Archive for the ‘gadgets’ Category

Cisco upgrades Cisco Spark and launches Cisco Spark Board

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017

Cisco Spark is the company’s cloud-based, unified communications platform, while the Cisco Spark Board is an interactive electronic whiteboard for the future workplace. Prices below.

Cisco showcased its upgraded Cisco Spark – the company’s cloud-based, all-in-one messaging, meetings, calls and conferencing platform designed for the workplace of the future.

The new version of its flagship collaboration solution includes a simplified user interface, more features, and seamless linking to Cisco’s wide portfolio of corporate phone systems, WebEx meeting and video conferencing technologies.

The launch was held at the Impact Hub Singapore, a coworking community with over 670 members comprising both ideation stage startups to billion-dollar “Unicorn” ventures.

Cisco also launched for Asia its Cisco Spark Board, a new plug-and-play, all-in-one device for team collaboration that lets users wirelessly present, whiteboard, and video or audio conference whether you are in the physical conference room or not. (Prices below.)

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New arrival: Ban Leong introduces UBTECH Jimu robots in Singapore

Saturday, March 18th, 2017

The Jimu range of robots are designed to nurture kids and teens with an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). There are five kits available. Prices below.

UBTECH’s Jimu Robot is an interactive robotic building block system that lets kids easily Build, Program and Share their robot creations:

The five kits are made of lego-like components that can be assembled into different robots.

The various Jimu robot kits on display during the launch in Singapore by Ban Leong Technologies.

The five Jimu robot kits available (with prices) in Singapore are:

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New arrival: Ban Leong introduces UBTECH Alpha1 Pro robot in Singapore

Friday, March 17th, 2017

The Alpha1 Pro humanoid robot is designed to delight both children and adults and serve as a companion and member of the family. Available now in Singapore: S$899.

The Alpha1 Pro interactive consumer robot is made by UBTECH Robotics, a global industry leader in artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics.

Alpha1 Pro is a household programmable humanoid robot that can be used for education and entertainment.

It is designed with 16 high-precision robotic servo motors.

The UBTECH Alpha1 Pro was launched in Singapore together with the company’s Jimu range of robots, seen here on display together with the Alpha1 Pro.

The robot comes with 3D visual programming software and PRP (Pose, Record & Playback) function which is controlled in one app.

The UBTECH Alpha1 Pro is available now in retailers such as Tangs Orchard, Robinsons Heeren, Harvey Norman, Nubox Stores, Changi Airport Terminal 1, 2 & 3, Analogue+, hachi.tech (Online) Courts (Online), and authorised UBTECH retailers in Singapore.

UBTECH is exclusively distributed by Ban Leong Technologies Limited in Singapore.

Below are more details from the press release.

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New arrival: Lamch & Co introduces Flip plug by OneAdaptr

Tuesday, March 14th, 2017

For travellers that hate the bulkiness of the British 3-pin plug, the Flip plug allow the plug to be folded into a compact flat form factor for packing away into the luggage bag. Prices below.

The Flip comes in three designs to cater to varying power needs. From left: Flip Duo (S$39), Flip Quad (S$59), Flip Power (S$69).

The Flip comes in three designs to cater to varying power needs. From left: Flip Duo (S$39), Flip Quad (S$59), Flip Power (S$69).

The Flip is the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign which raised £28,115 from 1,140 backers, exceeding their initial goal of £15,000.

Measuring in at a mere 18mm when folded, the Flip is only a third of the standard British plug’s thickness.

When folded, the pins are hidden away when not in use, protecting your devices and other items from scratches when stored together with the Flip.

To use, simply press the auto-release button, lock the pin and you are ready to go.

The Flip comes in three designs to cater to varying power needs.

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New arrival: Wacom launches 2017 lineup of graphics tablets & stylus in Singapore

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017

The new slew of graphics tablets and stylus include the Bamboo Fineline Stylus, Bamboo Slate smartpad, Bamboo Folio smartpad, Intuos Pro and Cintiq Pro 13 & 16. Prices below.

Anti-clockwise from top right (not to scale):

  • Bamboo Fineline smart Stylus (S$89)
  • Bamboo Slate Smartpad (A5: S$199, A4: S$229)
  • Bamboo Folio Smartpad (A5: S$229, A4: S$299)
  • Intuos Pro Paper Edition (medium: S$579, large: S$799)
  • <Not shown here – Intuos Pro (medium: S$499, large: S$709)>
  • Cintiq Pro 13 (S$1,499) & 16 (S$2,199)

The new lineup caters to a whole range of users, from professional graphics artists requiring high performance and precision, to the man in the street, looking for user-friendliness and enhanced productivity.

Below are the models that were launched in Singapore and their prices.

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Singapore startup Touché launches biometric payment platform

Thursday, January 12th, 2017

Singapore startup Touché launches what it boasts to be the World’s first Biometric Loyalty & Payment Solution platform.

A photo posted by John Tan (@tech4tea) on

Startup Touché CEO Sahba Saint-Claire (right) with CTO German Ruiz holding the Touche biometric payments terminal. Businesses are charged a pre-agreed monthly all-in flat-fee for the solution that includes the hardware, which processes payments through DBS Bank.

CEO Sahba shared with me the company’s roll-out plans.

Hopefully we’ll see pilot roll-outs in Singapore from February and in Japan from March.

Grignoter: This Bordeaux wine restaurant was the venue for Singapore startup Touché to launch its Biometric Loyalty & Payment Solution platform.To the left is Chef Justin in the blue shirt, opposite him is Touche CEO Sahba Saint-Claire.

Grignoter: This Bordeaux wine restaurant was the venue for Singapore startup Touché to launch its Biometric Loyalty & Payment Solution platform.To the left is Chef Justin in the blue shirt, opposite him is Touche CEO Sahba Saint-Claire.

The company now has 23 staff based in Singapore and Barcelona.

CTO German briefed me on the state of payments processing in the industry and the standards currently in place and being developed.

Sahba tells me that in just 3 months, 50 restaurants, 20 hotels and 5 private social clubs have shown interest in taking up this solution in Singapore; while discussions are being held with the potential partners, departmental stores, malls, technology firms, and retail chains etc.

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Event: Canon Chinese New Year Lohei media lunch in Singapore

Tuesday, January 10th, 2017

Canon ushers in the Lunar New Year in Singapore with an early Lohei lunch.

Canon Singapore hosted the annual Lohei lunch with media at Aura restaurant at the National Gallery Singapore.

To the left of the menu in the cover photo above, you can see the PowerShot SX430 IS.

The immediate reaction upon lifting up the camera is that it is incredibly light.

Preview of the new IXUS 190 (left) & PowerShot SX430 IS. These were part of 4 new compact cameras Canon has just unveiled. Prices & availability TBA.

So light that I thought it was a plastic prototype with nothing inside.

But it’s a fully functional superzoom with 45x optical zoom going from 24 to 1080mm.

A photo posted by John Tan (@tech4tea) on

Canon Lunar New Year media lunch in Singapore: Black Cod with Caciucco Sauce & Seasonal Vegetables – served at Aura in National Gallery Singapore.

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DJI & Seagate announce partnership for UAV ecosystem

Friday, January 6th, 2017

The strategic partnership aims to advance data solutions for the UAV ecosystem.

“Seagate is honored to partner with DJI to help UAV users tackle their evolving and unique data needs. Seagate is committed to working together with DJI to evolve UAV workflows so users can focus on what matters most – capturing data in flight to bring new and amazing experiences to the world,” said Tim Bucher, Senior Vice President of Seagate Consumer Solutions.

“Seagate is honored to partner with DJI to help UAV users tackle their evolving and unique data needs. Seagate is committed to working together with DJI to evolve UAV workflows so users can focus on what matters most – capturing data in flight to bring new and amazing experiences to the world,” said Tim Bucher, Senior Vice President of Seagate Consumer Solutions.

DJI, one of the world’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Seagate Technology, a world leader in storage solutions, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show a strategic partnership to work jointly to solve the data demands of UAV users.

As drone cameras gain resolution and drone flight times grow longer, DJI and Seagate are focusing their efforts to securely and efficiently store, manage, download and share the hundreds of gigabytes of data that can be generated from a single drone mission.

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New arrival: Canon compact cameras in PowerShot & IXUS series

Thursday, January 5th, 2017

Canon has announced four new compact cameras: PowerShot G9 X Mark II, PowerShot SX430 IS, IXUS 190, and IXUS 185. All prices and availability yet to be announced.

New compact cameras from Canon. Clockwise from top left: PowerShot G9 X Mark II, IXUS 185 (red/black), PowerShot SX430 IS, and IXUS 190 (black/blue).

New compact cameras from Canon. Clockwise from top left: PowerShot G9 X Mark II, IXUS 185 (red/black), PowerShot SX430 IS, and IXUS 190 (black/blue).

Featuring the latest DIGIC 7 image processor used in the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and EOS M5 models, the PowerShot G9 X Mark II produces high quality images and new levels of performance for accurate detection and precision tracking of subjects.

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New arrival: Samsung Galaxy A5 & A7 Android smartphones

Wednesday, January 4th, 2017

Samsung kick-starts the new year and unveils the first of its #Galaxy offerings for 2017 – the new Galaxy A series (from 21 Jan) mid-tier smartphones: 5.2-inch A5 (S$548) and 5.7-inch A7 (S$648).

A photo posted by John Tan (@tech4tea) on

The Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017) will be available in three stylish colours – Black Sky, Gold Sand and Peach Cloud. The Galaxy A (2017) Neon Flip Cover is available in Black, Gold, Pink and Blue at $78.

Also released today is the Black Pearl version of the Galaxy S7 edge (S$1,198) from 7 Jan.

Samsung Galaxy A3 has been excluded from the series in Singapore, probably because it’s too close to the S$398 Galaxy J7 Prime – the top end of Samsung’s entry-level series of smartphones that’s available in Singapore.

The new Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones were launched in Singapore at Cocotte, the farm-to-table French Kitchen in Little India.

The new Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones were launched in Singapore at Cocotte, the farm-to-table French Kitchen in Little India.

For the first time on the Galaxy A series, the smartphones are equipped with IP68-certified water and dust resistant capabilities, allowing it to withstand elements including rain, sweat, sand and dust.

It also enables users to enjoy versatility in its use – with a longer battery life and Fast Charging capabilities, the smartphones are ideal for active mobile lifestyles.

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