Archive for the ‘Brands’ Category

Google to unveil Chromebooks

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Google will reveal its first Chrome-based notebooks from Acer and Samsung at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. They will be available for order online from June 15.

The Samsung Chromebook will cost $429 for the Wi-Fi only version and $499 for the 3G version, while Acer’s Wi-Fi only Chromebook will cost $349.

It’ll be interesting whether consumers will bite, considering that you can buy a decent Netbook or an iPad the $499 price-tag for the 3G Samsung Chromebook.

Acer Chromebook, available from June 15, 2011

Acer Chromebook

Chromebooks will be available online June 15 in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Spain. More countries will follow in the coming months. In the U.S., Chromebooks will be available from Amazon and Best Buy and internationally from leading retailers.

Equipped with dual-core processors from Intel, the Chromebooks boast all-day battery life, and instant-on ability and built-in Net connectivity. Chromebooks will get updates and patches automatically every few weeks, like its browser cousin Chrome.

A special pricing is available for schools – Google will charge $20 a month for each Chromebook. The price will include hardware, administrative support, hardware upgrades, and warranty.

With this long awaited foray, Chromebooks will be taking on the tablet market dominated by Apple’s iPads, and the PC market dominated by both Microsoft and Apple.

Samsung Chromebook, available from June 15, 2011

Samsung Chromebook

The Chromebooks will run a new new bare-bones operating system that is basically a web browser that allows users to access applications like email, wordprocessors and spreadsheets directly on the web, instead of installing software such as Outlook or Office directly on the computer’s harddisks.

Users can also store their music and documents in the cloud for access from other computers as long as there is an Internet connection. Naturally, that means that a lot of the functionality may likely be unavailable or crippled offline.

Google has been touting Chrome as an alternative to Microsoft Windows for some two years now, but it has encountered delays producing computers designed to use the software.

10th Nubox store in Singapore at Junction 8

Monday, May 9th, 2011
Nubox will open its 10th store in Singapore at Junction 8 Shopping Centre on Friday May 13, 2011. The Apple Premium Reseller will open the 1447 sq ft store at 12 noon and celebrate the occasion with a number of in-store promotions over the weekend from May 13 to 15.

Nubox, Apple retailer in Singapore Customers who purchase a Macbook will receive a Speck case, a sleeve, a palm rest protector and a keyboard protector worth $143.00. The first 30 customers who purchase a Macbook will also receive a Microsoft Arc Mouse worth $89.00.

A Dexim silicon case for the iPod nano and iPod touch that comes with a screen protector, cleaning cloth, earphones and an AC adapter, will go to customers who purchase an iPod. Nubox is also offering up to 70% discount on selected accessories during this period.

Together with Nubox@nex at Serangoon which opened in November 2010, the new store, Nubox@Junction 8 is targeted at shoppers in the northern part of Singapore. Junction 8 Shopping Centre is located right beside Bishan MRT station.

“Bid to Give” On-Site Auction of Notebooks for Charity

Friday, May 6th, 2011
Spanking new notebooks were auctioned off on last evening with proceeds going to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF).

Another 13 notebooks will be auctioned off tonight at the Funan DigitaLife Mall. These are part of a two-week campaign by the consumer electronics retailer, Newstead Technologies, and its partners.

 FM91.3 DJ Jeremy Ratnam as one of two host auctioneers

FM91.3 DJ Jeremy Ratnam as one of two host auctioneers.

Bidding for the notebooksDay 1 of the “Bid to Give” charity auction was held on Thursday evening. With starting bids of only S$199, all 14 notebooks were snapped up within the hour by warm-hearted contributors who attended the charity drive at the Main Atrium of Funan DigitaLife Mall.

Partners of Newstead Technologies who sponsored the notebooks include Microsoft Singapore, Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, AMD, Blackberry, Brightpoint, ECS, HTC, Huawei, Ingram Micro and Jos Distribution.

There will be another 13 notebooks up for auction tonight at 6pm at the same venue so you can still show up and contribute your share for charity.

Tay Hong Kuan with his Panasonic notebook with the night's highest bid of $1,349

Tay Hong Kuan with his Panasonic notebook with the night's highest bid of S$1,349.

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund is an annual community project that provides pocket money to children from low-income families to help them through school. The children can use this money to buy a meal during recess, pay for their bus fares or use it to meet their other schooling needs.

In addition to Bid to Give, Newstead Technologies will also be donating $10 for every notebook sold and another $5 for every Microsoft Office 2010 purchased at its roadshow from May 5 to May 8 and at Newstead Technologies’ outlets at IMM #02-06, City Square Mall #04-20, Suntec City (e-life) #02-002/A and nex Mall #04-55 from May 9 to May 15. Newstead Technologies hopes to raise a total of $17,000 from the charity auction and sale of notebooks during this period.

Roundup of RIM releases for BlackBerry World 2011

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones on BlackBerry 7 operating system, new Facebook and Video Chat apps for the PlayBook tablet — these are some of the initiatives unveiled by RIM just prior to the BlackBerry World 2011 conference.

A range of enterprise solutions for unified communications, device management and mobile security for smartphones and tablets were also announced.

Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry World 2011The annual BlackBerry World is now ongoing at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida from 3 – 5 May. Typically, new devices, solutions and initiatives are announced during this period. This year, there is much anticipation on what devices will be unveiled, given the large number of leaks about Research In Motion’s (RIM) lineup of smartphones for 2011.

Here is a roundup of releases just prior to BlackBerry World. Some are for RIM’s consumer devices while others are from their traditional stronghold of mobile IT solutions.

New BlackBerry Bold Smartphones on BlackBerry 7 OS

New BlackBerry Bold 9900 from RIMThe BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones will be the thinnest and most powerful BlackBerry devices yet. The easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard is integrated with a brilliant, high resolution, capacitive touch screen. These smartphones are built on a new platform powered by the BlackBerry 7 operating system and designed to deliver high performance  in communications, multimedia and productivity for users around the world.

Sporting a 1.2 GHz CPU, a 2.8 inch 640×480 pixels VGA display at 287 dpi resolution, the smartphones support 4G and NFC (Near Field Communications).

The two Bold models are expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer.

New Facebook and Video Chat apps for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook appFollowing the release of the Facebook for BlackBerry® smartphones app, RIM has announced the Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook app. This new app delivers popular features of Facebook, optimized for the 7″ high resolution, multi-touch LCD display of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook offers users a highly engaging experience by integrating popular features such as viewing and adding friends, seamless photo and video viewing, connecting with friends by using Facebook chat, and viewing and interacting with the News Feed.

The app be available on BlackBerry App World later this month.

BlackBerry App WorldRIM has also announced the availability of the BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat app – an easy and fun way for friends and family to place and receive video calls between BlackBerry PlayBook tablets over an internet connected Wi-Fi network. Key features of the PlayBook Video Chat application include: one-click video and voice over Wi-Fi calls, incoming call notifications, powerful in-call functions and a friends list.

The app will be distributed to existing BlackBerry PlayBook customers through an over-the-air software update and is available on BlackBerry App World.

BlackBerry Balance for Work-Life Balance on BlackBerry

RIM is advancing work-life balance on BlackBerry smartphones with BlackBerry Balance. This new technology allows the convenience of using a single BlackBerry smartphone for both work and personal purposes without compromising company security or personal privacy. RIM is introducing this technology in response to the growing trend by businesses to allow employees to use personal BlackBerry smartphones for work, or company-owned smartphones for personal, and the need for businesses to secure, manage and control confidential company or client information.

Multi-Platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for Smartphones and Tablets

RIM has announced plans for a multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for managing and securing mobile devices for enterprises and government organizations.

New BlackBerry Bold 9900 from RIM

The solution will make available the market-leading management, security and controls of BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry devices. In addition, through RIM’s pending acquisition of ubitexx (creator of the ubi-Suite device management solution), the solution is expected to incorporate secure device management for Android and iOS based devices and tablets, all managed from a single web-based console.

The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is planned for general availability later this year.

BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with Voice Over Wi-Fi Calling for Avaya and Legacy Nortel Communications Systems

To help more businesses bring together the desk phone and smartphone. RIM announced plans to make BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 (BlackBerry MVS 5) available to more corporate phone systems and unified communications applications. BlackBerry MVS 5 with voice over Wi-Fi calling will soon be available for Avaya Aura 6.1, Avaya CS1000 Communication Server, as well as legacy phone systems such as Avaya Communications Manager and Nortel Communication Server. BlackBerry MVS 5 has also been re-architected to be more extensible with third party applications and phone systems.

Apple Announces New iMac line of desktop computers

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
Starting at S$1,648, the iMac has been updated with next generation quad-core processors, powerful graphics, Thunderbolt I/O Technology and a new FaceTime HD camera.
New iMacs from AppleApple claims that, compared to the previous generation, the new iMac is 70 percent faster and new graphics deliver up to three times the performance of the previous generation.
Apple’s desktop line of computers features quad-core Intel Core i5 processors with an option for customers to choose Core i7 processors up to 3.4 GHz. These next generation processors feature an integrated memory controller for a responsive experience and a powerful new media engine for high-performance video encoding and decoding. The new AMD Radeon HD graphics processors give the new iMac an extremely powerful graphics capability.

Thunderbolt

21.5 or 27 inch brilliant IPS LED-backlit high resolution display

iMac is the first desktop computer on the market to include groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Apple had launched its updated MacBook Pro line of notebooks on February 25 earlier this year with the new Thunderbolt I/O technology. It was the  first computer on the market to implement the new technology Apple had developed in collaboration with Intel.

The 21.5-inch iMac has a single Thunderbolt port while the 27-inch model features two ports for even greater expansion. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices, and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters.

Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

FaceTime

21.5 or 27 inch brilliant IPS LED-backlit high resolution display

The iMac includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera and Apple’s innovative FaceTime software for crisp, widescreen video calling the whole family can enjoy. The new camera supports high definition video calls between all FaceTime HD-enabled Macs and standard resolution calls with iPad 2, iPhone 4, the current generation iPod touch and other Intel-based Macs.

Software

The iMac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife – Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing photos, movies and music.

Snow Leopard includes the Mac App Store for finding new apps for the iMac.

iLife ’11 features iPhoto with full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Aluminium enclosure, gorgeous display and all-in-one design.The iMac continues to feature its signature aluminium and glass design, brilliant IPS LED-backlit high resolution display, SD card slot and comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.

On the Green front, the iMac meets stringent Energy Star 5.2 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold rating. iMac features LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iMac uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, uses highly recyclable materials and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.

Pricing & Availability

The new iMac is available through the online Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers.

21.5-inch iMac
S$1,648 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5

AMD Radeon HD 6750M

500GB hard drive

S$2,048 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5

AMD Radeon HD 6770M

1TB hard drive

27-inch iMac
S$2,348 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5

AMD Radeon HD 6770M

1TB hard drive

S$2,748 3.1 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5

AMD Radeon HD 6970M

1TB hard drive

Configure-to-order options include faster Intel Core i7 processors up to 3.4 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 2TB, a 256GB solid state drive, additional DDR3 memory and AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online.

Compact camera winners at the XXI TIPA 2011 awards

Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Compact digital cameras took up seven out of 40 categories evaluated by the 29-member magazines of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) this year. Winners include Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Samsung, Fujifilm and Panasonic.

Compared to the four categories for DSLR cameras, there were seven categories for compact digital cameras.

Founded in 1991, the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) comprises 29 independent photo & imaging magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa.

This is the 21st installment of the annual awards.

The winners for the seven compact digital camera categories are tabulated below.

Category / Winner TIPA citation
Best General Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Entry: Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i / Kiss X5

Nikon
COOLPIX P300

The Nikon COOLPIX P300 is a stylish compact camera with a remarkably powerful f/1.8 lens, starting at 24mm (35mm equivalent) with 4.2x optical zoom. High Refraction Index glass further ensures sharp images with high contrast. Combined with its powerful 12.2 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, this camera gives excellent image quality even in dim lighting conditions. The P300 can film in Full HD (1080p), but also in slow motion with a recording speed of up to 120fps.
Best Expert Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Advanced: Nikon D7000

Olympus
XZ-1

The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls.
Best Premium Camera 

Best DSLR Expert: Olympus E-5

Fujifilm
FinePix X100

Fujifilm’s FinePix X100 offers unrivalled image quality for a compact camera, thanks to its APS-C format CMOS sensor and Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 lens. The Hybrid Viewfinder uniquely combines the ‘bright frame’ window-type optical viewfinder found in high-end film cameras, and the electronic viewfinder system of fixed single lens or digital compact system cameras, offering the user ‘the best of both worlds’. Added to the package is a newly-developed EXR Processor, which combines all the latest Fujifilm image processing technology.
Best Compact System Camera
Entry Level 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Samsung
NX100

The Samsung NX100’s new body design drastically revises the ‘DSLR look-alike’ concept found in other compact interchangeable lens cameras, and is a bold step from the company’s previous NX10/11 designs. This brings it into direct competition with other Compact System Cameras. Impressive features include a vivid 3-inch AMOLED screen, an APS-C size sensor and a line of high-tech iFunction lenses. This promising new series of optics blazes new viewing and camera control paths by allowing the user to program numerous functions right from the lens.
Best Compact System Camera
Expert 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Panasonic
Lumix DMC-GH2

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market.
Best Superzoom Camera 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Canon
PowerShot
SX230 HS

The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS features a 12.1-Megapixel HS System with high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, and a 14x optical zoom (28-392mm equivalent) with optical image stabilisation. A 3-inch LCD screen, with 100% frame coverage, makes for easy viewing and menu control. TIPA members were impressed with features such as Full HD 1080p video with Dynamic Image Stabilizer, a new GPS function (including supplied Map Utility software) and a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor coupled with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor that reduces noise levels even at the higher ranges (up to ISO 3200).
Best Rugged Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FT3 / DMC-TS3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3/FT3 is waterproof to a depth of 12m and dust-proof equivalent to the IPX8 and IP6X standard. It has an integrated GPS function, ideal for photographers who want to shoot in the great outdoors and record their exact position during that shoot. The camera has a built-in compass, altimeter and barometer to show and record altitude, barometric pressure and orientation data. The barometer also works as indicator for depth underwater. Thanks to its location awareness, the internal clock of the camera is automatically adjusted to the local time.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 arrives in Singapore

Friday, April 29th, 2011
The latest 10.1 inch Android 3.0 tablet from Asus arrived in Singapore today at the launch event at Zirca in Clarke Quay. The 16GB Wi-Fi only version (Eee Pad + Docking keyboard) is priced at S$898.

But as part of its launch promotion, you can get a S$99 discount at S$799. If you choose to purchase only the pad and not the docking station, you can get the 16GB Wi-Fi only version at the launch promotion price of S$699.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 arrived in Singapore on April 29, 2011

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 arrived in Singapore on April 29, 2011

What are the biggest grouses of tablet users today? No Flash, short battery life, no keyboard, no USB ports and card readers. Asus tries to address all these shortcomings in the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101.

The optional docking station provides a full QWERTY keyboard for work involving intensive typing. It costs S$199 if you purchase it separately, but purchased together with the pad, you need only top up S$100 for it. The docking station makes available an additional 24.4 Wh battery that extends the pad’s 9.5 hours battery life to 16 hours instead.

A card reader (MMC/SD/SDHC) and two USB 2.0 ports are also available on the keyboard. The keyboard also props up the docked pad as a stand.

And finally, Adobe Flash 10.2 is supported, so you can visit all those glitzy sites running Flash animations and video.

The docking station is a full QWERTY keyboard that doubles up as a stand and contains an extra battery to extend the 9.5 hours battery life of the pad to 16 hours. It also contains USB ports and a card reader.

The docking station is a full QWERTY keyboard that doubles up as a stand and contains an extra battery to extend the 9.5 hours battery life of the pad to 16 hours. It also contains USB ports and a card reader.

I played with the Eee Pad on display and found the IPS (In-plane switching) LED backlight screen brilliant and sharp at with 1280×800 pixels packed into the 10.1 inch panel, offering a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees – I could still view the screen display from the side.

The touch screen senses up to 10 fingers for multi-touch - seen here with the Piano app from Android Market.

The touch screen senses up to 10 fingers for multi-touch - seen here with the Piano app from Android Market.

The pad feels slightly heavier than the iPad 2 but comfortable to hold. The book reader app included with the pad was standard fare – offering animated page turning, highlighting and bookmarking etc.

Photos and videos taken with the camera was clear even though the ambient lighting was dark.

Prices and configurations

The 16GB Wi-Fi only tablet is the only configuration available at the moment. Together with the docking station (keyboard), it sells for S$898 at the major retailers in Singapore – Challenger, Best Denki, Harvey Norman etc.

During this launch period, the promotional price for the 16GB Wi-Fi only Transformer sells for S$799 (Eee Pad + Docking station) and S$699 (Eee Pad only). Currently, the docking stations are out of stock and will only be available from the week of May 9 onwards.

The 32GB Wi-Fi only version will also only be available later in May.

“The 3G version is being tested now and will likely be launched in the second or third week of June,” Bernard Wen, Business Operation Manager of Asus Technology told me. “In the meantime, we’ve tested the Pad with USB dongles from SingTel, Starhub and M1 and found that they are all compatible,” he added.

New update to the TomTom App for iPhone

Friday, April 29th, 2011

The update to the TomTom App for iPhone offers TomTom’s latest release of the maps of Malaysia and Singapore. Current owners of the TomTom App can update to the new version for no additional charge.

TomTom App (Version 1.7) for iPhone and iOS devices available nowFor new users, the updated TomTom App (Version 1.7)  for iPhone is now available in the App Store for USD $59.99. The app is available on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS & iPod touch 3rd Gen running iOS4.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 launch in Singapore tomorrow

Thursday, April 28th, 2011
Another tablet arrives in Singapore tomorrow – this time from Asus, the Taiwanese company that created the netbook niche. This Android-based tablet tries to redefine the tablet experience by packaging it with a docking keyboard cum extra battery.

Will update on the actual use and feel after the launch event tomorrow.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has a 10.1″ LED backlight WXGA (1280×800) screen and a docking QWERTY keyboard which also serves as a tablet stand, provides USB ports  and contains an extra 24.4 Wh battery that extends the 9.5 hours battery life of the tablet to 16 hours.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 launch in Singapore

The screen is IPS (In-plane switching) Panel which typically has a wider view angle than a traditional LCD screen – Asus boast a wide view angle of 178° for this screen. Apple’s iPad also uses an IPS panel.

The 10.1 inch screen screen is an IPS that provides a wide viewing angle of of 178 degreesThere is a 1.2M pixel front Camera and a 5M pixel rear Camera. The standard range of sensors are included: G-Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope, E-Compass, GPS.

The Transformer is based on the Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS and supports Adobe Flash 10.2. It has an NVIDIA Tegra 2 1.0GHz dual-core CPU which provides multitasking and 1080p video playback.

Memory-wise, it has 1 GB RAM and comes in either 16 or 32 GB versions for permanent storage. Unlimited ASUS Webstorage is included free for a year.

Network-wise, it is fairly standard with WLAN 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4GHz and Bluetooth V2.1+EDR. What is conspicuously missing is a 3G version so you’ll probably need a mobile broadband USB dongle or a Wi-Fi network to access the Internet.

The docking QWERTY keyboard extends battery life to 16 hoursThe docking keyboard comes with two USB 2.0 ports, one card reader (MMC/SD/SDHC) and a touch pad. It can be purchased in the UK for an additional £50 and in the US for an additional US$149 over the base price of the tablet alone.

The tablet itself contains one 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone/Mic-in), one Micro SD Card Reader, and one mini HDMI 1.3a for outputting the display onto an external HD screen. Stereo speakers are built in.

Physically, the tablet measures 271 x 171 x 12.98 mm and weighs 680 g.

The Transformer was first launched in Taiwan on March 25, then in the UK on March 30, and two days ago in the US on April 26. Prices in the US are $100 less than the “equivalent” iPad model.

US Prices

  • 16 GB: US$399
  • 32 GB: US$499
  • Keyboard: US$149

iPad 2 debuts in Asia and arrives in Singapore

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
The iPad 2 debuts in Asia tomorrow in Japan and will arrive in 11 other countries including Singapore on Friday. China will only see the iPad 2 on May 6 one week later.

The iPad 2 with its Smart Cover arrives in Singapore on Friday - April 29, 2011The iPad 2 was first launched in the US on March 2 and released in 25 more largely European countries on March 25. Tomorrow, it will debut in Japan – the first Asian country to launch it. On Friday, it will arrive in Singapore together with 10 other largely Asian countries. China will only see the iPad 2 with only Wi-Fi on May 6.

Compared to the original iPad, the iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter, while sporting the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for faster performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. The iPad 2 promises the same 10 hours of battery life as its predecessor.

Prices and configurations in Singapore

The Smart Cover doubles up as a stand.1. Wi-Fi only versions:

  • 16GB: S$668
  • 32GB: S$798
  • 64GB: S$928

2. Wi-Fi/3G devices:

  • 16GB: S$848
  • 32GB: S$978
  • 64GB: S$1108

iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps are available for US$4.99 each from the App Store on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore. The Smart Cover is available in a range of colors in vibrant polyurethane for S$54 or rich leather for S$98.

The iPad 2 will be available in Singapore at select Apple Authorised Resellers, and online through the online Apple Store beginning at 1am local time.

The iPad 2 debuts in Asia in Japan tomorrow - April 28, 2011The 10 other countries getting the iPad 2 together with Singapore on Friday are: Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey and UAE.

For those interested, the earlier 25 countries who got their iPad 2 on March 25 are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.