Went to the Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 Launch at BoConcept located in Paragon Shopping Centre.

There are 2 products being launched yesterday, one is the Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 (which is the main highlight) retailing for SGD$2,699 and the other is the Lenovo IdeaPad Y480 retailing for SGD$1,499.

Lenovo describes the IdeaCentre A720 as the industry’s slimmest 27-inch AIO with a frameless display from just 24.5mm, thinner than a typical club sandwich while the IdeaPad Y480 is a high-performance laptop capable of handling intensive multimedia applications. Personally, I would describe the IdeaPad Y480 as the laptop version of IdeaCentre A720 because the specifications are very similar (same processor, RAM, HDD and graphics card).

Lenovo IdeaCentre A720

Lenovo IdeaPad Y480

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Got my very first SSD which is the Kingston HyperX SSD 120GB from Newegg.com thanks to Benjamin’s cousin who is in the US.

The usual price of the SSD (on 3rd February 2012) on Newegg.com is USD$205 (SGD$259), however there is mail-in rebate of USD$50 (SDG$63). After the mail-in rebate, it cost only USD$155 (SGD$195).

I paid an addition SGD$25 for shipping as I am sharing it with Benjamin and this SSD only cost me SGD$220. Sim Lim Square’s Fuwell is selling it for SGD$321 (as of 8th March 2012).

I still can’t find the time to install it on my 4 years old desktop, but it should pro-long the lifespan of it for 1-2 more years before I changed to a Mac!

Kingston HyperX SSD – Box Front

Kingston HyperX SSD – 120GB Front View

Kingston HyperX SSD – 120GB Back View

Kingston HyperX SSD – Connectors

Kingston HyperX SSD – Mounting Bracket

Ubuntu For Android looks interesting. I think more information and a live demo will be unveiled in Mobile World Congress 2012 (MWC) next week.

Ubuntu For Android

What I gathered after reading the official site in the link above is that you can install or rather dual boot Ubuntu into Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and above.

When using it as a mobile phone, you will use your Android phone per normal. However, when you connect the phone to a monitor through HDMI and a keyboard/mouse through USB Host mode, the Ubuntu OS within Android boots and you can use it like a normal PC.

According to the features, when your phone is connected, you can answer calls, reply to SMSes all within the Ubuntu itself without the need to touch your phone.

Of course, having to dual boot two OSes requires high hardware requirements and hence you need to have at least a dual core 1GHz Android phone with at least 512MB of RAM.

Introduction

Ubuntu for Android provides a full desktop experience, including office software, web browsing, email and media applications, on Android phones docked to a screen and keyboard. Thanks to tight integration with the Android service layer, the transition between the two environments is seamless, making it easy to access the phone’s services from the desktop when docked.

Technical specifications

Ubuntu for Android requires minimal custom hardware enablement, allowing fast and cost-efficient core integration. It requires a core based on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or any subsequent version.

Ubuntu and Android share the same kernel. When docked, the Ubuntu OS boots and runs concurrently with Android. This allows both mobile and desktop functionality to co-exist in different runtimes.

Shared services and applications are delivered using a Convergence API module which ensures the tight integration between desktop and mobile environments. Work is balanced across the cores of the phone. When the handset is not docked, both CPU cores transfer their full power to Android.

Hardware Requirements

• Dual-core 1GHz CPU
• 512 MB RAM
• Video acceleration: shared kernel driver with associated X driver;Open GL, ES/EGL
• Storage: 2GB for OS disk image
• HDMI: video out with secondary frame buffer device
• USB host mode

Official Site: Ubuntu For Android
Official Site: Ubuntu For Android: Features & Specifications

Targus’s Blue Trace is its version of Microsoft’s BlueTrack which is used for mice to make it usable on any surfaces including glass!

Targus releases 2 mice using the Blue Trace technology, Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse (AMW50AP-53) which is retailing for SGD$29.90 and the other is Targus Compact Blue Trace Mouse (AMU75AP-54) retailing for SGD$18.90.

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse – Packaging Front

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse – Packaging Contents

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse – Back View

The wireless frequency is 2.4GHz and I kinda like how the wireless receiver is being held. There is a magnet at the back of the mouse which is used to hold the receiver!

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse – Grip

I also like the grip of the mouse and it is ambidextrous designed means both right and left hand people are able to use it.

Targus Wireless Blue Trace Mouse – Opened

The cover is also being held together by magnet!

Targus Compact BlueTrace Mouse

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mouse – Packaging Front

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mouse – Packaging Contents

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mouse – Back View

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mouse – Size Comparison

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mice – Front View

Targus Compact Blue Trace Mice – Back View

Was invited to Canon’s product launch for the 2nd half of 2011 at Zirca last Thursday, 29th September 2011.

This product launch covers 7 products from PIXMA inkjet printers, 10 from imageCLASS laser printers, 3 from PowerShot cameras, 2 from IXUS cameras and 1 LV projector.

Canon PowerShot S100

Everyone’s favourite Canon PowerShot S100 (the successor to S95) is included in this product launch! It will be available in early November 2011 and the pricing will be annouced when it is closer to the date.

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