Archive for the ‘Microsoft’ Category

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Get Microsoft Windows 8 NOW!

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Update (18 July, 2012):

Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky has just announced at its annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 on 26 October, 2012. This will be available both as an upgrade or on a new PC.

Wonder if the Surface will be available at the same date?

Microsoft has announced that the Windows 8 Release Preview is now available for download in 14 languages.

Those who purchase eligible Windows 7-based PCs from 2 June can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for S$17.99 later on.

Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download now.

Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download now.

Windows 8 is entering the final stages of development and is on the road to general availability.

The Release Preview is available for download here, where you can also view a video of Windows 8 in action.

Notable improvements throughout the platform includes:

  • Improvements to Mail, Photos and People apps since Consumer Preview.
  • Increased personalization options for the Start screen.
  • Improved multi-monitor support.
  • Refinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows Store.
  • New Family Safety features and enriched privacy and security controls when browsing online, including Do Not Track capabilities being turned on by default with Internet Explorer 10.
  • Enriched support for touch with Internet Explorer 10, including a new capability with Release Preview called “flip ahead” that allows users the option to flip between pages with the swipe of a finger, as well as a touch-friendly Adobe Flash Player now fully integrated into IE10.
  • New Bing apps, including those for Travel, News and Sports

For those planning to purchase new computers that currently come with Windows 7, Microsoft is rolling out the Windows Upgrade Offer program in 131 markets.

From June 2, 2012 to January 31, 2013, those who buy eligible PCs with Windows 7 can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of S$17.99 (including GST).

Other offers will be announced later to help those with existing Windows 7-based PCs upgrade to Windows 8.

For more details about the Release Preview, check out this inside look from the Windows engineering team.

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Posted in App, Availability, Flash, Gadgets, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Notebooks, Prices, Software, Tablets, Tech news, Tickers, Windows 8 | 6 Comments »

Microsoft and Tata Communications join OVCC

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Microsoft Corp, Tata Communications, ACT Conferencing, and Kathea have joined the Open Visual Communications Consortium (OVCC).

Official website of the Open Visual Communications Consortium (OVCC).
The OVCC is a group of leading service and solution providers creating the blueprint to deliver high-quality video collaboration that connects any vendor, any network and any device, anywhere.

Six months after the launch of the OVCC in October 2011, there are now 23 members in the independent group.

OVCC members contribute to and implement the OVCC technical and commercial blueprint, using established standards and best practices to accelerate and commercialize business-to-business video communications.

OVCC members are committed to providing video around the world to enable enterprise users to place and receive video calls beyond corporate firewalls and across standards-based and proprietary video platforms.

The first OVCC services are scheduled to launch later this year.

Service providers will develop and implement OVCC technical and commercial specifications based on industry standards, best practices and business approaches to answer the need for interconnection, addressing, signaling, interoperability and service coordination.

Interoperable, high-quality connectivity across networks and devices should allow network providers to profitably and predictably monetize their inter-enterprise video exchanges.

By making interoperability requirements invisible to the enterprise, the OVCC specification enables enterprise users to leverage video conferencing investments and enable more efficient value chains – spanning customers, distributors and suppliers – to improve the speed and efficiency of doing business.

Video collaboration stakeholders interested in closing video connectivity gaps can meet OVCC members in person at TIA in Dallas, Texas, June 5-7, or at CommunicAsia in Singapore, June 19-22.

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Posted in Announce, Enterprise IT, Microsoft, Tata Communications, Video | No Comments »

Anybody wants a 40-inch tablet computer?

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Microsoft and Samsung has unveiled the latest in surface computing in SouthEast Asia – the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface.

Prices for Singapore are estimated to be S$15k with LCD display only, and another S$750 to include the stand.

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft

New PixelSense Technology enables the Samsung SUR40 to “see” and respond to touch and objects, creating new possibilities for interactive displays in various settings.

Embedding the SUR40 in a table

Embedding the Samsung SUR40 in a table

With Microsoft’s PixelSense technology, LCD panels can see and respond to touch and objects without using cameras.

SUR40 will allow people to share, collaborate and explore together using a large, thin (4-inch profile) display that recognises fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen.

The interactive 40-inch Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) LCD panel can be used horizontally as a table, mounted vertically on a wall or embedded in other fixtures and furniture.

The collaboration between Microsoft Surface 2.0 software and Samsung’s display technology is now available through the Samsung channel and reseller partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

SUR40 embedded in a table

Samsung SUR40 embedded in a table

Pricing and availability of the SUR40 may vary across countries and/or regions based on country-specific duties, taxes and fees.

Key specifications of the SUR40 is listed below.

(more…)

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Posted in Announce, Gadgets, Microsoft, Prices, Samsung, Specifications, Tablets, TV | 1 Comment »

BlackBerry OS vs iOS vs Windows Phone vs Android

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Trend Micro has released the results of its study on the four main mobile operating systems in a report titled “Enterprise Readiness of Consumer Mobile Platforms”.

The security firm found the BlackBerry 7 OS the most secure mobile operating system, followed by iOS 5, Windows Phone 7.5, and Android 2.3.

Summary chart from “Enterprise Readiness of Consumer Mobile Platforms” White Paper by Trend Micro.

Summary chart from “Enterprise Readiness of Consumer Mobile Platforms” White Paper by Trend Micro.

Android 2.3 was used in the study because it was the dominant installed/supplied version of Google’s mobile OS at the time of the research.

Below is an excerpt from the White Paper summarising the findings about the four mobile platforms.

(more…)

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Posted in Android, Apple, BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Enterprise IT, Figures, Gadgets, Google, iOS, iPhone, Microsoft, Phones, RIM, Security, Software, Study, Windows Phone 7 | No Comments »

Nanyang Polytechnic students win Singapore’s Microsoft Imagine Cup Championship 2012

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Out of 85 entries, Team AlphaWaves from Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore emerged the national champion of the Singapore Finals.

Their project was “Dementia Assistance and Recall Engine (DARE)” – a web-based digital scrapbook designed to capture and organize the past memories in a personalized digital format.

Team AlphaWaves from Nanyang Polytechnic is the Singapore Imagine Cup 2012 national champion. From left: Ziriad Saibi, Director, Platform and Developer Evangelism Group, Microsoft Singapore, Koh Kai Wei, Eustace Zheng Xiangwen, Nur Nadiah Binte Zailani, Mong Yunheng, Shen Yizhe, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore.

Team AlphaWaves from Nanyang Polytechnic is the Singapore Imagine Cup 2012 national champion. From left: Ziriad Saibi, Director, Platform and Developer Evangelism Group, Microsoft Singapore, Koh Kai Wei, Eustace Zheng Xiangwen, Nur Nadiah Binte Zailani, Mong Yunheng, Shen Yizhe, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore. (Photo: Microsoft)

The aim of DARE, as part of reminiscence therapy, is to stimulate recall of past memories through photographs and other media (e.g. sound, video) that can be presented on a PC or tablet to remind the elderly and persons with dementia of their past and who they are.

“Technology empowers the individual to make the world accessible according to their own needs,” said Nur Nadiah Bte Zailani, Team AlphaWaves, champions of Singapore Imagine Cup 2012.The project was based on this year’s theme to “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.”

More than 2700 students registered for this year’s Singapore competition. 16 teams met at the Semi-finals at *SCAPE, Level 4, GRID MMS yesterday to vie for four places in the Finals today.

“Built on Windows 8 and Windows Azure, DARE will have an active link to user’s brainwaves to analyze and make sense of their cognitive and mental abilities to help in stimulating their recall capabilities,” Zailani elaborated.Team AlphaWaves beat the other three finalists which comprised a team from Nanyang Technological University (1st Runners-up), a joint team from Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic (2nd Runners-up), and another team from Nanyang Polytechnic (3rd Runners-up).

All four finalists received prizes comprising Microsoft products which included Kinect Bundles.

Team AlphaWaves, however, won the only coveted slot to represent Singapore in the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals in Sydney in July.

Team AlphaWaves from Nanyang Polytechnic is the Singapore Imagine Cup 2012 national champion.

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Posted in Contest, Microsoft | No Comments »

Imagine Cup encourages the use of technology to help the less fortunate

Friday, April 13th, 2012

16 Singaporean teams will meet in the Semi-finals of the Imagine Cup today – out of which four will enter the Finals tomorrow.

The winning team will get to represent Singapore at the global Imagine Cup finals in Sydney in July 2012.

Singapore’s Microsoft Imagine Cup Championship 2012

Singapore’s Microsoft Imagine Cup Championship 2012

Microsoft Singapore is holding Campfire 2012 on today and tomorrow at *SCAPE, Level 4, GRID MMS. The Imagine Cup is the highlight of the two-day event.

Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s student technology and software competition which challenges students aged 16 and above to use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to help solve global challenges and make a difference in the world.

Initially branded as the Asia Pacific Student .NET Competition in 2001, the name of the competition was changed to “Imagine Cup” in 2003.

The tournament is held at the national and international levels. The Singapore chapter of the competition was held for the first time in 2003. The winners get to take part in the Worldwide Finals, which is traditionally held in a different country each year.

This year, students have been tasked to use technology to make a difference in the lives of people in their local communities and around the world, addressing issues in education, healthcare and environmental sustainability.

These projects include – eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.

More than 2700 students registered for this year’s Singapore competition, resulting in more than 85 entries in the Software Design Category.

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Posted in Contest, Microsoft | 1 Comment »

Pit your phone against a Windows Phone for S$100

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Get ready to be smoked by a Windows Phone?!

Today and tomorrow, prove to the Microsoft Windows Phone crew that your smartphone (of any make and OS) is faster than the Windows Phone and walk away S$100 richer.

The video above is from a similar “Smoked by Windows Phone” campaign in the US, showing challengers with Android smartphones and Apple’s iPhones.

Paul Foster and his Windows Phone crew will be hitting the roads in Singapore looking for challengers to the cash prize. Catch them at the following locations and timings.

9 March (Friday)
11.30am – 1.30pm Boat Quay / Raffles Place / Chevron House
2.30pm – 5.00pm IT Show 2012, Level 6, Hall 602, Booth 6441
5.30pm – 7.30pm Raffles City / Marina Square
10 March (Saturday)
11.30am – 1.30pm Raffles City / Marina Square / Suntec City
2.30pm – 5.00pm IT Show 2012, Level 6, Hall 602, Booth 6441
5.30pm – 7.30pm Bugis Junction / National Library / Sim Lim Square

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Posted in Apple, Contest, Gadgets, iPhone, Microsoft, Phones, Software, Windows Phone 7 | 1 Comment »

RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Three months after Research In Motion (RIM) and Microsoft released the open beta version in more than 30 countries, the general availability of “BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365” has been launched in over 50 countries today.

RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365 is a new service for business and government organizations that extends Microsoft Exchange Online to BlackBerry smartphones and allows customers to manage their BlackBerry deployments in the cloud.

“This new cloud-based option allows customers to cost-effectively support mobility across their organizations and easily manage and secure their BlackBerry deployments,” said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at RIM.The service is available at no additional charge to current enterprise subscribers of the Office 365 suite or standalone Exchange Online and works with BlackBerry smartphones on business or consumer data plans.

BlackBerry Business Cloud Services offers advanced administration and flexible smartphone self-service features to support an organization’s BlackBerry deployment in the cloud.

Managed service providers, systems integrators, carriers, resellers and other partners can also use the cloud service to manage BlackBerry deployments on behalf of their customers.

Key features remains the same as the open beta version and include the following:

  • Wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Online email, calendar and organizer data from a BlackBerry smartphone
  • BlackBerry Balance technology, which presents a unified view of work and personal content on a BlackBerry smartphone while keeping the content separate and secure
  • An intuitive web-based console for IT administrators to provision, manage and secure BlackBerry smartphones from anywhere
  • Online access to employee self-service smartphone security functions, allowing users to easily reset a device password or remotely lock or wipe a device in the event of loss or theft

Customers can go to www.blackberry.com/cloudservices to get started.

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Posted in App, BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Launch, Microsoft, Office, Phones, RIM, Software | No Comments »

Samsung Omnia W available in Singapore

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphone from Samsung will be available in Singapore this month at S$498 (incl GST, excl line contract).

Update (6 January 2012): The Omnia W will be available for purchase starting from 7 January.

Samsung Omnia W, available in Singapore on 7 Jaunuary at S$498 (incl GST, excl line contract).

Samsung Omnia W, available in Singapore on 7 Jaunuary at S$498 (incl GST, excl line contract).

First announced back in November last year, the Omnia W is the first smartphone from Samsung using Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango operating system.

I played with the phone during its launch yesterday together with two other smartphones (GALAXY Nexus and GALAXY W) and two tablets (GALAXY Tab 7.7 and GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus).

The Omnia W uses Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

The Omnia W uses Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

The phone was fast and responsive and the interface reminded me of Nokia’s newly launched Lumia 800, which is also based on Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.

Samsung’s Omnia W has a sleek design with a metallic finish and a rich 3.7” Super AMOLED display, giving vivid clarity for photos and videos captured with the 5MP camera.

The latest Windows Phone version provides enhanced usability including superior web browsing with integration of Internet Explorer 9 and Bing, as well as Office Hub that provides productivity on-the-go.

The smartphone includes Samsung-exclusive productivity apps including Samsung AllShare that provides seamless content transfer between the smartphone and other DLNA-enabled devices such as HDTVs, monitors and digital cameras.

Here are the main technical specifications of the Omnia W.

(more…)

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Posted in Events, Gadgets, Internet Explorer, Launch, Lumia, Microsoft, Omnia, Phones, Prices, Samsung, Specifications, Windows Phone 7 | 2 Comments »

Dedicated K-Pop channel on MSN

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

MSN portals across Asia Pacific Region will host entertainment channels offering fans a chance to win a trip to Osaka, Japan for the January 2012 Golden Disk Awards.

MSN portals dedicated to Hallyu fans in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines and Korea.

MSN portals dedicated to Hallyu fans in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines and Korea.

Fans of K-Pop or ‘Hallyu’, will now be able to visit their local MSN websites across Asia to get the latest updates on their favourite popstars and songs, as the portals unveil dedicated channels in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines.

In Singapore, the xinMSN’s Hallyu Channel gives fans full access to in-depth features, backstage photo galleries and even videos of the top events and happenings in the world of Hallyu.

Golden Disk Awards 2012

As the official partner of the prestigious Golden Disk Awards 2012 in the region, MSN portals will provide exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content.

2012 will be the second straight year that the “MSN International Award” will be presented to the artist with the No.1 song of the past year – the winner will be selected based on tallying judges’ assessment and fans’ votes.

This is the only award that allows the fans’ voices to be heard directly, and the nominees include ‘Mr. Simple’ by Super Junior, ‘The Boys’ by Girls Generation, ‘Fiction’ by Beast and ‘Lonely’ by 2NE1.

Fans can log onto their local MSN portals to cast their votes until December 26th, 2011.

Contest on MSN

By participating in The Search for the Golden K-Pop Fan, the lucky winners could walk away with an all expenses trip for 2 to the Golden Disk Awards 2012.

There are three ways to participate in the contest, choose from any of the following:

Photo competition – The K-Fanatic: Take a photo of your K-Pop memorabilia collection and show us what it takes to be a true fan!

Photo/Video contest – Star Style: Which K-Pop star inspires your fashion sense the most? Emulate the look and score some brownie points with your signature dance move.

Video contest – Charming Crooner: Let us hear your desire to join the stars by singing a tune or two by your favourite band. Keep things short and sweet by sending a video that’s below one minute long.

To enter the MSN Golden Disk Awards competition, fans can visit the following links in their local countries to begin voting immediately.

All prize winners will be notified by email, and the results of the Contest will be published on the Contest Site on 2nd Jan 2012.

Entries close on 29th December 2011. The competition is open to participants above 18 years of age residing in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Korea.

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Posted in Contest, Events, Internet, Lifestyle, Microsoft, Performance | No Comments »

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