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Film and social media in Mumbai

Two events – one on films and the other on social media – will keep you entertained this Friday evening.
by Medha Kulkarni

Guru Dutt in PyaasaPyaasa, reloaded

In its 100 years of existence, the Indian film industry has produced some fabulous gems in terms of cinema. Today, make your way to NCPA, Mumbai to relive one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films, Pyaasa.

The NCPA Flashback Series, in collaboration with the NFAI, commemorates 100 years of Indian cinema. Every month, Indian cinema’s glorious past will be revisited through a selection of rare classics.

Guru Dutt’s classic melodrama was the first in a series to address the state of the nation and the displaced romantic artist. Vijay is an unsuccessful poet whose work is sold by his brothers as waste paper. Unable to bear the reigning philistinism, he chooses to live on the streets where a young prostitute, Gulab, falls in love with him and his poetry, while Vijay’s former girlfriend Meena marries an arrogant publisher for comfort and security.

When a dead beggar to whom Vijay gave his coat is mistaken for Vijay, Gulab has his poetry published in a book which becomes a bestseller. Everyone who had rejected Vijay now gathers to pay tribute to the dead poet. Vijay disrupts the celebration with a passionate song denouncing hypocrisy and calling for the violent destruction of a corrupt world.

Pyaasa

 

(B&W/Hindi/153mins/1957)

Directed and produced by Guru Dutt

Dialogues by Abrar Alvi

Cast: Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha, Johnny Walker and others

Head to the Little Theatre, NCPA, today at 6.30 pm. Admission on a first-come-first served basis. NCPA members will get preferential seating till 6.20 pm.

 

indiaculturelabOf social media and fashion

Social Media has been one of the biggest revolutions of this century. It has impacted every field and changed the rules. This Friday, September 27, The Fashion Funda panel discussion at the Godrej India Culture Labs seeks to explore this phenomena.

The discussion ‘Is social media the new front row?’ boasts of panelists such a Nonita Kalra (former Editor-in-Chief of Elle Magazine), Malini Agarwal (founder and Blogger-in-Chief of MissMalini), Pearl Shah (celebrity stylist and former Fashion Director of Marie Claire), Karishma Rajani (writer and blogger at the personal style blog Purple Peeptoes) and Parmesh Shahani (head of the Godrej India Culture Lab).

One of the highlights of the event is that the audience gets the chance to take a walk through  special ‘Fashionstallations’ made by Teach For India students – a look into the world of fashion as seen through a child’s eyes.

With a promise of ‘chic kababs‘ post the panel discussion, the event promises to be an engaging and interesting one.

Entry is free but seating is limited so make sure you reach the venue in time so as to not miss it. Get more information on the website www.indiaculturelab.org.

(Pictures courtesy urduwallahs.wordpress.com, 1linereview.blogspot.com, indiaculturelab.org)

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Tech

Lumia 1020 comes to the party

While it has several great things going for it, the just-out Nokia Lumia 1020’s most striking feature is its camera.
by Manik Kakra

Nokia has just launched its much-anticipated smartphone in India, Lumia 1020. The Lumia 1020, popular for its unique 41 MP rear PureView camera, runs Windows Phone 8 OS, and comes with quite a few Nokia goodies. This Nokia device features a 4.5-inch (1280×768) AMOLED touchscreen with Nokia’s own ClearBlack display technology used along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top.

Connectivity-wise, there are microUSB 2.0, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, A-GPS and NFC. This phone also supports wireless charging, so you can put it on a supported charging pad (like the old Pre), and it should start charging sitting on it. Equipped with 2,000 mAh battery, the Lumia 1020 has got 32 GB of on-board storage, and users also get 7 GB of free storage on SkyDrive (using their MS Account).

Nokia-Lumia-1020Under the hood, there is a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragone S4 chipset, along with 2 GB of RAM. And since we are talking about the Lumia 1020, it would be wrong to not describe a bit about its camera technology. The smartphone boasts a 1.2 MP front camera and a 41 MP (Carl Zeiss) rear camera (with Xenon + LED flash). Yes, that 41 MP camera sets the stage here. Previously seen only on Nokia’s own PureView 808, the 41 MP PureView technology is quite interesting to dig. Nokia’s theory behind this implementation is that, the camera is going to give you details more than before.

What it’s doing is oversampling. You are given options to choose between 5 MP, 8 MP till 38 MP, among a host of other camera settings while taking a shot, and the camera captures a lot of details and so you don’t lose out on details when zooming in. Thanks to the camera’s large 1/1.5-inch sensor, you get a lot more details than a normal camera on a phone would. That means, you not only get good, sharp images, but images without too much noise. You can zoom-in as much you need, and still have your subject clear and bright. With Nokia’s Pro Cam app in use, it is really intuitive to select from settings while taking any shot – from ISO levels, to White Balance, and what not. They have covered a lot here.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes in white, black and yellow colour options, but, for some unknown reasons, its price point has not been declared at the launch. The phone goes on sale October 11 and is expected to be available for above Rs 45,000.

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Event

Global poetry festival comes to Mumbai

Four days of music and readings by city-based poets will take place at Kitab Khana, at Fort, starting September 26.
by Medha Kulkarni

menka shivdasaniAs the third edition of the global movement 100 Thousand Poets for Change gains momentum around the world, Kitab Khana, the well-known book store in South Mumbai, will host a four-day poetry festival starting tomorrow. The event, curated by Mumbai-based writer Menka Shivdasani (in pic on left), takes place between September 26 and 29, 2013, and includes musical performances and readings by city poets. This is the second time that Kitab Khana is hosting the event in Mumbai.

On the first three days, the events take place at 6.00 pm. On Sunday, September 29, the programme begins at 10.30 am.

On September 27, in a programme coordinated by writer and artist Anjali Purohit, the focus will be on women’s lives. This event, entitled Holding up Half the Sky, will have music and poetry based on the three sub-themes of ‘Woman and work’, ‘Being woman’ and ‘Woman as daughter, mother, wife, lover and partner’. There will be musical recitals by Amarendra Dhaneshwar and Mukta Raste and readings by Anjali Purohit, Annie Zaidi, Dileep Jhaveri, Rochelle Potkar, Menka Shivdasani, Smita Sahay and Urvashi Pandya.

On September 28, which is the global day for 100 Thousand Poets for Change this year, classical singer Neela Bhagwat of the 100_thousand_poets_event_2012Gwalior gharana will perform her interpretations of Tagore’s compositions from her concert ‘Robi Anurag’; this will be followed by ‘Poems for Peace’ readings by city poets, including Ranjit Hoskote, Mustansir Dalvi, Hemant Divate, Anju Makhija, Pallavi Jayakar and Vivek Tandon.

For the final day of this festival, September 29 at 10.30 am, Rati Dady Wadia, a prominent educationist in Mumbai and former principal of Queen Mary School, is coordinating The Music of the Spheres, a programme with children, on the themes of peace and sustainability, along with an exhibition, Wonders of Nature. Students of the Bombay International School, Avabai Petit School, Bandra, JB Petit School, GD Somani School and Gopi Birla School will participate. Poems by Ayra Cama will also be presented.

The global movement, 100 Thousand Poets for Change (www.100tpc.org) began in 2011. An event that began primarily with poet organisers, 100 Thousand Poets for Change has grown into an interdisciplinary coalition with year-round events which includes musicians, dancers, mimes, painters and photographers from around the world.

“Peace and sustainability are major concerns worldwide, and the guiding principles for this global event,” says Michael Rothenberg, Co-Founder of 100 Thousand Poets for Change. “We are in a world where it isn’t just one issue that needs to be addressed. A common ground is built through this global compilation of local stories, which is how we create a true narrative for discourse to inform the future.”

For more information, contact Menka Shivdasani on menka.shivdasani@gmail.com

(Pictures courtesy 100 thousand poets for change on Facebook, www.100tpc.org. Images are from last year’s event at the same venue)

Categories
Tech

On the (sur)face of it

What is the ‘Surface’ that’s got everyone’s attention since yesterday? Our tech writer gives the dope on Microsoft’s newest offerings.
by Manik Kakra

Microsoft’s previous Surface efforts did not prove to be very fruitful. Their sale figures were not very impressive, and the company had to write down a huge loss from the devices. Yesterday, in its Surface event, Microsoft released two new tablets – Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 – to take on the iPad as well as make some efforts to better Microsoft’s position in the mobile space.

Surface 2Surface 2: The Surface 2, like the original Surface, is meant for Microsoft’s RT platform. The tablet runs on Windows RT 8.1, and comes pre-loaded with apps like Outlook RT and MS Office. Under the hood, there is a 1.7 GHz quad-core nVidia Tegra 4 SoC, along with 2 GB of RAM. It boasts a 10.6-inch ClearType full HD screen, and comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options. While the rear has a 5 MP camera, the front has a 3.5 MP camera, and both can do HD videos. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, 3.5 mm headset jack, dual stereo speakers, card reader and USB 3.0. Among freebies, users will get a year of free Skype call and also 200 GB of cloud storage on SkyDrive for two years. The tablet can be pre-ordered on Microsoft’s website (http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/pre-order), but not for the Indian market. The 32 GB model costs $449 and the 64 GB model $549.

Surface Pro 2: The Surface Pro 2 (see main image above) is the tablet to get if you need full-fledged Windows 8 functionality. The tablet is powered by Intel’s 4th generation Haswell chipset, along with 4 GB (or 8 GB, depending on model) RAM. Having the same 10.1-inch HD screen, the Surface Pro 2, and comes in 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB storage options. You also get a Pro Pen to be used on the tablet’s screen. You can buy one ffrom $899 up to $1,799, depending on the model.

Microsoft has also introduced Type Cover 2, which can be used with both these Surface devices. It has got backlit keys and comes in black, blue, pink and purple. Apart from that, a new Power Cover was also shown. This one is meant to be attached with your tablet in order to increase its battery life (MS claims two and a half times the original battery) without adding too much bulk.

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Tech

Two new APUs by AMD

We preview two new APUs launched recently by AMD for the Indian market, and what their specs and features mean.
by Manik Kakra

AMD has launched two new Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) for Indian costumers. Both – Mainstream APU, Elite APU and Elite Performance – are quad-core (or dual-core in Lenovo G505some cases) x86 SoCs.

Coming to the 2013 Elite Mobility (also known as Temash), it’s a 28nm SoC — dual-core A4, quad-core A6, which is mainly designed for tablets and hybrids. Concentrating on the graphical side, this chipset has got AMD’s Radeon 8000 Series graphics, which, as per the company, gives five times of better GPU performance than its competition. For consumers, this chipset is for Windows laptops, tablets, and hybrids which have full HD (1080p) screens. From the battery point of view, Temash could provide twelve hours of battery life, and that’s what OEM heads confirmed to us. What’s more, AMD says this SoC is ready to be used with laptops running Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Blue OS.

The 2013 AMD Mainstream APU (Kabini) is targeted at low-end, small-form tablets and notebooks. Here, the focus is more on decent performance within a small budget. Having dual-core and quad-core options, this SoC is already used in touch notebooks. Promising 33 per cent better peformance from what the competition provides in this segment, the Maintream APU also claims to give 11 hours of average battery life on your Windows device.

The 2013 Elite Performance is the company’s top-of-the-line product that provides best computing and graphical performance from them. Talking about its power efficiency, the company claims it should give you a battery life of 13 hours on a full single charge, and about 40% better gaming performance that what the competition has got.

Here’s a list of some of the laptops, with their configuration in brief, showcased at the event:

HP TouchSmart 11– HP Touchsmart 11 – APU A4-1250, Radeon HD 8210, 4 GB RAM, 11.6-inch touchscreen, Windows 8

– HP 1000 – APU E1, Radeon HD 7310, 14.1-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Windows 8

– ASUS X552 – APU E1-2100, Radeon HD 8210, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, DOS

– ASUS X102 – APU A4-1200, Radeon 8180G, 10.1-inch touchscreen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Windows 8

– Lenovo G505 – APU E1-2100, Radeon HD 8210, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk DOS

– Acer Aspire – E1-522 – APUA4-5000, Radeon HD 8330, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, DOS

Looking at AMD India’s effort in the last two years, the company seems to be making a lot of progress, and these new offerings in the market could well give them even more loyal buyers.

Categories
Tech

Sony launches Xperia Z, QX100, QX10 and SmartWatch 2

Here’s a lowdown on the new Sony launches for the Indian market and what their different features mean for users.
by Manik Kakra

Sony today launched its new phone – Xperia Z1, smartphone-attachable lenses – QX100 and QX10, and SmartWatch2.

Sony Xperia Z1_ GroupLet’s first talk about the Xperia Z1. This is Sony’s new flagship model, successor to the Xperia Z. The phone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and has a full HD 5-inch screen. Under the hood, there is a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC (MSM8974), clocked at 2.2 GHz, along with 2 GB of RAM. One of the USPs of the phone is its 20.7 MP rear camera (f/2.0). It packs in Sony’s G Lens, and has got a BIONZ image processing chip just for the imaging function. There are no keys on the front, as all are onscreen keys, and there’s a 2 MP camera. This water-resistant and dust-proof phone packs 3,000 mAh battery and 16 GB of on-board storage (expandable via microSD).

Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, A-GPS, NFC, microUSB port (with MHL), LTE connectivity and DLNA. Available in black, white and purple colours, the Xperia Z1 goes on sale today and is priced at Rs 44,900. Sony has partnered with Vodafone to provide a 3G data bundle. The Xperia Z1 also comes loaded with Sony Jive app, which allows you to have unlimited song downloads and streaming for free, for first six months. Similarly, the Sony LIV app allows you to stream Sony QX10_1movies right on your Xperia device for no cost.

The QX100 and QX10 (in pic on right) are two unique kinds of lenses that could be attached with most smartphones. You can choose to shoot videos and photos on your phone through these lenses, without doing much else. You can also connect these lenses with your smartphone using WiFi or NFC. The QX100 sports a 20.2 MP CMOS sensor, with keys for dedicated controls like zoom and shutter release. The lens can do 3.6x optical zoom, too. The QX10 has got an 18.2 MP sensor, which can do 10x optical zoom. While the QX100 costs Rs 24,990, the QX10 is priced at Rs 12,990, and both hit the market today.

sw2-one-touch-smartwatch2Last but not the least, the Sony SmartWatch2. This is a water-resistant NFC-enabled watch that can be paired with your smartphone or tablet to give you notifications and allow you to message from your watch instantly. Sony claimed that there are already a few dedicated apps for this smartwatch, and they expect to see the number rising soon. It sort of works as a second screen to your main device, at least for a few functions. The watch is equipped with a 1.6-inch (220 x 176) screen and USB port. It goes on sale starting next month, and will be available for Rs 14,990.

What do you think of Sony’s newest offerings? Tell us in the comments section below.

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