The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 LTE will hit the shelves in Singapore tomorrow. The tablet will be available at S$998 (without contract), in deep grey.
The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 LTE Android tablet will be available in Singapore from tomorrow at S$998 (without contract).
Introduced back in late August last year (in the WiFi and 3G+WiFi configurations), the LTE+WiFi version of the GALAXY Note 10.1 will be available in Singapore from tomorrow.
Almost three months after they were unveiled by Nokia and Microsoft CEOs in New York, Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 smartphones will debut in Singapore.
The Lumia 920 (S$899) and Lumia 820 (S$699) hits Singapore shelves next Saturday on 8 December 2012.
Nokia Lumia 920 (S$899) and Lumia 820 (S$699) arrives in Singapore next Saturday, 8 December 2012.
The two new handsets will be available at Nokia retail stores, while mobile operators in Singapore are slated to announce their respective data plans for the two models.
Accessories
Accessories for the two smartphones include the Nokia Lumia Purity Pro headset, JBL PlayUp Portable Wireless Speaker and JBL PowerUp Wireless Charging Speakers, as well as the Nokia Wireless Charging Pillow by Fatboy, Nokia Wireless Charging Stand and Nokia Wireless Charging Plate.
Nokia Singapore launched the two smartphones at Harry’s Bar at Millenia Walk and handed out the devices for guests to try out the new features, as they made their way around the city on an open-top bus.
The Lumia 920 boasts Pureview imaging technology that produces sharp pictures even in low light. The optical image stabiliser (OIS) further reduced the blur.
I was rather impressed with the Lumia 920’s imaging performance. Photos were indeed bright and sharp, while videos of moving/vibrating objects appeared less jerky when compared to videos taken on the Lumia 820 and other smartphones.
JBL PowerUp Wireless Charging Speakers
The Lumia 820 is the more affordable sibling of the two, with a smaller and lower-resolution screen, smaller battery, and the run-of-the-mill camera.
It is however, more compact and lighter than its bigger brother. (Check the quick comparison here).
You can also change the back cover of the Lumia 820 to vary the colour of the phone.
Both smartphones come with the same imaging apps that were quite interesting.
Nokia Smart Shoot is for group photos – shooting multiple exposures with a single click to choose the best from each exposure.
Nokia Wireless Charging Stand
Cinemagraph takes short videos where certain parts are frozen as a still shot while portions defined by you moves like regular video.
Panorama helps you do a sweep panorama shot of the landscape.
City Lens adds an augmented reality overlay over the screen when the camera is pointed at buildings and places of interest.
The idea is novel but not new, and in the short span of time that I tried it out, I found the augmented info sketchy at times while the resolution was not good enough to “lead” you to a particular place. At best, it tells you a place of interest is in a particular direction.
For really pragmatic and effective turn-by-turn navigation and search for places of interest, head back to the Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive apps, both of which have been updated with features such as indoor maps.
Microsoft launched Windows 8 worldwide today and held launches in 15 cities around the world. From tomorrow – Friday, 26 October – the new operating system will be available to consumers and businesses in 140 countries and 37 languages.
Windows 8 has been launched today and will be available from tomorrow onwards.
Windows 8 will be available in two versions at retail, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.
For business customers, Windows 8 Enterprise offers mobile productivity features such as Windows To Go, DirectAccess, and BranchCache; as well as enhanced end-to-end security with features including BitLocker and AppLocker.
Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family designed for ARM-based tablets – Windows RT – which will only be available pre-installed on new devices and comes preinstalled with Microsoft Office.
The Start screen is the launch pad for Windows 8.
All the different versions feature a new fast and fluid Start screen that gives users one-click access to the apps and content they care most about, the new Internet Explorer 10 that is tuned for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.
How to get Windows 8 and the prices
In addition to getting the new operating systems pre-installed on new devices, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs.
Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, are qualified to download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99 from here (for a limited time).
Eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between 2 June, 2012, and 31 January, 2013 can download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com.
In Singapore, new Windows 8 licenses can be bought at all leading IT retail stores for S$89.99 with free PIXMA printer while stocks last.
Windows 8 comes pre-installed with apps that include Mail, People, Calendar, Photos, Weather, Xbox Music and SkyDrive.
Additional apps can be downloaded from the cloud-connected Windows Store.
The online store can be accessed via the Windows Store App on the Windows 8 Start Screen and is a central place for users to manage their downloaded apps across multiple Windows 8 devices.
Microsoft has officially opened its Windows Store for Singapore as part of Windows 8 launch today.
Singapore and Asia Pacific launch
For Singapore and the Asia Pacific, the launch was held at the roof terrace at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, with a showcase of new Windows 8 PCs, notebooks and tablets from the main computer makers.
More than 600 Windows enthusiasts, partners and enterprise customers attended this Windows 8 Singapore launch event.
At launch, Windows 8 users can immediately download apps from the Windows Store.
Local apps available include iProperty, SingTel, StarHub, The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia, SG Cab from Singapore; and The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand), Fruit Ninja (Australia), SM Cinema (Philippines), My Baby Piano (Korea), Bangkok Bank (Thailand), and iProperty (Malaysia) from the Asia Pacific.
Windows 8 devices
There are more than 1,000 Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets.
In Singapore, there are more than 50 Windows 8 devices from a wide range of manufacturers including Asus, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.
These will be available at more than 120 IT retail stores across Singapore, including Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman and Newstead.
Samsung has launched the GALAXY Note II LTE in Singapore. The 5.5-inch smartphone/tablet hybrid will be available from end of this week at S$998 (without contract) in Ceramic White or Titan Gray. It will also be available from the three Telcos.
Update (28 March, 2013):
The Amber Brown version of the Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE will be available on 30 March 2013 (Saturday).
The Recommended Retail Price (without line contract) is S$968.
The Samsung GALAXY SIV was launched two weeks ago on 14 March in New York City.
However, that may only hit the shelves in April/May 2013.
Update (14 March, 2013):
Samsung today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE in Martian Pink.
It will be available from 16 March 2013 (Saturday) at S$968, without line contract.
And at 7pm today (in Singapore, that will be 7pm tomorrow morning), Samsung will be launching the successor to the GALAXY S III in New York City.
The widely-anticipated Samsung GALAXY S IV will be the first GALAXY smartphone to be launched within the US.
Samsung hopes it will help the company wrest the number one position in the US from Apple’s iPhone, something it has already accomplished outside of the US.
The launch will be live-streamed worldwide.
Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE, complete with S Pen, comes in Ceramic White or Titan Gray.
The Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE has a thinner but bigger body than its predecessor, with a 16:9 screen ratio. It is the latest in Samsung’s GALAXY Note series after the launch of the GALAXY Note 10.1 in August.
20-year-old Liu Ting Ting was the first customer to purchase an iPhone 5 from SingTel this morning.
Besides selling the iPhone 5, SingTel also launched a new version of deF!ND – its free mobile personal assistant app that integrates local information and enables bookings of services on the move.
Early-bird customers at SingTel’s iPhone 5 launch.
SingTel has organised a three-day launch event for the iPhone 5 starting this morning at 8am at Marina Bay Sands, Exhibition Hall D, Basement 2.
Liu Ting Ting jumping with joy.
A record 68,000 customers registered their interest over six days to purchase iPhone 5 from SingTel.
SingTel’s price plans can be found at the end of this post.
The 10,000 appointment slots to purchase iPhone 5 at our launch event were snapped-up within one and a half hours.
The first customer to purchase iPhone 5 is Ms Liu Ting Ting (age 20, student).
She had arrived last night (Thurs 20 Sep) at 8:30pm even though she had a confirmed appointment to purchase iPhone 5 this morning.
Liu Ting Ting with Allan Lew (R) and Yuen Kuan Moon (L) from SingTel.
She chose to camp overnight in order to be the first to get the phone.
SingTel also unveiled a new version of deF!ND, which features Singapore’s own voice-activated personal assistant, often dubbed the “Singapore Siri”.
First launched in November last year, the new version now features a significantly expanded database of more than 100,000 reviews on more than 15,000 eateries from HungryGoWhere, Singapore’s popular food website.
Users can quickly and easily browse through recommendations of highly-rated restaurants and hawkers nearest to their current location.
SingTel deF!ND can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store and Google Play store.
deF!ND is now able to make intelligent movie recommendations based on users’ personal preferences and display screening times at GV, Shaw and Cathay cinemas nearest to their current location.
A virtual barometer predicts the user’s level of interest in all movies that are currently airing.
The app allows users to select seats and charge ticket purchases to their credit cards.
With deF!ND, users can also book taxis, locate ATMs, medical clinics and other essential amenities, find the best shopping deals and get updates on local events.
The app draws from SingTel’s popular inSing.com database of more than 170,000 business listings.
By the way, SingTel’s price plans is listed below.
The free app works on iOS, Android and web platforms and helps users discover new blogs, follow bloggers’ updates and conduct two-way conversations with them while on the go.
NuffnangX is a free app for iOS, Android and Web platforms for perusing blogs on the road.
Netccentric Pte Ltd, the parent company of Asia Pacific’s blog advertising community Nuffnang.com, has globally launched NuffnangX.
With thousands of blogs out there, NuffnangX hand-picks blogs to suit your reading preferences and interests.
The app serves as your personal blog shopper which selects the best blogs from around the world for you.
NuffnangX’s Patent Pending Technology summarises hundreds and thousands of words of each blog entry on your feed to a single line that is known as the “elevator pitch” so you can decide quickly whether a blog is interesting enough for you to read.
NuffnangX also simplifies the commenting process, making it seamless and easy to use.
Where to get NuffnangX
NuffnangX is available for free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play store.
Both partners had met whilst studying in London, and fresh from graduation, started Netccentric Pte Ltd as the holding company for their web ventures.
Coupled with a mixed bag of working experience in the Finance and Government sectors, their first project was Nuffnang.com, Asia Pacific’s First Blog Advertising Community.
LG has launched the Optimus G in Seoul, Korea today. Available in Korea next week and in key global markets in October.
The Optimus G is LG’s new flagship smartphone model, with 1.5 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor.
| LG Optimus G | |
| OS | Android 4.0.4 (ICS) |
| Screen | 4.7″ WXGA, True HD IPSPlus |
| Resolution | 1280 x 768 |
| Battery | 2,100 mAh, sealed |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 1.5 GHz Quad-Core Krait CPUs |
| Features | LTE, NFC |
| Camera | Rear: 13 MP* |
| Front: 1.3 MP | |
| Video | 1080p Full HD |
| Memory | RAM: 2 GB |
| Int: 32 GB | |
| Ext: Nil | |
| Size /mm | 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45 |
| Weight | 145 g |
| Price | TBA |
| * In certain markets, the phone could be shipped with an 8 MP camera. | |
The Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) phone has a camera that shoots an amazing 13 megapixels while the sealed battery is rated at 2,100 mAh.
The Optimus G has a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus (1280 x 768 pixels) screen and is only 8.45mm thin.
It is both LTE and NFC capable.
LG’s new flagship smartphone leverages the powerful 1.5 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU to provide speedy performance and a sleek user experience.
LG boasts that the Optimus G goes beyond multi-taking into “cross-tasking” of activities without limitations.
According to LG: whereas multi-tasking applies to running various applications at the same time, cross-tasking applies to complex tasks that can be completed simultaneously without having to compromise other tasks.
Some new UX features that will be included into the Optimus G to showcase its cross-tasking and engaging capabilities are listed below.
This free app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets helps users to discover fun things to do and organise outings with friends.
Screenshots from SingTel’s free Loop & Meet app for iOS and Android mobile devices.
SingTel has launched Loop & Meet, a mobile app that enables mobile users to send event invitations quickly and easily, and tracks responses without having to sort through dozens of email and text messages.
With Loop & Meet, users can browse through hundreds of events that are refreshed daily from inSing.com.
These events have been categorised for easy browsing into: movies, music, leisure, night out, arts, festivals and family.
The service allows users to invite their friends via SMS or email.
The app was developed in collaboration with app developer, Goba.
Recipients can use the SMS and web platforms to confirm attendance and chat with registered users, even if they have not installed the app.
Loop & Meet will help to track the responses and send invitees reminders if they do not respond.
This makes it easier for all users to keep track of the full event itinerary, time, place and attendees.
Loop & Meet is an important addition to SingTel’s growing suite of multimedia offerings, which includes the skoob e-Books service, AMPed music service and deF!ND digital concierge.
Loop & Meet is available for free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play store.
No surprises as to the features of the iPhone 5 except that there’s no NFC. Most of the enhancements are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. As with its predecessors, iPhone 5 will come in 16 GB (S$948), 32 GB (S$1,088) and 64 GB (S$1,238) configurations.
It will arrive in 9 countries, including Singapore, on 21 September.
The iPhone 5 comes in Black & Slate or White & Silver.
The iPhone 5 will run on iOS 6, which will be released as a free software update two days before the smartphone itself hits the shelves.
| Apple iPhone 5 | |
| OS | iOS 6 |
| Screen | 4″ Retina display |
| Resolution | 1136 x 640 |
| Battery | mAh rating not revealed |
| Processor | A6 |
| Features | LTE |
| Camera | Rear: 8 MP |
| Front: 1.2 MP | |
| Video | Rear: 1080p30 |
| Front: 720p30 | |
| Video | Info not available |
| Memory | Int: 16, 32, 64 GB |
| Ext: Nil | |
| Size /mm | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 |
| Weight | 112 g |
| Price (w GST) |
|
The new operating system features 200 new features but will notably be foregoing Google’s Maps and YouTube apps.
The 4-inch Retina display is now taller, with 1136 x 640 pixels at a high 326 ppi resolution.
All these will run off the new Apple-designed A6 chip and 4G LTE network.
Design-wise, the iPhone 5 is a stunner, with a selection of Black & Slate and White & Silver.
The former has most of my friends salivating although the white is beginning to become somewhat commonplace by now.
And the body is only 7.6mm thin.
The rear camera now has 8 megapixels while the front 1.2-megapixel camera shoots 720p video at up to 30 fps for FaceTime HD video calls.
A new panorama feature stitches photos of up to 28 megapixels simply by moving the camera across a scene in one smooth motion – like the sweep panorama in Sony cameras.
Available in 9 countries on 21 Sep.
As expected, Apple has replaced the 30-pin connector with a new 9-pin Lightning connector.
A Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter (sold separately) is available to connect the iPhone 5 to legacy 30-pin accessories.
Due to the variation in LTE networks in different countries, the iPhone 5 will come in 3 variants in terms of LTE frequencies.
The first model (A1428 GSM) works only in the US and Canada, while the second (A1429 CDMA) works for US carriers Sprint and Verizon, as well as KDDI in Japan.
9-pin Lightning connector replaces 30-pin connector.
The third model (A1429 GSM) runs on 850MHz, 1800MHz and 2100Mz.
This is the most international version – compatible with the most number of countries.
Note that although the iPhone 5 runs on 1800MHz for LTE, Singapore operates its LTE network on 1800MHz and 2600MHz.
So in areas where 1800MHz is not available, the iPhone 5 will fall back onto 3G.
Likewise, in countries where the 4G is not compatible with your version of iPhone 5, you will still be able to use in on 3G.
The iPhone 4S will also be available for a suggested retail price of SGD$788 (incl GST) and iPhone 4 for a suggested retail price SGD$588 (incl GST).
The first nine countries getting the iPhone 5 on 21 September are Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the US and the UK.
The iPhone 5 will be available in 9 countries on 21 Sep and another 22 countries on 28 Sep.
Customers from these countries can pre-order the iPhone 5 beginning 14 September.
All three major Telcos in Singapore, SingTel, StarHub and M1, will be selling the iPhone 5 on 21 September.
The iPhone 5 will next hit the shelves worldwide at 22 more countries a week later on 22 September.
These countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The Xperia tipodual from Sony Mobile is now available in Singapore. The dual-SIM smartphone is available in black or silver at S$268 (without contract) at M1.
Only the dual-SIM version of the Xperia tipo dual is available in Singapore.
The dual-SIM version of Sony Mobile’s Xperia tipo has hit the shelves in Singapore.
| Sony Mobile Xperia tipodual | |
| OS | Android 4.0 (ICS) |
| Screen | 3.2″ TFT |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 |
| Battery | 1,500 mAh |
| Processor | 800 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7225AA |
| Camera | Rear: 3.2 MP |
| Front: Nil | |
| Video | VGA (640 x 480) |
| Memory | Int: 2.9 GB |
| Ext: 32 GB microSD | |
| Size /mm | 103 x 57 x 13 |
| Weight | 99.4 g |
| Price | S$268 |
The Xperia tipodual is available at M1, Xperia Concept Stores, Sony Stores and Sony Centres.
Running on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the Xperia tipodual accepts two SIM cards and allows users to easily change from one network to another.
This can be done by simply pressing a dedicated button on the smartphone
There is no need to switch off and on the phone or go through complicated menu-selections.
The Xperia tipodual has a 3.2-inch display, 3.2-megapixel camera and 1,500mAH battery.
The smartphone comes with a dedicated setup guide, and a built-in application enabling users to monitor their data usage and battery life.
