Best KCM hangout spots

Students of Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) in Gwarko are currently waiting for their college cafeteria to restart its services. Meanwhile, the students have been regularly hanging out at the food joints in the locality.

Ghumti Khaja Ghar
It’s all veggie at Ghumti. Despite the fact that it doesn’t serve mass favorites such as buff momos, the place is quite popular among students for Chauchau Sandeko, Waiwai/Rara Fry, Veg Momos, and Roti Alu. A little further from the downhill by the college’s main entrance and after a sharp turn, Ghumti is originally just ‘Khaja Ghar’ but got its name from the turn that leads to the small shuttered space. Students don’t mind standing out and eating because the food is so good.

Blue Moon Food Land
Blue Moon is exactly opposite to Ghumti, is spacious and serves Samosa Tarkari, Buff Momo, Alu Paratha, Pani Puri and “10 Rupyako Kulfi.”

Best Food Café (BFC)
BFC is across the road from KCM, next to B&B Hospital. “Moderate price range but relatively expensive” is how a student chose to describe BFC. Although a fast food joint, ironically the café is infamous for slow service. But their Naan Tarkari makes up for all that.

Didiko Pasal (Fresh Café)
Funnily enough, Didiko Pasal is run by dais. Students assume that the didi probably got married and went away. It’s located by the downhill of KCM and serves Buff Chowmein, Momo, and sandwich and bakery items. One of the main reasons why the pasal is popular is because students, when broke, can order on credit and pay later; and the tea and coffee there are, as students put it, “atti sahi.”

Batuk Bhairav Khaja Ghar
Batuk is where students of KCM go for their ‘after-party’ post-event retreats and celebrations because it’s close to college and cheap. Chhoila, Alu and non-veg items are available here

source: republica,27 march 2013

Tenzin Tseten Bhutia's fashionable sensibilities

Tenzin Tseten Bhutia is pleasant to talk to and the conversation flows freely. After working for Himalayan Couture for six years, he’s now ventured into his own clothing line – Tenzin Tseten Bhutia Creations. The fashion designer has been in Nepal since the early days of fashion and has seen the industry progress. He’s candid about the situation and says, “Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet.” But Tenzin is still hopeful and a lot wiser.

It’s been around six years since you joined the fashion industry. What was it like then?
There were no particular fashion designers in the scene then. The concept was that tailors were the only people to go to if you needed something stitched. Apart from that, people would talk about the boutiques in Kupondole who were specializing in sarees. There was no media presence in the fashion scene then. I remember Nuzhat Qazi was there to compete with me. (Laughs). It’s only been a year or so that we’ve seen new designers on the rise.

How’s the industry now? Do you think it’s competitive?
No, not at all. We’re still only a handful and I think the new crop of designers is trying to discover what works for them. I thought there were a couple of very good designs during the Trendsetters Fashion Show. But we’ve also seen a few rip-offs, and that’s where the media should come in. I believe that with more young people in the media, there’s been an evolution where fashion reporting is concerned. Since they know what’s going on, they’re keen to report on it. But I think everyone should be responsible and keep an eye on the fashion scene abroad too so that there’s no rip off and no hype over it. Because what will the rest of the designers do? They might come to believe that it’s okay to take someone else’s design and flaunt it as their own.

In your opinion, what does the fashion industry really need at the moment?
There’s a very important gap that can only be filled by textile designers. There are no textile designers in Nepal and there’s no course for textile designers in the country. Every fashion house, or designer actually, needs a textile designer to work with. They’re the ones who will work on the fabric and enhance the design. They help take the design to the next level, and with a certain design on the material, it becomes exclusive and customers will like that. I hope the fashion institutes will seriously consider adding textile designing to their syllabus.

How has your creative sensibilities evolved?
In the past, I would lean towards ethnicity and have a good dose of culture in my clothes. I worked with brocade and made sure there was a distinct stamp of ethnicity. However, I came to realize that clothes with western silhouettes are more favored and that clothes need to be contemporary. So I’m curbing my tendency to work like I did before and create clothes that my customers will easily love.

Isn’t that bad for your creativity?
In some ways, yes. Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet. This is also my advice to upcoming designers: try to understand the market and design your clothes accordingly. But I still stick to certain silhouettes that I really prefer. For instance, I prefer the mermaid shape whenever I work with gowns, and when it comes to making skirts, the A line silhouette is what I prefer.

Let’s talk about fashion weeks. How important are they for designers?
I’ve done almost five or six shows this year. Fashion weeks and shows are very important in terms of visibility. We can show our work and that way we can sustain in the market. But when it comes to buyers, I’ll be honest and say that there’s nothing for designers in that respect. In all my years here, I’m yet to meet any buyer, and those designers who say differently aren’t being honest. So doing shows is just a way of remaining in people’s memories.

Also, these days I don’t agree to participate in every show I’m offered. I research the company and their record before I agree to participate. I’ve had some experiences in the past and I’ve learnt it’s wiser to know who you’re working with.

Has it become easier for a freelance designer to sustain himself?
It’s been almost a year. Well, people here mostly order clothes only when they have a special place to go to. So the majority of my clients comprise people residing abroad. They send orders through email and social networking sites. It’s much more affordable for them than for the people here.

As soon as the political situation gets better and the cost of living is stable, then I’m sure the industry will get better.

source: republica,29 march 2013

Festival reflecting way of life in Lalitpur

LALITPUR: Streets of Patan are filled with the smell of Newari dishes and flecked with sparkling colors of traditional costumes even as resounding melodies of folk songs take the visitors back to the historical days.

Lalitpur folks are overwhelmed these days as swarm of visitors throng Lalitpur festival that began on Thursday. The 86 toles, including Lakhel, Managlbazar, Yasoda Mahabihar Bubahal has been decorated in best possible ways.

Sannani Tuladhar, a resident of Lakhel, usually spins cotton on Charkha (spinning wheel). The lady, who is in her early 80s, has often been admired for her expertise by her children, but had never got an opportunity to show her skill to a huge mass. The Lalitpur Mahotsav has given the space to many such artisans who are unknown to the world but have been playing the most significant role to conserve primitive culture.

Lalitpur folks believe they are richer than Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in ways of life. But the locals feel that their effort of conserving the ancient tradition of Newar community hasn´t been appreciated much.

“Kathmandu and Bhaktapur are always in the limelight while we struggle to promote our ethnicity and culture,” says Ashok Maharjan, resident of Mikhabahal.
Mikabahal used to be the place of farmers in the ancient days. But currently, only a handful of people are involved in farming. Malls and supermarkets have been built at the cultivable land owned by his forefathers, he mentioned.

According to Mangal Maharjan, chairman of Jaypu Society of Lalitpur, the locals were asked to bring antiques whatever they have at home to exhibit in the festival. The rare image of God Indra has been displayed. Similarly, visitors can observe the demonstration of how handicrafts are prepared from wood, clay and various metals. The local women are seen making household items using straw and jute.

The exhibits also include idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. Artist Dharma Raj Shakya has built a 16 feet long statue of Lord Ganesha after six days of hard labor. The idol of Lord Buddha and a replica of Patan Gate are the center of attraction for visitors.

The nineteen organizations that came together to organize the event have spent Rs 30 million in the festival and expect to see 1 million visitors in a week, said Jyapu Society Chairperson Maharjan.

Visitors marvel at the pictures of early 20th century depicting the radiance of the ancient Kathmandu Valley when greenery was abound.

“I am mesmerized by these pictures of the Kathmandu Valley,” said Nyamgyal Sayaka of Bouddha. Sayaka belongs to the Sherpa community but she says she finds the Newari dish Bara, Chatamari and Samyebaji simply incomparable.

Meanwhile, the Lalitpur-based living goddess Kumari is busy throughout the day, offering blessings to the devotees. According to the Jyapu Society Chairman Mangal Maharjan, the Kumari goddess will stay at courtyard.

Though this year´s festival was organized after four years, the locals want to give continuity in the next years. Around 400,000 people have visited the festival till Saturday, the third day of the festival, according to the organizers. The festival will conclude on Wednesday.

source: republica,31 march 2013

Colors unveils New Generation range

Colors Mobile Thursday took the wraps off of its New Generation range of Android devices. At a press conference, it said the new products --

The XFactor Bold II phone is powered by MediaTek Quad Core processor and sports a 5.3 inch QHD IPS display screen, and runs on Android 4.1 JellyBean as its operating system.

The phone includes WAP, GPRS, EDGE, GPS/AGPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and has light sensor, G-sensor, E-compass, and proximity sensor.

Likewise, Colors´ tablet XT711 is powered by MediaTek MTK6577 processor which supports Android 4.0. Similarly, XT701 is powered by MediaTek MTK6515 processor and supports Android 4.0.

In the same way, Colors´ XT801 is powered by MediaTek and supports Android 4.1 operating system. This 8-inch screen 3G tablet is has a 512 MB RAM, G-sensor, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor, and runs on a 5000-600mAH battery. Together with the unveiling, the company also announced its association with MediaTek Inc.

source: republica,28 March 2013
Xfactor Bold II smartphones and Xfactor XT701, XT711 and XT801 tablets – were powered by MediaTek processors.

Galaxy S4 to hit store shelves after a month

The wait for Samsung Galaxy S4 will be over soon. International Marketing Services is introducing the flagship phone from the South Korean electronics giant by April-end.

Samsung announced the phone amid a colorful function in New York on March 14. It is expected to go on sale in the last week of April.

“We will offer the latest Samsung phone, the Galaxy S4, to Nepali customers in the last week of April. We have already opened Letter of Credit (LC) for Galaxy S4,” said Deepak Malhotra, chairman of IMS - the authorized distributor for Samsung mobile in Nepal.

The Galaxy S4 boasts a 5-inch HD super AMOLED display with improved resolution at 1080p which is slightly larger than Galaxy S3 that has 4.8-inch display. The phone runs on Android 4.2.2 operating system -- the latest version of Jelly Bean - and is powered by a 1.6 GHz octa core or 1.9 GHz quad core processor with Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset. It has power VR SGX 544 MP3 graphics processing unit, 1 GB RAM and internal memory of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB which can be expanded by another 64 GB.

The phone sports 13 mega pixels auto focus primary camera with a resolution of 4128x3096 pixels. According to the company, the camera with LED flash allows dual shot, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization and high dynamic range (HDR) photography. It also has a 2 mega pixels front camera for video calling.

The phone, which uses 2600 mAh battery, has new features such as eye tracking, gesture capabilities, S Health and S Voice Drive, among others.

According to the company, ´Smart Stay´ or ´Smart Pause´ is a new feature in the S4 that uses the front camera to detect whether the users are looking at the screen while watching a video. If the users look away from the screen the video will pause automatically, said the company.

Similarly, another feature ´Smart Scroll´ can tell if the users are looking at the screen while reading an article on a webpage. When looking at the phone, users can tilt the phone up or down to scroll through the new feature.

S Health, a calorie-counter or a pedometer, is another new feature in the phone. It uses sensors like accelerometer and barometer to track the steps, jogs, hops, jolts, snacks, and perspiration.

Likewise, the S Voice Drive app is specially designed for cars and allows the drivers to use built-in navigation system as well as make calls, send messages, and check the weather.

In addition to the usual toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the phone also has toggles for call-blocking mode and eye-tracking gestures. It has integrated optical reader that can scan Quick Response (QR) codes, turn business cards into text, and translate with S Translator.

According to Malhotra, Galaxy S4 (16 GB model) will be available at around Rs 72,000.

source: republica,26 march 2013

Ghandruk- Trekker's paradise and natural treasure trove

Ghandruk is a mountain village set in Modi Khola Valley at around 2012m above sea level located in Kaski district, North West of Pokhara. It is a massive village covering an area of hundreds of square miles stretching as far eastward as Modi gorge and as far to the west as Ghorepani, defined to the north by the Annapurna mountains range and to the south by Mohoriya village. It is the largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. The village was a major recruitment centre for British army until the mid 20th century. It is the hub of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which promotes varied ecological projects. This tiny village lies in the north-west of the beautiful city of Pokhara.

Ghandruk has long been one of the most famous and preferred trekking destinations for tourist visiting the country. The village offers an excellent view of two scared mountain, Annapurna South (7219m), and the Machhapuchhre (fishtail 6993m). The village not only offers mountains views but also a wonderful insight into the culture,lifestyle and religion of the inhabitants of the village, that is, Gurungs.

A trek to Ghandruk takes you across lush green hills, snow capped mountains to ridges, passes, jungles, fauna and flora and exquisite communities. It is truly a trekker's paradise. Walking through jungles, crossing the rugged terrains and being so close to Mother Nature, Ghandruk provides a good preface into trekking, at the same time, it also provides wonderful close up views of some of the tallest mountains in Nepal. The best part of the Ghandruk trek is, it is relatively an easy trek whilst providing some breathtaking views of Mother Nature at its very best.

A wander around the Ghandruk village will reveal shops, tea house, local people transporting goods from one village to next, small farm houses and their families, donkeys, mules, chickens and beautiful terraced hills. There is also a Gurung Museum where you get to know more about the local people and their culture.

Sightseeing
Old Gurung Museum: Visitors to the village never miss to visit the Old Gurung Museum there. The museum has unique collection of various things, which were used in early times by the ancestors of gurung people.
Chhomrung: Chhomrung is another beautiful village located near Ghandruk. The village lies at a day's journey from Ghandruk. A much smaller village but very well organized and beautiful, most tourists visiting Ghandruk makes sure to visit this village. Though this small village has many things to offer, Jhinu hot spring is the main attraction of this village.

Ghorepani: One of the easiest treks to get through, Ghorepani is one of the most beautiful place for first time trekkers craving for natural bliss. The trek to Ghorepani starts from Modi River, which is just about one hour's drive from Pokhara. You will be awed by the spectacular trail that boasts of dense rhododendron forests, chirping of birds and friendly smiles from locals as you pass them by. Poonhill, one of the highlight of Ghorepani, will offer you a picturesque view of the major snow clad peaks of Annapurna range. The breathtaking view of the sun's first rays hitting the peaks of the Himalayas will leave you awe struck. If you feel like you are getting too tied in the rat race of life, Poonhill is definitely a place to be in. It will cleanse you and make you realize how important nature it is to stay connected to nature.

How to get there
From Pokhara city one could hire a taxi or hop into a local bus and ride till Nayapul which is popular start point for several treks. From there, it takes approximately four to five hour to reach Ghandruk. The trek is easy except for the steep climb one has to undertake one-and-half-hour before reaching Gandruk. The trek is easy and not confusing. It is not mandatory to have a guide, for the chances of getting lost is minimum and on top of that you will come across plenty of fellow trekkers, porters, and guides, and the locals are always more than happy to help you if you are confused with the trail.

If one is not ready to trek, one could get into bus from Nayapul to Syaulibazaar. From Syaulibazzar, there is no other option but a half hour trek to reach Ghandruk. The bus from Syaulibazzar operates only during late autumn or winter when there is no rain. But it is always best to trek to this beautiful village for the scenery, the mountains, forest, flora and faunas are simply awesome. Hence, the four to five hours trek will surely be worth it.

Himalayan Peaks: Annapurna South, Himchuli, Machhapuchhre
Accommodation facilities: There are plenty of local lodges and hotels.
Accessibility: Trek and by bus or car depending on weather.
Communication: Telephone, Wireless internet
Predominant language/culture: Gurung
Tourist attraction centers: Chhomrung, Poonhill

source: Lama, Tsering Ngodup, The Himalayan Times,21 March 2013

Ishani Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal World 2013

Ishani Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal World 2013 during the grand finale held at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi on Wednesday evening.

“I am beyond happy. Thank you for getting me here. My hard work and determination has paid off,” said an emotional Shrestha right after being crowned.

Rojisha Shahi (Thakuri) and Shritima Shah were crowned Miss Nepal Earth 2013 and Miss Nepal International 2013 respectively.

The finale started with the introduction round in which 18 participants walked the stage while their pre-recorded voiceovers were playing in the background. After the first round, the top ten semifinalists were shortlisted.

A jury of ten judges asked questions to the shortlisted contestants after which five finalists were selected on the basis of their answers and pre-judging which took place at International Club, Sanepa on March 16.

The jury comprised Dr Aarati Shah, director of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital; Aditya Baral, director of PR/Publicity at Nepal Tourism Board; Malina Joshi, Miss Nepal World 2011; Bala Bahadur Kunwar who has previously served as Nepal’s ambassador to Sri Lanka and Pakistan; Charu Malhotra, deputy corporate affairs manager at Kantipur TV; Salman Latif Rawn, managing director of Bottlers Nepal; Sarojani Sherchan, director of Thames International College; Rajendra Shalabh, associate professor of law at Tribhuvan University and executive director of CG Entertainment; actress and media personality Reema Bishwakarma and Anup Bahadur Malla, president of Nepal Carpet Exporters’ Association.

Apart from a dance performance by actress Priyanka Karki, a group of dancers also put up a B-boying dance routine during the event.

For the final round, chief judge Tirtha Man Shakya, former chairman of the Nepal Law Reform Commission, asked the five finalists if they’d prefer nuclear family or joint family.

Prior to announcing the winners, Miss Nepal World 2012 Shristi Shrestha gave her farewell speech in which she described her one-year reign as a beautiful journey full of exceptional memories. “One minute I’d be attending a high-profile event and the next, I’d be in a place where the nearest health post is four days away,” she said, adding that the support she received during her participation in the Miss World contest proves that Nepalis stand for each other.

Among the subtitles, Shritima Shah was declared Miss Photogenic, Meghna Shrestha won the title of Miss Punctuality, Ishani Shrestha won the Best Walk title, Samikshya Shrestha was declared Miss Personality, Riju Shrestha won the Miss Beautiful Smile title, Sipora Gurung was declared Miss Talent; and Ashmita Sitoula won the Fanta Miss Bubbly title with maximum number of likes.

Miss Nepal World, Miss Nepal Earth and Miss Nepal International received flight tickets from Thai Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Nepal Airlines respectively.

Former Miss Nepal Malvika Subba and RJ/VJ Sanjay Gupta hosted the event and they announced that starting this year Shangrila Housing will be giving the winners an apartment at the Sun City apartments in Pepsicola, Bhaktapur.

source: republica,20 march 2013
 Photo: Keshab Thoker/republica

Discover the thrill of Everest Skydiving

For the adventure junkies, it is always about pushing the limits, exploring new places just so they can feel that adrenaline rush. Be it surfing against the huge waves, skiing down the highest mountains of the world or parachuting from the tallest buildings of the busiest cities of the world - it has always been about the excitement and joy of doing something adventurous or often termed crazy that keeps them on the look out for new prospects.

If you are an adventure and mountain lover and seeing Mt Everest has always been on your wish list but an unrealized dream due to sheer physical and mental preparedness the arduous task of climbing Everest demands, Everest Skydiving (Established in 2008) could be the answer to your prayers. Dropping down from an aeroplane for an amazing free fall while you witness a magnificent spectacle of the highest peaks of the world, including the Everest, right in front of your eyes as you dive your way down to earth, is beyond words.

Not to say scaling Everest has lost its charm, but skydiving offers a newer and exciting option without having to undertake the difficult climb."We were exploring the scope of skydiving in Nepal for a while and then it struck us, what could be more outrageously new, adventurous and historic than have3 the dives conducted with Mount Everest in the backdrop? That is when the idea of Everest Skydiving came into existence, "shares dive, as the weather is fairly clean during these seasons. More than 70 divers from around the world, including seven Nepalis have already made the skydive, which is dubbed as 'world's highest jump' with the world's highest drop point at 12,350 feet above sea level.

The Journey
The journey to the adventure begins after landing at the airstrip in Lukla and the trekking t Syangboche - site for the Everest skydive. The qualified pilots will then take the divers to the height of 29,500 feet in a Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art oxygen system from where the record-breaking jumps are made.

All through the adventure, Everest Skydives crew of leading skydivers and mountaineering experts will be guiding the divers.

The Thrill
There are two kinds of jumps offered at the Everest skydiving adventure, one that is performed solo by professionals and valid license holders and the another one in company of trained diving pilots called, 'tandem jumps'. The exit from the aircraft will be made at an incredible 29,500 feet above sea level, after which the divers will enjoy the thrill of a whopping 10,000 feet long free fall at approximately 120mph, before the tandem instructor activates the parachute. During the three to five minutes it takes to reach the ground, the instructor can either provide a gentle ride or a more thrilling roller coaster experience demonstrating spins and stalls depending on the pilot's skills, suitable weather conditions and as per the request of the tandem diver.

Tape it, flaunt it!
And what better way to show your friends and family what you have been up to than catching your incredible experience - from being fitted with the harness, plane ride, the jump and the freefall all in the tape, where the cameraperson will be flying close to the divers until the landing.
The price

"In all honesty, I can't imagine having to pay to make the Everest skydive jump, because it is really expensive and perhaps unaffordable for most Nepalis and I was no exception," remarked Maya Gurung, the first Nepali women to make the Everest skydive. And with the fare structure quoted by the company, we could not agree with her any less. But experiencing something so incredible as watching the Mount Everest in front of your eyes as you fall down, is worthpaying the hefty sum. But then, that is for you to decide. Everest Skydiving can rightly be termed as the most adventurous sport to indulge in the Himalayas and will continue to be so for several years to come.

Booking and Price (In US Dollars)
Solo skydivers: 25,000
Tandem skydivers: 35,000
Organized extended trekking: One pax: 2,000; Two pax or more: 1,500
Booking: The bookings for the Everest skydive jumps can be done via www.everest-skydive.com . The interested diver will be required to fill in a booking form available in the site and submit needed medical reports and bio-data. Visit their site or call Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure in Thamel at 01-4418100/01-4418400 for detailed information.

source:Adrenaline Rush , The Himalayan Times,14 March 2013
photo courtesy: everest-skydive.com

Suzuki Inazuma to hit Nepali roads in May

Ganesh Enterprises - the authorized distributor for Suzuki bikes in Nepal -- is all set to introduce Suzuki Inazuma 250 in the Nepali market.Pramila Khatri, sales manager of the company, said sample units of the naked bike will enter the market in May. “If the customers liked the sample units, we will launch the bike in Nepal,” Khatri added.

According to the company, the Inazuma 250, which is also known as GW 250, is an entry level sports bike from Suzuki stable. Inazuma 250 has design similar to that of B-King. It is powered by 248cc 4-stroke parallel-twin engine which produces maximum power of 25.6 bhp and a peak torque of 24.2 Nm.

The bike is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes both on the front and back with telescopic front suspension and swingarm rear suspension. With a seat height of 780 mm, the bike has a wheel base of 1,430 mm and ground clearance of 165 mm. The LCD display of the bike comprises of a gear-position indicator, fuel and coolant temperature gauge, selectable odometer, dual-trip meter, fuel consumption meter and a clock. The bike has fuel tank capacity of 17.5 liters. It also has under seat capacity to store small items.

“People looking to upgrade from 200cc sports bike are the targeted customers of Inazuma 250,” said Khatri.The bike will be priced around Rs 725,000.

Meanwhile, the company is getting good response for Suzuki EN 125 that it launched about a month ago. “This is the upgraded version of the EN 125 that we used to sell about 15 years ago. As the bike was very popular then, we decided to sell the upgraded version too,” she added.

Suzuki EN 125 delivers maximum power output of 13.5 Bhp at 9,500 rpm and a torque of 8.9 Nm at 8,500 rpm. According to Khatri, the bike has features such as front disc break and rear drum brake, tubeless tires and low seats, among others.

According to the company, the commuter bike is equipped with 12-litre tank and provides mileage in range of 50-55 km per liter. The bike which is available in red, black and blue colors costs Rs 199,888.

Ganesh Enterprises is currently selling four different models of scooters -- Swish 125, Access 125, AN 125, Sky Drive 125 and Burgman 400 - that are priced between Rs 159,888 and Rs 1.65 million. Similarly, it has four products in the commuter segment -- GS 150, Slingshot 125, GN 125 and the newly introduced EN 125. These bikes are available in price range of Rs 157,888 to Rs 207,888.

Customers buying Suzuki two-wheelers get a scratch card under its scheme ´Koryo ki Paryo´ through which they can win cash prize of Rs 5,000 to 500,000. The scheme is valid till March 28.

source: republica,18 March 2013

Honda CB Trigger 150 unveiled in India

New Delhi: Japanese auto major Honda Motor Co on Monday said it could become the number one two-wheeler maker in India by 2015-16 if the current market slowdown prolonged.

The company, which on Monday unveiled its new 150 cc bike CB Trigger, termed Bajaj Auto as a more formidable rival than erstwhile partner Hero MotoCorp, the present market leader.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI)—the Indian two-wheeler arm of Honda-- is at second position in terms of sales of two-wheelers in the country, after Hero MotoCorp. Bajaj Auto occupies the third position.

According to industry body, SIAM's data, HMSI has sold 23.67 lakh units during April, 2012 and February, 2013, Bajaj Auto's sales stood at 22.82 lakh units. Hero's total sales was 54.61 lakh units during the same period.

"Today the market is almost 1.4 crore (units) in India. So, if (it) remains (at the) same level, no growth happening, we may become number one in 2015 or 16," Honda Motor Co's Operating Officer Shinji Aoyama told reporters here.

He added Honda sees Bajaj is as a bigger rival and not its erstwhile partner Hero.

"In terms of numbers, still Hero is number one but very frankly speaking, the consolidated power, including R&D, sales network there, including many of these elements, I think Bajaj is very strong. Bajaj is very good at creating alliance..." he said.

When asked about its rivalry with the Hero group, he said that the market leader will continue to lose its share, while his firm will continue to grow its shares.

"You will witness actually HMSI is gaining market share while Hero is losing the market share. The trend will continue," Aoyama said.

Besides, the HMSI will be launching 3-4 more models of two-wheelers in the current financial year, to expand its market share and has started the process of exploring new locations to set up a new plant.

When asked whether Honda is looking for any new partnerships in India after Hero MotoCorp, Aoyama said that his firm is not looking to forge any partnership in the country. However, the Japanese automaker will continue to provide technology to Hero group till 2014 as per the termination agreement of its alliance.

Noting that the company will have production capacity of 4 million units by March 2014, he said that upcoming 1.2 million units plant in Karnataka is expected to begin production "in next 3 months".

The company is also expanding its reach by opening one touch point, which includes new dealers and service centres, every day in India.
Aoyama also said that HMSI's total turnover is expected to be at Rs 12,000 crore in the current fiscal and the Indian unit accounts for 14-15 percent of Honda's global revenues in the two-wheeler segment.

In terms of sales, India is the fastest growing market for Honda and accounts for around 18 percent of its total global sales in two-wheeler segment. The company is aiming to increase it to 25 percent by 2016.

Meanwhile, the company on Monday unveiled a new 150cc CB Trigger bike to take on the rivals like Bajaj Auto's Pulsar. Dispatches of the new bike, which comes with Honda's combi brake system and promises a 60 kilo metres per hour mileage, will begin by April-end.

The company, however, did not disclose its price and said that it will be "competitive" with HMSI's rivals.

source:http://zeenews.india.com

Fully Equipped Hyundai i20 @ Rs. 799* Daily

The Hyundai i20 is a supermini car produced by the South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company since 2008. The i20 made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008 and sits between the i10 and i30. It is a front-wheel drive car and is available in three and five-door versions. The i20 replaces the Getz in nearly all of its markets, though the Getz was not phased out in most of the world until 2011. The i20 is assembled in Turkey (İzmit plant) for the European market and in Sriperumbudur (near Chennai), India for sale in Asia and Oceania.

Sundance rocks the mountains!

The 8th Sundance Music Festival, held at Last Resort located on top a green river gorge close to the Tibetan border, rocked the mountains on March 16 and 17. A crowd totaling to 300 plus attended the festival, according to the organizers.

The fest officially started with a tabla and drums mix fusion music followed by the Boyz Next Door who covered Nepali and English singles leaving the crowd wooing and singing along.

Subani moktan, who was also seen enjoying the thrilling Canyon Swing on Sunday, entertained the audience with some originals numbers and English singles cover. Also playing during the festival was Albatross with some covers and songs from their previous albums. DJ Rabbit and DJ BPM kept the night alive with heart thumping music till 1 in the morning.

“The festival has been a success and it’s great to see you all here on a Sunday morning,” said Nirakar Yakthumba of Moksh, who coordinated and directed the musicians for the event. He further added that Last Resort and Moksh will be back next year and the year after that and will continue the tradition of the festival.

source: republica,18 March 2013

No more passwords! Smartphones could soon be unlocked by face and fingerprint recognition

It's a bane of modern life remembering the myriad of passwords vital for everything from smartphones to bank accounts and online shopping.

This tedious task, however, is set to be a thing of the past as other methods are developed.

These include using fingerprint, voice and facial recognition instead of passwords seen as an outdated security risk.

Apple is among several companies preparing to turn to fingerprint recognition.

It is said to be releasing a new iPhone allowing owners to identify themselves by pressing a finger onto the handset.

The technology could eventually spread to allow access to bank accounts and email accounts.

Google, maker of Android phones, is examining voice recognition, iris scanners, behavioural biometrics and heartbeat reading.

Michael Barratt, head of security at PayPal, said: ‘It’s a case of looking beyond passwords and the best alternatives are provided by smartphones.

‘The general view is that Apple will launch a fingerprint-enabled iPhone before the end of the year.

‘The Android handset market intends to stay competitive so it’s highly likely there will be fingerprint and voice identification- enabled devices from them too in the near future.’

Apple has bought a firm forging ahead in fingerprint identification technology and has submitted a patent for a biometric sensor.

Some smartphones already have voice recognition software and around a fifth have facial ID capabilities, including the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Research into passwords by Microsoft in 2007 suggested that the average person used 6.5 passwords for 25 sites. The number will have increased massively since the study.’

Mr Barrett, whose firm handled £95billion of transactions last year, claims this year is the beginning of a new ‘experimentation phase’ for the next generation of smartphones.

Apple has already bought a company which is a market leader in fingerprint identification technology. Shortly afterwards, it submitted a patent for a biometric sensor.

The company is expected to release the iPhone 5S this summer followed by the iPhone 6 later in the year.

An iWatch device is also rumoured to be in production.

A number of smartphones have already introduced voice recognition software and around a fifth have facial recognition capabilities, including the Samsung Galaxy S III which allows the user to unlock the phone by looking at it.

But critics point out that the rumoured methods may not work in certain situations.

They say that voice recognition may not work in a bar or otherwise with background noise and fingerprint technology may not always work.

Philip Hoyer, director of strategic solutions at HID Global which manufactures secure identity technology, said the only way round the problem was to combine methods.

‘If you’re trying to access your account in a noisy bar, instead of using voice recognition, you could switch to facial recognition using the phone’s video camera.’

source: dailymail.co.uk

Canon EOS 6D now available in Nepal

Primax International has launched the world´s ´smallest and lightest´ full frame DSLR camera, Canon EOS 6D, in the Nepali market.Dinesh Agarwal, marketing manager of the company, said the new camera has been introduced to cater to the growing demand for DSLR cameras in Nepal. “The demand for DSLR cameras is increasing here and we receive inquiries every time a camera is launched in the international market,” said Agarwal.

EOS 6D is a 20.2 mega pixels full-frame CMOS sensor camera with a wide ISO range of 100-25600 which can be expanded to L:50, H1:51200 and H2:102400. The camera sports a 3-inch clear view TFT LCD monitor with approximately 1.04 million dots. It provides 160 degree viewing angle and has reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing.

According to the company, the ISO range of the camera allows users to set camera´s sensitivity to light, helping them capture incredible image quality even in low light. Likewise, a DIGIC 5+ image processor in the camera delivers enhanced noise reduction and exceptional processing speed.

“The camera is best for capturing fast moving objects as it allows continuous shooting of up to 4.5 frames per second. It also captures full HD video with manual exposure control and multiple frame rates,” Primax International said in a statement. “With custom shooting modes, custom controls, and other features, the camera provides flexible customization to the users depending upon their shooting need.”

Agarwal claimed EOS 6D is the first Canon DSLR camera to feature GPS functions and inbuilt Wi-Fi capabilities. “It allows users to geo-tag the captured images and upload them directly Facebook and other sites through Canon Image Gateway,” he said, adding: “It also allows image to be transferred to external devices and users can even print the images through Wi-Fi enabled printer.”

Besides, the camera also supports smartphone connectivity, allowing users to view images on the camera and control the camera from a smartphone by installing the EOS Remote app on the smartphone.

The camera is available at Canon Link at Civil Mall and City Center. The company has priced the camera at Rs 221,000 for body only and Rs 297,000 for body and 24-105mm lens.

“We will provide 8 GB memory card, a camera bag, 50 percent discount on photography training at Canon Imaging School and one year warranty with each purchase,” said Agarwal.

With the addition of EOS 6D, Canon Link now sells eight different models of DSLR cameras. These cameras are priced between Rs 47,490 and Rs 723,000.

source: republica,18 March 2013

Versatile One-Piece

With the increase in temperature, all the girls must be very excited with summers approaching. Girls, it is time to shed those winter layers and put on something cute and fun to stay cool this summer. Jumpsuits, a one-piece garment with long pants and rompers, short pants are a major hit especially during summer. Add a romper or a jumpsuit for some style.

Popular among Teenagers
romper or a jumpsuit. “This piece of wear gives you a lot of fun options. Wear it with a casual flip-flop or a wedge heel shoes, you are ready for a lunch date or a friends day out.” She further said that this season she would fill her wardrobe with rompers of different designs and colours.

According to Natikaji Shrestha, owner of Onus Collection, Chandi Complex, Kalimati, jumpsuits are popular among teenagers since the last two years.

“Girls most often look for rompers rather than jumpsuits. They say rompers are shorter and in summers it is easier to wear,” said Sulochana Gautam, Owner of New Style Fashion Wear, Kalanki. choices are chiffon, denim, lycra in jumpsuits and cotton in rompers. You can find variety of solid coloured jumpsuits, while rompers and jumpsuits with fusion of colours are basically for summers for bright and vibrant look. “This summer more than jumpsuits, rompers will be in style, as girls have already started searching for it,” told Dangol.

Last year, cotton, chiffon, printed, polka dots, floral et cetera were popular, this year, most probably denim jumpsuits will be popular because it is new, as per Dangol. However, Intu Nepal, salesperson at New Popcorn Store, Civil Mall opines that jumpsuit will be more in fashion, “Lots of jumpsuits have already hit the market and rompers are yet to come.” Imported mostly from Bangkok, these pieces can flatter any body type and has become the latest young women fashion.

Nevertheless, we can find jumpsuits made in Nepal also, as per Gautam.“Comparatively imported ones are expensive and some people, who cannot afford to buy those, ask for such pieces and satisfy their wish of wearing this garment.“

Semi-formal wear
Arya Khatiwada, counsellor at a con Arya Khatiwada, counsellor at a consultancy said, “Jumpsuits with solid colours gives a semi formal look. I wear them to my workplace too and it's comfortable. Wearing shirt and pant everyday is boring so, I pair it up with a blazer and heels.“

During summer, girls have many dress choices from shorts, dresses and rompers, everything belongs to them. In addition, Gautam said, “Most of the youngsters come looking for rompers whereas adults for jumpsuits.“

Rita Neupane of Kalanki, who had to go for a job interview the next day was in New Style Fashion Wear trying a couple of jumpsuits said, “I do not have anything formal to wear for the day and it is not possible to buy a shirt or a pant which fits you perfectly. So, I thought of buying a simple black jumpsuit. off. “On your rompers you are allowed to do anything. Your body feels loose and these wear lets you move freely,“ o p i n e s Bajracharya.

Besides, Nepal also said that jumpsuits are popular among the youngsters as a comfortable wear. comfortable wear.“As it has trouser in the bottom and a top, it's as comfortable as trouser and tees you wear at home. Girls choose it over dresses as they keep you at ease.“

Price
Onus Collection, Chandi Complex,Kalimati
Ph: 9741037380
Price: Rs 800 to 2,500

New Popcorn Store
Ph: 9841405536
Price: Rs 1,500 to 3,500

New Style Fashion Wear
Ph: 9841679347
Price: Rs 700 to 1,200

source: The Himalayan Times,17 March 2013

TRENDnet launches high gain modem router

TRENDnet® — a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand — today launched the 5dBi N150 Wireless ADSL 2/2+ Modem Router, model TEW-718BRM5, exclusively in Nepal through Marigold IT.

The new modem router offers enhanced wireless coverage with a unique high gain antenna.

“TRENDnet recognised the needs of the users in Nepal and we are excited to offer a product specifically designed for them,” said TRENDnet Asia manager Richard Huang.

“We chose to partner with Marigold IT because of their expertise and reach into the Nepali market.”

The 5dBi N150 Wireless ADSL 2/2+ Modem Router provides both a modem for Internet access and a wireless and network in a single solution. There’s no need to buy a separate modem and router, it said, adding the TEW-718BRM5 comes with a 5dbi detachable antenna allowing for extended wireless coverage. “It also has four high-speed Ethernet ports for wired devices and connects easily with one-touch Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

“We have enjoyed a long partnership with TRENDnet for their price-to-performance leadership and broad product portfolio,” said Marigold IT chairperson Rabindra Man Shrestha, on the occasion.

“We are excited to be able to team up with TRENDnet again to offer a product uniquely designed for the Nepal market,” he said, adding that TRENDnet also announced the launch of their new Cloud Camera product line, earlier this year.

TRENDnet cloud cameras take the work out of viewing security video over the internet. “They install on a home network in less than five minutes with a guided CD installation,” he added.

source: The Himalayan Times,15 March 2013

LG's bagless vacuum cleaner out

LG has introduced a bagless vacuum cleaner in the market which has easy-to-reach controls, ergonomic design and the latest technology.

It comes with lasting cleaning performance without the hassle of having to buy additional paper bags. Buying additional paper dust bags can also be harmful to the environment. The product is environment friendly.

LG’s Mini Ellipse Cyclone system separates and compresses dust and debris effectively and accumulates on the other side of the dust tank. The dust emptying process is easy to operate.

The suction power lasts longer due to movement of air in a single cyclonic direction. With paper bags, suction power decreases by the day, but the vacuum cleaner will maintain its suction power everyday and gives long lasting performance.

LG offers two bagless models in 1800W (VC2118NND) and 2000W (VC2120NND) with perfect compact body size for storing in cabinets and small additional spaces.

They are available in two cherry red and midnight blue. The product is super light-weight and compact enough to carry around.

source: The Himalayan Times,15 March 2013

Peugeot's new models roll into market

Kishore Gears — the sole authorised distributor of Land Rover in the country — has relaunched the renowned French brand Peugeot Automobiles manufactured cars in market.

Ambassador of France to Nepal Jean-Charles Demarquis, along with area director of ASEAN region Vincent Comyn launched the brand amidst a special ceremony held in Kathmandu.

The official showroom has been opened at Rara Marg, Dhumbarai, Kathmandu.

Four different models of Peugeot vehicles, namely, 308cc, 308 Hatchback, 3008 Cross Over and 408 Sedan have been launched.

Other models like 508 Sedan, Partner Tepee (seven-seater) and RCZ Sports Coupe will be introduced in the market in the next three to four weeks, the company said.

These models will be followed by the 208 Hatchback, 5008 Cross Over (seven-seater), Expert Tepee (nine-12 seater) and finally 2008 Cross Over in July 2013.

Most of the vehicles will have Euro 5 standard, world famous Peugeot engineered diesel engines, and a few with 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre petrol engines. Peugeot 308cc is the first electrically operated convertible available for sale in the country. The model has 18” nimbus alloy wheels, luxury leather sport seats, front and rear parking aid, airwave scarf (temperature control) and windstop for comfortable and convenient riding.

The Peugeot 3008 Cross Over features exterior pack (aluminum finish), 18” alloy wheels, exterior lighting and visibility, retrovision pack, electrochrome interior mirror, exterior courtesy lighting, electric folding mirrors, tyre pressure sensor, alarm, head up display with distance alert, heating and ventilation, climate control, bi zone air conditioning, Cielo panoramic glass roof, row two sun visor curtains, electronic hand brake and driver lumbar support among others.

source: The HImalayan TImes,15 March 2013

Samsung’s Galaxy Grand hits Nepali market

Samsung mobile phone users now have one more option to choose from the South Korean giant´s cell phone palette with the launch of Galaxy Grand Duos.

The phone was introduced in the domestic market on Saturday by International Marketing Services (IMS), the authorized distributor of Samsung mobile phones for Nepal.

Suraj Vaidya, the president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), IMS Chairman Deepak Malhotra, IMS President Dikesh Malhotra and IMS CEO Bishal Acharya jointly launched Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos amidst a function held in Kathmandu.

The dual SIM smartphone has the combined features of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note II.The 5 inch phone with a capacitive TFT LCD display has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels capable of translating into 187 ppi.

Available in black and white colors, the phone runs on Android 4.1.2 operating system--the latest version of Jelly Bean--and is adorned with a dual core 1.2 GHz processor, 8 GB internal memory expandable up to 64 GB and 1 GB RAM.

"The phone offers amazing features like zero shutter lag camera allowing users to capture even fast moving objects, direct call, popping up play, S voice, sound balance, contextual menu and multi-window among other”," said Dikesh.

According to Dikesh, the phone is the best option for those who love taking pictures as its rear camera of 8 mega pixels comes with various features like auto and touch focus, LED flash, geo tagging, face and smile detection, ISO and white balance settings and image stabilization, among others.

The phone also has a secondary camera of 2 mega pixels and allows full high-density video recording. The videos can be recorded with a resolution of 1080 pixels at the rate of 30 frames per second.

For the Internet, the phone has 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. It also comes with 4.0 Bluetooth and the connecting port includes USB 2.0, Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), tethering, and computer sync. DLNA allows users to share videos, music and pictures from a Digital Media Server to Android phones.

The phone is equipped with a 2,100 mAh battery that supports talk time of up to 10 hours.

The phone also comes with free introductory package worth Rs 10,000.

"Customers buying the phone will get free insurance package for a year, zero-interest loan facility payable in 12-month period and ´Ncell Cha Yesma´ offer that provides free internet package of 500 MB per month for three months," said Acharya.

The phone is insured by Everest Insurance while the loan is being provided by Nabil Bank. But the credit facility is only valid for the bank´s credit card users.
The phone costs Rs 37,500.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, IMS Chairman Deepak called on the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the telecom sector regulator, to monitor distribution of Type Approval Certificate (TAC), citing TACs were being issued haphazardly.

"This should be monitored in order to control the grey market of cell phones," he said.

The grey market in the telecom industry hampers the government´s revenue collection drive and is a threat to individual´s security, said Vaidya. "This problem should be addressed at the earliest," he added.

For the Internet, the phone has 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. It also comes with 4.0 Bluetooth and the connecting port includes USB 2.0, Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), tethering, and computer sync. DLNA allows users to share videos, music and pictures from a Digital Media Server to Android phones.

The phone is equipped with a 2,100 mAh battery that supports talk time of up to 10 hours.

The phone also comes with free introductory package worth Rs 10,000.

"Customers buying the phone will get free insurance package for a year, zero-interest loan facility payable in 12-month period and ´Ncell Cha Yesma´ offer that provides free internet package of 500 MB per month for three months," said Acharya.

The phone is insured by Everest Insurance while the loan is being provided by Nabil Bank. But the credit facility is only valid for the bank´s credit card users.
The phone costs Rs 37,500.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, IMS Chairman Deepak called on the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the telecom sector regulator, to monitor distribution of Type Approval Certificate (TAC), citing TACs were being issued haphazardly.

"This should be monitored in order to control the grey market of cell phones," he said.

The grey market in the telecom industry hampers the government´s revenue collection drive and is a threat to individual´s security, said Vaidya. "This problem should be addressed at the earliest," he added.

source: republica,16 March 2013
photo;dipesh shrestha/republica

Samsung Galaxy Note III to come with LCD display: Report

As the world awaits the launch of Samsung Galaxy S IV, the Korean smartphone maker is busy working on the sequel of its Galaxy Note II smartphone.

As per the information received by SamMobile, it is likely that Samsung will be deploying LCD screens made by Sharp for the Galaxy Note III. It is noteworthy, that Samsung Galaxy Note II sports a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display. According to SamMobile, the reason as to why Samsung is now switching to LCD display for its Note series is that the company believes that the S-Pen experience is better on this type of display as opposed to AMOLED or PHOLED display.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy Note II phablet at the IFA 2012. The smartphone is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM. It has a 3100mAh battery and has 16GB internal storage expandable up to 64 GB via microSD card.

Samsung Galaxy Note II comes with 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.9-megapixel front camera. In terms of connectivity, Samsung Galaxy Note II offers 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, NFC, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 4.0. Just like the other devices in the Note series, this phablet too comes with the famed S-Pen.

The phablet has received a good response from the consumers. The company had shared that the device topped 5 million units in just first two months since Galaxy Note II started shipping.

Samsung had recently showcased another member of the Note family - Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 comes with an 8-inch screen, which too has a LCD screen, perhaps for the same reason. The screen resolution of Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is 1280x800 pixels, which translates to 189 ppi. The other specs of the tablet include 1.6GHz processor with 2GB of RAM.

As per insiders at SamMobile, the Korean smartphone maker will be using OLED displays for bigger devices such as tablets, flexible display and some of the high-end smartphones.

source:http://gadgets.ndtv.com/

Samsung Galaxy S IV: Everything we know so far

Samsung is set to release its fourth Galaxy S device tomorrow in Times Square, New York. The madness and hype for this phone has definitely made it one of the most eagerly awaited devices this year. Of course there have been numerous leaks about this smartphone — so much so that the launch will probably just confirm a lot of what we already know.

A day ahead of the launch we take a look at everything that we know about the Galaxy S IV so far:

Specifications: Eight-core or quad-core processor? This seems to have caught everyone’s attention. Samsung showed off the Exynos Octa CPU at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which has sparked off rumours that the new phone will also have one of these. According to an Antutu bench-mark test of the S IV which was leaked, it was confirmed that the S IV has an Exynos Octa 5410 CPU clocked at 1.8GHz and a PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU chip for graphics.

Now there have been also been leaks with a quad-core version and dual-SIM version of the device. This could be the US version of the smartphone or it could be that Samsung will launch two variants of the smartphone.

In terms of processing speed Samsung’s device looks like it is going to knock the competition out of the park. Other specifications include a 5-inch screen with a Full HD (1920×1080) screen , 2 GB RAM and a 13 megapixel camera. The phone will run Android 4.2 with a new TouchWiz user interface from Samsung.

Sammobile has also reported that the screen will use a new kind of Display. The new AMOLED material called “green PHOLED” uses color GREEN-YELLOW makes these AMOLED display’s 25% more efficient.  This sounds good news for battery life.

‘Smart Features’: Samsung knows that for users, new and interesting features matter more than mere specs. Some of  the features that have been leaked include Smart Scroll, Smart Pause, and Smart Rotation to name a few.

The Smart Scroll feature, which was first reported by the New York Times, allows the phone to track the user’s eyes via the front camera. Once you reach the end of a page, the phone will automatically scroll down to the remaining paragraphs.

The Smart pause feature which was reported by an Israeli blog, will allow the phone to pause a video if the phone detects that the user is no longer looking at the screen. Smart rotation feature ensures that the screen rotates only if the phone is held at an angle.

Clearly we’re going to hear the word, ‘Smart’  a lot in the Galaxy S IV launch. But will these features be enough to woo users?

Floating touch screen: According to Sammobile, the S IV will have floating touch technology similar to Samsung’s Air View. The Air View option allows users to simply hover the SPen over their devices to get a sneak peek view of say pictures inside an album.

Floating Touch technology was in fact first used by Sony in the Xperia Sola. The technology allows users to interact with phone by just hovering their fingers over the screen.

There were also reports that the Galaxy S IV could have an SPen but these were dismissed later. The e Korean DDaily, said there will be no S-Pen although the home button with other touch keys will still be on the phone. The report quotes industry sources, and adds that while the smartphone will have a “Non-contact Gesture” feature. This is likely to be to the floating touch technology.

As far as specs go Samsung’s new phone will definitely be the top end of the market.  But will its features live up to the hype that has been created around the smartphone? We’ll have to wait and watch that one. Samsung will launch the smartphone at 7.00 pm Eastern Standard Time in New York which is around 3.45 am, 15 March in India.

For now you can watch another of Samsung’s super cheesy promotions videos for the Galaxy  S IV. Is it right to call it a flash mob? You decide:

source: firstpost.com

Ruslan Trendsetters ''Redefining Nepali Fashion''

Vootoo Entertainment presents Ruslan Trendsetters ''Redefining Nepali Fashion''

Showcasing:
> Aira
> Astik Designs
> Bishwo Gautam
> Crossroad Apparel
> Gabi
> House Of Fashion
> Now
> Odhani
> Suruchira
> Tenzin Tseten Bhutia Creations

Choreographer:
Bipin Mickey Gurung

Hair and Makeup:
Sakil Kunwar

Sound Design and Visuals:
Dj Suraj

MC:
Malvika Subba
Sanjay Gupta

Venue:
Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg,Kathmandu, Nepal

Time & Date::
7 pm onwards 22 March 2013

Link:
http://www.tourismkathmandu.com/events/exhibits_displays/details/407

Financial info on celebs, officials leaked online

ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES,: Authorities and celebrities were grappling Monday with how to respond to a website that posted what appears to be private financial information about top government officials and stars such as Jay-Z and Mel Gibson.

Los Angeles police said they were investigating how the Social Security number, address and a credit report of the police chief ended up on the site. The site also posted the same information about FBI Director Robert Mueller; the bureau said it was aware of the site but declined to say whether it was investigating.

The site also targeted stars such as Beyonce, Ashton Kutcher, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. Info posted about Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not include credit reports but included addresses and other sensitive information.

Social Security numbers posted on Gibson, Jay-Z and others matched records in public databases.

The site, which bears an Internet suffix originally assigned to the Soviet Union, expanded throughout the day Monday to add entries on Britney Spears, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and others.


In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, Beyonce Knowles attends the premiere of "Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream" at the Ziegfeld Theatre, in New York. (AP0

It did not state how the information was obtained or why the 11 people targeted on the site were selected, describing the records only as "secret files." A Twitter profile linked to the site and created after its existence was first reported by celebrity website TMZ included an anti-police message in Russian.

Several of the purported credit reports appear to have been generated last week.

Representatives for each person targeted either declined to comment on the accuracy of the information that was posted, or they did not return messages seeking comment.

Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the LAPD was investigating the posting of Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck´s information and would also investigate the posting of info on any celebrities who live in the city.

He said confidential information on top police officials has been posted online at least twice before.

"People get mad at us, go on the Internet and try to find information about us, and post it all on one site," Smith said.

"The best word I can use to describe it is creepy," he said about the practice known as doxxing. "It´s a creepy thing to do."

Frank Preciado, assistant officer in charge at the LAPD online section, said the postings are also illegal. He said the information was likely taken from what is supposed to be a secure database of city employees.

Several of the pages featured unflattering pictures of the celebrities or government officials whose information was posted.

The site´s page on Beck includes a taunting reference to former officer Christopher Dorner, who apparently committed suicide after he killed four people during a multi-day rampage. Beck´s page included the message "(hash)YouCantCornerTheDorner" and an image of a woman protesting police corruption.

While government officials often have to disclose details on their finances — and celebrity divorces sometimes feature public financial data — the information posted online exceeds those disclosures.

Social Security numbers are rarely included in public records anymore because they can be used for identity theft.

Mercantile to launch Acer tablet, laptops

Mercantile Office Solutions, the sole authorised distributor of Acer in Nepal, is all set to introduce the Acer Iconia B1 tablet. The company will also be rolling out two new laptops in its popular V5 series. Mercantile has stated that the new products will be introduced in the domestic market by next week.

Karna Parajuli, sales and marketing coordinator at Mercantile Office Solutions, said that the new tablet from Acer would be priced nominally to provide good competition in the domestic tablet market. “We had displayed a few units of the tablet during CAN InfoTech, and the response we received was overwhelming. I am sure people will like this new offering from Acer,” Parajuli added. Mercantile said it had received advance orders for 100 units, and expected to sell around 700 units in the first three months of its launch. 

The new tablet from Acer has a 7-inch screen and weighs 320 gm, making it small enough to slip easily into commuting bags, yet big enough to provide a fine view of the user’s favourite media. It features a TFT capacitive touchscreen along with multi-touch functionality.

The device comes with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, making it super fast and ideal for gaming and web browsing. This superior processor has been mated with Androids Jelly Bean Operating System (OS) which further enhances the device’s overall performance. The other major component of this device is the MTK 8317T chipset.

Likewise, users can enjoy Google Currents applications which have free online magazines from hundreds of top publishers and delivers beautiful e-book-style editions into the device.

The new offering from Acer also has an easy connectivity system and expandable memory slots. While the primary storage capacity of the device is 8 GB and 512 MB of RAM, users can upgrade the storage capacity up to 32 GB through a microSD card. However, Acer’s new tablet seems to lag behind in terms of its camera. The Iconia B1 tablet has a 640x480 pixels VGA camera. There is no secondary camera on this device.

Meanwhile, Mercantile has planned to introduce two models of the Acer Aspire V5 laptop series — the V5-471 and the V5-571. They are equipped with 15.6-inch display 10-point touchscreens. The Active MatrixTFT Colour LED display boasts CineCrystal display screen technology with an aspect ratio of 16:9 for better image viewing experience.  “We have been dealing in Acer’s V5 series in the domestic market for the past few months. People like this series because of its great looks, efficient functioning and impressive power backup,” Parajuli said.

Acer’s laptop series is equipped with Intel or AMD processing system. The device boasts Windows 8 Operating System, and Core i3 processor. It has a standard memory of 4 GB which can be enhanced up to 8 GB. The device also has a hard drive capacity of 500 GB.

Mercantile Office Solutions has stated that the Iconia tablet will be priced at around Rs 16,000. Likewise, the laptop series will be priced in the neighbourhood of Rs 60,000. The company has stated that the device will be sold in 22 districts across the country, apart from the Kathmandu valley. The products will have a one-year warranty, the company said.

source: the Kathmandu Post,13 March 2013

More Kathmanduites opting for hatchbacks, say auto dealers

The opening up of the economy that expedited after the restoration of democracy in the 1990s lured huge private investments, including foreign investments, to many sectors of the economy that were earlier reserved only for domestic elites.

Over the years, the infusion of private capital increased that led to the establishment of many new companies, which in turn created thousands of new jobs and provided employment to middle-class youths. Many of those absorbed by the job market then, now hold high positions with handsome pay, perks and benefits. The rise in their earnings enabled them not only to save but also increased their purchasing capacity, transforming the way middle-class bought and used goods and services.

In the backdrop of this economic revolution, hatchbacks, those small cars that have become common sights in our city streets nowadays, have enjoyed a healthy double-digit growth in the last one decade, though the demand has shrunk in recent years, mainly, due to the problems in banking sector.

According to automobile dealers, the availability of a wide range of entry level hatchbacks that suits the budgets of many consumers has made the vehicles most popular in Nepali market.

Besides the price, there are several other factors that have made hatchbacks favorite, and at times necessity, of those who prefer to commute by cars.



Their relatively small size makes it easier to navigate the narrow and crowded city roads. The hatchbacks also seem to have become an answer to the deepening scarcity of parking space.

It should come as no surprise then that hatchbacks occupy a lion´s share of 80 percent in the total sales of four-wheelers in Nepal market. Dealers say around 5,500 units of hatchbacks are sold annually in the Nepali market.

Hatchbacks have been leading the Nepali automotive market primarily due to their lower price tags compared to sedans and SUVs.

Increasingly, newer and smaller hatchbacks are entering Nepali market with lower price tags and this has been the key factor in driving up their sales.

The engine capacity and dimension of hatchbacks are lesser compared to that of sedans and SUVs, thereby, enabling the manufacturers to offer the cars at comparatively lower price.

Another major reason for hatchbacks´ popularity is their smaller size that addresses one of the major headaches of car owners: parking space, be it at home or market place.

“I love sedans but due to lack of parking space at my home, I bought Hyundai Eon which fits into the parking area of my home,” said Nikesh Rajbhandari, a customer of Hyundai Eon.

To cater the increasing demand for hatchbacks, major automobile dealers like Hyundai, Maruti-Suzuki Volkswagen, Honda, Tata and Skoda have shifted their focus to small cars from the premium ones.

Smaller turning radius that makes it easy to drive on congested roads, low maintenance cost, fuel efficiency are among the features that draws customers toward hatchbacks.

“Hatchbacks have emerged as the most sought after automobiles in the domestic four-wheeler market because of their affordability, convenience and fuel efficiency,” said Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, assistant general manager of Laxmi Intercontinental, the importer of Hyundai vehicles in Nepal.

“In addition,” Bhatta said, “Hatchbacks these days come with features of a sedan, therefore, premium hatchbacks have attracted people towards it.

Hyundai is currently selling four different models of hatchback: Hyundai Eon, Santro, i10 and i20.

“Around 80 percent of the passenger cars sold in the Nepali markets are hatchbacks,” said Bhatta.

These days´ dealers say that middle class people are opting hatchbacks as they come within their budget. Even the potential customers of high end vehicles are shying away from sedans and SUVs which are costly and provide less fuel efficiency and are turning to premium hatchbacks.

According to Dipesh Shakya, sales manager at Go Ford, the importer of Ford in Nepal, hatchbacks are the market leader in Nepal mainly because more families in Nepal are finding four-wheelers to be a necessity instead of luxury.

“The reason behind the popularity of hatchbacks is, firstly, they are ideal for those who are buying vehicles for the first time in terms of price and ownership costs. Secondly, due to space constraints hatchbacks are the first choice of customers because of their smooth maneuverability and ability to fit in small parking spaces,” said Shakya.

Ford is currently offering Ford Figo in the hatchback segment.

“The demand of hatchbacks is on the rise as these vehicles are a perfect combination of power and luxury. Currently, owning a vehicle has become a status symbol and both premium and entry level hatchbacks are also doing well in terms of sales,” said Deepak Agrawal, general manager of Skoda MAW, importer of Skoda vehicles in Nepal.

Skoda is currently selling three variants of its Fabia cars: Fabia Active Plus, Ambition Plus and Elegance.
Dealers say that the market of sedans is also considerably picking up lately with the introduction of luxury sedans at affordable price.

“Around 60 percent of the total vehicles sold in the domestic market are hatchbacks,” said Saurav Jyoti, president of the Nepal Automobile Dealers´ Association (NADA) and director of Syakar Company.

Jyoti said that the main reason behind hatchbacks being the leader in the market is its affordability. “The sales of hatchbacks has been further augmented by the significant rise in the prices of sedans and SUVs due to the strengthening of US dollar,” said Jyoti.

Honda is currently selling Honda Brio and Jazz in the hatchback segment.

The price of hatchbacks is not much affected by the strengthening of US dollar as most of them are manufactured in the plants in India, unlike the sedans and SUVs that are mainly imported from third countries.

The availability of hatchbacks at lower prices, starting from Rs 8,58,000, has contributed to the popularity of this segment. Due to the cheaper price, individuals earning a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 and above can easily own a hatchback.

“The market has seen the rise in sales of hatchbacks by almost 40 percent this year compared to the last one. The increase in sales of hatchbacks is primarily due to the numerous benefits that hatchbacks have over other vehicles,” said Prabin Khatiwada, head of passenger car division at Sipradi Trading, which imports Tata vehicles in Nepal.

Tata is currently selling Nano, Indica and Vista in the hatchback segments.

source:republica,13 March 2013