Tuesday, April 27, 2010
New Wagon R 2010 from Maruti Suzuki: revamped feature, specs, price, design
New Wagon R 2010 from Maruti Suzuki: Maruti Suzuki has launched its all new Wagon R in India with a totally revamped exterior and redesigned interior with more space and a more powerful engine. The new Wagon R will be launched in 3 versions namely, Lx, Lxi and Vxi. The ex showroom price in Delhi for its Lx model is Rs. 3,28,000, for Lxi model is Rs. 3,57,000 and Vxi model is Rs. 3,81,000.
The new model of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 2010 boasts of better looks, the company has bid good bye to its boxy look to be replaced by the more rounded shape. The facelift of this new generation Wagon R is a major one this time with the company using all new chassis that delivers a wider look to this car than its predecessors. The car now
gets a new front grille with clear lens head lamps and rounded fog lamps. The front and rear bumper are redesigned with new air dam in the front. The tail lamp is slightly bigger and the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ as the company names the new Maruti Wagon R also features a blue eyed parking indicator in the head lamp.
At the heart of new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 2010 is the Bharat Stage IV complaint 998cc KB series engine which is capable of developing maximum power of 67Bhp at 6200 rpm with maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3500 rpm. This is same engine that powers the Maruti A Star. The car is fuel efficient as it gives a mileage of 18.9 km per L of petrol according to Automotive Research Association of India standards. It also comes with a new cable-type transmission and a 3 point suspension. The new car also offers greater ride comfort thanks to its new L-shaped front suspension frame.
The new Maruti Wagon R also ranks very high when it comes to its new and improved safety features. The new model sports an increased frontal impact absorbing area that ensures greater safety for its passengers. There is an added driver’s seat belt indicator and the Wagon R keys this time are integrated with i- CAT, anti-burglar alarm and a 4 door central locking. The Vxi model is equipped with front and rear fog lamps and the ABS model of the Vxi comes with Airbags and ABS as options.
The interiors of the latest Wagon R by Maruti Suzuki new improved boot space and a latest and unique shopping tray fitted right under the front passenger seat. This comes very handy in safely keeping the cell phone, cameras and other valuable things away from prying eyes. The dual color dashboard lends a charming appeal to the interiors coupled with new door rims and latest upholstery. The central console is completely new with dash integrated music system. The steering wheel is also new as the company now introduces the Swift steering in the latest Wagon R 2010. Maruti has also worked on providing better leg room by giving huge leg space this time which is 100mm more than the present model.
The new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is available in 7 vivacious colors, Superior White, Midnight Black, Silky Silver, Firebrick Red, Breeze Blue, Baker’s Chocolate and Blistering Grey.
The new model of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 2010 boasts of better looks, the company has bid good bye to its boxy look to be replaced by the more rounded shape. The facelift of this new generation Wagon R is a major one this time with the company using all new chassis that delivers a wider look to this car than its predecessors. The car now
gets a new front grille with clear lens head lamps and rounded fog lamps. The front and rear bumper are redesigned with new air dam in the front. The tail lamp is slightly bigger and the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ as the company names the new Maruti Wagon R also features a blue eyed parking indicator in the head lamp.
At the heart of new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 2010 is the Bharat Stage IV complaint 998cc KB series engine which is capable of developing maximum power of 67Bhp at 6200 rpm with maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3500 rpm. This is same engine that powers the Maruti A Star. The car is fuel efficient as it gives a mileage of 18.9 km per L of petrol according to Automotive Research Association of India standards. It also comes with a new cable-type transmission and a 3 point suspension. The new car also offers greater ride comfort thanks to its new L-shaped front suspension frame.
The new Maruti Wagon R also ranks very high when it comes to its new and improved safety features. The new model sports an increased frontal impact absorbing area that ensures greater safety for its passengers. There is an added driver’s seat belt indicator and the Wagon R keys this time are integrated with i- CAT, anti-burglar alarm and a 4 door central locking. The Vxi model is equipped with front and rear fog lamps and the ABS model of the Vxi comes with Airbags and ABS as options.
The interiors of the latest Wagon R by Maruti Suzuki new improved boot space and a latest and unique shopping tray fitted right under the front passenger seat. This comes very handy in safely keeping the cell phone, cameras and other valuable things away from prying eyes. The dual color dashboard lends a charming appeal to the interiors coupled with new door rims and latest upholstery. The central console is completely new with dash integrated music system. The steering wheel is also new as the company now introduces the Swift steering in the latest Wagon R 2010. Maruti has also worked on providing better leg room by giving huge leg space this time which is 100mm more than the present model.
The new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is available in 7 vivacious colors, Superior White, Midnight Black, Silky Silver, Firebrick Red, Breeze Blue, Baker’s Chocolate and Blistering Grey.
Hubble's new instant classic
To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s 20th anniversary, NASA released this composite visible-light portrait of a nearby star-forming region, the Carina nebula. Towers of gas and dust, the home to newborn stars, line the walls of the nebula, which lies about 7,500 light-years from Earth. The image captures the violent activity atop a pillar of gas and dust that stands three light-years tall. Intense ultraviolet radiation and streams of charged particles from hot newborn stars just outside this view are compressing the pillar, triggering the formation of new stars within it. Streamers of hot ionized gas flow off the ridges of the pillars while starlit wisps of gas and dust float around the peaks.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
ASMedia to Start USB 3.0 Chip Price War
With Light Peak blitz happening anytime next year, Asustek's wholly-subsidiary ASMedia is going all out to push USB 3.0 to mainstream by offering per chip pricing below $3. This move will compete with NEC's $6. (NEC was making a killing at $9 per unit between 2H 2009 and 1H 2010.) Asustek has already transferred all orders to ASMedia, followed by MSI, Gigabyte and Elitegroup within the year. Backed by all these Taiwanese motherboard manufacturers, ASMedia is expected to hit the 10 million USB 3.0 chip milestone in 2010.
Granted, this still may not be enough since chipset integration by Intel would make USB 3.0 free for everyone, yet the silicon shipment number alone may just create more incentive for peripheral makers to jump onto the SuperSpeed bandwagon. Besides NEC and Asustek, Texas Instrument, VIA and even Intel have planned to start mass shipment of USB 3.0 hosts beginning Q3 2010.
Granted, this still may not be enough since chipset integration by Intel would make USB 3.0 free for everyone, yet the silicon shipment number alone may just create more incentive for peripheral makers to jump onto the SuperSpeed bandwagon. Besides NEC and Asustek, Texas Instrument, VIA and even Intel have planned to start mass shipment of USB 3.0 hosts beginning Q3 2010.
Panasonic & Samsung Roll Out Skype-compliant USB HD Webcams for HDTVs
Webcams have found a new home outside LCD monitors and notebooks. Panasonic and Samsung both have debuted other own USB HD webcam add-on that can be mounted atop of their respective high-end HDTVs. Since nearly all high-def flat panels sport USB interface for media playback, firmware, or WiFi, re-using the same port for adding a HD webcam is the logical path for these companies.
The Panasonic Y-CC10W web camera is designed exclusively for VIERA flat TV series of the same company. Panasonic likely makes sure it won't work on any Windows, Mac or competitors' TVs with custom firmware, which has a copy of the Skype software. The USB 2.0 webcam itself has a 1/4 CMOS sensor with a 56.8 degree coverage; it isn't surprising that there are four microphones to pick up all the different voices from around the living room. A built-in H.264 compressor handles all the video encoding but it can only feed video to the other party at 22fps.
The other Skype HD webcam comes from Samsung and like the aforementioned video camera, the FreeTalk TV is a USB add-on exclusively built for LED 7000 and 8000 series models of HDTVs. These two models both have access to USB 2.0 port that allows H.264 MKV and DivX HD playback and that also accepts external WiFi 802.11n installation. This model does support 30fps streaming at 720p, but oddly, the webcam does only manual focus. For $150, we would have expected something more in line with the current crop of HD webcams for PCs.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The party's not over
New Delhi, April 22 -- 57 matches, 171 hours of cricket on the field. Off the field: 54 parties, 270 hours of partying and close to 1,29,600 bottles of beer consumed.
The past two months have been one big party as the third season of the Indian Premier League took the country by storm. Models, cricketers and celebrities burnt the floor till 4 am every day. And the ongoing political controversy is not going to stop the party.An organiser, who asked not to be named, told HT City, "The parties will happen, of course, there has been no problem with the parties." This puts paid to talk that the income tax scrutiny has meant a cancellation of parties, including the much awaited IPL Awards night to be hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar and superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
"What have cricket and the players' achievements on the field got to do with this controversy? We are trying to award the achievements of the players. The Awards ceremony will happen tonight," said Mohomed Morani, of Cineyug, the event organisers. Johar too, at a recent press conference, confirmed the news, saying, "I will be hosting the awards."
As the parties go on, HT City takes a closer look at the number game of the party scene. "There were about 500 people at every party and close to 15 security personnel. On nights when Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta or Shilpa Shetty were in attendance of course, it was much more," says Mehr Rampal, the organiser of the post-IPL fashion parties.
"At the post-IPL fashion show 16 models showcased 32 garments every night," says Nayanika Chatterjee, who choreographed the shows. Accordingly, over 1,728 garments by 58 designers were showcased. According to sources there were close to eight varieties of dishes at each party and over all close 1,29,600 bottles of beer and 27,000 bottles of whiskey were consumed; 9,450 songs played at post match parties 27,000 bottles of whisky consumed, 432 dishes served in the buffet spreads, 1,728 garments displayed at 54 fashion galas 39.7444 kms covered by models on the ramp and 810 security personnel on duty.
Virgin America Has Made it Fun to Fly Again
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For my son’s Spring Break, my family spent a week in San Francisco and we flew round trip on Virgin America. After two flights, I am a total fan, so much so that I told my husband that from now on, whenever possible, we will fly Virgin.
Just what makes the Virgin America user experience so different?
Virgin America doesn’t use different or larger planes. The airfare was comparable to other airlines when I was booking on Orbitz. We had to pay $20 to check our bags. The legroom on the plane wasn’t more than on other planes I’ve flown recently. The food and alcohol weren’t free. And I didn’t get a blanket or pillow.
What made Virgin America different was the entertainment and how food and beverage were dispensed.
- The beverage carts only made one pass through the plane. But for the rest of the 5+ hour flight, if we wanted food or drink, we used our touch screens to place an order. If I wanted water, I touched water and a flight attendant came by within minutes with a bottle of water – for free. When my son wanted cookies, chocolate or a sandwich, I swiped my credit card, and the flight attendant came by with his order. So for the entire flight, instead of just the couple of times the carts come around, we had access to food and beverages.
- There was Wi-Fi on the plan! For about $8, I could get wi-fi and check e-mail and surf the Web! Unbelievable! And each seat had regular AC power so I could keep my laptop plugged in during the whole flight!
- I loved the free Dish Network. No kidding, I caught an NCIS marathon the way to SF and a House marathon on the way back. Truly decadent!
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