As scheduled during their launch in January, the GALAXY Nexus (S$948, Black and White) and GALAXY Tab 7.7 (S$898) are available in Singapore from today. All prices include GST but exclude line contract.
Samsung GALAXY Nexus smartphone,S$948, available from today.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.7 tablet, S$898, available from today.
The Curve 9380 is the first BlackBerry Curve smartphone with a touch display. Check with Telcos for plans and pricing.
The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is available in Singapore TODAY!
The sleek and stylish all-touch BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphone is powered by BlackBerry 7 OS, which delivers a faster and richer user experience.
The 9380 is the first BlackBerry Curve smartphone with a touch display.
It also includes the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, and comes with a variety of personal and productivity apps out of the box.
“The new BlackBerry Curve 9380 comes with a sleek new all-touch design that features a larger display that enhances web browsing, games and multimedia,” Hastings Singh, Vice President, South Asia at Research In Motion.The new BlackBerry 7 OS introduces an enhanced browser that provides a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience.
It also offers optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.
The popular universal search capability has also been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to begin searching for information on their device and the web.
Here is the specs sheet for the BlackBerry Curve 9380.
In addition, the BlackBerry Curve 9380 includes built-in support for Augmented Reality and NFC, allowing users to connect with the world around them in fresh new ways.
With the Wikitude Augmented Reality application, users can find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time, read reviews about restaurants close to them, or get the story behind an interesting landmark and points of interest.
NFC enables many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.
The Coral Pink version of the Samsung GALAXY S II smartphone will be available in Singapore on 18 February 2012, at S$888 (incl. GST, excl. line contract).
Coral Pink Samsung GALAXY S II Android smartphone will be available in Singapore from 18 February at S$888.
Also, the GALAXY Nexus (S$948, Black and White) and GALAXY Tab 7.7 (S$898) are available in Singapore from today. All prices include GST but exclude line contract.
Dell improves Fluid Data architecture for more flexibility in meeting the changing demands of organisations, and for increased automation for management of primary, backup and archive data.
Dell has a range of data solutions for SMBs and large enterprises.
Enhancements include new storage backup, application and networking solutions to help SMBs and large enterprises.
“With Dell‟s new primary, archive and backup storage solutions, the Dell Fluid Data architecture delivers the storage intelligence customers need to deal with a sea of constant IT change without driving up costs, wasting time or continually replacing infrastructure.”Dell’s Fluid Data architecture is designed to enable customers to manage more information more effectively.
Specifically, the enhancements include the following:
The solutions are listed below:
- Dell Compellent VMware vSphere Storage APIs for Array Integration
- Dell Compellent Storage Replication Adapter (SRA) for Site Recovery Manager 5
- Dell Compellent vSphere 5 Client Plug-In and Enterprise Manager-vSphere 5 Integration
Availability
Currently available:
First quarter 2012:
Detailed descriptions of the solutions can be found in the press release below.
The 16-megapixel SZ-31MR has 24x zoom, shoots Full HD movie, gets iHS and high-res touch LCD. It’ll be available in May 2012 in either black or silver.
The Olympus SZ-31MR comes in either black or silver
Olympus claims that the new SZ-31MR has the lightest, smallest (and cutest) body of any compact with a 20-plus optical zoom.
Olympus SZ-31MR
The SZ Traveller range is the first to capture 1080 Full HD movies and 16-megapixel stills simultaneously, using Olympus’ Multi Recording (MR) technology.
The AF is faster, the LCD is brighter and – thanks to the new touch interface – features like Multi Framing and Live Guide are even easier to use.
The SZ-31MR can now record movies and stills at high frame rates, and play back photo slideshows with music and transition effects.
Olympus SZ-31MR has 24x optical zoom
The SZ-31MR is an extraordinary compact, despite its 24x wide optical zoom lens from 25-600mm (35mm equivalent).
The new iHS (Intelligence, High Sensitivity and High Speed) technologies make it possible to capture good blur-free images in the most challenging conditions, for example in low light or with backlight.
iHS draws on Olympus’ 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and two separate TruePic V image processors (originally developed for D-SLR cameras) to dramatically improve low-light performance, speed up camera response and enhance scene and subject recognition.
Olympus SZ-31MR has16 megapixels
Combined with high-speed sequential shooting and high-speed autofocus, iHS cuts down picture noise and enhances resolution and colour gradation with fast-moving subjects, night scenes and other tricky shots.
Multi motion Movie IS and Dual Image Stabilisation all but eliminate blur, even when you are walking and shooting at the same time.
IS is crucial with macros or close-ups of inaccessible subjects, when even the slightest wobble might otherwise ruin stand-out shots that regular lightweight compacts, with their weaker zoom lenses, simply can’t deliver.
Olympus SZ-31MR shoots Full HD
When time is tight, Multi Recording and Multi Framing give another big advantage: You never have to choose between capturing one-off scenes as a 1080 Full HD movie or still photo – nor as a close-up or broader shot.
The SZ-31MR lets you do both.
A simple tap on the bright 3-inch 920,000-dot LCD takes a photo while you are filming.
Olympus SZ-31MR
Or resets the point of focus, shutter speed and zoom factor – all without interrupting your movie recording.
The touch-sensitive screen also gives you direct access to Live Guide, which in i-Auto mode displays a sliding scale that you can move with your finger to adjust key parameters such as brightness and depth of field.
You can check the effect of your changes in real time before you capture the scene.
Main features for the SZ-31MR:
It’s confirmed! The Olympus E-M5 (from the new OM-D series) has been launched in Singapore in sync with the launch in Japan. The Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable lens (MIL) camera will be available in late March. Price TBC.
Retro-looking Olympus OM-D E-M5 launched today some 40 years after the original OM film SLR. Photo taken with PEN E-P3.
Most of the speculation prior to the actual launch turned out to be spot-on. The camera will be launched in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
“The four-thirds traditional DSLR like the E-5 is not dead. Even now, the staff at Tokyo HQ are discussing what the successor to the E-5 should be like,” Toshiyuki Terada, Group Leader of Product and Marketing Planning Group.The launch will then be held in Amsterdam for the European countries next week.
The key question everybody is asking is whether the four-thirds DSLR, viz the E-5, E-30, E620 line of traditional DSLRs is dead.
Many in the industry that I’ve spoken to thinks so.
So I posed the question to Toshiyuki Terada, Group Leader of Product and Marketing Planning Group.
Toshiyuki Terada san, holding an E-M5 doused in water.
Terada-san said that the four-thirds DSLR are not dead.
According to him – even now, the Tokyo staff is discussing what the successor to the E-5 will be like.
E-5 is the flagship four-thirds traditional DSLR in Olympus’ four-thirds line.
Terada acknowledges that the higher end professional photographers will, for the moment, prefer the E-5 as the primary camera.
But the micro four-thirds mirrorless cameras are gaining very rapidly in popularity (especially with the younger generation) and capability.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.
Looking at the OM-D E-M5, it does look like a “bridge” between the PEN E-P3 and the E-5.
Newly unveiled Olympus OM-D E-M5
Main improvements in plugging that gap is the increased auto-focus speed and the built-in electronic viewfinder, together with a host of other sweeteners.
Probably due to physics, it is still not possible for the OM-D to be a replacement for the E-5.
Only time will tell if the traditional DSLR will follow the way of the film cameras, or will the MIL cameras themselves be eventually replaced by higher performing prosumer compacts.
The camera will come with an M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-55mm f3.5-6.3 EZ kit lens.
In addition, two new micro four thirds lenses – ED 75mm f/1.8 and ED 60mm f/2.8 macro lenses – were also unveiled to be under development.
Two new Micro Four Thirds lenses under development - ED 75mm f/1.8 and ED 60mm f/2.8 macro lenses.
The design mock-up of these lenses will be exhibited at CP+ in Yokohama, Japan from 9-12 February, 2012.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 comes in black or silver but kit lens only comes in black.
Main specifications of the OM-D E-M5
After much speculation and buzz over the past few weeks, Olympus will be launching, worldwide, their new micro four-thirds camera today. It is believed to be the new OM-D/E-M5 (speculated price: SGD1,600 or JPY100,000).
The widely anticipated Olympus launch event
I’ll be attending the Singapore launch later on today. For now, this is what the rumour mills out there speculate. We’ll see how close to the truth later on today.
Front view of the anticipated Olympus OM-D E-M5 (Photo: 43Rumors)
The OM-D/E-M5 is believed to be a micro four thirds mirrorless interchangeable lens camera based in design on the retro OM-series of film SLRs from Olympus.
The camera is expected to have a 16 megapixel sensor, five-axis image stabilisation, an ISO range of 200 to 25,600, a hot-shoe for external flash, and a 3-inch 610k-dot OLED-based touch-screen, as well as a built-in 1.44-megapixel electronic viewfinder.
It’s supposed to have superfast auto-focus and 3D tracking, burst shooting of four frames per second, shutter speeds between 60 and 1/4000th of a second.
Rear view of the OM-D E-M5 (Photo:43Rumors)
Body dimensions could be 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7 inches), weighing 369 grams (about 0.8 pounds).
Two photos of the camera were leaked and withdrawn on Amazon Japan, but not before 43Rumors downloaded them and posted them. The pictures show the camera with a battery grip.
Lens-wise, two new micro four thirds lenses – 75mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 macro lenses – may be launched in conjunction with the camera.
Some believe it’s a higher end PEN E-P3 in the class of E-5.
Nikon has launched, worldwide, the successor to the D700. The 36.3-megapixel D800 (approx. S$3,750) will be available in March, while the D800E (approx. 10% more at S$4,100) will be available in April.
D4 (S$9,799) and D800 (S$4,488) go on sale in Singapore on 22 Mar.
Nikon launched the D800 and D800E DSLRs worldwide today.
The 36.3 megapixel, FX-format DSLRs boast the highest effective pixel count in the world.
In Singapore, Nikon launched the D800 and D800E in the Pan Pacific Hotel, together with the slew of 12 COOLPIX cameras that it had announced one week ago.
But the star of the event was undoubtedly the D800 and D800E.
Main features
Both have a powerful new EXPEED 3 image processing engine, 36.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, and 91k-pixel RGB sensor (for Advanced Scene Recognition) inside a light, single-piece magnesium body that is water and dust resistant.
They are capable of shooting broadcast quality video with high-fidelity audio recording.
The cinematographer will love the versatility of being able to shoot 1080p Full HD in both FX and DX based formats.
ISO ranges from 100 – 6400 (extensible to ISO 50 – 25,600)
The D800E offers even greater detail resolution
Nikon D800E with a battery grip
The D800E disables the aliasing and moiré pattern reduction operation performed by the optical low-pass filter in the D800 and most DSLRs, that result in a slight blurring of details.
By doing so, light passing through a NIKKOR lens is able to strike photodiodes directly for greater resolution in details.
This model is optimal for landscape and artistic photography, which demand higher detail resolution and clear definition.
Apart from this, the D800E possesses the same characteristics as the D800.
The detailed brochure for the two cameras can be viewed here.
I tried out the Nikon 1 V1 (and Nikon 1 J1) mirrorless interchangeable lens (MIL) digital camera over the Chinese New Year.
Here’s what I like and dislike about Nikon’s debut into this relatively new segment of digital cameras.
This is a joint review in partnership with Tech65.org. Check out their video review of the Nikon 1 V1 and J1.
Both the Nikon 1 V1 and J1 comes with a choice of 3 lenses. Their bundled prices are tabulated below.
| Nikkor Lens kit | Nikon 1 V1 | Nikon 1 J1 |
| 10mm | S$1,269 | S$969 |
| VR 10-30mm | S$1,199 | S$899 |
| 10mm + VR 10-30mm | S$1,399 | S$1,099 |
| VR 10-30mm + VR 30-110mm | S$1,449 | S$1,149 |
The Nikon 1 has a crop factor of 2.7, so the 10, 30 and 110 mm focal lengths of the Nikon 1 lenses are equivalent (35mm format) to 27, 81 and 297 mm respectively.
I like the simplicity and clean design of the camera. It’s as simple to use (actually simpler) as a digital compact, and yet it’s only slightly heftier than a compact, but with faster focusing and better image quality.
The new CX format 1-inch 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor is larger than those in compact cameras but smaller than other MIL cameras. It has a crop factor of 2.7 and allows lenses to be compact.
With a bigger sensor than most compacts, the image quality was noticeably better. Focusing was also very fast with its hybrid Contrast and Phase detection auto-focus.
So on those days that I just want a point-and-shoot that I can leave on auto and snap away at those precious spontaneous moments, this would be an ideal choice.
Such as when people come and go over the Chinese New Year period to “拜年” and you just want to shoot stills and videos of the kids spewing their well-wishing lines to earn their ang pows.
No need to frighten the kids with this gigantic and obstructive DSLR getting in the way. Besides, the design is retro and nice, very similar to the Olympus PEN, whose design I also like.
The main specs common to both V1 and J1.
And the white design of the Nikon 1 V1 that I used was the conversation topic drawing oohs and aahs from the subjects.
(That is invariably followed by more oohs and aahs when they hear the price of the camera).
On the main mode dial, you can see the four main shooting modes for using the camera. The usual Still shooting mode and Movie recording mode, as well as two interesting new modes: Motion Snapshot and Smart Photo Selector.
Motion Snapshot
The first time I shot with Motion Snapshot mode I really liked the effect. What happens is that when you half-press the shutter release button, the camera begins to record video in its buffer.
Planning to enjoy some romantic music during Valentine’s Day? Here are some gift ideas from a selection of stuff that I’ve covered in my blog previously.
Valentine's Day doodles by Suelyn Howe
First off, some doodles from Suelyn Howe that you can print out for use as your Valentine’s Day gift tag or card.
Bose OE2 (S$219) and OE2i (S$269) available in Singapore.
Now the audio gizmos. For improved depth and clarity, check out Bose’s new on-ear headphones, the OE2 (S$219) or OE2i (S$269), which deliver better audio performance than their predecessors and feature an updated look and stylish design.
To listen to music from a smartphone, check out the Pure White BlackBerry Bold 9900 (prices vary with Telcos), which is incredibly sexy and sleek.
With the unique white colour, she is sure to stand out in a crowd and always be looking for reasons to pull her phone out of her handbag.
Long evenings chatting on the phone to the boyfriend (that’s you) and BBM flirting (with you) will now be done in style!
For both listening to music and talking to you on the smartphone, check out the Bose Series 2 Bluetooth headset (S$249).
The headset assures conversations remain clear and natural – even in challenging environments, or when surrounding noise levels change suddenly.
Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2 (S$249)
For streaming music and movies, check out the Seagate GoFlex Satellite.
It is the first battery-powered external hard drive to wirelessly extend the storage capacity of any Wi-Fi enabled device such as your Bold 9900, iPad or any other tablet and mobile device.
Couples can stream their favorite videos, music and pictures from their GoFlex Satellite (S$299) straight to their mobile device.
With 500GB (or 300 HD movies), the GoFlex Satellite allows you to connect up to three devices simultaneously.
What’s even better – if you are on a road trip or in a café and you have no internet connection, the Satellite will still work as it creates its own Wi–Fi network.
