Life and tech in Singapore, from local launches and pricing to events and everyday finds.
The official Sennheiser store opened at Marina Square on 2nd August 2016, the first fully-owned Sennheiser brand store in Singapore. Previously, local presence was via a distributor. It sits at #03-123 in Marina Square.
Android Pay is now available in Singapore, the first country outside the US and UK, and the first in Asia, to get it. It works with VISA and MasterCard cards from DBS, OCBC, POSB, Standard Chartered, and UOB.
The OnePlus 3 arrives in Singapore from 4th July 2016, exclusively online via Lazada until 30th July. From the 30th, it reaches retail stores and telcos at an RRP of S$699. Only one variant is offered.
Samsung Pay launches in Singapore from 16th June 2016, supporting the Galaxy Note 5, S6 edge+, S7, and S7 edge. Singapore is the fifth country after Spain, China, the US, and South Korea, partnering Amex, MasterCard, Visa, and major banks.
A month after Apple Pay launched for AMEX in Singapore, support for VISA and MasterCard has arrived. Not all banks are included, though: the initial rollout supports credit cards from just five, POSB, DBS, OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered.
After last October's announcement, Apple Pay is finally live in Singapore, with American Express the first supported card; VISA and MasterCard follow soon. It works at stores including Din Tai Fung, FairPrice, Starbucks, Uniqlo, and Shaw Theatres.
In a press release on its 2016 global momentum, Samsung announced that Samsung Pay would come to Singapore later in the year. Its 2016 expansion starts with China in March, followed by Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain, and the UK.
Lenovo has opened a new customer service centre at Paya Lebar, adding to its existing Kaki Bukit hub. Both offer customer care, technical support, and post-sale services, working independently on cases to ensure each is resolved.
At CES 2016, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced the service's launch in almost every country except China. A subscriber since April 2015 via VPN, I'd long awaited this, since VPN access was slower, more cumbersome, and required blocking Google DNS.
The second-generation Moto 360 is now available in Singapore at selected Newstead, Challenger, Best Denki, Courts, and Lenovo stores. Unlike the US store, where you can customise case, bezel, and band, Singapore offers only three predefined variations.
The BlackBerry PRIV, BlackBerry's first Android phone, arrives in Singapore from 12th December 2015 at S$1,098, sold via Singtel, M1, StarHub, and authorised partners. I'm impressed by it: the build is solid and it's remarkably thin.
The new Sonos PLAY:5 is now available in Singapore for S$999, sold at IT stores like Challenger and online via TC Acoustic. It delivers studio-quality sound through six synchronised custom drivers, with three mid-woofers producing smooth mids and deep bass.
The Apple iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch iPad, is now available for pre-order in Singapore and 39 other countries, with delivery from 13th November 2015. It comes in silver, gold, and space grey, in 32GB and 128GB.
Apple Pay is coming to Singapore, alongside Hong Kong and Spain, in 2016 for American Express cardholders. First revealed by Tim Cook on Apple's Q4 2015 earnings call, Amex confirmed it would let members pay with an iPhone.
After Amazon, Target now ships to Singapore too, though without a free shipping option. Deliveries go via Aramex or DHL Express, with the choice to pay taxes at checkout or on delivery; 7% GST applies if your order exceeds S$400.
Apple may open Singapore's first Apple Store next year at Knightsbridge on Orchard Road, per an email to Pure Fitness Knightsbridge patrons. The Pure Group confirmed it will close its Knightsbridge gym on 15th December 2015, fuelling the speculation.
Huawei opens Nexus 6P pre-orders in Singapore from 2nd to 11th November 2015 on Lazada, with first deliveries expected around the 16th or 17th. Only the 64GB and 128GB models will be sold here, each in Graphite and Aluminium.
Netflix is coming to Singapore in early 2016, alongside South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Here's hoping the local catalogue of movies and TV series is a good one. Netflix is the American on-demand streaming service expanding rapidly worldwide.
Happy 50th Birthday, Singapore! You've come a long way since 9th August 1965, and I can't wait to see what the next 50 years bring. I love the cleverly photoshopped image above by Sheng Long Lua.
Google Play Movies is now available in Singapore, alongside Indonesia and Malaysia. Standard-definition rentals range from S$3.98 to S$4.98, and high-definition from S$4.98 to S$5.98, though not every title is offered for rent, with purchase options also available.
The much-anticipated OnePlus 2, announced on 28th July 2015, reaches Singapore in Q4 2015 at S$538 for the 64GB model. I handled it at the local media event on 31st July and loved the solid, premium feel of its build.
Accompanying the #LEGORebuildSG campaign are four LEGO SG50 Limited Edition Singapore Icons Mini Builds, depicting quintessential local icons: the Cable Car, Ice Cream Bike, HDB Flats, and Dragon Playground. They're redeemable at selected stores with a minimum S$50 purchase.