictive. Awesome Loot System. Simple to get the hang off. Awesome Art Style.
AGAINST
Can drag on a bit in the middle. Can get pretty boring while playing alone.
Cel shading gives this game a unique look and keeps things interesting.
Borderlands is a simple, enjoyable and addictive RPG... I mean RPS and it proudly wears those stripes on its sleeve. It never makes any claims of being a Mass Effect appealing to the loot whore within showering him/her with tons of rewards. It tends to drag on
in the middle and can get really boring if youre playing it by yourself but if youre lucky enough to have three other friends with similar tastes, Borderlands is a highly entertaining RPG romp that should not be avoided.
avinash@tech2.com
12/2009
161
GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
gret it. p. You won't re Pick this one u
BY AVINASH BA
LI
experience with their Call of Duty games. Theyve always taken the Michael Bay route portraying war with much air and style and its worked really well for them so far. With Modern Warfare (MW) in 2007, they exceeded expectations after a drastic change of setting that now took the ght from the World War II theater to the modern age. Modern Warfare was an instant classic with a tight single player campaign and a highly addictive multiplayer component that people still play. Now after two years we have a sequel to Modern Warfare that has elicited mixed reactions from me. The single player experience, while pretty stellar in its own way feels more like an expansion rather than a full-edged sequel bringing nothing signicantly new to the table. Missions while pretty solid and intense, fail to assault the senses the same way MW did. Still, by no means is Modern Warfare (MW2) a bad game. In fact Id say its one of the best shooters Ive played all year and all controversies and PC complications aside, is a must buy. The game takes place nearly ve years after Soap McTavish successfully thwarted the nefarious plans of ultranationalist Imran Zakhaev. A lot has happened since then and due to certain events that transpire during the rst half of the game, you nd out that Russia has basically mounted a full scale war on the United States. Youll play through the campaign as three distinct soldiers who not only have to defend America (directly or indirectly) but nd out whos behind this massive conspiracy as well. Now I really dont follow the CoD series
eveloper Innity Ward has consistently delivered an adrenaline pumping war
for their riveting plot because frankly speaking there isnt one. Even then I was still a bit upset at the way the game ended as it not only felt incomplete but anticlimactic as well. Gameplays still as tight as ever. If youve played any Call of Duty game in the past, the gameplay in MW2 will feel right at home. You take on multiple waves of enemies until you perform a certain objective or you hit the invisible
breaker to those picking up the game solely for its single player campaign. Friendly AI is dumb as ever and your troops will idly stand by or try and knife an opponent while you get riddled with bullets. Also like in most CoD games, enemy grenades will drop right at your feet making me wonder which training camp the bad guys go to. On the plus side the game ships with a brand new mode called Spec ops, which is basically a bunch of stand-alone missions that can be played alone or cooperatively with a friend. Some of them may resemble a Horde Mode of sorts where you take on multiple waves of enemies while some are more stealth-based. Then you have a snowmobile race to mix things up and a few epic missions that could give the single player campaign a run for its money. Spec ops is an excellent addition to the series and is addictive as
trigger that stops spawning enemies. The thing that set MW apart from the pack at the time were its nail biting, intense missions that culminated in insanely choreographed scripted events. While not completely missing from MW2, these monumental events are few and the ones present didnt feel nearly as mind blowing as the opening ship level or the ashback in Pripyat. Also I think weve really been spoilt by Uncharted 2s cinematic set pieces. The few issues that were present in MW have gone unchecked once again. The games length is still a problem and on the Normal difficulty I completed the game (without rushing through it) under ve hours. While I am totally gung ho about choosing quality over quantity, the games length could seem like a deal
you try and improve your time or beat your friends record only to rub it in his face. There are ve missions in all, each with ve sub missions and on Hardened or Veteran difficulty youre looking at squeezing a good amount of time from this mode. The only thing about Spec Ops that bummed me out a bit was the fact that it's limited to just two players. Once youre done with the single player campaign and Spec Ops you can dive into the world of online multiplayer and I dont mean to sound like a fanboy but no one does multiplayer like Innity Ward. When they axed dedicated server support from the PC version there was a huge outcry. People called in for a ban and the internet imploded. Now Im not going to deny that this did cause a certain amount of problems
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RATINGS
but it is nothing like the tragedy people made it out to be. I do miss 32 player support but I guess thats something were just going to have to deal with. The inability to browse servers is annoying at rst but to be honest IWs matchmaking service worked pretty well most of the time. I found servers quickly and only when I partied up with a friend it took us a bit longer. Also it's way easier to nd servers for the popular modes like TM and TDM as opposed to their Hardcore variants. New to the CoD MP experience is the addition of a third person mode. It may be a bit disorienting at rst but playing CoD in third person actually granted me a better view of my surroundings enabling me to avoid sneaky back stabbers. Besides the third person mode you have the ever popular ones like Deathmatch, Team Deatchmatch, Capture the Flag, Domination etc. to keep you hooked for hours. Progression in multiplayer has stayed the same but the LvL cap has now been increased to 70 after which you unlock the games Prestige Mode. A lot of the games older perks have been retained but few like Martyrdom have been axed. You now even have the option to customize your Killstreaks so youre not just limited to calling in UAVs, Attack Choppers or Air Strikes. You can now launch Counter UAVs, call in Attack helicopters where you actually control the choppers machine guns and if youre really good, 25 kills in a row will grant you a Nuclear Strike with which you can decimate everyone on the map. I've never seen perk be used because Im sure its near impossible to get 25 kills in a row. I did experience terrible lag when some of the hosts had a weak connection but these instances were pretty rare. However, when they do occur the game pretty much becomes unplayable and if you quit the game halfway through, your stats for that match are lost for good. Also if the host
happens to leave the game mid-way, the game pauses and quickly searches for the next best host resuming the action in a matter of seconds. On the technical front, MW2 is sublime. I havent played the console version and I hear it doesnt look all that hot but if you have a high end PC, the game looks phenomenal. Even though it runs on a heavily modied version of the same engine as MW, it can hold its ground in front of todays graphical powerhouses. MW2 also has some of the best lighting Ive seen in recent times. Environmental destruction has been ramped up a notch signicantly giving reghts an insanely chaotic feel, especially the more claustrophobic ones that take place in tightly enclosed spaces. Theres a huge amount of level variety to be found in missions as well
FPS
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Rs. 3,000 Activision Infinity Ward World Wide CDROM NA vikram@wwcdrom.com PC, PS3, Xbox 360
RATINGS
FOR
Intense SP campaign. Spec Ops is an awesome addition to the series. Best MP on the planet. A Technical Marvel. Brilliant OST.
AGAINST
Extremely short and Anticlimactic Single Player Campaign. Lack of dedicated servers do hamper online play a bit.
with the action continuously moving from the snowy peaks of Russia to the deserts of Afghanistan to the shanties of Brazil. Special mention goes out to Hans Zimmers epic instrumental score that suits the game perfectly. There were times when I felt like shedding a tear; its that awesome. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is an incredible game but its not perfect. The single player campaign is short and a tad under-whelming but Spec Ops and the games multiplayer will keep you busy for months on end. Im not too thrilled with Innity Ward messing around with the PC version but the end product isnt something thats unplayable. The lack of dedicated servers denitely hurts the game but how long can you stay mad at a game that offers the best multilayer experience. I also understand that the games pretty steep on all three platforms but the bottom line is that if you do invest in this game or either of them its a decision you wont regret. If you aren't interested in multiplayer at all, I would recommend renting/bowing the game rst.
avinash@tech2.com
12/2009
163
GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
Nothing very new, but fun to play anyway.

BY GAGAN GUPTA
ghting mode, which is evident in a lot of recent ghters I've tried out. This also holds true for Tekken 6, as the rst option that you're encouraged to try out is the story mode. The story mode plays out like an oldschool brawler like Streets of Rage, or the Fatal Fury series of games, where you control a single character and face a good number of evil henchmen in multiple levels, all of which end up in a boss ght. As the name suggests, the story aspect of the story mode is quite strong. If you have the patience for it, you can watch the history of the entire Tekken series at the start of the story mode, before the current event kicks in. You play the Story Mode as the new console exclusive characters Lars and Alisa, but you do get the option to unlock other ghters as you play through the campaign. Switching from one character to the other does have a novelty value to it, but thought that they all were just about equally effective. The controls tend to suffer a bit in this mode (just as many other games that have tried to bring the brawler genre to 3D), and the special moves and combos are not easy to implement. But all's not bad. The rewards come easy here and the story mode is kind of fun if you want to take a break from the other modes. I just think that Mortal
rom the recent trend I've noticed, ghting games are trying to move away from the regular arcade
Kombat did a better job at bringing in a story mode in Mortal Kombat Deception and Armageddon. Though the biggest draw of the home console version of the game is the Story mode, it's the good old one-on-one ghting that's more of my cup of tea. Tekken 6 puts the arcade mode hidden well inside the Offline Modes menu on the main screen, which came as a surprise considering that right from the starting cutscene you get the Insert Coin indicator ashing at the bottom. Once you do enter the arcade mode, you are greeted by 40 ready-toplay ghters. I'm not a big fan of keeping ghters hidden in the arcade mode, as it diminishes the pick-up-and-play value
of ghting games, which actually is what they're all about. I'm glad that Tekken 6 doesn't do that. Among the new characters are the above mentioned Lars and Alisa along with Bob, Zana, Leo and Miguel. All the new characters are pretty much in sync with the rest of the ghters in the game, so you don't feel that there's a loss of balance. Alisa is, however the most fun, with her quirky move set like placing her head in the opponent's hands till it explodes. Zana adds very cool belly-dancing, snake-like moves to the game. The ghting mechanics are as brilliant as ever. If you've ever played a Tekken game before, you'll be in familiar
The story mode might not excite anyone, but at least there's plenty of good old-fashioned fighting!
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RATINGS
ARCADE
Tekken 6
Rs 3,499 Namco Bandai Namco Bandai Milestone Interactive 022-28203319 info@milestoneinteractive.com PS3, PSP, Xbox 360
RATINGS
FOR
Game mechanics are awesome and the characters are varied enough to keep people entertained.
territory right from the get-go. You have the regular four button gameplay, with each button controlling an individual limb. You can get a list of combos from the moves list in the pause menu, but the best part is stringing those combos together to create one big move, through which you overpower your opponent from the start of the round to the end. Of course the defense is also an equally strong part of the game, and this time blocks happen automatically when you're standing still instead of you constantly pressing back. This is a big step for the game, as not many Tekken loyalists would be used to that. I personally found myself pressing the back button for defense, only to get my butt whooped instead. Online play was a bit tough to get into at the time of review, as the game couldn't once nd an opponent for me. Instead I had to make do with ghting against the recorded 'ghosts' that the game automatically downloaded. The game seems to practically base its entire AI on ghosts of other players, as it uses them in various single player modes including arcade. Fighting against a ghost created by a human player is always more gratifying than computer controlled characters. Character customization from Tekken 5 has made its way over here as well. As one can expect, the options range from cool to ridiculously obscure. You can change any character's hairdo on different levels, add weapons to the look, put on a clown nose or paint your hair red. Before
I mention anything about the game's visuals I think I should fairly warn you by default the motion blur effect is set to on, which makes the game play in standard denition. If you have your console connected to a high-denition display, turn off this effect so that you can enjoy the game in all its 720p glory. It took me a while to gure out that motion blur causes a drop in resolution, so playing the game in standard def on a 1080p display was a complete eyesore. Visually, Tekken 6 doesn't break any new grounds. It's a good looking game, but that's it. Overall it seems like a graphical upgrade to what you already saw in Tekken 5. The environmental damage is minimal, your environment never affects the gameplay. Basically everything you see around your character is mere eye-candy. But this time, at least the eye-candy is good. There are a lot more things happening in the
Controls well on the Xbox 360. 40 playable characters on first boot. Addictive customization system. Ghost data based single player works well.
AGAINST
Average visuals. Average story mode.
background now. There's a rooftop level with helicopters crashing all around you; then there's the village level where a poultry jeep goes a bit out of control in the beginning, causing the level to be lled with livestock. Seriously, would it have killed Namco to make the levels a bit more interactive? The elements were practically all there! Controls on the Xbox 360 controller were not too bad. The Tekken gameplay was always about a single direction press and button combos, which is a system that works perfectly well with the Xbox 360 controller. In the last year and a half there has been a great ow of ghting games on the current generation of consoles, which is odd, considering that there were hardly any ghting games released before that on these platforms. In this crowded market, Tekken 6 doesn't do anything drastically new, but it does do a good job of retaining the things you like best about the series. If you've been yearning for a Tekken game in high def, then you don't need mee to tell you to pick this up. My conclusion is a note to Namco. It's time the series got a major upgrade, not facelifts.
gagan@tech2.com
12/2009
165
GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
Good-looking, nail-biting and exciting.

BY AVINASH BALI
well received for its gorgeous visuals and high octane gameplay. Sure it was a tough as nails game with an unforgiving difficulty curve but those who stuck with the game were rewarded by visceral, in your face off road racing. For the sequel, the Motorstorm festival was shifted to a lush Pacic island where the barren wastelands of Monument Valley were replaced by a tropical paradise. The concept however remained the same and the AI as unforgiving and relentless as ever. Now instead of coming out with a third game for the PS3, Motorstorm Arctic Edge (developed by Bigbig Studios) is out on the PSP as well as the PS2 and has improved on its predecessor in a few ways making it more accessible and enjoyable to the casual racer. As with all previous games there is a drastic shift of scenery this time round as the action has now shifted to the snowy peaks of Alaska. Youll spend most of your time in the games Career mode that eases you in real slow making
he Motorstorm series made its debut on the PlayStation 3 way back in 2007. At the time it was
the rst two tiers seem like an utter cake walk. In fact there were times when I felt the AI purposely fell behind as soon as I reached rst position and no matter how many times I crashed, they never managed to catch up to me. But then as soon as the third tier kicked in, their aggression was back with a vengeance making races a lot more challenging. If youve played a Motorstorm game in the past, Arctic Edge will be familiar territory. You choose from a plethora of vehicles like bikes, ATVs, trucks, snowmobiles etc. and race through a bunch of off-road tracks against some insanely competitive A.I. Every level has multiple paths so its imperative for you to learn the tracks layout as you gure out the best course of action. Every vehicle can go faster courtesy of an in-built boost meter that unlike other games never runs out of steam (or boost). The only ip side is that you have to make sure you dont over heat your engine by boosting all the time or your ride will explode in glorious slow motion inging your driver like a limp ragdoll across the track. One thing I found a bit off in this game was vehicle selection. Certain races can only be raced in certain vehicles but those restrictions are not imposed on the opponents. Also why
was I made to race on gravel and dirt with a snowmobile? Or race on snow in a jeep? That part didnt make a whole lot of sense to me. Like I mentioned earlier the games extremely easy at rst, bumping up the difficulty suddenly without any warning. Still its not as frustrating as its elder counterpart and choosing the right vehicle along with knowledge of a particular track will guarantee success. Winning races will reward you with unlocks that can be used to upgrade your ride from a cosmetic point of view. On the visual front the game impresses, running at a smooth frame rate with all the mayhem on screen. Levels are huge and well detailed boasting of multiple paths. Only ipside a lot of tracks feel similar making the game seem a tad repetitive. The game boasts of an impressive soundtrack but its extremely limited in nature and some tracks just dont gel with the intense racing on-screen. If youre looking for a racing game on your PSP, Arctic Edge is your best bet right now. It's good looking, plays well and is way more forgiving than its console brethren. Sure its bogged down by a few issues but few racing games offer the excitement and nail biting gameplay Motorstorm does.
avinash@tech2.com
RATINGS
RACING
Motorstorm Artic Edge

PSP (Rs 1,499) and the PS2 (Rs 999) Sony Computer Entertainment Bigbig Studios Milestone Interactive 022-28203319 info@milestoneinteractive.com PSP, PS2
RATINGS
FOR
Offers Intense off-road racing. Looks good and plays well.
AGAINST
Tracks can get a bit repetitive. Limited OST.
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GAME REVIEW
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TA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (TBOGT) is Rockstars love letter to all its fans who thought GTA
An ode to San Andreas, Gay Tony is over-the-top, outrageous and awesome. BY AVINASH BALI
Luckily, they dont reach GTA IV levels of frustration thanks to mid mission checkpoints implemented in TLAD. New to the GTA IV universe are a bunch of mini games, the rst of which is Fight Club where you enter an underground ghting ring to take on wave after wave of ghters until you land up in hospital or defeat all of them becoming reigning champion in the process. Next up is the much publicized base jumping that appears in various missions throughout the games plot. Like all GTA games, character development is key to TBOGT. Gay Tony comes across as an annoying and whiny old wreck of his former self while Louis, his loyal lieutenant stands by him through thick and thin. Louis is more anti-hero than most video game protagonists but he must do what it takes to survive. Then theres the totally awesome Yusif Amir, the coke snorting, gold loving Arab tycoon who wants to recreate Liberty City, voiced most excellently by British comedian, Omid Djalili. Visually the games been touched up a bit and it looks a lot brighter and vibrant as compared to GTA IV that felt pretty brown. With all the frantic action, the frame rate tends to dip a bit but it never quite renders the game unplayable. It doesnt hold a candle to some of the stuff weve seen in Uncharted 2 but its still a good looking game. The bottom line is that TBOGT is an excellent addition
ACTION
to the GTA IV series. It packs in nearly 10 hours of gameplay, bringing in some real cool stuff to the table and offers players a diverse amount of activities in Liberty City. If youre a fan of the GTA IV series, this DLC is a must have. Even if you didnt particularly like GTA IV, I would still recommend giving this a shot since like Ive mentioned before, BOGT feels like an ode to San Andreas which we all know can never be a bad thing.
avinash@tech2.com
IV was too serious, sober and boring. Its totally outrageous and over-the-top in every way possible. In TBOGT you play as Louis Lopez, a Dominican whos just made it big in Liberty City thanks to his mentor and "business partner", Tony Prince AKA Gay Tony whos one of Liberty Citys most successful club owners owning the towns hottest gay and straight bar simultaneously. Sadly his rep has been diminishing in recent times and business isnt doing too well. To make matters worse Tony nds himself embroiled with all the wrong kinds of people and heres where you, Louis, step in to save the day. BOGT is all about Liberty Citys glamorous night life, fast cars, hot women, etc. Since youre a business partner/bodyguard to a club owner you can visit any of Tonys night clubs at any given point in time where youre free to drink (in the form of a mini-game) or seduce the local women on the dance oor (a mini-game once again) with your smooth moves. Wooing a girl on the dance oor yields some highly favorable results. Missions structure overall in TBOGT is still the same but this time round theyve been amped up tenfold. Youll be doing some crazy stuff through
RATINGS
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
1600 Xbox live points Rockstar Games Rockstar North Xbox Live NA NA Xbox 360
RATINGS
FOR
Packs in a ton of variety. Stylized set pieces. Over-the-top action. New mini games are a blast.
the course of your 10 hour romp with the DLC thatll make fans of San Andreas feel right at home. On the ip side there are a few highly annoying Buzzard missions.
AGAINST
Chopper Controls are still messed up. Some missions can get incredibly annoying.
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GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
An incredible tactics system makes this one unique

BY NIKHIL SINGH
incredibly intuitive and customizable party system has me smitten! The ability to pause and queue up commands ( la Fallout Tactics) really helps you alter the pace to your convenience. This fact is bolstered by its additive spell system, where you can use your spells/abilities in combination with others for some devastating results. For instance, my party's mage has a cone of cold spell, that freezes enemies in front of her. My warrior has a critical strike ability, that if used in conjunction with cone of cold, is capable of shattering a frozen enemy in one swift blow, regardless of how much health they have! Alternately, you can use your rogue's "grease trap" with a mage's re spell to set your enemies aame! The way the abilities of all the classes come together, is only enhanced by the game's incredible 'Tactics system' that lets you program the way each character works in the simplest of ways. For instance, you can set your warrior to use his "critical strike" ability on any enemy that's under the status effect "frozen" to shatter them into oblivion. You can even program your healer to heal all party members when they fall below a certain amount of health, or you can program your mage to cast a hex on the target of your main damage dealing party member! This can be done with just a few clicks using a high intuitive Tactics menu, that lets you program your characters such that eventually you'll be able to kick back and
've never been as big a fan of partybased RPGs as that of its hack-nslash sibling. However, Dragon Age's
relax, while your party slays most of the stuff on their own - It's poetry in motion! While the action's primarily party driven, the story of the game has a singular protagonist - your main character. The race, class and background you pick during character creation is no mere aesthetic gimmick though, and this fact alone takes the role-playing element to new heights. That's where the game gets its tag 'Origins' from - you can pick from up to 6 origins - Human Noble, Human or Elf Mage, Dalish Elf, City Elf, Dwarf Commoner and Dwarf Noble, each of which has a different storyline. The storyline dictates the way the world reacts to you. Even the quests and events that lead up to the main storyline differ depending on the origin you choose, adding re-playability. The classes you can pick in the game are Warrior, Rogue and Mage, which might seem limited at rst. Each class has up to four specializations to pick from that allow your character unique abilities. One such specialization is awarded at level 7 and one at level 14. Options are plenty and the fact that you can mix and match up to two specializations makes for some interesting builds to play around with! The option to combine different specializations is an added boon, since I'd imagine that playing the game's 50+ hour campaign would get rather boring as a single class. Also unlike Neverwinter Nights where the rst act outshadows the rest, Dragon Age's campaign's fun
RPG
RATINGS
Dragon Age Origins
Rs 999 Electronic Arts Bioware Edmonton Milestone Interactive 022-28203319 info@milestoneinteractive.com PC, PS3, Xbox 360
RATINGS
FOR
Very helpful Tactics system. Origin stories are awesome. Gripping storyline. Great looking/smooth frame rates. Class specialization is great. Spell combinations can be devastating.
AGAINST
Not very easy for RPG newbies to pick up. An in-game tutorial for the Tactics system would have been nice.
from start to nish. It doesn't drag on at any point, and to break the pace there are a few interesting shifts in settings (albeit temporary) that help you recuperate from the possible monotony of party-based combat. I'd denitely tag the game as really well paced, which is quite a feat for one that's this lengthy. With so much to offer at a price of Rs. 999 (for PC), it's hard for an RPG fan not to fall in love with Dragon Age: Origins. It's a solid game and if you have even the slightest affinity towards RPGs, pick this one up!
nikhil@tech2.com
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GAME REVIEW
UNWIND
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Sith Edition

BY DHRUV DUTT
tar Wars: The Force Unleashed (SW:TFU) came out for the PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox360, Nintendo Wii,
and turns along the way capable of pleasing any Star Wars fan. Now coming to the PC version, TFU is one of the WORST ports in the history of ported games and there's no other way of saying that. Since the game looked brilliant on consoles, the PC version could have looked so much better but sadly all you can do is tweak the resolution and brightness in the visual settings.
You can't enjoy more anti-aliasing or even better textures. The game's so ugly there were times I felt like I was playing a 4-year old game. If that wasn't bad enough it's plagued by sudden FPS drops making the experience all the more infuriating and not to mention frustrating. The controls though were surprisingly good. The boss ghts can get very tricky with a keyboard and mouse but overall they were responsive enough. Sith edition boasts three stand alone missions Hoth, Jedi Temple and Tatooine. These stages are difficult but enjoyable as they make full use of your force upgrades. Also DLC like lightsaber colors and outts, etc. are included. Though having the potential to be one of the best movie to game adaptations and one of the best games of all times, Force Unleashed is the worst console to PC port we have ever seen.
dhruv@tech2.com
DS and Ngage (phew), nearly two years ago, but completely avoided the PC. Gamers made their distaste apparent, especially after the game was hailed as the best Star Wars game ever. So Lucas Arts decided to port the game to the PC. Sadly this is nothing but a half hearted attempt at pleasing PC gamers. TFU for the Xbox360 and the PS3 looked pretty good and offered players some insanely liberating Force Powers that were brought to life by three physics engines - Havok, Natural motion and Euphoria. You also wielded a Lightsaber throughout the game. What made TFU a must have for any self respecting Star Wars fan was its story. You play as Darth Vader's secret apprentice Starkiller, who has been trained to destroy the Emperor. The plot also had some really cool twists
Mini Ninjas
BY GAGAN GUPTA
who will join your party. Every ninja you acquire has his own strengths and weaknesses. You can add a lot of strategy in your gameplay with the right character selection. Hiro himself has a whole bunch of spells and items that he unlocks during the course of the game that can aid him further. Though there are endless resources at our disposal, you rarely ever feel the need to use any of them. You can practically get through the whole game without using any of the spells, because almost all enemies can be taken out with
your regular sword attacks. Even the boss ghts are solely dependent on context sensitive actions, which takes the whole thrill out of beating them. Mini Ninjas is still a thoroughly enjoyable game. It's just not challenging enough to make your victory satisfying. Io Interactive has done an excellent job of capturing the right look and feel of Japan for this game. The art style, the environments and the lighting give you a sense of serenity. Though the levels are quite linear in nature, there will still be times when you stop playing to just admire your surroundings, or enjoy a bit of Koi shing. The soundtrack is made up of traditional Japanese instruments which keeps things pseudo-authentic. Mini Ninjas could have been a highly recommended title if it had a cooperative mode. Even so, it is a great game for your kids. It has good action but no violence, and the overall theme of the game makes it a great family title. Experienced gamers may want to try out the demo rst, as they may not really get the sense of gratication here that they'd get from more challenging titles.
gagan@tech2.com
ini Ninjas takes one of the most loved character types and makes a game that's rich in
Japanese culture and art-style. The game takes place in ancient Japan where an evil Samurai warlord has returned and is now using dark Kuji magic to morph innocent jungle animals into Samurai henchmen, causing a disturbance in the 'force'. This disturbance is detected by a ninja master, so he sends his best trained students one after the other, only not to have any of them return again. In the end he sends his two most unlikely heroes - Hiro and Futo to rescue their ninja brothers and defeat the enemy while at it. You primarily control Hiro, the most well balanced ninja in the game, but you can also switch to other ninjas at any time through a simple control maneuver. Of course in the beginning the only other ninja at your disposal is Futo, but as you progress, you rescue many other ninjas
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MARKET WATCH
MARKET WATCH
PROCESSORS: Intel
NAME Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 Intel Core 2 Duo E5300 Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Intel Core i5-750 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9505 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Intel Core i7-920 Intel Core i7-860 Intel Core 2 Extreme Q9650 Intel Core i7-950 Intel Core i7-870 Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Ed. PRICE (RS.) 3,410 3,634 6,020 9,297 9,297 10,529 10,753 12,097 14,561 15,681 16,801 18,145 31,922 32,482 57,124 CPU SOCKET LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 1156 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA1366 LGA 1156 LGA 775 LGA1366 LGA 1156 LGA1366 NUMBER OF CORES 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 CLOCK SPEED 2.5 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.93 GHz 3.0 GHz 2.66 GHz 2.66 GHz 2.66 GHz 2.83 GHz 2.83 GHz 2.66 GHz 2.8 GHz 3.0 GHz 3.06 GHz 2.93 GHz 3.33 GHz
CHIP brings you a roundup of
MFG PROCESS 45 nm 45 nm 65 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm
BUS SPEED 800 MHz 800 MHz 1066 MHz 1333 MHz 1333 MHz 1333 MHz 2.5 GT/s 1333 MHz 1333 MHz 4.8 GT/s 2.5 GT/s 1333 MHz 4.8 GT/s 2.5 GT/s 6.4 GT/s
L2 CACHE 2 MB 2 MB 3 MB 6 MB 4 MB 6 MB 8 MB 6 MB 12 MB 8 MB L3 8 MB 12 MB 8 MB L3 8 MB 8 MB L3
PROCESSORS: AMD
NAME AMD Sempron 140 AMD Athlon II X2 240 AMD Athlon II X2 245 AMD Athlon II X2 250 AMD Phenom II X3 425 AMD Phenom II X2 545 AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X3 435 AMD Athlon II X4 620 AMD Athlon II X4 630 AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Ed. AMD Phenom II X4 945 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Ed. PRICE (RS) 2,253 3,408 3,744 3,912 4,756 5,092 5,824 5,824 5,936 7,057 7,057 9,969 10,529 CPU SOCKET AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 NUMBER OF CORES 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 4 3 4 4 CLOCK SPEED 2.7 GHz 2.8 GHz 2.9 GHz 3.0 GHz 2.7 GHz 3.0 GHz 3.1 GHz 2.9 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.8 GHz 2.8 GHz 3.0 GHz 3.20 GHz MFG PROCESS 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm 45 nm BUS SPEED 2700 MHz 3600 MHz 3600 MHz 4000 MHz 4000 MHz 3600 MHz 4000 MHz 4000 MHz 4000 MHz 4000 MHz 4000 MHz 3600 MHz 3600 MHz L2 CACHE 1 MB L2 2 MB L2 2 MB L2 2 MB L2 1.54 MB L2 7 MB L2 6 MB L3 1.54 MB L2 2 MB L2 2 MB L2 6 MB L3 6 MB L3 6 MB L3
MOTHERBOARDS: AMD - IGP

NAME Zotac GF8200-A-E Zotac GF8300-A-E Biostar TA790GX 128M Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H Asus M3A-H/HDMI MSI K9N2 SLI Platinum MSI DKA790GX Platinum Asus M4A78T-E Asus Crosshair II Formula Asus M3N-HT Deluxe/Mempipe PRICE (RS.) 3,933 5,050 5,699 5,799 7,566 7,953 9,297 10,729 11,470 15,600 CPU SOCKET AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ AM2+ AM3 AM2+ AM2+ CHIPSET GeForce 8200 GeForce 8300 AMD 790GX + SB 750 AMD 780G AMD 780G nForce 780a SLI AMD 790GX + SB 750 AMD 790GX + SB 750 nForce 780a SLI nForce 780a SLI MEMORY SUPPORT DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR3-1333 (16 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) D-SUB | DVI | HDMI || || || || || || || || || || PCIE X16 | PCI | SATA | USB 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 3 | 2 | 6 | 10
NOTE: Street prices (incl. VAT and credit card charges) by www.techshop.in as on 10 November 2009.
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all the latest and greatest products on the market.
Powered by:: by y
MOTHERBOARDS: AMD - Non-IGP

NAME MSI K9A2 Platinum v2 Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS5 MSI 790FX-GD70 Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Asus M4A79 Deluxe Asus M4A79-T Deluxe PRICE (RS) 9,297 9,599 10,304 11,208 12,321 14,326 15,147 CPU SOCKET AM2+ AM2+ AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 CHIPSET AMD 790FX AMD 790FX + SB 600 AMD 790FX + SB 750 AMD 790X + SB 750 AMD 790FX + SB 750 AMD 790FX + SB 750 AMD 790FX + SB 750 MEMORY SUPPORT DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 16 GB) MULTI-GPU MODE CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire dual x16 CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire dual x16 CrossFire dual x16 CrossFire dual x16 PCIE X16 | PCI | SATA | USB 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 4 | 2 | 8 | 12 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 2 | 2 | 10 | 12 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 4 | 2 | 6 | 12
MOTHERBOARDS: Intel - IGP

NAME Zotac NF610I-C-E Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L Abit I-N73HD MSI P7NGM-Digital Gigabyte GA-EG45M-DS2H Zotac GF9300-A-E Intel BOXDG45FC PRICE (RS) 2,512 2,792 3,744 4,256 6,664 7,000 7,001 7,282 CPU SOCKET LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 CHIPSET GeForce 7050 / nForce 610i Intel G31 + ICH7 Intel G41 + ICH7 Nvidia GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i Nvidia GeForce 9300 Intel G45 + ICH10R Nvidia GeForce 9300 Intel G45 + ICH10 MEMORY SUPPORT DDR2-667 (Max 4 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 4 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 4 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 4 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 4 GB) D-SUB | DVI | HDMI || || || || || || || || PCIE X16 | PCI | SATA | USB 1|2|4|8 1|2|4|8 1|2|4|8 1|2|4|8 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 0 | 0 | 4 | 10
MOTHERBOARDS: Intel - Non-IGP

NAME Intel DP55WB MSI P45 Neo3-FR Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Biostar TPower I45 EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 Asus P5Q Pro MSI P55-GD65 MSI P45 Platinum Ggiabyte GA-P55-UD3R MSI P55-GD80 Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 Intel BOXDX58SO Ggiabyte GA-P55-UD6 MSI Eclipse SLI Gigabyte GA-EX58 Extreme eVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 PRICE (RS) 6,720 7,281 8,064 8,289 8,591 9,241 10,626 10,641 10,641 12,499 14,561 14,561 15,625 16,800 18,499 20,161 21,505 22,290 CPU SOCKET LGA 1156 LGA 775 LGA 1156 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 775 LGA 1156 LGA 775 LGA 1156 LGA 1156 LGA 1366 LGA 775 LGA 1366 LGA 1156 LGA 1366 LGA 775 LGA 1366 CHIPSET Intel P55 Intel P45+ICH10R Intel P55 Intel P45+ICH10R Intel P45+ICH10R Nvidia nForce 750i SLI Intel P45+ICH10R Intel P55 Intel P45+ICH10R Intel P55 Intel P55 Intel X58+ICH10R Nvidia nForce 780i SLI Intel X58+ICH10R Intel P55 Intel X58+ICH10R Intel X58+ICH10R Intel X58+ICH10R MEMORY SUPPORT DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-800 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1066 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 16 GB) DDR2-1200 (Max 8 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 8 GB) DDR2-1333 (Max 16 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 24 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 24 GB) DDR3-1600 (Max 24 GB) MULTI-GPU MODE NA NA CrossFire dual x8 NA NA SLI dual x16 CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire + SLI CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire + SLI CrossFire + SLI SLI 3-way x8 CrossFire dual x8 CrossFire + SLI CrossFire + SLI CrossFire + SLI CrossFire + SLI PCIE X16 | PCI | SATA | USB 1 | 1 | 6 | 14 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 2 | 2 | 7 | 14 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 2 | 2 | 7 | 14 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 3 | 2 | 8 | 14 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 2 | 1 | 6 | 12 3 | 2 | 10 | 14 3 | 2 | 10 | 12 3 | 2 | 10 | 12 3 | 2 | 10 | 12
NOTE: Street prices (incl. VAT and credit card charges) by www.techshop.in as on 10 November 2009.
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LETTERS
INBOX
Next month's Star Letter wins a cool accessories set
R
ts a coo inner ge onth's w ries set This m ccesso a y:

Sponso red b
STAR R LETTE
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Sponsored by:
The joy of benchmarking

Dear CHIP, I am a regular reader of CHIP but the importance of benchmarking computers didn't dawn on me until recently when I bought a new assembled desktop. With the help of your hardware reviews and updates I managed to get the best bang for the buck. A few days ago, I recalled there had once been an article on benchmarking in one of the earlier issues, so I went through my collection and found that particular topic. Since then, I have developed a new wave of enthusiasm and have been stuck running benchmarks on my PC and comparing it with other results on the Internet! It truly tells exactly where your computer's performance stands and creates an eagerness for scoring more points, also creating the desire for better upgrades. In the November edition, the Personal Technology column addressed one of the major concerns which I have. Whenever we approach computer shops looking for an assembled desktop PC, the salesmen offer their own configurations even if you have your own choices in mind and they try to convince you that theirs are the best and latest. From what I have observed, they generally suggest the latest processors, for instance the Core 2 Duo E7500, highlighting the clock speed but ignoring the other specs, and then the rest would be outdated components like G31 motherboards and the 8XXX series graphics cards (mostly 8400 GS) if you ask for a one. If you are not aware of the latest hardware reviews/updates you might just go for these and later end up with very poor performance from your new PC. But thankfully, I avoided being a victim all because of you guys. So I send this message to all my friends out there: "keep yourself updated regularly with CHIP! HENRY ZIRTLUANGA
CONTACT INFO
Please send your letters to: editor@chip.in
Loved a workshop
Hello CHIP, This is Sharath from Belgaum. I have been a subscriber of CHIP for the last three months. I must say that its one of the most versatile magazines in the market now. I was very impressed with the Hands On section in the November issue of CHIP. I have been wondering how selective monochrome photographs
are made. It is a beautifully described step-by-step tutorial where even a novice like me could follow it. I think Photoshop CS3 was used in your tutorial. There are slightly different tools in CS4 but the basic steps were all the same. I am very thankful to you for that great tutorial, I could make a monochrome photo of my daughter. Yours, SHARATH Hi Sharath, Its good to hear you liked the workshop. Were printing the photo you sent in for everyone to see! - TEAM CHIP
ago when I brought my first PC. CHIP has greatly improved my knowledge and skills with computers. The cover story on smart homes was really exciting. You have really stressed on how to live smart. But I was thinking that you would have recommended a good PC configuration for playing high definition media in place of a Sony Playstation 3 since everyone will not be interested in gaming. Also I had some suggestions for the magazine: First, you havent published a CPU-GPU Guide since January. Please try to publish it every month and also add a column for the price. Second, the Flash which plays after inserting the CHIP DVD is pretty old. Please try to change it at least thrice a year. Again I would like to thank you
Points and suggestions

Hi team CHIP, I'm Gautam N Chipkar. First of all, happy 6th birthday in advance! I started reading CHIP three years
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LETTERS
and congratulate you for the 6 glorious years. The only thing I will say is "CHIP ZINDABAD!" Yours sincerely GAUTAM Dear Gautam, Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. Letters like yours motivate us to keep going, and to do more and more to improve CHIP so readers constantly benefit. The Smart Homes story was fun to do, and we have no doubt that people will want to pick and choose specific components to use and substitute their own choices in many places. A PS3 might be the simplest and most trouble-free option for many, but if a gaming HD-equipped HTPC works better for others, theres nothing stopping them from choosing that option (or both!). Youll be pleased to see a fresh CPU-GPU guide in this very issue. We try to make it a quarterly feature. And well look into that Flash intro as well rest assured, every part of CHIP is constantly being tweaked and improved. - TEAM CHIP
informative and innovative. The product reviews included a lot of brand new products and I liked them too. Being a security apps pack I expected a lot of apps on the DVD but I was a little disappointed to see only free antivirus programs in the full software section. Thanking you, R ARULMURUGAN Hi Shahrukh and Arulmurugan, Were glad to hear you liked the November issue so much, but we cant give cracked or pirated versions of paid software on the DVD. The free programs on the DVD are all carefully selected so that you get the best tools, in many cases giving you the exact same functionality as expensive commercial software. - TEAM CHIP
NOVEMBER 2009 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 12 Rs 150
wo W soft rth of IN war prize e, P s in ! C ac clu cess din ori g ga es mes &h ,m ouse ov hold ies, gad book gets s,
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WINDOWS 7 REVIEWED
Its here at last! We tell you everything there is to know about the new Windows
HOME NETWORK NIRVANA

Use Wi-Fi to stream and Use Wi-Fi to stream and share multimedia all over your house
TESTED
Laptops under Rs 30,000 Laptops under Rs 30,000 Inkjet multi-function printers
HTC HERO
An Android phone An Android phone finally done right
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Complete with a home theater, central storage, intelligent appliances and centralized controls, the smart home of the future can be yours today.
few pieces of personal info on the web, but we dont think about it. On the other hand we commit a crime just by installing a few illegal bits and bytes on our hard drives. But can we get rid of these problems? I am a poor student, I bought a low end PC a few years ago and now the keyboard is messed up, the RAM is too little and the hard drive is just 40 GB. So if I had some cash handy why would I pay for a license when I need hardware upgrades? We cant get rid of music and movie piracy either. Those who buy music legally feel cheated when they hear that others just download high quality music without losing even a paisa. Lastly, I have to travel around 110km every month to buy CHIP from the nearest city but it is worth the pain. Because of you guys I now feel very grown up in terms of computing knowledge BHARAT KUMAR RAMCHANDANI
No more piracy
Hi, My name is Ravi, I am from Delhi. I have been reading your magazine for the last five years and I have learnt a lot from you. The October 2009 cover story was excellent, it has inspired me a lot as I have become a techno man due to all your valuable knowledge through the years. I often help my friends choose hardware configurations but never tell them to buy original operating systems or software. But after reading CHIP I feel I have made a lots of mistakes. I am also going to be a part of this field as I am a MCA student and my career is ahead of me. I am happy to say that one of my friends wants to buy a new PC in a tight budget, and after reading your October issue I have had to make the config about five times but at last I managed to buy the PC with original software. I hope you will continue to raise public awareness like this in the future. Thank you, RAVI Hello CHIP, I think two of the biggest concerns these dayts are privacy and piracy. We lose privacy just by entering a
Full software
Dear Team CHIP, I am Shahrukh Tausif from Jamshedpur. I am always eager for your magazine to arrive. In the September issue there were several antivirus tool given including Quick Heal, Norton, Kaspersky, Eset, Avira etc. But I was very disappointed to see that many of the applications were trial versions which is not fair. Please from the next issue have a separate column for software with proper serial keys such as Windows 7 transformation packs, Norton 360 (with serial key not trial), Website X5 etc. SHAHRUKH Hi team CHIP. This is Arulmurugan from Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu. I have been a regular reader of CHIP for the past year. The November issue was rocking as always. The article about home networking and securing our own home was really
Sachin Pandit
12/2009
187
LAST WORD
It's all about the LCDs!

BY SIDDHARTH BHATIA
ith all the sales and promotions going on trying to make people spend money this holiday season,
thus we get color. Essentially its the TVs ability to block or let through the backlight that dictates the image quality in terms of brightness, contrast, etc. Now in LED TVs, especially the Samsung ones released in India, the CCFL light is replaced by an LED source. These are denitely a better choice than the uorescent cathodes since they consume less power, which makes power efficiency go up. Now we have another issue here. LEDs can light the panels from the back or from the sides. The ones we have reviewed so far light it from the sides, and are correctly referred to as LED edge-lit LCD TVs. Thats what we call our reviews of such products. It is debatable whether Samsung and Sony's ads are correct; maybe they should be more specic in their nomenclature, but then history is lled with marketing gimmicks and half-truths so theres no use complaining about it. LED backlit LCD monitors are available in laptops and 21-23-inch and larger monitors. Samsung themselves have released an LED backlit monitor, called the XL2370, which should launch here soon. The Samsung 7 series edge-lit TVs are superbtheres no doubt about thatbut right now they are pretty pricey. I feel buyers should wait a bit unless theyre really blown away by the image quality. So then nally, what exactly is an LED TV? If these existed, they would actually use LEDs to make up the pixels, and would use totally different technology. No consumer TV currently uses LEDs; only some giant outdoor screens used in stadiums or hoardings line the ones you see in pictures of Times Square. These utilize up to 25 million LEDs each to produce full-color HD images, and no, I dont think anyone has one in their house! Sony has something called an OLED TV, the XEL-1, but the price is a joke and the technology is still different from normal LED LCD TVs. LGs LH90 is an LED-backlit LCD TV, and we also have BenQ's V2200 and V2400 monitors which use LED backlighting too. Traditional LCDs are not dying out by any stretch of the imagination; in reality they are just taking a backseat in terms of marketing jargon. Dont get taken in by a ashy ad or sales pitch!
siddharth@tech2.com
its important to know which products are really available for good deals and which ones arent buying no matter how low the price. The HDTV market today is lled with all kinds of claims and advertisements, with major misnomers spreading and buyers getting confused. So-called LED TVs are the current focus of all the push, with Samsung and Sony leading the bandwagon. For anyone planning to buy one this month, I feel I have to write this short guide. I have respect for all the major electronics brands; we review their products regularly, including the LED TVs, but their marketing terminology is wrong. These are not LED TVs, i.e. they dont substitute the regular LCD for an array of LEDs (which would give us incredible quality and power savings), but simply regular LCD TVs made of liquid crystals just like normal LCDs. The only difference is that LEDs are used to light the panel. Lets backtrack a bit in to the tech behind an LCD TV. An LCD needs a source of light to work, unlike plasmas and OLED screens in which the pixels themselves emit light. This light is usually generated by a cold cathode lamp (CCFL), similar to the CFL lamps that light up our rooms. This is called the backlight, and is responsible for a huge chunk of the quality you will get out of the TV. These generally have a brightness of 330 350 cd/m2 brightness at their midpoints. Their evenness and brightness of the backlight dictate your
panels ability to show good pictures. The CCFL lights the LCD panel, which is made w up of pixels, from behind. Each pixel either Ea blocks the light to show black, or totally allows it through to show white. Each pixel is made of 3 subpixels: red, green and blue. These intermix as and how needed, and
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