Archive for September, 2014
Friday, September 5th, 2014
ASUS has announced at IFA 2014 its first wearable device, the ZenWatch; the 13.3-inch Zenbook UX305 Ultrabook; the 11-inch EeeBook X205 compact laptop; and the 7-inch MeMO Pad 7 Android tablet.
Update (12 February, 2015):
The ASUS Ultrabook ZenBook UX305 is now available in a new Obsidian Stone colour.
The Ultrabook ZenBook UX305 is now available in Singapore.
Powered by Intel Core M processor with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD, the super-slim Ultrabook retails from S$999 at all ASUS authorised retailers and ASUS brand stores.
The ZenWatch and the MeMO Pad 7 were among the gadgets announced by ASUS at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.
ASUS unveiled the slew of new devices at a pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin, Germany.
ASUS ZenWatch
The ASUS ZenWatch is the first wearable device from ASUS, powered by Android Wear and featuring a version of the ASUS ZenUI user interface developed specifically for ZenWatch.
ASUS ZenWatch
The ZenWatch pairs with a smartphone running Android™ 4.3 or higher to provide information and to serve as a personal wellness manager in conjunction with the ASUS ZenUI Wellness app.
The ZenWatch sports a 2.5D curved and comes with a selection of instantly-changeable software watch faces, allowing users to customize ZenWatch easily to match their style.
Smart features of the ZenWatch uncludes Watch Unlock, Tap Tap, Remote Camera, Cover to Mute, Find My Phone and Presentation Control.
Its seamlessly integrates with ASUS ZenUI, letting users enjoy enhanced versions of exclusive ASUS ZenUI apps such as What’s Next and Do It Later.
(more…)
Tags:Asus, EeeBook, IFA, MeMO Pad, notebooks, smartwatches, tablets, ultrabooks, UX305, Zenbook, ZenWatch
Posted in Accessories, Android, Asus, Gadgets, gadgets, newArrivals, Notebooks, notebooks, Seminars, smartwatches, Specifications, tablets, Ultrabooks, Watches, Windows 8 | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 4th, 2014
Getty Images has announced the availability of Getty Images Prestige – a new selection of the company’s highest-quality imagery, boasting a unique aesthetic approach, exceptional craftsmanship and uncompromising quality.
Through exceptional, quality imagery, Getty Images Prestige offers images of “exceptional quality” to boost brands that are increasingly up against flat advertising mediums, tiny screens and shortened attention spans. Photo: Tim Flach/Getty Images
Hand-selected by in-house creative experts and featuring unique collaborations between award-winning photographers and Getty Images’ Art Directors and Editors, Getty Images Prestige makes available the world’s most powerful images for important projects, without the costs and risks inherent in a custom photo shoot.
(more…)
Tags:Getty Images, photography, photos, Prestige, stock
Posted in Photography, Photos | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 4th, 2014
Sony has just announced at IFA 2014 the mid-range Xperia E3 smartphone; Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact phablets & Z3 Tablet Compact tablet; as well as its new SmartWear gadgets – SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3.
Update (16 September, 2014):
The slew of products announced during IFA 2014 were showcased at the Xperia Z3 SEA launch event in Singapore.
Local pricing and availability below.
| Model / RRP |
Availability |
| Xperia Z3
$998 |
Pre-order on week of 22 September 2014.
Launch on 4 October 2014
|
| Xperia Z3 Compact
S$798 |
| Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
S$TBA |
Price and availability to be announced closer to launch date. |
| Xperia E3
S$298 |
| SmartBand Talk
S$228 |
End Oct 2014 |
| SmartWatch 3
S$298 |
The Sony Xperia Z3 series and SmartWear devices. (The Xperia E3 is not shown above – see below).
Sony has rolled out a slew of new gadgets – from premium flagships to novel SmartWear devices, whilst keeping an eye on the budget conscious mid-range.
Xperia Z3 series phablets/tablet
All three new members of the Xperia Z3 series run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.5 GHz quad-core CPUs and 3G RAM, with fully integrated Qualcomm Adreno 330 GPU.
The Xperia Z3 is 7.3mm thick and is available in white, black, copper or silver green. The Xperia Z3 Compact is 8.6mm thick and weighs 129g, and is available in orange, green, white or black. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (not shown here) is available in white or black.
They are waterproof and dust-tight (IP 65/68)
The Xperia Z3 flagship phablet comes only six months after its Xperia Z2 predecessor.
The screen is of similar size to the Z2 at 5.2 inches, but the Z3 is smaller, thinner and lighter.
Together with the Xperia Z3 Compact, the Z3 has a 20.7-megapixel camera with 1/2.3-inch “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor, new 25mm “G Lens” and ISO 12800 sensitivity.
A dual SIM variant is also on offer in select markets.
The Xperia Z3 Compact phablet is a smaller version of the Xperia Z3 but with the same CPU and graphics chip.
It is a replacement for the Xperia Z1 Compact. Its 4.6-inch screen is larger than the 4.3 inches in the Z1 Compact.
Sony claims that the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact tablet is the world’s slimmest and lightest compact tablet, at 6.4mm thick and 270g weight.
It features an 8-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS.
Xperia E3 mid-range smartphone
The Xperia E3 sports a 4.5-inch 480 x 854 IPS display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core 1.2GHz processor, and Adreno 305 graphics, with 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage.
(more…)
Tags:IFA, phablets, SmartBand, smartphones, SmartWatch, smartwatches, SmartWear, Sony, tablets, Xperia, Xperia E3, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Posted in Accessories, Android, Announce, Gadgets, gadgets, newArrivals, Phones, Seminars, smartphones, smartwatches, Sony, Sony Mobile, Specifications, Tablets, tablets, Tech news, Tickers, Watches, Xperia | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014
Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge smartphone, the Gear VR mobile VR headset, as well as the Gear S smartwatch and Gear Circle earphones at the Unpacked Episode 2 press conference in Berlin, Germany.
Update (18 September, 2014):
Samsung showcased in Singapore today most of the new devices it unveiled during IFA 2014 in a media preview.
It also displayed accessories that Montblanc has specially designed for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The Galaxy Note 4 will be available in “Charcoal Black,” “Frost White,” “Bronze Gold,” and “Blossom Pink” in global markets starting in October.
The Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge are the latest additions to the Galaxy Note family.
Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge Android smartphones
The Galaxy Note 4 has a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) Super AMOLED display and sports the Multi Window feature for multi-tasking.
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
It ships with a 16-megapixel rear camera with Smart Optical Image Stabilizer, and a 3.7-megapixel front camera with f1.9 lens with 120 degrees wide angle.
The Note 4 also has a Fingerprint Scanner and a UV sensor.
The Galaxy Note Edge has a 5.6-inch screen that wraps around the right side of the device.
The Galaxy Note Edge will be available in “Charcoal Black” and “Frost White” in select markets through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce and carriers later this year.
Gear VR mobile headset
Samsung and Oculus has collaborated to create the mobile VR headset optimised for the Galaxy Note 4.
(more…)
Tags:Android, Berlin, earphones, Galaxy, Gear, Gear Circle, Gear S, Gear VR, headsets, IFA, Note, Note 4, Note Edge, phablets, Samsung, smartphones, unpacked, VR
Posted in 3D, Accessories, Android, Announce, Audio, audioVisual, earphones, fitness watches, Gadgets, gadgets, GALAXY, headsets, newArrivals, Note, Phones, Samsung, Seminars, smartphones, smartwatches, Specifications, Tech news, Tickers, Watches | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014
The Logitech X300 Mobile Wireless Stereo Speaker is a wireless Bluetooth speaker designed for both mobility and performance. It is affordably priced at S$99 in Singapore.
Logitech X300 Mobile Wireless Stereo Speaker
Despite its diminutive size, I found that the X300 speaker exhibited wide-range sound that easily fills a room.
That’s due to the way the drivers have been angled facing upward and out to produce a more expansive sound spectrum.
The X300 can also be placed upright. Photo: Logitech SG.
It delivers a deep and precise bass response, and detailed mid- and high-range sound.
You can also position the speaker upright in case of space constraints.
As with other Logitech Bluetooth speakers that I have tried in the past, connecting the speaker to a Bluetooth-enabled device and playing music streamed from the device is a piece of cake.
Simply hold down the Bluetooth button on top of the X300 for a few seconds for the initial pairing.
Make sure the source device has its Bluetooth turned on and is scanning for devices.
A blue light below the power button behind the speaker will begin to flash until it has paired with a device, in which case, the light will become solid.
I had no trouble pairing the X300 to my GALAXY S5 and iPad mini.
(more…)
Tags:audio, AV, Bluetooth, Logitech, music, reviews, speakers, X300
Posted in Audio, Entertainment, Gadgets, gadgets, Logitech, Prices, Review, speakers, Specifications | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
New Linksys RE6500HG Range Extender features adjustable high-gain antennae and an audio jack for streaming music wirelessly from a stereo system to a speaker. Prices (shown below) of the three models range from S$79-S$179.
The RE4000W and RE3000W are immediately available at Challenger for an MSRP of S$109 and S$79 respectively. All range extenders units will be available starting September 12, 2014 at Harvey Norman, Challenger and BEST Denki. The RE6500HG will be available for S$179.
Linksys has announced its new lineup of Linksys Wi-Fi Range Extenders.
There are three new versions:
- Linksys AC1200 MAX Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE6500HG)
- Linksys N600 PRO Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE4000W)
- Linksys N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE3000W).
The RE6500HG and RE4000W are dual band range extenders featuring Cross-Band technology which helps provide a stronger and more consistent signal throughout the home.
| Features |
RE3000W |
RE4000W |
RE6500HG |
| Wireless Speed |
N300 |
N600 |
AC1200 |
| Wireless Band |
Single Band (2.4 Ghz) |
Simultaneous Dual Band2.4 Ghz + 5Ghz |
Simultaneous Dual Band2.4 Ghz + 5Ghz |
| CrossBand |
– |
Yes |
Yes |
| Plug-in or Desktop |
Plug-In |
Plug-In |
Desktop |
| Wireless Audio |
– |
– |
Yes |
| Wired Ports |
1 Ethernet |
2 Ethernet |
4 Gigabit |
| Bridge |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| High Gain Antenna |
No |
No |
Yes |
| MSRP Price |
S$79 |
S$109 |
S$179 |
All three range extenders are compatible with any wireless router, whether supplied by a broadband provider or purchased by the consumer, and are designed to extend b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi signals.
(more…)
Tags:availability, Linksys, networking, prices, range extenders, RE3000W, RE4000W, RE6500HG, Wi-Fi
Posted in Accessories, Announce, Availability, Gadgets, gadgets, Linksys, Network, newArrivals, Prices, Range Extenders, Specifications | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
The all-flash enterprise storage array company was positioned for its completeness of vision and ability to execute.
According to Gartner, Pure Storage leads the pack alongside established giants IBM and EMC.
Pure Storage has been positioned in the Leaders Quadrant of the inaugural Magic Quadrant for Solid-State Arrays (SSA) by Gartner.
The news comes on the heels of Pure Storage being ranked #2 in worldwide SSA market share behind IBM, based on Gartner’s 2013 revenue estimates, and the fastest growing of the vendors evaluated.
Source: Gartner “Market Share Analysis: SSDs and Solid-State Arrays, Worldwide, 2013,” June 2014.
According to Gartner, companies considered to be “leaders” drive the market’s transformation with a clear vision and a strong ability to execute.
Leaders in SSA have generally made strong customer gains.
They provide feature sets that are appropriate for current customer use case needs.
Leaders also show evidence of superior vision and execution for anticipated requirements related to technology, methodology or means of delivery.
(more…)
Tags:awards, Flash, Gartner, Pure Storage, storage
Posted in Announce, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Press Release, storage drive | 2 Comments »
Monday, September 1st, 2014
Xbox held a showcase event at the School of the Arts with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the line-up of blockbuster games coming to Singapore.
Rennie Addabo, Xbox Director, Microsoft Greater Asia Region and Hanson Yap, Marketing Manager, Xbox Singapore at the Xbox One showcase event. Photo from Xbox Singapore.
The event featured international developers and publishers representing the breadth and depth of the Xbox One portfolio.
Titanfall is one of the games available on the Singapore debut of the Xbox One on 23 September 2014.
Come this holiday, gamers will be able to create on Xbox One Car Clubs of up to 1,000 members and race through a wide-open world featuring the stunning landscapes of Southern Europe in “Forza Horizon 2”.
Xbox One gamers will also be able to relive the complete story of a legendary hero in “Halo: The Master Chief Collection”; explore, scavenge and fight to survive in a world overrun by zombies in “Dead Rising 3”; join Ori, the last spirit guardian, as he discovers the mysteries of a dying forest in a beautiful coming-of-age story in “Ori and the Blind Forest”; and dive into the mayhem of Sunset City in “Sunset Overdrive”.
Also available on Xbox One this holiday season are highly anticipated blockbusters like “Assassin’s Creed: Unity”, “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”, and “EA SPORTS FIFA 15”.
(more…)
Tags:EA, FIFA, FIFA 15, gaming, Microsoft, Singapore, Xbox, Xbox One
Posted in Entertainment, Events, Exhibition, Gadgets, Games, Gaming, Gaming, Microsoft, Prices, Software, Specifications, StarHub, Xbox | 4 Comments »
