Posts Tagged ‘Android’

New arrivals: HP notebooks & tablets for enterprises in 2015

Tuesday, February 10th, 2015

HP has launched its 2015 line-up of notebooks and tablets for businesses and enterprises. The wide range of computing devices will be available from end February till May 2015.

Detailed pricing and availability below.

HP’s new line-up of notebooks and tablets for 2015 offer a wide range of mobility solutions for businesses and enterprises.

HP’s new line-up of notebooks and tablets for 2015 offer a wide range of mobility solutions for businesses and enterprises. Left: HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 Speical Edition. Right: HP ElitePad 1000 G2 Rugged Tablet.

Amongst the new devices is the EliteBook Folio 1020 family – which HP touts as the industry’s thinnest and lightest business-class notebooks.

“The HP EliteBook 1020 represents game-changing innovation in both materials and mechanical engineering to create the world’s thinnest and lightest business notebooks in a form factor that enables our customers to be more productive in more places,” said Serena Yong, general manager, Printing and Personal Systems, HP Singapore and Malaysia.

The HP EliteBook 1020 and the HP EliteBook 1020 Special Edition (SE) are ultra-thin at 15.7 mm, and the SE takes advantage of HP’s exclusive blend of magnesium-lithium alloy and reusable carbon fiber to achieve a weight of only 1 kg (2.2 lbs).

Price and availability of the new line-up of tablets/notebooks is tabulated below.

The HP EliteBook 1020 and the ultra-lightweight HP EliteBook 1020 SE are designed with enterprise mobility in mind, with up to 9 hours of battery life to power a full work day.

Price and availability of the new line-up of tablets/notebooks are tabulated below.

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New arrivals: Parallels Access 2.5 extends to computer-to-computer access

Thursday, January 15th, 2015

Parallels Access 2.5 now features Universal File Manager, Computer-to-Computer Remote Access and Samsung S Pen Integration on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge. Pricing below.

Parallels advances the remote desktop experience beyond iPhone, iPad and Android to include computer-to-computer access.

Parallels advances the remote desktop experience beyond iPhone, iPad and Android to include computer-to-computer access.

Parallels, a global provider of cross-platform solutions, today introduced Parallels Access 2.5, available immediately on Google Play and the App Store worldwide.

“In our new era of even more devices, interfaces and form factors, it is extremely important for people to have a consistent application experience from any device, anywhere. Today’s workers need tools that connect the applications they depend on with devices and services from multiple platforms for a seamless user experience,” said Parallels president Jack Zubarev.

New features of the app include a universal file manager, computer-to-computer remote access and Samsung S Pen integration to give customers a useful and productive remote access experience.

Now all Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge customers get a free six month subscription to Parallels Access in their Galaxy Gifts.

The new release also supports the recently released OS X Yosemite and Windows 10 Technical Preview.

Parallels Access enables users to access their working computer anytime and anywhere, even with a mobile device or a borrowed computer.

New features include:

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New arrivals: Samsung GALAXY A Series – A7, A5 & A3 smartphones

Tuesday, January 13th, 2015

Samsung has launched in Singapore its GALAXY A Series of Android smartphones. The mid-range smartphones include the 4.5-inch A3 (S$448), 5-inch A5 (S$598) and the 5.5-inch A7 (S$TBA).

The A3 and A5 will be available in Singapore on 16 January while the A7 will be available this quarter.

The new GALAXY A series comes in three sizes (from left) - the 5.5-inch A7 (S$TBA), 5-inch A5 (S$598) and the 4.5-inch A3 (S$448).

The new GALAXY A series comes in three sizes (from left) – the 5.5-inch A7 (S$TBA), 5-inch A5 (S$598) and the 4.5-inch A3 (S$448).

The A3 and A5 were launched in Korea on 31 October, 2014 while the A7 was launched on 12 January, 2015 in Korea.

First impressions

I like the thin metallic body of the A-series.

The GALAXY A3 4G will be available from January 16 in Pearl White and Midnight Black, and will retail at $448 without contract. The Platinum Silver, Champagne Gold, Soft Pink versions will be available in late January and February.

The GALAXY A3 4G will be available from January 16 in Pearl White and Midnight Black, at $448 without contract. The Platinum Silver, Champagne Gold (24 January), and Soft Pink (February) versions will be available  later.

The beauty face feature is really interesting.

This offers three ways of enhancing your selfies – skin retouch, eyes enlargement and face-slimming.

There are sliders to let you control how much of the effect to apply, and you can preview the effect as you drag the slider to the left or right.

The skin retouch effect is nothing new and is basically the run-of-the-mill skin blurring functionality which produces instantly-recognisably fake blurred skin.

So it’s good that you can use a slider to limit how much of the effect to apply to avoid appearing too amateurish.

The GALAXY A7 4G will be available this quarter in Pearl White and Midnight Black.

The GALAXY A7 4G will be available this quarter in Pearl White and Midnight Black.

The eyes enlargement effect is really interesting but you have to try-and-error, as the effect can be either flattering or downright weird.

I was most impressed with the face slimming feature. I can see how it’s going to be flattering for many to see their face slimmed slightly.

All three models come with SUPER AMOLED screen for a vivid and colourful display.

The A-series GALAXY smartphones are priced more affordably than Samsung’s two flagship smartphones – the Note and S series.

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New arrivals: HTC Desire EYE phablet and RE camera

Monday, November 24th, 2014

HTC hopes to reinvent mobile photography and imaging with the HTC Desire EYE “double exposure” smartphone, the RE fun camera, EYE Experience imaging software, and enhanced Zoe video editor.

The HTC Desire EYE will be available in Singapore from 27 November at SITEX 2014 at S$728 S$628, through StarHub and M1.

Errattum:

HTC has updated that the price of the HTC Desire EYE in Singapore during SITEX 2014 to S$728 from the S$628 in the original press release.

HTC Desire EYE (left, in White and Coral Red duotone) phablet and HTC RE (in green) camera.

HTC Desire EYE (left, in White and Coral Red duotone) phablet and HTC RE (in green) camera.

HTC has announced two new innovative gadgets which I had the chance to preview last week – the RE fun camera and Desire EYE Android phablet – both of which are water proof.

HTC RE camera

The RE camera will be available from late December onwards. HTC has yet to announce its price tag in Singapore.

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Review: ASUS PadFone S Android smartphone cum tablet combo

Saturday, November 1st, 2014

As a pioneer of 2-in-1 mobile devices, ASUS offers with the PadFone S the portability of the smartphone and the larger screen of a tablet by selling both at the price of one device.

Two colours are available for the ASUS PadFone S - Dark Ruby (shown above) and Pure White.

Two colours are available for the ASUS PadFone S – Dark Ruby (shown above) and Pure White. Photo: ASUS Singapore.

The PadFone S was launched in Singapore on 14 October, 2014 together with 11 other new mobile and computing products.

The PadFone S is a 5-inch Android smartphone that comes with a PadFone S Station.

The PadFone S I reviewed was the Pure White version. Normal retail price: S$449.

The PadFone S I reviewed was the Pure White version. Normal retail price: S$449.

You can use the PadFone S on its own like any smartphone or you can slot it into the back of the PadFone S Station and use the combination as an 8.9-inch tablet, leveraging the larger backlit Super IPS display of the Station.

You can’t use the PadFone S Station on its own though, because it is simply a dumb display with no computer processors within.

Actually, the Station has more – it also includes a 4990mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable) battery to provide the larger energy demands of powering a larger display.

The larger battery can also be used to charge the PadFone S to extend its battery life from 22 hours talk-time (3G) to 64 hours.

The combined PadFone S in the Station felt a little bit hefty though, at a combined weight of 664g.

My view:
I found the ASUS PadFone S provided me with the portability of a smartphone and – only when I need it – a truely larger display and usability of a tablet –> all at the price of a single device (or less).

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New arrivals: Toshiba Ultra-HD 4K Pro Theatre TV L9450 series with Android

Thursday, October 16th, 2014

The latest Ultra-HD 4K L9450 series with Android Pro Theatre TVs from Toshiba embraces the Android platform. Now available throughout Asia, prices range from S$2,299 to S$17,999 and are listed below.

The L9450 Pro-Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android come in 50, 65 and 84-inch models.

The L9450 Pro-Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android come in 50, 65 and 84-inch models.

The Android compatibility makes available an abundance of apps that are downloadable on Google Play

Toshiba Price
50L9450VE S$2,299
65L9450VE S$4,999
84L9450VE S$17,999

Four times sharper than Full HD, Ultra-HD 4K offers unparalleled clarity for a growing selection of 4K content, ranging from movies to games and photos.

Not only are visible on screen details significantly bolstered, viewers can also sit closer to the display without being distracted by pixilation.

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Review: LG G3 Android KitKat smartphone with QHD display

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Following the success of its well-received LG G2, I like the large stunning QHD display of the LG G3 and totally enjoyed using the flagship smartphone over the past few weeks.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is one of the first smartphones to sport a 5.5-inch Quad HD display – other makers are only now beginning to ship QHD on their flagships.

Top edge of the LG G3.

Top edge of the LG G3.

The 538 ppi resolution of the G3 is one of the highest in the market now and is equivalent to four times the resolution of HD and almost two times that of a Full HD display.

The sharper detail was remarkable especially when viewing 4K video on the display. Even Full HD video looked sharper and clearer.

The LG G3 is one of the best smartphones that I’ve used that are currently on the market. Fast and smooth, with great display and excellent camera.

The other thing that impressed me was the camera (sample shots at the end of this review).

The 13-megapixel rear camera comes with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabiliser Plus) and uses an innovative Laser Auto Focus for faster and more accurate focus on the subject.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The result is sharper photos and a faster response time.

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New arrivals: Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 available in Singapore

Monday, October 6th, 2014

The Android smartphone is targeted at first-time users looking for essential features and usability. Available in Singapore at S$148 from 11 October, 2014.

The Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 weighs 108g and measures 109.8 x 59.9 x 11.8mm. It is available in Iris Charcoal and White.

The Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 weighs 108g and measures 109.8 x 59.9 x 11.8mm. It is available in Iris Charcoal and White.

Powered by a 1GHz Single Core Processor, the GALAXY YOUNG 2 features a long lasting 1,300mAh battery, 3.2-megapixel camera and a 3.5” touch screen HVGA (320 x 480) TFT LCD display with 262K colours..

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New arrivals: ASUS MeMo Pad 8 and Fonepad 8 Android tablets

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

The new ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (S$499) and Fonepad 8 (S$299) tablets feature the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom ‘Moorefield’ quad-core processor and ASUS ZenUI interface. Avaialble in Singapore from 10 October, 2014.

Both the ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (S$499) and Fonepad 8 (S$299) run Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and ASUS ZenUI interface, which features more than 200 software tweaks over previous ASUS interfaces.

Both the ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (Left, S$499) and Fonepad 8 (Right, S$299) run Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and ASUS ZenUI interface, which features more than 200 software tweaks over previous ASUS interfaces.

The interface sports a new visual design with modern ‘flat’ icons, customisable vivid colour themes that match the tablets’ colour, as well as a cleaner layout that clearly presents all necessary information at one glance.

Despite its larger display, the ASUS Fonepad 8 has almost the same width as the previous generation 7-inch Fonepad.

Despite its larger display, the ASUS Fonepad 8 has almost the same width as the previous generation 7-inch Fonepad.

Weighing at just 299g, ASUS boasts that the 8-inch MeMO Pad 8 (ME581CL) is the world’s lightest 8-inch tablet with Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

It features the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom Z3560 1.8GHz quad-core processor, and ultra-fast connectivity with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and wireless Near-Field Communications (NFC).

The ASUS Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) delivers powerful mobility with the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom Z3530 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 3G phone functions.

With its narrow bezel measuring just 5.06mm and a 72.2% screen-to-body ratio, ASUS claims that the 8-inch ASUS Fonepad 8 has the largest viewing area for any 8-inch phablet in the market.

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Preview: Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, Gear S & Gear Circle

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Samsung Singapore showcased in Singapore today a few of the devices unveiled during IFA 2014 – namely the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge.

Also available for hands-on were the Gear S smartwatch and Gear Circle Bluetooth wireless earphones.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Both the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge now have the same Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) as the LG G3 but on a larger 5.7-inch screen, and the S Pen and S Note have been improved to enhance their functionality and productivity.

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds “stuck” together magnetically, can be worn around the neck like a necklace when not in use.

The rear camera now has 16 megapixels and the front has 3.7 megapixels with an f1.9 lens.

By the way, the processor that’s going to ship to Singapore is the Snapdragon with 3GB RAM.

The Note Edge really does look novel with the sharp display on the curved screen that wraps around the thin right edge of the phablet.

The Gear S smartphone runs on the Tizen OS and has its own nano-SIM slot so you can place and receive calls independently of a smartphone.

It can also store and play music directly and be paired with the Gear Circle.

First Impressions:

Having used the Galaxy S4, Note 3 and now using the S5, I find the Note 4 and Note Edge exciting new additions to the Galaxy flagship devices.

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