Timeless Love – a local movie supported by RIM

February 2nd, 2012

Local production “那个夏天” will premiere in Singapore on March 8, 2012 (Gala on March 6). The Chinese movie was partly sponsored by Research In Motion – BlackBerry smartphones and Playbook tablets were used in the movie.

BlackBerry users include Aloysius Pang, Kimberly Chia and Dasmond Koh (below).

BlackBerry users include Aloysius Pang, Kimberly Chia and Dasmond Koh (below). Photo provided by Dasmond Koh.

“Timeless Love” is produced by Noon Talk Media and was shot mostly in Bintan. This youth romance and motivational movie is co-directed by Mediacorp Artiste Dasmond Koh (许振荣) and veteran director Lim Koong Hwee (林坤辉).

Directors Dasmond Koh (许振荣) and Christopher Lim (林坤辉)

Directors Dasmond Koh (许振荣) and Christopher Lim (林坤辉)

The cast includes Cynthia Ruby Wang (王心如), Joshua Ang (洪赐健), Aloysius Pang (冯伟衷), Kimberly Chia (谢静仪), Xu Bin (徐彬), Josephine Chan (陈映珍), Eugene Lim (林建辰) and Michelle Tay(郑荔分).

Morgan (Aloysius) visits a fictitious island where his grandmother (Wang) had her first love in her youth that didn’t quite work out.

He is accompanied by his friend Sky (Xu Bin) and trailed by paparazzi Uri (Eugene) who meets and falls in love with Xiao Wei (Kimberly) – a sweet and jovial girl who is the sister of the owner of the island, Eden (Joshua).

Morgan goes in search of his grandmother’s story while Uri and Xiao Wei falls for each other.

But history threatens to repeat itself as Uri discovers that his is stricken with terminal illness.

The relationship is put to the test as Xiao Wei discovers his secret identity.

The movie revolves around the six youngsters, with a theme of friendship and love.

Timeless love, "那个夏天"

Timeless love, "那个夏天"

Why “Timeless”?

奶奶在年轻时,和他的初恋情人在一个岛上邂逅,续而相恋的经历,让她一生无法忘怀。

当年,Eden(现今岛上的年轻岛主)的爷爷,把一只表送给了和他热恋中,向海洋的奶奶。

不久后,Eden的爷爷发现自己患上了绝症。

因为不想成为心爱的人的负担,他毅然和向海洋的奶奶分手。

备受打击的奶奶,把表抛进了大海后,离开了小岛。

Eden的爷爷也因此在岛上立了个规矩,凡是到岛上来的人都要交出手表。

因为这个岛是不应该有时间的!

Dasmond Koh, Kinberly Chia and Aloysius Pang will be sharing how they use their BlackBerry devices in their daily lives and during the movie making.

Nikon launches 14 new COOLPIX compact cameras worldwide

February 1st, 2012

The 14 COOLPIX cameras comprises 4 from the L (Lifestyle) series, 2 from the P (Performance) series, and 8 from the S (Style) series. Availability and prices will be announced at a later date.

(Update: Prices have been inserted as they became available).

Click on the pictures to get to Nikon’s detailed listing of features, technical specifications and colours available for each model.

COOLPIX L810, L310, L26 and L25 from the Nikon COOLPIX L (Lifestyle) series.

COOLPIX L810, L310, L26 (S$159) and L25 (S$129) from the Nikon COOLPIX L (Lifestyle) series.

4 new L-series COOLPIX cameras

The four new L-series cameras allow users to capture photos with the press of a button.

The compact L810 is small but powerful with its 26x high-power optical zoom lens. The L310 (S$339) is packed with a powerful 21x optical zoom.

The entry-level L26 (S$159) and L25 (S$129) offer a 5x optical zoom and automatic shooting functions that make taking dazzling pictures easy.

 

COOLPIX P310 and P510 from the P (Performance) series offer superior performance and image quality.

COOLPIX P310 and P510 from the P (Performance) series offer superior performance and image quality.

2 new P-series COOLPIX cameras

The COOLPIX P310 and COOLPIX P510 are multi-function, high-performance compact digital cameras with full-scale photographic capabilities

Features Nikon’s built-in lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function and an effective 16.1-million pixel count.

S9300, S9200, S4300, S3300 from the Nikon COOLPIX S (Style) series. The S4200 and S3200 are not available in Singapore.

S9300, S9200, S4300 (S$279), S3300 (S$219) from the Nikon COOLPIX S (Style) series. The S4200 and S3200 are not available in Singapore.

6 new S-series COOLPIX cameras

COOLPIX S9200 (S$509) and S9300 (S$549) has built-in GPS function, a high-power 18x optical zoom NIKKOR lenses that utilises thin optics, backside illumination CMOS image sensor, and a lens-shift VR system.

Nikon COOLPIX S6300 and S30

Nikon COOLPIX S6300 (S$349) and S30

The COOLPIX S4300 (S$279) and S3300 (S$219) are slimmer than their predecessors despite improved zoom function and built-in VR. The S4200and S3200 will not be sold in Singapore.

The COOLPIX S6300 (S$349) offers a balance between still image and movie recording functions.

It is compact despite a built-in 10x optical zoom NIKKOR lens; has a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function; and full-HD compatible movie function,

The COOLPIX S30 is a compact camera for the family. The camera is dust resistant; waterproof to a depth of three-metres; shock resistant, able to withstand falls from heights of up to 80 cm; can apply frames to still images; and has a slide show function that incorporates background music and animation.

Telecom industry leaders join forces to form Global Meeting Alliance

February 1st, 2012

Tata Communications and nine other telecom leaders (including Telstra and Sprint) pledge their commitment today to interconnect their business video communities – driving global cross-network collaboration.

Tata Communications and nine other telecom leaders form Global Meeting Alliance

Tata Communications and nine other telecom leaders form Global Meeting Alliance

The Global Meeting Alliance is an open ecosystem that allows any service provider to connect to enterprises and institutions on all major continents, irrespective of carrier, following a similar business model to the airline alliance networks.

Peter Quinlan, Vice President, Integrated Business Video Services, Tata Communications, highlighted his company’s commitment towards “… facilitating an open, global ecosystem that moves business video from an intracompany experience to a collaboration tool with worldwide reach.”The community aims to solve shared-industry challenges to make business video available globally, simple to connect, and affordable for all.

The launch represents the largest functioning global collaboration between service providers in business video services.

Launch members include Safaricom in Africa, Telstra in Australia, Etisalat, Qtel and Mobily in the Middle East, Neotel in South Africa and Sprint, Glowpoint and TELUS in North America.

Leveraging Tata Communications’ large number of intercarrier agreements, customers of the Global Meeting Alliance members now have access to an international Telepresence network of 3rd party video endpoints, as well as the largest global public Telepresence room network consisting of 40 public Telepresence suites in 20 countries.

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CA Technologies announces CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms

February 1st, 2012

The new solution enables enterprises and managed service providers to offer automated self-service delivery of Infrastructure as a Service.

CA Technologies Announces CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms

CA Technologies Announces CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms

CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms drives Business Service Innovation by enabling IT to provide rapid, predictable and secure provisioning and delivery of cloud infrastructure and critical IT and business services.

“We continue to work with VCE to help customers improve business agility, reduce risk and lower the costs of operating private clouds,” said Anna Gong, Vice President, Coud, Virtualization & Service Automation, Asia Pacific, CA Technologies. “CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms can help enterprises and MSPs rapidly deliver services in a private cloud environment, maximizing their investment in VCE Vblock Platforms and driving Business Service Innovation to deliver speed, performance and improved cost efficiencies.”This is the company’s fifth solution certified for use with VCE Vblock Infrastructure Platforms, all of which are based on CA Technologies Unified Automation solutions.

Enterprises and managed service providers (MSPs) use cloud management software to enable their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offerings.

Many organizations are evaluating and testing converged private cloud architectures, such as Vblock Platforms, that allow IT resources to be dynamically pooled and shared across multiple physical and virtual computing environments.

CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms promises to offer standardization, a rapid provisioning process and performance predictability.

CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms leverages CA Process Automation and CA Service Catalog to provide customers with a single, unified view and point of control across virtual and private cloud resources.

CA Technologies Vblock platformsOut-of-the-box standardized processes allow IT organizations to deliver Vblock Infrastructure Platforms as a service.

CA Service Catalog, accessed through a secure, online portal, empowers users to quickly select and provision the resources they need.

“The latest CA Technologies integration with Vblock platforms enables IT to transform its converged infrastructure into a true platform for delivering private cloud services,” said John Ross, CTO, GreenPages. “By combining our Integration and Managed Services with CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms, customers can enable private cloud capabilities in days versus months, and realize a rapid return on their VCE investment.”CA Process Automation helps ensure that pooled resources are provisioned quickly, with minimal effort.

Service usage is metered and associated to departments, cost centers, or users for billing or chargeback.

Every organization is different when it comes to process.

CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms is built on top of an extensible platform that allows IT to easily customize the solution to meet its needs and provide the flexibility to respond dynamically to changing business requirements.

CA Private Cloud Accelerator for Vblock Platforms is available today from CA Technologies and its partners, including GreenPages Technology Solutions, a national IT consulting and integration company.

Apple updates Final Cut Pro X

January 31st, 2012

Apple today released Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3, a significant update to its professional video editing application. The free update is available from the Mac App Store.

Apple updates Final Cut Pro X to v10.0.3

Apple updates Final Cut Pro X to v10.0.3

Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 is available from the Mac App Store for SGD$299.99 (incl. GST) to new users, or as a free update for existing Final Cut Pro X customers.

The update introduces the following main features:

  • Multicam editing that automatically syncs up to 64 angles of video and photos.
  • Advanced chroma keying for handling complex adjustments right in the app.
  • Enhanced XML for a richer interchange with third party apps and plug-ins that support the fast growing Final Cut Pro X ecosystem.
  • Beta of broadcast monitoring that supports Thunderbolt devices as well as PCIe cards.

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RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

January 31st, 2012

Three months after Research In Motion (RIM) and Microsoft released the open beta version in more than 30 countries, the general availability of “BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365” has been launched in over 50 countries today.

RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

RIM launches BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365

BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365 is a new service for business and government organizations that extends Microsoft Exchange Online to BlackBerry smartphones and allows customers to manage their BlackBerry deployments in the cloud.

“This new cloud-based option allows customers to cost-effectively support mobility across their organizations and easily manage and secure their BlackBerry deployments,” said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at RIM.The service is available at no additional charge to current enterprise subscribers of the Office 365 suite or standalone Exchange Online and works with BlackBerry smartphones on business or consumer data plans.

BlackBerry Business Cloud Services offers advanced administration and flexible smartphone self-service features to support an organization’s BlackBerry deployment in the cloud.

Managed service providers, systems integrators, carriers, resellers and other partners can also use the cloud service to manage BlackBerry deployments on behalf of their customers.

Key features remains the same as the open beta version and include the following:

  • Wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Online email, calendar and organizer data from a BlackBerry smartphone
  • BlackBerry Balance technology, which presents a unified view of work and personal content on a BlackBerry smartphone while keeping the content separate and secure
  • An intuitive web-based console for IT administrators to provision, manage and secure BlackBerry smartphones from anywhere
  • Online access to employee self-service smartphone security functions, allowing users to easily reset a device password or remotely lock or wipe a device in the event of loss or theft

Customers can go to www.blackberry.com/cloudservices to get started.

New Audio Headphones: Bose OE2 and OE2i

January 30th, 2012

Atlas Sound & Vision introduced Bose’s new OE2 (S$219) and OE2i (S$269) audio headphones in Singapore today.

Bose OE2 (S$219) and OE2i (S$269) available in Singapore.

Bose OE2 (S$219) and OE2i (S$269) available in Singapore.

The OE2 and OE2i headphones deliver better audio performance than their predecessors, and feature an updated look and design.

Bose OE2 (S$219) and OE2i (S$269) audio headphones available in Singapore todayMusic is reproduced with improved depth and clarity, and the new contoured styling creates a closer, more comfortable fit.

The Bose OE2 and OE2i audio headphones (which are not noise canceling) can be used with nearly any audio source.

They replace the current Bose on-ear headphones, and are now available in a choice of black or white.

Bose on-ear audio headphones OE2 and OE2i.The OE2i headphones come with an inline remote and microphone that lets owners interact with select Apple products, including the latest iPhone, iPod, iPad, MacBook, and MacBook Pro models.

Users can easily control volume, tracks, and voice applications – and switch between music and calls on an iPhone.

The OE2 headphones come with a standard audio cable.

Apart from the above differences, the OE2i and OE2 headphones are identical.

The OE2 and OE2i headphones feature an enhanced proprietary TriPort acoustic headphone structure.

With redesigned and newly tuned earcup ports, audio reproduction is more balanced and natural.

There is no manufactured “boost” across the frequency range; low notes are full and rich, and mid-high frequencies are smooth and clear.

Bose OE2 and OE2i audio headphones.The OE2 and OE2i headphones also feature a new design that’s smaller and lighter, with a slimmer profile.

The headphone’s ear cushions, made from memory foam, conform to the user and combine with a redesigned headband for a better, more comfortable fit.

Owners can listen for hours — commuting, working or playing — without the irritating pressure points caused by some conventional headphones.

The OE2 and OE2i headphones fold flat for easy storage and protection.  With a simple swivel of the earcups, they collapse neatly for carrying in their included case.

Apple Mac Apps for the holiday season

January 30th, 2012

Here’s a selection of Apps from the Mac App Store to check out for your Mac as we transit from Lunar New Year to Valentine’s Day.

Angry Birds Seasons in Apple Mac App Store (SGD$4.99, Rovio)

Angry Birds Seasons in Apple Mac App Store (SGD$4.99, Rovio)

Angry Birds Seasons (S$4.99, Rovio)
With the dragon year, the new update from Rovio brings an all new mystical dragon, as well as tons of unique levels, and exploding fireworks that light up the night sky.

Tropico 3: Gold Edition from the Apple Mac App Store (SGD$34.99, Feral Interactive)

Tropico 3: Gold Edition from the Apple Mac App Store (SGD$34.99, Feral Interactive)

Tropico 3: Gold Edition (S$34.99, Feral Interactive)
Ever wonder what it’s like to own your own island? Tropico 3 has you covered, dropping you into a tropical paradiso where you call the shots. Rule with an iron fist or velvet glove as you expand your economy, and turn your land into a tourist mecca or military empire!

Cake Mania Main Street from Apple Mac App Store (SGD$4.99, Digital Chocolate)

Cake Mania Main Street from Apple Mac App Store (SGD$4.99, Digital Chocolate)

Cake Mania Main Street (S$4.99, Digital Chocolate)
Try your hand at city management in this all-new take on the Cake Mania franchise. Own multiple storefronts, upgrade your inventory, and grow your village into a shoppers paradise.

Fantastical from the Apple Mac App Store (SGD$19.99, Flexibits)

Fantastical from the Apple Mac App Store (SGD$19.99, Flexibits)

Fantastical (S$19.99, Flexibits)
Our favorite calendar companion for Mac is now additionally fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, & German languages with its latest update.  Type out the details of your appointment or event in normal speak and this app will schedule it for you right away.

PDFpenPro from Apple Mac App Store (SGD$99.99, Smile Software)

PDFpenPro from Apple Mac App Store (SGD$99.99, Smile Software)

PDFpenPro (S$99.99, Smile Software)
This powerful PDF editor comes with a wealth of functions including custom form creation and makes for a great alternative to the more expensive Adobe Acrobat Pro.  It’s newest update enhances the app with iCloud to allow for document sharing with its new PDFpen app for iPad.

Valentine’s Day gift idea: Artisan&Artist camera bags

January 29th, 2012

Looking for a camera bag for a photographer friend? Check out Artisan&Artist at Ngee Ann City in Singapore.

WCAM-3000N camera bag (S$250) and ACAM-104 camera strap (S$75) from Artisan&Artist.

WCAM-3000N camera bag (S$250) and ACAM-104 camera strap (S$75) from Artisan&Artist.

Artisan&Artist is a Japanese lifestyle brand established in 1991, offering stylish camera bags for professional photographers.

COV-7000 camera bag (S$540) from Artisan&Artist.

COV-7000 camera bag (S$540) from Artisan&Artist.

The handmade bags are produced in either Italian leather or lightweight Canvas N.10.

The bags contain pocket compartments for the camera and accessories, but has a “discreet” design that looks different from typical camera bags.

A brochure of their products can be found below.

Check out these camera bags and accessories from Artisan&Artist at the Schmidt Marketing Flagship Store (S) Pte Ltd (391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City Tower A, #05-33)

They are also available from the following retailers:

  • Aik Seng Photo (304 Orchard Road,#01-29, Lucky Plaza)
  • K 13 Marketing (111, North Bridge Road, #02-16, Peninsula Plaza)
  • Max Photo (176, Orchard Road, Centrepoint, #03-10)
  • Allan Photo (1 Rochor Canal Road #01-38, Sim Lim Square)
  • Cathay Photo (111 North Bridge Road, #01-05/ #01-07 to 08/ #01-11 to 14 Peninsula Plaza)
  • De Camera ( 511 Guillemard Road, #01-46, Grandlink Square)
  • Gope Foto (19 Tanglin Road, Tanglin Shopping Centre, #03-10/20/21)
  • Orient Photo (1 Rochor Canal Road, #06-53/31, Sim Lim Square)

 

Artisan&Artist Brochure below:

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PayPal kicks off Valentine’s Day season

January 28th, 2012

The Lunar New Year is barely over and the Valentine’s Day season is rolling in already.

Valentine's Day promotions from PayPal

Valentine's Day promotions from PayPal

PayPal is offering up to 80% off in gift ideas for Him and for Her.

Here’s the link to their Valentine’s Day promotions.