Last Saturday, 29th May 2010, Starhub and M1 begun selling MicroSIM cards and SingTel will follow behind on 1st June 2010 which is tomorrow.

No idea whether does the telecos here allow MultiSIM card to have MicroSIM or it is strictly for data plans only. Nevertheless, you still can cut it to MicroSIM size by using just a scissors. Just BECAREFUL not to even snip a bit off the golden metal contact point as it will make the SIM card useless.

I failed the first time because I snipped a tiny weeny bit off the contact point, but thank god SingTel replaces my “damage” SIM Card for free, I tried the second time and it works perfect!

Lets hope SingTel do better the next round and be the first to bring in iPhone 4G instead.

On a side note, there is no press release from M1 that says they are selling MicroSIMs. Hmmm.

APPLE users who have to resort to cutting their SIM cards down to fit their iPads can soon purchase mini SIM cards created for that purpose, from Saturday.

Telcos Starhub and M1 will begin selling micro-SIM cards, specially tested to work with devices which use them, in stores. SingTel will follow suit from 1 June.

Although the telcos do not want to link the availability of these new cards with the upcoming launch of the iPads in Singapore in July, the iPads are the only devices around right now that use such micro-SIM cards, about two thirds the size of regular ones.

Many Singaporeans are already one step ahead, fitting their crudely-made micro-SIM into the iPad 3G.

In its statement announcing its micro-SIM cards on Thursday, Starhub said the micro-SIM cards will be available to those who sign up for its 7.2 mbps mobile broadband plan, dubbed MaxMobile Ultimate.

Likewise, M1′s card will also go with its 7.2 mbps mobile broadband plan while SingTel’s cards, supporting the highest speed of the three, will be up to 21 mbps.

Sources:

• DK’s Blog: MicroSIM has arrived Singapore
• Straits Times: Micro-SIM cards on sale Sat
• Starhub Press Release: StarHub makes available Singapore’s first microSIM card with its mobile broadband service

Yeap, you heard that right, iPad is coming to Singapore in July 2010 together with Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands and New Zealand.

CUPERTINO, California—May 7, 2010—Apple today announced that iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK on Friday, May 28. Customers can pre-order all iPad models from Apple’s online store in all nine countries beginning on Monday, May 10. In the US, Apple has already sold over one million iPads and customers have downloaded over 12 million apps from the App Store, as well as over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore.

iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad is 0.5 inches thin and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.*

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 200,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Developers have created more than 5,000 exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

Pricing & Availability
Apple plans to release iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July. Apple will announce availability, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine additional countries at a later date.

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

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution with the Apple II, then reinvented the personal computer with the Macintosh. Apple continues to lead the industry with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system, and iLife, iWork and professional applications. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store, has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Source: iPad Available in Nine More Countries on May 28

Thanks to 24seven, today Li Xiang, I and a few other bloggers have a chance to experience 4D Magix and CineBlast at Sentosa.

Sentosa 4D Magix

Sentosa CineBlast

Read More (493 More Words, 8 More Images, 1 More Video)

Uniquely Singapore Clipper

Thanks to Benjamin and Lionel from STB for the invite to go on board the Uniquely Singapore Clipper! We were out in the sea for almost 3 hours and I steered a boat for the first time in my life. It was somewhat similar to driving a car without power steering. This year is starting to get interesting. In January 2010 itself, I rode on a Segway and steered a boat!

Marina at Keppel Bay

The Uniquely Singapore Clipper is currently stop over at Singapore’s Keppel Bay’s Marina and will depart to Qingdao, China on the 2nd February 2010.

Singapore is currently at the 6th place in the overall race out of 10 teams.

Check out my Facebook Gallery: Uniquely Singapore Clipper for the full 89 photos taken.

What is a Clipper?
To be honest, I have no idea what a Clipper is.

A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had multiple masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area.

The term clipper originally applied to a fast horse and most likely derives from the term “clip” meaning “speed”, as in “going at a good clip”.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipper

Race Schedule
Leg 1
Race start from the Humber, UK: 13 September 2009
La Rochelle, France: ETA 18-20 September, depart 22 September
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: ETA 18-20 October

Leg 2
Rio de Janeiro: depart 27 October
Cape Town, South Africa: ETA 14-16 November

Leg 3
Cape Town: depart 22 or 23 November
Geraldton-Greenough, Western Australia: ETA 14-18 December

Leg 4
Geraldton-Greenough: depart 3 January 2010
Singapore: arrive 23 January, depart 2 February
Qingdao, China: ETA 19-22 February

Leg 5
Qingdao: depart 2 March
California: ETA 1-5 April

Leg 6
California: depart 11 April
Panama: ETA 4-7 May, ETD 12 May
Port Antonio, Jamaica: ETA 16-18 May

Leg 7
Jamaica: depart 22 May
New York: ETA 3 June, depart 6 June
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: ETA 11-13 June, depart 19 June
Cork/Kinsale, Ireland: ETA 1-4 July, depart 9 July
Ijmuiden, Netherlands: ETA 13-14 July, depart 15 or 16 July
The Humber: Race finish 17 July 2010

Google launches its own phone called the Nexus One. However before that, there are so many leak pictures, videos, specifications and even the official website was leaked for a while. I think it can be considered the most leaked phone of 2009 or perhaps the most leaked mobile phone.

Pricing & Availability

• USD$529 (without contract)
• USD$179 (with 2 years contract from T-Mobile USA)

Verizon Wireless in the US and Vodafone in Europe plan to bring in the Nexus One as well during Spring 2010. The Nexus One will ship to three international market at the moment, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Shipping To Singapore
If you are living in Singapore and interested to get the Nexus One, here is the price breakdown for you:

• Nexus One phone (without contract): USD$529
• AC Adapter (Singapore): USD$19.99
• DHL International (Shipping & Handling): USD$28.32
• Total: USD$577.31 or SGD$806.10 (USD$1 = SGD$1.3963)
• After adding in 7% GST: SGD$862.52

Hardware Specifications

• Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display
• Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
• Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
• Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
• Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
• Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
• Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
• Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
• Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
• Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
• Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive

Software Innovation

• Google Maps Navigation: offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.
• Email: multiple Gmail accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.
• Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook.
• Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications.
• Android Market: access to more than 18,000 applications.
• Enter text without typing.
• Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.
• Tell your phone what you want it to do.
• Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.
• Take personalization to the next level.
• Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.
• More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.
• Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.
• 5 megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.
• View pictures and Picasa Web Albums in the new 3D Gallery.
• Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube with one click.
• Read your voicemail messages.
• Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.

Video

Links

• View: Nexus One Official Homepage
• Buy: Nexus One
• Press Release: Google Offers New Model for Consumers to Buy a Mobile Phone
• Video: Nexus One Videos
• Image: Nexus One Press Photos