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Buyers' guide: Which Android smartphone to buy

2011-08-02T02:10:00.000-07:00

Question: I need a good mid-level Android smartphone. I have shortlisted two options which are the LG Optimus One P500 and the Spice Mi-410. Please help.

--by Harshit Batra

Answer: Harshit, out of the two the Spice makes a better choice, simply because feature to feature you get a lot more. It records HD video, offers a higher screen resolution of 480 x 800, sports a 5MP camera, and comes with a speedy 800MHz processor.

The LG Optimus One currently sells for roughly 11,990 is priced extremely well, but if you throw in a bit more, you can get a much better phone overall in the form of Spice Mi-410 at least on paper. How it performs in the real world, is something we can tell you only after a test.

Question: Which phone would you recommend among the Samsung Galaxy Fit. Galaxy Pop, Galaxy Pro and LG Optimus One? My requirements are a good processor preferably above 600mhz a confirmed update to Android 2.3 and a good screen.

--by Rahul Ramachandran
Answer: Hi Rahul, pick the LG Optimus One if you are looking to pick a phone from the above list that offers a confirmed Android 2.3 update. But if you could skip that, the Samsung Galaxy Pop is one heck of a feature rich phone, being offered at a ridiculously low price.

Question: I am looking for a cellphone with Android 2.3. You have said earlier that the Nexus S is nicely priced at 20,000 and good but is it worth spending more for the Galaxy S2? And doesn't the Google Nexus S too have an AMOLED screen? Which other Android phones would you recommend?

--by Rohan Kapashi

Answer: The Nexus S is a great phone for the price that it is being offered at. It is true the phone does feature a Super AMOLED screen, but in some countries it was offered with the Super LCD screen due to shortage of Super AMOLED displays.

You might want to spend more on the Galaxy SII if you want a slightly larger screen and a better camera. If not, the Nexus S is the phone of choice for you.

Question: Hi, I am searching for a DSLR camera with mirrorless technology with at least 12MP sensor. It will be good if it features FullHD video recording and can shoot well in low light.

--by Aushik Chikhale

Answer: When it comes to mirror-less cameras, there is a bit of choice in the market at the moment. Unlike last year when Panasonic was the sole player, currently you can choose from the Sony NEX-5, Olympus EP-3, and the Panasonic DMC G3, which are our top picks.

If you were to put a gun to our head and ask us which one we would pick, the answer would be the Panasonic DMC G3.

Question: I am planning to buy a LED TV for my room. Since the watching distance is not much, I think a 22 inch TV would work just fine. Please suggest the best TV with good sound and picture quality. My budget is between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.

--by Vineeta R

Answer: Looks like you are in luck. The Samsung UA22D5000NRLXL (the name couldn't possibly have been more complicated) is the perfect TV for you. It is 22in in size and it offers full HD video output at an absolute bargain. All yours for 20,900. Enjoy.

Question: Hi, I have a budget of 10,000 - 15,000 and I wish to buy a good digital camera from Canon, given its amazing picture clarity and its features. I'm interested in photography and want to try my hand at it with a proper cam, since my 5MP phone camera does not suffice. Can you please suggest the best model?

--by Mayur Kapoor

Answer: Hi Mayur, the only camera that comes to our mind is the brilliantly spec'd and priced Canon IXUS 220 HS. It sells for 10,995 and offers a 12.1MP sensor along with a 24mm ultra wide-angle lens, 5X optical zoom and can record movies in FullHD@ 24p. A great camera to begin your photography journey with.

Tendulkar's intervention led to Bell's reinstatement: Report

2011-08-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is getting the applause but it was actually Sachin Tendulkar's intervention that led to Ian Bell's reinstatement after his bizarre run-out in the just-concluded India-England second Test, a media report has claimed.

According to 'The Daily Mail', Dhoni refused to entertain England skipper Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower's request for reinstating Bell, who was run-out after leaving his crease claiming to be under the impression that tea break had been taken on the third day of the match which England won by 319 runs on Monday.

"Sachin Tendulkar has emerged as the key figure behind India's dramatic change of heart that led to them recalling Ian Bell after controversially running him out," the newspaper reported.

The Indians had appealed for Bell's dismissal and got the umpires' decision in their favour but decided to allow the batsman's reinstatement during tea break when requested by Strauss and Flower.

"Dhoni was asked three times on the field whether he was appealing and each time he said yes. Then when Flower and Strauss went to see Dhoni and Fletcher they said their captain insisted the decision would stand. Tendulkar was the voice in the dressing room that got Bell reinstated," the daily quoted a source as saying.

The newspaper said Tendulkar successfully managed to avert a major controversy.

"It is no surprise that one of the greatest players to ever grace the game would be such an influential figure in such a big decision and would be aware of the implications of the run-out standing.

"The atmosphere between the teams would have been tense for the rest of the summer while the sometimes fraught relationship between the two countries' boards would have been further stretched," the report said.

Describing Tendulkar as the "most influential person in Indian cricket", the newspaper said, "Once Tendulkar had spoken Dhoni listened and a decision that - according to the letter of the law - was perfectly fair was swiftly overturned."

"It was also one that was quickly accepted by the rest of the India side who hold their illustrious teammate in such high regard. The England team quickly emerged on their balcony to applaud the Indians as Bell ran out after tea. By then they knew that it was Tendulkar they were applauding."

Selena Gomez Sunbathing Topless Pics

2011-08-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

Here’s 19-year-old (Seemed like a good idea to point that out.) Selena Gomez sunbathing in Orlando over the weekend and, okay, fine, looking not pregnant. And while I’m being completely honest, its time all of us stop lying to ourselves about Justin Bieber hitting this and start focusing on harvesting His power.

Gmail Now Lets You Make Multiple Calls at the Same Time

2011-07-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Remember those old multi-line phones with all the buttons across the bottom? That gave you access to more than one line at a time, a feature now available in Google‘s Gmail.

According to the official Gmail Blog, this new multi-call capability will let you put callers on hold with Gmail’s phone service, picking up another call at the same time. Too bad there’s no music on hold to entertain that first caller.

Also imitating conventional phone systems is call waiting, where you receive a notification of an incoming call, and then it’s up to you whether you’re going to answer it or not. The only limitation with this new capability is that you’re only allowed two outgoing calls to physical phones at the same time.

Best of all, U.S. and Canada calls using the Gmail phone and video system will be free through 2011, and all these new multi-line features work with Gmail’s phone, voice and video calls.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES TRAILER

2011-07-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/

We deserve this. After a four year gap since The Dark Knight and a flurry of hype, including the recently released teaser poster, we've been rather impatient for footage.

Finally, the non-bootlegged trailer is here and it's well worth the wait. Just try and watch this without shaking a bit in your seat.

The film hits cinemas July 20th 2012. That's a year away. Yes, it hurts us too.

Following Heath Ledger‘s death and the massive spectacle that was the second film in Christopher Nolan‘s Batman series, The Dark Knight, there were questions of its sequel coming into play, if at all. After two years of whispering, at last we have a full confirmation – and a little more.

As of yesterday, Nolan revealed that the upcoming film would be titled The Dark Knight Rises, a name that was not so dark as the previous installment in the series. Bat-fans worldwide were pushing for the Riddler to make an appearance – if not become the primary antagonist of the upcoming film. However, Nolan blatantly stated that the Riddler would not be a part of it.

There are now rumors that young actresses are being interviewed – but roles are undetermined. We don’t know if they’re villains or supporting protagonists.

What do you think?

Yuvraj to make way for Raina for Lord's Test

2011-07-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

More experienced he might be, but Yuvraj Singh could still be forced to make way for an in-form Suresh Raina when India decide their playing XI for the opening cricket Test against England starting July 21 at the Lord's.

Suresh Raina, also a left-hander but five years younger to Yuvraj, is all set to be rewarded for his consistency and will play on the hallowed turf of Lord' -- an honour that has eluded Yuvraj in his nine-year-old Test career.

Lord's was the venue of India's greatest triumph outside World Cup when it chased down a target of 326 set by England in the 2002 Natwest Trophy and in which Yuvraj had played a critical knock of 69 runs.

This innings came within a fortnight of India sinking England at Lord's by six wickets but even then, Yuvraj had shone brightly with an unbeaten 64.

Yuvraj was India's hero in India's triumphant run in recent World Cup with 362 runs at an average of 90.50, to go with his 15 wickets at 25.13 average.

Raina, meanwhile, has worked hard to usurp the middle-order batting slot including the revised impression that he was a sitting duck against short-pitched deliveries.

The lifting deliveries had threatened to put a pause to Raina's nascent Test career when he was dropped for the remaining two Tests against South Africa after making 5 and 1 from the two innings of the Centurion Test in the 2010-2011 series.

His career so far has been in contrast to the one of Yuvraj. While he has made the most of his opportunity, Yuvraj has squandered most of his even though the latter is widely regarded as more talented of the two left-handers.

To be fair, Yuvraj never really got a decent Test run, except for nine Tests in 2006 when he made meager returns of 391 runs with just one century and no half century.

Misfortune hasn't helped Yuvraj for it was his flu which provided Raina with a Test debut in Sri Lanka last year.

Recently, it was a respiratory problem which stopped him from going to the Caribbean, preceding the present series.

Yuvraj's fine record of 276 runs from four Tests at an average of 46.00 against England hasn't added to argument in his favour because all these matches were played at home.

His left-arm spin is considered a potent threat against England's impact player Kevin Pietersen but it's deemed as an additional virtue and not the primary one of weighing in with runs.

Apple fixes security flaw in iPhone, iPad OS

2011-07-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

Boston : Apple Inc has plugged a hole in the software that runs iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch music players that could allow hackers to take remote control of those devices.

The security flaw came to light nine days ago as the website www.jailbreakme.com released code that Apple customers can use to modify the iOS operating system that runs those devices through a process known as "jail breaking."

Some Apple customers choose to jail break their devices so they can download and run applications that are not approved by Apple or use iPhone phones on networks of carriers that are not approved by Apple.

The jailbreaking code exploited a vulnerability in iOS that had not previously been disclosed. Its release gave criminal hackers a blueprint they could use to build malicious software that would exploit the vulnerability.

Now that the security patch has been released, Apple customers will be protected against any such malware as long as they install the software updates on their equipment.

Security flaw in iOS software have the potential to affect millions of devices that are at the core of Apple's business.

Apple has sold 25 million iPads since it launched last year. The company sold over 18 million of its popular iPhones in just the first three months of the year.

'Harry Potter' breaks US box office record

2011-07-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final movie of the popular boy wizard, has set a new US box office record after raking in $43.5 million dollars from midnight screenings alone.

The movie was released across the US Friday midnight.

Contactmusic.com reports that Warner Bros. studio bosses were also bracing for a big showing this weekend. According to industry insiders' prediction, the new Potter film could also surpass the US opening weekend record of $158 million.

Since 2001's "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", the Harry Potter movies have earned more than $6 billion in global revenue.

Messi could call it a day for Argentina

2011-07-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

London : Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona warned that Lionel Messi could end his international career if the fans and the Argentine media continue their criticism of the Barcelona star.

Messi is under fierce criticism for his below-par performances in the first two group games at the Copa America. Now as Argentina gear up for their quarterfinal clash against Uruguay, Grondona warned that Messi could end his international career if fans expect him to replicate his form for Barcelona.

"The solution would be for Messi to say: 'I will not come any more, I will stay in Spain'. What everyone acknowledges is that the Argentines want to put him down. Messi was born in Rosario, he lived and played there, he had growth problems. He followed his path, found a place - Barcelona - and they took care of him as if he was born there," Grondona was quoted as saying by Radio Cooperativa "And despite this, he said no to Spain because he wanted to play for Argentina. We have to reflect on this," he said.

Sehwag likely to miss first two Tests

2011-07-15T07:11:00.002-07:00

India's opening batsman Virender Sehwag is yet to recover from his shoulder injury and is likely to miss the first two Tests against England.

Sehwag, who underwent a shoulder surgery after the Indian Premier League (IPL), is supposed to join the team a fortnight later and coach Duncan Fletcher hoped the Delhi dasher would be fit for the third and the fourth Test.

"We've heard that he'll be over here for maybe the third and fourth Test, so we're crossing our fingers for that," Fletcher was quoted as saying by a website.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that Sehwag's absence would be a big loss for the team. Dhoni, however, backed Abhinav Mukund to forge an effective partnership with Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order.

"As far as Virender Sehwag is concerned, there aren't many cricketers in the world who can have the impact he can. Of course, we'll miss him, but the good thing for Indian cricket is it gives a chance to a youngster like Mukund who can have a look at international cricket and see what areas he needs to improve. Viru will be back at some point, but it's good to have Gautam back as well."

"We are a side that relies on our openers quite a bit. If we get off to a good start, then we can really capitalise with the middle order we have," said Dhoni.

Sehwag likely to miss first two Tests

2011-07-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

India's opening batsman Virender Sehwag is yet to recover from his shoulder injury and is likely to miss the first two Tests against England.

"We've heard that he'll be over here for maybe the third and fourth Test, so we're crossing our fingers for that," Fletcher was quoted as saying by a website.

"We are a side that relies on our openers quite a bit. If we get off to a good start, then we can really capitalise with the middle order we have," said Dhoni.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Review : Emotionally Awesome

2011-07-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

This week sees the release of the only franchise that was thought of, written on and made into blockbuster movies. Today was the release of the last part of the series, and we were there to catch it first day first show! Here is a complete review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2.

The direction is slick, and the camera work succeeds in capturing the emotion and soul of the Harryverse. Once again, Voldemort is showed in stark, dark sequences, whereas Harry Potter is sometimes shown in brighter color shades. Also interesting to note is the brutality of war that is shown in the movie at a very subtle level. All the characters are dirtied, bruised and have scratches and blushes all over their body. The other part to take into consideration is the set direction and the graphics.

Don 2 Trailer Launched - watch the first trailer promo here

2011-07-15T03:12:00.000-07:00

You can watch the first trailer promo here:

The next movie in the Don franchise is upon us this Christmas. Don 2, the sequel to the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don, which in turn is a retelling – not a remake – of the Amitabh Bachchan movie Don, has some of the characters from the original movie, like Boman Irani’s Inspector D’Souza character.

The direction and camerawork looks first class, and with this one, Farhan Akthar may become the go-to guy when they want to make a stylized movie about crime and grime. Shah Rukh Khan returns to the Don franchise, this time having a meaner, leaner look. He even has three day stubble to prove that he is the Baaad Maan!

Don 2 stars Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Boman Irani, Om Puri, Kunal Roy Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan in a cameo appearance. You can watch the first trailer promo here:

Man Utd: world's most valuable sports team

2011-07-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Manchester : Manchester United have been named as the most valuable sports team in the world by Forbes magazine.

The Red Devils, who are valued at 1.86 billion dollars, beat NFL team Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees top of the list.

Out of the top 50 sports teams in the annual list, all 32 NFL sides were included, while just eight football clubs from around the world made it.

Real Madrid, in fifth place, are the second most valuable football club, while Arsenal and Chelsea are in seventh and 46th place respectively.

United's advertising revenue has a big impact on their valuation, with the club having an 80 million pounds, four-year deal with shirt sponsor Aon and a 302.9 million pounds, 13-year deal with Nike.

The club also gain their revenue from the club's fanbase, with an estimated 333,000,000 supporters around the world.

Eng need 2-0 or 3-1 win to be No. 1 in Tests

2011-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

London : England must beat India by at least two clear matches in the forthcoming series to be ranked as the world's top Test team.

Anything less will be insufficient to remove their opponents from the No. 1 spot they have occupied since last year.

At present, England are in third place on 117 points, behind India on 125 and South Africa on 118. A win for England by 1-0 or 2-1 in the four-match series, which is scheduled to start at the Lord's next week, will see them overtake South Africa but only draw level with India.

But a victory by 2-0 or 3-1, with points at stake because England lost to India at home four years ago, would see Andrew Strauss's side go three points clear.

If England were to lose to India, by any margin, they would still retain third place in the rankings, such is the gap between the top three and the rest.

Although the rankings are arcane, depending on a multitude of factors including quality of the opposition and previous results between the sides, they are generally felt to be accurate.

It is England's declared mission to top the charts for the first time since the ICC's official ratings system began and if they miss out now, they may have to wait a while for another opportunity, relying on India to lose to others, reports Independant.

A sense of anticipation is settling on England with such a prize at stake.

England will test Sachin with short balls

2011-07-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels the best chance of getting maestro Sachin Tendulkar out cheaply in the upcoming series against India is to test him with short balls early on in his innings.

India will play England in four-match Test series beginning at Lord's July 21.

Vaughan says one can hardly find a weakness in Tendulkar's batting but the potent English attack shouldered by James Anderson and Chris Tremlett will go hard at the little master early on his innings.

"Chris Tremlett bowled well against him (Tendulkar) in 2007 and he is a miles better bowler now. But Sachin doesn't have any weaknesses although every batsman is vulnerable on and around the off stump early on. England might go aggressive at him, test him with a few short balls -- I have seen people do that over the last two years and it hasn't affected him," Vaughan was quoted as saying in the 'Cricketer' magazine.

Tendulkar has enjoyed a great run of form in the last two years. He became the first batsman to score a double hundred in One-day Internationals in Feb 2010 and later in the same year went on to complete 50 centuries in Tests. And now he needs only one triple digit innings to get to his 100th hundred in international cricket.

Vaughan says Tendulkar's recent success can be attributed to a change in his batting style.

"Sachin is a different player now from 2007; the best players in the world change little things about themselves to keep themselves in the game. In the last two years he has become more aggressive, he has gone back to his old way of trying to score when for a period he tried to survive."

Facebook launches an app for every phone

2011-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

In an effort to further expand its reach, Facebook has released an application that will run on over 2,500 Java enabled mobile phones.

The Every Phone app includes Facebook's most popular features, such as, News Feed, Inbox, and Photos. It also allows users to upload photos to Facebook and find friends from the phonebook.

According to Facebook, the app has been optimised to consume less data than other Java apps or mobile sites. It has also tied up with mobile service providers to provide users with free data access for the Every Phone app for a 90-day period. The 20 service providers that Facebook is collaborating with for free data access include four from India - Aircel, Airtel, Idea and Reliance.

Facebook Every Phone App Mobile Link : http://d.facebook.com/install

The Facebook Every Phone app can be downloaded and installed from http://d.facebook.com/install through mobile phone web browsers. The app is also available on GetJar, Appia, and Mobile Weaver.

Facebook, had earlier in May 2010, teamed up with 50 mobile phone operators to offer cellphone users 0.facebook.com, a stripped-down version of the social networking site that can be accessed without incurring data charges.

Most violent video games of all time

2011-07-13T04:56:00.000-07:00

Grand Theft Auto :

A multi-award-winning video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design) and published by Rockstar Games Gameplay focuses on an open world where the player can choose missions to progress an overall story, as well as engaging in side activities; all consisting of action, adventure, driving, occasional role-playing, stealth, and racing elements. The subject of the games is usually a comedic satire of American culture, but the series has gained controversy for its adult nature and violent themes.

Manhunt :

A stealth game developed by Rockstar Games. It was released to the public on November 18, 2003 for the PlayStation 2 console, and on April 20, 2004 for Xbox and PC.Manhunt is a third-person stealth horror game. The game consists of twenty levels, and four bonus levels that can be unlocked. The levels are referred to as "scenes". Players survive the scenes by dispatching enemy gang members known as "Hunters", occasionally with firearms but primarily by stealthily executing them in gruesome, over-the-top ways.

Madworld :

The video game was developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released on March 10, 2009 in North America, on March 20 in Europe, March 26 in Australia, and February 10 in Japan. It was re-released in Australia on March 11, 2010 in Sega Australia's "Welcome To Violence" boxset, which also includes House of the Dead: Overkill and The Conduit. MadWorld is divided into several levels representing different parts of Jefferson

Island that have been converted into sets for the game show "DeathWatch".

Thrill Kill :

A cancelled 1998 fighting video game for the Sony PlayStation, which even today is still widely available despite being officially unpublished. Thrill Kill was considered a technical feat for the PlayStation for allowing four players to fight simultaneously in the same room, although this technical feat was overshadowed by the game's brutality and the controversy

surrounding it.

Mortal Kombat :
Commonly abbreviated MK, is a science fantasy series of fighting games created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The original Mortal Kombat was developed with digitized sprites based on actors, as opposed to animated cartoon graphics. Mortal Kombat 4 brought the series into 3D, replacing the digitized fighters of previous games with polygon models.

Gears of war 2 :
Gears of War 2 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games with lead design by Cliff Bleszinski, and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the second installment of the Gears of War series. Gears of War 2 is a third person shooter with an emphasis on the tactical use of cover, and retains much of the same gameplay from the first game.

Soldier of Fortune :
Also known as SoF, Soldier of Fortune is a first-person shooter game created by Raven Software and published by Activision on March 27, 2000 for Microsoft Windows.The story involves the theft of nuclear weapons, and the main enemy turns out to be an Afrikaner Neo-Nazi group based in Germany, led by Sergei Dekker.

Google+ About To Hit 10 Million Users

2011-07-13T02:17:00.000-07:00

Google’s social network, Google+, might be one of the fastest-growing networks ever, having already reached 10 million users according to one estimate.

Paul Allen, of Ancestry.com — not to be confused with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen — has developed an interesting methodology to calculate the number of Google+ members.

He sampled a number of surnames from the U.S. Census Bureau data and compared it to surnames of Google+ users. By comparing surname popularity in the U.S. with the number of users on Google+ with each surname, he can guesstimate the percentage of the U.S. population that signed up for Google+. Finally, he calculated a ratio of U.S. to non-U.S. users to generate an estimate for the number of Google+ users worldwide.

The result? Google+ has approximately 9.5 million users worldwide, with 2.2 million joining in the past 32 to 34 hours, according to Allen’s estimates.

This is amazing growth even for a giant such as Google: We cannot remember any social network reaching so many members so quickly after its release.

Coming from a third party, the data is obviously unofficial (we asked Google for comment on these numbers, but haven’t heard from them) and should be taken with a grain of salt. If they’re true, though, they indicate that — after so many stumbles — Google might finally be conquering the social networking arena.

Facebook Launches Free Mobile Apps On 2,500 Java Phones

2011-07-13T02:03:00.000-07:00

With more than 250 million mobile users, Facebook knows that it has to be on every mobile phone in the planet to keep riding the social wave as the web becomes more mobile. And that means more than just being on iPhone and Android phones.

Today, Facebook is addressing the 2,500 feature phones out there that can download Java apps with a new app called Facebook for Every Phone. It includes a lightweight News Feed, an inbox for your Facebook Messages, and a way to upload and share photos directly from your phone. You can download it at m.facebook.com or mobile app stores like GetJar, Appia, and Mobile Weaver.

To get people to try it, Facebook will pay for the first 90 days worth of data the app uses. (Facebook designed it to be data efficient).

The new app looks like a direct byproduct of Facebook’s acquisition of Snaptu back in March. It is in keeping with Facebook’s other projects to make sure Facebook is accessible and fast on all devices across the world such as Facebook Zero (for text-only access on mobile phones) or itsnow-defunct Facebook Lite experiment.

Apple files fresh patent complaint against HTC

2011-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

San Francisco : Apple Inc has filed a fresh complaint against Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Corp with a US trade panel over unspecified portable electronic devices and software, according to the panel's web site.

Apple already filed a separate action last year against HTC before the US International Trade Commission, where HTC then levelled its own patent infringement claims against Apple.

The latest complaint by Apple was filed on July 8, according to a brief description on the ITC's web site on Monday. A copy of the complaint was not available.

Apple has launched patent lawsuits over its iPhones and iPads against different handset manufacturers, including HTC and Samsung.

Grace Lei, HTC's general counsel, said the company continues to deny all of Apple's past and present claims.

"HTC is dismayed that Apple has resorted to competition in the courts rather than the market place," Lei said in a statement.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet referred on Monday to an earlier company statement about HTC, which said competitors should create their own technology and not steal Apple's.

The ITC, a US trade panel that investigates patent infringement involving imported goods, has become an increasingly popular venue for patent lawsuits because it can bar the importation of products that infringe patents.

Ticket prices affordable for Messi match

2011-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Kolkata : In its effort to make ticket prices 'affordable' for the friendly between Argentina and Venezuela, involving star footballer Lionel Messi, the West Bengal government is planning to introduce dedicated family blocks wherein tickets would be available at discounted price.

"We are planning to introduce a family block in Yuba Bharati Krirangan from this match. With this a family can buy out tickets at a discounted price," sports minister Madan Mitra said on Tuesday.

After a meeting with the All India Football Federation and Indian Football Association, Mitra said they have also requested Doordarshan to telecast the match live so that everybody gets an opportunity to watch the action.

Some problems, however, remain over the minimum denomination of ticket price, as the Rs 1,000 suggested by the event managers was termed a little too 'high' by the state government.

"We are not the organisers so we cannot decide on that.

Of course, to see Messi in action comes at a price, but Rs 1,000 is a little too high," Mitra said.

Asked about the renovation work of the artificial turf, which was deemed 'unsuitable' for such a high-profile match, Mitra said the work would begin soon.

"The agency which laid out the turf agreed to do it for free. They would smoothen the surface. The work will take about four weeks' time, so it will be started accordingly."

Mitra also discussed parking and security arrangements for the match.

Scoring 100th ton not on Sachin's mind

2011-07-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

London : A billion-plus fans in India would be expecting a record 100th ton when Sachin Tendulkar walks out to bat against England in the first cricket Test at Lord's but that is the last thing on the batting maestro's mind as he simply wants to enjoy during the tour.

Sachin, who is on a vacation here with his family, insists that enjoying the game is the key to success. "I am not thinking of records," Sachin was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

"I am just thinking of enjoying this tour. The secret to any performance is not in chasing records. I think about, 'What is the best way to enjoy the game, and how can I enhance that enjoyment factor?'

"If I enhance the enjoyment then, naturally, the standard of play becomes higher. To me, that is more important. If I am playing well, things can happen. I don't need to go around chasing them. It is a process. You construct a solid foundation and build on it."

Besides spending time with family, Tendulkar has been training here for the four-Test series while his team mates are set to join him soon from the West Indies.

Tendulkar said that being in England enables him to balance life by doing thing he will not be able to do in India due to the crazy fan-following.

"When I spend time in England, it is different. I get to do certain things that I wouldn't be able to do in India: to go into the park with my children, to do whatever they want to do, whether it be a game of soccer or cricket. I enjoy the best of both. The idea is to balance life in India with life away from India, to get the best of both and to be a happy man."

When asked about retiring from the game he has played for over 20 years, Sachin said: "I haven't. I am enjoying every moment. It has been fun. In fact, I am looking at how to enjoy the game more and how to improve the standard of play. It is about getting better. Nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow. At least today I know that I want to enjoy cricket, to enjoy the moment."

The irreplaceable heroes of Hollywood

2011-07-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Shia LeBeouf - Transformers:

According to recent rumours, Shia LeBeouf has stated that he would not be a part of the next 'Transformers' installment. After doing three movies in the series, the actor has had enough and decided to move on. If reports are to be believed then the producers are considering Jason Statham for the rolof Sam Witwicky. But would it be the same?

Let's take a look at some more films which wouldn't be the same without their heroes.

Bruce Willis - Die Hard :

He is unbeatable and there is no stopping him. Bruce Willis who plays Officer John McClane in the Die Hard series always gets stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. His favourite quote to all the losers, 'Yipikaye Mother F*%$#r!' It's difficult to imagine any other actor playing McClane.

Tom Cruise - Mission Impossible :
If it's impossible then only agent Ethan Hunt can do it. Tom Cruise plays an agent of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). Be it climbing mountains, high-speed car chasing or stopping a high-profile heist no one can do it better than Ethan. Tom Cruise makes it memorable with his performance every time.

Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean :
The plot may change, characters may be altered but Captain Jack is a permanent phenomena in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Johnny Depp who plays Captain Jack is irreplaceable. Even Depp admits in one of his interviews that he himself find it difficult to separate himself from Jack. Who else can fit the Captain's shoes better than Depp? The answer is no one!

Milla Jovovich - Resident Evil :
Alice is feisty, strong, sexy and very dangerous. After four films in the series, Alice's character is like a layer of Milla Jovovich. She is irreplaceable, many films were made with a similar character but none could carry it off like Milla.

Will Smith & Martin Lawrence - Bad Boys :

These boys will break all the rules to get a job done. Their cool and care a damn attitude is almost impossible to be found in any other. It would be tad bit rude if anyone tried to take the place of the Bad Boys.

Iron Man (2008)

2011-07-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comicscharacter of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his personal assistant Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard plays military liaison James Rhodes and Jeff Bridges plays Stark Industries executive Obadiah Stane.

Link 1 : WATCH ONLINE- free

Link 2 : Iron Man 2008 Torrent

Link 3 : Iron Man 2008 Megaupload