Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Review: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Speaker Display

Friday, December 24th, 2021

The second-generation Google Nest Hub (S$139) goes beyond being a speaker and display to monitoring your sleep with Sleep Sensing to help you get a better night’s sleep.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is available online for S$139 on Google Store, as well as Courts, Challenger, and Shopee.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is available online for S$139 on Google Store, as well as Courts, Challenger, and Shopee.

I’ve been using the first generation Google Nest Hub at home for years, and it’s brought hours of entertainment to the family.

The second-generation Google Nest Hub reprises many of these same functionalities.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tech4tea Reviews (@tech4teareviews)

Unboxing the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen).

It is a speaker/display to stream music/videos from music services such as Spotify and YouTube Music, and shows from Netflix and Disney+ etc; or to cast music/videos from the smartphone.

(more…)

Event: Huawei Flagship Product Launch with P50 Pocket

Thursday, December 23rd, 2021

Huawei launched a series of new products, headlined by its folding clamshell smartphone – the P50 Pocket – a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Huawei joined forces with prominent haute couture designer, Iris Van Herpen, in a cross-industry collaboration to create the Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition.

Huawei joined forces with prominent haute couture designer, Iris Van Herpen, in a cross-industry collaboration to create the Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition.

The global launch event saw Huawei unveil a slew of new products in defiance to the two-year-old ban by the US which has deprived the Chinese company access to critical semiconductor chips and software.

The products launched include the following – all part of a smart and fully connected ecosystem based on Huawei’s HarmonyOS – the company’s substitute for Google’s Android OS.

  • P50 Pocket
  • Watch D
  • Huawei Eyewear
  • MateBook X Pro notebook
  • AITO M5 electric vehicle

More details below from the press release, on the Huawei P50 Pocket.

(more…)

Tech Focus: Looking Ahead – High Speed In-Vehicle Display and Sensor Connections (Part 2 of 2)

Friday, December 17th, 2021

In this two-part guest commentary, Carrie Browen and Kevin Kershner from Keysight Technologies share their insights into the future of high speed in-vehicle display and sensor connections. You may find Part 1 here.

Automotive display use-case. © 2021 MIPI Alliance, Inc.

Automotive display use-case. © 2021 MIPI Alliance, Inc.

For this second half of our commentary, we begin with an introduction of SerDes.

In today’s infotainment systems, it is common for in-vehicle cameras and displays to be connected to the image-processing electronic control unit (ECU) via a SerDes (serializer/deserializer) connection.

Today, they are delivered by individual vendors using closed, proprietary standards.

Extending the reach of feature-rich SerDes links can require operating at lower Baud rates and higher order modulations (e.g. PAM-4).

In addition, it will require higher bandwidth Ethernet links as primary interconnects between zones, perhaps with 802.3ch support up to 10 Gbps throughput.

Emerging SerDes standards like mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) A-PHY (MIPI A-PHY is a physical layer specification targeted for ADAS/ADS surround sensor applications and Infotainment display applications in automotive) and Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) will be implemented by multiple silicon vendors.

This will create a competitive market that acts to drive down the cost while delivering application specific features.

(more…)

Tech Focus: Looking Ahead – High Speed In-Vehicle Display and Sensor Connections (Part 1 of 2)

Thursday, December 16th, 2021

In this two-part guest commentary, Carrie Browen and Kevin Kershner from Keysight Technologies share their insights into the future of high speed in-vehicle display and sensor connections.

A conceptual diagram of a zone-based in vehicle network architecture. Image: Keysight Technologies.

A conceptual diagram of a zone-based in vehicle network architecture. Image: Keysight Technologies.

It is no secret the pace of innovation in the automotive industry is exploding.

If the last 20 years have been linear in the development of electrification, the last two to three years have been exponential.

It used to be that a car was a means of getting from A to B.

Now, we can safely say that is not true for the vehicles of today and certainly not for the new vehicles of tomorrow.

Just about every new car on the market has a backup camera, park assist, and blind spot monitoring.

Some offer a 360-degree view.

Other features offer real-time traffic updates, cellular connection to potential hazards, other road users, vehicles, or pedestrians.

There are features that can detect if a driver is distracted or tired.

Meanwhile, the people in the car are often unaware of driving conditions, while they enjoy infotainment systems.

These features are delivered through a mixture of sensors, cameras, and networks.

As demands go up, next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) require camera and radar systems with increasingly high resolution.

(more…)

New Arrival: myFirst Launches Fone R1s Smartwatch for Kids

Tuesday, December 14th, 2021

Homegrown company Oaxis has launched their latest smartwatch for kids – the myFirst Fone R1s, as well as their latest wireless bone conduction headphones. Price and availability below.

The new myFirst Fone R1s helps parents remain connected to their kids and provides sheltered connectivity for the kids, as well as health features.

The new myFirst Fone R1s helps parents remain connected to their kids and provides sheltered connectivity for the kids, as well as health features.

myFirst, a Singapore-based tech brand for kids has launched the myFirst Fone R1s smartwatch and myFirst Headphones BC Wireless Lite.

Designed for young children in today’s world of smart devices, the R1s features 4G LTE connectivity to chat, video, and voice-call their families and peers under supervision of their parents.

The R1s ships with 8GB storage for music files, a heart rate monitor, a find-my-watch feature, GPS tracking, lift to wake sensitivity and more.

Built to provide ease-of-use, the myFirst Fone R1s auto-detects myFirst’s Bluetooth headset for seamless pairing, while also utilising a simple-to-use watch and app interface for both young children and parents.

Users of the R1s will be able to mix-and-match the watch in various trendy colour combination for its watch face and straps.

More details below from the press release.

(more…)

Review: Huawei Watch GT 3 Health, Fitness & Sports Smartwatch

Saturday, December 11th, 2021

The new Huawei Watch GT 3 is the company’s latest smartwatch and offers a staggering 14 days battery life as well as more accurate measurements of vital statistics to monitor health and fitness, and to instrument sports performance for in-depth analysis and more effective training.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tech4tea Reviews (@tech4teareviews)

The new Huawei Watch GT 3 – freshly unboxed. Included is the wireless charger.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 is the successor to 2019’s Huawei Watch GT 2 and last year’s Watch GT 2e.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tech4tea Reviews (@tech4teareviews)

Unboxing the Huawei Watch GT 3 health/fitness/sports smartwatch.

It offers improvements which includes features that had debuted with the flagship Huawei Watch 3 and Watch 3 Pro which was released for APAC in July this year.

Major improvements over its predecessor in the sporty GT (Gran Turismo or Grand Tourer) line include an upgrade of the operating system from the Lite OS to HarmonyOS 2.1.0, an Apps grid replacing a scrolling menu, additional sensors, more accuracy in measurements and a rotatable crown.

Compared to the muscular flagship Watch 3 Pro, the new Huawei Watch GT 3 feels lighter and is slightly smaller though both watch faces measure 46mm.

The Watch GT 3 does not have the eSIM & Wi-Fi capabilities of the Watch 3 Pro, but has a much longer 14 days battery life.

(more…)

TUCU Review: Belkin SCREENFORCE UltraGlass Treated Screen Protector for iPhone 13 Pro Max

Sunday, December 5th, 2021

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): Guest reviewer Jennifer Lee just received her new iPhone 13 Pro Max so in order to protect it, she got herself the Belkin SCREENFORCE UltraGlass screen protector and applied it herself to the phone. Here’s her experience.

#tech4xmas: This SCREENFORCE UltraGlass screen protector from Belkin makes an ideal Christmas present for the iPhone 13 Pro Max owner.

#tech4xmas: This SCREENFORCE UltraGlass screen protector from Belkin makes an ideal Christmas present for the iPhone 13 Pro Max owner.

I am amazed at how easy the application was.

No fuss, just follow the very simple step by step visual guide (included) using the Easy Align Tray.

Belkin makes it easy and fuss-free to self-apply the SCREENFORCE UltraGlass screen protector DIY, as the reviewer tried out.

Unlike most screen protectors, the Belkin Ultraglass application was flawless, precise and bubble-free even at the first attempt.

The Ultraglass feels seamless on the screen, without any curves or bends and you won’t realise there is another layer of screen protector on top.

(more…)

New Arrival: Huawei Watch GT 3 & Watch GT Runner Smartwatches

Wednesday, December 1st, 2021

Powered by HarmonyOS, The Huawei Watch GT 3 and Huawei Watch GT Runner will hit the shelves in Singapore on 18 December 2021, with pre-orders from 11-17 Dec. Prices start from S$298. Promotions & pricing details below.

Customers making the pre-order will also receive a free audio neckband, Huawei FreeLace worth S$98 to complement their exercise routines with the Huawei Watch GT 3.

Customers making the pre-order will also receive a free audio neckband, Huawei FreeLace worth S$98 to complement their exercise routines with the Huawei Watch GT 3.

First unveiled last month in October, the Huawei Watch GT 3 Series comes in two sizes – 46mm and 42mm – offering more accurate health and fitness monitoring as well as a new dynamic interface design.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Tan (@tech4tea)

The Huawei Watch GT 3 feels light and looks classy on the wrist.

The Huawei Watch GT Runner has been specially designed for runners and is equipped with a dedicated professional running ability evaluation system for comprehensive tracking.

More details below about the Huawei Watch GT 3 smartwatches from the press release.

(more…)

tech4xmas Gift Idea: Watercolour Design Accessories

Sunday, November 28th, 2021

Looking for some beautiful accessories (phone cases, mouse pads etc) with watercolour paintings on them? Check out Erinsgarden – an e-shop on Redbubble selling print-on-demand stuff based on the watercolour paintings of @kkmakesandbakes.

* Full disclosure: @kkmakesandbakes is my wife.

Phone covers, mouse pads, desk mats and other accessories based on original watercolour paintings specially designed for Christmas. Christmas Collections at Erinsgarden by @kkmakesandbakes.

Phone covers, mouse pads, desk mats and other accessories based on original watercolour paintings specially designed for Christmas. Christmas Collections at Erinsgarden by @kkmakesandbakes.

Fancy an iPad Case and Skin with a watercolour Christmas Puppy on it?

Or a X’mas Kitty Cat gracing your laptop skin?

Or a Vacation Kitty art mug to keep up inspired since most of us aren’t likely to travel this Christmas.

@kkmakesandbakes loves watercolour painting.

She paints as a hobby and friends suggested that she put some of these on Redbubble so people can buy stuff printed with her watercolour paintings on them.

So if you’re looking for a nice accessory as a X’mas gift for a colleague or a loved one, check out her designs!

Virtual Visit to Huawei Health Lab in Dongguan, China

Friday, November 26th, 2021

The new Huawei Health Lab in Songshan Lake in Dongguan, China is the third and largest so far and was officially unveiled on 22 October, 2021, during the first day of the Huawei Developer Conference. I was invited to visit (virtually) the facility as part of the showcase to select media from APAC.

The new Huawei Health Lab in Songshan Lake in Dongguan, China

The new Huawei Health Lab in Songshan Lake in Dongguan, China

In its efforts to lead the industry with continuous technological innovation, Huawei opened its first Health Lab in Shenzhen in 2016.

The 700 sqm facility focussed on research on testing and technology of sports and health products.

Huawei Health Labs help the company lead the industry with continuous technological innovation.

Huawei Health Labs help the company lead the industry with continuous technological innovation. * Click to enlarge.

The next Health Lab was built in Xi’an in 2020.

The bigger 1,100 sqm facility explored the innovation and application of sports and health technologies, to help more people to work out scientifically and live a healthy life.

The latest Health Lab in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, is by far the largest – at 4,380 sqm.

(more…)