Archive for the ‘Opinion’ Category

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Microsoft launches Surface RT in Singapore with Challenger

Friday, April 5th, 2013

Singapore is the first South East Asia market to launch the Microsoft Surface RT tablet computer. Both the 32GB (S$668) and 64GB (S$798) versions are now available in Singapore at 20 Challenger stores. Price list within.

Microsoft Surface RT tablet has just been launched in Singapore.

Microsoft Surface RT tablet has just been launched in Singapore.

Microsoft describes the Surface RT as “a tablet with some laptop capabilities”.

One big selling point is that the tablet ships with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT – which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

Hands-on

Physically, the Surface RT feels light at 680g and is only 9.4mm thin (275 x 172 mm in size).

Integrated kick-stand to prop the tablet up in landscape mode.

Integrated kick-stand to prop the tablet up in landscape mode.

There is an integrated kickstand that folds out behind the tablet – allowing it to stand in landscape orientation.

Unfortunately, the stand doesn’t work in portrait orientation so you’ll have to hold it with your hands instead.

The keyboard doubles up as a cover to protect the 16:9 widescreen high-definition display (10.6-inch ClearType HD touchscreen display with 1366 x 768 pixels).

It was easy to attach and separate the keyboard/cover from the tablet.

Simply pull the magnetic connectors apart or put the edges close to each other for the connectors to snap in place.

There is a full-sized USB port and microSDXC card slot for additional storage.

The Surface RT runs on a Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU with 2GB RAM.

The Touch Cover is really thin at 3mm.

The Touch Cover is really thin at 3mm.

It runs Windows RT and works exclusively with apps available in the Windows Store.

What this means is that don’t expect any software written for the full Windows OS (Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP etc) to run on the tablet.

Challenger is the sole launch retailer for the Surface RT in Singapore.

Prices are listed below.

(more…)

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Posted in Events, Gadgets, Launch, Microsoft, Opinion, Prices, Specifications, Surface, Tablets | No Comments »

Smartphones hungrier than tablets for data utilisation – Arieso says

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Arieso has just released the results of a study into recent trends in extreme data, revealing new challengers for Telcos and network operators.

The latest Hungry Handsets report by Arieso

The latest Hungry Handsets report by Arieso

This year’s Hungry Handsets study finds that:

  • Smartphones trump tablets in terms of data consumption and generation
  • Apple’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s GALAXY SIII goes head to head against each other at the top of the data utilisation list
  • Data upload has grown, as users generate more data.

This latest analysis by Arieso into mobile data use also reveals that 40% of all data is consumed by only 1% of users, although LTE is starting to take the strain.

Interview with study author

Dr. Michael Flanagan, study author & CTO, Arieso

Dr. Michael Flanagan, study author & CTO, Arieso

I spoke with Dr. Michael Flanagan, the study author and Arieso CTO about the report.

He observed that the data crunch in the wireless industry started by the launch of the iPhone was not abating; and the study revealed that increasingly sophisticated devices are unleashing unprecedented levels of user demand.

He cautioned that the particular results in this study corresponded to the specific market that was studied, and that these results could vary depending on a number of circumstances (including morphologies, available devices, regional customer behaviors, and socio-economic user factors).

“Yet again we found that novel usage patterns, new technologies and regional idiosyncrasies are conspiring to make life increasingly difficult for mobile operators trying to meet evolving customer expectations,” said study author and Arieso CTO, Dr. Michael Flanagan.

As such, these results are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive.

Dr. Flanagan urged network operators to embark upon similar subscriber and network evaluation programs in order to determine the clear and present data demands being placed on their networks as well as the most appropriate response strategies to best satisfy this demand.

(more…)

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Posted in Announce, Apple, Enterprise IT, Figures, Gadgets, Galaxy, HTC, Infographic, Interview, iPad, iPhone, Opinion, Phones, Samsung, Study, Tablets, Tech news, Tickers | 4 Comments »

IT Trends: Security in a time of convergence

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

Going into 2013, it’s a good time to look ahead at what enterprises should look out for in terms of working securely this year.

Let’s hear from Sugiarto Koh – Regional Director, ASEAN & North Asia, Sourcefire.

Sugiarto Koh, Regional Director, ASEAN & North Asia, Sourcefire

Sugiarto Koh, Regional Director, ASEAN & North Asia, Sourcefire

Sugiarto Koh opines that advanced malware and targeted attacks pose the greatest challenge for today’s security infrastructure and methods of protection.

Customers are struggling to find solutions that provide effective protection against the latest threats without over-burdening their budgets or sacrificing operational efficiency.

Below are Koh’s take on three major Enterprise IT trends and their implications.

(more…)

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Posted in Enterprise IT, Interview, Opinion, Security | 2 Comments »

IT Trends: Dell shares its technology outlook for 2013

Monday, January 7th, 2013

What are Dell’s foci for 2013. Transforming, Connecting, Informing and Protecting – says Ng Tian Beng, Managing Director, Dell South Asia & Korea.

Ng Tian Beng, Managing Director, Dell South Asia & Korea

Ng Tian Beng, Managing Director, Dell South Asia & Korea

Based on feedback from his customers, Tian Beng highlights two common issues that keep  them awake at night.

  1. Firstly, businesses are spending too much of their IT budget on powering their datacenter and not powering their business.
  2. Secondly, customers want solutions that are help them innovate rather than merely keep the lights on.

Ng anticipates that, in 2013, the technology priorities of Dell’s customers along 4 key themes – Transform, Connect, Inform and Protect.

Below are the details of the four themes.

(more…)

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Posted in Cloud, Dell, Enterprise IT, Interview, Opinion, Security | 2 Comments »

IT Trends: Four 2012 trends and four 2013 predictions

Monday, December 31st, 2012

Today is the last day of 2012. As we look forward to 2013 tomorrow, Charles Clarke – Technical Director of APAC for Veeam – looks back on four IT trends in 2012, and shares his predictions for 2013.

Charles Clarke is the Technical Director, APAC, Veeam

Charles Clarke is the Technical Director, APAC, Veeam

First let’s take a look back at the year gone by.

  1. Downtime tolerance has diminished
  2. IT spend is held in the hands of a powerful few
  3. Cloud has been a big hit with SMEs
  4. Businesses have become even more data dependent

Next it’s time to gaze at the crystal ball for the next year starting tomorrow.

  1. Cloud will continue to grow
  2. IT spend will go “pay-as-you-go”
  3. IT skills will move to a “cloud model”
  4. Virtualisation will become more entwined with the business

The juicy details are elaborated below.

(more…)

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Posted in Cloud, Enterprise IT, Opinion, Veeam | No Comments »

Review: ASUS ROG TYTAN CG8480 Windows 8 gaming desktop PC

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

The new Republic of Gamers gaming desktop PCs from ASUS ship with the latest Windows 8 loaded and the quad-core Intel Core i7-3770K processor with Turbo Gear offers one-click overclock without rebooting.

The DEFCON light of the ASUS TYTAN ROG CG8480 changes from blue to red when overclocked.

The DEFCON light of the ASUS TYTAN ROG CG8480 changes from blue to red when overclocked.

Launched in October, the ROG CG8480 (S$2,250 without monitor) is a fully loaded gaming machine packed with superb performance.

The rear of the ROG CG8480.

The rear of the ROG CG8480.

The overclocked performance was stable throughout the time that I tried out the gaming desktop.

In particular, I like the subtle lighting which changes from the usual blue to red when the machine is overclocked.

The full 4-core CPU can be instantly overclocked – without rebooting – to hit a top speed of 4.2 GHz in Turbo Gear extreme mode. The other 2 speed modes are the startup Startup mode at 3.8GHz and Turbo Gear mode at 4.0GHz.

Gameplay was smooth with the 16GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB GDDR5 graphics card, which is capable of supporting up to four monitors (I set up mine with two), with the option to game in NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround for selected models.

The 128GB SATA3 SSD makes data access so much faster than generic hard disk drives. It can support up to 6TB SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM).

What I like is there're plenty of sockets/ports in front and at the rear of the ROG CG8480.

What I like is there’re plenty of sockets/ports in front and at the rear of the ROG CG8480.

Cooling was efficient with its well-ventilated chassis and airflow. Check out the detailed tech specs of the ASUS TYTAN ROG CG8480 gaming desktop PC here.

ASUS claims that the Xonar Phoebus audio card powered by ROG Command technology can deliver up to 50% ambient noise reduction. I found the audio sounded terrific with the Dolby surround enhancements.

Superb performance at an affordable price-tag, just right for the avid gamer who doesn’t have the time, or finds it too tiresome to build his gaming desktop from scratch.

Other new models in the ROG line of gaming desktop PCs include the CG8890 and CG8580.

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Posted in Asus, Desktops, Gadgets, Gaming, Opinion, Prices, Review, Specifications, Windows 8 | 1 Comment »

Clarity CEO Soon Ong’s vision is to help customers visualise their AV needs

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

Service quality, coupled with product knowledge and deep experience enables Clarity staff to understand what their customers need and come up with a customised solution that combines the best of breed from multiple brands to offer the best performance for the buck.

A living room at Tanglin Rd.

A living room at Tanglin Rd. Photo credit: Clarity

I first met the affable CEO of Clarity Group during his recent launch of the Datasat RS20i Digital Audio Processor in Singapore.

Soon Ong, CEO of Clarity Group

Soon Ong, CEO of Clarity Group. Photo credit: Clarity

We met up again today for a 30-minute interview that spilled into an hour-long conversation about the state of the AV industry and his vision for the homegrown company that his great-grandfather founded 83 years ago in 1929.

Himself a music enthusiast that plays the guitar and spends his personal time writing, producing and recording music, Soon emphasises the importance of getting a clear understanding of the customer’s needs before recommending any systems.

He believes in delivering a total AV solution that is customised to the customer’s needs and comprising a mix-and-match of the best of class components from different brands to offer a true-to-life AV experience that is also value-for-money.

Soon reckons that the hardware components account for only half of the performance of an AV solution – other factors such as the room design and materials are also critical.

Private cinema at Gallop Park

Private cinema at Gallop Park. Photo credit: Clarity

That is why Clarity does not sell any “cookie-cutter, off-the-shelf AV systems” that are commonly sold in electrical outlets.

“I rather have people who know their products well, than have sales staff that market a mediocre product well,” intimated Soon Ong, CEO, Clarity Group.

Soon feels his staff can value-add by selecting the best and most suitable components and by advising on the set-up and optimisation of the customer’s sound room or private cinema.

The expertise is also monetised in the form of consultancy services for commercial properties and establishments.

From the cordial chat that I had with Soon, the impression that I came away with was that this was someone who felt passionate about music and technology – whose primary concern was in giving his customers the best performance for the money they are spending.

Clarity Experience Centre

Soon plans to set up an concept demo cum experience centre in the first quarter of 2013 which will help customers visualise what they need and conceptualise what they want from the advanced technologies showcased at the centre.

“与新加坡音响影视公司Clarity Group 总裁 Soon Ong 闲聊。听他畅谈对于视听设备与科技的见解以及对未来的展望。” – 科技点心（微薄）

The experience centre will comprise five sections – the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, the private cinema, and the bedroom.

The different sections represent different market segments, including HDB/condominium living rooms and kitchens; luxury private cinemas; hotels and service apartments; as well as restaurants and boardrooms.

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Posted in Audio, Events, Gadgets, Interview, Lifestyle, Opinion | No Comments »

New DSLR: Canon EOS 6D

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Following in the footsteps of the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 and Nikon D600, Canon has unveiled its full-frame DSLR. The 20.2-megapixel EOS 6D will be available in December and is priced at US$2,100 (S$2,570) for the body only.

Canon's new full-frame DSLR, the 20.2-megapixel EOS 6D.

Canon’s new full-frame DSLR, the 20.2-megapixel EOS 6D.

Full-frame DSLRs are in, going by the announcements and launch in the lead-up to Photokina in Cologne, Germany – which begins tomorrow and lasts until Sunday.

After Sony announced its Alpha SLT-A99 (and fixed-lens compact CyberShot RX-1); and Nikon launched its D600 last week, Canon has announced today its new full-frame shooter – the Canon EOS 6D, which will be available in December.

All the new Sony and Nikon full-frame cameras above have 24.3 megapixels. The Canon EOS 6D, which can be considered as the 60D with a full-frame sensor shoots 20.2 megapixels and is priced at US$2,100 (S$2,570).

Price of the Canon EOS 6D with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USZ zoom kit lens is $2,899 (S$3,545).

Keep an eye on this space for more details.

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Posted in Announce, Cameras, Canon, DSLR, EOS, Gadgets, Opinion, Photography, Prices, Specifications, Tech news, Tickers | No Comments »

Attacking COMEX 2012

Friday, August 31st, 2012

A bit of planning can save you much meandering in the ocean of exhibitors at COMEX 2012. Here are three simple steps to make your bargain-hunting a breeze.

Do you find yourself zig-zagging acrros the hall and shuttling to-and-fro between floors?

Do you find yourself zig-zagging acrros the hall and shuttling to-and-fro between floors?

The weekend is here and many will be jam-packing Levels 3, 4 and 6 of Suntec Singapore to take advantage of promotions at COMEX 2012 – one of four major annual IT shows in Singapore.

Follow these three simple steps to make your bargain-hunting a breeze.

Step 1 – Online browsing of promotions

Check out the offers online. Even before hitting the venue, browse through the e-brochures and e-flyers to check out the discounts and freebies offered by exhibitors.

Click on this button to display ALL articles and promotions for COMEX 2012.

Click on this button to display ALL articles and promotions for COMEX 2012.

Check the list of promotions I have consolidated on tech4tea.com here.

You can click on the COMEX 2012 button at the top of the side-bar to the right of every page of tech4tea.com – it will show you all the articles related to COMEX 2012.

If you have specific gadgets you want to buy, you can do some targeted browsing/search.

Notice the buttons the main COMEX 2012 button? Pressing these buttons will lead you to a compilation of the relevant flyers/promotions for the category of gadgets that you’re looking for.

Drowning in a sea of irrelevant brochures? Do some targeted browsing instead.

Drowning in a sea of irrelevant brochures? Do some targeted browsing instead.

These include computers (desktops, all-in-ones, notebooks, ultrabooks, netbooks, tablets etc), printers (laser printers, inkjets, photo and label printers etc), cameras, audio products and accessories.

Hopefully, this will rescue you from drowning in the sea of brochures and flyers flying around the Web.

Step 2 – Plan your route

Based on the shopping list, tally with the floor plan for the show, and plan an expeditious route through the booths.

This will save you from having to zig-zag across the halls or between floors.

You may want to plan a route that includes competing exhibitors just to check whether they have revised their prices on-site to something better than what you’ve already decided based on online browsing.

Step 3 – Put on your blinkers or shop-till-you-drop

With your shopping list and route in hand, put on your blinkers and FOLLOW the plan. You should be able to get in and out and get what you want pretty quickly.

Of course, if you prefer to spend the entire day and empty your wallets, you can just go the free-and-easy way, and meander through the crowd as and where your fancy takes you.

Below are some useful resources for planning your COMEX 2012 shopping trip.

(more…)

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Posted in Events, Exhibition, Gadgets, Howtos, Opinion, Promotions, Shopping | No Comments »

Nikon launches 6 new cameras in Singapore

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

Nikon spearheaded its Autumn 2012 collection of cameras with 6 new cameras, 1 lens and 1 waterproof casing. Among these cameras are the super compact S01 and the Android-equipped S800c.

All will be available in September. Prices TBA.

Update (4 September, 2012):

The COOLPIX L610 is now available in Singapore at S$339.

Nikon launched 6 new cameras and accessories in Singapore to spearhead its Autumn 2012 collection.

Nikon launched 6 new cameras and accessories in Singapore to spearhead its Autumn 2012 collection.

Most camera launches roll out more of the same, with slight improvements in features or specifications.

The Nikon P7700 is the new flagship of the COOLPIX lineup. 12.2MP, 7.1x Zoom, f/2.0-4.0 lens.

The Nikon P7700 is the new flagship of the COOLPIX lineup. 12.2MP, 7.1x Zoom, f/2.0-4.0 lens.

So its most refreshing to see Nikon trying to innovate by launching cameras that genuinely push the boundaries.

My favourite among the slew of cameras launched in Singapore today is the S01.

You’ve got to see it to believe it and you’ve got to handle it to appreciate it.

The S01 is smaller than a credit card!

It’s thicker than the card of course, but it’s like one of those charms people dangle from their keychains, although I wouldn’t want the camera slamming against the dashboard as I drive.

And people with big hands might not appreciate the compactness as much.

The Nikon COOLPIX S01 is smaller than a credit card. 10.1MP, 3x Zoom, 77 x 51.2 x 17.2mm

The Nikon COOLPIX S01 is smaller than a credit card. 10.1MP, 3x Zoom, 77 x 51.2 x 17.2mm

It’s a bold step for Nikon to take – pushing the limits of camera miniaturisation.

Nikon COOLPIX L610 has 16MP and 14x Zoom.

Nikon COOLPIX L610 has 16MP and 14x Zoom.

I’m sure smartphone makers would be very keen to adopt some of the technologies developed to make their smartphone cameras perform even better.

Already, these camera phones are encroaching into the market share of compact cameras with the only difference being image quality, which is made up for by the convenience of having the smartphone camera being available and handy at all times.

I won’t be surprised if some of Nikon’s sub-contractors are already talking to smartphone makers on possible collaborations.

The Nikon COOLPIX S800c runs Android 2.3 and has Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Nikon COOLPIX S800c runs Android 2.3 and has Wi-Fi connectivity.

On the same front, Nikon is hitting back at the smartphone camera sector with the S800c – a compact camera with an Android OS (2.3) and Wi-Fi connectivity.

So you can use photo-editing apps (such as Photoshop, Instagram and PicsArt) from the Google Play store to edit photos taken with the camera, and share it online on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

You can also use any of the other 500,000 apps on the Google Play for gaming or other purposes.

The Nikon COOLPIX S6400 has 16MP and 12x Zoom

The Nikon COOLPIX S6400 has 16MP and 12x Zoom

What the S800c doesn’t have yet is 3G connectivity, to give it 3G data connectivity in case there’s no Wi-Fi connectivity.

Who knows, you might even see a Nikon camera-phone (in that order) in the future!

The other products launched today are more run-of-the-mill cameras and accessories.

These include three new compacts from the COOLPIX family: COOLPIX P7700, L610, and S6400.

The Nikon 1 J1 MIL camera has been upgraded to the J2, with new Creative Modes, a new 1 NIKKOR 11-27.5mm f/3.5/5.6 lens, and an Underwater Case.

The Nikon 1 J1 MIL camera has been upgraded to the J2, with new Creative Modes, a new 1 NIKKOR 11-27.5mm f/3.5/5.6 lens, and an Underwater Case.

For its mirrorless interchangeable lens line, Nikon has launched the Nikon 1 J2, 1 NIKKOR 11-27.5mm F/3.5-5.6 lens, and the Nikon 1 water proof case.

I’ll be posting more details of each camera so you can check the tech specs in those articles.

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Posted in Android, Cameras, Compact camera, COOLPIX, Events, Facebook, Gadgets, Gaming, Internet, Launch, Lens, LinkedIn, MIL, NIKKOR, Nikon, Opinion, Photography, Specifications, Twitter, YouTube | 2 Comments »

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