Update: Axis Bank ATM Hackers Operated from Hyderabad

UPDATE: Even as you're reading this, cops from the Oshiwara police station, located in suburban Mumbai claim to have traced the hackers to Hyderabad. Further reports suggest that not only did the hackers manage their entire hack operation from Hyderabad, but were also Nigerian nationals. Their exact location in Hyderabad hasn't been traced yet. Adding to these details, a report in the Mumbai Mirror also states that the usual modus operandi of such a scam would be either placing accomplices at banks and other call centres, or acquire a duplicate security strip, placed at the back of a debit card to get all personal debit card details. In what comes as a shocker to several Mumbaikars who quite routinely withdraw cash from the Axis Bank ATMs dotted across the city, it is being learnt that the security of the ATM systems of the bank have been compromised. According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, the first set of complaints has been coming from Oshiwara, located in suburban Mumbai. The ATM in question located in Oshiwara incidentally happens to be at a stone’s throw distance from the Oshiwara Police Station. Exercising caution.. Over the month, the report stated that several irate customers began filing complaints after they realized that the money withdrawn by them from the ATM and the money, a much larger amount that got actually debited did not match. Apparently, the repeated complaints did not draw much action from the cops, initially but when one of the cops in the station itself (Asst. Inspector, Sanjay More) got duped, the cyber crime cell was called in.  According to a statement that a spokesperson from the bank provided to Mumbai Mirror, it was revealed that the ATM at Oshiwara wasn’t the lone one affected. Several other Axis Bank ATMs across the city are now being speculated to be among those affected. Although the mode, and any other specific details of the hack haven't come through, what is being spoken about, albeit in hushed tones is the use of an external device that records all details of a customers card on swiping. The bank has, as on August 1, 2011 filed an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell.  With statistics being as worrying as the loss of over Rs. 8 lakh in less than a month, this news of the security being compromised has again raised the issue of lack of security present. Have you been affected by the hack? Do let us know in the comments section below.

Pictures: Six New Natural Landmarks Named

Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon

Kahlotus Prairie, Washington

Hanging Lake, Colorado

Barfoot Park, Arizona

Round Top Butte, Oregon

\

Golden Fossil Areas, Colorado

3D Box Office Revenue More than Doubled in 2010

According to a study done by iSuppli, the global box-office revenue for 3D movies in 2010 more than doubled to $6.1 billion, up from $2.5 billion generated in 2009. The 3D format launched in 2005. The international market accounted for $3.9 billion, or 63.9 percent of the market, up from 53.8 percent in 2009. The rest of the 3D movie market, or 36.1 percent is represented by North America, including the United States and Canada. The surge in international 3D box office revenue was almost threefold, up from $1.4 billion in 2009, driven by a corresponding hike in investment of digital 3D technology by key international exhibitors, in tandem with the influx in new 3D movie releases.

3D surged in cinema last year

More than 30,000 3D screens now exist in the world as of June 2011, more than double the number at the same point last year; at least one in four of the world’s screens are now 3D-capable. The global market still is dominated by U.S. products, which accounted for more than 90 percent of revenues coming from international 3D screens.

True blue: The Lakes of Ladakh

"So is it Pangong Tso tomorrow or Tso Moriri?" asked Dorjee, my guide and driver as I stretched my legs and gulped another cup of green tea. Most tour operators recommend just one of these high altitude lakes, but I was greedy. I wanted to visit not just two, but the third lake, Tso Kar as well. Dorjee grinned when I told him our plans and he suggested that we camp at Pangong. On an impulse, we agreed.

It was barely dawn when we drove from Leh. The mountains reveled in the golden light. The sky was fast changing colours as the clouds showed up in the horizon. It was bright and sunny within a few hours. The weather, I realized in Ladakh is downright moody. I went there expecting some snow and all I got was some harsh sunlight burning my skin.

The journey however was a dream. Our jeep was packed with our tents and we had a new travel companion, our personal cook who brought in some hot steaming momos.  We stopped by a mountain stream amidst the mountains and out came tiny chairs and a dining table. It was breakfast time.

The landscape changed drastically as we gained altitude. We crossed Changla Pass at 17590 feet and stopped for tea .and then plunged a few feet downhill to about 14270 feet.  We saw the marmots and had a close encounter with a pair of black necked cranes on the way. But there were no roads. The mountains circled us. And then we saw it! A thin sheet of blue, almost like a mirage, appearing out of the various shades of greys and browns. It was the first view of the lake.

Pangong is one massive stretch of blue, except that one can see various shades of blue. The colours kept changing by the minute. We were there rather early and had the lake to ourselves for a while, until the tourists finally arrived. We drove down, looking for a place to pitch our tents as we crossed Spangmik, the smallest settlement and possibly one of the last Indian villages which housed less than ten families. It was like almost being on the edge of the world for the Line of Control does pass through the lake itself.  In fact locals told me that only one third of the saline lake lies in India and the remaining in Tibet.

Dorjee decided to pitch a tent in a small enclosure, located right on the banks of the lake. I looked around and saw some fields in the distance and a small house further away. And the tents came up – there were four of them, one for the bedroom, another for the dining, third for the kitchen and the last for the dry toilet. It was our private piece of paradise. The sky was clear as we walked along. A soldier with a prayer wheel guarded the border at the further end. The villagers brought their precious pashmina goats home. The stars came up as the lake was bathed in moonlight, the mountains beaming with a glow. A sumptuous meal was waiting for us, as we tucked into our sleeping bags for the night.

We drove back to Leh the following day, took a break and then continued onto the next lake, Tso Moriri . A different village, a different lake .Korzuk, the village had one of the most charming monasteries in all of Ladakh and it was getting ready for its festival.

We spotted birds and beasts and loads of the Changpa nomads grazing their cattle. Tsomoriri is indeed a birder’s paradise. The saline lake is one of the breeding grounds for a variety of birds, most of them rare and endangered. The mountains reflected in the bright blue waters, their tips glistening with ice and snow. The landscape was vivid with colours . Most of my friends prefer Tsomoriri to Pangong , but my favourite however remains the latter .

Meanwhile the weather changed. The bright blue skies turned dark as the rains lashed the mountains. The waters drenched the lake. The temperature suddenly dropped and the tented camps where I was staying had no heaters. We shivered and quivered, finally putting the thermals to use as the temperatures slid below zero.

Dorjee predicted it would snow and we decided to leave early the following day stopping by at Tso Kar, the third lake which seemed more like a wetland to me. The colours had turned into a monotone and all the blues had melted into shades of white. We stopped at a local shop for lunch-a quick bite of noodles and momos and just as we neared Tanglang La at 17580 feet, it started snowing. And before we knew it, the snowstorm interrupted our journey as a truck, stuck in the heaps of snow stalled all the vehicles.

We were still very far from Leh and we remained there, high up in a mountain road surrounded by snow. Finally Dorjee got bit impatience and walked out into the snow storm, in his thin jacket and shoes to remove the snow with bare hands. Soon a crowd gathered to help and many hours later we were back on the road. I did want to see snow capped mountains, but I had no idea it would be a stormy experience.

Soon we were back on familiar territory. It was not the bright blue sky that welcomed me to the plains but the blue of the River Indus that greeted us. My tryst with the mountains was heading to an end as it was my last day in the Land of high passes.

Lakshmi Sharath is a media professional, a traveler, travel writer and blogger. After 15 years of sitting in front of a desk in several media organizations, she decided to travel and see the world. Since then she has covered 20 countries across five continents; her passion lies in exploring the nooks of India.

Bareilly baby boy with 34 fingers and toes sets new Guinness record

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), July 20 (ANI): Akshat, a baby boy over the age of one, registered his name in the Guinness world records for having a total of 34 fingers and toes.

He has set the record for having the highest number of fingers and toes and hails from the Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh.

Amrita Saxena, the mother of the child, said it was difficult for her to believe that her son broke the world record, until a family friend convinced her.

"He (family friend) read on the internet about the baby born in China with 31 fingers. Then he said that my boy has broken the record of having 34 fingers. At first, I was not convinced at all. It was hard to believe that my son has broken the record. But later, he along with my husband and my younger sister registered the data in the Internet. Then I was asked to submit certain documents after which his name was in the Guinness World Records," added Saxena.

Doctors attending to the child informed the mediapersons that it was a rare phenomenon and diagnosed it as polydactyly.

"The person who is diagnosed with it is polydactylic. It is due to certain defects in the bone development of the uterus. The reason behind this defect can be either developmental congenital formation or chromosomal anomalies, which is due to maternal infection or drugs," said Dr. Parul Gupta, a gynaecologist.

Gupta further explained that this congenital physical anomaly could be easily cured by performing a surgery.

"Yes, it is absolutely curable. Mostly people go for plastic surgery. And sometimes when polydactyly is minimal, it can be cured normally, without an operation. And if there is a major problem, then people prefer to go for a plastic surgery," added Gupta.

Meanwhile Saxena was a little worried for her son's future. She aspires for her son to lead a 'normal' life and wants him to undergo proper treatment for it.

It is quite interesting to know that Polydactyly or polydactylism is also known as hyperdactyly. It is a congenital physical anomaly in humans, dogs, and cats having supernumerary fingers or toes. (ANI)

REVAi Ride – To Go Electric or Not

In these troubled times of carbon footprints that leave a serious stain on the environment and serious hikes in fuel prices, a car like Mahindra’s REVA could be perceived as beacon of light. This alternative fuel source i.e. electric car made it to our “labs”, in this case, the wild streets of Mumbai, and I was able to get a first hand impression of what a possible “future-car” could be like. Here’s my take on the REVAi, the high-end model.

Design
I’ll be blunt. I’m not a fan of the design. It’s a little too “boxy” for me although it’s quite comfortable inside for two people and two people only. The back set is just about useless for seating, even children, but does add a little boot space to the vehicle. The seats recline quite a bit providing a little ‘snooze’ space if you just want to park and relax for a bit. Since there’s no gearbox, being an automatic car, there’s plenty of leg room. It’s also got quite a bit of head room in the cabin which is essential for those who happen to be in the 6-foot range.

It's cute-ish

The dash is a little too plastic-y and seems just a mite flimsy. Indicators for all purposes are neatly arranged but can get a little confusing if you haven’t read the manual before jumping in. A simple dial system is designed for various driving modes and looks a bit like a dial on a cooking range. There’s – R for Reverse, N for Neutral, F for forward and B for boost. Don’t think of this as some sort of Nitro-Boost feature like you see in the movies or games - this mode throws in about 40% more power, which is quite handy on open roads.

The air conditioner is about the noisiest thing in this otherwise super silent car. Its hum can be a bit distracting. It features a heater as well and a de-fogger for the windshield and rear glass. This version of the REVA is equipped with a Stereo system from JVC that features a CD/MP3 Disc player and radio. Sadly, no USB option. The speakers are just not at par with the player so most times you’ll hear a jarring sound at slightly higher volumes. Bass heavy tracks like most Hip-Hop music really didn’t sound too good. A charging port for your mobile phone et al is also provided. Just above the glove compartment is a pull out cup holder for two cups.

Platicy dashboard but all relevant features accounted for

Now for the exteriors. Although the car seems a little flimsy it’s designed to be quite a sturdy vehicle. Aside from the Steel space frame and side impact beams, the REVAi also features energy absorbing bumpers and ABS dent-proof body parts. We had to take their word for it as I was not about to drive this rather pricey car into anything or press the shell hard enough to try and dent it. The wiper is rather oddly positioned as it tends to wipe just the central part of the windshield leaving a large part of the bottom portion rather murky when driving in the rain. This tends to inhibit your bumper-to-bumper vision so your judgment will have to be spot on. The headlights although small do tend to provide easy viewing while driving at night.

Charging port

A charging cable is provided with the vehicle that goes into the little charging port on the left hand side of the car above the rear wheel. It’s positioned in the same place you’d expect to find a fuel tank. I was, admittedly, a little afraid to try and charge the car after driving it in the rains, as the charging port was wet thanks to the absence of a cover. It’s simply placed behind a spring loaded cap that isn’t water tight. I tried it nevertheless and there was no problem. The company also promises to set up a charging post at your residence should you decide to buy the vehicle.

No room in the back

All in all, I have to say, while most women I asked, seemed to think the REVAi was cute, the guys thought it to be a bit un-attractive, although the color of the exterior or the interiors was not the issue. I’ve seen a few other electric vehicles in places like Oslo, Norway, and have to admit those were far sleeker than the REVAi - What you would expect from Euro-designs.

Performance
Now to the nitty-gritty - the REVAi drives like a dream. It’s smooth, peppy and goes from 0 to 40 in just about 7 and a half seconds which is not bad for a small car like this. In traffic it’s got great pick up however the lack of power steering can make maneuverability a little tedious. On the plus side, a small car like this has a good turning radius making it easy to nip in and out of small spaces and take quick U-turns when you need to. Even with two people in the car, pushing her up to 65km/h was easy, but she pretty much caps off at that limit after which things tend to get a little shaky. In ‘Boost’ mode, I was able to get up to 70km/h before things started getting a little ‘out of hand’.

Fuel efficiency-wise, the REVAi is designed to offer you about 80km per full charge. Realistically, she delivered on this front in spades. Even with the AC on and music blaring we managed to squeeze 65km from the REVAi. That’s not bad at all. It takes about 8 hours to charge fully when the battery is drained and can be hooked up to any 15 Amp (220V) socket. The vehicle uses a Power Pack of eight 6-Volt EV type lead acid batteries.

Check out the little test drive video -

Mahindra REVAi

Thanks to the onboard computer controlled system, charging will stop as soon as you’re at 100% power so as to avoid your power bill going up. What I was warned about was to avoid taking the car over flyovers as the incline would be responsible for heavy battery drain. There went my highway plans - it meant I had to take the long way home. However, for the sake of putting it through its paces and to do due diligence to the test, I decide the flyovers were the way to go. It does reduce battery power quite a bit but not to the extent that you should avoid them altogether. Of course it’s not a powerful vehicle so climbing isn’t the speediest process. Great turning radius The onboard computer or Energy Management System (EMS) also signals you when you’re running low on juice and immediately switches over to a more efficient mode of energy consumption. So if you’re caught in traffic you’ll be able to pull over to the nearest socket and juice her up. The Five Lakh Rupee question is, who’s going to let you plug your car into their wall socket for an hour or so, so you can get back on your way? The best option is – think of it as a mobile phone that you can simply leave on charge while you’re at work or at home. Really stands out in a crowd Overall handling was a breeze even without power steering. The REVAi managed corners quite well and was zippy enough to quickly get from point A to point B within a specific suburb. City driving though is a bit heavy even if you are comfortably sitting in a cool air conditioned car, mainly because of the steering issue. The REVAi also handled the bumps quite well thanks to the Macpherson’s strut in the front coupled with coil spring at the rear to make up the shock absorbers. The regenerative braking system does make braking an easy task. Either ways, it’s not like this car can dish out any serious damage. Nevertheless… Sweet ride Central locking with remote locking and unlocking via the provided security system keychain is also part of this high-end model’s sales pitch. It even has an annoying beeper that indicates that the doors aren’t closed properly, or that the hand break lever, which by the way was easier to pull in my Mahindra Two Door Jeep than this, was not released properly. The Bottom Line While I liked driving the REVAi and all the attention that came along with it, the price tag of Rs. 4,80,418 (Ex-Mumbai) freaked me out a bit. I’m all for green tech and yes, the technology is expensive, no doubt but as a proof of concept, the REVAi is a thought-provoking idea. As someone once told me, when you have a concept that’s not of the conventional variety, one must accept all the little pitfalls that go with it, keeping in mind its true nature and use. And I couldn’t agree more. The price list, click to enlarge The vehicle may have been around for over 2 years now, but it has evolved considerably since then and who know what we can expect in the next-gen model. Perhaps they’ll heed my cries and we could see options like power-steering, a better music system and maybe even a better design just might make it past the drawing board. Go Green, Go REVA!

Google Effect Affecting Your Memory: Reports

How many times have you turned to your faithful, ‘ever so right’ computer to find answers to the most basic questions, okay maybe, slightly trickier questions? If you find yourself turning in too often, then you may be suffering from the Google Effect. Well! That’s not us, but a report on the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) weekly journal,Science. According to the report drafted by the AAAS researchers, internet (symbolized by Google) is replacing people’s own bank of information – memory.  You have the Google Effect, too? (Image credit: androidauthority.com) The research further revealed, and plunked a lot of blame on the hugely popular existence of ‘search engines’. In fact, a common observation would reveal that people are now replacing the word ‘search’, with ‘Google’. You now, usually ‘Google’ up something on the internet, instead of relying on your memory, or referring to a book. To better put their findings down, the researchers put a sample of individuals under a series of tests. The individuals were posed with a set of questions based on various themes, and were asked to type the answers to those on the given computer. It was found that when asked the same questions verbally, most of them couldn’t recollect the answers. Some stated that they didn’t find the need to recollect because they believed the answer to be stashed away in the computer. However, there is a visible pattern noted, too. The ones who thought that the information they entered wouldn’t be retained in the systems for them to go back to, showed better retention capacities than those who presumed that the information is retained and hence, it was unnecessary to store the additional data on themselves. In a report in The Telegraph, according to the researcher, Betsy Sparrow also believes that the dawn of Internet didn’t deplete our memory reserves, only modified it. She added that people just believed more in stacking additional information on their computers, and just off loaded their own memory reserves.

Astronauts Leave Cameras Behind in Space

While most of us would do almost anything for a good high-end DSLR, NASA astronauts are used to leaving behind camera equipment in space. The last Endeavor crew and specifically, Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli carried some camera equipment up to space to shoot photographs. He was carrying a Nikon D3s and a D2Xs full-frame sensor camera with a 24-120mm lens. The value of the equipment taken to space was roughly $8,000. The D3x isn't exactly a cheap camera. After clicking several photos in the ISS, he returned back to earth in a Soyuz spacecraft. But before he did that, he dumped the cameras into a capsule that detaches itself from the spacecraft before re-entry. The constituents of the capsule are all disintegrated during re-entry. The memory cards were carried with the astronauts on their way back to earth. There’s a cargo checking process that is done by Russian authorities before the astronaut can take the memory cards back with him. Paolo Nespoli is said to have clicked photos from a distance of 200m from the international space station. He was also said to be carrying a Fujifilm FinePix 3D W1 camera with him.

Weather May Play Spoilsport Ahead of Atlantis’ Launch

On July 8th, 2011, Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to embark on what is going to be the last in NASA’s glorious 30-year space shuttle program history. Carrying a team of four astronauts, and a supply package, along with spare parts to the International Space Station, Atlantis is scheduled to launch from Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

Shrouded in uncertainty...

However, on the eve of the NASA’s final shuttle, according to a report on Space.com, worries of the weather not being compliant, may lead to scrapping of the scheduled launch, and setting it to another day. But, the officials are optimistic and believe that all they need to make that perfect launch is that one hole in the cloud. And, quoting Launch Director, Mike Leinbach who disregards delays, “We want to play the game Friday.” So, a Friday is all that we wait for.

Leh, a sight-seeing paradise

You’re in Leh embraced by its beauty and charm. Basking in nature and serenity. Falling in love with its rustic exquisiteness. But now enough admired, its time to get out and explore the fun side of this tranquil town.

Read on to find out more about the fun sight-seeing spots you must visit when in Leh.

Monastry

Leh Palace, Namgyal Tsemo Hill

The nine-storey high Leh Palace is one magnificent edifice, which was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century with an uncanny resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. With the Ladakh mountain range as its backdrop towards the north, the Leh Palace is an architectural marvel that opens up sprawling views of the entire town and its surrounding areas from the rooftop.

Further up from the Leh Palace, the Namgyal Tsemo Hill rises over it like a kingly ceremonial headgear and is the resting ground for an ancient fort ruin. This fort is said to have been the earliest royal residence of the Namgyal dynasty and is flanked by some temples built in veneration of the guardian deities.

Excursion to Khardung La Top
Khardung La or Khardung Pass – a much romanticized high altitude adventure trail – happens to be the gateway to Nubra and Shyok Valleys. Standing proud at an altitude of 5359 meters (17,582 feet), contrary to the signage and the local voice claiming it to be 5602 meters (18,380 feet) high, Khardung Pass is the road that’s sporadically trod by adventure-streaked bikers. Known by locals as Khardong La and even Khardzong La, it has a mesmerizing effect on people who visit it. So much so that sometimes tourists hang around patiently for days, waiting for the accursed road-blocking snow to shy away and leave the stage for some breathtaking tripping.

Shanti Stupa
This is an astonishingly unique structure that rests at an altitude of 4,267 meters (14,000 feet) on a hilltop in Changspa village, about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Leh. Overlooking the Leh Palace from the steep hill (which can be reached by treading 500 steps), the white domed structure heralds the spread of a noble spiritual effort that began way back in 1914 in Japan.

Choglamsar SOS Village, Stok Palace
The SOS Tibetan children’s village (TCV), a milestone achievement and an enthusiastic foray into social development, is an institutional effort at spreading child education initiated through a joint collaboration of his Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Indian Govt.

Widescreen: Sudan Splits

Sudan's south will become an independent country on July 9, but fighting along the ill-defined border has raised tension ahead of the split. North and south have yet to resolve issues such as how to manage the oil industry and divide debt. Here’s a look at the current situation in Sudan through Reuters photographer Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah’s lens.

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

A Sudanese from the south, who stayed in the north for 21 years, stands outside her shelter at Mandela camp,

 in the outskirts of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

---

　

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

A Sudanese from the south who was born in the north, plays near a shelter at Mandela camp in the outskirts 

of Khartoum July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

A Sudanese from the south who was born in the north, plays near a shelter at Mandela camp in the outskirts of

 Khartoum July 4, 2011.

---

AP Photo / Pete Muller

Southern Sudanese boys take shelter from afternoon rains that disrupted rehearsal for independence day celebrations in the capital city of Juba on Monday, July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese children from the south who were born in the north, play near a shelter at Mandela camp in the outskirts

 of Khartoum July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

A Sudanese child from the south, wearing a t-shirt with the picture of U.S. President Barack Obama, stands near

 a shelter at Mandela camp, in the outskirts of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese children from the south play at Mandela camp, in the outskirts of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese from the south load belongings onto a truck bound for southern Sudan at Mandela camp, in the outskirts

 of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese from the south load belongings onto a truck bound for southern Sudan at Mandela camp, in the outskirts

 of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

---

REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese from the south load belongings onto a truck bound for southern Sudan at Mandela camp, in the outskirts

 of Khartoum, July 4, 2011.

Get Gadgeted Under Rs. 90,000

In a budget of Rs 90,000, one could go all out and buy the best possible gadgets out there, computers, MP3 players, HDTVs, speakers or even a complete home theatre system. The best part is that if you've just set this budget for a complete gadget overhaul, here's a blend of gadgets that you want to really consider.

If you think last week’s budget of Rs. 60,000 had some great products, wait till you see what we’ve got in store for you this time, as we have taken it up a notch to Rs. 90,000. Read on and drool!

Lenovo IdeaPad Z560 - Rs. 36, 172

•�� �Weight: 2.6 kgs
•�� �Screen size / resolution: 15.6-inch / 1366 x 768
•�� �Processor: Intel Core i3-350M, 2.26 GHz
•�� �RAM: 3 GB
•�� �Hard drive: 320 GB
•�� �Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 310M
•�� �Operating system: Free DOS

Lenovo's IdeaPad Z460 and Z560 series of laptops are great choices if you're looking at entry-level multimedia laptops. The IdeaPad Y series are better in terms of performance but they're slightly more expensive and even look rather jazzy in comparison. The best part about the IdeaPad Z560 is that, for less than 37K you're getting a 15 incher with discrete GPU, 3 GB RAM and enough muscle to run mainstream applications. You can even play games at low to medium settings (depending on the game). So all-in-all, despite the absence of a Windows OS, we'd say that at this price, the IdeaPad Z560 is a good deal.

Benq-MK2432 Full HDTV – Rs. 18,999
This 24 inch TV is definitely one of the best deals you can get, as it supports a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD). With a host of video outputs like HDMI, component, composite S-video, DVI and analogue, you can hook this baby up to your DVD player, PC or even your laptop via HDMI. And with a response time of 5 ms, watching action movies, sports and even gaming will be a real pleasure. It also has 5 watt speakers so you don’t have to turn on your home theater system every time you want to watch some regular TV. To sum it up, this is a great LCD TV to have, and at this price, it’s an absolute bargain.

Philips-HTS3555 - Rs. 5,900
What’s the point of having a brilliant full HDTV, when you haven’t got a home theater system to go along with it? The HTS3555 is a great value for money option for those who want a complete 5.1 home theater package with an HDMI output.� Apart from all the usual functions that a DVD player has such as a stereo audio input and a digital coaxial jack, this one has a couple of extras such as support for DivX files via the USB port and a docking system for your iPod or Philips GoGear portable media device (yes, you read that right!). For a home theater system that costs this much, the HTS3555 sounds great, and is an absolute steal.

Western Digital-My Passport Essential WDBAAA5000ABK – Rs. 3,700
There’s nothing like 500 GB of extra hard disk space to go with your spanking new laptop, which is why we’ve included this one. This version of Western Digital’s My Passport wins over the rest because of its affordability, at the cost of just Rs. 7.4 per GB of storage. Needless to say, the WDBAAA5000ABK has all the features of a modern day plug and play external hard drive such as automatic continuous backup, password protection and such. Western Digital is known for their quality, and for this kind of space, you couldn’t really ask for a better deal.

Samsung Wave S8500 Mobile Phone - Rs. 16,875
The Samsung Wave is a great multimedia handset, that won’t be too hard on your pocket. It is comfortable and lightweight, with a very smooth and easy-to-use user interface and has some awesome features including 720p playback, great camera and a powerful battery that lasts for around two days on a single charge. Even the audio quality from the built in MP3 player is really good, with a customizable EQ option that includes 5.1 surround sound settings.� Apart from all this, the Wave handles 3G connectivity, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP and USB 2.0. All in all, this phone is a great option for those who love entertainment on the go.

Transcend-MP860 Portable Media Player (4 GB) - Rs. 4,230
The Transcend MP860 is a really versatile device, and it comes with a lot of features for a really good price. It supports a bunch of formats such as MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC and OGG for audio and MPEG4 SP (XVID) and FLV for video. It also has a line in so you can record audio from an external source. Apart from all this, it comes with built-in FM radio, voice recorder, text file reader and a facility that synchronises lyrics on the display and supports 13 different languages. And that’s not it. Not only does this little wonder boast of over 22 hours of continuous music playback, but it also has provisions for expandable memory. Now that’s what I call a really good deal!

Logitech G330 Gaming Headset - Rs. 2,500
The G330 is definitely one of the most comfortable gaming headsets and has great sound to boot. What sets this baby apart from the rest is the width-adjustable design that goes behind the head. It also has an adjustable boom microphone and a USB dongle adaptor.

Kingston – DT100/16GB Flash Memory Drive - Rs. 1,850
Now, we had a little money left over, so we’ve added this 16 GB pen drive even though it’s gone a little over the budget. This is a handy little drive to have around, is quite spacious, and is definitely worth the money with its fast transfer speeds and reliability.

Be it for gaming, watching movies, listening to music, working from home, and storing data, this list of gadget will take care of everything. While this list tells you what all you can get in a 90K budget, the scope for changes and replacements of gadgets in this list is endless, especially when you already own one or more of these products. Instead of choosing a home theater system you could go for a better more powerful laptop. As opposed to an MP3 player and headset, you could choose a high-end iPod dock, and so on.

So now that you've seen what you can get with various budgets ranging from under Rs. 30,000 - Rs. 90,000, it should be easier for you to go on a gadget-buying spree.

Gadgets for The Lovely Ladies in Your Life

To all the lovely ladies out there, allow us here at Tech2.com, to take this opportunity to thank you for enhancing our lives with your presence… Happy Women’s day! For all you guys out there looking to show your favorite gals some love from the tech spectrum, we’ve put together a small list of gadgets for the ladies in your lives.

Acer Aspire One Happy, Netbook - Rs. 16736
Acer’s newest range of netbooks are great for the ladies who need a little more easy of connection to their online lives than a mobile phone. It’s 10.1-inch display and eight hours of (promised) battery life should make the woman on the go quite “Happy”. It’s equipped with an Intel Atom N455 processor, 1 GB RAM and an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 which will allow the ladies to do so much more than social network. With the 320 Gigs of storage and a memory card reader they’ll have plenty of room for their favorite movies and music that I recommend you take the trouble to load up before presenting it to them. It’s also loaded up with connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth 3.0 + HS.

 

Great for the gal on the go

Transcend MP330 - 2GB: Rs. 2,500, 4GB: Rs. 2,599 and 8GB: Rs. 3,415
For those with a love for music or the ladies that like to work out with their favorite tunes Transcend’s MP330 Digital Audio Player (DAP) is just what the fitness instructor ordered. It’s small and lightweight and available in a funky pink color for those who like a little girly flare. The MP330 can read MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC and even WMA-DRM10 protected files. It also features an FM radio just in case your ladies are partial to the airwaves. EQ presets are available for audio enhancement and it’s designed with a clip system for portability. 

All dressed in pink

Roxy Reference 250 earphones – Rs. 1,999
Roxy is a sub brand of JBL that’s no small or new name in the audio field. They’re colorful in-ear earphones that are equipped with a microphone, which means they’re compatible with mobile handsets. The Roxy Reference 250 are as colorful as they come and of course compatible with any and all media devices and most handsets that support 3.5mm audio jacks. JBL also throws in an uber colorful pouch you can carry them in to avoid getting them tangled in your purse.

Colors galore

Creative D100 Bluetooth Speakers – Rs. 4,499
Another colorful little gadget that could make your ladies smile is Creative’s Bluetooth enabled portable speaker the D100. This neat little light weight speaker is fully compatible with all mobile handsets that support A2DP. It’s loud and clear and comes in a range of colors to brighten up your bedside table your desk top. Its total portable since it can run on 4 AA batteries if you’re not near a wall socket. You can also simply plug in any media device with a 3.5mm jack for audio output.

Portable and cute too

BlackBerry 8520 Curve – Rs. 11, 333
We can’t leave out the mobile phone of course. While most would consider something really girly like the Micromax Bling, as flash a phone as that may be, I’d suggest a more functional device like the BlackBerry. BBM is the new mobile social networking craze and a great way to stay in touch with friends and share media or data. It’s a simple handset that’s available, for those who don’t know, in all Black or white and is a very comfortable handset to use. If you’d like to go a step further, gift wise, get her a cool carry case. If the original RIM smartcase is a little too bland for your ladies’ taste, there are plenty choices in the way of accessories.

A smartphone for all the smart ladies

If gadgets aren’t your thing or theirs, there’s a whole world of things out there that your Mothers, sisters, wives, fiancés, girlfriends, friends, mistresses and all of woman kind are into. Just make it special, they deserve it. Once again, to all those of you of the fairer sex, have a glorious day!

"Exceptional" Giant Squid Found Dying off Florida

"Holy mackerel!" Fishing party found rare beast still moving.

Main Content

Floating about 12 miles (19 kilometers) off Port Salerno (map), Florida, a stirring, intact giant squid gave a small fishing party a shock around 11 a.m. Sunday—and could give researchers new insights into the species, which has never been studied alive, scientists say.

"We looked at it [and] all three of us were like, Holy mackerel!" recreational fisher Robby Benz told WPTV. "It didn't seem it had been dead long, the tentacles were still moving and it was sticking to you when we got it in" the fishing boat.

After reaching shore, the men called wildlife authorities, and the then dead giant squid soon found a home at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

Giant squid, the world's largest invertebrates, are thought to reach lengths of up to about 60 feet (18 meters) and can weigh nearly a ton. The Florida specimen, though, is about 25 feet (8 meters) long and weighs about 200 pounds (90 kilograms).

Like other giant squid, the new catch is white with patches of red skin, which contains chromatophores—pigment-containing cells that can change colors rapidly, presumably for communication or camouflage

"Very Rare" Squid

Giant squid are found in oceans worldwide, but the animals have seldom been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida, said Roger Portell, an invertebrate paleontologist at the natural history museum, who's helping to preserve the squid.

"These are very rare animals," Portell told National Geographic News. "They tend to be in very deep waters, so we don't see them normally."

The new specimen, he added, is "exceptional."

"There was very little trauma to it," he said. Though it was missing a tentacle, the squid doesn't look to have been attacked, he added.

Though not the sea monsters they were once depicted as, giant squid have been known to battle sperm whales in the deep.

Since the giant squid appears to have been intact yet on the verge of death when it was found, Portell thinks the new specimen—the gender of which is still unknown—may have just reproduced.

"As a general rule in cephalopods"—including, squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish—"both males and females die shortly after reproducing. It is assumed that this is what also happens in this species."

The fishers, ha added, deserve credit for the specimen's rare state of preservation, he added.

"They collected it right away, brought it to shore right away, and called the authorities, who put it on ice right away. So it worked out very well," Portell said.

Benz, the fisher, said he was partly motivated to haul in his giant catch because he didn't think anyone would believe him if he didn't.

"Nobody believes a fisherman," he told WPTV.

Giant Squid Body Saved for Science

At the museum, the specimen has been injected with a preservative called Formalin and is soaking in a chemical solution

Once the two-week preservation process is finished, the squid will become part of the museum's research collection. Its genetic data should be of particular interest to researchers trying to determine whether the beast we call the giant squid—Architeuthis dux—is actually more than one species, Portell said.

"We've already had some researchers contact us about coming down to look at it," he said.