Inaugural 2-day RSA Conference Asia Pacific 2013 in Singapore

June 5th, 2013

The RSA Conference Asia Pacific 2013 is being held in Singapore from 5-6 June in Marina Bay Sands. It is a joint collaboration between RSA Conferences, the Safety and Security Industry Programme Office (SSIPO) and the Singapore Tourism Board.

RSA Conference Asia Pacific 2013 in Singapore from 5-6 June 2013.

RSA Conference Asia Pacific 2013 in Singapore from 5-6 June 2013.

The RSA Conference Asia Pacific 2013 aims to grow Singapore’s cybersecurity thought-leadership sphere in the region by creating value-added platforms to discuss the challenges and solutions in today’s increasingly complex security environment.

SSIPO is a strategic alliance between the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to support private companies in undertaking R&D in Singapore and build new solutions to detect threats and protect data.

RSA is the security division of EMC and offers intelligence-driven security solutions.

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Visit to Singapore Post Mail Processing Centre at Eunos

June 4th, 2013

What happens to the snail mail that you pop into the post box? I had a tour of the Mail Processing Centre at the Singapore Post Centre to find out.

The multi-storied Mail Processing Centre in the Singapore Post Centre in Eunos.

The multi-storied Mail Processing Centre in the Singapore Post Centre in Eunos. Click to view enlarged graphic.

All letters and parcels in Singapore are sorted at the single Mail Processing Centre at Eunos.

Singapore Post Centre in Eunos

Singapore Post Centre in Eunos

In the multi-storied building, an army of housewives and part-time workers operate sophisticated machines that automate the sorting of mail into bite-sized portions for the postmen to deliver.

Each postman is responsible for 25 blocks in his beat.

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Dell, Intel & Revolution Analytics launch Big Data Innovation Center in Singapore

June 3rd, 2013

The Big Data Innovation Center is equipped with advanced analytic infrastructure and software – to speed solutions development for Big Data market in Asia.

The changing marketplace is encouraging enterprises to harness the promise of Big Data and associated tools such as predictive analytics.

The changing marketplace is encouraging enterprises to harness the promise of Big Data and associated tools such as predictive analytics. Click to view enlarged view of the details.

The new Big Data Innovation Center is a collaborative effort by Dell, Intel and Revolution Analytics and is located in the Dell Solutions Center in Singapore.

“The global market for big data analytics is growing at a rapid pace, and businesses in Singapore are uniquely suited to capitalize on this trend,” said Laurence Liew, Managing Director of Revolution Analytics Asia-Pacific.

The center brings together expertise across all three organisations to provide extensive training programs, proof-of-concept capabilities and solution development support on big data and predictive analytic innovations for Asia market.

In a world where analytics, big data and cloud are converging, the need to manage, monitor and predict business outcomes and market readiness is also changing.

The prevalence of tablets, smart phones and social media also increase the urgency to mine intelligence from the tons of raw data

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Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet debuts in Singapore

June 3rd, 2013

The Surface Pro is now available – with 64GB ($1,198) or 128GB ($1,328) – at Challenger, Harvey Norman and Newstead stores in Singapore, as well as the PC Show 2013. Launch promotions within.

Microsoft Surface Pro tablet joins the Surface RT in Singapore.

Microsoft Surface Pro tablet joins the Surface RT in Singapore.

Surface Pro offers both the capabilities of a PC and the portability of a tablet.

With Surface Pro, users can do whatever can be done on a PC, such as running desktop applications, and enjoy the protection of safety and security software.

Microsoft Surface Pro tablet with in-built kick-stand.

Microsoft Surface Pro tablet with in-built kick-stand.

Like the Surface RT tablet, Surface Pro also comes with the integrated Kickstand and Touch and Type Cover keyboards.

A pen provides note-taking capabilities and precise navigation.

The Surface Pro is business-ready with a suite of enterprise-ready connectivity, security and manageability features:

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IT Exhibitions: PC Show 2013 at Singapore Expo

June 2nd, 2013

The 23rd edition of Singapore’s longest running information technology (IT) and consumer electronics show returns for four days from June 6-9 at the Singapore Expo, Halls 5 and 6.

It is the second of four major IT shows in Singapore every year. The PC Show 2013 will open daily from 12pm to 9pm (admission FREE).

PC Show 2013 at Singapore Expo from 6-9 June 2013, 12-9pm, admission Free.

More than 600 exhibitors will be showcasing IT and consumer electronic products by major brands.

Some of the brands appearing at PC Show 2013 include Acer, Apple by (by Nubox and EpiCentre), ASUS, Aztech, Canon, Case Logic, Creative by C2O Corporation, Dell, D-Link, Epson, Fujifilm, HP, Lenovo, M1, Nikon, Samsung, SingTel, StarHub, Toshiba, and Western Digital.

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Infographic: 10 IT innovations that changed our lives

June 1st, 2013

Technology advancements and developments move so fast these days it’s so easy to take them for granted. For those old enough, can you remember the world before the Internet came about?

Developed by SolarWinds Head Geek, Lawrence Garvin, this infographic explores tech developments - from wireless networking and virtualisation to basic screenshot tools and everything in between - which have significantly impacted our lives, but that we perhaps never thought we actually needed. Click to view full enlarged version.

Developed by SolarWinds Head Geek, Lawrence Garvin, this infographic explores tech developments – from wireless networking and virtualisation to basic screenshot tools and everything in between – which have significantly impacted our lives, but that we perhaps never thought we actually needed. Click to view full enlarged version.

And not too long ago, before the proliferation of mobile devices, wasn’t it so troublesome to make a call or check something out while on the road?

These innovations have definitely made it much easier for us to do many things that used to be so much more tedious and time-consuming to accomplish.

But here’s some food for thought – has our lives actually become easier?

Do you sometimes feel that life in the past was somewhat more blissful?

Perhaps it is our human propensity to fully utilise our time that – instead of sitting back complacently to enjoy the extra time gained from IT innovations – we try to use the additional time gained to do even more.

And the bosses certainly expect that.

On top of that, thanks to greater global and mobile connectivity, your boss can contact you no matter where you are.

And if he/she is in the opposite time zone, start getting used to taking calls in the middle of the night.

The result is that our lives have become more hectic.

Perhaps, life back then was really more blissful.

Apart from the list above that was compiled by Lawrence Garvin, the rest of this post reflect my own thoughts about the impact of technology on our lives.

The line of thought may sound negative, but I still love the beauty of technology, especially its ability to help the less fortunate.

McAfee says Singaporeans value their digital assets at S$57,500

May 30th, 2013

McAfee’s Global Digital Assets survey reveals that the price an average Internet user in Singapore places on his/her digital assets could get one a private university degree in Singapore.

Yet, consumers still do not adequately protect these assets across all their digital devices.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of Singaporean households now own more than five digital devices.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of Singaporean households now own more than five digital devices. Click to view enlarged and complete infographic.

The average Singaporean now own digital items (such as photos, videos and documents) with a total financial value of S$57,500.

McAfee Digital Assets 2013 study

The survey was conducted between 15 March and 9 April 2013 in US, Canada, Spain, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, India, Brazil & Mexico. There were 6,078 respondents.

This is roughly equivalent to one and a half year’s salary for the average worker in Singapore, who earns S$37,705 a year, according to the 2012 report of Department of Statistics Singapore.

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Sony Android Xperia Tablet Z to debut in Singapore on 6 June

May 29th, 2013

The 10.1-inch Android tablet is water and dust resistant and is the world’s slimmest 10” tablet. Both the LTE and Wi-Fi versions will be available in Singapore on 6 June, in black or white. Prices TBA.

Update (31 May, 2013):

Here are the prices for the Xperia Tablet Z in Singapore.

Model Suggested Retail Price
16GB Wi-Fi S$688
16GB Wi-Fi S$788
16GB LTE S$988
Sony Xperia Tablet Z will be available in Singapore on 6 June - in black or white.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z will be available in Singapore on 6 June – in black or white.

First announced in Japan in January this year and then during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona back in February, the Xperia Tablet Z will debut in Singapore next Thursday.

It is the first tablet to run on Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro asynchronous quad core processor.

Sony’s S-Force Front Surround 3D, promises good audio performance alongside Sony’s Clear Audio+ mode and the use of two in-built speakers with four ‘speaker halls’ on the left and right corners delivers “amazing” sound no matter how it is held.

Xperia Tablet Z also includes Battery STAMINA mode, Sony’s battery management technology for improving standby time.

The WiFi variant also offers up to 64GB of storage with an optional mircoSD card.

For easy connectivity, the NFC-enabled Xperia Tablet Z includes Sony’s One-Touch functions that let users transfer content seamlessly from HD tablet to TV, tablet to speaker or phone to tablet just by touching them together.

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McAfee & Intel launch LiveSafe for greater consumer security

May 29th, 2013

Offering a new model for Ultrabook users, McAfee launches the industry’s first unlimited cross-device security service with facial and voice recognition for consumer devices.

Available from 9 June 2013.

Check out the latest cross-device security service from McAfee and Intel.

Check out the latest cross-device security service from McAfee and Intel.

McAfee LiveSafe service uses cutting-edge facial and voice recognition technology to safeguard users’ data, identity and all their devices.

A recent global survey conducted by McAfee revealed that more than 40 per cent of households own five or more Internet-enabled devices, which contributes significantly to a user’s risk of exposure to online threats.

McAfee LiveSafe service offers a comprehensive approach to security, while providing consumers with a simple Web-based dashboard to centrally manage security on all of their PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.

To increase the level of consumer security, McAfee LiveSafe service also includes a cloud-based “safety deposit box”, called “McAfee Personal Locker”.

McAfee LiveSafe

McAfee LiveSafe

The McAfee Personal Locker uses facial and voice recognition to authenticate a user’s identity so that they can securely store sensitive, personal information such as financial records, drivers licenses and passports.

It also allows users to easily and securely manage their passwords and automatically log into all their online accounts from any of their devices.

The survey also revealed that globally more than 50 per cent of consumers spend at least 15 hours a week, or two hours a day, using their devices for personal reasons.

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HP offers education content via print apps to its printer customers

May 28th, 2013

HP is collaborating with Singapore Asia Publishers (SAP) and onSponge to introduce new free print apps that allow direct access from web-connected HP printers to print out assessment and test content.

Sang Hoon Park describing how the free print apps will deliver quality educational content directly to web-connected HP printers. He is the Printing Category Director, Printing & Personal Systems Group, Singapore.

Sang Hoon Park describing how the free print apps will deliver quality educational content directly to web-connected HP printers. He is the Printing Category Director, Printing & Personal Systems Group, Singapore.

With the overwhelming choice of supplementary education options on the market, and the overwhelming volume of school-work already on young learners’ plates, parents are often unsure about how to help.

This new approach to supplementary learning – daily or weekly “bite-sized” education materials that are in-line with Singapore’s Primary School curriculum – reinforces learning for young students by focusing on quality and consistency instead of quantity.

Complement In-Class Learning

SAP is a leading publishing group specializing in academic materials such as supplementary workbooks, guidebooks, textbooks, reference books, dictionaries and other educational materials.

The SAP education print app offers content which has been handpicked from SAP’s own range of primary school assessment books, delivered on a daily and weekly basis.

Focusing on understanding key concepts through commonly tested questions in examinations, students and parents have direct access to bite-sized practice materials, all aligned to the latest curriculum taught in Singapore’s classrooms, that focus on understanding key concepts through commonly tested questions in examinations.

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