Kajol Devgan
Saturday, April 10, 2010
10 Mobile phones with high radiation
Do cell phones cause brain cancer, dementia or have other side effects? Though there have been numerous studies on this, the verdict remains unclear. For, some studies reveal long-term side effects of cell phone usage others term them as mere hype. However, it is largely certain that cell phones do emit radiation. In fact, some analysts are now of the view that all cell phones should compulsorily display their radiation levels. US-based environmental group EWG recently published a list of phones with high levels of RF radiation. The list includes some of the most popular smartphone models from companies like Apple, LG, HTC, Motorola, Blackberry and Samsung. The study is based on SAR or Specific Absorption Rate. SAR according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association is “a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body. Here's over to the EWG list.
BMW X1 is India-bound!
It's sort of a reverse evolution as SUVs are now getting smaller. Yes, the BMW X1 is on its way to India soon.
Internationally the X1 comes with a huge range to choose from - in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions powered by a 2-litre inline 4 petrol, a 3-litre inline 6 petrol in two different states of tune and a 2-litre inline 4 diesel in three different states of tune! It's also got the usual BMW techno-wizardry including Dynamic Traction Control, EfficientDynamics and ConnectedDrive. Now, which of these engine options will be making it to Indian shores is something we'll just have to wait and watch for.
Internationally the X1 comes with a huge range to choose from - in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions powered by a 2-litre inline 4 petrol, a 3-litre inline 6 petrol in two different states of tune and a 2-litre inline 4 diesel in three different states of tune! It's also got the usual BMW techno-wizardry including Dynamic Traction Control, EfficientDynamics and ConnectedDrive. Now, which of these engine options will be making it to Indian shores is something we'll just have to wait and watch for.
Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive
Just one look at the Cruze and you will be taken in by its good looks, taunt stance and size. The large rakish headlights, wide grill and sculpted bumper give the car a menacingly handsome fascia. GM is definitely taking styling very seriously and considering the fact that the Cruze is set to have a global presence, this fact is all the more important for the first step towards acceptance is that customers worldwide should admire the way the car looks.
With such focus on style, GM didn't just stop at the front. When viewed from the side, the sporty overtone carries over for the car has a nicely curved roofline that merges well with the rather steeply raked rear windscreen. It's a rather European look and feel that this car possesses, except from the rear. The rear of the Cruze screams 'Honda Civic'. Literally, the rear lights just look like inverted Civic lights a fact that was confirmed by onlookers who asked me if I happen to be driving the new Civic. Of course they were completely oblivious to the bow-tie on the rear, but it does prove my point.
Nevertheless, the Cruze oozes with style and complimenting the entire package are the nice large 16 inch alloys wrapped in tubeless 205/60 JK Vectra rubber. To sum the exterior styling, I would say the Cruze is a combination of American Muscle Car and European Sedan with a dash of Japanese essence thrown in! What you get is a marriage of parts that work to give you a stunning car that would even look good in racing stripes.
Getting into the Cruze is also an experience for you don't need the keys to open the door! That's right, the Cruze comes with sensors on the door, so just as long as you have the keys in your pocket the door will pop right open when you pull on the handle. While on the subject of doors, it is rather simple to lock as well, for all you have to do is give the handle a gentle pull and the doors will lock. Anyways, back to the interiors of the car.
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Once inside you will notice the sporty-muscle tone carried over here as well. It's a bit too much plastic at parts and the fit and finish could have been better but the overall look is rather striking for you almost feel as though you are in a cockpit. The large steering wheel with cruise control and stereo controls has a nice feel to it, the dials boast of a three-pod look that might have come straight out of a classic Chevy car-chrome and all!The center console however had me thinking 'Transformers'. Starting from the LED display to the controls of the in dash stereo and CD player down to the controls for the A/C and climate control and flanked by the center two A/C vents on the dash, the entire look was rather like the Transformers logo- a good thing considering the fact that GM is the official provider of cars for the Transformers movie franchise!
GM could have really done wonders with the interiors for they are well designed, its just that they are poorly put together at places. Apart from the plastic cubby holes in the doors the one little box on top of the dashboard spoils the party for it just doesn't sit right and has gaping gaps when shut. Another element that caught my eye as tacky was the sunglass holder. Placed uniquely towards the right side of the driver's head, the quality of the holder was really sub standard.
In terms of space, the Cruze is rather decent and offers ample room for the front passengers. Rear passengers also get enough leg room however head room is at a premium thanks to the steeply raked rear glass and downward flowing roofline.
A neat yet rather awesome surprise is thrown at you when you want to get the car moving. There is no key hole for the ignition! Instead you get a rather neat start/stop button towards the left of the steering column on the dash. A gentle push of the button, provided you have the clutch pressed and the 2.0 VCDi Diesel engine roars to life. Alright, you really can't hear it roar thanks to all the insulation, but the car does come to life. The instrument cluster takes on a neat blue glow which fits in well with the sporty tone and as you notch it into first gear to drive away you finally realize why this car is called the Cruze!
With such focus on style, GM didn't just stop at the front. When viewed from the side, the sporty overtone carries over for the car has a nicely curved roofline that merges well with the rather steeply raked rear windscreen. It's a rather European look and feel that this car possesses, except from the rear. The rear of the Cruze screams 'Honda Civic'. Literally, the rear lights just look like inverted Civic lights a fact that was confirmed by onlookers who asked me if I happen to be driving the new Civic. Of course they were completely oblivious to the bow-tie on the rear, but it does prove my point.
Nevertheless, the Cruze oozes with style and complimenting the entire package are the nice large 16 inch alloys wrapped in tubeless 205/60 JK Vectra rubber. To sum the exterior styling, I would say the Cruze is a combination of American Muscle Car and European Sedan with a dash of Japanese essence thrown in! What you get is a marriage of parts that work to give you a stunning car that would even look good in racing stripes.
Getting into the Cruze is also an experience for you don't need the keys to open the door! That's right, the Cruze comes with sensors on the door, so just as long as you have the keys in your pocket the door will pop right open when you pull on the handle. While on the subject of doors, it is rather simple to lock as well, for all you have to do is give the handle a gentle pull and the doors will lock. Anyways, back to the interiors of the car.
Related Stories Links
Once inside you will notice the sporty-muscle tone carried over here as well. It's a bit too much plastic at parts and the fit and finish could have been better but the overall look is rather striking for you almost feel as though you are in a cockpit. The large steering wheel with cruise control and stereo controls has a nice feel to it, the dials boast of a three-pod look that might have come straight out of a classic Chevy car-chrome and all!The center console however had me thinking 'Transformers'. Starting from the LED display to the controls of the in dash stereo and CD player down to the controls for the A/C and climate control and flanked by the center two A/C vents on the dash, the entire look was rather like the Transformers logo- a good thing considering the fact that GM is the official provider of cars for the Transformers movie franchise!
GM could have really done wonders with the interiors for they are well designed, its just that they are poorly put together at places. Apart from the plastic cubby holes in the doors the one little box on top of the dashboard spoils the party for it just doesn't sit right and has gaping gaps when shut. Another element that caught my eye as tacky was the sunglass holder. Placed uniquely towards the right side of the driver's head, the quality of the holder was really sub standard.
In terms of space, the Cruze is rather decent and offers ample room for the front passengers. Rear passengers also get enough leg room however head room is at a premium thanks to the steeply raked rear glass and downward flowing roofline.
A neat yet rather awesome surprise is thrown at you when you want to get the car moving. There is no key hole for the ignition! Instead you get a rather neat start/stop button towards the left of the steering column on the dash. A gentle push of the button, provided you have the clutch pressed and the 2.0 VCDi Diesel engine roars to life. Alright, you really can't hear it roar thanks to all the insulation, but the car does come to life. The instrument cluster takes on a neat blue glow which fits in well with the sporty tone and as you notch it into first gear to drive away you finally realize why this car is called the Cruze!
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: Roadtest
Toyota's revered Land Cruiser brand of off-road vehicles has been religiously serving for over five decades across various markets. What makes the Land Cruiser series so successful the world over are its supremely engineered mechanicals and its ability to conquer harsh terrain with conviction and of course, Toyota's legendary reliability. But while the big brawny Land Cruiser V8 is an earth-shattering monster, its younger sibling, the Land Cruiser Prado is more of a gentle giant easily tamable for urban use along with being highly competent for some severe off-roading.
Earlier generation Prado's plain Jane looks have been trashed for a complete refurbished design with flowy yet belligerent lines and protruding front and rear fenders on the new 2010 Land Cruiser Prado highlighting the new-found vigour that was so largely missing in its predecessor. Based on a design language that Toyota calls as 'Intelligent & Modern', the car endorses the don't-mess-with-me stance of an SUV from outside but packs in incredible amount of space and spoiling interiors. The beige coloured leather interiors with bits of wood-like trim on the inside is very contemporary and modern-day, complimenting Prado's new looks and presenting the car with an upmarket feel unlike its predecessor that lacked stylish interiors.
The new Prado is a lot about smart-packaging and high-tech gadgetry for improved comfort and convenience of the occupants. For instance, the world?s first flush-with-floor mechanism of the third-row seats is automatically actuated by a simple touch of a button which makes the rear bench cleverly fold down for flat storage space. The driver and the co-passenger are blessed with exceptional amount of space for movement and even with the seats pulled back all the way - there is enough legroom for the middle bench to be comfortably seated. Toyota has made sure that even under full occupancy - none of the occupants feel cramped.
Addition to the now-common features in this segment like keyless entry system, steering-wheel mounted controls, cruise control, is the new auto-leveling projector headlights with washer, 3-zone Automatic climate control and a more advanced Park Assist system with front and rear sensors as well as a rear camera for added convenience. Equipment wise the Prado will give most of its competitors a good run for their money as minor improvements and small yet significant features go a long way in enriching the overall ownership experience.
Built to traverse through the urban jungle with just as much flair and ease as it will conquer the wild and harsh terrain, the new Prado is powered by Toyota's all-new D-4D 3.0 litre Common Rail Direct Injection turbocharged diesel motor that is currently serving the Fortuner. Albeit, under the hood of Land Cruiser Prado the diesel powerplant is differently tuned and configured to suit the Prado's bigger dimensions and a 2400kg kerb weight. The motor pumps out 173PS of power and 410Nm of torque, which is adequate for cruising around the city and occasional highway bouts but the engine feels sluggish and strained to haul this behemoth with urgency as was proved in our tests where the car took 18 seconds to reach 100km/h from a standstill. However for off-roading, the full-time 4x4 drive coupled with decent power and torque presents the Prado with enough strength to seize arduous surfaces and take on inclines.
Earlier generation Prado's plain Jane looks have been trashed for a complete refurbished design with flowy yet belligerent lines and protruding front and rear fenders on the new 2010 Land Cruiser Prado highlighting the new-found vigour that was so largely missing in its predecessor. Based on a design language that Toyota calls as 'Intelligent & Modern', the car endorses the don't-mess-with-me stance of an SUV from outside but packs in incredible amount of space and spoiling interiors. The beige coloured leather interiors with bits of wood-like trim on the inside is very contemporary and modern-day, complimenting Prado's new looks and presenting the car with an upmarket feel unlike its predecessor that lacked stylish interiors.
The new Prado is a lot about smart-packaging and high-tech gadgetry for improved comfort and convenience of the occupants. For instance, the world?s first flush-with-floor mechanism of the third-row seats is automatically actuated by a simple touch of a button which makes the rear bench cleverly fold down for flat storage space. The driver and the co-passenger are blessed with exceptional amount of space for movement and even with the seats pulled back all the way - there is enough legroom for the middle bench to be comfortably seated. Toyota has made sure that even under full occupancy - none of the occupants feel cramped.
Addition to the now-common features in this segment like keyless entry system, steering-wheel mounted controls, cruise control, is the new auto-leveling projector headlights with washer, 3-zone Automatic climate control and a more advanced Park Assist system with front and rear sensors as well as a rear camera for added convenience. Equipment wise the Prado will give most of its competitors a good run for their money as minor improvements and small yet significant features go a long way in enriching the overall ownership experience.
Built to traverse through the urban jungle with just as much flair and ease as it will conquer the wild and harsh terrain, the new Prado is powered by Toyota's all-new D-4D 3.0 litre Common Rail Direct Injection turbocharged diesel motor that is currently serving the Fortuner. Albeit, under the hood of Land Cruiser Prado the diesel powerplant is differently tuned and configured to suit the Prado's bigger dimensions and a 2400kg kerb weight. The motor pumps out 173PS of power and 410Nm of torque, which is adequate for cruising around the city and occasional highway bouts but the engine feels sluggish and strained to haul this behemoth with urgency as was proved in our tests where the car took 18 seconds to reach 100km/h from a standstill. However for off-roading, the full-time 4x4 drive coupled with decent power and torque presents the Prado with enough strength to seize arduous surfaces and take on inclines.
Mild quake hits Himachal Pradesh
SHIMLA: An earthquake of light intensity has struck areas of Himachal Pradesh adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, an official said here Sunday. "An earthquake of light intensity hit Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district at 6.23 p.m. Saturday. It was measured 2.3 on the Richter scale. However, there is no report of any loss of life and damage to property," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS. He said the tremors of the quake felt for a few seconds in the entire district. "Its epicentre was at latitude 32.8 degrees north and longitude 76.0 degrees east. The area is adjoining Jammu and Kashmir," the official added. Earlier, Chamba district was hit by a quake of moderate intensity July 17 last year. The quake measured 4.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was Holi and Bharmour region in the district. Himachal Pradesh had witnessed the most devastating earthquake of the century that struck the Kangra valley in 1905, killing more than 20,000 people.
PM to discuss terror, Afghan-Pak with Obama
Amid talk of the US looking for a strategy to exit Afghanistan, India on Saturday made it clear that it would continue to play a role in the war-torn nation "with or without America" as it has crucial stakes in the stability of country on its periphery.Ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama during which Afghanistan will figure, sources said India's policy on Afghanistan will be determined by its own interests and not by what others do.Singh will be here on a four-day visit to attend Nuclear Security Summit on April 12-13.
We will play a role in Afghanistan with or without the US because Afghanistan is in our immediate periphery and we will do all to protect our periphery," sources said. The sources noted that India and the US had common goals in Afghanistan that the country should be stable, peaceful and there should be no outside interference. But the question was about reaching there, they said while emphasising the need for coordination.The comments came in the backdrop of a talk that the US was planning to leave Afghanistan for which it was looking for a strategy.At one time, the US had talked about handing over the security of Afghanistan to regional countries like Pakistan, Iran and others. This, however, could not happen because of the US' own problems with Iran and internal situation in Kyrghzstan.Indian government believes that Pakistan would not be entrusted with any prominent role in the affairs of Afghanistan even though "some parts" of Pakistan would be used by the US in Afghanistan.About options that India has in case the US-led forces quit Afghanistan, the sources said India will devise its strategy according to the evolving situation and work with those who matter.On Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, the sources said it has been saying that it was willing to do more in that country in terms of fighting terrorism. "India will be happy if Pakistan does our job against terrorism," they said.With regard to the conditions within Afghanistan, the sources said military situation was better than six months ago but politically, the country remains fragmented.During their meeting, Singh and Obama are expected to discuss Afghanistan in the context of the new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan unveiled by the US President a few months back.
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