The most expensive cigar is the brand of La Escepcion, which was made at the Partagas factory.
Production of the brand was discontinued in 1985. The “Jose Gener Gran Gener” was the best cigar ever made by La Excepcion and is now a collector’s item. It was during it's time a full flavored medium strength Havana. There are very few left in the word of this popular 9-inch long and 24 ring gauge Havana.
If you do get your hands on one, it will cost you a pretty penny or two. The price of just one of these cigars today is £367 or approximately $682.80 USD.
Cigar tobacco is grown in many places throughout the Americas and Caribbean, but certain cigars manufactured in Cuba are widely considered the best cigars in the world. Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar. As expensive cigars are symbols of wealth and success, the world’s most expensive cigars may hold far more value than their price tag suggests.
Altadis’ Behike
When Altadis of Spain launched their “Behike” cigars, they were the most expensive cigars in the world. The expensive cigars were reportedly named after the tribal chief or sorcerer of the Cuban/pre-Colombian Taino tribe. A mere four thousand of the limited edition Cohiba brand cigars have been released and each box includes forty expensive cigars and allegedly retails for around $18,846. Yes, the expensive cigar will cost you $420 for each smoke.
Gurkha’s His Majesty’s Reserve
They’ve been outdone, however, by Gurkha’s premier cigar, His Majesty’s Reserve. Rightfully touted as the most expensive cigar in the world, these cigars aren’t just made with premium tobacco—they’re also infused with a generous portion of Louis XIII Cognac in a process that retains the flavor of the tobacco. Louis XIII Cognac, as you may know, is one of the finest cognacs on the market today.
Each year, fewer than 100 boxes of His Majesty’s Reserve cigars are produced and Gurkha’s president oversees their allocation to retailers. At $750, just one of these most expensive cigars will probably cost more than your vintage smoking jacket, but for the true aficionado, it may be a smoke too good to pass up.
The world’s most expensive brand of cigars is set to be released this week in Spain. The makers say that they are worth the price but no one knows for sure because no one has ever had one. The Behike, named after the tribal chief of Cuba’s indigenous Taino tribe, cigars from the Cohiba brand have each been individually hand rolled by one person who rolled all 4,000 of the limited edition cigars. The tobacco recipe has been kept top secret and for all this preparation, each cigar boasts a price tag of $440 each. Unfortunately even if you can scrape together that much money the cigars are only being sold in boxes of 40 meaning that if you want one you’re going to have to shell out $18,860 for the box.
The special person who got to choose the special blend for this cigar was chosen from the senior cigar rollers in the El Laguito factory in Havana before she rolled each one of the 4,000 cigars. “I’ve been doing this for 39 years but I still love it,” said Norma Fernandez. The cigar was made and released to celebrate the brand’s forty year anniversary and Fernandez said that while the blend stays true to the house style, she added a special touch. “But I’m not going to reveal the formula,”
The Franco-Spanish tobacco company Altadis has launched what it says is the most expensive cigar in the world.
The Cohiba Behike cigar will be sold in lots of 40 cigars for the record price of 15,000 euros, and will come with its own humidor.
The promotion is to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cohiba cigar brand.
Gurkha is all set to take your “burning through money” experience to a new level. Tagged as the Rolls Royce of the cigars world, the company is known for production of high-end smokes, precious to collectors.One of such edition is the Black Dragon unveiled in 2006. Counted five cases of this limited edition hand-crafted, camel bone box are available with each cigar demanding a price of $1,150 each. Each case sports around 100 cigars, thereby calculating a fat price of $115,000 for each box. Are you ready to shell out your money on fire?
Touted to be the worlds most expensive ones, they are formed using premium tobacco and from there are infused with an full bottle of Louis XIII cognac.
Franco-Spanish tobacco producer Altadis has launched the world's most expensive cigar called the "Behike." The limited edition of the Cohiba brand will sell for $420 each in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.
A batch of 4,000 Behike has been released with each box of 40 to retail for $18,846.
The name Behike means a sorcerer, doctor or priest from the pre-Colombian Taino tribe. The special cigars were made last year at famous El Laguito factory in Havana and hand-rolled by veteran employee Norma Fernandez.
The cigars had been kept in humidor containers for up to six years. They are of the same size as the Cohiba Lancero (192 millimetres/7.5 inches) with the 20.64 mm (0.9 inch) diameter of the Cohiba Siglo VI.
Altadis plans to market 15 boxes of the Behike cigars to Spanish aficionados
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
World's most expensive hotel-casino opens in Las Vegas
The world's most expensive hotel-casino ever has opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino, which was designed and built over a period of five years, cost US$2.7 billion to construct. The hotel stands nearly fifty stories above the Las Vegas valley, with a 180-foot tall mountain in front of the main entrance.
Numerous lavish touches contributed to the high expense of the development. The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.
"I think it's going to start a shift of power. It's been the south for a long time. Things will start moving to the north because of Wynn Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson with the expansion of the Venetian, the New Frontier -- that whole area will become the new hot area of Las Vegas for the next decade or so," gaming expert Anthony Curtis told Las Vegas KLAS TV.
As the property opened to the public, developer Steve Wynn greeted visitors at the front entrance.
"It's always fascinating to watch people enter the thing and get their first moment after we open the doors," Wynn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Concern about the cost
The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.Analysts are not too concerned about the cost of the Wynn development. Wynn paid off the cost of The Mirage hotel-casino in 18 months, much earlier than the planned seven years for which the debt had been scheduled for repayment.
"If you remember the opening of The Mirage in 1989, Wynn needed to make a nut of $1 million a day. Everyone thought he was nuts; 'couldn't be done,' they all said," Las Vegas history department Chairman Hal Rothman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Wynn sold his interest in Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand (which became MGM Mirage and is now run by Kirk Kerkorian) for US$6.4 billion back in 2000, then turned around and purchased the property for the Wynn hotel-casino for US$275 million. The property was previously the home of the Desert Inn.
The hotel has 2,359 rooms, and a few hundred deluxe suites and "parlors" for high rollers. The casino has 1,960 slot machines and 137 table games on a 111,000 square foot casino floor. A Ferrari-Maserati dealership and the Le Reve stage show, featuring a million gallon water tank, round out the expensive offerings.
A round of golf will go for US$500 on the elaborate golf course located behind the main building.
All of these specifications add up to a record construction cost of over one million US dollars per room. Other expensive Las Vegas properties cost a fraction of the price, such as the Bellagio, which cost half the price at US$533,000 per room. The most expensive hotel property in the world was previously the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, which cost US$775,000 per room.
"Yes, (Wynn) may be in over his head, but then he has found ways to survive before," Las Vegas professor Bill Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Reaction from the competition
The Le Reve stage show features a million gallon water tank.Several of Wynn's largest competitors spoke with admiration of the property and looked forward to its impact on Las Vegas.
"I've never understood the hand-wringing about something new, especially in Las Vegas and Atlantic City," Harrah's Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Other casino bosses from the Mandalay and the MGM Mirage had positive comments as well, hoping to pick up some new business from the development.
"It's a positive in terms of bringing more visitors," Mandalay Resort Group President and CEO Glenn Schaeffer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"Steve will build a great property and bring new people to town. If we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, then we'll pick up some of that business also," MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terry Lanni told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Reaction from the public
Thousands of visitors gathered for hours in front of the property before it opened. Security guards had to monitor the number of visitors entering the building.
"I think it's spectacular," David Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas told Reuters.
"People were pushing and shoving," Las Vegan Kathie Anderson told Associated Press.
"There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos," British billionaire Richard Branson told Associated Press from the casino floor. "I would say every other casino must be nervous. He's lifted the bar dramatically," Branson said.
"This would be hard to top," Las Vegan Marlene DeMarco told Reuters.
Numerous lavish touches contributed to the high expense of the development. The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.
"I think it's going to start a shift of power. It's been the south for a long time. Things will start moving to the north because of Wynn Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson with the expansion of the Venetian, the New Frontier -- that whole area will become the new hot area of Las Vegas for the next decade or so," gaming expert Anthony Curtis told Las Vegas KLAS TV.
As the property opened to the public, developer Steve Wynn greeted visitors at the front entrance.
"It's always fascinating to watch people enter the thing and get their first moment after we open the doors," Wynn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Concern about the cost
The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.Analysts are not too concerned about the cost of the Wynn development. Wynn paid off the cost of The Mirage hotel-casino in 18 months, much earlier than the planned seven years for which the debt had been scheduled for repayment.
"If you remember the opening of The Mirage in 1989, Wynn needed to make a nut of $1 million a day. Everyone thought he was nuts; 'couldn't be done,' they all said," Las Vegas history department Chairman Hal Rothman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Wynn sold his interest in Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand (which became MGM Mirage and is now run by Kirk Kerkorian) for US$6.4 billion back in 2000, then turned around and purchased the property for the Wynn hotel-casino for US$275 million. The property was previously the home of the Desert Inn.
The hotel has 2,359 rooms, and a few hundred deluxe suites and "parlors" for high rollers. The casino has 1,960 slot machines and 137 table games on a 111,000 square foot casino floor. A Ferrari-Maserati dealership and the Le Reve stage show, featuring a million gallon water tank, round out the expensive offerings.
A round of golf will go for US$500 on the elaborate golf course located behind the main building.
All of these specifications add up to a record construction cost of over one million US dollars per room. Other expensive Las Vegas properties cost a fraction of the price, such as the Bellagio, which cost half the price at US$533,000 per room. The most expensive hotel property in the world was previously the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, which cost US$775,000 per room.
"Yes, (Wynn) may be in over his head, but then he has found ways to survive before," Las Vegas professor Bill Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Reaction from the competition
The Le Reve stage show features a million gallon water tank.Several of Wynn's largest competitors spoke with admiration of the property and looked forward to its impact on Las Vegas.
"I've never understood the hand-wringing about something new, especially in Las Vegas and Atlantic City," Harrah's Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Other casino bosses from the Mandalay and the MGM Mirage had positive comments as well, hoping to pick up some new business from the development.
"It's a positive in terms of bringing more visitors," Mandalay Resort Group President and CEO Glenn Schaeffer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"Steve will build a great property and bring new people to town. If we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, then we'll pick up some of that business also," MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terry Lanni told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Reaction from the public
Thousands of visitors gathered for hours in front of the property before it opened. Security guards had to monitor the number of visitors entering the building.
"I think it's spectacular," David Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas told Reuters.
"People were pushing and shoving," Las Vegan Kathie Anderson told Associated Press.
"There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos," British billionaire Richard Branson told Associated Press from the casino floor. "I would say every other casino must be nervous. He's lifted the bar dramatically," Branson said.
"This would be hard to top," Las Vegan Marlene DeMarco told Reuters.
Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery
Diamonds are attractive, mystifying and exceptional. Diamond jewellery is one of the most well known ornaments that insert people's individuality in a beautiful way. Diamonds have been the most appealing things for women. Their shine and style specifically magnetize a lot of attention.
History of Diamond
It is saying true "Diamond is forever". When it comes about the history of diamonds, it is one of the most fascinating stone on the earth. They have endured an incredible journey to arrive at us, trance the services of nature, and time. By the hundreds of year, it has been idolize and admired by the lots of culture. Diamond jewellery has been appreciates and wears although the most showed history, though the science and art of cutting loose diamonds is comparatively new and diamond jewellery is the only presented to the common public for more than last 150 years. The qualities are as spanking new and prized today as the moment they were formed billions of years ago. It has been use although the ages as holder of magic powers and unbelievable magnificence.
Diamond is the hardest stones. The word 'diamond' is deriving from the Greek word 'Adams' which means 'unbeatable'. The unrelieved beauty, which made diamonds very costly, during the number of centuries. It does not mean that diamond cannot be smashed the only thing is that it is hard to need a correct position where the break shell.
It is conceived that the diamonds were first discovered in India about 3000 years ago. It is also saying that they were measured precious as of their capacity to find light and is used as for ornamentation and as amulet for defense and guarding against evil.
As time moved on to Middle Age, diamonds were further more considered as points of value to a certain extent than stuff of mystic curing power. Because of the rising require and value of diamonds, mine vendor starts disseminating gossips that diamonds were toxic if accepted. This prohibited workers in the mines as of accepting the diamonds for smuggling.
When it comes to the mining and manufacture of fine stone class diamonds Australia is become a contestant. Nowadays, about 49% of diamonds initiate from central and southern Africa though famous resources originate in India, Canada, Russia and Southern America. Very small diamonds, known as "Nano diamonds" or "micro diamonds", have been originated in collision of volcano craters where meteoroids have discovered the world. So the micro diamonds is now used as the sign of ancient meteoroid impact sites.
Lastly, the very interesting thing is that diamond jewellery is an enormously collectable ornament, which gets traditional class in time. There are numerous cases of vintage fashion jewellery sale going into thousands of dollars.
Then, next time if you are out of buying diamond jewellery, feel glad and actually, you feel pompous that you get a product with a bright history.
Diamonds UK provides you unique collection of Diamond jewellery, engagement rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings, necklaces and several additional miraculous products online. We are glad to present our finest services make more than many years of familiarity on the UK diamond jewellery market.
History of Diamond
It is saying true "Diamond is forever". When it comes about the history of diamonds, it is one of the most fascinating stone on the earth. They have endured an incredible journey to arrive at us, trance the services of nature, and time. By the hundreds of year, it has been idolize and admired by the lots of culture. Diamond jewellery has been appreciates and wears although the most showed history, though the science and art of cutting loose diamonds is comparatively new and diamond jewellery is the only presented to the common public for more than last 150 years. The qualities are as spanking new and prized today as the moment they were formed billions of years ago. It has been use although the ages as holder of magic powers and unbelievable magnificence.
Diamond is the hardest stones. The word 'diamond' is deriving from the Greek word 'Adams' which means 'unbeatable'. The unrelieved beauty, which made diamonds very costly, during the number of centuries. It does not mean that diamond cannot be smashed the only thing is that it is hard to need a correct position where the break shell.
It is conceived that the diamonds were first discovered in India about 3000 years ago. It is also saying that they were measured precious as of their capacity to find light and is used as for ornamentation and as amulet for defense and guarding against evil.
As time moved on to Middle Age, diamonds were further more considered as points of value to a certain extent than stuff of mystic curing power. Because of the rising require and value of diamonds, mine vendor starts disseminating gossips that diamonds were toxic if accepted. This prohibited workers in the mines as of accepting the diamonds for smuggling.
When it comes to the mining and manufacture of fine stone class diamonds Australia is become a contestant. Nowadays, about 49% of diamonds initiate from central and southern Africa though famous resources originate in India, Canada, Russia and Southern America. Very small diamonds, known as "Nano diamonds" or "micro diamonds", have been originated in collision of volcano craters where meteoroids have discovered the world. So the micro diamonds is now used as the sign of ancient meteoroid impact sites.
Lastly, the very interesting thing is that diamond jewellery is an enormously collectable ornament, which gets traditional class in time. There are numerous cases of vintage fashion jewellery sale going into thousands of dollars.
Then, next time if you are out of buying diamond jewellery, feel glad and actually, you feel pompous that you get a product with a bright history.
Diamonds UK provides you unique collection of Diamond jewellery, engagement rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings, necklaces and several additional miraculous products online. We are glad to present our finest services make more than many years of familiarity on the UK diamond jewellery market.
World's Most Expensive Watches
Watch collecting may be one of the most expensive hobbies in the world, but it's also one of the most rewarding. Many antique timepieces are a testament to the brilliance of early and modern innovators. Vacherin Constantin's Tour de l'Ile - $1.5 million. Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin marked its 250th anniversary in 2005 with the world's most complicated wrist watch-the Tour de l'Ile. The watch is so complicated that it required over 10,000 hours of research to create. Its name refers to one of the historical sites of the venerable company, located next to the current Maison Vacheron Constantin on the Quai de l'Ile.
Only produced in a limited edition of seven pieces, this expensive watch is also the most complicated double-face watch. Tour de l'Ile is made with a totally original combination of horological complications and astronomical indications composing a list of sixteen different points including a minute repeater, sunset time, perpetual calendar, second time zone, a tourbillion device, the equation of time and a representation of the night sky.At $1.5 million, this is one of the world's most expensive watch produced in recent years. Patek Philippe's Platinum World Time- over $4 millionThe Platinum World Time created by Patek Philippe was sold at auction for over $4 million USD in 2002. It is believed that only one was created and, at the time, it was the most expensive wristwatch in the world.In fact, Patek Philippe had produced all of the ten most expensive watches in the world. The company, headquartered in Geneva, made their first wristwatch in 1868. They had already made a name for themselves prior to that, however, by providing watches to Queen Victoria herself in 1851.
Other notable customers include Pope Pius IX, a king and queen of Denmark and an Italian king. Chopard's $25 million watch. This gaudy timepiece by Chopard is adorned with three heart-shaped diamonds-a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond and an 11-carat white diamond. For good measure, they threw in 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds to bring the total to 201 carats of diamonds. The result is something that looks rather like a geode that's been turned inside out and dipped in lemon Kool-Aid. Add to that the fact that the size of the watch's face must make telling time into a fun game of Where's Waldo and you'll see that Chopard has truly created a recipe for success.Its $25 million price tag guarantees its place as the world's most expensive watch for years to come.currency trading course
Only produced in a limited edition of seven pieces, this expensive watch is also the most complicated double-face watch. Tour de l'Ile is made with a totally original combination of horological complications and astronomical indications composing a list of sixteen different points including a minute repeater, sunset time, perpetual calendar, second time zone, a tourbillion device, the equation of time and a representation of the night sky.At $1.5 million, this is one of the world's most expensive watch produced in recent years. Patek Philippe's Platinum World Time- over $4 millionThe Platinum World Time created by Patek Philippe was sold at auction for over $4 million USD in 2002. It is believed that only one was created and, at the time, it was the most expensive wristwatch in the world.In fact, Patek Philippe had produced all of the ten most expensive watches in the world. The company, headquartered in Geneva, made their first wristwatch in 1868. They had already made a name for themselves prior to that, however, by providing watches to Queen Victoria herself in 1851.
Other notable customers include Pope Pius IX, a king and queen of Denmark and an Italian king. Chopard's $25 million watch. This gaudy timepiece by Chopard is adorned with three heart-shaped diamonds-a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond and an 11-carat white diamond. For good measure, they threw in 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds to bring the total to 201 carats of diamonds. The result is something that looks rather like a geode that's been turned inside out and dipped in lemon Kool-Aid. Add to that the fact that the size of the watch's face must make telling time into a fun game of Where's Waldo and you'll see that Chopard has truly created a recipe for success.Its $25 million price tag guarantees its place as the world's most expensive watch for years to come.currency trading course
Toyota offers new Innova version
Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday launched the refurbished version of its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Innova. The company also plans to introduce the CNG version of Innova soon, while its compact car project is on track and it would hit the market by the end of 2010.
Priced between Rs. 7.66 lakh and Rs. 11.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new Innova comes in four variants, in petrol and diesel versions.
“The new version of Innova has the best fuel mileage in the segment with 13.7 km a litre (under test conditions),” said Toyota Kirloskar Motor Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa.
“We are focussed on constantly upgrading our products based on customer feedback,” said Toyota Kirloskar Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh. Toyota was also planning to launch the CNG version of Innova shortly. “Currently trial runs are on. It will be sold in select cities in the North and the West where CNG is available. It will cost Rs. 90,000 more than the regular version,” Mr. Singh added. Toyota is also “well on track” as far as its ambitious compact car project is concerned.
“We will roll out the all-new small car, especially focussed on the Indian market, by the end of 2010. We are investing Rs. 3,200 crore for setting up our second manufacturing plant in Bangalore where the new car will be manufactured,” Mr. Nakagawa said.
Priced between Rs. 7.66 lakh and Rs. 11.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new Innova comes in four variants, in petrol and diesel versions.
“The new version of Innova has the best fuel mileage in the segment with 13.7 km a litre (under test conditions),” said Toyota Kirloskar Motor Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa.
“We are focussed on constantly upgrading our products based on customer feedback,” said Toyota Kirloskar Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh. Toyota was also planning to launch the CNG version of Innova shortly. “Currently trial runs are on. It will be sold in select cities in the North and the West where CNG is available. It will cost Rs. 90,000 more than the regular version,” Mr. Singh added. Toyota is also “well on track” as far as its ambitious compact car project is concerned.
“We will roll out the all-new small car, especially focussed on the Indian market, by the end of 2010. We are investing Rs. 3,200 crore for setting up our second manufacturing plant in Bangalore where the new car will be manufactured,” Mr. Nakagawa said.
Kaspersky’s Anti-Virus for Windows 7 released as “prototype
So far, there are three “official” anti-virus partners for the Windows 7 beta – AVG, Symantec (with Norton 360 3.0 beta) and Kaspersky Lab, with the latter announcing the release of its Windows 7 solution as a “technical prototype”.
Announcing a “new antivirus engine” in “technical prototype” form, Kaspersky Lab has made its Windows 7 antivirus solution available for free download to Windows 7 beta users. Promising “complex antivirus protection from all types of Internet threats”, as antivirus and security companies are wont to do, the release underscores Kaspersky’s desire to be seen as a fast security mover in an ever changing threat landscape. Alexey Kalgin, Director Product Marketing, Corporate Business Division, Kaspersky Labs said: “We knew the release of the new version of Windows would be a huge event for the IT community, which is why we were prepared for it. “Our company has always made support for Microsoft’s new operating systems a top priority. For example Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Vista was released simultaneously with the operating system’s official launch. When Windows Server 2008 was released, Kaspersky Anti-Virus was the only antivirus product on the market certified by Microsoft. Users can now see for themselves how our antivirus protection technologies perform on the new platform.”The prototype is provides “effective protection” from all types of Internet threats – viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, hacker attacks and spam, forming part of a “comprehensive solution, including not only an antivirus pattern-recognition component but also a heuristic analyzer which can detect and block as-yet-unknown malicious programs based on their suspicious characteristics, a firewall and an anti-spam filter.” Kaspersky is quick to promote its “new antivirus engine” which is “even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor”. Claimed benefits include dramatically increased “system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms” and a “unique product architecture” to ensure “high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.”Low use of system resources seems to be the new battle cry amongst security vendors, something Symantec has achieved with its Norton Internet Security 2009 software, has implemented into the Norton 360 version 3.0 beta, and is something that BitDefender has also recently promoted with its latest version. Fully compatible with Windows 7 beta in both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, Kaspersky promises that “both inexperienced and advanced users will find the solution to be user-friendly and easy to install and configure.”
Announcing a “new antivirus engine” in “technical prototype” form, Kaspersky Lab has made its Windows 7 antivirus solution available for free download to Windows 7 beta users. Promising “complex antivirus protection from all types of Internet threats”, as antivirus and security companies are wont to do, the release underscores Kaspersky’s desire to be seen as a fast security mover in an ever changing threat landscape. Alexey Kalgin, Director Product Marketing, Corporate Business Division, Kaspersky Labs said: “We knew the release of the new version of Windows would be a huge event for the IT community, which is why we were prepared for it. “Our company has always made support for Microsoft’s new operating systems a top priority. For example Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Vista was released simultaneously with the operating system’s official launch. When Windows Server 2008 was released, Kaspersky Anti-Virus was the only antivirus product on the market certified by Microsoft. Users can now see for themselves how our antivirus protection technologies perform on the new platform.”The prototype is provides “effective protection” from all types of Internet threats – viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, hacker attacks and spam, forming part of a “comprehensive solution, including not only an antivirus pattern-recognition component but also a heuristic analyzer which can detect and block as-yet-unknown malicious programs based on their suspicious characteristics, a firewall and an anti-spam filter.” Kaspersky is quick to promote its “new antivirus engine” which is “even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor”. Claimed benefits include dramatically increased “system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms” and a “unique product architecture” to ensure “high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.”Low use of system resources seems to be the new battle cry amongst security vendors, something Symantec has achieved with its Norton Internet Security 2009 software, has implemented into the Norton 360 version 3.0 beta, and is something that BitDefender has also recently promoted with its latest version. Fully compatible with Windows 7 beta in both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, Kaspersky promises that “both inexperienced and advanced users will find the solution to be user-friendly and easy to install and configure.”
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, code-named Tube, is the latest Nokia addition to the XpressMusic series portfolio, but the first to feature a touch interface. The company's Symbian operating system has been updated to the 5th version, which is compatible with touchscreen, and I think it's pretty obvious why Nokia chose an XpressMusic device to implement its first touch compatible OS – touch control for music phones is one the most successful recipes nowadays. Moreover, the large touchscreen with a weird resolution (360x640 pixels) makes it also a good tool for Internet browsing. Still, one of the greatest trumps of the handset is its cheap price compared to other touchscreen phones on the market. Furthermore, Nokia made a wise choice by targeting a different consumer market, people interested in music phones rather than the rest of the touchscreen devices, which are targeting business people. The business phone market is already oversaturated with touchscreen handsets by brands such as HTC, Eten, Palm and the newcomers Sony Ericsson and BlackBerry. Announced in October 2008, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic was effectively launched on the market one month later, in November. The 5800 candybar phone can be acquired for only USD 400$ unlocked and with an 8GB microSD card included in the sales package. Potential buyers can opt for any of the three colors available: Black, Red and Blue.
DesignNokia promised a good-looking, stylish device that would top-up all the XpressMusic phones available on the market. Pictures leaked on the Internet before its actual release, revealed a cool handset with a candybar form factor, a little bit too narrow, but with a large touchscreen. Before actually holding it in my hands, I was afraid that it would be too heavy or too bulky. It wasn't like that after all, as Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is very well balanced and because it's a little bit larger than expected, its thickness doesn't give the impression of bulkiness.
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The candybar is manufactured from two different kinds of plastic. The one on the front and both sides is very well polished and shiny, which makes the phone look exquisite and expensive. The back cover is made of a rubber-like plastic, which, as opposed to the one on the front, is frosted. When you put it on any kind of surface the rubber-like plastic on the back cover ensures that the phone won't glide or fall off. While the shiny compound on the front will catch a few fingerprints, that's not the case with the large touchscreen, which gets cover in grease in no time. After only 1 day of use, the phone will look obnoxious if you don't wipe it at all, as I did. Anyway, its construction looks pretty sturdy with no apparent flaws.Nokia 5800 XpressMusic lacks a keypad and a QWERTY keyboard. What you'll get instead are three keys below the huge touchscreen: Green key (Accept calls), Red key (Reject calls), Middle key (Main menu). It is pretty obvious what they do, so I won't bug you with more details. Above the screen, on the right, you'll notice an Ambient light sensor, a secondary video-call camera and for those who didn't know, a touch key that opens the Multimedia bar. The touch key icon is pictured near the XpressMusic logo, but you can check out the pictures for a closer look.
The right side of the phone features a dual volume key, a security key, which locks/unlocks the display when it is slid down, and a dedicated camera key. The left side of the handset features two slots covered with plastic stripes. In one of them you'll discover the 8GB microSD slot card that comes with the phone, while in the other one you'll have to insert your SIM card. That means that both cards (memory and SIM) are hot-swappable, so you won't need to take off the back cover to change either of the two. The back of the phone features a 3.2 Megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual LED flash. The camera is protected by a metallic frame to avoid possible scratches. At the bottom left you'll discover a very slim stylus made of cheap plastic. I haven't used it that much because I didn't like it. On top of the phone no less than three ports have been crowded: microUSB, 3.5mm jack and charger. There's also the usual dedicated power button, which powers on/off the device, but can also be used to lock the screen, remove the memory card or change the profiles.
Overall, I consider Nokia 5800 XpressMusic a huge step forward for the company's design team, which finally developed a good-looking product, after so many fails. Display and CameraNokia 5800 XpressMusic features a 3.2 inch, TFT touchscreen, supporting no less than 16 Million colors. Moreover, the resolution of the screen, 640x360 pixels (16:9 display ratio and 24 bit color depth), makes it a little bit weird at a first glance. The device features proximity sensor for auto turn-off and accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate. With the proximity sensor you can silence a call by turning it upside down. You can also snooze the alarm clock using the same method.
The auto-rotate feature is no news for Nokia, and you can use it when you're browsing the Internet, or turn it off if you think it's too sensible and turns your screen in landscape mode when you don't want to. Even though images are showing great on the display and it performs very well under bright sunlight, Nokia used the most common technology for this display. The so-called resistive touchscreen panel is generally the most affordable technology and offers only 75% clarity. Fortunately, resistive touchscreen panels are not affected by dust or water and are one of the sturdiest. The touchscreen lacks the tactile feedback feature. For performance, please check the benchmark results below.
The 3.2 Megapixel camera features dual LED flash, autofocus capabilities and 3x digital zoom. It uses Carl Zeiss optics and can save pictures in JPEG/Exif format. Other functions include: Auto Exposure, Self Timer, White Balance, Contrast, Sharpness, Light sensitivity, Color tone. I have found the quality of the pictures quite acceptable, even in low-light conditions. The dual led flash is a real disappointment, but daylight pictures are a little bit above average. The camera doesn't support geo-tagging, even though the device embeds a GPS receiver.
Video capabilities are also above average – the candybar can record movies in VGA mode, 640x480 pixel resolution at 30fps. Clips are saved in MPEG-4 format, but you can use the secondary camera on the front of phone to shoot clips at 15fps, 320 x 240 pixel resolution. Overall, without impressing too much, the 5800's camera is well above the rest of the XpressMusic modules and makes a good addition to the device.
Menu and SoftwareNokia 5800 XpressMusic runs Symbian 9.4 operating system, with S60 5th Edition interface. Basically, it's a 9.3 version adapted for a touch interface, which is expected to run all the applications 50-75% faster than the older Symbian version. Also, SQL support is now provided by SQLite.
The layout of the menu didn't change too much, except maybe the fact that you can now organize your applications the way you want to. To bring up the Main menu key click the middle key, choose Options/Organise, and put your more often used applications on top, so they'll have their icon more exposed to your finger. That is a good addition, as the Home screen Shortcut bar only features 4 customizable icons. Furthermore, clicking the Multimedia touch key found below the secondary video-call camera will bring up the Multimedia bar, which gives quick access to Music player, Gallery, Mail, Video centre and Internet browser.
There's a wide range of tips and tricks that I wrote about, so check them out here and here. First of all I'd like to remark that the touch mechanism is not that responsive as in the iPhone, HTC Touch Pro or G1. I have noticed that you need to push an icon a little bit longer to actually activate it, and while this might be good if you think that you can easily click on another icon by mistake, it can also be a bad thing as it slows your browsing speed. I believe that every access must be made by clicking on an application to select it and afterwards clicking again to actually open it.
The scrolling mechanism is a real pain, especially when you browse the Internet, and menu scrolling is also pretty bad. There's no dragging or swiping on the touchscreen, as Nokia didn't implement these functions. Fortunately, some applications can be accessed directly from the Home screen if you know where to look. Alarm clock can be accessed by clicking on the clock in the upper left corner. One click on the battery icon will bring up the connectivity menu, while clicking the General profile will enable you access to Calendar or list of all profiles. Pressing and holding the Menu key (middle key) will bring up the Task manager where you can see what apps are running in the background. The phone doesn't have any business applications, such as Office Mobile or PDF reader, but these can be easily installed afterwards.
The menu isn't that well organized anymore, so you get various applications mixed with games and search or localization services. There are two games based on the accelerometer sensor: Bounce and Global Racing Thunder. Unfortunately, control is pretty hard for the racing game and I wouldn't recommend playing it for too long as it gets annoying. Furthermore, there are only a few third-party applications available for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, but you can put in some Java-compatible apps, as the device features a compatibility mode for Java applications that aren't touchscreen-aware. The system works by using part of the screen for displaying the essential buttons required by the program. Still, I have discovered that not all apps are fully compatible.
The device has a variety of input methods: stylus, plectrum and finger touch support for text input and UI control (alphanumeric keypad, full and mini QWERTY keyboard, handwriting recognition). To sum it up, here’s what we get in Nokia 5800 XpressMusic: complex calendar, notepad, calculator, converter, file manager, recorder, IM. There's no media sub-menu, but you get some dedicated apps under the Music menu: music player, Stereo FM RDS Radio, Gallery, RealPlayer, Podcasting, Music store.
CommunicationsNokia 5800 XpressMusic is a quad-band GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900) handset, HSDPA 900 / 2100 (3.6 Mbps) compatible, which features GPRS class 32 (100 kbps), EDGE 32 class (296 kbps), High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (57.6 kbps) and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g (UPnP technology). Unfortunately, you don't have a WLAN shortcut on the Home screen anymore to quick access the Wi-Fi. Instead you'll need to click the battery icon and bring up the Connectivity menu, where you'll find the WLAN function. If you want to connect to the Internet, you must first define an Access point (EDGE, WLAN or 3G). You can do that by going to Main menu - Tools - Settings - Connection - Access points and define which access point is to be used whenever a network connection is required (Main menu - Home network – Settings).
The handset features a GPS receiver, which works in conjunction with Nokia Maps. I have tested the localization times and I have noticed that Nokia 5800's GPS is one of the fastest. The built-in GPS receiver features the A-GPS function, which makes localization even faster. It quickly pin-points you even when the phone is indoors. Other connectivity tools include Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and EDR support, and microUSB for PC synchronization (no charging). The Bluetooth connection reached almost 116 KB/s when sending files and 130 KB/s when receiving, which is way above the average.
In terms of messaging, the phone offers a complete solution accepting all available message types. Furthermore, given the fact that it features a virtual QWERTY keyboard, you'll be able to type your messages faster. The message client works with POP3, SMTP, and IMAP4 protocols, and supports more than one email account. Also, it can download headers or full email, and supports attachments.
The quad-band (GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900) network compatible handset has a very good GSM signal reception. The sound is very good at both ends, and pretty loud too. The vibration alert is also above average in intensity, so you don't really need to set it to higher levels.Processor and Memory Nokia 5800 XpressMusic features a single ARM
DesignNokia promised a good-looking, stylish device that would top-up all the XpressMusic phones available on the market. Pictures leaked on the Internet before its actual release, revealed a cool handset with a candybar form factor, a little bit too narrow, but with a large touchscreen. Before actually holding it in my hands, I was afraid that it would be too heavy or too bulky. It wasn't like that after all, as Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is very well balanced and because it's a little bit larger than expected, its thickness doesn't give the impression of bulkiness.
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The candybar is manufactured from two different kinds of plastic. The one on the front and both sides is very well polished and shiny, which makes the phone look exquisite and expensive. The back cover is made of a rubber-like plastic, which, as opposed to the one on the front, is frosted. When you put it on any kind of surface the rubber-like plastic on the back cover ensures that the phone won't glide or fall off. While the shiny compound on the front will catch a few fingerprints, that's not the case with the large touchscreen, which gets cover in grease in no time. After only 1 day of use, the phone will look obnoxious if you don't wipe it at all, as I did. Anyway, its construction looks pretty sturdy with no apparent flaws.Nokia 5800 XpressMusic lacks a keypad and a QWERTY keyboard. What you'll get instead are three keys below the huge touchscreen: Green key (Accept calls), Red key (Reject calls), Middle key (Main menu). It is pretty obvious what they do, so I won't bug you with more details. Above the screen, on the right, you'll notice an Ambient light sensor, a secondary video-call camera and for those who didn't know, a touch key that opens the Multimedia bar. The touch key icon is pictured near the XpressMusic logo, but you can check out the pictures for a closer look.
The right side of the phone features a dual volume key, a security key, which locks/unlocks the display when it is slid down, and a dedicated camera key. The left side of the handset features two slots covered with plastic stripes. In one of them you'll discover the 8GB microSD slot card that comes with the phone, while in the other one you'll have to insert your SIM card. That means that both cards (memory and SIM) are hot-swappable, so you won't need to take off the back cover to change either of the two. The back of the phone features a 3.2 Megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual LED flash. The camera is protected by a metallic frame to avoid possible scratches. At the bottom left you'll discover a very slim stylus made of cheap plastic. I haven't used it that much because I didn't like it. On top of the phone no less than three ports have been crowded: microUSB, 3.5mm jack and charger. There's also the usual dedicated power button, which powers on/off the device, but can also be used to lock the screen, remove the memory card or change the profiles.
Overall, I consider Nokia 5800 XpressMusic a huge step forward for the company's design team, which finally developed a good-looking product, after so many fails. Display and CameraNokia 5800 XpressMusic features a 3.2 inch, TFT touchscreen, supporting no less than 16 Million colors. Moreover, the resolution of the screen, 640x360 pixels (16:9 display ratio and 24 bit color depth), makes it a little bit weird at a first glance. The device features proximity sensor for auto turn-off and accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate. With the proximity sensor you can silence a call by turning it upside down. You can also snooze the alarm clock using the same method.
The auto-rotate feature is no news for Nokia, and you can use it when you're browsing the Internet, or turn it off if you think it's too sensible and turns your screen in landscape mode when you don't want to. Even though images are showing great on the display and it performs very well under bright sunlight, Nokia used the most common technology for this display. The so-called resistive touchscreen panel is generally the most affordable technology and offers only 75% clarity. Fortunately, resistive touchscreen panels are not affected by dust or water and are one of the sturdiest. The touchscreen lacks the tactile feedback feature. For performance, please check the benchmark results below.
The 3.2 Megapixel camera features dual LED flash, autofocus capabilities and 3x digital zoom. It uses Carl Zeiss optics and can save pictures in JPEG/Exif format. Other functions include: Auto Exposure, Self Timer, White Balance, Contrast, Sharpness, Light sensitivity, Color tone. I have found the quality of the pictures quite acceptable, even in low-light conditions. The dual led flash is a real disappointment, but daylight pictures are a little bit above average. The camera doesn't support geo-tagging, even though the device embeds a GPS receiver.
Video capabilities are also above average – the candybar can record movies in VGA mode, 640x480 pixel resolution at 30fps. Clips are saved in MPEG-4 format, but you can use the secondary camera on the front of phone to shoot clips at 15fps, 320 x 240 pixel resolution. Overall, without impressing too much, the 5800's camera is well above the rest of the XpressMusic modules and makes a good addition to the device.
Menu and SoftwareNokia 5800 XpressMusic runs Symbian 9.4 operating system, with S60 5th Edition interface. Basically, it's a 9.3 version adapted for a touch interface, which is expected to run all the applications 50-75% faster than the older Symbian version. Also, SQL support is now provided by SQLite.
The layout of the menu didn't change too much, except maybe the fact that you can now organize your applications the way you want to. To bring up the Main menu key click the middle key, choose Options/Organise, and put your more often used applications on top, so they'll have their icon more exposed to your finger. That is a good addition, as the Home screen Shortcut bar only features 4 customizable icons. Furthermore, clicking the Multimedia touch key found below the secondary video-call camera will bring up the Multimedia bar, which gives quick access to Music player, Gallery, Mail, Video centre and Internet browser.
There's a wide range of tips and tricks that I wrote about, so check them out here and here. First of all I'd like to remark that the touch mechanism is not that responsive as in the iPhone, HTC Touch Pro or G1. I have noticed that you need to push an icon a little bit longer to actually activate it, and while this might be good if you think that you can easily click on another icon by mistake, it can also be a bad thing as it slows your browsing speed. I believe that every access must be made by clicking on an application to select it and afterwards clicking again to actually open it.
The scrolling mechanism is a real pain, especially when you browse the Internet, and menu scrolling is also pretty bad. There's no dragging or swiping on the touchscreen, as Nokia didn't implement these functions. Fortunately, some applications can be accessed directly from the Home screen if you know where to look. Alarm clock can be accessed by clicking on the clock in the upper left corner. One click on the battery icon will bring up the connectivity menu, while clicking the General profile will enable you access to Calendar or list of all profiles. Pressing and holding the Menu key (middle key) will bring up the Task manager where you can see what apps are running in the background. The phone doesn't have any business applications, such as Office Mobile or PDF reader, but these can be easily installed afterwards.
The menu isn't that well organized anymore, so you get various applications mixed with games and search or localization services. There are two games based on the accelerometer sensor: Bounce and Global Racing Thunder. Unfortunately, control is pretty hard for the racing game and I wouldn't recommend playing it for too long as it gets annoying. Furthermore, there are only a few third-party applications available for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, but you can put in some Java-compatible apps, as the device features a compatibility mode for Java applications that aren't touchscreen-aware. The system works by using part of the screen for displaying the essential buttons required by the program. Still, I have discovered that not all apps are fully compatible.
The device has a variety of input methods: stylus, plectrum and finger touch support for text input and UI control (alphanumeric keypad, full and mini QWERTY keyboard, handwriting recognition). To sum it up, here’s what we get in Nokia 5800 XpressMusic: complex calendar, notepad, calculator, converter, file manager, recorder, IM. There's no media sub-menu, but you get some dedicated apps under the Music menu: music player, Stereo FM RDS Radio, Gallery, RealPlayer, Podcasting, Music store.
CommunicationsNokia 5800 XpressMusic is a quad-band GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900) handset, HSDPA 900 / 2100 (3.6 Mbps) compatible, which features GPRS class 32 (100 kbps), EDGE 32 class (296 kbps), High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (57.6 kbps) and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g (UPnP technology). Unfortunately, you don't have a WLAN shortcut on the Home screen anymore to quick access the Wi-Fi. Instead you'll need to click the battery icon and bring up the Connectivity menu, where you'll find the WLAN function. If you want to connect to the Internet, you must first define an Access point (EDGE, WLAN or 3G). You can do that by going to Main menu - Tools - Settings - Connection - Access points and define which access point is to be used whenever a network connection is required (Main menu - Home network – Settings).
The handset features a GPS receiver, which works in conjunction with Nokia Maps. I have tested the localization times and I have noticed that Nokia 5800's GPS is one of the fastest. The built-in GPS receiver features the A-GPS function, which makes localization even faster. It quickly pin-points you even when the phone is indoors. Other connectivity tools include Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and EDR support, and microUSB for PC synchronization (no charging). The Bluetooth connection reached almost 116 KB/s when sending files and 130 KB/s when receiving, which is way above the average.
In terms of messaging, the phone offers a complete solution accepting all available message types. Furthermore, given the fact that it features a virtual QWERTY keyboard, you'll be able to type your messages faster. The message client works with POP3, SMTP, and IMAP4 protocols, and supports more than one email account. Also, it can download headers or full email, and supports attachments.
The quad-band (GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900) network compatible handset has a very good GSM signal reception. The sound is very good at both ends, and pretty loud too. The vibration alert is also above average in intensity, so you don't really need to set it to higher levels.Processor and Memory Nokia 5800 XpressMusic features a single ARM
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