Archive for the ‘Operating Systems’ Category
Sunday, December 14th, 2014
A dual-SIM phone allows you to stay contactable to your regular contacts yet enables you to take advantage of more affordable local data/voice rates to avoid expensive overseas roaming charges – without having to carry two separate mobile phones.
The Motorola Moto G (2nd Generation) is one of the increasing number of smartphones that support a dual-SIM capability.
Nowadays, it is increasingly easy to get a local SIM card when one travels overseas for work or leisure.
The local SIM allows you to make/receive calls at affordable local rates and more significantly, to stay connected via mobile broadband – without chalking out a huge bill.
You can read
over here all about the benefits of getting a pre-paid local SIM card whenever you travel overseas.
But most mobile phones allow only one SIM card to be installed – so if you put in the local SIM card, you’ll have to remove your regular SIM card and become uncontactable to those who call you on your regular number, unless you forward those calls to your local number.
Otherwise, you’d carry a second single-SIM card phone, which is a hassle.
Not too long ago …
I remember in the early days of smartphones, people were selling dual-SIM card adaptors the size of regular sized SIM cards that you could place two micro SIM cards in.
You’d have to cut your regular sized SIM card yourself into micro SIM card size and it was a daunting proposition for most people to risk damaging your SIM card in the process.
These adaptors only worked for certain models of mobile phones, and you need to switch off and on the phone to switch between the SIM cards.
Fortunately, smartphones have evolved and nowadays, you have dual-SIM card phones that enable you use both SIM cards at the same time.
I brought along a Motorola Moto G (2nd Generation) dual-SIM card phone during my short break to Thailand and it was such a blessing.
There are two micro-SIM card slots so I could keep my regular SIM card in one slot and plug in the prepaid local SIM card that I bought at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the other.
The guy at the True Move counter did all the set up for me.
So after five minutes of queueing and five minutes of installation and payment, I was as connected in Thailand as I was at home back in Singapore.
I could receive roaming calls on my regular number from my friends back in Singapore and other parts of the world, while at the same stay connected on email and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via the mobile broadband on the local SIM card.
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Tags:airport, broadband, Lumia, Mi-Fi, Microsoft Devices, mobile, Moto G, Motorola, prepaid, SIM, Suvarnabhumi, Thailand, Thailand 2014, tips, travel, True Move
Posted in Android, Events, Gadgets, gadgets, Holiday, Lumia, Microsoft, Microsoft Devices, Moto, Motorola, Nokia, Phones, smartphones, Thailand 2014, Tips, travel, Windows Phone 8 | No Comments »
Friday, December 5th, 2014
The new 8-inch, Android 4.4 (KitKat) ruggedised tablet is now available in Singapore at S$698 (LTE) and S$598 (Wi-Fi).
The Samsung GALAXY Tab Active is available in Titanium Green and it comes with the Ruggedized Cover and the “C Pen”.
Samsung has launched its first ruggedised tablet, with anti-shock protection to withstand a 1.2-metre drop (with ruggedised cover on); and water/dust resistant to IP67 certification.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab Active is now available in Singapore at $698 for the LTE version and $598 for the Wi-Fi version at IT retailers, Samsung Experience Stores, and from authorised Enterprise channel partners.
The GALAXY Tab Active is developed specifically for the business environment with professional functionalities and reinforced security.
Weighing 393g and measuring 213.1 x 126.2 x 9.75mm, the tablet has 1.5GB RAM and 16GB memory, with MicroSD slot for a further 128GB.
The GALAXY Tab Active is driven by a 1.2GHz Quad Core processor and powered by a 4,450mAh user replaceable battery.
The following accessories are also available for purchase with the GALAXY Tab Active:
- Gear Circle (SM-R130) available in Black, Blue and White at S$168.
- 9500mAh Battery Pack (EB-PN910) available in Black and White at S$128.
- USB/LAN Hub (ET-UP900) at S$98.
The 8-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LCD touch screen has 16 million colours.
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Tags:Galaxy, prices, ruggedised, Samsung, Singapore, Tab, tablets
Posted in Android, Announce, Availability, Business IT, Gadgets, gadgets, Galaxy, newArrivals, Prices, Samsung, Security, Specifications, Tablets, tablets | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 25th, 2014
Microsoft Devices offers the 5-inch Windows Phone 8.1 phablet at an affordable S$199. The budget phablet comes with a 5-megapixel front camera and dual SIM.
The Lumia 535 Dual SIM will be available in a range of colours including orange, white, cyan and black. Bright green and dark grey are not available for Singapore.
First announced on 10 November in the US, the Lumia 535 will debut in Singapore on 5 December, at an affordable price of S$199.
The Lumia 535 offers five free integrated Microsoft experiences:
- Make memorable Skype video calls and seamlessly switch between voice and video with built-in Skype integration. Fit more memorable backgrounds or add more friends into Skype video calls and selfies with the 5 MP wide angle front facing camera.
- With Microsoft Office Mobile, you can now access, edit and share Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents and OneNote notebooks wherever you are, with the pre-installed Microsoft Office suite.
- Save and sync photos, videos and Office documents securely with 15GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.
- Connect with work and personal e-mail while on the go, with built-in Microsoft Outlook.
- Add a whole new dimension to your console entertainment with Xbox One SmartGlass, the perfect companion app if you want the best of your Xbox One from both in your living room and on the go. Connect and control your Xbox One and stay connected with the games and gamers you like.
Lumia 535 sports a 5-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels, 16:9) IPS made of Gorilla Glass 3 with capacitative touchscreen at resolution of 220ppi.
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Tags:availability, Lumia, Lumia 535, Microsoft, Nokia, phablets, prices, Singapore, smartphones, Windows, Windows Phone
Posted in Announce, Availability, Gadgets, Lumia, Microsoft, Microsoft Devices, newArrivals, Nokia, Phones, Prices, smartphones, Specifications, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8 | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 6th, 2014
Opera claims that its Video Boost is a first for mobile web browsers, offering faster loading time and money savings from data reduction (compression). Available now FREE from Apple App Store.
The new Opera Mini 9 for iOS comes with video boost feature that compresses video before delivering to your mobile phone, saving you from staring at the video-buffering wheel, as well as data savings.
iPhone and iPad users will see less of the dreaded video-buffering wheel, using the new video boost feature in the Opera Mini 9 web browser.
“This is the first time video optimization has been integrated into a web browser, so your browser can now take pride of place as your favorite video app. Video snags are a small problem, but an annoying one — a pothole on the internet highway. And Opera fixed it,” says Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software.
People love watching video on their mobiles and tablets.
Unfortunately, this can eat up a data plan quickly, and stalled videos waste time and create frustration.
Opera Mini boasts that it can address this problem with video boost.
Video boost brings down buffering time for eager video viewers, by reducing the size of video data.
Using the Rocket Optimizer engine from Opera’s Skyfire division, video boost can also save users on their data bills.
Optimising videos is becoming increasingly important, as video viewing explodes on mobile phones.
(more…)
Tags:browsers, compression, data, downloads, iOS, iPad, iPhone, mobile, Opera, smartphones, tablets, video
Posted in Announce, App, Apps, Availability, Browser, Internet, iOS, Opera, Software, Video, YouTube | No Comments »
Saturday, November 1st, 2014
As a pioneer of 2-in-1 mobile devices, ASUS offers with the PadFone S the portability of the smartphone and the larger screen of a tablet by selling both at the price of one device.
Two colours are available for the ASUS PadFone S – Dark Ruby (shown above) and Pure White. Photo: ASUS Singapore.
The PadFone S was launched in Singapore on 14 October, 2014 together with 11 other new mobile and computing products.
The PadFone S is a 5-inch Android smartphone that comes with a PadFone S Station.
The PadFone S I reviewed was the Pure White version. Normal retail price: S$449.
You can use the PadFone S on its own like any smartphone or you can slot it into the back of the PadFone S Station and use the combination as an 8.9-inch tablet, leveraging the larger backlit Super IPS display of the Station.
PadFone S Promotions
The PadFone S retails for S$449 normally but until 2 November, you can purchase it at S$399 and receive a 1-year Screen Replacement Warranty free.
There is also a Facebook contest by ASUS Singapore with a PadFone S up for grabs.
Simply Like, Post, Tag and Share by 4 November.
You can’t use the PadFone S Station on its own though, because it is simply a dumb display with no computer processors within.
Actually, the Station has more – it also includes a 4990mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable) battery to provide the larger energy demands of powering a larger display.
The larger battery can also be used to charge the PadFone S to extend its battery life from 22 hours talk-time (3G) to 64 hours.
The combined PadFone S in the Station felt a little bit hefty though, at a combined weight of 664g.
My view:
I found the ASUS PadFone S provided me with the portability of a smartphone and – only when I need it – a truely larger display and usability of a tablet –> all at the price of a single device (or less).
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Tags:accessories, Android, Android 4, Apps, Asus, KitKat, PadFone, PadFone S, phablets, prices, promotions, reviews, Singapore, smartphones, tablets, ZenUI
Posted in Accessories, Android, Apps, Asus, Gadgets, gadgets, Phones, Prices, Review, smartphones, Specifications, Tablets, tablets | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 29th, 2014
The new portable storage drive from WD connects to smartphones, tablets, cameras and mobile devices, expanding storage without any wires or Internet access. Available in Singapore now in 1TB (S$299) and 2TB (S$399) capacities.
My Passport Wireless is an easy to use Wi-Fi enabled storage drive that allows consumers to save, access and share stored content wirelessly with any smartphone, tablet, computer or other device.
For the frequent business traveler, family on a road trip or creative professional working in the field – the My Passport Wireless drive is a simple way to connect all computing and mobile devices to content without any wires or Internet connection.
WD My Passport Wireless is now available in Singapore in 1TB (S$299) and 2TB (S$299) capacities.
Additionally, when users need to transfer large amounts of data, the My Passport Wireless drive provides the option of using a high speed USB 3.0 connection.
The My Passport Wireless drive broadcasts its own wireless network that allows up to eight devices to connect at the same time and access any content stored on the drive.
Available in 1TB or 2TB models, users now have the ability to store and access up to hundreds of hours of movies and music, as well photos and other digital files, from their smartphones and tablets that are typically limited by minimal storage capacity.
(more…)
Tags:hard drive, HDD, mobile, My Passport, Singapore, storage, WD, wireless
Posted in Accessories, Android, Apps, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, iOS, Launch, Press Release, Prices, Specifications, storage drive, Western Digital | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 28th, 2014
The new lineup from Fitbit features continuous, automatic heart rate tracking; GPS; smartwatch functionality; plus all day activity and automatic sleep tracking.
Fitbit Charge (S$169), Fitbit Charge HR (S$199) and Fitbit Surge (S$329) will be available broadly in early 2015.
Fitbit Charge (S$169) is available in black, slate, blue* and burgundy*; Fitbit Charge HR (S$199) will be available in black, plum, blue* and tangerine*; Fitbit Surge (S$329) will be available in black, blue* and tangerine*. * indicates colors that are coming soon. Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge will be available in small, large and extra large sizes (extra large only available through Fitbit.com).
Fitbit has unveiled three new activity and sleep-tracking products: Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge.
- Fitbit Charge – a high-performance wristband that delivers all-day activity tracking, real-time fitness stats and Caller ID right on the wrist for people who want to step up their everyday activities to improve their overall health.
- Fitbit Charge HR – an advanced tracker that delivers continuous, automatic wrist-based heart rate, Caller ID and all-day activity tracking for active users: regular exercisers looking to push their fitness further.
- Fitbit Surge – a sleek Fitness Super Watch that offers the best of GPS, continuous wrist-based heart rate, all-day fitness tracking, and smartwatch functionality in one device, for people dedicated to reaching their peak performance.
More detailed descriptions extracted from the press release below.
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Tags:Fitbit, Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Charge HR, Fitbit Surge, fitness, health, prices, Singapore, trackers, wearables
Posted in Accessories, Android, Announce, Fitbit, fitness watches, Gadgets, gadgets, iOS, newArrivals, Prices, Specifications, Sports, Watches, Windows Phone 8 | No Comments »
Friday, October 24th, 2014
SingTel will offer the much-anticipated iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi + Cellular and iPad mini 3 with Wi-Fi + Cellular from today, 24 October 2014.
The new iPads will be offered with a range of new 4G Mobile Broadband data plans that feature SingTel’s premium WiFi service.
(more…)
Tags:Apple, availability, iPad, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini, iPad mini 3, price plans, Singapore, SingTel, tablets
Posted in Announce, Apple, Availability, Gadgets, gadgets, iOS, iPad, newArrivals, Prices, SingTel, Specifications, Tablets, tablets, Tickers | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 21st, 2014
The GALAXY S3 Neo smartphones will be used in a UN project for the three worst-hit African countries. The donated smartphones are worth about US$1 million.
Update (23 October, 2014):
LG Electronics is also contributing 2,000 smartphones to the United Nations’ response to the deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.
“We hope that our contribution will make a difference as the UN and NGOs fight on the front lines to improve healthcare, food security and sanitation in areas affected by the Ebola epidemic. This endeavor is representative of LG’s ongoing mission to use its technology to contribute toward resolving global issues,” said Choong-hak Lee, senior vice president and head of LG’s corporate social responsibility efforts.
The donated smartphones from LG will be provided to healthcare and other key personnel dispatched by the UN in the affected areas where they are urgently needed.
The smartphones will allow for fast and seamless communication between the teams on the ground, focusing on medical data gathering, monitoring and planning.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will facilitate the distribution of the mobile devices.
According to OCHA, almost one billion dollars will be needed to address the immediate humanitarian needs caused by the Ebola virus.
Almost 5,000 people have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak started in West Africa in March with more than 2,400 individuals having died across the region.
Support from LG and other international partners are critical to the UN’s efforts to stabilize the outbreak.
All donated smartphones will be destroyed once the virus outbreak has subsided.
The smartphones, to be donated through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA), will be used in the Humanitarian Connectivity Project, the UN’s IT project that utilises mobile devices to provide humanitarian support in disaster areas.
The donated GALAXY S3 Neo smartphones will be used in 60 Ebola medical clinics in the three worst-hit African countries, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
By installing the UN’s Smart Health Pro mobile application, medical staff can utilise the smartphones to treat patients and collect medical data, while quarantined patients can contact their families using the devices.
(more…)
Tags:Congo, CSR, Ebola, Galaxy, Ghana, Guinea, LG, Liberia, S3 Neo, Samsung, Sierra Leone, smartphones, South Africa, UN
Posted in Android, Announce, Gadgets, gadgets, LG, Phones, Samsung, smartphones, Tickers | No Comments »
Saturday, October 18th, 2014
Sydney based studio, Garage Entertainment, Australia’s producer/distributor of Action Sports & Adventure film and television content has collaborated with Samsung SportsFlow to launch a new Actions Sports & Adventure Channel called Fearless.
Home page of the Fearless Channel on Samsung SportsFlow. Image source: Samsung SportsFlow.
The Fearless channel is now available on the SportsFlow app, giving on-demand access for SportsFlow users (currently over half a million) to over 1,000 best in class action sports films, including films from media houses such as Red Bull, Crusty Demons, Taylor Steele and Rip Curl.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Australian studio Garage Entertainment. As a company that understands actions sports and how to effectively display the sport, they are a critical partner supporting us to bring awesome content to SportsFlow users,” said Maurizio Barbieri, Head of Sports, Media Solution Centre, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Samsung Electronics.
Titles include “The Art OF Flight”, “Where The Trail Ends” and “Missing” – which were shown on the big screen at the Fearless Film Festival in Sentosa, in celebration of the launch of the channel.
Additionally, there will also be premium content available for purchase through the Fearless channel.
Content on the Fearless channel will be available to all SportsFlow users across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The Fearless channel marks both the first time sports film content is available on the SportsFlow app as well as the first collaboration of Samsung SportsFlow with any film studio/distributor worldwide.
Fearless Film Festival in Sentosa (15-17 October, 2014) – action movies under the stars. Photo source: Fast Track
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Tags:Fearless, Garage Entertainment, Gear, movies, Samsung, Sentosa, SportsFlow, video, VR
Posted in Android, Entertainment, events, Exhibition, Lifestyle, Samsung, Sports | No Comments »
