Moto Q....

As the slimmest QWERTY handset ever made, the Motorola Q offers a familiar ultra-thin design popularized by the iconic RAZR. Encased in a remarkably thin and lightweight shell, the Q is actually crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, providing rigidity and support while weighing not much more than ordinary plastic. With an amazingly thin 0.45-inch profile, the exterior provides the support necessary to withstand the everyday wear and tear of regular use.

Motorola Q FrontProminently displayed on the front, a large 65K-color LCD offers a full visual experience. Optimized for video streaming, multimedia capture, and Internet browsing, the Q's screen provides the vibrancy needed for comfortable viewing indoors and out.

The 5-Way Navigation Keypad is located next to familiar green and red Call / Answer and Power / End Keys, with specially designated Home, Back, and Left and Right Keys offering menu navigation and shortcut functionality. Chemically-etched on a blue electro-luminescence panel, the shortcut keys are flush to the exterior, enhancing the Q's slim design.

The QWERTY keyboard allows users to easily and quickly compose messages from a variety of corporate and personal email technologies. With the left half doubling as the numeric keypad, dedicated Message / Display Off, Camera, and Speakerphone / Voice Recognition Keys are activated when pressed and held for two seconds. Offering slightly more spacious typing over the Treo 700, unfortunately typing is more cumbersome due to the Q's rounded key design.

On the right side, the Thumbwheel and Undo / Back Key gives consumers menu control similar to the industry-leading BlackBerry. Able to scroll up and down, as well as press in to select, users can easily navigate the menu with just the right hand.

Motorola Q BackA Memory Card Port along the left side accepts miniSD cards, while an Infrared Port nearby allows wireless transmission. A Mini-USB Port below lets users connect to a PC, also functioning as the Charger and Accessory Port. On the top a Headset Jacks gives consumers access to handsfree connectivity and audio.

Turned around, a 1.3-megapixel lens captures photos up to 1280 x 1024 px in resolution, accompanied by a Flash for low light conditions. Near the bottom dual speaker ports blast loud and clear sound during audio and speakerphone usage.

While the Treo outperforms the Q on usability, offering a larger color screen and better designed QWERTY keypad, few handhelds, if any, can match the Q in design and beauty. Motorola has the magic touch once again, releasing the most stylish PDA ever seen on the market.

Out of the box, the Motorola Q comes with a Standard 1130 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Mini-USB Data Cable, Holster, Welcome CD, Microsoft ActiveSync CD, Quick Reference Guide, and User Manual.

Bombay Scottish in 'Orkut' Web

According to reports, nearly 60 students of Mahim-based Bombay Scottish High School have used the social networking Web site, Orkut, to air their grievances against the school's Principal, DPN Prasad, and the Vice Principal.

These students have contributed without reservation to a recently set up forum on Orkut, called 'All those who hate DPN', alleging that the Principal along with his Deputy have ruined the image of the school.
It is learnt that Prasad, instead of punishing the students, has decided to call in cyber cell cops to talk to these students about keeping a safe distance from sites like Orkut.

Addressing the 250 odd parents of these students from classes VII and VIII, who posted the messages, Prasad denied all allegations against him. He also addressed the students separately.

The parents' response is something of a mixed bag. While a few pointed out Prasad wanted the children to take their studies seriously for the next two years, one parent alleged that Prasad has threatened to initiate action against the students, accusing them of committing a cyber crime.

Prasad, in a statement, said he wants the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell to educate students about cyber crime and its implications, and will invite Cell officials to address students in June.

The Principal advised the students to keep away from mud-slinging. Apparently, he's told his own children to stay away from Web sites like Orkut, advising them not to defame any person/institution, as that could land them in trouble.

And, in the latest development, principals from other schools in Mumbai have also decided to rope in Cyber Crime officials to speak at their schools. They believe the Cyber Cell can play a huge role in educating students and parents, and warning them against the legal and moral consequences of cyber crime.

Meanwhile, Principal of Andheri-based Holy Family School, Father Francis Swamy, said that apart from educating students, parents and teachers also need to be involved in order for any initiative against Internet abuse to succeed.

Swamy strongly pointed out that without the support of parents, no awareness program can succeed. Parents need to be sensitized towards the problem, and have to be active in stopping their children from maligning anyone and everyone.

V, Vh1 Boost Interactive Content

Music channels, Channel V and MTV's Vh1, are gearing up to boost their interactive content.

Channel V is reportedly, soon going to launch a user-generated Web site, called channelv2.com.
The Web site channelv2.com, which will be similar to YouTube, is going to be an interactive video content site where users can post their video and share content with other users, and in return - earn a couple of extra bucks. To start with, channelv2.com will host episodes on the Big V Concert, which was held last month, and shot by amateur bloggers under "Made by you - the blogumentary" initiative. The episodes will be aired as 30-minute episodes on the channel. The site will have content from Channel V's library, for which its developers are planning on eventually charging users for downloading content.

Talking about this initiative, Saurabh Kanwar, Vice President of Content and Communication, Channel V, said they hope to extend the brand Channel V through the Web site. And while users can download content for free, users who upload their video or audio content will be paid. Users are at liberty to download content, and also make copies of the same sans any security concerns.

In a similar development, MTV Network's international music and lifestyle channel, Vh1, has partnered with Nokia for its user-generated content initiative, 'Shot by you'.

Keertan Adyanthaya, Vice President and General Manager, Vh1, explained that viewers have to log on to the Nokia Web site, and listen to the track, 'Voice' sung by Indian rock band, Pentagram. They would then have to shoot video clips appropriate for the track. The channel will integrate the relevant video clips to create a music video to be aired on the channel anytime this week.

Sanyo Debuts Digicams in India

Global consumer electronics giant, Sanyo, has forayed into the Indian market with the launch of two flagship digital camera models; the VPC-E60, and the VPC-S60.

While the VPC-E60 features a largest-in-its-category 3-inch LCD monitor, the VPC-S60 sports a 2.5-inch LCD monitor.

Both cameras are compact and lightweight, and can record video on a memory (SD) card, something - Sanyo says, only they offer in cameras currently on the market.

Speaking at the launch, Keiji Oshima, President of Sanyo India, said, "We estimate the size of digital camera business in India at around 5, 00,000 units, and expect it to grow further rapidly in the next two years. We intend to further increase our global business success in cameras by offering most technologically advanced products in India."

Available immediately, the VPC-E60 is priced at Rs 15,990 and the VPC-S60 at Rs 10,990.


There are 8 other digital cameras in the pipeline, all priced between Rs 8,990 and Rs 59,990. Besides, there would be a high definition movie camera, HD2, with HDMI (digital output) plus 7 mega pixel support for still images.

So, watch this space for further updates on these newbies.