Archive for the ‘Reference’ Category

Study: ESET Research into Security of Smart Sex Toys

Saturday, March 13th, 2021

Vulnerabilities in smart sex toys could leave users at risk of data breaches and attacks, both cyber and physical, according to a new white paper from global cybersecurity experts at ESET.

The We-Vibe Jive (left) and Lovense Max (right) analysed in the study.

The We-Vibe Jive (left) and Lovense Max (right) analysed in the study.

The “Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” report explores the potential security and safety flaws of connected sex toys and includes an in-depth analysis of two popular devices.

Amidst ongoing social restrictions due to the pandemic, sales of sex toys has risen rapidly, and associated cybersecurity concerns mustn’t be overlooked.

As newer, technologically advanced models of sex toys enter the marketplace, incorporating mobile apps, messaging, video chat, and web-based interconnectivity, devices become more appealing and exploitable to cybercriminals.

The consequences of data breaches in this sphere can be particularly disastrous when the information leaked concerns sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and intimate photos.

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Study: 45% of Singapore SMBs Want to go 100% Laptop Post COVID-19

Friday, March 12th, 2021

In an IDC survey commissioned by ASUS, SMBs are more inclined to equip their employees with laptops rather than desktop computers – compared to prior to COVID-19.

Hmm, still somewhat behind Japan I suppose. I recall, when attending a senior management & leadership course in Japan in the late 90’s, the staff at the college were already equipped 100% with laptops, while fellow-attendees of the year-long course were issued with a personal laptop. It was a cultural mindshift - coming from a work environment at home when it was still 100% desktop.

Hmm, still somewhat behind Japan I suppose. I recall, when attending a senior management & leadership course in Japan in the late 90’s, the staff at the college were already equipped 100% with laptops, while fellow-attendees of the year-long course were issued with a personal laptop. It was a cultural mindshift – coming from a work environment at home when it was still 100% desktop.

Presented during the IDC & ASUS Webcast 2021 Singapore – Digital Transformation for the Next Normal in Asia/Pacific, ASUS revealed that 45% of Singapore SMBs are likely to convert to a 100% laptop setup post COVID-19, underscoring the importance of mobility in a hybrid workplace model.

The finding is among other strategic insights to SMB technology use and how COVID-19 has affected related decisions.

Three suggestions from IDC that Singapore SMBs can implement with regard to technology implementation.

Three suggestions from IDC that Singapore SMBs can implement with regard to technology implementation.

Considering the survey findings, IDC advised that equipping employees with the latest devices that can support both a remote and hybrid work environment will have a significant impact not only on employee productivity and experience, but also will provide a competitive edge to organizations to attract and retain talent.

More details below from the press release.

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New Arrival: Oppo Launches Find X3 Pro Flagship Smartphone

Thursday, March 11th, 2021

The Oppo Find X3 Pro (12 GB + 256GB: S$1,599) will hit Singapore shelves on 27 March, with pre-orders beginning at 11pm tonight. Promotions below.

The OPPO Find X3 Pro is available in Blue and Gloss Black with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage at a retail price of S$1599.

The OPPO Find X3 Pro is available in Blue and Gloss Black with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage at a retail price of S$1599.

The Find X3 Pro features Oppo’s Full-path 10-bit Colour Management System and True Billion Colour Display (QHD+ 3216 x 1440 @ 525ppi, 1300 nits and 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio).

Boasting a colour accuracy rating of 0.4 JNCD, and A+ DisplayMate certification, the display offers a 5 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate with its power-saving LTPO OLED panel

The flagship phone sports two billion-colour cameras.

Both its wide and ultra-wide cameras have an IMX766 50MP Sony sensor.

It has a macro focus distance of 4cm while its 60x magnification Microlens offer microscopic photography to the user.

The Find X3 Pro offers billion-colour 4K 10-bit video recording.

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New Arrival: Lenovo 2021 Collection of Legion Gaming PCs

Friday, March 5th, 2021

Lenovo is launching today its 2021 collection of Legion gaming PCs and accessories. These AMD– and Nvidia-powered machines will be launched online and broadcast live across the Asia-Pacific at 8pm this evening. Prices below.

Lenovo’s 2021 collection of Legion gaming laptops.

Lenovo’s 2021 collection of Legion gaming laptops.

Lenovo showcased the 2021 collection of Legion PCs to a select audience in Singapore in a sneak preview prior to tonight’s launch.

The collection comprises four new gaming laptops and two accessories.

  • Legion 7 (16″ AMD): S$3,999
  • Legion Slim 7 (15″ AMD): S$2,499
  • Legion 5 Pro (16″ AMD): S$2,399
  • Legion 5 (15″ & 16″ AMD): S$1,999
  • Legion S600 Gaming Station: S$149
  • Legion H600 Wireless Gaming Headset: S$149

More information will be added after tonight’s launch.

New Arrival: Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (StarHub Exclusive)

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021

StarHub is offering the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi6 mesh router (RRP S$399) free to its 2Gbps Fibre Broadband subscribers (new and recontract). Additional units to set up a mesh network at home are available at S$288 per unit or monthly installments of S$12 or S$24 over 24 or 12 months respectively. Prices include GST.

The new Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (AKA StarHub Smart WiFi Pro).

The new Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (AKA StarHub Smart WiFi Pro).

StarHub’s name for the router is the “StarHub Smart WiFi Pro”.

The MX4200 is StarHub’s first Wi-Fi 6 router and is the product of a continued partnership with Linksys.

The router combines mesh networking and Wi-Fi 6 technology to promise 4x speed, 4x capacity (compared to Wi-Fi 5) to more than 40 Wi-Fi devices within the home.

The router is especially suited for gamers – who typically subscribe to StarHub’s 2Gbps Fibre Broadband – and desire ultra-low latency and lower ping times.

The 2Gbps plan costs S$62.90 per month.

Those who purchase the MX4200 from StarHub can look forward to firmware upgrades within the year for two additional features that would optimise the home network for gaming and increase speed through intelligent allocation of radio bands (DFS – Dynamic Frequency Selection).

 

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Media briefing by Linksys and StarHub on the Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 mesh router at the company’s office at Level 30, South Beach Tower in Singapore. “Throughout 2020, we have witnessed how pivotal stable connection is for every household as the modern world shifts to normalise home-based learning and working from home. 400 million Southeast Asians – nearly 70 percent of the population – are now online. In Singapore alone, 90 percent of the population are connected online. This increase means demand for faster internet connection will only continue to grow exponentially. Through this partnership with StarHub, we believe that our WiFi 6 offerings will successfully meet consumers’ demand for next generation ultra-high-speed router technology,” said Jenny Ng, General Manager for Asia, Linksys.

More details below on the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 mesh router from the press release.

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New Arrival: Xiaomi Mi 11 Hits Singapore/Malaysia on 20 March

Thursday, February 25th, 2021

Xiaomi also launched appliances from its ecosystem – Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10, Mi Ionic Hair Dryer H300, and Mi 360º Home Security Camera 2K. Prices & promotions below.

The latest Android flagship smartphone from Xiaomi - the Mi 11.

The latest Android flagship smartphone from Xiaomi – the Mi 11.

Following its global unveil two weeks ago, Xiaomi has launched its latest flagship – the Mi 11 – for Singapore, with availability beginning on 20 March, 2021.

Check out the features of the Mi 11 here.

The Mi 11 comes in two storage variants: 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB with enhanced LPDDR5 3200MHz RAM + UFS 3.1 storage.

The Mi 11 8GB+128GB version will be available as an online exclusive at Xiaomi official stores on Lazada and Shopee, whereas the 8GB+256GB version will be available for purchase online and offline at Authorised Mi Stores and other official retailers in Singapore.

Mi 11 comes in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue, which are available from 20 March; and Cloud White, which will be available at a later date.

In addition, the first 100 customers to purchase Mi 11 will receive an Mi AIoT premium pack worth S$461.90, and the subsequent 600 customers to purchase Mi 11 will receive a free Mi Air Purifier 3C (RRP: S$179).

This special first day sale campaign is only valid for one day on March 20.

The new Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 features a digital motor that spins at 125,000rmp, creating up to 150 air watts suction power (25% more than the previous generation) with HEPA filter with 99.97% whole filtration rate.

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New Arrival: Huawei MateBook D 14 Ultralight Notebook

Friday, February 19th, 2021

The new Huawei MateBook D 14 (S$1,098) arrives in Singapore tomorrow (20 February) with free gift bundle (S$243) until 31 March, with additional promotional free subscriptions of Microsoft 365 Personal (worth S$108) or Kaspersky Internet Security Software (worth S$40.95) at selected consumer electronic stores or Huawei Experience Stores respectively. Details below.

The new Huawei MateBook D 14 (S$1,098), with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, comes in Mystic Silver. Available in all Huawei Experience Stores, selected consumer electronic stores and Huawei official online stores in Lazada and Shopee.

The new Huawei MateBook D 14 (S$1,098), with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, comes in Mystic Silver. Available in all Huawei Experience Stores, selected consumer electronic stores and Huawei official online stores in Lazada and Shopee.

The Huawei MateBook D 14 laptop is an ultralight notebook with an affordable price, and a long battery life.

It weighs only 1.38kg and is 15.9mm thick, with a 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with thin 4.8mm bezels – offering an 84% screen-to-body ratio.

The screen also contains TUV Rheinland Low Bluelight Certification to effectively filter blue light emissions, for all-day eye comfort.

Available with up to a 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10210U processor that runs at up to 4.2GHz, the latest MateBook D 14 Intel edition is also equipped with a NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics card that includes 2GB of high-speed GDDR5 VRAM.

Compared to integrated graphics, the new NVIDIA GPU can handle image and video editing tasks 3.5 times faster (compared to an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620) and should provide a smooth gaming experience even in multi-player games involving intense battles with lots of special effects.

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Event forecast: IFA 2021 in Berlin from 3 – 7 September

Tuesday, February 9th, 2021

IFA this year will be from 3 – 7 September, 2021. The trade show for consumer tech and home electronics will be reprised in Berlin, Germany.

IFA 2021 will take place in Berlin, Germany from 3-7 September, 2021.

IFA 2021 will take place in Berlin, Germany from 3-7 September, 2021.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, IFA 2020 Special Edition (both onsite & online) attracted 145,900 visitors, 1,560 industry partners, 10,750 media representatives from 100 countries/territories.

Below is a list of industry partners that you can expect to see in this year’s IFA.

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New Arrival: Xiaomi Launches Flagship Mi 11 Smartphone Globally

Monday, February 8th, 2021

Xiaomi is giving Mi 11 studio-grade camera features and pro performance. Singapore Price & Availability TBA.

Xiaomi wants to put a movie studio in your pocket with its latest Mi 11 flagship smartphone.

Xiaomi wants to put a movie studio in your pocket with its latest Mi 11 flagship smartphone.

The new Xiaomi Mi 11 sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, 108-megapixel triple rear camera, cinematic audio, and 50W wireless charging.

Key features of the Mi 11 include the following.

  • 108MP triple camera with a slew of AI movie modes
  • 120Hz 6.81” AMOLED DotDisplay and sound by Harman Kardon
  • Powerful performance by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
  • Smooth user experience through the new MIUI 12.5

More details below from the press release.

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New Arrival: Galaxy Tab Active3 & XCover Pro Rugged Devices

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021

Samsung announced the expansion of its business rugged device range with the Galaxy Tab Active3 tablet and Galaxy XCover Pro phone. Price and availability below.

With its ruggedised build and defence-grade security, Samsung’s latest multi-functional devices are built for business productivity in a harsh physical environment and secured for data security. Galaxy Tab Active3 (left) and Galaxy XCover Pro.

With its ruggedised build and defence-grade security, Samsung’s latest multi-functional devices are built for business productivity in a harsh physical environment and secured for data security. Galaxy Tab Active3 (left) and Galaxy XCover Pro.

Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced that the Galaxy Tab Active3 is now available and that the Galaxy XCover Pro will be available in March.

“When designing the Galaxy Tab Active3 and Galaxy XCover Pro, we have incorporated new features based on feedback from our customers on functions that would benefit their everyday operations. The Galaxy Tab Active3 is a multi-functional tablet that not only supports the latest applications for field work, but also no battery mode for those who require devices at a fixed kiosk or mounted on vehicles. Meanwhile, the Galaxy XCover Pro can seamlessly transform into a mobile device scanner or a walkie-talkie – perfect for field workers in logistics and supply chain sectors. With a strong line-up of rugged devices, we are paving the way for continuous innovation to create products that allow customers to do business with a peace of mind, while keeping their frontline workers productive and safe,” said Sarah Chua, Vice President of IT and Mobile, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

Knox Capture, a new enterprise-grade scanning solution will also be supported by both devices by March.

As part of Samsung for Business’ portfolio, the new business rugged devices feature sleek, durable and compact designs that enable frontline workers to be more secure, collaborative and productive in the field.

As the first business rugged tablet to be Enterprise Edition-ready out of the box, the Galaxy Tab Active3 supports “No Battery Mode” for businesses that opt to use the tablet in a fixed location such as a kiosk.

Its Wi-Fi and LTE variants are now available, and are priced at $698 and $798 (including GST) respectively from telco enterprise partners and authorised distributors.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy XCover Pro is a stylish, sleek and rugged all-in-one enterprise mobile device that withstands drops of up to 1.5m, even without a case.

It will be available in March.

More details below from the press release.

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