Anwar Maqsood Supports Nestle’s and Tetra Pak #PakSafeMilkMovement

All over the world, the matter of Hijab has since long faced controversy. Muslim women covering their heads and faces are scorned and mocked, at times even subjected to heavy scrutiny and violence.

It seems that a part of China has now joined the list of regions where head gear stirs quite a debate. The ongoing campaign “Project Beauty” in the Xinjiang (pronounced Sinkiang) Uyghar region, also known as East Turkestan, is apparently considering head and face cover as a threat to security, and is openly discouraging ladies from concealing their faces.

The story of two Chinese Muslim women, stopped to a street side stand by a government worker along the ancient Silk Road oasis of Kashgar for inspection, has created quite a buzz in the global media.

“We need to hold onto our traditions and they should understand that,” said a 25-year-old woman who was investigated for details twice.

The offending women were even made to watch a video about how the face and head wrap tends to be a restraint and how embracing the freedom of an unveiling face can make them happier, encouraging them to be practitioners of modern culture.

“The movie doesn’t change a lot of people’s minds,” said the woman.

Critics have warned the government against a not so favorable outcome and the resentment Project Beauty can sow amongst the Muslim Uygar population in Kashgar.

The largest ethnic group in China’s far west region, bordering Pakistan and Central Asia, consists of Uyghurs. In the southwest of Xinjiang is Kashgar, a densely Muslim populated area.

Earlier this year, the veil restrictions imposed by the Chinese government sprouted unrest and turmoil, leading to a deadly conflicts in Kashgar where Hijab is a popular form of clothing amongst Muslim women.

Banners and stands of Project Beauty can be spotted everywhere and none can escape the surveillance from the campaigns’ widely-located checkpoints.

It has also been made customary for men to shave their beards along with women to bare their heads while visiting government buildings.

Not only the campaign has challenged veil but has all together ignited resentment in the Muslim citizens of China.

The consequences are bound to be dreadful and ugly for Project Beauty. How ugly? It is still yet to see.

Apple iPhone 6 Coming with a 4.9-inch Display Size

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Nov 27, 2013

By Hassan Wasti

After a well-received debut for iPhone 5s, Apple has already started working on the next edition of iPhone i.e. iPhone 6.

Although the efforts on iPhone 6 seem a bit ambitious on Apple’s part, as many suggest that they should concentrate on making iPhone 5 more efficient rather than jumping on to a whole new technology but nonetheless, Apple is working on the new model and is trying to bring in a bit of innovation this time around.

Rumors suggest that the new iPhone will feature a 4.9-inch display which is set to be its main attraction. In addition to the on-going chatter we’ve also come across news that the Cupertino Company is most likely to jump on the curved display bandwagon by building an iPhone with glass that wraps around the body of the device.

The rumors doesn’t sound too ambitious like the ones that were entertained pre-launch of iPhone 5, no talk of holograms or “super” technology has surfaced yet although.

The display however does seem to to be an appropriate upgrade as many competitors around Apple have moved on to bigger and clearer display since the release of the iPhone 5s. Hence, the rumors of a 4.9 inch display can be a very much of reality in the coming future.

No updates on the release of the iPhone 6 have been made official yet but rumors suggest to mid of 2014.

Stay tuned for more updates on Apple’s upcoming flagship.

Deepika Padukone and Imran Khan Feature in the new Lux TVC

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Ghazala Sulaiman

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Nov 27, 2013

After the much loved “Bekaboo” commercial starring Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, Lux has announced Deepika Padukone and Imran Khan as the new faces of the brand.

Last seen together in the Bollywood movie “Break Kay Baad”, the couple will now be seen in the new Lux advertisement to woo the audience. Packed with heavy romance and passion, the TVC will hit the television screen on December 1st.

With Deepika basking in the fame of “Ram Leela” and Imran celebrating the success of “Gori Tere Pyaar Mein”, no time could have been better time for Lux to cast the duo.

Lux has forever been in love with celebrity endorsements. Popular Bollywood faces like Madhuri, Sridevi, Ashwariya Rai Bachan, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif have supported the beauty brand.

Lately, Lux has added to the appeal and thrill by adding the “Chocolae Boy Charm” in most of its ads.

After pairing Shahrukh Khan with Katrina and Dhanush with Sonam Kapoor, the next Lux couple has been set to the handsome Imran Khan alongside the sizzling Deepika.

Will Imran and Deeepika work their magic in the new Lux ad? Share your views.

Pinterest Targets Travelers with “Place Pins”

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Ghazala Sulaiman

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Nov 27, 2013

World’s favorite social bookmarking website Pinterest has now become all the more interesting with the launch of its new feature “Place Pins”.

The new feature facilitates travelers to create a map of all the amazing locations they travel around and share on their Pin Boards. This latest addition to the application will allow “Pinners” to plan their outings visually and highlights their favorite spots by “Pinning” them.

“We’re excited to inspire you to go out and do things”, said Pintersest CEO Sibbermann at the launch of Place Pins

For example, if a user shares a picture of coffee from Starbucks, he or she can pin Starbucks location to a map on the “Place Board”

Pinterest fans can generate a board of their beloved restaurant and cafes in the city and share it with their friends.

All they have to do is to click “Add a map” in the settings of a new or an existing board to make use of Place Pins. A Google search bar will help them to mark the location to their Pins. Users can further share their Place board with their friends via a new send feature, enabling their pals to collectively add their choices and experiences on the Board.

The new travel friendly feature has been developed via Mapbox and Foursquare’s location technology

Now your latest experience of a beautiful landscape, latest opening of a café, and new cinema house in town or a coffee shop is just a Pin away.

4 Things Advertisers Need to Know about the 21st Century Men

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Nov 26, 2013

4 Things Advertisers Need to Know about the 21st Century Men

By Zulfiqar Ali Sajwani

The advertising world has been notoriously famous for using women as their prime consumer. From beauty creams to detergents, the legacy of a female shopper has enjoyed its time as the safest plot for every advertisement.

However, time has changed and so have the product portfolios. No more are the manufacturers and service providers only targeting females.

Call it exhaustion of options or acknowledgement of diversity, nobody can deny the fact that we have a new ‘evolved’ male consumer ready to be exploited.

Advertisers, after realizing this reality, have started to bring in the best for the male consumers.

In order to use their best cards, they need substantial information answering what’s and how’s of the consumer patterns of men.

In this pursuit, JWT Asia-Pacific surveyed over 1,500 men and women in Singapore, China and Malaysia for their resarch called The “2013 State of Asian Men Study,” conducted in Singapore, China and Malaysia, explores the changing roles of men and provides marketers keen insight into shifts in male roles and attitudes. –

Among the plethora of findings, following have caught the eye of the advertisers with astonishment and interest.

MEN ARE THE NEW CARETAKERS OF CHILDREN

The study found out that 81% of men thought their parenting styles were very different from that of their fathers. In contrast to their fathers, most of these men took keen interest in household chores and parenting. This clearly shows that brands like Pampers and Horlicks can no more rely on the mother as the target shopper.

“Brands have a real opportunity to connect with men across Asia through their role as active invested fathers.” said Libby Schaub, strategic planning director at JWT Singapore.

THE NEW ‘EMOTIONAL’ MAN

The study revealed that when men were asked what defines them, emotional support for one’s family came a close second i.e. 57% with career success leading with 63%. This represents the fact that men have evolved as the‘relationship handlers’ who identify themselves as more concerned about their families rather than the wider community.

This was substantiated by another finding that emphasized that men were increasingly focused on their personal relationships in contrast with their social settings. Their role as husbands or boyfriends (64%), fathers (60%) and wage-earners (42%) were far more significant to them than being a loyal citizen (17%) or community leader (4%).

It seems that brands like Emami Fair and Handsome have already taken this fact into account and used the ‘attraction of women’ positioning for their fairness cream that targets men.

WHO DOES THE GROCERY?

Whereas we always imagine a women putting the items in the basket in the grocery store, the study reflects that round 40% of men said they were largely responsible for grocery shopping.

However, this finding is countered by the fact that 12% of women agreed that their spouse was the primary grocery shopper. Therefore, the retailers have a hurricane of confusion coming towards them regarding who to target in their next ad. The study suggests the marketers to explore ways in which they could help nurture men’s relationships with their wives and children, as the same time as “dialing down the testosterone factor”.

SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE

Whereas the study expressed many changes that have taken play in the contemporary male of today, it reiterated that promoting practical aspects, such as durability or efficiency, were channels that would still appeal to male shoppers. Even the use of digital technology and mobile devices still manages to hit the bull’s eye for the patriarchs.

No wonder Harley Davidson, Puma and Nike are still cashing on the ‘rugged’ and ‘sporty’ attitude of the gender.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

After this enlightening study, every brand surely has to revisit its next marketing strategy to make it accommodating for the ‘new male’ of today. No more the old spells of sex and stardom going to work the same way. The nature and nurture debate does play its part here too. So the ball clearly lies in the marketer’s court, where she/he will decide whether to hang by the traditions or accept the dynamics with a smile.

Pakistan Cyber Army hacks Indian websites including Central bank of India on 26/11

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Nov 26, 2013

http://mandotsecurities.com/

The Indian Cyber Army (ICA) hacked Pakistan’s top army blog on the Pakistani Army, to mark fifth anniversary of the mass terror attacks on Mumbai that lasted around 58 hours, killed more than 166 people with 26 foreigners and left a massive toll of 300 people severely injured.

In response, Pakistan Cyber Army in collation with MadLeets defaced a number of Indian websites, including the official website of the Central bank of India. The PCA further warned the ICA to stay away from Pakistani websites.

To mark the occasion another hackers group under the name ‘The Hacker’s Army’, further hacked a whole lot of Indian website to mark 26/11 and reply the ‘now-futile’ attempt of Indian Cyber Army (ICA) to hack Pakistani websites. ICA wanted to mark 26/11; apparently it proved to be more expensive than they could have anticipated.

The message on Indian websites says:

Happy 26/11

Greetings citizens of the INDIA. We are “TheHackersArmy”

You Got Pwned by THA X & Kai-H4xOrR

Mili Aazadi Jis-se tum logo ko Wo Shakhs ‘musalman’ Hee tha.

Diya Hind ko Taj Mahal jisne wo Shakhs ‘Musalman’ Hee tha.

Aaj kehte Hain wo Log K dehshat-gard hai Musalman.

Shuru ki Jisne tum logo k liye Jang-E-Aazadi ki wo Tipu Sultan ‘Musalman’ hi tha.

Jaha Lehrate ho tum log Tiranga, Kiya tameer jisne Laal Qila Wo Shakhs ‘Musalman’ Hee tha.

Aj Jis Atomic Power Par tum Garoor Karty hu wo Atomic Power Tum Ko Dene Wala B Abu Al Kalam “Muslman” hee tha

kehte ho “Sare Jahan se Achha HINDUSTAN hamara”, ye Likhne wala IQBAL ‘Muslman’ hi tha….

HAPPY 26/11 🙂

To the “incorrupt” officials of the government, we are challenging you!

Join us!

The Corrupt – Fear us.

The Honest – Support us.

The Heroic – Join us.

We are TheHackersArmy

We are ONE.

The Government – you are NONE.

List of Hacked Indian Websites by “The Hacker’s Army (Pakistan) include:

http://upgfc.com/

http://jeetenterprise.com/

http://ieoninternational.com/

http://friendscoal.com/

http://drbrijmohansharma.com/

http://dewashydroquip.com/

http://archdent.org/

http://nacoopindia.com/

http://starentertainments.net/home.php

http://starentertainmentsindia.com/index.htm

http://khandelwalsamaj.in/

http://siddhantitikota.in/index.htm

http://skyfeast.in/index.htm

http://bowlers.in/

http://iplindia.co.in/

http://skenterprise.in/

Agency of the Year 2013: 6 Advertising Agencies from Pakistan Shortlisted

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Nov 26, 2013

Campaign Asia, one of the most prestigious names in the Global Advertising Industry has rolled out their ‘Agency of the Year 2013’ shortlisted entries for South Asia region.

Falling in South Asia region, Pakistan is competing with India, Srilanka and Bangladesh. Although South Asian shortlisted lists is dominated by Indian advertising agencies but Pakistan has managed to take 6 spots in two categories

JWT Pakistan and Spectrum have been shortlisted for Creative Agency of the Year while 4 digital agencies from Pakistan have been shortlisted in ‘Digital Agency of the Year’ category. These agencies are Creative Jin, Iris Digital,Strategic Alliancez and Symmetry Digital.

Campaign Asia Pacific’s ‘Agency of the Year’ is the region’s most prestigious award recognizing outstanding work in advertising, creativity and exceptional advertising business initiatives. The awards are divided into 5 main regions namely Australia/New Zealand, Greater China, Japan/Korea South Asia and Southeast Asia.

This year, the awards include two new categories — Talent Management Person / Team of the Year and Young Achiever of the Year. The Talent Management award will recognize the professional or team who has most effectively aligned the agency’s people strategies with business outcomes, while the Young Achiever award aims to put the spotlight on the region’s stars who are under 30.

The Mega Award night event will take place from Dec 9th-12th 2013 in three different locations namely, China, India and Singapore.

About Campaign Asia:

Campaign Asia Pacific began as a Media magazine, launched in 1970s to report on emerging media and marketing industry in Asia-Pacific. It was acquired by Haymarket Publishing, UK’s largest independently owned publishing group. Their portfolio includes Print magazine, Web portals, Conferences, Awards, Data insights and Trainings.

Here is the list of shortlisted entries for the 2013 Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards in the South Asia region:

AGENCY CATEGORIES

India Creative Agency of the Year

BBDO India

JWT India

Lowe Lintas and Partners

Ogilvy & Mather, Gurgaon

Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

Taproot India

Pakistan Creative Agency of the Year

JWT Pakistan

Spectrum Y&R

Rest of South Asia Creative Agency of the Year

JWT Sri Lanka

JWT Thomson Nepal

Leo Burnett Solutions Inc., Sri Lanka

Ogilvy & Mather, Bangladesh

India Media Agency of the Year

Carat India

Havas Media Group

Mindshare India

OMD India

Vizeum India

Rest of South Asia Media Agency of the Year

Mindshare Bangladesh

Mindshare Sri Lanka

Starcom Worldwide – Sri Lanka

India Digital Agency of the Year

ibs

Isobar India

OgilvyOne Worldwide, India

PHD India

Pakistan Digital Agency of the Year

Creative Jin

Iris Digital

Strategic Alliancez

Symmetry Digital

South Asia PR Agency of the Year

Avian Media India

Edelman India

South Asia Specialist Agency of the Year

DDB MudraMax India

Geometry Global India

McCann Health, India

Mindshare India

[email protected], India

South Asia Independent Agency of the Year

Capillary Technologies India

ibs India

PEOPLE CATEGORIES

South Asia Account Person of the Year

Murtaza A Tajbhoy, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.

Chandana Agarwal, Ogilvy & Mather, Gurgaon

Ajay Mehta, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

Sonali Sehgal, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

VR Rajesh, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

Gaurav Magotra, OgilvyOne Worldwide, India

South Asia Agency Head of the Year

Pratap Bose, DDB MudraMax

Robert Holdheim, Edelman India

Sabyasachi Mitter, ibs

Ranil de Silva, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.

Navin Talreja, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

South Asia Creative of the Year

Vipul Salvi, Geometry Global

Ajay Gahlaut, Ogilvy & Mather, Gurgaon

Santosh Padhi, Taproot India

South Asia Planner of the Year

Farah Siddiqui, Mindshare

Neel Pandya, Mindshare

Anoop Menon, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

Ganapathy Balagopalan, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

Nikhil Kishore, OMD India

Shashank Lanjekar, SohoSquare, Mumbai

South Asia Talent Management Person/Team of the Year

Team LLC, DDB MudraMax

Pankaj Suri, Edelman India

HR Team, Lowe Lintas and Partners

Talent Team, MSLGROUP MSLGROUP India

South Asia Young Achiever of the Year

Aneesh Reddy, Capillary Technologies

Sanuree Gomes, DDB Mudra Group

Samyak Sanjoy Chakrabarty, DDB MudraMax

Karishma Birdy, Lowe Lintas and Partners

Khushboo Mendonca, Mindshare

For more details, click here: http://www.aoyawards.com/india/general/shortlist-2013

Lady Gaga: The Next Face of Versace

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Nov 26, 2013

Versace has signed up Lady Gaga as the brand’s ultimate womanly personification. Versace has upheld a façade of womanly beauty with an immaculate stature, sex appeal and confidence.

The first of the Spring/Summer 2014 look from Versace featuring Lady Gaga showcases the singer in lavender and black Versace dresses.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta more commonly known with her stage name, Lady Gaga, is a world renowned American pop-singer, songwriter, activist, record producer, businesswoman, fashion designer, philanthropist, and actress along with a big fan of Donatella Versace. She openly expressed her admiration for the Italian fashion designer, with a song in her recent album dedicated to the brand and the designer named ‘Donatella’, a sonnet to all things Versace.

The singer looks like Donatella Versace as she poses for the new Versace campaign, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Carrying waist-length straight, platinum-blonde hair, Lady Gaga reclines on a sofa in a pale lilac Versace dress and chunky silver accessories. The campaign has been named, Lady Gaga For Versace, for which the company has established the hashtag #VersaceLovesGaga.

“I am honoured that my friend Lady Gaga is the face of our new Versace campaign,” Donatella said. “I wanted to capture her true beauty and spirit in images that are elegant and alluring. She is like family to me, the embodiment of the Versace DNA.”

Versace’s brand personality reflects attributes such as being creative, experimental and fearless all of which are in much consistency with Lady Gaga’s personality.

Lady Gaga showed her gratitude on her g+ account by pronouncing that she is honoured to be a representing Versace.

As the new face for Versace fashion for spring 2014 dawns in the face of Lady Gaga, the fashion world can only look forward to see the daring pop star in beautiful floor length gowns, as well as in edgy femme fatale style mini dresses.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Concept Phone and Expected Release Date

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Nov 26, 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 was one of the biggest release of the year 2013, having made its mark in the market the 4th generation of the Galaxy lineage, it gained immense popularity at the time of its debut back in March; however, with Apple launching iPhone 5S and Google coming out with Nexus 5, the Galaxy S4 somewhat seems humbled by the advanced technology that both of its competitors seem to have successfully pulled off.

Amidst all this competition being posted from Apple and Google the rumors of Galaxy S5 which is set to release in the coming year surfaced and it was about time that the concept behind Samsung’s next flagship hits the internet.

Class, sophistication and beauty seems to be the mantra for Galaxy S5 as the concept video highlights the expected features and specifications that are widely tipped to be in Samsung’s 2014 release.

DESIGN

The designer has re-designed the look with a beautiful aluminium and glass finish, shedding away the traditional plastic look that usually forms the look of Samsung’s previous devices.

The concept video also features a curved ergonomic display that seems to be the new feature to lookout for in the upcoming devices.

The new artistic design of the S5 is supported by a 5-inch full high-definition screen that has been curved to fit perfectly into the palm of the user’s hand.

PROCESSOR

The designer also hints that Samsung will incorporate a 64-bit processor into the hardware following in Apple’s footsteps. A 3GB of internal RAM will support the 64-bit processor, enabling the device to support Android KitKat without a problem.

DISPLAY

The beautiful 5-inch display would work smoothly with a 16-megapixel camera that is designed to capture 4K video with a rather effective stereo speaker setup aimed to offer the best possible sound quality.

Overall the concept video succeeds in impressing us, lets hope that Galaxy S5 is as interesting as the concept video suggest, till then keep fingers crossed for the coming year.

Indian Short Film ‘Kush’ Selected for OSCARS

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Nov 26, 2013

An excited Shubhashish Bhutiani will have to get hold of his nerves as his 25 minute film “Kush” has been selected by ‘The Academy’ to be short listed with the 10 live-action shorts that will advance further in the Oscar’s run.

A total of three to five films selected from the top 10 movies will eventually stand as the ultimate nominees for Oscars on the big day, when one will be crowned ‘Oscar winner’. Thus, one can imagine ‘Kush’ has very probable chance to being one of the nominees if not the ultimate winner.

Kush is a 25 minute film based on a true story, Bhutiani heard from one of his mentors during his time as an undergrad in New York’s School of Visual Arts.

The short film stars Sonika Chopra, Shayaan Sameer and Anil Sharma. It has been produced by Shubhashish’s father Sanjay Bhutiani through their Red Carpet Moving Pictures banner.

The father-son duo, as the Director-Producer of a potential Oscar nominee are hopeful for the future of their brain-child, Kush. Shubhashish marked the success of his project by looking forward with the determination to get Kush noticed on as many platforms and festivities as possible.

“The film is getting a great response and is set to travel to some more festivals. The big responsibility for us now it to get it noticed to as many people as possible,” producer Sanjay Bhutiani said.

Kush’s story originates during the riots that followed the sad assassination of India’s beloved Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The film revolves around a school picnic where a teacher is trying to protect ‘Kush’ – the only Sikh child in the group from the violence raging around them.

The final nominations of the 86th Academy Awards are scheduled to be announced on January the 16th. While the Oscar ceremony is set to take place on March 2nd 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood & Highland Center.

Previously, Kush has won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 70th Venice International Film Festival 2013 and jury prize at Hamptons International Film Festival.

The other nine selected films include Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) by director Esteban Crespo, Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything) by director Xavier Legrand, Dva (Two) by Mickey Nedimovic, Helium by director Anders Walter, Throat Song by director Miranda de Pencier, Tiger Boy by Gabriele Mainetti, The Voorman Problem by Mark Gill, Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) by Selma Vilhunen and Record/Play by Jesse Atlas.

The initial screenings were held in Los Angeles where The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting.

The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 16 while the Oscar ceremony will take place on March 2, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.

Salman Khan Reveals His New Side on Koffee with Karan’s First Episode

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Nov 26, 2013

What happens when Karan Johar asks Salman Khan about his ‘ex-girlfriends’? Will Salman avoid giving an answer or will he share his love life for all to see?

Get the answers to all of these and more questions, when Koffee with Karan season 4 airs this Sunday.

It is confirmed, the fourth edition of Koffee with Karan will open with Salman ‘The Dabangg’ Khan as the first guest on the show. The sixty-minute first episode will air December 1st on Star World.

The recording for the first episode of the show has already taken place and sources advocate that Salman Khan has opened up to KJ more than usual. We might say that Salman might reconsider some of his words after the show, but for what we have heard, Salman never regrets or rethinks.

Salman Khan confesses to Karan that he is now more concern with his image and what people think of him. “Suddenly partying and smoking has gone out of the window. I think I am very boring”, Salman answers upon being quizzed about the main difference between old Salman Khan and new Salman Khan.

Salman opened up a bit more than usual, commenting that there was a time when he wanted to get married and settle down, but that didn’t happen then (with an unnamed woman) and now he has no plans of getting serious again. Salman also adds that he tries to be invisible as much as he can.

Muhammad Abid : The Force behind Filmazia, Filmax and FilmWorld

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Nov 25, 2013

Muhammad Abid The Force behind Filmazia Filmax and FilmWorld

By Synergyzer

Muhammad Abid, Director & C.E.O – Leo Communications (Pvt.) Ltd., talks about the company’s television channels; Filmazia, Filmax and FilmWorld; and how they are promoting movies in Pakistan.

Q1: How many years have you spent in the TV channel distribution industry in Pakistan?

Muhammad Abid: Almost 23 years!

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Movies were always my passion and my way of learning about the world. I started LEO Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. with my elder brothers back in 1990. The idea behind the company was to bring international satellite channels to Pakistan, since the only option available back then were a few terrestrial channels. This was our initial venture and later on we decided to bring out channels for the mass audience in Pakistan. Thus, Filmazia, Filmax and FilmWorld were launched.

Q2: Tell us about Filmazia, Filmax and FilmWorld; and the target market each caters to.

Abid: FILMAZIA was launched in 2004 to air Lollywood movies, only, and we have invested in a large collection of Pakistani cinema hits. The channel caters to B, C and D socio-economic classes and the viewers are located in urban, semi-urban and rural areas. Currently, Filmazia has more than 80% viewership nationwide, which is due to our strategically planned out segments.

FILMAX airs premium Hollywood movie content dubbed in Urdu, which is a blend of all genres. The movies are copyrighted and offer a unique opportunity to advertisers as it is viewed in urban areas of Pakistan, famous amongst all age groups and caters to SEC A, B and C.

FILMWORLD delivers a quality mix of Bollywood blockbusters 24/7. With access to one of the largest Bollywood film libraries, the channel offers a wide variety of films, including the latest premieres. It is watched by all age groups amongst SEC A, B, C and D.

Q3: Why did you feel the need to create three separate TV channels that cater to Lollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood movies when the content could have been condensed into one such channel?

Abid: We did not want to confuse our audience or the advertising community towards our channel programming, hence kept the diversified Lollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood content onto three different channels.

Also, there is a huge vacuum present in our electronic media industry as news and entertainment (drama-oriented) channels are launched time and again without any focus on movie entertainment. We decided to address this by launching our channels.

Q4: Do unlicensed cable channels affect your viewership and business?

Abid: No, they don’t, since such channels are not allowed to collect any airtime revenue off advertisements. Also, multinational advertisers do not advertise over these channels due to legality issues.

Q5: How do you compete with unlicensed cable channels?

Abid: I strongly believe that viewers have matured and prefer quality over quantity. We have given them a better choice through our channels and they are gradually evolving out of watching and listening to cluttered screens and sound that lacks quality.

Some differences that make us stand out are

• Legal Content

• High Definition Screen Quality

• Crystal Clear Sound Quality

• Minimum Repetitions

• Branding Opportunities for Advertisers

• Content Integration Opportunities

• Content Customization

• In House Programming

• Vast reach and penetration since our channels are available for cable and dish users across Pakistan

Q6: How do you promote your channels, considering the clutter present due to unlicensed cable movie channels?

Abid: That is a very important question.

Our content is unique and we select it according to the Pakistani audience’s flavor and habits. We have no competition so far as there are no other channels showing Lollywood, Bollywood and dubbed Hollywood movies for kids, youngsters and grownups.

Earlier I mentioned that we have our expertise in distributing international channels across Pakistan, hence it is not difficult for us to get our channels highlighted: We have an experienced and dedicated distribution team that makes sure our channels are tuned in the first 30 frequencies to get maximum eyeballs. Also, we use cross-channel promotions within our own group and with our media partners.

Q7: Last, but not the least, leave us with something inspirational.

Abid: “Work hard, content is king and don’t accept no, ever!”

Chitrangada Singh Gears Up Indians to Use Puma

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Nov 25, 2013

By Zulfiqar Ali Sajwani

The famous German based sportswear brand Puma, is all set to heat up exercising schedules with the launch of the ‘Gear up Buddies’ campaign in India, featuring the crictically acclaimed Indian actress. Chitrangada Singh.

A co-branded initiative by Puma and e-commerce player Jabong.com, the campaign showcases an interactive video on fitness routines for all fitness lovers including fun filled exercises such as running, Zumba and Crossfit.

The masterpiece of creative agency called Brandmovers, the campaign was launched on November 15, after which the video has achieved decent 12,000 views on the Jabong microsite, with people spending more than three minutes on it.

“With Puma’s first of its kind digital fitness campaign, we are trying to create online engagement by making people a part of the video experience rather than witnesses” said Suvajyoti Ghosh, co-founder and CEO, Brandmovers India, expressing the vision behind this campaign.

The video has an interactive dimension to it as well, where gives users can change between exercises, while the people on screen switch to different Puma fitness gear.

The video also provides users with a choice to know more about the particular fitness gear by clicking on it, and directing them to Jabong.com if they want to purchase it.

Puma is known for its high budgetsed celebrity endorsements. Recently the brand made a lot of news for itsannual $8.6 million dollar payment to the fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter, who made the golden routes during the Olympics.

With Chitranganda on board in this interesting campaign, Puma is surely in for some ‘serious’ attention from its Indian fans.

Ford launches Mustang 2015 through Instagram

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Nov 25, 2013

By Zulfiqar Ali Sajwani

It seems that the traditional automobile companies have realized the effectiveness of social media hype. Ford Motors, one of the oldest American players in automobile industry, is all set to launch its redesigned 2015 Mustang via the trending social photo app, Instagram.

Ford will unveil 2015 Mustang, the next generation of the iconic Pony car, on the 5th of December 2013.

Instagram has allowed Ford to join its 15 key influencers on its platform for a microsite entitled Mustang Inspires. The site displays 15-second Instagram videos posts on a daily basis that portray inspirations about the beloved Pony car over the past five decades.

Users are invited to upload their own photos and videos via hashtag #MustangInspires.

“Everybody has a Mustang story, and the emergence of social media has helped the Mustang community share and connect these personal moments in not just words, but photography and video,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s EVP Global Marketing, Sales and Service, while emphasizing the vision behind this initiative.

Ford has developed a new rear-wheel-drive platform for the 2015 Mustang along with a revamped car’s suspension, steering and brakes.

The exterior sheet metal and the cabin have been completely redesigned to give it a more modern look and feel, but the 2015 Mustang will have styling cues inspired by former Mustangs.

Ford is on a roll with promoting Mustangs promotion not only through Instagram, but through the breathtaking trailers of Need for Speed, a Dreamworks film inspired from the game.

This is definitely like a fantasy coming to life for all the Ford Mustang fans.

The Original Ford Mustang

The original Mustang was introduced at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, to national fanfare and was purchased by more than half a million customers in 1965, its first full year on the market.

When it was last redesigned eight years ago, the Mustang took a step backward in time, with a retro design that has attracted fewer and fewer buyers.

Sales last year totaled just 82,995 and were down another 8 percent through October 2013.

Sherlock Season 3 Trailer Verifies that #SherlockLives

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Nov 25, 2013

The official trailer of Sherlock Season 3 has been aired on the show’s parent channel BBC One.

After Sherlock Holmes’ deathly fall in Season 2 from the rooftop of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, every Sherlock fan wanted to know the future of his favorite character.

The Season 3 Trailer answers one of the most-asked questions since January 15th, 2012 – Is Sherlock Holmes really dead?

Well, the first-look of BBC One’s ‘Sherlock Season 3’ verifies that #SherlockLives indeed.

The last episode of the 2nd season named ‘The Reichenbach Fall’ was originally based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Final Problem”. Both stories unravel in a manner that Sherlock is discredited for everything he has stood for, all according to the plan of his arch-adversary ‘Professor James Moriarty’.

This leads to the latter part of Moriarty’s plan to kill Holmes, where Holmes fakes his own death as Watson looks on.

However, In the original script of Sir Conan Doyle’s Final Problem, Sherlock and Moriarty are presumed to have fallen to their deaths from the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland.

Twitter seems to be the chosen medium as the group of people sitting in the room all get some really interesting barrage of hashtags floating onto their screens, which includes #SherlockHolmesAlive, #SherlockLives and #SherlockIsNotDead.

Season 3 will be expected to answer some of the most intriguing questions like, how Sherlock faked his death in front of Watson and pedestrians? What will happen when Sherlock will face Watson? lastly, what has Sherlock been doing all this time?

Played by Benedict Cumberbatch, this particular character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is a rather contemporary modernization of the famous British detective’s life-stories. The rejuvenation includes Holmes’ apprentice and best friend Doctor John Watson, played by the-now-Hobbit-star Martin Freeman.

‘Sherlock’ has received massive critical acclaim ifor the last two seasons only to be followed up by an even more larger mass appreciation, fan following and TRPs (Target Rating Points). Being sold to more than 180 territories around the world, it would be hard for one to believe that the show consists of only six episodes, three in each of the first two seasons.

TV Series Entourage: Movie Release Date Announced

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Nov 25, 2013

Millions of Ari Gold fans around the world wanted to know this and it’s finally out.

Yes, there is going to be a movie made on the famous Entourage, which would mean that the fans can re-live the epic moments and hopefully create new ones with the golden five.

The Chase Brothers – Vince and Johhny Drama – Eric “E” Murphy, Turtle and especially Ari Gold have all been retained in the cast for the movie. The Entrouge movie will hit the cinemas fall of next year.

HBO series Entourage was an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO in 2004 and concluded in September 2011, after eight seasons.

The series was created and largely written by Doug Ellin, who on Wednesday morning tweeted and confirmed the long looming rumor that Entourage is soon going to be a movie.

The series has been nominated for 25 Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Guild of America Awards in different categories such as acting, directing, and writing and for Outstanding Comedy Series

Elin Doug, the writer cum creator of the series-soon to be a movie also mentioned the starting date of the movie to be January 16th, that is next year. But most outstandingly the writer also tweeted a picture of the decided cast with himself, that’s striking news since the hold-up for the movie has been an issue for the doyens of the project regarding the backend.

Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold) initially received a larger backend deal than any of the other actors – even the lead AdrianGrenier (Vince), Kevin Connolly (E), Jerry Ferrara (Turtle) and Kevin Dillon (Johnny ‘Drama’ Chase) – couldn’t match up with Piven’s paycheck.

Understandably so, the character of Ari was never intended to be the lead but it soon took the limelight off from the supposed lead actors Vince and Eric as Jeremy Piven lived the role of the real life agent (Ari Emanuel) to an amazing level of zeal with his skilled and seasoned acting skills.

The series is co-produced by famous Hollywood Movie Actor ‘Mark Wahlberg’, who also makes an appearance in the show in its pilot episode.

A little Entourage trivia suggests that Mark Wahlberg has made ‘Entourage’ as an inspired dramatic representation of his own life story. How he and his friends started it off in Hollywood and Mark made a name for himself as a movie star with Ari Emanuel who is the actor’s closest friend and his agent till date, much like the character Vince Chase and Ari Gold.

Telecom Companies Annoyed Over Over-Budgeted 3G License Fee

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Nov 24, 2013

Telecom Companies Annoyed Over Over Budgeted 3G License Fee

By Zulfiqar Ali Sajwani

After a long-awaited announcement of issuing license for 3G, the government of Pakistan has announced its plans to sell three licenses in 3G auction to make $1.2 billion in total.

This means that each cellular operator working in Pakistan will be charged almost $330 million, making the offer pretty sour with such unrealistic figures.

Keeping in view the current investment environment of the country, the telecom sector is not willing to participate in the spectrum auction unless the government adjusts the prices accordingly to its budget 2013-14 anticipations.

Hence it won’t be surprising if one of the four telecom operators in the country might not take part in upcoming spectrum auction owing to expected substantial license prices.

In this regard,Telenor Pakistan Chief Corporate Affairs and Security Officer Muhammad Aslam Hayat told Pak Tribune, “Telenor Pakistan will be evaluating its business case for 3G taking into account the terms and conditions that the government will stipulate in the final information memorandum document and the overall regulatory environment.”

He further added, “The will and desire to participate in the 3G license auction is there, however the government has to do its bit to make the 3G service affordable for the people.”

“The government also needs to justify taxation especially withdrawal of sector specific taxes to make telecommunication services affordable for the general public, said Hayat.

TELECOMS WAITING FOR BUSINESS-FRIENDLY OFFERS

Hayat further said, “We are looking towards working with the government and the regulator to come up with a business-friendly 3G policy which is also beneficial for the consumers, the economy and the industry.”

However, the base price has not yet been revealed as the government will determine the base price for the spectrum based on suggestions of consultants, who will be appointed in a couple of months.

The consultants will also decide the number and size of the blocks in the proposed 30MHz spectrum.

3G IN BANGLADESH AND INDIA

Quoting the neighbouring countries, Hayat added, “The objective, to connect all 180 million population in short-term with 3G services can only be achievable if the government of Pakistan facilitated investors by offering technology licences in an affordable range.”

The government should follow Bangladesh where the government gave a relaxation to telecom investors and operators were able to get a quick ROI

He said, “If the operators have to pay a huge upfront fee then it will impact their ability to invest in networks.”

He, while giving example of neighboring country India, said, “The telecom industry in India was not able to recover its investments due to obtaining licenses at a high price, whereas in Bangladesh the operators were assisted by the government to get maximum reach of 3G services by giving out license at a reasonable fee,” he added.

He urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure that the reserve price is reasonable and that the government’s fiscal concerns don’t hijack the agenda.

With regular bans, blockages and heavy taxes, Mobile phone companies are already under immense pressure by the government and other administrations. The industry has had to face a lot of issues like being pointed at in terrorist acts, but it is the same industry has helped keep a track and stop such activities.

Unblock YouTube Videos in Pakistan with Tune.pk Plugin

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Nov 23, 2013

Unblock YouTube Videos in Pakistan with Tune pk Plugin

The Australian beaches swarming with deadly white Sharks don’t have as much “Surf Safely” signs as we Pakistanis see online while trying to surf the Internet!

But all this might just change now with a new Plug-in from Tune.pk.

Pakistanis have lost hope when it comes to opening YouTube. There has been a dire need for an easy solution to watch YouTube videos without the hustle of using proxy websites and harmful softwares

To counter this need, Tune.pk has launched simple Chrome Plug-In that can be installed on your desktop version of Google Chrome Browser with ease.

Download the Tune.pk Plug-in here

Once you download and Install the plug-in, every video on the internet regardless of where it has been hosted will be uploaded on tune.pk allowing you to watch the video directly on tune.pk’s channel.

The plugin provides that luxury of watching embedded videos on Facebook, Mashable, TechCrunch,huffingtonPost, E buzz tonight, movie trailer hosted on IMDB etc. and many more.

Hopefully, with this amazing breakthrough Plugin Pakistanis will never have to see the Surf Safely sign while watching any video hosted on YouTube.

Kudos to Team Tune.pk!

‘SELFIE’ declared as word of the year in Oxford Dictionaries

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Nov 23, 2013