CAT, the Common Admission Test to the management institutes of the country, is going to be held on November 18, 2007.
With just over six months to go, it's time for those of you who plan to give the exam to start your preparation -- if you haven't done so already. Do remember, however, that unless you have a clear study strategy, the hours of effort you invest in your preparation can be wasted.
Here's how you can plan your preparation over the next six months:
To begin with, divide your preparation into time slots. Give yourself targets to achieve within these time slots.
After mid-September, your entire focus should be on maximising scores based on what you already know rather than spending time learning new topics. This is why it is important you spend the time you have before that on achieving a high degree of comfort with the basics of all the areas CAT will test you in.
Now, let's look at a timewise break-up.
May 1 to July 18
Objective: To work on every area thoroughly. You also need to understand what kinds of questions can be asked to you in each area.
This period is probably the most crucial -- it should be utilised as a launch pad for the four months thereafter.
In Data Interpretaion, you should use this time to become thorough with every type of representation. There are about six to seven types of DI sets that are possible. Also, there are standard types of questions like percentage increase, percentage share, counting, etc, as well as questions which are specific to a data representation.
In Quantitative Ability, you should go through the 15 to 20 chapters that are important for the CAT exam, giving special importance to Numbers, Number Theory, Geometry and Mensuration. By July 18, you should know every formula and concept in Quant, as well as the steps involved in solving these questions.
At the end of the first two months, you should have solved each type of question at least two to three times. It is not important as yet to solve the problem quickly. The focus is entirely on getting to know the variety of questions and developing the ability to solve them.
For Reading Comprehension, you should read at least 100 articles (at least two a day) in as many spheres as possible. In CAT, the passages can come from Psychology, Philosophy, Medicine, Economics, Sociology, Art, Culture and Religion, Literature, Politics and all other general topics. As we can see, there are about 10 subjects from which the RC passages can be given. Hence, in the next two months, you should read at least 10 articles from each of these subjects/ areas.
You also need to tackle the other areas in CAT, viz, Reasoning, Verbal ability and Data Sufficiency in a similar manner. At the end of two months, you need to be thorough in each of these sections; you need to know the types of questions that can be asked as well as the methods to solve them.
July 20 to September 19
Objective: To explore ways of solving each type of question in the shortest possible time.
After the first two months, you'll gain confidence -- confidence that there are questions in CAT you can solve. Now, aim to increase this confidence so that you can target the ideal IIM score.
By now, you can identify every question and know possible ways of solve it. Yet, you could be taking a lot of time to solve each question, making it impossible for you to go through the entire CAT paper in the given time. As a result, there is a good possibility that you might miss out on easy questions.
The solution to this is to spend time analysing the exercises you have already solved and redo them. This time, look at shortcuts and at intuitive methods of solving the questions. The methods might have been taught to you in a coaching class, but you will start understanding and appreciating them only when you know the traditional method of solving these problems.
Solve a number of exercises. Also take individual area tests to test your ability to grasp the fundamentals in the given time. Analyse every test paper that you take thoroughly. You will start seeing that there are always better and easier ways of solving a question than the pattern you have followed thus far.
Do a complete revision of all the areas while taking an All India MOCK CAT (AIMCAT) every Sunday. This will ensure you keep improving in each area. You can also check your progress through the results of your AIMCATs.
September 20 to November 18
Objective: To get the best results from your preparation.
This is the last leg of your preparation. From now on, all you should concentrate on is maximising your scores. You should take two full CAT level tests in each week, one on every Sunday and one on Wednesday/ Thursday.
The focus in the initial month would be on experimentation. You should adopt various strategies in each of the AIMCATs that you write and check which strategy is giving you the best results. It is possible that, despite a wrong strategy, you may have got good marks or, despite a correct strategy, you may have got fewer marks.
To ensure that you don't fall pray to such mistakes, check each strategy for at least two papers. If one strategy seems to be working, use the same for two more papers so that you are in a position to finalise the strategy you are going to use on the final day of CAT. You must remember to keep your strategy flexibile, just in case there are changes in the exam pattern.
This way, the last two months would be primarily used to give you the maximum returns on your preparation.
Thursday 26 April 2007
'It is the end of the road for the Indian tiger'
August 2005: 26 tigers. 21 adult tigers and 5 five cubs younger than 20 months
October 2006: 31 tigers. 18 adult tigers and 13 cubs
These figures, reflecting the population of tigers in one of India's top tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, revealed by The Indian Express a few days ago, suggest that eight adult tigers have gone missing since 2005.
The reasoning: By October 2006 the tigers who were cubs back in 2005 should be part of the adult population. Instead the adult population has dipped.
Missing tigers, sadly, is not a new story in this neck of the woods, 18 tigers were discovered missing in 2005. And if eight adult tigers are indeed missing, their disappearance is merely the next chapter in a tragedy that has been unfolding for a long time in many of India's 29 tiger reserves (38,620 sq kms).
It is a tragedy that mirrors the complete apathy of our government say tiger experts, who are infuriated by the course of events. They feel the indifference of the authorities makes a mockery of the years of energy and money poured into saving the tiger.
They also believe we are today living with the last wild tigers on earth.
A small backgrounder: Back in the 1970s India's tiger powerful conservation programme, Project Tiger, that had the backing of then prime minister Indira Gandhi, won international acclaim for its excellent work in boosting the population of this big cat from about 2,000 to 5,000.
Project Tiger relied on the first Tiger Task Force report, put together under the chairmanship of conservationist and politician Karan Singh, to formulate an enlightened strategy to tackle the issues.
The second Tiger Task Force was constituted in 2005, 32 long years after the first and only after the tiger losses in Ranthambore and the disappearance of tigers altogether from the Sariska National Park, Rajasthan. The report from this force, which was very long in preparation, stated: 'The protection of the tiger is inseparable from the protection of the forests it roams in. But the protection of these forests is itself inseparable from the fortunes of people who, in India, inhabit forest areas.' The report suggested: 'The habitat must be shared between the people and the tigers, so that both can coexist, as they must. The poverty of one, otherwise, will be the destruction of the other.'
This suggestion was the source of much debate and was cited as evidence that the report was not well researched.
Wildlife expert and conservationist Valmik Thapar, who has dedicated his life to defending India's tigers, spoke to rediff.com from London.
Thapar, the author of several ground-breaking books and documentaries, has been passionate about this big cat ever since he saw his first tiger at the age of nine. He believes India is facing one of the worst wildlife crises ever:
It is possible that tigers have gone missing in Ranthambhore. This has happened many times earlier. And this was the only news story I read about since leaving Delhi.
Tigers go missing because they get poached or younger ones leave the park for newer areas. But they find nowhere to go. They then starve. Or get killed by men or other tigers competing for territory.
Missing tigers points to poor federal governance and bad local management at a federal level. We are in the worst mess I have ever seen in 31 years of tiger work.
We have the most senior positions of director general and special secretary forests and additional director general wildlife (in the ministry of environment and forests) vacant for so many months. The former is the boss of India's forests. The latter is the boss of India's wildlife. They both work in the ministry of environment and forests.
Also not constituted and non-functioning is the forest advisory committee and the national board of wildlife. Run by the same ministry, the forest advisory committee has the legal status to protect forest land from degradation. The latter chaired by the prime minister is responsible for all wildlife issues.
To this abysmal record by the ministry, add the non-constitution of the Wildlife Crime Prevention bureau for over a year now.
The poor state governments! What can they do if all the institutions of the federal arm are non-functioning. Naturally tigers will go missing and poachers will have a field day!
Add into this menu China's effort to legalise trade in tiger derivatives. It becomes a disaster recipe and will fuel the trade, with fatal impact on the Indian tiger
The Tiger Task Force was a badly constituted authority -- mainly of non-tiger people. Its report was too encyclopedic and people-centric. It became redundant after its report. It has no meaning whatsoever today and most of its recommendations remain only on paper ie the Wildlife Crime Prevention Bureau.
One central theme to remember is that tigers do not coexist with people because they eat the four-legged animals that people rear -- cows and buffalos. This brings them into conflict. One or another gets killed. Therefore tigers do well when there are no people around. Even school children knows this. But our politicians and bureaucrats in the last two years have chosen to ignore simple facts thereby effecting policy change that signs the death warrant for tigers.
The government has failed like no other government since Independence. This Congress government has wiped out the legacy of both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in relation to forests and wildlife. The new popular legislation of the tribal bill piloted by the Left parties (Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers -- Recognition of Forest Rights -- Bill, 2005, which wishes to recognise and give forest rights and occupation in forest land of forest-dwelling scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest-dwellers) will end an era of forests and wildlife of India. As it becomes law in the next months forests will be plundered and looted. And legally.
There are probably 1,200 tigers left in India
I will not go into the issue of counting it is too complicated
The only hope lies in the Supreme Court of India. In the last years their orders have saved bits of the forests and wildlife. The question is: How much can they do?
I believe there is a complete breakdown in wildlife governance and the end of the road for the Indian tiger.
The tiger may survive in ten national parks in the future. But that is down from 120 protected areas. It cannot be a worse scenario
3,500-year-old investment tips that still work!
A book was cast in stone more than 3,500 years ago in Babylon and was found by a British professor late last century. What impressed him -- and helped him come out of a debt crisis -- were the inscriptions on how to manage one's finances.
The book is now available as The Richest Man of Babylon. It's a very small book, but with some very profound thoughts.
1. Pay yourself first
When we think of budgeting against our income, we typically look at our expenses: how much do I have to pay my landlord, my grocery bills, my medical expenses, my entertainment bills, et cetera. Once we have decided on our expenses, we find out what our savings will be.
Financial advisors and many credit card companies (or banks) today help clients in estimating their lifestyle expenses and help them understand where their money is being spent.
The old book turns this theory on its head: it says 'pay yourself first.' Before you pay others for the services that they give you, you should save money for yourself. You are working for yourself and not just for paying your bills and, hence, you should receive a fair share of your income for yourself.
The Richest Man of Babylon decrees that you should pay a minimum of 10% of whatever you earn to yourself. And the best thing is: once you have paid yourself, you will realise that your lifestyle does not change at all!
In today's consumption-driven world, this simple philosophy takes a back seat. It is important to nip the temptation of over-spending at the bud. With facilities like ECS available today, it is easy to transfer money to investments as soon as income is received.
For the clients that we have done that, they say that after the first couple of months, they have become used to the lesser disposable income, and do not feel the pinch in their life style at all.
2. Make your money work harder
The Richest Man of Babylon says that the only way for your money to grow is if it procreates. Using a wonderful analogy, it states that the money saved -- and invested -- is the father and it should bear children. The joy -- and the secret to financial independence -- lies in seeing the children grow bigger than the father.
It is very instructive to learn the difference between savings and investments. Indians typically 'save' a lot -- as demonstrated by the savings to GDP ratio of around 30%. However, in many cases, savings do not translate into investments, which earn returns.
Leaving money in the savings account for a rainy day is not investment. Such savings are like impotent people, who are progressively eaten away by age -- and inflation.
With the development of the financial markets, there are many avenues in which savings can be easily invested to procreate. Depending on your circumstances and requirements, you can invest in equities, real estate, long-tenor fixed deposits, etc. The idea should be that the children (the interest or dividend or capital appreciation) is so large that they can support their original father -- you.
Once your passive income is enough to sustain you, you are out of the rat race.
3. Take calculated risks -- but do take them
It is not always that the best intentions produce the best results. After having saved for one year as decreed by The Richest Man in the book, his disciple gave all his money to a merchant who was to go into far seas in search of the spices. Neither the boat, nor the man returned and all the savings of the disciple were lost.
While it is important -- rather it is a prerequisite -- that you need to take some risks to earn returns on your savings, you need to be careful in evaluating the risks that you can/should take. The first thing that you need to understand is the amount of risk that you are able and willing to take. It is easy to confuse between the ability and willingness -- and this is where you will need the assistance of your financial advisor.
Depending on your circumstances, you should define the amount and nature of risks that you can take. If you are nearing your retirement and have painstakingly built your nest-egg over your working life, it is important for you to ensure safety of your principal.
Conversely, if you are young and without responsibilities, you can risk your savings for higher returns.
4. Be persistent
After losing the money with the sea merchant, the disciple wanted to give up on saving and investment, saying that it is an illusory game leading to losses and pain. The Richest Man warned him not to lose heart and to continue the process year after year throughout his life. When the disciple invested -- more cautiously -- the second time, he not only received his principal back, but also received handsome interest.
It is easy to be lost in the maze of headlines and advisors who talk about the uncertainties in the markets and their abilities to time and make more money out of it. While one can try to get that extra return by tactically optimising on the portfolio allocations, what should not be lost sight of is that the mantra to investment success is to be disciplined.
There will be shocks on the way, but it is important that your savings are working for you.
It is surprising how the logic of wealth-creation written down millennia ago is still relevant today. The British archeologist who found these stone tablets was in a debt crisis, with credit card companies knocking at his door daily. By following the simple dictates above, he not only made his life debt-free, but set out on a path to financial independence!
The book is now available as The Richest Man of Babylon. It's a very small book, but with some very profound thoughts.
1. Pay yourself first
When we think of budgeting against our income, we typically look at our expenses: how much do I have to pay my landlord, my grocery bills, my medical expenses, my entertainment bills, et cetera. Once we have decided on our expenses, we find out what our savings will be.
Financial advisors and many credit card companies (or banks) today help clients in estimating their lifestyle expenses and help them understand where their money is being spent.
The old book turns this theory on its head: it says 'pay yourself first.' Before you pay others for the services that they give you, you should save money for yourself. You are working for yourself and not just for paying your bills and, hence, you should receive a fair share of your income for yourself.
The Richest Man of Babylon decrees that you should pay a minimum of 10% of whatever you earn to yourself. And the best thing is: once you have paid yourself, you will realise that your lifestyle does not change at all!
In today's consumption-driven world, this simple philosophy takes a back seat. It is important to nip the temptation of over-spending at the bud. With facilities like ECS available today, it is easy to transfer money to investments as soon as income is received.
For the clients that we have done that, they say that after the first couple of months, they have become used to the lesser disposable income, and do not feel the pinch in their life style at all.
2. Make your money work harder
The Richest Man of Babylon says that the only way for your money to grow is if it procreates. Using a wonderful analogy, it states that the money saved -- and invested -- is the father and it should bear children. The joy -- and the secret to financial independence -- lies in seeing the children grow bigger than the father.
It is very instructive to learn the difference between savings and investments. Indians typically 'save' a lot -- as demonstrated by the savings to GDP ratio of around 30%. However, in many cases, savings do not translate into investments, which earn returns.
Leaving money in the savings account for a rainy day is not investment. Such savings are like impotent people, who are progressively eaten away by age -- and inflation.
With the development of the financial markets, there are many avenues in which savings can be easily invested to procreate. Depending on your circumstances and requirements, you can invest in equities, real estate, long-tenor fixed deposits, etc. The idea should be that the children (the interest or dividend or capital appreciation) is so large that they can support their original father -- you.
Once your passive income is enough to sustain you, you are out of the rat race.
3. Take calculated risks -- but do take them
It is not always that the best intentions produce the best results. After having saved for one year as decreed by The Richest Man in the book, his disciple gave all his money to a merchant who was to go into far seas in search of the spices. Neither the boat, nor the man returned and all the savings of the disciple were lost.
While it is important -- rather it is a prerequisite -- that you need to take some risks to earn returns on your savings, you need to be careful in evaluating the risks that you can/should take. The first thing that you need to understand is the amount of risk that you are able and willing to take. It is easy to confuse between the ability and willingness -- and this is where you will need the assistance of your financial advisor.
Depending on your circumstances, you should define the amount and nature of risks that you can take. If you are nearing your retirement and have painstakingly built your nest-egg over your working life, it is important for you to ensure safety of your principal.
Conversely, if you are young and without responsibilities, you can risk your savings for higher returns.
4. Be persistent
After losing the money with the sea merchant, the disciple wanted to give up on saving and investment, saying that it is an illusory game leading to losses and pain. The Richest Man warned him not to lose heart and to continue the process year after year throughout his life. When the disciple invested -- more cautiously -- the second time, he not only received his principal back, but also received handsome interest.
It is easy to be lost in the maze of headlines and advisors who talk about the uncertainties in the markets and their abilities to time and make more money out of it. While one can try to get that extra return by tactically optimising on the portfolio allocations, what should not be lost sight of is that the mantra to investment success is to be disciplined.
There will be shocks on the way, but it is important that your savings are working for you.
It is surprising how the logic of wealth-creation written down millennia ago is still relevant today. The British archeologist who found these stone tablets was in a debt crisis, with credit card companies knocking at his door daily. By following the simple dictates above, he not only made his life debt-free, but set out on a path to financial independence!
India, now a $1-trillion economy!
India is now a trillion-dollar economy.
According to a Credit Suisse report, Indian GDP at the current price level of the rupee (Rs 40.76 per $) stands at $1trillion. The strengthening rupee has now made India the 12th country to achieve this milestone.
With the Rupee appreciating to below 41 against the US dollar on Wednesday, it was the first day for the economy to be a trillion-dollar economy.
The report said that India's stock market capitalisation too stands at $944 billion, just shy of the $1-trillion mark. However, if one stretches the definition of what constitutes an Indian stock, plus does a rounding, the Indian stock market is also about a trillion dollars as of Wednesday.
The first ever attainment of these landmarks is likely to create many self-congratulations and media events in the coming days. Fundamentally, they do not change anything, but the likely hoopla will add to investor sentiment, says the Credit Suisse report.
The report, adding some history trivia, says that eight out of the 10 economies had their stock markets rise in the one-year period after they first crossed $1trillion mark in GDP. The United Kingdom is the only economy to stop being a trillion-dollar economy for a while after attaining the status the first time.
The report, however, says that there is nothing magical about $1trillion or any such mark; and that it is wrong to take quarter-end GDP and some interim exchange rates for the calculation of GDP in a foreign currency. Any apparent GDP growth in foreign currency denomination due to the exchange rate move is not real growth, it said.
The other economy that crossed the same mark recently is Russia, which was within the last 2.5% as per the latest published GDP data of D ec-06. Somewhat coincidentally perhaps, the economies that crossed $1t-rillion mark mostly had positive equity markets in a year after they first crossed the level, even though some may want to partly attribute the "coincidence" to the halo effect on inflows created by reaching such a milestone.
The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday that the Indian economy is expected to post a robust growth for the fourth straight year, expanding by an accelerated 9.2 per cent in 2006-07 as against 9 per cent in the previous fiscal.
The acceleration in growth during 2006-07 is driven by continued momentum in the services and manufacturing sectors, growth of which are expected to be in double-digit figures.
Combined NRI wealth more than India's GDP
The combined wealth of the 20-million strong non-resident Indians community is estimated to be over $1 trillion dollars -- more than the country's entire economy.
Overseas Indians are estimated to hold financial wealth, apart from real estate, gold and art, of over $500 billion. The total wealth would be over $1 trillion, according to the report by High-Powered Expert Committee appointed by the Centre to suggest ways to make Mumbai an international financial centre.
These NRIs were a natural beachhead as a customer base where an Indian Personal Wealth Management industry can get started. Their wealth management services were presently being sourced almost exclusively from abroad, the report said.
The report listed 11 activities typically provided by an international financial centre (IFC) and referred to PWM as one of the most important activities undertaken at an IFC.
According to the report, PWM for high-net worth individuals is estimated to involve management of personal assets of $8-10 trillion globally.
According to a Credit Suisse report, Indian GDP at the current price level of the rupee (Rs 40.76 per $) stands at $1trillion. The strengthening rupee has now made India the 12th country to achieve this milestone.
With the Rupee appreciating to below 41 against the US dollar on Wednesday, it was the first day for the economy to be a trillion-dollar economy.
The report said that India's stock market capitalisation too stands at $944 billion, just shy of the $1-trillion mark. However, if one stretches the definition of what constitutes an Indian stock, plus does a rounding, the Indian stock market is also about a trillion dollars as of Wednesday.
The first ever attainment of these landmarks is likely to create many self-congratulations and media events in the coming days. Fundamentally, they do not change anything, but the likely hoopla will add to investor sentiment, says the Credit Suisse report.
The report, adding some history trivia, says that eight out of the 10 economies had their stock markets rise in the one-year period after they first crossed $1trillion mark in GDP. The United Kingdom is the only economy to stop being a trillion-dollar economy for a while after attaining the status the first time.
The report, however, says that there is nothing magical about $1trillion or any such mark; and that it is wrong to take quarter-end GDP and some interim exchange rates for the calculation of GDP in a foreign currency. Any apparent GDP growth in foreign currency denomination due to the exchange rate move is not real growth, it said.
The other economy that crossed the same mark recently is Russia, which was within the last 2.5% as per the latest published GDP data of D ec-06. Somewhat coincidentally perhaps, the economies that crossed $1t-rillion mark mostly had positive equity markets in a year after they first crossed the level, even though some may want to partly attribute the "coincidence" to the halo effect on inflows created by reaching such a milestone.
The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday that the Indian economy is expected to post a robust growth for the fourth straight year, expanding by an accelerated 9.2 per cent in 2006-07 as against 9 per cent in the previous fiscal.
The acceleration in growth during 2006-07 is driven by continued momentum in the services and manufacturing sectors, growth of which are expected to be in double-digit figures.
Combined NRI wealth more than India's GDP
The combined wealth of the 20-million strong non-resident Indians community is estimated to be over $1 trillion dollars -- more than the country's entire economy.
Overseas Indians are estimated to hold financial wealth, apart from real estate, gold and art, of over $500 billion. The total wealth would be over $1 trillion, according to the report by High-Powered Expert Committee appointed by the Centre to suggest ways to make Mumbai an international financial centre.
These NRIs were a natural beachhead as a customer base where an Indian Personal Wealth Management industry can get started. Their wealth management services were presently being sourced almost exclusively from abroad, the report said.
The report listed 11 activities typically provided by an international financial centre (IFC) and referred to PWM as one of the most important activities undertaken at an IFC.
According to the report, PWM for high-net worth individuals is estimated to involve management of personal assets of $8-10 trillion globally.
9 affordable cellphones for you
With so many cellphones flooding the market, one is at a loss when it comes to making the right choice. While some go for looks, others go for the available features -- like camera, Internet connectivity, e-mail and multimedia.
Price is another big factor while determining which phone to buy.
We scope out the low end (read cheap) models available in the market and the features they support.
Note: The phones featured here do not have a camera. Prices may vary from city to city.
Nokia 1110
Launched in mid 2005, this is one of the most basic phones with a monochrome (black and white) display. This phone has a talking clock and alarm. Though this model looks better than its predecessor (Nokia 1100), it lacks the inbuilt torchlight, which was quite popular among users.
Weighing about 80 grams, the phone is small enough to fit into your pocket. It offers three games and polyphonic ring tones. Nokia 1100's battery will give you about four to five hours of talktime and a long standby time.
Cost: Rs 1,900 (approximately)
Nokia 2310
Launched a year ago, this phone has a decent colour display supporting about 65,000 colours (this is the maximum number of different/unique colours that the screen is capable of displaying).
In the display features of this phone, you can customise animated screensavers and wallpapers to jazz up your screen.
Nokia 2310 does not give much connectivity options, as it does not support most of the communication modes like Bluetooth, and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). However you can connect to your favourite FM station using the inbuilt FM tuner.
Besides the inbuilt FM, you also get voice dialing, speakerphone, polyphonic ring tones, alarm and a few other common features.
The phone is on the bulkier side, weighing more than 100 grams. Nokia 2310 will give you five hours of talktime and a long standby time.
Cost: Rs 3,100 (approximately)
Nokia 6030
Launched more that a year back, the Nokia 6030 continues to be the fastest selling phone among the low level segment.
Weighing approximately 90 grams, Nokia 6030 looks larger than other phones. This JAVA (programming language) supports installation software applications like games, besides supporting 65,000 colours, polyphonic ring tones, multimedia messaging, FM tuner, speakerphone plus a few other basic tools.
This phone also provides support for a few languages -- Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati. The phone has better connectivity as it supports GPRS and WAP. Expect approximately 2.5-3.5 hours of talktime.
Cost: Rs 3,800 (approximately)
Nokia 6060
This good-looking phone has voice dialing, speakerphone, polyphonic and MP3 ring tones besides supporting WAP and GPRS.
What sets this JAVA enabled phone apart are inbuilt applications like expense manager and time management (these are small software that help you track expenses by entering the expenses you made in a day/month and analysing them).
The only downside of this clamshell phone from Nokia is that it does not have an external display to check who is calling. Though, Nokia has tried to spice up the external panel by providing a light on the panel, this does not compensate for the lack of external display. Expect the battery to last about 3 hours.
Cost: Rs 4,500 (approximately)
Sony Ericsson J230
This low level phone from Sony Ericsson released in the last quarter of 2005, weighs about 85 grams and supports about 65,000 colours. The phone does not have many communication options except for GPRS.
Its features include an inbuilt FM tuner, handsfree speaker and polyphonic ring tones. The battery life is about four to five hours.
Cost: Rs 3,200(approximately)
Motorola W220
This flip phone from Motorola supports 65,000 colours and an inbuilt FM tuner. Like the Nokia 6060, this phone does not include an external display.
However, Motorola has been creative enough to provide a few icons on the top to alert you in case of a new messages, missed calls and battery life.
The phone's features include polyphonic ring tones, GPRS and a host of games like Football, Rebels and Crazy. With a talk time of over 5 hours, the W220 battery has one of the longest talk time (compared to others phones in this price range).
Cost: Rs 3,850 (approximately)
Motorola Fone F3
The Motofone F3 looks just like the Motoslvr L-6 or L-7, but comes minus the camera and a whole range of functions.
Weighing 68 grams, the phone has a feather touch keypad. And two antennas for better coverage. Available in black and silver, these phones have a speakerphone, a large display screen, and voice prompts in Hindi, English and Punjabi.
The Motorola F3's revolutionary Electrophoretic Display (EPD) technology provides users with a large, high-contrast screen that can be seen even in bright sunlight. Expected battery life is about 4 hours.
Cost: Rs 1,800 (approximately)
Samsung X160
In the Samsung X160, the lack of an external screen has been taken care of by a greyish-bluish design on the front panel.
The phone, launched less than a year ago, weighs under 80 grams, supports 65,000 colours, polyphonic ring tones, built-in handsfree speaker, and has a large phone book memory -- 1000 records. The phone is JAVA enabled and supports GPRS connectivity.
Expect a talktime of about three hours with this phone.
(The Samsung X200 and X21 have similar details and some voice features like voice memo. Samsung X210 also boasts of FM Radio. Both these phones are priced under Rs 4,000)
Cost: Rs 3,500 (approximately)
Samsung C130
Resembling a sliding phone, the Samsung C130's features include 500 phonebook records, polyphonic ring tones, GPRS, voice memo(a built in voice recorder enabling the user to record notes), speakerphone and multimedia messaging.
Also, you have a choice of four colours for the outer casing on the standard black body of the phone.
The phone weighs just 75 grams and supports the basic 65,000 colour screen. The phone provides a decent talktime of about 4.5-5 hours.
Cost: Rs 2,900 (approximately)
Price is another big factor while determining which phone to buy.
We scope out the low end (read cheap) models available in the market and the features they support.
Note: The phones featured here do not have a camera. Prices may vary from city to city.
Nokia 1110
Launched in mid 2005, this is one of the most basic phones with a monochrome (black and white) display. This phone has a talking clock and alarm. Though this model looks better than its predecessor (Nokia 1100), it lacks the inbuilt torchlight, which was quite popular among users.
Weighing about 80 grams, the phone is small enough to fit into your pocket. It offers three games and polyphonic ring tones. Nokia 1100's battery will give you about four to five hours of talktime and a long standby time.
Cost: Rs 1,900 (approximately)
Nokia 2310
Launched a year ago, this phone has a decent colour display supporting about 65,000 colours (this is the maximum number of different/unique colours that the screen is capable of displaying).
In the display features of this phone, you can customise animated screensavers and wallpapers to jazz up your screen.
Nokia 2310 does not give much connectivity options, as it does not support most of the communication modes like Bluetooth, and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). However you can connect to your favourite FM station using the inbuilt FM tuner.
Besides the inbuilt FM, you also get voice dialing, speakerphone, polyphonic ring tones, alarm and a few other common features.
The phone is on the bulkier side, weighing more than 100 grams. Nokia 2310 will give you five hours of talktime and a long standby time.
Cost: Rs 3,100 (approximately)
Nokia 6030
Launched more that a year back, the Nokia 6030 continues to be the fastest selling phone among the low level segment.
Weighing approximately 90 grams, Nokia 6030 looks larger than other phones. This JAVA (programming language) supports installation software applications like games, besides supporting 65,000 colours, polyphonic ring tones, multimedia messaging, FM tuner, speakerphone plus a few other basic tools.
This phone also provides support for a few languages -- Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati. The phone has better connectivity as it supports GPRS and WAP. Expect approximately 2.5-3.5 hours of talktime.
Cost: Rs 3,800 (approximately)
Nokia 6060
This good-looking phone has voice dialing, speakerphone, polyphonic and MP3 ring tones besides supporting WAP and GPRS.
What sets this JAVA enabled phone apart are inbuilt applications like expense manager and time management (these are small software that help you track expenses by entering the expenses you made in a day/month and analysing them).
The only downside of this clamshell phone from Nokia is that it does not have an external display to check who is calling. Though, Nokia has tried to spice up the external panel by providing a light on the panel, this does not compensate for the lack of external display. Expect the battery to last about 3 hours.
Cost: Rs 4,500 (approximately)
Sony Ericsson J230
This low level phone from Sony Ericsson released in the last quarter of 2005, weighs about 85 grams and supports about 65,000 colours. The phone does not have many communication options except for GPRS.
Its features include an inbuilt FM tuner, handsfree speaker and polyphonic ring tones. The battery life is about four to five hours.
Cost: Rs 3,200(approximately)
Motorola W220
This flip phone from Motorola supports 65,000 colours and an inbuilt FM tuner. Like the Nokia 6060, this phone does not include an external display.
However, Motorola has been creative enough to provide a few icons on the top to alert you in case of a new messages, missed calls and battery life.
The phone's features include polyphonic ring tones, GPRS and a host of games like Football, Rebels and Crazy. With a talk time of over 5 hours, the W220 battery has one of the longest talk time (compared to others phones in this price range).
Cost: Rs 3,850 (approximately)
Motorola Fone F3
The Motofone F3 looks just like the Motoslvr L-6 or L-7, but comes minus the camera and a whole range of functions.
Weighing 68 grams, the phone has a feather touch keypad. And two antennas for better coverage. Available in black and silver, these phones have a speakerphone, a large display screen, and voice prompts in Hindi, English and Punjabi.
The Motorola F3's revolutionary Electrophoretic Display (EPD) technology provides users with a large, high-contrast screen that can be seen even in bright sunlight. Expected battery life is about 4 hours.
Cost: Rs 1,800 (approximately)
Samsung X160
In the Samsung X160, the lack of an external screen has been taken care of by a greyish-bluish design on the front panel.
The phone, launched less than a year ago, weighs under 80 grams, supports 65,000 colours, polyphonic ring tones, built-in handsfree speaker, and has a large phone book memory -- 1000 records. The phone is JAVA enabled and supports GPRS connectivity.
Expect a talktime of about three hours with this phone.
(The Samsung X200 and X21 have similar details and some voice features like voice memo. Samsung X210 also boasts of FM Radio. Both these phones are priced under Rs 4,000)
Cost: Rs 3,500 (approximately)
Samsung C130
Resembling a sliding phone, the Samsung C130's features include 500 phonebook records, polyphonic ring tones, GPRS, voice memo(a built in voice recorder enabling the user to record notes), speakerphone and multimedia messaging.
Also, you have a choice of four colours for the outer casing on the standard black body of the phone.
The phone weighs just 75 grams and supports the basic 65,000 colour screen. The phone provides a decent talktime of about 4.5-5 hours.
Cost: Rs 2,900 (approximately)
Buying a Bag/Briefcase - for WOMEN
Dressing attractively for work builds confidence. So does shouldering a good handbag or gripping a neat briefcase.
"A handbag can transform even the dullest outfit," says fashion consultant Shadaab Razak. "Your choice of handbag should depend on your job profile and lifestyle. But most people don't give this any thought when buying one."
For women
Make sure your handbag/ briefcase is not dull. It should not be inconvenient to use either. Here are some bag ideas to match your work profile:
~ Executive
"A checked/ striped bag will do wonders to your business suit," says Shadaab. "You can select a bag with a light background like beige, with darker stripes of brown, black or even red. A beige, brown or dark tan handbag with a sturdy handle is your best choice if you are an executive. Remember, your bag must be able to carry a diary, pens, your cellphone, comb, compact and lipstick."
~ Senior management
A classic bag with a big buckle will give you just the right image. The bag must have a clean-cut appearance, with just a dash of bling, courtesy the buckle.
~ Teacher/ professor
Naina De, a 33-year-old senior lecturer in Kolkata, says, "I always choose a sturdy, roomy bag for work; it should be able to carry my books, a purse and my tiffin box and water bottle."
"In Naina's case," says Shadaab, a tote or a large bag is her best option. It's very roomy. At the same time, it does not look obnoxiously big since it's made of soft fabric and has short handles which fit on the shoulder."
~ College student/ athlete
A sling bag, as the name suggests, is flung across the shoulder. It usually has one or two long straps attached to it. Carrying a sling bag keeps your hands free, while adding value to your outfit.
"Women should choose a sling bag that is not too big; it must be just the right size to complement your hips. We Indians have started quite a trend internationally with our glass studded and embroidered slings," says Shadaab.
"This fashion trend has been internationally copied by top Hollywood stars. A sling was a constant in the serial, Friends; it would be slung across Phoebe's shoulder most of the times. This kind of bag is usually preferred by the younger generation, who carry it off easily," he adds.
~ Media/ creative
If you are in the creative field, use a large tote. This tote can be either in one colour like black, or self-printed in chocolate brown, cream or any other flat colour that suits your wardrobe.
"You cannot imagine all the stuff a tote can hold," says Shadaab.
~ Bags for Indian wear
A good-sized shoulder bag is what you need. They are available in a variety of colours and styles.
There is no standard size -- it could vary from person to person. These days, large bags are in vogue, so those who are fashion conscious are using large totes/ bags.
If you wear a salwar kameez, sari or fusion wear to work, a smart shoulder bag in a bold fabric print will accentuate your attire.
Shadaab adds, "Most people prefer carrying a bag in a flat colour to work, thinking it's more conservative. Well, not really. You can pick up hand bags which have flowers/ motifs printed on the fabric of the purse, or are embroidered or jewelled."
A medium-sized shoulder bag, with a flap, which showcases a smart buckle, is what you need.
Ladies can alter their purses to match their clothes. Tie a string of beads, a scarf, or add fancy pins on your bag to match it with your attire.
A tote can look fabulous with a salwar kameez/ jeans or a sari.
Avoid acrylic bags, which come as complimentary gifts. They are passe.
Bags should always be stuffed with plastic or paper when not in use. Else, they lose shape.
Keep your leather briefcase/ purse in a flannel bag cover when not in use. It prevents them from getting spoilt.
You can use stain removers to clean the fabric on suede, cloth or velvet bags. Use leather cleaners to buff your leather briefcases and bags.
"A handbag can transform even the dullest outfit," says fashion consultant Shadaab Razak. "Your choice of handbag should depend on your job profile and lifestyle. But most people don't give this any thought when buying one."
For women
Make sure your handbag/ briefcase is not dull. It should not be inconvenient to use either. Here are some bag ideas to match your work profile:
~ Executive
"A checked/ striped bag will do wonders to your business suit," says Shadaab. "You can select a bag with a light background like beige, with darker stripes of brown, black or even red. A beige, brown or dark tan handbag with a sturdy handle is your best choice if you are an executive. Remember, your bag must be able to carry a diary, pens, your cellphone, comb, compact and lipstick."
~ Senior management
A classic bag with a big buckle will give you just the right image. The bag must have a clean-cut appearance, with just a dash of bling, courtesy the buckle.
~ Teacher/ professor
Naina De, a 33-year-old senior lecturer in Kolkata, says, "I always choose a sturdy, roomy bag for work; it should be able to carry my books, a purse and my tiffin box and water bottle."
"In Naina's case," says Shadaab, a tote or a large bag is her best option. It's very roomy. At the same time, it does not look obnoxiously big since it's made of soft fabric and has short handles which fit on the shoulder."
~ College student/ athlete
A sling bag, as the name suggests, is flung across the shoulder. It usually has one or two long straps attached to it. Carrying a sling bag keeps your hands free, while adding value to your outfit.
"Women should choose a sling bag that is not too big; it must be just the right size to complement your hips. We Indians have started quite a trend internationally with our glass studded and embroidered slings," says Shadaab.
"This fashion trend has been internationally copied by top Hollywood stars. A sling was a constant in the serial, Friends; it would be slung across Phoebe's shoulder most of the times. This kind of bag is usually preferred by the younger generation, who carry it off easily," he adds.
~ Media/ creative
If you are in the creative field, use a large tote. This tote can be either in one colour like black, or self-printed in chocolate brown, cream or any other flat colour that suits your wardrobe.
"You cannot imagine all the stuff a tote can hold," says Shadaab.
~ Bags for Indian wear
A good-sized shoulder bag is what you need. They are available in a variety of colours and styles.
There is no standard size -- it could vary from person to person. These days, large bags are in vogue, so those who are fashion conscious are using large totes/ bags.
If you wear a salwar kameez, sari or fusion wear to work, a smart shoulder bag in a bold fabric print will accentuate your attire.
Shadaab adds, "Most people prefer carrying a bag in a flat colour to work, thinking it's more conservative. Well, not really. You can pick up hand bags which have flowers/ motifs printed on the fabric of the purse, or are embroidered or jewelled."
A medium-sized shoulder bag, with a flap, which showcases a smart buckle, is what you need.
Ladies can alter their purses to match their clothes. Tie a string of beads, a scarf, or add fancy pins on your bag to match it with your attire.
A tote can look fabulous with a salwar kameez/ jeans or a sari.
Avoid acrylic bags, which come as complimentary gifts. They are passe.
Bags should always be stuffed with plastic or paper when not in use. Else, they lose shape.
Keep your leather briefcase/ purse in a flannel bag cover when not in use. It prevents them from getting spoilt.
You can use stain removers to clean the fabric on suede, cloth or velvet bags. Use leather cleaners to buff your leather briefcases and bags.
Buying a bag/ briefcase? for MEN
It's difficult to imagine a well-dressed man going to work without a bag/ briefcase in his hand. When you buy one, however, do remember it needs to match not just your personality but also your job profile.
Here we offer tips on how men can choose a bag depending on the kind of work they do:
~ Media/ creative
"Your bag should portray your vibrance. Go for a good sling (which hangs on the shoulder) if you are in a creative environment," says fashion consultant Shadaab Razak. "Apart from slings, you could also try out messenger bags, a briefcase (in soft or hard leather) or whatever suits your profile."
A messenger bag is usually slung across your chest while the bag rests on your lower back or over your shoulder. Messenger bags, which are a smarter version of the plain old sling bag, are a popular accessory with young men in cities across the world. It is also known as a courier bag; you may have seen it on men riding bikes to work
It is a medium, square-shaped bag with two to three compartments that can hold a lot of stuff. It is usually crafted from thick material or soft leather, and has large straps.
~ Senior management
A handsome leather briefcase is what you need. "Personalise your bag by embossing your initials in a bold script on one corner of the bag. Please do not use gold or silver for this. It should be self-print on leather. Any leather workshop can customise your designer briefcase. These days, designer brands do it too at a slightly extra cost," says Shadaab.
~ Management
Are you a management grad? Do you work as a manager in the corporate world? A good messenger bag that can double as a handbag, in soft leather -- or suede if you are adventurous -- in matt/ shiny, black/ brown/ burgundy is a nice choice.
Shadaab says, "These days, carrying a good messenger bag is a fashion statement for men. Be it a business suit or jeans, it definitely adds a dash of boyish charm."
"Always try and match your bag either with your belt or shoes. Do not carry a bag of a different colour when you wear a matching belt and shoes," she adds.
~ Athlete/ sportsperson/ coach
A sports Nike bag, a Tommy Hilfiger sling, or a smart Boss tote is what you need for your entire tedious workout garb. The fact that you are making a fashion statement at the same time doesn't hurt. Some of the best slings are available at very reasonable prices.
Quick tips
You should pick up a briefcase that suits your skin tone. A person with dark skin tones should not buy a dull handbag. Instead pick up a vibrant bag that has some gloss or bling to it.
If have a fair complexion you probably have a wider choice. But don't overdo it; you do not want the bag to get more attention than your face.
Keep abreast with the fashions by browsing magazines and fashion programmes on television. "However, do not let fashion dictate you, create your own style, keeping your taste in mind," says Shadaab.
Most metros in India have malls and stores that have originals or replicas of the latest designs.
Hidesign, a popular Indian brand, has a great range of bags of all types. You can also try department stores like Shoppers' Stop or Lifestyle.
Here we offer tips on how men can choose a bag depending on the kind of work they do:
~ Media/ creative
"Your bag should portray your vibrance. Go for a good sling (which hangs on the shoulder) if you are in a creative environment," says fashion consultant Shadaab Razak. "Apart from slings, you could also try out messenger bags, a briefcase (in soft or hard leather) or whatever suits your profile."
A messenger bag is usually slung across your chest while the bag rests on your lower back or over your shoulder. Messenger bags, which are a smarter version of the plain old sling bag, are a popular accessory with young men in cities across the world. It is also known as a courier bag; you may have seen it on men riding bikes to work
It is a medium, square-shaped bag with two to three compartments that can hold a lot of stuff. It is usually crafted from thick material or soft leather, and has large straps.
~ Senior management
A handsome leather briefcase is what you need. "Personalise your bag by embossing your initials in a bold script on one corner of the bag. Please do not use gold or silver for this. It should be self-print on leather. Any leather workshop can customise your designer briefcase. These days, designer brands do it too at a slightly extra cost," says Shadaab.
~ Management
Are you a management grad? Do you work as a manager in the corporate world? A good messenger bag that can double as a handbag, in soft leather -- or suede if you are adventurous -- in matt/ shiny, black/ brown/ burgundy is a nice choice.
Shadaab says, "These days, carrying a good messenger bag is a fashion statement for men. Be it a business suit or jeans, it definitely adds a dash of boyish charm."
"Always try and match your bag either with your belt or shoes. Do not carry a bag of a different colour when you wear a matching belt and shoes," she adds.
~ Athlete/ sportsperson/ coach
A sports Nike bag, a Tommy Hilfiger sling, or a smart Boss tote is what you need for your entire tedious workout garb. The fact that you are making a fashion statement at the same time doesn't hurt. Some of the best slings are available at very reasonable prices.
Quick tips
You should pick up a briefcase that suits your skin tone. A person with dark skin tones should not buy a dull handbag. Instead pick up a vibrant bag that has some gloss or bling to it.
If have a fair complexion you probably have a wider choice. But don't overdo it; you do not want the bag to get more attention than your face.
Keep abreast with the fashions by browsing magazines and fashion programmes on television. "However, do not let fashion dictate you, create your own style, keeping your taste in mind," says Shadaab.
Most metros in India have malls and stores that have originals or replicas of the latest designs.
Hidesign, a popular Indian brand, has a great range of bags of all types. You can also try department stores like Shoppers' Stop or Lifestyle.
What your ringtone says about you!
Whether you have Beethoven's Fur Elise as your ringtone or a hip techno one, it speaks volumes about your personality, if research is to be believed.
According to The Age, these are the finds of new research carried out by Tesco Mobile on 1,000 people:
i. If you have rude or animal sound tones, especially the popular Crazy frog, you are little more than a boy.
ii. If you have the latest chart hit, you could be unreliable.
iii. If you have an old-fashioned ringtone, you could be pretentious.
iv. If you have a polyphonic version of My generation and More than a feeling, you must be an ageing rocker!
v. If you have a recording of yourself, your partner or child, you can be more than a little self-obsessed.
vi. If you have a standard ringtone, you could lack daring or even an aversion to technology.
More findings of the research
1. Twenty-one per cent of those questioned thought having a standard ringtone was 'uncool'.
2. Twenty-five per cent said the first thing they did on acquiring a new phone was to personalise the ring tone.
3. Sixty-six per cent had got so annoyed with someone else's choice of mobile tone they had either switched off the phone or asked the owner to do so!
According to The Age, these are the finds of new research carried out by Tesco Mobile on 1,000 people:
i. If you have rude or animal sound tones, especially the popular Crazy frog, you are little more than a boy.
ii. If you have the latest chart hit, you could be unreliable.
iii. If you have an old-fashioned ringtone, you could be pretentious.
iv. If you have a polyphonic version of My generation and More than a feeling, you must be an ageing rocker!
v. If you have a recording of yourself, your partner or child, you can be more than a little self-obsessed.
vi. If you have a standard ringtone, you could lack daring or even an aversion to technology.
More findings of the research
1. Twenty-one per cent of those questioned thought having a standard ringtone was 'uncool'.
2. Twenty-five per cent said the first thing they did on acquiring a new phone was to personalise the ring tone.
3. Sixty-six per cent had got so annoyed with someone else's choice of mobile tone they had either switched off the phone or asked the owner to do so!
5 cell phone features that simplify life
Many of us buy expensive cell phones with gazillion features, but remain clueless about their functions. If you are one of those people, then, here's what you need to know.
Speed dial
A feature that allows you to call your friends and loved ones just by pressing a single key on your phone's keypad. Most modern day phones support this feature. You can assign any number to a contact you wish to call in a hurry.
To find out if your phone supports speed dial, unlock the keypad and press any numerical key for about 2 seconds (except 0 in most cases). If your phone starts dialing a number present in your phonebook or displays a message indicating 'Number / Record not found', it supports speed dialing.
Quite a few cell phones support upto 9 speed dial numbers (some support more, depending on the memory). You can also edit the number by pressing the option for speed dial in the phone book menu
Battery saving mode
There are some days when you're too busy to charge your phone or when you forget your charger at home. To get the maximum talktime and standby time for your phone, follow these tips:
~ Reduce the backlight level and duration for the phone display.
~ Reduce the screen contrast to the minimum readable level.
~ Turn off screensavers, if any.
~ Reduce the ringtone to the lowest possible volume.
Flight Mode
Airplane, offline or stand-alone mode is the synonym for flight mode. Some phones have a special mode that turns off the wireless radio transmission part of the device for safe use while on an aircraft where radio transmitters are not allowed.
The use of wireless radio devices like cell phones on aircraft has been banned by the government to prevent interference with the plane's radio and navigational systems. Hence, flight mode allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of the phone such as music, games, organisers and various mobile phone applications.
Please note: Not all airlines allow the use of mobile phones on board even in flight mode. Do check with airline officials before using this feature.
T9
It stands for 'Text on 9 Keys', and usually comes loaded on most handsets to make typing text faster and easier on numeric keypads. T9 is a software that combines a group of letters pressed to check the dictionary for all possible words that can be formed using these key combinations.
For example, to type the word 'fill' on your regular mobile phone keypad, you need to press '333' to type 'F' then '444' for 'I' followed by '555' for the first 'L' and '555' again for the second 'L'. This means 12 key presses to type '4' characters for a mobile message. With T9, you can find out which word you want by pressing any key 4 times. Check your phone booklet for steps to activate 'T9'. Learn more by visiting T9.
Copy Records / Phonebook
Unlike the old days, you can save your contacts in the phone memory as well as the SIM (subscribers identification module) card memory. Usually, contacts are saved in the SIM card, although some save contacts in the phone memory as well as the SIM card.
However, when switching to a new cell phone, contacts saved in the old one cannot be transferred unless you copy all contacts on your SIM card and then transfer them to your new phone. One can copy all contacts from a SIM card's memory to the handset's memory within a couple of minutes, provided there is enough free memory available.
As different manufacturers have different navigational menus, it is not possible to list the exact steps to activate the above mentioned features. Go through the user manual of your handset for more information.
Speed dial
A feature that allows you to call your friends and loved ones just by pressing a single key on your phone's keypad. Most modern day phones support this feature. You can assign any number to a contact you wish to call in a hurry.
To find out if your phone supports speed dial, unlock the keypad and press any numerical key for about 2 seconds (except 0 in most cases). If your phone starts dialing a number present in your phonebook or displays a message indicating 'Number / Record not found', it supports speed dialing.
Quite a few cell phones support upto 9 speed dial numbers (some support more, depending on the memory). You can also edit the number by pressing the option for speed dial in the phone book menu
Battery saving mode
There are some days when you're too busy to charge your phone or when you forget your charger at home. To get the maximum talktime and standby time for your phone, follow these tips:
~ Reduce the backlight level and duration for the phone display.
~ Reduce the screen contrast to the minimum readable level.
~ Turn off screensavers, if any.
~ Reduce the ringtone to the lowest possible volume.
Flight Mode
Airplane, offline or stand-alone mode is the synonym for flight mode. Some phones have a special mode that turns off the wireless radio transmission part of the device for safe use while on an aircraft where radio transmitters are not allowed.
The use of wireless radio devices like cell phones on aircraft has been banned by the government to prevent interference with the plane's radio and navigational systems. Hence, flight mode allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of the phone such as music, games, organisers and various mobile phone applications.
Please note: Not all airlines allow the use of mobile phones on board even in flight mode. Do check with airline officials before using this feature.
T9
It stands for 'Text on 9 Keys', and usually comes loaded on most handsets to make typing text faster and easier on numeric keypads. T9 is a software that combines a group of letters pressed to check the dictionary for all possible words that can be formed using these key combinations.
For example, to type the word 'fill' on your regular mobile phone keypad, you need to press '333' to type 'F' then '444' for 'I' followed by '555' for the first 'L' and '555' again for the second 'L'. This means 12 key presses to type '4' characters for a mobile message. With T9, you can find out which word you want by pressing any key 4 times. Check your phone booklet for steps to activate 'T9'. Learn more by visiting T9.
Copy Records / Phonebook
Unlike the old days, you can save your contacts in the phone memory as well as the SIM (subscribers identification module) card memory. Usually, contacts are saved in the SIM card, although some save contacts in the phone memory as well as the SIM card.
However, when switching to a new cell phone, contacts saved in the old one cannot be transferred unless you copy all contacts on your SIM card and then transfer them to your new phone. One can copy all contacts from a SIM card's memory to the handset's memory within a couple of minutes, provided there is enough free memory available.
As different manufacturers have different navigational menus, it is not possible to list the exact steps to activate the above mentioned features. Go through the user manual of your handset for more information.
WHC in India - Churches and Convents in Goa
Date of Inscription: 1986
Criteria:
(ii)to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
(iv)to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
(vi)to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)
Brief Description
The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies – particularly the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.
No time to shampoo? Just spray!
Going straight from work to a date and no time to shampoo? Relax! You're just a spray away from fresh-looking hair.
Toni & Guy has launched its Refresh It Dry shampoo mist spray, a styling product from the Red & White signature range.
The makers claim this fine-mist spray is suitable for all hair types and will rid your hair of excess oil to refresh and invigorate the tresses between shampoos.
Winner of the Grooming Award 2006 for the Best Emergency Grooming Solution, it is priced at Rs 775 for a 250 ml bottle and is available at all leading lifestyle stores across the country.
Toni & Guy has launched its Refresh It Dry shampoo mist spray, a styling product from the Red & White signature range.
The makers claim this fine-mist spray is suitable for all hair types and will rid your hair of excess oil to refresh and invigorate the tresses between shampoos.
Winner of the Grooming Award 2006 for the Best Emergency Grooming Solution, it is priced at Rs 775 for a 250 ml bottle and is available at all leading lifestyle stores across the country.
WHC in India - Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Date of Inscription: 1985
Criteria:
(vii)to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance
(ix)to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals
(x)to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: 1992
Brief Description
On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant.
Threats to the Site:
The Committee decided to include this site on the World Heritage in Danger List in 1992, when it was invaded by militants of the Bodo tribe in Assam. Damage to the sanctuary was estimated at more than two million US dollars. The site's infrastructure suffered considerable damage during 1992-93. Political instability seems to have led to poaching during this period of thirty-three rhinos during 1989-1992. A monitoring mission jointly undertaken by the Government of India and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in January 1997 confirmed the extensive damage to Park infrastructure and decrease in the population of some species, particularly the greater one-horned rhino.
The Government of India, the State Government of Assam and the Park authorities have elaborated a $US 2,35 million rehabilitation plan which began to be implemented in 1997 and is progressing satisfactorily. And while security conditions in and around Manas have improved, the threat of insurgency still prevails in the State of Assam and militants often traverse the sanctuary. Nevertheless, conditions for site- protection and the relationship with local villagers appear to be improving.
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