surprisingly looks at Fashion face-off

Alia Bhatt breaks Rule 1 set by Fashion Police. She was seen wearing a Sonakshi Raaj creation at the Filmfare Nominations bash. We had seen starlet Isha Sharvani wear the same number at Golden Petals Awards.

 

Isha Sharvani and Alia Bhatt surprisingly struck an almost similar pose for the shutterbugs.

Non-filmy siblings of Bollywood stars

1. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda
Shweta Bachchan is Abhishek Bachchan's big sis and is known well enough despite never coming in front of the camera. She is married to industrialist Nikhil Nanda and has two kids. She has made two appearances on 'Koffee With Karan' with her mother and father respectively.

 

2. Riddhima Kapoor-Sahni
She is the older sister of Bollywood's current lover-boy Ranbir Kapoor. Blessed with hereditary good looks Riddhima is well known in the social circuit. She married Delhi based Bharat Sahni in 2006 andgave birth to a baby girl just this year.

 

3. Vijayeta Basu
Bipasha Bashu's li'l sister looks no less than a star despite being far-off from the Bollywood frat. She is currently pursuing higher education in Bristol. However, we wouldn't be surprised if we see see her joining Bollywood after seeing her sister's success.

 

4. Meghna Oberoi
Vivek Oberoi's younger sister like the others has no connection whatsoever with films. We're glad she does not have a knack for creating controversies like her brother does. She married a Mumbai based businessman in the year 2008.

 

5. Priya Dut  

Priya Dutt is one sibling who has created her own identity over time and never relied on her brother for fame or recognition. Sanjay Dutt's younger sister, who is married to entepreneur Owen Roncon, has strived to keep her father's legacy alive by being active in politics and indulging in charity.  6. Arpita Khan 

It is a known fact that Salman Khan totally adores his baby sister. She was adopted years ago by his parents and accepted by the family with grace. Today she is seen very often doing the rounds in the party circuit with different Bollywood stars. 7. Rajeev Sen 

Sushmita Sen's brother Rajeev Sen is quite a catch when it comes to good looks and personality. Even Sushmita herself is of the view that her brother is indeed a very handsome fellow and we don't disagree Sush. We only wonder what has kept him away from the silver till now.  8. Kangana Ranaut's 

younger sister looks quite different as compared to her and that might be attributed to the absence of the trademark curls that Kangana flaunts in Rangoli. Reportedly, Rangoli faced an acid attack in 2006. She however, has moved past the incident with a great deal of support from Kangana and recently wed businessman Ajay Chandel.

Meet B’wood’s evergreen bikini babes

Zeenat Aman is credited for bringing the bold, rebellious and sexy avatar of actress on the big screen. She never shied away from flaunting her assets.

 

The dimpled beauty Sharmila Tagore was probably the first Indian actress to don a bikini in mainstream cinema. The bikini-clad Sharmila in 'An Evening in Paris' shocked audiences throughout the nation.

 

Mandakini became a nationwide sensation, thanks to her bold scenes in 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili Ho Gayi'.

 

Dimple Kapadia took Bollywood by storm by her debut in ‘Bobby’. The newcomer didn’t shy away from wearing revealing clothes and even sharing a lip-lock with Rishi Kapoor.

 

Yes, way back in 1951, Nargis set the screen on fire in 'Awara'. The passion and sensuality of Nargis, and her chemistry with Raj Kapoor was too hot to handle.

 

Mumtaz took a bold step of breaking her on-screen image by donning a bikini for Feroz Khan's 'Apradh'. Although it shocked the audience, yet the audience loved the bold avatar of Mumtaz.

 

Sarika had a great figure, and she never shied away from flaunting her assets. She wore bikini in some movies, much to the delight of the audiences.

Multimillion-dollar garage for sale (oh, with a penthouse too)

We've published moats, slides, magnificently deranged man caves and real-life spy lairs.

But we're pretty sure this is the first garage so extravagant that the owner's asking price frankly values the auto space more than the living space. Almost twice as much as the home itself, in fact.

We first spotted the headline from our partners at Curbed: "Sky-High Apartment Comes With a Subterranean Ferrari Garage." Although the 2,537-square-foot Chicago condo is listed at $3.4 million (including garage), turns out you can buy the garage alone.
For a cool $2.1 million.
So really, it's more like "Subterranean Ferrari garage comes with sky-high apartment" -- which is almost exactly how the listing agent bills it on her agency's website. ("In addition to the spectacular garage, the property comes with a 2,537-square-foot penthouse condominium.")
What kind of a garage is this? Well you might ask! According to its standalone listing on Yahoo! Homes, "12 garage spaces have been thoughtfully converted to a luxury showroom and entertaining space for the most discriminating buyer. With separate heat, AC, air handling & security, this 2,714-square-foot space is a collector's dream come true."
It's owned by vintage-car collector and racer Michael Leventhal, who told Crain's Chicago Business in 2005:
"The building was developed by a friend, and I was able to accumulate 14 spaces. We enclosed 12 of them and built my fantasy garage. It's so special I go there and have coffee in the morning. At the end of the day, when I'm all beat up, Kathy and I have a glass of wine there. We have parties there."

The photos are regrettably low-resolution, but they give you a sense of the Ferrari-red opulence of it all; click on any of them to go to the listing for more photos:We'll update with higher-res photos if we get them.

First Lady Michelle Obama Chooses Thom Browne Dress Inspired by Necktie for Inaugural Event

Michelle Obama is known for launching women's fashion trends worldwide, but it was a menswear that served as inspiration for the first lady during Monday's daytime Inaugural events.

The first lady's custom navy jacquard Thom Browne coat and dress chosen to kick of the festivities in Washington took its cue from the fabric of a silk men's tie, reports the Associated Press. Neckties, of course, are a trademark of her husband's first term.

"It's one of those moments when I just can't believe that happened," Browne told the New York Times' Eric Wilson. Known primarily for his suits, Browne was named GQ's Designer of the Year in the fall 2008, the same year as Obama's historical election to the presidency.

Michelle Obama's new haircut makes bangs trend official

The first lady has been a fan of Browne's dress collections in recent months. She wore a custom gray dress with a black lace overlay in October, during the Democratic National Convention.

The decision to wear Browne was  win for Michelle on Monday, according fashion critics.

@FLOTUS SO CHIC in her #ThomBrowne navy coat," Elle's Joe Zee tweeted.

"The overwhelming response within the fashion community is that she looks fantastic," Fashionista's Leah Chernikoff tells Yahoo! Shine. "Everyone is thrilled she chose such a high fashion designer for today."

Browne can't take all the credit. Mrs. O also called on her own famously high-low fashion sensibilities, pairing her navy coat with an embellished waist belt and port-colored leather gloves from J. Crew.
 

The first family is Inaugural-chic.
The First Lady has made the mass market brand an unofficial designer for the first family over the past four years. Colorful J.Crew coats and gloves kept Sasha and Malia Obama warm during their dad's swearing-in ceremony in 2009.
On Monday, Malia kept the tradition going, dressed in a purple J.Crew wool coat. Her sister Sasha broke the trend with a lavender Kate Spade coat and dress.

But in the days leading up to the inaugural events, all eyes have been on the first lady, a fashion icon who launched the career of young American designer Jason Wu four years ago at the Inaugural Ball. Speculation on her choice of designer this evening remains. But already another sartorial choice is making headlines. At Sunday's private swearing-in ceremony, Mrs. O chose a royal blue cardigan and dress by designer Reed Krakoff. Krakoff also took credit for the winter-weather black suede boots Michelle changed into for Monday's outdoor Inauguration ceremony. (Those silver J. Crew heels she was wearing earlier Monday morning must not have been warm enough!)

Michelle Obama in Reed Krakoff at Sunday's private swearing-in

Fashionista's Chernikoff called the decision to wear Krakoff on Sunday "an interesting choice given that Ann Romney was criticized during the campaign for wearing Krakoff's $990 silk bird-print t-shirt."

Of course, her dresses are trumped by an even bigger style decision in recent days: those bangs.

On Sunday, President Obama called the first lady's new haircut "the most significant event of this weekend." And if there was any question, he offered his presidential seal of approval: "I love her bangs."

Creative converted homes

This is the third-annual collection of residences that were created from buildings that formerly served other purposes. The visionaries who dreamed up and created these homes started off with disused and neglected buildings and transformed them into unusual habitations designed for modern lifestyles. Go to CNBC.com to see the homes that aren't listed here:

Some categories of buildings are favorites when it comes to adaptive reuse. Other homes in this collection were made from unexpected structures. Whatever their starting points, the resulting examples of adaptive reuse range from simple and minimal or rustic to contemporary.

Location: United Kingdom
Locals call it Tracy Island, for its resemblance to the island base in the 1960s TV series "Thunderbirds," according to an article in This is Kent, but the Lime Works is a 1930s modernist former water-softening treatment plant owned by an antiques shop owner and his partner. This far-out facility shut down in 1942, and in the 1960s the water board planted poplars to hide it as it was considered an eyesore, reports the Sunday Times.
The owners bought the derelict plant in 2005 and began transforming it into a spacious residence with four floors of living space connected by spiral staircases (with the master suite taking up the whole fourth floor), floor-to-ceiling windows, a movie theater and gym, two kitchens, a rooftop swimming pool and another roof terrace, and hilltop views of the surrounding countryside. When the pair was 90 percent finished with the transformation, they decided The Lime Works was too big, and it's listed it with Savills for approximately $4,756,000, down from the January 2012 asking price of approximately $6,046,000.

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Hospital
Location: Jersey City, N.J.
The 14-acre Jersey City Medical Center originated in 1882 as Charity Hospital, with other buildings added during the Great Depression as a WPA project, but the complex closed down in 1988.
In recent years, the 10 landmark Art Deco buildings have been undergoing transformation into The Beacon apartment complex, including the restoration of marble flooring, chandeliers, plaster and other decorative features. The suite formerly serving as the mayor's office is now a poker room; a theater is used for events and parties, and many other amenities for residents have been added, such as a sun deck with barbecues and a fire pit, an indoor pool and spa and a daycare facility.
 
Barn
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
In 2001, the Seattle architecture and design firm SHED completed the transformation of this former barn and adjacent garage structure into a modern yet rustic home that's also a guest house and work space. Many sustainable and recycled materials were incorporated, such as the salvaged cedar of the original barn siding for the interior walls, and salvaged wood beams for countertops and benches. A salvaged clawfoot bathtub and other plumbing fixtures were reused.

Church
Location: Bondi, Sydney, Australia
This landmark church in Mill Hill near Sydney's center was reconfigured into two luxury apartments by Baker Kavanagh architects. Rather than just redesigning the interior of the church as many church conversions do, the architects added two contrasting contemporary terraces as well as a pool in illuminated blue. It also retains traditional church elements of pointed arch stained glass windows and vaulted beamed ceilings.
 

Industrial Silo
Location: Loegten, Denmark
As the website for the architectural firm C.F. Moeller points out, disused industrial water towers rise from the center of many small towns in Denmark. This residential conversion is one way to address that concern. Starting in 2004 and completed in 2010, C.F. Moeller in collaboration with Christian Carlsen Arkitektfirma transformed this tower into approximately 33,368 square feet of residential space plus 16,145 square feet for mixed use. That includes 21 apartments that were added to the central silo "a bit like Lego bricks," all of which have views of Aarhus Bay. The silo itself contains the elevators and staircases, and its roof is now a shared roof terrace for the resident.

World's happiest countries

Norway tops the list of happiest countries in the world

What does happiness mean to you? At its core it consists of being healthy, having enough food to feed yourself and your family and enough to money to do what you want and buy what you want. For most people that entails a nice home, decent clothes, a car or two, cable TV, good times with family and friends.
Furthermore, happiness means being able to speak what's on your mind without fear, to worship the God of your choosing, and to feel safe and secure in your own home.

The World's Happiest Countries:
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Ireland

Happiness means having opportunity – to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What's more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?
With this in mind, six years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because "happy" carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it "prosperity."
The objective of the institute's work (which is part of billionaire Christopher Chandler's Dubai-based Legatum Group) was to figure out what it is that makes happy countries happy – so that the less fortunate corners of the globe might have a benchmark to work toward.
The resulting Legatum Prosperity Index is based on a study of 142 countries comprising 96% of global population. Nations are analyzed and ranked on 89 indicators in eight categories, such as education, government and economics. The inputs for the index are both objective and subjective. It's not enough to just look at per capita GDP or unemployment rates. It also matters how hard people think it is to find jobs, or how convinced they are that hard work can bring success.
The core conceit: Prosperity is complex; achieving it relies on a confluence of factors that build on each other in a virtual circle.
So who are the happiest people in the world, as measured by Legatum? Norway takes the crown, followed by Denmark and Sweden (which leapfrogged Australia and New Zealand this year). Rounding out the Scandinavians is Finland, just a few steps behind in the seventh spot.
Luxembourg is the healthiest nation on Earth. Iceland is the safest. Switzerland has the world’s best economy and governance, according to Legatum.
What’s Norway got that the rest of the world doesn’t? For one thing, a stunning per capita GDP of $57,000 a year. Norwegians have the second-highest level of satisfaction with their standards of living: Ninety-five percent say they are satisfied with the freedom to choose the direction of their lives; an unparalleled 74% say other people can be trusted. It sure doesn’t hurt that the massive Norwegian welfare state is bankrolled by high taxes and big reserves of offshore oil and gas.
Indeed, most of the top 20 "happiest" countries according to the index are in western Europe. So what gives? What do these nations have in common that can somehow explain their prosperity?
Being an electoral democracy is virtually a given – of the top 20 most prosperous countries, only Singapore and Hong Kong aren't democracies. Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it harder for a society to build social cohesion and trust.
What else? They are all borderline socialist states, with generous welfare benefits and lots of redistribution of wealth. Yet they don't let that socialism cross the line into autocracy. Civil liberties are abundant (consider decriminalized drugs and prostitution in the Netherlands). There are few restrictions on the flow of capital or of labor.
So where does the United States rank? It's at 12th place this year, slipping from 10th. According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

Best new tech for your home

The idea of the "connected home" is taking off in a big way, and this year we see even more smart appliances on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). These promising new appliances hope to save you time and money, and help make your life a little bit easier.
Wireless Blender
We saw a bunch of interesting small appliances at this year’s show. Possibly the coolest: Haier was showing off a wireless kitchen countertop blender. This futuristic gadget uses coupling technology to remotely receive energy via a transmitter, so you don’t have to crowd your counter with unsightly wires whether making a smoothie or just leaving the blender on the counter for display. It's only available in Asia for now, but we hope to see this appliance stateside someday soon.
Portable Fridge

Whirlpool's FreshConnect cooling system may be just a concept right now, but we love the idea of portable micro-refrigeration. The setup consists of totable, battery-powered units that can change temperature and humidity settings on the fly (and be customized to contents, like meats, fruits, or frozen foods).
If one is placed outside the front door, it could hold grocery deliveries until you get home. In the house, a compartment could allow you to keep snacks cold in the family room or drinks in the dining room. Whirlpool suggests this could even be a great way to create ideal conditions for growing plants. We're excited to see what other great applications this system could have in the future.

DIY Home Monitoring
It's easier than ever to set up your own home surveillance system as web-enabled cameras and arrays become less expensive, easier to install, and more feature-rich. ClearView's IPPTZ-87 camera records in high definition for clear streaming video and features two-way audio capabilities (for chats with loved ones while you're on the road). You can set it up with a motion sensor if you don't want ongoing video and monitor your home via the web or Clearview's app for iPhone, iPad, Android, or Windows Phone. The camera will be available in the first quarter of 2013 and retail for $399.
Wirelessly Controlled Lighting

Up to 25 percent of the energy used in your home can be consumed by lighting, according to GreenWave; their new Energy Star certified LED bulbs are one easy solution to cut those costs through smart management. These lights come with Internet connectivity built in to connect seamlessly with your phone, laptop, and even your TV (if it has Web capabilities). Using GreenWave's app, you can merely turn the lights in your home on and off, or program them to adapt to outdoor light levels, motion sensors, or even adjust the color of the lighting based on the time of day.
The bulbs were announced in late 2012 and are available in Europe now (with a U.S. release soon to follow).
Smarter Washing Machine

 

Ever wish your washer could fix itself? You're in luck! LG has expanded its Smart ThinQ product line to include its latest line of washing machines. The new models are equipped with LG's Smart Diagnosis, which will alert you to technical issues and allow you to run diagnostics on the appliance without a technician present.
The new washers are also outfitted with a handy Smart Adapt technology, so you can "download" new wash cycles as your laundry needs change (like a "Baby Sanitize" cycle for a new little one in the house). And with Smart Access you can turn your machine off remotely (though not on, for safety reasons). The new units are smart grid-ready as well, to help you save money.
Plant Communicator

Take the guesswork out of watering with Moneual's Smart Communicator Plant Care SC3000. This monitor plugs right into the soil and keeps tabs on moisture and sunlight levels, and the plant's general health. You can hook it up to social media (Just think, a tree that tweets!) and it will alert you via the device's display screen or text message if your plant needs a little TLC.
Touchscreen Deadbolt

Keypad locks are nothing new, but Schlage's Touchscreen Deadbolt takes the technology to the next level. The touchscreen in this lock is capable of storing up to 30 custom codes that can be tailored to specific times and days of the week or set to expire. The unit's built-in alarm technology will alert homeowners if someone tries to tamper with the lock or force the door to open, and users can lock and unlock the door remotely with Schlage's app or via Nexia's smart home hub. The deadbolt will be available mid-January for $199-$299.
Flexible Refrigerator

It never seems like you can have enough fridge or freezer space when company's coming over. Samsung is hoping to make hosting a little easier with the 32 cu. ft.-capacity T9000 four-door refrigerator. This model is a French-door refrigerator on top, with dual compartments on the bottom — a freezer, and a flexible section that can be used for fresh food storage or as additional freezer space.
The fridge is also outfitted with a display for apps and recipes. Expect to see this premium model in stores in spring 2013, retailing for $3,999.
Home Healthcare

Whether it's watching your own vitals or keeping tabs on a loved one, the ability to monitor your healthcare without having to see doctor can be a real time (and worry) saver. Bosch’s Health Buddy allows care providers to keep track of the most crucial patient statistics remotely via user-friendly device and simple-to-navigate desktop application. The health management programs cover a range of range of conditions from chronic illnesses to post-discharge recovery and pair health education and position reinforcement with symptom review and vital-sign monitoring. Information can be transmitted to care providers multiple times a day.
Connected Home Hub

Smart appliances are less helpful when you have to have a different app for every device in your house. Companies like Nexia are looking to fill that need with a single hub to manage all of your home tech. Nexia's system lets you integrate a broad range of compatible devices using their straightforward online and mobile dashboard as a home command center. Right now, the smart home system covers services ranging from door locks and video surveillance to heating and cooling systems and lighting, and Nexia is continuing to bring on more partners.

Starter kits are available now and subscriptions begin at $8.99 per month.

Why it’s time to upgrade your wireless router

Chances are you set up a wireless network in your home for a single task, such as enabling a laptop to access the Internet without having to use a cable.

Over the years, numerous other devices have entered the scene that can use your home’s Wi-Fi network -- HDTVs for streaming movies and accessing the Internet, printers, tablets, video game systems, ebook readers, media players and more.

Can your network handle this increased demand?

If it’s been a few years since you installed a wireless router, the answer is probably no. The latest routers feature 802.11n technology (compared to the older 802.11g/b), which offers faster speeds -- especially ideal for streaming video and playing multiplayer games.

Some models also have multiple antennae, sometimes referred to as dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz speeds), to better handle a number of wireless devices at the same time.

These new 802.11n routers offer a broader range, easier setup and better security. Speaking of security, remember to password-protect your wireless network (see below).

The good news is you don’t need to break the bank to pick up a new wireless router, as prices start at about $15 for an 802.11n model capable of streaming up to 150 megabits per second. Wireless routers than can handle up to 300 Mbps speeds start at about $35 and routers with speeds up to 450 Mbps typically start at $70 and go up to $150.

To recap, there are five good reasons to consider the upgrade:

1. Faster speeds: Newer routers can handle streaming high-def video, multiplayer games.
2. Broader distance: Access the Internet anywhere in your home or on a porch or backyard deck.
3. Support for more wireless devices: Connect a couple dozen devices without fear of noticeable slowdown.
4. Better security: Newer routers offer more secure ways to safeguard your network and information.
5. Simpler setup: The latest routers are easier to setup, offering interview-like questions for users to click through.

Stop your neighbors from stealing your Wi-Fi

On a relate note, while routers are getting easier to set up than ever before, you should still ensure you're taking precautions to prevent other people from using your wireless network without your consent.

Not only does this slow down your connection, but if uninvited guests download illegal content you’re liable unless proven otherwise, plus it also puts your own data at an increased risk. And if you have a monthly data cap, your neighbors might be prematurely pushing you towards your limit.

What to do?

When setting up your wireless network, you’ll typically get a choice to secure your connection with WEP, WPA or WPA2.

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is the oldest wireless security protocol out of the three, and it has the most known security flaws. Using WEP is better than no protection at all, of course, but inferior to WPA and WPA2.

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) was introduced after WEP and combines two different security protocols to create a more resilient alternative to WEP. But it didn’t take long for hackers to find and exploit weaknesses inherent with WPA.

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2) adds another layer of technology called Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to secure the connection against unwanted outsiders. Couple this with creating a strong password and this is the most secure wireless protocol to go with.

Apple reportedly prepping 4.8-inch iPhone for June debut

Among the less believable Apple (AAPL) rumors that have emerged from the Far East in recent weeks is a report suggesting Apple is preparing to launch a “phablet” this summer to compete with large-screened Android smartphones. China Times issued the claims on Monday, suggesting that a third new iPhone handset will launch in 2013 aside from the “iPhone 5S” and Apple’s new cheaper iPhone. The publication called this upcoming device the “iPhone Math,” and said it may launch in June with a 4.8-inch display. China Times added that the iPhone 5S will debut ahead of the holidays with a 12-megapixel camera, while the new less-expensive iPhone model and the new iPhone phablet will launch this summer.

7 Apps You Don't Want To Miss

Temple Run 2

Imangi Studios released the sequel to its popular endless-runner game Temple Run this week, aptly named Temple Run 2. Currently available only for iOS devices, the game is addictive as ever, sporting updated graphics and new characters and obstacles.

[More from Mashable: Your AIDS Awareness Tweet Can Appear on a Times Square Billboard]
It can be tough to keep up with all the new apps released every week. But you're in luck -- we take care of that for you, creating a roundup each weekend of our favorite new and updated apps.
This week an addictive mobile game released a sequel, and a popular musical artist became the hero in another.
[More from Mashable: How to End the iPhone vs. Android Debate]
One airline released an app that's bound to make your next flight much more interesting, and another company unveiled a newsreader app that will make keeping up with things that are important to you even easier.
Take a look at the gallery above for a look at this week's app highlights.
Still looking for more? Check out our top apps from 2012 for more great apps worth a look. Think we left a great new app off the list? Let us know about your own app highlights from this week in the comments below.
Photo courtesy iStockphoto, scanrail.
This story originally published on Mashable here.

Rumored Xbox 720 specs: 8-core processor, 8GB of RAM, 800MHz GPU

Console gamers frustrated that their Xbox isn’t holding up well compared to high-end gaming PCs can relax a bit, because it looks like the next-generation Xbox is going to be a monster. It seems that website VGleaks has gotten ahold of leaked specifications for the Xbox 720, which it says will include an 8-core 1.6GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, an 800MHz graphics processor, a 50GB 6x Blu-ray Disc drive, and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The leaked specifications are in line with previous rumors that also gave the next-generation Xbox an 8-core processor and 8GB of RAM, so there’s nothing overly surprising about VGleaks‘ report. The Xbox 720 will likely be announced at the E3 gaming convention this June and will be released in the fall.

[More from BGR: BlackBerry 10 OS walkthrough, BlackBerry Z10 pricing]

Shakira shows off her baby bump

Singer Shakira, who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Gerard Pique, has launched an online baby shower and is asking fans to honour their child by supporting UNICEF in giving underprivileged babies around the globe a healthy start in life.

 

The singer is UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and requesting fans to buy gifts for some of the world's poorest babies. Contactmusic.com reports that the couple posted the invitation on Twitter Wednesday.

 

"Dear Friends, Having our first baby is such an incredibly happy time for us. That's why we want to invite you to our baby shower with a twist. Rather than asking you to give gifts to our new baby, we're asking you to honour him by supporting UNICEF in giving underprivileged babies around the globe a healthy start in life. It would really mean a lot to us," the couple said in a joint statement on Twitter.

The virtual baby shower, launched on Jan 15, invites fans into Shakira and Gerard's virtual living room. "You can choose an Inspired Gift from our registry - to give the gift of immunizations so more babies grow up healthy and disease free, rehydration salts to save children's lives and therapeutic food so babies will get enough to eat," the couple wrote.

 

Shakira, 35, has been dating Pique for around two years and praised him saying, "This man is the best thing that could have happened in my life. And now the baby."

 

She only confirmed their relationship last year by posting a picture of them together on Twitter and Facebook with a caption reading, "I present to you my sunshine".

 

Colombian pop star and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ambassador, Shakira, walks with her boyfriend, Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique, after her joint news conference with Israel's president Shimon Peres (not seen) at the 3rd annual Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem June 21, 2011.