Beyond Technology offers a challenging new analysis of learning, young people and digital media. Disputing both utopian fantasies about the transformation of education and exaggerated fears about the corruption of childhood innocence, it offers a level-headed analysis of the impact of these new media on learning, drawing on a wide range of critical research.
It
has by now become a well known fact that the Japanese auto maker giant
Toyota plans to lift the wraps off the all new 2014 Toyota Corolla on
June 6 and recently released a set of teaser images of the next gen
Corolla.
It may be noted that the Corolla has
been among the most successful brands to have ever come from Toyota and
until recently, used to be the undisputed leader in its segment of US
car market. This makes the upcoming new gen Corolla even a more
important car for Toyota.
As can be seen in the above teaser image, the new 2014 Corolla will
sport an aggressive looking set of LED headlamps, which are far more
stylish than what various speculative renderings depicted them to be
like.
As expected, the car will also get a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels
that sport twin-spoke design. It may be noted that the India spec
Corolla comes equipped with “not-so-stylish” 15-inch alloy wheels.
Another hightlight of the new Corolla will be a new touch screen audio
system which could very well provide social networking and news reports
options!
The new car is being expected to come
with a softer exterior styling with design cues taken from the Corolla
Furia Concept. Regulars here would remember that we reported in detail
when Toyota gave us a glimpse of the next gen Corolla by coming out with
the Furia Concept.
The new 2014 Toyota Corolla could be
powered by a 1.8-liter four-pot petrol engine with VVT-i tech. The motor
would come mated to a new CVT ‘box. The India spec car, however, would
get a six speed manual transmission. The diesel variant is expected to
continue being powered by the current engine.
We so want the new Corolla to be fun to
drive and come to us soon after its public debut. Stay tuned to
Motoroids for more updates on the upcoming 2014 Toyota Corolla sedan.
Govt is proposing to set up manufacturing plants for the tablet in India too.
The
Government of India is now contemplating to bring a new version of
Aakash tablet, which would probably named as Aakash 4, according to
media reports.
According to Indian Express, the Department of Information Technology
has written to the Department of Science & Technology asking
whether the Aakash tablet project could be routed through them.
Reports also added that the Union HRD
minister, Kapil Sibal has also written to the Prime Minister proposing a
manufacturing unit for the new version of the Aakash tablet in view of
the problems faced by the first Aakash tablet manufactured by Datawind.
"The draft of the specifications has been prepared, formally it has
to be placed before a committee... We are waiting for a suitable date to
do that," Department of Electronics and IT (DEITy) Secretary J
Satyanarayana was quoted as saying by PTI.
"We should not add so many features so that the cost will go beyond," he further added.
It is to be noted that the Datawind has so far launched three
versions of Aakas tablet, meant for students. All the three tablets are
being sold in the market under the brand name of UbiSlate (UbiSlate 7Ci,
UbiSlate7C+ etc). However, all the tablets were hammered by the experts
and users alike for poor quality. The problem was further compounded by
issues of non-supply by Datawind. Moreover, many Indian and Chinese
brands have recently launched their tablets in the market at around the
same priced as the Aakash tablet but with better specification.
Hence, the upcoming tablet is most likely to have some decent
features but considering the fact that it is meant for students, the
tablet would definitely have ordinary features as indicated by J
Satyanarayana.
New launches outshone older models in May even though overall car sales remained subdued.
Strong sales of new launches like the Renault Duster, Honda Amaze and
the Chevrolet Enjoy helped push volumes of the manufacturer concerned
for the month.
But wholesale dispatches of most manufacturers were in the negative
zone, including those of market leader Maruti Suzuki, which logged a 13%
decline in the domestic market at 77,821 units.
Maruti saw sales decline in almost every segment, including its
top-selling Swift and the DZire, which saw degrowth of 29.4% and 2.5%,
respectively. Its utility vehicle (UV) segment saw a degrowth of 44%,
though the mini segment, mainly comprising petrol cars, saw a growth of
5%.
Domestic sales for Hyundai Motor India, the second-largest carmaker, were up a mere 0.3%.
Incremental sales for some manufacturers came from new launches.
Honda Cars India sold 6,036 units of the Amaze, while its overall sales grew 9.8% as it sold 11,342 units during the month.
General Motors India saw sales grow 40%, backed by the launch of its
new multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) the Chevrolet Enjoy. The company sold
2,177 units of the Enjoy.
“We were able to register the 40% growth only because of the good
response to our newly launched vehicles Sail and Enjoy. Economic
activities have almost come to a standstill and the market remains
completely depressed due to negative sentiments and other structural
bottlenecks. There is no showroom traffic and the enquiry levels have
bottomed out despite innovative marketing schemes,” said P Balendran,
vice-president, GM India.
Similarly, the Duster, a compact sport utility vehicle, helped Renault
India maintain healthy volumes with sales of 5,146 units (up from 482
units a year ago), out of the overall 6,300 units it sold in May.
For Mahindra & Mahindra, the passenger vehicles segment registered a growth of 5% in May.
Sales of Toyota Kirloskar Motor declined 35%.
Tata Motors sold 45% fewer cars at 11,134 units. Two-wheeler sales,
too, were in the slow lane. Sales of TVS Motor were down nearly 8% at
1,40,046 units. However, Yamaha India logged a 30% growth in sales,
while for Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, the growth was just 3%.
BlackBerry Q10 landing on Verizon June 6 | Smartphones - CNET Reviews
Not to be outdone byT-Mobile, Verizon sets June 6 as the launch date for theBlackBerry Q10. Priced at $199.99, the long-anticipated device features a superbly crafted physical keyboard plus the latestBlackBerry 10software.
Verizon is now takingpreordersfor the Q10 and expects to stock its store shelves with the phone by June 6. This development will no doubt come as welcome news for the BlackBerry faithful. Many in this camp are zealously addicted to typing on real keys and poo-poo messaging via touch screen.
And what a keyboard theBlackBerry Q10sports. Based on the legendary keyboard that graced the BlackBerry Bold, the Q10 offers the same expertly chiseled keys but now 30 percent larger. I found that it makes a big difference, resulting in the best phone-based QWERTY typing experience available.
The eagerly awaited Mercedes-Benz A-Class was launched at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on May 30, 2013. Looking at the car, Mercedes-Benz India certainly seems to have provided what it promised, that is a car to showcase the ‘Pulse of the New Generation.’ There has been an overwhelming response on digital media such as Facebook and Twitter prior to the launch of this car. It has already been certified as a global success, as it has received more than 90,000 bookings within months of the launch.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Launched at 21.93 lakh
Continuing with its product offensive for the year 2013, the A-Class embodies all the parameters that make Mercedes-Benz a world class luxury car brand. The eye-catching, youthful and aggressive design on the outside appears to herald a new breed of luxury hatchbacks for the Indian market. Most progressive design elements of this vehicle are its sporty emotive exterior and premium interiors. The new vehicle is available with service packages such as Star Ease and Star Care that are well known for setting high standards in the luxury segment.
The A-Class has best-in-class sporty interiors that can be witnessed in a hatchback. Sports seats appear to be F1 inspired. Sitting inside gives the actual feel of driving a sports car. Premium Artico leather has been used for the upholstery. Design of the cockpit appears to be inspired by the SLS AMG roadsters. With chrome vents at five different places on the dashboard, this certainly looks like a car built specifically for young and vibrant target customers. For entertainment and guidance purposes, a trailblazing infotainment system has been installed, which comes with a central 14.7 cm colour screen. This system is compatible with USB, AUX-in, Bluetooth, MP3/WMA/AAC, CDs and with the iPhone. In addition, the 341 litre boot space, though not exceptionally large, does well to carry luggage and equipment.
Speaking at the launch, this is what Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mercedes-Benz India had to say, “With the new A-Class Mercedes-Benz now pioneers the compact luxury segment in India which reflects the changing customer trend of compact being equated to cool and trendy. The A-Class embodies the changing preference of the youth in today’s social milieu who increasingly prefer compact luxury.
The A-Class is also the safest cars with 11 drive assistance systems; and is India’s most fuel efficient luxury car with 1000 km run in a full tank of diesel, having a Cd of 0.27. The A-Class boasts of endless equipment options including a world-class in-car infotainment system. We are confident that the dynamic design and class leading performance is sure to make the A-Class the choice of the new generation.” He also added, “The young India today desires compact luxury; the A-Class addresses this need in the mobility area. The overwhelming response of the A-Class on the social media even before its launch reaffirms that the A-Class will carve a niche for itself in the luxury automotive domain in India. 2013 is the year of offensive for Mercedes-Benz India and the A-Class’ launch reiterates our promise of bringing the most fascinating cars for our valued customers in India.”
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Cutting-edge technology in the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class makes it far superior to any of its contemporaries. Both petrol and diesel engines are mated to an advanced 7G-DCT 7 speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which helps the vehicle accelerate rapidly. ECO start/stop function allows the vehicle to provide a high fuel economy. On a full tank of diesel, the car can easily complete 1000 km, making it the most fuel efficient luxury vehicle in the country. In fact, efficiency is also enhanced by the Direct Injection technology used in the engines.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class is available in both petrol and diesel variants. While the petrol is known as A 180 Sport, the diesel model is called A 180 CDI Style. The A 180 Sports gets an efficient 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine and a 2.2 litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine. In addition, the design of the vehicle ensures a low drag coefficient of 0.27.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Safety has always been a high priority for Mercedes-Benz, which can also be noticed in the new A-Class. It comes with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Acceleration Skid Control (ASR), which maximise control in case of emergency braking situations. For optimum grip on difficult surfaces, electric parking brake Brake Assist System, Attention Assist and Hill Start Assist have also been provided. Injury in an accident can be minimised due to availability of 7 airbags. Due to the above features, the new A-Class can be regarded as one of the safest cars in India.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class has already received several awards for its remarkable new design. It won the Red Dot Design Award 2013, one of the world’s most renowned awards for unique design and product concept. The vehicle was also referred to as “Germany’s Most Beautiful Car” at the 2012 Auto Bild Design Award. Apart from this, the A-Class was also awarded as the Yellow Angel 2013 by Europe’s largest automobile club.
Users need to be completely worry-free after purchasing this vehicle, as it comes with service products like Star Ease and Star Care. Special Pricing for A-Class spare parts has been made available and these parts are less expensive than other vehicles of Mercedes-Benz India. Shared architecture on the vehicle results in optimized labour costs which is passed onto the customers thereby enhancing the overall ownership cost. In addition, the vehicle gets extended warranty for the 4th year, which is available at less than 1 per cent of its cost. While the A 180 CDI Style can be purchased at an introductory price of Rs. 21,93,500 ex-showroom Mumbai, the A 180 Sport is available at an introductory price of Rs. 22,73,500 (both prices ex-showroom Mumbai). With this, it certainly seems that luxury in India has a new name.
New Delhi:For the first time in decades, a three-box car overtook India’s largest selling Maruti Alto in a month.
Maruti SuzukiIndia today reported dispatches of 17,265 units for Swift Dzire, the notchback version of Swift, in May which is higher than combined dispatches of Swift, Estilo and Ritz and higher than even standalone dispatches of the Alto.
So what led to consumer frenzy on the Dzire? The launch of Honda Amaze, which competes head on with the Dzire, spurred sales in this entry sedan category. Honda Siel Cars India has not yet declared its May sales numbers but the full year sales target of the Amaze is 50,000 units.
Even though year on year Maruti’s dispatches of Dzire were lower by 2.5% (it had dispatched 17,707 units in May last year), it was the single largest selling car in the country at a time when the passenger car market continues to be in doldrums.
Overall though, Dzire sales did not help much since Maruti’s total domestic dispatches were down 13% to 77,821 units against 89478 units in the same month in 2012. And the biggest culprit of this decline is Swift hatchback, where sales nosedived. The diesel and petrol variants of Swift, both fell out of favour with buyers and combined sales of Swift, Estilo and Ritz fell almost 30% or fell by a third year on year to 17,147 units against 24,290 units in May last year.
Though Maruti has been denying any company discounts on the Swfit, perhaps this is the right time to buy the popular hatchback because dealers are sure to offer discounts on the Swift now.
Combined sales of the M800, Alto and A-Star were up 5.1% to 31,427 units (29,895 units).
Even on the export front, Maruti fared poorly since exports declined over 27% to just 6,856 units (9,406 units).
But Hyundai Motor India, the country’s largest exporter of passenger cars, managed to generate growth of almost 5% in exports at 24,754 units (23,659 units). The company said strong demand from non-European markets helped boos the overall export number.
Its domestic sales were flat though, at 32,102 units (32,010 units). Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, Rakesh Srivastava said the company is improving operational efficiencies and conducting aggressive marketing campaigns in today’s challenging times.
An administrative law judge at the ITC had said in a preliminary ruling in September that Apple was innocent of violating the patents.
WASHINGTON: The U.S.International TradeCommission, which hears many patent fights, on Friday extended its deadline for ruling on whetherAppleInc infringes patents owned bySamsung ElectronicsCo Ltd in making theiPod Touch,iPhoneand iPad.
The ITC had said it would make a decision on Friday but delayed it until Tuesday, June 4. It gave no reason for the extension.
An administrative law judge at the ITC had said in a preliminary ruling in September that Apple was innocent of violating the patents. The next step is for the full commission to weigh in.
Apple has waged an international patent war since 2010 as it battles Google Inc'sAndroidmobile-device operating system. The fight has embroiled Samsung,HTC Corpand others that use Android.
Samsung is the world's largest smartphone maker, while Apple is in third place, according to the research company Gartner. Many experts consider Samsung's Galaxy touchscreen tablets the main rival to theiPad, although they are currently a distant second to Apple's devices.
The case at the International Trade Commission is No. 337-794.
Some reviewers felt the sophisticated aluminum construction ofHTC One deserved better software. It looks like those critics may get their wish. Google Inc(GOOG) and HTC made lot of speculations come true when Android head Sundar pichai indicated a version of the HTC One with stock Android at the D11 conference.
The unlockedHTC Onefor AT&T and T-Mobile that comes pre-loaded with the stock version of Android Jelly bean available on the Nexus 4. It will be accessible from the Google Play store starting 26thJune for $599. And will be encountering withSamsung Electronic CO Ltd’sGalaxy S4 stock edition on the same day.
With the announcement, now the users have two leading Android handsets available. With both devices running identical software, it will be enthralling to see which Google Edition Smartphone authenticates more popularity in the coming weeks.
Will There Be A Change In The Hardware?
One of the bigger question marks is will the hardware remain the same? That said, the phone will substantially be the same old HTC One hardware but this time with pure Android Open Source Project (ASOP) build, skin and pure Nexus experience.
The company is not providing any specifics just yet but there was another appealing news that, it’s currently examining a way to support early adopters of the One that may prefer the Stock Android experience over Sense.
Is It Google’s Battle Or HTC One’s?
Between HTC One and S4, people may have begun to wonder if these “Nexus experience” Phones are just another front in Google’s battle against Android fragmentation or if these kinds of phones will eventually replace the Nexus Phones which Google has been making from past few years.
Coming to HTC’s battle for a strong market share, will this plan be enough to grab the market share of Smartphone giant Samsung? Both Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition and the HTC One followed the trend of 2013’s much hyped Smartphone market with full HD displays, mind boggling features. Since the market debut of both S4 and HTC One S4 was the front runner withshipmentsof 10 Million units against HTC one’s 5 million units.
This move of HTC may increase the number of sales but it is going to be quite hard to bring down the market share of Samsung S4.
But that does not mean HTC is not going to make any profits, as no other phone makers are showing any interest in the Stock Android software it looks like Samsung and HTC are striking gold and are going to gulp away the Smartphone market segment share.
But it’s too soon to comment about profit, user acceptance etc as the phones are not yet released so I reckon we have to just wait and watch how users accept these phones.
It's been a few minutes since I stepped out ofYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and I'm finding it hard to remember what I've just seen. This is not the sort of amnesia that you have to force yourself into after a bad, blah film. This is because I've seen this brand new film, and its characters so many, many times before.Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaniis a been-here, seen-this, much-too-long glossy creature, and not much else.
Ranbir Kapoor plays the I-want-to-fly fellow who doesn't want to be tied down. Familiar? Oh yeah, we've seen a hundred variations of Bunny aka Kabir Thapar. Deepika Padukone is Naina, the proverbial girl in the glasses, always with her nose buried in a book, always driven to doing the right thing. Seen that before? So when Bunny and Naina meet and bicker and get intense and part, we know where this is headed. Which we are ready for, because that's what romantic comedies are about. But the thing with the best rom-coms is how the oldest story in the world — boy meets girl, and they live happily ever after — gets a fresh telling. On that crucial test,Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaniscores low.
The supporting parts, essayed by Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur, her as the cool chick who then does the conventional thing like saying yes to an arranged marriage, and him as the hero's best buddy who turns hostile for no convincing reason, are also cobbled from bits and pieces. Because it is a Karan Johar production, we get the big fat Indian wedding, the geet and the sangeet and the whole zardozi, lehnga, mehndi, shebang, in multifarious doses. We also get Madhuri Dixit as Item Girl, and she blanks out as soon as she's out of sight, too.
