Tech news and brand announcements, mostly telco and industry, summarised in my own words with a quick take.
SingTel has launched discounted data-bundle plans for seniors aged 55 and above, cutting 20% off its SuperLite and Lite plans. My dad is on the Lite plan, but his line is registered under my name, so he doesn't qualify.
Microsoft will pay €3.79 billion for substantially all of Nokia's Devices & Services business, plus €1.65 billion to license Nokia's patents, bringing the total to €5.44 billion, around US$7.17 billion, in cash. It's a landmark deal reshaping both companies' futures.
On 15th August 2013, SingTel began offering direct carrier billing for Google Play purchases, the first in Southeast Asia to do so. This simple, convenient payment option is open to all SingTel mobile postpaid customers and will roll out progressively.
SingTel has brought Shopify to Singapore, the platform that lets you set up a full hosted e-commerce store in minutes, with an excellent iOS app for managing it. Local examples include Pocky Singapore and The Damn Good Shop.
Last week, Norton refreshed its product line-up for Windows 8 compatibility. A welcome change is that it has dropped the version number and year from product names. So they become simply Norton Internet Security, Norton AntiVirus, and Norton 360.
I've been waiting for this. Right now, the NFC on my Galaxy Nexus is useless, only reading EZ-Link cards. But soon we'll be able to take public transport and pay with our phones, thanks to a Gemalto-led consortium going live.
The day has finally come, Apple has launched the iTunes Store in Singapore, alongside Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and several other countries. iTunes Match is available at S$31.98 a year. It's live on my Mac, though not yet on iPhone.
SingTel and Samsung have both pledged their support for Team Singapore at the London 2012 Olympics. Samsung is sponsoring 60 white Samsung Galaxy SIII handsets, while SingTel provides complimentary airtime and data so athletes can stay in touch with family.
Samsung announced the Galaxy SIII, successor to the Galaxy SII and its new flagship, at Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012 in London yesterday. Samsung live-streamed the event, but oddly the NDA for major tech sites lifted right before it.
SingTel has launched Singapore's first e-book service, skoob, offering works by Singaporean writers, study guides, and school textbooks for local students. At launch it holds 39,000 local and international bestsellers for smartphones, tablets, and PCs, with payment in Singapore Dollars.
I was invited to the global launch of the Canon EOS-1D X yesterday at Canon's Singapore office. The 1D X merges the EOS 1D and 1Ds lines, combining shooting speed and image quality into a single body.
Sony announced the ICF-DS15iP last Thursday. Part of its ICF range of iPod and iPhone docks, this one is a dock clock radio. If you want a cheaper iPhone dock with alarm clock, I'd recommend it. It retails for S$179.
At HP's Booth 8428 Direct Counter, the 16GB and 32GB HP TouchPads sell for S$118 and S$188 respectively, before GST, during the first two days of Comex 2011, 1st to 2nd September. Just 100 units of each are available daily.
Nokia has launched the Nokia 700, 701, and 600, powered by Symbian Belle, the successor to Symbian Anna. I was invited to the WOM World launch event in Hong Kong but couldn't make it, the 700 being the smallest.
SingTel's Priority Pass is an interesting mobile broadband service. These days, almost everyone is on an iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry tapping the same data network, including 3G USB dongles. If you pay only for mobile broadband, you share that bandwidth.
Microsoft has previewed its Windows Phone 'Mango' update, with the Windows Phone 7.1 SDK now out. Mango and new Windows Phones are due this autumn, the first Nokia Windows Phones will run Mango, and Communications gains Threads and Groups.
SingTel begins selling the iPad 2 on Saturday, 14th May 2011, with subsidised units offered under two services: Mobile Broadband and Mobile Multi-SIM. The Mobile Broadband option pairs a 7.2Mbps plan with the 16GB 3G iPad 2 at S$40.
Asus launched the Eee Pad Transformer (TF101) at Zirca, Clarke Quay, the same Friday the iPad 2 went on sale here. Singapore is the first South East Asian city to get this dockable next-generation tablet.
After nearly a year of delay, the white iPhone 4 arrives tomorrow via Apple's Online Store. Pricing stays unchanged at S$888 for 16GB and S$1,048 for 32GB, finally giving Singapore buyers the lighter colour option.
Apple's iPad 2 lands in Singapore on Friday, 29th April 2011, priced slightly below the original. WiFi models start at S$668, rising to S$928 for 64GB, with 3G versions topping out at S$1,108 for the 64GB.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia PLAY launches in Singapore exclusively to SingTel customers from 22nd April 2011. Running Android 2.3, this gaming smartphone delivers fast graphics and dedicated slide-out controls alongside the features of a leading device.
Motorola's XOOM Wi-Fi reaches Challenger, Courts, Newstead, Best Denki, Harvey Norman and Mustafa this Friday at S$888. Running Android 3.0 Honeycomb, it packs a larger, higher-resolution display in a smaller form factor with dual cameras.