'Bigg Boss 7': Kamya and Sangram break international record

'Bigg Boss 7': Kamya and Sangram break international record

Kamya and Sangram have always come across as tough contenders in the 'Bigg Boss 7' house

These ingenious contestants have always given their sweat and blood to every task that they have undertaken and have proved themselves. This time around, they have not only given a performance that was paramount but have also proven to be the stalwarts of this season.

As a part of the luxury budget task, the three 'Bigg Boss 7' contenders Andy, Sangram and Kamya were asked to undertake the Bigg Box task where they were to survive inside a box with an aid of a survival kit. The one contestant, who is able to survive inside the box for the maximum time would win the 'Ticket to Finale' task by securing a position in the grand finale. While Andy is the first one to come out of the box after surviving for approximately 19 hours, Sangram and Kamya still continue to perform the task and survive in the box.



As a result of their strong will and determination, Kamya and Sangram have broken the record of Big Brother UK by surviving in the box for more than 26 hours. Soon after they break the record, Bigg Boss makes an announcement and congratulates Sangram and Kamya on their achievement. While it was a moment of pride for Kamya and Sangram, the housemates also applauded the duo.

Even after achieving a milestone and adding another feather to their cap, Kamya and Sangram continue to survive in the box with the desire to reach the grand finale.

So what record will they set?

 

What Salman said about Katrina

Saturday, December 14, 2013 13:28 IST

Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan and Salman Khan at the trailer launch of 'Jai Ho' at a cinema hall in Juhu.

>> When asked about Kareena Kapoor referring to Katrina Kaif as her sister-in-law on Koffee with Karan, Salman said, `Agar Kareena ki sister-in-law ho gayi to meri bhi sister-in-law ho gayi yaar.` Ouch.

Love Ka The End: Hrithik blames Sussanne for split

Love Ka The End: Hrithik blames Sussanne for split 

Now it's official: Hrithik Roshan sends a statement that Susanne has asked for separation from him

The speculations about trouble in Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan's marriage can finally be put to rest as the superstar has sent a statement confirming that his wife of 13 years has asked for a separation. For the past few months, there have been many stories flying around about the cracks in their marriage.

There was buzz about Sussanne walking out of Hrithik's home. Hitlist was the first to report about Sussanne's blink-and-miss appearance (Hitlist, September 9) at Rakesh Roshan's 64th birthday bash on September 6. She came with her mother Zarine Khan and siblings Zayed Khan and Farah Khan Ali for barely half an hour.

Even when the cake was being cut, she remained aloof from Hrithik.

After this incident, there were many such instances where Sussanne went missing while her family was present to support Hrithik during Krrish 3's promotions leading to further speculations.

October 5: When Sussanne's sister Farah Khan Ali launched her jewellery collection, Hrithik was present, but Sussanne was missing.

October 12: Hrithik was a special guest at a function and his in-laws Sanjay and Zarine Khan were present to support him, minus Sussanne.

October 26: Hrithik was to throw a birthday party for Sussanne but apparently he didn't.

November 8: Hrithik went to Pooja Shetty's amusement park with his kids, Hrehaan and Hridaan and sister-in-law Farah. Sussanne was again missing.

November 15: Sussanne was supposed to attend the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards with Hrithik, but she did a no show.



November 23: Sussanne while talking about Hrithik had said, `He has always only motivated me to grow at work.` When asked if he will be present at the launch she had said, `Yes of course he will be there for sure.`

Later on it was reported that Hrithik will not be able to attend the store launch and Seema Kapoor has asked brother-in-law Salman Khan to come for the launch. The store was to be launched on December 11, but later got postponed to December 18.

Will Sussanne shift to Bandra?
On October 5, Hitlist reported that Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne had acquired a property in Bandra. The flat is in a building, under construction, located off Turner Road. The industry buzz is that Sussanne, who is currently staying with her parents, will shift to this abode with the kids. The apartment is apparently worth R25 crore.

The statement that Hrithik Roshan issued yesterday
`Sussanne has decided to separate from me and end our 17-year-old relationship. This is a very trying time for the entire family and I request the media and the people to grant us our privacy at this time. I do not wish this news to disempower my fans and the people about the institution of marriage in any way. I am a firm believer in this institution and respect and honour it at the highest level. Once again, I thank my fans for all the concern and prayers for my health, my treatment is going well and I should be able to resume my life in every way very soon. Thank you.`


B-TOWN BUZZ: Arjun Rampal and Sussanne's growing friendship
There have been hushed whispers about the alleged growing friendship between Arjun Rampal and Sussanne. According to a source, `Arjun and Sussanne have apparently been close friends for quite sometime now and they might take their friendship to another level.`

$220000 New V12 Aston Martin Vantage S

British luxury car maker Aston Martin unveiled their latest model to the automobile loving public on the first week of October 2013. The latest model to come out of the design line of the British car giant has been christened as the “Aston Martin Vantage V12 S”.

The Aston Martin Vantage V12 S is guaranteed to make a lot of heads turn on account of its superb attributes like drop dead looks, excellent on road performance at high speeds and sleekness of design. The car has generated a tremendous amount of interest among global automobile enthusiasts ever since its worldwide launch. Industry experts reckon that the Aston Martin Vantage V12 S is the fastest car ever to come out of the famed Aston Martin production line.  At $220,000, the Aston Martin Vantage V12 S certainly doesn’t come cheap. But even a steep price tag is not expected to make a dent to the sports car’s projected high sales volumes.
The stylish looks of the sports car is well complemented by external accessories like 10-spoke alloy wheels, metallic paint, LED head lamps, new bonnet vents, titanium mesh front grille and CC100-alike painted struts.

The tastefully decorated interiors of the Aston Martin Vantage V12 S perfectly complement the car’s external style coefficient. The lightweight seats can be upholstered in high end leather. Users can opt for expensive packages like DVD player, digital surround sound system, satellite radio and a sophisticated climate control systems among other things.

The Aston Martin Vantage V12 S manages to deliver a much higher performance level than its predecessor model. The sports car’s V12 petrol engine packs in a mean punch of 565bhp of power along with a peak rated torque of 620Nm. However, it is the car’s superfast acceleration and peak rated top speed that manages to steal the thunder. The Aston Martin Vantage V12 S can reach a cruising speed of 100km/hour after start in just 3.7 seconds. 330 km/hour is the maximum speed that can be achieved.

The Aston Martin Vantage V12 S seems to possess just the perfect combination of slick speed and gorgeous looks. It promises to deliver complete value for money to its buyers.

 

Yamaha Motiv concept stars at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013

This is a real surprise here at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 – it turns out that Yamaha is one of the companies that has done a deal with Gordon Murray Design to further investigate building a car using the firm’s revolutionary iStream efficient production process. Yes, Yamaha. The motorbike company. This Motiv project was so secret that only Yamaha’s senior management were privy to the details ahead of the show – even the PR team is playing catch up

2013 MINI John Cooper Works | road test

 

 

Let’s not kid ourselves here: at Dhs.174,000.00 and ‘no variance’, this John Cooper Works MINI test drive is definitely not going to be about value for money. Like all things trendy, you will either want one and be prepared to sell your mother into slavery to get one, or you won’t. I am in the second category because whilst it is a fine little car in most senses, I don’t want one, and because, try as I might, no one will take my mother away!
I remember squirting a MINI estate (or was it a Traveller? – I still get the names confused with Minis of the only-one-capital-letter variety) around Spain a few years back and thoroughly enjoying the experience. The handling was sublime, the power and its delivery beautifully balanced to the car’s weight and it had just enough kit inside to make it special without being confusing. The JCW, I’m afraid is not the same car and is maybe just a step too far along the look-at-me route, that anything trendy has to tread, for its own good.
It is not fair, given the years, to continue to draw comparisons between BMC and BMW MINIs. The unique selling propositions in either case were and continue to be almost polar opposites – the new cars are statements of success both in terms of marketing and in what they say about their owners. New MINIs are not classless. Where there is a wee bit of common ground left is in the handling: the vans and station wagons of old handled better than the saloons because they were on a slightly longer floorpan, and the same is true today. This little pocket-rocket is just too little to be anything other than frenetic when you are hustling it along. It’s twitchy and edgy, there’s an alarming amount of torque steer and there is something spookily American about the inside – it should have more room in it given the outside dimensions.

I wonder how many of you have gotten this far in the story and decided that the piece is written by an Old Age pensioner who should be concentrating on getting the most out of his bus pass? Maybe you are not wrong – the John Cooper Works MINI is decidedly not a car for anyone over about 40-ish, though you’d have to be close enough and pretty successful to afford one. But moving my reservations about getting in and out, never mind being able to reach the seatbelt aside, the not-so-little car is actually a hoot to drive!
The John Cooper Works MINI is the one to have if you want to spend all day on the set of The Italian Job. The Press car (sexy as you like in black, black wheels, black interior and lipstick roof!) has been worked hard in its short life so far and there was not a massive amount of grip left on the big 17' front tyres: every corner, irrespective of surface, managed to get the MINI squeaking and straight-line acceleration from traffic lights did not have to be too provocative to get necks craning. Turn in though, along with the almost too firm suspension, was spot on and the traction control took care of any sideways movement with minimum interference. It would be a tiring car to drive all day if you were in a hurry, but short point-to-point squirts are this car’s forte.

BMW’s 1.6-litre turbo pokes out more than enough to keep the JCW MINI spinning along, and even at quite high road speeds, the car remains fundamentally stable. The 6-speed gearbox, however, has quite a long first gear and is a bit too eager to shift into, and hang on to, the starter cog: to compensate for the quick delivery of the engine, there is a marked delay in engagement at congestion speeds and slowing for speed breakers is really quite annoying, given the time it takes to get going again. Neither the paddle shifters nor the manual over-ride on the stick are intuitive to use – I can’t help feeling that if you have to look at what you are doing in a manual mode, you’d be better sticking to automatic!
The interior is an ergonomic challenge: I like the retro instrumentation, with the big dial now doing duty as nav screen, entertainment and climate options as well as fuel gauge, but the actual speed reading is tricky to see. Just as well there is a digital readout in the driver-centred rev counter, which neatly adjusts with the steering wheel. The rest of the switches and buttons seem to be somewhat haphazardly grouped, but I imagine it would all become familiar with time. The finish and materials both inside and outside the car are superb with shut lines and stitching matched perfectly wherever they appear. Even the harder plastics are nicely finished: mind you, you would not really accept anything that looked or felt cheap in a car like this. It’s all a bit Star Trek really, and that is underscored by the USS Enterprise-shaped key!

From a safety point of view, the MINI is not lacking. It is pretty difficult these days, to sell any car that does not have a brace of airbags, anti-submarine seats and a host of acronyms for everything from anti-skid brakes to traction control. The lists for most cars now are endless and being top-of-the-line MINIwise, the JCW packs everything in that you would expect to be there: there is nothing particularly new or cutting edge, but it has all the bells and whistles. Big coloured brake callipers tend to be more show than go – or in this case, stop – but they are evident too because at this end of the market, where the car is the statement, they have to be. They work too.
So, what’s not to like? Actually, there is very little not to like in the hottest of all the MINIs, and in this case, the toybox is pretty crammed between the Recaro seats and the Harmon Karden sound system, the contrasting stitched floormats and the double sunroof. It just all seems a bit much for a Mini, as does the price. Don’t get me wrong here – I really did quite like the car and it did remind me of screaming Coopers of old, but – and maybe this is an age thing – it was just a bit too much like hard work for me.

Having said that, I could probably live with the engine in a Traveller with a manual box, and could I have some real wood along the outside with that, whilst you’re there?

Tokyo Motor Show 2013: the best production cars

Google Nexus 5 unveiled with Android 4.4 KitKat

 

he Google Nexus 5 is official after months of speculation and yes, it does come sporting Android 4.4 KitKat and flagship-class specs for a midrange-phone's price.

The Google Nexus 5 is now official having been unveiled via the Google Play Store. The latest LG-made Google phone is set to replace the Nexus 4 which had, until now, been the flagship Android smartphone made by the company.
The LG Nexus 5 features a similarly if not more minimal design compared to that of the Nexus 4, so much so that even the small design touch on the back of the Nexus 4 has been replaced by a matte black surface with the word 'nexus' in the middle.
Once again though LG and Google appear to have made a flagship smartphone that's in disguise as the specs are immpressively premium making it a serious contender for Apple's iPhone 5c.
Just 8.59mm thin the Nexus 5 is the slimmest Google phone to date making it thinner than the iPhone 5c though not as thin as say the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The Nexus 5 screen is certainly impressive on paper, a 5-inch Full-HD display sporting a massive 1920x1080p resolution with 445ppi making it significantly higher in resolution than the iPhone 5s and even the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tablet.
The design also appears to feature a much smaller bezel than that found on the Nexus 4, instead the Nexus 5 has a design on the front which looks very similar to the LG G2.
If the design is a little too minimalist for you then you'll be able to kit your new phone out with some Nexus 5 cases available in four distinct colours.

Inside you'll find there's an impressive quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor along with 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage. Sadly no microSD support though which will surely come as a blow to the Android die-hards out there.
On the back there's an 8MP camera with the ability to shoot 1080p Full-HD video along with a 1.3MP front-facing camera for Google+ Hangout conversations and of course Skype.
Wireless charging comes as standard which means you won't have to buy an extra case whilst 4G connectivity is available, something that many criticised the Nexus 4 for not having.
Of course the first thing people will notice when they turn the device on however is the addition of Google's new operating system Android 4.4 KitKat.

KitKat comes with some key design changes which make the OS seem less intrusive on the screen, it should also allow more focus on that Full-HD display.
The Nexus 5 also comes with the new version of Google Now which first appeared on the Motorola Moto X allowing you to ask your smartphone to perform tasks even when the phone is locked.
Looking set to take on Apple's Siri, Google Now will be able to set alarms, answer questions and perform actions all without a physical prompt as the smartphone's mic will be able to recognise when it's being spoken to intelligently recognising that it's you and not someone else.
The Nexus 5 release date is today, you'll be able to buy the 16GB version in either Black or White for $349 whilst the 32GB version will set you back $399.

Top 5 apps for your new iPhone 5S

The iPhone 5S was officially released in the UAE yesterday with a prices starting at AED 2749 at both Etisalat and du. If you managed to secure one, we’re sure that you’re looking for some apps that make use of the shiny new iOS 7 that comes with your new iPhone. We’re here to help and have put together a list of five apps that are awesome and deserve a slot on your springboard.

1) Tweetbot 3

The very popular Twitter client was recently updated to match the look of iOS 7 and we think that it’s the best twitter app for your iPhone. With a beautiful design, smooth operations and all the functionality that twitter has to offer, Tweetbot is a must for anyone that uses Twitter on their iPhone.

2) Flipboard 

The beautiful news aggregating service continues to be one of the best ways to browse for news. Flipboard recently added the option of creating your own “magazines” from different sources and then sharing them with your friends. The iOS 7 version integrates the swipes built into the new OS allowing you to navigate easily.

3) Podcasts 

Apple updated their PodCasts apps with the launch of iOS 7 giving it the same beautiful makeover as the OS. With support for syncing podcasts between your Mac and other iOS devices, Apple’s Podcasts continues to be one of the best apps for listening or watching podcasts.

4) Fantastical 

While most parts of iOS 7 are good, there are a few apps that we think could use improvement and the calendar is one of them. The very minimal design doesn’t show you a lot of what is up and coming. Thankfully you have Fantastical which, as the name suggests, is a fantastic app for Calendar junkies. The app is so good that we think Apple should have bought the company and used it as the stock calendar app for iOS 7.

5) ARGUS Motion and Fitness Tracker by Azumio


Your new iPhone 5S comes with an M7 processor that can track you daily steps, movements and runs. Why not take use of it? ARGUS has a good app that can not only track your steps but can also manage your food, sleep, hydration, weight and vitals. Just make sure your iPhone is in your pocket.
Have an app that you have found useful for your new iPhone 5S? Why not share it with us in the comments below.

 

PS4 sells 1-million units in 24-hours

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) over the weekend announced that the highly anticipated launch of the PlayStation 4 (PS4) console resulted in 1 million units sold during the first 24 hours after it became available on November 15, 2013 in the United States and Canada.
“PS4 was designed with an unwavering commitment to gamers, and we are thrilled that consumer reaction has been so phenomenal,” said Andrew House, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
“Sales remain very strong in North America, and we expect continued enthusiasm as we launch the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Latin America on November 29. We are extremely grateful for the passion of PlayStation fans and thank them for their continued support.”
While the PlayStation 4 launched in the US and Canada last week, the gaming console will only be made available in South Africa on 6 December 2013.
Mario Dos Santos, Chief Executive Officer of Ster Kinekor Entertainment, is confident that the unit will arrive in South Africa before Christmas. “South Africa will be releasing the PS4 prior to Christmas, we are planned to go on the 6th of December 2013 due to the logistics of getting the stock to our shores,” he said in August.
No price has been specified yet. “The price point, although not officially set due to the uncertainty around the Rand exchange rate, is currently planned at an RRP of R 6299 including VAT and it will not be beyond this for launch,” he added.
The PlayStation 3 was launched in South Africa on 22 March 2007, but released to the rest of the world in November of the previous year.

 

Samsung Galaxy Gear now compatible with Galaxy S4

Samsung Electronics South Africa today announced the local availability of Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) software upgrade for Galaxy S4 3G. Galaxy S4 customers will now be able to enjoy compatibility with Galaxy GEAR, the perfect companion device that makes mobile communication easier and more enjoyable.

“Extending Galaxy GEAR compatibility to more GALAXY devices reflects our deep commitment to deliver an enriched mobile experience to our consumers,” said Craige Fleischer, Director of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics South Africa.
“This upgrade will also offer new improvements and optimisation capabilities and these enhancements will empower our users in their mobile lives and enable smart freedom with Galaxy Gear.”
Samsung Galaxy Gear
Galaxy GEAR will enable Galaxy S4 users to make and answer calls and view incoming alerts and notifications with just a glance. For a closer look at more important messages, users can simply pick up their master device and the Smart Relay feature instantly reveals the full content. Users can also find major social apps on Samsung Apps to maintain connections to their social networks via Galaxy GEAR.
With a 1.9 Megapixel camera, users can snap a visual memo by simply tapping GALAXY GEAR’s screen. Photos are then easily and automatically saved in the master device’s gallery. Users can enjoy a built-in Pedometer app and use Galaxy GEAR to control the music played on their master devices. Of course the device also functions like a watch, with the option to change the face with 10 different clock options and even more options available via Samsung Apps.
The update will be available for Galaxy S4 via KIES as the preferred method, FOTA (Firmware Over The Air) or users can visit their nearest Samsung Smart Care Service Centre where representatives can assist with the upgrade.
“We work closely with local operators before releasing operating system updates to ensure a positive user experience. Therefore, we would like to urge users of other Samsung handsets to be patient for more information on official launch dates for upgrades, which will be communicated as it becomes available. We would also like to caution users to be aware that rooting a device will impact the validity of the warranty,” concludes Fleischer.

Android 4.4.1 landing soon and fixes Nexus 5 camera

Android 4.4.1 landing soon and fixes Nexus 5 camera
The Nexus 5 from Google is quite an awesome device, however its camera isn’t the greatest. Even though the Nexus 5′s camera features a optical image stabilisation, taking shots from it are painfully slow and generally out-of-focus. Google is aware of this and as per The Verge, a new update scheduled to be released in the next few days fixes a lot of issues with the Nexus 5 camera. They’ve managed to get a hands-on experience with Android 4.4.1 and here is what they have to say:
Speed is a theme for the update, and the Nexus 5′s camera really does feel faster across the board. The app launches a full second quicker than it did before the update, meaning you’ll miss many fewer shots than before. There’s also a new progress indicator in HDR+ mode, which makes the process, longer by necessity, feel a lot more straightforward. It’s the first of what Burke says will be a series of interface changes, as Google tries to make Android cameras a little more controllable and obvious. Right now, nearly every setting is buried under layers of menus, and Burke says Google is working on undoing that.
Update: Google has started rolling out the 4.4.1 update- check your device to see if you have received the update.

iPad Mini Retina review

The new iPad Mini Retina is Apple's second-gen mini tablet, but has it got what it takes to top our list of the best tablets to buy?

The original iPad mini was a T3 favourite; small and lightweight enough to be truly portable, unified hardware and software to keep the battery going all day, and  running an OS with the most tablet-optimized apps. Hell, even without a Retina display, it won our tablet of the year award.
Then the iPad Air arrived – a smaller, more lightweight, faster 'full-size' iPad with an aesthetic design that took all the best bits from the Mini - we're looking at you, thin bezel.
But now we have a quicker, more powerful, super-resolution iPad Mini with Retina display at our fingertips. It’s up against some seriously high quality small tablets, including the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX, the new Google Nexus 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, to name a few. Are the improvements enough to keep the Mini ahead of the pack, and our number one all-round tablet?

iPad Mini Retina: Screen

Let's start with the upgrade that we've all been waiting for since the Mini was first introduced – Retina. What you now get on on the 7.9-inch display is a resolution of 2048 x 1536 at 326ppi, equating to a total pixel count of 3,145,728. That's as much as the iPad Air and just 25% less than the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro.

Needless to say, everything is pin-sharp, especially text and high-res images whose fine detail pops even when zooming in close. For instance, iBook and Kindle books are easier on the eyes and can now be viewed clearly at arm's length. Screen brightness seems the same but colours are unequivocally more vivid.
Video content isn't any smoother but blacks are deeper and a greater amount of detail can be picked out in moving HD content. Thumb rejection tech prevents wayward digits triggering screen commands. In short, the Retina Display delivers in every way we hoped. A triumph.

Features and performance

Hardware-wise, Apple has stuffed every flagship piece of tech from the bigger iPad Air into it's pint-sized brethren. The new 64-bit A7 chip and clever M7 motion co-processor are both present but, like the Air, Touch ID fingerprint recognition has been omitted – a shame considering how much we use it on the 5S.

The Mini can now be bought with 128GB storage, which blows most of the competition out of the water. You'll pay for it, though – almost $900.

In our testing, the new Mini is noticeably faster and slicker than its predecessor. The A7 chip is clearly working overtime to deliver a smooth experience, even if iOS 7 still seems a little sketchy at times.

The Mini crashed twice in our testing for no obvious reason. However, after an Apple update mid-way through our time with it, we had no repeat of the problem.

Apps that take advantage of the 64-bit architecture are arriving now. Playing around with them video-mixing app, vJay, we had two simultaneous video mixes going out live via Apple TV without any glitching. Impressive.
Graphics performance is also much improved with high-intensity games, such as Infinity Blade 3, making use of the OpenGL ES 3.0 platform and, in non geek-speak, producing some incredible lighting and shading effects, all of which look spectacular on the new Retina Display.
The M7 motion coprocessor is also getting some app love, making its potential clearer to see. The Day One app uses it to count, and add, steps to your daily journal, while Strava - yes you can get iPad mini attachments for your bicycle - uses it to reduce battery consumption when the GPS isn't needed - see more below.

The Mini is also the proud owner of a 4G upgrade for wider frequency compatibility. The dualband (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) N Wi-Fi  now has MIMO tech for supposedly more reliable and faster connectivity.

In practice, Wi-Fi seemed a little more robust but nothing to email home about. If you've got a decent 4G connection and contract, though, the speeds are outrageous. We were downloading data at almost 50Mbps at one point.

iPad Mini Retina: Camera

Optics-wise, the Mini now comes with the excellent FaceTime HD camera and dual mics - the same as the iPad Air and the original iPad Mini. Bragging 1.2MP photos, a ƒ/2.4 aperture and 720p HD video, the quality bump is clearer than the video itself. It's a shame the rear-mounted iSight Camera remains at five megapixels and ƒ/2.4 aperture, but the 1080p video still rocks.
We'd have preferred am iPhone 5S-style 8MP camera and slo-mo video functionality, but you can’t have everything.

There's nothing to seperate the camera on the new iPad Mini and the snapper on the Google Nexus 7, which has also stuck at 5MP.

Not that a rear camera is a huge selling point on a tablet for many, but it's worth noting that the new Amazon Kindle HDX 8.9 has an 8MP rear cam (although the 7-inch version only has a front-facing lens).

iPad Mini Retina: Size and build

The second-generation mini is almost identical in size and weight to its predecessor. It's still a great size for everyday use – especially long bouts of reading, commuting and typing with two hands - when used in portrait mode.
Chassis colours come in Space Grey and Silver. Add the official Smart Case - $69.99 - and things get less natural, but we'd choose that over risking scratching and chipping the chamfered edges any day.

iPad Mini Retina: Battery

Our major concern when hearing the iPad mini was going Retina was how the battery would cope. In terms of energy consumption, the Retina-packing iPad 3 really suffered in comparison to the non-Retina iPad 2.

But here, it's a different story. It seems the A7/M7 chip tag team is doing its job well – preserving juice when it needs to, using it efficiently when required.

We didn't get near the 10-hour wi-fi web surfing figure, or 9-hour 3/4G figure, but had music and video playing for almost seven hours before things went quiet. This was at 75% brightness and all wireless tech switched off, though. In standby mode, it lasts for days.

iPad Mini Retina: Verdict

At £319 for the 16GB, cellular-free, model, the iPad Mini Retina isn’t cheap, especially compared to its rivals. Things get almost MacBook-like at the top-end, with the 128GB/4G model setting you back £659.

But if, like us, the size and feel of the Mini is of most importance, it offers such a boost in performance and display quality, it's worth the upgrade. The Retina resolution feels like the missing piece of the Mini puzzle and keeps it at the top of our tablet table.

We thought the iPad Air was a stunning piece of technological invention; this just takes all of that goodness and puts it into a device that's more manageable in more real-life situations. We love it.

'The Only Living Sahabi Tree'

'The Only Living Sahabi Tree'

The Blessed Tree

A living tree which had sheltered

Rasul Allah

(صلى الله عليه و سلم )

Did you not see how Allah illustrated the example of a sacred saying? Like a sacred tree, which has firm roots and branches reaching into heaven.

Bearing fruit at all times by the command of its Lord; and Allah illustrates examples for people so that they may understand.

[Ibrahim 14:24-25]

“The thing that deserves to be loved most is that which brings forth the from the depths of our spirits the recollection of the Divine Name. The title of the Holy Prophet of Islam is Habib Allah, the beloved of God. This hub, this love for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) could be described as the great transformative emotion of Islam”.

-Abdal Hakim Murad

“This tree was blessed with the touch of the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم)”

-Shaykh Al-Habib Ali Al-Jifri

A recent research in Jordan leads way to yet another proof on legitimacy of Islam and its messenger Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم). For actual believers simple statements from Allah are adequate to believe the truth. But those who restrain from real faith might ask for solid evidences. Allah will show ample evidences on His realities time and again as a reminder to those who still disbelieve.

There are some people who are reluctant to believe the reality even after knowing the truth owing to their ego or pride. Another category of people will embrace correct faith by mercy of Allah upon viewing the evidences. Those who believe truth from Allah and set their lifestyle according to commands of Allah will be protected from pitiless hell fire and rewarded Paradise filled with immeasurable blessings.

So, humbly we introduce facts to those who might understand the truth and may by mercy of Allah turn to correct faith and religion.

Allah has stated in Qura’n

البقرة – 146

“The people of the book know this as they know their own sons, but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know.”

Hundreds of evidences were given in ancient Vedas, Tourah and Bible (old Books) on appearance of the Last Messenger, Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم). Many verses can be seen stating name, native and characteristics of the Last Messenger even in recent day copies of old Books though those books had gone through many human interventions and adjustments.

Thus people who know the Last Messenger from Allah from old Books were in anticipation of Him. Here comes story of Bahira, a Christian monk lived in Busra, south of Syria and his zeal to meet the Last Messenger. He happened to watch a caravan of Arabian merchants from Makkah passing by and a young boy is being shaded by clouds wherever he goes. He at once understood significance of the boy and invited the caravan for a banquet.

All members of the caravan attended the feast except the boy whom he was anxiously waiting. So he looked out and found the boy resting under a tree. As per his knowledge of Bible only a Prophet will rest under that tree. So he urged the caravan members to bring that boy to the banquet. He quizzed the boy and concluded that He is the Last Messenger explained in Bible. Bahira convinced the boy’s uncle Abu Talib to return to Makkah with the boy as Jews are in search for Him to harm.

This incident was when our

Beloved Prophet of Allah

صلى الله عليه وسلمwas 12 years old (1459 hijri years ago).

The tree which shaded Rasoolullahi (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is miraculously preserved by Allah for all this long period. It is the lonely tree available for around hundred square kilometers in that inhospitable desert north of Jordan.

A meditation on the themes of love of the Prophet , veneration of holy sites, grace and symbolism. This film tells the story of the meeting between the Prophet Muhammad and a Christian monk named Bahira. The meeting happened in the shade of a tree. Fourteen hundred years later that same tree was discovered still alive in the northern deserts of Jordan. The only tree alive in hundreds of square miles of emptiness. This tree is a link to the life of the Prophet and a place of pilgrimage today...

“The Prophet sitting under this tree, and its reacting to the Prophet makes the tree the only living terrestrial witness to the Prophet , what we would call in Arabic a sahabi.”

H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad

“In this place, we pray to God to make our hearts containers of the love of the Prophet.”

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Sa‘id Ramadan Al-Buti

“That thing that deserves to be loved most is that which brings forth from the depths of our spirits the recollection of the Divine Name. The title of the Holy Prophet of Islam is Habib Allah, the Beloved of God. This hub, this love for the Prophet could be described as the great transformative emotion of Islam.”

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad.

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad,Shaykh Al-Habib Ali Al-Jifri,Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad and Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Sa‘id Ramadan Al-Buti

The Roman Road-Jordan