Saturday, 17 October 2015
Friday, 9 January 2015
Thursday, 8 January 2015
First Unmanned Flying Machine Was Made By An Indian
The film is a biopic on 19th century Indian scientist Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, who is given credit for building and operating the first unmanned flying machine in the world.
The paper titled 'Ancient Indian Aviation Technology' was presented by Anand Bodas, retired principal of a pilot training centre, with Ameya Jadhav, lecturer at Mumbai's Swami Vivekananda International School and Junior College. It discusses the science involved in Talpade's experiment.
Starring Ayushmann Khurrana as Talpade, alongside Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Sharda, the film has been co-produced by a consortium of four entities, including Reliance Entertainment, Rajesh Banga, Vishal Gurnani and Puri himself. The film has been made at a cost of Rs 18-20 crore. "The release is still three weeks away, so it is yet to make some noise. However, its trailer has received good reviews and the industry is praising it. Hopefully, the discussion at the Indian Science Congress about the theme should give an early marketing push. Currently, the films in focus are PK and Tevar," said Shaaminder Malik, an independent exhibitor and trade analyst for north India.
Debutante director Puri has clarified in the media that the film is a fictional account on the life of Talpade and his supposed feat of building and flying the first unmanned flying machine. In his opinion, the fact there is debate over whether or not the Indian scientist achieved this feat while India was still a British colony, was an intriguing enough subject for him.
Talpade's unmanned flying machine, called Marutsakha, is said to have been based on ancient Vedic science and factions of the science fraternity in India claim the flight took place in 1895, around eight years before the historic flight of the Wright Brothers. However, there is debate on the matter and Puri referred to accounts and books written on this while researching for the film.
Sony Launched TV Thinner Than Any SmartPhone
Sony took the wraps off four new lines of Bravia 4K LCD televisions at CES 2015. The company also announced what it calls the "thinnest TV" till date, which sports a thickness of just 4.9mm at the thinnest point.
Notably, all the new Sony Bravia TVs launched on Monday are smart TV offerings and include the new 4K Processor X1, which the company touts "further advances the clarity, colour accuracy and contrast". All the newly-introduced Bravia TVs also run Google's Android TV platform.
Out of the four, the new X9000C Series 4K LCD televisions, which include a 55-inch and 65-inch models, sport a thickness of just 4.9mm. The company credits the new "revolutionary floating style" for the slim profile and claims that the TV is "virtually frameless and mounts flush to your wall." Unfortunately, the Japanese electronics giant has not revealed price of any new Bravia models.
Sony however has revealed the availability details of the new nine models namely the X9000C Series 4K LCD TV including 55-inch and 65-inch models will be available in Q3. The rest of the new Bravia 4K LCD TVs including X9300C with the 65-inch model and X9400C 75-inch model; the X8500C including 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models, and lastly, X8300C with 43-inch and 49-inch models will be available in Q2 2015.
Newly launched Bravia 4K LCD TVs will be available in a size range of 43-inches to 75-inches and in total include nine new models. The new 4K Bravia LCD TV range sport a screen resolution of 3840x2160 pixels and include TRILUMINOS Display panels.
With Android TV, the new Bravia range of 4K LCD TVs supports Google Cast that allows users to cast content from mobile devices, and the Voice Search, which is available via the remote which features a microphone and a touchpad. The TVs also come with Google Play access.
Notably, all the new Sony Bravia TVs launched on Monday are smart TV offerings and include the new 4K Processor X1, which the company touts "further advances the clarity, colour accuracy and contrast". All the newly-introduced Bravia TVs also run Google's Android TV platform.
Out of the four, the new X9000C Series 4K LCD televisions, which include a 55-inch and 65-inch models, sport a thickness of just 4.9mm. The company credits the new "revolutionary floating style" for the slim profile and claims that the TV is "virtually frameless and mounts flush to your wall." Unfortunately, the Japanese electronics giant has not revealed price of any new Bravia models.
Sony however has revealed the availability details of the new nine models namely the X9000C Series 4K LCD TV including 55-inch and 65-inch models will be available in Q3. The rest of the new Bravia 4K LCD TVs including X9300C with the 65-inch model and X9400C 75-inch model; the X8500C including 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models, and lastly, X8300C with 43-inch and 49-inch models will be available in Q2 2015.Newly launched Bravia 4K LCD TVs will be available in a size range of 43-inches to 75-inches and in total include nine new models. The new 4K Bravia LCD TV range sport a screen resolution of 3840x2160 pixels and include TRILUMINOS Display panels.
With Android TV, the new Bravia range of 4K LCD TVs supports Google Cast that allows users to cast content from mobile devices, and the Voice Search, which is available via the remote which features a microphone and a touchpad. The TVs also come with Google Play access.
Lamborghini Smartphone Now Available Globally
Tonino Lamborghini Mobile on Monday announced the global launch of the stainless steel-and-leather handset ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Despite an uncertain economy and declining prices for mobile devices, the Italian-based company says it may be unable to meet demand.
"Luxury is not a need, but it is a way to stand out," said Bob Hatefi, chief executive at Lamborghini Mobile, a company formed by the son of famed auto designer Ferruccio Lamborghini.
"We provide technology as well as luxury. We are not after volume."
The company is not related to Lamborghini automobiles, which are now produced by a division of Volkswagen, but was created by Tonino Lamborghini, the son of the famed auto designer Ferruccio Lamborghini.
The 88 Tauri handset is offered in black, gold and steel silver and is finished with high-grade leather available in five colors. Each phone is assembled by hand and receives a unique device number.
The company also makes headphones and other audio products, and an earlier smartphone selling for around $4,000 (roughly Rs. 2.5 lakhs).
HP Launches Mini and Pavilion Mini Affordable Compact PCs
Alongside, the company has also introduced the Pavilion Mini PCs starting at $319.99 (approximately Rs. 20,000) with the Intel Pentium CPU, and $449.99 (approximately Rs. 28,000) for the Intel Core i3 model.
Both - HP Stream Mini and HP Pavilion Mini - come with Windows 8.1 and will be available via the company's online store in the US from January 14, and through some retailers beginning February 8.On the lines of Mac Mini and Chromebox, the HP Stream Mini is compact machine with a height of roughly 52.3mm and a weight of approximately 0.72kgs.
The HP Stream Mini packs an Intel Celeron 2957U (1.4GHz, 2 cores, 2 threads) processor, 2GB of DDR3L (1600MHz) RAM and 32GB SSD storage.
The Intel Pentium-powered specifications of the HP Pavilion Mini PC include a 1.7GHz Pentium 3558U CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive. The other Pavilion Mini packs a 1.9GHz Core i3-4025U CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB 5400RPM hard drive.
Additionally, HP is offering free 200GB of Microsoft OneDrive storage for two years, and a worth $25 (approximately Rs. 1,800) gift card that can be used at the Windows Store to buy apps, music, and even Xbox One games, says company.
Connectivity options on the HP Stream Mini and HP Pavilion Mini include Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports, integrated Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, SD card reader, audio jack, DisplayPort 1.2 and an HDMI 1.4 port.
iPhone 6 Helped iOS Eating Android Smartphone Sales: Kantar
period in 2013.
"The iPhone 6 was the best-selling phone in the three months through November 2014, capturing 19 percent of smartphone sales", said Carolina Milanesi, Chief of Research at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech of US sales.
However Android remained the dominant OS across Europe with a market share of 69.9 percent, but it still lost 3.2 percent over the same period in 2013. Samsung in particular slumped badly across Europe and in the US, whereas Motorola's share grew because of the second generation Moto X and Moto G being good value for the money, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
For year-over-year comparisons from the 2013 quarter to 2014, iOS grew by 4.3 percent in the US, 12.2 percent in the UK, 9.9 percent in Australia, 6 percent in Italy, 2.2 percent in France, 4.1 percent in Germany, 3.2 percent in Spain, and 1.1 percent in China. Japan was the only exception with 15.3 percent fall in iOS market share.
Overall, the Kantar data suggests that the smartphone (all platforms) penetration reached 58 percent in the US and 65 percent across Europe's big five economies - Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
Volkswagen Phaeton Might Be More Comfortable than Mercedes S-Class
Volkswagen, the German automajor, is working on the next-generation Phaeton, which according to 'Auto Motor und Sport' magazine will be launched in 2016 or early 2017. The report further says that the new-gen model of the luxury saloon might be more comfortable than the Mercedes S-Class, which has been traditionally hailed as 'the world's best car'.
Though there are no exact details about the technology and features to be used to make it possible, the reports says that the next-gen Phaeton will feature an air suspension that with the help of a camera and sensors detect road condition and adjust the suspension accordingly. This will ensure a smooth ride in almost all terrains.The car is speculated to have a semi-autonomous driving system as well that will allow the car to drive itself at speeds up to 60Km/h. There might also be an overtaking function in semi-autonomous mode, but VW hasn't officially said anything on this yet.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
World's First Crossover Sedan (VOLVO S60)
Volvo Cars, today, revealed the upcoming S60 Cross Country ahead of its debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. The S60 Cross Country will become the world's first crossover sedan upon its launch.
Just like the new V60 Cross Coutry, the S60 Cross Country has an increased ride height of 65mm (2.5 inches) and comes with the same all-wheel driver underpinnings of its sibling. The S60 Cross Country will also be sold with front-wheel drive in Europe and selected markets.
"The S60 Cross Country is the sole contender in the crossover sedan segment. We have identified a clear niche in the market for a more capable sedan with rugged styling cues and a higher stance. The S60 Cross Country will appeal to people that are searching for an exciting and capable sedan, whilst enjoying the clear benefits that a crossover offers," says Alain Visser, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.
The S60 Cross Country will be launched with a range of petrol and diesel powertrains.
Do Driverless Sportscars Make Any Sense?
Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Bugatti. The prestigious names embody performance and luxury across the automotive world. But with the advent of soulless self-driving cars, are they fated to be locked away in the stables like the horses they replaced a century ago?
Not so fast, responds Ferrari. The Italian race car legend, its iconic prancing horse logo idolized by drivers everywhere, is still putting out high-performance cars that need real people at the wheel. It just introduced its newest supercar, the Sergio, and is working on a car more powerful than any it ever produced, the FXX K. An electric motor will help boost the 860 horsepower of the V12 engine to an astounding 1,050 horses.
Maserati, like Ferrari part of the Fiat Chrysler stable, is promising a new Alfieri coupe in 2016, and the next version of the GranTurismo will be unveiled at the end of 2017. But will the Italian thoroughbreds and their German counterparts be able to resist the looming turn of the industry toward cars that don't need drivers at all?Some of those who buy performance sports cars for social status - the majority of buyers - could even turn away from them for other ostentatious signs of success, said Martin Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Michigan and a former economist at Ford.
But there will always be fans who value traditionally driven sports cars, Zimmerman said. "I suspect that there will be always a demand for sitting in a nice looking sports car and being able to control it yourself."
Self-driving cars could make highways safer by eliminating the main cause of road accidents, driver error. The first driverless cars could hit the market in 2018, according to manufacturers, though the legal and ethical questions are many - for instance, who is to blame if there is an accident?Road tests of self-driving cars are already well advanced - especially of the Google Car, the pioneer in the market. It has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on California roads without accident, Google says.
One course for the future, according to analysts, will be to achieve a balance between technologies that make the vehicles safer and the sensations of high speed and high performance on the road that fans crave.
Makers of top-end cars in the sports and luxury segments have to keep coming up with new things, and adopt the most advanced technologies, to keep attracting buyers, said Alan Baum, head of the consultant Baum and Associates.
"When that product starts to age, then the consumer starts to go to the next new thing," he said.
Sunday, 21 December 2014
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.
Friday, 19 December 2014
Apple Co-Founder Wozniak Sceptical on Smartwatches, Google Glass
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Bipasha Basu on the poster of Alone
"Who would have ever thought that the lovely Bipasha Basu will be your nightmare," tweeted Priyanka
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 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.
"It's a scary new world. It's so beyond what we understand. We wouldn't even know what to look for," she said.
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