Why Angelina Jolie Got Skinny During Unbroken Shooting

Angeline Jolie, who directed Unbroken, became skinny while shooting for the film

 

Japanese singer-actress Miyavi, who plays a prominent role in Angeline Jolie directorial Unbroken, says the actress-filmmaker became skinny because of her irregular eating habits during the shooting of the film.


Miyavi says that she felt great working with the Angelina, reports huffingtonpost.com.

The film also features Garrett Hedlund, Jack O'Connell and Finn Wittrock.
 

"It was surprising how much she trusted me, all of us, on the set. She was so determined. I was also surprised how skinny she got. You know, she was not eating much. I felt so bad I was the only one who got fat during filming," said Miyavi during an interview with HuffPost Live.

Bajaj Pulsar 200 SS to be Launched in the First Half of 2015

Bajaj's much-awaited bike - the Pulsar 200 SS will be launched in March or April, 2015. The company has already started its production in India and recently showcased the bike in Turkey, which is among the few markets where it will be sold.

Expected to come with a price tag of just a little over Rs.
1 lakh, the Pulsar 200 SS will take on the likes of KTM RC200 and Yamaha R15 upon its arrival here.


Though the new bike is based on the Pulsar NS200, it also shares its design with the the SS 400 concept that was unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. The bike features the NS200-inspired plastic splatter guard and fuel tank design. With features like twin projector head-lamps, clip-on handlebar, a small-side slung exhaust, and split seat design, the 200 SS is surely a head-turner.

Mercedes-Benz Launched Pre-owned Car Brand in India

Finding immense potential in the pre-owned car segment, German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz today said it will announce the launch of a separate brand for pre-owned cars this month.
Noting that customers here are now "increasingly" demanding quality products in pre-owned car segment, the luxury car maker says it sees "phenomenal" growth in country's pre-owned car segment, describing it as "next growth story" in luxury car business.
"...the growth rate in pre-owned car (in India) is phenomenal. We (Mercedes-Benz) have seen 45 per cent growth in pre-owned car business this year," Mercedes-Benz India, MD & CEO Eberhard Kern said here today. Stating that pre-owned car segment was getting organised in India, he said the company would announce launch of pre-owned car brand in two weeks time.



"10-20 percent of trading ratio in India is a low figure if you compare globally. For example in Europe, it is one to one," he said adding that now it was "growing very fast" in India. "It (Pre-owned car segment) is the next growth story in India's luxury car segment," he observed adding, "Customers here are now demanding quality products in pre-owned (segment)."

 The luxury car maker said the company would be looking at both metro and non-metro cities for the sale of premium segment cars with a focus on increasing product portfolios and bringing latest technology to India. "Besides metros, our focus will also be on tier II and tier-III cities as these are also getting more important," he said.

Stating that the company "believes in future of Indian market", he said the company would clock more than 10,000 units this year, which will be the first time ever. During first nine months, Mercedes-Benz sold 7,529 units, 16 per cent up from sale of corresponding period while in Punjab it registered 23 per cent growth in volume.
E-Class is the best selling model for Mercedes Benz in India, said Kern adding that M-class (SUV) has also posted 100 per cent growth. Talking about new trends in luxury car segment, he said "connected" cars and "autonomous driving" would be one of the biggest trends. Mercedes-Benz has 68 dealerships in 37 cities at present. "This year we have opened 13 outlets and 14th one will be opened in Madurai soon," he said.

Kawasaki Ninja H2 Coming to India Next Year

  

Kawasaki, the Japanese bikemaker, might launch the all new Ninja H2 in the Indian market next year. The H2 is the street legal version of the track-only bike - the Ninja H2R that produces a mind-boggling 300PS (296bhp). With such immense power, the H2R is the most powerful regular-production bike ever. That said, the H2R can only be ridden on tracks, and only a few lucky people in the world will own that. The company will produce the track-only model in very small numbers.

2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Highlights
- 998cc four-cylinder engine fitted with Kawasaki supercharger for intense acceleration
- Supercharger uses planetary gears, spins at up to 130,000rpm and develops up to 20.5psi boost pressure
- Dog-ring transmission allows fast shifting and works with standard quick shifter
- Bodywork developed with Kawasaki Aerospace Company to generate downforce

- Kawasaki River Mark used to indicate combined Kawasaki Group technology
- Trellis frame used for first time to provide strength, controlled flex and air circulation
- Single-sided swingarm used for first time, mounted to engine as a stressed member
- KYB AOS-II Air-Oil Separate cartridge fork, adjustable KYB rear shock
- 330mm front discs with four-piston Brembo calipers
- Multi-mode traction control, launch control, engine braking control, ABS and a quick shifter
Since the H2R is around Rs. 35 lakh, we expect the H2 to be priced in the range of Rs. 26-30 lakh.

Mercedes-AMG GT-S : Red Hot !

We tend to get more excited when someone says sports car instead of say...er...car! But that's natural isn't it? Especially the birth of an all-new sports car? Now that is always extra special. I had got myself quite wired up to drive this particular one, ever since I attended its grand unveiling in September at the AMG headquarters in Affalterbach near Stuttgart.
The reasons are simple: The new AMG GT is the next big thing from the company. It follows in the footsteps of the mighty SLS AMG, though it is not a successor to that car. It boasts all sorts of new technology and materials. And last but not least - it looks and sounds H.O.T!

It is the second independent AMG car that is not derived from an existing Mercedes-Benz model line, but the first to drop the 'Benz' name from its moniker. And unlike the SLS AMG, which was a super sports car, the GT is a sports car. Yes I know to those of us down here on mother earth, it all looks like it's all up there in the stratosphere! The distinction is key though not only because it's physically different and so in a different segment, but also since it's going after a different kind of buyer. It is also the first time AMG is taking direct aim at its Stuttgart neighbour - Porsche!
I drove the new GT-S in California - specifically in and around the San Francisco- Carmel Valley area. Now I get the fact that California is one of the world's biggest sports car markets, and that it usually guarantees great weather and scenic locales. But its single lane highways and low speed limits are a killjoy. San Francisco also has some rather bumpy and uneven roads - again not best suited for a sports car really. But grumbling aside, I did get a LOT of attention as I made my way through the thick Frisco traffic, along the wharf, past the Golden Gate bridge and into the Carmel countryside.

The mid-engined car features a 4-litre V8 biTurbo engine that makes 503 bhp and a generous 650 Nm of torque. It can do 0-100 kmph in a mad 3.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 310 kmph - these are figures for the GT-S of course. The slightly tamer 456 bhp GT variant will be available globally only later next year. The engines are turbo charged, unlike the SLS's, but have what AMG calls the Hot V configuration.
See the thing is AMG claims that the GT is trying to be two things at once: it's a proper sports car and it's also the car you can use every day. In my view to be that dual-car it needs to have a much softer side. The car is just too stiff even in comfort mode. So you feel every undulation, every little bit of the road and that is not really the most comforting thing when you want to drive a car every day, is it? Of course there are three drive modes, that modify everything from throttle response, to braking and clutch feel and of course the suspension settings. But the 911 remains way more versatile, and so more of an everyday car.

Let me clearly state that for me that is not a major disappointment, because someone buying a sports car is really looking for performance attributes over comfort. Heck if you want comfort go buy a Camry - right? Okay so I am being flippant!
The GT-S is quick. Power delivery is tremendously satisfying, especially when you use the paddles on the dual-clutch 7-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox. The car's agility is helped since 93% of the body shell is aluminium, and the front end is made of magnesium. AMG claims the GT's 3.08 kg/bhp power to weight ratio is best in class.

iPhone Likely Next Year, Targeted at 'Female Users

Recent reports indicated that Apple might discontinue the production of the iPhone 5c next year.If the reports come out to be true, then the discontinuation of the iPhone 5c will leave the iPhone 5s as the only handset from Apple to feature a 4-inch display.
Now, rumours from Apple's supply chain in China suggest that the Cupertino-based giant plans to launch a new 4-inch model, which can be expected to launch only in the second half of the year.

Gforgames citing a Chinese publication suggests that Apple's rumoured 4-inch model will be majorly focusing on one hand operations and will also target "female users." To give some context, Apple launched its "bigger than bigger" iPhone 6 featuring a large 4.7-inch display and the iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch display.


As of now, details related to the new rumoured 4-inch iPhone model are limited. If the rumours are to be believed, it will be interesting to see how Apple will redesign its 4-inch iPhone, as the company already had iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s sporting 4-inch screens and form factors.
On Thursday, a report claimed that the Taiwanese supplier Pegatron might get 50 percent of the total Apple allocation for the next-generation iPhone, expected to debut next year in September.
The report cited a note to clients from a European brokerage that said, "For the next product cycle, iPhone 6S, likely out in September 2015, we believe for the first time in the iPhone history, Pegatron will become the main source for assembly, with more than 50 percent of the 4.7-inch allocation."

Best Headphones Under Rs. 6,000: December 2014

Whether you are all about that bass or just want a simple headset that is more durable than the free and (usually) flimsy pair of earphones that came with your smartphone, then you will need to spend a little money. The good thing is that a lot of audio equipment makers are realising the demand for quality, yet relatively affordable headphones, and we're starting to see the emergence of a decent mid-range of headphones that doesn't make you break the bank either.






Most Durable:
The easiest recommendation on this list, the Klipsch Image S4i Rugged is as close to indestructible as we've seen from any headphones. It's also sweat resistant, so you can wear it on your workouts, and the large inline-control box lets you control your music without having to look down while in the gym - but most importantly, the sound quality is also excellent. The Klipsch Image S4i Rugged can be hard to find in India under Rs. 6,000 though we have seen at around Rs. 5,000 on some sites. At the time of writing, you can buy the headset at just over Rs. 6,000.
Although it's well above the budget, you could also look at the Shure SE 215 - these earphones are available for approximately Rs. 8,700 and these monitors have a rich, warm, bass-led sound. It has a removable cable reinforced with Kevlar (the stuff in bulletproof vests) and foam tips that provide great sound isolation.
Most Bass for your Buck:
The Skullcandy Skullcrusher, with a built in amplifier, is a no-brainer if you want something with big bass. While the MRP of this particular set is Rs. 7,999, we're seeing it online with various sellers at approximately Rs. 5,000, making this a great buy if you want that extra thump while playing video games, or watching action movies.
The Sony MDR-XB900 was briefly discounted into our price range but it's gone up again, so from Sony's extra bass series, your best bet now would be the Sony MDR-XB600, available at Rs. 4,990 - it's a pretty good set but the design of the ear cups leaves a little to be desired, and it can become uncomfortable when used for long periods - it's not something you'd wear while playing Gears of War for the whole day, certainly.
Our personal pick remains the Audio-Technica ATH-S500, which made our list last time too. Available at Rs. 3,780, the bass is competitive with the higher priced entries, and as we noted in our review, the bass is punchy and crystal clear.
Most Value for Money:
Available for under Rs. 3,000, the JBL J22i sounds good, has great bass, reasonable noise isolation and flat cables that won't tangle. The JBL 33i is an even better set, but it costs nearly Rs. 500 more.
Sennheiser's HD 203 is not without flaws, but for a price of under Rs. 3,000, it offers a good experience. The 203 offers a clearer sound than the popular HD 202, at the cost of some bass performance. It's also light and comfortable, so you can wear it all day in office and not feel uncomfortable.

Best Bluetooth Headset (Stereo):
If you want a Bluetooth headset for listening to music while jogging without worrying about cables, then the Plantronics Backbeat Go is a great option and it's available at approximately Rs. 3,000 right now, nearly half its usual price. There's really no better option if you're looking at value for money, but the battery life is a little low - the claimed battery life is 4.5 hours and that's a little optimistic.
Sony's DR-BTN200 headset sounds great, and if you want to use the headphones for something like TV watching, then this is a good option. It's very comfortable and for indoor use, the battery life of four and a half hours is not bad either. While the headset is normally priced at around Rs. 8,000, it is available at approximately Rs. 4,000 at the time of writing, making it a great choice.
These are our picks for the best headphones between Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 6,000. If you have some other suggestions please share them via the comments.