Ajith's box-office power on showcase

Ajith's cute little cameo has come in for wholesome praise from everyone who has seen the Tamil version of English Vinglish (EV) till now. All this positive talk has generated into handsome returns at the box-office as well. In Chennai and other suburbs on day one, the Tamil version of the movie collected better than the Hindi version and shows have been increased in multiplexes for this weekend to match the increased demand for tickets. 

After a grim and serious role in Billa 2, this small refreshing cameo for Ajith in EV has shown his hilarious and casual side. Hope more directors decide to tap this lighter side of Ajith and entertain his fans more. 

Attakathi heroine in Dhanush's project

Nanditha who played the likeable Poornima in Attakathi is quietly bagging projects following her Tamil debut. She has reportedly signed up for Nalanum Nandhiniyum where she plays a traditional girl. Just like in the case of Attakathi, this project too will be directed by a former assistant of Venkat Prabhu.

The other big project in her kitty is Ethir Neechal under Dhanush’s production house. Talking to the press she said that she plays an athlete in the film and will be paired opposite Siva Karthikeyan and will share screen space with Priya Anand. The film is being directed by Senthil, former assistant of Vetri Maaran.

Angry Birds Star Wars teased

Teaser image from Rovio suggests partnership with George Lucas' iconic science fiction space series.

• Comment on this video
• Watch this video in High Def

The next destination for Rovio's Angry Birds appears to be a galaxy far, far away. Today, Rovio launched a new Tumblr account with an image that depicts what appears to be a bird from the franchise donning a Star Wars-esque robe and wielding a lightsaber.

The teaser page indicates more information on the mystery project will be shared at 8 a.m. on October 8, and specifically called out the Toys R Us location in New York City's Times Square.

If indeed there is an Angry Birds Star Wars game, it won't be the first licensed partnership for the series. Over the summer, Rovio teamed with rock band Green Day for 10-level episode based on the group. Additionally, the company launched Angry Birds Rio, a tie-in for Blue Sky Studios' 2011 animated film Rio.

World T20: We are ready to spoil the Lankan party, says Darren Sammy

West Indies captain Darren Sammy announced on the eve of the ICC World Twenty20 final that they are ready to spoil the Sri Lankan party by winning the coveted title on Sunday.

"Definitely, we will be looking to spoil that party

That's what we're looking to do. We left home on a mission and like I have said before, it is just one more hurdle to jump," a smiling Sammy told a packed media conference on Saturday.

"We want to have our own party. We Caribbean people know how to party. We enjoy parties in depth," he added.

The Sri Lankan team knows the conditions well but his team's focus will be on what they can do, said Sammy.

"Obviously, they are playing at home, they know their conditions well. I just hope we get a very good cricket wicket, where batsmen could enjoy playing their strokes and the bowlers have something for them as well.

"I'm hoping we're going to get a good T20 wicket. But whatever we get, we just go out there and execute. We are going to focus on them but we are going to put more emphasis on us, what we could do."

They will also have to play against a vociferous 35,000 strong crowd at the Premadasa Stadium, and he is not overawed by the occasion.

"We expect that. If we were at home and in the final, it would be the same thing. The crowds will be behind Sri Lanka but the belief in the dressing room is that we've done what we had to do to get to the final.

"Once we get there, probably we have to bring out our A-plus game as we needed our A-game to beat Australia and we have to play a touch better to beat Sri Lanka. We believe we can do that."

Just before the final, a congratulatory message cum encouragement mail from World Cup winning captain Clive Lloyd has certainly lifted the spirits in the team.

"It was really an honour to receive an e-mail from Mr Lloyd. He said, 'We've got to win this, it means a lot to everybody' and that alone is the biggest motivation for the guys who go out and play in that finals. It'll be massive.

Over a decade, our fans are craving for a bit of success.

That's the goal we left the Caribbean with.

"It's the World T20 and we are just one step away from that. We all know, when we do well, the people in the Caribbean are very happy. I think work stopped yesterday for a few hours, back at home.

"It'll mean everything to us as players as well as the coaching staff. It will give us a big boost. Hopefully, we could do that tomorrow," Sammy said, determination writ large on his face.

He said that this win is necessary for all those die-hard fans who have supported West Indies cricket for years now.

"For me, it's going to be a memorable occasion but I'm more focused on the team and the Caribbean people. I think it will mean a whole lot more.

"I have just been playing for just a few years but the fans have been supporting for a number of years. It's all about them, they come and watch us play, wake up early in the morning, stay up late at night to watch their team playing.

It's all about them tomorrow."

Sammy informed that he is not aware about any fitness issues related to his No 1 batsman Chris Gayle.

"The physio didn't tell me anything very serious, so it seems to be okay. I know nobody is going to make Chris miss the final. He's played through pain for us many times before and tomorrow won't be any different. He gives us a good start at the top.

"In any team, once he is going, it's good for the team. We have the resources in the batting line-up to click if Gayle doesn't give us that start tomorrow".

"Tomorrow is about every single person doing what it takes to get the team over the line."

Sammy informed that opener David Warner's comments during the West Indies innings pumped them up as they demolished the Australians in clinical style.

"Probably at the starting of our bowling innings, Warner should have kept his mouth shut and that just got everybody even more pumped up to get out there and beat the Australians.

We're looking to do that again.

The all-rounder said that the key to his team's success has been a combination of a lot of things.

"It's little bit of everything. Guys are enjoying their cricket. Once we play the way we know how to, the passion and the pride just comes out in the cricket and on the field of play. It's just been that. Guys working towards one cause, and it shows out there."

The final match has been billed as a battle between 'Gentlemen Captains' and Sammy laughed like a child at the mention of that.

"Mahela is a very nice guy. Probably if you put it to vote, I only have a couple media and you will have all of Sri Lanka and I wouldn't stand a chance. But it's good that you guys find us very friendly and nice. I will continue being that way."

‘English Vinglish’ review: It has a long lasting, feel good factor!

After a sabbatical of 15 years, Sridevi has returned to do a meaty role in ‘English Vinglish’ and post watching the film, I have just one word for the actress - FLAWLESS! 
Gauri Shinde has donned the director’s hat to tell the story of Sashi (Sridevi), a middle-aged Maharashtrian housewife who earns her own money by making sumptuous ladoos (which happens to be her passion too) and selling them to the connoisseurs. A lot of women would identify with Sashi since she is one of those dedicated yet taken-for-granted homemakers who are ridiculed for their poor linguistic skills by their English speaking family. In the movie, Sashi finds herself being an object of constant potshots by her husband(Adil Hussain), who has little respect for her real talent and her 7th grade daughter who feels ashamed to even introduce her mother to her school folks. 

So when an underestimated and belittled Sashi flies off to New York to lend a helping hand at her niece’s wedding, she smartly grabs the opportunity to enroll herself into English speaking classes that promise to teach the language within a period of flat four weeks. In no time, Sashi becomes the most committed student in her class, starts watching English films at night and doing her homework religiously- all to polish her English reading and writing skills and more importantly to earn respect that she duly deserves from her family. In the midst of her literary pursuit, she also finds her classmate cum friend – a Frenchman (an irresistible Mehdi Nebbou) getting attracted to her plain simple personality. Yet, despite several barriers that come her way, Sashi manages to achieve her goal (that includes ordering her meal at the café with super confidence) which could be an inspiration to many aspiring English learners. 

Going beyond the ‘ordinary’ story of ‘English Vinglish’, it is a movie that teaches a lot of life lessons. First, it gives a peek into the feelings of those who are not good at reading and writing the language and find themselves becoming a subject of disdain and jibe whether at home or in public. Second, it is a crash course on mannerisms for all those ‘refined’ husbands and children out there who believe that the woman of the house is only worth taking nonsense; notwithstanding the fact that she goes out of her way to please them, without a complaint. Third, like I said before, the film is all about dedication towards one’s aims and a relentless pursuit towards your dream, come what may.

Sridevi as the de-glam Sashi looks completely stunning and gets very much into the skin of her character in the film. The way she emotes when she is looked down upon for her poor angrezi is worthy of a good round of applause. It is safe to say that after ‘Sadma’, Chaalbaaz’ and ‘Chandni’, she will always be remembered for her versatile act in ‘English Vinglish’. Clearly, this movie is one of her best works till date.

Moving on to film’s direction, kudos to Gauri Shinde for narrating a story which leaves such an impact on the viewers. Also, a special thanks to her (she has also written the story) for making a film on such a unique storyline which apparently has a close connection to the life of Shinde’s mother and perhaps, many other Indian women out there.

Amit Trivedi has given cool and foot tapping music to the film while designer Sabyasachi has done his job very well in dressing up Sridevi in colorful khadi sarees that suit her age and role.

Overall, ‘English Vinglish’ is a complete family entertainer and worth every penny! Yes, Sridevi is back!

Rating: 4 cheers to Sridevi, Gauri Shinde and the complete cast for their perfect job

Review: Apple's Maps app

Apple's new maps app came out the day I started a 2,243-mile road trip through four states. As complaints about it trickled in and Apple's CEO apologized, I was left wondering whether people were using the same app I was. 

Although it's not flawless or as good as Google's maps app on Android phones, Apple's new offering on the iPhone got me where I needed to go - for the most part. I know many people will disagree with me, but I even find it an improvement over the old app on iPhones because I now get voice navigation and automatic re-routing. 

I've used Google's Android app since it was released three years ago. I don't own a car, but I travel a lot. The app has proven crucial in getting me to unfamiliar territories in New England and various Southern states from Arizona to South Carolina. 

Google brought to the phone the spoken-aloud, turn-by-turn directions once limited to GPS navigational devices from Garmin, TomTom and others. Make a wrong turn, and the app automatically updates with new directions. Best of all, it's always been free. 

Until last month, Google was also behind the free, main maps app on iPhones. 

But that one didn't have voice navigation or automatic re-routing. Driving with it meant swiping through pages of on-screen directions. A friend missed a train in May as we overlooked a step and went the wrong way on a highway, ending up back where we came from. A drive from Ann Arbor to Lansing, Mich., took 17 steps, each with its own page. After Step 9, I had to pull into a rest stop to memorize subsequent steps and avoid an accident. 

Apple wanted voice directions, too, and figured the only way to get it was to build its own maps app and bump Google from its perch as the default offering. It partnered with TomTom and shipped the iPhone 5 with the new app. A software update out September 19 made it available on the iPhone 4S and the cellular versions of the latest two iPad models. 

I updated an iPhone 4S in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, Mich., that night and was immediately impressed. It was a nice touch to have turn-by-turn directions narrated by Siri, the familiar female voice from Apple's virtual-assistant feature. 

Then I started hearing the complaints. 

I agree with many of them. The Apple app didn't show as many businesses and landmarks as Google's. Some appeared in the wrong location or were mislabeled. The Apple app didn't offer public transit directions, something crucial for New Yorkers like me. A friend I was visiting toward the end of the two-week trip immediately complained that the app looked different as she pulled it out for the first time. 

Head to head, the Google app for Android, which I used on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and a Galaxy S III, outperformed Apple's version in many respects: 

- Google's app typically told me about turns a second or two quicker. Sometimes, I didn't hear from Siri until I got to the intersection, two lanes away from where I needed to be to make a right turn. 

- I got better navigation on private roads with Google. At a shopping mall, Google guided me along the right driveways to get to JC Penney, while Apple got me to the general vicinity. Google also got me to the front door of my hotel in Ann Arbor, while Apple got me to the entrance of a complex that included other hotels, a gas station and retail stores. 

- In Akron, Ohio, Siri had me turn left to get on a highway, while Google's app properly instructed me to take a ramp on the left. In Indianapolis, Google knew about a service road alongside Michigan Road, while Siri assumed I was on the main road and would have had me crash into a Chinese restaurant. In Charleston, W.Va., Siri told me to head northeast, as if I had a compass, while Google just told me to turn left. 

- Besides public transit directions, Google offered options for avoiding tolls or highways while driving. It allowed me to choose continuous satellite images instead of animated maps, while Apple's app offered them only for route overviews, not for live navigation. 

- While Siri's voice sounds much more human than the one Google used in its early mapping apps, Google now has a voice that makes Siri sound robotic by comparison. Google also was more sparing with words, which was good as long as I didn't get lost for lack of detail. 

That said, Apple's map offers 3-D views. That may sound like a gimmick, but it presents the map in a way that mirrors what you're seeing through the windshield. On Apple's map, the direction you're going is on top in the regular view or toward the back in 3-D. Outside of big cities, Google often has north on top, which can be confusing when driving east or south. 

Apple's maps are also more pleasant to view. Instructions such as "turn right onto Pearl St." are in white against a green background, similar to the signs you see on highways. Street names at intersections are in a green rectangle, similar to actual street signs at corners. Unlike Google's, Apple's app showed me the distance and time remaining and an estimated time of arrival all at once, though I would have appreciated larger text. 

Apple's app was mostly dead-on in getting me to my destination. The one big miss was when it had a winery I was looking for about a half-mile east of its actual location. I went to another instead. 

But Google has made mistakes, too. It told me to turn left to get to a lighthouse along the Straits of Mackinac connecting two Great Lakes, even as the road sign in front of me pointed to the right. Then again, Apple's app didn't even find that lighthouse in a search. 

Both apps gave me other questionable directions, even though they got me there, which was what mattered most. At one point, Google had me on a curvy one-lane residential street with little visibility, even though a faster, safer road ran parallel to it. Apple's directions to a roadside tourist trap had me take an exit four miles to the south, only to return four miles north on smaller roads. 

Bottom line is no app is perfect. After all the complaints about Apple's app, I downloaded a 99-cent iPhone app called MotionX GPS Drive. It got good reviews and offered more features than either Apple or Google. But it tried to lead me off the wrong exit in Ohio. Plus, all the extra features diverted my eyes to the settings menu when I should've been paying attention to trucks and, ahem, police cars around me. 

One of my favorite scenes from " The Office" television show is when clueless boss Michael Scott drives into Lake Scranton because he was blindly following GPS directions. 

There will be mistakes, but it beats driving in a new place with nothing. You just need to use your common sense. 

Apple's app is far better than the one Google had when it first came out in late 2009. In apologizing for an app he says "fell short" of Apple's own expectations, CEO Tim Cook says the company will keep working to improve it. 

It's true Apple's app falls short of what Google now offers for Android, but if all you have is an iPhone or an iPad, Apple's new app will get you there just fine. 

Clinging to the old, voiceless app is like hanging on to your cassette tapes while the world has moved on to CDs and digital downloads. I can't imagine driving without hearing voices. 

Chris Gayle is just another player, remarks Jayawardene

He is the most talked about player ahead of the World Twenty20 final but for Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, the explosive Chris Gayle is "just another player in a very good West Indies team".

"We never went after individual players. We have tried to control things the way we can control. He (Gayle) is just another player in a very good West Indies team. We have to have our focus on the entire team," Jayawardene replied instantly when questioned on how he is thinking of tackling the Gayle threat.

For Jayawardene, number crunching is not his calling as he believes that performing on the day is important.

"Records and numbers are all there but what's important is how you perform and need to react to situations on the day."

Gayle, who has been aggressively tweeting before every West Indies match had commented, "Sorry Sri Lanka, but we will win the final" after the semifinal win over Australia. The Lankan skipper was certainly not amused.

"When somebody says something like that, is the pressure on us or on him?" he countered.

"I don't know how to react to that. Probably the pressure is on him when he has said something like that."

Having lost all the previous three finals that he has been a part of, Jayawardene doesn't want to think too far ahead of himself.

"It always goes back to that. Going into finals is fantastic and we don't take it as a negative thing," said Jayawardene.

"We don't think too far ahead of ourselves. We don't want to go back in history and see how to overcome this. We'll try and back our ability in what we've done in this tournament. Other then that, I don't know how you can approach a final," Jayawardene said.

A gentleman that he is, Jayawardene was all praise for the West Indies team for having made it to the finals.

"You've got to admire them (WI), they've got some quality players. Like any other team, they have strengths and weaknesses and they play to that.

"They've controlled those better, so deservingly the two best teams so far are in the final. We are the two in-form teams and have played some good cricket."

The skipper refused to be drawn into a comparison as to which among the two spin attacks will be more potent.

"Both teams have good spinners, the names matter but it's about delivering on the day," Jayawardene stated.

"We are quite confident with the bowlers we have got and what they have done so far in the tournament. The surfaces have been pretty similar in the last 10 days or so, and I don't see it being that different."

The skipper did agree that the Caribbeans had a great time with the willow yesterday.

"I think they had a ball with the bat last night," said Jayawardene with a smile.

"It just one of those days when everything was hitting the middle of the bat and the Aussies struggled. But it's on how you perform on the day, how you execute a game plan that matters and we need to react to those situations. It's a great challenge to have as a cricketer, especially in a World Cup final."

Skyrim DLC for PS3 remains stalled

Bethesda "still on it" regarding downloadable content for latest Elder Scrolls game on Sony platform; Hearthfire now available for PC.

Sony has provided an update regarding the absence of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim downloadable content for the PlayStation 3, but it isn't good news for fans. Bethesda vice president of public relations and marketing Pete Hines wrote on Twitter that there is nothing to share.

"I don't have any info on Hearthfire, Dawnguard, or DLC in general for PS3," he said. "We're still on it. Will share update when I have one."

Skyrim's first add-on--the vampire-themed Dawnguard expansion--came toXbox 360 in June, with a release in August for PC following the Xbox 360's 30-day exclusivity. It may never come to the PS3, according to comments from a Bethesda representative in August.

Though PS3 fans are left to wait for Skyrim DLC, PC gamers can download the game's Hearthfire content--which came to Xbox 360 in August--beginning today. It is available for $5 allows players to purchase land and build a home from the ground up. Players can furnish their abodes with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and a garden, where they can craft items for use in the game. Those who want the job done more quickly can hire a steward to purchase materials and furnish their homes for them.

Once a home is completed, players can move in with their spouse and even adopt a child through the game's new adoption system. Home ownership comes with its own tasks and perils, with players needing to raise their children and defend their home from giants, as well as other nasty creatures.

Chris Gayle stands between Australia and World Twenty20 final

Chris Gayle is probably the only batsman to have mastered the art of pacing a Twenty20 innings, and it's he who stands between Australia and their second shot to win the only trophy Cricket Australia cabinet doesn't boast of - the ICC World Twenty20.

Australia - who are the only unbeaten team in this edition - take on the West Indies in the second semi-final on Friday, for a place in the final against hosts Sri Lanka who beat Pakistan in the first semi-final.

Whether West Indies bat first or second, Australia's biggest chance of restricting the men from the Caribbean lies in how quickly they get rid of Gayle, especially because the Windies' meaty middle order hasn't really set the tournament on fire. And though the big-hitting prowess of Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell can't be ignored, Australia captain George Bailey was quick to point out that getting Gayle early can do the trick.

"Their batting is no doubt their strength," Bailey said at the end of Australia's training session on Thursday. "If you can knock Gayle over early, it really does put pressure on the rest of their batsmen to step up."

That statement gains strength when we look at how West Indies fared with and without Gayle firing in this tournament. While Gayle's 54 lifted West Indies to 191 against Australia, his stroke-filled 58 in a 103-run opening partnership with Johnson Charles set up a 15-run win over defending champions England. However, the roof collapsed when he failed against Sri Lanka. West Indies were hammered in that match by nine wickets after crumbling for a paltry 129.

But West Indies skipper Darren Sammy doesn't agree with Bailey.

"It's not only about Chris [Gayle]," said Sammy. "Obviously he sets the momentum for us at the top of the order. But to win the game, it will need a total team effort. In any cricket match, you get one individual doing something brilliant. But it will take a collective effort to win the semi-final."

I am the no-nonsense Delhi girl: Mallika Sherawat

Her film appearances have been few and far between but Mallika Sherawat has been a fairly constant presence at global red carpet events. And that image of a glamour girl is what she is hoping to change with her turn as the "realistic Delhi girl" in her new film Kismat Love Paisa Dilli.
Mallika, who has been tagged a sex symbol after films like Khwahish and Murder and has dabbled in some Hollywood films, admits she can't change the mage but would like to show audiences the serious actor as well.
She is pinning her hopes on her role as the no-nonsense girl in Kismat Love Paisa Dilli (KLPD) to achieve that.
"It's not in my hands to change (people's perception). It's really not. But I would definitely like to add a few more things to the perception (of the people)," Mallika told IANS in an interview.
In director Sanjay Khanduri's Kismat Love Paisa Dilli, which releases Friday, she will be seen romancing Vivek Oberoi.
"This film is a thriller and has a great north Indian culture in it. After a long time, I am playing the-girl-next-door. Usually the parts that come to me are overtly glamorous. This is a realistic, no nonsense Delhi girl," she said.
"I am hoping to show my actor side more. My fans saw a glimpse of that in Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Ugly Aur Pagli," she said.
Expressing confidence in Khanduri's craft, Mallika added: "He is a maestro as a director. He knows his craft very well. He knows exactly what he wants."
The girl from Rohtak who has been in the US for the last several years says she didn't find any difficulty in relating to the role.
Mallika made her debut in the Hindi film industry with Jeena Sirf Merre Liye but got fame withKhwahish for the 17 kissing scenes with co-star Himanshu Malik. She locked lips with Emraan Hashmi in Murder as well.
She got some appreciation for her acting skills in romantic comedy Pyaar Ke Side Effects.
The actress believes that she has grown in the the last 10 years and says there have been "many ups and downs".
"Earlier, when I used to have a hit, I used to be ecstatic. And I would go into depression when I would have a flop; I used to go into depression. But you can't take all this too personally," she said.
"Experience changed me. As you grow older and do more films, you don't take these things that seriously. For me, Hollywood also opened up. So I realised it's all a part of the game; you just need to play it well. You can't take things personally," she said.
Any regrets?
"I have no regrets. Where is the time for regrets," she said.
The Myth and Politics of Love are some of the international projects she has worked in. ButBollywood will remain a priority.
"Bollywood can never take a back seat. The kind of warmth and love that is here doesn't exist anywhere," she said.
Talking about the response to Hindi films abroad, she said: "They are curious about Bollywood. The language is a big barrier. They don't understand Hindi. But they love the format, specially the songs and the colours which are used in the songs."
She credits Danny Boyle for opening the gates of Hollywood wider for Indian actors.
"After Slumdog Millionaire, doors are opening and things are changing. People (there) are realising that there is a life outside of America," she said.

Apple showing vulnerability year after Jobs' death

One year after the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the firm's sales are still going strong. However, observers noted that its launch events have been duller since and it needs to work on "dramatic improvements" in its future products to keep it brand loyalty.

Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. Just prior to his death, he had resigned from his role as CEO in August 2011, passing on his responsibility to current Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Naveen Mishra, industry principal for ICT practice in Asia-Pacific at Frost & Sullivan, said the sale of most of Apple products, except iPods, have been "quite strong" over the last three quarters since Jobs' death. The decline in iPod sales started in last few years due to the popularity of iPhones and iPads, he explained, adding that desktop has seen a little softening in sales.

Many factors affecting market share

Shalini Verma, principal analyst at Gartner, noted that Apple's sales have not been affected by Jobs' death.

However, its market share in smartphones has been affected by factors such as the launch dates of its iPhone and "strong" competition from Samsung.

Verma explained Apple's global market share for smartphones rose from 15 percent in the third quarter of 2011 to 23 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, because of the launch of iPhone 4S in October 2011. Similarly, Apple's market share fell in Q2 2012 because consumers were waiting for iPhone 5, she added.

"Steve Jobs' death has not been a big factor in the company’s sales so far because he wasinvolved in the development of both the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5," said Verma.

Mishra noted that while Apple has not announced its fourth-quarter results for 2012, the analyst firm expects the technology giant to cross another milestone of US$150 billion in annual revenue, after pulling in US$35 billion in the last quarter.

"Such strong performance comes from Apple's ability to bring innovative devices and tightly integrated ecosystem of applications and services," he added.

Apple's stock price has risen more than 70 percent from last year, hitting a new high when it breached the US$700 a share mark last month, further cementing its place as the most valuable company on the planet.

Apple launches dull without Jobs

While Apple's products are still selling well, Verma said the absence of Jobs meant that Apple's launch events were no longer "spectacular." This tends to impact the perception of the company among "technology enthusiasts" who will influence consumers' buying behavior over time, she said.

Singapore-based iOS app developer Kevin Chan agreed. "Apple has lost [Steve Jobs's] showmanship. The dude was a great storyteller, and his reality distortion field and 'one more thing' made his product launches really special. [Tim Cook's] launches don't even come close," he added.

Mishra added that while each new Apple product was better than its predecessors, the "wow" factor seems to be missing in the last few product launches.

Apple must continue cultivating brand loyalty

Apple will need to offer "dramatic improvements" in its products to keep brand loyalty, especially in an industry "characterized by aggressive pricing practices, frequent product introductions, evolving design approaches and technologies, rapid adoption of technological and product advancements and price sensitivity", the Frost & Sullivan industry principal said.

"Apple has come to be associated with excellence in design and simplicity in user experience because of this consistency over time. This is a potent combination that has made Apple the most valuable technology company today," Verma explained.

When market momentum is with a company, it can ride the momentum despite minimal innovation. This is the power of perception," she said.

However, no company is invincible, Verma pointed out, adding unless Apple maintained the same level of consistency in the years to come, brand loyalty will go elsewhere.

'Vulnerable' without Jobs

Content producer Jeanne Wong said Apple seems to be "very vulnerable" without Jobs. "It's like all the other companies become bolder to attack Apple," she said, pointing to the Apple-Samsung legal war which was "brewing before but is now a full-on battle".

Wong added that the quality of Apple products seem to have dropped since iPhone 4S and "iPhone 5 just sounded terrible".

"Previously with Jobs, you won't hear such bad malfunctions going on like Maps. Jobs always had really strict quality control and now that seems to be missing," she said.

"People are still buying because the fever is still on but with competitors stepping up, Apple is going to need to buck up. How can they launch products when there are so many kinks to iron out?" Wong added.

Singapore-based designer Max Yam believes with Jobs' passing, the beauty of combining art and technology has been lost. He added that the power of using tech product design to move people is diminishing.

Yam said: "Apple is rejoining the league of technology giants and the IT industry has lost perhaps its only human touch."

"I'm not a hardcore fan of Apple so I hope to see the return of the human touch and the artistic feel of products in the technology world, be it Nokia, Microsoft, Google, or even Dell," he said.

Sachin Tendulkar concedes retirement may not be far away

Sachin Tendulkar admits he has been considering his retirement date lately and acknowledges the end of his extraordinary cricket career is not far away.

"I'm 39 and I don't I have plenty of cricket left in me," the Indian batting great told Times Now news channel in an interview aired on Friday. "But it depends on my frame of mind and my physical ability to deliver. When I feel that I am not delivering what is needed, then I will relook at the scheme of things. I'm 39 and no one expects me to go on and on."

Tendulkar, who holds many major batting records including most runs and most centuries in both tests and limited-overs internationals, said it was natural to think of retirement.

"It is not abnormal for me to think of it. At that moment, I will go by what my heart says. At this moment, my heart says I am okay. But I will have to look at it series by series," Tendulkar said ahead of a new season that will include challenging four-test tours of India by England and Australia.

Tendulkar, who has restricted his participation in one-dayers over the past few years and does not play Twenty20 internationals, said finally quitting all international cricket was going to be difficult.

"It's ... been my life. All of a sudden there comes a moment when I say I can't go on," he said. "I don't know what is in store. If I knew, I would not have to wait 22 years to lift the World Cup. Perhaps, I would have done it the first time in Australia in 1991-92."

A World Cup title had eluded Tendulkar until India finally clinched it in his hometown at Mumbai in 2011.

Speculation about Tendulkar's future plans was heightened after senior batsmen Rahul Dravidand V.V.S. Laxman announced their retirements this year and especially after he struggled during a two-test home series against New Zealand in August-September.

Tendulkar was bowled through bat and pad by Kiwi pace bowlers all three times he got to bat, with critics attributing it to his age.

"If this three-wicket ordeal had happened when I was 25, no one would have questioned it. Incidentally, it happened when I am 39, so questions were raised. This is natural," Tendulkar said.

"I need not take a call right now. When I play in November (against England), I will reassess things. I'm still the best judge of what happens to my mind and body. When I feel it is time, I will take a call," added Tendulkar, who became the first batsman to complete a century of international centuries earlier this year.

Tendulkar has scored 51 centuries in tests and 49 in one-day internationals. He has accumulated 15,533 runs in tests and 18,426 in ODIs.

FIFA 13 sells 4.5 million

Five-day global sales of EA's newest soccer sim catapult it to "biggest video game launch of 2012" after moving 1.23 million in first 48 hours in UK; grabs record for most simultaneous users of any EA game.

Footy fever has swept across the world. Electronic Arts announced today that FIFA 13 sold 4.5 million copies across the globe during its first five days, up 1.3 million units from FIFA 12's first-week sales of 3.2 million. The publisher claims this represents the "biggest video game launch of 2012" as well as the most lucrative sports game launch in history.

FIFA 13 released in the United Kingdom on Friday, September 28, and sold 1.23 million copies in that region during its first 48 hours. Last week, EA announced that first-day sales in North America surged 42 percent to 353,000 copies.

In addition to breaking sales figures, FIFA 13 also reached a new peak online usage milestone. According to EA data, September 30 was the busiest day for any title in EA history, with 800,000 users simultaneously playing the new soccer game.

FIFA 13 still has work to do if it wants to catch up to its predecessor, FIFA 12. That game has sold more than 10 million units as of February 2012. The entire FIFA series has sold over 100 million copies life-to-date.

It has been a historic year for EA Sports titles. First-week sales of Madden NFL 13 were up 8 percent to a high-definition era record 1.65 million, while NHL 13 skated to a franchise-best 491,000 in sales during its first week.

For more on FIFA 13, check out GameSpot's review below.

Gordon-Levitt humming Priyanka's song

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is humming Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra’s debut single "In my city" these days. The Hollywood actor, whose new film

 Looper is set to release in India October 12, says he will soon add the song to his iPod list.

"I came across Priyanka's new track and found the song very upbeat and refreshing. She is beautiful and extremely talented. The song is going on my iPod list," Gordon-Levitt, popular for films like Inception andThe Dark Knight Rises, said in a statement.

Priyanka's "In my city", which also features Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am, was launched Sep 13 and has hit the right chords with the music lovers in national as well as international circuits.

Currently, the actress is in Los Angeles shooting the video of the song. The 'desi girl' promises to show the world what Bollywood 'jhatkas' truly are

Australia to target Chris Gayle in World T20 semifinal

Australia hope to remove big-hitter Chris Gayle early to put the West Indies under pressure during the second semifinal of the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.

The belligerent left-hander holds the key to his team's batting success and Australian captain George Bailey said it was important not to let Gayle settle down at the crease.

"Their (West Indies) batting is no doubt their strength," Bailey said after his team's training session on Thursday. "If you can knock Gayle over early it really does put pressure on the rest of their batsmen to step up."

Gayle hit 54 to help West Indies to 191-8 against Australia in the preliminary league, before Shane Watson  scored a 21-ball 41 to steer his team home via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-affected match.

Gayle also smashed 58 during a 103-run opening stand with Johnson Charles to set up a 15-run win over defending champions England in the Super Eights in Pallekele.

But when the opener fell for two against Sri Lanka, the West Indies crumbled for a paltry 129 to lose by nine wickets.

Bailey, smarting against the unexpected 32-run defeat by Pakistan on Tuesday, wanted an aggressive attitude by his team against the West Indies bowlers -- even if it costs Australia a place in the final.

"I'd rather see us throw caution to the wind. If we get knocked over, we get knocked over," Bailey said and hinted that David Hussey could be back for the semi-final in place of Glenn Maxwell.

"I saw (coach) Mickey Arthur had weighed up those two players and that's probably the only one to be weighed up. But the structure doesn't change in terms of a like-for-like," the captain said.

Australia's four wins in five matches so far in the tournament have been made easier by a sensational all-round display by Shane Watson, who has scored 242 runs and taken 11 wickets.

The West Indies, in contrast, have just two wins from five matches and need to lift their game if they are to stop Australia from making their second successive World Twenty20 final.

Skipper Darren Sammy insisted his team's success did not hinge on Gayle alone.

"It's not only about Chris," said Sammy. "Obviously he sets the momentum for us at the top of the order. But to win the game, it will need a total team effort.

"In any cricket match, you get one individual doing something brilliant. But it will take a collective effort to win the semi-final."

Sammy predicted a close game with the result depending on who wins the key moments in the game.

"It could be a spectacular catch somewhere, or guys out in the middle making the right decision at a crucial time," he said. "I think the team that wins at the end of the day is the team that will make less mistakes.

"But it's two evenly matched teams and it promises to be an exciting game."