Galaxy S4 VS HTC One

The Galaxy S4 boasts some nifty software features. For example, Multi-window allows user to work on two apps in a single screen. Not all apps support this feature, but it’s available for a few important ones such as Gmail, Chrome, Twitter, Messages and Youtube. Then there’s Dual Shot, which allows a user to superimpose his stamp-sized image taken from the front camera on a scene shot with the rear camera. S Health is another feature that stands out. It allows a user to monitor his physical activity like walking or jogging throughout the day, and also shows the actual temperature and humidity in his surroundings. However, some features don’t work as consistently as we would have liked, such as Air View, which allows a user to preview images without even touching the screen, and Air Gesture, which allows a user to take a call with a swiping gesture above the device. Still, the features that work are enough to make the S4 a more useful and handy device than other smartphones. Besides, the S4 allows for interchangeable batteries and expandable memory via a microSD card.

HTC has a history of excelling in product design. With the HTC One, the Taiwanese company is at its sparkling best. The phone is exquisitely designed using premium materials. Its unibody shell, fabricated out of aluminium alloy, feels tough, is wonderful to hold, and is resistant to fingerprints. Its curved back fits well in the hollow of your palms, and the device’s chamfered edges give it a finish that feels superior to all other smartphones.

Another highlight of the HTC One is Blinkfeed – a dynamic homescreen widget that connects to various news services and your social network accounts to give you constant updates at all times.

SCREEN: If the screen size is the only criterion, the Galaxy S4 wins with its 5-inch screen when compared to the HTC One’s 4.7 inches. But numbers alone don’t define experience. In terms of quality, the displays on both the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are excellent. Text looks sharp on both handsets due to their FullHD (1920x1080 pixels) resolution.
But there are a few subtle differences: The screen on the Galaxy S4 has very deep blacks, and is capable of richer colours. The screen on the HTC One, however, shows truer colours. It also offers better readability under direct sunlight and outdoor use.
Winner: Tie

BATTERY: The battery in both handsets lasts long enough to allow for a single day’s use, which includes phone calls, 3G videos, web browsing, emails, social networking, some gaming and a little bit of photography.
Still, in absolute terms, on heavy use, the HTC One wins here with an average battery life of 13 to 14 hours, when compared to around 12 hours for the Galaxy S4. In actual usage, this means that you’ll have to charge both devices every night.
Winner: HTC One

PERFORMANCE: The Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are superb performers, running demanding games like Dead Trigger with ease. Web browsing is smooth; GPS is fast and accurate; and 3G speeds are good. In our use, we consistently got over 7Mbps download speeds on both handsets.
The availability of 2GB RAM on both also means multi-tasking is effortless. Overall, however, the HTC One seemed better.
The S4 suffered from the occasional lag, especially while switching between tasks. This is not a deal-breaker and probably won’t even be noticed by most users, but we definitely found the HTC One to be smoother.
Winner: HTC One

CALL QUALITY: The Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are premium phones and as such have no issues handling phone calls. Both feature noise cancellation for background sounds, and we found that we got excellent voice clarity during calls; the people we called could also hear us clearly.
Winner: Tie

MUSIC: Both phones handle digital music formats such as
MP3, FLAC, M4A with ease. In terms of audio quality, we found the HTC One’s Beats Audio to be better than Samsung’s Adapt Sound tech.
Importantly, the HTC One has placed its speakers, called Boomsound, at the front; they are loud, and produce distortion-free sound even at high volume. Also, the HTC One has an FM receiver; the S4 doesn’t.
Winner: HTC One

VIDEO: The Galaxy S4 gets our nod here. While the HTC
One had trouble with certain video formats like AVI at FullHD resolution, the Galaxy S4 handled the same clips like a champ. When used with a third-party app like MX Player, the S4 even handles FullHD MOV files with ease. Its larger screen, which produces rich colours, also makes watching videos on the Galaxy S4 more enjoyable.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S4

CAMERA: The Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are very capable shooters. But in our use, we found the S4’s 13MP camera to be a more consistent performer. The images shot with it are detailed, comprise good colours, and subjects appear in sharp focus. The S4 especially excels at close shots and is capable of shooting images that match the output of a good pointand-shoot camera in good light.
In breaking away from the trend that ‘more megapixels are better’, the HTC One’s main camera is only 4MP. Still, it is just as capable of good colour reproduction and sharp focus. It, however, loses out to the Galaxy S4 when it comes to the level of details.
In low-light, the HTC One performs marginally better, but if you use Galaxy S4’s night mode, the difference between the two is negligible.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S4

USER INTERFACE:

The HTC One uses a proprietary UI called Sense, while Samsung calls its custom interface TouchWiz.

In terms of aesthetics, Sense looks better with its subdued and minimalistic design. TouchWiz, on the other hand, uses lots of widgets and is defined by its use of colours.
In terms of usability, we liked TouchWiz. The HTC One has just two physical buttons for navigation – Back and Home. The menu can be accessed through the settings option provided in various apps, while multi-tasking requires double-tapping Home.
Touchwiz uses three buttons – Back, Home and Menu – which is easier to use. It is also easier to customise your home screen and manage widgets here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S4

So which one you should buy?
It’s actually a tough call to make. Both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are fine devices in their own right. The S4 scores on software features and boasts a fantastic camera. The HTC One, on the other hand, is an elegant handset that you want to show off.
 If aesthetics, music quality and battery life are important to you, pick the HTC One. If camera performance, videos and software features take precedence, get the Galaxy S4. Either way, you have a winner.
That said, we don’t think either phone warrants a purchase if you already own a high-end handset.
If you are using a smartphone older than one year and feel you need better performance and features, both Galaxy S4 and HTC One are good options.

 [Courtesy: Times of India]

Olive Oil

Contents from www.vivaoliveoil.com

The vision to be a leader in Edible Oil Industry commenced on the 27th day of March 1992 as Maruti Proteins Ltd. Today the company stands strong as N K Proteins Ltd. in Business Market and the Brand is recalled as "Tirupati" across Indian Families.

Making a mark the promoters of the company Mr. Nimish Patel and Mr. Nilesh Patel started the business with three firm pillars - Quality, Research and Integration on which they have successfully build the business empire which today produces 1550 M.T. refined oil per day with complete vertical integration.

Marking one of the major milestones, N K Proteins became India's First Edible Oil Company to get Food & Safety Quality Management Certification of ISO 22000:2005. 

The company offers different types of edible oils to consumer market. To produce best quality edible oil, company has procured best available technology and machinery over the period of time. Knowledge, Technology and Process up-gradation has always enabled N K Proteins to be a market leader in Edible Oil segment. N K Proteins Ltd. is one of those very few companies which have also invested in vertical integration to add a value of quality to all their end products. Company has its own manufacturing plants to manufacturer and pack Tins, Bottles, Pouches and Boxes. 

To serve Industrial Segment, N K Proteins offers Castor Oil and its Derivatives across the Globe. It has been recognized as a Star Export House as it is one of the largest exporters of Castor Oil Products from India

Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil, as the name suggests, is the purest variant of olive oil. No wonder it is of the highest quality and is the most flavourful. Olive oil tasters describe the oil's taste using one of the three terms - fruity, bitter, or pungent. This oil is produced entirely by mechanical means - pressing olives within 24 hours of plucking and under the temperatures (less than 30°C) that does not degrade the quality of oil. The factors influencing its taste and quality include countless decisions, ethics and skills of the producer, and the terroir (soil, climate, and environment) itself. Due to its rich and raw flavour, it is ideally suitable for salads and bread toasts. 

Pure olive oil

Pure olive oil is a refined form of olive oil (in most cases 85% refined olive oil and 15% virgin olive oil). It doesn’t have a flavour as strong as the virgin variant. But surprisingly it goes through a more rigorous refining process than extra virgin and virgin olive oils. This gives it a Higher smoking point, which means it can withstand high levels of heat without letting off smoke. Due to its medium strength flavour, it is ideally suitable for pizzas, pastas, and Mediterranean dishes.

Pomace olive oil 

Pomace olive oil is extracted from the residue (pulp) of the olive after the virgin oil has been mechanically extracted. It is then blended with extra virgin oil. Owing to its lightness and neutral taste, pomace olive oil is ideal for a variety of Indian cuisines and Indian cooking methods. Pomace olive oil does not change the taste of the food being prepared by it and can be used in deep or shallow frying or even gentle sauteing.

Tablets

KARBONN SMART TAB 8 
Squarish form factor offers more screen space. Handles high-def movies and games. Android Jelly Bean customized for the better. Good battery life (6 hours of video). Decent screen (but terrible viewing angles). The build quality isn’t top-notch. No calling facility or on-the-go internet. No Bluetooth. 

Specs: 8-inch touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1.5GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 1.5GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3MP rear cam, VGA front cam | Wi-Fi, microUSB | 4500 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The Karbonn Smart Tab 8 is great if you want something larger than a 7-inch tablet, especially because of the added room that its squarish aspect ratio offers; best for those who want a slate to browse the web and read books. 

Price: 7,250 

LAVA ETAB XTRON 
Sturdy build quality. Screen outclasses other devices in this price band. Handles high-def movies and games. Stutters when multi-tasking between heavy apps. Poor battery life (3 hours of video). Low speaker volume. No calling facility or on-the-go internet. No Bluetooth. 

Specs: 7-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x600 pixels) | 1.5GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 8GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, microUSB | 3500 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The ETab Xtron promises great value for money. Of all the other slates in its class, this one has the best build quality, is a superb performer, and is equipped with an above-average screen (albeit with poor viewing angles). And when playing movies or videos, you’ll have to use headphones for good audio. 
Price: 6,500  

SPICE STELLAR PAD 
Handles high-def movies and games. Good screen with decent viewing angles. 16GB internal memory, with microSD card slot. Great battery (8 hours of video). Sub-standard build quality. No calling facility or on-the-go internet. No Bluetooth. 

Specs: 10-inch IPS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1.5GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3MP rear cam, VGA front cam | Wi-Fi, microUSB | 7600 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The Spice Stellar Pad offers the best value for your money if you want a 10-inch screen. Its large, high-def display makes it ideal for watching videos, though you might see some colour banding. Its weight of 667gms makes it heavy for prolonged use. Also, durability seems suspect because of its flimsy build quality. 
Price: 12,999 

ZYNC QUAD 8 

Smooth performance. Sharp display with accurate colours and viewing angles. Good battery life (6 hours of video). Squarish design makes it suitable for reading and browsing. Flimsy build quality does not inspire confidence. No calling facility or on-the-go internet. No Bluetooth 

Specs:8-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1.5GHz quadcore CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 5MP rear cam, 2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, microUSB | 5400 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The Zync Quad 8’s stellar processor makes it one of the best budget tablets for gaming. The slate is also good for reading. But be warned that videos will be displayed in letterbox mode (with black bands at the top and bottom). 
Price: 12,999 

GOOGLE NEXUS 7 (Wi-Fi) 
Pure Android; promise of quick updates. Buttery-smooth performance and multi-tasking. Sharp display with accurate colours and viewing angles. Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. Decent battery (over 5 hours of video). Only 16GB of built-in memory, of which about 13.5GB is available to the user; no microSD card slot. No calling facility or on-the-go internet. 

Specs: 7-inch IPS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1.2GHz quadcore CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 4325 mAh battery | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The pure Google experience, a gorgeous HD screen and a fast processor at a mid-range price make the Nexus 7 an absolute steal. If you like to read, play games or watch videos, this is a fantastic tablet. But the lack of 3G functionality limits its on-the-move utility. 

Price: 15,999 (The 32GB Nexus 7 costs 18,999). 

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 2 P3100 
3G SIM for on-the-go connectivity. Doubles up as a phone, letting you access Whatsapp on your tablet and even make calls. 16GB onboard storage, with microSD support for 32GB cards. Low-res screen for this price, but displays vivid colours. Poor battery life (4 hours of video). Struggles when multi-tasking between resource-intensive apps. 

Specs: 7-inch PLS touchscreen (1024x600 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3MP rear cam, VGA front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 4000 mAh battery | Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, upgradable to Jelly Bean 

Verdict: The Galaxy Tab 2 loses out to the Nexus 7 in almost every performance test, but there are two things that work in its favour. First, on-the-go 3G connectivity is a big deal, and it changes how you use a tablet. Second, microSD storage is a big plus point – once you start downloading those magazines and movies from the Play Store, you’ll be surprised how fast memory gets filled up. However, be prepared for underwhelming battery life, especially when you start using it with a 3G connection. 
Price: 15,999 

Google Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi and 3G) 
3G SIM for on-the-go connectivity. 32GB storage, no microSD slot. Decent battery life (over 5 hours of video); dips when used with 3G. Just like with the Wi-Fi variant, offers a pure Android experience with assurance of OS updates, a powerful quad-core CPU and a fantastic 7-inch screen.

Specs: 7-inch IPS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1.2GHz quad-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 1.2MP front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 4325 mAh battery | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Verdict: 3G connectivity adds greatly to the utility of any tablet and this factor, along with a highdef screen and the guarantee that you’ll get the latest Android updates, makes the Nexus 7 the most value-formoney tablet, trumping even the iPad Mini that’s available at the same price. Whether it is gaming, reading, or on-the-go office productivity, this slate is a winner. 
Price: 21,999

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 
3G SIM for on-the-go connectivity. Stunning 10.1-inch high-def display, and its widescreen aspect ratio make it a great tablet to watch movies. Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). Although the dual-core processor is a bit dated, it performs smoothly except when handling graphic-intensive scenes in high-definition games. The size and weight make it unwieldy to use for prolonged reading or as a phone. In fact, for the latter, make sure you invest in a Bluetooth headset. Specs: 10-inch PLS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3MP rear cam, VGA front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 7000 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Verdict: If you want a big, widescreen tablet to watch movies, then the Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 is the perfect slate. Plus, its 3G slot lets you use it on-the-go, which really boosts its utility. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and headset, and you have a tablet-cum-phone-cum-laptop, ready to do your bidding. Not bad at all for this price. 
Price: 25,900

Samsung Galaxy Note 800 
3G SIM for on-the-go internet connectivity. Comes with stylus (proprietory S Pen technology). Good stylus-based productivity apps, including Photoshop Touch. Great 10.1-inch high-def display, but resolution of 1280x800 seems under-par at this price. Smooth multitasking across apps. Fantastic battery life (8 hours of video). Plasticky build quality. Too heavy (600gms) for prolonged use. 

Specs: 10.1-inch (1280x800 pixels) Super AMOLED touchscreen (with S Pen stylus) | 1.4GHz quad-core CPU | 2GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, microUSB| 5MP rear cam, 1.9MP front cam | 7000 mAh battery | Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradable to Jelly Bean) 

Verdict: The Note 800 is the only tablet that comes with a stylus and is capable of everything that a premium slate can do – a compelling proposition for those who’ve been waiting since the first iPad for a tablet with stylus support. 
Price: 35,000

The iPads

APPLE has dominated the tablet landscape since the launch of the first 10-inch iPad in 2010. Through the years, all of its slates boast killer features that make it the benchmark in tablet computing, namely… A receptive touchscreen, capable of sharp visuals and vivid colours. A stellar operating system. Fantastic build quality. Intuitive user interface and a superb app ecosystem with a large number of ‘made-for-tablet’ offerings. On the flip side… All newer tablets use the proprietary Lightning connector for charging and data transfer so you can’t even use an older iPad or iPhone’s cable to charge it, let alone those belonging to any of the hundreds of other devices. No expandable memory slot. Transferring music, movies or any other files through iTunes on your PC is a horrible experience. 

16GB iPad Mini (Wi-Fi) 
Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). Storage is restricted to 16GB (however, there are larger storage capacities available at higher prices: 32GB for 27,900 and 64GB for 33,900). No calling facility or on-the-go internet. 

Specs: 7.9-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 512MB RAM | 16/32/64GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector | 4500 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 

Verdict: The iPad Mini’s size and weight makes it comfortable to hold and use; ideal for reading, watching movies and playing games. The screen isn’t a hi-res Retina display, but in our usage, it was crisp and clear enough for every scenario. If you will mostly use a tablet in your home, over a Wi-Fi connection, then the Mini is the frontrunner. Price: 21,900 

16GB iPad Mini (3G and Wi-Fi) 
Nano-SIM slot for on-the-go internet. Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). No calling facility – and it doesn’t run apps that rely on it either, like WhatsApp. 16GB of memory (32GB variant costs 35,900 and the 64GB costs 41,900). 

Specs: 7.9-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 512MB RAM | 16/32/64GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector | 4500 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 

Verdict:The iPad Mini with 3G can do all that the Wi-Fi model can do, and it also allows for on-the-go internet connectivity, making it one of the best tablets there is with the right mix of hardware, software and portability. 

Price: 29,990  

iPad 4th Gen (with Retina Display) 
Fantastic high-res touchscreen. Exceptional battery life (11 hours of video). No calling facility – and it doesn’t run apps that rely on those either, like WhatsApp. No microSD slot; 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB internal memory variants available. At 652gms, it is uncomfortable to use over extended periods of time. 

Specs: 9.7-inch IPS touchscreen (2048x1536 pixels) | 1.4GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory (also available with 32, 64 and 128GB storage), no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector (also available with 3G support) | 11,560 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 

Verdict: Where the iPad scores over the Mini is the high-resolution (264 pixels per inch) Retina Display with its 9.7-inch screen, which makes it a fantastic device to watch movies, browse the internet, or play games. 

Price: 39,900 and above

 [Courtesy: Times of India]