Archive for May, 2015
Sunday, May 24th, 2015
The mid-tier 5-inch all-touch smartphone is now available in Singapore for S$389 from M1, Singtel and StarHub.
The new BlackBerry Leap is an all-touch alternative to the mid-tier BlackBerry Classic.
BlackBerry Leap is basically the all-touch version of the Classic – the other BlackBerry mid-tier smartphone – for those who prefer an onscreen keyboard over the traditional QWERTY keyboard in the similarly-priced sibling.
Pricing and Availability
BlackBerry Leap will be on sale in Singapore (S$389) from May 23, through M1Shop outlets island-wide, as well as via the enterprise sales teams of carriers M1, Singtel and StarHub.
Like the Classic, the new Leap is targeted mainly at the business user whose main priority is to get work done – effectively and efficiently – while on the go.
BlackBerry Leap features the latest BlackBerry 10.3.1 operating system, an edge-to-edge five-inch HD display and more than a full day’s battery power.
First look
I had a quick hands-on with the new BlackBerry Leap last week when John Sims, BlackBerry’s President of of Global Sales was in town last week to brief the deployment of a new automated fare collection system in Southeast Asia that’s based on the company’s QNX Neutrino OS.
Check out the first impressions below that I had from trying out the phone over lunch.
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Tags:availability, BlackBerry, Business IT, Classic, first looks, launch, Leap, Singapore, smartphones
Posted in Availability, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, Brief, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, Gadgets, newArrivals, Opinion, Phones, Prices, RIM, smartphones, Specifications | No Comments »
Saturday, May 23rd, 2015
The HTC Desire 826 dual sim will be available in Singapore from TODAY at S$498 in White Birch and Blue Lagoon with M1, Singtel, StarHub and major retailers.
The mid-range HTC Desire 826 dual sim is useful for frequent travels that needs to slot in a second SIM card using the local network of their destination.
The HTC Desire 826 dual sim is driven by the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 Octa-Core 64-bit processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage with microSD expansion up to 128GB.
A range of accessories including the HTC Dot View case will also be available for the HTC Desire 826 dual sim.
The phone uses Nano SIM cards and is capable of 4G LTE streaming.
It ships with Android 5.0 Lollipop OS with HTC Sense user interface, on a 5.5-inch Full HD 1080p display.
The phone is powered by an embedded 2600mAh Li-polymer battery.
The HTC Desire 826 dual sim promises immersive HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio surround sound from your phone.
The smartphone comes with an audiophile-grade headset that is tuned for HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio, offering a cinematic surround sound experience.
HTC was the first phone maker to put dual front-facing stereo speakers on a smartphone.
The HTC Desire 826 dual sim has 13-megapixel cameras on the front and rear, so that selfie lovers can enjoy great image quality for their self-portraits.
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Tags:Android, availability, Desire, Desire 826, dual SIM, HTC, Lollipop, M1, nano, Octacore, Qualcomm, Singapore, SingTel, smartphones, Snapdragon, StarHub
Posted in Android, Announce, Availability, Gadgets, gadgets, HTC, HTC Desire, Launch, newArrivals, Phones, smartphones | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 22nd, 2015
Facebook has enhanced the sidebar space within its Facebook mobile app – creating a dedicated place for you and your friends to stay up to date on all of the things you do every day.
Facebook enhances sidebar within its mobile app.
People go to News Feed to catch up on what friends are posting at certain times of the day, like a best friend’s engagement or pictures from a university reunion.
But many users want a place to see and share the smaller updates that are a part of their day.
Setting your sidebar status in the Facebook app.
The Facebook sidebar is used by millions of people daily to quickly find and contact friends and loved ones while on the go with their mobile.
Now, you can visit the sidebar to get a quick look at what your friends are currently doing.
(more…)
Tags:Apps, Facebook, sidebar
Posted in Announce, App, Apps, Facebook, Facebook, Internet, Launch, Software | No Comments »
Friday, May 22nd, 2015
The book looks back at the Singapore’s IT transformation from the beginning of its computerisation journey to realising the vision as the world’s first Smart Nation.
Chia Wee Boon (left), CEO of NCS presenting a limited edition NCS Tech Evolution book to Tay Ai Cheng (right), Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Librarian of National Library Board. “With the support from the National Library Board, the public can have access to NCS Tech Evolution. We hope everyone will enjoy reading this book, appreciate the contributions of the pioneers and many unsung heroes,” said Chia.
NCS, a leading Info-Communication Technology (ICT) provider in Asia Pacific launched today the NCS Technology Evolution book to commemorate the Nation’s IT transformation from the very beginning of Singapore’s computerisation journey.
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Tags:books, Chia Wee Boon, drones, events, launch, library, NCS, NLB, SG50, Singapore, SingTel, Tay Ai Cheng, TechConnect
Posted in events, Launch, NCS, Photos, Press Release, SingTel | No Comments »
Thursday, May 21st, 2015
QNX Neutrino OS will be powering the fare collection system deployed in thousands of devices throughout Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand.
On bus terminal powered by the new automated fare collection system. “MSI’s experience with QNX Neutrino has been very favorable and we will continue to leverage the same secure OS for our future projects,” said Silvester Prakasam, fare system business unit head, MSI.
QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, today announced that the QNX® Neutrino® OS is powering a new fare collection system in Southeast Asia.
MRT gates at a Downtown Line station in Singapore using the new system. “Creating a solution that could gain widespread adoption was also a key consideration in our choice of OS, and with QNX Neutrino we were able to create a design that is fast and reliable, yet affordable to customers in cost-sensitive regions.” added Prakasam.
The system includes automatic gates, ticketing machines, and onboard bus equipment, throughout the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand.
(more…)
Tags:BlackBerry, LTA, MSI, MSI Global, Neutrino, OS, Philippines, QNX, Singapore, Thailand, transport
Posted in Announce, BlackBerry, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Operating Systems, Press Release, RIM, Software, software, Technology | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2015
The three trade shows will take place in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) from 2-5 June 2015.
CommunicAsia2015, EnterpriseIT2015 and BroadcastAsia2015 in Singapore will put the spotlight on Smart Technologies. From 2-5 June 2015 (Tuesday-Saturday).
The 4-day ICT and broadcasting industry event will put the spotlight on Smart Technologies and feature a lineup of speakers, innovations and launches.
Venue and timings
CommunicAsia2015 and EnterpriseIT2015 exhibitions (MBS Level B2, 1 & 3) will incorporate SatComm2015 and will also include the CommunicAsia2015 Summit (MBS Level 3).
BroadcastAsia2015 exhibition (MBS Level 4 & 5) will incorporate ProfessionalAudioTechnology2015 and will include the Broadcast Asia2015 International Conference & Creative Content Production Conference (MBS Level 3).
The exhibitions are open to business and trade professionals while the Summit and Conference are open to registered delegates only.
Opening hours are from 10:30am – 6:00pm on 2-4 June and 10:30am – 4:00pm on 5 June.
(more…)
Tags:BroadcastAsia, BroadcastAsia2015, CommunicAsia, CommunicAsia2015, conferences, EnterpriseIT, EnterpriseIT2015, events, exhibitions, MBS, ProfessionalAudioTechnology, ProfessionalAudioTechnology2015, SatComm, SatComm2015, Singapore, trade shows
Posted in audioVisual, Brief, Enterprise IT, Event forecast, Events, events, Exhibition, Figures, Gadgets, gadgets, Huawei, Seminars, Video | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, May 19th, 2015
The 5.7-inch Lumia 640 XL (S$429) comes with Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 3000mAh removable battery. Wee Wu Neo from The Neo Dimension checks out the affordable phablet from Microsoft Devices.
The Lumia 640 XL will be available in matte cyan, orange, black, and white.
The Lumia 640 series features the first Microsoft-branded LTE smartphones since the acquisition of Nokia Mobile.
By the look of its price and hardware specification, the Lumia 640 series exhibits almost identical performance to the Android Motorola MotoG.
The Lumia 640 XL with its 3000mAh removable battery. Photo credit: Wee Wu Neo.
This review covers the Lumia 640 XL, the Windows Phone phablet in the Lumia 640 series.
Design and Build
The Lumia 640 XL measures 157.9 x 81.5 x 9.0mm and weighs 171g.
(more…)
Tags:Lumia, Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Microsoft, Microsoft Devices, Nokia, reviews, smartphones
Posted in App, Apps, Gadgets, gadgets, Lumia, Microsoft, Microsoft Devices, Nokia, Phones, Prices, Review, smartphones, Specifications, Windows Phone 8 | 2 Comments »
Sunday, May 17th, 2015
Celebrity photographer Russel Wong shared some of his tips on portrait photography using a smartphone in a workshop at the OPPO Concept Store in Suntec City Tower 3. Here are three of the tips attendees found most useful.
Celebrity photographer, Russel Wong sharing his experiences of taking portraiture using a smartphone.
Russel Wong is one of the most profiled photographers in Singapore and Asia.
Described as a “celebrity photographer who also photographs celebrities”, Wong enjoys the acclaim of being the first Singaporean to break into the notoriously difficult Hollywood movie industry.
Below are 3 smartphone portraiture photography tips that Wong shared during the workshop using the OPPO N3 smartphone that was launched in Singapore back in end October 2014.
1. Hold the camera as vertical as possbile
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Tags:Amber Valetta, Andy Lau, Anna Sui, Black Eyed Peas, Chow Yuen Fatt, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Gong Li, Jacky Chan, Jet Li, Joan Chen, JPEG, Ken Watanabe, Lee Kuan Yew, Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, Naomi Campbell, OPPO, OPPO N3, Pavarotti, photography, photos, RAW, Richard Gere, Russel Wong, smartphones, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tang Wei, Tony Leung, Wang Lee Hom, Yo Yo Ma, Zhang Ziyi
Posted in Cameras, cameras, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Howtos, Interview, Opinion, OPPO, Phones, Photography, Photos, Seminars, smartphones | No Comments »
Thursday, May 14th, 2015
Sony Singapore showcased the BRAVIA 4K LCD and Full HD televisions that were announced earlier this year at CES 2015 – with new models ranging from 32 to 75 inches in size, some based on Google Android TV and impressively thin models thinner than a smartphone. Prices TBA.
The Sony Bravia X9000C is only 4.9mm at its thinnest – thinner than some smartphones.
This new lineup for 2015 will soon be available in Singapore, with models rolling in as early as next month – June 2015.
Sony BRAVIA KDL-65W850C with Google Android TV.
The 4K models ships with advanced 4K X-Reality PRO upscaling technology by analysing and upscaling content to 4K resolution.
The X9000C Series 4K LCD TV (in 55 and 65 inches) is only 4.9mm at its thinnest part and with its tiny frame – mount it on the wall and it’ll appear like a floating display.
The Bravia X series as well as the W800C and W850C will support Google’s Android TV operating system, making it easy to stream videos, function as a gaming device, and provide enhanced features like Google Cast and Voice Search.
(more…)
Tags:4K, Android, Android TV, Bravia, events, FHD, Full HD, Google, Google Cast, Google Play, launch, lineup, Singapore, Sony, televisions, TVs, W800C, W850C, X-Reality Pro, X9000C
Posted in Android, App, audioVisual, Bravia, Entertainment, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Launch, newArrivals, Operating Systems, Prices, Sony, Specifications, TV | No Comments »
Monday, May 11th, 2015
If you’re a small growing business looking for an easy-to-use and affordable NAS storage solution that keeps your data secure and always available, this Seagate NAS 4-bay 20TB (S$1,899) could well be your answer.
Seagate NAS 4-Bay 20TB.
The NAS 4-bay 20TB is one of many configurations (see sidebar below) that Seagate introduced as part of its Network Attached Storage (NAS) product line refresh that saw the replacement of its previous Business Storage series with the NAS and NAS Pro lines of product.
In the box: Seagate NAS, power supply cable, Ethernet cable, Quick Start Guide.
With pre-installed hard disk drives (HDD) and pre-configured RAID disks, as well as its latest operating system – NAS 0S 4 – Seagate offers storage simplicity for SOHOs (Small Office Home Office) and small businesses with ease of use and private cloud access over the Internet.
The ease of use and set-up is particularly attractive to small companies without dedicated IT resources, while the cloud access is especially useful for organisations with mobile workers requiring secure remote access to vital documents, data and resources from the field.
Connection is easy: Simply connect the Ethernet cable to the NAS and the router. Then connect the power cable to the NAS and the outlet and you’re ready to go. You can connect a second Ethernet cable for redundancy or performance.
The easy-to-navigate HTML user-interface is driven by the new LINUX-based NAS OS 4, which now comes with a redesigned Device Manager, enabling users to manage preferences and configure settings from a single location.
It includes useful features such as App Manager and Seagate Sdrive for remote access – some of the most demanded features of NAS users in general.
I found the NAS device management effortless from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or even a smartphone.
I was also impressed by how silent the internal fan of the NAS was – you can just leave the NAS on and hardly notice any noise.
My take:
“Seagate’s NAS 4-bay 20TB offers an excellent affordable and reliable network attached storage solution for home and small business businesses with up to 25 employees – with easy set-up and usage, as well as cloud access from anywhere with an Internet connection, from mobile devices including tablets and smartphones.”
(more…)
Tags:2-Bay, 4-Bay, 6-Bay, hard disks, HDD, LaCie, NAS, NAS Pro, network, reviews, Seagate, storage
Posted in Accessories, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Gadgets, gadgets, Linux, Opinion, Prices, Review, Seagate, Security, Specifications, storage drive | No Comments »
