Waar 2 Not to be Directed by Bilal Lashari

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Jun 1, 2015

The much-anticipated sequel to Pakistan’s biggest blockbuster movie, Waar will begin shooting in the coming month.

Rumor has it that the huge amounts of money caused disputes on sharing profits between the debutant director Bilal Lashari and producer Hassan Waqas Rana. This time around, Waar 2 will be directed by Hassan Waqas Rana, producer of the prequel.

Bilal Lashari previously said,

“Mr. Rana told me that the payments from the cinemas and companies have been delayed. However, I found out later that he wrote a letter to the dealers, asking them to transfer the revenue in a separate account. I got the letter and the details of payments transferred in his personal and company accounts,”

Lashari claimed that the investor had changed his mind once the film began to generate good profits.

He further said that he had planned to remake the classic 1979 film Maula Jatt, but this attitude discouraged him from investing in energies in the field of showbiz.

Waar 2 will feature both national and international actors. Shaan Shahid, Ayub Khoso and Bilal Ashraf will be seen in the movie.

Sources reveal that there might be new faces too as the auditions are on the go. The cast and crew will be travelling to different countries including Pakistan, U.K, Russian, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

Waar is the production of ARY Films and MindWorks Media.

Pakistani Hacker Hacks Indian Website Gaana.com

By

Web Desk

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May 29, 2015

India’s most famous music site, Gaana.com was hacked by, a hacker nicknamed, Mak Man (nickname). On Thursday, the site was down for several hours as the site was hacked by a Pakistani hacker.

This hack was revealed by him on his Facebook page.

The picture above is of a database, as claimed by Mak Man, containing information and details of more than 10 Million users currently registered on Gaana.com. The data contained user names, emails, passwords, Facebook & Twitter profiles too.

However, the hacker’s intention was not to exploit the information. According to Mak Man, he informed the officials about the problem but no one considered them to which the CEO of Times Internet apologized in a Facebook post saying:Hi, I’m

Hi, I’m Satyan, CEO of Times Internet, which runs Gaana.com

First of all, I’d like to apologize personally if you had shared these reports and we didn’t respond earlier. Totally unacceptable by us, and I’m looking into it.

Second, I don’t think your intention is to expose personal information about Gaana users, but to highlight a vulnerability. Consider it highlighted, and we’re 100% on it. Can I request that you take down access to the data, and delete it completely?

And finally, if possible, I’d appreciate if we could hire you as a consultant to help us find any more vulnerabilities across our network so that we can keep our products as secure as possible. If you’re interested, message me directly, as I’d be very grateful for your advice.

Thanks, Satyan

To which Mak Man tweeted:

@satyangajwani #makman #gaana #Indiatimes pic.twitter.com/N4DvnQt1Rq

— Mak Man (@themakmaniac) May 28, 2015

The hacker is based in Lahore, Pakistan. The hack was an SQL injection-based exploit of Gaana.com and the database has been removed by the hacker.

(You can see it yourself by clicking on the site here).

To ensure the situation the CEO, Mr. Gajwani, tweeted the details and informed about the current situation.

A couple of hours ago, a hacker name MakMan exposed a vulnerability in one of our Gaana user databases. Here’s where things stand: 1/n — SatyanGajwani (@satyangajwani) May 28, 2015

First of all, we have patched the vulnerability within an hour of its discovery, as MakMan has also acknowledged. 2/n

— SatyanGajwani (@satyangajwani) May 28, 2015

No financial or sensitive personal data beyond Gaana login credentials were accessed. No third party credentials were accessed either. 3/n — SatyanGajwani (@satyangajwani) May 28, 2015

As we understand, the data has not been accessed or shared with anyone; MakMan was highlighting the issue, which we’ve recognized. 4/n

— SatyanGajwani (@satyangajwani) May 28, 2015

Most of our users’ data has not been compromised, but we’ve reset all Gaana user passwords, so all users have to make new ones. 5/n — SatyanGajwani (@satyangajwani) May 28, 2015

However, some sources suggest not just changing your password but removing your accounts from the website and changing the password of your email address, Facebook account, Twitter account etc.

Contributed by Atiqa Shaikh.

FIFA 16 Adds Women Teams For The First Time Ever

By

Ahsan Mirza

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May 29, 2015

In arguably the biggest addition to Electronic Arts Sports’ biggest and best-selling gaming franchise (after the introduction of Hawkeye’s Goal-line technology), the FIFA series is introducing female players for the first time since the game’s first edition in 1993.

The sports game will feature twelve international women teams – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of America – when the latest installment, FIFA 16, is launched in September.

The EA Sports announced yesterday on its website:

“Today, we are proud to announce the inclusion of Women’s National Teams toFIFA 16. As one of the most requested features in recent years, this is a huge milestone for both our franchise and the sport.

Over the course of past few months, we worked with each federation to capture head-scans, facial features and hairstyles of all the players included in-game. In some cases, this meant taking our mobile head-scanning unit to a number of different tournaments and events around the world.”

The FIFA Women’s World Cup commences in Canada on June 6, 2015, and the EA Sports could not have timed the release of their trailer any better! Watch the trailer below:

It must be noted that the women’s teams can only play against each other, and this point is especially important to mention in case the over-enthusiastic and over-excited gamers get too carried away with this introduction, and try to play the women’s teams against the usual, men teams.

FIFA 16 launches on PC, Playstation 3 and 4, and Xbox 360 and Xbox One on September 22, 2015.

Telenor Bridal Couture Week 2015 To Hit Ramps On 5th June

By

Rida Sadiq

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May 29, 2015

With PFDC Fashion Week ending on a high fashion note last month, Telenor Bridal Couture Week is soon following up with more opulent choices for brides-to-be this season.

Hum TV’s Telenor Bridal Couture Week will hit the ramps on 5th June 2015 for a three day fashion extravaganza by some of the top notch designers of Pakistan.

The glamorous Telenor Bridal Couture Week will be held in Karachi from 5th June 2015 to 7th June 2015.

With the tenth edition of Telenor Bridal Couture Week lined up for some high end glamour and vogue, the event has established itself as one of the most sought after fashion events of not only Pakistan but of South Asia.

This season’s Bridal Couture Week will feature 24 top fashion designers, including the likes of Zainab Chhotani, Adnan Pardesy and Asifa & Nabeel, donning 45 outstanding models of the country in their show-stopping collections.

Acclaimed actors and actresses to walk the ramp include Urwa Hocane, Mehwish Hayat, Ahsan Khan and Aijaz Aslam.

The creative team behind the high profile fashion event includes Sabs the Salon as the hair stylists and the makeup maestros, Take-II as the PR management and the choreography mastermind Hasan Shehryar Yasin as the event director.

Attended by Pakistan’s fashion enthusiasts, celebrities and elite socialites, Telenor Bridal Couture Week will once again feature dramatic theatrical performances of legendary love stories in line with its main sponsor Telenor’s aim of connecting people.

The previous edition of the Telenor Bridal Couture Week was nothing short of a success too, with a mix of eye-catching palettes and modern, chic silhouettes giving the world of bridal fashion some exciting new trends.

In Pakistan, where wedding events are glamorous and dramatic, bridal couture has turned into a fashion market of its own. With this premise in trend, Telenor Bridal Couture Week aims to cater to consumers by bringing to them the crème de la crème of the bridal fashion while allowing aspiring designers to showcase their talents at a celebrated platform.

Stay tuned for this season’s hottest bridal trends.

No Proof Against Salman Khan: Hit & Run Case Files Lost in Fire

By

Web Desk

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May 29, 2015

Salman Khan is no doubt the most wanted Bollywood actor these days. The latest twist in the Salman Khan Hit-and-Run Case is the fact that all the proof against the Bajrangi Bhaijaan was lost in a fire.

A ‘Right to Information’ query made by activist Mansoor Darvesh has revealed that the Maharashtra Government has no case files pertaining to Salman Khan’s hit-and-run incident.

Reportedly they were destroyed in a fire on 21st June, 2012, which incurred a loss of lives as well as files in Mantralaya, the state government headquarters in Mumbai.

Darvesh inquired into the expenses incurred by the state on the case spanning from 2002 to the current year, where on May 6th the Mumbai court finally passed judgement.

The government was, however, vague about the information they provided and merely stated that information could not be made available due to the loss of files in the fire.

The only information they were forthcoming about was the payment of INR 6,000 per hearing to Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat who was appointed since September 2014.

Darvesh criticized the lack of action on the government’s part to reconstruct the lost files, due to which they had no awareness on the expenditure the case had incurred.

On the morning of 28th September, 2002, Salman Khan killed a man and injured three others in Bandra, when he drove his car onto a footpath where the aforementioned people were sleeping.

He was convicted on May 6th of this year, sentenced to five years of imprisonment on the charge of ‘culpable homicide not amounting to murder’ alongside other charges.

However, Salman Khan appealed against the Bombay Sessions Court ruling in Bombay High Court due to which the sentence was suspended and he was granted bail.

Contributed by Hunza Gul.

Warid Pakistan Rebrands Company Culture With 3W Principle

By

Rida Sadiq

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May 29, 2015

Warid is not only one of Pakistan’s top telco service providers but is also known as a preferred employer of choice. Keeping in line with its reputation, Warid has introduced a new company culture based on a new principle 3W or the Warid Working Way.

The 3W cultural model encompasses a number of elements to improve Warid’s organizational culture as the telecom industry evolves and employees’ organizational needs change. The elements of 3W define not only Warid’s character as an organization but also the way its employees should be perceived.

With a promise to provide “the most delightful customer experience”, the 3W strategy complements Warid’s main missions and includes Warid Values, Warid Leadership Way, Warid Code of Conduct and Warid Building Blocks.

To help employees get on board with the new 3W model, Warid’s Organizational Excellence team held interactive sessions throughout the country. The event, with many more to come in the future, was aimed at instilling the new strategy deep into the core of the organization.

Once employed, the principle will help Warid’s employees grow as part of the organization all the while improving the company’s culture on the whole. This is hoped to eventually help provide customers a better experience with the company’s service in the long run.

While talking about cultural rebranding, Warid VP People & Culture, Mr. Nayab Baig acknowledged the organization’s employees and customers in helping Warid achieve high levels of success. He further stated that the new 3W culture will help reinforce Warid’s promise to provide the best customer service by allowing employees to perform optimally.

Warid, Pakistan’s first ever 4G LTE provider, also recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its operations. As part of the celebrations, the company is holding a competition at its social media networks, where consumers can share their #Warid10YearsOfPride stories and win a number of prizes.

Na-Maloom Afraad Team Returns with New Movie

By

Ghazala Sulaiman

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May 29, 2015

2014’s Na Maloom Afraad created an uproar at the box office by setting a record of being the only Pakistani film of the new-age Lollywood to top the cinema houses for straight 165 days.

The dream team of the masterpiece movie is back with a bang, with yet another promising venture to hit the silver screen next year.

In an interview to Instep magazine at Bin Roye’s press meet up, the producer Fizza Ali Meerza revealed that a social satire project is in making with the Na Maloom Afraad’s director, Nabeel Querishi.

“Yes, I am working on a film with Nabeel and the same crew that was part of Na Maloom Afraad. It’s a social satire and will release sometime next year with a different cast.” shared Fizza.

However, the starring cast for the Fizza and Nabeel’s is still a secret.

But in a separate interview to Instep, the popular game show host and movie star, Fahad Mustafa announced that he will be teaming up with the duo again, for a leading role in their upcoming movie.

Reportedly, Fahad Mustafa is currently working on the biopic Mah-e Meer along with a Anjum Shehzad’s romantic comedy. His popularity has also crossed the border and the news of his Bollywood debut has added to his hefty pile of achievements. His first feature film, Na Maloom Afraad turned out to be a real game-changer for the star.

Will Fahad with the old gang of Na Maloom Afraad be able entice the audience once again? It is still yet to see.

Forbes’ Announces World’s 100 Most Valuable Brands for 2015

By

Yusra Hassan

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May 29, 2015

For the fifth consecutive year, Forbes has come up with the World’s Most Valuable Brands List for 2015. Instead of focusing on the consumer behaviors and surveys, the staff at Forbes has evaluated the rankings of how valuable each brand is by inspecting the financial numbers.

Apple at the lead for the fifth time, followed by Microsoft and at third position Google. Apple, as a brand is now being valued at $145.3 billion, which is 17% higher than last year. No other brand relies so heavily on its fan base because of users of iOs, who are loyalist users of iPod, iPad, iPhone and iTunes. The tools used by the Company for transforming and tech world on four different platform of industries.

Microsoft, on the other hand is worth $69.3 billion and has risen by 10% in value from last year. With its HoloLens project, acquisition of Nokia, and the new CEO Satya Nadella, the Company aims to not just be chosen but to be loved for its Windows offerings.

Facebook has managed to make it to the top ten contenders in the list, emerging as a direct competitor to YouTube in terms of video broadcasting and viewing options.

Most of the brands that are found on the list are mainly Tech-based, followed by Automotive and consumer packaged goods brands.

Global restaurant franchises rank with McDonalds at number 6, StarBucks at number 52 and Subway at number 83.

Retail Brands that made the cut include Wal-Mart, H&M, Home Depot, IKEA, Zara and Target.

It was imperative to be operating, on a large scale in the U.S. in order to make the cut which is why China Mobile, the World’s largest mobile phone provider and Vodaphone, one of the biggest telecom providing companies could not make the cut.

Disney and LEGO are Leisure Brands found in the list. The top-ranked luxury brands include Louis Vitton, Gucci, Hermes and Cartier.

There is an aggregate of 9 German brands, 7 Japanese and 7 French brands and the rest of them being U.S based.

Everything Google Announced at Google I/O 2015

By

Rida Sadiq

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May 29, 2015

In case you didn’t fancy sitting through two days of tech talk at Google’s mega- developer conference, Google IO 2015, here is a snapshot of all things important coming your way from Google.

Streamed in 90 countries across six continents, Google I/O 2015 announced some major tech developments Google has made recently and what it plans to send out for its users.

With an aim to further simplify computing, Google has revamped its current softwares and created new ones that promise to change the world of automation forever.

With the new developments, Google is aiming to stitch together all of its softwares to give users a more streamlined experience when using the family of Google products.

According to Engadget, Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai claims that eight out of ten phones are powered by Android.

With such a high figure and Google’s varied line of products, it’s no wonder the search engine giant is trying to connect everything together and create its own bubble of technology for its users.

Here are all the things Google announced at Google IO 2015:

Android M

Google’s latest operating system, Android M, to be launched later during the year, is very similar to its predecessor Lollipop, with changes to power optimization, apps connectivity and more.

Updated Apps Permission Feature

With the new Android M, the Apps Permission block that intimidates us every time we install an app will get a tad less complicated.

The Apps Permission feature will no longer ask for approval of a lengthy list of permissions at the time of installation but instead prompt you to permit the app to access features as and when needed while using the app.

Chrome Custom Tabs – The In-App Browsing Experience

Google plans to change the frustrating process of leaving the app and waiting for the browser to load and open a website whenever we click on an internet link within an app by introducing Chrome Custom Tabs.

The new Chrome Custom Tabs will work like an in-app browser that will not only you let you view the web links within the app but will also cut download time and make the user experience smoother.

Doze To Save Battery Life

Google has heard all our battery woes and introduced Doze in its new OS.

The Dozing feature will allow our smartphones to go in a deep sleep mode thereby saving battery life, when dormant for long periods of time, by sensing inactivity through motion detectors.

Now On Tap

Google upgraded its Google Now feature to Now On Tap to make your smartphone more intelligent to help you assist with simple tasks.

For example, if a friend texts you about movie plans, Now On Tap will give you a list of features including YouTube links to view trailers, cinema schedules to book tickets, to-do list reminder to mark the date and Maps route to mark the way.

Google Photos Unlimited Storage

With the selfies craze continuing to go strong, Google has updated its Google Photos app to allow users to store unlimited number of photos and videos online for free. The update comes with some advanced auto-tagging features, ability to group them by subject and create a timeline.

Offline Connectivity

For those of us in the developing countries, where a good internet connection is still a luxury, Google has allowed offline connectivity options.

This includes Offline Google Maps, offline Chrome support, autocomplete searches and optimized web pages to view using spotty internet connections.

Upgraded Android Wear

Along with making smartphones smarter, Google is also working on other Android wear to make each product more user-friendly for its users.

Some important updates include a more facilitated option to order Uber cars using your Android smart watch, an always-on screen for viewing features on the go and faster loading of apps.

Android Pay Coming Soon

With Google Wallet failing badly in the technosphere, Google is working on Android Pay to launch it as soon as possible. With a promise to work with 700,000 stores, Android Pay will also allow you to use your fingerprint scans to authenticate payments.

HBO Now At Play Store

Wanted to watch Game of Thrones live at your Android smartphones? HBO Now, the streaming only HBO service, is on its way to Play Store and you can view the shows of your choice live at your smartphones.

Till now, HBO Now was exclusively available for iOS devices.

Project Brillo

Google wants to automate your home too. With Project Brillo, Google allows you to automate your door locks, light switches and security cameras.

What’s even better that these devices can communicate with each other using their own language Weave.

Previously, such internet of things have been created and failed, including one by Google itself, but the new project seems to be promising.

Virtual Reality

Google is fast planning to make virtual reality more accessible and it has announced three new developments in the arena including a bigger and improved Google Cardboard SDK for newer, bigger smartphones; Expeditions VR software to allow teachers to take students to virtual field trips; and, Jump, a camera rig system to allow users to create virtual reality videos in 360 degrees.

Google I/O 2015 ended with a note from VP Pichai stating how Google aims to solve daily problems by putting technology to use and shedding light over Google’s upcoming projects including Google Self-Driving Cars and Project Loon.

FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar Under Attack: Artists Turn Sponsors’ Logo into Sadvertising

By

Ghazala Sulaiman

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May 29, 2015

A string of bad luck has hit the international governing body of football, FIFA.

Seemingly, the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have landed FIFA in hot waters as allegations have begun to rise that the country has bought the rights for hosting the tournament.

Also, the U.S Department of Justice has arrested 14 former and current FIFA officials in charges of corruption and fraud in upcoming tournaments of 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.

As if this was not enough, FIFA’s mighty kingdom have now started to wobble even badly, with the death of 1400 migrant workers in the construction of the site due to the deadly working conditions and harsh weather.

Meanwhile, the world has crashed down for the Nepalese laborers who are not even being permitted to visit the funerals of their families in the home country, after the devastating earthquake that shook the Himalayan kingdom.

These dire reports are provoking activists and soccer fans worldwide to mock and target the brand bandwagon, sponsoring the FIFA World Cup.

A group of designers have unleashed “anti-logos” for brands that are supporting FIFA despite the ongoing controversies on the ArtPeople Facebook page.

Re-imagined as Abusers of Human Rights, the logos have been appallingly twisted into gruesome designs to shame the rich, corporate houses backing FIFA.

Check out the shocking images below:

(image courtesy: ArtPeople Facebook page)

1. McDonald’s

2. Coca-Cola

3. Adidas

4. Visa

5. Budweiser

6. Sony

7. Hyundi

8. Kia

The magnificent game seems not so magnificent anymore for the sponsoring brands. Will this global outrage change things for the FIFA World Cup 2022?

Share your views in the comments below.

How to Access Internet.org for 17 Free Websites?

By

Bismah Ahmed

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May 29, 2015

UPDATE:

Mark Zuckerberg’s announces the availability of internet.org through his own Facebook account:

Internet.org is now live in Pakistan for people on the Telenor Pakistan network!Before today, only ~15% of Pakistan’s…

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, May 28, 2015

Here’s another photo from Pakistan after our launch of Internet.org, bringing us one more step closer to connecting the…

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, May 28, 2015

Facebook’s internet.org application is now available in Pakistan, thanks to a partnership between Facebook & Telenor Pakistan.

This initiative of Facebook allows companies and others alike to sign up for internet.org which allows access for free to their websites on Telenor’s network.

Pakistan will become the seventh country to have internet.org, with Facebook’s aim to spread the project to 100 countries by the year end.

Sources reveal that other telecom operators in Pakistan may also join the new project.

Here is the list of websites that can be accessed on the application:

Pakistani Services

1.IlmKiDuniya

2.Mustakbil

3.OLX

4.Telenor News / Mobile Portal

5.Urdu Point Cooking

International Services

6.Facebook

7.Facebook Messenger

8.Malaria No More

9.BBC Urdu / BBC News

10.AccuWeather

11.Baby Center & MAMA

12.BBC News English

13.Microsoft Bing

14.ESPN Cricinfo

15.Facts for Life

16.Girl Effect

17.Wikipedia

How to Access These Websites?

Telenor postpaid & prepaid users in all cities of Pakistan can download and access the internet.org application on their smartphones from the application store. Users will then be presented a list of websites they can access for free.

You can also access the internet.org website from your cell phones. Any usage with-in internet.org website (or the app) will be free.

Both 3G and 2G users can access internet.org for free, and there is no need to subscribe or activate anything. You can start browsing internet.org for free, right away!

Oculus Rift & HTC Vive: Virtual Reality to Rule The Future of Video Games

By

Ahsan Mirza

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May 29, 2015

How cool would it be if you could explore the prehistoric world of the dinosaurs just before breakfast, and swim to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to see the remains of the legendary Titanic a few hours later?

Imagine walking about on the moon and experience the gigantic craters in their full mighty, then shrinking down to the size of an atom and exploring the digestive system of a human body.

Obviously, there would be nothing cooler than getting INTO your favorite video games and exploring the world that has always been just this tiny bit far away from your reach. It would all be a dream come true, right?

Gladly, with the introduction of the ‘virtual reality (VR)’ technology, that dream is now practically a reality!

In the modern technology era, some of the greatest rivalries have come out of the video game industry – with Nintendo’s Mario Bros. up against Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog, Microsoft’s Xbox against Sony’s Playstation, Nintendo Wii against the Xbox Kinect, just to name a few.

A great battle for leadership is now ensuing in the video game industry between corporations generally unheard of, over the virtual reality technology, a technology very few have experienced.

People might remember VR as being exclusive-to-science-fiction movies like Tron, The Lawnmower Man and famously The Matrix, movies that introduced audiences to unique, simulated, computerized worlds, with the movie characters who visited these worlds, by either being virtually transported into them or by experiencing them using head-mounted goggles and a set of intricate controllers, learned that they could influence and change their surroundings, just like a computer-coded program.

During 2014, almost every major technology corporation either announced or hinted at plans to dive into the increasingly booming market for VR, which has introduced goggle-wearing users to experience different three-dimensional worlds.

Facebook bought of VR headset maker Oculus for $2billion in March 2014, Google introduced its own ‘Cardboard VR’ headset for Android smartphones, while Apple also filed for a patent for VR technology, and was awarded the same soon after.

Facebook’s Oculus and HTC’s Valve are poised to battle it out in the latest rivalry of the video game technology world, as they both look to target the gamer audience who plans on using VR on their gaming consoles, a $7billion market that promises to offer collaborations with video game makers and software developers alike.

Either that or like loyal followers of Xbox and the PS series, the following of VR headsets could also split two ways.

Oculus Rift:

The ‘Oculus Rift’ was created in 2012 by Palmer Luckey, who built a next-generation headset constructed using modern electronic parts, including a smartphone’s screen embedded on a pair of Oculus goggles.

He demonstrated how VR can enable users to see the world from the eyes of a tiny animal scampering through a rainforest or from the perspective of a monster stomping through a city, according to CNet News. The Oculus was later bought by Facebook in March, 2014.

By September, Oculus announced a deal with Samsung to offer an Android compatible version of the VR, called Gear VR, which will be released later this year. The Oculus had some restrictions, as it uses a camera to sense a player’s position within a limited space. This, however, is not the case with Valve’s VR Technology.

HTC Vive:

Valve, in collaboration with HTC, created a technology that lets players easily maneuver through an entire room or live space. Walls are covered with symbols, in the real world, that are then interpreted by a VR headset – a headset called ‘Vive’.

Upon the wearing of the headset, a living room could well become a dungeon, where players walk from wall to wall and look at details in the video game world.

Last year, Valve and HTC quietly invited twenty game developers to enjoy and explore the same video game experience. Needless to say, they were both thrilled and terrified!

This war between two giants of the technology world, game developers are struggling to decide whose device to build games for as both Valve and Oculus use different technologies. The war is heating up, and it calls for exciting times for video game enthusiasts from across the globe. The future, as canny as it may sound, is finally here!

Book Review: Amy Poehler Memoir? Yes Please!

By

Web Desk

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May 28, 2015

Autobiographies are by nature selfish. It is where authors have free reign to divulge all they want in their one sided argument and to hide whatever they don’t want the world to see. They have the privilege to say the right things and show themselves in the best light.

This is where Amy Poehler’s book was a shocker; to start off she shares her wonderful thoughts on writing and the challenge that writing the book was for her. She details the events of her life from infancy to today and what is most striking is the brutal honesty she carried out throughout the course of the book.

When you read ‘Yes Please’ you aren’t struck by the level of panache that went into writing it, nor are you blown away by the great underlying themes of her sentences calling to you to delve further into the personality she has cultivated all these years. What you are struck by is the sheer simplicity in the manner that she addresses the reader.

‘Yes Please’ is a memoir discussed among friends over a cup of coffee, or over the phone. ‘Yes Please’ is a conversation and an honest outpour of all that makes Amy, Amy.

Before we even begin the book itself, the unabashed preface takes you off into a direction where you find that someone millions of miles away from you feels just as vulnerable when penning down her thoughts. She describes the exhaustion and physical toll that writing a book has on you and piles on the humor along with it.

But don’t be misled. Yes Please isn’t a book about comedy. It is littered with humor because it is the very essence of the author but it is strictly not a book about comedy, but it is also shy of an autobiography.When writing she even overlooks her divorce because she didn’t want to share the details. If you’re going to read the book to understand more about Amy Poehler’s life, then you might feel shortchanged.

What Amy’s Book is – a catharsis. It seems as if she has purged her soul and left it within pages to be distributed to the world so that others may learn from it.

If you wanted an older wiser sister who would guide you through minuscule problems of your life, this would be it. She talks about friendships and love and pain and wraps them up so brilliantly within her writing that you can’t help but like her.

Likability, however, isn’t something that creates authors.With all the redeeming aspects of the book and the conversation that she carries with the reader until the very end, it is easy to begin to think of the book as much more than it is. And so we return to our very first point, Memoirs are in fact selfish but ‘Yes Please’ harnesses that in splendid and often deceptive ways.

Contributed by Mahnoor Nadir

We Observe Shari’ah in Our Advertising, Designs & Cuts: Group BM, Junaid Jamshed

By

Ghazala Sulaiman

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May 28, 2015

From parachutes to ships, umbrellas to kites, veggies to trees; the world seems to be a canvas for the popular clothing brand Junaid Jamshed.

Fond of nautical themes and aesthetically draping objects with their patterns of summer lawn, the Soully East brand has developed an exclusive persona with its object-based marketing strategy.

Come to think of it, J. has never employed a female face sprawled on the billboards across the landscapes of Pakistani cities, to tout their exotic and eastern lawn collection.

While lawn is no less than a mighty star-studded business and brands cannot get enough of Kareena, Karisma and Katrina to appear in their designs, J. seems to shy away from using anything more than a mannequin in its campaigns.

Ever wondered why? In an interview with Aurora Magazine, Haider Khan, the group Brand Manager of Junaid Jamshed revealed J.’s vision to be a Shari’ah compliant brand.

“We don’t use see through fabric or make sleeveless tops, short trousers or pants. We have a very basic ideology, as in, we only stock those items which our mothers and sisters can wear”, explains Haider.

This does not come as much of a surprise, with the brand belonging to the pop-star turned preacher, Junaid Jamshed, who always seems eager to keep Islamic zeal alive, not just on television but also in his fashion house.

“We are classy. We are modest, but not conservative. We are hip and fun. We consider ourselves a family brand that caters for every occasion”, tells Khan.

Advertising the “Halal way”, J.’s latest campaign made a splash in the market with its lawn-ified vintage cars.

According to Haider Khan, “When you see vintage cars, you inevitably say ‘wow!’ The concept was to depict class with class. Many people questioned what was eastern about a car, and that too a ‘western’ vintage car. But the only western object we showed was a foreign car and there is nothing non-Shari’ah about an American car.”

Ironically, the critics could not help mocking the strategy. They slammed it as hypocritical for Junaid Jamshed who does not appreciate women behind wheels but did not hesitate to use cars for selling his lawn brand to the ladies.

Just a few months back, J.J got himself caught in the clutches of a controversy for the blasphemy case against a wife of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). While he apologized to the public for his offensive remarks, he was bashed on television and social media alike. The ex-singer has not returned on mass media yet, but the setback has not stopped his brand from growing by leaps and bounds.

“We are always the first to launch a new collection; we launch at least a week before the other main lawn manufacturers. We also bring out collections throughout the year; we have about five collections, with the biggest one bringing in over 200 designs,” discloses Haider Khan.

Nevertheless, all praises for the J. brand with its aversion for objectifying women!

We hope they never run out of objects to decorate with their Soully East fabrics.

Aamir Liaquat to Host Ramazan Shareef Transmission on Geo

By

Web Desk

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May 28, 2015

With the holy month of Ramadan just a few weeks away, televangelist Aamir Liaquat Hussain has announced his plans to host Ramazan Transmission 2015 on Geo, titled, Ramazan Shareef.

The religious scholar and morning show host is one of the most watched TV personalities. Known for his round the clock transmission and in-depth religious knowledge, Hussain’s name has been linked to a number of media controversies in the past.

Often called the trendsetter for Ramazan transmissions in Pakistan, Aamir Liaquat hosted last year’s broadcast from Express Entertainment. Although successful, the transmission was outperformed by ARY’s smartly orchestrated transmission that included the duo Junaid Jamshed and Waseem Badami in sahoor and iftaar time, followed by Fahad Mustafa’s widely popular game show, Jeeto Pakistan.

However, after an ill-fated controversy, it is highly improbable that Junaid Jamshed will return to ARY or any other channel as for that matter, hence giving Liaquat a wide berth to score high on the rating charts for Geo once again.

No official announcement has been made for this year’s Ramazan Shareef transmission but we can safely predict an extravagant set, cooking segment, game show segment and myriads of brand endorsements for this year’s Ramadan.

Stay tuned to know more about Ramazan Shareef’s schedule and registration process.

Pakistani Cricket Captains are ‘Paindu’ – Shoaib Akhtar

By

Ahsan Mirza

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May 28, 2015

Legendary fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar is based in India these days and has been appearing as an expert and critique in cricket shows for the Indian Premier League.

Known for his fearsome short-temper, and no holds barred views, the former Pakistani pacer turned commentator, in an interview with Indian commentator, Harsha Bhogle, bizarrely labeled Pakistani players as being ‘paindu’, who have no knowledge about the game.

Speaking to the popular Indian commentator, Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan’s Rawalpindi Express, said that the Pakistani cricket captains are extremely selfish, as they do not play the game with a vision in mind and in turn, are mere headaches for the Pakistani nation.

Controversially enough, he added that the Pakistani team lacks in unity and the fate of their games has always been settled behind the scenes, in the dressing room, where match-fixers decide whether the team would win their games or lose them.

Watch the video below:

Shoaib Akhter’s Controversial Interview to Harsha Bhogle.#FHK

Posted by Green Team on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

He reminded the host about the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final, where India comprehensively beat Pakistan in one of the most bizarre chases for the Pakistani batsmen.

Akhtar says that the World Cup of 2011 was served to India in a plate, and that he got into a verbal fight with the captain, Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis, who instructed to chain the fast bowler’s aggression, and forced him to not play his natural game.

A legend of the game, and arguably the fastest bowler the world has ever seen, Shoaib Akhtar is known to make accusations on the Pakistani team, while his career has been tainted with some fairly controversial moments, including several on-field instances of poor attitude, and one particular case of ball tampering in 2003 in a series versus Sri Lanka.

World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’s List – Forbes

By

Yusra Hassan

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May 28, 2015

The Forbes listed ranking of the World’s Most Powerful Women has been announced and the list has been topped by the German Chancellor, Angela Markel for the fifth year in a row. The number two on the list being Hilary Clinton, Presidential Candidate, and Number 3 being the philanthropist and famous wife of Bill Gates, Melinda Gates.

The Women in this list are marked and ranked around eight specified categories which include technology, politics, business, finance, media, entertainment, philanthropy and billionaires. They are also ranked by the metrics which include money, media, impact and spheres of influence.

Other people in the list include Queen Elizabeth who has ranked at number 41, Ellen DeGeneres who has ranked at 50, and Angelina Jolie for her incredible vocal advocation for human rights, as well as her contribution for the refugees.

Arianna Huffington is also a part of the list for her Pulitzer prize-winning publishing house called the Huffington Post.

There are also notable woman from entertainment including Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Shakira and Sofia Vergara who have made the cut. Taylor Swift being the youngest, top-earning music professional is also a part of the list at number 64.

The concept of “Power” is nebulous and it is not certain that the most powerful women happen to be the most influential at the same time, but pioneers in the media, politics and philanthropy field have certainly been able to create a significant impact on society and led the ages as opinion makers and breakers.

Imran Abbas’ Jaanisaar BTS Shots Revealed

By

Bismah Ahmed

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May 28, 2015

Imran Abbas’ second Bollywood flick ‘Jaanisaar’ is up and filming. Seems our golden boy is doing well in B-Land even after his major flop sci-fi thriller Creature 3D.

‘Jaanisaar’ is an upcoming 2015 Bollywood drama film directed by Muzaffar Ali and produced by Meera Ali. It marks the comeback of director Muzaffar Ali, who is known for his cult film ‘Umrao Jaan’ (1981).

The film is a period drama set in the year 1877 which depicts the story of a revolutionary dancer.

View the BTS shots below:

Victorian style meets Lucknowi couture Filmmaker Muzzafar Ali had styled Rekha’s turn as a courtesan in his 1981 hit…

Posted by JAANISAAR A film by Muzaffar Ali on Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Diversity rings true in the cast which includes Pernia Qureshi as Noor, Muzaffar Ali as Meer Sahab, Dalip Tahil as Raja Iqbal, Carl Wharton as Cavendish, Beena Kak as Mushtari, Natalie Arikan as Kitty, Benjamin Coakley as Robert and Luv Bhargav as Raja Alipur.

The soundtrack for the movie includes notable Indian and Pakistani artists such as Shreya Ghoshal, Abida Parveen and Sukhwinder Singh.

7Up Goes Further on Food Theme With 7UP – Asal Foodies TVC

By

Yusra Hassan

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May 28, 2015

7Up’S Newest Mana Lo Food Ka Love With 7Up TVC is out now, with the same food-celebratory tone coupled with the catchy track.

Conceptualized by the Advertising Agency BBDBO, 7UP, as a brand has been following up on the foodie lovers theme for quite a while now.

Take a look at the Ad:

7UP – Asal Foodies TVC 2015

7UP – Asal Foodies TVC 2015Agency: BBDO

Posted by Advertistan on Monday, 25 May 2015

On digital and social media platforms, 7Up has been promoting itself with brand endorsements of ZaidAliT, a hugely popular youth icon who is famed for creating viral and relatable Facebook videos. Food brings people together like nothing else, eating together is the ultimate way of forgoing other conflicts. This is why the food lovers’ theme is being camped for by 7Up who are popularizing the brand with the “Asal Foodies” concept. Let’s see how far it goes.

Sony Xperia Z3 Plus Flagship Smartphone Launched Globally

By

Rida Sadiq

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May 28, 2015

Sony’s latest flagship smartphone Xperia Z4, launched last month in Japan, quietly went global as Xperia Z3 Plus this week.

Like HTC, Sony has stuck with most of its old specifications for its new smartphone. The Xperia Z3 Plus is simply a revamped version of the previous Z3, with only a single, granted major, external upgrade.

Coined the evolution to the Z3 family by Sony, Xperia Z3 Plus has a waterproof flapless microUSB port unlike the previous one which required a flap to protect it from water ingress.

Apart from this major upgrade, the water and dust resistant Xperia Z3+ is pretty much similar to its predecessor. The specifications for the new Xperia Z3 Plus are as follows:

Screen: 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920p resolution and 424 ppi, LCD screen and a scratch-resistant glass
Operating System: Android 5.0 Lollipop
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Central Processing Unit: Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex A57 and Quad core 1.5 GHz Cortex A53
Graphics Processing Unit: Adreno 430
Rear Camera: 20.7 MP with Exmor RS sensor and a 25mm-equivalent f2.0 lens; 5248 x 3936 pixels with autofocus and LED flash
Front Camera: 5 MP, 1080p at 30fps and a wide-angle 25mm glass with Superior Auto and SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode
Internal Storage: 32 GB with a MicroSD slot for up to 128 GB
RAM: 3 GB
Battery: Non-removable Li-on battery with 2,930 mAh capacity
Dimensions: 146 x 72 x 6.9 mm
Weight: 144 gms
Color Variants: Black, White, Copper and Aqua Green with an aluminum body

According to unconfirmed reports, a dual SIM variant will also be available soon.

There are no details of the pricing and exact release date available; however, Sony has confirmed a June release worldwide for Xperia Z3 Plus alongside the new Xperia Z4 tablet.