Lester Chan's Website » Press Release

SingTel Launches Singapore’s 1st E-Book Service

Lester Chan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:15:23 +0000

The e-book service is known as skoob. It offer the works of Singapore writers, study guides and educational books for local primary and secondary school students.

Skoob on iPad (Bookshelf)

At launch there are about 39,000 local and international bestsellers for smartphones, tablets and PCs. Payment is in Singapore Dollars (SGD$) and made via Singapore Credit Cards or if you are a SingTel customer, you can charged it to your monthly SingTel bill.

You can download books on up to five devices on one account. Skoob is available for free on Apple iTunes Store and Android Marketplace. You can also use any browser to view them online via skoob or load the e-books into Adobe Digital Editions.

Show Press Release (461 More Words)

Singapore, 15 November 2011 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced the launch of skoob, Singapore’s first e-book service. Skoob breaks new ground by being the first e-book service to offer the works of Singapore writers, as well as study guides and educational books for local primary and secondary school students.

At launch, skoob offers more than 39,000 local and international bestsellers for smartphones, tablets and PCs. It is the first e-book service to accept payments in Singapore dollars and offers tremendous savings versus the cost of traditional paper books. For example, fans of John Grisham can enjoy his novel, The Confession, at S$9.00 instead of S$17.07 at a bookshop. Neil Humphreys’ acclaimed Complete Notes from Singapore is available at S$13.90 instead of S$29.90. Skoob also offers a range of classics for free download, such as Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.

Mr Goh Seow Eng, SingTel’s Chief of Digital Home, said: “The Singapore market has long been overlooked by e-book services from abroad. With the launch of skoob, Singapore readers finally have a service that offers local books and caters specifically to their tastes and needs. It also provides local publishers and writers with a powerful digital platform that allows them to reach a wider audience.”

“We are continuously working with publishers to expand our catalogue. We believe skoob’s range of local study guides and educational books will be well received by school students, and we are looking to include assessment papers soon,” he said.

Skoob is available on Apple and Android tablets and smartphones via a free app. It can also be enjoyed on PCs and Macs using standard browsers. Customers have the flexibility to download books on up to five devices. Payments can be made via Singapore credit cards. SingTel customers can choose to have purchases conveniently charged to their monthly bills.

Mr Goh said that skoob is an important addition to SingTel’s growing suite of multimedia offerings, which includes the award-winning AMPed music service, deF!ND digital concierge, ESC games service, De!ite e-magazine service, exCite web video app and mio TV.

“SingTel is transforming from a provider of traditional telecommunications services to a multimedia solutions provider. We are constantly developing new apps and services that make the most of our networks and smartphone technology to enhance the lives of our customers,” he said.

Skoob offers titles from leading publishers, including the world’s six major publishing houses: Random House, Penguin, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, Simon and Schuster and Macmillan. The service carries local titles, study guides and educational books from: Popular, Marshall Cavendish, Cengage Learning, Asiapac, Flame of the Forest, McGraw Hill, Sunbear, Monsoon, Singapore Asia Publishers (SAP) and Janus Education. For more information on skoob, and to download the app, please visit skoob.com.sg.

Canon Launches Canon EOS-1D X

Lester Chan — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:38:19 +0000

Was invited to the global launch of Canon EOS-1D X (Press Release) that happen at 1pm sharp yesterday at Canon Singapore Office. The Canon EOS-1D X is an integration between the EOS 1D and 1Ds product lines. This integration combines the best of both worlds from both model (shooting speed and image quality) into a single form factor.

Canon EOS-1D X (Front)

Canon EOS-1D X (Back)

The EOS-1D X is capable of continuous shooting at a speed of 12 frames-per-second, it is powered by the new Dual DIGIC 5+ image processor and on top of it, it has another DIGIC 4 image processor just for Autofocus (AF)! This bring up the number of image processers in the Canon EOS-1D X to 3! It also features a Gigabit LAN Port for network connectivity! This allows you to transfer shots immediately after you have taken them to your computer!

It will be available from March 2012 at an estimated RRP of USD$6,800 (SGD$8,620).

Some of the features include:

18.1MP full-frame (35mm) sensor
Image noise control improved by 2 stops
Next generation high-density reticular 61-point AF system
New shutter unit with carbon fibre shutter blades promises 400,000 shutter count
Advanced EOS Movie features for better compatibility with video production workflows
Dust-proof and drip-proof magnesium alloy body, with new carrier wave-based dust removal system

WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter

GP-E1 GPS Receiver

There are also 2 new accessories accompanying the EOS-1D X, the WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter for wirless network connectivity and GP-E1 GPS Receiver that automacailly adds location information to your photo’s EXIF data.

The WFT-E6 will be available at the same time as EOS-1D X (March 2012) at an estimated RRP of USD$600 (SGD$760) while the GP-E1 will be available from April 1012 at an estimated RRP of USD$300 (SGD$380).

Press Release: Canon Integrates 1D and 1Ds Series to Launch the EOS-1D X

Sony ICF-DS15iP

Lester Chan — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:37:44 +0000

Sony announced the Sony ICF-DS15iP last Thursday. The ICF series is Sony’s line of iPod and iPhone Docks. In particular the Sony ICF-DS15iP is an iPod and iPhone Dock Clock Radio.

If you need a cheaper alternative to a iPhone dock with alarm clock functionality, I would totally recommend the Sony ICF-DS15iP. The Sony ICF-DS15iP is going to retail for SGD$179 and will be available from 30th September 2011 onwards at all Sony Authorized Retailers.

I got the older variant which is the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2 which I got 2 years ago and I am still using it as my iPhone charging station as well as the alarm clock which wakes me up at 7am every weekday.

The Sony ICF-DS15iP is the successor to the ICF-DS11iP which is the successor to the ICF-C1iPMK2.

Press Release

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific launches its latest clock radio with a docking station for iPod/iPhone – the ICF-DS15iP. Aesthetically designed with a sleek finish, the new clock radio dock is not only smaller in size but also provides more sound options with its Mega Bass and Mega Xpand Sound system and larger volume output.

Additionally, users are now able to control the music from anywhere in the room using the supplied remote control, giving them the freedom to change the music or turn off an alarm without having to be in close proximity to the clock radio.

Sydney Lee, Assistant General Manager, Personal Audio Category, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific, said, “The new ICF-DS15iP not only provides music lovers with a powerful, rich audio experience while using their iPod/iPhone, but also the convenience of having an ‘all-in-one’ clock radio that complements any home with its stylish design and finish.”

The new ICF-DS15iP is available in both black and silver and will be available in Asia Pacific from October 2011 onwards.

Sony ICF-DS15iP (Silver)

Sony ICF-DS15iP (Black)

Sony Asia: Sony ICF-DS15iP

HP TouchPads at Comex 2011

Lester Chan — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:05:33 +0000

At HP Booth 8428 – HP Direct Counter Only
The 16GB and 32GB HP TouchPads will be available for S$118 (S$126 with GST) and S$188 (S$201 with GST) per unit respectively during the first two days of COMEX 2011 (1-2 September 2011). 100 units of the 16GB and 32GB versions each will be available each day and this purchase is limited to one unit per person, regardless of whether it’s 16GB or 32GB. The mode of purchase is cash and carry only, no credit cards or NETs. This is non-refundable and non-returnable.

These units will be available at HP booth 8428 (specifically the HP Direct counter), Hall 402/403.

At HP Booths (8150, 8245, 8428)
You will also be able to purchase a HP TouchPad 16GB and HP TouchPad 32GB for S$49 (with GST) and S$119 (with GST) respectively with any purchase of a HP TouchSmart610 -1138d, 1178d, 1188d; and HP Pavilion dv4-3020TX, HP Pavilion dv6-6144TX, dv6-6105TX and dv6-6106TX.

Your purchase-with-purchase HP TouchPad will be available at RewardsLINK, first come first serve, while stocks last.

RewardsLINK
3 Temasek Boulevard #02-163
Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 11.00am – 7.00pm
Eve of X’mas /New Year/CNY: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Closed on X’mas, New Year and CNY
Email: contactus@marquev.com

Note

These offers are available while stocks last.
Terms and conditions apply.
Purchases of the HP TouchPad from COMEX 2011 are not entitled to benefit from any other promotions or programs (including without limitation the HP Rebate/Refund/Return Program).

*UPDATE* 18:48, 01/09/2011: Due to safety and security concerns, the sale of the standalone HP TouchPads at COMEX will be discontinued. However, HP PCs purchase with purchase offers for the HP TouchPad will still be available at COMEX. Source at HP Singapore Facebook Page.

Nokia Launches Nokia 700, Nokia 701 & Nokia 600

Lester Chan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:24:45 +0000

I was invited to the launch event by WOM World but due to work commitments and shortage of leave, I am unable to make it to the event at Hong Kong =(

At the event, Nokia Launches Nokia 700, Nokia 701 & Nokia 600 which is powered by Symbian Belle (successor to Symbian Anna).

Nokia 700: Nokia’s smallest smartphone

Nokia 700

At only 50 cubic centimetres, weighing 96gm and at 110 x 50.7 x 9.7 mm, the Nokia 700 not only becomes Nokia’s most compact smartphone in the Symbian range, it is the most compact touch monoblock smartphone in the world. What it lacks in size it makes up for in functionality, with single-tap NFC sharing and pairing capabilities, a 1Ghz processor, 3.2 inch AMOLED screen ClearBlack display, 2GB of internal memory (with the option of using a 32GB microSD card for a total of 34GB), HD video capture and 5MP full focus camera with LED flash. The Nokia 700 is also Nokia’s most eco-friendly smartphone. With a long battery life, extensive use of eco-friendly materials and features to minimize battery consumption, it is the perfect smartphone for any environmentally-conscious smartphone user.

Nokia 701: Nokia’s brightest smartphone

Nokia 701

The Nokia 701 is a sleek, slim smartphone incorporating the world’s brightest ever mobile phone display, based on a 3.5 inch ClearBlack display that makes it perfect for indoor and outdoor use. It also has active noise cancellation for the clearest sound quality and, like the other new smartphones, provides single-tap NFC pairing and sharing capabilities, allowing content to be shared and sound to be streamed wirelessly to headphones and NFC-enabled speakers.

Based on the popular Nokia C7 design, the Nokia 701 smartphone also has a 1GHz processor, 8MP full focus camera with dual LED flash and 2 X digital zoom, 2nd front-facing camera and HD video capture. It comes with 8GB internal memory and the possibility to increase to 40GB by installing a 32GB microSD card.

Nokia 600: Nokia’s loudest smartphone

Nokia 600

The Nokia 600 smartphone delivers a big sound and a big personality in a small package and is Nokia’s loudest at 106 Phons. With built-in FM radio antenna for listening to radio without headphones and FM transmitter that makes it possible to broadcast music from your phone to any FM radio, the Nokia 600 is a music-lover’s dream. With 60 hours of music playback time, an incredibly powerful external loudspeaker and the ability to also stream music wirelessly to NFC-enabled accessories, it is the perfect smartphone to get the party started.

Available at a lower price point than the Nokia 700 and Nokia 701, the Nokia 600 still comes with a 1 GHz processor; 5MP full focus camera with LED flash and HD video capture, and 2GB of internal memory with ability to increase to 34GB using a 32GB microSD card.

Symbian Belle

Symbian Belle is the latest in a series of planned software updates to the Symbian platform, which started with Symbian Anna and will continue into 2012. Symbian Belle increases the number of home screens from three to six providing more room to display applications and services. Live widgets, now come in five different sizes, making the home screens come alive and giving users more flexibility to personalize the user experience. It also includes a pull down menu and taskbar to access notifications from any of the home screens and further enhancements to the Web browsing experience. All in all, Symbian Belle provides Nokia’s most competitive, seamless and intuitive Symbian experience so far.

One of Symbian Belle’s most exciting features is the single-tap NFC sharing and pairing capability. This allows contacts, videos and images to be shared with other NFC-enabled devices and smartphones, as well as pairing with NFC-enabled mobile accessories such as speakers and headsets. Gaming fans also benefit from the NFC capabilities of the new handsets with the ability to unlock additional levels in Angry Birds or find a hidden blade in Fruit Ninja just by touching two NFC-enabled devices together. On the Nokia 701 smartphone, which comes preloaded with Asphalt5, two friends can even pair to compete on the same racetrack.

Symbian Belle will be available on the Nokia N8, Nokia E6, Nokia E7, Nokia X7, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia Oro as well in months to come.

Links

Official Site: Nokia 700
Official Site: Nokia 701
Official Site: Nokia 600
Official Site: Symbian Belle
Press Release: Nokia launches three no-compromise mass-market smartphones powered by Symbian Belle

SingTel’s Priority Pass Mobile Broadband Service

Lester Chan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:23:59 +0000

Interesting service by SingTel. These days almost everyone is using an iPhone, Android or Blackberry and all the phones are connected to data services. Not forgetting those 3G USB dongles are connected to the same data network as well. If you paid only for mobile broadband, you are also sharing the same bandwidth with those who paid for mobile plans that comes with data services. But with Priority Pass, mobile broadband users get higher priority (in terms of speed & bandwidth) than mobile plan data services users.

Also, we can expect commercial LTE services from SingTel by the end of the year.

Show Press Release (438 More Words)

Singapore, 13 June 2011 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced the launch of Asia’s first premium priority mobile broadband service, as well as the typical speeds of its mobile broadband services.

Named Priority Pass, SingTel’s premium priority mobile broadband service offers faster and more reliable Internet connectivity on the move. Customers enjoy priority for their data traffic when the network is heavily loaded, thus ensuring smoother streaming and downloads.

The service is activated at no additional charge for SingTel’s 7.2Mbps and 21Mbps mobile broadband plans. As SingTel has continuously invested in its network to provide more capacity, the introduction of Priority Plus does not affect the broadband experience of users of other plans.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, SingTel’s Executive Vice President of Digital Consumer, said: “Priority Pass is a game-changer that will give our mobile services the edge over our competitors. In the last year, we have seen a sharp rise in mobile data usage with the explosive growth of new web-enabled devices and bandwidth-hungry multimedia applications. We launched Priority Pass to cater to the rapidly growing number of customers who are demanding higher speeds with more consistent performance.”

Typical mobile broadband speeds
As a first for the mobile industry in Asia, SingTel has published the typical speeds of its mobile broadband services. The table below outlines the typical range of speeds that customers can expect 80% of the time. SingTel has also renamed its 3.6Mbps, 7.2Mbps and 21Mbps USB modem-based services as Classic 3.6, Priority 7.2 and Premium 21 respectively.

Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband plan	Theoretical speed	Typical speed range
Classic 3.6	3.6Mbps	0.8Mbps to 2.1Mbps
Priority 7.2 (with Priority Pass)	7.2Mbps	1.4Mbps to 3.7Mbps
Premium 21 (with Priority Pass)	21Mbps	1.7Mbps to 4.8Mbps

As with all wireless technologies, the range of speeds and experience is dependent on several factors, such as the user’s location from base stations, the number of users in the area, the mobile devices used, as well as the response of websites accessed. Customers may also experience slower speeds indoors where mobile signals are blocked by walls and structures.

“We are constantly listening to our customers to understand their needs, and they have told us that they are not getting the speeds that are advertised,” said Mr Yuen.

“Our customers deserve to know exactly what they are getting when they sign-up for our services. We are confident that our mobile network is the best in Singapore and we want to set an example for the industry. By disclosing the actual speeds of our services upfront we aim to help consumers to make better informed choices.”

Mr Yuen said that SingTel was rolling out its LTE network after completing trials last year, and customers could expect commercial LTE services by the end of the year.

SingTel: Broadband on Mobile

Microsoft Previews Windows Phone “Mango” Update

Lester Chan — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:52:31 +0000

Snippets:

Windows Phone 7.1 SDK is out (see link below), “Mango” and new Windows Phone will be coming this fall/Autumn/.
“Mango” might not be Windows Phone 7.1
The first Nokia Windows Phones will be on “Mango”
Dell will not come out with Windows Phone anything soon as it is not ready to hop on to the “Mango” bandwagon
Communications: Threads, Groups, Deeper social network integration, Linked inbox & Hands-free messaging
Apps: App Connect, Improved Live Tiles & Multitasking
Internet: Internet Explorer 9, Local Scout, Bing & Quick Cards

Linked Inbox (left), IE9 (Right)

Group (Left), Integrated Messaging (Right)

Show Press Release (841 More Words)

REDMOND, Wash. – May 24, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. today previewed the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named “Mango,” through a series of media events around the world. “Mango” will deliver more than 500 new features to push the boundaries of the smartphone experience around communications, apps and the Internet. The “Mango” release will be available for free to Windows Phone 7 customers and is scheduled to ship on new phones beginning this fall. More details on device update timing will be provided closer to availability. Windows Phone will also add support for additional languages, expand access to apps by launching Windows Phone Marketplace in new countries, and partner with new OEMs to enable expansion to new markets.

“Seven months ago we started our mission to make smartphones smarter and easier for people to do more,” said Andy Lees, president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “With ‘Mango,’ Windows Phone takes a major step forward in redefining how people communicate and use apps and the Internet, giving you better results with less effort.”

Communications: Easier to Connect and Share

The smartphone experience can be complicated by a sea of disconnected apps and accounts as people attempt to keep pace with all the ways they communicate — from calls, texts, email and instant messages (IM) to status updates, Tweets, check-ins, photo posting and tagging. To help people stay on top of that growing complexity, the “Mango” release organizes information around the person or group people want to interact with, not the app they have to use.

Threads. Switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger within the same conversation.
Groups. Group contacts into personalized Live Tiles to see the latest status updates right from the Start Screen and quickly send a text, email or IM to the whole group.
Deeper social network integration. Twitter and LinkedIn feeds are now integrated into contact cards, and “Mango” includes built-in Facebook check-ins and new face detection software that makes it easier to quickly tag photos and post to the Web.
Linked inbox. See multiple email accounts in one linked inbox. Conversations are organized to make it easy to stay on top of the latest mail.
Hands-free messaging. Built-in voice-to-text and text-to-voice support enables hands-free texting or chatting.

A Smarter Approach to Apps

Windows Phone will challenge the way people think about apps. Today their usefulness is measured by what can be done within the app, but Microsoft sees the promise of apps in how they can be integrated directly into the core experiences of the phone. In addition to making it easy to get timely notifications and updates from apps right from the Start Screen, the “Mango” release also will surface apps as part of search results and within Windows Phone Hubs. As a result, a useful app is more likely to be right there when needed.

App Connect. By connecting apps to search results and deepening their integration with Windows Phone Hubs, including Music and Video and Pictures, “Mango” allows apps to be surfaced when and where they make sense.
Improved Live Tiles. Get real-time information from apps without having to open them. Live Tiles can be more dynamic and hold more information.
Multitasking. Quickly switch between apps in use and allow apps to run in the background, helping to preserve battery life and performance.

Taking the Internet Beyond the Browser

In addition to including Internet Explorer, the “Mango” release will connect the power of the Web to the unique capabilities of Windows Phones, such as location awareness, camera and access to apps, to present a way of viewing the Web that is more localized, actionable and relevant.

Internet Explorer 9. A browser based on the powerful Internet Explorer 9 and including support for HTML5 and full hardware acceleration.
Local Scout. Provides hyperlocal search results and recommends nearby restaurants, shopping and activities in an easy-to-use guide.
Bing on Windows Phone. More ways to search the Web, including Bing Vision, Music Search and Voice so it’s easy to discover and decide.
Quick Cards. When searching for a product, movie, event or place, see a quick summary of relevant information, including related apps.

Strengthening the Ecosystem

The Windows Phone ecosystem has grown steadily since Windows Phone 7 first launched in October, with more than 17,000 apps currently available on Windows Phone Marketplace and Windows Phone handsets available from a range of partners worldwide, and Microsoft’s recently announced partnership with Nokia. “Mango” will further expand and strengthen the Windows Phone ecosystem through new partnerships with Acer Inc., Fujitsu Ltd. and ZTE Corp., which today announced plans to deliver new Windows Phone devices in markets around the world. Furthermore, Microsoft announced it will support additional languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Swedish, and will greatly expand the list of countries where consumers have access to apps via Windows Phone Marketplace. As well, a beta release of the free Windows Phone Developer tools, which will be used to create the next generation of “Mango” apps and games, will be posted for public download to Microsoft’s website within 24 hours of today’s events.

Links

Press Release: Microsoft Previews Next Release of Windows Phone
Press Images: Windows Phone Newsroom: Image Gallery
Developer News: Beta Mango Tools Available Today
Engadget: Live from Microsoft’s Windows Phone VIP preview event!
Engadget: Windows Phone Mango and Bing Vision hands-on

SingTel Starts Selling iPad 2 On 14th May 2011

Lester Chan — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:37:04 +0000

SingTel will start selling iPad 2 this Saturday, 14th May 2011. The subsidized iPad 2 will be offered in 2 different types of services: Mobile Broadband and Mobile Multi-SIM.

You can register your interest here before 12pm, tomorrow, 13th May 2011.

Mobile Broadband

Offer	7.2Mbps Mobile BroadBand with iPad 2 16GB 3G + Wi-Fi
Monthly Subscription	SGD$40
iPad Model	16GB 3G + Wi-Fi at SGD$399 32GB 3G + Wi-Fi at SGD$499 64GB 3G + Wi-Fi at SGD$599
Free Local Bundled Data	50GB
Contractual Period	24 months
USB Modem (if required)	SGD$5 per month
Value Added Services	Wireless@SG, AMPed & De!ite
Data Cap Price	SGD$94.16

More Information: Mobile Broadband

Mobile Multi-SIM

iPad 2 Model	Price
16GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$818
32GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$948
64GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$1,078

Description	Price (Inclusive of 7% GST)
One-time Charge of Multi-SIM card (1st set of 2 cards)	SGD$32.10
One-time charge of subsequent card (3rd and 4th card)	SGD$10.70 each card
Monthly subscription for 2 cards (one or more card is a MicroSIM)	SGD$10.70
Monthly subscription for 3 cards (one or more card is a MicroSIM)	SGD$21.40
Monthly subscription for 4 cards (one or more card is a MicroSIM)	SGD$32.10

In summary, the subsidized rates for MultiSIM is SGD$30 cheaper than the retail price of iPad 2 but you have to be bonded by a 12-month contract. Also just to clarify, on the SingTel site it states “one card is a MicroSIM” but in actual fact you can have one or more MicroSIM for your MultiSIM plan and the charges remain the same as stated above.

More Information: Mobile Multi-SIM

iPad 2 Prices
Just for easier comparison, here are the prices of iPad 2 in Singapore.

iPad 2 Model	Price
16GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$848
32GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$978
64GB 3G + Wi-Fi	SGD$1,108

Official Site: SingTel iPad 2
Official Site: Apple iPad 2

Asus EEE Pad Transformer

Lester Chan — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:14:50 +0000

Asus launched the Eee Pad Transformer (TF101) at Zirca, Clarke Quay, last Friday, 29th April 2011, the same day that the iPad 2 started selling in Singapore. Singapore is the first South East Asian city to get this “next-generation” tablet that comes with an optional docking station that caters for both tablet and notebook users.

Asus EEE Pad Transformer

Prices
Launch Retail Price

16GB WiFi only: SGD$799 (Eee Pad + Docking station)
16GB WiFi only: SGD$699 (Eee Pad)

Usual Price

16GB WiFi only: SGD$898 (Eee Pad + Docking station)

Specifications

CPU: Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual-Core ARM Cortex A9 (1.0GHz)
OS: Android Honeycomb 3.0
Display: 10.1″ WXGA (1280×800) IPS with capacitive touch
Graphics: ULP GeForce GPU
Memory & Storage: 1GB LPDDR2 (667MHz) + 16GB eMMC Flash + ASUS WebStorage
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Camera: 1.2 Mega pixels (Front); 5 Mega Pixels Auto-Focus (Back)
Pad Interface: 1x Mini HDMI, 1x MicroSD Expansion Slot, 1x Audio jack, 1x Docking/Charging Connector Port
Docking Interface: 2x USB, 1x SD Card Reader, 1x Charging Connector Port
Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC, Stereo speaker, Microphone
Video: 1080p HD Video playback
Battery life: Up to 16 hours* (With docking station)
Features: Built-in GPS
Warranty: 1 year international warranty (Eee Pad), 6 months international warranty (Docking station)

Official Link: Asus Eee Pad Transformer

Show Press Release (740 More Words)

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer redefines mobile computing for tech-savvy consumers
Designed for performance and style, the Transformer brings the perfect tablet solution to South-east Asia

Singapore, 29 April 2011 – Blazing a trail of rave reviews and sell-out pre-orders in UK and the USA, the highly-anticipated Eee Pad Transformer is finally available in Singapore. Starting 3 May, savvy mobile professionals and fashion trend-setters here will be the first in South-east Asia to own a new milestone for the Android market – a “next-generation” tablet designed to give the perfect experience for tablet and notebook lovers alike.

Superior features and a visionary appeal. What’s not to love?
The leading industry player who shook the world with its revolutionary Eee PC concept, ASUS has designed the Eee Pad Transformer to provide the most personal and seamless cloud computing experience. Consumers will delight in using its uniquely designed full-sized QWERTY keyboard docking station, which offers two USB slots, SD card reader, and extends the battery life up to 16 hours. Positioned as a highly versatile mobile solution for entertainment, social communication and mobile productivity, pre-order sales opened on 18 April. Consumers snapped up all 100 pre-order units within three hours, with 3 units sold in every 5 minutes.

ASUS, Mr, Bernard Wen, Business Operation Manager, said today at a media launch, “As we see heightened consumer demand and interest in tablets, and a slew of offerings available, the race is on for a game-changer. A device that provides seamless functionality and anticipates your needs – perfect for those who want to stay connected and fuss-free. We believe that the Eee Pad Transformer will inspire new possibilities to the way consumers use mobile devices, beyond tablets, for work and play.”

Power-packed entertainment on-the-go
A true entertainment device, the Eee Pad Transformer provides a cinematic experience wherever you are. Powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, it allows browsing at lightning fast speeds giving users a quicker response time and better performance. Its IPS panel, made from a durable, scratch-resistant glass that is viewable at angles of up to 178 degrees, and producers a crisper and more accurate colour range by up to 50% compared to other tablets in the market. The built-in SRS Sound technology provides users with a 3D stereo audio experience with maximum bass response and a wide sound field from its discrete speakers housed in the 12.98mm thick frame that weighs only 680g. The Transformer comes with a 5MP rear and 1.2MP front facing camera that can shoot and record videos which can be played back in video on HDTVs via a mini HDMI output port.

A pad or a notebook – you make the call
Setting the stage for a new generation of tablets, the Eee Pad Transformer comes with an optional QWERTY keyboard docking station along with unique Android Function keys, transforming the pad into a full-fledged notebook. Preloaded on the Transformer is Polaris Office 3.0, a professional Mobile Office Solution which enables users to edit various types of office documents including documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls) and presentation (.ppt) files, turning the Transformer into a mobile warrior at work. The Transformer turns into a versatile media hub with a touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability. The docking station also extends the otherwise 9.5 hours of battery life to 16 hours.

Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS with ASUS Waveshare UI
Google’s Android Honeycomb is a revolutionary operating system specially designed and optimized for tablets which enables users a full web experience for on-the-go web browsing, communicating and casual computing. Supporting Adobe Flash 10.2, users await stunning and rich entertainment experiences. The convenient ASUS launcher makes launching software, managing content, accessing online services and connecting devices easy at a tap of a finger. Together with the ASUS’ Waveshare Interface, the Transformer hosts a variety of unique applications such as MyNet, MyLibrary, MyCloud, and more. MyNet wirelessly steams digital media within home network devices so HD videos or music can be played on such devices such as a HDTV, or desktop PCs from the Eee Pad Transformer. MyLibrary is a one-stop solution to browsing the profiles of downloaded books, magazines and newspapers. MyCloud provides easy access to digital content such as music, videos and files from the cloud anywhere, anytime. Users can also use MyCloud to remotely access and control any PC or Mac system, applications and files, extending the versatility of the Eee Pad Transformer experience.

iPhone 4 White in Singapore Tomorrow

Lester Chan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:42:17 +0000

After almost a year of delay, the white version of iPhone 4 will be available tomorrow from Apple’s Online Store! Prices remain the same, 16GB for SGD$888 and 32GB for SGD$1,048.

White iPhone Arrives Tomorrow

SINGAPORE, Singapore – April 27, 2011 – Apple today announced that the white iPhone 4 will be available beginning tomorrow. White iPhone 4 models will be available from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com/sg/) and select Apple Authorised Resellers.

“The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it’s beautiful,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we’ve worked to get every detail right.”

iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime, which makes video calling a reality.

Pricing & Availability
White models of iPhone 4 will be available in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the US, beginning Thursday, April 28 and in many more countries around the world soon. White iPhone 4 will be available for a recommended retail price of S$888 for the 16GB model and S$1048 for the 32GB model through the Apple Store (www.apple.com/sg/), and select Apple Authorised Resellers.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

iPad 2 Available in Singapore on 29th April 2011

Lester Chan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:35:39 +0000

Apple iPad 2 will be available in Singapore on Friday, 29th April 2011 and it is slightly cheaper than iPad 1 prices when it was launched last year.

Here are the official iPad 2 prices for Singapore:

WiFi

16GB: SGD$668
32GB: SGD$798
64GB: SGD$928

WiFi + 3G

16GB: SGD$848
32GB: SGD$978
64GB: SGD$1,108

Just for comparison sake, here are the iPad 1 prices for Singapore when it was launched:

WiFi

16GB: SGD$728
32GB: SGD$878
64GB: SGD$1,028

WiFi + 3G

16GB: SGD$928
32GB: SGD$1,078
64GB: SGD$1,228

Press Release

iPad 2 Arrives in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore & Eight Other Countries This Week

Wi-Fi Version Available in China on May 6

SINGAPORE, Singapore – April 27, 2011 – Apple today announced that iPad 2, the second-generation of its breakthrough post-PC device, will arrive in Japan on Thursday, April 28 and Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and eight additional countries on Friday, April 29. iPad 2 will be available in Singapore at select Apple Authorised Resellers, and online through the Apple Store (www.apple.com/sg) beginning at 1am local time. Additionally, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China beginning Friday, May 6.

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Japan on April 28 and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE on April 29. In Singapore, iPad 2 will be available for a suggested retail price of S$668 for the 16GB model, S$798 for the 32GB model and S$928 for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available in Singapore for a suggested retail price of S$848 for the 16GB model, S$978 for the 32GB model and S$1108 for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China on May 6, and further international availability will be announced at a later date.

iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps are available for US$4.99 each from the App Store on iPad or http://www.itunes.com/appstore. The Smart Cover is available in a range of colors in vibrant polyurethane for S$54 or rich leather for S$98.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Official: Apple (Singapore) iPad Page

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Launches On 22nd April 2011

Lester Chan — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:16:34 +0000

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY will be available in Singapore exclusively to SingTel customers from 22nd April 2011.

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Prices (SGD$)

Press Release

Powered by Android version 2.3 technology, this ground-breaking smartphone delivers the ultimate mobile gaming experience with super-fast graphics capabilities and dedicated game controls. It is also equipped with all the features of a leading-edge smartphone to deliver a superb experience for web-browsing, communications, multimedia content and social networking.

The Xperia PLAY is the first smartphone to be PlayStation-certified and is pre-loaded with six leading games: FIFA 10, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, SIMS 3, Star Battalion, Madden NFL 11 and Crash Bandicoot. As an exclusive bonus, SingTel customers will also get to enjoy the popular action game, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, free of charge. They will be able to compete against other Xperia Play users in an online leaderboard competition, to win an all-expenses paid trip to the annual video game conference E3 in Los Angeles in June.

Customers can also expand their games library with titles from the SingTel IDEAS portal, Android Marketplace and PlayStation Pocket.

In addition to games, the Xperia PLAY is pre-loaded with SingTel apps, such as the award-winning AMPed social music service and MobileTV video streaming service. Customers will be able to catch the live football action of the Barclays Premier League with the BPL Mobile service, and connect with their friends via SingTel’s WheresApp application.

Mr Lew said: “By bringing the Xperia PLAY to Singapore, we want to give our customers the freedom to take their favourite games with them wherever they go. This exciting handset perfectly complements our ESC cloud-based games offerings. Just as ESC showcases the strengths of our high-speed broadband services, the Xperia PLAY demonstrates the strengths of our mobile network. So whether at home or on the move, SingTel customers will never be short of entertainment and lifestyle options.”

“Sony Ericsson is delighted to introduce, in partnership with SingTel, the world’s first PlayStation certified smartphone – the Xperia PLAY – to Singapore. Singaporeans are increasingly looking for access to all their favourite apps, games, chat and web browsing functions in one smart device. The Xperia PLAY meets the on-the-go communication and entertainment needs of consumers, and is the only smartphone to combine the best of Android with a PlayStation quality gaming experience,” said Mr Eugene Goh, Deputy General Manager and Head of Market Unit Singapore, Sony Ericsson.

The Xperia PLAY is available with SingTel’s 3G Flexi price plans which include up to 500 free minutes of local outgoing calls, 500 free local SMSes and 12 GB of free local data usage.

The handset will also be available at SingTel’s Xperia PLAY roadshow at Vivocity on 22-24 April from 11am to 9pm.

Official Site: Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
Official Site: SingTel Shop

Motorola Mobility Brings Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi To Singapore

Lester Chan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:55:54 +0000

Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi will be available at Challenger, Courts, Newstead, Best Denki, Harvey Norman and Mustafa from this Friday, 22nd April 2011 at a recommended retail price of SGD$888.00.

Motorola XOOM

Motorola XOOM WiFi Specifications

OS: Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
Differentiation: Larger and higher-resolution display in smaller form-factor, first tablet with Honeycomb software, dual-core 1GHz processor, and a wide range of docking options
Dimensions: 249.1mm (h) x 167.8mm (w) x 12.9mm (d)
Display: 10.1″ 1280×800 resolution
Weight: ~708g
Processor: 1GHz dual-core processor
Battery: Up to 10 hours video playback
Connectivity: 3.5mm, micro USB 2.0 HS, Corporate Sync, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR + HID
Network: 802.11n b/g/n
Messaging/Web/Apps: Email (Corporate Sync, Google Mail, POP3/IMAP embedded) , WebKit w/ Flash
Audio: AAC, AAC+, AMR NB, AMR WB, MP3, XMF
Video: HD capture/playback/streaming, H.263, H.264, MPEG4
Camera: 5MP rear-facing camera with dual LED flash / 2MP front-facing webcam

Press Release

SINGAPORE – April 20, 2011 – Motorola Mobility today announced that the highly-anticipated Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi will launch in Singapore on April 22, 2011. Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi runs on the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform designed specifically for tablets. Singapore becomes the first market in Southeast Asia to launch the tablet.

Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi features a 1GHz dual-core processor, 32 GB of memory and 1GB of RAM, front-facing and rear-facing cameras, true multi- tasking functionality, and the latest Google Mobile services on a10.1-inch widescreen HD display.

“Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi re-defines what the tablet experience should be,” said Spiros Nikolakopoulos, vice president and general manager, International Distribution Markets, Motorola Mobility. “Designed from the ground up with the user in mind, it provides more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive while on the go. Whether surfing the Web, watching the latest hit movie as it was intended or video-chatting with friends, Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi will delight customers with its ease of use, speed and vivid graphics, as well as its Motorola Smart Accessories.”

Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi features – a new mobile experience
Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi delivers exceptionally fast performance with its 1 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The tablet showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience – including widgets, true multi-tasking, tabbed browsing, notifications and customization – on a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display with 1280X800 resolution enabling video content that’s richer and clearer than ever before. Support for HDMI enables viewing of videos and movies on larger screens, such as HD televisions. A 5 MP rear-facing camera captures HD video, and a 2 MP front-facing camera enables clear video chats using Google Talk.

The latest Google Mobile services include Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction and access to more than 150,000 apps from Android Market. Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi also supports a beta version of Adobe Flash Player 10.2 downloadable from Android Market, enabling the delivery of rich Flash-based web content including videos, games and rich Internet applications. The tablet also features a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting. It supports up to 10 hours of video playback, and charges in half the time of competitive tablets on the market.

Motorola Smart Accessories

A Standard Dock for watching video content or listening to music through external speakers as the device charges

A Speaker HD Dock for sending HD content directly to a TV or clearly listening to music through two built-in speakers without attaching external speakers

A custom Bluetooth wireless keyboard with special Android shortcut keys.

Official Site: Motorola XOOM

Singapore Mobile Operators Launch Donation Drive via SMS To Aid Japan Disaster Victims

Lester Chan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:33:37 +0000

Just sharing a good cause by our local telecos. All administration fees will be waived by them as well.

Singapore, 28 March 2011 – The three mobile network operators in Singapore – M1, SingTel and StarHub, and Ericsson’s global mobile commerce enabler IPX are pleased to announce that post-paid mobile customers in Singapore will be able to make a $5, $10 or $20 donation to aid victims of the Japan disaster by sending an SMS to the common short-code 78888. Donations will go towards the Singapore Red Cross Society’s relief efforts in Japan. This mobile donation campaign will continue for one month, starting from 6am on 28 March 2011 till midnight on 25 April 2011.

M1, SingTel, StarHub and Ericsson, which provides the technical solution, have jointly agreed to waive all administration fees associated with such premium SMS, and forward the full proceeds to the relief organisation.
The donations will be reflected in customers’ next monthly bill from their respective mobile service providers.
Donation details:

For a $5 donation, SMS RC5 to 78888

For a $10 donation SMS RC10 to 78888

For a $20 donation, SMS RC20 to 78888

Donations are not tax-deductible and persons below the age of 18 years will require parental or guardian consent before making a donation.

Mr Lim Theam Poh, Director of Operations and Head of International Services of the Singapore Red Cross Society, said, “We are grateful to the mobile industry in Singapore for coming together in support of the Singapore Red Cross Society’s relief efforts to aid the victims of the Japan catastrophe. Many Singaporeans have approached us to volunteer their assistance, and financial contributions are the best way to help, especially in an international disaster. The popularity of text messaging and the simplicity of the SMS donation channel will allow us to harness the compassion and generosity of Singaporeans and turn it into positive action for the disaster victims.”

Apple iPad 2 Available In Singapore In April 2011

Lester Chan — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:06:45 +0000

In the press release today to announce the availability of iPad 2 in 25 more countries this Friday, it also states that the iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea & Singapore in April 2011.

CUPERTINO, California – March 22, 2011 – Apple today announced that iPad 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday, March 25. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers at 5 p.m. local time, and online through the Apple Store (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Apple today also announced that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.

“While competitors are still struggling to catch up with our first iPad, we’ve changed the game again with iPad 2,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the US, and customers around the world have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on it. We appreciate everyone’s patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life that users have come to expect.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April, and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

Press Release: iPad 2 Arrives in 25 More Countries This Friday

Samsung Nexus S Now Available In Singapore

Lester Chan — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:48:44 +0000

The Nexus S is available from all leading mobile phone retailers at the recommended retail price of SGD$828, without contract and inclusive of GST.

Press Release

Singapore, 18 March 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider and market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics today introduced the Nexus S, the world’s first handset to feature the latest version of Google’s Android platform. Powered by Android 2.3, the Nexus S gives users a seamless experience in navigating through functions, applications and the web. With over 150,000 applications available at their fingertips through the Android Market, users are spoilt for choice.

Ms Irene Ng, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Samsung Asia Pte Ltd, said, “Samsung is pleased to deliver the best Android smartphone experience for consumers. The Nexus S is a smartphone that combines superior functionality and a stunning user-experience that will appeal to the increasingly connected Singapore consumers and meet their demand for entertainment and functionality on the go. With its innovative, intuitive user experience and its best-in-class technology, the Nexus S gives consumers the ultimate mobile performance in a single device.”

The Nexus S also features a four-inch SUPER CLEAR LCD screen that delivers a brighter viewing experience for enjoying games, videos and browsing the web. The Contour Display also features a curved design for a more ergonomic feel for greater user comfort. Powered by a 1 GHz Samsung application processor, Nexus S produces rich 3D graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content.

Nexus S is equipped with a five-megapixel rear facing camera and camcorder, as well as a VGA front facing camera. In addition, Nexus S features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. The phone also comes with 16 GB of internal memory.

The Nexus S also includes popular Android features such as portable Wi-Fi hotspot, true multitasking, access to Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Voice Actions, Google Voice and YouTube, and access to over 100,000 apps and widgets on Android Market.

Nexus S specifications

Network: 3.5G (HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps) / 3G (900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz) / EDGE / GPRS Class 12 / GSM Quad-band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz)
OS: Android 2.3.3 / Gingerbread
Processor: 1GHz
Display: 4.0″ 16M colours WVGA (800×480) full touch (C-Type) SUPER CLEAR LCD
Camera: 5.0 mega-pixel Camera (2560×1920) + VGA front Camera (640×480), Auto Focus, Flash
Video: HD(720p@30fps) video player (DivX, MEPG4, H.263, H.264, WMV), video recorder (720×480, H.263) up to 30fps
Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, AMR-NB, 3.5mm ear jack
Value-added Features: Voice Dialer, motion sensor, multi-touch zoom, MS Exchange ActiveSync, Google Voice Search, Gmail, Google Earth, Google Latitude, Google Maps, Google Places, Google Search, Google Talk and Android Market
Connectivity: Bluetooth technology v 2.1 + EDR, MicroUSB v2.0 (High-Speed), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (up to 600Mbps), Tethering and portable hotspot
Memory: 16GB
Size: 63 x 124.74 x 11.5mm / 140g
Battery: 1500 mAh
Talk time: Up to 14 hours (2G) / 6.7 hours (3G)
Standby time: Up to 712.8 hours (2G) / 427.2 hours (3G)

Facebook Launches Facebook Places In Singapore

Lester Chan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:45:58 +0000

Cool, didn’t know Edelman is the PR agency for Facebook Singapore. Personally I prefer Facebook Check-In than Foursquare for unknown reasons.

Singapore, 16 February 2011 – Facebook today announced the launch of Facebook Places in Singapore. Already available in some countries, Facebook Places allows you to “check-in” and share with your friends where you are and who you’re with, find friends who are nearby and discover new places your friends like – all in real time.

Facebook Places is available to users in Singapore with mobile access to the Facebook application for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, HP webOS, and Windows Phone 7, or to touch.facebook.com. When you use Places, you’ll be able to see if any of your friends are currently checked in nearby and connect with them easily. You can also check into nearby Places to tell your friends where you are, tag your friends in the Places you visit together, and view comments your friends have made about the Places you visit.

How to use Facebook Places?

Go to the “Places” icon within the Facebook mobile applications or touch.facebook.com, then tap the “Check In” button, which will pull up a list of places near you.

Choose the place that matches where you are. If there isn’t one already in the list, users can search for it or create a new one.

Tap the “Check in” button to share that you are at the place. Users can also add comments and tag friends.

With Places, users are in control of what they share and with whom they share. They choose whether or not to share their location when they check in at a place, and only friends can see when they do, unless users choose to set their privacy setting otherwise. When users check in, they can tag friends who are with them but only if their settings allow it. When they are tagged, they are always notified.

Places is currently available in the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

For more information, check out: http://www.facebook.com/places/

Nokia Now Using Windows Phone As Its Primary Smartphone Platform

Lester Chan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:52:48 +0000

Yes, FINALLY Nokia is dumping Symbian for something better! Windows Phone!

Here is the full Microsoft’s press release:

LONDON – Feb. 11, 2011 – Nokia and Microsoft today announced plans to form a broad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem.

Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.

Under the proposed partnership:

Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.

Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.

Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.

Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.

Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience

Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.

Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.

Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.

“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”

“I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale.The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise in hardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.”

Here is a snippet of Nokia’s press release:

Nokia plans to form a strategic partnership with Microsoft to build a global mobile ecosystem based on highly complementary assets. The Nokia-Microsoft ecosystem targets to deliver differentiated and innovative products and have unrivalled scale, product breadth, geographical reach, and brand identity. With Windows Phone as its primary smartphone platform, Nokia would help drive the future of the platform by leveraging its expertise on hardware optimization, software customization, language support and scale. Nokia and Microsoft would also combine services assets to drive innovation. Nokia Maps, for example, would be at the heart of key Microsoft assets like Bing and AdCenter, and Nokia’s application and content store would be integrated into Microsoft Marketplace. Under the proposed partnership, Microsoft would provide developer tools, making it easier for application developers to leverage Nokia’s global scale.

…

As of April 1, Nokia will have a new company structure, which features two distinct business units: Smart Devices and Mobile Phones. They will focus on Nokia’s key business areas: high-end smartphones and mass-market mobile phones. Each unit will have profit-and-loss responsibility and end-to-end accountability for the full consumer experience, including product development, product management and product marketing.

Smart Devices will be responsible for building Nokia’s leadership in smartphones and will be led by Jo Harlow. The following sub-units now in Mobile Solutions will move under Smart Devices:
- Symbian Smartphones
- MeeGo Computers
- Strategic Business Operations

To support the planned new partnership with Microsoft, Smart Devices will be responsible for creating a winning Windows Phone portfolio.

…

Press Release (Nokia): Nokia outlines new strategy, introduces new leadership, operational structure
Press Release (Microsoft): Nokia and Microsoft Announce Plans for a Broad Strategic Partnership to Build a New Global Mobile Ecosystem

HP Veer, HP Pre 3 & HP TouchPad

Lester Chan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:57:26 +0000

Palm is pretty much going to die when HP bought over it April 2010 and now, it is officially dead as HP drops the “Palm” name and launches 3 new devices, HP Veer, HP Pre 3 & HP TouchPad.

HP Veer

Features & Specifications:

HP webOS 2.2

High-speed connectivity⁽¹⁾

Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 800-MHz processor

2.57-inch multitouch screen with a vibrant, 18-bit color, 320 x 400 resolution display

Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation

Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard

8 GB of internal storage⁽⁹⁾

High-performance browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content⁽¹⁾

Wireless connectivity:

Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication⁽¹⁾

Integrated GPS⁽³⁾

Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

Wi-Fi router functionality for up to five devices using HP mobile hotspot⁽⁸⁾

Multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, a 5-megapixel camera with geotagging and 3.5 mm stereo headphone adapter

Email, including EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers) and personal email support (Google Gmail push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP)⁽⁵⁾

Robust messaging support (combining IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)⁽⁴⁾

Proximity sensor, light sensor and accelerometer

Rechargeable 910 mAh battery

USB mass storage mode to transfer your media and other files quickly between desktop and device

Ringer switch, which easily silences the ringer with one touch

Compatible with HP Touchstone (sold separately)

Tri-band UMTS, quad-band GSM/EDGE world phone⁽¹⁰⁾

Dimensions: 54.5 mm x 84.0 mm x 15.1 mm

Weight: 103 grams

Links:

Official Site: HP Veer
Press Release: HP TouchPad Brings webOS to the Big Screen
Engadget: HP Veer: smallest smartphone in the webOS stable, 2.6-inch display, coming this spring
Engadget: HP Veer, first hands-on

HP Pre 3

Features & Specifications:

HP webOS 2.2

High-speed connectivity⁽¹⁾

Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8x55 1.4-GHz processor

3.58-inch multitouch screen with a vibrant, 24-bit color, 480 x 800 resolution display

Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation

Redesigned vertical slide-out QWERTY keyboard with backlight

8 or 16 gigabytes (GB) of internal storage⁽¹¹⁾

High-performance browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content⁽¹⁾

Wireless connectivity:

Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication⁽¹⁾

Integrated GPS (and A-GPS)⁽⁷⁾

Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

Wi-Fi router functionality for up to five devices using HP mobile hotspot⁽⁹⁾

Multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack

Rear-facing autofocus camera with flash, HD camcorder (capable up to 720p video recording)

Front-facing VGA fixed-focus camera for live video calling⁽⁴⁾

Email, including EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers) and personal email support (Google Gmail push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP)⁽³⁾

Robust messaging support (combining IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)⁽¹²⁾

Proximity sensor, light sensor, accelerometer and compass

Removable, rechargeable 1,230 mAh battery

USB mass storage mode to transfer media and other files quickly between desktop and device

Ringer switch, which easily silences the ringer with one touch

Compatible with HP Touchstone (sold separately)

Dimensions: 111 mm x 64 mm x 16 mm

Weight: 156 grams

Links:

Official Site: HP Pre 3
Press Release: HP TouchPad Brings webOS to the Big Screen
Engadget: HP Pre 3: 1.4GHz Qualcomm CPU, 3.6-inch WVGA, coming this summer (video)
Engadget: HP Pre 3 first hands-on

HP TouchPad

Features & Specifications:

HP webOS 3.0

High-speed connectivity⁽¹⁾

Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2-GHz processor

9.7-inch diagonal XGA capacitive, multitouch screen with a vibrant, 18-bit color, 1,024 x 768 resolution display

The option of either 16
GB or 32 GB of internal storage⁽¹⁴⁾

High-performance browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content⁽¹⁾

Wireless connectivity:

Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication⁽¹⁾

A-GPS (3G only)⁽¹⁰⁾

Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

Multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, and a 3.5 mm headset/headphone/microphone jack

Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio

Front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam for live video calling⁽¹¹⁾

Email, including EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers) and personal email support (Google Gmail push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP)⁽⁶⁾

Robust messaging support⁽⁴⁾

Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer) and gyroscope

Rechargeable 6,300 mAh (typical) battery

Micro-USB (Charging and PC Connect) with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

Built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging (HP Touchstone for TouchPad sold separately) and HP touch-to-share to share web addresses between TouchPad and compatible webOS phones⁽⁵⁾

Dimensions: 190 mm x 242 mm x 13.7 mm

Weight: approximately 740 g

Links:

Official Site: HP TouchPad
Press Release: HP TouchPad Brings webOS to the Big Screen
Engadget: HP’s 9.7-inch TouchPad: webOS 3.0 tablet with 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon, coming this summer
Engadget: HP TouchPad first hands-on

By the way, HP press images suck, no consistency in all the 3 products.

A.C. Ryan Announces Playon!HD2 And Playon!HD Mini2

Lester Chan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:01:12 +0000

A.C. Ryan has announced new Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 shortly after I got my Playon! HD back in November 2010! Damn!

I love the new features of the Playon!HD2 especially the upgraded wired networking to 10/100/1000Mbps because on Playon! HD, it is only 10/100Mbps and transfering files to it over LAN is taking forever! My home network is already on 10/100/1000Mbps wired with Cat6 RJ45 cables.

More format support: Supports BD-ISO and DVD IFO/ISO
Engage Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Msn, Skype
Gigabit Wired Networking
Unique User Interface: Playon! GUI2.0
Smart Content Management: Autofile Indexing
USB 3.0 Connection
Ez Drive Slot: Easy Hard Drive Insertion

Press Release

AC Ryan Unveils Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 at CES Las Vegas

Las Vegas, USA – January 2011. AC Ryan continues to revolutionise the media player world with its market leading, multi award winning Playon! series of Full HD Media Players and Recorders. The Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2, the first to feature the latest 1185 media player processor from Realtek, takes the original series a class forward.

The Playon!HD2 is the next generation of network media player, taking your digital entertainment to the next level. Store all your media files centrally and securely in the built-in eco friendly, low noise, low power consumption HDD up to 2TB. The Playon!HD Mini2 is the next generation of network media streamer. Stream all your media files from your attached storage or over your network. The Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 allow you to enjoy your media files directly in the comfort of your living room.

The Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 make digital entertainment at home easy. Enjoy more interaction with friends through Facebook, Twitter, MSN and Skype. Play or Stream the world into your living room with the WePlayon! portal (coming soon) for the best online content. The unique and intuitive Playon! GUI2.0 allows users to navigate through all the exceptional features with ease.

Building on the success of the original world’s first, Playon!HD and Playon!HD Mini, the Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 are the first Full HD Network Media Player and Streamer to feature Realtek’s latest 1185 processor. Enjoy the pure performance of Gigabit Wired Networking for the very best in media streaming. Wireless networking is also supported with optional Wireless-N via an external adapter. The Playon!HD2 also includes a USB 3.0 port, supporting the fastest transfer speeds available on USB for your external storage, and an EZ Drive HDD slot, to make the installation of your 3.5″ HDD even easier.

The Playon!HD2 and Playon!HD Mini2 will be available at all leading retailers in early February.

Suggested Retail Prices:

Playon!HD Mini2 – ACR-PV73800 – $/€ 109

Playon!HD2 – ACR-PV73700 – $/€ 169

Playon!HD2 500GB – ACR-PV73700-500GB – $/€ 205

Playon!HD2 1TB – ACR-PV73700-1TB – $/€ 229

Playon!HD2 1.5TB – ACR-PV73700-1.5TB – $/€ 259

Playon!HD2 2TB – ACR-PV73700-2TB – $/€ 289

Official Site: A.C. Ryan Playon! HD 2
Official Site: A.C. Ryan Playon! HD Mini 2

Source: AC Ryan Intros Playon! HD2 And Mini2 Full HD Media Streamers