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Android ahead These
days, people remotely initiated in the Silicon Valley history are watching it repeat itself. Besides the astonishing, and frankly, alarming amounts of money flowing into tech like in the days of the ‘dot com bubble’, a more exhilarating chronicle is that of the mobile operating system wars.
For the seers, the resemblance is uncanny. What the 1980s were for the desktop operating system universe, the 2000s were for their mobile counterparts. And by that account we are just in the primetime of the splashy, scandalous and electrifying 1990s. Once again there are three actors. An overwhelming market-share leader with an offering that is extremely flexible but famous for a bad experience, a niche player for people who are really into appearances, and an underdog that you feel sorry for. Welcome to the era where Windows, Mac OS and Linux are now Android, iOS and Windows Phone — as Steve Jobs would say, “It. Just. Works.” The real story then would be the amazing blunder by reigning champion Microsoft to let Google take the cake when it came to an operating system for the palm of your hand but in this one we are looking at all that the search pioneer is doing right to ensure it does not become what the Redmond-giant is today. Once upon a time Apple had failed to realise you cannot be that big a control-freak if you wanted sell your software, allowing Bill Gates to install Windows on everything but toasters. Today, Google understands in a connected age, a mobile OS is not about making money from it at all so they give it out for free and earn by monetising search and all the user data. “Let the sellers deal with patent trolls and customer dissatisfaction issues,” someone with a wicked nerd smile must have said at the Googleplex at some point of time in the last decade, echoing what was said in Redmond just 20 years ago. And today we see the results of that ruthless ideology. Smartphones have reached far deeper corners of the world than anyone would have ever imagined and most of them run on Android. Around 85 per cent of them to be somewhat exact.
One world
Figures are fickle, but the battle is fascinating. And the latest charge by Google is Android One, announced alongside a string of new developments and an official Android version for wearable devices like smartwatches at its I/O conference this summer.
Android One is a standard low-end device, usually around $100, which meets a bare minimum hardware criteria to run the latest edition of the OS. In this case, it will be an almost pristine version without the gaudy ‘enhancements’ that emerging-market phone-makers are infamous for and regular updates directly from Google purportedly for the next two-years. These standards, according to the website hosted by Google, includes front and rear cameras, a quad-core processor, micro-SD card slot, ‘all-day’ battery and dual SIM-card support. These specifications are by no means state-of-the-art but of course in the sub-$150 segment what is now a chaotic mess of one device crappier than the next, they will bring a lot of consistency. These phones are aimed at the ‘next billion’ — the large number of regular cellphone users who will move to smartphones in the coming years and a market that has so far been addressed, if you will, by phones like Nokia’s Asha series and more recently things like Firefox OS. As promised by Google in June, the first three phones launched under this platform have just hit the store shelves — and all of them are made by Indian manufacturers for the Indian market first. Karbonn Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1 and Spice Dream UNO not only look identical but if you look at the specification sheet, the only difference notice is a 100-rupee difference in their selling
Prices. These phones will soon be followed up with more starting this December. Google has roped in new partners including Acer, Alcatel OneTouch, HTC, Asus and Lenovo, Xolo, Lava and Intexso they will keep coming. And even though these phones are abysmal to hold and use, compared to an iPhone or a Lumia, moves like these will make Google appear increasingly unstoppable. Already there is a buzz of an Android Silver program in the works that will replace the Nexus line and bring the same Android One-like uniformity in specifications and performance to top-end devices. This is Google playing its cards right. The company is already winning the market-share wars in both developed and developing countries but with platforms like One and maybe Silver, Google will also dent the last remaining stronghold of the both Apple and Microsoft — that of a greater symphony of software and hardware.
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Candles to light up your world A decade or so ago four packets containing six candles each would have cost less than Rs 100. Diwali and Christmas celebrations have become grander over the years and white candles have been done away with aromatic, designer alternatives.
Designs for you
Though you would still get the ordinary candles for around the same Price, but it is the ornamental candles that are more expensive, owing to the steep increase in demand. Seen as an attractive version of its boring cousin, the fancy candles, lit or even unlit, are becoming more popular with each festive season. In fact, buyers these days are also going in for imported candles that go beyond the basic elements of wax, wick and flame. Unlike the usual variety, these are usually hand-poured and do not use the polluting petrol-based paraffin or lead core wicks. Instead these are made of soy wax or the natural bee wax and all-cotton wicks. These fancy candles are not made with any synthetic ingredients but contain pure essential oils. Beautifully packaged in crystal containers or fine glass bell jars, these when lit, fill your house with exotic aromas like bergamot, mimosa, patchouli and amber. It has been observed that there is a discernible shift towards natural fragrances in candles. Those who can afford are shunning strong scents and asking for cleaner and fresher aromas like fresh bamboo and monkey grass. These aromatic candles add a touch of class to any occasion. These light up the festivals like Diwali and Christmas and add a touch of romance to a cozy dinner. However, before going out to shop for such candles, one must take cost into consideration. A high-end candle imported from France, Italy or England or even exclusive designer variety made in India, can sometimes cost upwards of Rs 5,000.
Exotic varieties
There is an array of exotic varieties that tantalise big-buck buyers. Aromatherapy candles that have healing properties or scented candles that rekindle old memories or even unscented ones that make for beautiful decor pieces are witnessing a spurt in demand. What began as a cottage industry has become a successful business. Designer candles not just make for excellent gifts but are also a great element of décor. Among the imported luxury-scented candles, which enjoy a high demand include those from the London-based perfumer Amouage and Halcyon Days, California's Dyna Candles, New York's Malin+Goetze and a host of others. Most of the scented candles from these companies can cost upwards of a whopping Rs 6,000 each. Seeing the rise in demand for candles, even international fashion designers and luxury houses have moved into the space. American luxe-brand Ralph Lauren Home candles are in great demand and can cost a pile. Versace's Vanity candles come for around Rs 6,000 apiece and so does candle Doria by Armani/Casa.
On the platter
Most leading couturiers are launching their collections during festival time. American designer Tom Ford's fragrance candles cost around Rs 5000. Italian designer Roberto Cavalli's start at around Rs 3,000, Michael Aram's lemonwood candles come for around Rs 3,600 apiece and Dolce and Gabbana's scented white luxury jar candles start at a relatively affordable Rs 1,500. At the same time, cost-effective designer candles are also available, thanks to organisations like the Blind Relief Association in Delhi. Candle maker to the nation for nearly half a century, the association sells its indigenous wax wares and other handicrafts at its annual Diwali Mela in Delhi. Each year, there are over 40 types of candles ranging from the ordinary to the fancy found at the event. The fact is that there are buyers for all type of candles — be it the ordinary ones or the designer stuff. Be it Rs 18 a dozen or Rs 5,000 a piece, there's always a customer around. And with Diwali approaching, the demand is peaking by the day. You have a variety available at up-market retail stores and online stores.
HEALING POWERS OF AROMATHERAPY CANDLES
Aromatherapy candles have been around for years and these have been used by people of many cultures as an unconventional medicine. However, it is only now that these have started getting popular even as the West gets enamoured with alternate therapies to restore health, enhance beauty and well-being, and treat anxiety and depression. From soothing to energising, these candles contain fragrant oils distilled from plants and fruits that fill the environment with positive energy flow. These oils positively stimulate the hypothalamus portion of the brain. According to experts, aromatherapy candles act in two beneficial ways. These help the body to relax and soothe the mind. These also relieve you from day-to-day stress and strain. Candles with lavender aroma are recommended for headaches while a blend of rosemary, lemon and basil is said to promote clarity of thought. Candles made from eucalyptus prevent pimples and are a tonic for a tired body and fatigued mind. Sandalwood helps banish sinus. Pine relaxes muscles. Candles with rose fragrance induce sleep and are recommended for insomniacs and lavender is a great de-stresser and beneficial for people with blood pressure. So, the next time you have a headache or are stressed out after a tiring day just light up an aromatherapy candle and get rid of your blues away. These stimulating, candles will fill your environment with positive energy.
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BAG THAT CLICKS
Your sleeping score
COFFEE IN A CROC
MUSICAL PING PONG
iPHONE 6 GOES BLINGY
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Out of the box
Sound choice
A scent worth it
A pleasant aroma
Nature’s delight
Touch of lime
Natural flavours
Spiced up interiors
A classic piece
A heady mix
Italian connection
From the artist’s house
Beautifully crafted
Time on your side
A complete package
Best of the lot
Recycle this well
Simply elegant
Though Stella McCartney may be Britain’s fashion designer but she has another calling card. She is the daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney and his photographer wife Linda. She spent her formative years travelling the world with her parents and has fond memories of her mother capturing moments in photographs with her Canon camera. Now she has collaborated with Canon to design a special camera bag that she has named after her late mother. The striking white bag, which is a part of her Green Carpet Collection, is in a limited edition of 1,000. But ladies who don’t carry cameras need not despair. It also serves as a sophisticated handbag, making an exquisite style statement.
The market may be full of wearable devices that track your sleep and tell you how long you went into the deep sleep cycle or when you had a restive night. But a new device called Sense by American company Hello is expected to outsmart all existing sleep sensors. The device to be launched early next year not only promises a better night’s rest but also tracks your sleep behaviour and the environment of your room and wakes you up at the precise moment that works best for your body. The sleep tracker has a small orb that measures the pollution in your room and a clip that attaches to your pillow. Both of these send your sleep data to an app on your
smartphone. When you wake up, you are presented with a score of 0 to 100 taking sleep analytics to a whole new level.
Next time you want to have coffee on the go, do it with style. Paris-based urban lifestyle company called 'Watch Life with Curiosity' is offering caffeine fanatics a chance to add some oomph to their coffee kick. It has launched an exquisite tumbler that is covered with crocodile skin and barenia calf leather. The tumbler is ideal for those for whom the thought of spilling coffee from flimsy paper cups is a nightmare. And also for the urban coffee snobs who like being served their decaf macchiato in a very special way.
A game of table tennis is well, just a game. Right? No wrong. That is, if you are playing on a table made by engineering firm Stiga. What really separates this table from others is a 2,800-watt sound system with eight 6x9 speakers, subwoofers underneath the net. It provides an immersive, 360-degree audio experience in the room even as you start playing a game on this massive bluetooth-enabled table weighing more than 350 kg. The coolness continues with vibrant LED down-lighting, letting your funfest take on any hue you like as it pulses to the beat in real-time even as you whack the ping-pong ball at your opponent.
BEATLES in your hand
Are you one of those people who think the iPhone 6 Priced at around Rs
60,000 is way too expensive? Well, here’s some food for thought... there will soon be another iPhone 6 that will be more than 2,700 times costlier! British jeweller Alexander Amosu has been commissioned to design the world’s most expensive iPhone 6. The phone is being made in 18ct gold and meticulously handset with over 6,127 brilliant cut diamonds. The Apple logo will be a 51.29 carat diamond cut-out. Once ready, this special handset will make the new iPhone 6 look like a poor man's mobile as far as the cost goes!
TReasure trunk