BuzZz... | Media, Technology & Current Affairs

SAMSUNG 3D TV Show

July 19th, 2010

Omar Khan

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in digital media, electronics and mobiles organized a Grand Exhibition of a wide range of innovative Samsung products in Karachi. Thousands of visitors were provided with a first-hand experience of Samsung’s revolutionary 3D TVs. For the 1st time in Pakistan, this exciting display of innovative products showed glimpses of famous 3D movies on Samsung 3D TV screens at the vast Pakistan Air Force Museum in Karachi. This event continued through the 3rd and 4th of July 2010.

The Festival attracted thousands of people from all walks of life. The consumers were thrilled by this fantastic display of Samsung’s latest products including Digital Cameras, Mobile phones, Air conditioners and 3D LED TV products, where the delighted visitors appreciated Samsung’s cutting-edge products. The enthusiastic response to this exhibition reflects the strength of Samsung’s technology and the popularity of its brand in Pakistan. Distinguished professionals and management of publications and media along with consumers including Techies and bloggers were seen curiously exploring the features and technology of 3D TVs at this innovative show.

The General Manager Samsung Pakistan Mr. Steve Han said; “The Samsung “Universe” Exhibition in Karachi has surpassed our expectations and proved to be a highly successful Mega Event. Samsung is the first company to offer a complete 3D product line-up including TVs, Blu-ray player and home theater. This vast festival at the PAF Museum Karachi also delivered the amazing experience of Samsung’s highly evolved 3D technology to the consumers. In future, our global research will bring more attractive and exciting products for the Pakistani consumers, including the best-in-class 3D experiences.”

The festival also featured 3 gaming zones for the consumers with a flair for gaming technology. Another highlight of the show was a photo studio where the participants were getting their pictures taken and cheerfully walked away with instant print-outs of their photographs. 3D TV display became the center of attraction at the Exhibition. Samsung has its focus on consumer preferences to lead the way in the development and enhancement of such technologies. Pakistani consumers have eagerly waited for the 3D Television technology to enrich their entertainment and leisure activities. In addition to 3D LED TV this festival also showcased a wide range of state-of-the-art Digital cameras, Cellular and smart phones including Galaxy, Wave-“Bada” phone and Dual-SIM phones. Also on display were the fastest PCs, Thinnest Monitors, high-capability Printers, Side-by-Side Refrigerators, classy Microwaves, and Virus-Free Air-conditioners from Samsung. This electronics giant also offers the “Bada mobile platform” and an integrated store of games, navigation, social-networking, and other lifestyle applications called “Samsung Apps”.

SAMSUNG Adds Versitality and Style to NEW ES-Series Cameras

July 19th, 2010

Omar Khan

Samsung Digital Imaging Company Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, has extended its popular ES-Series of digital cameras with the introduction of the ES70 and ES65. These two stylish, easy-to-use compact digital cameras offer consumers an impressive range of advanced features all at an affordable price.

General Manager Samsung Electronics Pakistan Mr. Steve Han said, “Samsung’s ES-Series of digital cameras deliver significant value to the consumer, and that’s especially true with the new ES70 and ES65. In addition to their attractive designs, these cameras give casual photographers the ability to do more with features that are typically not found in entry-level digital cameras, including wide-angle lenses, longer zooms and automatic functionalities such as Samsung’s Smart Auto scene recognition technology.”

Both new ES-Series cameras feature a high-quality 27mm wide-angle Samsung lens with 5x optical zoom, delivering significant flexibility when compared to a traditional 3x optical zoom, 35mm lens. They posses Samsung’s advanced Digital Image Stabilization technology, which helps reduce blur and makes it easy for novice photographers to capture impressive images. The 12.2 mega-pixel ES70 offers users a 2.7-inch 230K LCD, while the 10.2 mega-pixels ES65 offers a 2.5-inch 230K LCD. Both the ES70 and ES65 even come equipped with standard definition video recording (640×480) at 30 frames per second, enabling consumers to capture important moments.

The new ES-Series cameras offer Samsung’s advanced scene recognition technology known as Smart Auto which ensures that users never have to worry about their photos being washed out, too dark or out of focus. They also offer Samsung’s Perfect Portrait System which includes face detection, Smile Shot and Blink Detection technologies, which allow you to capture them looking their best. Another advanced feature is the Red-eye Fix mode which automatically fixes the typical red-eye associated with the use of the flash, before the photo is produced. The Perfect Portrait System also includes Samsung’s Beauty Shot, a unique technology which allows consumers to remove all the imperfections on a subject’s face such as wrinkles, blemishes, and moles. Simply select one of three editing options to even out skin tone and complexion.

DELL Sponsors Pakistan’s First Ever Blogger Awards

June 19th, 2010

Omar Khan

Dell recently sponsored Pakistan’s first ever blog awards ceremony held at a local hotel in Karachi. It was a pioneering event in which Pakistani blogs were awarded for their brilliant content and quality. Altogether 207 blogs participated in the competition in the 41 defined categories.

The participating blogs were scrutinized and judged by 14 experts from different fields. The main categories were technology, politics, education, humor, business, science, health care, Urdu blogs, celebrities, automobiles, literature, sports, photo blogs, music blogs, video blogs, food blogs and many others.

The competition was hard-hitting among blogs of different categories; one blog in each field was chosen among them and awarded as the best blog. More than 300 people, including bloggers, technology experts and industry specialists participated in the awards distribution ceremony and enlightened the evening. Head of Marketing for CSMB at Dell Pakistan, Nubla Iftikhar stated, “Dell is happy to have pioneered the concept of recognizing talent in Pakistani blogs; there’s a lot of enthusiasm, skill and the urge to create interesting content.” Nubla Iftikhar was also one of the judges from the panel of the blog awards.

I am also proud to announce that my good friend Sarosh Waiz won the Best Ezine Award for his website Pak Media Blog

iPhone 4 – What’s in store?

June 14th, 2010

Omar Khan

Set to lunch on June 24th, 2010, the Apple iPhone 4 like all other Apple products released in the last year or so is something that people are going crazy for. Just after the launch of the iPad, the Apple iPhone 4 has created a buzz amongst tech enthusiasts and die hard Apple fans. Coupled with the new and much awaited OS 4.0 update, the iPhone 4 is sure to be yet another hit from Apple.

Here’s a list of things the new OS 4.0 update is supposed to do:

1. It will multi-task

Yes indeed. Like all the other smart devices out there, the iPhone 4 will be multi tasking which means you can run multiple applications together. Here’s a list of stuff it can run in the background.

Background audio – Allows your app to play audio continuously. So customers can listen to your app while they surf the web, play games, and more.
Voice over IP – Your VoIP apps can now be even better. Users can now receive VoIP calls and have conversations while using another app. Your users can even receive calls when their phones are locked in their pocket.
Background location – Navigation apps can now continue to guide users who are listening to their iPods, or using other apps. iOS 4 also provides a new and battery efficient way to monitor location when users move between cell towers. This is a great way for your social networking apps to keep track of users and their friends’ locations.
Push notifications – Receive alerts from your remote servers even when your app isn’t running.
Local notifications – Your app can now alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background, no servers required.
Task finishing – If your app is in mid-task when your customer leaves it, the app can now keep running to finish the task.
Fast app switching – All developers should take advantage of this. This will allow users to leave your app and come right back to where they were when they left – no more having to reload the app.

Just double tap the screen and switch applications.

2. Its a library

OS4 is introduced iBooks to the new iPhone. You can now save your e-book on the iPhone and read them whenever you want. However, how it feels reading on such a small screen remains to be seen.

3. Its well organized

The new OS introduces folders which allow you to organize your home screen. Just like the iPad, the backgrounds will be personalisable. The folders will keep your home screen less cluttered which will be a welcome addition to the iPhone.

4. It will have A LOT of space

This is a rumor that a 64GB version will be out since the iPhone 3GS has seen 32GB of storage so what now? 64GB is the only other option for them unless they blow our minds with an 80GB device. Possible? Maybe. However, with Samsung and Toshiba selling 64GB NAND chips for the iPhone 3GS is quite suggestive.

5. Improved camera

The previous versions have gone up to 3.2 megapixel camera, a 5 megepixel camera with the new OS update is sure to raise the bar for smartphones. Rumor is that Apple has ordered millions of Philips LumiLED’s so there is a possibility of an LED flash too.

6. It will annoy you!

The addition of the iAds is OS 4.0 update will allow developers to add pop-up type ads into apps. This may be excellent news for app developers but a nightmare for users.

Pakistan blocks Facebook indefinitely

May 20th, 2010

Omar Khan

Pakistan government instructed ISP’s to block the social networking website “Facebook” in Pakistan amid anger over the Facebook group that encourages users to post images of Prophet Mohammad.

The website generated criticism over the group in Pakistan and the whole Islamic community as drawing pictures of the Prophet are forbidden in Islam. Lawyers in Pakistan won a case in the Lahore High Court which ordered ISP’s to block the social networking site till May 31. Facebook could be accessed by some ISP’s and not by others all throughout Wednesday because ISP’s were still implementing the rules to block the website.

The information section on the page which was still accessible on Wednesday said “We are not trying to slander the average Muslim,” said the information section of the Facebook page, which was still accessible Wednesday morning. “We simply want to show the extremists that threaten to harm people because of their Mohammad depictions that we’re not afraid of them. That they can’t take away our right to freedom of speech by trying to scare us into silence.”

Facebook said it is investigating.

“While the content does not violate our terms, we do understand it may not be legal in some countries,” the company said in a statement. “In cases like this, the approach is sometimes to restrict certain content from being shown in specific countries.”

Update:

Till about ten minutes ago, Google.com.pk was also showing the “This Site is Restricted” but it is back online. All Blackberry services have been suspended to follow the Pakistan Telecommunication Authorities directive to block Facebook completely in Pakistan. As of last night, Facebook could be accessed via external apps and Edge and GPRS connections.

All network providers have sent their subscribers messages about suspension of Blackberry services while they blocked Facebook. As of right now, all Blackberry services are active again.

Update – 11:42 AM – 20th May, 2010

YouTube has been blocked to curtail the aftermath of the banning of Facebook in Pakistan. In trying to ban the few top most popular websites on the Internet, the Pakistani government is going to systematically restrict access to a large number of websites which will be blocked as collateral damage.

Futuristic DELL Notebooks unleash “Core i-Processor” power

May 16th, 2010

Omar Khan

Dell is a global technology leader in computers, offering the latest range of high-performance Notebook computers, including the Dell-“Studio” and Dell-“Inspiron” series. These futuristic and stylish machines are powered by the latest Intel “Core i-Processors” delivering unprecedented intelligence, speed and storage capacity. Core i-processors are the latest technological tools for enhancing computer performance to the Next-Level.

Dell understands the consumers’ ever-growing needs for more comprehensive and enabling software applications, which require exceptionally speedy, responsive and reliable computer hardware. That is how Dell became the first company in Pakistan to introduce Core i-Processors in its latest range of Notebooks. Parallel to this distinction, Dell has also attained tremendous advancements in creating the most compact and lightweight Notebooks with exceedingly expressive and stylish designs and applications.

As a result, the Dell-Inspiron-Mini offers revolutionary capabilities and unmatched speed contained inside a compact shell. The Stylish Inspiron-Mini comes in a wide array of colors like Pretty-Pink, Obsidian-Black, Cherry-Red, Passion-Purple and many more.

A vast range of consumers will be benefited tremendously from these innovative Notebooks, that deliver exceptional computing and communication experiences. The communication and social networking enthusiasts can find diverse modes of self-expression through these products. Users with a heavy appetite for Internet access anywhere, anytime, can now fulfill their passion for performance, design and style with these latest Dell Notebooks. The salient features of Dell’s new range of Notebooks are stated as under:

Dell Studio 1557 (i7-720 Core):

Studio 1557 is the most advanced, Top-of-the-Line Notebook from Dell, powered by the Intel Core: i7-720QM processor, which is globally acknowledged as the ultimate processing tool for computers today. The fantastic performance of Dell Studio 1557 is reflected by its 1.6GHz processing speed, enhanced by Turbo up to 2.8GHz, along with 4 Threads and a 6MB Cache memory.

The Dell Studio 1557 boasts a 4GB DDR-3 Random Access Memory (RAM), along with a 320 GB Hard Drive. The other desirable capabilities of Studio 1557 include WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN, Web camera, and a Card Reader.

The most advanced Operating system branded as the “Windows-7 Home Basic” makes this machine a dream computer for every user who seeks the Lasting Top quality of Dell, and wants to achieve total freedom in communication, processing and entertainment. Dell Studio offers the most impressive value-for-money. Available at a very reasonable price of Rs. 89,900/-

Inspiron 1464/1564 (i-5/520 Core):

The premium model of Dell Inspiron 1464/1564 series comes with a speedy Intel i5/520M Core processor, presenting a speed of 2.4GHz, which goes upto 2.93GHz through a Turbo option. Additionally, a 3MB Cache Memory and 4 Threads are also included. This Notebook also comprises a 4GB DDR-3 RAM and powerful Hard-Drive options of 320GB and 500GB. Other worthy features include WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN, Web-camera, Card Reader and a Disk Operating System (DOS). This highly capable machine is attractively priced at Rs. 79,900/-.

Inspiron 1464/1564 (i-5/430 Core):

Another Inspirational Notebook model from Dell is the Inspiron 1464/1564 with an Intel Core i-5/430M processor that offers an amazing speed of 2.26GHz, that reaches upto 2.53GHz using Turbo. Other features include 4 Threads and a 3MB Cache. It has a 3GB DDR-3 RAM and a 320GB Hard Drive. At an economical price of Rs. 68,900/-, this amazing Notebook offers great communicative and interactive capabilities like; WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN, Webcam, Card Reader and DOS.

Inspiron 1464/1564 (i3/330 Core):

Extending truly unmatched features at a truly unmatched price of Rs. 59,900/-, the Dell Inspiron comes with a capable, economical, and agile i3/330M Core processor, offering an amazing speed of 2.13GHz along with 4 Threads and a Cache memory of 3MB. This impressive computing device is complete with a 2GB DDR-3 RAM, a 250GB Hard Drive, WiFi, Blue Tooth, LAN, Webcam, Card Reader and DOS. This machine is the best buy in its category, offering great value-for-money to the consumers.

Another remarkable highlight of all Dell Notebooks is the exceptionally long battery-life for extended and continuous usage. Therefore, it is concluded that Dell has created truly exclusive digital experiences with powerful Multi-core technology, providing all the bandwidth needed for next-generation, highly-threaded applications.

The Internet is running out of addresses

May 12th, 2010

Omar Khan

The internet is running out of big blocks of addresses to give out! IP addresses define the route data takes when it travels through the net and reaches the right person at the right time. Experts estimate that 9 September 2011 is the day when the last of these addresses will be given out for use.

A year and a half from that date, the entire batch of addresses will be given out and exhausted. To counter this depletion, an alternate scheme is being rolled out but experts are warning that countries are being very slow to adopt this new scheme. The current IP version 4 (IPv4) is what the net is built around right now which has a capacity of 4 billion addresses, it’s successor IPv6 has the capacity for trillions.

The internet expanded way to fast and the remaining addresses were given out even faster. The estimates a few decades ago are no longer valid as the supernormal growth of the internet has led to a massive depletion of these addresses faster than expected and now only 7% of the total pool are left. This means that 300 million addresses are left for allocation.

China has already converted to IPv6 because of the large number of users. IPv4 rationing has started to slow down the depletion. Some steps that the authorities are taking to make sure this happens are:

Providers need to prove they need more addresses
Providers cannot get more addresses till they reach a certain threshold

ISP’s are being urged to start using the IPv6 addressing system to make sure the transition is smooth and users do not feel the difference as conversion from IPv4 to IPv6 can cause significant delay to browsing and other services. Converting IPv4 to IPv6 requires network address translation at the ISP level.