Sony has launched its new “Alpha Lens Library” programme, which allows new and existing My Sony members, who are owners of its interchangeable lens cameras, to rent and test any lens before purchase.
Users can now rent and test any Sony Alpha lens for up to 5 days before making a purchase.
By paying a rental fee, registered Sony camera users can review up to 20 of Sony’s lens models and adapters for up to five calendar days (including both pick-up and return dates).
After extensive leaks, Nokia has launched the Lumia 1020 smartphone in New York. Adding the Nokia PureView 808’s 41MP sensor to the Lumia 920, the new Lumia 1020 promises greater image quality, especially in low light.
Expected to reach Singapore in Q4 2013.
Nokia Lumia 1020 will be available in white, black and yellow. The Windows Phone 8 smartphone will have a 41-megapixel camera.
The Lumia 1020 will be available in the US exclusively through AT&T (USD$299.99 with 2-year contract), which will accept preorders from July 16.
The Nokia Camera Grip also comes in 3 colours.
The Windows Phone 8 device will be available online and hit the shelves in the US on July 26.
The Nokia Lumia 1020 will be available in yellow, white and black.
The Lumia 1020 will be sold globally, with the launch in Singapore expected in Q4 2013.
The price of the Lumia 1020 without contract in the US is US$659.99, compared to the off-contract price of US$450 for the Lumia 920.
The new 5-inch Via 225 ships with eight Asian maps and offers map updates for the lifetime of the personal navigation device (PND). Now available in Singapore for SGD$199.
TomTom Via 225 has a 5-inch screen and ships with 8 Asian maps with lifetime updates. SGD$199.
TomTom Via 225 offers free daily map changes, based on reports from TomTom’s global Map Share community of 21 million.
Map Share technology enables drivers to keep the TomTom map on their device up to date with frequent road changes, such as new speed limits and blocked roads.
The key features of the Via 225 are listed below.
The GALAXY S4 ACTIVE With LTE will be available in Urban Gray from 13 July 2013 at S$898 (incl. GST but without contract). The Orange Flare edition will be available from end July.
Samsung GALAXY S4 ACTIVE with LTE (SGD$898) is available in Orange Flare and Urban Gray.
The GALAXY S4 ACTIVE With LTE is designed to enhance life experiences for the active user who wants to stay connected while venturing out for exciting outdoor experiences.
It was first announced a month ago in June.
An IP67 rating means that device is protected against entry of solid foreign objects and harmful ingress of water under test conditions of immersion in 21.7°C water without chemical content for up to one meter for up to 30 minutes, based on fully sealed device (except for 3.5mm headphone jack).
Note: IP67 rating does not mean that device is waterproof.
The Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) smartphone has a 5-inch’ Full HD (1920 x 1080) TFT LCD screen (443 PPI) touch screen, with a 2,600mAh battery.
The GALAXY S4 ACTIVE With LTE is powered by a 1.9 GHZ Quad-Core processor and boasts protection from dust and water (IP67).
Measuring 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm and weighing 153g, the smartphone has a 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash light and 2-megapixel front camera.
The technical specifications for the Samsung GALAXY ACTIVE With LTE is available here, while the press release is appended below.
For a limited time, Apple is giving everyone five landmark games and five groundbreaking apps (listed below).
Apple celebrates 5 years of the App Store with 5 free apps and 5 free games.
From the 500 apps available at launch in 2008 to the more than 90,000 at your fingertips today, it’s been a remarkably prolific five years for the App Store.
Listed below are the 10 free apps and games.
The new mirrorless interchangeable lens camera offers both image quality and ease of sharing snapshots with the newest addition to its NX family of compact system cameras.
Available in black, white and pink from mid-July at S$849 (incl 20-50mm kit lens). Bundled with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 (worth S$178).
Samsung NX2000 will be available in black, white or pink from mid-July for S$849.
The large 20.3MP ASP-C CMOS Sensor in the NX2000 is produced entirely by Samsung in-house and promises vivid colours even in low light conditions.
The NX2000’s has a DRIMe IV engine which works to reduce noise, improve speed and enable superior color reproduction.
With 8fps fast continuous shooting, the NX2000 can freeze moving subject or enable a photographer to snap photos while on the run.
Its 1/4000th second top shutter speed makes capturing clear, blur free images possible, while the wide ISO range (100 to 25600) helps to deliver images promises beautifully balanced photos regardless of the light conditions.
The NX2000 has a large 3.7-inch WVGA TFT-LCD Full Touch Screen with 1,152k dots.
The Samsung NX2000 boasts a host of connectivity options that includes Wi-Fi, and NFC. Pink version here with the included 20-50mm kit lens.
The 5-inch, quad-core Butterfly s sports HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound, and is powered by HTC’s longest lasting battery to date. Available end-July at SGD$988 from M1, SingTel and StarHub.
HTC Butterfly s (SGD$988) will be available in Fervour Red, Glamour White and Metallic Grey.
The HTC Butterfly s is powered by a 1.9 GHz quad-core processor and offers HTC’s latest Sense 5 experience and Android Jelly Bean, with a stamina battery that packs 3,200 mAh.
It also features HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound, first introduced with the Taiwan smartphone maker’s flagship HTC One.
The full technical specifications of the HTC Butterfly s is appended below.
To enhance user productivity and performance, Jabra Motion uses motion sensor technology to intuitively follow the user’s every move – to provide premium call control and superior audio quality.
Available 13 July at S$198. Read on for launch promo.
Jabra Motion will be available in Singapore from 13 July for S$198.
Featuring latest intuitive technologies and ergonomic design – including motion sensor technology and a flip-boom arm – the headset caters to the needs of performance-centric users for optimal team communications and project management tasks.
Jabra Motion clips behind the ear.
Paired with smartphones, tablets or laptops, whether at the workplace, on the road or at home – the intelligent and ‘pocketable’ Jabra Motion keeps users up to speed and in touch as they stay focused on their projects and business tasks.
It offers a wireless freedom range of 10m.
Extremely light at 17.5g, the flexible, curve-shaped Jabra Motion provides a customized ear fit with a rotating, height-adjustable speaker tower and different-sized ear-gels.
When a call comes in and the user picks up the Jabra Motion, its intelligent built-in motion sensor automatically triggers the ‘answer call’ function.
The Jabra Motion can be easily folded to be “pocketed”.
And when it is laid down on a surface, the headset takes a power nap.
Sensing changing sound environments or change in motion, such as when the user starts walking, Jabra Motion makes automatic audio adjustment according to ambient noise levels.
The Jabra Motion is built on the Jabra signature ‘behind-the-ear’ circular design based on contour of the ear.
Its folding boom adds ‘pocketability’ – flip it close to a smaller, palm-sized fit to keep in pocket or handbag; flip it open again to instantly connect to an incoming call.
The limited special edition of the Leica D-Lux 6 is the result of collaboration with G-Star, the Dutch jeans and fashion label. The camera is now in stores for S$1,680.
The Leica D-Lux 6 ‘Edition by G-Star RAW’ is the fruit of collaboration between Leica and G-Star. Available now for S$1,680.
The Leica D-Lux 6 ‘Edition by G-Star RAW’ is designed for fashion aficionados and features an unusual colour concept and a distinctive look.
Rear view of the Leica D-Lux 6 ‘Edition by G-Star RAW’.
G-STAR RAW is a denim label renowned for its innovation, cutting edge and unorthodox style.
The body of the Leica D-Lux 6 ‘Edition by G-Star RAW’ is finished in the typical RAW design, and features the script ‘LEICA BY G-STAR RAW … JUST THE PRODUCT’.
This special edition’s leather trim is also unique – this is the first time it is being used on a Leica compact camera.
Samsung Evolution Kit SEK-1000/XS (S$399) and Samsung TV Camera VG-STC3000 (S$129) will be available this month at all major electronic stores in Singapore.
From left: Samsung TV Camera (S$129) and Samsung Evolution Kit (S$399) will be available in Singapore this month. Pictures not shown to scale.
To provide users with a more seamless, integrated and immersive entertainment experience with its Smart TVs, Samsung Singapore has announced its latest offering – the Samsung Evolution Kit and the Samsung TV Camera.
Samsung Smart TV models that are compatible with the Samsung Evolution Kit include the following from the 2012 Smart TV line-up:
The Evolution Kit offers both software and hardware updates that include access to the 2013 Smart Hub and other Smart features
It also upgrades the TV’s dual-core processor to quad-core, resulting in faster internal processing speeds.
On top of that, Smart Interaction will now include new commands such as two-hands motion and new gesture poses so consumers can swipe, zoom, grab and like what they see on their TV screens.
