Lend me your ears

Airtel India GP 2012

iOS,Android

Airtel has launched an F1 app for the Indian Grand Prix. F1 fans can get the latest news and information on the Indian GP and check latest standings using the application. It also has quizzes on racing.

When buying a television,people seldom check the sound quality. Screen sizes have become bigger and TVs have become slimmer,but in the process buyers have stopped asking for good sound. Most of us buy a home theatre system with five to seven speakers,which more than compensates for the TVs poor audio quality.

Bose offers a solution with its VideoWave II home entertainment system. The VideoWave II comprises a 55-inch or a 46-inch TV with an in-built surround sound system,an iPod dock and a console with six HDMI ports to plug your Blu-Ray players,gaming consoles,and set-top boxes.

For good sound quality,Bose made the TV nearly six inches thick. Although it is not as thick as the CRT TVs,but it is pretty bulky by todays standards. The 55-inch model weighs 60 kg,while the 46-inch model is around 48 kg.

Despite its girth,the TV can be wall-mounted. Theres an option of a stand. The screen resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels,sufficient for high-definition content. This products not-so-good looks can be forgiven once you power it on and load high definition videos. The picture quality is good,but the screen is slightly reflective.

Innovative remote

The VideoWave series is known for two things: the sound and the remote. The click-pad remote on the VideoWave II has only six buttons power on/off,select source,channel,volume,mute and previous channel. It has a touchpad in the middle,which allows you to access the options. The touchpad mechanism is similar to that of an iPod Classic,though the touch is a little too sensitive. As soon as you place a finger on it,many options play,pause,mute,etc. show up on a rectangular band that hugs the sides of the screen. The video shrinks a bit when you do this,which can be a little annoying if you like to hold the remote all the time. The remote works well and Bose says it synchronises with all devices connected to the VideoWave. It is an RF radio frequency remote,so unlike infrared remotes that there is no need to point it at the TV. It works as long as it is within 25 feet of the system.

Great sound

If you are sceptical about the sound quality of the VideoWave II,a demo at the nearest Bose store should dispel all doubts. The TV reproduces stereo sound very well. When watching a movie,the sound of a plane seems as if it is coming from the top and the overall reproduction of the sound of moving objects is good. Unlike in a 5.1 home theatre system,where one can hear the movement of objects from the two speakers at the back,the VideoWave II cannot reproduce this effect. But the movie experience is engrossing so there is a good chance that you wont notice this.

At nearly Rs 5 lakh,the VideoWave II is expensive but few other systems will be able to match its performance without multiple speakers and a subwoofer.

Bose SIE2i

Bose recently ventured into sports headphones with the launch of SIE2i. The headphones have buttons to change tracks and adjust volume. These work with newer iPods and the iPhone. For a slightly bass-heavy pair of headphones,the Bose SIE2i manages to reproduce detailed sound. The ear-tips are well designed,they do not slip off while jogging,but are not the best at noise isolation. The in-ear headphones come with a Reebok armband that can house your music player. At Rs 8,663,these are costly.