Archive for the ‘gadgets’ Category

New arrivals: Pebble Steel wearable flagship smartwatch

Friday, August 1st, 2014

The Pebble Steel is now available in Singapore for S$359. First 500 Pebble Steel units sold here will come with a custom-made pouch and silicone sports strap.

From Palo Alto, California, Pebble was brought to life by 85,000 people through Kickstarter, setting a record on the crowdfunding platform and quickly becoming one of the best-selling smartwatches in the world. To date, there are over 400,000 Pebbles on wrists worldwide and thousands of apps available.

From Palo Alto, California, Pebble was brought to life by 85,000 people through Kickstarter, setting a record on the crowdfunding platform and quickly becoming one of the best-selling smartwatches in the world. To date, there are over 400,000 Pebbles on wrists worldwide and thousands of apps available.

The premium version takes everything users love about Pebble – the e-paper display, week-long battery life, and app ecosystem – and wraps it into a sleek design, available in either brushed stainless steel or matte black.

Pebble Steel combines modern technology with classic timepiece design to give users a smartwatch fit for modern urbanites during work and play.

Steel’s e-paper display is protected by a durable Corning Gorilla Glass lens with an oleophobic, anti-fingerprint coating.

The improved housing also comes with subtle RGB LED lights to indicate charging status.

Pebble’s appstore has flourished since its launch earlier this year with big name brands such as Mercedes-Benz, iControl, GoPro, Misfit, Pandora and Evernote jumping on board.

During the launch of the Pebble Steel in Singapore, the company announced that Divian Nair, local Deejay turned Actor-Director, has been appointed as its Pebble evangelist.

During the launch of the Pebble Steel in Singapore, the company announced that Divian Nair, local Deejay turned Actor-Director, has been appointed as its Pebble evangelist.

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Review: LG 79UB980T ULTRA HD (4K) TV with intuitive webOS UI

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

LG goes back to basics with new webOS user interface, marrying intuitive ease-of-use with good image quality. The LG 79UB980T has an RRP of S$14,999.

The LG 79UB980T uses a 3840 x 2160 resolution In-Plane Switching (IPS) 4K panel that reproduce vivid and accurate colors. Its wide viewing angle offers a good viewing from nearly any vantage point.

The LG 79UB980T uses a 3840 x 2160 resolution In-Plane Switching (IPS) 4K panel that reproduce vivid and accurate colors. Its wide viewing angle offers a good viewing from nearly any vantage point.

First launched in Singapore back in end May as part of LG’s 2014 ULTRA HD (4K) TV lineup, the 79UB980T offers stunning display and easy connectivity, yet keeps it simple for users to watch the content that they desire – be it live TV, Blu-ray movies, 4K or upscaled 4K content, YouTube videos, and game consoles.

You can Skype using the 8-megapixel built-in camera.

The LG 79UB980T user interface uses the webOS platform that the Korean company bought from HP in March last year.

The webOS platform simplifies the TV experience, making it easy to search, navigate and view content, connect with other devices, and also makes the the initial setup process smoother for users unfamiliar with their new TV.

The first time the user turns on the webOS-enabled LG Smart+ TV, an animated character named BeanBird appears onscreen to help users get connected and walk them through the setup process.

The first time the user turns on the webOS-enabled LG Smart+ TV, an animated character named BeanBird appears onscreen to help users get connected and walk them through the setup process.

You control and interact with the UI using the LG Magic Remote, which enables you to scroll, point, click, or activate voice control.

webOS introduces the new content Launcher is a left-to-right scrollable menu that runs along the lower portion of the screen.

Making smart simple

TVs nowadays are getting more and more sophisticated and are no longer the single-function appliances used to watch live TV and pre-recorded movies from VHS/CD/VCD/DVD/Blu-ray media.

The Internet and broadband connectivity has brought a wealth of content sources to the modern digital life – including videos shared on YouTube and social media, as well as movie websites.

The contemporary consumer also wants to use their TVs with games consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation, and even Skype and surf the Web from the comfort of the living room.

The latest lineup of TVs from the most manufacturers offer these, but usually involve a steep learning curve to wrap the head around user interfaces that tend to get overly complicated as there are so many content sources and options available.

It is therefore refreshing to see LG’s new webOS-based UI, which makes it simple and intuitive for the user to get the content they want on screen – conveniently and speedily.

Seems like LG has succeeded in making smart simple for the user, unlocking the wealth of content available without making it too complicated.

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New arrivals: Sony PXW-X70 camcorder in end-Sep 2014

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

Sony has launched a new, compact member of the XDCAM family to deliver benefits of 1.0-type sensor technology and XAVC in a handheld professional camcorder. 4K recording capability will be available in a future update.

Update (13 August, 2014):

Sony’s PXW-X70 will be available in Asia Pacific from the end of September 2014, with a retail price of S$3,000.

Light and compact entry-level professional camcorder.

Light and compact entry-level professional camcorder.

The 4K recording capability should be available via a firmware update by the end of the year.

Pricing for the update has not been announced yet, but it’s in the hundreds – less than $1,000 for those who want it.

I had a hands-on with the entry level professional camcorder today.

It’s more compact than others and definitely lighter.

For videographers currently using a DSLR to shoot short videos and thinking of taking their craft a notch higher, this would be a shoe-in as it offers features that are not available in the top-end DSLRs.

The versatile new PXW-X70 camcorder features a sensor more than eight times the size of a conventional 1/3 single chip sensor, providing strong sensitivity and low light performance.

The versatile new PXW-X70 camcorder features a sensor more than eight times the size of a conventional 1/3 single chip sensor, providing strong sensitivity and low light performance.

Sony has launched the 4K-ready PXW-X70, the first compact XDCAM professional camcorder ever produced.

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New arrivals: 5-inch HTC One (E8) Android smartphone unveiled

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

The 5-inch Android HTC One (E8) will be available in Singapore from Saturday, 26 July with SingTel, StarHub, M1 and selected retailers. RRP for 16GB HTC One (E8): S$658.

The HTC One (E8) will be available in Polar White, Electric Crimson and Misty Gray.

The HTC One (E8) will be available in Polar White, Electric Crimson and Misty Gray.

The HTC Dot View case for the HTC One (E8) will be available in Grey at S$59.

The smartphone ships with Motion Launch, HTC BoomSound, 5-megapixel front camera and 13MP rear camera. Both cameras support full 1080p HD video recording.

Powered by a 2,600mAh battery, the HTC One (E8) has 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard memory with expandable microSD storage capacity up to 128GB..

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New arrivals: Canon imageCLASS LBP6030 & LBP6030w laser printer

Monday, July 21st, 2014

The imageCLASS LBP6030 and LBP6030w are now available at Canon authorised dealers at the recommended retail prices of S$119 and S$149 respectively.

New Canon imageCLASS LBP6030 (S$119) and LBP6030w (S$149, shown above) are now available in Singapore.

New Canon imageCLASS LBP6030 (S$119) and LBP6030w (S$149, shown above) are now available in Singapore.

These black and white printers increase work productivity with their print speed and quality, while the LBP6030w version offers the flexibility and convenience of mobile printing.

The latest imageCLASS LBP6030 and LBP6030w are compact A4 monochrome single function laser printers designed for deployment in Small Office and Home Office (SOHO) environments.

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New arrivals: XSories WEYE FEYE, U-Shot & Me-Shot photo accessories

Saturday, July 19th, 2014

Lamch & Co introduces three revolutionary photography solutions, the WEYE FEYE, the U-Shot and the Me-Shot – from XSories, the brand created by X-Treme Video for the extreme sports industry.

The XSories Weye Feye (S$469) is compatible with most DSLR cameras.

The XSories Weye Feye (S$469) is compatible with most DSLR cameras.

For 20 years, XTreme Video has worked with more than 500 extreme sports producers worldwide, capturing breath-taking images of athletes and talents who live and breathe extreme sports.

With their expertise, XSories reinvents the art of imagery with innovative solutions for sport, travel and video fans.

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New arrivals: Three new NEC M Series short-throw projectors

Friday, July 18th, 2014

NEC Asia Pacific, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the 3000-lumen M302WS (S$1,829), 3300-lumen M332XS (S$1,729) and 3500-lumen M352WS  (S$2,049). Available now.

NEC digital solutions adds three new digital models  to its M Series short-throw projectors.

NEC digital solutions adds three new digital models to its M Series short-throw projectors.

The M Short Throw series brings the projector closer to the whiteboard, eliminating shadows and glare so students can focus on learning.

“The M Series has established itself as a formidable projector family over the last three years, and the M300WS, M332XS and M352WS models enhance that reputation. Accommodating standard and widescreen needs, M Short Throw Series projectors deliver bright images to interactive screens and whiteboards from less than 3 feet away,” said Vincent Koh, Vice President of Multimedia Product Platform Unit.

Using the latest DLP technology from Texas Instruments, the M302WS, M332XS and M352WS models deliver high contrast images (10,000:1), are filter free, and have 0.6:1 and 0.48:1 throw ratios, respectively.

The eco-conscious features in the M Short Throw Series include ECO Mode technology, which increases lamp life up to 8000 hours, while lowering power consumption, as well as quick start (3 to 4 seconds) and auto power on via the RGB input connector.

Remote diagnostics enable the user to monitor and make adjustments to the projectors from afar.

The M Series portable projectors also boast the ability to transmit images from computers, tablets and smart phones using DisplayNote and NEC’s own Wireless Image Utility.

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New arrivals: Motorola Moto G with 4G LTE in Singapore for S$348

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

The Moto G with 4G LTE will be available in black only, through open channel across Singapore from 16 July 2014. The suggested retail price is S$348.

The Moto G with 4G LTE supports the fastest mobile networks - 4G LTE - in Singapore.

The Moto G with 4G LTE supports the fastest mobile networks – 4G LTE – in Singapore.

Motorola claims that the Moto G with 4G LTE delivers a premium smartphone experience at a third of the price of current high-end phones.

Features include:

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New arrivals: TomTom Traffic and 3 new GO GPS PND models

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

TomTom today launched in Singapore three new TomTom GO GPS portable navigation devices – GO 50 (S$249), GO 500 (S$299) and GO 600 (S$349) – as well as new live Traffic updates feature for their use in Singapore.

TomTom GO 500. S$299

TomTom GO 500. S$299

The new PNDs feature a completely fresh user interface with lifetime TomTom Traffic and map updates.

“Where navigation used to be about getting people to unfamiliar destinations, we are now empowering drivers with easy access to the information they need to make the smartest driving decisions, every day. The new TomTom GO is an essential daily driving tool, helping Singaporean drivers to get out of traffic, and get to their destinations faster,” says Chris Kearney, Vice President of TomTom Consumer, Asia Pacific.

They also ship with an interactive map featuring 3D buildings and landmarks, giving drivers the ability to know what is going on around them, as well as what lies ahead.

The new series of GO PNDs allow users to view traffic incidents in detail and receive traffic jam alerts, so that they can take the fastest detours available.

With a screen that easily zooms in and out, drivers can find, and explore places on the brand new interactive map, and tap on the map to get an instant route to their destination.

The new TomTom GO series comprises the following models and is currently available at retailers such as Challenger and Harvey Norman.

TomTom Key specs
GO 50

S$249

5.0” touch screen, Lifetime TomTom Traffic and Maps
GO 500

S$299

5.0” capacitive fully interactive touch screen, Lifetime TomTom Traffic and Maps
GO 600

S$349

6” capacitive fully interactive touch screen, Lifetime TomTom Traffic and Maps

Lifetime TomTom Traffic

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New arrivals: Casio PRO TREK PRW-6000 series adventure watches

Monday, July 14th, 2014

The new PRO TREK PRW-6000 series is now optimised with hand-concealment and advanced sensor functions for greater readability, operability and wearability. Prices range from S$549 to S$999. Available from July 2014.

Available starting from July 2014, the new Casio PRO TREK PRW-6000 Series is found at all G-FACTORY and G-FACTORY Premium stores across Singapore.

Available starting from July 2014, the new Casio PRO TREK PRW-6000 Series is found at all G-FACTORY and G-FACTORY Premium stores across Singapore.

Casio Singapore is welcoming a brand new PRW-6000 series to its PRO TREK range of high-performance timepieces designed to be the outdoor adventure companion.

The new series has a hand-concealment function for a clearer view of digital display and Casio’s latest Triple Sensor Ver.3 technology for optimal outdoor performance.

The PRW-6000 is specially crafted for easy readability and wearability.

It comes fitted with a wider LCD screen and an innovative function to move the dials away temporarily for an unblocked view of sensor data when needed.

Its light 73g weight and sleek 12.8mm profile makes it the slimmest in the PRO TREK range, providing maximum comfort for the wearer and ease of wrist movement and agility.

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