Blackberry Pearl 8100 : World's slimmest handset

The slimmest handset from Canada-based Research In Motion's stable gets its name from the pearl-like trackball of the device.

The 'BlackBerry Pearl 8100' is stylish, sleek, slim and elegant but thinner than the recently-launched 8700g (weighing 4.7 oz, measuring 2.8 in x 0.8 in x 4.3 inch), weighing 3.1 oz, with a 0.6 inch in thickness, 2 inch wide and a length of 4.2 inches. The Pearl is also lighter than a Motorola RAZR V3M in closed position, and packs a real punch.

The quad-band worldphone is one of the rarest candy-bar smartphones in the world. It has many firsts to its credit, compared with other BlackBerry devices, starting with its candy-bar look. This stands out in contrast to the parallelogram or oval looks of a conventional BlackBerry.

The model also has a personal media player with music, video and camera -- a definite attempt by RIM to move out of the corporate circuit and target the growing segment of young mobile users across the world.

It has a QWERTY keyboard, but with a difference. Here each key handles two letters and uses predictive text to support typing. For someone accustomed to a BlackBerry prayer, a surreptitious glance downwards to read or send e-mails, the keyboard would be a bit of a hassle as each key has a double or triple function.

It plays MP3 music, supports polyphonic, WAV, MP3 and MIDI files, enables storing and displaying of images, and handles audio-visual files. It can connect to a laptop over wireless, might be the first BlackBerry device to sport Bluetooth technology, and can be used as a remote control for powerpoint presentation or a slide show.

Bluetooth could also be used for a wireless headset that is available with the device. The Pearl also supports EDGE that pushes data three times faster than GPRS, enables web browsing and internet faxing.

Pearl has a 1.3 megapixel camera and a built-in flash that enables the user to take pictures. With the Nokia (N-series), Motorola and Sony Ericsson rolling out 2 megapixel camera phones, a 1.3 megapixel would have to be termed as "average". A major drawback is that the phone does not permit recording of video images.

Pearl features RIM's push e-mail system. Like the BlackBerry 8700g, Pearl also supports upto 10 POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts, with an easy set up and simple to use methodology.

This enables a user to sync with his company's server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time. Like other RIM handsets, Pearl enables viewing of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Acrobat documents that come as e-mail attachments. However, editing it is not possible.

Personal Information Management applications are also available on Pearl -- like address book, calendar and event manager -- standard features on all smart phones and handheld devices. Pearl has an exception, as it allows wireless synchronisation of PIM with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server that is the office server.

Among another firsts is the memory card slot of the handset. The extendable memory is handy when the user has to extra files. Pearl is the first BlackBerry handset with a memory card. The Pearl sports a 2.25-inch TFT screen that displays 65,000 colours at a 240 x 260 resolution.

Last but not the least, Pearl would be the first BlackBerry device to support voice dialing, and considering BlackBerry handsets were a runaway success, selling over 6.29 million pieces worldwide, this could also be a box-office hit.

new BMW X5 on the Road

A huge hello from the land where comic book hero Tintin's famous adversary Rastapopulous probably laid out his plans to dominate the world.

I'm here in Greece to unravel a far more interesting plot than world domination. This time, it's the mighty BMW that's doing the plotting and their tool for the job is the new BMW X5.

There is virtually no difference in looks between the X5 petrol and diesel. So, I picked the lusty 4.8 litre petrol first. The first big change for me is the 6P autobox, which comes with a joystick type electronic shifter and no mechanical linkage to the gearbox.

This means that if you want to go into parking mode, you just have to press the P button, if you want to drive off, just thump the starter, press the clutch button, pull it back once and you are soon in the drive mode and good to go.

Squint tight headlamps, a moustache shaped air lamp section and a scooped out bonnet, gives the X5 some chest-thumping attitude. The new X5 can hold its own in the SUV brotherhood and is a new chapter in the BMW design.

With 350 very eager horses dragging along the 2 tonne plus structure, it makes for slipshod handling. But the towering X5 drove us as flat as a go-cart. Add to that, a well rated variable rear wheel steering and chucking this monolith around corners brings out a smile. The car is so controlled on aggressive roads, it just feels phenomenal.

The X drive system, which transfers power to the front and rear wheels, seems to be working brilliantly, with under steer and over steer. The new stiffer suspension, the tires wrapped on 18 inch rims and the sporty set up combined together, lets you feel every ripple on the road at low speeds.

But at higher speeds, the X5 adapts and glosses over anything bigger than a small pothole. Impressed with the petrol, I headed back to pick up the diesel version.

Having somewhat quenched my pangs with the X5 experience, I now took some time to take in the new design. The new X5 has been stretched by 19 cms and broadened by 6 cms to fit the mould of the of the new age auto giant. But a strict diet plan has helped it to keep its weight almost the same.

So, the passengers at the rear can expect a comfy bench and the third row seats to strap the young brats into. This makes the X5 a far more practical proposition for large wealthy Indian families and the Yanky favourite with the split tailgate is meant just for bags and picnic lunches.

On the inside, the grey and beige interiors felt good. A friendly drive let me access my music at the push of a single button. Using the satellite navigation system I aimed to hit Cape Sunio, which is the southernmost point south of Athens and I felt so cool reading the directions on the windscreen using the 'heads up' display.

I got down to the business of exploring the abilities of the lighter but more powerful and more fuel-efficient engine by heading up some hills. The aluminium body makes this 230 BHP, 520 NM power unit, lighter by 25 kilos and this adds dollops to its handling prowess. I have been driving this diesel version all morning and this engine is just phenomenally responsive.

BMW claims that the shift times have been cut down by half and it really feels great because when you are going through the gears in the auto mode, you don't even realize its seamless and as you shift into manual, it just holds the gear until you hit the red line and then it shifts up.

But take it off-road and the X5 feels a little hard on the edges, but duly competent on its four-wheel rear system and its electronic system, which makes the X5 quite immensely competent. Though a boon on the road, the 11 cms wheelbase does limit the X5's offloading potency but that's a small price to pay. Here is the X5 in a nutshell for you. BMW says it's a sport activity vehicle and not a sport utility vehicle. Trust me, this thing is beautiful on the road.

It's just so like a car and a high performance salon. But that's not to say it's bad off the road. I managed to land in a ditch and the X5 managed to pull itself out without any help. So, if you happen to make any trip to the farmhouse, don't worry I am sure the X5 will be able to handle that.

Now if you do pluck for this thing, opt for the adapter drive or the rear view camera. They will pay themselves out soon enough. BMW says this thing will come to India only in the second half of 2007. The prices are not out as of yet but those who can afford to will not think twice before writing that cheque.

Saddam Husein Hanged, India Disappointed.

In a guarded response to execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, India on Saturday said it was "disappointed" over the "unfortunate" event but political parties and Muslim leaders strongly denounced the "illegal" hanging of a friend of this country.

The government, which had earlier opposed Hussain's execution, hoped it will not affect the process of reconciliation and restoration of peace in the trouble-torn country.

"We had already expressed the hope that the execution would not be carried out. We are disappointed that it has been (carried out)," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement.

"We hope that the unfortunate event will not affect the process of reconciliation, restoration of peace and normalcy in Iraq," he said.

New Delhi had on Monday expressed opposition to Hussein's execution and cautioned that no steps should be taken which could delay restoration of peace in the troubled country.

"It is our hope that the sentence will not be carried out and the former President's life would be spared," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna had said after an Iraqi appeals court upheld the death sentence to Hussain.

New Delhi had hoped that "no steps" would be taken which "might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay restoration of peace in Iraq."

Political parties, including the ruling Congress, reacted strongly to the hanging of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, terming it as "judicial assault" and "barbaric" development that will cause "more serious and bigger problem" in that country. Congress said Hussein's hanging does "not carry any credibility" as there were "clear procedural deficiencies in the trial process" besides the "undue haste" in carrying out the death sentence.

"They validate our previously expressed apprehensions regarding ad-hoc victors' justice and therefore, we condemn it," Congress chief spokesman Janardan Dwivedi said shortly after Hussein was hanged in Iraq.

"Nevertheless, we hope that this unfortunate event will not stand in the way of the process of restoring normalcy and reconciliation in Iraq," he added.

The government's ally CPI(M) saw the hanging as an "illegal and criminal act" of "an imperialist occupying power" which has "no right to violate national sovereignty and dispense justice on those whom they have illegally overthrown."

Foreseeing increased hatred for the US after the hanging, the Left party, in a statement, asked the government to "realise that its strategic alliance with the Bush administration, which is notorious for its imperial aggrandisement, will harm India's interests."

"This urgency in executing Saddam is very suspect," CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said added that his party feared that it would have an adverse impact not only in Iraq but also in other parts of the world.

Terming the execution as "barbaric", CPI National Secretary D Raja said, "trial was a farce and the verdict to hang Saddam a judicial assault as the country was on under US-British the occupation."

He said even the UN failed to intervene to stop the hanging. Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the execution was not the solution to the problem in Iraq and expressed fear that it "will be the beginning of a bigger and "more serious and bigger problem" in that country.

He said the development showed those holding powers in Iraq now have failed to win over the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens.

Former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said tension in West Asia would increase with the execution. "With this, the deterrence will increase, tension will increase. It will have a very adverse impact on the region for decades to come," he said.

Condemning the hanging, Muslim leaders said it will affect peace in the world. Describing as "highly shocking" the way Hussein was executed, All India Personal Law Board member Kamal Farooqi said "it will add to the problems. Peace will be disturbed across the world."

Attacking US President George W Bush, he said "I think it is designed by Bush who is not loosing any opportunity to hurt the Muslim sentiments.

"It reinforces our view that it is America which is in fact trying to harm the world peace," he said.

First Look: SRK's KBC promos start

It's time to make the seat hotter.

Star TV is pulling out all the stops to maximise viewer interest for its new version of Kaun Banega Crorepati, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

After a teaser campaign revolving around how some questions can change a person's world, the channel launches the first full-fledged advertisement for the new show on Friday, December 29.

And what a mammoth advertisement it is. Clocking in at a tremendous 130 seconds, the theme film centres around a little kid, played by four-year old Shrey Bawa, pictured here on Khan's lap.

Growing up in Delhi, the child annoys everyone around him as he grows up constantly asking questions. His world is fed up and he leaves the capital behind in his search for answers.

His destination, Mumbai, gives our hero a whole new set of questions. But this time, he's on the receiving end as the city bombards him with queries.

Finally, we realise life has come full circle as the young boy has finally reached a place where he gets to ask all the questions. Enter King Khan, the new Kaun Banega Crorepati host.

SRK starts his Kaun Banega Crorepati on January 22 at 9 pm, Monday to Thursday on Star Plus.

The actor has put up imitation sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati at his home, Mannat in Bandra, Mumbai.

See below as shahrukh is getting ready for KBC

Farah Khan attempts to impress SRK with her GK.

If reports are to be believed, King Khan will take home a pay package that is double of what Big B was drawing.

SRK preferred setting up a studio at his home instead of at the Star TV office (as Bachchan did) because of his hectic schedule.