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After discussing the various camera types available in India, lets focus on the features and what exactly the different jargon associated with them means. Most of us are ignorant of many features and aspects that we should be looking for in a digicam and usually get swayed by flashy ads and sleek models displayed in the media. Initially, lets cover the ones which matter the most to us here in India.

Resolution: Trying to find your way through the Mega Maze of Mega Pixels..! Well, don’t get swayed by those 8 MP, 10 MP figures. Resolution is important because it tells you how large an image you’ll be able to print. A 8 MP camera will allow you to print a 16×20-inch image – would you ever need to print an image that size (probably most of us don’t have a printer that can do it, either). A 5 MP camera will do fine for most users - it will allow you to print an 8×10-inch photo with all details still intact. And then if you’re only shooting photos to post on Orkut(Facebook, Bigadda etc) or just email them to your friends, images shot with a large resolution result in huge image files, not of much use. For that 2-3 MP resolution’s just fine. Also, whats more important is the size of the sensor rather than number of pixels. Usual size for standard digicams is 1/2.5 - 1/2.7 inches. About 5 MP is kind of optimum pixels that is placed on a chip that goes with sensors of this size. Manufacturers have placed upto about 8 MP on the same chip. How do they pack so many pixels on the same size chip? They interpolate. Interpolation can increase the resolution to interpolate and use a 5 MP chip to produce a 10 MP image. The quality will be not be as good as if the picture was taken with a true 10 MP chip. So, just figure out what you need the digital camera for before going blindly on MP count figure.

Zoom:Many first time buyers are fooled by ads/salespersons about phenomenal zoom levels possible in a particular digicam brand. There are two types of zooms you’ll see referenced on a digital camera: optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom is the maximum amount of zoom the lens supports at its highest resolution. This means that if a camera has a 4X optical zoom, you can zoom in to 4 times the image size and still have a high-quality picture. Digital Zoom, on the other hand, is just going deeper into a photograph and will always lead to pixellations and a lot more noise. The effect of Digital Zoom is same as zooming in a picture in your PC/laptop. My advice? Simply, ignore the digital zoom, and look for a digital camera with an optical zoom based upon how you’d actually use it. Unless you want to shoot wildlife(in that case you would need at least 10x to 12x), your usual day to day photography would be well handled by a 3x zoom which is available on most digital cameras.

Battery Life: This may be the last thing that people check while buying a digicam. However, it will save you much in costs and frustration if you factor it in before buying one. Most cameras now boast of a 2.5 or even 3 inch LCD screen which eats up the battery in no time. There are two kinds used by most digicams available here. Standard AA-size batteries and Rechargeable batteries made by the manufacturer, also known as a proprietary battery. So, here’s the cache, initially rechargeable lan party pokertexas holdem poker online spielenomaha high low pokerinternet poker spielenpoker nicht onlinegratis poker ohne downloadonline poker usaonline poker browserpoker spielen berlinmindest einsatzseven card stud spielenpoker net kostenlosbwin poker bonus codetexas holdem spielanleitungstrip poker kostenlos spielentexas holdem poker downloadcasino club poker bonusparty poker einzahlungs bonusplay poker onlinewww poker spielen deonline poker ohne anmeldenpoker texas holdem flushwo kann man poker spielenlive poker,live poker turniere,poker live turnier spielenpoker jetzt spielen3c texas holdem pokertexas holdem pcregeln für texas holdemgratis online poker ohne anmeldungonline 7 card stud spieleonline poker turnieretexas holdem online gratis,texas holdem online,texas holdem poker onlineonline poker kostenfreitexas holdem handygratis poker texas holdpoker regeln all ininternet spielebanktexas holdem poker turniertexas holdem poker trickspoker freerollkostenlos poker spielen ohne anmeldungpoker gratis guthabenbest online pokerpoker 10 bonuspoker bonus whoringplay 7 card stud onlinepoker pc spiel downloadpoker ohne geldbonus für pokertexas holdem poker rules lithium-ion batteries appear much more energy-efficient and cost-effective, but you’d need to wait for them to get recharged before you can shoot anymore, unless you keep one spare. Your friend may have a Sony and you a Canon, but neither of you can exchange your batteries to use in another’s camera. Standard alkaline batteries (AA size) on the other hand can be found at almost any place and you can buy a pair (or two) without burning a hole in your pocket and even if they run out.

Have you made the switch to a digital camera from the traditional film camera, already? or you’re the last person in your lane/office that still uses a film camera? Do you get embarrassed when your friends on Orkut ask you to upload your pictures/email them? Many here in India still prefer film cameras because of their familiarity, affordability and top image quality. A look at the prices on TolMol for digital cameras would assure you that digicams are in your budget range now. Couple with it the advantages digital cameras offer, such as the ability to preview instantly and digitized images, you may be ready to make the leap to digital.
However, with so many models from various brands(approx 300 on TolMol at last count) to choose from and so many features/specs to consider, selecting the best one for your needs might appear like a herculean task. We at TolMol understand this and have tried to explain the types and features of digital cameras in this guide which would be a series of articles on this blog. Once you know what it all means, you can choose the best one for yourself.

First up, lets see the different types of digital cameras available in India currently. You can find one based upon your personality type!

• Ultra Compact:

This camera is for you if you like to take a camera along everywhere you go, to parties, shopping malls and even small outings. It can fit into your pocket and generally has a good build quality with metal body. Of course it comes at a price that’s a little extra compared to ones which have same features but are a bit bigger.

• Compact:

This is most popular amongst all digicam types. Its compact, lightweight and easiest to use. Great for point-and-shoot photo-taking, it offers plenty of scene modes. Some have semi-automatic and manual controls. Right from capturing those languid moments of life to taking pictures of your family and friends, it finds its use on all occasions.

• Mid-Range:

You are a back packer who hitch hikes at the word go. In your camera you expect high quality lenses and advanced features for creative control. You need mega telephoto zooms lenses or wide
angle lenses. Image Stabilization is one feature you can’t do without. Well, if you want so much, then go for this camera type.

• Digital SLR:

If you’re a professional photographer or a photography enthusiast who understands how to use ISO, aperture and shutter speed to your advantage, you need something which is top-of-the-line. A Digital Single Lens Reflex camera has outstanding optics to produce high resolution images. It also comes with interchangeable lenses – if you’re shooting a very specific project, you can change out the lens on a digital SLR to get a better shot and sophisticated accessories. It can function automatically though it also has a full range of manual controls. You would surely be able to capture just what you need with a digital SLR. The only thing that might hold you from going for this one might be its price, though the price is dropping for entry-level digital SLRs.

Hope, this has helps in identifying the digicam type. In the next part, we would cover the various features of digital cameras. Stay tuned!

Its that time of the year again when Car manufacturers offer huge discounts on cars. This might be an attempt to push up car sales during a period when automobile sales normally drop between 15% and 20% because of expectations of an excise duty cut. General Motors India has gone to the extent of offering a refund to consumers in the likelihood of an excise cut in the budget.
Another factor has been consistently high interest rates for the past couple of years on back of RBI’s efforts to suck out liquidity. This has forced car companies to resort to offering discounts to keep sales buoyant. Maruti, India’s biggest manufacturer has discount schemes running on most popular models like the M800, Esteem, Zen Estilo and WagonR.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers expects a reduction in excise duty from 24% to 16% in this budget and hopes that it will eventually make cars cheaper. So those of you who are postponing your car purchase until April may not be too excited about the current discounts on offer.
This is perhaps UPA’s last budget before the General Elections and experts expect this to be a populist one. However, nobody knows what the Finance Minister has up his sleeve or rather in the briefcase!

Valentines Day in India is being celebrated with such pomp and glory these days that it has become the second biggest money spinner after Diwali for many retailers. Valentine’s Day is certainly among the top four festivities in India now. According to the Retailers’ Association of India (RAI), the total spent on Valentine’s Day gifts last year was about Rs 12 billion ($270 million). According to Gibson Vedamani, CEO of RAI, the marketing and merchandising power of romance has grown exponentially over the last few years. “Valentine’s Day in India has been assuming greater significance with every passing year. In 2007, the occasion accounted for Rs 1,200 crore ($272 million) in product sales.” Jewellery, flowers and chocolates are amongst the various gift items that sell like hot cakes.

With Valentine’s Day round the corner, most of the online stores have come up with special Valentine’s offers. We at TolMol realize the mounting pressure on you to find the perfect gift for your Valentine. Demonstrate the degree of your love, affection and commitment for your loved one with a little help from cupid aka. TolMol Gifts. Through a wide range of options, we have aggregated some unique gifting ideas for you to compare. Select a gift for your Valentine from a lovely bouquet of fragrant flowers, to delicious chocolates to interesting gift hampers to cuddly soft toys and scented candles and woo your Valentine!. Why, you can even flatter your Valentine with personalized gifts and see the smile on her face. So follow your heart and please your Valentine.

You see shopping malls coming up almost everywhere in India these days. Even small towns now boast of mega-malls attracting much awe from people living in bigger cities visiting them occasionally. Not to be left behind, net savvy Indians have emerged as the third biggest credit card users globally for online purchasing, next only to the Turkish and Irish e-shoppers. The facility to research and review a product on the web and the diversity of products available on it is surely a big draw. According to the data released by the “Nielsen Global Online Survey on Internet Shopping Habits”, a staggering 78 per cent of the Indian respondents (those accessing Internet) have used the Internet to make a purchase, while more than 55 per cent of the respondents have made at least one online purchase in the past one month.

The survey further reveals that online shopping has opened up new avenues, especially in the realm of traveling where Internet has made it convenient to book tickets. As many as 73 per cent Indians have purchased airline tickets/reservations in the past three months, this percentage being the highest for any country in Asia Pacific.

As per the survey, other popular items amongst Internet shoppers from India include books (46 per cent), electronic equipment (29 per cent), tours and hotel reservations (24 per cent), videos/DVDs/games (23 per cent), event tickets (23 per cent), clothing/accessories/shoes (21 per cent), and music (20 per cent).

Its the time saving factor that is attracting more and more people to Online shopping in India. Also, be it any product, small or big, expensive or cheap, it’s all available on the internet from numerous websites competing to provide the best deals to attract shoppers on their site. At the end of the day, its the consumer who is the winner of this fierce competitive world of online sales.
We at TolMol strive to help you in making an informed buying decision by bringing all these deals from different websites at one place. So, what are you waiting for, go ahead and get that best deal, without the fear of facing a traffic jam and the huge weekend crowd at the mall!

The cheapest car in the world “Tata Nano”, which caught the imagination of the people during the 9th Auto Expo has achieved a first for a car in India. It has, for the first time, got the entire country talking about a car, instead of cricket or religion or politics. Tata Motors on January 10 had unveiled its much-awaited small car, which has been positioned as an affordable personal mode of transport for the people, who travel on two- wheelers. Mr Ratan Tata has termed the Nano a landmark in the history of transport, likening it to the first powered flight by the Wright brothers and the first lunar landing.

Like pretty much everyone else I know, I had been following the news about the much-awaited launch of the Tata ‘small car,’ and so when I got the opportunity to see it first hand, I couldn’t pass it up. Just before the launch, the photographers and TV crews got into rugby scrum, the usual mutterings turned into a slanging match and the pushing and shoving became a virtual stampede when the ‘People’s Car’ appeared on stage. Once unveiled however, it came as a pleasant surprise! Certainly the combination of decent looks, the Tata brand name and the unprecedented price make for a killer combination. Through the day families streamed in, looking excitedly at the Nano, and discussing when and how they would buy it. Many of them might never have owned a car before, and their excitement at seeing their dream of owning one come true soon was palpable. The very sight of lakhs of people stream in through the day and throng the Tata booth, says something about the sort of impact this “small car” is going to make. Last heard a leading political party was clamouring for “Nano Quota Policy”!

Following are some details on the car, which were presented at the Auto Expo.

• Length: 3.1 metres
• Height: 1.6 metres
• Width: 1.5 metres
• Engine: Rear-wheel drive, 2-cylinder, 623 cc, multi-point fuel-injection petrol engine. Engine is rear mounted.
• Safety: Nano has an all sheet-metal body, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat-belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tyres are tubeless.
• Environment: Tailpipe emission performance exceeds current regulatory requirements, and the Nano has a lower overall pollution level than two-wheelers made in India. It also has a high fuel efficiency (20 km/litre) ensuring low carbon dioxide emissions.

We at TolMol Autos would bring you the complete specifications and on-road price in your city as soon as its available.

You have dreamed long enough of the car you saw at the showroom or the one that zipped past you on the road. Now is the time to buy your own set of wheels! With companies aggressively marketing car loan schemes by offering innovative and tempting offers, organized and institutional car finance seems to have come of age in India. As a result, getting a car loan has never been as easy.
There are various banks as well as many Non Banking Financial Companies(NBFCs) offering car finance schemes. Several of the financiers have tied up with manufacturers to offer competitive finance scheme on the respective manufacturers’ products. It is through tie-ups like these that manufacturers pass discounts to its customers that finally translate into a lower instalment payments. With so many schemes to choose from, you need to be careful to select one that suits you best.

Here are a few popular car loan schemes available in India:

• Margin Money Scheme
• Security Deposit Scheme
• Advanced EMI Scheme
• Hire Purchase Scheme
• Lease Financing Purchase

You have recently bought a car and are looking forward to enjoying long drives in it. Before, you set forth on one, do you have it covered? Under the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act all the vehicles which are plying in public places need to have an insurance policy. Hence, it is obligatory on your part to get your car insured. There are two types of policies available for cars - third party insurance -policy A and comprehensive insurance policy- policy B. Although legal requirement is met by policy A, its recommended to go in for comprehensive insurance policy for your own car.

After the opening up of the Insurance sector in India, there are a plethora of options for getting your car insured. Here’s the list of top ten car insurers both in the public as well as the private sector:

• National Insurance Company Ltd.
• The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
• The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd.
• United India Insurance Co. Ltd.
• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
• ICICI Lombard
• IFFCO-TOKIO
• Reliance General Insurance
• HDFC General Insurance
• Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited

So you consider yourself a novice at cars and have just learnt driving? How about refining your driving skills to gain the necessary confidence. Or you might belong to the tribe that craves for a luxury car but can’t afford to buy a new one. In either scenario a “Used Car” could be an ideal choice. The used car segment in the country had been largely unorganised before Car Manufacturers entered it to offer the necessary choice, convenience and transparency to make an informed buy or sale. Now, of course it has emerged as a big market with Certified Used Cars including warranties and with attractive finance options being available on them.
Still with me and ready for a Used Car! Let me also tell you about a few disadvantages of buying a used car:
Used cars will definitely cost you more to maintain if you compare maintainance costs with a new car. You may have to go for replacement of old tyres, battery, clutch plate etc. Used cars have low reliability and they are susceptible to frequent breakdowns. New cars tend to have advanced and more safety features as compared to old cars.
Well, the advantages outnumber the limitations by a huge margin and if you follow a few tips you can get the best bargain for the Used Car you’re buying.

• You may already have a budget in mind so it would be better to have a general idea of the price at which vehicles of the same age and type are available second hand. There are a few websites where sellers list their cars as well as photographs and detailed descriptions and its the easiest and fastest way to find the car of your dreams (or at least its price!). Also keep in mind that the cost of repairing the model, the safety aspects of this particular model and how much the car will cost to insure. You would also need to be flexible. If you’re set on one model, in a specific color, with a certain mileage or specification you may find it hard to get a bargain as you’re focusing on a narrow market.
• Once you have found the right car for yourself, you could communicate with the seller to find more about that car. It is essential that you get to see all documents related to the history of cars. You need to be sure about two things: First and foremost that its not a stolen car. The car’s Engine No. and the Chassis No. should be verified with that shown in the RC Book. If the car has met with an accident which involved changing the cars chassis, then the RC Book would have a noting of the new chassis no. You should also make sure that the person who is selling the car actually owns it, and is not trying to sell a leased vehicle.
  Next up ensure there are no outstanding liens against the car (for example: an unpaid loan). If there is still an outstanding lien, the car could be repossessed - even if you paid full price to the seller. If it was bought on finance by the seller the following documents would be required for you:
  1. NOC (No Objection Certificate): NOC issued by the finance company. This document ensures that the
  finance company has no claim on the car anymore.
  2. Form 35: A copy of this form duly signed by the financier is also needed.
  Try to also to have an idea of how the car has been used (single hand, daily commuting etc.). Get the car inspected by a car mechanic. In case you are buying it from a dealer, you might not be able to do that. In any case, you can still do some inspection on your own. The following things ought to be kept in mind while inspecting the car.
  * The engine should idle smoothly without surging or sputtering, and accelerate from standstill without bucking or hesitating.
  * Inspect the chassis of the car. The bodyline will give you an indication whether the car has met an accident or not.
  * Look for signs of repainting. Check whether all the body parts are of same colour. Open the trunk, hood and doors. Look for paint specs or over spray-a telltale sign that all or part of the vehicle has been repainted.
  * Check the wheel alignment of cars. Uneven wear and tear of tyres-balding on the sides or in the middle-indicate poor alignment.
  * Check the condition of battery.
  * Check whether all the headlights and indicators are working properly.
  * Check air conditioning for proper operation. Sufficiently heat up the engine to test the efficiency of air conditioner. Check the operations of defroster, heater and fan.
• Next come the Test Drive:
  * Go for a thorough test drive and observe your comfort levels during the ride.
  * Does the steering wheel vibrate?
  * The engine should idle smoothly without clattering or metallic sounds, or sharp hissing, in the engine
  compartment. Normal sound is smooth whirring of belts and fan.
  * Check the condition of clutch plates.
  * Study the responsiveness of the Brakes.
• Now you can negotiate the price. It would obviously depend upon the condition of the vehicle. You would also need to ensure that other paperwork of the vehicle is in order before finalizing the deal as it could affect the actual cost of the vehicle.
  * Taxation Book (Tax Certificate / TC Book): This document shows the status of tax paid. The RTO tax is a once in a lifetime tax and should have been paid by the original owner of the car. If the owner of the car has not paid it, it can add up to double digits in thousands, which you will have to ultimately bear.
  * Insurance: Insist on the insurance papers, as these papers are mandatory for any transfer by the RTO. Premium for Insurance is paid on a regular basis and it is advisable to check the due date. Also, ensure transfer of the insurance papers to your name.
  * Invoice: Do not forget to get the original invoice of the car from the original owner. You can know details like engine no., chassis no., date of delivery, delivery dealer and whether the car was financed or not.
  * PUC Certificate: Every car needs a valid PUC certificate. PUC Certificate is valid for a period of 1 year for all new cars and subsequently a certificate has to obtained every six months.
• Transferring ownership of the Used Car that you’ve bought comes next. The original owner (Transferer) who is selling the car, must inform the RTO with which the car was registered about this transfer, by sending a letter with information about the new owner (Transferee) within a period of 14 days. In case the new owner falls in jurisdiction of another RTO, then the owner has to inform this RTO by sending a similar letter. The following documents have to be submitted to the RTO to effect the transfer of ownership of the car:
  * Form “TCA” - Intimation of transfer by Transferee (Buyer)
  * Form “TCR” - Intimation of transfer by Transferor (Seller)
  * Form No.29 - Notice of transfer of ownership of vehicle. This form is used to notify the RTO ‘transfer of ownership’ of the car and to obtain confirmation from the RTO.
  * Form No.30 - Report of transfer of ownership of vehicle.
  * Valid Insurance policy
  * PUC Certificate
  * Address proof of the Transferee (Buyer)
  * Evidence of payment of all taxes up-to-date.
  * Form No.28 - Application for N.O.C. and grant of certificate. This form is used to apply for NOC from the RTO for transfer of the vehicle to another RTO’s jurisdiction. This is required when you shift the registration of the car from the jurisdiction of one RTO to another RTO.

These are certainly good times to be in India, specially if you’re keen on buying a car. If you’ve been postponing your car purchase up till now, you ought to make a quick decision on the model that you plan to buy. To make buying more attractive, car companies are offering huge discounts this month. Along with the discounts has come the announcement that prices are all set to go north in the New Year with the impending price revision. Decided upon the model and ready to visit the showroom? Hold on for a minute! Whether it’s your first car, or you’re a seasoned buyer, its always good to take some expert advice. Just consider this. Is the car you’ve decide to buy suitable for your needs? It may sound like a simple question - but it is so easy to be distracted by flash or impractical cars when you’re looking for a new car. Here’s a six-step plan that guides you through every aspect of the car-buying experience, showing you how to simplify the process, find key information, and take control of the negotiations with the dealer.

• The first step (and you might have already done it!) is of course finalizing the exact car model you want to buy. I’m emphasizing upon it because you need to prioritize what you really need in a car. Is it space or speed? Looks or practicality? There’s no point buying a roadster if you want to carry your family of 4. Likewise, why buy a big clumsy off-roader if you’re a city dweller? Why consider mileage a top-priority while you don’t travel even 10 kms a day? A petrol car or diesel car? Also don’t fall in love with a particular model! Since you’re spending lakhs of rupees (or more!) becoming infatuated with a single model which blinds you to alternative vehicles that may be better for your needs, is hardly a good idea.
• Next up should be finding out what incentives and rebates are available from the manufacturer on the car model you want to buy. As I have already pointed out, currently there are huge discounts on offer. It may be because automakers usually face a slump in sales during December as customers prefer to buy vehicles in January and improve re-sale value at a later date.
• Now comes the crucial car financing part. With so many financing options to choose from car finance can become complex because of the financing deal between the car dealer and the bank. First decide the amount of vehicle loan you need. Suppose the car costs Rs 8 lakh on the road and if you are ready to make a down payment of Rs 2 lakh, then freeze your loan requirements at Rs 6 lakh. Interest rates that you get also depend on the loan amount. Next ask around for preliminary quotes for the given loan amount for the given car and find out the lowest EMIs that are offered for this loan amount.
• After this you have to negotiate the exact price. For this carry out a survey of different dealers to see if you can get a better price. It is quite possible that some dealers may have a special offer on the model you desire.
• Now visit showroom to take a test drive. It’s important before finalizing the deal to get the feel of the car. Make sure that you are comfortable and satisfied with the car. Check that there is enough leg space, luggage space, steering is not too heavy et al. You should also inspect the car for dents, dings and scratches before taking final delivery
• Finalizing the deal and signing the paperwork: As buyer of the car you need to ensure that all the legal forms should be filled in completely and submitted to the right authorities. You have to register the car with the Regional Transport Office. Following documents are required to be submitted to the RTO:
  * Application for new car registration or Form 20
  * Photocopy of the invoice, insurance policy, ration card or telephone bill as proof of address.
  * Original Sale Certificate or Form No 23, Sales Tax Receipt, Octroi Receipt
  * Pollution Under Control Certificate from the manufacturer or Form No 22
  * Letter from the financier, in case you have taken a loan to purchase a car, addressed to the RTO asking them to endorse their lien on your car registration certificate book or Form No 34
  * Your PAN number
  * Imprint of your car’s Chassis Number