For a name known only in American sporting parlance, the word PlayBook is an odd choice coming out of the enterprise-heavy stables of BlackBerry. With their new tablet though, it is clear that Research in Motion isn't just trying to do a me-too on the iPad. Instead, the PlayBook sports a brand new operating system mated with more than capable hardware, and versatile app platform that shows promise. Here's the lowdown on the first tablet that's truly excited me since the iPad… What's Truly GreatMultitasking: Let's get this out of the way. The multi-tasking on the device is a revelation for what we've seen pass for multitasking on mobile platforms thus far. Swipe upwards while you're in any application and you can pull up all the open programs in a card-like interface not unlike Palm's webOS. Unlike other tablet OSs, including the iPad, the multitasking really works – it's amazing to start recording a video, swipe away to start a download and then start playing a game, and swipe back to see that the video is still recording! The magic really is in the implementation – while the PlayBook packs in a TI OMAP4430 1-GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, specs similar to the iPad2 and top-end Android tablets – the experience is something else. What's GoodGesture-enabled Interface: With a slightly enlarged bezel surrounding the 7-inch display, the PlayBook packs in a gesture-based user interface, so folks hunting for a home screen button may be a little confused to begin with. Fortunately, RIM makes you go through a tutorial when you set up the device, after which it's actually fun to be swiping up from the bottom of the frame, no matter which way you're holding the device, to reveal the home screen or switching between apps. Form Factor: Despite its heft, I found the PlayBook's 7inch form factor was perfect for extended one-handed viewing and carrying around everywhere. Small enough to fit in a purse or jacket pocket, something you can't do with the iPad 2. It's heavier than the Galaxy Tab, though. Multimedia: The bright and clear 1200x600pixel touch screen rivals the iPad2's, in terms of both media playback and responsive touch feedback. With the 1080p HDMI-out capabilities, you can take the PlayBook onto a big screen for stutter-free playback of HD movies etc. Added bonus, you can run a movie on the HDTV while doing something else (like browsing the web) on the PlayBook. Oh, and don't get fooled by the small speaker grilles – they're loud enough for small rooms. Cameras (3MP front, 5MP rear) are a tad slow to get started, but results are above average, capturing stutter-free 1080p clips that play back well even on a largescreen TV. Video chat is nice (works via BlackBerry IDs), but needs PlayBooks on both ends. Web Browsing: Tired of a stunted mobile web browsing experience? PlayBook's browser runs Flash 10.1 so you can run web video and games right from within the browser. The closest to a desktop browsing experience I've seen so far on a tablet, with the responsive pinch-to-zoom goodness that tablets have by now perfected. Wireless File Sharing: When connected to your PC via USB, you can either drag and drop files to the PlayBook or use RIM's BlackBerry Desktop Software. If you're on a wireless network, you can also wirelessly sync files by turning on the PlayBook's Wi-Fi Sharing feature. Pricing: With the pricing, RIM seems to have gotten the pricing right. Now if only they'd launched with a 3G version as well… the current models are Wi-Fi only. Bridge Mode: If you own a ‘berry, you can securely tether the PlayBook and your phone (over Bluetooth) and access your corporate email, messenger (BBM), mobile internet, tasks and notes on your tablet. Turn Bridge off, and there's no trace of your email etc. on the tablet, perfect for enterprises that might look to share the PlayBook among different employees. Or for that matter, if you hand over the tablet to your kid to play Need for Speed…. Fast Keyboard: All touchscreen and no keys makes PlayBook a slow typist? Fortunately, it's a BlackBerry at heart, and the keyboard is fast and accurate. Within no time, I was barreling away at the keyboard. Bear in mind though, I've taken very well to good on-screen keyboards, so your mileage may vary. break-page-breakWhat's NotBridge Mode: Bridge may work well if you have a BlackBerry, but if you don't, the PlayBook effectively doesn't have a native email application. You could make the case that it makes the device more secure, but I'm pretty sure an app for your personal email would be very welcome. RIM says there is one on the way, though. Apps: Before I dwell on the apps situation for the PlayBook, let me say this – I had a blast playing the bundled EA's "Need for Speed Undercover,", plus I liked the included Documents to Go for viewing and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. That said, you have to ask what's next? Many of the other apps are just shortcuts to Web pages, such as Twitter and Facebook. Head over the BlackBerry App World, and you realize there is a massive paucity of apps for the platform, and until the 3rd party apps come, don't hold your breath – Android and iOS platforms offer infinitely more choice. RIM's said Android app support is on its way by year-end, which may finally help realize the PlayBook's potential of a solid business tablet. Evolving Platform: It's a new platform, so be prepared for some rough ends as RIM rolls out updates to fix bugs and the occasional software instability. There were times I felt this product felt a bit rushed to the market, and some time and effort in getting more 3rd party developers on board would have allowed me to warm up to the PlayBook even more. No 3G model: None, yet. On the cards, though, but unless you tote a 'berry, the PlayBook won't be very handy outside the house/office Wi-Fi. Factor that into the costs, and the pricing adds up. Rating: 8/10Price: Rs 27,990 (16GB), Rs 32,990 (32GB), Rs 37,990(64 GB)URL: http://bit.ly/lo9w0F Pocket Friendly WonderWith digital SLR prices dropping and mirrorless compact interchangeable lens cameras seeing traction, is there enough of a market for the do-it-all superzoom category of prosumer cameras? Fujifilm certainly seems to think so, and the latest FinePix S3300 camera is taking the fight to the competition with its extremely attractive pricing. On the specs front, the S3300 ticks all the right boxes – it packs in a 14 megapixel CCD sensor with dual image stabilisation. Translated, that means the camera a combination of high sensor sensitivity and CCD shift type image stabilisation, which stabilises the sensor against blue caused by camera shake. Pretty critical considering the headline feature of the camera is its 26x optical zoom lens, which starts at a very respectable 24mm wide angle and goes all the way to a monstrous 624mm. Add to that a 2 cm macro mode, which allows focusing on small objects as close as 2cm away from the lens. This bundle of gear is packed into a plastic but rugged digital SLR-esque body which belies the price of the camera. Tipping the scales at over 500 grams, this is no featherweight, and while I'm all for premium heft, this one felt a bit too heavy, possibly due to the use of 4 AA batteries for power instead of a proprietary battery. Performance at start-up was snappy, and the camera is ready to shoot in no time. Daylight pictures are pretty good, and offer great sharpness and vivid colours that are a tad too saturated for my taste. Indoors, the results are mixed, with the camera adding in a lot of noise to the images. Take one look at the price, and you forget most flaws. At an MRP of under Rs 16,000, there is simply nothing with this kind of offering that comes within sniffing distance of the S3300. Recommended for the budget conscious buyer who wants it all. Rating: 8/10Price: Rs 15,999URL: http://bit.ly/mmX1irtechnocool at kanwar dot nettwitter@2shar
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Sometimes, you just need to hire wheels that make a statement. At an industrialist's daughter's wedding for instance, where everybody is coming in a Mercedes S Class, a BMW 7 or a Bentley Continental, how do you still get noticed while arriving at the venue? Simple — leave your car at home and instead hire a stretch limousine. You will surely get the VIP treatment when you step out of the car.Or consider this. You have had to fly out for the final negotiation on the merger. You are staying at the best hotel but all their luxury cars are booked and the best that they can offer you is a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. What do you do? To hold an upper hand in the negotiation, you desperately need a Mercedes S class at least. Well, never fear, there are car rental companies that will step in and help you out. Here's the basics of hiring the right set of wheels to fit the occasion.The Stretch LimoStretch limos — luxury cars with specially lengthened wheel bases and bodies — are great for special occasions such as arriving at a wedding or landing up at a film premiere.But stretch limos are impractical for daily use (given the potholes, ill-constructed speed breakers, the unruly traffic and the parking squeeze). So it makes sense to hire one as and when the occasion demands. The limousines themselves come in various stretches — from those that have been stretched a mere 3 ft to those that have been pulled by 12 ft. Most come with enough goodies packed in — LCD screens, home theatres, bars, hot plates, etc.Limousine Auto Care is one company that specialise in stretch limousines. "We provide limousine services for parties, airport transfer, weddings, travel activities, et al. The trend of hiring stretch limousines is catching up fast in India. The overall category is growing and people are willing to spend more on luxury items," says Gurjit Singh, director, Limousine Auto Care and president of Limousine Association of India. The company rents out 57 stretch limousines, which include stretch BMWs, Hummers and Lincoln Continentals. Their clientele includes the who's who of the film fraternity and political leaders such as Digvijay Singh and L.K. Advani. FUN TIME: The bar of a stretch Hummer; the interior of a stretch BMW (top); cushion couch (left) break-page-breakThe charges typically depend on the car however. It starts from Rs 15,000 for a period of 8 hours and a distance of 80 km. Even within stretch limos, there is a hierarchy. For a price, the Mann Tourist Auto Service will not only provide you with an ultra luxurious Chrysler stretch limo, but with an escort car to go with it. "We imported the Chrysler from the US — a 30-ft-long car. For safety measures, we provide escort service to our customers who hire the Chrysler," says Parmjeet Mann, director at Mann Tourist Transport Service. The package costs Rs 75,000 for 8-10 hours for a distance of 100-110 km. The company plans to launch two more — a stretch Bentley or a Chrysler in a couple of months.Just Luxury CarsFor business purposes — as opposed to going to a party — the stretch limo is quite useless. No one thinks you are making a statement if you arrive in one, unless you are a rap star from the US touring the country. Most businessmen prefer to make a more subtle statement by getting down from a Mercedes, a BMW, an Audi or a Jaguar. If you want to be slightly offbeat, you could choose an Aston Martin. If you want to make an overt statement, go for a Rolls-Royce. The rentals of these cars start from Rs 15,000 for the exotic category (think Aston Martin Volante), Rs 20,000 for sports (Porsche or Ferrari) and Rs 30,000 for the vintage (Packard) for a day.Most businessmen though stick to the more "normal" means of transportation — the Mercedes S 500, which starts from Rs 18,000 for 80 km and 8 hours. A Mercedes S 350 would cost Rs 12,000 and a BMW-7 Series around Rs 9,000 for the same period."We started a limousine point-to-point service with premium and luxury cars such as the Toyota Camry, Toyota Altis, and Mercedes E and S Class," says Sakshi Vij, head of marketing at Carzonrent India. The service is mostly targetted at the business executives and premium travellers.Limousine WagonIf you are planning to take your family to a nearby city, and find both the above options impractical, then a limousine wagon would be just right for you. These are station wagons which are also limousines. They have better leg space and road clearance. More importantly, they are just right with the kind of entertainment equipment that a band of friends or your children will require for the journey. Best thing is that you can rent a security officer on board as part of the service. "We want to ensure that our customer's fun-filled experience rolls out smoothly," says Sahdev Goil, director at Presidential Wheels, which rents out Limousine wagons.The "funkwagon" is well equipped with items such as state-of-the-art music system, ice-box and special ambient lighting. For corporate clients, it has extra space for luggage, business magazines, newspapers, wi-fi connectivity, DVD-VCD and a 26-inch monitor for a business meeting. And all these come at Rs 12,500 for 8 hours and 110 km. With 5-6 people on board, a limousine wagon could be hired for a trip from Delhi to Agra, Chandigarh, Jaipur at Rs 36 per km.(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 29-08-2011)
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It's 'raining' tablets these days. With the advent of Apple's iPad, a new trend of offering this sleek new device has gained momentum in the global technology market — rivals such as HTC, Research in Motion, Dell, Motorola and many others jumped in the fray, and thus begun a rat race. First, the race was about 'who all can offer a tablet' then began the fever of 'who can offer the most advanced tablet', with 'how many applications or apps.And as this tech-fever caught hold of Indian tech geeks, the race turned into 'who can offer the cheapest tablet or at least 'affordable' ones? A trend similar to that of mobile phone manufacturers popping-up now and then as we see more Indian players getting more and more tech savvy.After Reliance Communications launched its 3G tablet in collaboration with Chinese firm ZTE Technologies at a price tag of Rs 12,999, Bharti Group's company Beetel introduced its version of a tablet PC at Rs 9,999 on Thursday. A day later, a little known Bangalore-based firm Lakshmi Access Communications Systems (LACS) launched a tablet PC for just $99 (about Rs 5,000).The company has intensified the competition by introducing a wide range of Tablet PCs with screen-size varying from 4-10.9 inches. The company, which launched its first tablet PC in January 2010 under the brand name Magnum, said it has revamped its product to better suit the users' needs and has made investments of about Rs. 20 crore in the project so far."The product was designed by LACS, while the manufacturing was outsourced to a Chinese firm," says Managing Director Mahendra Kumar D. Jain. Magnum is available in different screen sizes, with some of the variants doubling up as a phone, and the maximum price tag of the product is about Rs 38,000.Among the unique selling propositions of the product are its pricing, upgrade and damage warranty, and the wide variety. "The devices come with 2 unique types of warranty - an upgrade warranty, wherein the consumer can upgrade to a newer technology device at a small incremental cost, and a damage warranty, wherein a new device is shipped directly to the consumer in the rare event of the device experiencing sub-optimal performance," the company says in a statement.While the company has not yet elaborated on the features of Magnum tablets, these devices will come with Android 2.3 gingerbread operating system, with some of the high-end variants having dual-boot option (Android + MS Windows). Apart from the regular features of a PC, Magnum variants have Bluetooth (DUN) Internet connectivity by pairing with mobile phone, and menu available in 11 languages.The company plans to invest about Rs 100 crore in the venture in the next one year. It will spend about Rs. 60 crore in marketing Magnum and open 10,000 EZs (experience zones), or franchisee retail outlets in the financial year 2011-12. LACS is looking at a sales target of Rs 800 crore in the current fiscal.The company is adopting a franchisee model of retail outlets for which the company plans to open about 10,000 product display galleries or experience zones - what the company calls 'Easy EZs.' "For consumers, the ubiquitous presence of easy EZs means that the fear of online purchase is completely eliminated. They can see and experience what they are going to buy, even before placing their order," says Jain.Easy EZs could be set up in just 100 square feet of area, with an investment of Rs 3.5 lakhs which could also be financed and requires no sales tax registration as the billing is done directly to the company, online.
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Adrian Tan owns two Mercedes sedans and is looking to buy a third car. The 36-year-old financial trader was shopping with his wife on a Singapore street lined with luxury car dealerships and said he may stick with Mercedes or go for an Audi or a BMW.In Singapore, those cars don't come cheap, selling for upwards of $150,000 with taxes thrown in, but Tan said he was being relatively frugal."The younger ones who have more disposable income and are doing so much better than before, their willingness to spend dwarfs me all the time. I have peers in their 20s buying high-end Porsches, Lamborghinis and so on."It's a trend being repeated across much of the region despite sluggish markets and worries about a double-dip recession.Demand is booming in Asia for luxury cars, upmarket properties, art and jewellery, driven by a seismic shift in wealth from West to East.In their latest annual wealth report, Capgemini/Merrill Lynch said the number of Asian high net-worth individuals, defined as having over $1 million in disposable income, soared to 3.3 million in 2010, while their wealth surged to $10.8 trillion.Europe had 3.1 million millionaires last year with $10.2 trillion in disposable income, while North America had 3.4 million with $11.6 trillion.With more wealthy Asians than ever before, sales of luxury goods, properties and cars are soaring.In Singapore, just one BMW dealership in the city sells around 350 cars a month. In Greater China, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, BMW said it sold a total of 130,659 cars in the first six months of the year, up 60 percent from a year earlier.Christie's, the auction house, says Asian sales of art, fine wine, jewellery and porcelain in the first half of 2011 were 68 percent above the previous year at $515 million."There is 13-14 trillion dollars spend in the region, one quarter of the world's wealth," said Porush Singh, senior vice president at MasterCard Worldwide. "The global financial balance is shifting towards Asia."First: Buy PropertyThe rout in global markets last week may have changed the total numbers of Asia's wealthy, but the region's rich appear to have weathered the storm better than their Western peers."Asia's wealthy are relatively insulated from global financial swings," said Mark Matthews, Asia head of research at the private bank Julius Baer. "Asia is very wealthy, but the wealth has not been (fully) institutionalized. It is first generation wealth, it is largely uninvested."As a result of that uninvested wealth, banks and money managers are beating a path to the doors of Asia's wealthy to enrol them as clients and help them put their money to work.The first port of call for many newly rich Asians is property. Tales abound of Singaporeans going to Australia for a holiday and coming back as apartment owners after spotting a bargain.The city-state has the highest concentration of millionaire households in the world, with 15.5 percent having more than $1 million in assets under management.In recent months London property has emerged as a favourite choice of wealthy Asians because of the weak pound and sky-high real estate prices in their own countries.In the first six months of 2011, Asians have already spent more than 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in new developments in central London, up from around 1 billion pounds for the whole of 2010, say realtors Knight Frank."The exchange rate from Asia to the UK is very favourable, whether that's China renminbi, Hong Kong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur," said Sebastian Warner, regional director for Asia-Pacific at Knight Frank."The view is investors want another option and they see London traditionally as a very safe market and a market that provides very good returns in terms of yield and capital growth in property."Consumption and investment by Asia's wealthy are being boosted both by low interest rates and high inflation."If you stay to cash, you lose purchasing power," said Dominic Schnider, head of Asia-Pacific macroeconomics at UBS."So you either consume it or invest. Staying with it you lose. So that is why you are seeing, or you have seen, investors gearing up their exposure towards more risky assets to try to avoid loss in purchasing power."Wealth managers say Asians overall appear to have more appetite for risk than their Western counterparts."The willingness here to take a position in a risk asset tends to be higher and the ability and willingness to unwind that position and go onto the next trade seems to be higher here at the moment," said John Woods, chief investment strategist for Asia-Pacific at Citi Private Bank.Step Two: SpendBeyond investment, the outward trappings of wealth in Asia are also shifting.Earlier generations saved cash. Now, Singapore's wealthy can be defined by the property they own. In China, legions of newly rich are characterised by flashy, big-ticket spending."Conspicuous consumption is very much a part of this culture of mass affluence in China, which is now coming into India, but is still much less," said Jahanzeb Naseer, product manager for Credit Suisse's equity research in Asia."In India, the ultra-rich (the multi-millionaires) are doing that, but in China, even people below the millionaire category are doing that. That's affected obviously retail sales and jewelry and all that. In Indonesia, anecdotal evidence shows that it is somewhere between India and China in terms of luxury goods spending."Singh at MasterCard said wealthy Asians in 14 countries spent more than $1 trillion in discretionary consumption last year, on dining out, travel, luxury goods, vehicles and communications. Urban China accounted for about $255 billion, or about one-quarter of that spending.This will rise to $1.8 trillion by 2015, with spending by China's urban wealthy rising more than 20 percent per year to more than $640 billion, MasterCard says.Extravagance is apparently no longer the taboo it used to be in Asia."It used to be that when you're working, you wouldn't want to drive a flashy car because you'll be afraid of putting people off," said Tan, the Singaporean trader. "But now it's different. It's a flash game."(Reuters)
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So, river rafting comes as easy to you as drifting in a mellow lake. Be warned, though; there are rapids worldwide that can put fear into even the best, particularly Grade 4 and Grade 5 rapids. (Grade 6 rapids are too dangerous and best avoided.) Here are some of the world's toughest river-rafting destinations for you to soak in the adrenaline. (Statutory warning: if you're a first-timer, don't bother.)Grand Canyon, Colorado, USCradling the Colorado river, the spectacular Grand Canyon is the world's white-water capital. The wilder portions of the river, which originates near Rocky Mountain National Park, are in the desert southwest as it flows through Utah and the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon has a scale of 1-10 for rapids, 10 being the most difficult (unlike the 1-6 grade international classification). Some of the Grand rapids in the Colorado are the Crystal, Granite and Lava, besides awesome blast rapids such as the Hermit. Horn Creek Rapid is rated a 7-9 grade; one of the most difficult rapids, it forms, at lower levels, very large waves and hydraulics. Check it out in April. THINGS TO CARRY A pair of drying shorts to wear over your wetsuit Toiletries, personal medication, etc. Pack your stuff in a duffel or kitbag as a large part of the journey will involve travelling in vehicles A warm sleeping bag Woollen/thermal underwear A wind/rain-proof jacket A good pair of sandals to last the entire trip. Spare sneakers or flipflops will come in handy for camping A flashlight and spare batteries Sunshade/hat Vaseline/lip salve Insect repellent A small daypack for your camera, lunch, water bottle and jacke Futaleufu, ChileMove from North America to South America, to Chile's Futaleufu river, which is known for its powerful white-water currents the world over. The upper part of the river, which runs from Pueblo de Futaleufu to the Rio Azul confluence, offers the most trying rafting options and contains Grade 5 rapids such as the Gates of Inferno, Wall Shot, The Perfect Storm, Zeta and the Throne Room. Among the more dangerous Grade 5 rapids here is the Casa de Piedra (house of rock). Keep in mind, though, that the flow of the river can vary significantly even over a week depending on rainfall. The Chilean government has proposed a hydroelectric dam, which may restrict the free flow of the river in the future. So, if you're planning a trip, make it fast.break-page-breakZambezi, ZambiaFrom the alluring climes of Latin America, move to Zambia in wild Africa, towards the south of the continent. The 3,540-km Zambezi river, the fourth-longest in Africa, starts in Zambia and flows through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. One of its spectacular features is the 1.7-km wide Victoria Falls (along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe), where the Zambezi drops some 100 metres into a narrow gorge. Rapids in the Upper Zambezi are very frequent (between 100 metres and 2 km), many of them being Grade 5 and Grade 6. Some of the fifth-graders are Gulliver's Travels, Open Season, Upper Moemba and Ghostrider, while the Grade 6 rapids include Commercial Suicide, Lower Moemba and Deep Throat. The stretch just south of the Victoria Falls to Batoka Gorge contains some of the most dangerous rapids in the rafting world, including the Stairway to Heaven, Devil's Toilet Bowl and Oblivion rapids. BEATING THE CURRENTS: A rafter takes on the powerful white-water currents on Chile's Futaleufu river, which boasts the Gates of Inferno rapid, among others Victoria Nile, UgandaFrom Zambia, move north to Uganda. Here, you find the White Nile, which runs through Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. Knownasthe Victoria Nile, the river arises from Lake Victoria in Uganda and is widely considered one of the world's most thrilling white-water rafting destinations. Most trips start in Jinja by Lake Victoria. In addition to some Grade 4 and Grade 3 rapids, there are several Grade 5 ones in the Victoria Nile. Rapids such as the Big Brother and G-spot can terrify as your raft spins around the whirlpools and climbs vertically into waves. The most dangerous Grade 5 rapid is the The Bad Place. To get there, you have to carry your raft around a Grade 6 rapid — don't try rafting that one — before rejoining the river. Yangtze, ChinaFinally, from Africa to Asia, to the world's most surging economy, China. The Middle Kingdom cradles the Yangtze or Cháng Jiang, the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. Flowing over a 6,418-km expanse, Yangtze has seen very few rafters successfully navigating its rapids. At places, its flow is six times as fast as the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon. The most difficult stretch is the 192 km through three gorges — Xiling, Wu and Qutang. The rapids are characterised by intense hydraulics and surges of white water, dangerous ledges, huge holes, whirlpools, and 10-15 ft breaking waves.(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 02-05-2011)
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India, the land of rivers, has her own deadly rapids, some as powerful and dangerous as any in the world. Here are a few that rank among the most difficult.Siang, Arunachal Pradesh: Siang, which is what the mighty Brahmaputra is called in Arunachal Pradesh, offers rapids that can rival the likes of Grand Canyon or Zambezi. Largely unexplored, it's in the eastern corner of India and was opened to foreigners only in 2003. The 180-km stretch has holes the size of houses, 5-metre high waves, and huge whirlpools. Siang has a 10-mile stretch that contains the Ningguing and Pulsating Palsi rapids. These are then followed by terrifying Grade 6 rapids such as Roaring Rikor, Zebra Rock and Toothfairy at Cherring.Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh: The north-eastern state also has the Subansiri or Gold River, the biggest tributary of the upper Brahmaputra. The river has no road artery linking it for about 150 km, and runs through difficult terrain (vertical rock faces) with sparse population. It also has extremely powerful rapids with high water volume and flow. Sadly, a 135-metre-high hydel dam is being built on the river, which will effectively put a stop to any rafting activity. Go there before it vanishes.Tons, Uttarakhand: Only 410 km from Delhi, Garhwal, the part of Uttarakhand bordering Himachal Pradesh, is where the Tons river offers some mighty Grade 4 and Grade 5 rapids. White-water rafting on the Tons is counted among the most challenging in the country. The upper Tons is considered non-navigable by rafts, such is the ferocity of the rapids and the current. The middle has powerful, but manoeuvrable, rapids such as Afterglow, Pillowtalk, Deadly Dedsu, Channel Rapid and Thrice Bitten. Zanskar, Ladakh: A trip to Ladakh is exciting enough, but when you go rafting in the extremely desolate, remote and sheer Zanskar gorge, the fun trebles. Taking on extremely powerful rapids apart, the added challenge is the icy cold water (and environs, too), and the difficulties of getting acclimatised to the high altitude. Zanskar's rapids, passing through mountain walls that are thousands of feet high, are spread over a 180-km stretch of near-inaccessible terrain. The rapids themselves are mostly of the Grade 4 variety, making the experience of braving incredibly difficult waters in equally difficult conditions, a unique experience. Just try it.(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 02-05-2011)
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Taiwan's HTC and Korea's Samsung Electronics have sold millions of mobile devices running on the free Android device, catapulting Google to the top slot in the booming global mobile software market.But the acquisition of Motorola could turn Google from a partner to a competitor for more than 30 other Android-handset companies."The deal will make most Android players realise how dependent they are on Google and how quickly Google's plans can change their businesses," said Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst at research firm IDC.Wall Street quickly anointed Microsoft a winner in the deal, with Windows potentially benefiting if the acquisition alienates the other phone makers that rely on Android.Android held a 43.4 per cent share of the smartphone market at the end of the second quarter, ahead of Nokia's 22 per cent, according to data from research firm Gartner. Apple ranked third with 18 per cent, the data showed.Market ResponseShares in Motorola's Asia's suppliers jumped on the deal.Foxconn International Holdings Ltd, the world's top contract cellphone maker, which counts Motorola as a client, surged as much as 17 per cent on prospects of more business from the new combination.Shares of Compal Communications Inc and Arima Communications were among a slew of Motorola suppliers that hit the 7-per cent daily limit in Taiwan."Everybody is betting on a Motorola turnaround. Motorola will get more help from Google to push its Android handsets with the deal," said Yuanta Securities analyst Bonnie Chang in Taipei. "Outsourcing companies such as Foxconn International and Compal Communications will benefit directly the most."Shares in Samsung, which has businesses from chips to TVs and energy as well as phones, ended 6.1 per cent higher in a broader market up 4.8 per cent in post-holiday trade on Tuesday. Fellow Korean phone maker LG Electronics edged up 0.3 per cent.HTC closed up 3.1 per cent in a Taiwan market down 0.3 per cent.Android UmbrellaSome brokers said the Motorola deal could be Google's way to provide support to Android players.Phone makers and software firms are involved in copy-cat lawsuits in the fierce battle over who owns patents used in mobile devices, with Apple going after Android device makers."We suspect that Google will now try to provide an umbrella for the Android community that provides IP protection from key rivals such as Apple and Microsoft. This is broadly how Microsoft protects Windows Phone," Nomura said in a note."We do not believe that Google will aim to continue to make handsets long term, but will rather look to spin the business out to an Android partner - such as Huawei, LG, ZTE, for example."Globally, HTC has been a standout winner after being the first to roll out a Android-backed smartphone, leaving it most exposed to any shift in the landscape, analysts said.Nearly all of its smartphones run on Android but it also has a long-standing partnership with Microsoft."HTC and Samsung are companies Google can trust but not control to drive market share," Chang said. "If in the long run Google decides HTC and Samsung have very different business roadmaps, it may want to leverage on Motorola to gain market share."HTC said in May it plans to bring out phones based on Microsoft's new Mango Windows phone software. However on Tuesday, HTC said the Google-Motorola deal would not affect its partnership with Google."This is a positive development to the Android ecosystem, which we believe is beneficial to HTC's promotion of Android phones," HTC said in a statement. "The partnership between HTC and Google remains strong and will not be affected by this acquisition."Some of the fast-growing Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp are also betting on Android.Huawei, known for its low-cost cellphones, is looking to replicate its telecom gear success in the smartphone market as it takes on the likes of Nokia, Apple and Samsung.Samsung became the world's No.2 smartphone maker in the second quarter with a 19.2 per cent market share. HTC is ranked fifth with 12.1 per cent, according to Strategy Analytics. Apple is the top smartphone vendor.(Reuters)
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Research In Motion unveiled two new versions of its touchscreen BlackBerry Torch on Wednesday as it seeks to regain ground it has lost to Apple and Google with powerful consumer-friendly models.Investors reacted favourably, pushing RIM's deflated stock price up more than 5 per cent. But some analysts were sceptical, given delays leading up to this launch. They said a radically new software package due next year would be RIM's big test.The new Torch models include an all-touch version that mimics the popular style of Apple's iPhone and most Android devices. Along with a previously announced upgrade to its workhorse Bold model, they are part of what the Canadian company called the biggest global launch in its history."The pure touch model could be very interesting. It has some great tech in terms of computing horsepower," said Will Stofega, a mobile device analyst at research firm IDC.He dismissed concern that consumers would snub the devices while waiting for "superphones" due out next year using the QNX operating system that powers RIM's PlayBook tablet and said the phones could tempt buyers away from the iPhone."What people seem to want is a vibrant, iconic, shiny device," he said.RIM has lagged its competitors in bringing out must-have phones with speedy browsers, and its PlayBook competitor to Apple's iPad launched to dismal reviews in April.The company is slashing 2,000 jobs to reduce costs and streamline operations after reporting a fall in quarterly profit and a dismal earnings outlook.Waiting For SuperphonesIt has already promised "superphones" next year using the QNX-based operating system that runs the PlayBook, so analysts are looking beyond this launch."This is a necessary product refresh in advance of the big bang that we hope and expect will happen with QNX-based phones," said John Jackson, vice-president of research at CCS Insight.The three touchscreen BlackBerrys are RIM's most powerful yet. They run on an upgraded operating system, boast improved displays and pack a 1.2 GHz processor from Qualcomm as well as dedicated graphics processor that should make video and gaming sharper and more responsive.RIM says the browser is 40 per cent faster than the original Torch, its last major phone launch, which hit shelves almost a year ago."RIM's new BlackBerry smartphones could well be the most important devices in the Canadian smart device vendor's history, following a recent slowdown in device shipments, staff cuts and doubts over the company's strategy and leadership," Ovum analyst Tony Cripps said.All three devices will be launched by carriers around the world by the end of August, RIM said. The slider Torch, with both a keyboard and a touch screen, will be exclusive to AT&T in the United States from this month, the carrier said, while AT&T will offer the other phones later in the year.The all-touch Torch is RIM's first attempt at the popular style since two versions of its Storm model failed to excite."It's definitely an acknowledgment that there are people that want that full-touch device," RIM's newly promoted global head of sales, Patrick Spence, said in a phone interview.Looking AheadThe timing could boost RIM's earnings for the quarter to late August as it sells the phones to carriers. But figures for user sales won't be available until the following quarter.RIM shipped 13.2 million phones in the three months to late May - its first fall in shipments from a previous quarter since at least mid-2007 - as it pushed the launch of the latest products back to August.RIM's aging hardware and software have looked increasing outdated as manufacturers such as Motorola, Samsung and HTC push out sleek, large-screen devices using Android and its applications.Its market share has fallen steeply in the United States, according to data compiled by research firm Gartner. The global fall has been less severe, but from a smaller starting point."What would constitute success for these guys is essentially holding the fort," CCS's Jackson said. "A stop-loss outcome would be a success for these products in developed markets."Shares of Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM have dropped 65 per cent from their peak in February. The stock rose $1.18 to $25.33 on the Nasdaq and was up C$1.19 at C$24.42 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.The shares closed Tuesday at their lowest level in five years. (Reuters)
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