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