Author
Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.
Multitasking is, for heaven’s sake, something that machines are supposed to do — not people. Multitasking is originally an engineering term that, unfortunately, turned into corporate blackmail. If you can’t juggle three projects, lend a sympathetic ear to a troubled colleague, take 17 phone calls, grab a sandwich, and write five reports, all while being actively — and visibly — participative in back-to-back meetings, you’re sliding down the corporate ladder faster than you’re climbing it! I haven’t forgiven an ex-boss for giving me an exasperated look every time I balked at simultaneously handling 2-3 “equally critical” assignments. “Just do it in parallel!” he would squawk in frustration when I’d ask how I was to divide my time without delaying one or the other task. There never was an answer.The truth is that multitasking is a big fat myth that — to the amazement of many — doesn’t even result in overall improvement in productivity. In fact, quite the opposite. A 2010 study by Peter Bergman found that multitasking actually causes a 40 per cent drop in productivity. It also leads to more stress and a 10 per cent drop in intelligence. How’s that for something to chew on?The problem with multitasking is that it looks really good to everyone. We feel satisfied with ourselves for juggling tasks successfully — though the success is debatable. A certain ophthalmologist I know appears to do a brilliant job-job-job of it. He invites 3-4 patients into his consulting room, and proceeds to look through his apparatus at one person’s eyes, writes out a prescription for another, schedules surgery for a third, and explains — in detail — the nature of the problem to a fourth. Every now and then, a patient loses patience. Once a co-patient snapped, demanding to know if he even remembered his case. Without blinking, the doctor shot back an accurate and detailed reply! Whether the good doctor would be more efficient were he to focus on one patient at a time, we’ll never know.Another multitasking enthusiast I know replies to his emails, tweets, shaves and drives through Delhi traffic all at the same time. Apparently, all the trucks are supposed to get very frightened and scuttle out of the way. The risk of making mistakes is pretty obvious in the case of driving. It’s with this example that it’s easier to see how the human mind doesn’t really multitask at all — it switches quickly from one task to another. That’s outright dangerous and otherwise stressful and damaging to one’s brain. A 2009 study by Stanford University showed that the ability to focus, control memories and switch from one context to another becomes impaired for multitaskers.But, so many jobs just can’t be done without multitasking. Take, for example, a restaurant manager. Managing staff, remembering each order, dealing with the fact that there are no more oysters in the freezer — can’t be tackled one at a time. This just means there’s no escaping multitasking.Technology, especially mobile tech, has come along and practically deified multitasking, making it seem intrinsic to humankind — which it isn’t. The smartphone is practically a multitasking wizard —letting you talk while you eat, work while you wait, read while you drive, listen while you sleep or write while you walk. Newer smartphones offer enhanced multitasking abilities such as split screens and smaller video screens that go on top of another app. So whether it’s work or play, multitasking is being baked-in more and more. Social media has brought in a whole new layer of multitasking. Share a photo while on holiday, tweet ferociously from a conference, check-in every 2 km. In an existence filled with beeping gadgets and notifications, our brains are in for quite an assault. Here are some things one can do to keep that multitasking from going completely out of hand:— Learn to re-focus. The mobile devices that bombard you with notifications are the very things that can help too. An app called Brain Waves — and its ilk — will feed your ears with white noise or tone that is supposed to simulate, and stimulate, the brainwave pattern of focus and concentration. To re-focus, schedule your tasks to finish tasks one at a time and take a moment to feel good about watching your list grow smaller. Don’t add more items just yet.— One trick people use is to designate an object, such as a marble, and place it in front as a reminder to focus on a task. That way, if a phone call grabs your attention, you won’t lose your way when you finish and will take up right where you left off.It may well look as if the harmful effects of multitasking are exaggerated. But accomplished multitaskers should just try focusing on one thing to see how thoroughly the focus habit has been affected. The time, and toll, taken to switch from one thing to another ends up making us permanent switchers.In the writing of this article I have made and drunk a cup of tea, shooed noisy pigeons 16 times, called my contractor twice, chatted on Whatsapp, eaten a piece of chocolate, answered seven emails, and checked my Twitter account eight times. Clearly, urgent intervention is called for. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 19-05-2014)
Read More
JBL'S FLIP II SPEAKER RS 7,990JBL, a line from US-based Harman International, has brought out another Bluetooth portable speaker in its favourite shape. Like the Pulse, which displays colourful lights while playing, the Flip II — a sequel to the original Flip — doesn’t light up, but it is surprisingly loud for its size. I got a sport yellow cylinder to review, but it comes in black, white, red and blue as well. It feels rugged, solid and well-built, without being heavy. At first glance, I immediately thought it would make a great gift for a teenager, especially given its loudness. The Flip II’s design is minimalist while making use of colour as a style element. It can sit on a surface any way you like — up straight, or on its side. The top and bottom plus a ridge down the centre are rubbery in a somewhat classy way. On top, you have a power touch button surrounded by two volume, a Bluetooth and phone button. One touch of the Bluetooth button connects you to the device of your choice. The Phone button lets you take calls using the speaker’s microphone; and you can also use the button to end a call. On a call, I was told I sounded clear enough except with a bit more bass. As far as the bass is concerned, it makes its presence felt as with any JBL audio device, but to my surprise there isn’t a wide range of sounds and the high frequencies don't stand out in particular either. Overall, loud and bass-y is just what a youngster may want. The Flip II has around five hours of battery life. At Rs 7,990, it has a lot of competition from other JBL models as well as other brands — such as Bose, Beats, Ultimate Ears and Soen Audio — that are a bit more expensive but also have more audial finesse. SOEN AUDIO'S TRANSIT SPEAKER Rs 12,990You wouldn’t buy speakers for their design, but with Soen Audio’s Transit Bluetooth speaker — you just may. You can get a glimpse of its unique design from the packaging onwards — it’s classy. There's an Apple-like finish and attention to detail, and you won’t want to throw this box away, which comes with a charging cable, a 3.5’m connector, adaptor and a beautiful magnetic cover — under which lies the Transit.The wireless speaker is a single unit and can be used with any device that has either Bluetooth or a 3.5mm jack — that means everything. As the name implies, it is ideal to put into a backpack or big bag, but it is probably a bit heavy to slip into a woman’s handbag, though. One of the most enjoyable ways to use it is to take it around the house, such as when you go into the kitchen to make a cuppa.To get to that remarkable design — the Transit is a neat rectangle, has rubbery matte finish, with a metallic strip down the centre which goes right through to the back of the speaker. That's where you can press a portion of it to pop out a kickstand. This is particularly well-executed. The device’s build quality is also great.And now, the most important part — sound. You can tell it’s going to be good the moment you put the power button on and hear the notes that indicate you’re powered on. Connect to a source via Bluetooth or the jack and you get a clear, clean sound, which is surprising given its small size. The bass isn't thumping and booming — just balanced and full. The sound range is more sophisticated and wider than you would get on small speakers. The Transit costs Rs 12,990 and competes with speakers from Bose, JBL, etc. It is available on love4apple.com, Amazon and several other online stores.THE SENNHEISER CX 275S IN-EAR EARPHONESRs 2,990 The Sennheiser CX 275S in-ear earphones don’t look anything special at all. You would think they should, because they’re from one of the most high-end audio brands in the world. But no, this barebones pair of earphones is completely unassuming — no colour, no design elements... nothing. They look like the usual black earplugs; you could dismiss them as being your everyday ear plugs; that is, until you put them into your ears and switch on the music. The rich and full sound made my eyes widen in surprise. The bass was perfect and the higher frequencies very nice. In fact, I’d venture to say the Sennheiser CX 275s is about the best sound I’ve heard on earphones that small. The earphone set is supposed to cut external noise and, to some extent, it does, but when you hear such quality music, you’re not likely to notice noise anyway. It’s very comfortable to wear, but you’ll need to the care of them, ensuring that one good accidental tug doesn’t snap them. A single control on the wire gives you ON or OFF and control over tracks. And there’s a microphone so you can interrupt the music for a call. Testing this out, I was told, much to my amusement, by many friends that I sounded clear for the first time. At Rs 2,990, it may seem expensive, but it is a steal given its incredible sound and clarity. It works with any smartphone or device that has a 3.5 mm jack, is OS agnostic, but not Bluetooth-enabled. It comes in a little cloth pouch, with an extra set of caps for the ear buds. mala.bhargava@gmail.com;twitter@malabhargava(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 10-03-2014)
Read More
Whoever thought cellphones would be so good for health? In fact, there was a time when cellphones were only associated with radiation and cancer. But then, that never did get resolved. Today, the ‘humble’ mobile has become a health assistant and personal trainer that’s always with you. All its sensors are at your service as they become active participants in shaping a more fit you. Wearable accessories add some serious functionality and measurability, but you don’t absolutely have to have them to achieve fitness goals. Your phone and the countless sea of apps are there for the taking. Let’s start with sleep...SleepBot, free on iOS and Android, is a really interesting and easy app for taking charge of your sleep. It tracks your sleep cycle and motion. It doesn’t require you to do so much that you’d need to engage with the app itself much. First, set your alarm. The app will wake you in phases with a pre-alarm and then a final one. Use the app’s widget to tap into sleep, and then again when you’re waking up. That way, the tracking begins. Plug in your phone to make sure your battery doesn’t drain. Place the phone next to your body and go to sleep. The app logs your sleep time, makes a graph of your movement and can even record sound. It can log your snoring and sleep talking, giving you an idea of your sleep quality. The efficacy of the movement tracking will vary on the type of bed — after all, the phone’s accelerometer has to kick into action. SleepBot’s value comes into play when you track your sleep over time. Then you see the patterns. Do you regularly oversleep or under-sleep? Is it restful? Of course, there is no information about the stages of your sleep, etc., because the device isn’t attached to you and can’t measure parameters, but you do get some surface-level information. You can also make quick notes in case you like to log your dreams. You also rate your sleep cycle because ultimately, you’re not rested until you feel rested.Extras involve quick tips to sleep, wake up and stay awake. There are even links to exercise videos. But SleepBot is just an example, and there are numerous sleep tracking apps on all operating systems.Now that we are awake, let’s see how active we are through the day. If you’re not ready yet to spend and experiment with a smartwatch or fitness band, there is a pedometer on your phone. Moves, free on iOS and Android, counts your steps all day, as long as you carry it with you, of course. You can hold the phone, keep the app open and watch the counter go up as you walk around. At the end of the day, you get the total number of steps taken, and you can even take counts after a walk. Unfortunately, it eats up a bit of battery as it stays active all the time, especially as it works best with the GPS turned on. No one can assume that walking around the house or office amounts to exercise. But use the count to increase your activity, and it is sustained for 45 minutes and involves some upper body movement — it’s exercise! Strides, free on iOS and Android, is good for those with sedentary lifestyles — desk-bound at work and couch-bound at home. It reminds you to ‘get up and move it’, while logging activity. It’s amusing that people become addicted to tracking their own activity and is strangely self-obsessive. Running is a favourite exercise with many and the Runkeeper app is a favourite with 25 million-plus users. There’s a free and paid version and it’s on all platforms. The app aims to be the original trainer in your pocket and lets you track your running, walking, cycling, hiking, biking, etc., using your phone’s GPS. It gives you detailed stats on your pace, distance, time and calories burned. You get progress alerts and coaching through your headphones with audio cues. You can also measure your heart rate. The app keeps you motivated by telling you your performance over time and helping you go to the next milestone. You can follow detailed plans to help you achieve specific fitness objectives, like run for weight loss or run a 5K. You can compare goals and progress with others. And then, you have a suite of apps that go beyond running. Runtastic includes push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, etc. Sadly, they’re all in different apps, the ‘pro’ versions of which are paid. You also need to pay for different music packs, if the default doesn’t appeal to you. Runtastic is not a coach but a fitness planner and motivator, and lets you compare and compete with others. The app works with a bunch of accessories, and with other apps as well. It has several of its own accessories.There are also a number of Nike running and fitness apps on iOS and Android that users swear by. They are simple and reliable but work best with accessories. The same is the case with FitBit, which has its app working with wristbands but offers basics without.A social and gaming angle is being added to more and more apps with the hope that it will boost motivation and healthy competition. Fiticracy is an example. Friends — or even strangers — can help each other with tips and encouragement so that with apps and their social networks, no one needs to exercise all alone. mala.bhargava@gmail.com;twitter@malabhargava(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 10-03-2014)
Read More
Slideshare Now MobileIt's difficult to believe that Slideshare, the presentations portal now owned by LinkedIn, didn’t have a proper mobile app all this time. However, the mobile version of the website worked pretty well so in a sense it wasn’t missed. But now LinkedIn has just released a free app for iOS and Android. You do a quick sign-in with a route of your choice, and you’re good to go. But you can’t create presentations through this app — it’s strictly a viewer. The app works with a slick smoothness. You choose from topics of interest, or use the search to look for something specific. Problem is you can’t filter and refine the search. The topics are also very broad and don’t help you get to specific interests. The results throw up many old presentations, which is always a nuisance the search. The topics are also very broad and don’t help you.Click It, Google StyleGoogle has brought some nice photography tricks to its new app, Camera, available for Android 4.4 users free on the Play Store. The app works separately from your phone’s own camera. It’s obvious that it’s been designed to keep things utterly simple. That will make casual users happy but annoy those who want to have some control over settings like ISO and white balance. Well, they’ll just have to switch to the phone’s camera app for that. On Google’s Camera app, what you get is the ability to take a photo and then give it some bokeh, even if it is faked. You aim at an object, shoot, and then move the camera slowly upward to capture some additional background info. Then, if all goes well, you get the object in focus and the background nicely blurred out. You can also shoot panoramas and 360 degree photo spheres.Medium On Your Minithe publishing platform Medium, spun off by Twitter founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone, has a stunningly beautiful app for the iPhone which works well on the iPad by going 2x. It isn’t bad looking on the web, medium.com, either, of course, but the smooth way the app works really enhances reading pleasure. Medium (for which you sign in with Twitter) is all about content and is really for people who love to read. From your Twitter feed, Medium collects and surfaces articles you might want to read and also has selections and collections to browse and read from. The free Medium app really uses the iPad’s screen beautifully and fits right in with what the tablet was first envisaged for — leaning back and enjoying content. Swipe to move across articles, bookmark to read again and share with others. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 16-06-2014)
Read More
These days if anyone asks for a recommendation for a decently priced smartphone, I immediately think Moto-something. The Moto X and then the Moto G offered a great Android experience for half the price of other brands. And, now, the Moto E takes the cake. At Rs 6,999, we have a device that Flipkart ran out of in a day or so. Stocks get replenished, but lapped up again as Android fans on a shoestring budget head to the online store — the only route the Moto E that is available. Obviously, that means you can't see and feel it in a shop, but enough reviews and users will tell you that it's fantastic value for money. There’s no doubt that all the other phone makers squabbling for a share of the sub-Rs 10,000 market now have serious trouble on their hands. The fact that the Moto E is only available online and won’t easily reach first-time buyers in rural India, where Motorola has no mindshare, is the only saving grace for them.Not light, not heavy, not big, not small — the Moto E is well-built and well-designed. It looks similar to the Moto G and Moto X, though it’s a little thicker and heavier. It’s all excellent material at the front and back, and has the ergonomics down pat. Its glass face — Gorilla Glass 3 — gleams out at you and the back is rubberised; and even though greasy fingers will smear it, you can easily wipe it clean. The phone has gently rounded corners and softened edges that meet the slightly curved back to make the phone very easy and comfortable to hold. Perfect for someone who makes a lot of calls — and it’s a dual SIM, just the way buyers in India, especially in the low-cost segment, like it. The Moto E has a wonderful grip, both because of its size and the material on the back panel. The white version could get dirty if you’re not careful. Theoretically, you can also change backs, provided the back panels are available when you need them.Like the other two Motos, but even more so, the E doesn’t bank on specs to be a worthwhile device. That’s one of the refreshing things about this series, so far. The Moto E’s specs are, in fact, outdated. Who looks at a dual core any more when even inexpensive phones are quad cores. And just 1 GB RAM? A tiny bit of storage space? On the other hand, the phone runs the latest Android version and will get updates quicker than others. We hope! Even the screen is low-res compared to what you get these days. And, yet, its colours pop out and it looks just fine and there’s not too much compromise on viewing angles.Without much skinning and trickery, the Moto E works smoothly. Not super-fast, but good enough for many things, including moderate-level gaming. Navigation is the smoothest. Movie watching is good, social networking is fine and so are all the Google functions you get on an Android phone such as Google Now and Maps. The battery is a 1980 mAh and should last you the day if you don’t use it heavily. So what’s to dislike?Well, the camera. We have on board a mere 5 MP rear camera — no front camera, so no grainy selfies. You can capture a car number with it, a big flower outdoors, but forget about really getting into the joy of mobile photography with this little thing. There isn’t even a flash, though there’s a collection of filters and effects including panorama and HDR. You don’t get 720p video recording. If there’s one thing to miss, it’s really the cameras considering how quickly that becomes important to users even if they didn’t think they wanted it in the first place. But then, all arguments come to a screeching halt at the price. If Motorola were to go up the alphabet a little more, one could have a phone that would kill off the feature phone.(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 16-06-2014)
Read More
A treadmill, that very symbol of fitness, is a fixture in every gym and hundreds of households in the country. That always-available hunk of equipment that makes light of all your excuses to not exercise and turns you into a very fit person — that is, if you keep your end of the bargain and tread carefully. Because, whether you’ve been an athlete, a long-time treadmiller, or a total newbie, you’re vulnerable to injury unless you’re super alert. The thing with treadmills is that they’re dead boring. People will fight the ennui with music, television, reading, and even working on their laptops or chatting with others. With practically your entire attention taken up elsewhere, it’s easy to lose your footing. The resulting fall can be very bad indeed, causing serious injury to your back or head, face and, well, just about anything else. One way to prevent a fall is, of course, to jolly well pay attention, especially if you’re a little more tired than usual, preoccupied with personal or work matters, or irritated with someone. If you’re using a treadmill at home, make sure cords and any glass or sharp objects are not around the machine so that a fall is not worsened by their being in the way. The other way not to fall is to make sure you always start slow, warm up, and only then speed up. Also, make sure you switch on the machine and keep it at a slow speed before stepping on to it (start by keeping your feet on either side of the belt), staying in the centre, and again slowing the treadmill down before getting off. It’s really the experienced people who begin to think they are immune from mishaps and become lax in the alertness level needed. “Everyone assumes treadmills are the easiest equipment to deal with, which might be true in some cases, but not taking proper precautions and safety measures can lead to some bad accidents. While small tips like avoiding using your cellphone while on the treadmill or always warming up before running at high speeds are important. It’s also imperative to keep your cardio workout within the prescribed heart rate zone. This especially applies to people with a heart condition,” says Manish Ruhail, a fitness manager with Fitness First.But even when you’re not falling off, there’s plenty of scope for damage, especially to your knees. It isn’t as if using a treadmill is the same as really walking. The latter involves a natural posture, variation in strides, arm swinging, etc., all of which is important in some way. The treadmill means an automated, repetitive activity and remains what it is — artificial walking, in spite of the advancements in equipment. Users tend to lean forward a bit, the back sometimes bends as the person sort of braces to ‘thump’ forward, and the knees take all the pressure. A warning from Ruhail: “A correct posture (no leaning forward or backward) is also very important while on the treadmill. Beginners should avoid running laterally or backward at a high speed. This could be dangerous and should only be done by those with some practice on the treadmill at a slower speed.”According to medical information portal WebMD, the knee is bound by an intricate system of ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscle. It is highly prone to injury. It’s a complex hinge where the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), fibula (next to tibia) and kneecap all come together. If you’ve had a previous injury, you’re vulnerable and should even consider alternative exercises, including regular walking. The same is true if you have osteoporosis. Never ignore knee pain, even when it seems slight. Exercise your knees, using gentle doctor-approved movements. These should also be backed up with movements that strengthen other parts of the legs such as the calves, which will help take the pressure off the knees.The treadmill is, however, better than running on hard pavements and the resulting impact on your limbs. A running track is the best, with a treadmill coming in second. Or even a mix of the two.Another thing that’s missing in treadmill workouts is the involvement of the upper body. To avoid falling off, many users hold the bars, and that’s more secure but it makes you lean forward and reduces the efficiency of your exercise. The neck and back are more likely to suffer and you’re likely to feel the effect immediately after finishing your run. Instead, swing your arms naturally. If you have balance worries, spend a few minutes on balance exercises each day. This will, in any case, spiral off into more benefits, including a strengthened core. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 16-06-2014)
Read More
How does one look with an evaluative eye and a level head at a product that started a revolution? Apple’s iPad certainly changed aspects of my life in countless ways as I’m sure it did others’. Reading, news, and art are only some of the wonderful things that took up large welcome spaces in my everyday routine, purely thanks to the iPad. So today, when I look at the fifth avatar of this amazing creation from Apple, I feel almost guilty even at the fleeting thought that the iPad Air isn’t quite the dramatic difference we saw between a MacBook or any other notebook, and the MacBook Air, that sliver-thin work of art that seems impossibly light even years after it’s been around and been compared with ultrabooks that sprouted up in imitation. The iPad Air isn’t a breathtaking difference from its earlier versions. But I’d have to agree with the majority of reviewers when they say it’s the best tablet around. That, it is. I’ve been through all generations of the bigger non-Mini iPad, skipping the 4th gen. I use my iPad 3 to the hilt. I can certainly say that between the iPad and the Samsung Note 2 and 3, I’ve tortured my left hand more than it deserves with one device being too heavy and one being too wide to be held for long hours. So holding the Air feels so much better that I envy those who get their first iPads now. As ever, it’s that seemingly flawless design that only Apple knows how to come up with. The tablet is now narrower and thinner, and the bezels on the sides are down to half their width, giving more screen space to the user. The screen is very nice and somehow lets iOS 7, Apple’s newest operating system for mobile devices, sit comfortably and look as if it fits just right. I wasn’t overjoyed with the change in style from iOS6 to iOS7, but It’s beginning to grow on me on the iPad Air. The design has been tweaked in keeping with the popular iPad Mini of which the new Air looks a larger version. The iPad Air, like its predecessors, is premium and feels it. When you lean back with this device, you never doubt for a moment that you’re holding something of solid value. No hint of plastic here. The iPad Air can’t really be thought of separately from its software and the fact of the massive ecosystem of apps that have practically sparked off the app industry. If you’re wondering Android or Apple, that’s one of the things you should consider. Android tablets get along better with other devices, but on the other hand, there are hundreds of devices and accessories created just for the iPad or iPhone. Android tablets still don’t have a big selection of tablet-specific apps, but yes, they are so customisable. And then there’s Windows, slowly growing in popularity. Also, they seem more work-friendly as many Windows applications aren’t on iOS. With the iPad Air, Pages, Numbers and Keynote, equivalents of Microsoft Office, are now free. As expected, the new iPad works very fast and is great for gaming, movies and heavy visual rendering. Interestingly, the older generation iPads still work well for most people. So, if you’re getting a great deal on an iPad 3 or 4, you’re not disadvantaged though if you have repetitive stress injury, a lighter device is so much better. You may also want to consider the iPad Mini. If budget is not a constraint and you are going in for your first iPad, the iPad Air is the device to go for. mala.bhargava@gmail.com (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 27-01-2014)
Read More
LG is being a little modest by calling this 5.5-inch smartphone “Lite”. True, it has a Mediatek MT6577 processor, a 540 x 960 pixel display with just 200 ppi density and just 1GB of RAM, but the G Pro Lite is otherwise so packed with capabilities and features, that it’s definitely another great option for those who want a mid-level phone without being left envying the top-enders. The G Pro Lite is not in any way a new design – it has the same familiar look and feel and could be any phone at all, from the outside – but if you’ve been hunting for a budget phone, (it costs Rs 22,990 but is available for less), give this device a good look. It’s about the size of a Galaxy Note and quite comfortable to hold. Rounded edges help there. Look closer and you’ll see two things that are different on the G Pro Lite. First, there’s an extra capacitive button on the bottom row. Tap it and you can switch between two SIM cards, one of which supports 3G. While we’re on the subject of taps, you tap twice on the screen to wake the screen up and again to make it go to sleep – an incredibly useful feature. On this phone, it chooses to sometimes not work, even if you tap quite firmly, and you can bet this will happen when you’re trying to show it off. But when the knock-knock feature does work, it beats pressing a button to start up. The phone runs on Android 4.1, a few steps behind, but nevertheless works fast. It’s got all of LG’s favourite software, including the multitasking apps. The display on the G Pro Lite isn’t high on specs but is very workable with strong colours and uncompromised angles. It’s smooth and responsive, as is the rest of the phone. It’ll handle mid-range gaming, for example. And it has a hefty huge battery with a 3,142 mAh rating. There’s also expandable memory. The 8MP camera is middling and just fine for everyday casual shots. But I did mention two things that were different and visible and the second is a surprise thin stylus fitted into a slot on the top of the device. It doesn’t work in the same way as Samsung’s Note does, but it works. mala@pobox.comTwitter: @malabhargava
Read More
Sizzling hot startup, Uber, is now in Delhi to offer its point-to-point car service - with a tap on an app. Download the Uber app on Android, iOS or BlackBerry, and sign up, completing your brief profile. You can also use m.uber.com if you don't use these phones.Once in, you can just move a pin on a map to choose your pick up and drop point. The fare will show up and your car will turn up in 15 minutes. But this isn't your everyday rattletrap. You get to ride in luxury in an Audi, Accord, Camry or other cool cars at only a little more than the price of ordinary cabs. The car in no way looks like a cab or has any branding on it, so it's like your own. The Uber app also shows up the driver's photograph, name, and contact. You can track the car real time as it makes its way to you and when you're on your way, they can send your ETA to someone who's expecting you or keeping an eye on you. Particularly nice for women who need a safe ride someplace or for anyone who plans on going for a party and doesn't want to drive. The base fare in Delhi (Uber is also available in Bangalore and will make its way to other cities) The fare is based on both distance and time. Rs 70 is the base fare, and then it's Rs 20/km and Rs 2 per minute. Uber happens to be powered by Google - it funds the service which is now in 50 cities around the world.mala@pobox.comTwitter: @malabhargava
Read More
Many people look for a tablet that can be carried around easily and used for all the things others seem to enjoy so much on tablets –reading, gaming, browsing, communicating. At the same time, they want to be able to put that tablet to some productive work. It seems a bit much to find that one has to buy a laptop and a tablet, and lug them both around through the day or lace them in different spaces in everyday life. Is the Lenovo IdeaPad Lynx the perfect work plus fun device? As ever, it’s a mixed bag. A tablet is enjoyable to use because it’s a form that is comfortable to use. When you want to read, it should mimic a book. When you want to play games, it should give you the screen space go at it. The Lynx is in a landscapey format, just as most Windows 8 tablets are to fit in the tiles and the desktop screens without distorting them. It’s wide when you hold it straight side up, long and narrow when held in portrait mode. That makes it less than ideal as a book reader. You certainly won’t feel like curling up with it. Browsing through a magazine also doesn’t work out, as it’s too broad or too long. Browsing through a website however, fits more naturally on this form. You have less scrolling to do in its portrait mode. Gaming isn’t quite its forte as it isn’t meant for high-end games that need processing power, but it’s ok for watching videos or a movie, though the sound is a bit thin. As a tablet, it isn’t like the iPad, Galaxy Tabs, or any of the 7-inch and mini formats users love to carry around. SPECIFICATIONS11.6-inch IPS display with 1366x768 resolution, ten-point touchKeyboard dock (optional) Intel Atom Z7260 1.8GHz dual-core processor2GB RAM and 64GB internal storageWindows 8 ProBut the Lenovo IdeaPad Lynx does better as a notebook in two parts. The first is an 11.6 inch screen, mid-range in terms of resolution, not the best in terms of viewing angles, but adequate with brightness and colors. The screen was, in my experience, not as responsive as others I’ve come across and tended to stutter when I swiped. On the top, you have the power button and n the sides the screen rotate and slot for SD card. The back of this screen –or the tablet part – is textured, which is a good measure against it slipping out of your hands, but let me give you fair warning about its plastickiness. The tablet has a 2MP front facing camera, so you can video chat or conference. It doesn’t have a camera otherwise, as most tablets do, but then it’s width really doesn’t make it suited to taking photographs comfortably. The second part is the keyboard dock. The tablet fits into it and the screen can then lean back about 45 degrees from the center point. There’s no Yoga style gymnastics for which Lenovo is known. The keyboard section hosts more ports making it look and feel quite like a laptop. The keyboard is a full one and not cramped, but doesn’t have the legendary comfort of the ThinkPad series. Key travel is a little less to keep the whole device thin – and that’s exactly what it is: thin and light. The duo gives you 16 hours of battery life, 8 on the tablet and 8 with the dock. So now, you can put the two parts together when you want a laptop, and detach the tablet when you want to lean back and consume content rather than create it. It works with the full Windows 8, which means you can use Microsoft Office and other applications that you are accustomed to. The IdeaPad Lynx (and don’t confuse it with the other IdeaTabs and ThinkPad tablets etc that are also worth considering) costs Rs 39,990.mala@pobox.comTwitter: @malabhargava
Read More
