Archive for December 14th, 2011

Pure white BlackBerry Bold 9900 for Christmas

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Ready for a white Christmas? Check out the white Bold 9900 when it becomes available this Saturday.

Pure white BlackBerry 9900 from Research In Motion

Pure white BlackBerry 9900 from Research In Motion

The Pure White BlackBerry Bold 9900 was launched today and will become available in Singapore on 17th of December, Saturday – from all RIM’s authorized partners.

Powered by BlackBerry 7, 10.5mm, NFCSporting a brushed stainless steel frame, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet at only 10.5mm, and the first to include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications).

It is powered by BlackBerry 7.

The white BlackBerry Bold 9900 joins a slew of smartphones introducing white versions for this Christmas. Many of these have a white backing with dark front face.

The pure white BlackBerry Bold 9900 will be white throughout.

Since the popularity of the white iPhone from Apple, white versions of other smartphones have become something of a special edition.

I remember when  the black BlackBerry Bold 9900 was initially launched in 18 August 2011, one of the questions asked whether there would be a white version.

Francois Mahieu, Head of Product Management for RIM in Asia Pacific with the Bold 9900.

Francois Mahieu (left), Head of Product Management for RIM in Asia Pacific with the black Bold 9900.

Mr Francois Mahieu, head of product management for Research In Motion (RIM) in the Asia Pacific had mentioned during the launch party that there were no plans at that time to sell a white version, although it could be considered.

So RIM does respond to popular market demand – which is a good thing.

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Posted in BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Bold, Gadgets, Launch, Phones, RIM | 1 Comment »

Being alive and happy

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne could have been US$36 billion richer had he held on to his 10% in Apple in 1976.

In an Oct. 7 interview with Bloomberg, Wayne, 77, called Wozniak and Jobs “intellectual giants,” but “also felt it was going to be something of a roller coaster,” adding, “If I’d stayed with them, I was going to wind up the richest man in the cemetery.” Instead, he relinquished his stake 11 days after signing.

The $2,300 that he received in 1976 for the 10% stake would have become more than $36 billion today.

Warren Buffet would have hung on.

On hindsight, Wayne doesn’t seem to have any regrets.

He tells Bloomberg, “If I’d stayed with them, I was going to wind up the richest man in the cemetery.”

Read about Ronald Wayne and Apple’s founding in this Bloomberg story.

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Posted in Apple, Humour, Opinion, Tech news | No Comments »

New compact camera: Leica V-Lux 3

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

This versatile all-in-one camera for creative stills and video will be available from January 2012 at S$1,345.

Leica V-Lux 3 compact digital camera, available in January 2012

Leica V-Lux 3 compact digital camera, available in January 2012

The Leica V-Lux 3 is a new compact digital camera that  features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 – 108 mm f/2.8 – 5.2 ASPH super-telephoto zoom lens.

“The camera is an attractive alternative to entry-level DSLR cameras with interchangeable lenses,’ says Peter Kruschewski, product manager for Digital Compact Cameras at Leica Camera AG.That’s 25-600mm (35mm equivalent) in its focal length range.

This 24x optical zoom makes the camera flexible for shooting a wide range of photographic situations, from landscape, architecture and travel, to sports, portraits and wildlife.

The newly developed 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor promises exceptional image quality for all applications.

The V-Lux 3 comes with an extensive range of video options and video quality comparable with that delivered by premium-range camcorders.

25-600mm focal length, 24x zoom

25-600mm focal length, 24x zoom

The camera captures full-HD video in AVCHD format with 1920 × 1080 pixels and 60 full frames per second.

This 1080p60 video format captures fast movement in detail, and is ideal for conversion to alternative resolutions and refresh rates.

The entire 24-fold zoom range is available during video recording and an integrated stereo microphone with an electronic wind noise filter promises a crystal-clear soundtrack.

The Leica V-Lux 3 is versatile for shooting the whole spectrum of photograhy, from landscapes and portraits, to travel and sports.

The Leica V-Lux 3 is versatile for shooting the whole spectrum of photograhy, from landscapes and portraits, to travel and sports.

The V-Lux 3 boasts a high-speed burst-shooting capability, with bursts of 12 frames per second at full resolution, or 60 frames per second at a resolution of 3.5 megapixels – making it one of the fastest burst-shooting cameras in its class.

“This innovative ‘all-in-one’ solution combines classic photography functions with video quality that can only normally be found on premium camcorders,” says Sunil Kaul, Managing Director of Leica Camera Asia Pacific.The 3″ LCD display has 460,000 pixels and can be twisted and turned in almost any direction, allowing composition of shots at awkward angles.

The V-Lux 3 has an integrated handgrip for a steady grasp, while its light weight allows one-handed shooting. There is a dedicated button on the top deck of the camera for instant video recording.

Bundled with the camera Adobe Photoshop Elements, a photo organizing and editing software; and Adobe Premiere Elements for processing AVCHD video and addition of audio and video effects.

The Leica V-Lux 3 will be available from authorised Leica dealers from January 2012 at S$1,345 with 7%  GST.

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Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, Gadgets, Launch, Leica, Specifications | 1 Comment »