3,445 posts
since 2002
I bought the Vantec NexStar SATA/IDE to USB 3.0 Adapter from Challenger for S$59.90, or S$53.91 with member's price. As the name suggests, it converts an internal SATA or PATA drive to USB 3.0 for plug-and-play access.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 is included in all CS6 suites and has been available in Singapore since late April 2012. Excluding taxes, a Photoshop CS6 upgrade costs S$302 and the full version S$1,057, while the CS6 Master Collection runs S$3,924.
Last week, Dell announced the XPS 14 Ultrabook, a new member of the XPS Ultrabook family. It's already available in Singapore, starting at S$1,399. The XPS 14 is built from machined aluminium in silver, with a silicone base.
If you're shopping for a laptop this year, you've likely encountered the buzzword Intel Ultrabook. Though not new, having been announced at Computex 2011, it's gone mainstream as OEMs like Dell, HP, Samsung, Asus, and Acer churn out more models.
Google Chrome has finally arrived on iOS as a universal app. I've tried it on both my iPhone 4S and iPad 2, and it works beautifully, replacing Safari on my devices. Sync of bookmarks, history, tabs, and preferences works perfectly.
Google launched several products at this morning's Google I/O 2012, including the Nexus 7 at US$199, the Nexus Q at US$299, and the Triad Bookshelf Speakers at US$399. It also announced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the update to Android 4.0.
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.
The Nokia Lumia 900 is what Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 7.5 should have been all along. Where the Lumia 800 felt rushed, the 900 feels just right. Sadly, Microsoft has effectively killed every current Windows Phone with Windows Phone 8.
Finally, prices in both the iOS App Store and Mac App Store in Singapore now display in Singapore Dollars rather than US Dollars. That means app prices won't fluctuate with the poor exchange rates banks apply.
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.
Earlier this morning, Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8 at the Windows Phone Developer Summit. Existing Windows Phone 7.5 Mango users won't be able to upgrade, due to hardware differences. Instead, they'll receive a minor Windows Phone 7.8 update.
Microsoft has jumped on the tablet bandwagon with the Surface. I'm unsure whether the official name is just Surface or Surface Tablet, since Surface used to mean Microsoft's huge touchscreen table. It seems Microsoft has renamed that older device PixelSense.
My four-year-old Hitachi 32-inch LCD TV, bought on 30th December 2007 for S$1,099, finally gave up, sound playing but no picture. Rather than pay an uneconomical repair, I bought a new Samsung Series 5 32-inch Slim LED Smart TV.
I ordered the Apple USB SuperDrive for S$98 alongside the Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. My only reason was that my brother and Li Xiang are getting a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro soon, so I'd grab a drive.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) 3G arrives in Singapore from 16th June 2012 for S$798, without contract and including 7% GST. It features a 10.1-inch WXGA 1280 x 800 display, HSDPA 21Mbps connectivity, a 1GHz dual-core processor, and weighs 587g.
I ordered the Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for S$38 on the very day it was announced at WWDC 2012, and it arrived the next day, so Apple has ready stock in Singapore. Funan's Multimedia Integrated didn't have it.
Did you know that students, educators, and Ministry of Education staff in Singapore can buy genuine Microsoft and Adobe products at a discount from mine.com.sg? That includes Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 and Adobe CS6 Design and Web Premium.
The HTC One S arrives in Singapore from Saturday, 16th June 2012, for S$948, in a single Gradient Metal finish and bundled with a free Beats Solo Headset. It runs Android 4.0 with HTC Sense on a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon.
I bought the Wacom Bamboo Stylus from The Software Boutique for S$42, choosing Black from six colours. Of the three styluses Li Xiang owns, the Sensu Artist Brush, Power Support Smart Pen, and Wacom Bamboo, she preferred the Bamboo.
The Nokia 808 PureView is now available in Singapore at a recommended S$839, without contract and including 7% GST. Black and white are available at launch, with no word on red. The price feels steep for a Nokia Belle phone.
Recoil Winders was the 7th Kickstarter project I backed, on 6th February 2012. It funded later that month, raising US$141,465 against a US$10,000 goal. After three months in the works, I finally received it on 4th June, having pledged US$55.
From 1st July 2012, SingTel's new Flexi plans affect new and re-contracting customers. The data bundle drops from 12GB to 2GB on Flexi Lite, where most of us sit, while the SMS quota rises from 550 to 800. Disappointing.