Your cell phone is an extension of your arm !

Cellphones are not just a part of our lives but they control our lives to a large extent now. While everyone may not be tech savvy but there are enough cell savvy people around. And their love for their gadget knows no bounds. Don’t get us wrong, there’s nothing bad in loving your gadget but following some basic etiquette would go a long way in ensuring that your heart to heart chat doesn’t turn you into public nuisance.

WHAT’S PRIVATE ISN’T PUBLIC
* If you are talking to a loved one or a close confidante or discussing important business matters then you wouldn’t like everyone present in the room to be silent listeners. Also, while you may not think so but others may feel awkward if you discuss too many personal details. Excuse yourself and take your call.
* When in the company of others, neither take nor make telephone calls. Nothing is more irksome than being spurned by a friend whose frequent cell phone conversations take precedence over live tete-a-tete.
* Answering an incoming call in an interview or business meeting is a faux-pas that is to be avoided at all costs.

TALK AT THE RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
*Don’t start shouting just because there’s signal problem. It won’t carry your voice through.
* In case the background is noisy and you are at a public place then try and go to a quieter place and then talk.
* Never burst out laughing when the joke is not meant to be shared with everyone. Better you enjoy it alone.
* At an event, keep your mobile silent. Imagine you trying to say something and other person playing the silly ringtone. It is a truth universally acknowledged that cell phones must be switched off in the theatre. There is absolutely no excuse. Offenders shall be tarred and feathered! Obviously, this also applies to the cinema, the symphony and spoken word and performance art. Rock concerts and hip-hop shows are generally considered exempt.

HANDS FREE

* When piloting an automobile, use a hands-free device or resist answering incoming calls. Not only is it dangerous to talk and drive, it is illegal too.
* Chatting on your phone while walking the road may pique pedestrians.
* Having hands free doesn’t mean you have the freedom to talk just about anywhere. Better is to do one thing at a time than be lost in your conversation and ignore what others are saying.

HAVE LENS, WILL SHOOT

* A camera mobile shouldn’t make you trigger happy. Respect the privacy of others. Don’t click pics without their consent.
* Always shut the lens of your camera mobile when not in use. This helps a lot in avoiding problems as there are people who might get offended even if a camera is pointed at them.
*Turn off camera’s flash wherever applicable like at a zoo using a flash light can be distractive.

Hold with Style !

She's forty something and on top of the world. Her world is a fantasy caravan. In her quiet moment, she’s a romantic. In Mumbai, she’s known as the ‘Accessory Queen’. Meet Meera Mahadevia, the stylish designer who creates heirloom masterpieces. But there’s more to her than her work. She’s a woman of all seasons.

Her zardosi batuas are the most-wanted items by some of world’s leading celebrities. Bollywood actress Rekha carries her bags, Parmeshwar Godrej walks in her sandals, Malaika Arora Khan flaunts her broad belts, Kirron Kher matches every sari with her bags. So does Sunita Kapoor, Diana Hayden, Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan. On her India trip, Angelina Jolie bought her bag in Pune. Meera has also held successful exhibitions in Singapore, Dubai and London.

Electronics fashion products is more appealing !

The consumer durables industry is now tapping fashion and aesthetic experts to improve on the designs of electronic products in a bid to make them more appealing to customers.

LG Electronics, for instance, is collaborating with the well-known Italian fashion label Prada for its KE850 phone. LG’s arch rival Samsung, on the other hand, has tied up with fashion designer Giorgio Armani to design a line of luxury consumer electronic products while include mobile phones and a luxury LCD TV.

The company plans to display and sell the new product line in upscale consumer electronics stores and Giorgio Armani’s direct controlled retail network. The tri-brand GSM/GPRS phone will be available in European countries, the Asian region and parts of the US by November.

“We will launch the phone initially in Europe, Russia and some CIS countries,” said a Samsung company executive. The luxury LCD range will be unveiled early next year.

“Samsung has significant technology and design capabilities, but often pursues new partnerships that can bring to market unique and innovative concepts. Giorgio Armani has a strong high-end product brand image, and its product concept for this phone is very well-aligned with our strategy for how its products and brand will evolve in the mobile marketplace,” said a source from Samsung.

Industry experts believe that both Samsung and Giorgio Armani were considering a similar type of collaboration to develop design-led portable and home consumer technology products.

Samsung was one of the first companies to have gradually moved out of the regular mobile phone range and introduce cutting-edge design-led phones in India. Their association with the Italian design firm Pininfarina goes back to the year 2000, when they collaborated on the SGH-N400 model, which was launched in India in March 2001.

It’s not only mobile phones that are taking the luxury route, but even storage devices like USB cables, head phones and kitchen appliances like refrigerator, are now headed the same way.

Dutch giant, Royal Philips Electronics, for instance, has collaborated with Swarosky and launched an entire storage and sound range. The range will be available in India at all Swarosky stores.