Archive for October, 2012

this WEEK in TECH – a selection of interesting events

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Here’s a selection of interesting tech events happening this week (14-20 October 2012). It is not an exhaustive list and represents only a sampling of events that gives a taste of the tech pulse in Singapore.

What are some of the more interesting tech events happening in Singapore?

What are some of the more interesting tech events happening in Singapore?

This week sees the continuation of buzz building up to the General Availability of Windows 8. Intel, Samsung, HP and Sony have already showcased their respective offerings. Next week, Microsoft will be releasing Windows 8 on 26 October 2012.

Audiophiles can look forward to the launch of Swiss Piega handmade speakers by Atlas Singapore, while photographers finally see the Lytro light field camera officially launched in Singapore.

The much anticipated Samsung GALAXY Note II and GALAXY Camera will be launched at the Ritz-Carlton; while BlackBerry and ZALORA join hands to present a fashion show inspired by the BlackBerry Bold smartphones.

On the enterprise side, Progress Software and NCS are talks about growth in big data and the realtime analytic industries, while DPM Teo Chee Hean opens Techventure 2012.

Finally, wrap up the week with a bit of fun and learning at Canon Imaging Academy, shooting out-and-about Singapore and learning about shooting stock photos along the way.

15 October (Sunday)

BlackBerry JamHack 2012

5-city, 3-day, 40-hour hackathon organised by 5 developer groups & communities in Asia Pacific, supported by RIM.

Culminates in App Pitches on the last day on 15 Oct.

Venue: Delhi, Bangalore, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila


15 October (Monday)

Realtime analytics for business

Progress Software and NCS talks about growth in big data and realtime analytic industries.


16 October (Tuesday)

Lytro launch

Official launch of the Lytro light field camera in Singapore.

Venue: Clarke Quay


17 October (Wednesday)

Samsung launch of GALAXY Note II and GALAXY Camera

Launch of Samsung’s latest products in Singapore.

Venue: Ritz-Carlton


17-18 October (Wednesday to Thursday)

Techventure 2012

This year’s theme, “Äsia.Innovation.Renaisance”, highlights the economic transformation in Asia and opportunities for businesses from technological innovation.

Venue: Marina Bay Sands


18 October (Thursday)

Fashionably Bold

BlackBerry and ZALORA collaborates on a fashion show inspired by the BlackBerry Bold smartphones.

Venue: 72-13 Mohammed Sultan Road


19 October (Friday)

Piega launch by Atlas

Swiss Piega launching a range of exclusive handmade speakers in Singapore.

Venue: Atlas Showroom @ Windstedt


20-22 October (Saturday to Monday)

Singapore iStockalypse

iStockphoto and Getty Images are partnering with Canon Singapore to organise this 3-day photo-workshop to shoot Singapore.

Theory on Saturday, followed by portfolio review on Sunday and out-and-about shooting on Monday.

Venue: Canon Imaging Academy

TODAY! Registration of interest for Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE in Singapore

Saturday, October 13th, 2012

For those in Singapore interested in getting the Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE, registration of interest has started today. Here are the links to register with a Telco or without contract.

Registration of interest for Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE in Singapore.

Registration of interest for Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE in Singapore.

Buyers stand a chance to win a pair of “SMTOWN Live World Tour III in Singapore” concert tickets (worth S$336).

Early birds get a FREE Limited Edition Accessory Pack (worth S$202) with your purchase.

The accessory pack includes four accessories: a flip cover, a protective back cover, a car adapter and a portable battery pack.

To buy the GALAXY Note II LTE without contract, register your interest at the Samsung Experience Stores.

New Windows 8 computer lineup from HP

Friday, October 12th, 2012

With the release of Microsoft Windows 8, HP has lined up a range of computers running the new operating system – from All-in-One desktops to notebooks – and two tablets!

HP has lined up a wide range of Windows 8 computers - from desktop AiOs and notebooks to its two new tablets.

HP has lined up a wide range of Windows 8 computers – from desktop AiOs and notebooks to its two new tablets.

Following its aborted foray into tablets last year (with the webOS-based TouchPad), HP will be launching not one but two tablets, based on Windows 8 – the HP ENVY x2 and the HP ElitePad 900.

Both will be available later this year and in January 2013 respectively. Below are some of the computers showcased during the HP’s “A Life Connected” event.

HP ENVY x2
HP ENVY x2Powerful and ultrathin hybrid notebook PC, with a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard.

Ultra slim and lightweight, the docking mechanism has a seamless magnetic latch that smoothly guides the tablet into place.

Comes with Beats Audio for a rich, audio experience.

Available in late 2012. Price S$1,099.

HP ElitePad 900
HP ElitePad 900The HP ElitePad 900 is HP’s premium thin and light Windows 8 tablet, designed for business.

Consumer-inspired design, and precision-crafted with quality materials like Corning Gorilla Glass 2 and sleek contoured edges.

Unique, productivity-enhancing ecosystem of elegantly designed Smart Jackets and other accessories.

Available in late January 2013. Price TBA.

Update (3 May 2013): The HP ElitePad 900 is now available in Singapore for S$1,099 (32GB SSD) and S$1,299 (64GB SSD).

HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4
HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4The HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 brings the intuitive power of touch to a 14-inch Ultrabook format with up to 8 hours of battery life.

Powerful performance and modern, metallic good looks. Comes with Beats Audio and a booming subwoofer.

Available in late 2012 for S$1,399.

HP Pavilion Sleekbook 14 & Sleekbook 15
HP Pavilion Sleekbook 14 & Sleekbook 15The HP Pavilion Sleekbook PCs provide the performance and easy applications that consumers need every day, in ultrathin 14-inch and 15.6-inch packages.

Available on October 26:

  • Sleekbook14 (AMD): S$699
  • Sleekbook14 (Intel i5): S$999
  • Sleekbook15: S$1,049
HP ENVY 23 & ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PC
HP ENVY 23 & ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PCThe HP ENVY 23-inch and 20-inch consumer AiO PCs are the newest in the ENVY line and feature the latest touch technology in a one-cord solution with space-saving small footprint.

It is capable of sensing up to 10 fingers on the screen, so you can use both hands to play games, type or touch the screen.

Available in October:

  • HP ENVY 23: S$1,599
  • HP ENVY 20: S$1,199
HP Pavilion 20 AiO PC
HP Pavilion 20 AiO PCThe new HP Pavilion 20 is a powerful 20-inch non-touch AiO PC built for value-conscious consumers.

Available in October for S$899.

Sony showcases new VAIO Windows 8 notebooks in Singapore

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

In the run up to Windows 8 official release on October 26, Sony has revealed its Fall lineup of Intel-based VAIO notebooks running on the new operating system – including the VAIO Duo 11 slate that comes with sliding keyboard.

Available from November 2012. VAIO Duo 11 will be sold at S$1,999 (i5-3317U processor) and S$2,699 (i7-3517U). Prices for the other notebooks TBA.

Sony's new lineup of VAIO notebooks is helmed by the VAIO Duo 11, an Ultrabook slate with a slide-out keyboard and stylus pen; weighing only 1.3 kg and 17.85 mm thin. 11.6-inch display and available in November 2012 at S$1,999 (i5 CPU) and S$2,699 (i7 CPU).

Sony’s new lineup of VAIO notebooks is helmed by the VAIO Duo 11, an Ultrabook slate with a slide-out keyboard and stylus pen; weighing only 1.3 kg and 17.85 mm thin. 11.6-inch display and available in November 2012 at S$1,999 (i5 CPU) and S$2,699 (i7 CPU).

Sony showcased its new VAIO lineup for the Fall at the Red Dot Museum in Singapore today.

New S Series models come in 13.3" and 15.5" screens, i5 and i7 CPUs and comes with new colour Red.

New S Series models come in 13.3″ and 15.5″ screens, i5 and i7 CPUs and comes with new colour Red. 1.69 kg, 22.8 mm thin.

The new notebooks run on the latest Intel* chips and the new Windows 8 operating system, centering user experience around Touch interactivity.

These sleekly designed machines either have a 10-point multi-touch screen, or come with touchpads that enable users to utilise the touch interface of Windows 8.

As an electronics giant with a full range of electronic products, Sony demonstrated how the VAIO computers could be tightly integrated with other electronic gadgets in its stable.

These include large DLNA TV displays, cameras, video cameras, and Android smartphones.

Two new 14"E14P Series notebooks (i5 & i7). Note the soft-edged design with no bezels.

Two new 14″E14P Series notebooks (i5 & i7). Note the soft-edged design with no bezels.

A VAIO user can therefore download, edit and share photos/videos taken with a camera or smartphone and view them either on the Web or on a large TV.

Two new 13.3" VAIO T Series models (i5 & i7 CPU) using premium materials like  magnesium and aluminium.

Two new 13.3″ VAIO T Series models (i5 & i7 CPU) using premium materials like magnesium and aluminium.

The VAIO Duo 11 ultrabook can function as a flat slate but has a slide-out keyboard to become a laptop.

The new S Series models  has 5.5 hr battery life (additional 11 hr with optional extended battery) and a Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System that uses two graphics processors.

The two new T Series Ultrabooks has either SSD or hybrid HDD/SSD storage.

* In addition to the two new VAIO E14P Series models, the lineup also includes the VAIO E 11” and 15” series which are equipped with 3rd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, or the AMD Radeon processor.

Event: HP showcases new Windows 8 computers, tablets and printers

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

With the impending General Availability of Windows 8 on October 26, HP has showcased its range of All-in-One desktops, notebooks and tablets; and enunciated its vision of integrating these with smartphone usage and its printer product line – to enable a connected life.

HP showcases its extensive range of PCs and printers - and how they can be integrated to give users "A Life Connected". Pictured here is the Officejet Pro 6700 Premium eAiO and the ENVY x2.

HP showcases its extensive range of PCs and printers – and how they can be integrated to give users “A Life Connected”. Pictured here is the Officejet Pro 6700 Premium eAiO (left) and the ENVY x2 (right). Not shown to scale.

HP wants to help us integrate the disparate electronic gadgets in our digital lives seamlessly into “A Life Connected” – the theme for the showcase event.

HP is introducing two new tablets based on Windows 8. Pictured here is the ElitePad 900.

HP is introducing two new tablets based on Windows 8. Pictured here is the ElitePad 900.

HP Singapore roped in local celebrity, Irene Ang, to demonstrate how an user could leverage the wide range of HP products for work and play, and move content and media easily between different devices.

Irene went on a fictitious holiday to Morocco, armed with HP’s recently unveiled HP Envy x2 hybrid notebook, that comes with a detachable keyboard, which she’d used to book her holiday and hotel.

Irene arrived at a Moroccan hotel where the staff used an HP EllitePad 900 tablet to check her in, printing out her check-in paperwork wirelessly using an HP printer.

The EllitePad 900 comes with a jacket that doubles battery life and provides additional expansion ports.

HP Photosmart 7520 eAiO

HP Photosmart 7520 eAiO

During her vacation in exotic Morocco, Irene snapped photos using her smartphone and used an HP app to upload and edit her photos online at Snapfish.

These photos are automatically synched with her tablet and AIO computer at home.

Along the way, she had time to do an “OppaN Irene Ang style” number to music streamed from her tablet.

And below is Oppan Irene Ang Style…

Here are some of the computers showcased during the entertaining event.

Follow this link to check out the new AiO inkjet printers with wireless direct printing technology.