The regional launch event of the Samsung EX2F compact camera was held in Singapore tonight. The camera is now available for S$699. Promotions till 16 September within.
Regional launch of the Samsung EX2F compact camera in Singapore.
The launch event was held in 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road in Singapore with some 60 attendees from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
From now till 16 September, get a free 25L Dry box and Power Bank charger worth S$238, as well as an SD card, a camera case and an extra battery worth S$115 when you buy an EX2F.
Attendees had a chance to try out the camera for low-light night photography in a boat ride from Clarke Quay down the Singapore River and back.
The Samsung EX2F has a maximum aperture of F/1.4 at its widest angle of 24mm (35mm equivalent).
The 12-megapixel camera is Wi-Fi capable and has an optical zoom of approximately 3.3, with maximum zoom at 80mm.
I tried out the camera during the boat ride and found it offers the whole range of manual controls that you get with DSLRs.
From the short span of time that we had to play with the camera, we found the camera focuses reasonably fast and was able to take photos at relatively low light conditions, because of the bright F/1.4 lens.
It also has a full-swivel AMOLED screen for snapping photos at awkward angles.
You can read more about the Samsung EX2F and its technical specifications here.
SingTel today announced that it will launch Singapore’s first 4G service for tablets on 28 August. Two models will be offered: Asus Transformer Pad TF300TL and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (LTE). Details of price plans within.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (LTE) and Asus Transformer Pad TF300TL will be available at launch from 28 August.
The service will offer tablet users theoretical download speeds of up to 75Mbps and typical download speeds between 3.4Mbps and 12Mbps.
It will provide mobile Internet access that is more than three times faster than existing 21Mbps 3G tablet services, with one-fifth of the network latency.
Tablet model
ASUS Tranformer Pad TF300TL
Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 (LTE)
4G tablet price plan
Prestige 75
Monthly subscription
$64.90
$49.90
$64.90
$49.90
Tablet price
$429
$549
$329
$449
Data bundle
10GB
Excess usage and data cap
$5.35 per GB (w GST) 1 July to 31 Dec 2012
$10.70/GB (w GST) from 1 Jan 2013
$94(w GST) cap applies
Contractual period
24 months
Two Android tablets will be available at launch from SingTel with the new Prestige 75 plans. Existing 4G smartphone customers can also purchase the tablets with a multi-SIM plan.
SingTel will launch the mio TV Play app for Android tablets on 28 August.
Model
Asus Transformer Pad TF300TL (LTE)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (LTE)
Operating system
Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Android 3.2 (Honeycomb)
Screen size
10.1″ WXGA(1280 X 800) LED Backlight screen with IPS
8.9″ WXGA TFT technology
Internal memory
32GB, 1GB RAM
16GB, 1GB RAM
Expandable memory
Up to 64GB
Up to 32GB
Camera specs
8MP, Front 1.2MP
3MP
Other features
Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-Core 1.2Ghz
Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060, 1200 MHz
This app will offer an extensive library of on-demand movies, including new release Hollywood blockbusters and the latest titles from around the world.
Movies will be offered from $2.99, and users can charge purchases to their SingTel bill or credit card.
mio TV Play will be available for free download at the Google Play app store, and also pre-loaded into the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (LTE).
Having created a niche with the 5-inch GALAXY Note that straddled between a 7-inch tablet and a 3.5-inch smartphone, Samsung has introduced the 10.1-inch version of the GALAXY Note.
There will be three configurations: the WiFi/16GB (S$798) and 3G+WiFi/16GB (S$998) versions will be available on 25 August, while the LTE+WiFi version will be released later in the year.
Update (4 January, 2013):The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 LTE will hit the shelves in Singapore from 5 Jaunary 2013. The tablet will be available at S$998 (without contract), in deep grey.
Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 was launched in Singapore today.
Hitherto, most people have used tablets as a content consuming tool – checking emails, surfing the Web, viewing photos, reading documents and ebooks, playing back videos and music.
I tried out the GALAXY Note 10.1 during its launch in Singapore today. I found it to be extremely responsive, comparable to a Wacom graphics tablet. The Photoshop Touch was also fast and easy to use, making photo editing pleasant and fun on a tablet.
In terms of content creation, some type short notes and emails using the onscreen keyboard, while those who write longer text documents type them out by connecting an external keyboard.
Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1
OS
Android 4.0.4 (ICS)
Screen
10.1″ WXGA LCD +Digitizer
Resolution
1280 x 800
Battery
7,000 mAh
Processor
1.4 GHz Quad-core
Camera
Rear: 5mp
Front: 1.9mp
Video
Full HD(1080p)
Memory
Int: 16 GB, RAM: 2 GB
Ext: Up to 32 GB microSD
Size /mm
262 x 180 x 600
Weight
597 g
Price
3G/WiFi: S$998, WiFi: S$798
The GALAXY Note 10.1 tries to make possible serious content creation using a tablet.
From note-taking via typing or handwriting with a stylus, research and clipping from the Web using S Note app, to powerful photo-editing using Photoshop Touch.
What differentiates the GALAXY Note 10.1 from the GALAXY Tab 10.1? It’s the combination of the stylus (S Pen) and the user interface that integrates with the stylus.
The GALAXY Note 10.1 comes with 2i-screen multi-tasking, where two apps are displayed running side-by-side on the screen, and videos can be displayed on a floating window for a picture-in-picture effect.
As for other Samsung products, users will be able to access the edutainment content and apps available on the Samsung Learning Hub.
For more details about the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1, read the press release below.
The Samsung EX2F is now available in Singapore. From now until 16 September, get a free 25L Dry box and Power bank charger worth $238 and an SD card, a camera case and an extra battery worth $115.
The Samsung EX2F compact camera has a maximum aperture of F1.4 and is Wi-Fi capable.
Following the success of the EX1 which had an F1.8 lens, Samsung has upped the ante with a super-bright F1.4 lens in the new EX2F.
Samsung EX2F
Megapixels
12 MP
Sensor
1/1.7″ BSI CMOS
Optical Zoom
3.3 x
Wide angle
24mm
Max zoom
80mm
LCD
3″, 614k dots, VGA, AMOLED
Movie
Full HD 1080/30p
Flash
Built-in + Hotshoe
RAW
Yes
Image stabilisation
Dual IS
Size /mm
111.9 x 62 x 28.9
Weight
294.3 g *
Aperture
F1.4 to F2.7
Others
Built-in ND filter
Price
S$699
* Weight excludes battery and memory card.
A maximum aperture of F1.4 is available at the camera’s widest angle at 24mm.
The F1.4 lens lets in four times more light than an F2.8 lens, and comprises 11 elements in 9 groups, with 4 aspherical lenses and 2 high refractive lenses.
The larger aperture allows for shooting with very shallow depths of field, and the ability to shoot at low-light.
Low-light shooting is further assisted with Dual Image Stabilisation (Optical IS & Digital IS).
On the other hand, a built-in Neutral Density (ND) filter provides greater control over exposure settings either for creative purposes or in situations of over-exposure.
The camera is housed in a durable magnesium body usually found on DSLR cameras.
As in DSLR cameras, the EX2F allows Full Manual Control of exposure settings and records photos in RAW format.
Available in Singapore for S$699.
The Wi-Fi connectivity of the EX2F means that photos taken can be easily and speedily shared to social networking sites such as Facebook, or sent to friends or family via email.
The camera can be connected to smartphones and tablets via a Mobile Link, or saved through Auto Backup to a PC or to the Cloud.
Detailed technical specifications of the Samsung EX2F can be found below.
The two new apps joins more than 400 other apps available for the Samsung Smart TV, with more to come in the next few months.
Angry Birds is developed by Rovio Entertainment. Throughout game play, all actions – including level of difficulty selection and screen zoom in/out – are performed using motion control. Players can activate the unique skills of each bird and even control the game’s trademark slingshot action using arm movement enabled by the built-in camera.
The two new apps are part of a slew of high quality content that Samsung has lined up for consumers in the next few months.
New Smart TV apps in the pipeline
Entertainment: Angry Birds, SingTel mio TV PLAY, StarHub Video Store, WOWtv and Viki Premiere
Edutainment: Yummy Science, Calculus, Ferog in the Well, My First World and E-Assessment
Information: Maybank
The new Angry Birds app for Samsung Smart TV utilises Samsung’s Motion Control technology, which works with just the wave of a hand in front of the screen.
The SingTel mio TV PLAY is an over-the-top (OTT) video streaming application providing access to web video content in SD, HD and 3D format through an online catalogue and an online video store with Hollywood and Asian movies.
Four interactive edutainment apps developed by the local developer community will be launched in September 2012.
The two Angry Birds and SingTel mio TV PLAY apps will be preloaded on the Samsung Smart TV.
Some of the new Smart TV apps in the pipeline are listed in the table below, together with a brief description and when they will become available.
These apps are a result of a joint call-for-proposal for the development of educational TV apps for the Samsung Smart TV platform and ecosystem announced in September 2011 with the Media Development Authority of Singapore’s (MDA) Interactive Digital Media Programme Office (IDMPO).
Samsung has rolled out more than 40 new interactive edutainment apps in partnership with Singapore developers. These apps will be available on Samsung smart mobile devices.
Overview of content strategy and edutainment apps by Winston Goh, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Mobile Communications, Samsung Asia
The 40 new apps are entertaining, intuitive, social and visual in nature and allows users to engage in self-learning experiences, whether at home or on-the-go.
The suite of edutainment apps includes:
Mandarin Speaking Skills for Kids: comprises speech interactive exercises to build Mandarin speaking skills for kids from Primary 1 to 6.
Zalairos Adventures: comprises 25 e-books for kids aged between 5-10 years old to improve vocabulary, reading and comprehension skills.
Skoolbo Core Skills: comprises more than 50,000 questions designed for kids aged between 4-10 years old to improve mathematics and language skills.
PREPTEST: standardized self-assessment modules and admission guidelines for GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and more.
Samsung is working with the developer community to promote the creation of interesting educational content.
Hands-on impression
My favourite is the “Skoolbo Core Skills” app from Skoolbo which drills young children on basic words and math concepts without them even realising it.
Colourful graphics are used and the kid feels he’s playing an adventure game.
Answering the drill questions correctly is only part of progressing in the game.
The company commits the tools, resources, technical content and support that app developers require, to create rich applications optimised for its GALAXY range of tablets and smartphones, as well as the GALAXY Note.
The local app developers that Samsung is working with for this range of edutainment apps are B-Secure Technologies, Prep Zone, iQ-hub and Skoolbo.
Some of these apps, such as those developed by B-Secure Technologies and Prep Zone will be made exclusively available on Samsung mobile devices.
Another impressive app is iQ-hub’s “Mandarin Speaking Skills for kids”.
Going beyond basic word recognition, the app is able to grade the accuracy of pronunciation by the user, who reads out chinese characters displayed on the screen.
Various exercises using the word recognition and grading engine are available and it was quite fun even for an adult to go through some of the exercises.
The launch was held at Samsung’s store at Vivocity.
I tried out some of the apps during the launch and it’s quite impressive what our local developers are capable of.
I call it N Wow! Microsoft Singapore demonstrated how it has transited from a traditional fixed-room-and-desk office layout, to a Starbucks-style working environment where employees can work at ANY available desk in its six floors of office space at One Marina Boulevard in Singapore.
No more assigned desks. Click to enlarge to see more of the new way of work.
What happens to the personal paraphernalia that adorn the typical office cubicle or room?
Well each employee, including Managing Director Jessica Tan, gets a locker to store their personal effects.
Plenty of collaboration spaces.
Each desk comes with power-sockets, a wireless mouse and keyboard, and a Samsung monitor that comes with a privacy screen.
Nothing else – not even a phone.
A single cable from the monitor plugs into the employee’s laptop.
In addition to connecting the display to the monitor, the same cable also provides Internet connection to the laptop, as well as control over the wireless mouse and keyboard.
Every floor has a “landing area” at the entrance – a convenient rendezvous point.
Why isn’t there a phone?
Employees rely on Microsoft’s Lync telephony and collaboration solution which allows them to communicate using the Internet.
It is now as easy to work from home as it is to work in the office.
Yet more employees prefer to come physically to the office than to work from home – because of the more open and spontaneous collaborative environment the revamp has facilitated.
For a start, there’re no walls and cubicles between employees.
Workers can choose a private booth to dock-in if they really need to work on or discuss about something really confidential.
But by-and-large, most work in the open, at one of the docking desks.
Overview of rooms and workstations. Reminiscent of Metro UI?
Microsoft Singapore invited the regional media to walk around their operational offices to see this concept live.
I suppose this is Microsoft’s way of demonstrating how their technology can help enterprises and businesses adapt to the latest trends of work, where people tend to collaborate more in the course of work.
Instead of a concept demo, Microsoft is showing how they walk the talk – in fact, they’ve been working this concept in Amsterdam for the past five years..
And it was an impressive walkabout – to see what many organisations have only talked or dreamed about.
Samsung SUR40Pixelsense. Seen at Microsoft Technology Centre at One Marina Boulevard in Singapore.
Samsung is bringing in to Singapore the GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) 3G tablet (S$798) on 16 June, and the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) tablet (S$598) on 23 June. Prices include GST but excludes line contract.
Update (22 June, 2012):
Samsung has just announced that the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will only be available in Singapore on 30 June 2012. Price remains unchanged at S$598 (inclusive of GST) without contract.
Pricing and availability of the Wi-Fi versions for the GALAXY Tab 2 series will be announced closer to the launch date.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 in 7-inch and 10.1 inches
The GALAXY Tab 2 series of tablets are Samsung’s first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablets. There are now some 400,000 apps for Android phones and tablets.
The GALAXY Tab 2 tablets are available in 3G and WiFi versions.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7) and GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1)
GALAXY Tab 2 Series offer users easy multimedia access, playback and sharing experiences with Samsung Hub services.
Samsung’s Music Hub provides a full music store solution with access to over 17 million tracks.
GALAXY Tab 2
The Readers Hub provides access to over 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazines and over 2,000 newspapers in 51 languages, while Game Hub instantly connects users to the latest game titles.
Samsung’s upgraded Touchwiz user interface features Hub widgets for one-step access to users’ content in Hubs.
The device also presents S Suggest, a new service offering recommendations of apps suited to users’ tastes directly on a home screen.
Samsung’s AllShare is a content-sharing service that allows users to search for and play video, photo, and music files freely across their GALAXY Tab 2 Series from PCs and other Samsung smart devices – such as PC, TV, mobile phone, and digital camera – by using the local network for streaming playback.
With the voice call capability, the GALAXY Tab 2 Series can be used as a phone, serving as a second device in case they misplace their primary phone.
It also lets users spontaneously arrange multi-party video calls via Google+ hangouts, as well as engage in group chats or micro-communities to collectively chat or share content.
In addition, ChatON, Samsung’s cross-platform communication service, connects all phone users of any platform into a single community.
Rear of the Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 tablets
ChatON uses phone numbers instead of ID and passwords, and provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in various formats — images, video, voice, contacts — to make messaging simple and intuitive.
Below are the main technical specifications of the two Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 tablets.
Newstead and Nubox will be at the PC Show 2012 at Suntec Singapore at the Level 3 Concourse.
Click on picture to view/download PC Show 2012 brochures from Newstead.
Here are seven brochures for Newstead’s PC Show 2012 promotions from Nubox, and bargains/deals offered by Newstead for computers from major computer makers Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung and Toshiba.
