For everyone iPod is what a portable music player is. And For many in that group, iPod is the only music player the love, let it be portbale or anything. It’s for them, this cutie, named ‘Vita Audio R4′ is made.It’s simply an iPod dock from Vita Audio, an excellent team of higly skilled engineers and designers from the Great Britain, and are award winners for their Ruark loudspeaker systems. And when a product comes from their hands, there won’t be any compromise in quality or design.

It was revealed on this march12th, as a successor of Vita Audio’s highly successful R1 DAB/FM radio and R2 DAB/FM Stereo. And it’s pretty much one step further from R2. Apart from other usual iPod dock’s this beauty stands out on it’s design. It’s long, and curvy edges will git into any of your rooms quite nicely. Not just rooms; carry it to your office, no one would suspect.

What makes it a better iPod dock?
It’s available in two colour tones. Rich valnut veneer or white piano lacquer. It’s been described as the music player for 21st century. It’s features and specifications won’t make you feel the other way too. It offers 2.1 channel sound, and an 80 watts speaker system adds what lacks in many other small sized iPod docks - Bass (Which is a lover of electronic genre won’t compromise on any situation. And I’m one too). iPod dock is the main feature itself but the device also sports as a Digital Audio Broadcasting radio (which catches digital stations in the UK and pulls RDS data from analog FM channels) and a CD player for your usual audio CDs as wel as mp3 or wma. More expansion comes in the form of a USB port, which wil let you connect any flash drive, and there’s dual aux-in jacks, which makes it compatible with any other audio player. More importantly it supports iPod mini, iPod’s up to 5th generation, also iPhone in the inflight mode. What more could you want ?

Well, the price would make you seriously rethink about buying this beauty. The walnut veneer trim version will sell for $974 and the version with white lacquer will have a price tag of $1071. It will be officially released only in june. So there’s some time to sum up 1000 dollars.

Features

Class leading stereo sound

80 watts nominal power output

Integrated active subwoofer

Slot loading CD player plays CD-Audio, MP3 and WMA music disks

USB port for playback of MP3 and WMA music files

DAB and FM Tuner with RDS

Integrated iPod Dock supports iPod Classic, iPod Nano 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation, iPod Touch, iPod mini, iPod with colour display, iPod 4th, 5th generation. iPod Shuffle and earlier models are supported by front and rear auxiliary inputs

Intuitive docking Vita Audio ‘RotoDial’ provides remote control of R4 and iPod functions

Two auxiliary inputs for MP3 and other audio devices

3D enhanced stereo sound

Information support for MP3 files on CD and USB

Selectable tone settings

Stereo headphone output

Easy to use clock and alarm functions

Available in Rich Walnut veneer or Dream White high gloss lacquer

Dimensions H145 x W450 x D255mm

Weight: 8 Kg

What’s so interesting when people buy cellphones, DvD players, motorcycles and pressure cookers? I’m not talking about old times, but about Cuba under new reign of Raul Castro. Cubans were banned from using electronic goods like Dvd players untill mid March. and Cuban Government finally allowed general consumers to buy electronic goods. Only companies and foreigners were allowed to buy computers also. Bans are lifted off from Cubans using tourist hotels and farmers are allowed to manage unused land for profit.

Raul Castro factor
This probably is one of the best changes from Raul Castro, who said he would remove some limitations on the daily life of Cubans. Even his first public act as president was a little bit of surprise. He met with Vatican’s secretary of state Tarcisio Bertone, a traditional enemy of communism and a critic of Cuba’s record on human rights. By the looks of things Raul, plans to go on with a new course for the communist country. Roul was formerly the head of Cuban military and a tough man who demand results from his managers. He seems to focus entirely on domestic issues where Fidel seeked international limelight.In his first speech itself he made it clear that he would continue to consult Fidel. by announcing and making changes, Raul’s is willing to take Cuba in to a different direction.

What Raul inherits from Fidel is a failed social economy that has never recovered from the collapse of Soviet Union. His plans and changes will make Cuba better, hopefully. First of all he have to revamp the Soviet style of economy (which is a failure in the eyes of most Cubans ), like China who did it successfully. But many believe Raul lacks the charisma to convince people. it’s something only time can tell.

The other side of the story
But we still need a reality check here. Philips and Panasonic DvD players are found between $118 and $162. a computer with an Intel Celeron P4 chip, 512MB of RAM and an 80GB HDD will go for about $865. Leave it... A Chinese made rice maker costs $70. Price is steep, but not that much you think. But When you realize that even an university graduate makes $17 a month, things are not what you and me expected.

Many of the shoppers felt these goods are beyond their salaries but that didn’t stop them from being in a queue outside these shops. Bu anyway these changes made by the new president have stirred a new sense of hope within the nation. Many of them believe there will be a new kind of an economy where they all get paid enough to buy up these electronic goods.

One Cuban at Afterdawn wrote

“90% of Cubans cant buy none of this stuff. This is just another way from the government of keeping us on the dark from technology and everything else . What good is letting u buy this goodies if you don’t have that kind of money, only people receiving money from family in the good old USA can do it, plus they can take that away any time the want. They just buying time to keep oppressing the people. It is a shame to see such a beautiful country and people get treated like little kids with new toys.”

Cubans want much more than electronic goods. One of the best thing that the Government can do is to allow the people to travel outside Cuba without those permission slips. The president himself said Cuba had so many limitations and in a few weeks time most of them will be removed.

As for now, changes hadn’t made much buzz between the ordinary people. It will, when the government looks in to their basic problems and rectifies them.

Let’s start from the beginning of the season. After being the champs last year There was huge pressure on players. Champions are supposed
To regain their title the following year, and that usually gets on to the players. it’s even more harder when your closest rivals claim it’s their title.The first thing Sir Alex Ferguson did was to restrengthen his already well established team. Four players were bought. Carlos Tevez from west ham on a two year long loan, Anderson from Porto for £ 20.4 m, Louis Nani from Sporting Lisbon for £17.3 m; the same club Where Ronaldo came from. And Finally Owen Hargreaves, from Bayern Munich for £16.8. It was a bit unclear - buying 3 mid fielders at once. Nani and Anderson were unproven While Owen Hargreaves players almost in the same role as Carrick. At the same time there were problems in the defence. Gary Neville had been ruled out for a season, picking up an horrific ankle injury against Bolton. Nemanja Vidic was settled in very well in the first season itself. But an injury to him late in the season, proved to be costly as united found their way out of the champions league.

Anyway Hopes were high between the fans. First game of the season - FA Charity Shield match against Chelsea. The regular time and extra time ended with a score of 1-1. Giggs and Malouda, the scorers. Then 3 absolutely beautiful saves from Van Der Sar ousted Chelsea out of it. And United scored their first three to win the match. There were no doubt in the ability of the team. But still there’s a curse that Charity shield winner don;t win the premiership trophy.

The start to the league was United’s worst in years. First a goalless draw to Reading FC and the a 1-1 away at Fratton park against Portsmouth. Fans weren’t please at all. United failed to continue their last season’s form. But the worst was yet to come. With Rooney bring injured in the first game, United visited the City of Manchester Stadium, and came back with a pretty bad result; 0-1 loss to the city rivals.

after winless in the first three games, something special was needed to win the nest game against Tottenham. And that special inspiration was provided by One of the new boys. An amazing long range strike from Nani sealed United’s first win in the league. But United went on 1-0 win streak, Saha scored one against Sunderland in the next game, Vidic scored at Everton, and Ronaldo scored one against Sporting. It was nice winning them all, but United struggled to find their rhythm.Tevez, who had been introduced against Portsmouth, since the injury to Wayne Rooney, hadn’t performed well at all.

Then came a must win game against Chelsea. They came to Old Tarfford with a revenge in their mind, but most importantly, they had lost Jose Mourinho last week. It was the perfect time to get going. The lads took it very well, with Tevez scoring his first goal for united and Saha scored from penalty spot. From their onward it was a roll for the champions. Winning games, scoring 4 goal a a game consecutively, and so on. The new lads were settled in quickly. Nani emerged as superb player within no time, Anderson with game winning performance against the likes of Liverpool (The was he bossed Steven Gerrard in that match at Anfield was very special.)

Ronaldo continued hid goal scoring form to become the record holder of most number of goals from a midfielder. Tevez continued to score important goals in big matches. late goals against Lisbon in the Champions league, Blackburn, Tottenham, and the winner against Liverpool all proved vital. Rooney was a bit of a disappointment in the goal scoring department, but his contribution in the games was pretty good.

But still a few setbacks were there. 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough, 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, lose to Chelsea 2-1. But after all United survived them to win the League. This season can be viewed in context with the 2002-03 season, where United come from back to front, to nick the title from Arsenal’s hands.

And Now they are just one more win away from Glory. it will be decided on may21st at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.