BlackBerry has recently launched BlackBerry Torch touch screen smartphone powered with BlackBerry OS 6.

BlackBerry has significantly improved the touch sensitivity navigation with BlackBerry Torch that includes different home screen options such as Swipe Up – Swipe Down, Swipe left and Swipe Right.

Phenomenal improvement in UI and web kit browser is seen as well in BlackBerry Torch. All finger navigation on home screen popup with something useful on the screen.

BlackBerry OS 6 has changed a lot of traditional actions that previously existed in BlackBerry operating systems. One of the cool features is universal search function for searching contacts, tweets, messages, internet, files and more.

Two more important features that have been introduced with BlackBerry Torch are notification bar for accessing messages, emails and recent tweets for quick access, while another is easy access of Wi-Fi connections and Bluetooth activations.

Display:

Its display is geared with TFT touchscreen 3.2″ HVGA+ 480×360 pixel color display 3.18” measured diagonally with light sensing and proximity sensing screen. It is also ready with feature of user selectable font size.

Processor &Memory:

* 624 MHz Processor.
* 512 MB RAM
* 512MB onboard memory (ROM).
* 4GB eMMC (internal)
* microSD 4GB Media Card Included (Optional)

Connectivity & Location Based details:

It is ready with today’s connectivity needs as listed below:

* GPRS/EDGE/3G
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, • 802.11 b/g/n , WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise , Cisco CCX certified , Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server , Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle , Support for Unlicensed mobile access (carrier-dependent)
* Bluetooth® v2.1 +EDR Micro USB, Mono/stereo headset, Hands-free operation, Messaging access profile, Serial port profile, SIM access profile, Stereo audio (A2DP/AVCRP), Dial-up networking (DUN).
* A-GPS
* BlackBerry Maps

Multimedia:

It is capable of standard multimedia functions like:

* 5 MP camera , 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash and it is ready with features like Geo-tagging, continuous auto-focus, image stabilization and Multiple picture-taking modes
* Video recording in VGA mode.
* It is ready to play – Audio formats: MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMV, Flac, OggVorbis and Video formats: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV3.
* Ringtones : Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones, MP3 ringtones, Vibrate mode ,On-screen, LED indicator
* Speaker Phone.
* 3.5 mm Stereo Jack

Applications:

* BlackBerry OS 6
* New User Interface with improved transition effects.
* Document Editor
* Instant messaging
* BlackBerry Maps
* Web Kit Browser (pinch to zoom)
* Podcasts
* Media Player
* Video Player
* Social networking applications.
* Application management
* Online Media Streaming (Browser Access)

Input Selections:

* Hardware slide out Qwerty Keyboard
* Software QWERTY Keyboard.
* Track pad
* ESC key to right of track pad
* Menu key to left of track pad

Colors Availability:

* Black

Bonus Features:

* UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access)
* Enhanced built-in memory and RAM.

Nutshell:

BlackBerry has come up with much better device in touch screen arena especially with better finger swipe navigation controls and sensitivity.

Overall, BlackBerry Torch has enhanced features as compared to its previous models in terms of LCD size, Pixel size, camera and finger touch navigation with traditional QWERTY style hard keypad.

Whereas, BlackBerry Torch’s battery capacity has decreased to 1300mAH as compared to BlackBerry Bold 9700′s 1500mAH.

We can hope that, Blackberry Torch may surface in Pakistan officially by some mobile operator soon, though BlackBerry Bold 9700 was not in hot list of cellular operators.

blackberry comparison BlackBerry Torch – Latest in Line [Preview]

Ufone is now offering its postpaid customers to call at Rs. 3 plus tax per hour from 12 AM to 5 PM to 5 FNF numbers.

This is long awaited treat for postpaid customers, who are usually neglected for incentives and offerings.

This is also first of its kind offer that allows hourly calling for postpaid segment. Though postpaid market is usually considered as corporate and business class, who may not afford calling for hours (in terms of time), still we will have to see how will audience respond to this promotion.

Note: This offer is available for all Ufone postpaid packages, however, a monthly rental of Rs. 50 plus taxes will be added in your current monthly rental.

By ELAINE GANLEY

Protests in Pakistan, al-Qaida warnings, skittish Muslim tourists: France’s plan to do away with burqa-style veils is already reverberating far beyond its borders.

A bill to outlaw face veils, aimed at upholding French republican values, is expected to win Senate approval this month. If it passes this key hurdle, French diplomats will face a tough task ensuring the ban doesn’t alienate governments, deter devout foreign shoppers loaded with cash, or provoke Islamist terrorists.

It’s a complex challenge for a country that works relentlessly to preserve its global diplomatic influence, its cherished secular ideals, and its status as the world’s top tourist destination.

Ensuring gender equality, woman’s dignity and security are the official reasons France wants to outlaw Islamic veils, most often worn as “niqabs” that hide all but the eyes. Authorities insist the global ban which would include visiting foreigners is not anti-Muslim.

But that message has failed to convince some governments, be they Western or France’s traditional Arab allies, or trickle down to moneyed travelers who swarm Paris’ so-called Golden Triangle, a high-priced shopping district centered around the Champs-Elysees.

That some other European countries like Belgium are considering similar legislation and Muslim countries like Syria and Egypt have instituted their own limited bans on face veils may help bolster the French argument, but not win the debate.

“When you’re a tourist, you want to go to places you feel you are welcome,” said Dalal Saif of Oman, a sultanate bordering Saudi Arabia, during a three-week summer visit to France.

Saif, whose work is tied to the oil industry, spent hours one day with his family selecting perfumes and cosmetics by the bagful at a Champs-Elysees store.

”If they feel unwelcome, France will lose this kind of revenue,” he said, adding that such a measure ”infringes on (France’s) image as custodians, protectors of liberties.”

The number of visitors to Paris from the oil-rich Middle East was up nearly 30 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to last year, according to the Paris Tourism and Congress Office.

”I can see that many families will actually change destinations because of this,” said Saif, standing by his young daughter, black-robed but bare-faced sister, and wife wearing a chartreuse head scarf.

Many Muslim tourists who wear face veils at home shed them for European vacations, instead donning stylish, often brightly colored headscarves, sometimes paired with big sunglasses.

But that choice doesn’t erase a sense that France is offending followers of Islam with its proposed veil ban.

”My family is asking me ‘why do you want to go there? They don’t like us.”’ said Maryam Saeed, a 40-year-old mother of four who works in school administration in Dubai.

”They are taking it religiously, like it shows that in France they don’t like Muslims or we’re not welcome here,” said Saeed, covered in a black abaya cloaking her head but not her face, as she emerged from a shopping spree at the Paris department store Galeries Lafayette.

So far, foreign governments are either silent over the proposed veil ban, divided or unfavorable, said Joseph Maila, who heads a year-old division at the French Foreign Ministry devoted to religious issues.

Some of France’s closest allies, Britain and the United States, both with large Muslim populations, are among those who publicly disagree with Paris.

On the veil, ”the world isn’t black and white,” said Maila, ”it’s gray.”

Moderate Muslim leaders in France and elsewhere agree that Islam does not require women to cover their faces, but many are uncomfortable with banning the veil. Scores of religious leaders have denounced the measure, and are struggling with what to advise the faithful.

Sheik Aedh al-Garni, a popular cleric in Saudi Arabia, responding to a query from a Saudi woman in France, said in a July pronouncement that facing an official ban on the veil, ”it is better for the Muslim woman to reveal her face” to avoid ”harassment or harm.”

Saudi Arabia adheres to a strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam with women required to veil themselves in public, so the advice by al-Garni, who is widely read, was notable.

But there have been dissenting voices like that of Mohammed al-Nujemi, a Saudi professor at the Institute of Judicial and Islamic Studies: He told women to stay home.

Traveling needlessly to a non-Muslim country ”is not permissible according to the Shariah,” or Islamic law, he told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV network.

The Saudi government, which has defense and business ties with French companies, is among ‘’silent states” that prefer to say nothing about France’s veil bill for diplomatic reasons, said Maila, the Foreign Ministry official.

Opposition is strongest in Pakistan, where there have been demonstrations against the measure.

CARDIFF: Pakistan, after losing the toss, made 126 for four against England in the first Twenty20 international on Sunday.

England did nothing to lift the gloom surrounding Pakistani cricket by taking charge of the opening Twenty20 clash in Cardiff.

Spin-king Graeme Swann led the way, claiming two for 14 as Pakistan were restricted to 126 for four after they were put in by England skipper Paul Collingwood following a 30-minute delayed start because of rain.

Pakistan’s visit to the Welsh capital was totally overshadowed by “spot-fixing” allegations made against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

The trio, currently suspended following claims in last weekend’s News of the World, are the subject of police and International Cricket Council investigations and England’s bowlers, backed up by sharp fielding, took charge as Pakistan tried in vain to let their cricket take centre-stage.

Michael Yardy supported Swann admirably by taking one for 21, with England’s spinners applying the brakes in conceding just 35 runs between them from eight overs.

Despite a late flourish from Umar Akmal (35 not out) and Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi (16 not out) – Afridi was dropped by Stuart Broad and Luke Wright – England were left chasing just over six an over in their first Twenty20 game since being crowned world champions earlier this year.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, promoted to open, earlier skied a delivery during Tim Bresnan’s first over towards a grateful Yardy at mid-off, and although Mohammad Yousuf (26) led a boundary-laced recovery, Swann soon pegged Pakistan back.

Swann struck with his fifth delivery, seeing Yousuf caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Eoin Morgan, then a delivery that turned sharply accounted for Shahzaib Hasan, who was stumped by Steven Davies.

Swann had taken two for five in seven balls, and with Yardy finding an immediate rhythm from the other end, Pakistan reached a pedestrian 61 for three after 10 overs.

Fawad Alam then lobbed a straightforward catch back to bowler Yardy at 88 for four, and although Akmal and Afridi compiled an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 38, England held a tight grip on proceedings.

LONDON: Yasir Hameed, who has made damning revelations about match fixing involving Pakistan team, was on Sunday summoned to the country’s High Commission here.

Yasir reached the High Commission in the afternoon and met the High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt.

He is in the eye of a storm after his video interview was released by the British tabloid News of the World and in it he was seen and heard making various allegations that many Pakistani players regularly fix matches.

Yasir has, however, denied the interview and tried to take damage control steps insisting the newspaper had cheated with him.

“I never knew they were recording anything. This guy came to me to talk about a bat sticker sponsorship deal. He started talking about the ‘News of the World’ stories and I just repeated them. I had general discussion with him,” Yasir claimed.

The batsman, who played in the last two Tests against England, said the newspaper had called up his brother and offered him large sum of money and even British passport if they do not deny the interview.

Sources close to the batsman said the Pakistan High Commission and PCB wanted to see what legal steps Yasir could take to seek damages against the newspaper.

TOKYO: Japan’s top minicar maker Suzuki Motor Corp. is to build a new auto assembly plant near the Indian capital New Delhi in a bid to meet growing demand in the country, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., a local subsidiary of Suzuki, plans to construct the new plant in Manesar near its assembly base, with operation scheduled to begin in 2013, the Nikkei business daily said, quoting company sources.

The plant, its third in Manesar, will be built at a cost of 30 billion yen (356 million dollars) with an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, boosting Suzuki’s annual production in India to 1.7 million units, the daily said.

Suzuki, one of the earliest foreign entrants into India’s auto market, has built a dominant position there, boasting a market share of nearly 50 percent, the newspaper said.

Suzuki in 2007 launched an assembly plant in Manesar with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles. It is now building its second factory on the same site, with an annual capacity set for 250,000 units.

The second plant is not scheduled to come on stream until spring 2012, but surging demand in India prompted Suzuki managers to order a third site ahead of the launch of the second, the paper said.

Popular subcompact models such as the Alto and Wagon R will likely be produced at the third facility, it added.

Nearly two-thirds of Suzuki’s group operating profit is estimated to come from India.

The latest move is designed to strengthen its lead in the key market and allow the company to use the profit earned there to expand operations in other markets. such as Europe and the rest of Asia, the Nikkei said.

JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister says a slowdown in West Bank settlement construction is unlikely to continue in its current form after it expires at the end of this month.

But Ehud Barak says he does not believe Israel will entirely cancel the 10-month curbs. Barak appeared to be leaving room for a compromise that might allow the Palestinians to continue the fragile direct negotiations that began in Washington last week.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he warned Netanyahu last week he will leave the talks if Israel doesn’t extend the slowdown.

Barak noted that Israel had permitted limited construction in settlements during the slowdown and he expects some construction to continue after the Sept. 26 deadline.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he has warned Israel’s prime minister that he’ll quit peace talks unless Israel extends a curb on settlement construction.

Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched negotiations at a summit in Washington last week.

A 10-month freeze on settlement housing ends Sept. 26, and Netanyahu is under pressure from hardline allies to resume construction.

Netanyahu has not said what he will do. He told his Cabinet on Sunday that creative solutions are needed to make the talks succeed.

However, Abbas told PLO activists in Libya late Saturday that “if the freeze period is not extended by the end of the month, there will be no negotiations.” Abbas says he made that clear to Netanyahu.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Sunday that the special meeting of Sindh Cabinet has decided to improve coordination among various agencies and departments of the federal and provincial governments engaged in flood relief activities.

He was responding to the queries of the media on the outcome of the meeting which was jointly presided over by the President Asif Ali Zardari and himself at the CM House here.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik, provincial ministers and advisors were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister said that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which also included the chief ministers of all four provinces will help in improving the coordination among all the concerned agencies and departments.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister will have interaction with the officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relief agencies in CCI meeting.

Gilani said that the government is committed to help out flood affectees as much as possible and will use all its resources for this purpose. We have frozen our development budget to last year’s level to create  resources for helping flood victims, he added.

Responding to a question about the payment of Rs 20,000 each to the flood affectees, he said that CCI will take a decision whether to disburse this money before Eid or on Eid.

Gilani said the special meeting has briefed him and the President on the devastation caused by the unprecedented floods in Sindh.

“I had also received briefing during my visit to Sukkur and Kotri barrages. I will also meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Party leaders this evening to get more information on floods”, he added.

The Prime Minister said that Sindh was prepared to handle the flood and therefore the loss of life was minimum here.

Sindh government was ready for rescue operation in flood hit areas, but the unwillingness of people to leave their homes and land had created some problems in some areas.

He said the federal government and its institutions including Pakistan Navy and Air Forces have done a wonderful job in rescue and relief work.

However, he said that the flood was of such a magnitude that none of the country alone is able to handle the destruction.

Gilani said that Sindh was getting maximum medical facilities as one field hospital donated by Saudi government is also established in Thatta. “I have also handed over Railways Hospital to Sindh Health Department. Besides, I have also offered the services of PIMS to Sindh Health Department”, he added.
He pointed out that he has issued orders for an aerial spray in flood hit areas of Sindh and immunisation of all affectees to minimise the chances of any epidemic in the province.

Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that he had already mentioned on the Floor of the House that he does not have any objection  to  the formation of a judicial commission.

He said people of Pakistan have come forward in a big way to help their affected brethren in time of need and he appreciates this spirit. They have been generously raising funds for flood victims, he noted.

To a question, he said that the date of holding an all party conference will be announced after consultation with all the political parties.

Prime Minister Gilani condemned the suicide attack in Lahore and Quetta at a time when the country was passing through a critical time they are the enemies of Islam and the country.

“I have asked the Interior Minister to immediately visit Balochistan to discuss and sort out strategy to combat terrorism there.”

KARACHI: Authorities were Sunday trying to protect another town from floodwaters in Sindh province, as the nation continues to grapple with its worst natural disaster in living memory.

A month after monsoons caused devastating floods throughout the country, submerging an area the size of England, eight million people remain dependent on handouts for their survival, which many say are too slow coming.

Surging floodwaters continue to threaten towns in Sindh, where 19 of its 23 districts have been deluged and more than one million people displaced.

“We are trying our best to protect Johi and Seeta Road towns, threatened by ravaging floodwaters,” district administration chief Iqbal Memon told AFP.

The town, which is 315 kilometres (195 miles) north of Karachi, has a population of 60,000 and officials fear that floodwaters will breach surrounding embankments unless they are quickly strengthened.

“The floodwaters are fast heading towards Johi town after inundating most parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah town and Mehar town and several surrounding villages in Dadu district,” he said.

“We are right now employing all available means to strengthen the protective embankments around Johi but the threat still remains,” he said, adding that 70 percent of the town’s population had already fled to safer areas.

Memon said 90 percent of the people of Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages, which had a joint population of around 300,000 had fled to nearby towns that have been spared by floods.

“However, a few thousand people who remain stranded in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages are being evacuated to safety by naval boats and helicopters”.

“I have been stranded here with at least 10 other villagers since yesterday after water inundated our village and we immediately need help and food,” Usman Qureshi, resident of a small village near Khairpur Nathan Shah village, said.

Qureshi told AFP by mobile phone: “We need help, water and food… We beg you to please contact rescuers and ask them to evacuate us,” said Qureshi, who took shelter at the lone two-storey building in the village.

Meanwhile, army troops rescued 300 people from the flooded Jati town and 47 from Khairpur Nathan Shah to safer places, the military said in a statement.

While the international community has donated 700 million dollars, domestic anger has been mounting against the widely unpopular civilian government, which has come under fire for its handling of the crisis.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday told the lower house of the federal parliament that relief efforts would be extended to six months.

He said that early recovery phase shall be completed by December 30, while damage and need assessment by World Bank and Asian Development Bank would be completed by September 30.

The World Bank has raised flood aid to Pakistan to one billion dollars, while the IMF has approved 450 million dollars in emergency financing to help the nation cope.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Thursday appealed to Muslims everywhere to direct their zakat tithes — donations required under Islam — to relief for Pakistan, rather than leave Pakistanis “alone to their fate”.

However, the UN has warned that the slow pace of aid pledges could impede relief operations and says Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies — with seeds, crops and incomes hit.

The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares (8.9 million acres) of rich farmland, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year’s crops.

Prime Minister Gilani warned Wednesday that the country faced inflation of up to 20 percent and slower growth because of devastating floods, which wiped out crops and killed 1,760 people.

Disaster officials have said that number of deaths will likely rise “significantly” when the missing are accounted for.

BEIJING: China should end preferential policies for automotive companies in order to curb over-capacity in an industry where sales jumped 55 percent in August, a government official said.

Chen Bin, a top official at China’s economic planning agency, said booming auto sales were leading to blind investment in the industry, which could result in annual production capacity of over 31 million units by 2015.

“Serious overproduction capacity will lead to negative market competitiveness a loss in enterprise efficiency, factory stoppages and other problems,” Chen said at an automotive symposium on Saturday.

“Judging from our understanding of the situation as reported by local governments and related departments, production capacity will far outstrip market demand for the coming period (ending in 2015),” he said in a report on the website of the National Development Reform Commission.

Last year, China became the world’s largest auto market when over 13.6 million vehicles were sold.

Sales have boomed this year, jumping 55.7 percent in August year-on-year, as the government rolled out a new subsidy scheme for energy-saving vehicles.

In order to curb overcapacity, local governments should stop pushing manufacturers to increase production and end preferential tax and land policies aimed at spurring production, Chen said.

He said the industry’s penchant for using preferential energy-saving policies to ramp up production of traditional automotive products should also be curbed.

China announced a trial programme in June to subsidise environmentally-friendly vehicles in five cities as part of efforts to reduce emissions, save energy and spur the development of green technology.

Under the trial project, the government offers subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan (8,850 dollars) for hybrid and electric cars and 3,000 yuan for fuel-saving models.