NDTV Gives 5 star to PK

SPOILERS AHEAD
After an entire year of being subjected to unalloyed trash generated by box office sharks that cannot see beyond their weekend collections, Bollywood enthusiasts who value their intelligence - and their hard-earned money - finally have reason to rejoice. PK is here.

Rajkumar Hirani's first film in five years is a warm, funny and piercingly provocative satire that should blow the blues away.

It is the kind of full-blooded but genteel entertainer that should get us all into just the right frame of mind to usher in Christmas and bid adieu to a year that has seen us celebrate ugly excess on all fronts with unseemly glee.

PK, buoyed by a magnificent script and outstanding acting all around, is an uplifting fantasy that springs a surprise at every turn but never overplays its hand.
It comes as close to storytelling perfection as any mainstream Hindi movie has done in living memory.


It has great songs, beautifully filmed musical set pieces, brilliant pacing and nary a moment that flags.

As a cinematic send-up on Gods true and fake, PK pulls no punches at all and speaks its mind like a carefree child that has just learnt to talk and make sense of the world.

But this hard-hitting critique of all that ails a nation that seems to have lost its human moorings and is in blind pursuit of false panaceas remains good-natured all the way through.

The screenplay by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi demands a degree of willing suspension of disbelief, especially when it comes to a few of the pivotal coincidences that drive the narrative.

The characters and the crucial dramatic and comic moments are, however, informed with such infectious warmth and beauty that nothing that the plot throws up is ever in danger of ringing overly false.

The five-year hiatus between 3 Idiots and this film has clearly served them well. The screenwriters have worked a delicately crafted love story into the taut tapestry of PK, thereby lending it an emotional dimension that usually eludes a high-minded satire.

Even the principal antagonist in PK, Tapasvi Maharaj, played superbly by Saurabh Shukla, isn't an ogre designed to evoke disgust.

PK is out to provoke but not to shock. The film asks questions via its idiot savant protagonist, but does not attempt to deliver facile, absolute answers. And that makes it all the more effective.

PK is propelled primarily by Aamir Khan's delightfully droll superstar turn as a nameless seer from outer space who is stranded on Planet Earth - in Rajasthan and Delhi to be precise.

This is an unlikely saga of an alien who lands in the desert completely naked like a new-born baby and then proceeds to acquire the ways of human adults in a bid to survive in a hostile environment.

His fate hinges on whether he can regain a stolen gadget that he needs in order to return to his home light years away and cling on to his purity as his brushes with mankind becomes increasingly hazardous.

In one of the film's quirkiest scenes, he learns the language of humans by drawing words out of the mind of a sleepy Bhojpuri-speaking sex worker that he is led to by his only friend in the desert of Rajasthan, band master Bhairon Singh (Sanjay Dutt).

The search for the remote control device that he needs to summon his spaceship back to earth eventually sees him end up in India's capital city.

There he encounters a tenacious television journalist Jaggu Sahni (Anushka Sharma), just back with a painful heartbreak in beautiful Bruges.

He also comes up against a rapacious Godman who is responsible for thwarting Jaggu's marriage with her Pakistani boyfriend Sarfaraz Yusuf (Sushant Singh Rajput).
The girl, befuddled by the long-eared stranger's unpredictable and inexplicable powers and saddled with the 'breaking news' of a suicidal puppy, sells the story to the channel boss (Boman Irani).

Once he finds his way on to the television screen, the unflappable extra-terrestrial unleashes a storm that sweeps everything and everyone in its way. And that most certainly includes the audience.

Anushka Sharma, playing a feisty poetry-loving girl who knows her mind far more than most Hindi film heroines are allowed to, holds her own against Aamir Khan.

Aamir revels in the character of the wide-eyed, fearless rebel who dares to challenge the societal and religious structures that encourage bigotry and distrust.

Sushant Singh Rajput has only a cameo in PK but in the handful of scenes that he is in - including one in the run-up to the climax that ratchets up emotions and vigorously pulls the heartstrings - he gives a great account of himself.

Do watch out for Ranbir Kapoor - a little icing on a cake so appetizing that it will have you clamouring for more.

PK is a winner all the way, a film that Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt would have been proud of had they been alive. Rajkumar Hirani is without a doubt their most worthy standard-bearer.

Apple Co-Founder Wozniak Sceptical on Smartwatches, Google Glass

Steve Wozniak says he is no fan of smartwatches and believes Google Glass will fail as he cautioned not to expect the company he co-founded, Apple, to always lead the way into new technologies.
The American, who quit Apple in 1987 12 years after creating the technology giant with the late Steve Jobs made the comments as he took up Australian residency, with a view to living Down Under permanently.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review on Friday, he also praised current Apple chief executive Tim Cook for breaking free from Jobs's "dogma" by allowing a big-screen iPhone to be made.



"I really admire Tim Cook and admire that they broke a dogma that had come from Steve Jobs, which was about only having small phones," he said.
"The iPhone originally made it because it looked like a big phone, and then, when rival phones looked bigger than Apple's they continued to say 'we are right'.

Wozniak, who has a son living in Sydney and said he one day wants to be able to say "I lived and died an Australian", buys all the latest devices from a variety of tech companies to form his own views on what is working best.
Wozniak, who remains on the Apple payroll, is not a big fan of smartwatches, saying no company has yet figured out a compelling reason for them to exist."I bought a few of the early smartwatches, including Samsung's, and they were so disappointing," he said.

"When I see people wearing it, I think they are cool because they are brave enough to play with the future with a device that makes no sense in terms of what it does for what it costs," he said.
"In my mind, it is a great product that will not succeed, just like many other great products that didn't succeed."

Google Aiming to Go Straight Into Car With Next Android

Google is laying the groundwork for a version of Android that would be built directly into cars, sources said, allowing drivers to enjoy all the benefits of the Internet without even plugging in their smartphones.

The move is a major step up from Google's current Android Auto software, which comes with the latest version of its smartphone operating system and requires a phone to be plugged into a compatible car with a built-in screen to access streaming music, maps and other apps.
Google, however, has never provided details or a timeframe for its long-term plan to put Android Auto directly into cars. The company now plans to do so when it rolls out the next version of its operating system, dubbed Android M, expected in a year or so, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

Direct integration into cars ensures that drivers will use Google's services every time they turn on the ignition, without having to plug in the phone. It could allow Google to make more use of a car's camera, sensors, fuel gauge, and Internet connections that come with some newer car models.
Analysts said Google's plan could face various technical and business challenges, including convincing automakers to integrate its services so tightly into their vehicles.
Google declined to comment.
Technology companies are racing to design appliances, wristwatches and other gadgets that connect to the Internet. Automobiles are a particularly attractive prospect because Americans spend nearly 50 minutes per day on average on their commute, according to U.S. Census data.
Apple unveiled its CarPlay software in March and Google has signed on dozens of companies, including Hyundai, General Motors Co and Nissan Motor Co, for its Open Automotive Alliance and its Android Auto product.
"With embedded it's always on, always there," said one of the sources, referring to the built-in version of Android Auto. "You don't have to depend on your phone being there and on."Google's software could potentially connect to other car components, allowing, for example, a built-in navigation system like Google Maps to detect when fuel is low and provide directions to the nearest gas stations.

Top 5 Fuel-Efficient Automatic Cars in India

1. Mini Cooper D
Fuel Economy: 26.3Km/l
Yeah, you didn't expect that, did you? Hence, I draw your attention back to our headline - 'Most Fuel Efficient Automatics' and yes it is. The Mini Cooper D 3-door boasts of a fuel-efficiency figure of 26.3Km/l. Now this data is not from the ARAI but these are the EU figures and since the car is a CBU, there isn't a difference in the components used. The only factors that could perhaps affect its claim are road- and fuel-quality.

The Mini Cooper D uses a 6-speed steptronic gearbox for both, the 3-Door and 5-Door version. Under the hood is a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 115bhp and 270Nm of torque. 0-100Km/h is dealt in just 9.2 seconds and the top-speed is rated at 205Km/h. So, you get performance and fuel efficiency in one car. What else could you ask for?

2. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
Fuel Economy: 24.07Km/l
One would expect to see a Maruti Suzuki car right at the top, but it isn't. It comes in at a close 2nd. The Alto K10 was updated recently and with it, came an AMT. Though it is not exactly an automatic, but it is still quite there. The Alto Kl10 sports a 5-speed AMT (or AGS, like Maruti called it), which is the same gearbox as the one found in the Celerio.

Being lighter, added to the advantage when it came to fuel-efficiency and it delivers an ARAI rated efficiency figure of 24.07Km/l. The engine used is a 998cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine which delivers 67bhp and 90Nm of torque.
3. Maruti Suzuki Celerio
Fuel Economy: 23.1Km/l
If you are not happy with the space the Alto K10 has to offer, an additional Rs. 40,000 in your budget will get you the entry-level Celerio AMT. The Celerio was the first car in the lot to start the AMT madness, which has now passed on to many others in the country.

The AMT comes with the petrol K-series engine and is responsive. At 23.1Km/l the Celerio comes in a close third to its smaller sibling. A trip around the city or just a highway run, the Celerio makes for a fun car and with fewer trips to the fuel station, is easy on the wallet too.
4. Tata Zest
Fuel Economy: 23Km/l
The Zest was the comeback car for Tata Motors in India. After having tasted success with the Indica, Tata Motors had been on a downslide, but HorizonNext promised a slew of new-age cars. The Zest is the cheapest diesel automatic in the country and of course, the most affordable too.

A 5-speed AMT unit similar to the Celerio and Alto K10 goes into the Zest, which is powered by the 1.3-litre Quadrajet (Fiat's Multi-jet) engine. With 90bhp and 200Nm of torque on offer, the Zest is quick and easy to drive.
The Zest returns a fuel efficiency of 23Km/l which is extremely good but Tata does charge a premium for the AMT version. In fact, even after paying the premium, the Zest with the AMT comes sans any safety features like airbags and ABS. So, the Zest ticks the blocks of fuel-efficiency but not of safety.
5. Skoda Rapid
Fuel Economy: 21.7Km/l
We finally come to the most recent of cars, the Skoda Rapid with the DSG box. The Rapid shares its mechanicals with the Volkswagen Vento, and now even the DSG box. Despite all the sharing, it comes as a bit of a surprise when it surges ahead in terms of the fuel economy figure it achieves.

Mated to a 1.5-litre diesel powertrain, the 7-speed DSG gearbox returns a fuel economy figure of 21.7Km/l. The fuel economy is marginally better when compared to the Vento but Skoda charges a premium. The DSG is one of the finest in the lot of automatic gearboxes and is brilliant on both, the highway and chock-a-block traffic conditions. Volkswagen is working to make the automatic gearbox a bit more affordable and we hope they succeed in doing that.

DSK Motowheels To Build New Plant Near Pune

When the DSK Group announced its association with Italian superbike manufacturer Benelli, Shirish Kulkarni, Chairman, DSK Hyosung, had made it very clear that there will be a significant investment made into a plant where the Benelli bikes will be assembled.

We were told in an interview then, that DSK Motoowheels was looking for a place around Pune which will help in assembling the Benelli and Hyosung products. The plan seems to have fallen into place as there is word of the company investing in a new unit which will be in the vicinity of their current plant.
The existing unit of the company assembles Hyosung bikes and has a single shift capacity of 3000 units per year, a double shift can push it to making 5000 bikes annually. 2015 will see the DSK and Benelli banner launch the Tornado Naked Tre, TNT 302, TNT 600i, TNT 899 and the TNR 1130 R.

Dutch Car Maker Spyker Declares Bankruptcy

Sports car maker Spyker on Thursday declared bankruptcy, with the small Dutch company that once competed in Formula 1 saying it could not stay afloat after losing a critical legal battle.

The founder of the one-time owner of Sweden's Saab vowed that the bankruptcy was not the end for the company which would return with revolutionary electric cars. "Today the District Court of Middle-Netherlands converted the moratorium of payment granted to Spyker... to bankruptcy," Spyker said in a statement.

Two weeks ago the court gave Spyker a stay of payment to restructure and search for a new credit line to pay its bills, including 152,000 euros ($186,000) in rent it owed on its Zeewolde property in central Netherlands.

Spyker's bankruptcy comes after years of financial struggles, which was exacerbated after it bought flagging Swedish car maker Saab from US-based General Motors in 2010 for $1.5 billion. But two years later Saab filed for bankruptcy when Spyker's last-ditch bid to raise funds in China was nixed by GM over technology transfer issues.

According to the latest figures quoted by Dutch media, Spyker sold three cars in 2012 with a total value of 700,000 euros. The company lost 6 million euros over the same period, according to figures by the Dutch daily NRC.

Founded by two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrik Jan Spyker, in 1880, the company specialised in some of the world's first luxury cars and aircraft engines until 1925, when it ceased trading. Spyker was relaunched in 2000 by its colourful chief executive Victor Muller and the company also saw a brief foray into Formula One and competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Shah Rukh Khan -Standard Role Model

Shah Rukh obliged the students with a short lecture at the do.

Can't give the moment a miss, a student took a selfie with SRK. 

For SRK, With Love from Britain
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was presented with the Global Diversity Award at Britain's House of Commons in London on October 4.

SRK received the award from John Bercow, the speaker of the House of Commons.
SRK exchanges pleasantries with John Bercow and Member of Parliament Keith Vaz who conducted the ceremony.
SRK stands in the backdrop of the Big Ben, London's iconic Clock Tower situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster.

PK Movie Review

SPOILERS AHEAD
After an entire year of being subjected to unalloyed trash generated by box office sharks that cannot see beyond their weekend collections, Bollywood enthusiasts who value their intelligence - and their hard-earned money - finally have reason to rejoice. PK is here.

Rajkumar Hirani's first film in five years is a warm, funny and piercingly provocative satire that should blow the blues away.

It is the kind of full-blooded but genteel entertainer that should get us all into just the right frame of mind to usher in Christmas and bid adieu to a year that has seen us celebrate ugly excess on all fronts with unseemly glee.

PK, buoyed by a magnificent script and outstanding acting all around, is an uplifting fantasy that springs a surprise at every turn but never overplays its hand.
It comes as close to storytelling perfection as any mainstream Hindi movie has done in living memory.


It has great songs, beautifully filmed musical set pieces, brilliant pacing and nary a moment that flags.

As a cinematic send-up on Gods true and fake, PK pulls no punches at all and speaks its mind like a carefree child that has just learnt to talk and make sense of the world.

The characters and the crucial dramatic and comic moments are, however, informed with such infectious warmth and beauty that nothing that the plot throws up is ever in danger of ringing overly false.

The five-year hiatus between 3 Idiots and this film has clearly served them well. The screenwriters have worked a delicately crafted love story into the taut tapestry of PK, thereby lending it an emotional dimension that usually eludes a high-minded satire.


PK is propelled primarily by Aamir Khan's delightfully droll superstar turn as a nameless seer from outer space who is stranded on Planet Earth - in Rajasthan and Delhi to be precise.

This is an unlikely saga of an alien who lands in the desert completely naked like a new-born baby and then proceeds to acquire the ways of human adults in a bid to survive in a hostile environment.

His fate hinges on whether he can regain a stolen gadget that he needs in order to return to his home light years away and cling on to his purity as his brushes with mankind becomes increasingly hazardous.

In one of the film's quirkiest scenes, he learns the language of humans by drawing words out of the mind of a sleepy Bhojpuri-speaking sex worker that he is led to by his only friend in the desert of Rajasthan, band master Bhairon Singh (Sanjay Dutt).

The search for the remote control device that he needs to summon his spaceship back to earth eventually sees him end up in India's capital city.

There he encounters a tenacious television journalist Jaggu Sahni (Anushka Sharma), just back with a painful heartbreak in beautiful Bruges.

He also comes up against a rapacious Godman who is responsible for thwarting Jaggu's marriage with her Pakistani boyfriend Sarfaraz Yusuf (Sushant Singh Rajput).
The girl, befuddled by the long-eared stranger's unpredictable and inexplicable powers and saddled with the 'breaking news' of a suicidal puppy, sells the story to the channel boss (Boman Irani).

Once he finds his way on to the television screen, the unflappable extra-terrestrial unleashes a storm that sweeps everything and everyone in its way. And that most certainly includes the audience.

Anushka Sharma, playing a feisty poetry-loving girl who knows her mind far more than most Hindi film heroines are allowed to, holds her own against Aamir Khan.

Bipasha Basu on the poster of Alone

"Who would have ever thought that the lovely Bipasha Basu will be your nightmare," tweeted Priyanka

Actress Priyanka Chopra is currently afflicted by nightmares, courtesy colleague Bipasha Basu.

And we dare not disagree. Bipasha Basu, who has become the "queen of horror films" thanks to the likes of Creature 3D, Aatma and Raaz 3, will be seen as both as an evil spirit and its victim in the film. Alone, directed by Bhushan Patel of 1920: Evil Returns and Ragini MMS fame, is based on a Thai film by the same name. The film also stars TV star Karan Singh Grover.

Angelina Jolie Hires Team to Monitor Her Children's Activities Online

Actor-filmmaker Angelina Jolie has hired a cyber-security team to monitor the social media and internet content that her children encounter.

The Maleficent actress, who describes herself as "old-school" when it comes to technology, said that she is unsure if she and her husband, actor Brad Pitt are prepared for the digital world, reported Ace Showbiz.

The 39-year-old mother of six said she prefers writing things on a notebook rather than posting on social networking sites Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The Wanted star is glad that internet and social media didn't exist when she was younger.

"It's a scary new world. It's so beyond what we understand. We wouldn't even know what to look for," she said.

Sachin said PK is an out-of-the-box film with a strong message

Aamir held a special screening of PK for Sachin

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was floored by actor Aamir Khan's performance in his forthcoming film PK and said it's the best film that he has ever seen.

Aamir held a special screening of PK for Sachin on Tuesday.


"His role in the film is completely different. It is a completely out-of-the box film with a very strong message. It is a must-watch film. Without any doubt it is his best performance," he added.

"The film is superb. I have promised Aamir, so I won't disclose much about the story. But I would like to say that all of you please go and watch this film as it is completely different. For me, it's the best film and best performance of Aamir that I have ever seen," Sachin said.


Further, the master-blaster praised Anushka's performance. Sachin said "Aamir and Anushka's pairing was amazing. It's a must watch".



Directed by Rajkumar Hirani and co-produced by him and Vidhu Vinod Chopra,PK will reportedly see Aamir as an astronaut. Aamir will also be seen speaking Bhojpuri in the film.



PK also features actors Sanjay Dutt, Sushant Singh Rajput and Saurabh Shukla. PK will hit the screens on December 19.

SONY Lens after GOOGLE GLASS

Sony earlier this year introduced its Project Morpheus VR headset and showed the world that the Japanese firm had no fear in fighting for a pie in virtual reality segment. Earlier this year, the company also announced its interest in the augmented reality with the unveiling of the SmartEyeglass prototype at IFA.
The company has now announced an attachable Single-Lens Display Module that can turn a regular eyewear into smart, augmented reality glasses like Google Glass. Sony announced plans to reveal its new Single-Lens Display Module at CES in January for the first time and will showcase it as a concept device called "SmartEyeglass Attach."

Sony stressed that with its display module, "it is looking to provide the product to a wide variety of potential customers."

The Single-Lens Display Module includes an optical unit along with an OLED micro-display that is powered by a control board comprising a processor, sensor hub, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. The 0.23-inch OLED micro-display on the device offers a resolution of 640x400 pixels and serves as a screen for users.

The new display module can be attached or detached to eyewear. The company said, "Because the module is easily attachable/detachable, you can use it only when you want to, and you have the option to store it away if it does not suit the occasion."
Sony's new display module is powered by an ARM Cortex-A7 processor; includes electronic compass, accelerometer, and touch sensors; Bluetooth 3.0; Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, and a 400mAh battery. It weighs around 40 grams and can be used by wearing the clip around the back of the user's head.

Elvis Presley's Cadillac Out for Display

The latest addition to the list of exhibits in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu (UK) is King of Rock & Roll - Elvis Presley's 1977 Cadillac Seville. Though the car was manufactured by General Motors, Presley's 1977 Cadillac Seville V8 Automatic sported a body custom-built by Fisher for Cadillac. In terms of features, the car has electronic windows and mirrors and a grey interior with wood grain accents on the dashboard, doors and steering wheel.

Fun fact: the King bought the burgundy and silver Cadillac in October, 1976.
It is said that Elvis Presley bought over 200 Cadillacs in his life and not just for himself, but as gifts for friends, family and sometimes, even strangers. . His father gifted the car to Presley's girlfriend - Ginger Alden - after his death.

Q1 The Smallest Audi SUV - Coming in 2016

Audi, the German luxury carmaker, is one of the fastest-growing luxury car brands in the world, and is slightly behind world's no. 1 - BMW - in terms of sales. The Ingolstadt-based carmaker currently enjoys the no. 2 spot in the luxury car space and is working on several mass-segment cars which, I think, will help it grow even faster. It currently has cars like A1, A3 and Q3 in the entry-level luxury car segments, and is working on yet another mass-segment product - the Q1, which will be positioned below the Q3.

A recent report by Auto Bild suggests that the sub-compact crossover will be built on Volkswagen's MQB platform, which also underpins the A3. The report further says that at an expected price of €25,000, the Q1 will become the company's cheapest offering in its Q range of SUVs/Crossovers. That said, it will be close to the Q3 in terms of dimensions, since the new-gen Q3 will, expected to arrive in 2018, will grow in size.


The report also suggests that a performance-oriented model - the SQ1 - might also be on offer. It will sport a 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit capable of churning out a maximum power output of 231bhp and 500Nm.

Roger Federer With Aamir Khan wants to watch 'PK'

New Delhi: International tennis legend Roger Federer is eagerly waiting to watch Aamir Khan's much anticipated film "PK".

Federer, who had a friendly match with the superstar at the ongoing International Premier Tennis League, was enthralled by the first poster of "PK" and told Aamir that he will be watching the film.

"When Roger met Aamir he first spoke about the poster of 'PK'. He was very excited to know the idea behind the poster and told Aamir he would be watching the film when it releases," Aamir's spokesperson said in a statement. (Deepika Padukone Pairs up With Federer for Exhibition Game)
The movie, which also stars Anushka Sharma, will hit the screens December 19.

Graffiti Superman, MJ, KFC

Graffiti James Bond, Mr.Bean

Graffiti

The Crew :: Coolest graphics in the game

It's been a year of slim pickings for racing fans. Barring Forza Horizon 2 and GRID Autosport, there has been very little to choose from for fans of the genre in this country, particularly because you can't get Driveclub outside of the grey market just yet. We haven't seen a new game in the Need For Speed series either, with Electronic Arts deciding against a release this year. With this in mind, The Crew becomes one of the very few multiplatform racing games available at the moment. Ubisoft's open world game wears its influences on its sleeves, bringing together every cliche from Need For Speed Underground series and Fast and The Furious.


You have not-so-legal street racing gangs, an FBI investigation, and a slew of cars to choose from. It might not be the most original of settings but it serves as a ready scaffolding against which you can explore what the game has to offer.




You're not in cruise control
Unfortunately for a racing game, driving in The Crew is a terrible experience, even if it looks good. The cars handle poorly, and you'll end up crashing into corners instead of taking smooth turns. At the start of the game, the handling of all the available cars is sluggish and unresponsive - compared to a game like Need For Speed Rivals, or GRID Autosport, racing in The Crew feels like a dental procedure.
In the long term the handling does improve and it does so nicely. This is because the game incorporates a leveling system where your cars gain experience as you progress, which translates into better performance as well.
After the initial couple of hours, as you progress and your ride gains levels, you'll notice that the handling improves and the chance of you hitting a building while taking a corner has drastically reduced. It becomes a better game than what it was but it stops short of being a joyride. You're still not completely in control of your car, but have more than enough to make it through the rest of the game. Which begs the question: are you willing to pour in the time in the hope that the game's core driving mechanic gets better?
Speaking of denying fun, the single-player campaign is filled to the brim with cookie-cutter missions. You'll drive from one point to another with a time limit, try to evade the cops, and compete against AI opponents that race as if they have invisible rocket engines strapped to their cars. Thankfully, the game doesn't force its story down your throat. Once you're done with the initial exposition, you're better off exploring its expansive game world replete with variety rather than wrestle with the story missions that feel like busywork. Tragic considering that the premise appears to set things up for interesting missions.

Verdict
So is Ubisoft's open world racer worth your time and energy? It just depends how starved you are for a brand new racing game and your willingness to tolerate its many concerns until they're rectified, if at all. If you aren't, you're better off playing some of the older Need For Speed games instead.
We played a review copy of The Crew on the Xbox One. The Crew is available for Rs. 1,799 on PC and Rs. 3,499 on PS4 and Xbox One.

BlackBerry Classic Camera Features Revealed; White Colour Tipped

The camera features and modes of BlackBerry Classic smartphone, which is set to start shipping from December 17, have now been previewed officially by the firm. The handset's White colour variant has also been leaked online.


The smartphone, which has been appearing in Black colour variant until now, seems set to arrive in White colour also, according to n4bb website. The image leaked (seen above) by the website reportedly shows an official render of the device in both black and white colour.
To recall, BlackBerry earlier this month started taking pre-orders for the Classic smartphone at $499 (roughly Rs. 30,800). Rumoured specifications of the BlackBerry Classic smartphone include a 3.46-inch display with a resolution of 720x720 pixels; a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU; 2GB of RAM; 16GB of inbuilt storage; expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB); an 8-megapixel rear camera; a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 1515mAh battery.




Donny Halliwell, BlackBerry's Social Media Marketing lead, on the company blog post detailed a number of camera modes and other features included the Classic handset on Tuesday. Some of the features mentioned are Panorama Mode, Offline Time Shift Mode, Timer, HDR Mode, Burst Mode, and Shutter Buttons. However, the rear or front-facing camera sensor size were kept a secret.
Halliwell explains that BlackBerry Classic will feature an easier method to capture panorama images by simple swiping from left to right. The handset will also flaunt better HDR technology, which "combines multiple exposures, so that if you're in less than ideal lighting situations like a bright sunny day, or a dimly lit room, pictures shot with HDR activated, could appear more balanced."

Acer Liquid Jade S With 64-Bit Octa-Core SoC and 2GB of RAM Launched

The Acer Liquid Jade S is also expected to launch in India soon, as the company has silently listed the device on its India website. Here, the company hasn't detailed any pricing for the Liquid Jade S.
The dual-SIM Acer Liquid Jade S runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat and features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixel) IPS display with 'Zero Air Gap' technology and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen protection. It sports nearly identical specifications as the Liquid Jade, barring the chipset, front-facing camera, battery and the presence of 4G LTE connectivity.

The company recently launched the Liquid Jade and Liquid E700 for the Indian market at Rs. 16,999 and Rs. 11,999 respectively, exclusively via Snapdeal. Notably, the handsets were introduced in May this year during the Computex 2014 event. 

The Liquid Jade S is noted as the company's first 64-bit smartphone, powered by an octa-core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6752M processor, whereas the original Liquid Jade featured a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 processor. It features a 16-core Mali T760 and 2GB of RAM. The smartphone sports 16GB of built-in storage that is expandable via microSD card

The Liquid Jade S features a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera. In terms of connectivity options, the Liquid Jade S offers 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and GPS/ A-GPS. Dimensions of the Liquid Jade are 143x69x7.78mm, and weighs 116 grams. It is backed by a 2300mAh battery.

All New Hyundai Sonata On Sale in Malaysia; Will Launch in 2015 in India

Hyundai, the Korean automaker, that showcased the 2015 Sonata in China last month, has now launched it in Malaysia. The similar vehicle is expected to come to our shores as well. Based on the company's Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy, the vehicle looks entirely different from the existing model that is on sale in India.

With 4,855mm length, 1,865mm width and 2,805mm wheelbase, the new Sonata is 35mm longer, 30mm wider and has a 10mm longer wheelbase than the existing model. The larger dimensions result into a more spacious cabin. The company also says that the widespread use of high-strength steel, the car achieves 41 percent more torsional rigidity and 35% more bending strength.


The cabin of the car too has gone more up-market with a larger centre console, better placed switchgears, a fully-digital instrument cluster, better upholstery and several other new additions.
Launched in three variants - Elegance B, Elegance and Executive - in Malaysia, the new Sonata features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, this engine churns out a maximum power output of 152bhp and 194Nm of torque. The Indian model, however, is expected to be offered with both petrol and diesel engine options.

Toyota Mirai:: Review

Mirai stands for 'future' in Japanese, and it truly becomes Toyota's claim that 'the future is here'. The Mirai is the Japanese carmaker's first mass-production hydrogen-power fuel-cell car and it comes after 20 years and millions of dollars worth of investment in research and development. So the question remains, could this be the next Prius?

However, the Mirai's design isnt for everyone, especially with it's slightly awkward proportions. But the interior will give you something to smile about; it looks more futuristic than the Prius with a couple of black touchscreen panels below the curved dashboard. On the top center of the dash, there is the speedometer, gear indicator and driving details of the powertrain. Below it is the navigation and infotainment screen carried forward from the Prius. The quality of the cabin materials is impressive and so are the 8-way adjustable seats. Decent head-room up front, but it takes a hit in the rear, thanks to the placement of the hydrogen tanks below the floor. Boot space is sufficient at 371-litres.

Since hydrogen is quite a complicated technology to generate power out of, here's a quick download of how the system exactly works. The gas goes through a hydrogen fuel cell stack that mixes oxygen with the hydrogen and this reaction, in turn, generates electricity to charge the on-board battery. The car is powered by a 114 kilowatt fuel cell stack along with a 113 kilowatt electric motor on board. The combination of hydrogen and oxygen creates pure water, which is dumped via the tailpipe while driving or when the vehicle is parked.

Toyota claims that under the Japanese test cycle, Mirai offers a range of 650Kms with the two hydrogen tanks. However, the real world driving distance could be about 550Kms. And here's the other big surprise, unlike electric vehicles, which take time to charge, refilling the tank of the Mirai with hydrogen will take less than 5 minutes.

The short drive on a small track offered a basic idea of the Mirai's driving dynamics. The engine feels fairly powerful and also comes along with the option of a 'power mode' that releases more hydrogen into the fuel cells which gets into the electric motor. Long story short, it lets you have some fun with the Mirai.


Toyota has officially launched the Mirai in Japan, and it will land in the US and select European markets by the second half of 2015. Priced at around $57,500 or approximately Rs. 35 lakh, the Mirai's price could dip a little with select markets offering government incentives. Challenges like lack of hydrogen stations will be the biggest hurdle, so Toyota is ensuring that the Mirai is launched in a phased manner. But for now we are happy to show you this slice of the future.

Mercedes Benz Reveals All New GLE Coupe

After a couple of soft teasers, Mercedes-Benz has finally unveiled the car which is designed to tackle the BMW X6 - the GLE Coupe. According to the German carmaker, the GLE is billed as a 'striking' combination of a coupe and a crossover.

However, from where we are looking at it, the GLE looks like a crossover. The car features a prominent front fascia with a single bar grille flanked by LED head-lamps. We've always maintained that the roofline of the car was dynamic and the rear end is similar to that of the S-Class Coupe.
Other styling highlights include plastic body cladding, chrome trim, a dual exhaust system and standard 20-inch alloy wheels. Also, there is also an optional set of 21- and 22-inch wheels.
Of course, there is an AMG too; looks like Mercedes didn't want to wait this one out. The GLE 450 AMG goes one step further as it adopts an aggressive AMG body kit and 21-inch lightweight alloy wheels. The model also gets AIRMATIC air suspension, an adaptive damping system and an automatic lowering function which reduces the ride height at higher speeds.
There is quite a range when it comes to the engines this car gets, and though Mercedes hasn't confirmed the specifications, there will be a GLE 350 d 4MATIC with 255bhp and 620Nm of torque. If that's not powerful enough, the GLE 400 4MATIC houses a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine that develops 330bhp and 480Nm of peak torque. Then there is also the GLE 450 AMG which gets a more powerful twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that puts 365 horses and 520Nm of turning power.
Transmission duty is handled by the GLE 450 AMG's 9-speed automatic gearbox which also has a Dynamic Select system with five specially-tuned modes: INDIVIDUAL, COMFORT, SLIPPERY, SPORT and SPORT+.
The cabin of the GLE 450 AMG is distinguished by a Nappa leather sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and carbon fiber trim with piano black accents. The standard model has sport seats, a sport steering wheel and a new infotainment display. The cabin also sports silver shadow accents and aluminum or wood trim.

AirDroid 3 Brings Android Device Mirroring, Desktop Clients

AirDroid, a tool that lets Android users perform actions like transferring files, pasting links and text from their Web browsers, has launched its latest app, version 3, along with the much-requested desktop clients for Mac and Windows support.

One of the key features introduced in the AirDroid 3 is AirMirror, which lets users control their Android handsets remotely via the desktop application. Using the beta feature, users can reply to messages and perform other tasks on the Android handset via the Mac or Windows using mouse and keyboard. The firm is showcasing the feature with a WhatsApp use case, where users can interact with smartphone app on their computers.
The desktop clients, as noted by The Next Web, however still lack some of the features offered by the AirDroid Web interface, and the firm says it will continue to update the latter despite the rollout of the Mac and Windows clients. Some of the missing features of AirDroid 3 include browsing files and photos, accessing camera app, locating the handset, take screenshots, change ringtones and more.
The updated AirDroid 3 app is available to download from Google Play, while the Mac and Windows apps can be downloaded from the 'Download' tab on the company website.



"With AirDroid 3, your multi-screen life is easy like never [before]. You won't miss any important messages while focusing on your work. You [can] receive/reply SMS on computer, most importantly, you can put your Android device under full control by mouse and keyboard, even without your phone with you," stated the company blog post.

The new version lets users transfer files between the Android handset and desktop or vice versa, and also between two connected Android devices. Users can simply drag and drop files which they want to share via local or remote connection. Files to be transferred by remote connection will available to download for seven days from the AirDroid server, after which they will be deleted.
The new Android app version has also been redesigned to match the Android 5.0 Lollipop's Material Design.

Megan Fox's Car Hit by Drunk Driver

Megan escaped unhurt in the accident.

 

Megan's husband was driving a Range Rover when a Mini Cooper violently sideswiped them, enough to blow a tire

Transformers actress Megan Fox and husband actor Brian Austin Green were sideswiped near Mulholland Drive allegedly by a drunk driver on Thursday night.

The Mini Cooper spun around and eventually stopped. Police have arrested the Mini Cooper's driver. The 35-year-old man was reportedly driving at twice the legal limit.
The star couple escaped unhurt in the accident though their vehicle was damaged badly. Brain, 41, was driving a Range Rover when a Mini Cooper going in the opposite direction crossed over the yellow line and violently sideswiped them, enough to blow a tire, reported TMZ.