Archive for the ‘Android’ Category

New arrivals: Toshiba Ultra-HD 4K Pro Theatre TV L9450 series with Android

Thursday, October 16th, 2014

The latest Ultra-HD 4K L9450 series with Android Pro Theatre TVs from Toshiba embraces the Android platform. Now available throughout Asia, prices range from S$2,299 to S$17,999 and are listed below.

The L9450 Pro-Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android come in 50, 65 and 84-inch models.

The L9450 Pro-Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android come in 50, 65 and 84-inch models.

The Android compatibility makes available an abundance of apps that are downloadable on Google Play

Toshiba Price
50L9450VE S$2,299
65L9450VE S$4,999
84L9450VE S$17,999

Four times sharper than Full HD, Ultra-HD 4K offers unparalleled clarity for a growing selection of 4K content, ranging from movies to games and photos.

Not only are visible on screen details significantly bolstered, viewers can also sit closer to the display without being distracted by pixilation.

(more…)

Review: LG G3 Android KitKat smartphone with QHD display

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Following the success of its well-received LG G2, I like the large stunning QHD display of the LG G3 and totally enjoyed using the flagship smartphone over the past few weeks.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is one of the first smartphones to sport a 5.5-inch Quad HD display – other makers are only now beginning to ship QHD on their flagships.

Top edge of the LG G3.

Top edge of the LG G3.

The 538 ppi resolution of the G3 is one of the highest in the market now and is equivalent to four times the resolution of HD and almost two times that of a Full HD display.

The sharper detail was remarkable especially when viewing 4K video on the display. Even Full HD video looked sharper and clearer.

The LG G3 is one of the best smartphones that I’ve used that are currently on the market. Fast and smooth, with great display and excellent camera.

The other thing that impressed me was the camera (sample shots at the end of this review).

The 13-megapixel rear camera comes with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabiliser Plus) and uses an innovative Laser Auto Focus for faster and more accurate focus on the subject.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The result is sharper photos and a faster response time.

(more…)

New arrivals: Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 available in Singapore

Monday, October 6th, 2014

The Android smartphone is targeted at first-time users looking for essential features and usability. Available in Singapore at S$148 from 11 October, 2014.

The Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 weighs 108g and measures 109.8 x 59.9 x 11.8mm. It is available in Iris Charcoal and White.

The Samsung GALAXY YOUNG 2 weighs 108g and measures 109.8 x 59.9 x 11.8mm. It is available in Iris Charcoal and White.

Powered by a 1GHz Single Core Processor, the GALAXY YOUNG 2 features a long lasting 1,300mAh battery, 3.2-megapixel camera and a 3.5” touch screen HVGA (320 x 480) TFT LCD display with 262K colours..

(more…)

Raoul showcases Fall Winter 2014 collection with iQNECT app

Saturday, October 4th, 2014

Raoul offers an interactive shopping experience of its latest Fall Winter 2014 collection through the launch of its collaboration with iQNECT, with promotions below.

All shoppers need to do is to download the IQNect app and visit Raoul (located at #02-49 Paragon), snap pictures of selected Raoul looks and be taken on a virtual journey to New York Fashion Week and this season’s Lookbook.

All shoppers need to do is to download the IQNECT app and visit Raoul (located at #02-49 Paragon), snap pictures of selected Raoul looks and be taken on a virtual journey to New York Fashion Week and this season’s Lookbook. Photo taken with Samsung GALAXY S5 smartphone.

Through the iQNECT app, Raoul is transporting shoppers from its boutique in Singapore to the heart of New York Fashion Week through rich branded content and information on their mobile devices.

The Raoul FW14 collection pays homage to Wiener Werkstatte – a progressive alliance of artists and designers founded in 1897.

Some of the more conscious and graphic approaches to the design ideals of this movement inspired the strict black and ivory diamond-shaped graphics in linear silhouettes along with the overblown flower motifs.

(more…)

Samsung launches GALAXY Note 4, Note Edge, Gear S and Gear S in Singapore

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

The GALAXY Note 4 (S$1,088), Gear S (S$498) and Gear Circle (S$168) will reach Singapore on 11 October and but you can register your interest for the Note 4 from noon tomorrow (2 October). The GALAXY Note Edge 4G+ will be available in Q4 2014.

The GALAXY Note 4 4G+ will be available in Singapore from 11 October 2014 in Charcoal Black and Frost White. The Note Edge 4G+ will only be available in Q4 2014.

The GALAXY Note 4 4G+ will be available in Singapore from 11 October 2014 in Charcoal Black and Frost White. The Note Edge 4G+ will only be available in Q4 2014.

The slew of mobile products were first unveiled during IFA 2014.

I first played with these new gadgets when they were brought to Singapore for a preview 2 weeks ago.

They are indeed exciting additions to Samsung’s line of mobile devices.

Recommended retail prices in Singapore are listed below.

(more…)

New arrivals: ASUS MeMo Pad 8 and Fonepad 8 Android tablets

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

The new ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (S$499) and Fonepad 8 (S$299) tablets feature the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom ‘Moorefield’ quad-core processor and ASUS ZenUI interface. Avaialble in Singapore from 10 October, 2014.

Both the ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (S$499) and Fonepad 8 (S$299) run Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and ASUS ZenUI interface, which features more than 200 software tweaks over previous ASUS interfaces.

Both the ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (Left, S$499) and Fonepad 8 (Right, S$299) run Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and ASUS ZenUI interface, which features more than 200 software tweaks over previous ASUS interfaces.

The interface sports a new visual design with modern ‘flat’ icons, customisable vivid colour themes that match the tablets’ colour, as well as a cleaner layout that clearly presents all necessary information at one glance.

Despite its larger display, the ASUS Fonepad 8 has almost the same width as the previous generation 7-inch Fonepad.

Despite its larger display, the ASUS Fonepad 8 has almost the same width as the previous generation 7-inch Fonepad.

Weighing at just 299g, ASUS boasts that the 8-inch MeMO Pad 8 (ME581CL) is the world’s lightest 8-inch tablet with Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

It features the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom Z3560 1.8GHz quad-core processor, and ultra-fast connectivity with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and wireless Near-Field Communications (NFC).

The ASUS Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) delivers powerful mobility with the next generation 64-bit Intel Atom Z3530 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 3G phone functions.

With its narrow bezel measuring just 5.06mm and a 72.2% screen-to-body ratio, ASUS claims that the 8-inch ASUS Fonepad 8 has the largest viewing area for any 8-inch phablet in the market.

(more…)

Tech focus: StitMe – keeping your phone numbers private

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Our phone numbers are something we hand out readily to our contacts, yet we would like to protect them from misuse. StitMe is a service that enables users to control who can call you and when, without divulging your real number.

StitMe allows you to keep your mobile number private and control who can call you and when.

StitMe allows you to keep your mobile number private and control who can call you and when.

I was having tea the other day with Gurtaj Singh and he caught my interest with this app that he had launched just recently in the US.

It’s called StitMe and is not available outside of US yet but it sounded like it had great potential to solve one of the biggest dilemmas of the modern age.

You want as many friends, colleagues and potential contacts to be able to contact you, but you don’t want to receive calls from unwarranted telemarketers because your telephone number had been harvested and compiled in some call list that are being sold or circulated without your consent.

Worse still, in the US, anybody can use your telephone number to do a reverse number lookup (the equivalent of a Whois query) and get personal information about you like your residential address etc.

This is where StitMe comes in – users of the free service need not hand out their real telephone numbers anymore.

Between two StitMe users, all you give out is your StitMe User ID.

(more…)

Preview: Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, Gear S & Gear Circle

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Samsung Singapore showcased in Singapore today a few of the devices unveiled during IFA 2014 – namely the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge.

Also available for hands-on were the Gear S smartwatch and Gear Circle Bluetooth wireless earphones.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Both the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge now have the same Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) as the LG G3 but on a larger 5.7-inch screen, and the S Pen and S Note have been improved to enhance their functionality and productivity.

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds “stuck” together magnetically, can be worn around the neck like a necklace when not in use.

The rear camera now has 16 megapixels and the front has 3.7 megapixels with an f1.9 lens.

By the way, the processor that’s going to ship to Singapore is the Snapdragon with 3GB RAM.

The Note Edge really does look novel with the sharp display on the curved screen that wraps around the thin right edge of the phablet.

The Gear S smartphone runs on the Tizen OS and has its own nano-SIM slot so you can place and receive calls independently of a smartphone.

It can also store and play music directly and be paired with the Gear Circle.

First Impressions:

Having used the Galaxy S4, Note 3 and now using the S5, I find the Note 4 and Note Edge exciting new additions to the Galaxy flagship devices.

(more…)

New arrivals: Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ Android smartphone

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

Samsung’s latest addition to the GALAXY series promises superior connectivity with up to 300 Mbps 4G+ LTE-Advanced networks. Available in Singapore at S$948 from 13 September.

The GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ will be available in Singapore in Charcoal Black and Dazzling White from 13 September and in Frosted Gold from end September.

The GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ will be available in Singapore in Charcoal Black and Dazzling White from 13 September and in Frosted Gold from end September.

The GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ features a compact body with a metal frame and finish, with curved corners and a tactile soft back cover.

At 6.7mm thick, the GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ is one of the slimmest GALAXY devices.

(more…)

ASUS unveils ZenWatch, Zenbook UX305, EeeBook X205 & MeMO Pad 7 at IFA 2014

Friday, September 5th, 2014

ASUS has announced at IFA 2014 its first wearable device, the ZenWatch; the 13.3-inch Zenbook UX305 Ultrabook; the 11-inch EeeBook X205 compact laptop; and the 7-inch MeMO Pad 7 Android tablet.

Update (12 February, 2015):

The ASUS Ultrabook ZenBook UX305 is now available in a new Obsidian Stone colour.

The ASUS Ultrabook ZenBook UX305 is now available in a new Obsidian Stone colour.

The Ultrabook ZenBook UX305 is now available in Singapore.

Powered by Intel Core M processor with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD, the super-slim Ultrabook retails from S$999 at all ASUS authorised retailers and ASUS brand stores.

The ZenWatch and the MeMO Pad 7 were among the gadgets announced by ASUS at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

The ZenWatch and the MeMO Pad 7 were among the gadgets announced by ASUS at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

ASUS unveiled the slew of new devices at a pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin, Germany.

ASUS ZenWatch

The ASUS ZenWatch is the first wearable device from ASUS, powered by Android Wear and featuring a version of the ASUS ZenUI user interface developed specifically for ZenWatch.

ASUS ZenWatch

ASUS ZenWatch

The ZenWatch pairs with a smartphone running Android™ 4.3 or higher to provide information and to serve as a personal wellness manager in conjunction with the ASUS ZenUI Wellness app.

The ZenWatch sports a 2.5D curved and comes with a selection of instantly-changeable software watch faces, allowing users to customize ZenWatch easily to match their style.

Smart features of the ZenWatch uncludes Watch Unlock, Tap Tap, Remote Camera, Cover to Mute, Find My Phone and Presentation Control.

Its seamlessly integrates with ASUS ZenUI, letting users enjoy enhanced versions of exclusive ASUS ZenUI apps such as What’s Next and Do It Later.

(more…)