Archive for December, 2011

New photo-lighting accessory: Gami Light Soft Plus 43

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

The Soft Plus 43 – an attachment for Gami Light’s existing Square 43 flash photography accessory – is now available in Singapore for S$18.

Gami Light Soft Plus 43 - available in Singapore at S$18

Gami Light Soft Plus 43 - available in Singapore at S$18

The Soft Plus 43 helps to achieve an extra softness to photographs taken by diffusing the light before it reaches the reflective silver panels of Square 43.

Soft Plus 43 is an attachment for Gami Light’s existing Square 43 flash photography accessory.

Soft Plus 43 is an attachment for Gami Light’s existing Square 43 flash photography accessory.

The Square 43 retails separately at S$75.

The Soft Plus 43 can also be used on an individual flash for off-camera shooting.

By attaching it onto Square 43, the size of Square 43 reduces dramatically and fits easily into a bag.

Weighing a mere 0.1kg, it makes a nifty, lightweight addition to any inspiring photographer’s bag of tools.

Products from the Gami Light range are available at the Schmidt Marketing Flagship Store in Singapore at 391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City Tower A, #05-33.

Twitter app for BlackBerry smartphones update version 2.1

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Update version 2.1 of the free Twitter app by Research In Motion (RIM) is now available in BlackBerry App World, incorporating multi-account support and sharing via BBM.

Update v2.1 of Twitter app for BlackBerry smartphones features multi-user support.

Update v2.1 of Twitter app for BlackBerry smartphones features multi-user support.

The Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones v2.1 app is available for users running BlackBerry OS v5.0 and up.

Multi-account support integration with Social Feeds is available for users running BlackBerry 6 OS and up.

The updates include:

Easily share Tweets with BBM Contacts and Groups

Easily share Tweets with BBM Contacts and Groups

Multi-Account Support – Have up to five accounts on your Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones app. Switch between accounts and cross-post Tweets and Retweets from one account to another without switching the current account view.

Enhanced “Share with BBM” functionality – Easily share Tweets with BBM Contacts and Groups.

View multiple Twitter accounts in a single timeline – View a stream of Tweets from up to five Twitter accounts in the Social Feeds timeline, or opt to filter individual Twitter accounts.

Post a Tweet to multiple Twitter Accounts – Publish a Tweet to one or more Twitter accounts simultaneously using Social Feeds.

Prada phone available for pre-order by January 2012

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

The Prada Phone by LG 3.0 will be available for pre-order (prices TBD) in January 2012. Those who purchase the phone through the pre-order will receive a Prada-branded accessory with their phone.

Prada Phone by LG 3.0

Prada Phone by LG 3.0

Styled with Prada’s clean and sharp design philosophy, the handset features a full glossy touchscreen to the front and Prada’s signature Saffiano pattern at the rear, all finished in classic black.

Slim and sleek at only 8.5mm

Slim and sleek at only 8.5mm

An exclusive Grey and Black themed user-interface has been created in collaboration with Prada.

Using LG’s signature Floating Mass Technology, the phone will be extremely thin at only 8.5mm.

The phone will come with LG’s NOVA high brightness display, one of the biggest and brightest screen at 4.3inch and capable of displaying at 800-nit.

The Prada Phone by LG 3.0 will ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread with 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich available via and update.

Dual-band WIFI will enable high-speed mobile surfing.

Here are the main tech specs for the PRADA phone by LG 3.0:

Operating System Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread

(with update to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich)

Processor 1.0 GHz Dual-Core/Dual-Channel/Dual Memory
Display 4.3″ WVGA (800 x 480) NOVA Plus (800 nits)
Dimensions 127.5 x 69 x 8.5 mm
Camera Rear: 8.0MP with Auto Focus & LED

Front: 1.3MP

Video: 1080p recording

Connectivity Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, HDMI/MHL, NFC, A-GPS
Network HSPA+ 21Mbps
Memory Up to 8GB internal + micro SD
Battery 1540 mAh Lithium-ion

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.

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.

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.

Apple’s Mac App Store hits 100 million downloads

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

In less than one year, 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store.

Apple's Mac App Store tops 100 million downloads.

Apple's Mac App Store tops 100 million downloads.

“With Autodesk products in both the App Store and Mac App Store, we can reach hundreds of millions of Apple users around the world,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president of Platform Solutions and Emerging Business at Autodesk. “With our free AutoCAD WS and the more powerful professional drafting tools of AutoCAD LT, we’re using the Mac App Store to deliver new products and reach a growing base of new Mac customers.”With thousands of free and paid apps, the Mac App Store brings the App Store experience to the Mac.

Users can buy apps using their  iTunes account, and download and install them in just one step.

Apple’s App Store now has more than 500,000 apps.

Overall, customers have downloaded more than 18 billion apps and continue to download more than 1 billion apps per month.

The Mac App Store offers thousands of apps in Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity, Utilities and other categories.

“The Mac App Store has unparalleled reach and has completely transformed our distribution and development cycle,” said Saulius Dailide of the Pixelmator Team. “Offering Pixelmator 2.0 exclusively on the Mac App Store allows us to streamline updates to our image editing software and stay ahead of the competition.”Users can browse new and noteworthy apps, find out what’s hot, see staff favourites, search categories and look up top charts for paid and free apps, as well as user ratings and reviews.

The Mac App Store is included with Mac OS X Lion and is available as a software update for any Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Mac developers set the prices for their apps, keep 70 percent of the sales revenue, are not charged for free apps and do not have to pay hosting, marketing or credit card fees.

Technical specifications: Huawei Honor

Monday, December 12th, 2011

The long-battery-life Huawei Honor smartphone was launched on 7 December 2011 and will be available in Singapore from 16 December at S$528 (incl 7% GST).

Networks WCDMA/HSPA+ 900/2100 MHz; GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Speed HSPA+ DL 14Mbps/UL 5.76Mbps
Display 4″ FWVGA (854×480 pixels) capacitive touch screen
Operating System Android Gingerbread 2.3
Memory 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM, up to 32GB micro SD
Camera 8 megapixel autofocus HD and 0.3 megapixel
Size/Weight 122mm x 61.5mm x 10.9mm (LxWxT) / 135g
Connectivity WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, micro-USB connector, 3.5mm audio jack, DLNA-certified
Processor 1.4 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon
Audio FM radio, MP3 ringtones, Dual-MIC
Battery 1900 mAh Lithium-ion
Sensors Accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, Gyro, compass, Assisted GPS
Additional Access to CloudDrive (available end Q1 2012)

 

Technical specifications: Huawei Vision

Monday, December 12th, 2011

The stylishly designed Huawei Vision smartphone was launched on 7 December 2011 and is available at S$438 (incl 7% GST).

Networks UMTS 900/2100MHz; GSM 900/1800/1900MHz
Speed DL 14.4Mbps / UL 5.76Mbps
Display 3.7″ WVGA (800×480) capacitive touch screen
Operating System Android Gingerbread 2.3
Memory 512MB RAM, 2GB ROM, up to 32GB micro SD
Camera 5 megapixel and 0.3 megapixelAutofocus with LED flashHD video recording to 720p
Size/Weight 118.5mm x 59.5mm x 9.9mm (LxWxT) / 121g
Connectivity WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, micro-USB connector, 3.5mm audio jack
Processor 1.4 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon
Audio FM radio, 72 polyphonic ringtones
Battery 1400 mAh Lithium-ion
Talk time (3G) up to 400 min
Standby time (3G) up to 400h
Sensors Accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, compass, GPS (& assisted GPS)
Additional Preloaded games include Angry Birds, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Order & Chaos Online, and Guerilla Bob HD

 

Listening to the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Curious as to the performance of the newly launched Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker, I paid a visit to the Somerset showroom of Atlas Sound & Vision to try it out.

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker @ 111 Somerset

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker @ 111 Somerset

The Atlas showroom at 111 Somerset occupies two levels, with three sound rooms on the upper level. The shiny white sound rooms reminded me of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. – minimalist with round corners and viewports that looked out onto the Somerset Road outside.

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speakerThe first impression of the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker was how compact it was – less than two inches thick and about the size of a hard cover text book.

At 1.3 kg, it’s not exactly feather weight, but it’s definitely light enough to tote around to a party, a hotel room or even throw in the back of a car. The design is sleek and classy as well.

Setting up is straightforward. Open the cover and fold it backwards to become a stand – like the cover for the iPad 2. Closing the cover back automatically turns off the speaker.
Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speakerTo connect, simply turn on Bluetooth on the mobile device – be it a smartphone, tablet or laptop – and press a button on the speaker. The two devices hook up automatically and gives you a beep.

Sleek and classy design

Sleek and classy design

Simply play the song on the mobile device. You can control the volume from the mobile device itself.

Sound wise, the quality was surprisingly impressive, considering I had reservations about the degradation that the Bluetooth connection would impose.

Mid-range and treble was excellent, although the bass could be stronger. But considering how small the speaker was, the bass performance was already pretty impressive.

Placing the speaker against the wall improves the bass somewhat – 3 dB according to the sales staff.

And if you don’t need the wireless connectivity, you can bypass the Bluetooth degradation by connecting an audio cable from the source to the speaker.

Bring the SoundLink to the beach as a boom box!

Bring the SoundLink to the beach as a boom box!

As with other Bose audio products, the SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker does not come cheap, but its price tag reflects the confidence that Bose has in its audio products.

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker at S$549 and S$639 for the standard and premium versions.

The standard speaker is priced at S$549 while the LX model, with premium trim level and leather cover, sets you back by S$639.

Accessory covers in nylon (bright red or royal purple) and leather (burgundy or tan) are available separately for S$59 and S$99, respectively.