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Hot hatch that’ll leave the competition sweatingWe test drive Maruti’s new SwiftPage 7
G A D G E T S | A U T O | L U X U R Y www.blsmartbuy.com
+ Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830GT reviewedSparklers for 2011
2 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
WHAT’S HOT this week
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Cover Photo: S. Muralidhar
This ultra-thin notebookfrom ASUS runs on Intel’sMeeGo operating system andis powered by the Intel AtomN455 processor. Weighingjust under a kilogram andmeasuring just 17.6 mm inthickness, it’s small enough tofit in your handbag. Featuresinclude a 10.1-inch LED-backlit monitor, Bluetooth3.0, Wi-Fi and webcam. Thenetbook is preloaded withDropbox for cloud storageand comes integrated withthe ASUS app store. Rs 12,499
Redefiningcomputing
ASUS X101 Adding to its StoreJet line of hard drives, Transcend has launched the 25A,which boasts a slender, shock-resistant design. It is available in both USB 3.0and 2.0 versions, with transfer speeds of up to 90Mbps on the former. Itfeatures a convenient One Touch Auto-Backup button for fast data backup, aswell as Transcend’s own RecoveRx software to help you retrieve lost files. Thehard drives are available in 3 capacities – 500GB, 750GB and 1TB.StoreJet 25A2 (USB 2.0): Rs 5,650 onwardsStoreJet 25A3 (USB 3.0): Rs 6,150 onwards
What a shocker!
Transcend StoreJet 25A
The latest BB to come outof RIM’s kitty is theBlackBerry Bold 9900,which is powered by theBlackBerry 7 OS.Hardware enhancementsinclude a 1.2 GHzprocessor, HD videorecording, 24-bit high resgraphics, advancedsensors for augmentedreality apps and built-insupport for NFC. TheBold 9900 is also thethinnest BlackBerry tilldate, at just 10.5mm, andfeatures a touch displayand brushed stainlesssteel frame. Rs 32,490
Now, even bolder
BlackBerryBold 9900
3 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
This dual-SIM handsetfrom Motorola offers atouch screen as well as aphysical QWERTY keypad.Super-slim, at only 9.9mmthin, the handset features a2.4-inch touch screendisplay with five differenthome screen styles, a rangeof interface themes, andbuilt-in links to Facebook,Twitter and other popularsocial network sites. Otherfeatures include a 3MPcamera, microSD cardsupport up to 32GB, highspeed USB 2.0 file transferand support for multipleaudio and video formats. Rs 6,190
Touch and type
Motorola EX119
Less than 1-inch thin, the HP ProBook5330m features a unique dual-tone colourscheme with a brushed aluminum chassisand a backlit keyboard. The laptop is thefirst of its kind to feature Beats Audio,developed by HP and Beats by the famousrapper Dr. Dre. The 13.3-inch laptop ispowered by the latest second-gen IntelCore i5 and i3 dual-core processors.Rs 40,000 onwards
For the savvy executive
HP ProBook 5330m
These high-end earphones from Logitech integratethree individually-balanced drivers for each ear.Low, mid, and high frequencies are all directed tothe appropriate driver so everything you hear iscrystal clear. This lets you enjoy the most detailedand sonically rich audio, no matter what you listento. The earphones come in a crush-proof case withtwo sets of Comply foam ear-cushions. Rs 15,995
Three cheers
Logitech Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10
4 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
NOTEBOOK review
Mahananda Bohidar
What would a high-end notebook todayneed to bring to your lap? A powerfulprocessor, superior graphics and asleek design – for those who appreciate
a bit of beauty and brawn. What if someone offeredyou all this and a bit more?
Acer Inc. launched its Timeline X series of note-books about three years ago promising a super-effi-cient and dependable work-buddy that you couldcount on for eight hours and more. The latest in thisline is the Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830GT that prom-ises more than the Timeline X series has ever before!
OverviewThe Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830GT is extremelysleek for a laptop its size. With a thickness of about aninch, the laptop is well-designed with its Cobalt Bluelid and a part-blue, part-aluminum keyboard. The is-land-style layout of the keyboard is comfortable totype on, a big advantage for those who tend to do alltheir work on a notebook. The plastic touchpad alsohas a soft, smooth feel to it. Also, the touchpad sup-ports multi-touch gestures like ‘Pinch to zoom’, whichincreases the size of the icons on your desktop, as wellas zooms in and out of photos and web pages.
The screen is an impressive 15.6-inch one with anLED-backlit LCD screen. With a resolution of1,388x768, the proprietary CineCrystal display has a16:9 widescreen ratio – the internationally acceptedformat for HD videos and movies. To test the screen Idecided to stay in for movie night with ‘In the moodfor love’ by Wong Kar Wai. However, the glossy dis-play was a bummer and the reflective bezel too provedto be slightly distracting. With the lights switched offthough, these weren’t much of an issue. The slow,melodious soundtracks of the movie were reproducedexcellently by the inbuilt speakers that are endowedwith Dolby Home Theater v4 technology. We couldtweak the EQ settings to enhance the bass or forclearer dialogue. The audio from the speakers hadexcellent clarity. No surprises there, considering it’sprofessionally tuned and Dolby certified.
The laptop also features Acer’s proprietary Clear.fitechnology that lets you set a multi-system home net-work connecting your laptop, PC, telly and smart-phone through your internet router. You can createshared media libraries and transfer files from onesystem to another in two clicks. The software comespre-installed and lets you tweak the network andsharing settings.
PerformanceThe 5830GT has an old-school closed optical drive onthe right. The plasticky latch of the drive makes it feela little flimsy while opening. The body has a one-touchLED indicator on the front of the notebook that dis-plays battery levels depending on whether the laptopis connected to a power supply and how much chargeit is running on. On the top panel, next to the Dolbyspeakers, is the PowerSmart button. Once unplugged,you press this button to switch the laptop to a power-saver mode. After charging the laptop to a full battery,it entertained us for more than 8 hours, with thePowerSmart button on.
Despite an ultra-compact chassis, we did not haveany heating issues with the laptop. A big plus consid-ering the fact that even a lot of high-end laptops end
up overheating after an hour or so of usage. The Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830GT runs on an
Intel Core i5-2410M processor with 2.3GHz and TurboBoost Technology that lets you overclock up to2.9GHz.
The laptop depends on Nvidia GeForce GT 520Mdiscrete graphics chip for its graphics performance.Nvidia’s Optimus automatic switching technology(depending on the heavy or light graphics demandedby the programme used), made sure the unit remainedbattery-efficient. I ran a couple of benchmarking teststo test the prowess of the processor. It bagged a totalof 5,018 on the test, a pretty decent score. (For com-
parison’s sake, the new gen Macbook Pro 13.3-inch hadscored a 6,910 on our earlier tests.)
Connectivity options on the Aspire Timeline X5830GT include three USB ports on the right side ofthe body. One of the three supports USB 3.0 connec-tion that lets you transfer data up to ten times fasterthan the USB 2.0 port. You can also connect to anSPDF-in port which doubles up as the headphone3.5mm jack , an HDMI to stream high definition con-tent on your television, a VGA port and a card readerthat can detect a couple of formats in the slot.
Unlike some of its predecessors, the 6-cell batteryon the 5830GT doesn’t clumsily stick out of the note-
Going the Xtr
5 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
book’s chassis. The 6000mAh Lithium-ion batterylet us work and relax for more than 8 hours – withmultimedia running and the occasional videostreaming and surfing the internet. Apart from theregular charger, the laptop also features an ultra-convenient USB charger that lets you power-upyour smartphone or other USB devices withouthaving to keep the notebook switched on.
Our VerdictThe Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830GT has almost every-thing you can ask for in a modern day notebook – abright 15.6-inch LED-backlit display, Dolby Digital-
powered speakers and a proprietary software towatch and share multimedia. Running on an Intel Corei5 processor, I didn’t encounter a situation where thelaptop froze and it didn’t show any hint of slowingdown while multi-tasking, a definite plus if you wantto run heavy applications or games on the system. TheUSB 3.0 and an HDMI make it relatively future-proof.Little niggles like that of a glossy display might not bemuch of a compromise given the price tag that thissleek one comes with.Love: Great battery life, Dolby Digital sound, goodprocessorHate: Reflective screen, feels plasticky in placesRs 42,229
Photos: R. Ravindran
Keep those juices flowing!
You know that annoying moment when you’rewatching the last few minutes of a movie or finishing
up a PowerPoint presentation, and your laptopstarts flashing low battery warnings? For those ofyou who aren’t ready to upgrade to a powerhorse
that’ll give you 8 hours of juice, here are some tips onhow to extend your lappy’s battery life.
Close all unwanted programsIf you’re running iTunes in the background,
intermittently checking your Facebook and workingon that important Word document, you need toprioritise. Close any unwanted or unnecessaryapplications, which will cut down on your laptop’sprocessing power.Flick the dimmer switch
Besides being romantic, dimming the screen onyour laptop actually conserves battery power. Reducethe screen’s brightness as much as is comfortable, andrely on an external light source to help you finish yourwork.Bye bye optical drive
Whether you’re using your DVD drive or have justleft a CD inside, the spinning motion inside youroptical drive consumes loads of unnecessary power.Remember to take out CDs when you’re not usingthem, and if you must watch a movie or transfercontent, use your hard drive or download it from theinternet instead.Disconnect
Although they consume less power than CDs, allUSB devices, including your mouse, camera cable andphone’s charging cable, drain your laptop’s battery.The same goes for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, both of whichare major battery killers. Defrag your hard drive
Regularly defragging your hard drives not onlyhelps you to keep your drive healthy, but also makesyour laptop more efficient, resulting in less powerwastage.Be power efficient
Most laptops nowadays come with power saverfeatures. Simply go to the ‘Power Options’ feature inControl Panel to activate it on a Windows laptop, ortweak Energy Saver settings in a Macbook. Clean up
Keeping your battery clean can actually improveyour laptop’s overall battery life, by increasing powerdelivery. Remove the battery from the laptop, andwipe the metal connecters with a cotton swab dippedin rubbing alcohol. Ensure the battery is completelydry before reinserting, and repeat every couple ofmonths. RAM it up
If you use your laptop for power intensive tasks,increasing your device’s RAM will actually extendbattery life. Low RAM means the laptop relies onvirtual memory, which is less power efficient.Maintain your battery
If you’re using an old laptop, it’s important to letyour battery discharge completely before rechargingit. This doesn’t apply to newer laptops which utiliseLi-ion batteries though.Turn off scheduled tasks
If you’re laptop automatically schedules virusscans or defrag exercises, turn it off so it doesn’thappen when you’re running on battery. These areimportant tasks though, so make sure you keep themup to date when you’re connected to a supply source.
a mile
The JBL OnBeat docking station features a flexible dock connectorto enable you to enjoy videos or movies in the landscape mode whenyou feel like it. The sound dock is designed with dual transducers forrich, detailed sound. With an optional composite cable inthe box, you can stream videos on yourtelly for your buddies to watch. Youcan also download the JBL OnBeatApp to browse and play music fromyour iPod, iPad or iPhone or make useof the additional alarmclock functionality.£149.99
6 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
SOUND bytes
This product from Bowers & Wilkinsmakes the phrase ‘Sound Dock’ a bit ofan irony. Designed to work with Apple
products that have the proprietaryAirPlay technology, B&W’s Zeppelin Airlets you stream music wirelessly. Threeyears ago, the original Zeppelin’s unique
shape was retained to help sounddispersion. However, it also features
smaller mid-range drive units toproduce a more open, natural sound
than its predecessor. Having multipleZeppelin Airs around the house helpsyou stream music from any unit you
want to or maybe even all of themtogether for a house party.
$600
Bowers & WilkinsZeppelin Air
Not exactly a dock, but a set of sleekspeakers, the G-17 Air effortlessly pumpsout signature Klipsch sound with deepbass and clear dynamic range. You playtunes wirelessly with this AirPlayenabled speaker system. Dual woofersare matched with a precisely tuned,flared port to reproduce tight, balancedbass. Complete with the proprietaryTractrix Horn, this dock deliversimmense power and detail from withinthe compact cabinet. The elegantcabinet has a front baffle that curves onboth sides to create a solid, low-resonance structure. The G-17 Air notonly allows wireless playback from yourApple smart device running iOS 4.2 butalso supports Android smartphones andtablets.$350
Klipsch GalleryG-17 Air
Hand-crafted in wood, the curved design of the FidelioSoundSphere with its unique free-floating tweeters delivers soundin all directions for a deeper and wider audio impression. Philips’
proprietary FullSound technology efficiently restores acousticdetails to compressed music, so you can experience CD music
without much distortion. With Airplay, the PhilipsFidelio SoundSphere docking speakers
give you wireless access to all yourmusic from iTunes. You can alsodownload the free Philips Fidelio
app to listen to radio shows,online music and share what
you’re listening to with friendsvia Facebook and Twitter.
¤799
Philips Fidelio SoundSphere
JBL OnBeat
Words by Mahananda Bohidar
Swift Transformation
7 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
AUTO focus
S. Muralidhar
More than six years after itsintroduction, the SuzukiSwift continues to be a hugedraw with the Indian small
car buyer. It has captured the imaginationof a whole population unlike any otherMaruti before. True, it didn’t look like aMaruti at all and didn’t drive like one too,but the fact remains that even if it hadsported a different badge, it just mighthave been as popular.
Proof of its popularity comes in the formof my son wanting to buy a red Swift whenhe grows up, despite the fact that he has satin some of the swankiest luxury cars,BMWs, Mercs and Audis. Maybe it’s be-
cause he’s seen my bank balance or maybehe has his feet firmly planted on the groundeven when he is dreaming.
Proof of its popularity also comes in theform of the 40,000 Swifts that have beenbooked even before the next generationmodel has been seen or felt by those buyerswho have put down their money on them.You may also recall that before the produc-tion of the previous generation Swift wasstopped, it had a waiting period of aboutfour months.
So, even before the new gen Swift ar-rives, it has buyers sold on its charm.
New vs. oldFor a nation obsessed with mileage, the
Swift was the one car that very few seemedto want to drive with that fixation in mind.It was the one car that buyers didn’t minddiscovering to be lacking in premiumnessand space inside the cabin. So, will the nextgeneration (globally the third) Swift beable to up the experience and draw in morefans for this iconic brand?
Sportiness was always there in theSwift’s design DNA. What the previous genSwift’s design was a bit lacking in was theability to leverage its exterior dimensionsto offer more space in the passenger cabin.The new Swift manages that very wellthanks to its larger dimensions.
At first glance, the ‘nex-gen’ Swift looksalmost identical to the outgoing model.From upfront and a slightly acute frontthree-quarter angle it is almost like theoriginal. But I walk around it and the dif-ferences slowly start to surface. Of course,the longer wheelbase and the more round-ed features quickly start to become evident.
The new Swift is a bit like a re-interpre-tation of the previous model. While thebasic design highlights like the headlamps,taillamps and the floating roof concepthave all been carried forward, they have allalso been changed to meld with the in-creased length of the car and to abet theimpression of size.
A more rounded rear-end design nowgets a slightly more tapered at the edge andelongated wraparound taillamp. The frontof the car gets a similar treatment, with the
headlamps getting stretched at the top tocreate an image of flowing down the top ofthe bonnet and on to the front of the car.The sharp rising angle of the front bumpergrille and bonnet has given way to a morerelaxed angle, in keeping with the 90mmincrease in the length of the car.
New platformThe bonnet grille and the airdam too getminor modifications, and the front bumperhas now been designed to look like it hasintegrated skirts. Blacked out A-pillar andB-pillar strips continue to give the newSwift the floating roof effect. New designdoor-mounted rear view mirrors now alsoget integrated LED turn indicators. Rearquarter glass gets a minor change, grab-type door handles have been carried for-ward.
Despite the visual similarities, the fact isthat the new Swift has actually been builton an entirely new platform. The overalllength of the new Swift is now 3,850mm, up90mm over its predecessor and the wheel-base is now up 40mm at 2,430mm. Much ofthe remainder of the increase in length hasgone into bonnet area. The front overhangis more and the increased space in the en-gine bay has improved the safety of the newSwift, say Maruti engineers.
The width of the car has also increasedmarginally by 5mm at 1,695mm. The bodyof the new Swift is also said to be more rigid,though lighter. And despite the increased
dimensions, the kerb weights of both thepetrol and diesel models are marginallylesser by 15 to 30 kgs. Other factors thathave contributed to the weight reductioninclude the new 6-layer polymer fuel tankthat is said to be nearly 7 kgs lighter thanthe previous metal tank.
Improved cabinIf the exterior of the new Swift lookedfamiliar, the interior is refreshingly all-new. I stepped into the new Swift duringthe test drive and was most impressed withthe improved quality of every little part ofthe cabin. Finally, there is a feeling of get-ting into an upmarket hatch.
There is huge jump in the quality ofplastic used all around. The colour themechosen has also lightened up, though it stillhas a very European quality to it. Withmatte aluminium flourishes and inserts onthe dashboard, steering wheel and thedoors, now there is no sign of the interiorsseeming too Spartan and ‘plasticky’. On thecontrary, the entire layout is now busy andmuch better finished.
The centre console now sports a new‘waterfall’ design (as Maruti designers callit). A new, better integrated music system
and automatic climate control system takeup most of the space of the waterfall con-sole and at the base is the familiar sphericalknob of the gear shift stick. The wholedashboard is vertically stacked and looksmore organised. I liked the new seat up-holstery too.
The chunky steering wheel is still athree-spoke unit, but now sports a moremodern design. Top-end variants get steer-ing-mounted music system controls. Theinstrument cluster is a neat duo of circulardials that feature the engine-rpm meterand the speedometer. Orange LED back-lighting for the info counter and all thecontrols is pleasing to the eye.
Of course, the other highlight of the newSwift’s interior is the increase in cabinspace. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, theleg-room has increased by 20mm and thefoot-space is up 28mm. Now, that doesn’tcount to be much by sheer numbers. How-ever, to add to the effort at improving com-fort, Maruti Suzuki engineers have alsoscooped out the backside of the driver andfront passenger seats to offer some morekneeroom for rear passen-gers and the angle of in-cline
of back rest for the rear bench seat has beenincreased.
Maruti Suzuki engineers have alsoworked on reducing the cabin noise levelsby improving the quality of insulation andsealants used. The result is said to be athree decibel fall in in-cabin noise. I coulddiscern the difference during the idling cy-cle and during the city driving cycle. On thehighway and under hard acceleration theengine seemed to be as audible as it was inthe previous Swift.
PerformancePart of the improvement in cabin comfortalso comes from the improved refinementof the engines – both petrol and diesel. But,before we talk about the new tech for theengines, let me point out that the power-trains themselves haven’t changed. Boththe K12M petrol and the D13A diesel en-gines have been carried forward, but muchwork has gone in for making better the fuelefficiency, lowering emissions and for asmall boost in performance too.
The tried and tested 1,248cc diesel en-gine has just been plonked into the newSwift too. The turbocharged and inter-cooled common-rail direct injection engine
generates
the same 75PS of peak power at 4,000 rpmand torque peaks at a low 2,000 rpm andthe same total of 190 Nm is available. Theonly change here has been the use of hy-draulic engine mounts to reduce vibration.
The 1,197cc K12M engine that was shoe-horned into the previous gen Swift last yearhas been carried forward too, but with theaddition of variable valve timing (VVT).The new K12M VVT delivers a marginal(less than half per cent) increase in peakpower at 87 PS delivered at 6,000 rpm andpeak torque too has been bumped up a bit at114Nm and is delivered quicker at 4,000rpm.
Driving the new Swift on windy uphillroads and on long straights on the highway,I get the familiar feeling of driving a Swift.The new Swift continues to be great fun todrive and the diesel engine model has just asecond of turbolag before all the torquebecomes available. The petrol engine isclearly more eager and though it gets a bitnoisy at high rpm levels, it is still one of themore refined units you can get in this seg-ment.
Thanks to a more rigid chassis, the hand-ling of the new Swift has improved. Marutiengineers have also fine-tuned the frontsuspension for better stability and hand-
ling. The improvement can be felt, thoughthere is just a hint of understeer when Ithrow the car into corners at high speeds.Electric power-steering and tilt adjust-ment of the steering column are part ofstandard fitment. BottomlineThe new Swift is being launched this weekand it continues to be a great option for thehatchback buyer, offering a unique charac-ter. And mind you, that is despite the factthat it shares both its engines with manyother models. The new Swift has every bitof the DNA that the predecessor had andsome more.
My guess is that the pricing will be in therange of Rs 4.2 lakh to Rs 6.2 lakh. There isan additional variant option (ZDi) that willbe available with the diesel engine model.Adding some cream on the pie, the ratedfuel efficiency of the new Swift is up 4 percent for the petrol version at 18.6 kmpl andup 6 per cent for the diesel variants at 22.9kmpl.
Maruti’s game changer will change thegame again for the competition!
Photos: S. Muralidhar
Matthew Oakley
The biking world can be set in its ways, and cruis-ers like Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod are meant tobe big, heavy, powerful and loud. They’re wrap-ped in black and chrome and nowadays are nor-
mally ridden by bankers over 45. Plonk one on the U.S. east coast, drive it in a straight line
to California, rotate it, then drive it back. It’ll go fast, makenoise and chug happily along all day. Just don’t expect it tosteer much better than an oil tanker.
So when Ducati released the first photos of its $16,995Diavel, a so-called power cruiser to compete with the likesof the V-Rod and Yamaha’s V-Max, and claimed it would
handle almost like a sports bike, there were howls ofdisbelief. The Bologna, Italy-based builder of the world’smost famous sports bikes had sold out, betrayed its tradi-tions.
Then people began to ride the Diavel, and there wereentirely different howls of disbelief. I rode it and I didn’twant to give it back.
The Diavel is stunningly futuristic, one of the mostdaring factory designs to date, and the most head-turning.This is a machine for people who like to be stared at. Still,its front- heavy profile, long wheelbase and huge rear tyresuggest that it should have the agility of a water buffalo.
Mighty light or powerful feelingLowering myself into the deep seat, the enormous frontend looms ahead like the nose cone of an aircraft, thebrushed aluminium air scoops on either side like turbines,an impression enhanced when I flick the starter switchand the twin displays flash to life, accompanied by thewhirring and sighing of motors.
It’s a bit unnerving. Even at a standstill, the bike feelslike it needs manhandling, and with 162 horsepower ontap I don’t want to be worrying about whether this thinglikes to turn.
Pressing the starter button brings to life one of the most
Ducati’s diabolical Diavel
satisfying engine sounds in motorcycling: deep, gurgling,throaty and rich with menace. I select Touring - one of thethree riding modes - which offers full power, softens thethrottle response and bumps up the traction control level.
Then, as I ease it away from Ducati’s Singapore show-room into a slow, narrow 90-degree bend, all sense of sizeand weight disappears. It’s almost magically easy to steer,seemingly confounding the rules of engineering.
Twists and turnsPicking up speed and confidence, I zip round the nextbend to discover that a flat-bed truck is parked in theperfect spot to swallow motorcycles, blocking my path ona blind corner on a slippery, painted concrete surface.Uh-oh.
This is my early chance to test the Brembo brakes,which stop the Diavel with room to spare. By the time Iemerge onto the highway 10 minutes later, all concernshave vanished. I’m having fun. Lots of it.
The acceleration from the 1,198cc engine is phenomenal- we’re talking 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds - yet itisn’t terrifying. Even in Sport mode, with full horsepowerand the sharpest throttle response, the delivery is smoothand the torque seems endless, making you hunt constantlyfor overtaking opportunities. On twisty roads it’s su-premely able, very stable and only marginally less nimbleat flicking between corners than its smaller cousin, theDucati Monster.
It’s happiest on smooth, constant-radius bends, whenyou can pick your line, roll on the power through the apexand slingshot out the other side without unsettling thebike even slightly. Even on the soggy Singapore roads aftera torrential tropical downpour it felt nailed to the tarmac,solid and assuring, the traction control and those astonish-ing brakes providing an extra layer of confidence.
The verdictSuddenly comparisons with the V-Rod - cheaper than theDucati at $15,000 in the U.S. but 1,000 pounds moreexpensive in the U.K. - felt ridiculous. The upright, com-fortable riding position is cruiser-like, but the similaritiesend there. This is really a different class of bike.
The Diavel isn’t perfect. The gearbox was occasionallystiff; the low-speed fuelling from the 11-degree Testa-stretta engine is better than last year’s Multistrada yet stillnot perfectly smooth; the factory suspension settings weretoo hard, making heavy work of bumpy roads - though itwasn’t difficult to dial this out - and the wide seat began tochafe the inner thighs after five hours in the saddle.
Those minor niggles aside, the Diavel is a phenomenalmachine.
(The author writes for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)
JEWELLERY trends
Tanishq
Amidst the razzle dazzle of jewellery extrava-ganzas, interesting trends surface. Simple addi-tions, elaborate designs, unique twists… it’s allabout discovering something new and exciting
for your treasure trove. This year’s amalgamation of fash-ion and gorgeous jewellery was no exception.
Fun with beadsBeaded jewellery has always been popular, especiallythose that use semi-precious stones to string up a largependant. But this year saw pretty gold beads doubling upas gorgeous neck pieces. Either just as a single strand witha pendant or multiple strands that cover the décolleté line,the beads can be glossy, matted, with antique finish, rhodi-um finished and even elegantly carved with enamel andprecious stones as embellishments. Alpana Gujral’s pearland gold beads raani haar was a stunner and CVM Exportstoo had some neat diamond studded and coloured stonestudded gold beads.
Dress the tressMaangtikas get some gorgeous acquaintances in the formof precious baubles for the hair and head. This season saw
a whole lot of dainty and elaborate tiaras, awe-inspiringregal head jewels and sparkling head bands. Highlightsincluded Gehna Jewellers’ majestic diamond tiara thatwrapped the model’s head like a band and Golecha’s Jew-els’ elegant tiaras made of diamonds, pearls, rubies andemeralds. We also loved Amrapali’s pearl and gold headornament that is a bridal winner.
Lace workElegant lace has left its intricate traces in jewellery craft-ing too. C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons displayed jewellery indiamonds, rubies and emeralds in ‘minute shimmer andlacy designs’. Also spotted on the ramp were large dia-mond collars and chokers in lace patterns. Johara Jewels’Parisian Couture range further reiterated the lacy trendwith its tubular earrings and giant choker, in this gracefulstyle.
Royal linesThe opulence of the Mughals and the magnificence of theNizams were rekindled in the form of lavish jewels. Royalinspirations this year can be used as stand alone pieces fora red carpet appearance or for a regal bridal look. We lovedthe gorgeous haath phools, raani haars, cummerbunds andkaan phools that adorned the models. Collections likeTanishq’s Jewels of Falaknuma, Alpana Gujral’s Mughal’svision of Paradise on earth and Amrapali’s Mughal in-spirations are interesting ranges to look forward to. Someeye-catching pieces include Amrapali’s multi turquoiseand jade cummerbund and Alpana Gujral’s pearl and dia-mond haath phool.
Playful tasselsTassels for gowns and sarees maybe passé. But ruby, emer-ald and pearl tassels adds a fun spirit to jewellery. Not justin contemporary jewellery, tassels lend a pretty touch totraditional styles too. Golecha’s Jewels’ fusion range withtasselled rubies, pearls and emerald earrings and RosilyPaul’s five strands of pearls with three black beaded tasselsdraped over the shoulder stood out. Our heart also wentout to Alpana Gujral’s medallion pendants with tassel endshanging from pearl strands matched with fringed pearlearrings.
Other common styles that ran through many collectionswere peacock motifs, large emerald stones and chokers intraditional and modern styles.
The curtains rose. The leggymodels scorched the ramps.But what stole the show wasthe exquisite jewellery that
wrapped their necks, adornedtheir ears and shone fromtheir hands. At the second
India International JewelleryWeek (IIJW) it was the latesttrends at display. ANUSHYAMAMTORA takes notes from
ground zero
It’s the blingthing!
Tanishq
Alpana Gujral
Tanishq
The rising gold prices notwithstanding,it was a celebration of jewellery craft-
ing and styling at the second season of Gem& Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s(GJEPC) India International JewelleryWeek (IIJW). A relief from the umpteenfashion shows doing the rounds, the focushere was more on the stunning jewelledaccessories from 32 of India’s best designhouses and designers, rather than eye-ball
Gems & Jewellery, Golecha’s Jewels,Kashi Jewellers and others.
The highlight of the event was Paris-based designer Boucheron’s ‘The Queen ofthe Night’ collection that wrapped aroundSonam Kapoor’s neck during her last walkat the grand finale. A gorgeous neckpiecethat resembled floral branches crafted inrubies, diamonds and sapphires, it was afitting end to the jewellery extravaganza.
jadau work. C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons displayed
exquisite bridal as well as elegant cocktailjewellery whereas Anmol Jewellers set themood with Manish Malhotra’s flowing le-hengas and anarkalis, live classical musicand classic Indian jewellery.
Other brands and designers who partici-pated in IIJW included Alpana Gujral,Kays Jewels, Gehna Jewellers, Surana
grabbing ensembles and Bollywoodshowstoppers.
The show kick-started with the Gitanja-li Group’s unveiling of its new brands andcollections, which had something for allwomen and all occasions. Tanishq show-cased its Jewels of Falaknuma collectionthat was inspired from the regal Nizams ofHyderabad while Amrapali featured threecollections – silver, Art Deco and gold with
Bejewelled catwalk!
Kashi Jewellers
C. Krishniah Chettyand Sons
Amrapali
Kashi Jewelers
CVMExports
International Gemologi-cal Institute
Elin McCoy
Lazing in a hammock, chilled glassin hand, I’m sipping my new fa-vourite summer wine, Moscatod’Asti.
Who knew that this would bond me tothe hip-hop community? Ever since rapperKanye West started giving shout-outs fiveyears ago to the lightly fizzy, perfumeywhite wine, moscato has been a varietal onthe rise.
There are four main varieties of the ver-satile muscat grape, which can be made instyles from dry to sweet. The star of thefamily, though, is moscato bianco, used inItaly’s classic Moscato d’Asti, from the Astiarea of Piemonte.
These wines mostly fall in the middle ofthe sweetness spectrum and are gentlysparkling or as Italians say, frizzante.They’re the frivolous, under-$20 whites ina serious region that produces collectible,expensive Barolos.
While the grape has been a local staplesince the Crusades, only with modern cel-lar technology was the current style ofMoscato d’Asti possible.
Thanks toheady aro-
mas of orange blossom and rose petals,refreshing citrus and pear flavours, and on-ly 5 to 6 per cent alcohol, today’s gulpablefizzy moscato could practically be a break-fast wine. It has day-drinking written allover it.
With light sweetness balanced by zingyacidity, most examples play well as an easy-drinking aperitif, weekend brunch wine,sunset-watching beach pour, dessert part-ner or late night sipper while stargazing inthe hot tub.
After years of being overlooked exceptby hard-core Italophiles, the wines nowhave buzz - as well as the inevitable cheapcopycat versions from California andAustralia.
According to research company Nielsen,moscato is the fastest growing white varie-tal, or as vice president Danny Brager toldWine & Spirits Daily last month, one of thisyear’s “speeding bullets”.
Hip-hop hitIn the US market, retail sales overall grewmore than 100 per cent last year. It’s hard toknow how much the hip-hop communityhas helped the market. After Kanye
West chose Saracco Moscatod’Asti to pour at a “lis-
tening
2011 Innocent Bystander rose moscato($15) from Australia because of its oh-socutesy name. But I find it’s lively and re-
freshing, with water-melon and rose petalaromas and attractivestrawberry and citrustastes that are definitelyadult. The wine comeswith a crown cap, likebeer, and in Australiamore than a dozen res-taurants and hotels areserving it on tap.
Tasting the wineMy highest scores,though, go to Italy’sMoscato d’Astis fromthe 2010 vintage, whichcost between $14 and$16. Both vie for top
place. The Saracco, made by moscato spe-cialist Paolo Saracco, has fresh lemon-dropacidity, savoury elegance, and a seductivecreamy texture (I’m with Kanye on thisone). The Elio Perrone Sourgal is delicate,more complex than most, and has a tanta-lising orange blossom aroma and a balanceof citrusy fruit and minerality.
But I also like the sweeter Vietti “Casci-netta” with its ginger and peach aromasand round, peachy flavours. Same for theLa Spinetta “Bricco Quaglia,’’ the first sin-gle vineyard moscato in Italy, made by re-nowned winemaker Giorgio Rivetti. Silkytextured and frothy, it has a sweetspiciness.
These are fun wines you don’t have tothink about, only enjoy. Just right forsummer.
(The author writes on wine and spirits for Muse,the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News.
The opinions expressed are her own.)
party’’ in Atlanta in 2005 and then men-tioned it in a remixed version of TeairraMari’s “Make Her Feel Good’’, orderspoured in to the impor-ter, Brian Larky of NapaValley-based Dalla TerraWinery Direct.
Lil’ Kim slips the line“Still over in Brazil/Sip-pin’ moscato’’ into herbest-selling single“Lighters Up.’’ Canada’sAubrey Drake Graham,who acts and records asDrake, pairs a glass ofmoscato with lobster andshrimp in Trey Songz’ “IInvented Sex.’’ And asong called “Moscato’’appears on an Ab-souldisc with Kendrick La-mar that came out earlierthis year.
Aussie alternateThe buzz is there, ditto the sales, and thename moscato is easy to pronounce andremember. No wonder Australian plonklabel Yellowtail released their first one thisspring. To see how the ubiquitous bigbrand copies compare with real Moscatod’Asti, I set up a blind tasting of nearly twodozen bottles.
The taste gap reminds me of the wayremakes of classic films rarely succeedas well as the original. Most are sim-
ple and, frankly, yucky.I don’t find the Yellowtail ($7)“more refreshing than a scoop ofsorbet’’ as the press releasepromises, but people who likelemon-lime soda will probablylove it.
I’d dismissed the pale pink
A sip of summerTASTER’S choice
Photos: Bloomberg
15 August 17, 2011Smartbuy
MELANGE luxury redefined
Find your match withAzzaro’s new perfume, Duo.The women’s fragrance hasnotes of red apple, gardeniaand cedar while the men’sperfume has notes ofgrapefruit, purple ginger andvetiver. Available at selectlifestyle stores.Rs 1,620 (30ml); Rs 2,460(50ml); Rs 3,200 (80ml)
Match-maker
Babor, the German luxury cosmetic brand launches its range of skin careproducts for men in India this summer. The range includes shaving foams,face washes and an eau de toilette to complete your look. Available at the
Caressa Day Spa in Mumbai.Rs 1,316 onwards
A smooth finish
Hold on tight to one of the newclutches and wallets launched byHidesign this season. These bags andaccessories are made of vegetabletanned leather and come in a varietyof colours. Available at their stores.Rs 1,345 onwards
Snap it shut!
Loewe launches itsnew fragrance, LocoLoewe for the diva inyou. With hints ofvanilla, this fruity andfloral fragrance comesin a funky, twistedbottle with no edges,only curves. Availableat select lifestylestores.Rs 2,600 (30ml); Rs 3,375 (50ml);Rs 4,925 (100ml)
Diva alert
Feel the magnetism of the For Him fragrance by Narciso Rodriguez. Thenotes of deep musk, patchouli, amber and violet leaf form a perfume thatcelebrates the enigmatic male. Available at select lifestyle stores.Rs 2,900 (50ml) and Rs 3,950 (100ml)
Masculine musk
