Review « Tech bytes for tea?

Archive for the ‘Review’ Category

SITEX 2011 promotions: Lexmark printers

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Lexmark will be at SITEX 2011 (24-27 November 2011) at Hall 4B, Booth 4A01. Discounted printers include: Lexmark Genesis S815 (S$299), Lexmark Prevail Pro 708 (S$199), and the Lexmark X5650 (S$79).

In addition to price discounts, free NTUC vouchers will be given away for purchases of the promotional printers below.

Lexmark Genesis S815
Usual: S$499
COMEX: S$299

*free S$30 NTUC voucher

Speed. A4 web-connected all-in-one inkjet printer with Flash Scan technology – scan from “document to digital” in as fast as three seconds.

Touch screen. 4.3-inch touch screen to customize, install and use one-touch SmartSolutions; with instant previews of documents loaded for scanning.

WiFi N. The WiFi N wireless technology provides users with three times the coverage and faster transfer speeds.

3-year LexExpress Warranty. One-for-one printer replacement, if the on-line service technicians are not able to fix printer problems over the phone.

Lexmark Prevail Pro 708
Usual: S$399
COMEX: S$199

*free S$20 NTUC voucher

A wireless 4-in-1 printer for environmentally-conscious and budget-conscious users with 3 years LexExpress Warranty.

Offers the industry’s lowest black printing cost at S$7.90 for 510 pages.

Delivers Wireless-N capability for longer range and more reliable signals for faster file transfer rates along with a business card scanning feature.

Lexmark X5650
Usual: S$149
COMEX: S$79

*free S$10 NTUC voucher

A wireless all-in-one with Quick Connect laptop port for easy connectivity and set-up.

Delivers print speeds of up to 25 ppm black and 18 ppm color with 25-page automatic document feeder.

Easy-print from a camera or memory device with lab-quality sharpness.

Tags:Lexmark, printers, promotions, SITEX 2011
Posted in Accessories, Events, Exhibition, Gadgets, Lexmark, Prices, Printers, Promotions, Specifications | 2 Comments »

Maiden run: TomTom VIA 280

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

I tried out the TomTom VIA 280 for the first time during my drive from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL) today after receiving the review unit yesterday. Here are the initial impressions.

TomTom VIA 280 on its maiden run on the Malaysian North-South expressway.

Set up was straightforward. Plug the main unit to the cigarette plug using the USB cable, attach the main unit to the windscreen and you’re set to go.

Once you start the engine, the TomTom VIA 280 switches on. Switching off the engine, switches off the VIA 280 automatically.

Only three components in the box: the main unit, the USB cable and the cigartette plug.

Only three components in the box: the main unit, the USB cable and the cigarette plug.

The user-interface was real easy. The route chosen was optimal. Changes to the route was simple. What impressed me most was how fast the recalculation took place.

I started off using the VIA 280 for a short journey running an errand round the neighbourhood. Just press “Navigate to” icon on the main menu, select “POI” (Point of interest), followed by “POI near you”, and then browse the various categories.

It was easy enough to find the neighbourhood shopping centre and set it as the destination. The map display was clear and the estimated distance to the next turning was accurate.

For the KL trip, I first set it as a “Favourite”. Next I set the route for it under “Plan route”. The recommended route was through the Causeway. But I preferred the Tuas Second Link.

By choosing the “Change route” option, you could ask for alternative routes, to travel via the Second Link or to avoid using the Causeway – which I did.

As I approached the second link, I realised that for the first time in my life, I’d forgotten to top up. The fuel gauge read just more than half-tank.

The Singapore government requires Singaporean drivers driving to Malaysia to have their petrol tanks at least ¾ tank full, otherwise if you’re caught in a spot-check, you’re fined S$500.

First impressions:

For a maiden run, the VIA 280 made a very positive impression.

The VIA 280 strikes me as a no-frills PND which is more than competent to handle all the functionalities one would expect for helping the driver navigate from point A to point B.

Now where’s the nearest petrol station?

Tapping anywhere on the map on the screen activated the main menu.

The following menu options: “Change route” > “Travel via…” > “Point of Interest” > “POI near you” > “Petrol station” revealed a list of petrol stations nearby, according to distance. 15 minutes later, we were back on track to hit the customs.

The drive on the North-South expressway was uneventful. En route, I deliberately deviated from the recommended route to see how the VIA 280 reacted. Both times, it came up with a new route in less than 3 seconds – impressive.

After the four-hour drive, we finally reached our destination 2 minutes before the time of arrival initially estimated by the VIA 280 at the beginning of the journey.

Tags:navigation, PND, TomTom, Via
Posted in Gadgets, GPS, Lifestyle, Opinion, Review, TomTom, Travel | 1 Comment »

Mr Postman delivers: TomTom VIA 280

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

The courier dropped off the TomTom VIA 280 GPS portable navigation device (PND) for review. The VIA range is the new family of PNDs that TomTom just introduced to Singapore this week.

TomTom VIA 280 (Click to see the other accessories), the screen display here is a sticker.

TomTom VIA 280, the screen display here is a sticker.

TomTom has been selling the XL 250, XXL 550 and GO 750 PNDs in Singapore.This week, it introduced the GO 2050 and GI 2050 World, as well as the VIA 220, VIA 260 and VIA 280.

Only three components in the box: the main unit, the USB cable and the cigartette plug.

Compared to the GO family of PNDs, the VIA range represents the lower end, no-frills selection of PNDs.

I’d tried the GO 750 before and was impressed by it, but I was curious whether the VIA would cut it. Over the next week, I’ll be driving to Kuala Lumpur and back with the VIA 280 – and then I’ll let you know whether the VIA 280 is any good.

For now, a look at the new box of VIA 280 shows three parts: the main unit itself, the plug for the car’s cigarette lighter, and the USB cable which connects the main unit to the plug.

The same USB cable is also used to connect the main unit to the computer for software and map updates.

The integrated mount behind the TomTom VIA 280 comprises an adjustable suction disc.

Behind the main unit is the integrated mount, with a suction disc. After connecting the cable, bend the suction disc outwards, press it against the windscreen and turn the knob around the disc to tighten the grip of the disc on the windscreen.

Then adjust the angle until the screen of the main unit is at the right viewing angle from the driver’s seat.

Press the power button behind the main unit and it’s ready to operate.

Tomorrow, I’ll be driving up to KL in the morning. We’ll see how it fares then.

Tags:GPS, navigation, PND, TomTom, Via
Posted in Gadgets, GPS, Lifestyle, Opinion, Prices, Review, TomTom, Travel | 1 Comment »

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 available now in Singapore

Monday, November 14th, 2011

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is now available in Singapore, with the 3G (16GB) model retailing at S$768.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Android Honeycomb tablet at S$768 today.

The GALAXY Tab 8.9 now joins Samsung‘s 10.1 and 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an array of tablet sizes, depending on their needs and preferences.

At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 453g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is targeted at today’s mobile professional, from writing emails on a business trip to reading an trashy eBook in bed.

Key highlights of the GALAXY Tab 8.9

Samsung’s own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering enhanced multi-tasking, user interaction and navigation.
Supports HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduced data transfer times.
A 3-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.

Detailed specifications of the Galaxy 8.9 are tabulated below:

Display	8.9” WXGA 1280×800
OS	Android 3.2 (Honeycomb)
Processor	1GHz Dual Core application processor
Memory	16 GB
Connectivity	Bluetooth® technology v 3.0 USB 2.0 WiFi 802.11 (a/b/g/n)
Camera	Main(Rear) : 3.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF with LED Flash Front : 2.0-Mega Pixel Camera
Video	Format : MPEG4/H263/H264, Divx/Xvid Playback : 1080p Full HD Video @ 30fps Recording : 720p HD Video
Audio	MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, MIDI, AMR-NB/WB 3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker
Enterprise Solutions	Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Polaris Office
Value-added Features	Android Market
	Google Mobile Services : Google Talk Video Chat, Google Maps, Books, etc
	Samsung TouchWiz UX
	Samsung Mini Apps Tray
	Social Hub, Readers Hub *Availability differs by region
	Adobe Flash Player 10.3
Sensor	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Ambient Light sensor
Size	230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm, 453g
Battery	6100mAh
Network	HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
Price	3G (16GB) at S$768

Tags:8.9, Galaxy, Honeycomb, launch, Samsung, tablets
Posted in Android, Gadgets, Galaxy, Launch, Prices, Samsung, Specifications, Tablets | No Comments »

Christmas promotion: SanDisk memory cards

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

Get a free protective camera wrap when you purchase 16GB or higher SanDisk Extreme or SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I cards. This offer will last for 1.5 months from 15 November to 31 December, while stocks last.

Free protective camera wrap for purchases of 16GB or higher SanDisk Extreme or SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I cards

The camera wrap will offer extra protection for photographers while they carry their cameras with them as they travel and visit relatives during the Christmas season.

The camera wrap is convenient and easy to use—photographers simply fold it along the corners, secure it and then stick it in their camera bag before heading off to a shoot.

SanDisk recently doubled the capacity and performance of its professional-grade imaging card lineup with the introduction of the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC/SDXC UHS-I card.

Based on the SD 3.0 specification’s Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus architecture, the card offers the fastest write performance of any SD card in the world and is ideal for imaging enthusiasts using UHS-enabled cameras.

The card’s 90 megabyte per second (MB/sec) write speed lets photographers capture a series of RAW images using burst mode, and its UHS Speed Class 1 rating can record Full HD videos.

With up to 95MB/sec read speeds, the card can transfer photos to a computer in half the time, allowing photographers to quickly enter post production.

The cards come in 8GB to 64GB capacities carrying promotional MSRPs ranging from S$69 (8GB) to S$529 (64GB).

Tags:microSD, SanDisk, SD, SDHC, SDXC, SSD, USB
Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Prices, Promotions, SanDisk, Specifications | No Comments »

Singapore prices and launch dates for Samsung GALAXY Note and Nexus

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

The GALAXY Note (S$998, 16GB) will be available in Singapore in November 2011, and the GALAXY Nexus (S$948) in January 2012.

Samsung and Google has jointly launched the GALAXY Nexus, the world’s first smartphone running Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest release of the Android platform.

GALAXY Nexus features a 4.65” HD Super AMOLED touch screen display with 1280×720 pixels and a 1.2 GHz dual core processor with 1GB RAM.

It also sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera; and comes with 16GB or 32GB of onboard memory.

Samsung has also announced the launch of the GALAXY Note, a device that tries to combine the larger screen size of tablets with the portability of smart phones.

The 9.65mm thick GALAXY Note features the world’s first and largest 5.3” HD Super AMOLED touch screen display at WXGA (1280×800, 285ppi) resolution. It works with pen-input technology using a stylus called the S Pen.

Powered by a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, the gadget runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and comes with 16GB onboard storage, with a microSD slot that supports up to 32GB.

GALAXY Note comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.

Tags:Android, Gingerbread, Google, Ice Cream Sandwich, Nexus, Note, Samsung, smartphone, tablets
Posted in Android, Cameras, Gadgets, Galaxy, Google, Launch, Phones, Prices, Samsung, Specifications, Tablets | 3 Comments »

GarageBand now available for Apple iPhone and iPod

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

GarageBand 1.1 for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is available on the App Store for USD$4.49 to new users, or as a free update for existing GarageBand for iPad customers.

GarageBand 1.1 for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is available on the App Store

GarageBand is a universal app that runs on iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPod touch (3rd & 4th generation).

The music creation app from Apple was Introduced earlier this year on the iPad. GarageBand uses Apple’s Multi-Touch interface to make it easy for anyone to create and record their own songs, even if they’ve never played an instrument before.

GarageBand features a collection of fun Touch Instruments that sound great and make it easy for beginners or experienced musicians to play and record keyboards, guitars, drums and basses in a wide variety of styles.

“The innovative Multi-Touch interface combined with Smart Instruments makes it easy to create great sounding music, even if you’ve never studied music or played an instrument before,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.Smart Instruments now allow you to choose from an extensive new library of custom chords so you can play and strum along with your favourite songs.

You can plug your electric guitar into iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to play and record through classic amps and stompbox effects, or record your voice or any acoustic sound using the built-in microphone.

GarageBand allows you to record and mix up to eight tracks and then share your finished song with friends or send it to your Mac to keep working on it in GarageBand or Logic Pro.

Tags:Apple, Apps, GarageBand, music
Posted in App, Apple, Gadgets, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Launch, Mac OS, Music, Phones, Prices, Software, Tablets | No Comments »

Seagate streamlines Barracuda product family of desktop drives

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

Seagate is streamlining its flagship family of desktop drives under a single product that focuses on performance and big capacities – to cater to the explosive growth in content creation and consumption by businesses and consumers.

The new Barracuda family makes it easier for consumers to find the product they need and reduces costs for Seagate’s original equipment manufacturer and distribution channel customers by reducing the number of product qualifications and amount of inventory they need to manage.

The new Barracuda hard drive – to be available first at online retailers – is designed for desktop, tower or all-in-one personal computers; workstations, home and small business servers; “Our OEM and channel customers want to reduce overhead costs by having fewer product lines to qualify and manage in their inventory,” said Scott Horn, vice president of Marketing at Seagate.network-attached storage devices; direct-attached storage expansion; and home and small-business RAID solutions.

Capacities of the family range from 250GB to 3TB.

The simplification of the Barracuda family comes as Seagate begins volume shipments of its 1TB-per-disk Barracuda hard drive. Seagate plans to end production of its Barracuda Green drive in February 2012.

Seagate analysis shows that its new Barracuda drives have a nearly identical power-consumption profile as energy-efficient desktop drives but deliver much higher performance. Barracuda XT, Seagate’s fastest desktop hard drive, will be folded into the new Barracuda family and re-emerge, in name, as the company’s desktop solid state hybrid drive.

Technical specifications

The new Barracuda hard drive features a SATA 6GB/second interface, 7200RPM spin speed and up to 64MB cache to deliver high performance across all capacities.

Seagate’s SmartAlign technology, a feature of Seagate’s Barracuda Green drives, will continue to ship with the flagship Barracuda drives to help the hard drive industry segue from the current 512-byte sector standard for hard drives to the new 4096-byte sector size.

The new 4K standard enables the use of stronger error correction algorithms to maintain data integrity at higher storage densities and capacities.

Tags:Barracuda, HDD, Seagate, storage
Posted in Accessories, Desktops, Gadgets, Launch, Seagate, Specifications, storage drive | No Comments »

Main specifications for Samsung NX200

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

The Samsung NX200 was first unveiled on September 1, 2011. It has just become available yesterday, with prices in Singapore set at S$1,099 (incl 7% GST and 18-55 mm kit lens).

Here are the main specifications for the Samsung NX200 mirrorless interchangeable lens digital camera:

NX200	Main specifications
Image Sensor	20.3 Megapixels APS-C Size CMOS (23.5 x 15.7mm)
Lens	Samsung Lenses for Samsung NX Mount, bundled with Standard Kit Lens: Samsung 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS i-Function lens
Image Stabilization	Lens Shift (depends on Lens)
Shutter Speed	Auto： 1/4000sec. – 30sec. Manual: 1/4000sec. – 30sec. (1/3 EV step)
Exposure	Compensation: ±3 EV (1/3EV step) ISO Equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (1 or 1/3EV step) Metering System: TTL 221(17×13) Block segment Metering: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot Metering range: EV 0 – 18 (ISO 100 · 30mm, F2)
Focusing	Contrast AF (100ms AF Speed) Modes: Single AF, Continuous AF, MF Focusing Point: Selection (1 point), Multi (Normal 15points, Close up 35points), Face Detection (max.10 faces)
Shooting	Modes: Smart Auto 2.0, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Lens Priority, Magic, Panorama, Scene, Movie Scene Modes: Beauty Shot, Night, Landscape, Portrait, Children, Sports, Close-Up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Sound Picture, 3D Photo Smart Filter: Vignetting, Miniature, Fish Eye, Sketch, Defog, Halftone Dots, Soft Focus, Old Film 1, Old Film 2, Negative Magic Frame: Holiday, Old Film, Ripple, Full Moon, Old Record, Magazine, Sunny Day, Classic TV, Yesterday, Wall Art, Billboard 1, Billboard 2, Newspaper Picture Wizard: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Custom (1 – 3) / Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent (W, N, D), Tungsten, Flash, Custom, K(Manual) Size (max.): JPEG 20.0M, RAW 20.0M (5472 x 3648) Quality: Super fine , Fine, Normal, RAW (SRW format)
Drive	Single Continuous: High (Up to 11 Shots at 7fps), Low (Up to 15 Shots at 3fps) in JPEG Burst (5M): 10, 15, 30fps by 1 release Bracket (AE/WB/PW) Self-Timer: 2 – 30sec. (1 sec. step)
Movie	1080p/30fps Full HD Movie Recording with MP4 (H.264) Modes: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual Quality: High Quality, Normal Recording time: 25mins Movie Editing: Still Image Capture, Time Trimming Smart Filter: Vignetting, Miniature, Fish Eye, Sketch, Defog, Halftone Dots, Soft Focus, Old Film 1, Old Film 2, Negative
Flash	External Flash only (Bundle with SEF8A) with 28mm wide-angle Modes: Smart Flash, Auto, Auto+Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Fill-in + Red-eye reduction, 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, Off Guide number: 8 (SEF8A at ISO 100) Sync. Speed: Less than 1/180sec. Compensation: -2 – +2EV (1/2 EV step)
Physical Specifications	Dimensions: 116.5 x 62.5 x 36.2mm (exclude projecting) Weight: 220.4g (without battery and card) Battery Life: 165min / 330shots (CIPA Standard)
Additional features	Supersonic Dust Reduction drive 3.0” VGA AMOLED Screen (614,000 dots) Samsung External Flash available (SEF42A, SEF20A, SEF15A: Optional) Hot Shoe Software: Intelli-Studio 3.0, Samsung RAW Converter 4. Adobe Reader Storage File Formats: RAW (SRW), JPEG (EXIF 2.21), DCF, DPOF 1.1, PictBridge 1.0

Tags:cameras, DSLR, mirrorless, NX200, Samsung
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Gadgets, Photography, Prices, Samsung, Specifications | 1 Comment »

£5,000,000 for an iPad 2

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Anybody up for an iPad 2 crusted with T-Rex bone, 24-carat gold and 12.5 carats of diamonds? Better hurry cos’ it’s already 50% sold out and it’s only going for — £5,000,000!

Only two will be made by British designer Stuart Hughes, and one has already been sold to an undisclosed customer, so hurry before you miss the purchase of a life time.

Stuart is well-known for a series of ‘ultra-luxury’ gadgets, which includes the world’s most expensive phone – a £5,000,000 gold and diamond encrusted iPhone; and a £219,000 Macbook Air that’s coated with 24-carat gold 53 diamonds.

Check out the original story by Rob Waugh of Daily Mail.

Tags:Apple, iOS, iPad, iPhone, MacBook, notebooks, smartphone, tablets
Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Humour, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Lifestyle, Mac OS, Notebooks, Phones, Prices, Tablets | No Comments »

Tech bytes for tea?