Archive for May, 2013
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
I usually sit down with a cup of tea in the morning while I surf the Web for the latest tech news. Today, I sat down with three cups at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
The three Tea Cappuccinos are available at all outlets at S$6.00 each for all three flavors (Chai, Scottish Breakfast and Anniversary Blend Tea).
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a frothy trio of tea cappuccinos at all its outlets.
The special concoctions will only be available until 25 May 2013.
These freshly brewed tea concoctions are layered with silky milk foam and drizzled with delicious vanilla bean sauce.
(more…)
Tags:Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Food, lifestyle, Singapore
Posted in Events, Food, Lifestyle, Opinion, Party, Prices, Review, Specifications | No Comments »
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Lenovo today announced its new line of Windows 8 touch-optimised devices – the thin and light IdeaPad U310 Touch (fr S$1,199) and IdeaPad U410 Touch (fr S$1,299), as well as the IdeaPad Z400 Touch (fr S$1,199).
All are already available now.
From left: Lenovo IdeaPad U310, Z400, U410 Touch.
The new line of touch screen laptops are equipped with 10-point multi-touch screens that compliment a mouse and keyboard.
The new line of touch screen laptops ship with up to 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors and the latest NVIDIA GeForce graphics with DirectX 11.
The IdeaPad U310 Touch and U410 Touch are stylish in design and are only available in Graphite Grey.
From just 18mm thick and weighing up to 1.75kg, these Ultrabooks are thin, light and extremely mobile – perfect for on-the-go computing.
| Lenovo IdeaPad |
| U310 Touch: |
from S$1,199 |
| U410 Touch: |
from S$1,299 |
| Z400 Touch: |
from S$1,199 |
Ultra-responsive, they wake up from sleep in just one second with Instant Resume, and enjoys extended battery life.
The IdeaPad Z400 Touch is ideal for multimedia entertainment.
(more…)
Tags:IdeaPad, laptops, Lenovo, Microsoft, notebooks, Singapore, Windows, Windows 8
Posted in Announce, Gadgets, IdeaPad, Lenovo, Notebooks, Prices, Specifications, Windows 8 | No Comments »
Monday, May 13th, 2013
LG Cloud enables users to stream content directly to LG CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, and provides a convenient location to store entertainment content that automatically synchronizes between PCs, smartphones and TVs.
LG Cloud service is now available in Singapore.
LG’s Cloud service allows members to easily store content in their own personal LG Cloud account.
Signing in to an account on an LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV is quick and easy thanks to the automatic Single Sign On (SSO) protocol, which is able to recognize both the user’s LG Smart TV ID and LG Cloud ID.
Automated Updating Made Simple
(more…)
Tags:Apps, availability, cloud, LG, Singapore, Smart TV, TV
Posted in Android, Announce, App, Availability, Cloud, Gadgets, LG, Prices, Smart TV, Software, Specifications, TV | No Comments »
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Compact USB-powered device provides 7.1-channel surround and high definition 192kHz/24-bit sound for desktops and notebooks. Available end-May for S$149.
ASUS Xonar U7 USB Soundcard and Headphone Amplifier will be available from end-May 2013 for S$149.
The compact Xonar U7 USB external soundcard and headphone amplifier offers powerful and clear 114dB SNR audio with USB convenience.
Specifications
- 114dB SNR
- 10Hz-46kHz frequency response
- 7.1 channels
- 192kHz, 16-bit/24-bit sample rate
- 32ohm-150ohm headphone amplifier
- 2 x RCA for front left/right channels
- 3 x 3.5mm for side/center/rear channels
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone out
- 1 x 3.5mm microphone-in/line-in
1 x S/PDIF coaxial out
It incorporates a headphone amplifier, Dolby Home Theater v4 support, plus dedicated microphone and volume controls.
Xonar U7 serves the needs of PC gamers who want to enjoy strong and clear sound via headphones, and is also ideal for listening to music as it produces much more impactful and detailed audio than onboard hardware.
Connecting via USB, it requires no standalone power supply and works instantly setup-free with no need to open the PC case.
Powerful sound from a compact and portable device
(more…)
Tags:amplifier, Asus, audio, headphone, Singapore, USB, Xonar
Posted in Accessories, Announce, Asus, Audio, Gadgets, headphones, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Since it’s Mother’s Day today, here’s a fantastic “gadget” I came across last week that’s ideal for the busy and working Mom who cooks dinner after work.
Available from 1 June 2013 at S$459 (incl. GST).
Launch Offer: S$80 grocery voucher and local recipe book will be given away by promoters at outlets while stocks last. Available at electrical chain stores, leading department stores, selected hypermarkets and authorized dealers.
French kithen appliance maker, Tefal, has launched the ActiFry in Singapore.
“This entire plate of crispy fries, 1 tablespoon of oil. Delicious with my veggie burger….This machine Tefal ActiFry has changed my life and they are not paying me to say this!” ~ Twitter post on 19 February 2013 by Oprah Winfrey, along with a picture of her meal.
Six million units of the Tefal ActiFry have been sold worldwide
The Tefal ActiFry Family 1.5kg is versatile, convenient and cooks more healthily for the health-conscious family.
The Tefal ActiFry uses 97.5% less oil than a conventional deep fryer.
The ActiFry features a ceramic-coated, scratch resistant pan, allowing users to cook a wide range of food and also aids in making easy cleaning of the utensil.
In addition, the ActiFry is equipped with an automatic stirring paddle.
What I like is that even though it’s 170°C inside, the exterior of the ActiFry remains luke-warm to the touch, so there’s no worry of children scalding themselves by touching the appliance when in use.
So you can just throw in the rice and ingredients and let the ActiFry fry the fried rice for you, hands-free.
The patented pulsed hot air circulation system and electronic control of the heating system allow the appliance to maintain the heating temperature at a maximum of 170°C.
(more…)
Tags:ActiFry, appliance, Food, lifestyle, Singapore, Tefal
Posted in Appliances, Events, Food, Gadgets, Launch, Lifestyle, Prices, Specifications | 3 Comments »
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
To all mothers out there … Happy Mother’s Day!
Flowers for all mothers on Mother’s Day. These beautiful flowers adorn a florist’s shop in Kumamoto, Japan. Taken with Nikon D800.
And to all mothers-to-be or newly-minted mothers, here’s a book to find out what not to expect when you are expecting.
Muddlehood (S$25.90). Available online, at Popular, Books Actually, Thomson Medical.
“Muddlehood” is a collection of essays by parents on life in the first year of parenting.
It was written by my wife and a few of her friends to share the trials and tribulations of motherhood, or how they “muddled” through it all.
The authors noted that when they were going through their first pregnancies and looking for advice and things to pay attention to, it was difficult to come by a book that was truly honest about the difficulties and psychological rigours the expecting mother was to encounter.
So having gone through it, they decided to pen down their own experiences as honestly as possible – to share what “expecting mothers never expected”.
“On hindsight, we felt that the accounts were so brutally honest that the book might actually discourage women who had not conceived yet to put off having children,” mused Koh Keat Kian, co-author and co-editor of Muddlehood.
However, despite the rigours of motherhood, the consensus among all the authors was that – at the end of the day – motherhood is the most rewarding thing a woman could experience, and it was worth every bit of angst or trouble they had to go through to have the baby.
This is an excellent book for the expecting mom to find what they never tell you to expect.
It’ll make a handy book to buy yourself if you’re contemplating having a baby, and an excellent present to give an expecting or newly-minted mum.
“Translucent” flowers at a greenhouse in Beppu, Japan. Taken with a Nikon D800.
Tags:2013, Beppu, D800, flowers, Japan, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Mother's Day, pink
Posted in Events, Holiday, Japan 2012, Lifestyle, Nikon, Photography, Photos, Shopping, Travel | No Comments »
Friday, May 10th, 2013
ViewQwest’s partnership with Toggle offers more value for the former’s Fibernet Bundles.
ViewQwest’s strategic partnership with MediaCorp’s Toggle is now in effect.
Subscribers of ViewQwest’s Fibernet 150 Bundle and Fibernet 300 Bundle will now be able to watch Toggle for free over a 12 months period.
“We are always on the lookout for products and services which would enhance our subscribers’ broadband experience and also believe firmly in supporting local content.” said ViewQwest CEO
Vignesa Moothy.
ViewQwest is a provider of next generation connectivity in Singapore while Toggl is MediaCorp’s newest Over-The-Top Content (OTT) provider.
Toggle is an interactive service that goes beyond the television set, bringing entertainment, lifestyle tips, news and information to viewers across multiple devices.
ViewQwest’s strategic partnership with MediaCorp’s Toggle is now in effect.
(more…)
Tags:entertainment, Fibernet, MediaCorp, OTT, Singapore, Toggle, ViewQwest
Posted in Announce, Entertainment, Network | No Comments »
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Mobile Broadband 150 will be offered with a mobile WiFi modem from 11 May and a USB dongle modem from 18 May. Price plans within.
SingTel launches commercial 150Mbps 4G service with “Mobile Broadband 150.
Singapore Telecommunications today announced the launch of Mobile Broadband 150.
“Our customers can look forward to a 150Mbps service for smartphones and tablets in the coming months when handsets compatible with these speeds become available in Singapore,” said Johan Buse, SingTel’s Vice President of Consumer Marketing.
It is the first 4G mobile broadband service in Singapore to offer speeds of up to 150Mbps, which is two times faster than conventional 4G services.
Customers can enjoy these speeds at outdoor locations nationwide, as well as popular indoor locations such as Jurong Point, Raffles City, Tampines Mall, Bishan Junction 8, Bugis Junction and Changi Airport.
(more…)
Tags:4G, networks, Singapore, SingTel
Posted in Announce, Launch, Network, Prices, SingTel, Specifications | No Comments »
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Easy-to-use Avatarbook puts kids right in the middle of their favourite stories and songs. The app is free.
Avatarbook lets the child watch herself/himself play a role in her/his favourite animated story.
Children can enjoy seeing themselves onscreen as the main characters in animated versions of classics such as Aladdin, Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland.
Avatarbook is now available from the LG Smart World, and will be periodically updated with new content.
Aside from creating smiles and laughter, Avatarbook is a great way for young learners to engage more directly with age-appropriate literature and music.
Becoming part of an exciting tale or happy tune on Avatarbook is an easy process that most children will be able to perform by themselves.
First, they choose from a selection of ten fun songs or five classic children’s stories.
(more…)
Tags:Apps, kids, LG, Singapore, Smart TV, TV
Posted in Announce, App, Games, LG, Smart TV, Software, TV | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Mother’s Day is on 12 May this year. Get mum something nifty for her tablet, computer and to enjoy her music collection.
Logitech has a useful tech accessory for Mum for any of her favourite gadget.
Logitech has put together a list of accessories for the tech-savvy Mum’s favourite gadget.
Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad (S$139)
Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad mini (S$119)
For the mum who uses her iPad or iPad mini for everything.
 Fom viewing the recipe while she’s cooking, browsing group photos at family functions, uploading these photos to Facebook, to sending emails on the go.
The keyboard cover protect the touch screen on her tablet and doubles up as a Bluetooth wireless keyboard, as well as a hands-free stand.
These keyboard covers are super light and thin. |
Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 (S$59)
(more…) |
Tags:audio, covers, gifts, headphones, keyboards, Logitech, Mother's Day, Singapore, speakers, touchpads, trackpads, web cams
Posted in Accessories, Apple, Audio, Gadgets, headphones, Holiday, Keyboards, Lifestyle, Logitech, Prices, Shopping, speakers, Specifications | No Comments »
