All new Honda City, the 3rd generation is here

Behold, here comes the all new 3rd generation Honda City. This one is completely different from the current model and have got bigger and meaner.

The current model has been criticized by many for the rather weak engine and plain Jane looks, yet it managed to remain number one in its segment. it did loose its crown to Suzuki sx4, but regained its place, thanks to Honda's built quality and frugal engine.

And in typical Honda style, it is being replaced by a all new city, which is meaner with an iVtec engine and 15inch wheels coming as standard equipment. The looks is stunning in sync with the new accord and crv styling.

After seeing this one, I feel civic now needs a rework!

The best part is that Honda claims to have managed to keep the fuel efficiency comparable to the current city, while boosting its power to 118PS and bigger wider tyres. The interiors have got even better and the new instrument panel and front dashboard is awesome.

There has been huge improvements in the safety department with ABS and airbags being standard. That means City, which was initially intended for Asian market, is going West. It conforms to all quality standards that I have heard of and is factory ready to run on 10percent ethanol fuel. Even after all this additions, Honda has managed to keep the check on price with the base model coming at 7.8 lac in Delhi.

This one is going to ensure that Honda remains no 1 in c segment for another 3years. Its good to see that, while Ford has gone for just a facelift for fiesta and with Suzuki and Hyundai not announcing any changes in sx4 and Verna yet, Honda has gone ahead and replaced its best seller with an even better one.

For more pictures and detailed initial review by Adi Darukanawala visit www.zigwheels.com

Audi

Neighbour's envy
Owner's pride

But the Sad part is, I m the neighbour this time ! :(

Technorati Tags: audi, mumbai

g Phone launch nearing???

 Gphone - courtesy oHGizmo

 I just read on the Independent that Google had showcased its Android mobile operating system to the press on a iPhone sized touch screen device which also has a slide out qwerty keyboard.

Though Google didn't comment on whether the device itself is entering production, speculations are rife of this device "G Phone" reaching retailers for Christmas or even as early as thanksgiving week.

Its said that, the device showcased by Google is to be manufactured by HTC nicknamed the "Dream" and to launch on T Mobile. Hope the dream becomes reality soon. 

Well, the said post on Independent had many comments, mostly comparing it with iPhone and calling the Google version as a me - too device. As usual, my small comment became too big in the end, exceeding the character limits. 

Check out the post on Independent and the video of the Google press meet on android.

So here is my take on g Phone-

Why not, should try this out. the only thing I missed on my iPhone was a slide out keyboard, especially when surfing on landscape mode.

me - too, i don't agree to it. does that mean, all other than Martin Cooper and Motorola are me - too companies?. After all someone would have made or invented a thing, but it can always be improved upon. Lets hope Google succeeds in exceeding iphone's interface simplicity, aesthetics and accurate response to thumb commands while bringing in the plus points of win mobile like copy paste, folder browsing etc.

Another recently launched "iPhone wannabe" was HTC's Touch Diamond. I tried it out days back, and when compared to my iPhone, its response to touch commands was a disaster. 

I think HTC knew very well that Diamond's 3d touch flo cant be trusted upon, cause they have also given hard keys for navigation and zoom!! Add to that, HTC diamond's interface, other than part skinned by 3d touchflo, looks awfully dirty and cluttered. Ex: its calendar.

There are hundreds of things that an iPhone cant do, but there isn't any phone currently in the market that rival iPhone in its core features - an excellent touch interface, super fast file browsing, both in i Pod mode and photo gallery, etc. 

An N95 or SE c 902 can take excellent photos, but cant match iPhone's image gallery n full screen browser with auto rotate and quick population of hundreds of thumbnails. iPhone image gallery glides so smoothly even with thousands of thumbnail being populated ( i have 2000+ images in its photo gallery). Its so simple to use, not having to dig deep into the menu to send as email or set as wallpaper. 

Another winning feature is i Phone's browser and number of iPhone optimized websites available. Yes, it cant copy and save images or text, but which other phone lets you use G talk on its native browser or have optimized websites for almost all social networks and productivity apps. 

The app store from Apple, with ever populating list of silly to excellent applications as made iPhone even more unrivaled. All said, iPhone is an iPod too, with excellent video playback and a sexy cover flow for music.

I hope the G phone becomes a worthy competitor to iPhone. 

 HTC Dream - courtesy Engadget

Check this link for a image gallery from the highly reputed and followed tech blog Engadget, claimed to be of G Phone aka HTC Dream.

HTC Touch HD

Woo ow, engadget has come up with pictures of the HTC Touch HD, and they claim, its from HTC website itself. HTC Touch HD, is in all respects 2 times cooler than the Touch Diamond. This one seems directly aimed at the Sony ericsson experia X1 and comes with a similar 800 X 480 resolution screen, all kinds of radio receivers packed in and powered by 288MB of ram. 

The 3D touch flo seen in HTC Touch models will play its part in skinning the boring Windows mobile 6.1 pro interface.

I pray, this ones response to touch commands aren't sluggish like the HTC diamond. In fact after the initial HTC touch, I haven't found any HTC model that can better it.

Check out Engadget's coverage on HTC touch HD here and their image gallery here

Sizeasy : cool way to compare sizes

 

Looking around for more news on the Sony Ericsson Experia X1, I just found this awesome web app site called SizEasy.

It lets you compare sizes of different products before buying, I think, it makes sense, now that many more people are open to the idea of buying online. 

Size easy lets you compare between the various models you are eying with a nice and simple interface that lets you look at the comparison from top, bottom, left, right and a perspective view, that they call 3D.

  

I find this one, a small, sensible and actually useful web app. 

Check it out here Sized UP

Goan Beauty

A Goan temple against the setting sun. I liked the lighting and thought of having it here.
The last picture is Konkan Railways, all green in monsoon.


Images by: Rakesh on a N 95

Apple's Nano 4G

While Tata's Nano is still stuck in Singur controversy and political mileage games, Apple's iPod Nano has got another upgrade.It grew taller and now comes with apple's new "genius" function, which identifies and plays tracks of similar tempo.

Apple yesterday showcased its 4th generation iPod Nano series. Check this link for Engadget's live coverage of the event. Engadget has detailed the new additions to this 4G Nano here.

Well, there is no relation between Tata's Budget car Nano and Apple's iPod Nano other than both of them sharing the same name and are aimed at the lower end of the market.

The Apple also came up with the second generation iPod Touch along with a moderate price drop. New iPod touch looks a tad better and also comes with the latest "Genius" function. 

After the launch of iPhone2.0 in july, everyone was expecting the second generation iPod Touch, and most speculations were that, iPod touch entry level will be re positioned at below $200 mark. Check the link for full coverage by engadget.