Careers & Technology~NEPAL

5 successfull business ideas that I could do in my spare time to make some quick cash

2011-02-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

There is one very common epigram that says, “Money attracts money”; but what if we don’t have money to attract money. Should we stay idle and make joker out of ourselves or should we go hunt for the jobs?

There is money in every step we take if we can make right decision at right time and work out the planned idea. I have tried to explain some five common and easy ideas that we can work with to generate money, at times when we are out of job and out of business.

1. Sell Your Stuff

For many people, the most difficult part of holding a garage sale is finding the time to plan and set one up. If you're unemployed, planning and running a garage sale is a great way to keep busy and make a little extra cash in the process.

You can also sell stuff online at websites such as eBay, Amazon Marketplace,Craigslist, and more.

2. Online Writing.

Today, online writing jobs are one of the best ways to make money. These jobs are convenient for the basic reason that you need to travel anywhere and waste valuable time traveling, and avail all the free time, and make best use of it. Besides, there is no basic qualification needed as a perquisite for you to be applicable in this field. Anyone who has good language skills, and can essay on the given topic can make career writing. Well, even the investment you put in to begin is as good as zilch, since every home has a computer and an internet connection in the present times. All you need is the time to jot a few lines!

There are a number of online writing jobs and options. Some of them are-

Content writing

Freelance Writing job

Data recording

Blogging

Technical Writing

Creative writing

Medical Transcription... And many more.

3)Get paid to shop

This one is only for you if you:

are self-disciplined

are only using it to buy something that you are definitely going to buy anyway

have searched online shopping sites to make sure that you cannot get a better deal elsewhere for whatever it is you are buying.

A Cashback site is a website that pays a small amount of money back to you after you have made a purchase. They also offer small ‘credit’ incentives for bringing friends in to join – but you only actually get that credit once those friends have spent some money. So you may want to be careful about who you recommend such sites.

Cashbackshopper is one of the better ones because it makes no admin charges and passes on all the money that it gets from the retailers. They will also give you £5 ‘credit’ for signing up (but you have to have spent a certain amount of money before you can get this) and they offer the £5 credit incentive for referring a friend.

If you have no credit card debts and want to make money on purchases that you HAVE to make AND you are self disciplined you can try the American Express Platinum cashback credit card for the first three months you get 5% cash back on all your spending up to £100. This isn’t worth doing if you have outstanding credit card debts – pay those off first.

4) Do some freelance writing. There are online options (such as ehow). Think about what you are good at and start from there.

5) You can make extra money reviewing products that you buy or use. Almost any type of product can be reviewed, including food, electronics, toys, cars,or household items. Here's how to make some extra cash giving your opinion on just about any product you can think of.

Instructions

Find websites that will pay you to write product reviews. Associated Content, Bukisa and other article writing sites will pay you either directly for each review, or for the amount of page views your article generates. If you're clever, you can use the same review on multiple sites to generate even more cash. Just make sure you read the guidlines carefully at each website you're writing for, and understand when and where it's ok to use the same article.

Write your product reviews as soon as possible after using an item, especially if you're doing a food product review. You'll want to have it fresh in your mind so you can write the best article possible.

Save any packaging or user's guides for the products you want to review, or at least take down relevant notes before you throw it away. You may need information to enhance your article, including getting the name of the product exactly right.

Dentistry in Nepal

2010-12-27T03:58:00.000-08:00

When you think of dentistry, you might think the job is all about scraping off years of plaque or drilling in eroded teeth, but as of late, the scope of dentistry is taking on a whole new look – literally. Cosmetic dentistry is altering ones' teeth and smile in order to achieve a more desirable aesthetic look while still maintaining health and functionality. Cosmetic dentistry is a fairly new concept in Nepal and many people still think the term exclusively applies to dentistry reserved to help the rich and famous bleach their teeth right into so-called perfection, yet the field entails so much more. In his new book, A Clinical Guide to Direct Cosmetic Restorations, Dr. Sushil Koirala, explains that cosmetic dentistry, also known as aesthetic dentistry, is "a form of art which requires vision to express possibilities and skill to meet the demands of a patient."

It's an Art… and a Science.

How do you know if cosmetic dentistry may be the job for you? Why choose to pursue the stream over regular medicine? They are both science, right?

Right, but not entirely. While studying dentistry does require a lot of courses in science, the day to day reality is that being a cosmetic dentist uses a lot of the same skill sets and passions as any fine artist. So if you are into studying science and creating great art, then you might want to seriously consider cosmetic dentistry. "To some degree, all dentists are cosmetic dentists," Dr. Binod Acharya states, "but if a student loves both science and art, then further self-study in practices of cosmetic dentistry is the perfect option."

First, a student should study a science-related subject in +2. After its completion, a student will continue on to get a B.D.S. degree. Scattered everywhere from Dharan to Kathmandu, there are five different colleges within Nepal where students can study for B.D.S. yet many students still prefer to go to any of our neighboring countries like Bangladesh or India. After completing B.D.S. you must pass national exams to practice dentistry within Nepal, but once you receive passing results, you can directly start working as a dentist.

As of now, there is no exact course in cosmetic dentistry, but M.D.S. programs, fellowships abroad and self-study are all means by which a student can learn more about the practices of making great teeth. One thing a dentist with a passion for the cosmetic side of his/her work must remember, is that it is an ongoing learning process. The Nepalese Academy of Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry offers continued education seminars, meetings, and information to help members strive ahead in the latest methods and research.

What it Takes to Be Great

The state of one's teeth alignment, coloring, and spacing all have a major impact on a person's overall appearance and ultimately their own personal happiness and psychological state. Cosmetic dentistry is about fixing the aesthetics of a patient's teeth by taking into consideration his/her psychology, health, functionality and aesthetics respectively. A cosmetic dentist has to simultaneously play the role of psychologist, medical agent and artist.

When it comes to defining what it is aesthetically pleasing, it is crucial that a cosmetic dentist remembers that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Rather than inflicting one's own definition of beauty on the patient, the dentist must listen and understand the personal and cultural desires of the individual undergoing the dental work. Dr. Koirala specialises in applying vedic definitions of aesthetics to our predominantly Hindu culture. He strives to preserve the definition of beauty set forth in tradition rather than just following the status quo of a broad, one-size-fits-all plan determined by Hollywood.

And when it comes to teeth whitening, Dr. Koirala isn't as strong of an advocate as one might think."So many people come in here and all they say is, I want white teeth! They don't realise that while yes, some people may need to whiten their teeth, more often than not the colouring of their teeth is a perfect balance designed by nature," Koirala states, "the eyes, teeth and skin tone should be in harmony. If the teeth are overly white, it will look awkward and unnatural."

The Industry's Future and Yours

Within Nepal, the demand for cosmetic surgery has just begun."The scope is widening everyday, with more people gaining interest in making their smiles more aesthetically pleasing," says Dr. Acharya.

What about with the current state of the global economic crisis? Dr. Koirala smiles, "We'll have to see won't we? But people will always make looking good a priority and the more we develop the industry within Nepal, the more cosmetic dentistry tourism will gain popularity. We can offer the same services with the same quality at less than half the price of western countries. Soon, more people will be coming to Nepal to go trekking and fix their teeth."

Regardless of the state of the world economy, the fact still remains that Nepal currently has a mere 600 dentists, but to appropriately meet the needs of the population, the country needs 3,000.

What if working within Nepal isn't in your future plans? Typically, students in the United States first study 4 years of a science-based bachelor's degree and then continue on to 4 years of dental college. If you complete B.D.S. in South Asia, you will take an exam to allow you to skip ahead to the third year of American dental college. After you receive your D.D.S., then it may be possible for you to work within the States.

Whether you plan to stay in Nepal or you hope to live abroad, your future and the smile of the many patients ahead seems big and bright.

Creating Beauty

2010-12-27T03:53:00.000-08:00

Make-up artists are one of the underlying forces that drive the fashion industry, yet the spotlight is generally on the designers and the models. Make-up artists are the ones transforming and creating beauty through and through.
Most people do not consider it a real job, and therefore do not give much importance to it. But it is a job, which if done well can earn you big time money.
Sakil Kunwar, a freelance make-up artist, is just 17, but is among the best in Nepal. To do so well is no mean achievement, given so many others are striving for the same kind of success.
Says Sakil, "You can only become a make-up artist if you have an individual style and idea and know how to bring it across; otherwise you'll just be one of many."

Sakil adds, "I wanted to become involved in the beauty industry when I realised that beauty queens are not born, but are in fact groomed. Beauty pageants don't just mean ladies parading on a stage, but instead is a platform where young girls are transformed into all-round individuals. And a make-up artist has a big hand in the whole process."

Sakil learned his craft at VLCC institute, New Delhi and got himself a diploma in Hair and Design from VLCC and Hair City and Guides (UK). He then took it one step further and obtained a diploma in professional make-up artistry and media make-up. For all those people wanting to enter into the field of make-up artistry, Sakil says you have to study the craft as you would any other. India is a good place to begin; VLCC is nearby, affordable and renowned. The course lasts 1 year, though Sakil finished it in 6 months. The fee for hairstyling totals Rs 60,000 and makeup, between Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000. This is very inexpensive compared to courses in the west, and though the course is quite basic, you'll soon learn that innovation in techniques is the key.
In order to make yourself known as a make-up artist, you have to get to know photographers, ad agencies, event managers, and basically promote yourself every way possible and have very good networking skills. Talent and skill is just not enough. The downside, as Sakil stresses, is that the industry is filled with people that will take advantage of you in any way. For instance you may not be paid for certain gigs if you are not careful. "You need to have the courage to stand up for yourself and ask for the money."

The beauty field becomes lucrative once you become well known though. Sakil provides us with some statistics that might give us some idea of the potential earnings. For a shoot, you earn between Rs 8,000-15,000 and for a fashion show you can earn between Rs 25, 000-70,000.
When asked whether he sees Nepali people with potential in this arena, with great enthusiasm and energy, Sakil says "Absolutely!" He has come across many extremely talented people, whom he has high hopes for.
Sakil is a gifted make-up artist himself, who is slowly bringing a revolution to the face of fashion in Nepal. With more and more people like Sakil it won't be long before fashion in Nepal becomes a necessity rather than a luxury.

New Gadget on The Block

2010-12-26T03:01:00.000-08:00

Budget Friendly
Want to get someone a gift this season? But, are you also feeling the pinch in your pocket? Are you having second thoughts about a cell phone you want to buy? Well, allow us to help you. Given below are gadgets under 10,000, which despite the price are good and do deliver satisfaction.

2730 Nokia Classic
It is design, style and technology rolled up in one package. This cell phone has a decent camera, mp3 player and best of all it also has 3g services. It’s sleek and good looking and right in our price range.

Price: Rs 7,750
Available at: Paramount Electronics, Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
Phone: 4227448

IPod Shuffle
Its style redefined. With the world constantly wanting smaller gadgets, the new IPod shuffle satisfies the world’s hunger like never before. Barely 2 inches tall, the IPod shuffle provides massive storage. At 2GB and 4GB, the shuffle warrantees awesome sound quality and durability.

Price: Rs 6,400 for 2gb, Rs 8,500 for 4gb
Available at: Evo Store, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
Phone: 4225486

Sony Ericsson W395
Walkman series = Good music. This cell phone also proves that Included with all the features that are normally in a cell phone, the Sony Ericsson W395 delivers what it promises: Good music and superior quality

Price: Rs 9,800
Available at: Virgin Mobile, Pako, New Road
Phone: 4260173

Westar Watches
Need a watch for him or her? Are you brand conscious? Do you want warranty that your watch will work fo ar long time? Then Westar watches are for you. Not only do they come in a variety of designs, they also come in low prices so that everyone can afford them

Price: Rs 6000 and up
Available at: Time Plus, Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
Phone: 4239489

DMCLS 80 DM
The DMC-LS80 combines easy-to-use advanced functions and AA-battery operation convenience. Lumix DC VARIO lens system with 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 33-100mm on a 35mm film camera) fits into its compact body and gives a clear, sharp image right to the edge of the picture. The CCD has been upgraded to 8.1-megapixel high resolution, so even after cropping, you will still have a high resolution picture. Adding to its flavor, is its intelligent mode that reduces blur and improves photo quality.

Price: Rs 9,100
Available at: Paramount Electronics, Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
Phone: 4227448

Middle Ground
When you are out and about gadget shopping, the first thing that you have in mind is obviously your budget. If not, then skip on to the next page. If you’re still here you’re probably looking for gadgets that cost a premium but don’t necessarily burn a hole in your pants. Here is an excellent choice of gadgets you can buy from between 10,000 to 30,000.

Samsung Monte S5620
For some time now, Samsung has been bringing unbelievably priced phones that are packed to the brim with features. This has effectively unsettled the giants, but we as customers couldn’t be happier. The Monte is another fine example of superb technology combined with cost-saving techniques. A 3” touchscreen, 3 megapixel camera, multitasking capability, GPS and WiFi are just some of the goodies the phone has to offer. Sadly, no games are pre-installed and it comes with just 200MB of internal memory.

Price: Rs14,900
Available at: Virgin Mobile, Tamrakar Complex, Pako, New Road
Phone: 426017

IPod
Apple certainly can create mouth-watering delights. With every couple of thousand rupees more, you can get a better, higher-capacity and fancier-looking iPod. But it’s the essence of these devices that are a joy. Highly praised for their versatility, looks and user friendliness, everyone can and should get to enjoy an iPod.

Price: Nano 8GB Rs14,000, Nano 16 GB Rs17,500, iPodTouch 8GB Rs19,000, Touch
32GB Rs27,000, iPod Classic 160GB Rs24,000
Available at: EvoStore
Khichapokhari/ Sherpa Mall
Phone: 4225486
Neoteric Nepal
Golchha House, KhichaPokhari
Phone: 4250001

Sony Ericsson W995
What? A Walkman phone with an 8-megapixel camera? It’s a dream- a revolution, certainly. The W995 may well be one of the very last to bear the Walkman tag, and it seems appropriate as well, as this is not by any means ‘just’ a Walkman phone. The W995 has quad-band GSM, 3G, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm jack and GPS. Further, Sony Ericsson has decided to include an 8.1-megapixel camera, more usually the domain of Cyber-shot handsets; a mix-and-match that has followers in dreamland.

Price: Rs 25,000
Available at: Futuretech Pvt. Ltd. Ground Floor, Tamrakar Complex, Pako, New Road
Phone: 4215533, 4258222

Harman/KardonSoundsticks II
Blow away your eyes and ears with this magnificent set of 2.1 speakers.Admittedly, the design fits well with a Mac, but that doesn’t prevent PC users from using it as well. With the 10 Watt satellites and the 20 Watt subwoofer, this isn’t exactly the most powerful multimedia speaker set on the market today. However, many will find that these speakers are more than capable.The upward firing subwoofer is just a marvel to look at.Enjoy crisp sounds and looks that can drive anyone into a jealous frenzy.

Price: Rs18,500
Available at: EvoStore
Khichapokhari/ Sherpa Mall
Phone: 4225486

Verbatim External HDD
Having your precious data backed-up is vital. Even more pressing is the need to carry around your files, or to have a portable disk with a large enough capacity to copy all of your friend’s movies. 1TB is the largest available in the market currently, and we’re sure you’ll have some saving to do before running out of space.

Price:500GB 10,000, 1TB 13,000
Available at: Bira Complex 4th floor, New Road, Kathmandu
Phone: 4244111, 4232111

Sony Digital Camera
The brand has firmly cemented its place as the leading electronic brand. So you can’t possibly criticize it, right? Absolutely. A range of digital cameras line the showrooms, and each one is with it’s own distinct features. Whichever the model, you shall be guaranteed excellent pictures, long-lasting battery, and enough memory for your satisfaction and a whole host of technological features, half of which you will probably never use more than twice.And the best part is the interface; so simple a child could shoot captivating pictures.

Prices: Ranges from 10,000 for the DSC S-2100, to Rs28,500 for the WX1.
Available at: NepaHima Pvt. Ltd.
Phone: 4250305

Nokia C6
3.2” resistive touchscreen, full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, 5 megapixel shooter, WiFi capabilities- yes, they are all features you would expect from any high-end phone these days. But Nokia’s C series tries to bring these hi-end features into a smart and cost-efficient package. Combine it with document editing capabilities, good music and a welcoming upgrade to the Symbian OS, and you have a phone that could survive well in the arena of the smartphones. Well done.

Price: Rs24,800
Available at: Mobile Tron Trading Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
Shop No. 28, Tamrakar Complex, Pako, New Road
Phone: 4263274
Shop No. F28 First Floor, City Center, Kamalpokhari
Phone: 4011511
Samsung Photo Frame
With print photos nearly going out of fashion and the need for sharing moments even greater, we have one very reasonable option. Digital photo frames are more versatile than you would think; you’ll have ample space to store photos, videos, movies, advertisements with WiFi capabilities and card readers. Now that’s multimedia.

Price: Rs15,500 for 8”, 27,000 for 12”

Logitech Pure Fi2
Good quality portable music is every music lover’s desire. Especially if you have a gigantic music collection that you carry around, stored in your iPod. Supporting every model of iPod available today, Logitech brings long-lasting rechargeable internal batteries, 5 dedicated drivers and easy navigation, bundled in a surprisingly light-weight and durable casing.

Price: Rs15,000
Available at:
Neoteric Nepal
Golchha House,
KhichaPokhari
Phone: 4250001

Only the Best
Ok, so you want the good stuff. And let’s face it- the latest gadgets with the latest features cost far more than the average customer can afford. Maybe that’s why we want it more; to become one of the elite crowd who get to enjoy the latest gizmos. That’s also the reason why the electronic market has seen a noticeable boom even during the global recession. And it’s the reason we’ve included the top gadgets you can find today. The prices can seem exorbitant, but they’re worth it, as you probably know.

Nokia N97Mini
Basically a downsized N97, the mini is by no means a small phone.Weighing in at just 138g, it’s easily one of the most compact phones out there. The N97 mini runs the upgraded Symbian OS S60 5th edition UI with kinetic scrolling, 5 MP camera, unlimited number of supported formats and splendid audio quality. Another innovation from Nokia is the widget screen; there are tools like the WLAN wizard, music player controls, a calendar or a widget with four favorite contacts; and you can have them on the home screen or swipe them away. Most of all, it’s the pocket-friendliness of this beast that makes it worth it.

Price: Rs36,000
Available at: Mobile Tron Trading Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
Shop No. 28, Tamrakar Complex, Pako, New Road
Phone: 4263274
Shop No. F28 First Floor, City Center, Kamalpokhari
Phone: 4011511

Sony Alpha series
You can never go wrong with a Sony, as the popular belief goes. The Alpha series from Sony bring professional power into a user-friendly DSLR. They’ve got all the essential features like full-frame photos, live viewfinder, anti-blur and a whole host of nifties all powered by the company’s trademark Bionz Image Processor. Power, subtlety and robustness go together with the Alpha series.

Price: Ranges, from Rs46,000 for the Alpha 230 to Rs 2,20,000 for the Alpha 850
Available at: Sony Showroom- Kantipath/ New Road/Kamaladi
Phone: 4250305

Macbook
Elegant, eye-catching and powerful, Macbooks are also generally seen as over-priced. Well, aren’t all good things so? Any MacBook user will justify the claims with the technology imbedded in each of these superb laptops from Apple. Packed with power and all sorts of fun and connectivity options, a MacBook will do fine for any profession. They’ve also got the flashiest accessories out there, so it’s one for the fashion conscious as well.

Prices: MacBook with i5 processor Rs1,70,000, Macbook White Unibody Core2Duo Rs1,05,000
Available at: EvoStore, Khichapokhari/ Sherpa Mall 4225486
Neoteric Nepal, Golchha House, 4250001

Sony Bravia
Enjoy breath-taking picture quality with every scene, whatever might be on. The LCD range of Bravia televisions provide comfortable viewing pleasure through accurate color temperature and color decoding, smooth video processing, numerous picture controls and a comprehensive complement of inputs. And let’s not get started about the finishing, capable of enhancing any living room.

Prices:22” BX 300 37,000
           32” BX 300              60,000
           46” BX500               2,25,000
           40” NX800               3,60,000
           32” EX 600 lead      1,25,000

Available at: Sony Showrooms, Jamal, Tamrakar Complex.
Phone: 4250305

Bose Speakers
So you’re an audiophile- you like to hear only the crispest, clearest sounds with just the right amount of bass (maximum). And nowadays you get to enjoy it too. Quite a few brands line the shops, but none comes close to the heights that an American company has risen to. Through decades of evolution and research, Bose has constantly delivered the ultimate high-end products in sound quality. Sure, go ahead- ask a Bose owner how it sounds.

Price: Rs65,000Sounddock 10, Rs35,000Series 2, Rs45,000Bose portable, Rs1,50,000, lifestyle 18series 5.1
Available at: Evostore, Durbar Marg
Phone: 4225486

HP Elitebook 2730P
At first sight, the 2730 looks just like any other minu-laptop in the market. Take some time, and you’ll find out that it’s actually also a tablet PC, albeit without the ability to maneuver the screen by touch.You’re given a nice pen for that, though. Still, it lasts more than five hours on a charge, has a semi-rugged build and includes unique business-travel features such as business card–reading software and a night light. It may also lack an optical drive, but it’s one of the lightest and fastest one’s out there.

Price: Rs1,95,000
Available at: Neoteric Nepal, Golchha House, Kchichapokhari/ iLife, City Centre, New Road. Phone: 4250001

Gaming Consoles
These boxes should well be named ‘multimedia consoles’ or atleast ‘idiot boxes’, because it’s the two things gaming cones are really good at. At one hand we have the PS3, a real miracle from Sony that’s capable of playing Bly-Ray and double up as a fully-fledged picture and video gallery. Then there’s the Wii, which has us controlling lovable squishy cartoon elements in a rather shallow but admittedly very engaging game environment. Of course, there’s the Xbox 360 and the infamous thing that it does- you know, freeze up and never play again?

Prices: Rs 34,000 for PS3 and games cost Rs 2000 to Rs 3500 each
Rs 36,000 for Xbox 360, Rs 27,000 for Ninendo Wii

Available at: Gadget Shop, Durbar Marg, 4257895, 4226669
Various shops in Bishal Bazaar

Gadget for the Season

2010-12-26T02:55:00.000-08:00

November 06, 2010

The gadget world certainly does throw in some really nice treats every few days. But here in Nepal, we hardly get a sniff of the latest and hippest gadgets that are apparently all the rave across the globe. Here are some gadgets that will make you drool and dream. And make you rush to your favorite gadget vendor demanding they import these beasts. After all, the customer is king!

Sennheiser earpieces
There are quite a few of us who want nothing more than to listen to our favorite songs over and over. Of course, we’re also looking for crisp sound and comfort. The tiresome travails in search of the best earphones/headphones could have been a lot shorter if we could lay our hands on some Sennheiser earpieces. The German company has been producing top-class consumer and high fidelity products including

microphones, headphones, telephony accessories, and avionics headsets for over 60 years. Many of their products are heftily priced, but I’m sure there’s quite a few among us who would be willing to comply, given that we receive perfect sound in return.

MPower Emergency Illuminator
To call it a “flashlight” would be the equivalent of calling a Rolex “just a watch”. The mPower Emergency Illuminator is the first mPower product available to consumers that offers Power On Command; a groundbreaking battery technology that provides power when and where you need it. Signature design, groundbreaking engineering and a battery shelf life of 20 years (yes, 20 years!) makes it a gadget aficionado’s dream. Its sexy look is attributed to engineering powerhouse Porsche Design Studio. In addition, a USB connection serves as a portable charger, powering electronic devices like cellular phones. Just a mere flashlight? I think not.

Samsung Galaxy P1000 Tablet
Rivals of the already iconic iPad are only too keen to target the tablet’s flaws, hence carving a competitive corner for themselves. One such company is Samsung, getting into the tablet business with the P1000. At 190x 120x 11mm, it is noticeably smaller then the iPad, so it is easier on the pocket. And at 380g, it’s also feather-light comparatively. A 7” WSVGA LCD touchscreen graces the
front, with multimedia options such as a 3.2 MP camera, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 3.0, Adobe Flash support, proper multitasking and it supports a regular SIM card for making calls and such. Mind you, none of the aforementioned features are there on the iPad. The P1000 runs on Android 2.2, which has plenty of apps available online (but not as many as the Apple store). iPad killer? Maybe not, but certainly a huge competitor in a small package.

PS3 Move
Of course we love gaming. And we most certainly love motion gaming. Those of us who have tried the Wii might have found it a fun and stress-busting activity, but let’s face it- we want hardcore, graphically superior games. So what delivers? The PS3 Move, of course. Its “sub-millimeter” accurate tracking means it will detect exactly where you’re pointing, even when you’re jumping for cover in your living room playing the latest shooter. With a three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer and terrestrial magnetic field sensor (phew), the controller works in three dimensions- not just left and right, up and down, but also forward and backward. Imagine the possibilities!

Onkyo Speakers
The name Onkyo translates as “sound harmony”. As you might have guessed, it’s a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer, specializing in home cinema, A/V receivers and audio equipment. As for the quality of the products, the name says it all. The company has perfected the art of designing its systems to look easy on the eyes and pack a large, unassuming bang. For one, the TX-NR807 is an A/V network receiver that will blow your current amplifier out the window with 11.2 speaker support and “double bass”, among a plethora of features. The company has recently entered the ‘budget’ market with the HT-S3300, which is probably the cheapest and most awesome Blu-Ray playing, 3D supporting 5.1 system available. We want!

Amazon Kindle
You say you love reading books? You say you’re a tech freak? The Amazon Kindle is THE way to go. Relive your love of reading books or newspapers, stored nicely in a gadget not bigger than a paperback, lighter than the iPad, can be held in one hand and carried around easily. The Kindle3 is the latest offering, and the older versions are pretty good as well. The screen is not as bright as the Apple iPad, but e-ink is far more comfortable on the eye, so there’s less chance of strain. WiFi downloading doesn’t work outside the US, but you can download books from the internet and USB transfer them to the Kindle. There are 400,000 books and 1 million free books. So, for all the bookworms, I could say that we would love to see the Kindle introduced in The Nepali market.

UR-CC1 “Black Cobra”
Ok, so there are only 50 of these made. But it’s not a crime to desire. To design something this insane, the lads at Urwerk certainly deserve an enormous round of applause. For over 10 years now Urwerk has been playing with the idea of doing a linear time watch. After three years of development the UR CC1 movement was done, and the result is pretty cool. The bottom two rows show hours and minutes, and the seconds are displayed by a rotating disk. The whole concept of linear time is pretty simple, mastering it from a technical and visual perspective in a mechanical watch is a pain, I’m sure. You can check out more of Urwerk’s exotic timepieces at www.urwerk.com.

5Gadgets that were supposed to be “life-changing”We’ve all indulged in spontaneous buys. And let’s face it- we’re not really proud of some of the supposedly revolutionary gadgets we splurged on. Take a look across the years; through ingenious devices that gave users migraine and some that are…well, just gathering dust in the storage room, writes Pratik VAidya.

Video Glasses
Also called “virtual glasses” or even “virtual-reality glasses”, they basically consisted of futuristic-looking eyewear. Users would be able to view even small sized videos as enormously large, because the image was brought so close to one’s eyes. Now, watching movies and videos would be a totally personal experience and nothing would come close to simulating a movie theatre experience anywhere you go. Not quite. Near blindness followed, with complaints of headache, nausea and the question of “what was I thinking?”

Karaoke Machines
They sure look cool and fun in movies, but it’s a completely different matter when it comes to purchasing one for your own living room. Unless your living room is actually a bar, and there are jolly, singing people coming around every day. If not, then that expensive karaoke machine with a reasonable repertoire of songs is just lying there, waiting to be fiddled with. A mistake, surely, but maybe when you bought it you thought you and your family would be singing together every week.

So-called Swiss Knifes
Seriously! What is the probability that one day you might be in urgent need of a wire cutter, a tiny pair of scissors, a toothpick, magnifying glass, wood saw, a small blade and –just in case that doesn’t cut it- an ever so slightly larger blade? Well, unless you’re shipwrecked on a deserted island, of course. Until then, these babies are only good for causing security scares at airport terminals.

Exercise Bikes
These machines everyone’s heard of. They’re supposed to make you slim and turn you into a six-pack wielding superhuman. Usually bought in a rush of New Year guilt, they subsequently spend most of their lives gathering dust or are used as a makeshift clothes hanger. Didn’t buy an exercise bike? That’s okay; any odd-looking exercise contraption is an equal substitute.

MD players/recorders
The MiniDisc format was launched by Sony in 1992 as a digital competitor to recordable analog cassettes. They are basically more compact, versatile recordable CDs. Before iPods, the MD player was a useful way to have portable music mixes without needing to lug around a clunky Discman. The downside: the MD player could only record in real time, meaning you had to plug the recorder into your PC’s audio output or the like, press record, and play the entire playlist. In a way, it was the same as carefully crafting mix tapes in the 80s and 90s. In a way, that was its downfall, combined with other formats gaining faster speeds and greater storage.

Budget Gadget

2010-12-26T01:45:00.000-08:00

Music Players
Rs 3,200 onwards
Now this looks like the real deal. Imitating a real iPod nano, this neat music player has 2GB of storage with 8 hours long battery life. It also behaves like the real thing and has a few extra games thrown right in to kill your time. Other extra includes a photo viewer, and it also supports video. Recommended only if you can't afford the real ones.

TV Phone
Rs 7,500
The Chinese sure knows how to create an all-in-one device and make it look tempting at the same time. Taking the innovation a step further is this little TV phone that has a built-in TV tuner, on top of a dual-SIM mobile phone. You also get an able communication device and other extras thrown in on the same package. Sounds like life is finally looking good without electricity.

Universal Remote for TV
Rs 120
It never hurt to have an extra remote control for your telly. The installation is a breeze and it supports more than 100 brands. The days of hiding the remote from you sister to watch your favorite sports are OVER!

Headrest 7inch screen
Rs 8,500
The 7-inch LCD screen in this headrest is pure class. The easy to install headrest rests ingeniously above the seat without taking any extra space. Whether you watch movies on it or connect it to your gaming console, the long, boring trip on the freeways will now be a thing of the past. It supports a myriad of connections and works on your car battery.

Jointech J-Pro Mini Laptop
Rs 16,000
This mini laptop seems to be suffering from an identity crisis. It is not a netbook and it certainly isn't a full-fledged laptop as it runs on a watered down version of Windows CE OS. It may not be powerful enough to run power-hungry applications but who are we to complain, given the price. It's perfect for typing some word documents and surfing the internet on the go. Extras include 4GB memory with additional storage, Ethernet for connectivity and good multimedia capabilities.

Available Now...

2010-12-26T01:40:00.000-08:00

iPod

iPod shuffle

iPod's are 'the' player when it comes to purchasing a portable player. Ask anyone, and everybody wants an iPod and we're not surprised why. There are different kinds of iPod's you can purchase depending on your budget. You can go for the new Talking iPod Shuffle which costs Rs 8,500. iPod Nano is available in 8 and 16 GB costing Rs 15,000 and Rs 21,500. iPod Classic will cost you Rs 24,500 with memory up to a whooping 120 GB. Choose well!
Available at: Evo Store, Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg
Sony

Sony's New Recorder

Sony has moved on from MP3's and the new 'in' thing are MP4 players. This all new MP4 player can hold up to 8 GB of music and will cost you Rs 25,500 but also available are the 2 and 4 GB for Rs 17,500 and Rs 18,500. You can also view movies or music videos to kill time during the load-shedding hours. Also, the new arrival of Sony recorders, are very handy for students. You can click a picture of your lecturer and save it along with the recording.
Available at: Sony Showroom, Kantipath

Coming Soon

Go Gear Luxe

Go Gear Ariaz

Go Gear Spark

PhilipsThese sleek portable players are not in yet, but you can get your hands on them very soon. These babies are sure worth your money!
Will be available at: Philips Showroom, Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath