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EDITORIAL

A dangerous path
ot on the heels of last months news that Pakistani officials were trying to
ban text messages containing words that had been deemed offensive,
come reports that our own government has decided that Facbook, Twitter
and other social networks must proactively censor anything that might be
offensive. Putting aside for the moment that anything anyone says that is critical of
anyone else is often deemed offensive and used as an excuse for petty violence, one
has to wonder who the arbitrator(s) of the entire nations status messages, blog posts
and photos will be, and what criteria theyll use to judge offensiveness. Will all criticism
of politicians be magically erased from the Internet? What about satire, or hard-hitting
news articles?

Were heading down a dangerous path. Ifand this is a big ifsome technological
means of pre-screening each and every online activity is put into place, whats to stop it
from being misused on the whims of the countrys next self-appointed moral guardian
or offended politician?
At least were not alone in the world. Kazakhstan is the latest in a long line of
countries to have cut its citizens Internet connections, this time over fears of growing
labor unrest. The UK made noises about censoring social media following riots there a
few months ago, and even the US appears to be placing commercial interest above
citizens freedoms, with proposed legislation like the Stop Online Piracy Act and
PROTECT-IP Act, which would allow private parties to block entire websites without
any due process merely on the suspicion of copyright infringement. China, once
criticized by the world for attempting to control the Internet and silence dissent, is now
somehow a role model.
We need to question our policymakers motivations when they make such demands.
Are they afraid that the free flow of information will somehow diminish their power? Do
they have vested commercial interests? Have they been deliberately mislead, with
facts being obscured by technobabble? Are they apathetic or indifferent to things
they don't personally use? Do they have fundamental misconceptions about
how the Internetthat wonderful "series of tubes"even works?
Regulating every single message sent via every possible communication
medium would be a ridiculously complicated and resource-intensive
undertaking. It isn't strictly impossible, but there will always be enterprising
people who develop workarounds and alternatives. It might be scary to
imagine such a future, but if we don't keep these incremental erosions of our
freedoms in check, we might not even notice when such a system is the
norm. The way things stand right now, governments can block Internet
access for flimsy reasons. Tomorrow, entire communities could be made
to disappear because of one stray link or comment. Only awareness and
the exercising of our democratic rights will protect the Internet from
those with vested interests.

Jamshed Avari
[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0030112_Editorial.indd 3

01/2012

12/22/2011 5:15:38 PM

Contents
74 Cover story

Welcome to

2012!
Folding displays, 3D without glasses,
100 MBps Internet on mobileshere are
some of the exciting trends which might
make it to the mainstream this year

SA

TA

SA

TA

PC

Ie/

SA

TA

Mobile
TV
pc
PHOTO
I n t e r n e t / s O F T W A RE

NEWSWIRE

test center

Featured

12 In the News...

32 Product Spotlight

74 Welcome to 2012

18 The Buzz List

34 Hardware Tested

84 Login Without a Password

24 Ignite 2011

50 New and Mighty!

88 Operation Facebook

26 Learning Through
Entertainment

56 Software Spotlight

92 How Fast is Windows 8?

58 Software Tested

95 The Best Online Office

66 2012 Security Suites

98 One Cable For All Devices

A look at what's making news in the world of

technology.

The people, products and innovations that have

got the tech world talking.

A look at what India's innovating young minds

have planned for the future.

TV subtitling may be annoying for many, but it's

a great tool to help improve literacy.

28 Virtual Universities

No more worrying about missing lectures or

dropping out of a course because of work!

01/2012

0040112_Contents.indd 4

Intel's most powerful CPU ever is miles ahead

of the competition

The latest PC hardware, mobile phones, digital

cameras and more, tested and rated.

We test AMDs latest 990FX chipset-based

motherboards for enthusiasts and gamers.

Can Trend Micro's comprehensive security suite

dethrone Norton Internet Security?

Everything from recovery tools and system

utilities to video and image editors.

We show how well the new security suites

protect against the flood of malware.

Some of the exciting trends which might make

it to the mainstream this year.

Soon, cryptic alphanumeric password strings

could become outdated and unnecessary.

Hacker group Anonymous plans attack on the

social network using surprising methods.

The new interface has been revealed to all, but

what lies under the hood?

Only one online office suite is a true alternative

to your standard desktop suite.

The Thunderbolt standard can replace all PC

ports and is four times faster than USB 3.0.

intelligent computing chip

12/22/2011 5:36:10 PM

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regulars
03 Editorial, 06 Colophon, 08 Letters,
12 In the News..., 18 The Buzz List,
20 New Products Launched, 70 PC Configs,
100 Web Watch, 102 Dr CHIP, 110 Tips &
Tricks, 116 Market Watch, 129 Contests,
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intelligent computing chip

0040112_Contents.indd 5

01/2012

12/22/2011 5:37:38 PM

COLOPHON

Founder & Editor, Network18

Raghav Bahl

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0060112_Colophon.indd 6

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intelligent computing chip

12/22/2011 6:45:33 PM

letters

star
er
lett
th's winner

INBOX

This mon a cool

gets
set
accessories

Next month's Star Letter wins

accessories set (worth Rs 5,000)

Freedom of speech

Dear CHIP
Happy holidays and happy new year! Thank you for the article on banning SMS obscenity. I wonder how our
politicians will also try to get away with such censorship attempts. Our freedom of speech is already being
taken away, the government wants to monitor BBM and emails, but will they start cutting us off or arresting
people for sending "obscene" or "offensive" messages? Who will be the authority who decides what is obscene
or not? Terrorism is already used as the excuse to curtail activities and freedom. Now it will be to protect our
culture or the sentiments of some religions. How can we make sure our politicians do not follow down the
same path?
Aman
Hi Aman,
Thanks for your letter! Yes, this is certainly an issue worth highlighting. We've spoken about
censorship attempts in dictatorial countries before, but perhaps it is the democracies that
are more scary. Using recent world events as reasons (or excuses), democracies have shown
they are willing to suspend the fundamental rights that they have been so proud of
upholding in the past. Censorship comes from trying to promote a particular ideology,
whether cultural or political, or trying to prevent the inevitable rejection of a flawed one. We
can take comfort in the fact that the Internet was created by people who did not have such goals,
and as such, its current structure has considerable room for mitigating these attempts to control it.
Regards,
Team chip
Sachin Pandit

Man, machine and me

but can robots do so? Till now its

program; you can't put it into a chip.

Hi CHIP,

impossible. But there may not be a

That 'something' is the difference

Firstly, congratulations on your 8th

long way to go to achieve these

between us and the machines and

anniversary. CHIP is a great

qualities, keeping in mind the

will be forever.

magazine and I think you should

ongoing strides in technology!

continue with the great work. I am

Agnibha Sen

- Aditya Sharma,
New Delhi

an avid reader of your magazine

contact info

Please send your

letters to:
[email protected]
with "LETTERS" in
the subject line

01/2012

0080112_Letters.indd 8

and I would like to say I really liked

Hi CHIP,

Dear Agnibha and Aditya,

your article Man vs Machine (Dec

Congrats on your 8th anniversary.

Youre right, and the point of the

2011). I was amazed by the

The magazine has evolved both in

whole series was that while

technology used in robots. But I

terms of design and featured topics.

machines are infinitely superior when

would like to ask that even though

Hats off for that. In the December

it comes to sensory perception and

machines have improved so much,

issue, I read the featured article

data processing, its the nuances of

can they overtake man? I dont think

titled "MAN vs MACHINE", which

language, memory, sensation and

so. They may have higher memory

covered all the developments on

learning that make us who we are

capacity and better eyesight, but

Humanoids. The article was

and separate us from them. Humans

they cant show as much emotion as

excellent. It is good that such

can handle emotions and detect

we can. I know sci-fi authors like Sir

advanced Humanoids have been

subjective connections between facts

Isaac Asimov have written a lot on

developed which can touch, smell,

and events. Still, who knows what

these machines but I think they are

sense and interact with humans. But

the future holds! Plenty of the things

practically impossible. Robots can

do you really think that someday

imagined in science fiction have

think and process huge calculations

they will be as good as us? Will they

already become real. However, it

much faster than us but they can

be as good in every aspect; good

seems more likely that given the

never behave like man. Man can

enough to replace us? I think that

differences between the things

make robots but can robots make

they will never. What makes us

humans and machines are good at,

themselves? Man can cure himself

human is not something you can

scientists won't really spend much

intelligent computing chip

12/22/2011 6:11:32 PM

letters

time trying to make one like the

sms us

Finally, send your messages to

51818. Cheers!
Please keep comments to
160 characters per message!
Include your email address
to help us reply or check out
the SMS Feedback thread at
www.chip.in/forums

behave like us. Machines could be a

whole lot better simply by being
allowed to develop according to their
strengths. In fact even making
machines in humanoid shape could
be seen as limiting them.
Regards,

the last paragraph of the review

MAN VS MACHINE

SPECIAL
EDITION

text it is Rs 29,354.

How close are we

to true artificial
intelligence?

TECH MYTHS
DEBUNKED

Sanjay K Lal,

Putting all the

rumors to rest

BLUESTACKS

Team CHIP

Allahabad

Run Android
apps on your
Windows PC!

THE FUTURE OF CPUs

Fundamental shifts
are about to
take place

WIN

WO 1 LAK!
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ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR BUYING

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RIP PS2?

PRAYAS

Empowerment
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energy making them look and

Rs 200

The Story tag is mentioned

at the base of every story in
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vanity, there's no reason to spend

| 5 Android Tablets and 15 Graphics Cards | Run Android apps on Windows

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review, etc look out for the
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isn't the target for themapart from

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12
11

Gadget Shopping for 2012

For general comments, create

the following message:
ICCO <Your comments here>
Example: ICCO The cover story
was very useful

other. Emulating pure "humanity"

www.chip.in

Since we like knowing whats

on your mind and what you
think about our magazine,
we bring you another way
to get in touch. Do you have
something to say about a test
or review? Liked a feature
story? Was the workshop
useful? SMS us your feedback!

Nikon CoolPix P500

Acer Aspire One Happy 2

Dear Sanjay,
Thanks for your feedback. We didn't
count Bada as one of the major
smartphone players because the kind
of buying audience who sets out to
buy a high-end smartphone will
usually not settle for a Wave series

15 Midrange
Graphics Cards
for affordable
HD gaming

phone. Samsung could possibly have

Seagate GoFlex Satellite

done a lot more with Bada, but it

Hi CHIP,
First of all I would like to

aside from sports franchises like

seems they're focusing on Android at

congratulate you for providing us

FIFA, new game releases on the PS2

the high end and reserving Bada for

perhaps one of the best technology

have completely stopped. Thats why

mid-range feature phones. Still, we've

magazines out there! I am not a

Sony India is getting Indian

put it down as an alternative choice.

very old reader; I have just

developers to make games for the

subscribed to your magazine from

PS2 user base in India, which is still

October. What I want to ask is what

growing.

- Team CHIP

Hidden Agenda

has happened to the PS2? It's a

There is no way to play PS3

great platform hosting amazing

games on the PS2, but the PS2 has

In your article on smartphone OSes,

games like GOW. Why has the

such a massive, high quality games

you forgot to mention one major

production of PS2 games become so

line-up that there may still be plenty

thing: Windows Phone only works

rare? All we get today are sour

of great games you have not played.

with Windows 7 and till some extent

games like RA.one. Why has this

Titles like Shadow of the Colossus,

with Mac OS. It can't be used as a

happened? For people like me who

Rogue Galaxy, and Onimusha 3, etc

block storage device even for

have a PS2 and dont find it sensible

are classics. We will surely take up

transfering files to any other OS.

to spend money on a PS3, is there

your suggestion for a feature on

Anyway, this was expected; you

any chance or way we can play PS3

must-play PS2 games. You can look

always favour Microsoft, a company

games on PS2? It would also be a

forward to that in one of the next

which cares only about extorting

good idea to publish a list of the

few issues of CHIP Insider.

money by enforcing monopoly. In

best games out there which PS2

Regards,

the mean time, you leave GNU,

owners must buy.

Sameer Desai

Regards,
- R SRINIVAS

Picking Favorites

Hi CHIP,

which thinks about the people and

their freedom, in the cold.
-DE

Dear CHIP,
Hi Srinivas,

The 'Smartest OS' story was a very

Dear D E,

Thanks for writing in. As you may

good job but ignoring Bada was a

I can assure you we have no hidden

know, the PS2 was launched in

mistake. Compare the population of

agenda to promote Microsoft. None

2001, and Sony has always

iPhone or Blackberry users with

of the major platforms support USB

maintained that their consoles have

Samsung Wave series users and you

mass storage, and the article focused

10-year life cycles. With the PS3

will realize it. You may love Bada or

on the unique features of each OS.

launching in 2006, the focus slowly

you may hate it, but you definitely

WP7 is fresh, bold and exciting, while

started to shift to the new console

can't ignore it. In the same issue on

"open" Android's fragmentation is

and gradually software support for

page 49 where Acer Asspire 5755 is

proving to be a pain for users

the PS2 started going down. Now,

reviewed the price mentioned under

Jamshed AVari

Write to us!

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10

01/2012

0080112_Letters.indd 10

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Tel: +91 22 3003 4633 / 31 / 30
Fax: +91 22 3003 4499
Subscribe online at eshop.infomedia18.in

intelligent computing chip

12/22/2011 6:07:52 PM

Newswire

NEWS SNIPPETS

DANGER PREDICTION
Scams abound
during the
holiday season,
so be careful
of leftover
schemes and
phishing mails
that target your
bank, credit card
and shopping
accounts.

IN THE NEWS...
COMPILED By JAMSHED AVARI

Censorship

Indian Govt wants to censor social networks; Web

responds with derision, companies reject proposal

GLOBAL INFECTION RATE

31.1%

PAKISTAN
USA
FRANCE
GERMANY
CHINA

5.6%
5%
3.2%
2%

In Pakistan, nearly every third computer is

affected by a virus.
Source: Microsoft

THE MOST DANGEROUS MALWARE

76.6%

TROJANS
VIRUSES
WORMS
ADWARE
DIALERS

12.08%

criticism of politicians and curtailing freedom

social networks. According to a New York

of expression. Representatives from Google

Times report, the Union HRD ministry has

rejected the proposal, saying they already

demanded that social networking sites

have provisions in place to take down

"pre-screen" all content in India. The move

content that is illegal or violates its policies

came as a response to an allegedly offensive

in any country, but will not interfere with

Facebook post about a prominent political

free speech on anyone's behalf irrespective

leader. The Internet immediately exploded in

of perceived controversies. Facebook made a

criticism directed towards Minister Kapil Sibal,

similar statement, highlighting its mechanisms

alleging that he had no idea how the Internet

for dealing with abusive or hateful content,

or social networks worked. Facebook pages

which any user can flag for consideration.

and Twitter hashtags insulting the minister

The ministry is now set to initiate a second

sprang up within hours, many of which also

round of talks with the companies.

CarrierIQ scandal fallout spreads across the world

6.26%
3.52%
1.38%

Source: Symantec

Figure of the month

10m

3G connections were activated within six

months of its launch in India
Source: Avendus report

01/2012

addressed the darker matter of censoring

government has turned its attention to

Privacy

Criminals use Trojans most frequently when

attempting to infect computers. Dialer
threats have almost died out.

12

After targeting BBM and cellphones, the

A little analytical software package has

CarrierIQ, Apple revealed that older iOS

come under fire from privacy activists and

devices used it but it wasn't supported

concerned regulators around the world, after

anymore in iOS 5 even if it is still dormantly

it emerged that it was being used by phone

on the phones. HTC has stated it doesn't load

manufacturers and network operators to

the CarrierIQ tracker as a matter of course,

collect detailed information about millions

but several mobile operators demand it on

of users, down to logging a user's GPS

the phones they ship out under subsidy.

coordinates and creating copies of all text

In response, US mobile operator Sprint has

messages. The software in question, called

said that CarrierIQ is used only to monitor

CarrierIQ, was till recently present on nearly

network performance in order to provide

every Android, iOS and other devices. For its

optimal service, while Verizon has denied

part, CarrierIQ has denied any wrongdoing,

that they use it.

but those caught in the crossfire have

software violates wiretapping laws by

from their phones. Microsoft has proudly

collecting detailed user information without

stated that Windows Phone has never used

anyone's knowledge.

intelligent computing chip

0120112_News Snippets.indd 12

Legal experts are probing whether the

raced to remove all traces of the software

SMS us! Story code: NSN to 51818

12/22/2011 6:48:25 PM

Newswire

NEWS SNIPPETS

Security

new security
risks detected
and patched

Facebook
A flaw in the design of Facebook's tool
for flagging inappropriate photos
could be exploited in some cases to
gain access to users' private photos,
regardless of their security settings.
Solution: The company patched the
flaw within a week of intense media
reports of the theft of CEO Mark
Zuckerberg's own private photos.

Privacy

Politics

Facbook to start displaying social

ads in the main news feed

Iran blocks US
"virtual embassy"

Facebook is about to cross another line in its blurring of

Iran blocked access to a US

paid content and genuine updates. Beginning in January,

"virtual embassy" within a

the site will start slipping ads into users' main news feeds.

day of its launch, calling it

Facebook promises that not more than one "sponsored

a tool for espionage. The

story" will appear per day, and these will only be ads for

website was intended to

pages or people that users already "like". You could see ads

facilitate communication with

in your feed when a page you like is updated by its owner,

Iranians. Iran has criticized

when your friends like a page (either via Facebook itself or

the US for exerting pressure

a like button on the owner's own site), when your friends

over its nuclear program,

play a game or use an app consistently, or when your

while the US responded by

friends share something to their own walls via a Like button

openly advocating Iranians

anywhere on the Web. Facebook emphasizes the fact that

to find ways to circumvent

such ads will be relevant to those who see them. There will

the block, suggesting that the

be no way to opt out of seeing them, and there will only be

government fears their ability

a subtle "Sponsored" link at the bottom of such posts.

to access information.

Legal issues

communications

Website reveals users' Torrent

history, RIAA guilty of violations

Firm declares
zero email policy

Android
Malware-free apps available from
certain third-party app stores phone
home immediately upon installation
and offer the user an "update", which
actually downloads the malicious
payload, a data-stealing Trojan.
Solution: Users are warned to carefully
check which applications are allowed
to download updates, and to treat
them as suspiciously as new apps.

French IT firm Atos has

decided to do away with
email as a tool for internal
communications. Citing

Windows Server 2008/R2

statistics that show that less

A continuous stream of specially

crafted UDP packages could allow an
attacker to compromise a machine
running these editions of Windows
Server and thus run foreign code.
SOLUTION: Windows Vista and 7 are also
affected but an automatic update
patches the issue. Windows Server
admins are advised to schedule an
update as soon as possible.

than 10 percent of email

received is actually useful,
the company will encourage
workers to use its internal
collaborative Wiki and instant
messaging tools with video
A new website, www.youhavedownloaded.com, was

and file-sharing capabilities.

launched with the idea of educating users about how easy

The aim will be to completely

it is for others to track their Torrenting habits. Aimed at

eliminate internal emails within

highlighting misconceptions about Torrents being difficult to

18 months, although email will

Windows Phone 7.5

track, the site detects users' IP addresses and shows them

still be needed to communicate

A specially crafted SMS, tweet or

Facebook message could crash a
phone and disable the messaging hub,
or possibly cause the phone to freeze.
Solution: Microsoft is aware of the
problem but there hasn't been a patch
or update yet.

their download history. Users can also type in any other

with external clients and

IP address. However, within days of its launch, people all

customers.

14

01/2012

over the world have been using it to expose the habits

Employees are said to be

of copyright agencies, lawyers, and even governments.

responding positively, although

The highlight so far has been the RIAA itself getting

the new challenge will be to

caughtthough it was quick to blame "someone else" who

keep the new channels free of

conveniently happened to be using their IP address block.

unnecessary chatter and spam.

intelligent computing chip

0120112_News Snippets.indd 14

12/22/2011 6:48:42 PM

Newswire

NEWS SNIPPETS
Censorship

Software

Software

Reddit Darknet to Win 8 will allow Open source future for WebOS; HP
fight censorship >3TB hard drives bets on Windows 8 for tablet future
Internet community Reddit, has

Ending months of uncertainty,

been abuzz with discussions

HP has announced it will turn

of the Stop Online Piracy

WebOS over to the open source

Act, a controversial and

community. The company had

allegedly overreaching piece

While there's no sign yet of a

previously announced it would

of legislation in the US. Now, a

new filesystem on the lines of

cease WebOS development

group of community members

Microsoft's abandoned WinFS,

altogether, but recently

are exploring options for

the company has announced

appointed CEO Meg Whitman

a parallel, wireless, mesh-

that its ageing NTFS will be

has reversed that decision. Not only will HP continue to work on

structured network, popularly

updated to handle and even

its 1.2-billion-dollar investment, but it will also reexamine the

called a "Darknet", which

boot from hard drives larger

potential for a WebOS tablet in 2013, after focusing attention on

would be free, anonymous,

than the current 2.2 TB limit.

the Windows 8 launch for 2012.

unpoliceable and resistant

Windows 8 will require a UEFI

to censorship. Thousands of

BIOS, and will natively support

to for further development, allowing anyone to develop

Reddit users have contributed

Advanced Format drives, which

smartphones and tablets using WebOS, and creating an option

technical and legal knowhow

are now commonplace.

with which Android and Windows Phone licensees may choose

to the thread, though

Meanwhile, the new Resiliant

to hedge their bets. WebOS was widely praised for its strong

practical considerations such

File System (ReFS) will debut

multitasking capabilities and interface, but never gained traction

as antenna placement and

in server versions of Windows

due to poor hardware support and marketing efforts.

physical distance will restrict

8, specifically aimed at

the Darknet to several small

large-scale servers, though its

Windows 8, which it is betting will dominate the market when

clusters, if at all it takes off.

features aren't public yet.

the upcoming OS is released in late 2012.

mobile

Hardware

Legal issues

RIM embraces
iPhone, Android

Apple buys Israeli Copyright bullies take down

engineering firm Megaupload's legal promo video

Bowing to pressure amidst

Amidst unconfirmed reports

dwindling demand for its

of Apple acquiring Israeli

own BlackBerry smartphones,

tech firm Anobit and building

RIM will for the first time

its own research center

support competing platforms

in country, Prime Minister

including Android and iOS

Benjamin Netanyahu has

in its server-side enterprise

tweeted a message of welcome

management tools. BlackBerrys

to Apple. The move is said

have long been the phones

to have cost Apple between

of choice for corporates and

US$400b and 500b, making

In an apparent misuse of the law, Universal Music Group

other organizations that need

it the largest acquisition the

has used its clout to have a promotional video created by

to control data security and

company has ever made, larger

Megaupload.com removed from a number of video sharing sites,

ensure that employees are

even than the buyout of Steve

despite Megaupload owning the copyrights to everything in it.

always available.

Jobs' own company NeXT, in

UMG has even had an episode of a daily news podcast pulled for

1996. Anobit develops flash

simply mentioning the video, which features celebrities including

known as BlackBerry Mobile

memory technology which

Macy Gray, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx and Will.i.am endorsing the

Fusion, will enable corporate

Apple and other major tech

service and praising its speed and convenience.

IT departments to allow

companies already license.

users to use their choice of

The move gives Apple a huge

with the celebrities. These clearly give Megaupload the rights to

smartphone. Functionality like

competitive edge. Apple is the

edit, distribute and disseminate the audio and video recordings

push email and remote locking

world's largest buyer of flash,

of the stars' appearances in any way and in perpetuity. The

and wiping of phones will be

and has pioneered its use in

website has also branded UMG "rogue" for misuse of power. The

supported across platforms.

computers and gadgets.

Mega Song can be seen at www.megavideo.com/?v=HXJY2NKI

The new software,

16

01/2012

The move will see the underlying code of WebOS released

Meanwhile, HP will continue to develop tablets running

Megaupload has published copies of the signed agreements

intelligent computing chip

0120112_News Snippets.indd 16

12/22/2011 6:49:05 PM

NEWSWIRE
BUZZ LIST

Sci fi

Legal issues

Google's Siri competitor is

inspired by Star Trek

US Piracy Act opposed by

citizens, industry majors

A number of the fantastical devices seen in science fiction have

Lobbyists and special

turned into reality, and Star Trek is full of examples of gadgets

interest groups in the US

that have inspired inventors to work towards creating them in real

are trying to persuade the

life. In the background of nearly every starship and space station

government to enact

was a computer controlled by simple everyday voice commands

legislation that would give

which some have

unprecedented power to

described as the holy

music and movie industry

grail of voice

groups in copyright infringement claims. The so-called Stop

recognition. With this

Online Piracy Act (SOPA) includes language that would allow

lofty goal in mind,

industry bodies to blacklist websites without notice on the

Google has christened

suspicion that they allow copyright-infringing behavior. The Act

its own voice

would also force internet service providers to monitor subscribers'

recognition efforts

behavior and deny them access to websites which fall afoul of

"Majel"after Trek

copyright law, using deep packet inspection to analyze individual

creator Gene
Rodenberry's wife Majel Barrett, who guest
starred as the voice of the computer in every
major series and movie during her lifetime.
Google's Majel will match Siri's functionality
and also tie into the search giant's vast
information databases, maps, translation
engine, plus users' Gmail and calendars.

buzz

List
COMPILED By JAMSHED AVARI

The simple lowdown on

what everyone's talking
about this month

users' traffic patterns in violation of their

privacy rights. Microsoft, Kaspersky,
Wikipedia, eBay, AOL, Google, Twitter,
Yahoo, Zynga, LinkedIn, Mozilla, and Tumblr
are amongst those who have expressed
concerns about the scope and vagueness of
the Act. Videos and blog posts exposing the
Act's provisions are also going viral online.

Commerce

Chinese drones
flooding the Web
An army of Chinese workers is taking over

the Web, with the purpose of manipulating forum discussions and

comments on review sites in favor of the highest bidder. Students
at the University of Victoria, Canada, and Peking University,

Privacy

Beijing have recently published a research paper that details the

Facebook's data obsession

organizational structure and methodology used by the so-called

Not only does Facebook keep records of how much time you

work is done. The reputations of mainstream news and review

spend online, but it also knows when you are most likely to post a

websites suffer as a result, but the researchers were able to

status update. That's just one of the things an Austrian law

identify patterns in such users' behavior, which could lead to the

student named Max Schrems discovered when he decided to use

development of filters that will block them in the future.

"Internet Water Army". Paid posters receive a few cents per

comment, and abandon accounts on these websites after their

a provision in the European Union's laws that allows him to ask for
a copy of whatever information Facebook has pertaining to him.
The website sent him a PDF more than 1200 pages long, detailing
his every move including likes, friends' demographics, messages,
photos, GPS coordinates, relationship statuses, and more. The
data included things that Schrems had previously deleted,
proving that Facebook retains these to use in building individual
user profiles. As part of an ongoing legal project, Schrems has
started visualizing the datawatch a video of the highlights at
http://youtu.be/kJvAUqs3Ofg.

18

01/2012

0180112_Buzz List.indd 18

intelligent computing chip

SMS us! Story code: NBL to 51818

12/22/2011 5:53:16 PM

NEWSWIRE

NEW PRODUCTS LAUNCHED

new products launched

COMPILED By JAMSHED AVARI

Dell

between smooth leatherette and

Slim stylish laptop

breathable woven earpads that can be

clipped on and off in-combat within a
few seconds. Sirus delivers real 5.1

Dell has unveiled the XPS

Price: Rs 9,210
Website: www.huawei.com/ap/en

surround sound with a dedicated extra-

14z, one of the thinnest

large 40mm sub driver for explosive bass

fully featured 35.5 cm

sound. Pair it with the bundled Tactical

(14 inch) laptops

Mixing Console and you get full 5.1

featuring an internal

channel-adjustable, real-time 360 degree

optical drive and

audio. In addition, Sirus is coupled with a

discreet graphics

ADATA

High-density DIMM

unidirectional microphone

option.

with background noise

Professionals

cancellation.

now can power through their day at

work and kick back at night to take

Price: Rs 9,999
Website: www.coolermaster.in

ADATA Technology has introduced new

industry-leading, single piece 8GB DDR31333 high-density memory modules.
These provide professionals and
enthusiasts with a high-speed computing

advantage of the systems HD screen to

watch movies or video. The XPS 14z is

Huawei

experience. This single piece 8GB Premier

available with 2nd-generation Intel Core

Android smartphone

Series DDR3-1333 module supports

i5 and Core i7 processors, an HD WLED

advanced user and professional data

operation needs. With limited space on

display for great entertainment, a slotload optical drive and NVIDIA graphics

Huawei Devices has

many motherboards, an insufficient

option. The XPS 14z is ultra-portable

announced the launch

number of DRAM slots is a common

with a stunning, compact design that

of Cloud Services for

dilemma. This most recent advance in

measures in at less than 2.3 cm thin. The

the first time in India.

density allows consumers to enhance

unique design also maximizes screen

Huawei Sonic, one of

overall system performance. ADATA

size, delivering a 35.5 cm (14 inch)

the worlds first cloud

Premier Series 1333Mbps DDR3 240-Pin

screen in a 33 cm (13 inch) form factor.

phones, offers the

(Unbuffered) and 204-Pin (SO-DIMM) are

Price: Rs 66,900 (starting)

Website: www.dell.co.in

ultimate

standard pin design modules operating at

entertainment and

1.5 volts, with transmission bandwidth up

social networking

to 10.6 Gb/second (PC3 10600). All the

experience on a

modules are in accordance with JEDEC

Cooler Master

bigger and brighter

and RoHS design and production

Surround sound
headset

display and comes with integrated social

standards. ADATA Series memory

phonebook with Facebook, Twitter and

modules come with lifetime warranty and

Linkedin via Huawei Streams. Powered by

service.

the latest Android v 2.3 Gingerbread,

Price: TBA
Website: www.adata.com.tw

Huawei Sonic offers excellent mobile

Cooler Master has announced its first
gaming headset, the CM Storm
Sirus. This surround sound

internet experiences on a wide 3.5-inch

(8.9 cm) HVGA display, capacitive multi-

Buffalo

touch ensuring fluent operation, better

USB 3.0 expansion

card

headset boasts of no less

coverage and data performance via

than 8 speaker (4 on

Receive Diversity and Wi-Fi 11n for 6

each side) delivering

times faster internet. Huawei Sonic offers

powerful and

multiple sensors - accelerometer,

immersive true 5.1

proximity, ambient light and compass

sound. Engineered to

delivering better

provide comfort and

style, CM Storm Sirus
features a futuristic

browsing, gaming and

enhanced battery
conservation. Huawei

military design and extra-large

Sonic comes with noise cancellation

comfortable cushions that sit around your

with dual-mic & useful syncing feature for

ears and not on them. You can choose

music downloads.

20

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0200112_New Products Launched.indd 20

Buffalo Technology has announced its

high performance PCI
Express interface
board with four USB
3.0 ports. The highperformance interface
allows users to upgrade
their PC to connect to the next generation

SMS us! Story code: NPL to 51818

12/22/2011 6:17:25 PM

NEWSWIRE

NEW PRODUCTS LAUNCHED

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.

of external HDDs and flash drives that

Kingmax

three set of wattages to choose from. All

support USB 3.0. The USB 3.0 interface

Smart pen drive

three are built with a robust and dedicated

increases data transfer rates to more than

ten times that of USB 2.0. This speeds up

single 12V rail, industrial-grade protection

circuit, high quality Japanese made

backup and transfer of photos, music,

Kingmax has

capacitors and active PFC which is

videos, documents, and other important

announced the

guaranteed to deliver continuous output at

data. A total of four devices such as

UI-03 in its

40 C operating environment with superb

external HDDs and SSDs, USB flash

urban series.

performance and reliability. Moreover,

memory, and other USB devices can be

What is unique is its

140mm ultra-quiet cooling fans with

connected simultaneously. This reduces the

paper-clip design hook,

intelligent RPM control and low-profile flat

need to purchase hubs and the hassle of

making the UI-03 not simply a

modular cables that not only increased the

disconnecting and reconnecting various

storage drive but also a handy USB drive

airflow but also allow for effortless cable

USB cables. These 4 ports are also

that can also be used to attach pieces of

routing.

backward compatible which allows

paper together. In addition, UI-03 USB drive

connection with USB 2.0 devices also.

is waterproof and dustproof. Kingmax has

Price: TBA
Website: www.thermaltake.com

Price: Rs 5,250
Website: www.buffalo-asia.com

incorporated into the UI-03 the three main

elements of minimalism, light weight, and

ASUS

user-friendliness, making it fresh and

Premium
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drive

elegant at first glance! The UI-03 comes

Fujifilm

with orange and blue, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB

Feature rich
camera

or 32GB storage capacity to suit your

individual needs. The flash drive meets
RoHS regulations and is certified by
Microsoft Windows 7, CE, and FCC so

ASUS has launched

product and system compatibility is

the SBW-06C2X-U

Fujifilm has

never a worry. Moreover, all Kingmax

external Blu-ray

unveiled the

products have been 100% tested under

writer, capable of

new FinePix

strict quality control to meet all

burning up to 128GB

S2950. This

requirements before shipping.

of data on a single Blu-

camera has

Price: TBA
Website: www.kingmax.com

powerful zoom
and outstanding quality in High

ray disc. It uses smart burn management

to guarantee better and faster data backup
performance at 6X Blu-ray writing,

Definition (HD). The compact body FinePix

Thermaltake

S2950 has been aesthetically made keeping

your eyes on EVF. Dual Image Stabilization

Entry level
power
supply

is the combination of high sensitivity and

Thermaltake

100GB on one BD-R(TL) disc, or

CCD shift image stabilization that works to

presents the essence

128GB on a single BD-R(QL) disc. The

eliminate blurred photos by freezing action

of mainstream

and minimizing blurs at maximum zoom

systemsthe SMART

27 DVDs (at 4.7GB each), giving users

range. S2950 is equipped with SR AUTO, an

Series PSU, a value series

massive data storage capabilities. The SBW-

auto 6 scene-recognition function with fully

of power supply units (PSU)

06C2X-U works at 6X Blu-ray speed. 25GB

loaded detection functions that detect

that incorporated various PSU high-tech

of data takes a mere 23 minutes to burn.

faces, blinks and smiles that help you to

components, leading technology and eco-

Intelligent auto tuning technology ensures

take pictures with perfection. FinePix

friendly credentials, ranged between 430W

near perfect success rates, shorter waiting

S2950 has an impressive 14 megapixel

and 750W with the choice of modular and

times and lower energy consumption.

resolution.

non-modular that will accommodate any

Price: Rs 10,999
Website: www.fujifilm.in

mainstream build under any circumstance.

Price: Rs 9,800
Website: www.asus.in

the young generation in mind. The

Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) automatically
switches display from the LCD to the highly
responsive electronic viewfinder as you put

22

01/2012

Thermaltake modular SMART Series offers

and comes with Magic Cinema

technology for a complete Blu-ray
3D multimedia solution in the
home. The SBW-06C2X-U supports
the new BDXL format which
expands Blu-ray discs previous
maximum capacity of 50GB up to

latter gives the equivalent capacity of

[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0200112_New Products Launched.indd 22

12/22/2011 6:17:43 PM

NEWSWIRE
FEATURE

IGNITE 2011
I

patents on behalf of the students.

gnite, an annual national idea and

innovation amongst students, saying,

innovation competition organised by

Maybe children in bigger places are

National Innovation Foundation India

being groomed to administer and run

entries are now open for Ignite 2012. You

(NIF) in partnership with Central Board

this country, while the ones in smaller

can send an email with the details of

of Secondary Education (CBSE), Honey

towns with bigger minds and hearts will

your ideas and innovations to ignite12@

Bee Network, SRISTI amongst others,

generate enterprises, trigger new ideas

nifindia.org. The last date of submissions

attracted over 4,000 participants from

and thus unfold creative resistance.

is August 31, 2012. You can visit www.nif.

more than 20 states. The winners for

Through this tension, hopefully, identity

org.in for more details.

the Ignite 2011 contest that was held

of new democratic India will emerge,

from October 16, 2010 to September 10,

which will be irreverent, imaginative,

2011 were felicitated on November 11 by

inclusive and innovative. The Government

former President of India Bharat Ratna Dr

is thinking about providing innovation

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

scholarships to children, and I hope that

Ignite aims to encourage and

and not straightjacket the conditions for

young school children. Most of these

recognition, reward and resurgence of the

innovations came from students

creativity among young Indians.

All the entries were carefully

and they reflected the concern the

scrutinized by a panel of people from

students felt for their environment,

different backgrounds and the winners

the elderly and the differently-abled,

were then shortlisted. Ignite focuses on

amongst others. Speaking about the

the idea and does not reject an entry

competition, Anil K Gupta, Executive

if the student was not able to build a

Vice Chairperson, National Innovation

prototype. Professor Gupta says, We

Foundation & Professor, Indian Institute

should not make feasibility an enemy of

of Management, Ahmedabad, said, Most

desirability while promoting creativity

of the creative ideas are coming out

and innovations by children. If students

of small towns and cities, and not the

were expected to make a working model

metros. And yet, if you look at the public

of every idea that they proposed, then

policy, there is much higher thrust in

they would imagine only what their

providing facilities and support to people

existing repertoire of operational skills

in bigger institutions, towns and cities.

made possible. In fact, the organizers

He stressed on the need for a

better policy to encourage ideas and

have built prototypes for almost all

the winning entries and have even filed

In art class, writing letters with a brush and that too of

uniform size can pose a problem for many. Rimjhim Baruah,
a class eight student of Pragjyotika English School, Jorhat,
Assam has come up with a poster pen that can write in
different thick and thin strokes.

24

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0240112_IGNITE 2011 (Innovation).indd 24

[email protected]

the scheme will draw upon these lessons

nurture ideas and innovations amongst

belonging to small towns of our country

After the success of Ignite 2011,

Satyam Agarwal, class eleven, BIC Inter

College, Jhansi; Priya Rawat, class eleven,
Saigrace Academy International, Dehradun; R
Laxmi, class twelve, Atomic Energy HS School,
TN and Arpna Verma, class ten, SRKSVM, UP;
all individually came up with ideas to prevent
drunk driving.

G Brahadees, a class twelve student of The Velammal International

School, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, has devised a portable healthy air
machine. This energy-efficient machine can be used for cooling,
heating, air purification, vacuuming, etc. and is also cost-effective.

National Innovation Foundation - India

SMS us! Story code: FIG to 51818

12/22/2011 5:56:52 PM

NEWSWIRE
FEATURE

The annual innovation competition saw an amalgamation of young innovators from across
the country and they created quite a buzz with their ideas. By Priyanka Tilve

Twins Refaz Ahmad Wani and Ishfaq Ahmad

Wani, class ten students of Govt. Higher
Secondary School, Anantnag, Jammu &
Kashmir, are a store-house of ideas. At Ignite,
they presented a foldable water bottle whose
size can be reduced depending upon the
quantity of water.

Mohd. Sajid Ansari, a class seven student of Gurunanak

School, Ranchi, Jharkhand, came up with a machine to
sort and clean rice grains. After a lot of trial an error, he
finally perfected the machine, which has now made his
mothers job a whole lot easier.
Seeing her grandfather, who
relies on a walker, finding it
difficult to climb stairs, Shalini
Kumari, a class eight student
of Hartman Girls School, Patna,
came up with the idea of a
walker with adjustable legs and
springs in the front legs.

Concerned by the water wastage happening

all around him, Mohit Singh, a class ten
student of Delhi Public School, Sidhi, MP,
came up with the idea of attaching a meter
to the tap and also including an alarm. So
when a certain volume of water has flown,
it will sound an alarm, an indication to close
the tap.

Shweta Sharma and Jaskiran Goraya,

class nine students of Police DAV College,
Jallandhar, Punjab, were troubled by the
thought of people taking medicines past their
expiry date. They came up with a solution
where the medicine foil will change color
when it crosses the expiry date.

0240112_IGNITE 2011 (Innovation).indd 25

SR Poobesh Gowtham, a class eight student of The

Ashok Leyland School, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, came up
with a car cover that resides inside a rectangular frame.
Pull out the covers on all sides, which will then be held
in position by gear locks and a zip.

Akshay Sivadas, a class eleven

student of Indirapuram Public
School, Ghaziabad, UP, has
thought of a medical machine
just like an ATM, but which
would offer consultation,
run required tests, diagnose
problems and even prescribe
medicines.

SM Arthi, S Vinotha and Lailaa Banu, class eleven

students of Government Girls High school, Tiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu, were moved by the death of a two-wheeler
driver who rode without a helmet. They came up with a
concept where the helmet acts as the ignition switch.
intelligent computing chip

01/2012

25

12/22/2011 6:36:34 PM

NEWSWIRE
FEATURE

Literacy Through Entertainment

Subtitles at the bottom of
the screen during shows
and films in either the same
or in a regional language
may be annoying for many
of us, but in fact, they help
improve literacy.
By Priyanka Tilve

hether its watching a TV show

or a movie in the theater, we
are all used to seeing the

familiar strip of text at the bottom; some

of us are so used to it that we can easily
tune it out. But believe it or not, there are
many who look forward to these subtitles
and actually learn from them.

Villagers of Gulbai Tekra Slum, Ahmedabad enjoying songs with same language subtitiling.

The Need for Subtitles

the dialogue. Same language subtitling

and skills set for subtitling, time-coding

The trend of adding subtitles has been

is referred to as closed captioning, and

and final editing. In some cases the

around for a while. There are two

caters to hard-of-hearing viewers who

subtitles are then forwarded to the client

types of subtitles; one is the same

require subtitles to understand the

to get final approval before they are

language subtitles, which means that

dialogue despite knowing the source

telecast.

if the program is in English, then even

language. Prime Focus Technologies

the subtitles are in English. This is very

specializes in foreign language subtitling

for subtitles based on the censor board

commonly seen on channels like Star

and same-language subtitling.

policy of different regions where the

They have to follow strict guidelines

programs will be aired. Thats the reason

World, AXN, Star Movies, etc. These

There is a lot of work that goes into

are helpful to those who arent that

these subtitles. There are teams who first

you will find that certain swear words and

comfortable with the language or may

translate the content in case of different

other content that is deemed unsuitable

have difficulty in following the accent.

language subtitling, then each subtitle

is replaced by special characters like

The other type of subtitle is in a different

is timed with the video, and then there's

$#%. Radhika Chinai says, The Censor

language, which means that program may

the quality control process. Explaining

Board decides on the references which

be in one language, but the subtitles are

the whole process of subtitling, Radhika

are permitted and those that are not. In

in the local native language. For instance,

Chinai says, Most of the time, we are not

addition, each country has its own censor

most Bollywood movies have English

provided with a script. The process entails

board regulations, which our clients share

subtitles. This is beneficial for people who

firstly scripting the program or film i.e.

with us if they are located outside India.

are not native Hindi speakers.

translating it from the source language

to the target language, then time-coding

Subtitles for literacy

Services of Prime Focus Technologies,

each subtitle and finally QCing (quality

Away from the media, subtitles serve

who handle clients like News Corp-owned

control) the subtitles for accuracy of

a far greater purpose. They also help

Star TV, Colors, Disney, Sony Pictures

the translated content, adherence to

spread literacy. Take for instance, the

UK, and Paramount says, Subtitles are

our clients specifications, grammar and

PlanetRead.org initiative, which promotes

meant to provide audiences who do not

punctuation.

same language subtitling to help reinforce

Radhika Chinai, VP, Media Processing

know the source language of the video

She states further, We have a three-

mass reading skills. Brij Kothari, founder

content, as close to an original viewing

pronged quality control process. After

of PlanetRead says, PlanetRead was

experience, as those that do. This is

translating the content, our subtitlers

built around the core innovation of same

why it is imperative to create subtitles

are expected to re-check their work

language subtitling (SLS), first developed

where dialogue is translated such that

from start to finish. Thereafter, it moves

at the Indian Institute of Management,

it reaches out to the target audience,

through two more editors for proofing and

Ahmedabad (IIMA) and now jointly

keeping cultural sensitivities in mind,

finalisation. To achieve error-free subtitles,

championed by both organisations. SLS is

and yet retains the original meaning of

it is vital to have the right kind of talent

simply the idea of subtitling audio-visual

26

Jaydeep Bhatt

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0260112_Serving a greater purpose (Subtitles).indd 26

SMS us! Story code: FST to 51818

12/22/2011 5:58:42 PM

NEWSWIRE

Yash Raj Films, film "Chak de India"

Aamir Khan Productions, film "Taare Zameen Par"

FEATURE

SLS has been implemented on eight weekly song-based programmes on Doordarshan (DD), where every word in text is highlighted in perfect timing with the sound.

content in the same language as the

approach subtitling, informed by research,

the broadcast policy in India on all songs

audio. What you hear is what you read.

otherwise, we might take a context where

and languages on the national network.

Every word in text is highlighted in perfect

it does not work and make decisions

Brij also hopes that the success of SLS

timing with the sound.

based on it, for another where subtitling

in India can be replicated the world over.

works beautifully.

A policy-mediated scale up in India is

How does it help literacy? Brij explains,

Officially, at 74% literacy, India has 778

Brij says that the SLS initiative has so

expected to pique the interest of other

million so-called literates. However,

far delivered regular reading practice to

governments around the world, because

over half the literates cannot read

an estimated 200 million weak-literates

anything that works in India, given its

functionally a newspaper headline or a

and that several studies have revealed

diversity and challenges, has a high

class two level text. The problem starts

that SLS more than doubles the number

probability of success in many developing

in primary schools 50% children in

of functional readers. It also increases

contexts. Apart from SLS, Brij is also

class five are weak-literates and remain

newspaper reading from 40% to 70%.

involved with developing AniBooks or

so. With SLS, PlanetRead infuses reading

The initiative has been well received by

animated stories for children in many

into an existing and lifelong demand for

the masses that benefit from this unique,

languages with SLS under an initiative

Bollywood film songs. Reading practice

yet simple initiative that helps them learn

called BookBox. These are available on

becomes a by-product of entertainment

via entertainment.

YouTube and presently there are about 40

or an inescapable part of TV viewing.

The response has been

such stories in more than 25 languages.

India has 700 million viewers, 44% of

overwhelmingly positive. 90% viewers,

whom are weak-literates.

including the literates, weak-literates and

Subtitles for you

even non-literates, prefer film songs with

If you are learning a foreign language or

SLS for 30 minutes on eight weekly song-

SLS than without, for different reasons.

watching a movie in foreign language,

based programmes on Doordarshan (DD)

For SLS to succeed on mainstream TV,

then you can benefit form subtitles.

in languages like Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi,

it is important that all types of viewers

Learning a new language will be infinitely

Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and

feel like they have gained something.

easier if you take a movie that you

Tamil. They chose musical programmes

The literates like to sing along and know

like and source form the Internet the

for a reason, as Brij explains, SLS on

the song lyrics its karaoke for them.

subtitles for it in the language that

songs is easier for weak-literates to read

The weak-literates too enjoy it for these

you are learning. Since you are already

along with because the lyrics are already

same reasons, and in addition, appreciate

familiar with the movie, keeping up with

in the head and can be anticipated, not

its value for improving their own reading

the subtitles shouldnt pose a problem.

to mention the value of repetitive practice

skills. From basic alphabetic familiarity

There are many sites where you can find

for skill strengthening. We would like SLS

to functional literacy is a long journey.

these subtitles, like opensubtitles.org,

to first succeed in the most favorable

Weak-literates often find it difficult to

moviesubtitles.org, subtitlesource.org,

context in which viewers support

persist with printed text long enough to

and divxsubtitles.net. Similarly, you can

subtitling. After that, it can be layered on

get there. With songs, motivation remains

find on these sites English subtitles for a

to other content.

high and frustration at not being able

foreign film or TV series. Many of these

to read, low, because the answer to

sites also offer online translations. On the

SLS on English movies because the

any reading challenge is always there in

other hand, if you have a video, which

viewer has something to gain; ability

the audio. The feeling is always, I can

you wish to share with the world, you can

to understand accents, for instance. It

read! Finally, the illiterates support SLS

increase its reach by adding the option of

is actually doing wonders for English

because they view it as being good for

subtitles in a number of languages. You

language learning. But Hindi subtitling

their children.

can easily do this with the help of sites

Since 2002, they have implemented

He states further, We support

of Hindi dialogue may not be received

with the same enthusiasm, so one has to

Buoyed by the success of SLS, they

are now aiming for it to be accepted by

like universalsubtitles.org.
[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0260112_Serving a greater purpose (Subtitles).indd 27

01/2012

27

12/22/2011 6:34:53 PM

NEWSWIRE
FEATURE

E-Learning: Benefit from

Virtual Universities
No more worrying about missing lectures because of work or not being able to complete a
course! Thanks to e-learning, you can now log in to your lectures from virtually anywhere in
the world. By Priyanka Tilve

here is no denying the fact that

find time to attend classes. If you have

and opt for e-learning no matter which

having an additional degree can

faced a similar dilemma, then take heart,

part of the country or world you reside in.

improve your career prospects.

as you now have the option of opting

All you need is a decent Internet access.

But once you start working, pursuing

for e-learning. While learning foreign

a professional course along with work

languages online has been popular for

Raunak Singh Ahluwalia, Director,

can prove to be challenging. This is true

few years, you can also opt for more

University18, which is an online education

even if you opt for distance learning or

traditional classroom courses like MBA,

platform for universities like Don Bosco

part-time courses. Distance learning

BBA, MCA, BCA, etc. through e-learning.

University and Karnataka State Open

involves mostly self-study, at times

Many Indian universities have collaborated

University, amongst others, says,

coupled with a few lectures before the

with online platforms to develop content

While cultures, business, technology

exam. If you are a working professional,

and offer e-learning courses.

and lives are becoming increasingly

self-study mostly goes out of the window.

Speaking about the draw of e-learning,

global, traditional distance education

Most of us end up not studying if there

Why E-Learning?

are no lectures that we need to attend.

E-learning has opened up avenues not

distance learning or continuing education

And even if you do, more often than not,

only for working professionals, but even

programs are limited to a geography

you end up mugging up things without

for those who are deprived of good

that of a study center. In the two years

really understanding the subject. When it

universities in their home towns. You can

of our existence, weve seen over three

comes to part-time courses, you may not

choose amongst the finest of universities

thousand individuals enroll at a 100%

has stagnated to a large extent. Most

year-on-year growth rate. Weve also

been surprised with the kind of interest
corporations and companies have shown
in these programs, with several coming
forward to sponsor their employees.
So what is it that gives e-learning
an edge over distance learning? There
are several factors that have fueled its
growth; convenience and flexibility being
the foremost amongst them. Right from
selecting the university of your choice
to determining the study pattern, to
flexible examination pattern and easy
installments for fees payment, these
online education portals score over
traditional distance education options.
Furthermore, Raunak points out the
other important factors that work in favor
of e-learning. Online programs at U18
attract students from every corner of the
world. You may just end up attending
class with a global peer group, with
the other students logging in from the
United States, Africa, the Middle East or
Australia. This adds to the diversity, hence
contributes to the peer learning process
and classroom discussion. Besides this,
we can and do draw our faculty from just
about anywhere. A typical Program has

28

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Chaitanya Surpur

SMS us! Story code: FEL to 51818

12/22/2011 5:59:28 PM

NEWSWIRE
FEATURE

a professor from about eight different B

Schools in six-eight different cities.

e-Learning Process

CHECKLIST before opting for online courses

Just as you would with colleges and

material online. An e-learning program

universities first and foremost check

for accreditation, association with
universities and ensure that the course
is a certified one. Also, check the
credentials of the university or of the
distance learning institute.

is a blend of online virtual classrooms,

Secondly, look at what does the

While there are different forms of

imparting online education, do not
get swayed by courses that claim to
offer e-learning, but only offer study

reading material, both online as well

as offline, online support and online
examinations. In a typical e-learning
program, the courses are conducted via
virtual classrooms, with students and
teachers logging in to a session at a
pre-determined time. The students and
teachers can then interact over chat as
the class is in progress. So the basic
teaching principles are simply replicated
in the virtual world and one can quickly
adapt to it.
Additional there are notes,
presentations, etc. that you can refer to
side by side, and you also have the option

course contain in terms of how

extensively will it cover the subject.
See the duration of the course and also
how many days in the week will the
lectures be conducted. Also, ask to see
a demo lecture, which will give you an
idea of what to expect.

Find out the faculty who will be

teaching you. Look at their credentials
and experience in the field. Check who
has developed the course material and
whether or not it has been approved by
the university.

Since the course will be conducted

online, see what kind of additional
support is provided. These may include

to download a particular lecture in case

ability to contact the faculty directly in

case of queries, facility to download the
lecture in case you missed one, offline /
online course material provided, timely
test etc.

Its crucial to find out about the

examination procedures. While some
online course sites offer online
examinations, some may require you
to travel to the center to appear for
the exam.

These courses are mostly developed

for the working professionals and so
are highly flexible when it comes to
lecture timings and even preference
of choosing when you want to give
your exam.

Additionally, look for flexibility in

payment of fees. Some may want you
to pay the entire amount upfront, while
some offer easy installment options.
Also, see what the refund policies are
in case if you wish to opt-out for
whatever reasons.

you have missed it. You can get the entire

of experience, and hence, experiential

recording of the days session, which you

knowledge are key factors, given the

Who should opt for

e-learning?

can then watch as per your convenience.

fact that these are mostly part of

e-learning is a boon for working

For instance, if in middle of traditional

continuing education for candidates.

professionals, those who cannot travel

part-time or distance education program,

We, for instance, see students in the age

due to some handicap, or those in towns

you are required to travel for work to

group of 30-40-50 in a larger number

that do not have good educational

another state or country, then you would

than those in 18-20. Hence, the content

institutes. However, there are certain

not only miss out on the sessions for

is designed carefully, so that it is both

things one should keep in mind before

those many days, but worse still, you

relevant and understandable to such a

opting for online e-learning programs.

may have to abandon the course halfway.

wide audience.

Raunak says, Online education is the

In case of e-learning that wouldnt pose

Most of these courses are aimed at

a problem, as you can still log-in to your

working professionals and therefore focus

very important trend in the development

sessions from virtually anywhere and you

on the knowledge and skills that are

of the way we study and learn. While

also have the option to download them

currently in demand. In keeping with the

online programs are a smart choice

for later viewing. Apart from this, there

current trends, Raunak says that they plan

for continuing education, students

are also additional tests that you can

to introduce new courses in 2012, The

should understand that these programs

take from time to time to determine your

key focus areas are entrepreneurship,

require discipline, a fair amount of Web

own progress as well as forums to clear

business and technology in the new

skills, and access to a good Internet

your doubts.

economy. The year 2012 will see the

connection.

When it comes to the content, special

launch of a large number of Diplomas

way of the future, and in my opinion, a

Unlike in a 'study center' or college,

emphasis is given to make it relevant to

and Certificate programs, specifically

a student in an online program would

a larger audience and to make sure that

targeted towards certified employability.

have minimal peer group support, (even

it is up to date. Raunak explains, While

For instance, the Don Bosco University

though it would be common to see peer

designing online courses in continuing

Diploma Program in Web Design, a

groups forming online), and would need

education, it becomes important to

12-month program covering fundamentals

to ensure he/she is disciplined enough to

ensure that the content and material is

of software engineering, UI design, as

follow through with the program. If you're

designed in a manner that is suitable for

well as programming and development

looking at enrolling in an online course

a wider variety of students. A classroom

on PHP/LAMP, is targeted at the nations

because you assume that it'll be easier

course at a University program can

skilled programming workforce, who may

to pass, or is cheaper than the distance

predict with fair accuracy the average

not have graduated, but sure can code.

learning programs on offer from that

age (18-20), IQ (100?), and experience

These programs will give their coding skills

Institute, or is of a shorter duration, then

(none) its candidates have. In online

a structured design and develop skills that

you should reconsider your motives.

programs, age and the number of years

give them an edge.

[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0280112_e-Learning - Benefit from Virtual Universities.indd 29

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29

12/22/2011 6:31:08 PM

TEST CENTER

PROduct
SPOTLIGHT

hardware

Verdict

XXXXx
CPU

Intel Sandy
Bridge E
Verdict: Incredible performance, but the price makes
it overkill for even hardcore gamers
For: Excellent test scores, cutting-edge technology
Against: New motherboard and RAM kit required

ntel has held the absolute performance lead ever

this wont be a simple upgrade for previous Extreme

since its Core series Laptop

CPUs launched, and AMD has

Edition ownersyet again, theres a brand new

just not been able to keep up. AMDs Bulldozer

XXXX

was supposed to have been able to provide some

competition, but it barely keeps up with even

motherboard and a quad-channel RAM kit.

Intels previous generation, so theres no surprise

The CPU and Chipset

in the fact that Sandy Bridge E, the architecture

The Core i7-3960X is now the fastest consumer

inside this new Extreme Edition CPU, is the fastest

desktop CPU in Intels lineup. The 2.27-billion-

For: XXX
Against: XXXX
thing weve ever testedby a wide margin.

In fact, Intel seems to have gotten a little

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

socket and memory layout, which will require a new

transistor chip has eight cores, but the models

being launched at the moment use only six of them.

complacent over the past fewXXXXXX

years, causing mild

These six cores can execute two threads each, and

headaches for high-end PC buyers.

It launched its
XXXx

theres a 15 MB cache to keep them all occupied.

last set of Extreme Edition CPUs, the Bloomfield

XE
The 3960Xs nominal clock speed is 3.3 GHz, but
- [email protected]
i7-9xx series in late 2008 and the Gulftown i7-9xx

this goes up to 3.6 GHz on all cores or 3.9 GHz on

refresh in early 2011. These series were set apart

a single core when Turbo Boost kicks in to speed

from the mainstream Core lineup by the use of

up demanding applications. The TDP is 130W,

their own socket and chipset, LGA1366 on the X58,

which is in line with previous Extreme Edition parts.

which allowed for exotic triple-channel memory

Perhaps aware that enthusiasts in this price range

configurations. In the meanwhile, the mainstream

wont ever use a simple cooler, Intel has chosen

CPU lineup was replaced by the Sandy Bridge

not to bundle one. Instead, for the first time, Intel is

generation, which often matched the older XE CPUs

offering an optional liquid cooling kit, custom made

Specifications

Rs XXX

by Asetek. This adds to the overall cost of a Sandy

but drastically undercut

Bridge E system, but neatly avoids the wastage

them in price. In effect,

of the kind of solid copper cooler that would have

high-end buyers were

had to be bundled, and also allows for a bit more

left without much of an

adventurousness when overclocking.

upgrade path, despite their

www.XXXX.XXXX

massive initial investment.

XXXXX: XXXXXX;
Contact

in terms of performance,

XXX
XXX
XXX

That changes now,

On the memory front, each of the four memory

channels can be filled with 1600 MT/s modules
(with the possibility of higher speeds supported

with Sandy Bridge E. Even

unofficially), allowing for a whopping 51.2 GB/s of

though the new i7s have

memory bandwidth. A number of X79 motherboards

3xxx model numbers, they

tout support for XMP (Xtreme Memory Profiles),

Build Quality

take their logical place

a new Intel buzzword that involves certifying

ERGONOMICS

at the top of the pyramid

motherboards and memory modules that take

Performance

with the 2nd-generation

advantage of certain optimizations above and

Overall Rating

2xxx Core series. Sadly,

beyond official DDR3 specifications. XMP squarely

Phone
EMAIL

RATINGS
Features

Value for Money

30

01/2012

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12/22/2011 6:01:18 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Verdict

XXXXx

targets gamers and overclockers, who will be looking

seconds. Our video encoding test ran in 18 seconds,

to squeeze even more power out of their systems.

up from 26, and the file compression run took 38

Simple XMP settings made via software or the EFI

seconds as opposed to 42. Notably, we saw only

BIOS will do away with the need to tweak individual

marginal improvements in gaming scores, suggesting

speeds and frequencies.

that the graphics card was the bottleneck. Without a

Theres no onboard graphics subsystem, but

no one who buys a CPU of this caliber would
want to pair it with anything less than a top-range

top-class GPU supporting it, theres almost no point

spending money on such a high-end CPU.
However we did have some trouble setting up the

graphics card anyway. Rather than graphics, Intel

tests. We started with the Intel DX79SI motherboard

has moved the PCIe controller from the chipset to

which was part of the Sandy Bridge E kit. Our 8

the CPU package. PCIe 3.0 was supposed to have

GB kit (2 x 4 GB) of G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-2133

been part of the specification, and many early X79

RAM is rated for 11-11-11-30 timings, and have their

motherboards boasted of PCIe 3.0 compatibility, but

optimal speed, timing and voltage values written

Intel has labeled its controller as PCIe 2.0. Even so,

to an XMP profile. However, on loading the profile,

multi-GPU configurations are supported in a variety

the BIOS showed completely different values which

of modes including 2x x16 + 1x x8 and 1x x16 + 3x x8.

brought the RAM to an unsupported 7-7-7-15. Even

With so many functions moving to the CPU,

trying to feed in the optimal values manually didnt

there isnt much left for the chipset to do, and the

work. No newer BIOS firmware was available for

X79 Express is a mixed bag. All the usual boxes

the board at the time. Finally, we had no choice

are
checked: 14 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet,
Laptop

but to set everything to Auto. This resulted in a

HD audio, additional PCIe lanes, and SATA. On the

XXXX

very odd timing of 31-31-15-63 which affected the

downside, theres no USB 3.0 (although every X79

memory bandwidth score (but not the real world

motherboard should still ship with USB 3.0 ports

performance tests). Finally, to evaluate the CPU

added via a third-party controller), and only two

fairly, we switched to a Gigabyte X79-UD5, which

of the six SATA ports support the latest 6 Gbps

loaded the XMP profile flawlessly (though it needed

For:
XXX
standard. Also interesting is the fact that theres no
Against:
XXXX
Smart Response cachingthe ability to use a small

a BIOS update out of the box).

As for the temperatures, our standard testbed air

20GB SSD to speed up access times on mechanical

cooler did a decent job even with continuous heavy

driveswhich
is still the headlining feature of the
XXXXXX
Z68 platform
which now occupies a lower rung on
XXXx

loads. However, we suggest going in for aXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

large
tower-type cooler for better heat dissipation, or a

Intels ladder.

liquid cooler for peace of mind while overclocking.

- [email protected]

In short, we expected Sandy Bridge E to wipe the

Performance

floor with Bulldozer, and we werent disappointed.

We tested the 3960X on a Gigabyte X79-UD5

However, given its non-extreme i7 siblings

motherboard with 8 GB of G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-

capabilities, its hard to find a scenario where this

2133 RAM and an AMD Radeon HD 6870 graphics

much power is even necessary.

card. There really isnt much to say about this CPUs

performanceit blows everything out of the water,

- Anand Tuliani
- Jamshed Avari

including AMDs hapless Bulldozer. We recorded

scores of 270 Mpix/s and 28.22 GB/s in SiSoft
Sandra 2011s processor multimedia and memory
bandwidth tests,

Specifications

as compared to

Rs 76,500

175.11 Mpix/s and

www.intel.com/support

20.6 GB/s for a

Clock speed: 3.3 GHz stock, up to 3.9 GHz Turbo;

Cache: 12 MB; Cores/Threads: 6/12; TDP: 130W;
Chipset/Socket: LGA2011/X79 Express

Core i7-2600K on

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Intel Product Support

1800-4256-835
[email protected]

RATINGS
Features
Performance

a Z68 testbed.
POVRay took a
mere 11.1
seconds to

Specifications

Rs XXX

www.XXXX.XXXX

XXXXX: XXXXXX;
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

RATINGS

render our test

Build Quality

scene, whereas

ERGONOMICS

Overall Rating

the older Core i7

Value for Money

CPU took 16.71

XXX
XXX
XXX

Features
Performance

Sandy Bridge E chips are enormous compared to previous

and the new socket
Overallgenerations,
Rating
requires two levers to stay securely fastened. Four Value
memory
channels
are supported per CPU.
for Money

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 31

01/2012

31

12/22/2011 6:05:31 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Laptop

Panasonic
Toughbook CF-53
For: Good design, MIL-STD-810G certified, good battery life, good
trackpad quality.
Against: No webcam, the placement of keys could have been better.

anasonic has launched

feel and feedback. However, we werent

the CF-53 Toughbook

big fans of the [Del] key being placed

as part of its semi-

next to the directional keypad. Speakers

rugged series and its got the

are as loud as your average notebook

look and feel of a hitmans briefcase.

and viewing angles are quite good as

It has a crystallised silver finish on the

well. Shutdown times clocked at seven

exterior and with visible screws around

seconds, while boot up times clocked

the notches on the side, it definitely

at an average of 21 seconds. Absolutely

looks like an industrial grade notebook

no heating was present, and considering

built for rigorous usage. But is it?

the massive body, theyve taken care

Its MIL-STD-810G certified, which

performed a drop test on the Toughbook

along with shock, vibration, dust, altitude,

from a height of three feet and it booted

high/low temperature, temperature shock

up perfectly after the fall. The laptop

and humidity resistance. It also comes

got a score of 6903 PCMarks and a CPU

with a spill resistant keyboard, but the

Arithmetic score of 40GOPS (higher the

spill resistance doesnt extend to the side

better), which compares to a Rs, 40,000-

panels, battery section, speakers and

priced laptop.

DVD drive. Also, the LCD screen doesnt

Port flaps on the side and rear prevent dust from

entering the ports.

Specifications

Rs 99,000

www.panasonic.co.in

Weight: 2.6 Kg; CPU: Intel Core i5-2520M, 2.5 GHz;

RAM: 4 GB; Hard disk: 320 GB; Display: 14-inch; Optical
drive: DVD-writer; USB ports: 4; OS: Windows 7 Pro.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Panasonic India
1800-103-1333
[email protected]

of the heat dissipation issues well. We

means it can survive a three-inch drop

The notebook is powered by a

seem to be reinforced in the same way as

removable 6750 mAh battery. On the

the rest of the notebook and feels quite

Battery Eater Pro test, it ran for 2 hrs 30

fragile. The Toughbook is powered by an

mins. On normal usage, youll easily get

Intel Core i5 vPro CPU running at 2.5 GHz.

more than five hours of usage, which is

Its got 4 GB RAM and 320 GB HDD space

noteworthy. The CF-53 is priced at Rs

and Intels integrated HD Graphics Card.

99,000. Its a fairly specd laptop, but the

It runs on the 32-bit version of Windows

unique feature of the CF-53 is its build

7 Professional. As part of connectivity,

quality. Going simply by performance, a

theres Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but our

Rs 45,000 laptop will perform similarly,

review unit came without a webcam.

but with the Toughbook, its more about

Connectivity options include SDXC card

the build than performance. Its designed

reader, Express slot, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0,

to give mobile workers, engineers at

Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, Fischer grade USB

sites and technicians, reliable and secure

slot, COM port, and DVD drive.

access to their data and applications.

Key feedback is quite good with the

ample hand rest and the trackpad is
brilliant as well in terms of both button

However, its only semi-rugged, so it

caters to a very limited audience.
- Karan Shah

Verdict

Its semi-rugged and expensive and

caters to a very limited audience.

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

32

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 32

12/22/2011 6:01:36 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Phone

Samsung Omnia
W I8350
For: Optimizes use of the processor well, well priced, decent battery life.
Against: No external memory support, average camera, must use Zune
for media transfer, unattractive design.
he Omnia range has been relatively

The Omnia W is a 3G handset with

inactive for quite some time, since

support for EDGE/GPRS Wi-Fi and DLNA

Samsung has been focusing on

via Samsungs AllShare app. Bluetooth

its Galaxy series. But with the W, things

with A2DP is also present, but sharing

could be looking better for WP7 fans,

pictures or videos via this medium is not

especially with the rather reasonable

on the cards. You can upload it to your

price tag. In terms of aesthetics, its quite

Microsoft Sky Drive account, send it via

sound, but going by looks alone, the

email or share it on Facebook, Twitter,

handset is quite plain. This is, as of now,

WhatsApp, PhotoBucket, Picasa, but

one of the few WP7 handsets that isnt

thats it. Social network integration is

sealed tight, as the rear panel can be

quite solid and embedded quite well into

removed completely to access the SIM

the various aspects of the handset. Bing

card or reboot the handset by removing

Maps are pre-loaded for your GPS needs.

the battery. Its equipped with 8 GB of

internal storage with no microSD support.
With the 1.4 GHz Scorpion processor,

Samsung has thrown in a few extras

like MiniDiary, Daily Briefing, Yahoo! News,
Yahoo! Finance, and an RSS reader. The

the Omnia W is able to optimize usage

Omnia W is equipped with a 5 megapixel

to a great extent, making the UI smooth,

autofocus camera with LED flash. Image

responsive and fast. Except for a few

quality in general was okay; colors did

freezing issues that occurred (something

seem a little dull and grainy in indoors

we havent faced in other WP7 handsets),

lighting. Outdoor pictures were much

the Omnia W functioned smoothly.

better, but the dark tone still seemed to

Typing, voice clarity and screen rotation

persist. In real time usage, the battery

were not an issue. The display, however,

provided us with just a about a full days

was difficult to view in bright sunlight.

use with email, messages, calls and some

Even with the color and brightness turned

audio thrown in.

up, reading outdoors wasnt easy.

Like iTunes, you need the Zune PC

The Omnia W is the cheapest

Windows Phone 7 right now and is

software to transfer media to a WP7

available for a price of Rs 19,990. That

device. This means youll have to either

may seem like a great price for a handset

convert files to a WP7 friendly format or

with specs like these, but taking overall

suffer the dreadfully slow transfer speed

functionality into account, we were not

as the software converts your files. The

impressed and you wouldnt be missing

Omnia W lacks audio enhancement

too much by opting for different WP7

features, but offers decent audio quality,

device.

albeit at a slightly low decibel level.

- Shayne Rana

The performance of the 5 MP camera is good and

videos can be shot at a resolution of 720p @ 30 fps.

Specifications

Rs 19,990

www.samsung.com

Dimensions (WxHxD): 58.8 x 115.6 x 10.9 mm;

Weight: 115 g; CPU: 1.4 GHz Scorpion; Display: 3.7-in
Super AMOLED; Storage: 8 GB; Camera: 5 MP with LED
flash; OS: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.
Contact
Phone

Verdict

this affordable WP7 phone doesnt

offer anything substantial.

EMAIL

Samsung India
1800-266-8282
NA

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 33

01/2012

33

12/22/2011 6:01:46 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Phone

HTC Explorer
For: HTC Sense 3.5, good design, browser has Flash support, good battery life.
Against: Low internal memory, fixed focus camera.

he HTC Explorer is available in a

wizard helps you deal with that. In call

range of back panel colours and

voice quality is good and the loudspeaker

looks like a miniature Sensation,

is fairly loud. Web browsing is pretty

except its got a 3.2-inch screen size with

quick, and the phone doesnt hang even if

a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The

a few applications are running.

phone weighs 108 grams, and it feels

Hungama, eBuddy XMS, NDTV and Saavn

hand. The Explorer runs on a 600 MHz

and the games include include Asphalt 6:

processor with an Adreno 200 GPU. Its

Adrenaline, Uno and Pro Cricket, but youll

quick, zippy and doesnt lag. Navigating

have to download them once before you

through the menus is fast and the phone

can start playing. The phone comes with

didnt hang at all. HTC deserves praise

a 3.15 megapixel fixed focus camera and

for that because theyve managed to

its just above average in performance.

put HTC Sense on a slow processor

Outdoor shots arent much of a problem;

without compromising on efficiency.

in fact theyre quite good, but shooting in

The phone runs on HTCs latest Sense

low light surroundings causes images to

3.5 UI. In the synthetic tests, AnTuTu gave

turn out grainy, and theres no LED flash.

us a benchmark score of 2099 and the

The camera is decent for still images and

improvement from the Wildfire is quite

suits only casual photography. Theres

visible (which scored 509). The multi-

480p video recording, so thats pretty

thread test gave the phone an MFLOPS

limited in terms of quality.

score of 10.019, while it got a score of

The Explorer comes with a 1230 mAh

4.914 in the single thread test. The media

Lithium-ion battery and we ran it through

player is quite basic and consists of the

our video drain tests, where it lasted

standard options and widgets. HTC has

6 hrs 40 min. Under normal usage, we

included SRS WOW enhancements, and

managed to get more than a days usage

the equaliser settings include a range of

with automatic brightness switched on.

presets along with bass booster, treble

Overall, the battery life is impressive.

booster and vocal booster settings. The

The 3.15 megapixel camera performs above average
but lacks an LED flash.

Pre-installed apps include Bollywood

incredibly light and fits snugly into your

The HTC Explorer is priced at Rs

speakers are loud enough, and audio

10,498, and at this price, it competes

quality via headphones is decent as well.

with the likes of the Motorola Fire XT

The phone comes with Wi-Fi 802.11

and the LG Optimus Net. The XT was an

b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth

absolute dud and the Net isnt much of

3.0 with A2DP and EDR, and 3G with

an improvement from the Optimus One.

HSDPA speeds of 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA

However, with the new Explorer, HTC

Rs 10,498

speeds of 384 kbps. For navigation,

quietly sweeps away all competition in

www.htc.com

theres GPS with A-GPS support and

the same price bracket. Its elegant and

Dimensions (WxHxD): 57.2 x 102.8 x 12.9 mm; Weight:

108 g; CPU: 600 MHz; Display: 3.2-in, 320x480 pixels;
Storage: 90 MB; Camera: 3.15 MP; OS: Android 2.3.

Google Maps. The in-built memory is

powerful, and at this price, its definitely

rather low (90 MB with the pre-installed

worth a purchase.

Specifications

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

HTC India
9811428765
[email protected]

applications), but HTCs low memory

- Karan Shah

Verdict

affordable and elegant, the

Explorer is a worthy buy.

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

34

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 34

12/22/2011 6:01:57 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Phone

LG Optimus Net
Verdict: Poor camera and UI and no Flash make it lag behind the HTC Explorer.
For: Lightweight, good battery life, 150 MB internal memory.
Against: Unpolished interface, average camera, no Flash.

he Optimus Net looks very much

n, DLNA, GPS and Bluetooth 3.0 with

like the original Optimus P500. Its

A2DP. Web browsing is quick, but theres

got a 320x480, 3.2-inch capacitive

no support for Flash. The phone comes

touchscreen and feels quite light, but it

with a 3.15 megapixel autofocus camera

looks and feels quite plasticy. The Net

without LED flash and pictures are strictly

runs on an 800 MHz processor with an

average. The 1500mAh battery lasted 6

Adreno 200 GPU. But the one problem the

hrs 20 mins in our loop test. Youll easily

interface has, like the other LG phones, is

get a days usage on a single charge and

that its not polished. The P690 provides

thats definitely a plus for the Net. The

a pretty basic media experience. There

LG Optimus Net is priced at Rs 10,999.

are no equalizers or sound enhancements.

At this price, it directly competes with

The audio quality via the loudspeaker

the HTCs new budget Android phone,

Phone

is loud and clear and with our standard

the Explorer. In terms of the overall user

EMAIL

test headphones, the audio quality is

experience, the interface, the build and

decent. The Net is a quad-band phone

the enhancements, then the Explorer

with 3G HSDPA speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps.

trumps the Net hands down.

Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi

Specifications

Rs 11,550
www.lg.com

Dimensions (WxHxD): 59 x 113.5 x 12.1 mm; Weight:

129 g; CPU: 800 MHz; Display: 3.2-in, 320x480 pixels;
Storage: 150 MB; Camera: 3.15 MP; OS: Android 2.3.
Contact

LG Electronics
0120-2560900
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features

- Karan Shah

Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

Phone

iBall Shaan Long-B261

Verdict: A good phone with marathon battery life.
For: Excellent battery life, easy to use, decent build.
Against: No volume buttons, no hot-swappable memory, no bundled memory.

he Shaans hefty 2300 mAh

that doubles as a torch, FM radio, call

battery wont disappoint when

blacklist, password lock, Bluetooth with

youre constantly on the move

A2DP, and memory expansion up to 8 GB.

and dont find time to charge the battery.

We were disappointed that the package

The company claims the battery delivers

doesnt include a memory card, without

up to 18 hours of talk time on a single

which you cannot use the camera or

charge. It is a simple dual-SIM candybar

store music and videos. The measly 256

phone with a good feature set. It weighs

KB of internal memory mainly serves as

135 grams, which is on the heavier side,

storage for up to 1,000 messages and

and the battery alone weighs nearly

2,000 contacts. The performance of the

50 grams. The phone sports a decent

Long-B261 is very good. The screen and

design and color scheme. The back panel

speaker do justice to media playback,

is ivory white and a metallic grey trim

but note that it can get really loud and

runs along the side. The phones front is

annoying at full volume. On a single

Build Quality

dominated by a shiny 2.6-inch display.

charge, the phone survived for a good

ERGONOMICS

Some of the salient features of the phone

eight days with moderate daily usage.

Specifications

Rs 2,999

www.iball.co.in

Dimensions (WxHxD): 54x118x15 mm; Weight: 135g;

Display: 2.6-in; Camera: 2 MP rear and VGA front;
Connectivity: USB and Bluetooth; Storage: 250 KB
internal and up to 8 GB memory expansion; Rated talk
time: 18 hours.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Best IT World
1800-300-42255
[email protected]

RATINGS
Features
Performance

are 2 megapixel camera with LED flash

- Anand Tuliani

Overall Rating
Value for Money

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 35

01/2012

35

12/20/2011 10:21:06 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Mobile phone

GFive G66i
Verdict: A feature-rich phone with great value for its price tag.
For: High on features, TV recording, detachable antenna, Wi-Fi.
Against: Resistive touchscreen, sluggish UI.

onsidering its price, you may think

resistive touchscreen is not responsive

the G66i is an entry-level mobile

enough and you end up taking longer

phone, but look at its specs and

to reach your application than usual.

youll be surprised. It sports a resistive

Finally, the user interface, which imitates

2.8-inch touchscreen, dual GSM SIM

the Android UI, is pretty sluggish. There

network, Wi-Fi b/g, dual camera, and

were some positives, however - good

analog TV, which sets it apart from the

quality television reception (with recording

competition. It comes with pre-loaded

option), decent video and audio playback

apps for MSN, Facebook, Yahoo, Skype,

quality, and an average 2 megapixel

eBuddy, Snaptu, Opera, and a few games.

camera. The phone has a talk time of

The phone also features a media player

7.5 hours and standby of 300 hours

and a document reader. The analog TV

delivered by the 1500 mAh battery. A

Dimensions (WxHxD): 50 x 110 x 18 mm; Weight: 130g;

Display: 2.8-inch 16:9 resistive touch 262 K color
LCD; Network: Dual GSM SIM; Connectivity: Wi-fi b/g,
Bluetooth; Camera: 2 MP rear, VGA front, Battery:
1500 mAh; Storage: 2 GB SD card bundled, expandable
up to 16 GB.

feature can scan channels over the air

2 GB micro SD card is bundled and the

Contact

and make use of the detachable antenna,

phone supports memory expansion

Phone

which doubles as a stylus for the phone

up to 16 GB. Additionally, the G66i

when not in use. Sadly, the phone has a

supports PictBridge printers and can

few disadvantages too which can cause

also be used as a USB webcam.

a bit of frustration in the long run. The

- Francis Dsa

Specifications

Rs 4,089

www.gfivemobile.com

EMAIL

Kingtech Electronics
0120-4060555
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

Mobile phone

Xage M144 Metal

Verdict: A rugged, compact and light weight mobile phone with basic features.
For: Compact size, metal shell, crisp display, optical track pad.
Against: Tiny keypad, shrilling audio at higher volumes.

age recently launched a small

trackpad makes it even simpler. The

form-factor mobile phone with

display is nice and crisp and photos

dual GSM SIM and dual standby,

and videos are decent enough for short

packed into a tough metal shell. The

movies and clips. A built-in retractable

phone is pretty small, but is not ideal

telescopic antenna is provided for

for those who have stubby fingers as

wireless FM radio. One really annoying

the keypad is pretty cramped. The

aspect of the phone was the startup

usual d-pad is replaced with an optical

and shutdown sound, which cannot be

www.xagemobile.com

track pad which is very sensitive and

turned off. Other downsides of the phone

Dimensions (WxHxD): 45 x 95 x 15 mm; Weight: 87 g;

Network: GSM + GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth; Display: 2-inch
TFT; Camera: 3.5 MP.

responsive. The phone features a 2-inch

were the shrill audio at high volume and

TFT display, 3.2 megapixel camera with

the aforementioned tiny keypad. This

LED flash, Bluetooth with A2DP, GPRS

phone is a good option for those who

with MSN, Facebook and Twitter apps

need just basic communication and a

preloaded, a 1000 mAh battery and the

smaller-sized phone, but we would not

memory expansion of up to 8 GB using

recommend it to those who frequently

micro SD cards. The user interface is

use their phones for text messaging.

Specifications

Rs 2,699

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

XAGE Communications
011-49755555
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features

pretty easy to navigate through and the

Performance

- Francis Dsa

Overall Rating
Value for Money

36

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 36

12/20/2011 10:21:12 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Digital camera

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V

For: Good image quality, reduced image noise, 1080p video
recording, 3D capable, stylish design.
Against: Lack of aperture and shutter priority modes.

o combat the Canon Powershot

priority modes, but these settings can be

SX230HS and the Panasonic Lumix

adjusted through the manual mode.

DMC-TZ20, Sony has launched the

F/8 at its narrowest. Unfortunately, there

which has some pretty interesting

is no other aperture setting available.

attributes, including 16x optical zoom,

The depth of field with aperture set to

a 16.2 megapixel sensor, 3D still image

F/3.3 in manual mode is noticeable as

capturing, and full HD video recording.

compared to F/8. To capture images that

It is a bit larger than other compacts,

defocus mode is available. The camera

loaded in, it is quite slim. The camera

features three 3D options - viewing a 3D

sports a predominantly matte black

image on the camera or 3D TV, 3D sweep

finish, with a gun metal finish on the

panorama, and the ability to capture

side and top. There is a rubberized hand

images in 3D. Other features include

grip, allowing you to shoot images easily

1080p video recording and built-in GPS.

out of the box, but you can tweak this

the images appear crisp and clear. The

through the settings. Outdoor images

buttons are well spaced and sturdy.

captured really well, with no color

Connectivity options include an HDMI port

fringing. While capturing images indoors,

and a USB port that can also charge the

there appeared to be a minimal amount

camera. Though it is slightly bulky, it can

of grain. Using Auto mode was a breeze

easily fit in a jeans or shirt pocket.

and the performance was stellar. Videos

megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor with a

BIONZ processor, allowing for fast and

Rs 16,990
www.sony.co.in

Dimensions (WxHxD): 105 x 59 x 34 mm; Weight: 245 g;

Resolution: 16.2 MP; Focal length: 24-384 mm; Optical
zoom: 16x; LCD: 3-in, 921k dots; Aperture: F3.3-F5.9;
Shutter speed: 30-1/1600 sec; Video recording: 1080p.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Sony India
1800-103-7799
[email protected]

The images captured look vibrant

screen that flushes along the body and

The camera houses a 1/2.3-inch 16.2

Specifications

show the depth of field, the background

but for all the features and functions

with one hand. It features a large 3-inch

The 16.2 MP camera features 16x optical zoom and

can shoot full HD videos.

The aperture is F/3.3 at its widest and

Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V travel compact,

recorded at full HD playback with no

issues whatsoever.
The DSC-HX9V is priced at Rs 16,990,

continuous shooting. The noise levels

which is competitive in the travel

are reduced and the color integrity is

compact segment. Overall, it is ideal if

maintained while shooting. One of the

your primary use is during get-togethers

main features is the 16x optical zoom

and parties because of its compact form

featured on Sonys proprietary G lens.

factor. This is one of the best compact

The image stabilization is really good

point-and-shoot cameras weve seen, and

and helps in reducing blur when zoom

if manually adjusting aperture priority or

is set at its maximum. The ISO range

shutter priority is not your thing, then this

is between 100 and 3200. The camera

one should definitely be considered.

lacks the aperture priority and shutter

- Aaron Almeida

Verdict

Probably the best travel compact

in the market.

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

38

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 38

12/20/2011 10:21:28 PM

TEST CENTER
hardware

Digicam

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Verdict: A decent performer, but not too much of an upgrade from the SX130IS
For: 12x optical zoom, image stabilization, 720p recording
Against: User AA batteries, standard design, too much noise at high ISO

anons latest upgrade to their

a disadvantage. Color reproduction is fairly

PowerShot series is the SX150, a

good at the initial ISO levels, but a distinct

point and shoot equipped with

paleness is observed at higher ISOs. In

a 12x optical zoom lens. The SX150 IS

the aperture priority test, the camera

comes in a dual tone silver and matte

doesnt particularly impress with depth of

black finish. The design is almost on the

vision shots. The camera performs quite

borderline of being a little boring, but the

well in the zoomed in shots with the 12x

build feels quite sturdy, inspite of all the

optical zoom and the image stabilizer

plastic theyve put in this shooter. The

does come in handy during zoomed

camera has a 14.1 megapixel sensor, with a

shots. 720p recording is pretty good as

12x optical zoom lens. ISO settings can be

well. The PowerShot SX 150 IS currently

varied from 80 upto 1600 and the aperture

sells at a market price of Rs 12,500. The

range for the lens is F3.4 F8. The

older SX130 IS has similar features to this

Phone

interface of the SX150 IS is a tad confusing

newer model, except for the fact that

EMAIL

initially, but its just four or five buttons for

its a 12.1 MP instead of a 14.1 MP. If, for

manoeuvring that youll have to get used

some reason, you cant source the older

to. The fact that its got AA batteries may

model, then this ones a good buy.

be looked upon either as an advantage or

- Karan Shah

Specifications

Rs 13,995

www.canon.co.in

Dimensions (WxHxD): 113x73x46 mm; Weight: 306 g;

Resolution: 14.1 MP; Video: 720p@30fps; Shutter
speed: 1-1/2500, ISO range: ISO 801600; Aperture:
F3.4-F8.0; Zoom: 12x optical; Display: 3-inch LCD;
Battery: 2 x AA.
Contact

Canon India
0124-4160000
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

Color Laser MFP

HP LaserJet 100 Color MFP

M175nw
Verdict: A compact color laser MFP for small to medium-sized offices.
For: Compact, rugged build, good print quality.
Against: Sluggish color printing speeds, no auto-duplex, Wi-Fi with WPS only.

Specifications

he M175nw, aimed towards SMBs,

cartridge mechanism with a drum-less

features a print resolution of 600

cartridge. The black cartridge can yield

x 600 dpi, scanning at 1200 dpi,

around 1,200 pages, while each of the

and copying at 300 x 300 dpi. Other

color cartridges can yield around 1,000

www.hp.com

features include USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi

pages. On the performance front, we

Dimensions (WxHxD): 441 x 421 x 338 mm; Weight:

16.2 Kg; functions: Print, scan, copy; Print resolution:
600 x 600 dpi; Scan resolution: 1200 dpi; Interface:
USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi (WPS only).

connectivity (WPS only) and ePrinting,

achieved 16 pages per minute in black and

but a facsimile and an auto-duplex

four pages in color which is true to what

mechanism are missing. The MFP is pretty

the manufacturer claims on the products

compact and has a rugged look and

performance. The copier function takes

build. The exterior is matte-finished and

18 seconds for mono and 47 seconds

avoids stains and scratches. The front

for color copies. The MFP M175nw has

panel sports a simple 2-line, 16-character

a monthly duty cycle of 20,000 pages

LCD with highly-tactile and spaced

and carries a one year warranty.

Rs 44,999

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Hewlett Packard India

1800-425-4999
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features

control keys. The printer uses the rotating

Performance

- Francis Dsa

Overall Rating
Value for Money

40

01/2012

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TEST CENTER
hardware

Laptop

Lenovo U300s
Verdict: Brilliantly built but a tad too pricey for whats on offer.
For: Great design, comfortable keyboard, USB 3.0, lightweight and compact,
unibody aluminium finish
Against: Average battery life, a tad expensive, no card reader 3

he U300s is crafted from a single

Google Chrome and Office 2010. Thanks

piece of aluminium, which lends

to the SSD, Windows is very responsive

it a classy look. It bears a striking

and so are the applications. You could

Specifications

resemblance to the MacBook Air from its

easily be doing multiple tasks like

tapering design and unibody finish. The

streaming a video, working on a document

side ports are limited to two USB 2.0 and

with music playing in the background with

one USB 3.0 ports, a headphone/mic

no problem. Although Lenovo claims 8

combo, HDMI and a one-touch backup

hours of battery life, the maximum we

button. The 13.3-inch LED backlit displays

could push it to was 5 hrs and 30 mins.

slight glossy finish makes images rich

At Rs 67,990, it is a bit cheaper than a

and vibrant. The chiclet-styled keyboard

similarly specd MacBook Air, but its still

is comfortable and the keys offer good

pretty steep. We have to give props to

Phone

feedback. Powering it is the Core i5 2467M

Lenovo for doing a really good job with

EMAIL

CPU (1.6 GHz; Turbo up to 2.3 GHz). Other

the design and aesthetics. Currently,

components include 4 GB DDR3 RAM

the pricing may be one of the main

and a 128 GB SSD. Lenovo has bundled

factors holding this notebook back.

Windows 7 Home Premium along with

- Roydon Cerejo

Rs 67, 990
www.lenovo.com

Dimensions (WxHxD): 12.8x0.59 x 8.5 inches;

Weight: 1.34 Kg; Display: 13.3-inch glossy LED backlit,
1366x768; CPU: Intel Core i5-2467M, 1.6 GHz;
RAM: 4 GB DDR3; Storage: 128 GB SSD; Graphics: Intel
HD Graphics 3000; Networking: Wi-fi N, USB: 2 x USB
2.0, 1 x USB 3.0; Video out: HDMI; OS: Windows 7
Home Prem. 64-bit.
Contact

Lenovo
080-30533192
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

Netbook

Acer Aspire One 722

Verdict: Priced well but the performance leaves a lot to be desired.
For: Slim, well built, comfortable keyboard, large track pad, good pricing
Against: No USB 3.0, Windows and apps feel sluggish

cer has gone with the water

the 722, is powered by AMDs dual-core

drop design for the AO722,

C-50 APU, which runs at 1 GHz. Unlike

which is similar to the Happy 2

their E-350, this ones terribly sluggish,

netbook. The glossy black paint job is

even for Windows 7 Starter. Other specs

visually appealing, but also attracts a

include 2 GB DDR3 RAM and a 320 GB

lot of fingerprints. The netbook is fairly

hard drive. The CPU may not be that quick

slim and lightweight (1.25 kg) making it

in Windows, but the onboard GPU will

easy to be carried around. Connectivity

easily decode 1080p videos. The 6-cell

options include a card reader, audio jacks,

4400mAh battery was able to deliver

three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA port.

up to 4 hrs in Battery Eater Pro, which

Theres no USB 3.0, sadly. The speakers

is not bad for a 11.6-inch netbook. Acer

are at the bottom, facing downwards, so

has priced the 722 at Rs 18,560, which

the sound does get muffled. It sports a

is a good price for a 11.6-inch netbook,

chiclet-styled keyboard and a generous

but wed recommend putting in a little

Build Quality

trackpad. The keys are well-spaced

more money and getting one with an

ERGONOMICS

and very comfortable even during long

E-350 APU, as its a lot faster.

Specifications

Rs 18,560
www.acer.co.in

Dimensions (WxHxD): 284x25x203 mm; Weight: 1.46

Kg; Display: 11.6-inch TFT, 1366x768; CPU: AMD C50,
1 GHz, RAM: 2 GB, HDD: 250 GB; Networking: Wi-fi n;
USB: 3 x USB 2.0; OS: Windows 7 Home Prem.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Acer Pvt Ltd

080-3940 8700
[email protected]

RATINGS
Features
Performance

typing sessions. This particular model,

- Roydon Cerejo

Overall Rating
Value for Money

intelligent computing chip

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0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 42

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TEST CENTER
hardware

PC

ZOTAC ZBOX Nano

VD01 Plus
Verdict: Your better off with the AMD powered version.
For: Good build quality, compact design, runs cool and quiet, Wi-Fi, bundled
media remote.
Against: Poor performance, not good value for money.

his HTPC is extremely small,

VX900H chipset houses the GPU, which

making it easy to install in

is VIAs homegrown Chrome 9 HC. It

cramped places. The front panel

supports HD videos in H.264, MPEG-2,

Specifications

Rs 15,999
www.zotac.com

houses the power button, hard drive and

MPEG-4, WMV9 and DivX up to 1080p,

Wi-Fi LED indicators, multi-card reader,

but the performance leaves a lot to be

and audio jacks. The rear houses the

desired. In CPU intensive tasks, the Nano

power port, DisplayPort, HDMI, two USB

X2 struggles compared to offerings from

3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA port,

AMD. Games like Dirt 2 refused to start,

Gigabit Ethernet jack and a Kensington

while Resident Evil 5 didnt work even

Contact

lock. The bundle includes a media center

in DX9 mode. The CPU seems okay, but

Phone

remote and IR receiver for use with

the graphics need a lot more work. At

EMAIL

XBMC. This Zbox comes with 2 GB of

Rs 16,333, the Nano VD01 Plus does not

DDR3 RAM and a 320 GB hard drive.

make any sense when you have the AMD

The processor is a VIA Nano X2 U4025,

option available for a little more.

a dual-core CPU running at 1.2GHz. The

- Roydon Cerejo

Dimensions (WxHxD):127x45x127 mm; Weight: 1.65

Kg; CPU: VIA Nano X2 U4025 Dual-core; RAM: 2 GB
DDR3; Chipset: VIA VX900H; HDD: 320 GB; Graphics:
VIA Chrome 9; Networking: Wi-fi N, Bluetooth; Video
output: HDMI, DP; USB: 2xUSB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0; OS:
None.
Aditya Infotech
8860661898
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

Solid State Drive

Kingston HyperX
Upgrade Kit
Verdict: An upgrade kit for steroidal performance.
For: Bundled 3.5-inch adapter and external casing, excellent read and write speed.
Against: The external casing should have had USB 3.0 interface.

T
Specifications

Rs 16,500 (120 GB)

www.kingston.com

Available capacities: 120 GB and 240 GB; Interface:

SATA 6 Gb/s; 3.5-inch bracket: Yes.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Kingston Technology
022-42230300
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features
Performance

his SSD retails as a complete kit,

speeds logged were 510 MB/s and 460

and besides the 3.5-inch bracket,

MB/s respectively, which is very close to

you also get a screwdriver with

the rated speed. HD Tach RW reported

three bits for easy installation, and a

average read and write speeds of 297

2.5-inch for use as an external drive. It

MB/s and 228 MB/s respectively. In the

uses premium quality NAND flash and

real world test, the drive logged read and

SandForce controller to deliver steroidal

write speed of 406 MB/s and 200 MB/s

read and write speeds. Our test rig

respectively. The 2.5-inch external casing

comprised of Intel Core i7-2600K CPU,

comes in handy, but the USB 2.0 interface

8 GB of DDR3 RAM and Biostar TZ68A+

is disheartening. The HyperX Upgrade

motherboard. We hooked up the drive

Kit is an excellent drive to build a high

to a SATA 6 Gb/s and first used the

performance PC. Both 120 GB and 240 GB

File Benchmark in HD Tune Pro to read

capacities offer plenty of space to store

and write a 256 MB file in chunks of 0.5

many large applications and games.

KB to 8 KB. The peak read and write

- Anand Tuliani

Overall Rating
Value for Money

intelligent computing chip

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TEST CENTER
hardware

PC Case

Thermaltake Chaser MK-1

Verdict: Well built but expensive. Better priced alternatives available.
For: Solid construction, bold looks, tool-free design, great cooling.
Against: Huge and heavy, exposed ports on the top panel.

hermaltakes Chaser Mk-I wont

on the side panel, and a liquid-cooling

be everyones cup of tea in terms

radiator on top. The top panel is host to

of style, but it checks all the right

a simple fan speed controller (thankfully

boxes when it comes to features. This is

with an LED toggle button) in addition

a big, hulking cabinet, with metal mesh

to two USB2.0, two USB3.0, eSata,

and aggressive Transformer-like lines

headphones and mic ports. The USB3.0

along the front and top. Youll see bright

leads plug into a motherboards headers,

neon-blue accents on the plastic feet, top

not its own ports on the rear panel.

panel and drive bays, with more inside.

Theres also a SATA hard drive dock built

The side panel has a transparent window

right in, for easy drive swapping. The dock

and a hook to hang your headphones on.

and all the ports face upwards with no

The front and top panels pop off a bit too

protective flap, so theyll fill up with dust

easily, but this makes the front air filter

in no time. Installing components was

Phone

easy to remove and clean. The Chaser

fairly easy; motherboard standoffs are

EMAIL

comes with two enormous 200mm fans

preinstalled, cables can be routed behind

on the front and top, each with color-

the backplate, and theres a huge cutout

shifting LEDs. Theres also a 120mm fan

for dealing with a large CPU cooler.

on the rear, as well as space for one

- Jamshed Avari

Specifications

Rs 15,600

www.thermaltake.com

Dimensions (WxHxD): 237.0 x 567.9 x 581.6 mm;

Weight: 12.3 kg; Drive bays: 4x 5.25-inch; Front IO: 2x
USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, eSATA, SATA dock, headphones,
mic; Fans: 2x 200mm, 1x 120 mm
Contact

Thermaltake Technology
022-66331209
chaser.thermaltake.com

RATINGS
Build Quality
ERGONOMICS
Features
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

PC Case

Zebronics Bijli 2
Verdict: A worthy consideration for a gaming PC.
For: Excellent cooling, tool-free design, side-oriented hard drive bays.
Against: No switches for LED fans,no dust filter for fans.

ijli 2 is an update to Zebronics

installation. Two of the bays have metal

popular gaming PC case called

trays for use as adapters for SSDs and

Bijli. The name may sound weird,

2.5-inch drives. There are three 120 mm

but this funky-looking PC case deserves

blue LED fans intake fans on the front

strong consideration. The case is all

and side and the top one for exhaust.

black and the transparent side window,

A fourth regular 120 mm exhaust fan is

Rs 4,200

chiselled accents and mesh grilles look

provided on the rear. The power supply

www.zebronics.com

great. The plastic front bezel and I/O

sits at the bottom and there are cutouts

Dimensions (WxHxD): 192 x 455 x 505 mm; Drive bays:

4 x 5.25-in and 5 x 3.5-in; Expansion slots: 7; Fans:
120 mm LED front, side and top and 120 mm rear; I/O
panel: 2xUSB 2.0, 2xUSB 3.0 and audio jacks.

panel on the top have a matte finish.

on the back plate for routing the cables

The internal layout is flawless. You

from behind the motherboard. The I/O

need a screwdriver only to fasten the

panel has four USB ports (two are USB

motherboard onto the back plate, and

3.0) and audio jacks. The USB 3.0 ports

the rest is completely tool-free lockable

have long cables that connect to the

plastic clamps are provided to hold

ports on the motherboards rear panel.

the expansion cards, hard drives and

The cabinet is great if youre looking for

optical drives in place. There are four

a good gaming case on a budget.

Specifications

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Top Notch Infotronix India

044-40000007
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features

side-oriented hard drive bays for easy

Performance

- Anand Tuliani

Overall Rating
Value for Money

44

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0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 44

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TEST CENTER
hardware

Solid State Drive

Keyboard

OCZ Vertex 3, 60 GB
Verdict: A blazingly fast SSD for high
performance systems.
For: Excellent read and write speed,
bundled 3.5-inch bracket.
Against: None.

Specifications

Wi-fi router

CM Storm Quick Fire

Rapid
Verdict: A compact keyboard with
excellent tactility for both gaming and
regular use.
For: Mechanical keys, extra key
caps and key puller, removable cable,
multimedia keys.
Against: Backlighting would have
looked mean.
Specifications

TP-Link TL-MR3420
Verdict: A great router with parental
control and IP-based bandwidth
controlling.
For: IP-based bandwidth control,
3G auto fallback with priority, wall
mountable.
Against: No auto firmware update,
unsecured default factory settings.

Specifications

Rs 9,900

Rs 8,499

Rs 5,399

Available capacities: 60 GB, 90 GB, 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB;
Interface: SATA 6 Gb/s; 3.5-inch bracket: Yes.

Dimensions (WxHxD): 356.6 x 30 x 135.5 mm; Weight: 940 g;

Key cap printing: Laser etched; Switch type: Cherry MX Red;
Interface: USB and PS/2 (with adapter).

Dimensions (WxHxD): 174 x 30 x 111 mm; Wireless standards:

IEEE 802.11 b/g/n; Security: WEP, WPA2/PSK; NAT, SPI firewall,
MAC filtering; Internet: WAN, 3G via USB dongle.

www.cmstorm.com

www.tirupati.net

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Tirupati Enterprises
9339207519
[email protected]

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

RATINGS

www.tp-link.in

Acro Engineering
9820207871
[email protected]

RATINGS

Features

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

TP Link India
9768012285
[email protected]

RATINGS

Performance

Build Quality

Build Quality

Overall Rating

ERGONOMICS

Features

Value for Money

Features

Performance

Performance

Overall Rating

Overall Rating

Value for Money

Value for Money

60 GB to 480 GB. We got our hands

does away with the numeric pad to

ports for LAN, WEP and WPA/WPA2-

on the 60 GB variant, which is ideal

make it compact and portable. While

PSK securities, DHCP reservation,

for as the primary drive. It comes with

this allows the mouse to be placed

Firewall, remote management, DMZ,

a 3.5-inch bracket for installing it in

in a more ergonomic position, those

UPnP and more. What is unique

desktop PCs. We tested the drive on a

who use the numeric pad often wont

about this one is that the firmware

PC powered by the Intel Core i7 CPU,

like the idea. The keyboard comes

features parental control and IP-based

Intel Z68 chipset and 8 GB DDR3 RAM.

with red key-caps for WASD keys

bandwidth controlling, which other

Both HD Tune Pro and HD Tach logged

for gaming and a key puller to make

routers usually lack. Additionally,

staggering read and write speeds of

replacing keys hassle-free. Some other

it features 3G dongle support (via

263 MB/s and 225 MB/s respectively.

interesting features are detachable

USB) with auto fallback. We would

SiSoft Sandra 2011 logged a drive score

USB cable, multimedia keys and

have liked to see multiple SSID

of 517 MB/s in the File System test. In

Win-key lock to avoid accidental key

support and USB support for printer

our real world test, it reported read

press while gaming. It is available

or storage drives, which would have

and write speeds of 389 MB/s and 87

in Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Black

provided better value for money. This

MB/s respectively. We recommend it

and Red switches that offer varying

router has a simple user interface

if performance is your criteria.

degrees of stiffness and tactility.

for easy setup by novice users.

he Vertex 3 The drive features

SATA 6 Gb/s interface and is

available in capacities ranging from

- Anand Tuliani

46

01/2012

he CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid is

a mechanical keyboard that uses

high quality Cherry MX switches. It

- Anand Tuliani

he TL-MR3420 sports standard

features such as a Wi-Fi 802.11

b/g/n standards, four 10/100 Ethernet

- Francis Dsa

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 46

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TEST CENTER
hardware

Wi-fi security camera

Earphones

Pen drive

Edimax IC-3030iWn

Creative EP-660

Kingston DT109 8 GB

Verdict: A great do-it-yourself

network-based accessory for indoor
video security with night-vision.
For: Easy to set up, wireless, SD card
storage, 2-way audio, night-vision.
Against: Large shell, no PoE option.

Verdict: Stylish and good value for

money.
For: Good overall sound quality, color
options.
Against: The quality of cables could
have been better, not much better than
the EP-630.

Verdict: A speedy USB pen drive in a

small and stylish package.
For: Speedy data transfers, small form
factor, uDrive application.
Against: None.

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Rs 9,599

Rs 1,499

Dimensions (WxHxD): 80 x 113 x 43 mm; Networking: 802.11

b/g/n, Ethernet; Resolution: 1.3 MP; Recording standard: H.264,
MPEG-4, M-JPEG.

Type: In-ear; Driver size: 9 mm; Cable length: 1.2 meters; Color
options: 5.

www.edimax.com

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

in.creative.com

Edimax Technology
1800-209-3880
[email protected]

RATINGS

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Creative Technology
9223101322
[email protected]

ERGONOMICS

Features

Performance

Performance

Overall Rating

Overall Rating

Value for Money

www.kingston.com

Dimensions (WxHxD): 39 x 12.3 x 4.5 mm; Capacity: 8 GB;

Interface: USB 2.0x.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

RATINGS
Build Quality

Build Quality

Rs 1,170 (8 GB)
Rs 1,600 (16 GB)

Kingston Technology
022-42230300
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality
Features
Performance
Overall Rating

Value for Money

Value for Money

and can sense motion to record images

follows a similar approach. It comes

drive is about the size of a [Shift] key.

and video onto an SD card, dump them

in five color options black, white,

It has a capless design and the slim

onto an FTP server, or simply email

blue, pink and green. The cables look

design makes it easier to carry along.

them. This is a triple-mode network

nice, but feel flimsy and cheap. A

The build quality is decent thanks to

indoor camera with night vision

rubberized flexible cable would stop

its durable plastic shell. Bundled along

enabled security and it uses Wi-Fi

any kind of folding and damage to

with the drive is the uDrive utility that

b/g/n or Ethernet to link to your local

the cable. Like the EP630 its driven

automatically pops up a desktop-like

network. Its pretty easy to configure

by 9 mm neodymium drivers and the

interface whenever plugged-in. The

and set up, and can be connected

cable length is 1.2 meters. There are

utility features a built-in MP3 player,

directly to a live IP-based Internet

three pairs of silicone eartips provided.

file manager, Web browser and photo

connection for remote access. The

We tried it on a desktop, notebook

viewer to make it easy to manage

camera also has a built-in microphone

and a phone and we had no issues

or organize your data. The drive

and speaker out jack for two-way

whatsoever. The EP-660 is priced

performs excellently, delivering write

communication. Apps are available

higher than the EP-630, but theres

speeds of 18 MB/s and read speeds

for iPhone and Android, making it

little difference in performance. It

of 20 MB/s. The Kingston DT109 is

versatile for mobile monitoring as

sounds pretty natural across a range

best suited for speedy data transfers

well. This is a must have option for

of genres, but we would have liked

or sharing, and is backed by a five-

homes or parking garages.

some more detail in the sound.

year manufacturers warranty.

he Edimax IC-3030iWn is a
wireless network camera which can

be connected to your existing network

- Francis Dsa

48

01/2012

or music lovers looking for decent

budget earphones, the EP630 has

been king. The in-ear Creative EP-660

- Rossi Fernandes

he DataTraveler 109 flash drive is

available in seven colors and 8 GB

and 16 GB capacities. This compact

- Francis Dsa

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 48

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TEST CENTER
hardware

Portable Blu-ray writer

TV tuner box

Laptop Cooler

Sony BDX-S600U

Quantum QHM 7072

Verdict: A compact and portable USB

Blu-ray writer for data backups.
For: Compact size, matte-finished body,
cable management.
Against: None.

Verdict: A nice gadget for watching TV

on a large LCD monitor or projector.
For: Easy to setup and operate, compact,
rugged build.
Against: No HDMI or DVI interfaces.

Specifications

Zebronics Premium
Laptop Cooling Pad
Verdict: A good budget cooler for
laptops up to 15 inches.
For: Dual fans, adjustable angle, brushed
aluminium surface.
Against: The quality of plastic should
have been better.

Specifications

Specifications

Rs 18,500

Rs 1,490

Rs 750

Dimensions (WxHxD): 136.5 x 19 x 152 mm; Weight: 330 g;

Media support: BD, BDXL (100 GB), DVD, CD; Read/write speed:
BD-6x, DVD-8x, CD-24x; Interface: USB 2.0.

Dimensions (WxHxD): 120 x 25 x 83 mm; Weight: 146 g;

Resolution support: 1920x1080; Aspect ratio support: 4:3, 16:9,
16:10; Interface: VGA (in/out), audio (in/out), Composite
video in, S-Video in.

Dimensions (WxHxD): 360x15x250 mm; Fan: 2 x 70 mm; Fan

speed: 2300 RPM; Power source: USB.

www.rptechindia.com

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

www.qhmpl.com

Rashi Peripherals
022-40470909
[email protected]

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

RATINGS

www.zebronics.com

Quantum Hi-Tech Merchandising

011-27033905
[email protected]

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

Top Notch Infotronix India

044-40000007
[email protected]

RATINGS
Build Quality

RATINGS

Build Quality

ERGONOMICS

Features

Build Quality

Features

Performance

Features

Performance

Overall Rating

Performance

Overall Rating

Value for Money

Overall Rating

Value for Money

Value for Money

and ROMs are seen on most new PCs

table. Heres where a TV tuner card

and to prevent health issues. This

and laptops. The Sony BDX-S600U is

or an external box comes in handy,

Zebronics cooling pad is ideal for

a great add-on for those in need of a

and the Quantum QHM 7072 is a

netbooks and laptops with up to

Blu-ray writer mainly for data backups.

good pick. It is the size of a portable

15-inch screens. The surface of the pad

This tray-loading drive supports BDXL

hard drive, with a rugged build and is

is of aluminium and it has a brushed

discs that can store up to a whopping

very easy to install. The TV box is a

finish. The rest of the body is black

100 GB of data. The drive is pretty

pass-through VGA connection between

and made of plastic. It looks decent,

slim and has a good build quality,

the monitor and the PC and does not

but the overall build quality could have

with a matte-finished surface to avoid

need the PC to be switched on when

been better. The two USB-powered

scratches when in transit. Also, the

watching TV. It accepts RF signals for

70 mm exhaust fans on either side

drive has a unique design that neatly

cable and antenna and one can also

cool the base of the laptop. The cooler

houses the USB (power and data)

connect a DVD player, media player or

can be used flat or be angled (five

cables alongside the bottom area.

camcorder via the composite video-in

positions). The surface has tabs at

Pretty light-weight and compact,

and S-video interfaces. It supports

the base to prevent the laptop from

this external Blu-ray writer is a great

resolutions of up to 1920 x 1080 and

sliding down. If your laptop is thick,

add-on for laptops and can be a boon

can display on LCD monitors up to 42

you can pull up the larger tabs. The

to computer technicians and server

inches in size. It also features a picture-

cooler is more effective if the laptops

administrators for onsite backups.

in-picture mode (TV and PC).

exhaust is located at the sides.

pgrading to a Blu-ray writer is still

not common, simply because the

media is still expensive. Yet, BD writers

- Francis Dsa

maller sized offices and homes

may not have enough space to

accommodate a television set on the

f you use the laptop on your lap for

long hours, its recommended that

you use a cooling pad for comfort

- Francis Dsa

- Anand Tuliani

intelligent computing chip

0300112_Hardware Standalones.indd 49

01/2012

49

12/20/2011 10:23:34 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

New and Mighty

Want extreme overclocking features and 3-way SLI? AMDs new 990FX chipset is built for
enthusiasts and gamers. We tested five latest high-end motherboards based on the new chipset.

By ANAND TULIANI AND FRANCIS D'SA

MDs latest Bulldozer CPUs pack a

lot more punch than the previous
generation Phenom II CPUs, and

their way to our Test Center. Heres how

supported before.
990FX is the top-end chipset
belonging to the 900 series, which is

we arrived at the scores.

now you can opt for an 8-core model for

targeted at enthusiasts and gamers.

TEST PROCESS

extremely demanding applications and

With 32 PCIE lanes, its possible to

Our test process is based on four

heavy multitasking. The existing socket

configure multi-GPU setups in dual

parameters Features, Performance,

AM3 motherboards based on the AMD

x16 mode or go as high as 3-way SLI

Layout, and Warranty. The winner

800 series chipsets support the latest

and 4-way CrossFireX for extreme

of the Best Performance is based

CPUs that come in socket AM3+ package,

gaming performance. The chipset

on the combination of all the scores

but with a BIOS update. This is a good

natively supports SATA 6 Gb/s, however,

put together, while the Best Value is

upgrade path for those who already have

support for USB 3.0 is still via discrete

awarded to the board that offers the best

a socket AM3 motherboard and want to

controllers. Motherboard manufacturers

performance at the lowest price.

upgrade to latest CPU. Similar was the

offer multiple variants of motherboards

Features: Here we log the specifications

case with socket AM2+ motherboards

based on the 990FX chipset. While some

of each subsystem. We begin by noting

featuring support for socket AM3

differ in the number of PCIE slots and

the type and quantity of system memory

processors when they had launched. The

other components, some are built in

supported. Motherboards featuring a

new 900 series chipset is built for the

collaboration with professional gamers.

higher number of expansion slots score

latest Bulldozer CPUs and the reason to

In this roundup of AMD 990FX chipset-

greater points. We also noted the types

go in for it is to harness the full potential

based motherboards, we tested the

of multi-GPU setups supported and

of the CPU and get features that werent

earliest batch of motherboards that made

the supported modes. Also noted is the

50

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 50

Jagdish Limbachiya

Joshua Navalkar

SMS us! Story code: TMF to 51818

12/20/2011 9:01:34 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

This USB 3.0 bracket can be installed in the front

2.5-inch bay or on the rear.

Some high end motherboards feature dual Gigabit

LAN and built-in Bluetooth adapter.

number of USB2.0, USB 3.0 and FireWire

Power supply: Cooler Master Silent Pro

Layout: The placement of RAM slots,

ports available on the rear panel as well

Gold 800 Watts

SATA ports, on-board headers and

as in the form of on-board headers.

This section section comprises of three

power connectors are vital for cable

Motherboards that feature more than the

main sections:

management and airflow. Higher points

bare minimum of two USB 3.0 ports are

Synthetic Tests: Each board was tested

were given to boards that had neatly

given higher points. Other usual feature

using PCMark Vantage and 3DMark 11.

placed components that do not get in

sets, such as the presence of all-solid

Each of these tests simulates real-world

the way of large graphics cards or power

capacitors, and the number of CPU power

scenarios to evaluate the performance

cables. Boards with SATA ports placed

phases were noted and points given

of the chipset, processor, memory and

flat earned extra points. Clearance

accordingly. Finally, we examined the

graphics. We ran SiSoft Sandra 2011 to

around the CPU socket was also taken

BIOS and noted the presence of features

evaluate processor multimedia, memory

into consideration, since the CPU fan

such as automatic overclocking, profile

bandwidth and HD video transcoding.

should have room for proper airflow.

backups, use of a UEFI, and BIOS flashing

Real World Tests: Real world tests will

The presence of heatsinks for voltage

facilities. These also include the presence

give you an exact picture of how each rig

regultors and chipset was noted and

of a physical overclocking switch.

performs various tasks. Here, we look at

the build quality of the heatsinks was

Performance: This is the most

the time taken to perform the following:

assessed.

important factor when it comes to tasks

File compression: Time taken to

Warranty: Last but not least, the

such as file compression, video encoding,

compress 100 MB of multiple files to

warranty offered by the manufacturer

and gaming. Boards that can handle

7.zip format using the Ultra preset and

is vital. As motherboards can fail for

file compression, ray tracing, and video

256-bit encryption.

a variety of reasons, robust warranty

encoding in the shortest time have best

Video encoding: Time taken to convert

and customer support infrastructure is

chance of bagging our Best Performance

a 1 minute MPEG to H.264 format (2nd

essential. Boards with a longer warranty

award. We tested the performance using

pass).

period are awarded more points.

the following hardware.

Ray tracing: Time taken to ray trace an

Processor: AMD FX-8150

800x600 scene with AA thrown in.

each motherboard was evaluated, it is

RAM: G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-2133, 8 GB kit

Gaming: We ran the built-in benchmarks

time to look at the scores and see how

SSD: Plextor PX-256M2S

in Crysis Warhead, Mafia II and Unigine

they fared. Flip over to the next page for

Graphics card: AMD Radeon HD 6870

Heaven and noted the frame rates.

the scores and winners of this roundup.

Now that you have an idea of how

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 51

01/2012

51

12/22/2011 7:58:01 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

ASRock Fatal1ty 990 FX Professional

Verdict

An enthusiastclass
motherboard
with top notch
performance
and features.

y the looks of this motherboard,

x16 slots out of which the third slot

you can guess it packs some

runs in x4 mode. You get support for up

serious meat. Sporting a black

to quad-SLI and three-way CrossFireX

and red theme and laden with golden

multi-GPU modes. The slots are laid out

all-solid caps and mean looking

such that you will get at least one PCIE

heat sinks, this is clearly a gaming

x1 and PCI slot with multiple graphics

motherboard. The 990 FX Professional

cards installed. Headers for USB 2.0,

has been co-developed with pro gamer

serial and FireWire ports are lined up

Jonathan Fatal1ty Wendel.

at the bottom along with a 7-segment

The motherboard boasts many

debugger. The two USB 3.0 headers,

features that set it apart from other

each supporting two ports, are placed

models based on the same chipset.

next to the RAM slots. ASRock has

Unlike many boards that feature an 8+2

included a USB 3.0 bracket that can be

power phase design, this uses a 14+2

installed in the front 2.5-inch bay. The

power phase for better power delivery

rear panel features separate PS/2 ports

during peak workloads and overclocking.

for mouse and keyboard, six USB 2.0

The voltage regulators and chipset are

ports, two USB 3.0 ports, dual Gigabit

cooled by chunky heat sinks connected

LAN ports, CMOS clear button, two

Rs 13,900

by a heat pipe. Theres another big heat

eSATA ports, coaxial and optical S/PDIF

Chipset: AMD 990FX/SB950; Memory support: up to 32 GB, 1866

MHz; Multi-GPU technology: Quad-GPU SLI and CrossfireX; SATA
ports: 6 x 6 Gb/s; USB ports: 10 x USB 2.0, 6 x USB 3.0; eSATA: x2.

sink for the SB950 southbridge, which

outputs and jacks for 7.1-channel audio.

sports the Fatal1ty logo. The board can

Specifications

The ASRock Fatal1ty 990 FX

take up to 32 GB of DDR3 RAM and

Professional is clearly a winner with

the chipset officially supports memory

the highest scores in the Features and

speed up to 1866 MHz. However,

Performance sections. If you want to

you can use faster modules and the

build a power gaming PC based on

overclocking features in the BIOS let you

AMDs latest platform, this motherboard

Features

boost the CPU and memory speeds. The

is our strong recommendation.

ERGONOMICS

BIOS features a graphical interface with

For: Bundled USB 3.0 bracket,

mouse support for easy navigation.

graphical UEFI BIOS, excellent layout.

Contact
Phone
EMAIL

ASRock
+886-919-457-786
[email protected]

RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY

Performance
Overall Rating

The motherboard offers three PCIE

Value for Money

52

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 52

Against: None.

Joshua Navalkar

12/22/2011 7:58:38 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

Asus Sabertooth 990FX

f you take a good look at the table

1 x optical S/PDIF, 2 x eSATA 3 Gb/s, 1

of scores, you will find that the Asus

x FireWire 400, 10 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB

Sabertooth 990FX performs at par

3.0, 1 x 8-channel audio, and 1 x Gigabit

with the ASRock 990 FX Professional in

Ethernet. Sadly, it does not feature the

sheer performance. But the Sabertooth

onboard LED debugger or OC button,

bagged the Best Value title for two

which is beneficial for gamers and

reasons - the best layout and the

overclocking enthusiasts. Whats unique

highest warranty period of five years.

is that it sports an excellent layout with

The Sabertooth features an ATX form

well spaced headers and sockets.

factor design and is built around the

The heatsink for the Northbridge and

AMD 990FX/SB950 chipset with an

the power phases are of high quality

AMD Socket AM3+ which supports

and uses the TUF CeraM!X Heatsink

AMD AM3+ socket-based FX, Phenom

Coating technology with around 50

II, Athlon II and Sempron 100 Series

percent larger area for efficient heat

processors with up to 8 cores. Four

dissipation. It also incorporates TUF

DIMM slots can support DDR3 1066,

Components (alloy choke, capacitors

1333, 1600 or 1866 MHz modules with

and mosfets) for heavy duty and

up to 32 GB of memory. It also features

performance. The board also features

Quad-GPU SLI and CrossfireX support

the latest graphical UI based UEFI BIOS

with four PCIe slots (x16, x16, x8, and

for easy navigation. Bundled along with

x4) and six SATA 6 Gb/s ports that

the motherboard are just four SATA data

support RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10.

cables, Q-connectors, one SLI bridge

The feature set makes the

and a sweet five-year warranty period.

Sabertooth an excellent choice for

We highly recommend this board for its

building an immensely powerful gaming

feature-rich offerings, high performance

rig or workstation. Other features

delivery and a robust warranty.

include a massive 18 USB ports of which

For: High on performance, ceramic

four are USB 3.0 standard. The rear

coated heatsinks, excellent layout,

connector panel features the following

graphical UEFI BIOS.

ports1 x PS2 keyboard/mouse combo,

Against: No OC button, no debugger.

Verdict

A motherboard
with superior
performance
and a robust
5-year
warranty.
Specifications

Rs 14,250
Chipset: AMD 990FX/SB950; Memory support: up to 32 GB, 1866
MHz; Multi-GPU technology: Quad-GPU SLI and CrossfireX; SATA
ports: 6 x 6 Gb/s, 2 x 3 Gb/s; USB ports: 14 x USB 2.0, 4 x USB 3.0;
FireWire: x2. eSATA: x2.
Contact
Phone
EMAIL

ASUS Technology
1800-209-0365
[email protected]

RATINGS
BUILD QUALITY
Features
ERGONOMICS
Performance
Overall Rating
Value for Money

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 53

01/2012

53

12/22/2011 7:59:12 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

personal take
SpecScan

ANAND TULIANI
[email protected]
The AMD 9-series comprises of 970, 990X and
990FX chipsets. The primary difference between the
three is the number of PCIE lanes for graphics. The
990FX can support two graphics cards in x16 mode
and up to four graphics cards in x8 mode. Both 970
and 990X have 16 PCIE lanes, but the 970 supports

Name
Contact
Phone
E-mail
Price*
Overall
Features (40%)
Layout (15%)
Performance (40%)
Warranty (5%)

ASRock 990 FX Professional

ASRock
+886-919-457-786
[email protected]
Rs. 13,900

Overall (Out of 100)

Value For Money
Features
Memory: No of slots | Max speed | Max capacity
Expansion slots: PCIe x16 | PCIe x4 | PCIe X1 | PCI
Multi-GPU Technology
Multi-GPU mode: Dual card | Triple card
SATA: 3 Gb/s | 6 Gb/s | IDE
Audio
USB 2.0: Rear panel | Via headers
USB 3.0: Rear panel | Via headers
FireWire: Rear panel | Via headers
Gigabit Ethernet | Optical S/PDIF | Bluetooth
eSATA | CPU power phases | Debugger | OC button
UEFI BIOS | Graphical UI | Auto OC
Profile Backup | Built-in BIOS flashing
USB 3.0 bracket
Build Quality
Clearance around CPU socket
Placement: 12 V power | Main power
Placement: RAM slots | SATA | USB headers
Heatsink: Quality | Available for voltage regulators
Performance
Synthetic
SiSoft Sandra 2011
Processor multimedia (x16 integer SSE 4.1)
Memory bandwidth
Media transcoding (H.264 720p @ 4Mbps)
PCMark Vantage: Overall | Mem | Gaming | HDD | Productivity
3DMark 11: Overall | GPU | Physics | Combined
CineBench R11.5 (multi-core) | 7.Zip (default 32 MB dict)
Unigine Heaven 2.5: Frame rate | Score
Real World
File compression (100 MB files to 7zip @ultra, 256-bit encry)
Video encoding (1 min MPEG to x.264 MPEG-4 - 2nd pass)
Ray tracing (POV-Ray - 800x600 AA 0.3)
Gaming
Crysis Warhead (1920x1080 - Enthusiast)
Mafia II (1920x1080 - Very High - AA - No PhysX)
Warranty
Warranty period

88

86

4 | 1866 MHz | 32 GB
2|1|2|2
SLI and CrossFireX
x16 | x8 x8 x4
None | 6 | 0
Realtek ALC 892, 7.1-channel
6|4
2|4
1|1
2|4|6
2 | 12+2 | 4 | 6
4|4|6
4|4
4

4|
3|
SLI
x16
No
Rea
4|
2|
1|
1|
2|
4
4
4

4.5
4|5
5|5|5
5|4

5
4|
4|
5|

190.12 Mpix/s
19 GB/s
886 KB/s
14869 | 10990 | 10647 | 17084 | 30629
4430 | 4098 | 6362 | 4115
5.99 pts | 20782 MIPS
31.7 fps | 800

187
18.5
723
135
431
5.88
31.7

31 sec
26 sec
23.13 sec

31
27
23.4

35.92 fps
49 fps

35.8
47.7

38 months

3 ye

78
96
99
60

a single graphics card, while the 990X supports two

graphics cards in dual x8 mode. So when youre
planning to upgrade to a 9-series chipset
motherboard, first decide whether youll be going in
for a multi-GPU setup. The ASRock 990FX
Professional should be your first choice if you have
the budget. Its a stellar performer and offers an
excellent feature set. If a 990FX motherboard
doesnt fit in your budget and you need multi-GPU
support, then I suggest settling for a motherboard
based on the 990X chipset. There isnt a significant
difference in performance between two graphics
cards in dual x16 and dual x8 mode.

Francis D'Sa
[email protected]
Looking at the table of scores, all five motherboards
were almost neck-to-neck in terms of features,
performance and price. I'm not a gamer or an
overclocking enthusiast, but if I were to choose or
recommend a motherboard to build a powerful rig, I
would single out the ASRock 990 FX Professional. It
has the best performance, is highest on features,
and has a great price tag of Rs 13,900. It also
features an onboard Bluetooth module and sports
an overclocking button and an LED debugger.
Second would definitely be the Asus Sabertooth,
which won Best Value honors, as it has a 5-year
warranty offer, which ensures that my investment is
safe for a longer period. I would also recommend
any of these boards for those who need to build an
equally powerful gaming rig as mostboards have
similar features, and the sort of performance that
will not let you down. For those who need a
motherboard mainly for overclocking purposes, I
would suggest you pick between the ASRock, MSI
and ECS boards.

Scores out of 5

54

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 54

MS
MSI
011
mar
Rs.

50

100

* Prices are indicative and are subject to change, taxes extra

Joshua Navalkar

12/22/2011 7:59:56 PM

TEST CENTER

MOTHERBOARD Comparison

MSI 990FXA-GD80
MSI Computer India
011-41758808
[email protected]
Rs. 14,500

Asus Sabertooth 990FX

ASUS Technology
1800-209-0365
[email protected]
Rs. 14,250

ECS A990FXM-A Deluxe

Elitegroup Computer Systems
+886-221-621-177
NA
Rs. 13,600

Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5
Gigabyte Technology
022-40633222
[email protected]
Rs. 14,000

76

58
100

96

99

60
0

50

59

96

50

100

92

98

100
100

49
94

99

60
0

50

60
100

50

100

86

82

80

76

4 | 1866 MHz | 32 GB
3|1|2|1
SLI and CrossFireX
x16 | x16 x8 x8
None | 6 | 0
Realtek ALC 892, 7.1-channel
4|4
2|0
1|1
1|4|6
2 | 8+2 | 4 | 4
4|6|4
4|4
4

4 | 1866 MHz | 32 GB
3|1|1|1
SLI and CrossFireX
x16 | x16 x8 x8
2|6|0
Realtek ALC 892, 7.1-channel
10 | 4
2|2
1|1
1|4|6
2 | 8+2 | 6 | 6
4|4|4
4|4
6

4 | 1866 MHz | 32 GB
3|0|2|1
SLI and CrossFireX
x16 | x16 x8 x8
None | 6 | 1
Realtek ALC 892, 7.1-channel
8|4
2|2
0|0
2|4|4
2 | 6+1 | 4 | 6
4|4|6
4|6
6

4 | 1866 MHz | 32 GB
3|2|1|1
SLI and CrossFireX
x16 | x16 x8 x8
None | 8 | 0
Realtek ALC 892, 7.1-channel
8|6
2|2
1|1
1|4|6
2 | 8+2 | 6 | 6
6|6|6
6|4
6

5
4|5
4|5|5
5|4

5
5|5
5|5|5
5|4

4.5
5|5
5|5|5
4|4

5
4|5
4|5|5
4|4

187.81 Mpix/s
18.55 GB/s
723 KB/s
13583 | 9526 | 9661 | 15075 | 25833
4316 | 4095 | 6196 | 4118
5.88 pts | 20148 MIPS
31.7 fps | 799

191.09 Mpix/s
18.52 GB/s
890 KB/s
15224 | 10535 | 10622 | 16550 | 32800
4319 | 4085 | 6353 | 4113
5.97 pts | 20299 MIPS
31.6 fps | 796

190.23 Mpix/s
18.24 GB/s
875 KB/s
14370 | 10149 | 10141 | 15927 | 22462
4326 | 4097 | 6335 | 4096
5.97 pts | 20739 MIPS
31.5 fps | 794

191.44 Mpix/s
18.67 GB/s
889 KB/s
14605 | 10158 | 10324 | 15373 | 28424
4057 | 3789 | 6320 | 4039
6.01 pts | 20906 MIPS
31.5 fps | 793

31 sec
27 sec
23.45 sec

31 sec
26 sec
23.2 sec

31 sec
26 sec
23.21 sec

30 sec
26 sec
23 sec

35.8 fps
47.7 fps

35.8 fps
48.5 fps

35.87 fps
49 fps

35.89 fps
48.9 fps

3 years

5 years

3 years

3 years

intelligent computing chip

0500112_New and Mighty (MOBO Comparison).indd 55

01/2012

55

12/22/2011 8:00:38 PM

software
spotlight

TEST CENTER
TESTED

Security Suite

Trend Micro
Titanium Maximum
Security 2012
Verdict: A simple to use and an effective security suite for an affordable price.
For: Good user interface, easy to use, low resource consumption, affordable.
Against: None.

n the digital age, security and privacy are

The settings mode allows users to modify and

aspects one cannot compromise on, owing

customize minute details according to their

to the increasing number of inexhaustible

liking, and though its satisfactory, its not as

threats in the form of viruses, malware, Trojans,

worms, etc. Theres no dearth of free antivirus

01/2012

help tool that will assist them in setting up

nowhere close to providing users with all-round

their privacy and security settings, and it comes

protection, which emphasizes the necessity of

in handy if the user is unsure of what function a

a paid security solution. Trend Micro recently

particular option provides. Overall, the interface

launched Titanium Maximum Security 2012.

is simple and easy to use and is definitely one

Lets see if its worth a buy.

of the strong points of this suite.

Interface

Features

Antivirus and security software generally have

Titanium Maximum Security 2012 is an

a simplistic, barebones interface, and Titanium

antivirus-cum-Web protection tool, so it pretty

Maximum Security is no different. The options

much covers all the needs of the average

are neatly placed into various sub-sections.

user. Other features include a system tuner

The color scheme, lists and icon styles blend

that allows users to recover disk space, make

well with the Windows 7 operating system.

Windows boot faster, clean up the registry and

intelligent computing chip

0560112_Software Standalones.indd 56

For new users, Trend Micro has mapped a

and Internet security software, but theyre

The Web Threat Protection feature helps protect the PC from potential viruses
before opening a website.

56

advanced as Norton Internet Security 2012.

Parental controls can help keep children from inapproptiate websites, limit their
usage time and create a detailed log of their online usage.

SMS us! Story code: TSM to 51818

12/21/2011 5:46:35 PM

ON dvd
JANUARY 2012

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The control panel is pretty easy to use and set up. Buttons for
each feature display the current status.

optimize the computers performance. The Data

Theft Prevention option allows users to input a
part of their passwords and credit card numbers
that will prevent them from accidentally sending

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also preventing attacks from hackers. The secure
erase lets you permanently erase unwanted
files. Another important feature is the Trend
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Performance
Once installed, it uses 22 MB of memory on idle,

Bob Came in Pieces 1.5

Hamiltons Great Adventure 1.1
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

with CPU usage of 0 percent. During a quick scan,

the number goes up to 62 MB, with CPU usage of
25 percent, which is fairly average, because its
not going to put a strain on your PC resources.
The software takes roughly ten minutes to install
on a Core i3 processor with 4 GB of RAM, and
theres no additional loading time when the
application is running. Once installed, a toolbar
shows up in the native browser that displays
the page ratings and allows users to select from
three different protection levels. Youll have the
software running 24x7, but if for some reason,
its shut down, start up time is quick at around 12
seconds.

Verdict
Titanium Maximum Security 2012 is priced at Rs

Specifications

1,300, but it can be

Rs 900 (1 user)

purchased online for Rs

www.trendmicro.co.in

900 from Trend Micros

System Requirements

website. It is cheaper

Processor: 1 GHz or higher; RAM: 1 GB or

higher; Disk space: 500 MB; OS: Windows
XP or higher.
Contact

NA

PHONE

9811906127

EMAIL

[email protected]

RATINGS

than Norton Internet

Security 2012 by a few
hundred Rupees. If you
need a simple, easyto-use security suite,

FEATURES

Titanium Maximum

PERFORMANCE

Security 2012 is a great

ease of use

value for its price.

Overall Rating
value for money

0560112_Software Standalones.indd 57

Corel Photo Album 7 Delux

Corel WinDVD Pro .0.0.289.518226

GAME ADD ONS

Dragonica Patch 2.1.1

Ether Saga Online Patch 438
GameBoost 1.11.14.2011
GameEx 12.17
GTA: San Andreas Addon - Honda
Civic EK9 JDM and more...

GAME TRAILERS

Disney Universe Launch

EverQuest II Free-To-Play
Ghost Recon Online - Redefining
Team Play Developer
Diary Video
Painkiller Battle out of Hell
PAYDAY: The Heist - Heat Street
Rise of Immortals Aislynn
Spotlight
Saints Row: The Third Launch
Secret Files 3 - Gamescom 2011
Serious Sam 3: BFE Weapons
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Live Action and more...

Linux

LINUX DISTRIBUTION
Fedora LiveCD 16

LINUX TOOLS

ATI Radeon Linux Display

Drivers 11.11
gedit 3.2.3
Hastymail 2.1.1 RC2
Kotti 0.2.5
Phorum 5.2.17
Tomboy 1.9.2 and more...

MAGIX Photo Designer 7

TOOLS

MULTIMEDIA

3D Crafter 9.1.1 Build 1256

ACDSee (formerly ACDSee Photo
Manager) 14.0 Build 110
Adapter 1.0.1.0
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
3.6 RC1
Alien Skin Blow Up 2
Alien Skin Bokeh 2
Alien Skin Exposure 3
Alien Skin Eye Candy 6
Alien Skin Snap Art 3
Beauty Guide Lite 1.3.1
Digital Image Tool 3.0
DivX Play 8.1.2
DVD Cutter 1.7
Element Photo Gallery 4.0.44
Faststone Image Viewer 4.6
FastStone Photo Resizer 3.1
Fly Free Photo Editing &
Viewer 2.99.5
Focus Photoeditor 6.3.8.3
FotoMorph 13.3.2 and more...

Internet

Alternative Flash Player AutoUpdater 1.0.1.42 Beta

Black Google Plus 1.0
CryoSubmitter 1.4
Firefox 9.0 Beta 3
FreshWebSuction 2.50
FTPRush 2.1.8
Google Chrome 17.0.942.0 Beta
IP Camera Viewer 1.13
Opera 11.60 Beta 1 (Build 1147)
Outlook4Gmail 2.6 and more...

MOBILE

App Inventor 1.2

Droid Explorer 0.8.8.2 Beta
ESET Mobile Security (Symbian)
1.2.9
FBReader (Symbian) 0.99.4
MobiSafe v1.1.4
MobiShield v3.0.8
Nokia Maps Installer 3.08
Nokia Music Player 2.5.11021.00
Opera Mini for Symbian 6.5.1
Theft Aware (Symbian) 2.0
Build 1316 and more...

Security

Ad-Aware 9.0.5.0

and more...

a-squared Free 4.5.0.27

Avast! Free Antivirus 6.0.1289
AVG Free Edition
2012.0.1872 (32-bit)
Avira Antivirus
Premium 2012 12.0.0.867
Comodo Internet Security
5.8.211697
Microsoft Safety Scanner
1.0.3001.0 and more...

System

3DP Chip 11.10

Adobe Reader X 10.1.1
Argente - Registry Cleaner 3.0.0.0
Calme 2012.0
Clear Files 2.6 Build 2.0
Directory Monitor 1.0.3.0
EarthView
EASEUS Todo Backup Home 3.5
Files Terminator Free
Portable 2.0.0.6
Fresh Diagnose 8.59
Google Translator 2.0
JetClean 2.0 Beta
Office 2007 Ribbon
Editor 3.0.0 Beta 2
PFM (Personal Finance Manager)
2.0.0.8
Simple Performance Boost 1.0.5
SoftMaker Office 2012 Rev
643 Beta and more...

Must Haves

.NET Framework Version 4.0

AMD Catalyst Drivers 11.11 XP /
Vista / Win7
DirectX 9.0c (Jun 10)
Java Runtime Environment
1.7.0.1 (32-bit)
NVIDIA Forceware 285.58 WHQL
XP / Vista / Win7
Realtek High Definition Audio
2.66 XP / Vista and more...

Adobe Players

Adobe Air 3.0.0.4080

Flash Player 11.1.102.55
(IE & Non-IE) and more...

E-books

CHIP ARCHIVES

August 2011 to October 2011

- Karan Shah

12/21/2011 5:46:46 PM

TEST CENTER
TESTED

Photo tool

CollageIt
Verdict: A nice, easy-to-use and speedy photo collage utility.
For: Real-time preview, simple usage, lots of templates.
Against: Free version leaves a watermark.

ollageIt is a free utility for creating

such as page setup, background and

fun collages from your favorite

skin alterations and cropping of photos

captured moments. It is fairly

are also possible. You can see previews

simple to usechoose the template

in real-time. You also have the option

or style you prefer; dump the photo

of framing each photo with settings for

collection that you want to make a

border width and color and shadows.

collage from; choose the layout (random

The whole process takes a few minutes,

or shuffle); tweak settings for number

but is slow when there are many photos.

of photos to use, space between pics,

Sadly, the free version leaves a watermark

rotation and frame; and finally, export it to

and does not allow photo cropping. The

formats such as JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP

Pro version can be purchased for around

or PSD. Other options of exporting include

$20 (approx Rs 1,000). CollageIt is a nice

sending as email, setting as wallpaper,

collage utility for those who like to display

uploading to Flickr or sharing on

their photo collections. It is also ideal for

Facebook. The actual process is possible

gifting photo collages to loved ones.

in just three simple steps. Minor tweaks

- Francis Dsa

Specifications

Freeware

www.collageitfree.com
System Requirements

OS: Windows XP or higher; Processor: 1 GHz or higher;

RAM: 1 GB or higher; Disk space: 50 MB or higher.
Contact

PearlMountain Software

PHONE

NA
[email protected]

EMAIL

RATINGS
FEATURES
PERFORMANCE
ease of use
Overall Rating
value for money

Imaging

Paintshop Pro X4
Verdict: There isn't much competition at this price point. PaintShop Pro can even
compete with Adobe Photoshop, and is more capable than the lite 'Elements' version. It does
have some weak points, but the upgrade is still worth it.
For: New optimized interface, powerful tools
Against: Sometimes inconsistent interface, gets laggy when under heavy load.

I
Specifications

70 (approx Rs 4,781)
www.corel.com

n the latest version of PaintShop Pro

beginners and manual tools has been

X4, Corel has revised the interface

handled well. "Selective focus" is a new

considerably. Users can toggle now

Tilt-Shift effect that is directed towards

between "Manage", "Customize" and

beginners. Professionals can jump for joy

"Edit" tabs without losing track of their

over the improved HDR tool that can be

work. In comparison to older versions,

controlled in detail using the extensive

one has faster access to additional

RAW editor.

information like EXIF data.

PaintShop Pro X4 has become more

System Requirements

With dual-screen support, one can

see tabs across two monitors. However

beginner-friendly. Still, the interface

performance can take a hit: PaintShop

Contact

Corel Corporation

isnt consistent. For example standard

Pro X4 generally starts and responds

PHONE

1-877-582-6735

Windows dialog boxes sometimes

speedily but in a few effects, it takes so

appear. As regards effects and variety in

long to compute that one almost gets

tools, theres no room for complaining.

frustrated.

OS: Windows XP/Vista/7; RAM: 200 MB; HDD: 306 MB

RATINGS
FEATURES
PERFORMANCE

Even the balance between options for

ease of use

- [email protected]

Overall Rating
value for money

58

01/2012

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0560112_Software Standalones.indd 58

12/22/2011 11:55:10 AM

TEST CENTER
TESTED

Verdict

A robust utility
for tweaking
and boosting
the overall
performance of
the PC.

System utility

AVG PC Tuneup 2011

For: Ease of use, simple UI, loads of features.
Against: None.

C Tuneup 2011 is a comprehensive

being stolen from deleted or formatted

utility for maintenance and

hard drives. Finally, the disk doctor helps

optimization of the PC to help

keep your files organized and safe in the

reduce system clutter, fix registry issues

and apply a host of optimization tweaks.
The utility features an Internet

event of a hard drive failure.

Apart from these important
functions, the utility also features a file

optimizer, registry cleaner, disk and

duplicate remover, software control for

registry defragmenter, tracks eraser, file

startup items and installed software

recovery, file shredder, disk wiper and disk

management, system rescue center,

doctor. The Internet optimizer evaluates

system information and services, an

the PCs internet connection and tweaks

advisor and resource usage monitor

it to increase connection speeds, reducing

for CPU, RAM, disk and network. The

lag and interruptions. Registry cleaner

utility is easy to use and the simple UI is

identifies and fixes registry entries and

welcoming even to a novice user.

eliminates temporary, duplicate and

AVG PC Tuneup has loads of small tools under one roof

for boosting the performance of your PC.

AVG PC Tuneup 2011 is a great

Specifications

junk files that could slow down the PC.

investment for use in a cybercaf, at

The defragmenter helps reorganize files

home or large scale offices that work on

for increased read/write speeds and

Internet resources. The free version has

also helps boost the system speed and

limitations to a few features. If you are in

performance by handling the registry. The

need of a PC tweaking and tuning utility

track eraser removes all records of your

but dont want to pay, you can opt for

online/offline PC activities to preserve

other utilities such as CCleaner or TuneUp

Contact

AVG Technologies

PHONE

your privacy. File recovery can help you

Utilities. Though they might not all have

EMAIL

NA
NA

restore accidentally deleted or damaged

robust features like this does, you get

files from your disk. The disk wiper and file

quite a abit without having to pay.

shredder can help preventing data from

-Francis Dsa

$34.99
(approx Rs 1,800)
www.avg.com

System Requirements

OS: Windows XP and above; Processor: 1.5 GHz or

higher; RAM: 64 MB or higher; Disk space: 50 MB.

RATINGS
FEATURES
PERFORMANCE
ease of use
Overall Rating
value for money

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TEST CENTER
TESTED

Verdict

Good for
beginners, but
not
recommended
for pros.

Photo Editor

The layout module allows you to print your photos

using various layouts.

ArcSoft
PhotoStudio
Darkroom
For: Non-destructive editing, good number of adjustment parameters.
Against: Very lean on features, resource-hungry, not intuitive.

rcSoft PhotoStudio Darkroom

Theres only a Quick Search field and

allows you to manage your

you cant perform advanced filtering.

photos, enhance them and print

The Processing module offers plenty of

them in a simple workflow. However,

adjustments in a tree format white

after using it for a couple of hours, we

balance, exposure, crop, etc. You have to

were quite disappointed. The Browser

click on the type of adjustment and then

module lets you browse your photos and

drag the sliders to tweak the values. You

add tags and ratings so that sorting and

switch to full-screen mode for a bigger

searching becomes easy. You add photos

work area and use split-screen to view

to the database by dragging and dropping

both the original and the final results. The

them to the filmstrip at the bottom. The

third module is Layout, where you can

www.arcsoft.com

UI is far from intuitive. For example, on

print your photos using pre-defined print

System Requirements

double-clicking an image, you'd expect

packages that help you print multiple

it to open in a larger view and switch to

photos on a single sheet.

Specifications

$99.99
(approx Rs 5,200)
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7; RAM: 1 GB; Drive space:
80 MB.
Contact

ArcSoft Inc.

PHONE

NA
NA

EMAIL

RATINGS
FEATURES
PERFORMANCE

editing mode. But here, nothing happens.

recommended specifications, yet we

thumbnails, only a larger thumbnail is

found the program too sluggish. We hope

displayed. It would have been useful if

the next update adds more features and

EXIF info was also displayed. Tagging is

improves on the shortcomings.

useful, but the search tool is too weak.

ease of use

Our test PC exceeded the

Also, when you move the mouse over

-Anand Tuliani

Overall Rating
value for money

60

01/2012

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0560112_Software Standalones.indd 60

12/21/2011 5:47:06 PM

TEST CENTER
TESTED

CD/DVD

Nero 11 Platinum
Verdict: Significantly improved than its predecessor with many useful features
For: Ease of use, navigation, features
Against: Lacking in advanced features

ero has come a long way from

results showed that it encodes videos

being popular burning software

fastest with Nvidia cards.

to a comprehensive multimedia

When it comes editing videos, Nero

suite. The Nero 11 installation takes up to

has packed some additional features,

20 minutes and requires up to 2 GB of

making it more comprehensive. The

space. Further updates will take another

storyboard mode is a handy feature, and

15 minutes. It includes everything from

includes more filters, effect automation,

Rs 5, 600 approx

video playback, editing and streaming, a

HD preview, improved background

System Requirements

back-up tool, and Nero Burning ROM.

rendering, multi-track view, advanced

In the older version, there were

audio effects, and much more. While

complaints like slow start-up,

amateur film-makers will find these

complicated operation and slow encoder.

features extremely useful, the same

These have been addressed in this

cannot be said about professionals who

version. Nero Video provides support for

may find it a bit lacking and might prefer

the latest graphics card technology, which

other advanced programs.

accelerates processes manifold. Our test

- [email protected]

Specifications
www.nero.com

OS: Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP1 / 7; Program size:

260 MB; Burning CD formats: VD-R/RW, DVD + R /RW,
BD-R, BD-RE; Video formats: VI, MPEG, MP4, WMV, FLV
Contact

Nero Inc.

PHONE

(888) 309-4212
NA

EMAIL

RATINGS
FEATURES
PERFORMANCE
ease of use
Overall Rating
value for money

Antivirus

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus

Verdict: An important security utility for PCs that frequently access the Internet.
For: Malware and spyware blocking, real-time protection, free.
Against: None.

A
Specifications

Freeware

d-Aware has long been known as

heuristics detection, malware removal,

a robust malware and spyware

scheduled scanning, and automatic

detection and removal tool.

updates. The user interface is pretty

Ad-Aware is now a free utility and is a

simple and the opening page has three

combination of an antivirus and anti-

self-explanatory buttonsWeb update,

spyware in a single package.

Scan system and Ad-watch live.

The utility helps you combat Internet

Additionally, on the top-right of the

www. lavasoft.com

threats such as viruses, spyware,

program interface is a button called

System Requirements

Trojans, malware and keyloggers

Extras, which when clicked, highlights a

whenever you are dealing with any

feature called TrackSweep. This feature

website, be it social network, email, bill

cleans/erases all the tracks left behind

payment sites or simply file downloading

after you surf the Web.

OS: Windows XP or higher, Processor: 800 MHz or

higher; RAM: 512 MB or higher; Disk space: 300 MB.
Contact

Lavasoft

PHONE

0046-31-7578700
NA

EMAIL

RATINGS

software.
It features real-time protection that

The Advanced section offers more

features for expert users. This includes

includes rootkit removal technology

scan profiles, network settings, language

ease of use

and is very simple to setup and use.

customizations and other tweaks.

Overall Rating

Other features included are ad-watch,

FEATURES
PERFORMANCE

- Francis Dsa

value for money

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TEST CENTER
TESTED

typing tutor

CD/DVD Cover

System utility

Rapid typing

CoverXP

Free PC Audit

Verdict: A simple tutor that will teach

you typing for free.
For: Easy to use, displays statistics,
lesson editor.
Against: None

Verdict: A simple, easy-to-use program

for creating CD/DVD cover jackets.
For: Supports over 200 file formats,
range of editing options.
Against: No full-screen option.

Verdict: A must-have utility

for computer technicians, system
administrators and maintenance
engineers.
For: In-depth information, ease of use,
no installation required, free.
Against: None.

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Freeware

Freeware

Freeware

System Requirements

System Requirements

System Requirements

OS: Windows XP and above; RAM: 512 MB; Disk space: 6.5 MB

OS: Windows XP and above; Disk space: 2.9 MB

OS: Windows all.

www.rapidtyping.com

www.coverxp.com

www.misutilities.com

Contact

Typing Tutor Labs

Contact

Moonware Studios

Contact

MIS Utilities

PHONE

NA
[email protected]

PHONE

NA
[email protected]

PHONE

001-877-678845
[email protected]

EMAIL

EMAIL

RATINGS

RATINGS

EMAIL

RATINGS

FEATURES

FEATURES

FEATURES

PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE

ease of use

ease of use

ease of use

Overall Rating

Overall Rating

Overall Rating
value for money

typing is the day you start using the

select the cover size and style from

benefit system and PC administrators

PC. You can even break away from

the Paper Template tab. Here, you

in both small and large setups for

the habit of incorrect typing and learn

will also find options to create labels

complete PC hardware, software and

the correct typing technique using a

and booklets. Adding images is also

network auditing. It is a self-running

typing tutor. RapidTyping is a freeware

quite easy; you can open them from

utility and needs no installation.

tutor with which you can learn typing

the file or simple drag and drop from

Once run, it quickly scans the system

within a few weeks. But you need to

the Web. It will automatically be scaled

completely and displays three

practise everyday and try to use correct

according to your paper selection.

information tabs - System, Software

fingers for keys during regular use.

CoverXP supports over 360 file formats

and Processes. The System tab shows

The beginner level aims at habituating

including JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PSD, and

all hardware information of the PC,

you to the key locations and using the

PNG. There are several options to edit

which includes stripped-down details

correct fingers. You then move on to

the pictures further. The overlay option

about the CPU, motherboard, RAM,

typing syllables and words and then

for instance, allows you to add images

hard drive, and other components. The

finally paragraphs. It displays speed

and text. The effects tab allows you to

Software tab similarly highlights all

and accuracy after each lesson. It is

experiment with brightness, contrast,

information about the software and

recommended that you repeat lessons

noise, blur, waves, etc. You can edit the

applications installed on the PC. The

until you reach a decent typing speed.

spine from the spine editor. Printing

Processes tab shows all the current

After youre done with the beginner and

is quite easy. With the quick preview

running processes, which can help

intermediate levels, you wont need to

option, you can check, adjust the spine

detect viruses, malware and hijacking

look at the keyboard while typing.

and margins, and print instantly.

possibilities.

nowing touch typing improves

productivity and reduces finger

stress. Ideally, the right time to learn

- Anand Tuliani

62

01/2012

If you are looking for a program to

make covers for CD or DVDs, then

look no further than CoverXP. You can

- Priyanka Tilve

ree PC Audit is a small freeware

system, hardware and software

information extraction tool. It can

- Francis Dsa

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0560112_Software Standalones.indd 62

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TEST CENTER
TESTED

Game

Urban Ninja

Francois, a portly French

Ninja, and your task is to jump

Craft

Origami Reference

project. The only issue is that

projects are not sorted by
type or difficulty. You have to

and slide through a number

Free

scroll through pages before

iPhone, iPod touch; iOS 3.2

you'll find one you might

via helicopter, James Bond

Overall rating

like. In rare cases, the visual

Donut Games has given us a

style, all before running out

If you enjoy folding paper

instructions are confusing,

number of classics, including

of energy. The "French Ninja"

to make birds, animals and

such as an image of a fold

Cat Physics and Traffic Rush.

comedy just barely works, and

everyday objects, you'll

with a double-looped arrow;

Its latest offering also tries to

Francois' barely intelligible

appreciate the variety of

a simple line of text would

be cute and entertaining, with

exclamations at the end of

projects offered by

old-school 2D graphics and

each level are repetitive. Later

Origami Reference.

dead-simple gameplay, but

levels require a fair amount of

The app is a bit

sadly falls a bit short. You're

puzzle-solving, but movement

clunky to use,

$0.99

of levels to collect reward

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch; iOS 3.0

points and make your escape

Overall rating

is difficult and

with inconsistent

the helicopter

scrolling and

jumping makes

animations, but

it frustrating,

the projects

since you have to

themselves are

gamble on getting

easy to follow. The

just enough of a

free version offers

bonus to finish

96 projects, with 36 more

make things easier but there

the level before

if you pay $0.99. The full

are no instructions. However

running out of

version also includes links to

the app is free, and you'll still

energy.

online videos demonstrating

have a lot of fun.

- Jamshed Avari

0560112_Software Standalones.indd 63

the construction of each

- Jamshed Avari

12/22/2011 7:55:04 PM

TEST CENTER
TESTED

Game

Math Workout

puzzle types are Addition

and Subtraction and

Multimedia

BSPlayer Lite

Free
Android

of questions (10, 20 or 50)

Overall rating

and the difficultly level

include brightness, volume,

skipping and zoom. This

Multiplication and Division.

You can choose the number

possible. Playback controls

Free

version is ad supported, but

Android

only in listing mode; there

Overall rating

are no ads during playback.

Sadly, there is no option to

(Easy, Medium or Hard) for

Youll find Math Workout

your mental workout. The

BSPlayer is like Moboplayer,

lock the hardware or touch

fun if you have a liking for

questions involve calculations

but sports a different UI. It

buttons while playing back

math puzzles. The first two

with two numbers and you

features hardware accelerated

a video to avoid accidental

have to key in the correct

video decoding and supports

interruption. Codecs needed

answer. The less time to take

most audio and video formats

for playback will automatically

to complete, the higher the

such as AVI, DivX, FLV, MKV,

be downloaded. You can also

score. To move on to the

MP4, WMV, and MP3. It also

download subtitles for your

next difficulty level, you have

supports HTTP and RTSP

movies without disturbing the

to complete the Im Feeling

streaming from the internet.

playback.

Clever mode in the target

Multiple audio streams

time. The Brain Cruncher

can be played,

mode is the most interesting.

and subtitles

You have to mentally solve a

(SSA/ASS,

long chain of calculations and

SRT and SUB)

you get only a few seconds

are supported.

to think at each step. Math

Playback from

Workout is fun for people of

the local SD card,

all ages.

internet, and LAN

- Anand Tuliani

Photo Editing

Pixlr-o-matic

although you have the option

to first shoot and then add
eye candy. You can also pick a

(SMB) shares is

System utility

AdFree Android

images or the image gallery.

DNS requests in a log file so

that the user can discover
new hostnames that are not
currently blocked. AdFree is

photo from the apps sample

Free

- Francis Dsa

Free

a great app for those who

Android

After the image is loaded, you

Android

frequently download free apps

Overall rating

can apply frames, color effects

Overall rating

from the Android Market that

are driven by revenue through

and lighting. Each of these has

This freeware can add punch

a gallery of 25 to 30 presets.

AdFree is a simple free app

ads. AdFree works only on

to your photos in just a few

Frames include simple solid

for Android that modifies

rooted devices.

steps. Its not a camera app,

borders to grunge, old, sand,

the systems host file to

halftone, rustic and other

redirect known advertising

effects for creative results.

and tracking hostnames to

With color and lighting effects,

the local host. This prevents

you can give your photos a

advertisements in certain

retro look, make them look

shareware and freeware

more vivid or surreal, or simply

apps from hogging your

go black and white. A real-

screen space and disturbing

time preview of the frames

your work. The app is pretty

and effects is displayed while

simple to use and needs

youre checking them out. The

to be configured just once,

final result can be saved in

and it starts functioning

small, medium or large format

immediately after a reboot. It

and can also be uploaded

also automatically checks for

to online photo galleries and

updates and applies the host

social networking websites.

files for you. It also features

- Anand Tuliani

64

01/2012

- Francis Dsa

copying a TCPdump and

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0560112_Software Standalones.indd 64

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TEST CENTER

SECURITY SUITE COMPARISON

Whats New
in 2012
Security Suites

More viruses, more protection? In the stress test we show how well the new security suites
protect against the flood of malware. By Claudio Mller

ou would have to look deep

that was seen in the 2011 version poor

into the architecture of the

system disinfection.

security suites to understand the

The biggest danger for computer

developments made in the 2012 version.

users currently is the sheer number of

Even though nothing much appears

newer variants of known malware that

changed, its worthwhile to take a closer

keep popping up. Symantec registered

look. How will these antivirus programs

a total of 286 million different viruses,

with their improvements fare against

Trojans, backdoors and others in the last

the current malwares, we test just that

year. Most of these exist on the web for

in the AV test lab. We are very keen to

a very short while 75 percent of the

see if the developers have ironed out

malware do not affect more than 50

the biggest weakness of the software

computers worldwide.

66

01/2012

VERdiCT
The security suites have improved
overall, even if none of them offers
perfect protection. The best package of
virus protection and performance is the
F-Secure and wins just ahead of
Kaspersky. Norton is the best at saving
the resources of your PC, Eset shines
with the most improved product. McAfee
remains disappointing, and still lands
well behind the free scanner from
Microsoft.
SMS us! Story code: FSS to 51818

intelligent computing chip

0660112_Whats New in 2012 Security Suites.indd 66

12/19/2011 9:12:27 PM
Jagdish Limbachiya

TEST CENTER

SECURITY SUITE COMPARISON

System DISINFECTION

System LOAD

In comparison to last year, the cleaning of infected

systems has improved.

Some suites slow down the computer to a great extent

during tasks like system start or downloading
96%

Eset

60%
92%

F-Secure

80%
88%

Avira

80%
88%

G Data

80%
88%

Kaspersky

80%
80%

Norton

80%
80%

Panda

80%
75%

Microsoft

*
46%

McAfee

60%

2011

2010

Collected
knowledge
about
viruses

F-Secure

441 sec

106 sec

Norton

441 sec

150 sec

Kaspersky

441 sec

172 sec

McAfee

441 sec

189 sec

Eset

441 sec

217 sec

Avira

441 sec

217 sec

Panda

441 sec

264 sec

Microsoft

441 sec

274 sec

G Data

441 sec

335 sec

*2010 not tested

without suite

additional time with suite

beefed up security. According to Stefan

Other vendors like F-Secure have also

Wesche, Technical Expert Norton

improved the system cleaning visibly,

Products, the latest version of Norton

which was the biggest drawback in the

Internet Security, supervises over 120

previous version that was released last

There are two

new behaviours in the active processes

year. Some exceptions: McAfee Internet

sets of solution

in real time.

Security 2012 undercut the unsatisfactory

to fight malware:
Information about
viruses should
spread quickly over
the cloud, unknown

G Data has integrated proactive

results of the last year. The suite did not

protection against online banking Trojans

recognize five of the malware at all, and

like Zeus. Both programs are among

in all it removed less than half of the

the best in malware recognition last

total number of malware (11 out of 24).

year. Microsofts free scanner Security

Even Microsofts free protection

Essentials cannot exactly keep up with

software managed better than that.

them, however its more effective than

Although the scanner did not keep up

other full suites and even pushes McAfee

with the best commercial programs,

to the last rank. Its Internet Security

if you want something without having

to users just after 90 seconds they are

2012 recognized too few malware like

to pay a paisa, this still provides solid

out. Even ESET, one of the few products

its predecessor. Even when McAfee

protection. Only thing is that you cannot

till now without a cloud connection, has

assured us that there will be technical

create a recovery CD with it. This would

followed suit with Smart Security 5. The

innovations in the beginning of the year

have been useful in case the system

result is remarkable: the latter that was

2012, we do not recommend the program

cleaning fails in Windows. Such a live

beaten last year, this year Smart Security

in its current state.

system (mostly Linux based) can be

malware should be
better recognized with real
time protection. Kaspersky
distributes updates for new viruses

5 recognizes and blocks all unknown

created in other programs at any time

effectively detects even the malware

Finally, better system

disinfection?

programmed in the laboratory (zoo

However, Kaspersky holds the top spot

malware) with which AV-test checks

in the malware analysis with a very high

the recognition mechanism. Together

recognition rate of unknown malware,

Stopped instead of
removed

with improved system performance, the

rootkits and zoo malware. In addition,

A cleaner and more secure computer is

program catapults itself from the last

the Internet Security 2012 cleans infected

one thing, but it should also be fast. At

place directly into the top group. Even

systems very thoroughly. From 24

least the security suite should not overly

in real time protection, which recognizes

malware, it managed to remove at least

slow down the system. AV-test analysed

threat with the help of behavioural

21. Here, only ESET was a bit better and

the system load on a desktop PC running

detection technology, developers have

removed only 23 of the 24 malware.

Windows 7 Ultimate, powered by a

malware without any errors. ESET now

and you can subsequently disinfect the

system with this.

intelligent computing chip

0660112_Whats New in 2012 Security Suites.indd 67

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67

12/19/2011 9:12:35 PM

TEST CENTER

SECURITY SUITE COMPARISON

quad-core Intel Xeon CPU (2.83 GHz)
and 4 GB of RAM. Typical tasks such as
system startup, file transfer, download,
website loading, application installation
and launching were timed. Contrary to

SpecScan

the widely spreading prejudice, Norton

was the frontrunner in the overall
performance test. This is not surprising
since Norton was already at the second
place last year in this assessment.

F-Secure Internet
Security 2012

Kaspersky Internet Security

2012

www.f-secure.com

www.kaspersky.com

NA

Rs 899

What is remarkable is just the minimal

Website

lag in Windows startup in the range of

Price (1 PC, 1 year)

milliseconds. Moreover, Norton scanned

Total assessment

91.9

91.6

downloaded files faster than the

Malware protection (75%)

94

96

Performance (25%)

86

80

95 %

95 %

competition and allowed programs such

as Adobe Acrobat Reader or LibreOffice
to install smoothly only Avira and
McAfee were better here.
The activity for which the computer
is most often used by many is very
dangerous: surfing the web. According
to Symantec, the number of web-based
malware attacks has increased in the
past year by 93 percent. Here, the

Test Results
Unknown malware blocked
Trojans (72,648)

100 %

99 %

Backdoors/bots/fake AV (36,221)

99.9 %

100 %

Known wildlist malware (2,500)

100 %

100 %

100 % | 86 %

100 % | 100 %

Active rootkits recognized | removed

False alarms (252,741 files)

security programs had to take a closer

Warning of program installation | use

0|0

0|0

look without slowing down the browser.

Disinfection (malware recognized)

96 %

100 %

With the help of the information stored

Disinfection (malware removed completely | partially)

92 % | 63 %

88 % | 75 %

in the cloud database, the virus scanner

analyses the reputation of the website
you have opened. This is based on the

Windows start up time (without suite: 16.7 sec)

19.9 sec

20.7 sec

File downloads (without suite: 59.3 sec)

63.2 sec

64.2 sec

experiences of the clients connected

Website loading (without suite: 38.5 sec)

41.8 sec

44.5 sec

to the cloud if the website has been

Applications installation (without suite: 127.7 sec)

188.1 sec

155.8 sec

identified as a source for viruses and

Applications launch (without suite: 33.8 sec)

34.3 sec

38.7 sec

3 min 20 sec

4 min 49 sec

malicious content, then it is directly

blocked. For unknown sites, the scan

Copying files (without suite: 2 min 45 sec)

engine analyses the downloaded HTML

or Java Script code on the computer.
such as Amazon, YouTube or Wikipedia

testers from AV-Test nor those from G

G Data seems to look even closer since

The 2012 Internet Security suite from

and that with a 100 Mbps dedicated

Data could explain this. However, one

it required a little more time to load sites

line in the test laboratory. Neither the

reason could be the time-consuming

Test winner The Online Safety module in F-Secure Internet Security 2012

First Runner Up Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 uses a cloud-based

allows limiting web access.

reputation database for effective threat detection.

68

01/2012

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0660112_Whats New in 2012 Security Suites.indd 68

12/19/2011 9:12:48 PM

TEST CENTER

SECURITY SUITE COMPARISON

Norton Internet
Security 2012

ESET Smart
Security 5

G Data Internet
Security 2012

Panda Internet
Security 2012

Avira Internet
Security 2012

Microsoft Security
Essentials

McAfee Internet
Security 2012

in.norton.com

www.eset.com

in.gdatasoftware.com

www.pandasecurity.com

www.avira.com

www.microsoft.com

home.mcafee.com

Rs 1,220

Rs 999

Rs 799

Rs 600

Rs 1,573

Freeware

Rs 825

90.8

90.4

89.0

88.8

88.6

86.7

79.5

92

92

94

93

91

87

78

88

86

75

77

82

86

84

100 %

100 %

95 %

95 %

95 %

80 %

85 %
100 %

100 %

97.2 %

100 %

100 %

99.8 %

99.3 %

99.9 %

99.7 %

100 %

98.3 %

99.5 %

99.4 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 % | 71 %

71 % | 71 %

100 % | 86 %

100 % | 100 %

100 % | 71 %

100 % | 100%

71 % | 71 %

0|0

0|0

0|0

0|0

1|0

0|0

0|0

100 %

100 %

100 %

96 %

100 %

100 %

79 %

83 % | 50 %

96 % | 33 %

88 % | 46 %

83 % | 46 %

88 % | 67 %

75 % | 58 %

46 % | 25%

16.8 sec

17.6 sec

17.1 sec

19 sec

18.5 sec

17.1 sec

18.5 sec

61 sec

65.4 sec

62.1 sec

61.8 sec

68.3 sec

62.4 sec

61.1 sec

42.7 sec

40.1 sec

62.6 sec

47.3 sec

41.5 sec

40 sec

45.2 sec

151.6 sec

161.9 sec

163.1 sec

170.8 sec

146.2 sec

166.2 sec

148.2 sec

40.1 sec

34.7 sec

37.4 sec

46 sec

36.1 sec

40 sec

38.7 sec

4 min 39 sec

5 min 39 sec

7 min 14 sec

6 min 01 sec

5 min 47 sec

6 min 30 sec

5 min 18 sec

Top category (100-90.0)

Upper category (89.9-75.0)

Average category (74.9-45.0)

Not recommended (44.4-0) All assessments in points (max. 100)

scan with a second engine which had

besides the virus weaponry. Symantec

version provide better protection which

brought G Data to the last place in the

offers the option to manage all the

no one should ignore.

performance assessment last year. For

computers on which Norton is installed

users who feel that the system should

via remote maintenance, something

Verdict

be fast with an antivirus installed, G

that is especially interesting for smaller

The security suites have improved

Data shouldnt be the first preference.

networks.

overall, even if none of them offers

However, for protection-oriented users,

Kaspersky has once again integrated

you perfect protection. The package

it offers the second best recognition rate

the File Advisor with which you can

that offers by far the best protection

in the test.

upload individual files for virus scan

and performance is F-Secure Internet

with a click. But as for most functions,

Security 2012, and it wins just ahead of

there are many freeware tools that can

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012. Norton

do the same job just as well or even

is the best at economically utilizing

Panda offers an additional surfing

better. The free support that Avira offers

system resources, while ESET shines as

protection. With the secure browsing

for all users is however very helpful

the most improved product of the lot.

feature which runs in a Sandbox, you can

including remote assistance. Through

McAfee remains disappointing, however,

browse the web without worrying about

the automatically installed TeamViewer,

and still lags behind Microsoft's free

being infected by malware. But this

Avira Support can solve many problems

security solution.

feature only works after you download

directly on the users computers. If

and install the additional component

you want to stay loyal to your current

Test winner

called VirtualBox. Other manufacturers

antivirus brand, you can upgrade to the

F-Secure offers the best protection and

are also trying to make their products

2012 version for free if you still have valid

an easily understandable interface.

more attractive with additional features

licenses. The improvements in the latest

Less added value through

new extras

[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0660112_Whats New in 2012 Security Suites.indd 69

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69

12/19/2011 9:12:58 PM

TEST CENTER
PC CONFIGS

HIS Radeon HD 6850

Rs 9,500
www.hisdigital.com

verdict The most powerful card in the

love Powerful with low power

hate None.

'Under Rs 10,000' segment.

consumption, multiple video outputs.

Specifications
GPU: Radeon HD 6850; Memory: 1 GB GDDR5; Memory bus
width: 256-bit; Core speed: 775 MHz; Memory speed: 1000
MHz; Video outputs: 2xDVI, HDMI and DP.

ANAND's PICKS

Budget Graphics Cards

Here are some options for up to Rs 10,000 for comfortable gaming at full HD resolution.

Sapphire Radeon HD 6790

Rs 8,000
www.sapphiretech.com

verdict Slightly more powerful than the

GTX 550 Ti for almost the same price.
love Good value for money, good
performance.
hate None.

Specifications
GPU: Radeon HD 6790; Memory: 1 GB GDDR5; Memory bus
width: 256-bit; Core speed: 840 MHz; Memory speed: 1200
MHz; Video outputs: 2xDVI, HDMI and DP.

MSI N550GTX-Ti Cyclone II

1GD5/OC
Rs 8,100
in.msi.com

verdict The best variant of GTX 550 Ti

love Excellent cooling, brownie points for

mean looks.
hate None.

with an excellent custom cooler.

Specifications
GPU: GeForce GTX 550 Ti; Memory: 1 GB GDDR5; Memory bus
width: 192-bit; Core speed: 950 MHz; Memory speed: 1075
MHz; Video outputs: 2xDVI and mini HDMI.

70

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0700112_PC CONFIGS.indd 70

Sapphire Radeon HD 6770

Vapor-X
Rs 7,200
www.sapphiretech.com

verdict A factory-overclocked variant with

vapor chamber cooling for a good price.

love Vapor chamber cooling, multiple video

outputs, good value for money.

hate None.

Specifications

GPU: Radeon HD 6770; Memory: 1 GB GDDR5; Memory bus

width: 128-bit; Core speed: 860 MHz; Memory speed: 1200
MHz; Video outputs: 2xDVI, HDMI and DP.

Sparkle GeForce GTX 460

Rs 9,000
sparkletw.com

verdict A generation older but still doing

strong due to the VFM it offers.

love Although old, it's still powerful to

handle the latest games; good VFM.

hate None.

Specifications

GPU: GeForce GTX 460; Memory: 1 GB GDDR5; Memory bus

width: 256-bit; Core speed: 700 MHz; Memory speed: 900
MHz; Video outputs: 2xDVI and mini HDMI.

intelligent computing chip

12/19/2011 9:23:31 PM

TEST CENTER

Anand's
PC CONFIGS
COLUMN

Do long battery life

phones deliver as
promised?
Anand tuliani, Deputy Editor - Technical

Non-Stop Talking
T

alk time is an important factor

while buying any cellphone. You
dont want your phone dying
on you within a few hours,
especially during critical situations or
when youre on the move and dont have a
charging point around. This is a common
problem with many smartphones you
have to charge the handset at least once
(or even twice) a day to keep it alive.
The latest trend in the budget
phones segment is the emergence of
Long Battery Life phones. These are
essentially conventional low-cost Java
phones that have been around for a long
time, but with heavy duty batteries. The
average battery rating of a candybar
phone is around 1000 mAh and cellphone
companies claim youd get around 6
to 8 hours of talk time. With a bit of
music listening, FM radio, gaming and
shooting photos, you can expect around
3 to 4 hours of talk time. Long battery
life phones are on the heavier side due to
the high-capacity batteries they use. The
handsets weigh anywhere between 120 to
140 grams and the weight of the battery
alone is around 50 grams. In this case,
the battery rating is a whopping 2,500
mAh thats 2.5 times the average battery
rating and the promised talk time is up to
a staggering 18 hours!
I had recently gone on a long road
trip and I found it a perfect chance to put
one of the long battery phones we got for
review through a gruelling test. Between
the iBall Shaan and Sict iV171, I chose to
take the latter because it was lighter (121
g versus 138 g), its battery had a higher
rating (3,000 mAh versus 2,300 mAh) and

the FM antenna was built-in. The iball

Shaan carries a price tag of Rs 2,999 and
the Sict iV171 is slightly more affordable
at Rs 2,299.
I had kept the handset on charge
the night before the trip and by early
morning, it was good to go. I had carried
the devices data cable with a proprietary
connector should the battery die within
a weeks time. I used it to make and
receive a few calls, send a few messages,
listen to the radio for an hour or so every
day, and I never switched
off the handset nor did I
switch to flight mode. On
the third day, the battery
was 65 percent and to my
amazement it was still alive
and kicking at 30 percent
after an entire week. It took
another two days to drain
the battery completely.
What I found most annoying was the
ringtone volume at full volume, youll
get angry stares from everyone around
you and even at the lowest volume its
distractingly loud. To top this, you get
only three built-in lousy ringtones. The
user interface is quite good, however,
theres plenty of room for improvement.
The dictionary also isnt as efficient as
the T9 dictionary; there were plenty
of commonly used words that werent
recognized. The phone was nice and
shiny before the trip, but on return, there
were faint scratches on the screen and the
glossy shell. All in all, the Sict iV171 is
a great package for its price. Wish Nokia
had a long battery life phone to offer!

You can easily

expect the battery
to last for at least
a week.

[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0700112_PC CONFIGS.indd 71

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TEST CENTER
PC CONFIGS

PC configs
Gaming - entry-level

Rs 50,910

Gaming - HIGH - END

Rs 1,37,500

Processor

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Ed, 3.3 GHz

6,250

Processor

Intel Core i7-2600, 3.4 GHz

15,500

Motherboard

Asus M5A88-M Evo, AMD 880G

7,300

Motherboard

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD, Intel Z68

13,700

RAM

2 GB Zion DDR3-1333 MHz

RAM

G.Skill Sniper DDR3-1600 - 8 GB kit

Hard disk

Western Digital Caviar Green - 1TB

5,500

900

Hard disk

OCZ Agility 3, 60 GB SSD + WD Caviar Black 1 TB

14,000

3,400

Graphics card

Zotac Geforce GTX 550 Ti Amp - 1 GB GDDR5

8,100

Graphics card

Zotac GeForce GTX 580 - 1536 MB DDR5

29,850

Optical drive

LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer

950

Optical drive

LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer

950
14,650

Monitor

BenQ G2222HDL- 21.5-inch LED

7,400

Monitor

Benq V2400 Eco - 22-inch LED

Keyboard

Logitech G1 Gaming Desktop

1,670

Keyboard

Razer Lycosa

Mouse

Included in combo

Speakers

F&D FD600

Sound card

Onboard high-definition audio

Sound card

Asus Xonar DX 7.1-channel

4,250

PC Case

Cooler Master Elite 311

1,950

PC Case

Antec Six Hundred

6,100

Power supply unit

Corsair GS500

3,600

Power supply unit

Cooler Master Silent Pro M700

6,850

Operating system

Windows 7 Home Basic

4,300

Operating system

Windows 7 Home Premium

Total

2,990
-

50,910

HOME

Rs 31,775

Mouse

Razer Imperator

Speakers

Creative Gigaworks T3

Total

3,800
3,150
15,000

6,300
1,37,500

htpc

Rs 91,450

Processor

AMD Athlon X2 260, 3.20 GHz

3,450

Processor

AMD Phenom II X2 565, 3.40 GHz

5,750

Motherboard

Asus M5A88-M, AMD 880G

5,400

Motherboard

Asus M5A88-M Evo, AMD 880G

7,300

RAM

2 GB Zion DDR3-1333 MHz

900

RAM

2x 2 GB Zion DDR3-1333 MHz

1,800

Hard disk

Western Digital Caviar Green - 1TB

Hard disk

Western Digital Caviar Green - 1TB

5,400

Graphics card

Onboard graphics

Graphics card

HIS Radeon HD 6670, 1 GB GDDR5

5,350

Optical drive

LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer

950

Optical drive

Sony BD-5300S, 12x Blu-ray Writer

11,000

Monitor

LG E2060T - 20-inch LED

Monitor

BenQ V2400 Eco, 24-inch TFT (LED)

14,650

Keyboard and
mouse combo

Logitech Deluxe 250 Desktop USB

Keyboard and
mouse combo

Logitech Wireless Combo MK320

Speakers

Altec Lansing VS2621

Sound card

Onboard high-definition audio

PC Case

iBall Pride

Power supply unit

Included with the PC Case - 250 Watts

Operating system

Windows 7 Home Basic

Total
72

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0700112_PC CONFIGS.indd 72

5,400

7,050
680
1,895
-

Speakers

Creative Gigaworks T3

Sound card

Asus Xonar DX 7.1-channel

1,650
15,000
4,250

PC Case

Silver Stone Milo ML03

10,700

Power supply unit

Corsair CMPSU-430CX

2,400

4,300

Operating system

Windows 7 Home Premium

1,750

31,775

Total

6,200
91,450

intelligent computing chip

12/19/2011 9:23:45 PM

TEST CENTER

LAPTOP CONFIGS

laptop configs
Budget

Mainstream

Netbook

Processor Intel Pentium P6200, Intel Core i3,

Processor Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5

Processor Intel Atom Single / Dual-core,

Intel Core i5
Memory 1 GB or 2 GB
Hard drive 320 GB or higher
Display 14.1-in or 15.6-in
Graphics On-board
Weight 2.3 Kg to 2.7 Kg
Other Bluetooth, DVD-writer, Wi-Fi b/g, Webcam
Price range Up to Rs 35,000

Memory 2 GB or 3 GB

AMD Fusion

Hard drive 320 GB or higher

Memory 1 GB to 2 GB

Display 14.1-in or 15.6-in

Hard drive 160 GB or higher

Graphics On-board or Discrete

Display 10-in or 11.6-in

Weight 2.3 Kg to 3 Kg

Graphics On-board

Other Bluetooth, DVD-writer, Wi-Fi b/g or n, Webcam

Weight 1 Kg to 1.5 Kg

Price range Rs 35,000 To Rs 45,000

Other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, Card reader

Price range Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000

Lenovo G470
Rs 28,690
CPU Intel Core i3-2330M, 2.2 GHz; MEMORY 2 GB;
HARD DISK 500 GB; display 14-in;
graphics On-board; weight 2.2 Kg; OS Free DOS;
other Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Card reader

Acer Aspire 4755

Rs 28,890

Acer Aspire 5755G

Rs 35,482

Lenovo S10-3C
Rs 14,400

CPU Intel Core i3-2330M, 2.2 GHz; memory 3 GB;

HARD DISK 500 GB; display 15.6-in;
graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 540M, 1 GB;
weight 2.6 Kg; OS Windows 7 Home Basic;
other Bluetooth, Webcam, Wi-Fi, HDMI

CPU Intel Atom N455, 1.66 GHz; memory 1 GB;

HARD DISK 250GB; display 10.1-in;
graphics On-board; weight 1.15 Kg; OS Free DOS;
other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, Card reader

Lenovo IdeaPad Z570

Rs 38,990

Samsung N150-JP0MIN
Rs 16,100

CPU Intel Core i3-2330M, 2.2 GHz; memory 2 GB;

HARD DISK 500 GB; display 14-in;
graphics On-board; weight 2.2 Kg; OS Linux;
other Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Card reader

CPU Intel Core i3-2310M, 2.1 GHz; memory 4 GB;

HARD DISK 640 GB; display 15.6-in;
graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 520M, 1 GB;
weight 2.6 Kg; OS Windows 7 Home Basic;
other Bluetooth, Webcam, Wi-Fi, HDMI

CPU Intel Atom N550, 1.5 GHz; MEMORY 1 GB;

HARD DISK 320 GB; display 10.1-in;
graphics On-board; weight 1.24 Kg;
OS Windows 7 Starter; other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
Webcam, Card reader

Dell Inspiron 14R

Rs 32,190

HP Pavilion g6-1201tx
Rs 40,950

Acer Aspire One Happy 2

Rs 16,633

CPU Intel Core i3-2350M, 2.3 GHz; memory 3 GB;

HARD DISK 320 GB; display 14-in;
graphics On-board; weight 2.38Kg; OS Windows 7
Home Basic; other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI

CPU Intel Core i5-2430M, 2.4 GHz; MEMORY 4 GB;

HARD DISK 640 GB; DISPLAY 15.6-in;
GRAPHICS AMD Radeon HD 6470, 1 GB;
Weight 2.3 Kg; OS Windows 7 Home Basic;
OTHER Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI

CPU Intel Atom N570, 1.66 GHz; memory 1 GB;

HARD DISK 320 GB; display 10.1-in;
graphics On-board; weight 1.3 Kg; OS Windows 7
Starter + Android; other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam,
Card reader

HP Pavilion g6-1200TU
Rs 32,450

Sony Vaio VPCEG28FN

Rs 42,990

HP Mini 110-3730TU
Rs 16,150

CPU Intel Core i3-2330M, 2.2 GHz; memory 2 GB;

HARD DISK 500 GB; display 15.6-in;
graphics On-board; weight 2.3 Kg; OS Windows 7
Home Basic; other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI

CPU Intel Core i5-2430M, 2.4 GHz; memory 4 GB;

HARD DISK 500 GB; display 14-in;
graphics Nvidia GeForce 410M, 512 MB;
weight 2.3 Kg; OS Windows 7 Home Premium;
other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI

CPU Intel Atom N570, 1.66 GHz; memory 2 GB;

HARD DISK 320 GB; display 10.1-in;
graphics On-board; weight 1.4 Kg; OS Free DOS;
other Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Webcam, Card reader

intelligent computing chip

0700112_PC CONFIGS.indd 73

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73

12/19/2011 9:24:12 PM

FEATURED

Fotos: Jason Bradley; Heyon You; Warner Bros. Aus Happy Feet 2
Illustrationen: CHIP

COVER STORY

74

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0740112_Welcome to 2012 (Cover Story).indd 74

12/19/2011 9:51:30 PM

FEATURED

COVER STORY

Welcome
to 2012!
Folding displays, 3D without
glasses, 100 MBps Internet on
mobileshere are some of the
exciting trends which might make
it to the mainstream this year
By Christoph Sackmann AND manuel Schreiber

t some point in 2012, you might for the first time

be able to fold your smartphone and make blurry
images sharpflexible displays and light-field
cameras could make it possible. The forerunners of these
trends are already here, as well as other important products
and concepts. The first ultrabooksnotebooks as thin as
tablets and costing less than Rs 75,000launched as early
as Christmas 2011, and Intel wants the second generation
out by early 2012. 3D TVs have not proven to be very popular
or useful in our daily lives, but Toshiba, amongst others,
wants to change this by getting rid of the 3D glasses.
Other long overdue launches and trends will finally gain
acceptance in many parts of the world: LTE will provide 100
MBps speeds on mobile phones, hard drives will increase
to at least 5 terabytes in size, and SSDs up to terabyte
will be fairly commonplace. Single-lens reflex cameras will
be equipped with OLED viewfinders, and ordinary Wi-Fi
networks could speed up to GBps speeds.

SA

TA

SA

TA

PC

Ie/

SA

TA

Mobile
TV
pc
PHOTO
I n t e r n e t / s O F T W A RE

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Ultrabooks

Notebooks with
tablet inspiration
Apple hasn't had much competition in the tablet and
ultraportable laptop markets, but now chip giant Intel
has designed a new class of gadgets: ultrabooks. The slim
and light notebooks which are similar to the MacBook Air
cost less than Rs 75,000. Intel has laid down requirements
which include common advantages of tablets such as
Instant On and Instant Connect. It is intended that the
ultrabook should boos within a few seconds of its lid being
flipped open, and be ready to use on the Web. The second
generation of this new class of devices will be ready in 2012.
The Ivy Bridge CPUs (shrunk to 22 nanometers transistor
width) promise to improve graphics performance by 30
percent and processing performance by 20 percent, all
while lasting longer on a battery change. USB 3.0 and PCIe
3.0 are a must. The thickness will be around 15 mm, though
this will come at the cost of the DVD or Blu-ray drive.

FOLED Smartphone
The organic light-emitting diodes are coated
with multi-layered plastic to prevent the
OLED display from breaking and protect it
from environmental forces.

FOLED screen

OLED
Multi-layered
protection film
Plastic substrate
Data cable
hardware

Battery
Processor
Flash Memory
RAM

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Flexible OLED
Screens

Phones that fold

Flexible screens have been shown off at trade fairs for years, but
they have not been available in mainstream products yet. Now,
at last, Samsung has made significant progress. The Koreans
wish to bring their first smartphone with FOLED technology
(Flexible OLED) to the market in mid 2012.
The screens developed by Samsung are 0.27 mm thin and
offer a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels in 4.5 inches. Contrary to
the standard screens, the FOLEDs can not only bend, but are
also shock-resistant, which is a huge advantage.
The active layer with the organic light-emitting diode is
extremely sensitive: even the minutest amount of oxygen and
moisture can damage it. Whereas standard OLEDs are coated
with two glass plates, the developers of this new technology
had to use plastic mixed with silicon and silicon nitride. Till
very recently, the protection layers in prototypes weren't good
enough, which resulted in a loss of brilliance and color of
the display. Manufacturers are now tackling the problem by
experimenting with several thin layers on the OLED instead of a
thick one. Besides Samsung, even LG. Sony and Nokia have been
working on FOLED products such as collapsible notebooks and
rollable displays.

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Mobile
Host apps in the cloud
With Boot to Gecko, Mozilla wants to establish new Web
APIs with which programmers can offer their apps
independent of operating system, on any smartphone.

Boot to Gecko

One app, all devices

web apps

mozilla gecko engine

web apis
rendering engine
browser engine

android basE
Libraries

Drivers

boot to gecko

Whether its iOS, Android or Windows Phone, each platform has

its own ecosystem. It is a profitable business for manufacturers.
However, app developers have to customize their work for
each system and the customer loses all his applications if he
switches. Boot to Gecko, an experiment by Mozilla, should lever
out this business model of platform providers as this system
transfers the apps entirely to the Web. The device platform
would thus only be a souped-up browser that serves as an
interface between the smartphone and app providers. With
Boot to Gecko, Mozilla is not in direct competition with the
established platforms, but can develop standardized web APIs
which can be integrated into every browser using a free license.
The central element of the system is Firefox's Gecko engine,
installed on an android kernel. The project is in its infancy, but
source code and details are hosted at wiki.mozilla.org/B2G.

kernel

NFC Applications

Pay via cellphone

Near Field Communication (NFC) is the most significant

wireless standard for mobile products in a long time. The first
smartphones which already support it, such as the Galaxy
Nexus, are already out. With NFC, devices can exchange
information with each other over short distances of a few
centimeters. NFC will be introduced to the masses only in
2012 since compelling applications are still missing. With
Android 4.0, Google will seriously push the technology.
Equipped devices can exchange simple bits of information
such as contact cards and map routes via NFC. Banks are
exploring the potential of payment authorizations.

QuadCore Tablets

Powerful mobile CPUs

Till the Asus Transformer Prime launches, we have only one graphics
demo to judge quadcore Nvidia's Tegra 3 CPU, but even that is
promisign enough. The demo shows a ball, lit from inside, rolling
and bouncing around a complex scene. The chip, codenamed
Kal-EL, smoothly computes the light patters, lets objects fall over
realistically, and even simulates cloth flapping in the breeze. The
1.5 GHz chip shows off its full strengths in graphics-intensive
games. Even HD videos can be played smoothly. There is a
so-called fifth companion core for less demanding tasks,
which runs at 500 MHz and consumes much less power.

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4K Resolution

4x Full HD

In 2012, 3D won't be the only buzzword. Even

2D will witness a significant improvement:
Quad HD will begin to find space alongside
today's so-called "Full HD". The 4K panels
have 4096 x 2160 pixels which is more than
four times the Full HD resolution of 1920 x
1080. Panasonic has already demoed a 152inch prototypeat the fabulous price of over
US$ 650,000. More logically sized and priced
devices could debut in 2012. These TVs will
also show 3D images without glasses, using
multiple pixels on screen to represent each
pixel of the 3D image (see below). YouTube
already offers a few special videos at 4K
resolution, and the BBC plans to go all out
during the Olympic Games in London, with a
planned broadcast in 8x HD for public viewing
with special projectorseven 4K TVs will not
be widespread enough by then.

Short shutter lag

The TV polarizes images quickly.

POLARIZED FILTER WITH

SHUTTER TECHNOLOGY
Televisions with active polarization
combine the advantages of polarizer
and the shutter technology. The 3D
image is transmitted in Full HD.

POLARIZER
The filter layer switches raipdly to generate
different images for the right and left eyes.

ACtive Polarisation

Polarizer with Full HD

CONVENIENT GLASSES
As the TV processes 3D
images, passive polarized
glasses are good enough.

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Polarizer technology will be implemented in more and more TV sets,

mainly because the passive glasses are more convenient than active
shutter glasses, and are theoretically compatible with any suitable TV.
The current polarization techniques have a great technical disadvantage:
the image is filtered line by line for the right and left eyes. Thus, the
resolution of a 3D film is halved, eliminating the benefits of Full HD.
Upcoming TV sets with active polarization will handle rapid image
changes, which shutter glasses have so far been handling. Filters in the
much lighter glasses then polarize the light for the two eyes in Full HD.

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COVER STORY

TV
GigaBit Wi-fi

Wireless
high-speed access
MUlti-User MIMO
The router recognizes several clients and can provide data optimally and at the same time with
the help of MU-MIMO.

MORE ANTENNAS

New routers work in the 5 GHz

range with up to 8 antennas.
If you wish to connect your Blu-ray player, game consoles,
and media server without inconvenient LAN cables, you
will quickly hit the technical limitations of today's Wi-Fi
technology. Current standards are good enough to handle
an HD video stream, but when many family members want
to use the network, trouble starts. Upcoming Gigabit Wi-Fi
devices would transmit at more than 1 GBps: even half that
speed would be fast enough for wirelessly connecting all
the communication devices in a home. The new standard
uses the 60 GHz spectrum and is designed to scale up to
6.9 Gbps (for effective 1 GBps throughput) and is being
developed under the name WiGig (and also in parallel as
802.11ad). It could be ready by late 2012 with devices going

3D without glasses

Third wave of 3D TVs

Last year, active shutter technology was the most common way
to enjoy 3D, but manufacturers want to move to the cheaper
polarized glasses which are used in cinemas. Such TVs could
gain acceptance in 2012. Toshiba has already introduced the
ZL2 which can display 3D content with 720p resolution. The
image is optimized for up to nine viewers; the ZL2 uses face
tracking to align its lenticular array to create 3D images the nine
viewers and aim them at each viewer individually. A layer of
jelly-like lenses in front of the LCD panel reflects the images in
all zones. The disadvantage of this technology is that it requires
nine pixels on the panel for each point of the 3D image. Thus,
the panel needs to suppert at least 4K resolution, and this is
still very expensive at present. The ZL2 costs around 8000.

mainstream in 2013, but you can expect a period of conflict

in which all devices might not work perfectly with all other
devices. In the worst case scenario, only routers and client
devices using the exact same wireless hardware will work
seamlessly with each other until standards settle down.
Another standard, developed as 802.11ac, optimizes existing
technology in the 5 GHz band: using multiple antennas for
simultaneous connections between devices. MU-MIMO
(Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output) is an interesting
advancement which enables the distribution of data to
several clients at the same time. Ideally, this will take care
of transfer interruptions that might happen when many
users try using a Wi-Fi network together.

Smart TVs

Remote control apps

Smartphones and tablets are turning into universal remote
controls via apps in 2012. Thanks to the smart TV trend,
all high-end sets now have Wi-Fi adapters, which help in
connecting the TVs with mobile devices. This could replace
the infrared interface of the standard remote control in the
long run. It is also applicable to TV sets which still do not
have so-called "smart TV" functions but do support wired
or wireless networking. In this way, apps will also solve
the difficulties of navigating between channels and finding
content to watch. A smartphone can even act as a full
keyboard, making it easy to type website URLs and interact
with widgets. Other devices such as Blu-ray players can
also be operated with the same app. Sadly, you might need
multiple apps for devices from different companies.

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Better flash

1 Terabyte SSDs
Solid State Disks will be bigger than ever in 2012.
Manufacturers including Seagate, MemoRight and SanDisk
have announced products with capacities of up to 800
GB. With the Octane series, OCZ will even go up to 1
TB, though the price will be steep. Manufacturers are
targeting a turnover of a billion US dollars in the
server market in 2012. A continuing crunch in the
manufacturing of traditional hard drives will keep
their prices up, making SSD choices more attractive.
High-capacity SSDs will be found in normal desktop
PCs, but early models might be too thick for laptops initially.

Graphics

AMD'S NEW High-End GPU

The Radeon HD 7970 is about 30 percent
quicker, but is still more energy efficient than
its forerunner, the HD 6970.

More performance,
less power consumed
)

97

6
HD

rum

0(

97

7
HD

GPU
Cayman XT Tahiti XT
40 nm
28 nm
24
32
1,536
2,048
880 MHz 1.000 MHz
Memory
Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Capacity
2 GB
3 GB
Clock speed 5,500 MHz 8,000 MHz
Bandwidth 176 GB/s 256 GB/s
Power rating
250 W
190 W
Name
Die size
Clusters
Cores
OC Limit

Spinning Drives

d
ore

Today's graphics cards run hot, require loud cooling fans, and
consume too much power. The upcoming cards from Nvidia
and AMD use a completely new architecture, rather than
pushing the current limits. The most important change is that
both companies are reducing their GPU fabrication processes
from 40 to 28 nanometers. Nvidia's "Kepler" cards are tightly
under wraps, but some of the details of the Radeon HD 7000
series from AMD have leaked out. The flagship 7970 was
rumored to be using energy-saving XDR2 memory instead of
GDDR5. XDR2 memory runs at up to 8000 MHz. These two
factors would have helped the cards consume less energy
while maintaining or improving performance, but as of now
the memory will remain GDDR5 and we will hope to see
XDR2 later in the year. The HD 7970 should still consume
less power than the 6970, which uses full 250 Watts under
load. A new generation of dual-GPU cards within the PCIe
specification of 375 Watts will thus also be possible.

5 terabytes in PCs
Solid state drives are getting cheaper these days, but regular hard disks are
not going anywhere for a long time. Manufacturers have already announced
plans to launch 5 TB drives as early as January. Five platters will be needed in
each drive. These will be quite expensive, and 4 TB modelsinternal as well
as externalwill be more affordable. The great advantage of HDDs against
SDDs is the price: each terabyte of HDD storage costs a tiny fraction of what
a solid-state drive would cost. While HDDs are still relatively cheap, a huge
disruption to the supply chain due to flooding in Thailand will keep their prices
higher through most of 2012 than they were till the middle of 2011.

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SATA Express

Combi cable

New interface for

superfast SSDs

SATA Express uses the PCIe interface for

data transfer, so a transfer rate of up to 16
Gbps should be possible.

Hard disks have long been a bottleneck for PCs, but

this hasn't changed much even with higher speed SSDs.
The latest generation of SSDs have reached the limits
of SATA technology: the latest 6 Gbps version is still the
slowest part of some high-end systems. Faster devices,
for example OCZ's Revodrive, works at up to 1300 MBps
because it is directly plugged into the considerably
faster PCIe slot. This however becomes extremely
expensive and inflexible, and is not totally free of errors.
The SerialATA International Organization (SATA-IO)
is now ready to publish a new connecting standard,
SATA Express, to rectify this problem. SSDs will be able
to transfer their data via PCI Express 3.0 without any
elaborate adaptors. However, two versions are being
planned; one type of device will provide connections
only via a new PCIe cable, while the second one will also
be backward compatible with SATA disks (see picture).
Motherboard manufacturers will choose which versions
they want to implement. SATA-IO has set the transfer
rate of SATA Express at 8 Gbps or 16 Gbps, for effective
data transfer rates of 1 or 2 GBps. The first motherboards
with these ports should be in the market by mid 2012,
according to the specification.

PC

PCIe Socket

A new socket on
motherboards and
SSDs for SATA
Express conncetion

SA

TA

SA

TA

PC

Sata Sockets

Backward
compatibility is
maintained

SATA Express

Ie/

SA

TA

New motherboards
will be needed to
take advantage

Ivy bridge tri-gate

3D fabrication process
The buzzword 3D also hits processors! In 2012, Intel will deliver
the first Ivy Bridge chips with three dimensional transistors
known as Trigate. The reason for the seemingly strange
name is that a component of the transistors, the channel,
now protrudes from the otherwise flat surface layer. Trigate
transistors work more efficiently at the same size. Due to the
perpendicular structure, electricity can be prevented from
flowing through the transistor when it is switched off; a problem
that has gotten worse as processes have shrunk. Trigate
transistors are only 22 nanometers wide: nearly 10 nanometers
slimmer than the current Sandy Bridge transistors. Thus,
more transistors can also fit in the same amount of space.
The number of transistors in Ivy Bridge CPUs is increased,
raising performance, but the processor can also save up to 40
percent of the energy otherwise spent. In mobile devices, the
improvements will result in more powerful CPUs which do not
cause huge drains on the batteries.
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Storing light
Light-field cameras do not store a subject
pixel by pixel, but measure and capture the
incident and reflected rays of light

PHoto

Sensor
Microlens array

Each lens "sees" the light

differently. The sensor
can thus calcualte and
store the direction of light
as well as its strength.

SLR Cameras

OLED viewfinders
Although electronic viewfinders were once laughed
at, they will redeem themselves in 2012. The image
through an EVF used to be very darkly and poorly
defined, but the latest version from Sony sets new
standards. The 2.3 megapixel EVF in its latest models
uses OLED technology to show bright, high-contrast
images, that too in low light. Apart from this, it
shows 100 percent of the image that the sensor will
recordnothing is lost or cropped, as is the case
with many optical viewfinders. Important settings
can be easily superimposed over the image. Other
competitors will certainly try their versions in 2012.

Cameras

3D recording

Grid structure

The camera uses upto

90,000 lenses
Shifting focus

The camera records raw

information. Software later
determines how the image
should be constructed, and
how the focus should apply.

Light-field Cameras

Never take blurry

photos again

You see a perfect subject, press the buttonand only notice

afterwards that the image is blurred beyond recognition. Such
common errors won't be a problem for light-field cameras: just
click on the desired part of the finished photo and software
automatically changes the area of focus. There is no possibility
of blurry memories any more. The trick: contrary to the cameras
we all know and use, a light-field camera does not save a 2D
image, but a 4D light field, ie the information of how rays of
light are spread in the area. The camera therefore does not
focus at all; it needs only the intensity and angle of incidence
of the light rays. Hundreds and thousands of micro lenses are
present in front of the image sensors depending on the camera
(see image). In order to store a 16-megapixel photo as a 4D
light field, a research team at Stanford University required
90,000 lenses. These cameras are already used in the industry.
However, they are still expensive till now in the consumer
arena. The company Lytro is trying for the fist time to capture
this market. The company does not deal with megapixels, it
specifies the resolution as 11 megaraysthe number of light rays
captured. The Lytro camera will soon launch for aroud 400.

Digital cameras and camcorders should shoot

better 3D in 2012. Camcorders mostly rely on double
lenses where one lens captures images for the right
eye and the other one captures for the left eye. A
processor combines both parts to create a 3D image.
As there is only one sensor, both images have half the possible resolution
each. Another method is for both parts of the image to be shot with time
lags, so even panorama images can be formed in 3D. Time lags obviously
make it unsuitable for video shooting. Sonys latest technology records
both images simultaneously with only one lens. For this, there is a mirror
behind the lens which channels parts of the images in full resolution to
two different sensors, which are then combined into the 3D frame.

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Internet/Sof tware
HTML5

The end of plugins

The end of browser plugins will come closer in 2012. With
HTML5, the new version of the description language for
websites, audio, video and graphical elements are directly
embedded in Web pages. This would make plugins like
the Adobe Flash Player obsolete, with no detriment
to interactive websites and games in the browser. The
developers of mobile games are already working on HTML5
versions. Though development is still in progress, the
finished parts can be used right now. The latest versions of
almost all major websites and browsers support at least
some level of HTML5 readiness.

LTE in Metros

Mobile and home

This year, mobile networks in major cities around the
world will wake up to the new communication standard
called Long Term Evolution. LTE can be used for mobile
data access on smartphones and tablets, or even as a
substitute to domestic DSL connections. Theoretically,
100 Mbps can be reached with the new standard, but in
the real world, surfing speeds will depend on the number
of users who share a mobile radio cell, and its capacity.
This also necessitates usage limits on data connections,
usually called "fair usage caps". Providers will reduce
speeds after a threshold is crossed. Prices are bound
to be high in the beginning, but the good news in some
places is that it will push 3G prices down.

Windows 8
Metro style Apps
Frameworks

Frame work I

Frame work II
HTML/ CSS

XAML
C
C++

C#
VB

Ja vaScript

API s

WinRT
Communication
& Data

Graphics &
Media
Application Model

App Design
Metro apps can be produced in HTML5. The new
API WinRT is used as interface for the system.

Devices &
Printing

Intelligent Apps
With Windows 8, Microsoft is introducing a new user
interface which matches the tile-based system on Windows
Phone 7. HTML5-based Metro apps will play a major role,
and Microsoft wishes to market them via a new Windows
App Store. Ideally, these apps will be connected with
SkyDrive or a similar online storage space so all information
can be exchanged seamlessly between PCs and mobile
devices. Microsoft has introduced the new API WinRT with
categories for Communication & Data, Graphics & Media
and Devices & Printing. Apps can be developed with either
HTML5/JavaScript, or the familiar languages C/C++, Visual
Basic and XAML. This will be the biggest change in user
interface and expectations in the history of Windows itself.
- [email protected]
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featured

FEATURED

Log in
without a
Password
Radio chips, Bio IDs, hand
gesturessoon, cryptic
alphanumeric password
strings could become
altogether unnecessary.
By MARKUS HERMANNSDORFER

t a security conference in 2004,

Bill Gates said that passwords
are absolutely unsafe and can

be stolen; since then almost all the

leaders of the IT industry have agreed.
All too often, users rely on passwords
such as 123456, mypc or abc123.
Apart from being common knowledge,
the prevalence of weak passwords has
been proven by a survey conducted by
the data security firm Imperva. More
complicated passwords are often written
down on paper, and even the supposedly
safe password locker utilities can
intensify security problems because they
also rely on passwords, which tend to be
easy to remember.
There are enough alternatives, and the
market for biometric systems is already
worth several billion dollars. In addition
to this, new solutions have recently been
designed for web surfers and smartphone
users. CHIP examines the current status
of their development, and highlights the
most interesting alternatives to ordinary
passwords. We have evaluated all the
new log-in methods based on the criteria
of security and convenience.

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Face recognition Luxand Blink matches

the image captured by a webcam with
the registered profile that stores the
identification characteristics of a face.

Whole body log-in Devices such as Kinect

record and save body movements which the
user must repeat exactly while logging in.

SMS us! Story code: FLP to 51818

12/19/2011 8:19:32 PM

featured

FEATURED
Iris scan The Android app
BioLock recognises the
user with the help of the
biometric characteristics of
the human iris.

You can encircle and copy the objects,

identification characteristics match. The

color areas, and do a lot more. Repeat

tool grants access when most of the

these gestures in the same sequence

characteristics are matching. The face

while logging in. If you are not able to

recognition tool is well suited especially

log in, Windows 8 provides a standard

for laptops, netbooks, smartphones and

log-in mechanism with a username

tablets because almost all these devices

and password as a fallback. However,

have front-facing camera. However,

smudges left by fingers on a touchscreen

South Korean security worker Nguyen

could leave suspicious evidence of

Minh Duc fooled many image scanners

gestures. The method is also less

with a simple photograph at a Black

convenient when using a PC with a

Hat conference, which in part led to the

mouse than by touch.

development of live motion detection,

and uses motions like a smile or blink
in addition to static image recognition.
Even today, you can now use face
recognition in XP, Vista and Windows
7. The tools Blink (luxand.com/blink)
and Smile-in (www.nemitec.com) offer
this kind of biometric matching feature.

Tiles and numbers

Security

Scope: Smartphones, tablets

Convenience

The latter has live detection, which

takes a few extra seconds, but is more
secure. According to the manufacturers,
sunglasses, beards or even a new
hairstyle do not pose any problem with

Users can currently secure a smartphone

recognition. In spite of such changes

using a four digit PIN number (which

to your appearance, there are enough

can be a device lock or sometimes a

characteristics available for clear

SIM card lock), but brute-force tools can

identification of a user.

crack these relatively quickly. Due to the

introduction of interfaces such as the
tiled metro UI in Windows phone 7 and
Windows 8, a similar proposed version
would use the on-screen elements as
a password prompt. While logging in,
the user has to tap specific tiles in a
sequence. You need to use at least 6 tiles
to be safe. However, the same problem
occurs here as in case of passwords: it
Fingerprints
Identification is possible
with the help of the
unique forms of skin
creases on our fingers.

is difficult to remember the long tapping

sequences.

Fingerprint

Scope: Airports, E-Pass, log-in via Smartcard

Convenience

Security

A scanner captures your finger or

thumb print and compares it with a
registered template. Special software
saves the pattern of intersections,
ends and noticeable scars. This allows
for a comparatively faster log-in. The
scanner software needs a template

Face recognition

Security

Scope: Log-in via webcam or E-Pass

Convenience

of the captured fingerprint to check

how many identification characteristics
match. The software enables access if
the characteristics match close to 100
percent. The template is often saved

In this method, the user is identified

directly in the firmware of the fingerprint

by the unique line patterns formed

scanner or on a smart card, because such

Security

Scope: Windows 8 log-in via touchscreen

by their chin, eyes, nose, mouth and

data can in theory be stolen from a hard

forehead. Software compares the image

disk and even modified with a graphics

of the user captured by a webcam

tool such as Photoshop. Scanners which

Use three different gestures in any

with the registered profile image and

only process an imprint of a finger are

image while setting an image password.

checks whether a sufficient number of

easily cracked with simple tools such as

Picture password
Convenience

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FEATURED

Maximum Security
The log-in procedures available for PCs
and smartphones fulfil the needs of home
users. However, these methods are not
foolproof at places like on airports, in
certain areas of banks and for authorities
fighting against terrorism. The advanced
biometric identification system replaces
logging in via password, particularly at
vulnerable places.

a gelatin mold and adhesive tape. High-

One (private key) is integrated into the

end scanners also take body heat, light

browser, while the other one (public key)

refractions and much more into account

remains with the mail service. If a surfer

so as to be able to differentiate living

attempts to log in to a website with

objects from dead ones. However, these

his verified email address, the browser

are too expensive and cumbersome for

supplies the private key and the user

most users.

doesnt have to enter any password.

Subsequently, the website gets the public
key from the identity provider, compares
the signatures, and then grants access
if it finds a clear match. This process is
both safe and convenienthackers can
potentially steal the key in your browser
through security exploits that crop up

OpenID

Security

Scope: Log-in on web services

Convenience

3D face recognition the scanner captures the

head in 3 dimensions and matches it with
registered vectors via an infrared grid.

Industry giants including Yahoo,

from time to time; however, they cannot

get hold of the counterpart which is with
the mail provider. Moreover, you do not
have to give out your personal data again
as you are already registered with the
mail provider.

Microsoft, Facebook and Google support

this free, open source local identification
system and are continuing to promote it,
although users are susceptible to phishing
attacks. It is estimated to be used by over
500 million people across over 50,000
websites. In order to use the service, you
for example myopenid.com. You get a
URL there, using which you can log in on
any website that supports OpenID. Just
enter the obtained web address in the

Retina scan In this procedure, the blood

vessels in the eye serve as the unique
identification pattern.

BioID

Scope: Log-in on web services

Convenience

Security

input field Sign-in with your OpenID on

The most expensive and potentially

the site in question. As you are always

safest web login system has been

redirected to the OpenID provider while

developed by the Fraunhofer Institute.

logging in, data traffic can be diverted to

It relies on a combination of different

a site that looks deceptively similar to the

biometric procedures related to an Open

one you really want to visit.

ID. Though it sounds complicated, it is

simple from the point of view of a user.
First, the user needs to register on bioID.
com. The service requires access to a
webcam and a microphone for biometric
recognition. You can also connect a
camcorder as an alternative. BioID
captures the users face and requires a

Venous scan The device captures the

position and strength of blood vessels with
the help of infrared light.

Hand geometry
The length,
thickness
and width of
individual
fingers as well
as the entire
hand structure is
captured with the
help of mirrors
and used for
identification

0840112_Log-in without Password.indd 86

BrowserID

Security

Scope: Log-in on web services

Convenience

voice sample for analysis. Once the user

has logged in, he/she can surf a website
which supports OpenID authentication.
A look in the camera and a few spoken
words, and you are logged in. This doubly

If you ask the Mozilla foundation, then all

protected biometric system prevents

major mail services are considered good

attackers from stealing information

enough to be identity providers. Here,

that could reconstruct your face or

the user has already been identified at

voice, since only certain mathematical

the time he applied for his email address,

information which can be used to

and he/she also received their final and

reconstruct your face or voice is ever

verified address after that. If the mail

exposed. BioID is particularly suitable for

provider supports browserID, he/she

laptop users as the required hardware is

can request a pair of keys to be created.

mostly built in already.

PHOTOS: 123RF/GALINA PESHKOVA; THINKSTOCK/ISTOCKPHOTO, STOCKBYTE; REUTERS/ERIC GAILLARD; US ARMY

need to register with an OpenID provider,

12/19/2011 8:19:53 PM

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FEATURED
for the computer to be unlocked, even
though biometric identification is also

Log-in using eye scan

being used. The information is not left

on a central computer to be stolen, and
if the pen drive or smart card is lost, it is
useless without the biometric identifier

Pattern lock

Security

Scope: Locking smartphones

Convenience

of the person. Security can be increased

even further by using a combination of
different biometric techniques.

Eye App Retinal

scan for Android
simulates the
biometric login
on smartphone.

This alternative for identification which

is especially popular on Android mobiles
shows a grid of nine dots on the screen.
You need to draw a particular pattern
using these dots to unlock the device
and access any application. You can
use Pattern Lock even on Windows PCs
with the tool XUS PC Lock (edesksoft.
com/xuspclock). Though the system
supports the mouse, this form of logging

Whole body login

Scope: Log-in via Microsoft Kinect

Convenience
Security

in is most convenient on touchscreen

Kinect, the motion capture device

devices. Pattern Lock is safe if the screen

developed for the Xbox 360 captures

is cleaned regularly. If not, simply holding

the body movements of the player

the device up to the sun is enough to see

and the space around them in all three

traces of greasy fingerprintsand thus

dimensions. Now, Kinect has a face

the required pattern can be guessed.

recognition function which, together

with a Kinect ID, is enough for logging
in. The open source community has
taken the cue further: If Kinect is able to
recognize faces, then why not the body
frame of the player, or the movement
characteristics which are captured when
he or she approaches the computer?

Chip Card/ USB Stick

If these things are saved, they

can be used for comparison later.

Convenience

The project, officially supported by

Security

Microsoft at present, is called Kinect

Scope: Log-in on business PC

SDK Dynamic Time Warping (DTW)

Identification via a smart card or USB

Gesture Recognition. It connects several

stick has become common in corporate

points on the body of the user with two

offices around the world. One or more

dimensional vectors (skeletal tracking)

identification characteristics are saved on

and saves the performed gestures as

the medium. These can include personal

movement patterns.

data saved with a master-password

Enthusiast hobbyists who are

as well as biometric information and a

masters of C# can find the compilable

template of fingerprints. While logging in,

source code for trial and optimization at

the user first inserts the smart card. The

kinectdtw.codeplex.com. The upcoming

control software asks for authentication

Windows 8 will have a driver for Kinect

to ensure that the actual owner of the

which will enable this device to operate

stick or card is using the computer.

on a PC or laptop. It is difficult to

Dekart Logon (www.dekart.com) accepts

determine how safe a whole-body log-in

a PIN or biometric identification if the

system would be. A hacker might be

relevant software and hardware are

able to recreate the movement pattern

available. If the user leaves a computer,

with a program such as Cinema 4D.

he/she can just block it by taking out

Again, this system is actually much safer

the stick or memory card. This method

when used as part of a combination of

offers high security as a valid smart card

different procedures.

or a USB stick always has to be available

0840112_Log-in without Password.indd 87

[email protected]

Once the front cameras on the iPad2 the

latest iPhones and various Android
mobiles start offering features compatible
for an eye scan, the smartphones and
tablets will identify their owners via an
absolutely safe iris and retina scan. Some
funsters have already anticipated the
technical development and developed
apps which simulate the biometric log-in.
The Apple App Store provides 2
appropriate eye scan apps for devices
with front cameras - currently only iPad 2
and iPhone 4. However, these eye scan
apps Do not provide proper protection
and were developed only for the purpose
of entertainment according to the
manufacturers. Eye Scanner-iris
identification (79 cent) simulates the login via iris scan. Although the retinal scan
(1.59 ) captures the characteristic
identification features of the eye ground
it does not save them. Thus, retina
comparison is not possible. The
developers for Android devices are quite
seriously involved with this topic: The
BioLock, at present available only to
developers and press determines the
centre of iris and defines the radii of
edges. Subsequently, the app encodes the
dark and light pattern of the iris ring in a
digital format. A template is saved which
is used for comparing as in case of finger
prints when the mobile owner logs in. The
problem with the iris scan is that this
procedure depends on the brightness of
the surrounding. The Iris changes its size
depending on the light. Therefore, the
BioLock app also offers a face and voice
scan as well as determination of the pin
number as an additional alternative.
BioLock can not only block the mobile in
general but can also protect the installed
apps, individual documents and contacts.
Unfortunately, the providers of biometric
tools only have a range of fun programs
which are dubious to some extent. You
will find many retina scanners even in the
Android market. Like Apple programs,
these apps also simulate the complicated
procedure. Anyway this fun does not cost
you even a cent.

12/19/2011 8:19:59 PM

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FEATURED

Operation
Facebook
The hacker group
Anonymous wants to
attack the social network
with surprising methods
By DOMINIK HOFERER

he 5th of November 2011 will go

down in history as the day that
Facebook did not die. The hacker

group known loosely as Anonymous

had bravely declared a few earlier that
it would destroy the worlds largest
social network on that date. Reports
spread widely via the Internet; after all
Anonymous had in the past successfully
made MasterCard, Visa and PayPal fall
to their knees. Still, experts are not sure
that the collective, whose members hide
behind the mask of legendary British
freedom fighter Guy Fawkes, can seriously
affect Facebook. Even members of
Anonymous are distancing themselves
from the claim, but it is possible that
the group is now thinking of something
different entirely.
Anonymous began as a decentralized

HOW ANONYMOUS could have ATTACKed FACEBOOK

DIRECTION: The attackers
can, with a simple DoS
attacksomething like
the LOIC or the new
#RefRef. These call up a
web page so many times
in a short period that
the lines to the page are
clogged and it can no
longer be accessed

Server: Hackers can

create a connection
to the Facebook
server and keep it
open permanently. At
some point of time,
the capacity of the
server is used up and
it collapses.

DIFFICULTY
DAMAGE

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Jagdish Limbachiya

12/20/2011 12:58:52 PM

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FEATURED
movement with no explicit leadership

payments to them. Because of this,

structure out of the necessity to remain

Anonymous started Operation Payback

untraceablethe name is a tribute to

and made it known the world over. They

the Anonymous tag assigned to users

crippled the servers of these financial

on public forums such as 4chan who do

services and thus also their websites.

not wish to sign in with an identifiable

Since Anonymous did not see any legal

account. The group has existed since

grounds for blocking the money flow to

around 2006, but first came to the fore in

Wikileaks, the collective saw this action

2008, after the group decided to protest

as justified; morally, the group stood

against the Church of Scientologys

behind the hack. But it is not the same

perceived brainwashing and extortion

with Operation Facebook.

of members. The group hacked into

the organizations server and released

An unusual target

secret documents like one titled Child

Facebook hardly fits the profile of

Dianetics. A video was released without

Anonymous victims. The attack was

authorization. In the video, Tom Cruise

announced in August this year. A distorted

is speaking to the members of the

computer voice in a video message

controversial sect about their view of

stated Facebook sells information to

the world. For a number of hackers and

government organizations and offers

Internet activists, this video was the

secret access to information. If someone

start of a protest movement against

offers enough money, Anonymous further

Scientology. But Anonymous was not only

added, Facebook will sell the information

active in the digital world, it also made

about its users. Another criticism of

its presence felt through offline initiatives.

Facebook is that photos put online by

It was a sort of protest that was unusual

users cannot be deleted. Facebook only

for them, but which proved to be effective

cuts off links to the photo, but the file is

for future initiatives: the group protested

retained on their servers, for unknown

in front of Scientology churches, always

reasons. Thus, the group sees itself

behind the protection of the mask that

fighting against Internet espionage and

has quickly become the symbol of the

data misuse.

group. The costume originates from

channels, @anonops, it distances itself

fictionalized retelling of the story of Guy

from the operation: FYI - #OpFacebook

Fawkes. In the movie, the protagonist is

is being organised by some Anons. This

fighting against a dictator for the freedom

does not necessarily mean that all of

of mankind, a goal which the Anonymous

#Anonymous agrees with it After all,

hacker-activists have adopted as a motto.

even if it regularly makes headlines

Since the Scientology hack, they have

because of its bad security and lack of

made a number of enemies who want to

privacy, it is also a formidable weapon in

wipe them out of existence.

various fights against political injustice

Its biggest coup was won over

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Components:
With knowledge about
the infrastructure of
Facebook, hackers
can target individual
components for
attack and focus
exclusively on
them. The hardware
collapses.

However, in one of its official Twitter

the movie V for Vendetta, which is a

around the world. During the Arab spring,

Wikileaks: after the controversial website

many Egyptians posted videos and

released secret documents of the

photos on it and could report about the

US government and created a furore,

political situation in their country without

MasterCard, VISA and PayPal withheld

censorship, much quicker than the

Website: Attackers
can sneak in a script
through weak spots in
the source code, which
can change or delete
the content of millions
of user profiles.

DIFFICULTY
DAMAGE

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12/20/2011 12:59:03 PM

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conventional media did.

AnonPlus: The community which promises privacy

Another point that has led to

differences between members: attacks
on the media are taboo for Anonymous,
but its free structure has allowed for the
group to split any number of times when
a subgroup decides to deviate from the
ideals of the core.

Large-scale hacking is very

difficult
Critical voices within Anonymous have
attributed the Facebook threat to
megalomania and drug abuse. With its
enormous server farms that support 500

The members of Anonymous are

currently working on a Facebook
alternative that will differ from the
current largest community of the world
by committing to protect the privacy of
the user.
The project is still in an early stage; the
developers began working on it only in
August 2011. The programmers
communicate via anonplus.bombshellz.
net, and further information about the
platform is also available there. What is
certain is that users will not have to
register with a full name like you have

to do for Facebook and Google+.

Instead, pseudonyms will be allowed,
like the case usually is in forums.
According to their own statements,
AnonPlus will be a network in which
nobody will have to be afraid of
censorship and would not have to hold
back. By building the network,
Anonymous is avenging the rejection
the group faced when it wanted to
create a profile with the name Your
Anon News with Google+. A formal
launch date is unknown at present.

million visitors every day, it would take

seriously heavy artillery to bring Facebook

it a policy to reward ethical hackers for

Operation Facebook was possibly

down. By comparison, the resources

identifying weak spots.

being underestimated was in the open

used by Anonymous in its attacks prior to

How well equipped Facebook really

it published. The would-be attackers

this threat seem like schoolboy pranks.

is against attackers is proven by another

went so far as to claim We do not

As the attacks on MasterCard were

fact: Facebook spends considerable

plan any DoS attacks! This could point

running, there were 2,000 users in an

resources defending itself from its own

to a weakness that the group intends

IRC chat room discussing and directing

developers. In order to integrate new

to exploit, possibly one that would

it. Only a person who had logged in

features in the running system without

not compromise the operation of the

there could take part in the attack.

any problems, they release them first

site, but would uncover the notoriously

If the same number of users were to

as hidden launchesusers do not see

unprotected user data. That is why

attack Facebookeven if they use more

the function, but the browser does and

Anonymous even wants to start an

resources and the appropriate toolsthe

runs it in the background. In case there

awareness campaign for users. Facebook

social network would barely register a

is a problem in the programming, it is

members should be warned about the

hiccup. The attack would not be enough

completely possible that the developers

risks pertaining to security and privacy

to disrupt anything. Facebook is a

inadvertently cause DoS attacks on their

that they are taking when using the

massive website that is constantly loaded

own systems and thus shoot themselves

service. Anonymous is appealing to

by hundreds of thousands of users, all

out of the game. In order not to let the

them to set up fake accounts and flood

of whom upload thousands of photos,

system go offline, Facebook can switch

Facebook with duplicate memberships,

videos and links each second.

off individual features and subsystems,

thus making it unattractive to advertisers

and in this way ensure that the website

and data miners. The hackers have

goes on working. This goes up to an

even recommended offline initiatives for

emergency operation, a so-called

awareness campaigns, such as placards

Red-Button mode, in which the chat,

and t-shirts with anti-Facebook quotes.

The system on which Facebook is

based has already been tested for attacks
and has proven extremely
stable: Anonymous is
not the first to have

live update stream, and even the picture

Anonymous wants to take Facebook

tried to take up arms

galleries can be taken down. Only the

down for being complacent and evil,

against it. The sites

bare basic profiles are shown in this

so doing harm to the users wont get it

infrastructure is

emergency state. Facebook has built in

anywhere or help it gain sympathy. At

constantly under

this extreme method of self protection

least being against Facebook no longer

fire, and has had

as a last resort, and it could save them in

means being against social networks in

to fight against

case of any instability.

general. Anonymous points to Facebook

hackers right from

Still, Facebook is vulnerable; it will

alternatives with better security of privacy

the beginning. Mark

only take the right kind of resources to

like the open source network Diaspora,

Zuckerberg even made

break into a site of its scale. However,

and their members are themselves

We do not plan
any DoS attacks
against Facebook
0880112_Operation Facebook.indd 90

without deep knowledge of the

building a community with the name

infrastructure, attackers will be

of AnonPlus which will place great

banging their heads against a brick

importance on the protection of private

wall. Its also worth noting that

data. Ultimately, there is no certain way

when anyone announces a plan

to know what Anonymous might or might

or intent, they are already two

not have doneits even possible that

or three steps ahead in planning.

Operation Facebook was nothing but

That is why the developers are

a bluff, intended as a clever awareness

taking the threat seriously.

campaign.

A clue that the force behind

[email protected]

12/20/2011 6:02:13 PM

featured

FEATURED

Windows 8 in its first

performance test
Not everyone would be happy to buy a new
computer for Windows 8. Thus, we are
testing the Developer Preview on a relatively
older system with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU,
(2.4 GHz), 2 GB RAM and an Nvidia GeForce
7600 GS graphics card. We will consider the
DirectX 11.1 graphics interface only when
suitable hardware and functioning drivers are
available. At that time, we will debate
whether to upgrade certain components or
invest in a totally new PC.
In order to assess Windows 8, we will
measure its performance with our current
benchmark tools, including PCMark 2009.
We will also measure the boot time and
check how fast it surfs the Web with the
new Internet Explorer 10, amongst other
things. Bear in mind that development of
Windows 8 is still at an early stage.

How fast is
Windows 8?

The new interface has now been revealed to all, but what is under the hood? A comparison
with the current version gives us surprising results.
By MARKUS HERMANNSDORFER

he next version of Windows

operating system in comparison to its

promises a lightning-fast boot in

predecessor. We will disregard the other

just 8 seconds, fast data transfers

milestone builds that are circulating on

thanks to USB 3.0, new immersive web-

the Web, as they were never officially

based applications, and smooth game

released or intended for testing.

graphics. How many of these claims

Microsoft manages to deliver on will only

Installation and bootup

be known in the long term. No doubt,

The Developer Preview acts a little

it will be many months before the final

difficult during installation, but the

Windows 8 release, and performance will

irritation is offset by a simple new boot

continue to improve while development

manager which you can control with

is in progress. What we have now is the

the mouse. Its worth noting that if you

first Developer Preview release, which

try to install while running Windows 7,

is by no means indicative of the final

the setup wizard is very different from

product. We are testing it against an

that of Windows 7. It can check whether

everyday PC running Windows 7 with

any installed applications will not run

Service Pack 1. This will show how much

properly on the new operating system.

Microsoft has developed the core of its

However if you decide to boot your

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0920112_How Fast is Windows 8.indd 92

VERdiCT
Even though it is an early preview, this
first version of Windows 8 amazes us in
the benchmark tests. It starts in the half
the time taken by a mature Windows 7
installation; the same goes for shutting
down. Large applications like Photoshop
CS5.5 start visibly faster. Microsoft
clearly must improve the graphics and
video conversion capabilities, but these
are still works in progress. Thanks to the
integrated DirectX 11.1 interface,
Windows 8 will soon make great strides
in this area. The most major change, the
new tiled interface, will be less suited
for use with a mouse. Interestingly, it
can be turned off entirely in the
Developer Preview, with a registry hack.

SMS us! Story code: FW8 to 51818

12/19/2011 7:57:52 PM

featured

FEATURED

Installation

Measured with stopwatch

performance
3D Graphics
Benchmark value in games

Videos
conversion

Win 7

21 Min.

Win 7

1,844 3DMarks

Win 7

1,226 KB it/s

Win 8

30 Min.

Win 8

904 3DMarks

Win 8

1,940 KBit/s

Videos

Surfing the Web

Booting

playing

the computer

Compressing

With Internet Explorer 10

A 317 MB file with 7-Zip

Win 7

19 fps

Win 7

87 sec.

Win 7

7.5 loads/sec.

Win 7

114 sec.

Win 8

18 fps

Win 8

45 sec.

Win 8

7.7 loads/sec.

Win 8

113 sec.

Shutdown

Total performance

According to the event log

Large programs

Working speed of the PC

Starting Photoshop CS5.5

Win 7

12 sec.

Win 7

1,502 PCMarks

Win 7

10 sec.

Win 8

7 sec.

Win 8

1,579 PCMarks

Win 8

4 sec.

computer directly from an installation

twice as fast as its predecessor. The

Quick start for applications

DVD, the process you follow will be

reason is a drastic change in the list of

Windows has also changed the way

largely similar to that of the older

running programs. Microsoft has finally

large applications are loaded, to a

versionand it will take 8 minutes longer.

heard our prayers! Windows 8 does not

great extent. The starting of programs

automatically activate all the available

like Adobe Photoshop feels as smooth

loading screen appears and later you will

services with each boot like earlier

as the starting of an app on tablets

see a brand new graphical boot manager

versions do. Shadow copies, Family

and smartphones. Moreover, the new

in which you can select the operating

Filter in Internet Explorer and many

Metro interface programs essentially

system with the mouse. We noted that

other applications that are not used by

do run the way mobile apps do. If you

an available XP partition was missing

everyone are switched off and must be

have a touchscreen, just tap once on

in the list. The boot manager only

activated explicitly with a right click. If

a tile. Alternatively, you can also click

recognizes operating systems from Vista

you choose to run all these services, you

once on it with the mouse as people

onward, because the new boot manager

will see boot just like with Windows 7.

without touchscreens will do. Almost all

While booting the installed system, a

is designed to take advantage of new

capabilities of UEFI-enabled computers,
which replace the BIOS currently found
in most PCs. This behaves strangely on
older PCs: in some cases selecting a
different operating system, even Vista,
causes the computer to restart itself
before loading the different selection.
The developers are working on a better
compromise for systems with BIOS chip,
but Microsoft definitely needs to pay
attention to the XP problem, as many
users still find it useful.
Apart from that, the boot manager
lets you change a number of settings
through the graphical interface, including
shortening the amount of time it is
displayed for. However, boot time
of Windows 8 is quite good: it loads

VirtualBox: Try out Windows 8 without any danger

Do you want to test the Windows 8
Developer Preview for yourself? Better
not do so on your work PC, since at this
early development stage, the new
operating system can behave strangely,
and potentially cause a loss of data and
time. Installation in a virtual PC would be
completely free of danger. You can set
one up with the free tool VirtualBox
(www.virtualbox.org). You will of course
also need the Windows 8 Developer
Preview as an ISO file, which can be
found for free download at http://msdn.
microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/
br229516.
When everything is ready, install
VirtualBox and set up a virtual computer

by clicking New. In the wizard, select

Windows 7 as the operating system. If
you have downloaded the 64 bit version
of the Windows 8 Developer Preview,
then select Windows 7 (64 bit). Give the
new computer at least 1 GB of RAM and
a 20 GB virtual hard disk. When you have
set up the PC, embed the Windows 8 ISO
through Mass storage. Finally, you have
to tick the option Activate IO APIC in
System | Motherboard. Otherwise,
Windows 8 will not boot. Confirm with
OK and start the virtual PC. The setup of
Windows 8 runs like that of its
predecessor. After about half an hour
you will be ready to test the new
operating system to your hearts content.

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FEATURED
programs that run in Windows 7 can be
installed in the Windows 8 Developer
Preview. You can do that fastest by
clicking on the Windows Explorer icon
and double-click the setup file as you
have always done. Once the installation
is done, however, Windows 8 creates a
new tile through which you can later run
the program. This replaces the previous
Start menu. In order to see this icon,
scroll to the extreme right side of the
screenWindows 8 basically puts new
icons at the end. If you do not like this
position, just drag the icon to the front.
Starting standard Windows programs
like Notepad and MS Paint is a bit
unusual. You can tap the Desktop tile
to change to an interface which strongly

Applications: What runs

and what does not?
First, the good news: almost all the
applications you use in Vista and
Windows 7 will also run in Windows 8
Developer Preview. The only problems
were caused by software that was
programmed and optimized for the older
platforms: a game and a virus scanner.
Applications

Win 8

Acronis True Image 2011

runs

Adobe Photoshop CS5.5

runs

Adobe Reader 10

runs

Avira Free Antivirus 12

runs somewhat

as always. Immediately after a bootup,

the tool shows all running processes in
a newly optimized view. In the columns
you can see the how much a certain
process is demanding of the CPU, RAM,
network, and hard disk. You can get a
more comprehensive view of the systems
current load by clicking on Performance.
You can see more details in the tab
Details. In an especially welcome
touch, the new sections Startup and
Services display the programs that run
automatically at bootup time, and allow
you to turn off services.
We did not find a Windows Experience
Index rating in the Developer Preview,
so only specialized benchmark tools
such as PCMark 7 could be used in

reminds you of Windows 7. Click on the

Crysis 2

does not run

Start button there; you will not see the

Firefox 7

runs

performance, but failed for applications

usual menu with the search bar, but

iTunes 10

runs

with high graphics requirements. In

MS Office 2010

runs

in which you have to select Search.

Nero Multimedia Suite 10

runs

noteworthy improvements in comparison

Now click on Apps on the right edge of

Skype 5.6

runs

to Windows 7. Browsing the Web with

again the icons. Move the mouse cursor

over the Start button: a menu opens,

the screen and enter the name of the

program you are looking for. A click on

the test. They revealed visibly higher

daily tasks like compressing files into

a ZIP archive, we did not see any

the new Internet Explorer is a bit faster

according to the measured results, but

the search result starts the program of

icons to tiles, the ribbon also demands

this is not obvious to the user. Rendering

your choicevisibly faster than seen in

openness for new control concepts.

an image using a ray-tracing utility

Windows 7, apart from the long drawn-

takes just as long as in Windows 7. Its

place. Many Windows programs are

How much power is in

there?

equipped with the ribbon-style interface

With a new and clearly improved task

that was first seen in MS Office. Once

manager, you get a look into the inner

you get used to it, you will be using the

workings of Windows 8. The keyboard

Lightening fast shutdown

programs faster and in a more efficient

combination [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] brings up

Microsoft has not only clearly hastened

manner. Just like the change from

a menu for selecting the task manager

the startup of Windows 8, but also its

out process of getting to it in the first

possible that this will change as soon as

graphics cards that support DirectX 11.1
are available.

shutdown. The only problem is that the

Measured values: Windows 8 shows very strong

performance even today
The new Windows is only a Developer Preview right now, but it competed successfully with
the final Windows 7 in our benchmark testsand even overtook it in some instances.

Shut down button is well hiddenyou

have to find it before you can use it.
Hover the mouse cursor over the Start
button and select Settings in the menu.
Click on the right margin on Power and
select Shut down. Windows 8 shuts

Win 7 Home Premium SP1

Win 8 Developer Preview

down quickly: according to the event

Installation (stopwatch)

21 minutes

30 minutes

log, it needed only seven seconds. Its

Boot time according to event log

87.501 ms

45.577 ms

predecessor required twice as long

Total performance (measured with PCMark 7 Basic Edition)

1,502 PCMarks

1,579 PCMarks

Graphics performance (measured with 3DMark 06)

1,844 3DMarks

904 3DMarks

Loading a large application (Photoshop CS5.5)

10 seconds

4 seconds

Compressing a 317 MB file with 7-Zip

114 seconds

113 seconds

Decompressing a 98 MB ZIP file (7-Zip)

27 seconds

28 seconds

services are deactivated in the Windows

Playing videos (PCMark)

19.23 fps

17.99 fps

8 Developer Preview (and a lot of

Converting videos (PCMark)

1,226.65 KB/s

1,940.09 KB/s

Surfing the Web (PCMark)

7.48 pages/sec

7.72 pages/sec

CPU performance for rendering (measured with CineBench 11.5)

1.34 points

1.33 points

Shutting down according to event log

12.250 ms

6.970 ms

Task

94

01/2012

for the same action. The hesitation in

Windows7 was caused by the numerous
processes and services running in the
background that need to be ended in
the correct order. Since many of these

processes have also been cleared out),

this problem does not arise. Hopefully
these improvements will remain in the
final version.
[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0920112_How Fast is Windows 8.indd 94

12/19/2011 7:57:58 PM

featured

FEATURED

The Best

Online Office

You can work flexibly and do (almost) everything that you can do using desktop suitesbut
only one online office suite is a true alternative By CHRISTOPH SCHMIDT

t is very irritating to have to copy and

the ribbon interface of used by Office

recopy files, tables and presentations.

2007 onwards; however, many functions

Dealing with USB pen drives often

are missing. They are reserved for Office

involves incompatibilities, duplicates,

365, which functions in much the same

or unnecessary accumulation of files.

way, but must be purchased separately.

It would be much more relaxing to just

ThinkFree on the other hand is a detailed

shut down the office PC, open your

replica of the desktop version, which was

laptop at home, and instantly start

built to be familiar to users of Microsoft

working further on the same document

Office 2003, and matches it closely even

in the same environment. Cloud-based

in terms of functions. However the many

office suites may finally enable this.

features of the Java-based ThinkFree

Thanks to recent advances in HTML

come at the cost of very long loading

and JavaScript technology, these

times, especially during application start.

serve the same as locally installed

VErDICT
With Google docs one can work optimally
on the Web, thanks to the well-designed
applications and the good performance.
Only a few seldom-used functions are
missing. On the other hand, Microsoft
Web Apps is heavily restricted; for
instance it does not display pages
optimally. ThinkFree Online has a wide
range of features to offer and also
provides fans of MS Office with a reliable
interface; it is however frustrating due to
its long start-up and loading times.

Google and Zoho have opted for a

programsat least in theory. In reality,

reduced Web model. While Google has

There were problems at unexpected

the free online alternatives we tested

provided a few (but sensible) tools in

stages though. A PDF downloaded for

keep their promises only after making

logically structured menus, Zoho utilizes

printing was formatted as a US letter

major trade-offs. This can be seen in

a mixture of drop down menus and

instead of A4 in Google docs. This

small details, such as when printing

ribbon-esque icon bars that need some

destroyed the layout that had been set

text, or during common tasks like just

getting used to. Adobes applications

by us, including borders and margins.

opening files. In a nutshell, only one

are completely icon-based, which

The Microsoft web apps do not provide a

service is satisfactoryGoogle docs. Our

initially makes using them a bit of a

Page setup dialog at all. The Word app

(occasionally frustrating) test shows how

guessing game.

even wraps text lines according to the

Google outstrips the competition from

Microsoft, Adobe and others.

Living up to
Microsoft Office
Before one can start with office work

The main function of any Office suite

browser window rather than according to

is text processing. We quickly found

the actual page! The other three services

all basic functions present in the office

worked well in A4 format and are truly

suites we were testing. We could quickly

What you see is what you get. The

write a simple letter and also easily

printed document corresponded properly

change fonts, font sizes and font effects.

to the displayed layout.

on the Web, one needs to register for

Documents were

each service. Using a Google account,

imported reliably in

you can use not only Google docs but

almost all cases. However

also ThinkFree and Zoho, and the latter

occasionally, page breaks

can be accessed via Facebook a login as

or pictures embedded in

well. For Microsoft and Adobe, their own

the text got swallowed

user accounts are required. After logging

up. Zoho had a big

in, you go directly to a file manager that

problem: an uploaded

displays the existing documents. Here,

Word document could

new files can be created or uploaded

neither be printed nor

from your PC. Only Zoho needs you to

downloaded as a PDF or

take a detour via an additional overview

in any other format. There

page. The Microsoft and ThinkFree

was, however, no problem

with the documents

interfaces deeply resemble their wellknown offline programs.

Microsofts Web Apps have copied

Online calendar Googles online calendar gives reminders of

appointments via pop-up or e-mail, with optional mobile alerts too.

SMS us! Story code: FBO to 51818

0950112_The Best Online Office.indd 95

that were created there

directly. File importing

intelligent computing chip

Jagdish Limbachiya

01/2012

95

12/20/2011 3:01:06 PM

FEATURED

Office supplement

FEATURED

Microsoft has incorporated its desktop

Office look and feel into the cloud, but
many important functions are missing

Copy of Word
Microsoft Office Web Apps

ThinkFree has the classic

interface of MS Word and
has a lot of features, but
loads too slowly.

ThinkFree Online

25 GB memory

It only supports Microsoft formats

Zoho

Easily operable

Business tool
Zoho provides a
bookkeeping and
accounting system but
has a bulky interface

Loads slowly

Online specialist
Google has achieved the ideal
balance between simplicity and
functionality

Google docs

Many applications

Importing error

Acrobat.com

Minimalist
The very Spartan
online interface of
Acrobat.com comes at
the cost of functions
such as style sheets

Easily operable and fast

Elegant interface

No collective export

No preset A4 layout

featured

FEATURED
additional clipboard-related features are

Using online suites when on the road

Using mobile devices, you can edit your documents,
share them, and display them to other users. Using
suitable apps is the best way to do it.

missing, such as pasting data with the

rows and columns transposed.

Presenting directly
from the web
In contrast, you can start presentations

Android There are Google

docs even for smartphones

on every Internet-enabled computer,

iOS app

Android app

Mobile site

Acrobat.com

Google docs

Microsoft Web Apps

Flash solution and the option to export

ThinkFree Online

the presentation in PDF format. Using

Zoho

Yes

without having to carry your own

notebook or external hard drive. Adobe
gets additional points here for an elegant

Googles and Microsofts offerings, you

can instantly launch your presentation

saved in the cloud via public http link.

No

Users who are considering working

with these web services extensively

functioned well while using the Web

In the regular desktop software, you

should check in advance if and how

apps from Microsoft as well as ThinkFree

can position page numbers accurately

their data can be retrieved as and when

which however only supports TXT and

up to the last millimeter as well as

required. Google docs and Zoho provide

RTF along with Microsoft formats. On

format even in the minutest of details;

an option for downloading several or

the other hand, Google and Zoho also

but online, Google only lets you insert a

even all files together. In Microsofts

support Open Document File formats.

page number at the top or at the bottom

service, you must first put the files into

thats it! Furthermore, the online office

a folder and then you can download

desktop solutions like LibreOffice (a

suites function poorly when using the

them. ThinkFrees file manager only

fork of OpenOffice.org) and otherwise

important copy and paste functions

allows downloading of individual files

also provide the most frequently used

since they cannot get unrestricted access

at a time, while Acrobat.com only lets

functions of these programs. The

to the computers clipboard.

you download files that have recently

In this aspect, they resemble

web applications however prove to

That is especially irritating during

been opened. With an increasing number

be a disadvantage when it comes to

table calculations. The test candidates

of files, Acrobat and ThinkFree act like

individual settings. While you find dozens

showed only limited performance,

a one-way street that does not give

of settings options under the Options"

and the lack of a pivot function in the

anything backwhich is not what one

dialog of LibreOffice Writer, in Googles

spreadsheet apps thus leads to their

wants from a good online office suite.

text processor there are only a handful.

poor evaluation results. Even macros and

Overall

[email protected]

Google
docs

Microsoft
Web Apps

ThinkFree
Online

Adobe
Acrobat

Zoho

84.2

71.8

64.3

57.2

54.9

Features (40%)

74

69

71

57

64

Ease of Use (35%)

89

71

72

50

40

Performance (15%)

95

84

21

74

63

Compatibility (10%)

92

67

75

58

58

1 GB

25 GB

1 GB

5 GB

1 GB

19

42

286

27

||

||

||

||

||

Google

Windows Live ID

Google/ThinkFree

Adobe ID

Google, Facebook, Zoho

Import formats1

doc(x), xls(x), odt, ods, ppt(x)

doc(x), xls(x), ppt(x)

doc(x), xls(x), ppt(x)

doc(x)

doc(x), xls(x), odt, ods, ppt(x)

Export formats1

same as Import + PDF

same as Import

same as Import + PDF

doc(x) + PDF

same as Import + HTML + PDF

| 2

Data and Measurements

Storage Space
Number of fonts
Mail/ Calendar/ File manager
Log-in mode
Safe connection (https)

Collective import | export

Help function
Website address
1

Selection

only folder wise

(FAQ)

docs.google.com

skydrive.live.com

www.thinkfree.com

www.acrobat.com

www.zoho.com

Yes
No

0950112_The Best Online Office.indd 97

Top class (100-90.0)

Average (74.9-45.0)
All scores in marks (max. 100)

Upper class (89.9-75.0)

not recommended (44.9-0)

12/20/2011 3:01:58 PM

featured

FEATURED

One Cable for

All Devices

The universal standard Thunderbolt can replace all

current PC ports and is four times faster than USB 3.0.
Macs already have it; PCs will get in only in 2012
By JRG GEIGER

for years: fewer cables on

their devices, and higher

process with copper wires

was used because of cost
considerations. However,

transfer speeds for all data.

one of the strengths of

This could become reality with

Thunderbolt is that the

Thunderbolt. Instead of fidgeting

around with different cables and
standards for HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort,

optical transfer option has

not been shelved entirely. A
layer has explicitly been specified in

cable, the speed will be divided if several

devices simultaneously send data to and
fro along the same channels.
The first benchmarks from the CHIP
Test Center show that this maximum
rating has not been achieved in reality.
We could coax a superb transfer rate of
825 MBps from a Promise hard disk array.

DVI, eSATA, USB or FireWire, the

the protocol for electrical and/or optical

This was still disappointing, considering

computer user will be able to connect

transfer. The transportation medium is

the maximum theoretical rate of 1,250

just one Thunderbolt cable. And in

defined as an independent layer in the

MBps. As it turns out, other components

addition, Thunderbolt also achieves

stack. Intel has already communicated

are the limiting factor here, like for

much higher data transfer rates than the

that a second generation of Thunderbolt

example the RAID controller, which

USB 3.0.

devices will use the optical transfer

causes bottlenecks.

Thunderbolt is coming to
Windows

technology. This will require fiberglass

Thunderbolt has even more potential

cables, but all controllers and connections

though. In 2015, Intel plans to push

that are already available with the first

through with 50 GBps per channel, and

Thunderbolt has only available in around

generation devices should also work with

then in 2019 up to 100 GBps. A look at

a dozen devices till now, since Apple has

optical cables without any problems.

the transfer protocol architecture shows

been the only computer maker using it.

One huge advantage of the change will

that Thunderbolt uses DisplayPort

But PC firms are following suit and even

be that cables up to 10 meters long

and PCIe, two existing and popular

Windows computers will come with

will be possible, instead of the 3-meter

standards, as the basis for its own meta-

Thunderbolt in 2012. Large corporations

maximum in the current specification.

protocol. For computers, connected

like Acer and Asus want to first build

devices and installed programs, it

In order to successfully launch them

Flexible distribution of
data streams

in the market next year, the work on

What is unique about Thunderbolt is that

protocol stack primarily ensures that

Thunderbolt has already been going on

it uses parallel data channels that work

the data packed together is transferred

for a long time behind the scenes.

in both directions simultaneously. The full

efficiently and lands at the correct spot.

bandwidth capacity is thus available in

Besides traffic routing, Thunderbolt also

in 2009 under the codename Light

both directions, and there is no division

offers one or more other user-friendly

Peak. The idea then was of an interface

of capacity between upstream and

functions. Hot Plugging, the concept of

that would work between computers,

downstream devices.

monitors, peripherals and entertainment

The two bidirectional

electronics. As the name suggests, Intel

channels can transfer

had planned for an optical transmission

a total of 10 GB per

medium, but in the official introduction

second each. Since

of the Thunderbolt standard at the

you can connect up

Speedy socket for everything The expensive cables have chips

beginning of 2011, a traditional electronic

to six devices on one

embedded at either end to actively manage data traffic.

Thunderbolt into their Ultrabooks.

Intel first introduced the technology

98

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

0980112_One cable for all devices.indd 98

Jagdish Limbachiya

appears as though known protocols

are being used. The Thunderbolt

PHOTOS: IFIXIT.COM; UNIVERSAL FILM FROMTHE THE SHARK NIGHT ILLUSTRATION: HARRY FUCHSLOCH

C users have dreamed of this

SMS us! Story code: FOC to 51818

12/19/2011 8:22:04 PM

featured

FEATURED

How Thunderbolt manages high-speed parallel data transfers

The example shows three Thunderbolt devices on one cable. Up to six are possible. Through the two independent
channels, the PC can play a Blu-ray movie and simultaneously receive files from the RAID array.

RAID Array: A file is transferred from

the system to the PC. A Thunderbolt
channel is reserved for this, and is
available at full speed.

Display: The display is similarly

equipped with Thunderbolt and is
connected in the middle of the
chain. It receives the Blu-ray
video stream from the PC.

One cable, two protocols:

Simultaneous data transfer via PCI Express
DisplayPort as well as via the
PCI Express protocol is
possible in the Thunderbolt
cable. In our example,
individual images from the
Blu-ray stream were
transferred via the DisplayPort
and the file via PCI Express.
The Thunderbolt controller in
the devices takes care that the
DisplayPort
data is distributed correctly.

Computer: The computer with

Thunderbolt plays a Blu-ray disc
and also receives a file at full
speed from RAID over the second
Thunderbolt channel.

PCI Express

Thunderbolt
Cable
Thunderbolt
Controller

Thunderbolt
Controller

DisplayPort

SPEED COMPARISON: THUNDERBOLT is the fastest of the EXTERNAL PORTS

External data ports never achieve their theoretical maximum speed in real life, since the controllers and hard disks slow them down. CHIP compares
the theoretical maximum values with the realistic measured values from in our Test Center.
Thunderbolt
USB 3.0
eSATA
USB 2.0

1.250

825
260
150
35

500
300
measured

60

Maximum

(MB per second)

connecting and disconnecting devices

Cheaper with new chips

acknowledged to be too expensive in

while they are running, is something that

What momentarily overshadows

comparison to other technologies, but

we now take for granted. Still, a lot of

the excellent impression made by

that situation will improve over time.

work is required in the protocol stack

Thunderbolt is that devices and even

With the next generation of Thunderbolt

to allow for this kind of user behavior.

cables are expensive. Although they

controllers, Intel will offer a standard

The heart of the Thunderbolt protocol

are mechanically identical to existing

model (codenamed Cactus Ridge) as

is the transport layer, which ensures

DisplayPort cables, Thunderbolt cable

well as a low end version (Port Ridge).

that the connected devices are running

ends have active circuitry which makes

At 5 x 6 mm, it measures just one-

synchronously. Another advantage of

their production extremely expensive.

third of its more expensive sibling and

Thunderbolt cables is that they can also

Hence, Apple sells a 2-meter long

will represent the breakthrough for

be used to provide power to connected

Thunderbolt cable for a steep US $50

Thunderbolt technology in reasonably-

devices. Intel specifies up to 10 Watts per

(approx Rs 2,595). First-generation

priced computers.

Thunderbolt cable.

Thunderbolt controller chips are

[email protected]

intelligent computing chip

0980112_One cable for all devices.indd 99

01/2012

99

12/19/2011 8:22:10 PM

featured

web watch

Web Watch

Here are some interesting websites you might want to visit.

Compiled by Priyanka Tilve

Dhingana.com

EasyFix.in

Perfios.com

form Bollywood songs or from Indian

carpenters, etc. But finding a person, and

Here, you can integrate all your accounts

regional music in Assamese, Awadhi,

getting the job done isnt always easy.

and it provides a 360 degree view of

hingana.com is one of the many

exciting sites that allow you to
discover and play Bollywood and

Indian regional music. You can choose

Carnatic, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Kannada,

hile many of us are adept at

doing small repairs, there are
times when you need the services

of professional plumbers, electricians,

Having been through the same

f you have more than one bank

account as well as credit cards, then
managing your expenses can be tricky.

This is where Perfios.com comes in.

your personal finances, including bank

Kashmiri, Konkani, Manipuri, Marathi,

harrowing experience, Delhi-based Shaifali

accounts, credit cards, mutual funds,

Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, and may more

Aggarwal decided to take matters into

equities, loans, taxes, etc.

languages. What sets it apart is the fact

her own hand and launched EasyFix.

that it can be accessed on smartphones,

Its a one-stop site whether you are

by default you are signed-up for a

as it has official apps for iPhone,

looking for someone to fix a leaking

free account. You can then try out the

Android and it recently launched one

tap or the ceiling fan or the AC or

service and then opt for either the Gold

for Blackberry as well. Apart from this,

even fix your armchair. Simply key in

or the Platinum account at the yearly

you also integrate the player into your

your requirements or place a call and

cost of Rs 499 or Rs 1,499 respectively.

Facebook, Orkut, and Gmail accounts. If

a technician will be dispatched to your

You can also login using your Yahoo,

you are planning to download the app on

house. EasyFix.in claims that all their

Google or Facebook ID.

your smartphone, then you better have

technicians are professionally trained and

3G or high speed Internet plan to enjoy

verified by the police.

streaming without disruptions.

The site itself has a very simple,

Before placing a call or online

When you sign-up for the service,

Once you sign-up, you can upload

your account details using four options.
You can either opt for auto update by

request, do check their rate card

signing in with your online banking

clutter-free layout, which makes it easy

and other terms and conditions. The

credentials. Secondly, you can upload

to look for songs. Once you find the

comprehensive rate card will provide

the account statements. Thirdly, you can

song you are looking for, you can then

you with all the necessary cost details

upload an Excel file of your transactions,

explore the entire album by clicking on

for a wide range of service like

or lastly, you can manually key-in the

the CD icon. You can either choose to

plumbing, repairing electronics, replacing

data. You can then categorize various

play the individual song, select couple

lights, wiring, bathroom fittings etc. You

expenses and generate your financial

of them, or select all the songs to play

will have to shell out a minimum visiting

report, which will provide you with

the entire album. You can then add it

charge of Rs100, and if you want

better a understanding of your expenses

to your playlist or share it with friends.

the technician to bring the required

and help you manage your finances

You can create a playlist using the

material, that will cost an additional Rs

better.

Smartlist option, which you can then

50. You can also sign up for a yearly

With Perfios, you can also invite

share via Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry

maintenance contract. Though it looks

your family members to share accounts

Messenger, email or SMS. The site also

to be a bit on an expensive side, they

and integrate the same with your

offers recommendations based on your

guarantee prompt and efficient service.

portfolio. This will help you keep tabs on

music preferences. The mGreeting feature

The site also seeks to bring together

your familys finances and plan better.

allows you to create a SmartList of songs

this largely unorganized segment and

Perfios also provides some additional

that express your feelings and share it

provide these professionals with growth

useful features like email alerts, tax

with your dear ones much like creating a

opportunities. Currently, the services are

wizard, reminders, document storage,

mixed tape.

available only in Delhi and NCR.

mobile access, etc.

100

01/2012

intelligent computing chip

1000112_Web Watch + Priyanka Column.indd 100

SMS us! Story code: FWW to 51818

12/19/2011 8:47:07 PM

featured

web watch

The Internet can

help you stick to
your New Year
resolutions.
PRIYANKA TILVE,
Senior Features Writer

Fragrantica.com

f you thought selecting a perfume

on the basis of its fragrance was all,
then think again. Of course fragrance

is the most important criteria, but did

you know that there are perfumes for
summer, for winter, for day, for night,
etc.? Before you step out to buy a
perfume, do visit Fragrantica.com and

brush up on your knowledge.

Fragrantica is an online perfume
encyclopedia and a community of
perfume lovers from around the world.
Here, you will find all the perfumes ever
launched by leading brands. You can
look by recently launched perfumes, by
brands, by notes, etc. Once you zero
down on the perfume of your choice,
you can know all about the notes or the
components of the perfume and read
the user reviews. These reviews will give
you a fair idea of what to expect from
the perfume, how long it lasts, what the
dominant notes are, and also what time
of day its best suited for.
You will find all the information that
you can possibly imagine, whether its
about the raw materials used, interviews
with industry experts, guest columns,
buying suggestions, vintage perfumes,
books, events, and more. The raw
materials section makes for a fascinating
read as here you can learn all about the
usual and some unusual raw materials
used in perfume making. For instance,
dont be surprised to find Starfish as
a note in your perfume, as it doesnt
mean that your fragrance contains some
extracts from starfish. Starfish is just the
inspiration to achieve the quintessential
sea notes of salt and freshness.

Resolutions 2.0
T
he new years is when we all
tend to go down memory
lane, and this nostalgia,
coupled with high spirits can
confound your reasoning and better
sense. This may result in you making
sweeping declarations. And if on the
first day of the new year you find
yourself faced with such resolutions
that you so brazenly made the previous
night, then you could find yourself in
fix. You have two options - you can
either forget all about it or actually
chalk out a plan to see it through.
If you chose the second option,
then there are many ways to go about
planning the course of action. If you
plan to lose weight, then you can join
initiatives like tweetwhatyoueat.com,
which is basically like a food diary.
Being true to yourself, you are required
to tweet about what you have eaten and
its calorie count. It works on the concept
of shame, since you have to tweet about
your food intake on a public platform.
Many people around the world have
found this to be effective and claim that
it helped them lose weight. And if you
are worried of people complaining about
your tweets, then you can always have
a separate account and invite only those
who are supportive of your initiative.
If you find it difficult to haul yourself
to the gym and are looking for some
motivation, then you can create a
Facebook page. You can update the
page with your daily exercise regime,

calorie intakes, calories burned,

weight lost, and other interesting stuff
like healthy eating habits, exercise
schedule, etc. You can invite your
friends to like your page and follow
your progress. Their comments, likes
etc. can work as positive reinforcements
and motivate you to work harder.
On the other hand, if your goal is
losing weight, exercising, saving money,
eating less junk food, reading more
books, watching less TV etc. then you
can explore stickk.com. Here, you can
mention your goal and you will have
to pledge a certain amount of money,
which you will have to forgo if you are
unable to achieve that goal. For many,
the thought of losing money can act as
enough motivation. You can even invite
your friends to support you in your task.
Additionally, you can appoint a person
you trust as a referee who will keep a
tab on your activities and validate your
claims. So if you said you went to gym
at six in the morning, then the referee
can vouch for the same. Pledging money,
though not a compulsion, can make
things interesting. This is because you
have three options to pledge your money
- you can give it to a friend, donate it
to a charity of your choice, or lastly
anti-charity i.e. donating money to a
cause or organization that you dislike.
These are only a few options; there
are numerous ways you can use the Web
to help you stick to your resolution.

- [email protected]

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Dr CHIP
Send your queries to: [email protected]

Sachin Pandit

[Q] Dear Sir, I Have a laptop. I use

existing data if not done carefully.

Windows 7 Ultimate operating system

2400 rpm. If it is too fast, it could be due

to the excessive heating of the processor.

on it. But I have a problem in Windows

[Q] Hello Sir, the temperature of

The processor settings of the BIOS

and I want to change the existing size

my CPU reaches almost 82 degrees

should also be checked. Check if the

of the partitions on my hard drive. How

Celsius. Due to this it turns off

overclocking and over voltage parameters

can I change the size of my partitions

automatically. I have checked and

of the processor are not exceeding the

without changing or affecting the data

confirmed that the fan above the

normal values. Overclocking and wrong

on it?

processor is working fine. I am using a

voltages are major culprits of processor

Pentium Dual Core 2.8 GHz processor

overheating and damage. Reset the BIOS

with 1 GB of RAM and running Windows

to defaults if needed. Finally, remove

XP SP3 operating system on it. Please

the processor fan and check if the heat

suggest some method to get it back to

sink compound is present, sufficient and

normal running temperature. Thanks in

moist. If it has dried up, you need to

advance. Regards.

replace this paste with a fresh coat. Also

Rishabh Gupta

Jayesh Kothari

while doing so, check the fan socket on

the motherboard and the fan brackets
to see if it is damaged. A loosely fitted
processor fan does not make contact
with the processor surface and the heat
is not transferred to the heatsink to be
dissipated.

To change partition sizes on a Windows PC, you can

use a free tool called MiniTool Partition Manager.

[Q] Hello Dr CHIP. Can you please

explain what is the BSOD error screen?

[A] Hello Rishabh. To know and change

Patangal Basak

your partition sizes on a Windows PC,

you can use a free tool called MiniTool
Partition Manager. The application can
create, delete and resize your existing

Check if the CPUs overclocking and over voltage

parameters are exceeding the normal values.

hard drive partitions very easily and

without the need of any data backup or

[A] Hello Jayesh. The processor

reinstallation of the operating system

temperature is too high and it is the

and programs. But it is always advisable

main reason to cause shutdowns. Since

to take backups in case there is a

you state that the CPU fan is working

system failure or power failure during

properly, I suggest that you inspect

the resizing process. I have been using

further. Check the rotation speed of the

MiniTool for a long time now and find it

fan in the BIOS and confirm if the speed

very versatile. Use the utility with extreme

is normal or below the actual speed.

caution as it can cause damage to your

Usually it should be around or higher than

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This screen is seen when Windows crashes. It

indicates the cause of the system crash.

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HANDS ON
DR CHIP

[A] Hello Patangal. BSOD means Blue

alignment of the DVD lens or it could be

in upgrading the processor and wireless

Screen of Death. BSOD is referred to

dirty. Try cleaning the lens and check the

card. But the rest cannot be upgraded

a blue screen error with a lot of text

DVD again. Also check a few other DVDs

because of integrated components

information on it which nobody can

(both original DVDs and ones burned by

soldered to the motherboard. Maybe

actually understand. This screen is seen

the same writer. If all other DVDs work

in future, laptops can be made with a

when the Windows operating system

fine, the problem could be with the DVD

modular design for upgrades. But as of

crashes. It contains information of some

media. Possibility of a small scratch or

now, sorry, you cannot upgrade.

codes relating to the cause of the system

dirt invisible to the naked eye on the main

crash. A lay man cannot understand

track which informs the operating system

[Q] Dear CHIP. I am regular reader and

this code. The developers of Windows

about the DVDs contents, capacity and

a subscriber of the magazine. I have an

at Microsoft are the only ones who can

other details. Try check if the DVD works

Acer Aspire 5742z laptop with Windows

(Possibly) decode it.

on another PC. Try cleaning the DVD

7 Home Basic 64-bit version and it

by dipping it in a warm solution of mild

has 3 GB of DDR3 memory. I have

[Q] Hello Dr CHIP, I owe you big time

hand washing soap for around 30 50

a registered version of EfficientPIM

for your last troubleshooting solution

seconds and then gently rubbing your

software. I am using it on a regular

regarding my earlier problem. But I

finger around the surface area a few

basis. I need to import and export files

have got a new problem for you now to

times before rinsing it thoroughly. After

to the program, but it uses Comma

which I need a solution. A few months

washing it, clean it with a microfiber cloth

Separated Value files (CSV) format.

back I burned a DL-DVD of 8.5 GB using

or a lint-free tissue paper carefully.

I have a lot of files in MS Word and

Neros Secure Disc utility. The disc

Finally check the DVD if it works

PDF formats. Please tell me a suitable

seemed to work perfectly at that point

again. if the DVD does not work on your

file converter utility for conversion to

of time, but now whenever I insert the

PC or another PC, there are chances of

the needful formats. Please give me a

disc, Windows just wont recognize it

the DVD being damaged completely. A

solution as soon as possible. Thanks in

and shows up as a blank disc. I can add

last option you could do is to try out a

advance.

and erase data on it (according to the

few utilities that can help recover data

popup by Windows). But when I click

from damaged CD and DVD media.

the option to use the disc as rewritable

You can try ISOBuster or CDRoller.

type of disc, Windows throws out an

But do remember that recovering data

error that the disc is inaccessible or

from optical discs can cause permanent

something. The problem is that I need

damage to the optical drive due to the

the data that I had earlier burned on

heat generated by continuous spinning

the disc and I can assure that there

and reading of the disc.

S Natarajan

isnt a single scratch or physical

damage to the disc. How do I get the

[Q] Hi Dr CHIP. I have a Compaq

data back from the disc in Windows?

branded laptop, which has a

Please help.

configuration of a Pentium processor,

Bibhuranjan Nath

a 500 GB hard disk drive, 2 GB of RAM

and there is no graphics card. Can I
insert graphics card in the laptop?

The data that you need to import should be in CSV

format or should be converted into CSV format.

If yes, please let me know the types

available and the prices of graphics

[A] Hello Natarajan. EfficientPIM is

cards. How can I increase the RAM on

a personal information management

my laptop?

software similar to what MS Outlook

Vickey Pathak

features. But since the product can only

import data from files in a CSV (comma
separated values) format, there is very
little that you can actually do about it.
Your data that you need to import should
be in CSV format or should be converted
into CSV format. Regular Ms Word

A few utilities that can help recover data from

damaged DVDs. Try ISOBuster or CDRoller.

[A] Hello Bibhuranjan. Since you stated

documents and PDF cannot be converted

Laptop motherboards use integrated components.
You can only upgrade the RAM or the CPU.

into CSV files. You will need to import

the data into Ms Excel in the appropriate

that the DVD could be accessed after it

[A] Hello Vickey. Laptops do not

required fields and then export this data

was written and now you cannot access

feature any provisions for upgrades

from Excel to CSV format. It is an easy

it, I can clearly think of two possible

with regards to graphics cards and a lot

task, but it completely depends on the

reasons that could be affecting it. Firstly,

other areas. The only hardware upgrade

type of data present in the Word and

it could be the DVD writer itself. Either

that a laptop can get is a storage and

Excel files. To make it a bit simpler for you

there could be a problem with the

memory upgrade. There is a little hope

I can possibly help with a small solution

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to start with. Export some data of a few

fields from EfficientPIM into a .CSV file.
Open this file in MS Excel and you shall
see some rows and columns with headers
with the respective fields and data that
you exported. Now using these fields and
headers, you should import/copy-paste
your data from the PDF or Word files.
once done, save the file and import it
back to EfficientPIM. This trick is usually
implemented when managing data in
Outlook, Address books, Mobile phones
and PDAs where business card details are
entered/exported/imported. Hope this

In the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft

services and then click on the Disable All button.

You can use Fax Machine or Snappy Fax to send fax

from a PC.

solution helps.

to work a few things out, and trust me,

[Q] Hello Dr CHIP. I have a PC with

[A] Hello Kajalkanti. Since you dont

it may sound easy, but there are times

have a landline to send faxes, you can use

where even I have wasted a few hours on

your GSM mobile phone to send faxes

the following configuration: Intel

rectifying a small issue, but finally landed

anywhere in the world. All you need to

Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2 GHz processor,

up reformatting the PC and reinstalling

have is the drivers of the mobile phone

Intel D945GCNL motherboard and 3

Windows all over again. The latter took

and a fax program installed on your PC.

GB of DDR2 RAM. I had purchased

me just about an hour. Anyways, start

Once you have installed the drivers and

the PC around four years ago. Now

the PC in Safe Mode, run the command

connected the mobile phone to the PC,

the PC is restarting continously. I

Msconfig and de-select all the check

you need to configure your mobile phone

have been using genuine Windows

boxes in the Startup tab. Then in the

as a modem on your PC. Installing the

XP SP3 operating system for first

Services tab, click on the check box

mobile phone as a modem will help you

three years. Last year, I updated my

Hide all Microsoft services and then click

send a fax directly from the PC making use

PC with Windows 7 Home Premium.

on the Disable All button.

of the GSM mobile phone as a modem.

It worked well for a year with good

Once done, restart the PC in normal

Fax Machine and Snappy Fax are some

performance, but now there is a

mode and check it. If it works perfectly

example software with which you can

continuous problem of automatic

fine, then you should try un checking

use to send fax from a PC. The procedure

restarting. I tried replacing the memory

each service and program one-by-one

is simplethe software installs a printer

sticks with newer ones of the similar

(restart Windows at each step) to find

on your PC. This printer is a FAX output

capacity, but it was useless as the

out which service or program is creating

which is connected to the mobile phone.

same problem persists. I have G-DATA

the problem. If all this does not work,

When printing from Word or an image file

Internet Security 2011 software which

you should try updating all the hardware

which you have scanned, all you need to

is updated daily. The PC works in Safe

drivers for your PC. But before this, try

do is choose this fax printer as the fax

Mode only, but stops many services

physical cleaning of all the hardware

output. The software will do the needful

like Windows Installer, video and

components inside the computer cabinet.

and ask for the phone number to dial out.

music playback, etc. What could be

Dust can also cause issues in hardware

Other alternatives are email to fax services

the problem with my PC? Do I have

detection which in turn either resets the

available on the internet. All you need to

to replace my old hardware? Can the

PC or results in a BSOD. Finally, a virus,

do is subscribe to the service, send the

motherboard be repaired if there is

malware, spyware or a Trojan can also

email to the particular address mentioned

problem with it?

cause similar problems. Have the PC

and the website will send the document/

inspected properly.

image as a fax for you. Some websites are:

Onkar

www.superfax.in which offers a three day

[A] Hello Onkar. A problem where

[Q] Dear Dr CHIP, I am a regular

trial period with 10 fax pages free and Rs

the PC restarts on its own can have

reader of CHIP Magazine. I run a

11,000 for a five year plan with 1000 pages

several related issues. But before I point

business in a remote village in West

of fax. www.efax.com is also another

out a few areas, you have stated that

Bengal and I have to send many

alternative offering a 30-day trial with 150

the PC works fine in Safe Mode. This

documents through Fax. There are no

pages free and Rs 450 per month with 150

clearly states that there is a problem

land line or fixed telephone lines in my

pages of fax.

with a particular hardware driver, the

area. Can I send my fax through my

hardware itself or the software. When

GSM SIM using a device? If yes, what is

[Q] Hi Dr CHIP and the entire Team

in Safe Mode, Windows does not load

the name of the device? How can I get

CHIP. I am using a 200 GB Seagate

any driver or third party system files.

it? What is the cost of the device? I will

hard drive on my system with 2.5 GB

This mode runs Windows is a very basic

be highly obliged if you would help me

of RAM (2 GB + 512 MB). The operating

shell to confirm whether Windows itself

solve my chronic problem. Thanks and

system is Windows XP Professional.

is working fine or not. To try getting to

best regards.

I had a 1 TB hard drive with very

the root of the problem, you will have

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Kajalkanti Karmakar

confidential data on it. The data is

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12/19/2011 7:39:29 PM

HANDS ON
DR CHIP

related to my business and some are

graphics card in PCIe X16_1 slot without

from my friends system. The hard

any problem. Please help me out.

drive has five partitions which are

Thanks in advance.

almost full now. When I connected it

Tejas Patil

to my system, I was not able to move

any file to my 200 GB internal hard

[A] Hello Tejas. As you have stated

drive. Windows shows an exclamation

that after you inserted the graphics

mark in the system tray too. The

card into the PCIe x16 slot and your

system gradually slowed down after

system did not show up any display,

that. The next time I connected the

I would like to confirm a few things

drive, AVG Free Edition detected that

which could be the answer to your

there was a Trojan horse in the C: drive

where Windows XP is installed. The
Trojan was also found in the folder

Install Windows first, and create an un-partitioned

space of at least 10 GB for Linux.

query. Did you connect the display

cable of the monitor to the graphics
card? Or was it still connected to the

named system volume information

case, but you will still be transferring

motherboards onboard graphics port

which existed on the internal and

the virus from the 1 TB to the 200 GB

when you inserted the graphics card?

external drive of every partition. AVG

drive anyways. And when you switch to

removed the threat but the problem

Windows, you can be attacked again.

graphics card installed prior to this one?

of moving the data still continued.

You can use Ubuntu without installing

Was it working then? Is this graphics card

Later I reconnected the drive and

it. Use the live edition and boot from

a new one or a used piece? If old or new,

then again AVG detected the same

the DVD directly. If you want to install

did you manage to test it on another PC

threat and moved it to its virus vault. I

Linux on your PC together with Windows,

before installing it on your PC? If any of

finally re-formatted my entire system

install Windows first and then Linux. You

these pointers were missed, you should

and reinstalled the operating system.

need to create an un-partitioned space

try them before you finally point out the

Still the problem continued. I finally

of at least 10 GB for Linux. Alternatively,

problem with your motherboard or the

decided not to use the 1 TB external

you can connect the hard drive to an

graphics card. The problem with your

hard drive till my data is secured and

external USB casing and plug in the

motherboard could be the PCIe x16 slot.

I manage to remove the virus. I am

USB cable after Windows boots and

It could be dusty or damaged. Carefully

unable to find any solution. Please

the antivirus has secured the PC.

examine the slot for dust, corrosion

help. Can I do the following?

Was your motherboard having a

or any missing/damaged pins. Clean

[Q] Hi Dr CHIP. I want you to help me

the slot using a brush if needed. Try

worm not affect any file by doing

with my problem. I recently brought a

another graphics card to be sure if your

this, as some worms or viruses are

Sparkle GeForce 8400GS 1 GB. When

motherboard is faulty.

meant for specific OS?

I inserted it into my PC, the PC just

XXCan I use Ubuntu Live? Will the

went blank and nothing was displayed

[Q] Dear Dr CHIP. Can I install

install Ubuntu and remove Windows

on the monitor. But when I removed

Windows XP Professional 32-bit on

XP? If I install Ubuntu, should I

the graphics card, my system worked

drive C and Windows 7 professional

install it first or should I install

normally. The configuration is as

64-bit on drive D? Can I activate and

Windows first?

follows: Biostar G31MD-7 motherboard,

update both operating systems? I have

Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.80 GHz

a 64-bit processor and my hardware

systems on the same hard drive

processor, 2 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 500

supports 64-bit operating systems.

on different partitions? If yes, how

GB hard drive and a 450 watt power

Thank You

much space should I keep in the

supply unit. My motherboard has only

partition for Ubuntu?

four slotstwo for RAM and other

[A] Yes Kamalakanta. You can install

two are PCI and PCIe X16_1. I inserted

the two operating systems on two

XXIf I can do so, what should I do to

XXCan I install the two operating

XXWill this help me with the data

Kamalakanta Nayak

on the external drive and will my

different partitions, activate and update

system work fine?

them individually without any problems.

XXIs there any other way to extract

But do note that handling two operating

my data at cheaper cost without

systems on a single PC can cause errors

damaging any of my hard drives?

if not handled carefully. While using any

Please help me as early as possible.

one operating system, try not to touch

Thanks to you all in advance.

any files (especially the system files) on

Kedarnath

the other partition. I would advise that

you create another partition or have

[A] Hi Kedar. Your 1 TB hard drive seems

another hard drive installed where all

to be troubling you with the viruses stored

your data can be saved. Do install a good

in it. You need to install another antivirus

which is more powerful. Try Avast for
free. Using Ubuntu can be safe in this

antivirus.
Whether the card is new or old, it is always best to
test it on another PC before claiming warranty.

Send your queries to Francis DSa

at [email protected]
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WORKSHOP

Secret Partition on a Pen Drive

In this unique workshop, we show you how to create a secret partition on your USB pen drive
that can be accessed only on your PC. By Francis DSa

here is no simple way to partition

universal USB flash drive driver. In this

USB pen drives, as they show up

folder, find and open the file named

as a removable drive on the PC.

cfadisk.inf in Notepad or any test editor

In order to do so, you need to trick the

you prefer (Notepad++ is ideal. Download

operating system into recognizing the

from notepad-plus-plus.org).

USB pen drive as a fixed hard drive. To do

Step 4: Now locate the words device_

this, you will need to create your own set

instance_id_goes_here, which is available

of drivers. In this workshop, we will show

at line 26. You need to replace these

you how you can partition a USB pen

words with the string you just copied to

drive by tricking the operating system into

the clipboard from the Device Manager.

believing that it is handling a fixed hard

Save the file and close the editor.

drive. Doing so, you can create multiple

partitions and store your private data on

it. Only the first partition will be visible
and the other partitions will not show up
on any PC other than your own. In this
way, you can secretly store your personal
data away from your friends and family,
and also you can avoid viruses affecting
this data when plugged in on another
computer. To do this, all you need is a
simple universal USB pen drive driver,
which can be downloaded from http://
www.mediafire.com/?oqlgdvcymzz.
Download the archive, uncompress it to
a folder on your Desktop and get started.
Dont forget to backup the contents of
your pen drive as it will be formatted.
Step 1: Plug your pen drive into your
PCs USB port. Next, right-click on My
Computer and click on Manage in the
context menu. Click on Device Manager
on the left pane. This will show all your
hardware devices connected to your PC.
Now on the right pane, scroll down to
Disk Drives and you should see your pen

Step 5: Now go back to the Device

drive connected here. Right-click on the

Manager page (repeat step 1). This time,

pen drive and select Properties

click on the Driver tab and click the

Step 2: In the properties window that

button Update driver.

just opened up, click on the Details

Step 6: On the next window, choose

tab. From the scroll down menu under

Browse my computer for driver software

Property, choose Device Instance Path.

when the system asks how you want to

You should see a string of characters

search for the driver software. Then on

highlighted in the Value window

the next window, choose Let me pick

below, which should read something

from a list of drivers. .

like USBSTOR\DISK&VEN_&PROD...

Step 7: On the next window, uncheck

Rightclick on this value and select Copy.

the box Show compatible hardware and

Now close all the windows without

click on the Have disk button. Now click

saving changes.

on Browse and from the universal USB

Step 3: Now open the folder that you

driver folder on your Desktop, select the

uncompressed after downloading the

cfadisk.inf file and click on the Open

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WORKSHOP

6a

8a

button, followed by the OK and then

successful driver update.

PCs will only be able to see the first

Next buttons on the previous windows.

Note: you can use this modified driver

partition. Make a copy of the driver on the

Step 8: An update driver warning

for this pen drive only. To use another pen

first partition of the pen drive and you can

message should show up stating that you

drive, you will need to perform the whole

install it on other PCs in case you need to

are trying to install a driver which is not

process again.

access the other partitions.

compatible with your hardware. Ignore the

Step 9: Thats all you needed to do.

message and click on Yes. Dont worry;

Once you are back to the Computer

drive on a shared PC without allowing

it is safe to do so. The system will start

Management window, click on Disk

access to your data. Others won't know

installing the driver and show up another

Management from the left pane and

that the other partition even exists

warning that the driver is not a verified

start partitioning your pen drive as you

another. To reset everything back to

or authentic driver. Ignore this one too

would with a regular hard drive. You can

normal, simply delete the partitions and

and click on Install this driver software

create multiple partitions.

uninstall/delete the driver for the pen

anyway. Let the system update the driver

Note: You can access all the partitions

drive from the Device Manager.

and you will receive a message of a

on the pen drive only from your PC. Other

In this way, you can plug in the pen

[email protected]

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WORKSHOP

Personalize Your
Windows 7 Login
Screen
Here is a very simple guide
on how you can personalize
the background picture of the
Windows 7 login screen.
By Francis DSa

re you bored of the default background image on the

registry.

login screen of Windows 7? To change this wallpaper

Step 3: Now select your favorite picture, which you want to

background to your favorite picture, you previously

use as the background image. Note: this picture should be in

needed to use a tweaking utility. In this workshop, however, we

landscape mode and more or less equivalent to the resolution

will show you how you can do it without any utility in just four

of your monitor as it will be stretched to your screen size.

simple steps.

Also, the file should not be larger than 256 KB. You can resize

Step 1: Open the Notepad editor. Now enter the following lines

your picture using a photo editing utility of your choice. Finally,

of text in it:

rename the picture to backgrounddefault.jpg.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

HKEY _ LOCAL _ MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background]
"OEMBackground"=dword:00000001

Step 4: Create a folder with the name backgrounds under

Now save this file as a .reg file on your desktop.

Step 2: Once this file is created, you can double-click it or
right-click on it and select Merge to add it to your existing

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1080112_Personalize your Windows 7 Logon Wallpaper.indd 108

the folder C:\Windows\System32\oobe\Info. Now paste your

favorite image in this folder, and youre done. Logout from
Windows or lock your keyboard using the shortcut [Win]+L and
you will see your new background in place. You can change this
background by simply replacing the image file.
[email protected]

SMS us! Story code: HWL to 51818

12/19/2011 7:33:25 PM

HANDS ON

Tips & Tricks

Tips &
Tricks
JANUARY 2012

Share your tips. Write to: [email protected]

Sachin Pandit

in the View tab. Close the dialog by

WINDOWS

clicking OK. You need not restart the

Windows Vista, 7

computer for activating this change.

The moment you move your cursor

Selecting files and folders

over the icon of a file or a folder, a

using a small check box

small check box appears for selection

When you select several files and

at the top left corner or to the left.

folders, you generally make use of

As long as you click in the respective

[Ctrl] or [Shift] and keep the key

check box, the selection you have

pressed, while you click the desired

made so far is preserved. However, if

entries in Explorer.

your mouse click misses a check box,

the operating system removes all the

The free utility makes searching for files in

Windows a lot faster.

checks that you have placed in any

boxes so far. Clicking the icon instead

much faster process this free tool only

of the checkbox also dismisses all

searches the allocation table of an NTFS

selections, and you end up selecting

file system and creates its own index for

only the current file or folders icon.

this. Thus, you have the search result in

hand almost at once. The installation

Checkboxes make it easier to select large groups

of items.

In Windows 7, plus the Home

Premium, Business, Enterprise and

Windows XP, Vista, 7

takes no time. You can safely retain the

Quickly finding file names on

preset defaults. Since the tool accesses

drives and portable devices.

system routines, a confirmation from

the user account control is required at

The considerably improved search

the time of starting the program. After

function of Windows 7 occasionally

it is started for the first time, Everything

needs some time to find a very urgently

creates its own index, which takes only a

needed file. You want to get results

few seconds even in case of voluminous

much faster.

installations and takes up only a few

Ultimate versions of Vista, you can also

MBs of space. This index is constantly

use check boxes to select files and

TIP In most cases, you look for the

updated as the program runs. However, it

folders. For this, start the Windows

file name and not the content directly. At

doesnt need to stay on constantly, it can

Explorer and select Organize in the

times, you also feel the need to include

update its database with modifications

toolbar. In the menu that opens up,

other folders or system folders in addition

when it starts next.

click Folder and search options. In the

to libraries and this takes Windows a

Folder options dialog, check the box

second, slower search operation.

in front of the option Use check box to

Everything Search (www.voidtools.

select items under Advanced settings

com) makes your search for file names a

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The program window only contains

a search field and hit list, where the
status bar constantly displays search
hints. Whats incredible is that the hit list

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Tips & Tricks

below gets updated exactly with respect

can be influenced by which values:

phrases used. You must reduce the file

to the search terms. Words separated

BorderWidth width of the border

size to be able to copy the methods,

with a space are automatically linked

between 1 and 49 pixels

sheets and contents manually in a new

with the logical "AND, so for instance,

CaptionHeight height of the tabs in

work book - a lot of information, which

the search for jpg france finds all the

the caption bar

actually should have been copied, like

image files of the type *.jpg, which have

CaptionWidth width of the tabs in the

on VBA, file and release options as well

France in their name. A more accurate

caption bar in pixels

as diverse properties is even lost here.

search for folders can be activated with

IconSpacing distance between two

Most of the times, the main reasons for

the command Search | Match Path.

tabs or icons during automatic allocation

the unusually big file size are the different

Moreover, you can start a search for

MenuHeight height of the menu bar in

type of formats for individual cells

regular expressions with Search | Enable

pixels

and unnecessarily big cell areas which

Regex.

MenuWidth width of the tabs in the

requires saving of the format information.

menu bar in pixels

Go to each sheet and go through the

file directly in Windows Explorer, right-

ScrollHeight height of the horizontal

used area and delete the unnecessary

click the desired file entry and select the

scrollbar in pixels

cells. You can press the key combination

context command Open Path. The [Esc]

ScrollWidth width of the vertical

[Ctrl] + [End] to jump directly to the end

key closes the search window.

scrollbar in pixels

of the used field. From here on mark all

To view the destination of the found

In addition to the above values,

Windows 7

the rows and columns one after the other

you will also find values such as

which according to you are not going to

Customizing Windows window

CaptionFont for the font of the window

be required. Delete these using the path

display

caption. However, you must not change

Delete | Delete sheet rows or use the

these since the parameters here are

key combination [Ctrl] + []. However, the

You want to change the appearance of

given in binary format. The changes get

key [Delete] deletes only the values that

your Windows window. For example,

activated once the system is restarted.

are included and not the formats. You

you want to increase the width of the

Note: This window tuning does not work

can see the result only after the file is

vertical scrollbar or the height of the

at all times and all places, since some

opened the next time.

horizontal scrollbar.

programs ignore the Registry changes

and use their own preset standards

values instead.

APPLICATIONs

Audio Tagging
Identify and correct music files
automatically

A few titles from your music collection

Excel 2003, 2007, 2010

have been named incorrectly or hardly

Useful points for a clever file

contain any metadata in the title. You

compression

wish to add the missing information

and name the unknown titles correctly.

It is a common practice to frequently

send a workbook that has a huge size

These registry keys let you tweak the appearance
of your Windows programs.

over email so as to work in a team. The

huge file size slows down your work at
times or may even hinder the sending

You can control the appearance

of your windows with some entries in

in case of most of the email service

providers.

the Registry. Open the Registry Editor

by clicking Start and typing the

The size of the file will increase

search term regedit.exe under Search

significantly if you work on an Excel table

Programs/Files. The search result shows

regularly for over a really long time this

the operating system in the start menu.

is due to a lot of reasons. To start with

Click regedit.exe under Programs.

delete the obvious space-eaters like

Now on the left side of the Editor,

Picard usually finds the correct title using the

melody and track length.

graphs and diagrams that are no longer

A special tool like a freeware

navigate to the key HKEY_CURRENT_

needed in order to reduce the file size.

USER\ControlPanel\Desktop\

This is also applicable for a background

MusicBrainz Picard is best suitable

WindowMetrics. The values in the right

picture, if any. Excel saves this image

for recognizing unknown or incorrectly

window area influence the display of the

separately for every table.

named titles. You can download this

window. To change the border width,

Now, you need to save the file by

from http://musicbrainz.org/doc/

double-click BorderWidth and enter the

giving it a new name, close it and

MusicBrainz_Picard. You can immediately

desired width in pixels under Value in

open it again. Excel does not save

get started after undergoing the simple

the subsequent dialog Edit Character

any information regarding the undo

installation process.

String. Read on to know which elements

steps, but optimizes the records of the

First of all you just need to take care

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Tips & Tricks

of the necessary configuration so as

QUICK TIPS

to rename the incorrectly named files

automatically. You can do this over the
menu path Options. Select the category

CHANGING THE NAME IN IE

once you go to the second page remove

the tick in front of Tabulator and set it
for Comma. There is no need for any
modification on the third page. After the

You can change the names of saved favorites

by clicking on the Favorites tab and then
selecting Organize Favorites. Here, you will
find the rename option.

import you will see that every imported

from the tags. This can be modified

HIDING ZERO VALUES

separately. There are still a lot of

To hide zero values in Excel tables, open

Tools | Options and deactivate the Zero
Values option.

located on the left File Naming and

activate the option Rename files when
saving. The field File names will display
the standard schema for the name list

additional settings for the exact handling

for the tags mainly in the categories
Tags and Metadata. You can load
the music files to be searched using
Add files or Add folder option. Most
of the common formats except WAV are

additional tags are added. Use the slower

method Scan in the second step for the
titles that have still not been recognized.

installed browser plug-ins are

up to date

most of the times the browser plugins

For this, press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [+] in Word for

viewing all non printable characters.

right once this step is successful and the

Quickly check if the currently

To interrupt PowerPoint presentations with a

black screen, press [B] or [.].

be displayed to the left, then mark one or

titles will automatically be shifted to the

Firefox

The installed add-ons are regularly and

DISPLAYING PARAGRAPH MARKS

for a quick search for metadata. The

INTERRUPTING PRESENTATIONS

supported in this case. The new title will

more files and click the symbol Lookup

row looks practical.

automatically checked for updates, but

remain in the older version of the
system and must be renewed manually.

RETAIN TABLE FORMAT IN EXCEL

In Excel, when you paste a table from one
sheet to another, at the end you will see a
small box. Clicking on it, you will find several
useful options that will help you retain the
original table format.

This determines a fingerprint of the title

and can be assigned to other music

occur in different versions. Thus, CSV is a

pieces using web alignment.

better option.
To plug security loopholes, check the browser
plug-ins and update them on a regular basis.

To start with open the Outlook

Outlook 2010

contacts for exporting and click on

Save contact addresses as

the Contacts field in the navigation

universal CSV file

field of the application. Now click open

the File tab in the multifunction bar

datedness of the installed plug-ins online,

You want to process the contact

and click on the functions Open and

but from Firefox 6 onwards the process

data stored in Outlook further and

Import. Select the option Export to a

has been made quite simpler. Just go to

search in a different application like

file and click on Next. Mark the option

Tools | Add-ons and select the category

Excel or Access - a simple option for

Comma Separated Values (Windows)

given on the left Plugins.

exchanging data.

on the next page and again click on

CSV is supported in Outlook as well as Excel and

Access.

The most sensible format for

exporting the Outlook contacts is the

You can check the up-to-

Now follow the link Check to see if

Next. CSV is the actual file extension

your plugins are up-to-date. The website

for the Comma Separated Values. Now,

will then lists all the plugins found on

select the contact folder and confirm

your system along with their version

this with Next. Once you are done with

numbers and highlight the ones that are

this, give in the desired location and the

up-to-date in green color. There is a need

name for the target file. Now, you can

for action in case you see a yellow or a

start with the export using Next and

red push-button. In this case the push

Finish. Thus, you can open and edit

button goes to the official download

the generated CSV file in any of the text

page of the respective plug-in. The

editors. While doing this just ensure that

check is only limited to plug-ins that

you separate individual fields with a

are recognized by Mozilla, but it also

comma and that you do not delete any

functions amazing well even with many

commas that may seem unnecessary.

other browsers like Chrome, Safari, Opera

However, the further processing is

and even Internet Explorer.

much more comfortable in Excel.

In Excel 2010, click on Data tab and

Internet Explorer 9

simple and thus the most popular CSV

then select From Text option. After

text format. Along with this format

this, select the CSV file and start the

Outlook also offers other file formats

wizard for text conversion by pressing

like for instance Microsoft Access or

Import. On the first page of the wizard

The new Internet Explorer, after

Microsoft Excel. However, problems may

activate the option Delimited. Now

a speedy start, gets even slower

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Tips & Tricks

search is conducted simultaneously in

10

all the open tabs. You can upgrade this

function from the add-on Search Tab in
Firefox. This can be installed from addons.
mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/
search-tab/developers. Open the XPI file
using the browser. Permit the installation
by clicking on Install now. Once the
installation is complete you must re-start
Firefox by clicking Re-start now.
You do not need to change any

Internet Explorer keeps an exact log of the time

taken by each add-on for loading.

Flash cookies are also removed optionally from

Chrome version 12 onwards.

9
every time. You should know which

You can download Chrome 13 from

components are responsible for this.

the website google.com/chrome.

Start the browser afresh once the

Various Add-ons are downloaded

installation is complete. From now on

while starting the browser and takes up

Chrome shall monitor the file downloads

a lot of the downloading time. You can

on your system and will compare it with

quickly find out in Internet Explorer 9

a black list and will display a warning

which Add-on is mainly responsible for

message in case a download risk of

the delay. For this click on Tools and

malicious software is detected. This just

open the command Manage Add-Ons.

The tab offers a useful search function that covers

content from all the tabs that are opened.

The browser will display all the installed

Add-ons. You will find a column Load

acts as an additional layer of protection,

but does not really replace the need for a
virus scanner as new hazardous websites

time in the Toolbars and Extensions

settings and it will be activated

cannot always be detected through a

option on the left hand side. Here you

immediately. It can be accessed over the

black list. In addition to this, from version

can check which element is taking

entry field that is to the right bottom of

12 onwards Chrome offers the possibility

a relatively long time. You can then

the screen in the add-on bar. You can

to delete even the special Flash cookies

Deactivate the Add-on once you have

enter the desired search term here and

(Adobe Local Storage Objects) directly

marked the relevant entry. However,

confirm using the Enter key. Firefox now

from the browser; earlier this was

on certain websites this can lead to

jumps to the next position in a desired

possible only over an Adobe website and

functional disturbances. Thus, in certain

tab that contains the search term. Press

was quite complicated. For this you need

cases you need to decide whether you

Enter once more to go to the next search

to click on the settings symbol and open

can do without installing a different,

hit. You will see a message in the entry

the command Tools. Then select Clear

maybe a faster alternative or accept the

filed Search query failed once all search

Browsing Data in the field Privacy.

delay in favor of the desired functionality.

hits are viewed.

Here, select Delete cookies and other

Note: For instance you should never

site and plug-in data. Select any other

deactivate the filter of an active

protection program. Diverse toolbars are
non-essential most of the times mainly
if information is updated automatically.

10

Chrome

options as well as the suitable period

Enhance security for

and start the action by clicking on Clear

downloading and browsing

Browsing Data.

You surf a lot using Google Chrome

Firefox

and download a number of files. Now

Conduct a simultaneous

you want to know which settings in the

search for a term in all the

browser are correct and important for

open tabs
It is common practice to collect data

optimal security.

11

Firefox
Restore or even trace back the
master password

You have saved the stored access

data for various websites along

Sometime back Google had

with a master password. You can

simultaneously in separate tabs during

launched Chromes version 13. You

neither log-in nor can you go to the

research. You soon lose track as

should check the updates on your

administrator since you have forgotten

information is available on a number of

system regularly to profit from the

the password.

sites. You want to be sure and want to

improved security functions. Most of

search in all the tabs.

the times, the updating procedure is

The normal search function in

Since the master password is

automatic; however it may face problems

supposed to protect the stored data,

occasionally. You can check the version

access is absolutely not as easy as you

Firefox always talks only of the latest tab.

of Chrome installed on your machine

think.

However, when you are working in several

by clicking on the settings symbol and

tabs it is a dream come true when the

selecting Info on Google Chrome.

The official solution by Mozilla makes

restoration of the entire system over a
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Tips & Tricks

11

chances of successful recognition is low

13

in case the password is long and secure,

this is due to the fact that this tool
cannot work in the required computing
time without additional information. In
this case you are left with no option but
to use the restoring option.

12

Internet Explorer 9
Disable menu bar to find
important functions

Small and simple Firefox master passwords can be

decoded using the FireMaster.

In HTML format, even the signature can be an

HTML file and contain image elements.

As per the general trend, even the new

command in the address bar. However,

Internet Explorer has removed the

all the user names, passwords, personal

menu bar. But you want to have the

in Word and save it as an HTML file.

certificates and private keys are deleted

usual menu bar at least temporarily.

Open it in Thunderbird Tools | Account

in this process. Once the restoration is

Design a signature with an image

12

complete you can save the password

settings. Select the desired email

account. Now activate the option Attach

again but has to be filled in complete and

the signature from a file instead. Then

new. Thus, keep this as the last resort

navigate to the previously created HTML

as only an emergency solution. For

file and click Open. Confirm with OK.

this, type in the command chrome://

14

pippki/content/resetpassword.xul
in the address bar and press the Enter

All bars can be activated and deactivated as

desired via the context menu.

key. Now press the option Reset in the

Moving entire paragraphs

subsequent warning message.

The tool FireMaster tries and traces

Word XP, 2003, 2007,

2010
using an easy shortcut

If you prefer to use the usual menu

the master password. Since FireMaster

bar, simply press the [Alt] key to activate

After writing the text, you notice that

acts as a hacker tool in a way its use

it. Pressing [Alt] again deactivates this

the order of some paragraphs is not

on foreign computers is considered

bar. There is also a setting for permanent

right. You need a quick and easy way to

punishable under law. That is why think

display of the same. Right click on a

swap two complete paragraphs.

before using and use it only in case of

free area in the title bar of the browser

an emergency and only on your own

window. Now Menu bar and Status

computer. The free download of the

bar can be activated easily via the

paragraph you want to move. Then press

FireMaster program is available under

context commands. However, if you

[Alt] + [Shift] and keep both the keys

securityxploded.com/firemaster.php.

use the registry setting necessary in the

pressed. Using the up arrow key, you

Unpack the ZIP archive and start Setup_

beta version, then you can also block

can now move the paragraph up swap

Firemaster.exe by double-clicking on your

the control via the user interface and

places with the previous paragraph. You

entry. You can then use the tool directly

either have the menu bar permanently

can move the paragraph down using the

from the command prompt, in the folder

active or the access to it is completely

down arrow key.

C:\Pro gramme\SecurityXploded\

blocked. To use the normal settings,

FireMaster. In some cases you do not

you must completely delete the value

remember the entire password, but only

AlwaysShowMenus in the registry

a part of it. For instance, you remember

key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\

that the password has eight characters

Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\

and begins with Max. Here, the Brute

Main. Only setting it to 0 is not

Force attack with a specific example and

sufficient as then the access to the menu

When working with Excel, you always

marginal conditions is most meaningful:

bar remains blocked.

have to convert values from one unit

firemaster.exe -q -b -m 8 -l 8 -c

copy, -b stands for the Brute Force

method, -m 8 describes the least

15

Excel XP, 2003, 2007,

2010
Easy and efficient conversion
of numerical values with units

of measurement to the other. You

"0123456789" -p "Max?????" auto

The option -q suppresses the soft

Simply place the cursor on the

13

Thunderbird

are looking for the easiest possible

Draft elegant email signatures

solution to this without having to write

with text and images.

formulae yourself.

length and -l 8 a maximum length of

Instead of only sender details, you want

8 characters, -c defines the choice

to give your emails a chic signature.

contains the function CONVERT().

of characters and the stated sample

You want the signature to have an

However, in the older versions you will

is given after -p. Eventually, the

image to attract more attention and

first have to install it. You will have to

parameter auto gives out the automatic

emphasize your personal style.

install and activate the add-in Analysis

recognition of the Firefox profile. The

114

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For this task, the toolbox of Excel

ToolPak before using this function

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15

Horsepower

"HP"

even allocate a particular combination

Watt

"W"

for other functions and save it using

Temperature

Apply. All settings under Display are

Degree Celsius

"C"

temporary, and are displayed on the

Degree Fahrenheit

"F"

screen for a few seconds.

Kelvin

"K"

Liquids

17

Word 2007, 2010

Tea spoon

"tsp"

Tablespoon

"tbs"

Liquid ounce

"oz"

Cup

"cup"

You generally scroll through large

U. S. pint

"pt"

documents using the mouse wheel.

U. K. pint

"uk_pt"

This option is not available when

for the first time. For this open Excel

Quart

"qt"

working on a notebook or tablet PC.

Options | Add-ins then from the list

Gallon

select Analysis ToolPack. At the bottom

Liter

The practical Excel function CONVERT() directly

converts the values from one unit to another.

the add-in, after which its ready for use.

using a panning hand

"l"

From the 2007 version of Word,

you have the option of scrolling through

option, here select Excel Add-ins from

Go. You will be then prompted to install

Quick scrolling without mouse

"gal"

of the page you will find the manage

the drop down menu and then click on

16

iTunes

larger documents using the panning

Easy control of the music being

hand. But you need to activate this

played in the background

hidden function first. For regular use, it

is advisable to integrate it in the tool

While working on the PC, you have

bar for easy access. To do so, click the

parameters: first the address of the cell

music playing on iTunes in the

arrow in the quick access tool bar and

containing the value to be converted;

background, but even for a simple

select the Word Options entry and

then the unit of the value within inverted

pause function, you have to activate

go to Customize. Here in the Choose

commas and finally the unit (again

the program window.

commands combination field, change

CONVERT() requires three

within inverted commas) in which Excel

has to convert the value. For example,

the setting to All commands. Now

iTunesControl installs those

search and select the Panning hand

to convert the no. of days given in

practical operating functions in the

entry from the list on the left; Moving

cell A1 into seconds, use the formula

system, which is not available in iTunes.

hand in case of Word 2010. By clicking

=CONVERT(A1,"day","hr"). If you get an

You can download the free program

Add, take the command onto the right

error message then check if you are trying

form itunescontrol.com. For installing

side and confirm with OK.

to convert say meter into minute. In such

the program, open the MSI file and

cases Excel quits this attempt with the

follow the wizard. The program links

by clicking the icon in the quick access

error #N/A. The following list contains

itself to iTunes and is configured such

toolbar. Once this is activated, the cursor

some units of measurement, which can

that it automatically starts with iTunes

takes the shape of a hand, with which

be converted using CONVERT().

and closes again. The tool does not

you can move the view in any direction

Weight and mass

have a separate operating interface.

Gram

"g"

However, it can be found in the info

Piece

"sg"

area of the task bar, where Windows

Pound

"lbm"

automatically allocates it to the hidden

U (Atomic weight)

"u"

items. Optionally, many finer aspects

Ounce

"ozm"

can be adjusted and shortcut keys can

Distance

In future, you can activate this mode

17

be reassigned, even though the default

Meter

"m"

setting also functions well. Yet, please

Mile

"mi"

take a look at the configuration dialogs

Sea mile

"Nmi"

to learn important shortcut keys. This will

Inch

"in"

make the process faster.

Foot

"ft"

For this, right-click on the icon in

Using the panning hand, you can bring the text in

the desired viewing position without a mouse.

Yard

"yd"

the info area of the taskbar and click

Angstrom

"ang"

on Settings. Hotkeys are of utmost

instead of selecting sections. You can

Pica

"Pica"

importance in the structure. For example,

return to the normal mode by pressing

the shortcut keys [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [P] can

the [Esc] key or clicking the icon a second

Units of time
Year

"yr"

be used to start and stop the play, while

time. The advantage of this function over

Day

"day"

[Win] + [Ctrl] + [On] or [Off] can be used

the mouse scroll is that you can also

Hour

"hr"

to control the volume and the side arrow

scroll sideways and hence also use it on

Minute

"mn"

keys when pressed along with [Win] +

a desktop PC.

Second

"sec"

[Ctrl] can be used to jump to the next or

Power

previous track. You can modify these or

Compiled by Team CHIP

send your tips to [email protected]
intelligent computing chip

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market watch

Market Watch
Processors: Intel
NAME
Intel E5700 Dual-Core
Intel E5800 Dual-Core
Intel E7500 Core 2 Duo
Intel Core i3-2100 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2310 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2300 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2400 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2500 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i7-2600 (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i7-2600K (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i7-990X

PRICE (Rs)

CPU SOCKET

3,285
3,700
5,900
6,475
9,000
9,700
10,375
11,450
12,400
16,000
17,050
62,260

LGA 775
LGA 775
LGA 775
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1366

NUMBER OF
CORES
2 Core
2 Core
2 Core
2 Core
4 Core
4 Core
4 Core
4 Core
4 Core
4 Core
4 Core
6 Core

CLOCK SPEED

MFG PROCESS

TDP

3.00 GHz
3.20 GHz
2.93 GHz
3.10 GHz
2.90 GHz
2.80 GHz
3.10 GHz
3.30 GHz
3.30 GHz
3.40 GHz
3.40 GHz
3.46 GHz

32 nm
45 nm
45 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm
32 nm

CLOCK SPEED

MFG PROCESS

TDP

2.80 GHz
2.70 GHz
3.20 GHz
2.60 GHz
3.40 GHz
3.60 GHz
2.90 GHz
2.80 GHz
3.20 GHz
3.30 GHz
3.30 GHz
3.10 GHz

45 nm
45 nm
45 nm
32nm
45 nm
32 nm
32nm
45 nm
45 nm
45 nm
32 nm
32 nm

45 W
95 W
125 W
100W
125 W
95 W
100W
125 W
125 W
125 W
95 W
125 W

65 W
65 W
65 W
65 W
95 W
95 W
95 W
95 W
95 W
95 W
95 W
130 W

Processors: AMD
NAME

PRICE (Rs)
1,950
3,150
6,100
6,300
6,800
7,250
7,300
7,800
8,900
11,175
11,199
12,500

AMD Sempron 145

AMD Athlon II X3 425
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
AMD A6-3650
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
AMD FX-4100 Black Edition
AMD A8-3850
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
AMD FX-6100 Black Edition
AMD FX-8120 Black Edition

CPU SOCKET
AM3
AM3
AM3
FM1
AM3
AM3+
FM1
AM3
AM3
AM3
AM3+
AM3+

NUMBER OF
CORES
1
3
4
4
4
4
4
6
6
6
6
8

Motherboards: AMD - IGP

NAME
Asus M4A78LT-M LE
Biostar TA880GB+
Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3
Gigabyte GA-A75M-D2H
MSI 880GMA-E35
Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H
Asus F1A75-M LE
Asus M5A88-M
Biostar TA890GXE
Asus F1A75-M
MSI A75A-G55
Asus M5A88-M EVO
Asus F1A75-V PRO

PRICE
(Rs)
2,725
3,650
4,550
5,125
5,350
5,825
5,875
6,199
6,300
6,375
6,425
6,850
8,200

CPU
SOCKET
AM3
AM3
AM3
FM1
AM3
FM1
FM1
AM3
AM3
FM1
AMD FM1
AM3
FM1

CHIPSET

MEMORY SUPPORT

DVI | HDMI

AMD 760G + SB710

AMD 880G + SB710
AMD 880G + SB710
AMD A75
AMD 880G + SB850
AMD A75
AMD A75
AMD 880G + SB850
AMD 890GX + SB850
AMD A75
AMD A75
AMD 880G + SB850
AMD A75

DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3

4|6
4|4
4|4
4| 6 | 6
4|4
4| 4 | 6
4|6
4| 6 | 4
4|4
4|4
4| 4 | 4
4| 4 | 6
4|4

PCI X16 | PCI |

SATA | USB
1 | 1 | 6 | 10
1 | 2 | 6 | 10
1 | 2 | 5 | 14
2 | 1 | 6 | 10
1 | 1 | 6 | 12
2 | 3 | 5 | 14
2 | 1 | 6 | 14
1 | 1 | 6 | 14
1 | 2 | 5 | 10
2 | 1 | 6 | 14
2 | 2 | 6 | 10
1 | 1 | 5 | 14
2 | 1 | 6 | 16

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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Motherboards: AMD - Non-IGP

Name
Asus M5A97

Price (Rs)

CPU SOCKET

6,200

CHIPSET

AM3+

MEMORY SUPPORT

PCIe x16 Slots

PCI | SATA | USB

DDR3

2 | 6 | 14

AMD 970 + SB950

Asus M5A97 EVO

7,800

AM3+

AMD 970 + SB950

DDR3

2 | 6 | 14

MSI 990FXA-GD65

10,500

AM3+

AMD 990FX + SB950

DDR3

1 | 6 | 14

Asus Sabertooth 990FX

13,375

AM3+

AMD 990FX + SB950

DDR3

1 | 8 | 18

Asus Crosshair V Formula

14,975

AM3+

AMD 990FX + SB950

DDR3

1 | 7 |18

Motherboards: Intel - IGP

6ame
Asus P5G41T-M LX
Intel BOXDH67BL
MSI H67MA-E35
Gigabyte H67MA-USB3
Asus P8H67-M
Asus P7H55-M/USB 3.0
Asus P8H67-M EVO
MSI Z68A-G45
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3R
Asus P8Z68-V
Asus P8Z68-V PRO

CPU Socket

Chipset

Memory support

D-Sub | DVI | HDMI

2,700

LGA 775

Intel G41 + ICH7

DDR3

5,350
5,675
6,425
7,225
7,375
9,200
9,650
10,175
12,300
14,550

LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1156
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155
LGA 1155

Intel H67
Intel H67
Intel H67
Intel H67
Intel H55
Intel H67
Intel Z68 + No
Intel Z68
Intel Z68
Intel Z68

DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3

4|6|6
6|4|4
4|4|4
4|4|4
4|4|6
4|6|4
4|4|4
4|4|4
4|6|6
6|4|4
6|4|4

Price (Rs)

PCIe x16 | PCI | SATA

| USB
1|2|6|6
1|1|3|6
1|1|4|4
1|1|4|4
2|1|4|6
1|1|6|6
2|1|4|4
2|2|4|4
1|2|4|3
2|2|4|6
2|2|4|6

Motherboards: Intel - Non-IGP

Name
MSI P67A-GD55
Asus P8P67-M Pro
MSI X58 Pro-E
Asus P8P67
Asus Sabertooth X58
Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3
Asus P6X58D-E
Asus Sabertooth P67
Asus Rampage III Gene
MSI P67A-GD80
Gigabyte G1.Guerrilla
Asus Rampage III Extreme
Gigabyte G1.Sniper
MSI Big Bang Marshal
Gigabyte G1.Assassin

Price (Rs)
8,900
9,175
10,500
10,650
10,800
10,975
12,600
14,175
14,775
14,775
20,350
22,475
23,550
25,150
26,225

CPU SOCKET

CHIPSET

MEMORY SUPPORT

PCIe x16 Slots

LGA 1155
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1155
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1155
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
LGA 1155
LGA 1366

Intel P67
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel P67
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel P67
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel P67
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel X58 + ICH10R
Intel P67
Intel X58 + ICH10R

DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3
DDR3

2
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
4
3
8
4

PCI | SATA | USB

2 | 6 | 14
0 | 7 | 16
2 | 7 | 13
3 | 8 | 16
1 | 8 | 14
1 | 6 | 14
2 | 8 | 10
1 | 4 | 18
1 | 8 | 13
2 | 6 | 10
1 | 8 | 16
1 | 9 | 11
1 | 8 | 16
0 | 8 | 12
1 | 8 | 16

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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Market Watch
Graphics Cards: ATI
Name

Price
Radeon GPU
(Rs)

Asus EAH5450 SILENT/DI/512MD2

Asus EAH5670/DI/1GD3
HIS H677FN1GD
Sapphire HD 6750 Vapor-X
Powercolor AX6850 1GBD5-DH
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850
XFX HD-685X-ZDFC
HIS H687QN1G2M IceQ
XFX HD-687A-ZNFC
Sapphire HD 6950
XFX Radeon HD 6950
Powercolor AX6950 2GBD5-2DH
XFX Radeon HD 6950
Asus EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5
Sapphire HD 6970
MSI HD 6970 Lightning

1,650
4,200
6,900
6,925
9,750
9,800
10,225
11,025
13,600
14,000
15,000
15,625
17,250
17,800
20,450
23,650

HD 5450
HD 5670
HD 6770
HD 6750
HD 6850
HD 6850
HD 6850
HD 6870
HD 6870
HD 6950
HD 6950
HD 6950
HD 6950
HD 6950
HD 6970
HD 6970

Direct X
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0

MEMORY MEMORY | BUS

TYPE
WIDTH
DDR3
GDDR3
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5

STREAM
PROCESSORS

CORE | MEMORY
SPEED

80
400
800
720
960
960
960
1120
1120
1408
1408
1408
1408
1408
1536
1536

650 MHz | 800 MHz

775 MHz | 800 MHz
850 MHz | 1200 MHz
700 MHz | 1000 MHz
775 MHz | 1000 MHz
775 MHz | 1000 MHz
775 MHz | 1000 MHz
900 MHz | 1050 MHz
900 MHz | 1050 MHz
800 MHz | 1250 MHz
800 MHz | 1250 MHz
800 MHz | 1250 MHz
800 MHz | 1250 MHz
810 MHz | 1250 MHz
880 MHz | 1375 MHz
940 MHz | 1375 MHz

STREAM
PROCESSORS
96
48
48
96
96
192
336
336
192
336
384
384
384
336
480
480
480
512
512
1024
1024

CORE | MEMORY
SPEED
810 MHz | 450 MHz
625 MHz | 700 MHz
625 MHz | 400 MHz
550 MHz | 400 MHz
550 MHz | 850 MHz
910 MHz | 1025 MHz
700 MHz | 900 MHz
650 MHz | 850 MHz
900 MHz | 1025 MHz
810 MHz | 1005 MHz
822 MHz | 1000 MHz
822 MHz | 1000 MHz
822 MHz | 1000 MHz
810 MHz | 1002 MHz
732 MHz | 950 MHz
732 MHz | 950 MHz
770 MHz | 1000 MHz
772 MHz | 1002 MHz
800 MHz | 1024 MHz
612 MHz | 855 MHz
607 MHz | 853 MHz

1 GB | 64-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256 bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit

Graphics Cards: Nvidia

Name

Price (Rs)

Sparkle GT 520
Sparkle GeForce GT 220
POV GeForce GT 220
Zotac GeForce GT 240
Zotac GeForce GT 240
ASUS GeForce GTX 550
Sparkle GeForce GTX 460
Palit GeForce GTX 460
Zotac GeForce GTX 550 Ti Amp
Palit GeForce GTX560 OC
Sparkle GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Palit GeForce GTX560 Ti
MSI Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 560 Ti
EVGA GeForce GTX 560
EVGA GeForce GTX 570 HD
Zotac GeForce GTX 570
MSI Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 570
Zotac GeForce GTX 580
MSI Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 580
Asus Geforce GTX 590
Zotac Geforce GTX 590

2,625
2,950
3,550
3,875
4,300
7,550
9,000
9,350
9,500
10,075
13,925
14,750
14,775
15,100
19,375
20,075
23,000
29,450
30,825
42,200
43,200

GPU Direct X
GeForce GT 520
GeForce GT 220
GeForce GT 220
GeForce GT 240
GeForce GT 240
GeForce GTX 550
GeForce GTX 460
GeForce GTX 460
GeForce GTX 550 Ti
GeForce GTX 560
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
GeForce GTX 560
GeForce GTX 570
GeForce GTX 570
GeForce GTX 570
GeForce GTX 580
GeForce GTX 580
Geforce GTX 590
Geforce GTX 590

11.0
10.1
10.1
10.1
10.1
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
11.0

MEMORY TYPE MEMORY | BUS WIDTH

DDR3
DDR3
DDR2
DDR3
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
DDR5
GDDR5
DDR5
DDR5
DDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5
GDDR5

2 GB | 64-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 128-bit
1 GB | 192-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 192-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
2 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1 GB | 256-bit
1280 MB | 320-bit
1280 MB | 320-bit
1280 MB | 320-bit
1536 MB | 384-bit
1536 MB | 384-bit
3 GB | 768-bit
3 GB | 768-bit

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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EXTERNAL DRIVE
Name
Silicon Power Diamond D05
Hitachi X Mobile Series HDD-X320
A-Data ACH94-500GU-CBK
Hitachi X Mobile Series HDD-X500
Western Digital My Passport Essential
A-Data ANH13-500GU3-CBK
Transcend StoreJet 25M3
Western Digital Elements Series
Verbatim 53018 Portable
Western Digital My Book Essential Series
Western Digital My Passport Studio Series
Buffalo HD-PXTU2 Series HD-PXT1TU2/B
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex
Transcend StoreJet 35T

Price(Rs)
3,500
4,375
4,925
5,000
5,125
5,250
5,325
5,450
5,850
5,925
7,175
7,300
7,325
7,825

USB FLASH DRIVE

Name
iball Ultra Strong
Transcend JetFlash 300
Transcend JetFlash V70
Transcend JetFlash 300
iball Ultra Strong
Sandisk Ultra Backup
Corsair Voyager USB 3.0
Corsair Voyager USB 3.0
Transcend JetFlash 500
Corsair Survivor

Capacity
4 GB
8 GB
8 GB
16 GB
16 GB
16 GB
8 GB
16 GB
32 GB
16 GB

CAPACITY
500 GB
320 GB
500 GB
500 GB
500 GB
500 GB
500 GB
1 TB
1 TB
1 TB
500 GB
1 TB
1 TB
2 TB

INTERFACE
USB 3.0
USB 2.0
USB 2.0
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
USB 3.0
USB 3.0
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
USB 3.0
USB 2.0 / FW 800
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
USB 2.0

FORM FACTOR
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
2.5-inch
3.5-inch
3.5-inch
3.5-inch
3.5-inch

CAMCORDERS
Price (Rs)
300
425
625
850
1,050
1,150
1,175
1,600
2,050
2,100

Name
Sony DCR-SX45
Samsung HMX-300BP
Sony HDR-CX130E
Canon Legria HF R17
Sony HDR-XR160E
Canon Legria HF R18
Canon Legria HF M300
Canon Legria HF M31
Sony HDR-PJ50E
Canon Legria HF S200

PRICE (Rs)
14,875
21,000
22,150
24,000
35,650
38,100
40,000
48,900
53,650
55,800

STORAGE
Memory card
Memory card
Memory card
8 GB Flash
160 GB HDD
Memory card
Memory card
32 GB Flash
220 GB HDD
Memory card

Resolution Optical Zoom

720 x 480
60x
1920 x 1080
30x
1920 x 1080
30x
1920 x 1080
20x
1920 x 1080
30x
1920 x 1080
20x
1920 x 1080
15x
1920 x 1080
15x
1920 x 1080
12x
1920 x 1080
10x

PROJECTORS
NAME
Viewsonic PJD5152
LG BS275
Sony VPL-EX100
Mitsubishi EX200U
LG HS201 G
Viewsonic PJD5352
Sony VPL-EX120
Viewsonic PJD6531W
Mitsubishi HC4000
Mitsubishi XD600U

PRICE (Rs)
29,825
30,250
33,250
33,850
40,250
42,750
47,250
50,075
81,100
82,225

TYPE
DLP
DLP
LCD
DLP
DLP
DLP
LCD
DLP
DLP
DLP

Brightness
2600 Lumens
2700 Lumens
2300 Lumens
2300 Lumens
2000 Lumens
2600 Lumens
2600 Lumens
3300 Lumens
1300 Lumens
4500 Lumens

Native Resolution
800 x 600
800 x 600
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
800 x 600
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
1280 x 800
1920 x 1080
1024 x 768

Contrast Ratio
3000:1
2200:1
2200:1
1250:1
2000:1
2600:1
2500:1
2800:1
3600:1
2000:1

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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Market Watch
Laptops
Name

Price
Weight
(Rs)

Processor

speed

ram

Display

HDD

Optical
Drive

Asus Eee PC 1011PX

12,100 1.25 Kg

Intel Atom

1.66 GHz

1 GB

10.1-in

250 GB

DVDRW

OS
DOS

Samsung NP-N100-MA03IN

12,500

1.21 Kg

Intel Atom

1.66 GHz

1 GB

10.1-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Asus R051

14,200

2 Kg

Intel Atom

1.66 GHz

2 GB

10.1-in

320 GB

Any

Win 7 Starter

Samsung NP-NC110-A02IN

15,800

1.45 Kg

Intel Atom DC

1.66 GHz

1 GB

10.1-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Starter

Lenovo S100 59-300427

17,100 2.44 Kg

Intel Atom

1.66 GHz

2 GB

10.1-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Starter

HP Mini 210-2103TU

17,900

Intel Atom DC

1.50 GHz

1 GB

10.1-in

320 GB

No

Win 7 Starter

Asus X52F-EX1408D

19,000 2.44 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.13 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Toshiba Satellite C600-P4012

19,500

2.1 Kg

Intel DC

2.30 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Toshiba Satellite C665-P5010

19,750

2.4 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP-RV409-A02IN

20,000

2.2 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.13 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Asus X53E-SX997D

20,500 2.44 Kg

Intel Celeron DC

1.50 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP-RV509-A0FIN

21,200

2.4 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.13 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Lenovo B570 59-306815

22,200 2.44 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP-300E5Z-A01IN

22,200

2.1 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

2 GB

15.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Asus X54H-SX136D

22,350 2.44 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.10 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Asus X52F-EX1258D

23,000 2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.40 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVD-RW

DOS

Asus X42JY-VX312D

23,250 2.44 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.13 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVD-RW

DOS

HP Compaq Presario CQ43-300TU

23,950

2.2 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP RV520-A05IN

24,200

2.4 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

LG ED530-L

24,250 2.66 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

1.4 Kg

Meego

HP Compaq Presario CQ57-300TU

24,450

2.5 Kg

Intel Pentium DC

2.00 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP-RV509-A0GIN

24,700

2.4 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.40 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Toshiba Satellite C640-I4015

25,250

2.1 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Acer Aspire 4755

26,200 2.30 Kg

Intel Core i3-2310M

2.10 GHz

2 GB

14.1-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Linux

Asus X54H-SX137D

26,450 2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.20 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Lenovo G560 59-063899

27,200 2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Sony Vaio VPCEG25EN

27,550

Intel Core i3

2.20 GHz

2 GB

14-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Basic

Acer Aspire AS5755

28,400 2.60 Kg

Intel Core i3-2310M

2.10 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVD-RW

Linux

Samsung NP-RV518-S01IN

30,000

2.4 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Lenovo G570 59315902

30,700 2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Toshiba Satellite C640-X4014

30,750

2.1 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

2 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Samsung NP-300E5Z-A08IN

31,650

2.3 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

DOS

LG S530-G

32,000

2.6 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

HP Pavilion G4-1008TU

33,250

2.1 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.66 GHz

3 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Sony Vaio VPCEH26EN

33,250

2.7 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.20 GHz

4 GB

15.5-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Basic

2.3 Kg

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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CHIP brings you a roundup of all the latest and greatest products on the market.

Laptops
Name

Price
(Rs)

Weight

Processor

speed

ram

Display

HDD

Optical
Drive

OS

2.52 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Dell Inspiron 15R

33,750

LG S530-G

34,500

2.6 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Lenovo Z370 59-313716

34,600

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.20 GHz

2 GB

13.3-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Sony Vaio VPCEG2AEN

35,150

2.3 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

4 GB

14-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Basic

Lenovo Z570 59-304237

35,700

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Toshiba Satellite C665-X5010

35,750

2.4 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

2 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Toshiba Satellite L740-X4210

36,750

2.1 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.30 GHz

4 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

HP Pavilion g4-1201tu

37,700

2.1 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

4 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Starter

Lenovo Z570 59-304317

38,600

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.30 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

DOS

LG P420-N

39,000

1.99 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.3 GHz

2 GB

14-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

HP Pavilion dv6-6164tx

40,050

2.54 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Samsung NP-300V5A-S0BIN

40,400

2.45 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

6 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Acer Aspire 5755G

40,850

2.60 Kg

Intel Core i5-2410M

2.30 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Acer Aspire AS 4820TG

40,850

2.11 Kg

Intel Core i5-460M

2.60 GHz

3 GB

14.0-in

500 GB

DVD-RW

Win 7 HP

LG P430-G

41,000

1.9 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.3 GHz

4 GB

14-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Acer Aspire 5830TG

41,350

2.49 Kg

Intel Core i5-2410M

2.30 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Sony Vaio VPCEH28FN

41,800

2.7 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

4 GB

15.5-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Samsung NP-RC510-S07IN

42,299

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.66 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

HP Pavilion dv6-6155tx

45,200

2.54 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.30 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HB

Lenovo Z570 59-304310

45,200

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.30 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

No

Win 7 HP

Sony Vaio VPCSB25FG/B

45,600

1.72 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

2 GB

13.3-in

500 GB

DVD-RW

Win 7 HP

Asus K53SV-SX521D

46,000

2.6 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.30 GHz

8 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

DOS

Sony Vaio VPCF135FG/B

47,500

3.1 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.66 GHz

4 GB

16.4-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Toshiba Satellite P750-X5310

47,750

2.62 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.90 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Toshiba Tecra R850-I5430

52,250

2.40 Kg

Intel Core i3

2.10 GHz

3 GB

15.6-in

320 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Pro

MSI GE620DX

52,790

2.4 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.20 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Dell XPS 15

53,100

2.44 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.90 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

HP Pavilion dv6-6165tx

58,650

2.63 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.00 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Dell XPS 15

59,500

2.70 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.90 GHz

6 GB

15.6-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Sony Vaio VPCSB37GG

59,850

1.72 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.50 GHz

4 GB

13.3-in

750 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Pro

Toshiba Qosmio F750-X5311

64,750

3.15 Kg

Intel Core i5

2.40 GHz

4 GB

15.6-in

500 GB

Blu Ray 6X

Win 7 HP

Sony Vaio VPCCB38FN

66,500

2.85 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.80 GHz

6 GB

15.5-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Dell Alienware 11X

67,000

2.99 Kg

Intel Core i3

1.30 GHz

4 GB

11.6-in

500 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Sony Vaio VPCSE17GG

76,000

1.96 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.80 GHz

4 GB

15.5-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 Pro

MSI GX683

87,060

3.5 Kg

Intel Core i7

2.20 GHz

8 GB

15.6-in

640 GB

DVDRW

Win 7 HP

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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market watch

Market Watch
Digital Cameras
Name

Price (Rs)

Resolution Optical Zoom

Wide Angle

Aperture

LCD Size

Shutter Speed

Canon PowerShot A800

3,956

10 MP

3.3x

37 mm

F3 - F5.8

2.5-inch

15 - 1/2000 sec

Fujifilm FinePix AV200

4,075

14 MP

3x

32 mm

F2.9 - F5.2

2.7-inch

8 - 1/1400 sec

Nikon Coolpix L23

4,125

10 MP

5x

28 mm

F2.7 - F6.8

2.7-inch

NA

Sony Cybershot DSC S3000

4,200

10.1 MP

4x

28 mm

F3.0 - F5.7

2.7-inch

2 - 1/2000 sec

Kodak Easyshare M532

5,750

14 MP

4x

28 mm

NA

2.7-inch

8 - 1/1600 sec

Olympus VG140

5,850

14 MP

5x

26 mm

F2.8 - F6.5

3.0-inch

4 - 1/2000 sec

Nikon Coolpix S3100

6,125

14 MP

5x

26 mm

F3.2 - F6.5

2.7-inch

4 - 1/2000 sec

Canon Powershot A3200 IS

6,156

14.1

5x

28 mm

F2.8 - F5.9

2.7-inch

15 - 1/1600 sec

Canon Digital IXUS 105 IS

6,156

12 MP

4x

28 mm

F2.8 - F5.9

2.7-inch

1 - 1/1500 sec

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

7,216

16 MP

5x

28 mm

F2.8 - F5.9

3.0-inch

15 - 1/1600 sec

Sony Cybershot DSC-T99

9,425

14.1 MP

4x

25 mm

F3.5 - F4.6

3.0-inch

2 - 1/1250 sec

Sony Cybershot DSC-W570

9,425

16.2 MP

5x

28 mm

F2.6 - F6.3

2.7-inch

2 - 1/1600 sec

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj

11,225

14.1 MP

5x

28 mm

F3.9 - F5.8

3.0-inch

NA

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX7

11,225

16.2 MP

5x

25 mm

F2.6 - F6.3

2.8-inch

2 - 1/1600 sec

Olympus SP-610 UZ

11,500

14 MP

22x

28 mm

F3.3 - F5.7

3.0-inch

4 - 1/2000 sec

Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

12,175

16.2 MP

10x

25 mm

F3.5 - F5.5

3.0-inch

30 - 1/1600 sec

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

12,325

14.1 MP

12x

28 mm

F3.4 - F5.6

3.0-inch

15 - 1/2500 sec

Samsung EC-ST6500

12,990

16.1 MP

5x

26 mm

F3.3 - F5.9

3.0-inch

2 - 1/2000 sec

Nikon Coolpix S8000

13,775

14.2 MP

10x

35 mm

F3.5 - F7

3.0-inch

4 - 1/1000 sec

Canon Powershot SX230 HS

15,396

12.1 MP

14x

28 mm

F3.1 - F5.9

3.0-inch

15 - 1/3200 sec

Samsung EC-WB700

15,490

14 MP

18x

24 mm

F3.2 - F5.8

3.0-inch

16 - 1/2000 sec

Kodak EasyShare Max Z990

15,775

12 MP

30x

28 mm

F2.8 - F5.6

3.0-inch

16 - 1/2000 sec

Fujifilm FinePix F500EXR

15,950

16 MP

15x

24 mm

F3.5 - F5.3

3.0-inch

8 - 1/2000 sec

Sony DSC-HX9V

16,200

16.2 MP

16x

24 mm

F3.3 - F5.9

3.0-inch

30 - 1/1600 sec

Canon IXUS 310 HS

17,596

12.1 MP

4.4x

24 mm

F2.0 - F5.8

3.2-inch

15 - 1/1600 sec

Olympus SP-810 UZ

17,600

14 MP

36x

24 mm

F2.9 - F5.7

3.0-inch

1/4 - 1/850 sec

Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR

20,350

16 MP

30x

24 mm

F2.8 - F5.6

3.0-inch

30 - 1/4000 sec

Olympus XZ-1

21,950

10 MP

4x

28 mm

F1.8 - F2.5

3.0-inch

60 - 1/2000 sec

Canon Powershot SX30 IS

21,996

14 MP

35x

24 mm

F2.7 - F5.8

2.7-inch

15 - 1/3200 sec

Fujiflim FinePix Real 3D W3

22,100

10 MP

3x

35 mm

F3.7 - F4.2

3.5-inch

3 - 1/1000 sec

Canon Powershot S95

23,756

10 MP

3.8x

28 mm

F2.0 - F4.9

3.0-inch

15 - 1/1600 sec

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

25,525

12 MP

35x

24 mm

F2.7 - F5.8

2.7-inch

15 - 1/3200 sec

Canon Powershot G12

28,156

10 MP

5x

28 mm

F2.8 - F4.5

2.8-inch

15 - 1/4000 sec

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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CHIP brings you a roundup of all the latest and greatest products on the market.

MONITORS
NAME
Asus VH162DE
BenQ G610HDAL
BenQ G925HDA
Samsung SyncMaster 2030
LG E2060T
AOC e2043Fs LED
Samsung SyncMaster B2230N
Dell ST2220M
Asus MS202N
AOC V22+
LG E2360V
Samsung S23A350H
BenQ G2420HD
ViewSonic VA2448M
ViewSonic VX2439wm
BenQ LED V2200 Eco
LG E2290V
Acer D240H
Acer H243H
ViewSonic VX2753MH
BenQ M2700
Asus VK278Q
BenQ XL2410T LED
ViewSonic VP2655WB
Dell U2711

PRICE
(Rs)
3,845
3,950
4,700
5,750
7,050
7,200
7,450
8,150
8,575
9,300
10,100
10,399
10,600
11,200
11,775
12,100
12,150
12,500
13,950
20,350
21,200
22,100
26,100
38,525
42,700

SCREEN
WIDESCREEN
SIZE
15.6-inch
4
15.6-inch
4
18.5-inch
6
20-inch
4
20-inch
6
20-inch
4
21.5-inch
4
21.5-inch
4
20-inch
4
22-inch
4
23-inch
4
23-inch
4
24-inch
4
24-inch
4
24-inch
4
21.5-inch
4
21.5-inch
6
24-inch
4
24-inch
4
27-inch
4
27-inch
4
27-inch
4
23.6-inch
4
26-inch
4
27-inch
4

NATIVE
RESOLUTION
1360 x 768
1366 x 768
1366 x 768
1600 x 900
1600 x 900
1366 x 768
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1600 x 900
1680 x 1050
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1200
2560 x 1440

RESPONSE TIME
8 ms
8 ms
5 ms
5 ms
5 ms
5 ms
5 ms
5 ms
5 ms
2 ms
5 ms
2 ms
5 ms
5 ms
2 ms
5 ms
2 ms
2 ms
2 ms
1 ms
2 ms
2 ms
2 ms
5 ms
6 ms

D-SUB

DVI

HDMI

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6

6
6
6
4
4
6
6
4
4
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

6
6
6
6
4
6
6
4
6
4
4
4
4
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
4

CABINETS
NAME

PRICE (Rs)

Circle Cosmo
Circle CC Stick
iBall Work Horse
Cooler Master Elite 334
Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus
Lian Li Lancool Dragon Lord PC-K56
Cooler Master Gladiator 600
Antec Three Hundred
Thermaltake M9 VI1000BWS
Antec Dark Fleet DF-10
Antec Six Hundred
Thermaltake V9 VJ400G1N2Z
Cooler Master CM 690 II Advance
Cooler Master HAF 912 Advanced
NZXT Phantom

1,700
1,775
2,000
2,325
3,225
3,400
3,800
3,850
4,400
5,025
5,500
5,900
6,475
6,475
7,300

POWER SUPPLY
4
4
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

5.25-INCH
BAYS
3
1
2
4
3
5
5
3
6
3
3
4
4
4
5

3.5-INCH
BAYS
6
1
5
6
2
0
5
6
3
6
6
5
6
6
7

NUMBER OF FANS
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
3
3
4

Note: Street prices (incl. VAT) as on 10 December 2011.

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Personal Tech

One man managed to isolate an entire nation

and brainwash its population into believing
he was a god. Will the rest of the world learn
any lessons from his life and death?
JAMSHED AVARI, deputy editor

A new future
T

he death of Kim Jong Il raises some

interesting questions concerning the
future of North Korea. The common
citizens of the famously insular nation
are plagued by food shortages and have almost
no communication at all with the outside world.
Although computers are fairly common in
schools and offices, the Internet itself is famously
absent. Reporters Without Borders called North
Korea the worlds worst Internet black hole
as recently as 2006, and Internet access itself
is illegal, according to Wikipedia. Similarly,
mobile phones are tightly regulated, and it isnt
possible to make or receive international calls.
A few hotels and establishments in Pyongyang
reportedly do have satellite Internet connections,
and a few privileged officials have secret private
connections too. The country does seem to allow
citizens to access information through some sort
of intranet, which includes educational resources
and even chatrooms. Seperately, the government
runs a number of propaganda sites, which till
quite recently were hosted outside the country,
and there are even official Twitter and YouTube
accounts for outsiders to admire.
Now, in the stories that have predictably
been making the rounds of media outlets
following his death, it emerges that the
divine glorious leader was quite fond of
surfing the Internet himselfwhich is not
all that surprising, considering his other
indulgences included fine food and drink
especially imported from all over the world.
Maybe being tech savvy himself, he realized
how dangerous it would be to allow citizens
to learn the truth about their country and
leader. More importantly, he couldnt risk
letting them see how differently the rest of
the world lives. China is often in the news
for its totalitarian censorship of the Internet
and harsh punishment for anyone trying

130

01/2012

to circumvent the nationwide blockage, but

Chinese citizens are at least allowed some
exposure to international news and media. In
comparison, North Korea is still pretty much
in the dark ages, and its unlikely that people
outside of the privileged families in Pyongyang
even know how free information exchange
could affect their lives.
We take our technology for granted, and
often moan about how weak or expensive
it is compared to other parts of the world.
We've rarely, if ever, measured ourselves
against those countries dramatically less
fortunate than us. North Korea needs all the
change it can get, but let it also serve as
a warning to usthis is what will happen
when megalomaniacal individuals have such
complete control over a nation and are scared
of losing it. This is what could happen if
extreme ideology is followed when deciding
national level policies regarding censorship vs
the freedom of expression, and the rights of
individuals vs those of corporations.
So what happens now? How much of this
policy was one mans doing, and will his son,
the great successor, take after him? With
an expensive Swiss education and hopefully
a broad world view, the younger Kim might
have very different ideas of how to run his
nation. Imagine the possibilities of a country
full of people, some of whom might have had
no exposure at all to international media in
their lives, emerging onto the Internet. While
the primary focus of a new regime should
of course be the human rights situation,
technology can only help the people and
agencies who will need to jumpstart an entire
country's economy and bring it onto the
international map.
- [email protected]
- twitter.com/ja140

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