MIicrosoft launch Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL launch in India

Bengaluru: Microsoft today announced the launch of Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the first Lumia phones to come pre-loaded with Windows 10, in India. Designed to offer consumers the best of Windows 10 combined with powerful and performance driven technology, the new flagship devices include innovative features like Cortana, Windows Hello beta for Lumia and Continuum for phones. With stunning HD displays, new PureView cameras with 20 megapixel sensors and triple LED natural flash that shoots 4K video, as well as the latest in processing power, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL represent the best innovation from Microsoft.

    Starting today, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL will be available for pre-booking at Microsoft Priority Resellers across the country, Microsoft Store on Amazon.in and retail chains of Croma, Reliance and Sangeetha at a best buy price of INR 43,699/- and INR 49,399/- respectively. Consumers will get Microsoft Display Dock free as a limited period offer.

     Airtel consumers can double their data for free on purchasing their Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL. 

     “With the launch of Windows 10, we have ushered in an era of more personal computing which is all about interacting more easily, more naturally and more securely in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Now, with Windows 10 on Lumia we take innovation to the next level and build upon the unique experiences of Windows 10 for phone users,” said Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India. “Designed for Windows fans and mobile professionals who desire a premium phone that takes full advantage of Windows 10, the new flagship devices are powerful, performance-driven, unique and innovative” he added.

     “Smartphones, along with the other gadgets we use on a daily basis are expected to add value to our lives and to make us more efficient and productive. The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have been designed to be the most productive smartphones to fulfill that expectation,” said Ravi Kunwar, Director, Microsoft Mobile Devices. “The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL deliver a seamless experience that extends across one's Windows devices, including innovative features like Cortana, Windows Hello beta for Lumia and Continuum for phones, ushering in the next level of innovation.”

Karnataka Tourism bags “ Favourite Emerging Indian Destination COORG”

Karnataka Tourism received award for “Favourite Emerging Indian Destination COORG” for the third time at 5^th edition of Conde Nast Traveller India, of its Readers Travel Awards 2015 on 24^th November 2015 at ITC Maurya, New Delhi.  Shri. M. Yuvaraj, DGM, JLR representing Karnataka Tourism received the award from Shri. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Shri. Alex Kuruvilla, Managing Director of Conde Nast India Pvt. Ltd., and Ms. Divya Thani Daswani, Editor, Conde Nast Traveller India.

One of Karnataka’s most popular tourist destinations, COORG has won an award for being INDIA’S FAVOURITE EMERGING DESTIONATION. 

Chief Guest, Shri Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India said, “I appreciate and laud the initiative of Conde Nast Traveller for recognizing, inspiring and motivating the leaders of the travel and tourism industry. I congratulate the deserving winners of the CNT Readers’ Travel Awards. Undoubtedly, this is a meaningful recognition to your contribution to the growth and development of tourism.”

Coorg has in the past, won several similar accolades from across the world and this augurs well for Karnataka as a whole in a way in which Karnataka and its destinations get global exposure, winning awards repeatedly.  They help in the branding and postioning of the destination as well.

Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards are globally renowned and considered the most prestigious in the Industry.  They honour the best in travel, tourism and hospitality, as chosen by the discerning and influential readers of Conde Nast Traveller.  Readers of Conde Nast Traveller India voted for their preferred Destinations, Airlines, Hotels, Spas, Airports and more, across 27 categories, based on their personal experiences.  Votes were collated and analysed by an independent market-research company - Market Management.  The winners were determined after being scored on several parameters unique to each category.

India’s leading watchmaker Titan associates with technology giant HP Inc.

Bengaluru:In a significant announcement today, Titan, the world’s fifth-largest watch maker,and HP Inc., one of the world’s leading information technology companies, have come together to create a unique lifestyle offering. The new relationship between HP Inc. and Titan combine innovative materials, design and custom technology to deliver products that are responsive, and not intrusive.Crafted by two giants in their respective fields, the range of smart watches will be launched later this year in India and select international market.

     Speaking about the association, Mr. S. Ravi Kant – CEO-Watches and Accessories Division, Titan Company Limited says, “It is indeed a milestone for two of the world’s leading companies to come together and create a unique lifestyle offering for people not only in India, but across the world. This category of smart watches is going to change the way people viewthe art oftimekeeping and beyond.It was but natural for an innovative company like Titan to partner with HP Inc. for the next step in our journey as a lifestyle company. Users no longer have to decide between tradition and technology. They can still wear a drop-dead gorgeous watch on their wrist infused with “smart” technology for a new era of access and connectivity. We look forward to an exciting launch later this year as we continue our expedition in innovation.”

    “Personal style is the ultimate self-expression, but some smart accessories on the market force consumers to sacrifice form for function” said Mr. Sridhar Solur – General Manager, Wearables and Smart Platforms at HP Inc. “Our legacy of innovation is helping fashion-forward brands infuse technology into their designs to give consumers the stylish timepieces they want but that are more connected and responsive to the way they live today.”

Volkswagen invests Rs.720 crore in its Indian operations

- New compact sedan to roll out of its Pune Plant in Chakan

Pune: Volkswagen entered the Indian market with a long term commitment. With the investment in the new compact sedan, which has been specifically designed and developed for India, Volkswagen will add a new model to its product portfolio. The production of the compact sedan at Volkswagen Pune Plant is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2016.

     India is one of the strategic markets for Volkswagen and the Indian automotive market is expected to be one of the largest by the end of the decade. “We are following a long term investment plan in India and with our latest investment we have reaffirmed our confidence in this growing automotive market”, said Dr. Andreas Lauermann, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited. Mr. Michael Mayer, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India added: “With our new compact sedan, we will focus intensively on the specific requirements of our Indian customers.”

      The investment of Rs. 720 crore  is towards development, setting up new equipment and ramping up the production of the new compact sedan. This is a part of the Rs1,.500 crore  investment that was announced by Volkswagen India at the beginning of 2014. Dr. Lauermann added, “This is the second step of investment after the Engine Assembly Plant a year ago. Additionally, we will continue to invest further in increasing our productivity and efficiency.”

      Volkswagen Pune Plant is getting ready for the production of the new model with changes and installation of new equipment at its existing manufacturing facility in Chakan. The plant will start producing the new India-specific Volkswagen car from the first half of 2016 and its world-premiere is scheduled at the AutoExpo in February 2016. 

     With the latest investment in the new compact sedan, Volkswagen has now invested approximately Rs.5,500 crore  in India at the Pune Plant since it started its operations in 2007. Currently, about 3,200 employees are working at this manufacturing facility where the Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Vento and ŠKODA Rapid are being produced. “With the ramp-up of the new model, we will add more manpower and also create more jobs at our suppliers’ end”, said Dr. Lauermann.

Gionee Marathon M5 arrives, exclusively with Flipkart

Bengaluru: Gionee Smartphones, a Global Leader in Mobile Manufacturing and Design announced the arrival of its latest Marathon series marvel, the Marathon M5 with 6020 mAh battery capacity. Further strengthening its e-commerce presence, Gionee has tied up with India’s largest online shopping website Flipkart.com for the exclusive availability of Marathon M5. 

Powered by 6020 mAh Li- Po battery, the M5 has a standby time upto684 hr and a 62 hr of phone call time. The phone has dual charging chips whichensure better heat dissipation and fast charging. The device is inbuilt with asmart power consumption system especially under Extreme mode; it can provide a standby time of upto32 hours even if there is only 5% of power left. The M5 can be charged comparatively faster and is also capable of reverse charging – it can be used as a power bank to charge spare cell phones at the same time. 

While being an ultimate powerhouse, Gionee has focused in designingthe device to meet the ever increasing entertainment needs of the Indian consumer on the move. Consumers could hear upto 1400 songs with headset on and up to 1090 songs with the speaker on. The device has an ultra-slim structure of dimensions 8.5mm thick and outer rim of 4.75mm, metallic unibody, narrow bezel and premium finishing that adds to its style quotient. 

Gionee Marathon M5 is powered by 1.3GHz Quad Core 64 bit processor for faster processing, smoother media and browsing experience. Reading stories, watching videos, sending texts and emails, has got easier on the stunning13.9cm (5.5) HD AMOLED displayscreen. The 4G LTE enabled M5 supports Dual 4G SIMs, CDMAalong with USB-OTG connectivity. 

Marathon M5 runs on the advanced Amigo 3.1, based on Android 5.1 and a specially designed Music Player. The device is equipped with exciting features like Amiclone; that allows you to switch data from your old device at a fraction of a second. Smart Gestures support ensures that you could customize upto 5 of your favourite features at your finger tips. The phone could further also be turned into a smart remote for your TV to live a smarter life ahead. 

Gionee Marathon M5 has a 13MP rear camera with LED flashand front facing 5MP camera allowing a superior picture capturing experience. Advanced image processing enables taking continuous shots of objects in action and full panoramic shots of great scenes! 

Arvind.R.Vohra, Country CEO & MD, Gionee India said “After the runaway success with the Marathon Series i.e. M2 capacity Smartphone. We areexcited to partner with India’s largest online shopping website Flipkart.com for the exclusive availability of Marathon M5. We are certain that the Marathon M5 would be well-accepted by the consumers, just like its predecessors.” 

Sandeep Karwa, Director – Flipkart, “We are happy to announce the exclusive launch of Gionee Marathon M5 on Flipkart. Offering robust battery backup supported by superior design and ultra slim make, this new product will be available at Rs. 17,999 on our platform. Given the extensive use of smartphones, long battery life is the need of the hour. We are confident that Marathon M5, with its new-age technology features, will be able to cater to the ever growing customer demand in this segment.” 

Gionee Marathon M5 comes in with an in-built 32 GB memory, expandable upto 128 GB and is powered by 3GB RAM. 

Marathon M5 is Priced at Rs17,999/- for its Indian customers and will be available from November 24 itself in three premium color options, namely White, Black and Golden.

Advanced therapy gets 26 year old National Champion back on her feet

Diagnosed with severe stress injury and immense pain in the knee area, the 26 year old doctor and young National Pole Vaulting Champion had to give up her athletic training. Sports medicine specialists at Fortis Hospitals conducted advanced procedure and got her back on her feet. 

 
Bengaluru : Cutting edge technology and expertise in the realm of sports medicine is changing the way sports related injuries are treated. At Fortis Hospitals, doctors are at the forefront in helping sportspersons realise their full potential by giving specialised therapy for any injury or health setback.  

     Through the advanced techniques and in-depth knowledge available to them, sports medicine specialists at Fortis Hospital in Bangalore helped a city-based national pole vaulting champion, who was suffering from severe pain and discomfort due to an internal knee injury, get back on her feet. The sports medicine team at the hospital used a combination of targeted radiotherapy and stem cell medicine to successfully treat the sportswoman.  

DIAGNOSING THE CONDITION :An all-round achiever, Dr Khyati Sharad Vakharia not only excels in sports but was also adjudged outstanding student while passing out of medical school in 2013. But nothing had prepared her for the painful and limiting knee condition that she developed about two years ago. 

      Khyati has been an impressive gymnast for the last four years and has also represented India in Pole Vaulting championships. This meant that she was dedicated to a disciplined and strenuous training regime. Two years ago, she started experiencing pain around the front portion of her left knee joint, which she ignored initially thinking it was nothing serious. But over the months when her pain aggravated so much that she was limping and forced to stop training for a year, her mother was worried and advised her to see a doctor. 

     She consulted an orthopaedician who did some initial tests and a MRI revealed that she was suffering from Patellar Tendinitis with Hoffa’s Pad thickening. The patellar tendon is the structure lying below the kneecap (patella) which attaches it to the shinbone and these muscles allow the knee to extend or straighten. In this condition, there is build up of tension in the area, caused by overuse and strain on the knee cap. Also called jumper’s knee, it is commonly seen in most sportsmen and more commonly in sportswomen. She had also developed thickening of the fat pad (a mass of fatty tissue that lies below the kneecap), which causes excruciating pain in the front part of the knee. 

      Following the diagnosis, she was referred to Dr P C Jagadeesh, Consultant Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine, Fortis Hospitals. 

     “When she came here, Khyati was limping and could not climb stairs. She was using the support of her right leg to walk. A detailed examination including stress extension test of the knee revealed tenderness under the kneecap and we diagnosed it as a condition called Chondromalacia, which had not been picked up by the MRI earlier. To confirm the diagnosis, arthroscopy was done which revealed severe damage to the cartilages,” said Dr Jagadeesh. 
      Chondromalacia is a condition where the cartilage on the under-surface of the kneecap deteriorates and softens. This condition is common among young, athletic individuals, but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee.  

TREATMENT AT FORTIS      Dr Jagadeesh and his team chalked out an extensive treatment plan for Khyati. Keyhole surgery (Arthroscopy) was carried out with the use of Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) to trim out and smoothen the damaged cartilages. RFA is a procedure wherein plasma energy is produced by a radio wave over a small area which helps in removing cartilage fraying or burn nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that specific area,” explained Dr Jagadeesh. 

    The Tendinitis was treated by administering PRP (Plasma Rich Protein) injection to the tendon under ultrasound guidance. This is a type of stem cell therapy that helps rejuvenate the injured part of the knee and speeds up the healing process. This type of therapy helps sportspersons get back in form fast. 

     “As a doctor, my understanding of my ailment was far better than a lay person who may suffer similar injuries. But the greater advantage was that I was able to undergo treatment by a Sports medicine specialist. Compared to a regular orthopaedician, his understanding of the sport, assessment and treatment was far superior,” said Khyati, who also underwent physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions advised by the doctor after her surgery. This helped in strengthening her knee muscles and sensitising the nerves around the knee. 

      Now, she is up and running and getting ready to go to the United States for training, so that she can live her sporting dream.