The world’s largest gaming website has launched an Asian edition. IGN Asia Pacific will cover – in English, Chinese and Malay – 10 markets in the region.
IGN Asia Pacific covers 10 markets including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China.
IGN Asia Pacific is under the day-to-day operation of the publishing team at Blah! Asia, a division of the Asia Pacific social entertainment media house Spiral Media.
The site is in English, Chinese & Malay.
Veteran games industry figure Maxime Villandré will serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the new edition, managing editorial teams based in Kuala Lumpur and throughout Asia.
Countries covered include Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China.
IGN.com is the world’s most popular games and entertainment network and the new deal significantly grows IGN’s local presence in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing gaming regions.
Asia Pacific joins licensed IGN sites now live in Germany, Sweden and the Middle East.
According to Comscore, IGN is the largest Video games and entertainment news publisher in the Asia Pacific region across all markets, far larger than its closest competitor Gamespot.
The Samsung GALAXY S II LTE is now available at SingTel (S$298).
Samsung GALAXY S II LTE is now available at SingTel (S$298)
SingTel officially launched its 4G services for smartphones in Singapore yesterday. From today, customers who purchase a 4G-enabled handset with a SingTel Flexi and iFlexi plan can enjoy the 4G service.
The Samsung GALAXY S II LTE (S$298) is one of three handsets available at launch. The other two 4G smartphones are the HTC One XL (S$318) and the LG Optimus LTE (S$198).
The specifications of the Samsung GALAXY S II LTE can be viewed or downloaded below.
SingTel’s 4G service will provide mobile Internet access that is up to five times faster than existing 3G-based smartphone services, with one-fifth of the network latency.
“We need to break away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, which is not sustainable in the long term. Today, 64 per cent of mobile data on our network is consumed by 10 per cent of our subscribers. This prevents the remaining 90 per cent from enjoying the full benefits of the network. With our tiered pricing model, subscribers will pay for what they use, and this ultimately allows us to keep prices for our plans the same over time despite rising network costs,” explained Yuen Kuan Moon, SingTel’s CEO Consumer Singapore.Users can enjoy theoretical download speeds of up to 75Mbps and typical download speeds between 3.4Mbps and 12Mbps.
SingTel will also introduce its Priority Pass traffic priority feature for the 4G service next year.
This will provide subscribers with priority for their data traffic when the network is loaded, thus ensuring smoother streaming and downloads.
Islandwide rollout of SingTel’s 4G network is expected to be completed in early 2013.
In areas where 4G has not yet been deployed, users will fallback to 3G connectivity with download speeds of up to 42Mbps.
Check the coverage diagrams at the end of this post to see when you will be enjoy LTE coverage.
Data bundle cutback
Data bundles for most of SingTel’s Flexi plans have been reduced drastically from 12GB to a range of 2GB to 12GB, although the number of bundled SMS has been increased.
“At the same time, heavy users will benefit from the significantly reduced excess usage rates. Data traffic on our mobile networks has been growing at 62 percent each year since 2010 due to the tremendous growth of smartphones, tablets and mobile content. By encouraging fair usage of the network, we will be able to deliver consistently high-quality services for our customers,” Yuen said.Charges for data usage beyond bundled allowances have been revised to $5.35 per gigabyte from 1 July to 31 December 2013, and subsequently to $10.70/GB from 1 January 2013.
Approximately 10 per cent of SingTel’s subscribers who are heavy SMS users will save from the new improved SMS bundles.
The plans will be available to all new and re-contracting customers from 1 July 2012, and will replace existing 3G Flexi and iFlexi plans.
So if you don’t want to relinquish the existing 12GB data bundle, you can let the existing contract run in perpetuity – but you’ll have to forego the handset subsidies that come with re-contracting.
Mr Yuen noted that based on current usage patterns, 90 per cent of subscribers should not incur higher charges, as their data consumption does not exceed the new bundles.
SingTel Plans
Flexi Lite
Flexi Value
Flexi Plus
Flexi Premium
Monthly subscription
$39.90
$59.90
$99.90
$205
Local outgoing minutes
100
200
500
2,000
Local SMS (new)
800
900
1,000
2,500
Local SMS (previously)
550
650
700
2,000
Local data bundle (previously 12GB)
2GB
3GB
4GB
12GB
Excess usage & data cap
$5.35/GB (w GST) for 3G subscribers.
Applicable to 4G subscribers during promotion from 1 July to 31 Dec 2013.
$10.70/GB (w GST) from 1 Jan 2013 for 4G subscribers.
Previously $2.76/MB.
SingTel claims that 90% of existing Flexi Lite use less than 2GB currently and hence will not be affected by the lowering of the data bundle from 12GB to 2GB.
Likewise, 90% of current Flexi Value customers use less than 3GB, while 90% of current Flexi Plus customers use less than 4GB.
Hence 90% of existing customers will not “suffer” from the data cutback – assuming their data usage remains unchanged.
Read about StarHub’s response to SingTel’s launch below.
The 4G LTE smartphone from LG will be launched in Singapore on 7 June 2011. With an RRP of S$898 (without line), those interested can purchase it from SingTel at S$198, to start enjoying 4G speeds.
LG Optimus True HD LTE will be available from 7 June at S$898 (without line) and S$298 with a SingTel contract.
SingTel officially is launching its 4G services for smartphones in Singapore today.
LG’s LTE pedigree
According to a 2011 report by Jefferies & Company, LG was listed as the global leader in LTE patents with ownership of 23 percent of approximately 1,400 LTE patents filed worldwide, with a financial value of almost USD 8 billion.
LG demonstrated the world’s first LTE technology in 2007 and developed the world’s first LTE modem chipset in 2008.
LG introduced the world’s fastest LTE technology in 2010 and conducted the world’s first video phone call on a LTE network in 2011.
LG’s first LTE smartphone, Revolution, was launched in the US in early 2011.
From tomorrow, customers who purchase a 4G-enabled handset with a SingTel Flexi and iFlexi plan can begin enjoying the 4G service.
The LG Optimus True HD LTE (S$198) is one of three handsets available at launch. The other two 4G smartphones are the HTC One XL (S$318) and the Samsung GALAXY S II LTE (S$298).
The LG Optimus True HD LTE has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS platform, which is upgradeable to the Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS platform.
The 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 (16:9 ration) True HD IPS display gives users sharp and crisp images with 2.76 million (1280 x 720 x 3 RGB) sub-pixels.
“Singapore’s 4G LTE mobile networks are taking shape, making the arrival of the LG Optimus True HD LTE in Singapore timely,” said Mr. Scott Jung, Managing Director of LG Electronics Singapore.Content on the smartphone can also be shared through HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance).
Each purchase of the LG Optimus True HD LTE will come with an Audio Technica headset worth S$168, while stocks last.
The phone has a 1830mAH battery. The specifications of the LG Optimus True HD LTE can be viewed or downloaded below.
Who is the most popular celebrity in the world? And which is the most popular sports team or film in the social space? starcount.com trawls 11 top social networks to bring you the vote of 1.5 billion fans.
www.starcount.com is the latest social aggregation site that was launched in Singapore last night. Check out the leaderboards of leading celebrities in the social space.
At the global launch of starcount in Singapore last night, guests invited to Pangaea in Marina Bay Sands checked their own favourites against what the social aggregation engine discovered in the social space on the Internet.
Here are the winners of the Social Star Awards 2012 for the various categories:
R&B Star
Rihana
Sportsperson
Christiano Ronaldo
Sportsteam
Barcelona FC
Game
Angry Birds
TV Show
The Simpsons
Film
Harry Potter
Film Star
Selena Gomez
Asian Star
Jackie Chan
Social Star
Ray William Johnston
Singapore
Stefanie Sun
Politician
Barack Obama
Almighty
Lady Gaga
As part of the inaugural Social Star Awards 2012, tweets were sent to the most popular personalities and entities on the social media scene from within starcount.com to congratulate them in winning the various categories.
Christiano Ronaldo pipped Lionel Messi to win the Sportsperson Award 2012, while “angry” Diablo 3 fans were disappointed that the Game Award 2012 went to Angry Birds.
Not surprisingly, Lady Gaga won the Almighty Award, as the most popular person on Earth – as at 31 May 2012. Coincidentally, she was performing live at her Born This Way concert in Marina Bay Sands.
Stefanie Sun was the most popular person in Singapore, while Jackie Chan was the most popular person in Asia and Hong Kong.
There were some surprises. Ray William Johnston, who won the Social Star Award, drew many blank looks from the guest present. The Film Star Award went to Selena Gomez. Perhaps thanks to her boyfriend?
You can check out your own genres and leaderboards on www.starcount.com.
I attended the launch of the latest social aggregation website on the scene last night. It’s a website with leaderboards of the most prominent celebrities being followed in the social space.
Drew Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, All The Worlds Entertainment, bringing guests through the starcount website.
Who is the most popular artiste in the world today?
No prizes for guessing that it’s Lady Gaga, who happened to be performing live in Singapore at that time – almost directly above the venue for the launch of starcount at Pangaea in Marina Bay Sands.
starcount mines the opinions and sentiments expressed in these 11 social networks:
Facebook
Renren
Twitter
Tencent Weibo
Sina Weibo
YouTube
Youku
mixi
Vkontakte
Google+
Orkut
5 of these 11 websites are from Asia, in China and Japan.
But which is the most popular football (as in soccer) club in the world?
There were equally riotous calls for Manchester United and Barcelona among the guests at the launch event.
It crawls the top 11 social networks on the Internet everyday to mine what 1.5million people are saying and sharing about celebrities or things (from sports clubs to musical instruments).
Based on the amount of buzz in the social space, each celeb is allocated a starcount score which is used in ranking them in all manners of leaderboards that users of the website can view.
Based and nurtured in Singapore, www.starcount.com looks set to tap and unlock the trove of opinions and sentiments swirling within the top 11 social networks on the Internet.
There are preset leaderboards in the usual categories (such as best films, most popular singers) for users to browse, or they can create their own charts (such as who serves the best macaroons in Tanzania).
Amplified through The Social Star Awards 2013 – the world’s first-ever multi-genre global awards show celebrating the biggest stars on social media – to be staged at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, and The Singapore Social – a 2 day international A-list multi-artist music extravaganza to be staged at Gardens by the Bay.
Leaderboard of leading celebrities in the social space.
Singapore – 31 May 2012 – All The Worlds Entertainment, along with its subsidiary Digitales, today announced the launch of starcount (www.starcount.com) – the world’s first and largest global, digital platform for social entertainment charts. starcount aims to provide the most extensive range of charts on the planet and be the definitive measure of social media popularity for fans, talent, media and brands alike. (more…)
Personal branding expert William Arruda advocates that by spending just 9 minutes a day, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy and successful career. Here are 9 activities you can do during those 9 minutes.
William Arruda, personal branding expert
Arruda suggests the following activities that professionals can do 9 minutes a day in order to maintain a healthy and successful career.
Build your network – building and maintaining relationships are a major component of a successful career.
Maintain relationships by recommending and congratulating others in their careers – everyone enjoys being recognised and LinkedIn provides an easy way to do this.
Request recommendations from your network as credibility is critical.
Document achievements and wins on your LinkedIn profile to stay current and relevant.
Update your status every day and make sure your profile and photo is current.
Expand on your thought leadership – lead a forum or LinkedIn group; publish an article; start a blog; speak publicly or recommend books on the Amazon LinkedIn app.
Use the power of video and create a video bio of yourself for your LinkedIn profile.
Source staff – one of a manager’s hardest jobs. If you build your brand community, you’ll create fans who want to work for you.
Research – Make an effort to get to know more about your clients or partners and competitors. LinkedIn is a great place to start.
LinkedIn research reveals the majority of the Singaporean workforce over-estimate the time required per day to further their career.
Expert reveals that 9 minutes a day is all it takes to maintain a healthy, successful career.
Infographic of LinkedIn research conducted by IPSOS Mori and Catalyst
Over 81% of Singaporean professionals believe that the ideal amount of time spent daily on progressing your career should be in excess of 30 minutes, according to the research.
“Fitting 9 minutes of career management into your daily schedule is all it takes without adding stress or pressure,” says Arruda, who partnered with LinkedIn to identify the optimum amount of time to spend daily on what he has termed ‘continuous career management’.The research was undertaken by IPSOS Mori and Catalyst and involved 3,200 working professionals worldwide, including 400 in Singapore.
World leading personal branding expert William Arruda instead presents a far more appealing and realistic time commitment.
He advocates that by spending just 9 minutes a day you’ll be able to maintain a healthy and successful career. Here are 9 activities that he suggests you can do during those 9 minutes.
“9 minutes is the optimum amount of time recommended, because it also gives you complete focus, and educators to psychologists agree that the ability to focus one’s attention on a task is crucial for the achievement of one’s goals,” Arruda elaborated.The public perception of 3.5+hrs per week is a stark contrast to Arruda’s recommendation of 45 minutes per week.
Other results reveal that – given an hour – 95% believe it’s more useful to spend time keeping in with the boss (making them tea) than spending time building their network or finessing their CV.
Here are some other results from the research:
Given an hour – 95% believe it’s more useful to spend time keeping in with the boss (making them tea) than spending time building their network or finessing their CV.
Men perceived as better networkers than women. 42% of the population think that men are better than women at networking, versus only 9% believing women were better.
Nine in 10 professionals agree that having a professional network of connections is crucial during economic uncertainty.
IPSOS MORI is part of the IPSOS Group, a leading market research company in the UK and Ireland.
Professionals deemed to be the most effective networkers:
46%
Marketing
17%
Sales
15%
Bankers & Stockbrokers
1-2%
Nurse, Teachers, Legal and Retail
In Singapore and Australia, the research was conducted by Australian research firm Catalyst Consultancy & Research.
The research asked 3,200 working professionals globally about their daily work habits, with markets being the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Singapore and Australia.
