Archive for the ‘Howtos’ Category

Fireworks Tip 1 of 3: National Day Fireworks, Camera, Action!

Tuesday, August 4th, 2015

The National Day Parade usually sees a spectacular display of fireworks at the end of the display. Canon Imaging Academy shares three tips to capturing great photos of fireworks.

Shooting great snapshots of fireworks is not difficult, as long as you spend a little time preparing ahead. Today’s tip is on what to prepare and how to go about it. Photo credit: Canon Imaging Academy.

Shooting great snapshots of fireworks is not difficult, as long as you spend a little time preparing ahead. Today’s tip is on what to prepare and how to go about it. Photo credit: Canon Imaging Academy.

This year being Singapore’s 50th anniversary for independence, the fireworks will be unprecedented, with daily fireworks displays throughout the Jubilee Weekend.

If you’re planning to shoot the fireworks next Sunday on 9 August, check out three quick tips that the Canon Imaging Academy has shared.

The details for these tips will be posted as a three-part series over three days, with the first tip covered today.

So read on…

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3 smartphone portrait photography tips from Russel Wong

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.

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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Travel Tip #3: Use Skype for overseas calls while travelling

Sunday, December 28th, 2014

In addition of making overseas calls from your home country, you can also use Skype to call family, friends and colleagues who back in your home country on their landline or mobile – when you are travelling overseas. All you need is Wi-Fi access or mobile broadband on your smartphone, and some Skype credits.

Check out Skype as an additional affordable means of voice/SMS communication when you travel overseas.

Check out Skype as an additional affordable means of voice/SMS communication when you travel overseas.

When I first arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, while waiting at the customs, I logged on to the free Wi-Fi network in the airport and used Skype to call a local sight to make enquiries and make reservations for a day trip to a wildlife rescue centre in Petchaburi.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport serving Bangkok provides a pretty decent free Wi-Fi to travellers in its terminals – good enough to make VoIP calls using Skype.

First you need to register in the login page for the AOT network in the airport and you get to use the network for free for up to 2 hours a day.

Don’t bother to memorise the complicated userid and password they issue you, the next time you use the network – which is probably when you leave Thailand – you can register as a new user again and use a new set of userid and password.

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Travel Tip #1: Get a pre-paid SIM card in Thailand

Saturday, December 13th, 2014

First thing I did when I exited the gates in the Arrival Hall in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok was to get myself a pre-paid SIM card that gave me a local number for voice calls and seven days of mobile data broadband at 299 THB.

The truemove shop is one of the first things you come across when you exit the gates at the Arrival Hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

The truemove shop is one of the first things you come across when you exit the gates at the Arrival Hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Immediately after exiting the gates in the Arrival Hall, you’ll come upon this telco shop that sells pre-paid SIM cards, as well as other mobile plans.

The 7-day prepaid SIM card offered by True Move is one of a few pre-paid mobile plans available in Thailand. This package bundles 7 days of unlimited data, free call credits of 100 THB and incoming call, your own local number, attractive international call rates - all for 299 THB or approximately S$12.

The 7-day prepaid SIM card offered by True Move is one of a few pre-paid mobile plans available in Thailand. This package bundles 7 days of unlimited data, free call credits of 100 THB and incoming call, your own local number, attractive international call rates – all for 299 THB or approximately S$12.

Here’s where you can grab an affordable and convenient pre-paid SIM card that gives you mobile broad band as well as voice calls, and a local number.

I’m here for seven days, so I was delighted to grab the 7-day SIM card that costs 299 THB, or S$12.

You get seven days of free broadband mobile data as well as 100 THB of free call credits, which gives you 100min of local talk time at 1 THB/minute.

The seven days are calendar days and includes the day you bought the card, ending at 2359hrs on the seventh day.

What I found useful was not only the free call credits but having a local number that you can give out for others to contact you via local calls.

My wife can now call me at local rates, through her autoroam.

Otherwise, she would have to make an overseas call just to get me on my Singapore mobile number – you know sometimes we get separated in crowded places, or we deliberately split up to visit different shops etc.

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Tips: Google’s seven top tips for Safer Internet Day

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

Since today is “Safer Internet Day”, here are seven “Don’t” tips from Google that can help you stay safe on the Internet.

Are you ready for a Safer Internet?

Are you ready for a Safer Internet?

Here are seven tips from Google of things you need to start doing right away to stay safe online.

  1. Don’t use the same password for everything: It’s like handing your house keys (and every other key) to everyone you meet.
  2. Don’t have an “easy” password: If your password contains the word ‘password’ or numbers in sequence, think again. One way to create (and remember) a complex password is to think of a phrase or sentence (perhaps the lyrics to a song you like?) and use the first letter of each word to create the password. Or think of places you’ve lived, and spell them backwards. Something, anything!

  3. Don’t rely solely on a password: It’s so yesterday to have only a password for your most important accounts. Turn on two-factor authentication. Like your bank’s OTP, an SMS code or mobile app that gives you a second code when you’re accessing your account from an unfamiliar computer will give you extra peace of mind.
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Infographic: Microsoft Consumer Safety Index on online safety behaviours in Singapore

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

In conjunction with international Safer Internet Day (SID), Microsoft has today released the results of its third annual Microsoft Computing Safety Index (MCSI).

To support Safer Internet Day, Microsoft is also asking consumers to “Do 1 Thing” to stay safer online and commit to doing so on a new, interactive website.

To support Safer Internet Day, Microsoft is also asking consumers to “Do 1 Thing” to stay safer online and commit to doing so on a new, interactive website. Click to view/download the full infographic.

The MCSI survey measures the online safety behaviour of almost 10,500 consumers in 20 countries, including Singapore and the US, UK, Australia, China and India.

“The Internet is an integral part of our daily lives; we email to stay connected, share photos and videos, pay bills, and shop,” said Stephanie Hung, Director, Public Sector, Microsoft Singapore.

The latest survey revealed that online trouble has resulted in an estimated US$23 billion in worldwide financial losses in 2013, with financial loss due to compromise of professional reputation being the most costly.

To support Safer Internet Day, Microsoft is also asking consumers to “Do 1 Thing” to stay safer online and commit to doing so on a new, interactive “SaferOnline” website.

Microsoft Consumer Safety Index reveals impact of poor online safety behaviors in Singapore.

Microsoft Consumer Safety Index reveals impact of poor online safety behaviors in Singapore. Click to view/download the full infographic.

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Infographic: Skyscanner reveals the best time to book flights in 2014

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

Have you ever wondered when is the best time to book the air ticket for your travels?

Skyscanner – a global travel search site – recently analysed three years of booking data and found that on average, you can snag the cheapest flight tickets if you purchase 26 weeks ahead of your travel date.

How far in advance are flight prices typically at their lowest? Check out the interactive inforgraphic at Skyscanner.

How far in advance are flight prices typically at their lowest? Check out the interactive inforgraphic at Skyscanner.

And do you know that the best time to book airtickets to Thailand is 8 weeks before your departure date?

“The earlier in advance you book, the better, especially for long haul destinations. It is also important to note that prices can really increase at the last minute, especially on budget airlines,” according to Kevin Foo, Skyscanner’s Head of Communications for APAC.

Skyscanner’s Best Time to Book analysis revealed that on average, the cheapest flight tickets from Singapore are available 26 weeks in advance of travel dates.

However, three years of booking data has also shown that price patterns can vary by type of airline and between short and long haul travel, and is very much destination dependent.

Top 5 destinations by search analysis Average return flight price Best time to book (weeks before departure)
Indonesia SGD203 16 weeks
Thailand SGD247 8 weeks
Malaysia SGD155 9 weeks
Philippines SGD257 5 weeks
Australia SGD558 22 weeks

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Photography tips and experiences from pro Scott A. Woodward

Saturday, July 20th, 2013

Scott A. Woodward is a SanDisk Extreme Team member, a Nikon Professional Photographer and a Getty Images Global Assignments photographer. He shares his experiences and photography tips in a Q&A below.

Scott A. Woodward at one of four sessions of Nikon's

Scott A. Woodward at one of four sessions of Nikon’s “I am a Fashionista” photography workshop in Singapore.

Woodward shared three tips for beginners who are starting out: Be inspired, Play with light, Experiment.

1. Be inspired

Do a little research about the who or what you will be shooting ahead of time. The more you know about what or who you will be shooting, the better prepared you can be.

Try to have some ideas for the types of photographs you want to create beforehand. There is no shame in looking at other photographers’ interpretations of a location or scene.

Use others’ work – there is an endless stream of imagery from photographers across the globe on Instagram and Flickr and Twitter – to be inspired and help get your creative juices flowing so you can create your own unique photography.

2. Play with light

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Seven cyber security myth busters from Symantec and Norton

Friday, May 17th, 2013

Based on data from the recent annual 2013 Internet Security Threat Report, Volume 18, Symantec debunks seven of the most commonly held myths around cybersecurity.

Infographic from Symantec and Norton to debunk the top 7 cybersecurity myths. Click to view enlarged version.

Infographic from Symantec and Norton to debunk the top 7 cybersecurity myths. Click to view enlarged version.

Contrary to the popular belief that staying away from risky sites will is enough to protect your computer – did you know that 61% of malicious sites are actually legitimate websites that have been compromised and infected with malicious codes?

At the same time, do be extra careful when accessing your social networks – be on the lookout for scams involving fake gift cards and surveys as these comprise 56% of attacks on social media.

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Earth Hour focus: What global warming means for the Asia Pacific

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

This year’s Earth Hour is on this Saturday, 23 March at 8.30pm (Earth Day is on 22 April). CA Technologies has produced an infographic on how Global Warming has affected Asia Pacific. The company also offers 10 tips for a greener office.

How can we as eco-conscious knowledge workers contribute to a greener office? Infographic by CA Technologies.

How can we as eco-conscious knowledge workers contribute to a greener office? Infographic by CA Technologies.

CA Technologies also pioneers IT management software that enables companies to roll out long-term energy and sustainability programs.

CA Technologies is also ranked top five on Newsweek’s 2012 Green Rankings.

CA Technologies has set clear sustainability goals to reduce our carbon footprint globally. Today, 53% of its employees are involved in Green Teams to drive ecoinitiatives across all its offices globally.

CA Technologies has set clear sustainability goals to reduce our carbon footprint globally. Today, 53% of its employees are involved in Green Teams to drive ecoinitiatives across all its offices globally.

CA ecoSoftware is an enterprise-class energy and sustainability management solution designed to help companies increase energy efficiency and lower operational costs.

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