I drink only single malts!" Should we laud this pompous ass? Or look upon him with awe? Should we hang on to every word that drips from his lips? Or, oops, was that a drool? In our search for identity, we often lose sight of the real deal. Complexity of flavour. And the joys of discovery. So why the fuss? When did the world suddenly wake up to this mystic creature? This wonder from the wild, the golden nectar. The mother lode! Malt whisky has always existed. It was the first and only whisky to be distilled in Scotland (and Ireland, too) for years on end. All over the Scottish countryside, where the land was fertile and water in plenty, farming families discovered the joys of distilling. Travelling monks ensured that alongside preaching God's word, the art of ‘uisge beatha' (whishke baha) or ‘water of life' was well established. Barley was in plenty, and what was left over from food and fodder was malted and either fermented (beer) and drunk, or distilled (malt whisky) to keep.Whisky stills were crafted from copper (steel was yet to be discovered). What may have star-ted as default by the fabricator became a keeper of the family tradition, dictating the character of the whisky. The distiller, his still and skill created liquid history, each with his own unique identity. This golden potation often took the name of the distillery. Each of these malt whiskies from family-owned distilleries were soon called single-malt whisky. Single, as each one came from a single distillery. And this distillery made only that one malt whisky to which it gave its name. So, Glenfiddich came from Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie from Glenmorangie, and so on.In spite of these beauties being around, they were way ahead of their times. The larger part of the populace found these flavour-filled malts too much to handle. A few traders played with flavours, toned them down with neutral whisky and created blends. John Walker was one of the pioneers. Customers loved them, and pushed malts to the back seat. Even today, only 10 per cent of the single-malt production is bottled in its name. Most goes into blends.In the late 1960s, Glenfiddich bottled some of its malt as single and braved the market. As first mover, it still holds high recall. Almost a decade later, single malts from Diageo arrived. Cragganmore, Oban, Cardhu, Glenkinchie, Talisker, Lagavulin... By the 1980s, the world woke up to the origin of blends — the single malt. Soon, it turned viral. Barely 40 years since the first rumble, people ask if blends will become obsolete now that single malts have arrived! Really? TOP GUNS: Single malts Isle of Jura, Talisker, Lagavulin and Cragganmore So, where does one begin? Which is the best? Calm down. Let's study some geography now that we have touched upon history. Scotland is divided into five (four, if I'm to be correct and not told off by those in the know) whisky-producing regions, each giving a hint of what they offer. The Highland malts are full flavoured with great character, some hinting at sherried sweetness, some gently smoky. The sweet, mouth-watering Glenmorangie, silky Oban, buttery Clynelish, the marmaladey Dalmore, the soft Dalwhinnie and the bold Glen Ord. Speyside, though the heart of the Highlands, is often looked at on its own. Its fertile valleys house almost 60 per cent of Scotland's distilleries. Big, warm, deep, fruity malts come from here. Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, The Macallan, The Balvenie, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Glen Elgin, Glen Rothes... The Lowlands are the gentle souls. Soft, easy and calming. Glenkinchie and Auchentoshan are front runners. Campbeltown, well, all I can say is "once upon a time it thrived, now it barely survives". Then there are the islands. Orkney on the head of Scotland — freezing cold with Highland Park and Scapa being saviours of its natives. My favourite is Talisker, from the Isle of Skye. Sweet and luscious with a huge smoky push at the end. Tobermory from Mull and Isle of Jura from Jura. But the smoky, peaty, phenolic monsters from Islay are the ones to reckon with. You either love 'em or hate 'em. Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Caol Ila. Smoked Goa sausages and spicy smoked pepperoni. Seriously. Bunnahabhain is the exception. Its easy palate almost makes you wonder, Islay? Really?Now, here's my most basic cheat sheet. It is designed simply to put it all in perspective.Level 1: This is the beginning. Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12, Glenkinchie 12, Dalwhinnie 12, BenRiach Heart of Speyside, Glen Elgin 12, Clynelish 14Level 2: Step up. Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15, Glenmorangie Lasanta (sherry finish), Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (port finish), The Balvenie Double Wood, The Macallan Elegancia, The Glenrothes, Cragganmore 12Level 3: Getting There. The Macallan 18, Glenfiddich 18, Talisker 10, Macallan Select Oak, Highland Park 18, Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg (any, one step at a time), Laphroaig 10, Lagavulin 16Level 4: Anything above 18, as your palate is well seasoned now!The key to opening up your palate is to taste everything that comes your way. I have just started you off. Stay with what you like till you find something better. The best is yet to come.Finally, there is life beyond Scotland. Try the Irish — the bold and chewy Bushmills from Irish distillers or the fiery, peated Connemara, the elegant Locke's and the mellow Tyrconnell. There are the defiant Japanese — Yoichi, Yamazaki and Nikka. And when you think you're done, out pops a range of single malts from a Bangalore distillery, Amrut. There is the sweet, biscuity Amrut Single Malt, and the warmly peaty Amrut Fusion Single Malt (a blend of Indian and pea-ted Scottish barley) with a sweet toffee nose, hint of spice on the middle enveloped by a honeyed finish. Close your eyes and sip. Taste history.(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 26-09-2011)
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To write about what I think are the world's top 5 orchestras would be to invite a great deal of controversy. Like beautiful women, great restaurants and works of art, individual taste plays a huge part in such a choice. Out of hundreds of orchestras, and certainly 50 great ones around the globe, I have to restrict my choice to those which I know well, have heard over the years — both live and on recordings — and now on the startlingly good Blu-ray DVDs, which, if well produced, certainly give a good idea of the quality of an ensemble.I must admit to loving the rich, middle European sound personified by orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. In the end, I am afraid, I will have to restrict my choice to the orchestras I have mentioned above.On its day and with the right conductor on the podium, the Vienna Philharmonic produces some of the most gorgeous sounds imaginable, and I have come out starry eyed from many of their concerts, especially in their home auditorium — the Musikvereinsaal. When they play (Gustav) Mahler, (Anton) Bruckner and, of course, their home-grown (Richard) Strauss, you know this is an orchestra deeply steeped in tradition and knowledge on how this music should sound. They sound right. However, a caveat — this orchestra also has a tendency to show little interest when the conductor is not fully in command.Similarly, the Dresden Staatskapelle, in its home in the Semper Opera House, has a unique sound, which, allied to the superb acoustics of this wonderful theatre, has the dark beauty of tone that Strauss often admired. Many of his works were written for this wonderful, distinctive sound that is incredibly rich and, yet, translucent. The Staatskapelle have a chamber music quality to their playing, which is amazing for an orchestra of its size. IN HARMONY: (Left to Right) The Boston Symphony Orchestra (Corbis), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Todd Rosenberg) and the Vienna Philharmonic (Corbis) The third — which is hardly 28 years old — is the Budapest Festival Orchestra. I had the pleasure of hearing them a few times. It is amazing what Ivan Fischer, its founder and Hungarian conductor, has achieved in what is a comparatively short period in the life of an orchestra. These musicians are truly of superb quality. When they play music that suits them, going to their concert becomes not just an evening out, but a musical experience that leaves you rather limp. It is a huge, gorgeous and homogeneous sound that is very musically realised and that washes over you like some great warm wave.Who can leave the Berlin Philharmonic out of the top 5? With a tradition almost unmatched in musical history and with iconic conductors such as Wilhelm Furtwaengler, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado shaping its destiny over the past half century, this extraordinarily polished German miracle epitomises the very best in tradition. And under Simon Rattle it is charting into modern territory with great success.The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, rated by many as the finest in the world, owes its impressive pedigree largely on account of its association with the legendary Willem Mengelberg. He shaped and honed this orchestra for 50 years into the brilliant ensemble it is today, and is able to interpret music from different schools in the most idiomatic matter.Few orchestras in the world have as deep an understanding of different schools of music as this unique ensemble, and it is aided by being housed in one of the finest concert halls in the world — the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. It is a great recording orchestra and the musicians are legends in their own lifetime.But hey, what about the Americans? They have some of the best orchestras in the world and, perhaps, if there is a chance for five more, I would like to speak about (surprise, surprise) the Metropolitan Orchestra, which is not only a great orchestra but, under James Levine, has become one of the finest symphony orchestras in the US. Their subscription series in Carnegie Hall are always a pleasure to attend. Another favourite American orchestra is the San Francisco Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas. It is probably one of the most exciting Mahler orchestras in the US and its dynamic approach is extremely thrilling. I regret leaving out the great Boston, Chicago and Cleveland ensembles, which are absolutely first rate, too.Evidence points to the great resurgence of love of western classical music in Asia — particularly in China, Korea and Japan, and it is often said that the future of western music lies in the new centres of Asia. I certainly hope this is true and our small beginning with the Symphony Orchestra of India helps nurturing this image.Great music has been played for the past 400 years by thousands of orchestras and appreciated by millions of people, and will not be denied its rightful place as one of the greatest art forms ever devised.(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 26-09-2011)
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At work, the CEO is connected to key clients, team members and the office at large. Then, there is life after work. But work and travel schedules should not dictate your personal space. Here are the top five gadgets that head honchos could use to stay connected to their lives back home...Blackberry Bold 9900While it is the biggest cliché in this elite list, it is also the most indispensable. A CEO without a BB pin is almost like a CEO without a posh zip code. The latest iteration of the popular emailing device is not just the biggest yet, but also the best. Featuring tech from the future like NFC (near field communication), it has the potential to replace your credit card very quickly. Amongst the tech you can use in the present, it has the backbone of the brand-new Blackberry OS7 that provides enough juice to carry out multi-tasking, video-calling and sending out memos at the speed of light, thanks to the best-ever QWERTY keyboard on a smart phone yet.The 1.2 Ghz processor mated to the slick touch-screen takes the browsing and apps experience to a previously unseen level of grandeur on a BB. Sure, it is as special looking as a Toyota Corolla, but let us not forget what made the Corolla the best-selling car of all time. The Bold's combination of well-oiled functionality and familiarity is what puts it at the top of this list. Slingbox PRO HDRetiring to your hotel room after a hectic day, hunting for your favourite television channel can take a toll on your precious free time. Slingbox PRO HD will help by giving you full control of your home set-top box from anywhere in the world, provided you have a decent Internet connection, on 3G or Wi-Fi. A step up from the traditional Slingbox, the PRO HD features 1080i capable streaming so you can follow the Sensex back home on Bloomberg UTV or NDTV Profit in high-definition quality. One of the keys to its success is its OS independent nature, which means as long as your PC/MAC has a browser, Slingbox will work its magic.It replicates your set-top box, complete with an accurate on-screen remote control, too, so you are never too far away from your favourite shows, live or recorded on your personal video recorder. Team it with an iPad app and your downtime will never be spent watching Russian soap operas again! AWESOME TOYS: Apple MacBook Air is thinner than your pen drive and Blackberry Bold 9900 (right) offers video-calling and sending out memos at the speed of light Apple MacBook AirOthers keep playing catch-up, but Apple has left a trail of ‘me too' products with the MacBook Air. Thinner than your average pen drive and more powerful than most full-featured notebooks out there, the Air truly is a vision of computing from the future. Some might sniff at the omission of the DVD drive, but it is the Apple way of ensuring that our digital lives slowly migrate to the "cloud" and keep all our devices in perfect, marching-ants sync. The 11-inch model can rival tablets for portability and yet beats them hands down when it comes to keyboard functionality and USB-derived data. Traditional Apple software like iPhoto and iTunes comes standard, along with their OS X Lion, an operating system inspired by the iPhone, which can only be a good thing. The 13-inch model is a perfect travel partner and both can be had with dual-core Intel Core i5 processors, and with up to 256GB of flash storage, meaning instant on and off. The stand-by time of 30 days allows you to go on a vacation and just pick up the meeting where you left off. Now, isn't that what you always wanted in your computer?BMW K1300RThere is simply no substitute for that ‘wind in the hair' feeling of escapism after a day of number crunching. Convertible sports cars are for Prada toting sissies. For the real deal, there is no match to BMW's Motorrad range of motorcycles. Matching German precision engineering with ferocious Japanese acceleration, the K1300R is a supreme tool for destructing the urban landscape on two wheels. Its 173 bhp in-line 4 cylinder engine will take you from one traffic signal to the borders of town faster than you can use its torrential torque reserve. The optional auto transmission and MotoGP-style 2D dashboard add a theatrical touch to every outing and the K1300R can even be outfitted with saddlebags if you choose to really rocket out of the city without a warning and stretch its legs over its 310-km range.Of course, there is a premium you pay for all this controlled aggression but after all, it is a BMW and carries the brands' DNA to the core. This may be the perfect excuse to go A-W-O-L (absence without leave) at work.Meridian Audio Core 200/ DSP3200If it is good enough for a Range Rover, it should be good enough for your desk, right? Meridian has been at the forefront of digital audio technology ever since we started listening to CDs. So it is no surprise that they have taken all their know-how on digital processing and shrunk it to a desktop system that manages to capture the essence of the brand's classic design cues. Featuring Meridian resolution-enhancing technologies, it will massage and pamper your tunes, no matter what format you prefer them in. In typical Meridian fashion, a single-wire link connects to the active DSP 3200 loudspeakers or the Meridian i80 iPod dock or the Sooloos media server. Thoughtful features like the smart buttons change their functions depending on the mode that is selected and even the OLED screen auto adjusts to provide optimum clarity in every light condition. That makes it a perfect desktop partner.bweditor (at) abp (dot) in(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 26-09-2011)
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If ever there was a browser meant to be on tablets, it's the Dolphin. I've used it on my Android phone but despite the 4.2-inch screen, the features don't really come into their own until you see them on a tablet — and Dolphin has just made it to iOS beginning with the iPhone a couple of weeks ago, and now the iPad, where it looks like it really belongs. Using it, I can't help thinking Dolphin is what Safari should have been all along. Dolphin on the iPad is built on top of Safari, but looks and behaves delightfully different. The thing I love best, I will unashamedly admit, is the gestures. Top right is a little hand-button that takes you to a grid on which you draw an alphabet or shape that makes something happen. Draw a big G to get to Google or a T to head to Twitter. But you can also set your own list of gestures, not just to go to associated URLs, but perform other actions such as go to the top or bottom of the page, copy a link, go forwards or back, refresh, bookmark, and even subscribe to RSS feeds. It's fast, which makes it seem quite magical. It's also the kind of thing that differentiates working on a PC or laptop from using a smartphone or tablet. What may sound like gimmicks, but adds functionality, user-friendliness and an enticement to use. The other thing that is quite 'tablety' about Dolphin is that it doubles up as a webzine. As you open up a tab, you don't get a blank page, but a menu of eight publications. Touch one and a slick loading page takes you inside the webzine, which looks good enough for you to want to read. You can edit this list of magazines and sites to put in your own favourites. There's still more. Speed Dial, the visual bookmarks app, is built into Dolphin. You can change the preset bookmarks to your own preferences and go to any of your frequently visited sites with a touch. On the left, you have a fuller slide-out bookmarks bar with presets you can change. On the right, another slide-out lists the open tabs in a tab bar. And yes, the big advantage over Safari here is also the tabbed browsing. Very clean and simple with some basic, intuitive customisability that's bound to make Dolphin much used on the iPad and other tablets. Mala Bhargava is a personal technology writer and media professional. Contact her at mala at pobox dot com and @malabhargava on Twitter
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If you've longed to pick up the Bose SoundDocks but didn't want to lock yourself down to a proprietary dock format, there's hope yet. Bose's latest SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker builds on the SoundDock pedigree but eschews the dock for a wireless solution using the standard Bluetooth A2DP wireless stereo profile commonly found in most mobile devices. This is an immensely useful decision since it places your iPod/phone back into your hands instead of a fidgety remote that never quite matches the touchscreen ease-of-use. Open it up and you'll be most certainly taken aback by its diminutive size. It looks like it could be thrown into a backpack and carried everywhere, and it mostly can with its 4-7 hour battery life (battery life varies with playback volume). With the speaker grill across its front face, it does look a little dated until you switch it on and the glowing lights and Bluetooth indicator remind you this is very much a 2011 product. Controls are placed on the side and there's a very neat cover, made of nylon or leather, which closes the SoundLink for portability and durability. The cover acts much like the iPad's Smart Cover in that it doubles as a stand and shuts off the SoundLink when closed, and flips around to form the base for a stand when open. The device can pair with 6 Bluetooth devices, though you'll need to disconnect (by turning Bluetooth off) the first device in order to add a new one. AirPlay, Apple's proprietary standard for wireless streaming of audio, video, and photos that's currently the buzzword in wireless streaming circles isn't supported though, and I expect some cheer from the non-Apple readers for this conscious choice. It does ship with an auxiliary port for wired playback from non-Bluetooth devices. Does its size, possibly its biggest draw, affect its sound quality? Across the frequency range, the sound was nice and detailed, and it goes quite loud (for its size) without distorting. The SoundLink is built around four neodymium transducers to handle the mid-to-high frequency range, and two passive radiators to take care of the bass frequencies. The radiators face each other inside the shell of the system, which makes them cancel each other's vibrations out—a smart way to both add a bit more low end response and make sure the SoundLink doesn't buzz across the tabletop on songs with heavier bass. All in all, It's undeniable that the SoundLink offers considerable power for its size, and the low-end response at medium volumes makes this perfect for a multitude of applications – carrying it along with you for a business trip, using it with your laptop or iPad to add some volume, or just taking it to the beach or somewhere equally disconnected and not having to compromise on the quality of music that goes along with you. If there is a downside, it is that due to its size, there is an impact on stereo separation, the ability for the listener to discern left and right channels. If you haven't got yourself a portable speaker or a music dock yet, I'd strongly recommend you give this a try – it's portable enough to travel with you from room to room in the house, or on the road should you need. Rating: 8/10Price: Rs 19,013 (with nylon cover) or Rs 23,513 (LX model with leather cover)URL: http://bit.ly/p4wwxyEquipped For Celebration Hold on a second… we're eleven years into the new millennia! So along with the lip-smacking food and the loudspeakers drumming up a gala frenzy, it's about right that we throw in a dash of tech as well! Here are some gadgets you should not be caught without, and some suggestions on how to make the best use of these in your festive break! Got a smartphone? Perfect. You can use the built-in GPS functions on most smartphones to go around town posting your location via the Facebook app or foursquare, or better still, use the Google Latitude app to tell your friends where you are and keep track of their location. Let the impromptu parties begin! Lost getting from Point A to Point B? The same GPS and the Maps app in your phone can not only quickly guide to you to each of the many pandals you intend to visit, but also tag your photos with the location alongside so you can see them categorised later on a map! Now, using your phone all day is bound to drain the battery down to precarious levels, and you wouldn't want to be the one with a dead cellphone when everyone's coordinating to make plans well into the night, now would you? Pick up one of many portable USB-based phone-charging solutions, such as the ones from Mophie, and carry your phone cable along with you. That way, a quick pit stop will give your phone battery enough bars to last till the wee hours of the morning! Entertaining people at home? Pick up the new range of ambiance accessories from Philips – perhaps a glowing LED-lit wine cooler or a vase to set the mood, or how about a bottom-lit serving plate or coasters! Just prepare for your party to be the talk of your circle! Snap some pics and don't want to crowd around the tiny camera screen? If you've followed my advice and snagged yourself an iPad recently, pick up the iPad Camera Connection Kit to quickly transfer your photos from the camera or memory card onto the iPad, and then share out to the world! Turn a long drive or a meetup at home into a party, with portable sound solutions such as the Bose SoundLink I've looked at today. With all the din outside, let's make some noise of our own now, shall we? And when you're out shopping, keep an eye out for all the festive offers going around, if there's been a gadget you've eyed for a while now, there's a good chance you could score a deal or two. Try out the Android app TaazzaGo for the latest deals around your pincode.technocool at kanwar dot nettwitter@2shar
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Asian technology companies came under pressure on Thursday to slash prices of their tablet computers after Amazon.com launched its Kindle Fire at a mass market-friendly $199. The Kindle Fire, while lacking many of the high-tech bells and whistles common on tablets from cameras to 3G wireless connection, may sound the death knell for a raft of devices based on Google Inc's Android operating system."The pricing is critical to gain traction in the tablet market... Rival manufacturers have failed to attract consumers as they have matched the iPad's price point without matching its content offering," said Adam Leach, an analyst at research firm Ovum."Amazon's retail-based business model allows the company to subsidize the device on the premise that consumers will buy more from Amazon, be that physical goods or its digital content."From Samsung Electronics to Sony Corp, major Asian tablet makers have ambitious plans to take on Apple, whose iPad is the gold standard in the booming market.With their me-too type of products priced almost at the same level as the iPad's starting price of $499, none of them have however been able to gain any significant market share from Apple.So far, Samsung has been seen as the most credible challenger to the iPad and some analysts suggest it could lose its No. 2 position to the eagerly anticipated Fire.The South Korean company's tablet marketing campaign has also stumbled in recent months due to Apple's legal attempts to ban Samsung's tablet sales in Australia, the United States and Germany, over patent infringement, among other claims.Samsung's Galaxy Tab, Sony's S tablet, Motorola's Zoom and many others from Acer Inc and Asustek Computer Inc all run on Android, which Amazon's Fire also uses and combines with its online store.By pricing the Fire at less than half the iPad - yet stripping out costlier components and features - the Internet retailer hopes to get the device into millions of consumers' hands and then into Amazon books, movies, music and other content.Tough for SamsungSamsung's new tablet Galaxy 10.1 is priced roughly the same as the iPad. Even at that price, a slim profit margin of around 5 per cent makes it difficult for Samsung to cut prices sharply, analysts say.Worldwide tablet shipments will more than triple to 60 million units this year and surge to 275.3 million units by 2015, research firm IHS iSuppli forecasts.Apple dominates the North American tablet market, with 80 per cent of the 7.5 million units shipped during the second quarter of 2011, Strategy Analytics says.Analysts had expected Amazon's tablet to be priced around $250, roughly half the price of Apple's iPad, which starts at $499.Sony vowed in January to become the world's No. 2 tablet maker - behind Apple - by 2012 and Sony executives have since stuck to that ambitious claim."We expect the Amazon tablet to... put pressure on the other non-iPad competitors as they are unlikely to be able to compete on price and value," UBS analysts said in a note."At the $199, we believe Amazon's tablet has the potential to be disruptive to the market and, in particular, the non-iPad market...Other tablet vendors will find it difficult to match Amazon's price point."HP's firesale of its TouchPad tablet at $99 just six weeks after its launch created strong demand for its soon-to-be-killed product, a sign of just how critical prices are in the sector.(Reuters)
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It was a long held tradition in the perfumes business that men and women wanted — and needed — to smell differently. Women preferred floral notes while men tended to stick to woody fragrances. This was why there were perfumes created specifically for women, and others that were blended only for men. Shops had different counters for the different genders. And no man ever thought of using his wife or sister's perfume if his own fragrance had run out. That line of thinking is slowly being junked by many in the fragrances business. Now, many fashion houses and perfumeries are happy to create unisex perfumes that both men and women can wear. The idea is that different perfumes appeal to different personalities — and not different genders. Even traditionalists are coming around to the new view because many unisex perfumes are doing well commercially. The trend is gathering speed in India too. "In urban areas, both men and women want to appear uber-cool and are becoming conscious of their looks and how they smell. Eventually, it comes down to a perfume that fits an individual's attitude, mood, personality and even the state of mind," said Vivek Bali, vice-president and business head-Cosmetics and Fragrances, at the Lifestyle division, Reliance Retail. Emporio Armani Diamonds is popular among both men and women PRICE: Rs 2,500 for 30 ml Given the growing popularity of unisex fragrances across the world, Reliance Retail decided to try these out in India. "With the launch of unisex fragrances globally and preferences for a fragrance family, we felt there could be a market for it in India," explained Bali. The company tracked initial sales of unisex fragrance launches in India. "As sales trends started rising, we encouraged the customer to try unisex fragrances frequently. In most cases, the response was positive and prompted us to include unisex fragrances in our portfolio," says Bali. Globally, fragrance is based on a theme, which is represented in its packaging, visuals and marketing campaign. However, in unisex perfumes, they don't look any different from other perfumes.Clearly sensing a market, Reliance Retail has thrown open an eclectic range of perfumes like Calvin Klein — cK One, cK BE, Kenzo Amour, Versace Versense and Moschino Light Colours whose notes can be summed up as feminine floral and yet woody musk fragrances. Right now, these variants contribute to 8 per cent of the business.What was once considered heady and overwhelming seems quite acceptable now. India has traditionally been a strong men's perfumes market. Men constitute approximately 65 per cent of the country's fragrance market. "Our Emporio Armani Diamonds for Men is very popular with women who like woody fragrances over fresh floral notes," says Dinesh Dayal, COO, L'Oreal India. Besides unisex perfumes, women in India seem to prefer men's fragrances. Many women shoppers shun the idea of smelling too floral and follow the trail of woody, spicy and musky notes, originally worn by men.While many perfumes are positioned as unisex options in evolved fragrance markets, in India the market is still nascent. Though it is not an established trend, it cannot be totally ignored. Often sales counter personnel are largely responsible for marketing unisex fragrances for luxury seekers. break-page-break"We have fragrance promos across the year at our stores. During promos, we've noticed that many women opt for men's fragrances. About 15 to 20 per cent of our brand sales come from the unisex fragrances that some brands offer," added Govind Shrikhande, customer care associate and managing director, Shoppers Stop. The retail chain has popularised unisex fragrances through animation promos, which they feel is the most acceptable and practical way to educate customers about fragrances. "Customer feedback from the retail team revealed that women do buy men's fragrance occasionally. This became a point of understanding that unisex fragrances might work. We plan to have new offerings in September," says Shrikhande. As of now, a popular pick with perfumistas is Voyage d`Hermes, a woody, fresh, musky unisex fragrance from Hermes. cK One is considered one of the first unisex perfumes PRICE: Rs 3,700 for 200 ml How do men look at it? "I bought a perfume which my wife and I use regularly. It made a romantic gift for our wedding anniversary," said Sunil Raj, a software engineer. Such people may be few, but are opening new opportunities for retailers. Indiaplaza.in, formerly known as Fabmall.com, conducted a two-week perfume promo in June. The e-commerce company ran a campaign to attract customers, who turned out to be first time buyers in the age group of 25-35 years. It ran a promotion for Calvin Klein, which is their most popular unisex brand. cK One was conceptualised as a fresh citrus for men and women. It probably ranks among the early cult-creating unisex fragrances, with notes of rose, violet, papaya, pineapple, nutmeg and musk. "cK is popular because it is being well promoted. The company has targeted everyone. However, less than 10 per cent of our online sales on perfumes come from unisex bottles. We plan to address this market by adding some more unisex variants to our portfolio," explained K. Vaitheeswaran, its founder and COO. The shopping portal has a wide range of perfumes, which includes men's perfumes, women's perfumes and unisex fragrances. Over the past one year, the consumer has shown an inclination towards unisex fragrances, which is why the portal is likely to add more variants in coming months. Voyage d`Hermes comes with woody, fresh and musky notes PRICE: Rs 6,500 for 100 ml The perfume wearer, who once flaunted fragrances to carry it with attitude, is now clear cut about the choice. "One of the reasons why neutral perfumes are slowly picking up in India is because women have the flexible attitude to change fragrance according to situations. They can wear a woody fragrance during the day that suits the work atmosphere and opt for sweet and flowery perfumes in the evening depending on whether it is a relaxed outing or a romantic occasion," said a Baccarose spokesperson. The company has a bouquet of offerings, which include international fragrances, skincare and cosmetic brands.A fragrance triggers emotional or psychological responses. ‘I don't want to smell like my grandmother who used lot of floral,' seems to be the thought that leads women towards unisex perfumes for women. According to stylist Prasad Bidapa there's no such thing as women's perfume or men's perfume. "A lot depends on the wearer. There are women who enjoy wearing men's perfume. Of course, stores in Dubai like Jo Malone customise perfumes. Many couples go there and get perfumes mixed and blended with notes of coffee, vanilla, cinnamon and orange blossom that can be worn by them," says Bidapa. Obviously, it will take time for this experience to come to India. Nevertheless, there is always the traditional ittar or oil-based perfumes sold in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk. These stores are willing to mix potions of essential oils and hints of vetiver (khus khus) and personalise a blend especially for the wearer.When Gabrielle Coco Chanel said, "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future," the legendary French fashion designer may not have imagined that the scented scene would eventually include fragrances with a unisex appeal.The author is a freelance feature writer based in Bangalore(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 19-09-2011)
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It's like you're stepping back in time to about 40 years ago. Only with the Fujifilm X100, you know that along with a seriously retro piece of kit, you're getting a 2011-spec compact camera in the bargain…okay, maybe the word bargain is a little bit of a stretch here! Pick it up and you could easily mistake this camera for an old rangefinder camera with the optical viewfinder at the top right corner. The build is solid and the design is sure to elicit the "oohs" and "aahs" from anyone who sees it. That said, this isn't simply ripping off a classic design – Fujifilm has packed in some standout features from the past along with some of the most recent innovations of today. So what is the X100 then? The basics of the camera are this — it's a 12.3 megapixel compact camera packing in a large APS-C sized CMOS sensor (the kind you'd normally find in SLRs), a fixed 35mm equivalent lens with bright f/2.0 maximum aperture, and did I mention a gorgeously a gorgeously retro feel? On paper, this combo should result in excellent photos, with exceptional low light performance normally found in semi-professional digital SLRs. No pushover this. Turn it around and you'll see a bank of controls and a large LCD, and while it does allow Fujifilm to use a number of dedicated buttons for frequently used functions (a dedicated RAW button, for example), it is mildly incongruous with the front and top layout of the X100. Using the X100, one of the main highlights for me is its unique hybrid viewfinder. Bring the camera up to your eye, and the LCD automatically switches off, and depending on the viewing mode you choose, you will either see a regular optical viewfinder or an optical viewfinder overlaid with electronic information or a high-resolution fully electronic viewfinder — a ‘best of both worlds' approach. And the proof of the pudding — the image quality — is exceptional, even in low light scenes. The way the X100 renders the light is superb, although you will have to deal with a slightly fidgety autofocus. I emphasise slightly, the delay isn't enough to be irritating in most conditions (except extreme low light scenarios) but it is perceptibly slower than a digital SLR. Add to this the slow shot-to-shot times, but then again, the spectacular results are well worth the wait. Images are highly detailed even at low ISO (sensitivity) settings, and the noise levels and color reproduction are impressive even if you take the sensitivity levels way up. Verdict? Considering its styling and image quality, the X100 has few rivals in its class, possibly a Leica X1 which is twice its price or thereabouts. Given its price, this camera is not for everyone. In the end, the X100 is still very much a niche product, with its non-interchangeable lens, comparatively large body, and the emphasis on a manual way of shooting that requires some experience on the part of the user. The X100 will most appeal to the street photographer with a large budget, and to be honest, I would readily recommend one of many low- to mid-range DSLRs, such as the Nikon D5100 or Canon EOS 600D, as a more sensible bet for everyone else. But the charm and admittedly the quirkiness of this camera cannot be denied… Rating: 7/10Price: Rs 66,999URL: http://bit.ly/qOsbpY A Sound Solution Holding your phone while driving is a strict no-no in my books, but not everyone can get used to Bluetooth headsets. The Freeway from Jabra is an option for such folks — it is a visor-mount Bluetooth speakerphone that is slightly bulky in design, almost 5 inches at its widest. Part of the reason for its bulk is that it houses not one but three speakers, which it uses together to create what Jabra calls Virtual Surround sound. So when it's clipped onto the visor, you will get sound that seems to be coming from around your head, rather than from above it. It's not fancy ‘surround sound', but the overall effect is pleasing, and music played back (via Bluetooth) over the speakers enjoys the benefits of much better speakers than the average car Bluetooth speakerphone. No more tinny voices — male voices sound full and rich, and music (except for bass heavy stuff) sounds good – making this a good option for those without an in-car stereo already. In fact, with its battery life of 14 hours talktime, you can carry this back into the house and use it as a portable speaker for music from your phone as well! Usage is straightforward — once you've paired with your phone, incoming calls can be answered or rejected either by pushing a single button on the Freeway, or via voice commands — simply say "answer" to accept or "ignore" to reject the call. There are a ton of voice commands, including those for redial, voice dialing, music commands and even a helpful "what can I say?" command to list out the various voice commands at your disposal. The Freeway checks the other boxes — address book integration to announce the name of the caller and voice commands are the norm— but it also pulls one more trick from out of the bag. It is equipped with a motion sensor which senses that you've left the vehicle and puts itself into standby automatically. It'll also do this if it goes a period of time without a phone paired. When you next get into your vehicle or otherwise move the Freeway, it will sense the motion and power itself back up, ready to pair with your phone again. If you're looking for a car speakerphone that can work well with high levels of wind and road noise, this is the one you should pick. The audio quality alone on this baby makes it worth the purchase, and the fact that you can remove it from your visor and use it as a portable desk speaker seals the deal for me.Rating: 8/10Price: Rs 7499URL: http://bit.ly/owZgAtOne Track ChaseApe Escape for the PlayStation Move has wierdly dressed monkeys (not apes, mind you) crash landing on Earth and attacking everything in sight. The backstory is irrelevant - all you have to do is use your fan, a slingshot, and a butterfly net to snag the pesky simians or avoid objects they aim at you. Since the game is entirely on rails, meaning that you go down a path much like a train (and you cannot deviate from it), you have no option but to keep at it, level after level. There's little variation in gameplay over the levels and it soon starts feeling like a one-trick pony. Might work for the kids but the overall feel is very much of a bargain title.Rating: 6/10Price: Rs 1299URL: http://bit.ly/r2DPL8 Drawing A Breakthrough Wacom is known for its top-notch professional drawing tablets, but with the Inkling, the company has done away with the tablet altogether. The Inkling is really a ballpoint that can transfer sketches made on good old paper to a PC/Mac via a portable receiver. The pen has pressure sensing technology with 1,024 levels of sensitivity, perfect for artists and illustrators looking to draw something while on the move and not having to redraw it when they're back at their PCs. URL: http://bit.ly/prfEPbPrice: $199 technocool at kanwar dot nettwitter@2shar
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