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Cisco sells new wireless-N USB adapter

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

In addition to the Linksys family of switches for wired devices, Cisco has also released the Linksys AE 1000 Wireless-N High-Performance USB Adapter (S$59), which enables users to upgrade their Windows-based laptops and desktops to the latest wireless-N technology.

The Linksys AE1000 Wireless-N USB adapter from Cisco.

The Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter provides Wireless-N capability to Windows desktop computers and laptops. It features selectable dual-band wireless-N, so that the computer can connect to either a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless network.

A USB extension cable and adapter base are included for improved wireless connectivity – ideal for hard-to-reach USB ports. Customisable security settings, such as WPA/WPA2 Personal and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise help avoid wireless freeloaders and Internet threats.

The Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter is priced at S$59.

Tags:adapter, Cisco, Linksys, USB, wireless-N
Posted in Accessories, Cisco, Desktops, Gadgets, Notebooks, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »

Cisco unveils new switches for wired home networking

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Even though Cisco has terminated the FLIP portable video recorder, its consumer products division continues to produce home networking equipment for wired devices. Today it unveiled three Linksys switches that promise both simplicity and performance.

The Linksys family of switches from Cisco for home networking of wired devices.

Cisco today unveiled three new powerful but simple-to-use Linksys switches for home office and entertainment use. These are the Linksys SE1500 (S$39), SE2500 (S$69) and SE2800 (S$99) switches.

“The new switches provide consumers and home workers with the ability to easily expand their home network and benefit from multi-connected high-bandwidth wired office and entertainment devices,” said Brett Wingo, General Manager, Cisco Home Networking Business Unit.

The new switches enable users to expand home networks and easily connect wired devices such as computers, printers, storage devices, scanners, games consoles, and Internet enabled TVs.

Complementing the Linksys E-Series routers, the new switches include features to enable faster and more simple wired connections. These include plug-and-play, making initial set up straightforward and eliminating the need for configuration. Quality of Service (QoS) traffic prioritisation technology lets auto-sensing ports automatically optimise speed for each connected device.

The power-saving modes include auto power-down to disable unused ports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart power for short cable runs. The switches are ideal for consumers or home office workers seeking an alternative to wireless connections for multiple wired devices, or simply to extend their existing network.

	Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch	Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Switch	Linksys SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Switch
<click to enlarge>
Num of Ports / Speed	5 x Fast Ethernet up to 100 Mbps	5 x Gigabit up to 1000 Mbps	5 x Gigabit up to 1000 Mbps
Price (SGD$)	S$39	S$69	S$99

The Linksys switches are available at the following retailers: Challenger Superstore, Harvey Norman, Best Denki, Courts, South Asia Computer, PK Computer, Inforcom Technologies, Fuwell, A Genuine Technology, Cybermind Computer House, Cyberactive Technology and Bizgram.

Tags:Cisco, Linksys, routers, switches
Posted in Accessories, Cisco, Gadgets, Launch, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »

Olympus announces SRP for PEN E-P3 kits at S$1,298 and S$1,548

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Olympus has announced the Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) of the PEN-E-P3 in Singapore. Available in black, silver and white and bundled with an 8 GB SD card, the 14-42mm Lens Kit is priced at S$1,298 (incl GST), while the Twin Lens Kit will set you back by S$1,548 (incl GST).

Olympus E-P3 14-42mm Lens Kit, priced at S$1,298.00 (incl GST).

The E-P3 14-42mm Lens Kit is priced at S$1,298.00 (incl GST) and includes both the body and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens.

Olympus E-P3 Twin Lens Kit, priced at S$1,548.00 (incl GST).

The E-P3 Twin Lens Kit is priced at S$1,548.00 (incl GST) and includes the body, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6R lens.

Both options come bundled an 8 GB SD card. The body is available in black, silver and white. Black camera bodies will be matched with black lenses. Silver and white camera bodies will come with silver lenses.

The Olympus PEN E-P3 can be purchased from Olympus authorised retailers.

Tags:DSLR, E-P3, micro four-thirds, Olympus, PEN
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Gadgets, Olympus, Photography, Prices | No Comments »

Company byte: Western Digital Corporation

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Western Digital (NYSE:WDC) is one of the largest computer hard disk drive manufacturers in the world. WD was founded in 1970 by a former Motorola employee.

Western Digital provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss.

Its technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and home entertainment products.

The company’s storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital and WD brand names.

Other postings on tech4tea.com related to Western Digital can be found here.

Tags:drive, Western Digital
Posted in Accessories, Appliances, Company byte, storage drive, TV, Western Digital | 8 Comments »

Unexpected loss from TomTom as portable navigation devices lose popularity

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Europe’s largest maker of portable navigation devices reported a surprise second-quarter loss after writing down the value of assets to reflect a declining market for those devices.

The company reported a net loss of 489 million euros compared with a profit of 34 million euros a year earlier. The average forecast of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was net income of 10.7 million euros.

Portable navigation devices from TomTom The company took an impairment charge of 512 million euros in the quarter “reflecting the reduced outlook” for the personal navigation device market. Of the charge, 473 million euros related to goodwill. Sales decreased 13 percent to 314 million euros.

Earlier on June 27, TomTom had reduced its full-year profit and sales forecasts, saying U.S. demand for its devices had declined faster than anticipated and that consumers were opting for cheaper navigation systems.

Amsterdam-based TomTom was founded in 1991 and listed in 2005 After the statement, TomTom’s stock plunged 27 percent the day after. Its shares have declined 54 percent this year, reducing the market value of the Amsterdam-based company value to 812 million euros. Its U.S. rival Garmin has gained 5.6 percent this year.

Built-in car navigation from TomTom Maaike Noordhuis of Bloomberg reports that TomTom, which competes with Garmin and Google, aims to get more revenue from maps, services and built-in systems in cars amid a slowdown in sales of portable navigation devices.

Tags:Garmin, Google, GPS, maps, PND, TomTom
Posted in Figures, Gadgets, GPS, Tech news, TomTom | No Comments »

New Android tablets from Lenovo to debut in the U.S.

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Two new tablets based on Android 3.1 will hit the shelves in the U.S. Lenovo, China’s largest maker of personal computers, will be launching the IdeaPad Tablet K1 (from $499) and the Thinkpad Tablet (from $479).

Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 (from $499), orders from July 20, 2011; and the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet (from $479), available from August 2.

Lenovo began sales of its LePad tablet in China in March. Its two new tablet devices will be competing in a tightly fought market dominated by Apple’s iPad.

IdeaPad Tablet P1 from Lenovo, based on Windows 7, coming this fall.

Lenovo's IdeaPad Tablet P1, based on Windows 7, is coming this fall.

Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Lenovo, the world’s three biggest makers of PCs, are introducing new tablets as the popularity of Apple’s iPad eats into demand for desktop and notebook computers.

Gartner reports that global PC shipments rose 2.3 percent in the three months ended June – much less than the 6.7 percent increase predicted by the research house.

Although the two tablets uses the Android operating system from Google, Lenovo plans to launch a new tablet- the IdeaPad Tablet K1 – in the fourth quarter based on the Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft.

Tags:Apple, DELL, HP, Lenovo, tablets
Posted in Apple, Dell, Gadgets, HP, iPad, Launch, Lenovo, Tablets, Tech news | No Comments »

China sales of iPhone and iPad helps Apple profits beat estimates

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Apple’s stock price surged past $400 for the first time, after record sales of iPhones and iPads pushed third-quarter profit beyond estimates. Net income during the period was $7.31 billion ($7.79 per share), which is more than double of last year’s $3.25 billion ($3.51 per share). This was helped by iPhone sales in China, where total revenue jumped sixfold to $3.8 billion.

Overall sales jumped 82 percent to $28.6 billion. Analysts had predicted a profit of $5.87 per share and a revenue of $25 billion. Apple sold 20.3 million iPhones and 9.3 million iPads in the third quarter, which ended June 25. Mac computer sales were 3.95 million

Having overcome supply shortages for the iPad 2 after its March debut, saw sales of the iPad soar, reported Adam Satariano of Bloomberg. The tablet is now Apple’s second-largest source of revenue – behind the iPhone – less than two years after its initial launch.

After the results were released, Apple shares shot up 7.5 percent to $405 in extended trading. The stock is up 17 percent this year.

The report eased investors’ concerns that sales would suffer from the lack of a new iPhone, which isn’t expected until September. The Cupertino, California-based company also has been operating without the day-to-day attention of Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January.

“China was very key to our results,” said Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who has been handling day-to-day leadership at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, since Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs’s medical leave in January.

Apple’s results assuaged worries by investors that sales would suffer because a new iPhone will only be available in September. Its foray into China and other fast-growing economies helped compensate slower growth in the U.S. Sales in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong accounted for $8.8 billion in the first three quarters of the fiscal year, Apple revealed.

The Wall Street Journal has cited unmamed sources familiar with the issue that since Jobs went on leave, some members of Apple’s board have discussed CEO succession with executive recruiters. The talks included at least one head of a high-profile technology company, the Journal added.

The results also substantiated the belief that tablets are cannibalizing sales from traditional personal computers. Apple claims that 86 percent of Fortune 500 companies are testing or deploying the iPad, and disclosed that sales of the tablet beat those of the Mac computer among primary and secondary schools.

Tags:Apple, iPad, iPhone, profit, results
Posted in Apple, Figures, Gadgets, iPad, iPhone, Phones, Tablets, Tech news | No Comments »

Apple updates Mac mini

Monday, July 18th, 2011

The Mac mini will be updated with next generation Intel core processors, new discrete graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and Lion, the Mac’s newly released operating system.

Starting at a suggested retail price of S$788 (inc GST), the new Mac mini will be available from July 20, 2011.

The new Mac mini delivers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of its predecessor, while maintaining its compact form factor of just 19.7 cm² and 3.6 cm thin.

Available in three different configurations, customers can choose a Mac mini with the latest dual-core Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics, or a quad-core Intel Core i7 powered server configuration.

Suggested retail price of the new Mac mini starts at S$788 (incl GST).

Designed without an optical disc drive, Mac mini can access the optical drives on other PCs and Macs, and works with the MacBook Air SuperDrive. Configure-to-order options include up to 8GBs of memory, a faster 7200 RPM hard drive and a 256GB solid state drive.

Plenty of expansion possibilities for the Mac mini.

Mac mini now comes with Thunderbolt I/O technology for greater expansion possibilities. With a Thunderbolt port, Mac mini can connect to peripherals such as high-performance storage devices, RAID arrays and the new Apple Thunderbolt Display.

The new Mac mini is up to twice as fast in terms of processor and graphics performance The Thunderbolt display is a 27-inch IPS widescreen display that will enhance the experience for making FaceTime HD video calls, surfing the Web and viewing movies and photos.

Ultra-fast Wi-Fi, enables wireless download of apps from the Mac App Store, data back-up to Time Capsule and quick and easy file sharing using AirDrop. Mac mini includes Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and four USB ports for easy connectivity for wired and wireless devices.

Every new Mac mini comes with Mac OS X Lion, the latest major release of the Mac’s operating system, and iLife apps for creating and sharing photos, movies and music.

Pricing & Availability

The new Mac mini will be available through the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers.

SRP in SGD (incl GST)	Mac mini Configuration	Optional upgrades
S$788	2.3 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5 2 GB memory 500 GB hard drive	8 GB memory 750 GB hard drive
S$1,088	2.5 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5 4 GB memory 500 GB hard drive	2.7 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7 8 GB memory 750 GB hard drive 256 GB solid state drive
S$1,348	2.0 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7 Lion Server 4 GB memory dual 500 GB hard drive	8 GB memory 2 x 750 GB hard drives 2 x 256 GB solid state drives

Tags:Apple, Mac, mini, Thunderbolt
Posted in Apple, Desktops, Gadgets, Launch, Mac OS, Operating Systems, Prices, Software, Specifications | 1 Comment »

Apple to introduce world’s first Thunderbolt display

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

The 27-inch 16:9 IPS monitor will be available at S$1,348 (incl GST) within the next two months.

Apple announces the world's first Thunderbolt display.

The display features Thunderbolt I/O technology and serves as a docking station for a Mac notebook. With a single cable, users can connect a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display and access its FaceTime camera, high quality audio, and Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt ports.

Designed specifically for Mac notebooks, the new display features a thin aluminium and glass enclosure, and includes a MagSafe connector that charges a connected MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

The 27-inch 16:9 IPS monitor will be available at S$1,348 (incl GST) within the next two months. With a 16:9 edge-to-edge glass design, the Thunderbolt Display uses IPS technology to provide a brilliant image across a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Any Thunderbolt-enabled Mac notebook can dock with the display to quickly and easily replicate a full-fledged desktop solution.

The Thunderbolt Display includes a built-in FaceTime HD video camera for video conferencing, a 2.1 speaker system for high quality audio, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one Gigabit Ethernet port and a Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining up to five additional Thunderbolt devices.

The Thunderbolt IPS display sports a high resolution of 2560 by 1440 and viewing angle of 178 degrees.

The Thunderbolt Display aspires to be the world’s first display to include Thunderbolt I/O technology.

The two 10-Gbps channels of data transfer for Thunderbolt is up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to a blistering 10Gbps each, each Thunderbolt port delivers PCI Express directly to external peripherals such as high performance storage and RAID arrays, supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Data transfer for Thunderbolt is up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0.

Thunderbolt-based Macs with discrete graphics can drive two external displays giving professional users over 7 million additional pixels of display real estate and the ability to daisy chain additional Thunderbolt devices, as well as video and audio capture devices.

Two high-resolution Apple Thunderbolt Displays can be connected to the MacBook Pro.

The Thunderbolt Display includes an ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience.

Tags:Apple, docking, IPS, monitor, Thunderbolt
Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Launch, Monitors, Notebooks, Prices, Specifications | 1 Comment »

MacBook Air updated with Next Generation Processors, Thunderbolt I/O, Backlit Keyboard and Mac OS X Lion

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

With up to twice the performance of its predecessor, flash storage for instant-on responsiveness and a compact design, the MacBook Air starts at a suggested retail price of S$1,288 (incl GST) and is available from July 20, 2011.

Apple MacBook Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models MacBook Air is available in compact 11-inch and 13-inch models that feature a durable aluminium unibody enclosure measuring only 0.3 cm at its thinnest point and 1.7 cm at its thickest. Flash storage allows MacBook Air to turn on instantly and deliver fast data access, improved reliability and energy efficiency.

The 11-inch model weighs 1.08 kilograms and provides up to 5 hours of battery life, while the 13-inch weighs 1.35 kilograms and provides up to 7 hours of battery life.
The MacBook Air line of notebooks are slim and sleek in design
With the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors, the new MacBook Air is up to twice as fast as its predecessor. MacBook Air also features Intel HD Graphics 3000 and offers up to 4GB of 1333 MHz memory.

The left side of the MacBook Air houses the plugs for the MagSafe charger, USB, headphone and microphone.

Thunderbolt I/O technology provides additional expansion possibilities to MacBook Air users. Through a single cable, users can connect to high performance peripherals and the new Apple Thunderbolt Display, a docking station for Mac notebooks. Thunderbolt can easily be adapted to support legacy connections such as FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet.

The right side of the MacBook Air houses the USB and Thunderbolt plugs.

MacBook Air comes with a full size backlit keyboard and an glass Multi-Touch trackpad. The backlit keyboard uses a sensor to automatically detect a change in ambient lighting and adjusts the keyboard brightness according to the environment.

New Multi-Touch gestures are available as part of Mac OS X Lion The Multi-Touch trackpad supports Lion’s new Multi-Touch gestures such as momentum scrolling, tapping or pinching your fingers to zoom in on a web page or image, and swiping left or right to turn a page or switch between full screen apps.

MacBook Air features 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 technology MacBook Air also features a thin but brilliant, high resolution LED backlit display. Ultra-fast Wi-Fi, enables wireless download of apps from the Mac App Store, data back-up to Time Capsule and quick and easy file sharing using AirDrop. MacBook Air includes Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and two USB ports for easy connectivity for wired and wireless devices.

Every new MacBook Air comes with Mac OS X Lion, the latest Mac operating system, and iLife apps for creating and sharing photos, movies and music.

Pricing & Availability

The 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air are available for order on the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers.

11-inch, 1.6 GHz MacBook Air
S$1,288	2 GB memory, 64 GB flash storage
S$1,588	4 GB memory, 128 GB flash storage
13-inch, 1.7 GHz MacBook Air
S$1,688	4 GB memory, 128 GB flash storage
S$2,088	4 GB memory, 256 GB flash storage

All the prices above include GST. Configure-to-order options and accessories include a 1.8 GHz Core i7 processor, additional flash storage, MacBook Air SuperDrive and a USB Ethernet Adapter.

Tags:Apple, Lion, Mac OS X, MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt
Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Launch, Mac OS, Notebooks, Prices, Specifications | 1 Comment »

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