Archive for the ‘Tablets’ Category

Coral Pink Samsung GALAXY S II coming to Singapore

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

The Coral Pink version of the Samsung GALAXY S II smartphone will be available in Singapore on 18 February 2012, at S$888 (incl. GST, excl. line contract).

Coral Pink Samsung GALAXY S II Android smartphone will be available in Singapore from 18 February at S$888.

Coral Pink Samsung GALAXY S II Android smartphone will be available in Singapore from 18 February at S$888.

Also, the GALAXY Nexus (S$948, Black and White) and GALAXY Tab 7.7 (S$898) are available in Singapore from today. All prices include GST but exclude line contract.

Management shakeup at RIM

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

BlackBerry maker – Research In Motion (RIM) – has named Thorsten Heins as President and CEO of the company.

Mike Lazaridis remains Vice Chair of the Board while Jim Balsillie takes on a Director role at the company. This is effective immediately.

Outgoing Co-chairs and Co-CEOs Jim Basillie and Mike Lazaridis

Outgoing Co-chairs and Co-CEOs Jim Basillie and Mike Lazaridis

Heins was also appointed to RIM’s Board. He joined RIM from Siemens Communications Group in December 2007 as Senior Vice President for Hardware Engineering and became Chief Operating Officer for Product and Sales in August 2011.

I believe Heins does not have time on his side, given BlackBerry’s rapid loss of market share to rival Android devices and Apple iOS products.

“We have a strong balance sheet with approximately $1.5 billion in cash at the end of the last quarter and negligible debt. We reported revenue of $5.2 billion in our last quarter, up 24% from the prior quarter, and a 35% year-to-year increase in the BlackBerry subscriber base, which is now over 75 million.” – Thorsten Heins, new President and CEO of RIM.RIM’s market share of smartphones in the US declined from a market leading 44% in 2009 to 10% in 2011, according to market researcher NPD Group.

BlackBerry has been growing outside of America but it is facing similar challenges from its competitors in those markets as well.

Coming from within RIM instead of outside, the natural question will be whether Heins will be doling out “more of the same” at RIM.

I’m not sure having been in RIM since 2007 is necessarily something that will be seen as positive for Heins.

Investors will be keen to know if he had his own ideas but could not act on them because he was not the CEO.

Heins will have a very short time to show how different he is from his predecessors, that he has his own vision and roadmap to bring RIM back to its previous success.

Thorsten Heins, new President and CEO at RIM

Thorsten Heins, new President and CEO at RIM

I’m hoping his “I don’t think that there is a drastic change needed” spiel during his first press conference as CEO is merely paying due respect to his predecessors.

The succession plan was submitted by the two Co-Chairs and co-CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie. RIM’s Board of Directors acted on their recommendations after conducting its own own due diligence.

Investors had forced RIM to consider a change in company leadership in 2011 and was stalled with the company’s promise to study the matter.

RIM promised a resolution in January 2012 and I’ve been wondering if they were going to make the move, after their closed-door meeting in mid December.

Mike Lazaridis, who co-founded RIM with Doug Fregin in 1984, has become Vice Chair of RIM’s Board and Chair of the Board’s new Innovation Committee.

As Vice Chair, he will work closely with Mr. Heins to offer strategic counsel, provide a smooth transition and continue to promote the BlackBerry brand worldwide.

Barbara Stymiest, who formerly served as a member of Royal Bank of Canada’s Group Executive and has been a member of RIM’s Board since 2007, has been named the independent Board Chair.

John Richardson, formerly Lead Director, will remain on the Board.

Prem Watsa, Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings, also was named to the Board, expanding it to 11 members.

New iPad app: Blum Connect

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

Redesign your home and plan for new furniture with the help of information and visuals from this new free iPad app.

Blum Connect is a new free iPad app for home renovation ideas and guide.

Blum Connect is a new free iPad app for home renovation ideas and guide.

Thinking of rebuilding your kitchen? Check out this free iPad app from Blum.

Developed by Apostrophe Digital, the app serves as a guide for consumers, designers and reference for the sales team for Blum.

Blum Connect is a free iPad app on iTunesThere is a gallery of product and lifestyle images for the kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, children’s room and study. Double-click to zoom in.

Related brochures, prices, memos, videos, press information, and pricing can be easily accessed and shared with friends and family via email or Facebook.

The brochures and memos, containing detailed information for each product or product category can be downloaded and stored as iBooks.

A list of authorised Blum Design & Build partners, carpenters and dealers is also provided.

New Bluetooth Headset: Bose Series 2

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Bose has introduced the Bluetooth Headset Series 2. It is available in Singapore for S$249.

Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2 (S$249)

Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2 (S$249)

The Bose Bluetooth headset Series 2 assures conversations remain clear and natural – even in challenging environments, or when surrounding noise levels change suddenly.

The headset integrates Bose full-­range audio and A2DP, and comes in either right or left-ear versions.

The Bose Bluetooth headset Series 2 includes a proprietary dual microphone system to improve speech intelligibility beyond that of conventional Bluetooth headsets, rejecting background noise and tremendously reducing the audible effects of wind.

Bose proprietary signal processing further counteracts the unwanted sounds of a wide variety of places – gusty walkways, commuter rail platforms or airports.

To keep incoming voices clear, Bose TriPort acoustic structure and Bose Adaptive Audio Adjustment technology react automatically as noise levels change so that there’s no need to adjust volume settings or strain to hear a conversation.

The new internal antenna substantially reduces acoustic artifacts – the “pops,” “clicks” and “buzzes” familiar to Bluetooth headset owners – and minimises reception difficulty between the headset and a phone being carried in a pocket.

Compatibility

The Bose Bluetooth headset Series 2 is compatible with devices using the Bluetooth 2.1 (or earlier) specifications that support the Bluetooth hands-­free or A2DP profiles.

For consumers who want to maintain an active connection between their headset and two Bluetooth enabled devices, it includes multi-point functionality.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 upgrade in Feb 2012

Monday, January 16th, 2012

An advanced messaging experience; innovative people-centric calendar and contact apps; and improved office productivity tools are some of the features in the PlayBook OS 2.0 upgrade.

An advanced messaging experience with a powerful unified inbox.

An advanced messaging experience with a powerful unified inbox.

Announced during CES 2012, and expected to be available in February 2012, the free upgrade will enable customers to be even more connected and productive with heaps of new features.

People-centric calendar and contact apps integrated with social networks.

People-centric calendar and contact apps integrated with social networks.

For an advanced messaging experience, a powerful unified inbox integrates with built-in messaging and social networking sites (Twitter, LinkedIn etc), as well as ‘tabbed email’ for managing multiple accounts.

You can also compose and edit messages in rich text and manage you inbox with useful new tools (for setting out-of-office alerts, signatures etc).

There are innovative people-centric calendar and contact apps that connects and feeds from your social network to make organising your day and getting in touch with people easy and fast.

Enhnaced office productivity tools such as Word To Go & Print To Go.

Enhnaced office productivity tools such as Word To Go & Print To Go.

Remote control your PlayBook using your BlackBerry smartphone, especially if your PlayBook is connected to a TV via the HDMI output – perfect for watching movies or typing out notes.

Revamped and improved productivity tools with new Documents To Go, and Print To Go application for wireless printing and enhanced browsing, plus much more.

Technical specifications: Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

The 10.1-inch tablet sports the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the newest NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core mobile processor. Prices within.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201, world's first tablet with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core mobile processor.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201, world's first tablet with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core mobile processor.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is housed in an ultra slim 8.3mm metallic spun finish chassis that weighs only 586g.

Super IPS+ screen for vivid wide-angle viewing.

Super IPS+ screen for vivid wide-angle viewing.

The Eee Pad Transformer already boasts a wide 178° viewing angle IPS display, with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass.

Now the Transformer Prime goes further, upgraded with a brighter Super IPS+ screen that enhances the brightness of the screen for a better outdoor reading experience.

It has a 1.2 megapixel front camera for video conferencing and an 8 megapixel rear auto-focus camera with LED flash.

Asus Transformer Prime in Amethyst Gray colour.

Asus Transformer Prime in Amethyst Gray colour.

The rear-camera boasts a large aperture of F/2.4 and a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, touch-to-focus depth of field and low light noise reduction.

A first for any tablet, the 8 megapixel camera also has the ability to take full 1080p HD video.

Battery life of the pad alone is 12 hours, with an additional six hours when combined with the mobile dock.

The tablet itself has a micro SD card slot, 3.5mm combo audio jack and micro HDMI port for sharing.

The docking station comes with keyboard and touchpad, additional ports and 6 more hours of battery life.

The docking station comes with keyboard and touchpad, additional ports and 6 more hours of battery life.

The S$199 mobile dock contains a keyboard and touchpad, as well as a USB port and SD card slot.

The other available colour is Champagne Gold.

The other available colour is Champagne Gold.

The preinstalled SuperNote application is able to take, draw or record notes.

Polaris Office gives users the ability to read and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint (MS Office 97-2007 version compatible) files.

In addition, ASUS is offering 8GB of free cloud storage for life via ASUS WebStorage, so users have access to their files via the cloud no matter where they are.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime was launched yesterday evening and goes on sale today.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

The usual prices for the tablet with and without the dock is S$1,098 and S$899 respectively; although the introductory prices are S$899 and S$759 respectively.

All prices include GST.

The main technical specifications for the Transformer Prime is tabulated below.

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CES preview: TomTom App for iPhone/iPad goes social

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

The latest version of the TomTom App (V1.10) integrates TomTom navigation with Facebook and Twitter allowing users to navigate to friends, places and events more easily.

The new TomTom App will be available within Q1 2012. Customers who already have the App (V1.9) will be able to download the new features for free.

TomTom App for iPhone/iPad integrates with Twitter and Facebook.

TomTom App for iPhone/iPad integrates with Twitter and Facebook.

The TomTom app uses social networks as a source for turn-by-turn navigation.

The TomTom app uses social networks as a source for turn-by-turn navigation.

The TomTom App for iPhone and iPad will be the first to use social networks as a source for turn-by-turn navigation.

It can automatically plan routes based on information from Facebook events, places and friends.

Drivers can also use the App to share their destination and arrival time on Twitter, Facebook, by email and SMS text.

The current TomTom App for iPhone/iPad (V1.9) already offers drivers:

  • The updated and accurate maps with no need for a mobile signal or data plan.
  • Free daily map changes from the TomTom community through Map Share.
  • Reliable arrival times at all times of day with IQ Routes.
  • Real-time camera alerts via TomTom Speed Cameras.
  • A powerful search with Google and Facebook.
  • Clear turn-by-turn guidance while on the phone thanks to iOS Multitasking support.
  • Seamless integration with contacts, photos, music, email and calendar.

New Android tablet: Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

The world’s first Android 4.0 tablet has been launched in Singapore. The 10.1-inch slate is also the first in the world to sport the new NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core mobile processor.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime was launched in Singapore on 11 January 2012.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime was launched in Singapore on 11 January 2012.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime comes in Amethyst Gray or Champagne Gold and the 32GB version will be available from tomorrow at introductory prices at S$899 (with dock) and S$759 (without dock). All prices include GST.

The predecessor of the Transformer Prime in Germany and the Czech Republic.

The predecessor of the Transformer Prime in Germany and the Czech Republic.

Attending the launch event for the Transformer Prime brought back pleasant memories of our family holiday in Germany last year, when we had the opportunity to bring along the newly-launched Transformer.

The predecessor to the Transformer Prime was already a powerful performer and proved really useful for the parents and entertaining for the kids during our two-week drive down the castle route from Frankfurt in Germany to Prague in the Czech Republic.

Singapore is the third destination after Taiwan and Hong Kong to launch the Eee Pad Transformer Prime, which has been nominated as a CES 2012 Innovations Honoree.

The new tablet boasts the latest operating system, an extremely powerful processor, highly spec-ed camera and quality music.

The 10.1" tablet comes with a mobile dock with keyboad and touch pad, additional ports and 6 more hours of battery life.

The 10.1" tablet comes with a mobile dock with keyboad and touch pad, additional ports and 6 more hours of battery life.

100 units of the tablet were put up for pre-order on Facebook last week and all were snapped up within two hours on 4 January.

The Transformer Prime is the world's first Android 4.0 tablet.

The Transformer Prime is the world's first Android 4.0 tablet.

Another 200 units will be put up for sale on-the-spot today after the launch.

These pre-launch units come with Android 3.2 Honeycomb but will be upgraded over the air to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tomorrow.

NVIDIA claims that the new Tegra 3 processor is up to five times as fast as its predecessor, the Tegra 2.

Although the Tegra 3 is named a quad-core processor, NVIDIA says there are actually five processors.

The pad is 8.3mm thin while the mobile dock is 10.4mm thin.

The pad is 8.3mm thin while the mobile dock is 10.4mm thin.

A companion processor handles most of the work until additional processing power is needed, at which time the remaining four processors begin kicking in one at a time.

The Transformer Prime is the world's first tablet to run on Tegra 3 Quad-core mobile processor.

The Transformer Prime is the world's first tablet to run on Tegra 3 Quad-core mobile processor.

A demo showed how the increased processing power of the Tegra 3 and its 12-core GeForce GPU rendered a smoother and better quality output when playing videos and graphics intensive games, when compared with competing tablets.

The Transformer Prime also boasts enhanced audio performance that is powered by ASUS SonicMaster technology, which is known for its crisp and acoustically accurate audio reproduction.

Check out the technical specifications here.

New Android smartphone: Samsung GALAXY W

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Samsung has launched the GALAXY W. The Android 2.3.5 smartphone will be available this month at S$498 (incl GST, excl line contract).

Update (6 January 2012): The GALAXY W will be available for purchase in Singapore starting from 7 January.

Samsung GALAXY W, available this month at S$498.

Samsung GALAXY W, available this month at S$498.

The GALAXY W was one of three smartphones (GALAXY Nexus, GALAXY W and Omnia W) launched in Singapore together with two new tablets (GALAXY Tab 7.7 and GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus).

Priced at roughly half the price of the top-of-the-line GALAXY Nexus, the GALAXY W is targeted at those seeking a balance between style and performance, without burning too big a hole in the pocket.

It has the same price tag as the Samsung Omnia W, which was launched together with the GALAXY W.

Powered by a 1.4GHz dual core processor, the GALAXY W weighs 114.7 grams.

Value-added features include Samsung’s Social Hub, Samsung Apps, Polaris Office, and Android Market.

Here are the main technical specifications of the GALAXY W.

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New Android tablet: Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus tablet from Samsung will be available in Singapore in January 2012 at S$768 (incl GST).

Update (6 January 2012): The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus will be available for purchase in Singapore starting from 7 January.

The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus tablet from Samsung will be available in Singapore in January 2012 at S$768 (incl GST).

The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus tablet from Samsung will be available in Singapore in January 2012 at S$768 (incl GST).

The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus is finally arriving in Singapore, although a display unit was still not available yet during the Samsung launch event at Clarke Quay. It is already available in Malaysia.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus

Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus

The 7” tablet weights 345g and is 9.96mm thin. It is slightly smaller than its S$898 cousin – the GALAXY Tab 7.7.

Like its predecessor, it offers voice and video call support, without the need for a headset, allowing users to catch up with friends and family from anywhere.

Samsung is pitching this tablet as a portable tablet which not only fits in a lady’s handbag or a man’s clutch bag, but also doubles up as a backup phone.

If you don’t fancy holding up the tablet to the ear when making calls, use it with a pair of earphones or Bluetooth headset.

Here are the main technical specifications of the Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus tablet.

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