Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Unpacked Event Live Streaming

At a time when Apple is hellbent to outscore Samsung and its smartphones, Samsung has products that even otherwise outscore Apple' s monotonous smartphones. In fact it is the popularity of Samsung that haunts Apple and Apple thus makes it every endeavour to tarnish the name and sale of Samsung products that are like the world over.



And now Samsung is all set to launch its Galaxy Note 2, the 5.5" screen smartphone, or Phablet, or something hybrid or whatever, with much fanfare across the globe, Wednesday tonight.

The unveiling ofthe Samsssng Galaxy Note 2 Unpacked event i takng plavce at Berlin, Germany this evening.

In Pakistan, the launch ceremony can be viewed at 11:00 PM local time, while for the rest of the world, the timings are as under:
  • Los Angeles: 10:00am PST (GMT-8)
  • Denver: 11:00am MST (GMT-7)
  • Chicago: 12:00pm CST (GMT-6)
  • New York: 1:00pm EST (GMT-5)
  • London/England: 6:00pm (GMT)
  • Berlin/Western Europe: 7:00pm (GMT+1)
  • Philippines/Hong Kong/Malaysia: 2:ooam August 30th (GMT+8)
  • Tokyo: 3:00am August 30th (GMT+9)
So brace yourself tonight for the launch ceremnoy and watch the event at the official Samsung site at the Facebook at the link given below.


If you are one of the fans located at different destination and miss the chance to visit the stadium to watch your favorite team, You can now watch the match live on your laptop or desktop computer, FREE, provided you have an internet connection, from the links given below:

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Machine Gunning RC Planes at Big Sandy Range

Flying RC planes is fun - but firing at RC planes is real fun. Although, for armature hobbyists, it means lot of ammo being sprayed on to the flying machine, the experts just fire a few bullets to shoot down a RC plane.

I came across a video of enthusiasts and hobbyists firing to shoot down the rc airplane and thought of sharing those who have similar interests and may have even participated in such adventures.

The video below was filmed in October, 2010 Big Sandy MG Shoot near Wikieup, Arizona. As reported, in all 1500 reactive targets and 38 planes were used in the live firing exercise and obviously, the airplanes didn't stand a chance as everyone's Triple A capabilities were awesome. One can see none of the airplanes making it through more than 6 passes with most of them getting shot down in 2 or 3.

To the end of the video, the night flying coverage is really impressive with tracers lighting up the range. As reported, 200 rounds a second going up at the planes when they presented themselves. 

Watch the video below:


Video Courtesy: YouTube /  

Friday, August 17, 2012

Nvidia launches GeForce GTX 660 Ti desktop graphics card

While all the attention is paid to the extreme high end when it comes to graphics cards -- and which is the fastest card ever -- not as many gamers are willing to pay $500 or more for those boards. So it may not be as exciting when the new high-end technologies trickle down to the mid range -- that is, unless you're in the market for one of those cards.
A case in point is the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti, which is built using the same GK104 GPU (a.k.a Kepler) that powers the blazing - and pricey - GeForce GTX 680, but will cost around $299 instead of $499. 
Obviously, you won't get the same performance, but if you're upgrading from an older card, the benefits will be readily apparent. You will get 1,344 CUDA cores, 2GB of video memory, a 192-bit memory bus, and a base clock speed of 915MHz. Those specs are for any reference card, though customized and overclocked cards from Nvidia's manufacturing partners are available.
Read more: ZD Net

Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Dust Bashing

We oftern see cross country car racing in African deserts over pure sand on TV. These racing cars leave clouds of dust which add to the thrill and excitement of watching such events.

But if you can create the same effect is a dusty patch of ground just near your house? Yes I mean YOU not Micheal Schumacher or other renowned racers.

If you have a RC gadget like HTI, you may create the similar effects as created in the following video. If these video was shot in an area with no background, it would looked a real racing car, as comparison from background makes it look like a model car.

Watch the dust bashing HTI:



The RC car used in above video is the HPI Trophy 3.5 running simply awesome on 3.5cc engine and now 30% nitro. This place is just dust and due to the dry weather is extra dusty lately, that has assisted in creating the near-actual effects.

This is Part 1 - Stay tuned for Part 2, as and when uploaded by  

Video courtesy:   / YouTube

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Trek to Concordia and Gondogoro la




Trekking is one of he most adopted and liked hobby around the world. From short treks on neighboring hills to distant trekking in the wilderness of mountain ranges, trekkers of all ages and sexes are seen with their backpacks dotting the trekking tails and mountain passes.

Pakistan,s north provides an excellent opportunity for serious trekking hobbyists to undertake trekking adventures in the mighty Karakoram, Hindu Kush and the Himalayan mountain ranges.

I am sharing a trekking expedition undertaken by young trekkers of Pakistan, who beside their professional obligation, find time to quench the thirst of their trekking hobby and move out in the mountain ranges with some of the highest mountains in the world overlooking their adventures.

The expedition undertaken from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Concordia - the gateway to four Eight Thousanders of the world, including K-2, the second highest after Everest at 8611 M, has been covered based on the photographs taken by my Flickr friend Dr Shahid during their trekking adventure to Concordia and Gondogoro la.

While professional mountaineers begin their upward journey from the base camp of K-2, located about three hours hike from Concordia - a place on the confluence of the Baltoro Glacier and the Godwin-Austen Glacier, in the heart of the Karakoram range of Pakistan, trekkers normally stop at Concordia from where the massive pyramid of K-2 is fully visible, cherish the memories of the place and come back. Concordia also provides an access to four Eight Thousanders located in Pakistan.

Dr Shahid resting on the famous Baltoro Glacier
Dr Shahid, besides being a doctor is an avid trekker and photographer. He hails Burewala, a city in the Vehari district of Southern Punjab province of Pakistan. His passion for mountains and trekking takes him from otherwise generally hot plains of Punjab to freezing colds and snow capped mountains and glaciers of mountain ranges in the northern Pakistan.

This post of mine today is about the trekking expedition of Dr Shahid and his friends including Asif Saeed, to Concordia - a place where one is so close to the nature and next to K-2. The expedition was undertaken in July 2012 and the the photographs below, taken by Dr Shahid are chronologically arranged from the begging to the end of the expedition to Concordia and beyond. I have used a few of his large collection of photos from Flickr and added a running commentary about the places that came en route. 

Since there are approximately fifty photographs, it may time for slow internet connections to open immediately. Therefore such users may scroll down slowly to enjoy the run down.



The group of young trekkers gets together at Rawalpindi Pir Wadhai bus stand to embark upon a journey that would take them through some of the most beautiful, awe inspiring and treacherous treks to Concordia - the famous base camp from experienced mountaineers commence another difficult journey to scale the unscalable K-2.



Here seen standing at the Rawalpindi Pir Wadhai bus stop is Dr Shahid to begin his trekking expedition to Concordia and Gondogoro la.


Once when one embarks upon trekking, then many stars hotels are replaced by roadside driver hotels. But the food served here is so delicious that one remembers the taste for a long time. This shot was taken at one such at Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Dr Shahid has a cup of tea, made of Doodh Patti (that is Doodh - Milk and Patti - Tea Leaves and lot of sugar with no water). When this tea is made on burning wood, its aroma gets mixed into the tea and enhances its taste manifold - a cup of tea that has no parallel in the world.


Road to Shigar - the home of K2

The bus travel from Islamabad is almost 24 hours long journey and the NATCO buses take the trekkers to Skardu - the last point where buses can reach. From here on, jeeps are hired till the village of Askole, which is the last road head. Thereafter its trekking - hard trekking to Concordia.



On the way, one passes through the small town of Shigar and the Shigar River, Braldu River, carrying gushing waters of the Biafo and the Baltoro Glaciers of the Karakoram through Sakora Pass.
Shigar River
Braldu River and the Karakorams
Sakora Pass
Reaching Askole from Skardu can sometimes be hazardous and challenging as rains may cause streams to swell making it difficult for jeeps to negotiate. In that case one has to disembark from the jeeps and walk up to Askole - feeling the post Askole village trek before hand.
Askole Camping Site
Dr at the Askole Camping Site, getting ready to kick off the trekking expedition to Concordia

Askole Village is the gateway to Karakoram Mountain Range and its many glaciers, specially the Baltoro Glacier. Askole, located about 96 kilometers from Skardu, is Pakistan's highest, 3050 metres, and most remote village, the last human settlement before trek up to Baltoro Glacier to Concordia and highest peak and longest glaciers (outside polar region) on earth. 

Askole village is the starting point of the trek to Baltoro Glacier, Biafo Glacier, Chogtai Glacier. The Climbing and trekking expedition stay here for a night and arrange porters. Askole village is gateway to K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrums,Muztagh Towers, Uli Biaho Tower, Paiyu Peak, Baintha Brakk and Latok Peaks, and many more. Camp site is available at Askole village.

Expeditions to the following peaks are launched from Askole:
The trek to Concordia starts just after the Askole village- from now on the trekkers are on their feet
Rivers of Biafo and Baltoro Glaciers - Braldu River
Teste: The last village on trek to K-2

Teste after Askole is the last inhabited place one would come across. From hereon it is all wilderness, dusty tracks with distant mountains with their snow clad tops watching the trekkers as they move on. These dust tracks have supported thousands of trekkers and mountaineers going up to and beyond Concordia for the ultimate objective of scaling K-2.
Korophone Campsite

After Teste, the trekker and mountaineers have to rely on a number of campsites that come en route with scanty facilities. Therefore one has to be well stocked and extra luggage carried by porters on men and donkeys. Without these porters and donkeys, no trekking or mountaineering expedition is possible. The porters, the men of the soil are sturdy, strong and simple people who support the expeditions for a very paltry amount, barely sufficient the reward of their portering facilities and the support to expeditions.
The wilderness of the Baltoro trek
Crossing over Jhula - the hanging bridge
The Jhula Campsite (above and below)

The trekking gets difficult at points and one mus keep one's balance firmly over dusty track with jagged rocks
The magnificent view of the Lady Finger mountain peak
Paiju Campsite
The trek from Jhula Campsite continues along the Braldu River to Paiju Campsite located at 3,480 M, a green Oasis under the shadows of Paiju Peak 6,611 M.

From top to bottom: The Karakoram, Ulli Bhaio and the Paiju Peaks
The Heart Lake
The Heart Lake is a beautiful heart shaped lake. Although in the photographs, taken from a height it looks small, but if you compare the porters sitting on the left bank, one can guess how big is the lake.
Resting on the Baltoro Glacier
This is not Mars - but the Baltoro wilderness and desert
Khurbutse camp site 12,870 feet): Making Pakoray, resting and charging batteries through solar panels
Porters and their donkeys - the lifeline of trekkers and mountaineering expeditions
Sunset (above) and sunrise (below) over Paiju Peak
Lilligo peak
The name Lilligo may sound absurd and rather meaningless. But there is a local story that supports the name. Whether the story is true or otherwise, but it gives some'insight' into on possible explanation - and may be convincing.



The local story is that an expedition was heading to Concordia when one of their members, Lilli, fot altitude sickness and could not go on. She decided to head back with a porter and at this spot lost her balance and fell into a crevasse. The porter ran back to the expedition and in his limited english said "Lilli go" to tell them she had fallen off, and from then on that spot is called Lilligo. I am not sure if this is true but it causes endless laughter among the porters when it is told (the story is quoted by Ashiq Iqbal).
The Broad Peak -  12th highest of the world at 8,047m and the Five Eight Thousanders of Pakistan
The massive Trango Tower
Urdokas Campsite
From Khurbutse, the next campsite is Urdokas, passing through crevasses and Lilligo Peak. The camp is located at 4,130 M.


Pakoray at Urdokas campsite
Baltoro Glacier as seen from Urdokas
First site of Masherbrum
Masherbrum (also known as K1) is located in the Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan. At 7,821 metres (25,659 ft) it is the 22nd highest mountain in the world and the 9th highest in Pakistan. It was the first scaled and mapped peak in the Karakoram mountain range, hence its name.


The meaning of the name "Masherbrum" is not entirely clear. It may come from mashadar (muzzle-loading gun) plus brum (mountain), from the resemblance of the double summit to an old muzzle-loader. It may also come from masha (queen or lady), giving "queen of peaks." Other meanings have also been suggested.
The massive Masherbrum Peak
Baltoro Glacier with Gasherbrum IV and the Broad Peak in the back ground
Cerac on Baltoro Glacier
Biango Glacier - the old route to China
Baltoro Glacier with Masherbrum in the background
Climbing the Baltoro Glacier
Goro II Campsite
Baltoro Glacier takes the trekkers to the last campsite of Goro at an altitude of 4,500M, before reaching Concordia. En route, one comes across the Yermanandu Glacier which flows down from Masherbrum and joins the Baltoro. Besides one has magnificent views of Muztagh, Mitre and Gasherbrum IV.
Goro Campsite: Resting, praying Jumma prayers and washing

After Goro, there are no campsites, but one comes across Pakistan Army posts. The army personnel re extremely hospitable to trekkers and expeditions and offer whatever they can. One may rest for a while on 'sofas' made of empty jerrycans with cushions placed over.


Massive Karakoram and the Baltoro Glacier
Nearing Concordia
Pakistan Army post
Pol-e-Siraat: Glacier crossing over bamboos
From Goro campsite, there is a long walk on the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia - junction of three glaciers: Baltoro, Abruzzi & Godwin Austin Glaciers. Concordia is located at an altitude of 4720 M. While approaching Concordia, one gets to see the first glimpse of massive K-2 pyramid like peak appearing from behind the mountains.
The first glimpse of K-2: What a sight and what a relief for the trekkers, trekking almost 13-14 days now
Finally Concordia - the base camp of K-2
Concordia - from now on only experienced  mountaineers dare to go forward and scale K-2
A room with a view: K-2 as seen from inside the tent
Keeping Concordia clean (above) - Dr Shahid bandaging an injured porter (below)
Kangri summits. India and Siachin glacier on the other sides of these mountains
Full view of K-2 from Concordia
Posing with K-2
Dr Shahid posing with two K-2s: The real K-2 in the background, and pack of K-2 Cigarettes in his hand
A dream fulfilled: The trekking that started almost two weeks earlier reaches its logical conclusion: Concordia and K-2 what a day in one's life

From Concordia, another 4-5 hours trek leads to the base of the K-2. Form here on, it is another world for mountaineers to scale K-2. While for the trekkers, one has two options: Walk back on the same footsteps one came or choose another trek through 
Vigne glacier and reach Ali Camp. Choosing the Vigne glacier is normally the preferred option as it is fairly easy then walking on the stony trek one came on. 


Vigne Glacier crossing to Ali Camp at 5,000M

From Ali Camp, one has to cross the  Gondogoro la to reach Khuspang. From here,  one goes to Dalsangpa. The trek from here goes along the path down hill to the summer settlement called Shaicho, a large shepherds settlement. This would be a welcome relief as coming back to pepole and facilities like a a hotel and mountaineering equipment shop. 

Shaicho is located among forests of juniper, cedar and willow trees with giant bushes of wild roses. From Shaicho,  the trek along Hushey River takes trekkers to Hushey village whre one finally listens to the roars of jeeps and engines once again, last heard at Askole, that take the trekkers back to Skardu.

Thus the trek to Concordia comes to an end - a lifetime dream comes true and everyone goes back to life with lot of stories and memories to share with others. And also cherish the meories for the rest of one's life of a memorable trek.







Reference: 
Photos of Concordia Trekking Expedition Courtesy Dr Shahid / Flickr
Wikipedia | Askole | Masherbrum |

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