Sony Ericsson X10 mini

Android is impressive. Not just because it’s open source and can run on hardware from many vendors. Not just because it’s so forgiving, open to enhancements and customizations and not just because of the marketplace (which, at last count, had over 50,000 apps with a better free-paid ratio than the Apple App Store). It’s because it makes any hardware look good. Take the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini. With a proprietary operating system, it would have just been an average, albeit tiny phone. But slap on Android, and you’ve got a powerful, fully-featured touchscreen smartphone in a size barely larger than an average set of house keys.

The size (and weight) is the biggest talking point; more so because you’ll wonder how they managed to fit a touchscreen, quad band GSM/3G radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS and microSD slot into that tiny frame. Despite the size, the build quality is stellar. Some may complain about the all-plastic construction, but it keeps the weight down. Plus there are some nice interchangeable back covers in the box (different colors available).

Start up the phone, and you’ll see a few familiar Android components (like the useful pull-down bar for notifications), but largely, Sony Ericsson has modified the interface to better suit the device’s small size (and screen). With the X10 Mini, most icons fit into multiple home screens which you can slide from left to right. Four other customizable icons for often-used functions (like phone, contacts, messaging) sit in the four corners of the screen.

Thanks to the 600Mhz processor, everything moves along at a fairly speedy pace and the capacitive touchscreen is a delight too – with equal responsiveness across the length and breath. Call quality was excellent and battery life was good, despite the diminutive size. Music and photo quality are good, and the device can even record fairly decent videos at VGA resolution at 30 frames per second. Wait! So this phone has everything you say? What’s the catch? There are some.

There’s no on-screen QWERTY keypad, so typing messages or emails using the simple keyboard is tiresome and time consuming. Obviously, with a screen so small, a complete QWERTY keypad would have been impossible, but in the current setup it has multiple keypads for numbers, alphanumeric/T9 input and special characters – you switch between the different keypads by swiping left to right. This is a little inconvenient. Wisepilot GPS navigation software is pre-loaded, but is free only for 30days. Thereafter, you’ll be paying extra per year if you want maps. Finally, you’ll have to ask yourself the questions; how small is too small? And does the size make it a ladies-only phone? Overall, there’s no doubting that the X10 Mini is a marvel of technology. But it’s not for everyone. At a similar price of Rs 15k, you can consider the larger AMOLED-screened, Bada-powered Samsung Wave. Or if Symbian is what you crave, the new Nokia X6 is a real cracker for Rs 15k. And if you must have Android with a larger screen at the same price, the HTC Tattoo and Samsung Galaxy Spica are available too.

Specifications: 

Quad band GSM with 3G

Android OS 1.6

Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz processor

2.55-inch capacitive touchscreen (240 x 320 pixels)

accelerometer

5MP AF cam with LED flash

VGA videos @ 30fps

3.5mm audio out

microSD slot (upto 16GB) 

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi

A-GPS

83 x 50 x 16 mm

88 grams

World's toughest phone

 The JCB Toughphone Sitemaster is being claimed as the toughest phone in the world. But is it? 

Apparently, it can survive underwater for eight hours; can endure heat of 75 degree Celsius and below freezing temperatures of - 30 degree Celsius; and is able to withstand extreme vibration and compression. 

Although it's primary target audience is people who work outdoors - on building sites or farms, that's not to say it doesn't have any mod-cons. It plays music and videos, offers Bluetooth connectivity to other phones and computers and has an FM radio, reports the Daily Mail. 

Here are the various tests it was put to: 

1. Swimming pool claim: Even inside water, the sound quality is pretty good. The line is slightly muffled, but it's easily good enough to have a long conversation. 

2. Steam room claim: After ten minutes in the steam room the phone - though still a bit steamy inside - works fine. 

3. Hot sauna claim: the sound quality is a little muffled - the phone is clearly not entirely watertight - but still, one can make himself heard perfectly well. 

4. Steam roller claim: After being placed under the wheel of a 1.6-tonne Saab and driving over it back and forth five times, the screen remains crack-less only with a tiny scratch on the back. 

5. The big drop claim: the phone is flung from a first-floor window on to the patio, 12ft below and twice the height claimed by JCB. It bounces and is fine. 

6. In the freezer claim: It goes into the freezer, with the frozen peas and ice cream for two hours. It's fully functional after it's taken out. 

7. The hot spin claim: The Toughphone has survived torture with water, heat, dirt and soap. But sadly, it fails the washing machine test.

SWIMMING POOLCLAIM: It’s water-resistant

It is tested in local swimming pool. A couple of lengths in, a call is made while standing at the shallow end. The sound quality is pretty good. The line is slightly muffled, but it’s easily good enough to have a long conversation. A fellow swimmer walks past in his Speedos and sees me. His face is a mixture of bafflement and irritation.

STEAM ROOMCLAIM: It can withstand 48 hours at 70C and 90 per cent-relative humidity

Time to relax in the steam room. Speedo Man is already there and looks bemused as the phone out for another call. After ten minutes of exit. The phone — though still a bit steamy inside — is fine.

HOT SAUNACLAIM: It can survive temperatures up to 75C

Surely no mobile can survive the heat of a sauna? When a call is made, the sound quality is a little muffled — the phone is clearly not entirely watertight.

 SHAMPOO AND SHOWERCLAIM: Can be sprayed with salt water continuously for 24 hours

Soap, shampoo, hot water. Phone still fine.

STEAM ROLLERCLAIM: Can withstand a tonne of pressure

It is placed under the wheel of 1.6-tonne Saab. The engine is started and then over it, back and forth, five times. The screen hasn’t cracked and there is not even a dent — just a tiny scratch on the back.

THE BIG DROPCLAIM: Will survive being dropped 6ft on all of its six surfaces or all four corners

The phone is thrown from a first-floor window on to the ground, 12ft below and twice the height claimed by JCB. It bounces and is fine.

BURIED IN SANDCLAIM: Dust-resistant, and the non-porous casing withstands micro-particles

The JCB phone is burried deep in the sand for about ten minutes before roughly digging it up with a plastic trowel. Not a scratch — but the picture on the screen is looking funny, as if the edges have stopped working. It is suspected it’s delayed water damage. Still, a call is made and the sound is perfectly clear.

IN THE FREEZERCLAIM: Works after experiencing temperatures of -30C

It goes into the freezer, with the frozen peas and ice cream for two hours. When it is out, it’s fully functional — although it’s not much fun ­having to hold a block of ice next to your ear.

The Toughphone has survived torture with water, heat, dirt and soap. But what about meeting all of these foes at the same time? Into the washing machine at 40C it goes, with my gym kit, a few towels and sheets, some Fairy non-bio detergent and ­fabric softener

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’s LETTER TO HEADMASTER

 A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the Headmaster of a school in which his son was studying. It contains an advice, which is still relevant today for executives, workers, teachers, parents and students.

A WORD TO TEACHERS

“He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just and are not true. But teach him if you can, the wonder of books.. but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fall than to cheat…..

Teach to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong.

Teach him to be gentle with gentlepeople and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone getting on the bandwagon…

Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad… Teach him there is no shame in tears.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be beware of too much sweetness.. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to highest bidders, but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.. and stand and fight if thinks he is right.

Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient.. Let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have faith in humankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do. . He is such a fine little fellow my son!

- Abraham Lincoln”

Loksatta

India now third biggest internet user

With a user base of 100 million, India now stands third in the world in terms of the number of people surfing the net, an official of internet search engine Google said here Tuesday.

"China has the highest number of internet users at 300 million followed by the US with 207 million. India comes third with the number of internet users now soaring to 100 million," Vinay goel, head of products, Google India, told mediapersons.

Of the internet users in the country, 40 million access the net through mobile phones.

"Our estimate is that by 2012, the number of mobile internet users will surpass those entering the net via their laptops or desktops. The number of mobile internet surfers in India is growing rapidly. In 2007, the country had only two million such users. Now the number has gone up 20 times," Goel said.

However, he pointed out that there was a massive scope of increasing the user base in the mobile internet space as the figure of 40 million comprises only eight percent of those carrying mobile phones.

Goel said most of the internet users in the country search for songs.

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Lok Satta voices concern over derailment of democracy

The Lok Satta Party today expressed concern over the washout of the winter session of the Lok Sabha because of the logjam over constitution of a joint parliamentary committee to probe the 2-G spectrum scandal.

In a media statement, party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao regretted that instead of focusing their attention on recouping the money the exchequer has lost and preventing such scandals in future, both the ruling and Opposition parties wrangled on JPC, unmindful of the futility of such inquiries in the past.

It was tragic that political parties themselves derailed discussions in the largest democracy of the world. Legislatures have to discuss people’s problems and enact laws. If legislators fail to discharge their duty, people lose.

The Lok Satta condemned the State Government for arresting farmers’ leaders who had come to the Legislature premises to represent their problems to the Chief Minister. The Government ought to have made a statement on ensuring remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, purchase of discolored paddy, input subsidy, and measures to help tenants.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that democracy would be in danger if legislatures lost credibility.

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Upgraded BrahMos Missile Successfully Test-Fired

An upgraded version of 290- km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired by India today from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast.

"Block III version of BrahMos with advanced guidance and upgraded software, incorporating high manoeuvres at multiple points and steep dive from high altitude was flight tested successfully from Launch Complex III of ITR," its Director S P Dash said after the test fire from a mobile launcher at 1100 hours. 

All telemetry and tracking stations including naval ships near the terminal point have confirmed the mission's success, he said.

"It was a text book launch and the mission was successful," distinguished defence scientist A Sivathannu Pillai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace said.

The 8.4 meter missile which can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound is capable of carrying conventional warheads of up to 300 kg for a range of 290 km.

It can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters for surgical strikes at terror training camps across the border without causing collateral damage.

"The trial was witnessed by high ranking officials of the Army, who expressed happiness to have such high potential weapon system," a defence press release said.

Director DRDL, P Venugopalan and Project Director S Som, were present during the launch.

The Defence Minister congratulated DRDO and BrahMos scientists, army officers and the entire team for the success of the mission, it said.

BrahMos is capable of being launched from multiple platforms like submarine, ship, aircraft and land based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL).

One regiment of the 290-km range BrahMos-I variant, which consists of 67 missiles, five mobile autonomous launchers on 12x12 Tatra vehicles and two mobile command posts, among other equipment, is already operational in the Indian Army, defence sources said.

The Indian Navy has begun the process of inducting the first version of BrahMos missile system in all frontline warships from 2005.

The Army is in the process of inducting two more regiments of BrahMos Block-II land-attack cruise missiles (LACM), which have been designed as precision strike weapons capable of hitting small targets in urban environments.

The first flight test of BrahMos missile was conducted on June 12, 2001 at the ITR and the last was successfully carried out on September 5, 2010 from the same place.

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