Accessory Review: Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W

July 16th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): For charging MacBooks and laptops that need greater power, get the BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C cable 100W will allow you to charge any laptop currently in the market, and maximise the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger (sold separately).

The Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C cable 100W will allow you to charge any laptop currently in the market, and maximise the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger (sold separately) .

For laptops with high charging ratings eg. the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a 96W charger, you’ll need a high power rated charging cable like this BoostCharge 100W USB-C to USB-C charging cable from Belkin.

It also makes the most of the maximum 96W USB-C charging port on the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger.

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NetApp Cloud Solutions for TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team

July 15th, 2022

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will utilise real-time data collaboration powered by NetApp hybrid cloud solutions to achieve superior performance.

NetApp will power Porsche motorsport in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with data-driven cloud solutions.

NetApp will power Porsche motorsport in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with data-driven cloud solutions.

NetApp, a global cloud-led, data-centric software company, and TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, has announced a multi-year partnership which will see NetApp providing the sportscar maker with hybrid cloud solutions.

“Formula E is a technology showcase and R&D backbone for Porsche and preserves our strong motorsports heritage on the road and on the track. Data is the defining element here, but it is not easy to harness when the racing team is always on the road. The solution created by NetApp is unique in the market in how it can move huge amounts of data at high speed while delivering an intuitive experience across edge, core and cloud so we can design better, faster cars for our racecar drivers and car enthusiasts everywhere,” said Friedemann Kurz, Head of Motorsport IT, Porsche.

Porsche AG, a global automotive brand owned by Volkswagen Group, has begun shifting production towards electric or e-fuel powered vehicles in 2015.

By the year 2030, Porsche AG aims for 80% of all vehicles sold to be electric.

Tapping into NetApp’s real-time data services, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is working on its vision of sustainable mobility while enabling the real-time adjustments that deliver superior race performance – and help drive the next generation of Porsche electric vehicles.

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Review: Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box for Immersive Surround Lighting

July 13th, 2022

Having jazzed up my home entertainment space with smart accented lighting by two Philips Hue Play light bars, I decided to up the ante to sync the lighting effects with the movies that I was watching on my TV, as well as my music and gaming – to achieve a more immersive experience.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is a fantastic way to liven up your entertainment space for movies, gaming and music. Before (bottom) and After (top). Note how the corresponding coloured light leaps off the TV onto the surroundings.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is a fantastic way to liven up your entertainment space for movies, gaming and music. Before (bottom) and After (top). Note how the corresponding coloured light leaps off the TV onto the surroundings.

We are all familiar with surround sound, where the sound is expanded beyond a mono or stereo speakers to encapsulate the listener for a more immersive audio experience.

Signify is offering surround lighting with its Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box (RRP: S$419) – extending the visual experience from the confines of the television (or computer monitor) to beyond the display itself to the surroundings.

What you’ll need to set up a synchronised surround lighting from scratch (sold separately): Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, Philips Hue Play light bars, Philips Hue Bridge. You’ll also need the free Philips Hue app and Philips Hue Sync apps to set up and program the lights and synchronisation.

What you’ll need to set up a synchronised surround lighting from scratch (sold separately): Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, Philips Hue Play light bars, Philips Hue Bridge. You’ll also need the free Philips Hue app and Philips Hue Sync apps to set up and program the lights and synchronisation.

You can set this up by emplacing Philips Hue smart lights around the TV and then syncing the colours and intensities of these lights to whatever is displayed on the TV screen.

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Review: Philips Hue Play Light Bars for Instant Smart Lighting

July 12th, 2022

Want to jazz up your home or entertainment space with smart accented lighting that enhances the ambience and atmosphere? The Philips Hue Play light bars transform your living space instantly and easily provide immersive lighting to better enjoy your movies, games and music.

The Philips Hue Play light bars are an easy way to set up smart accented lighting to enhance the ambience of your entertainment space. Before (bottom) and After (top).

The Philips Hue Play light bars are an easy way to set up smart accented lighting to enhance the ambience of your entertainment space. Before (bottom) and After (top).

I’d installed a 65-inch Android TV from Prism+ in my living room a few months back and had been enjoying the big screen experience at home.

The basic box set for the Philips Hue Play light bar comes in a pack of two at an RRP of S$209. Currently selling online at S$146.

The basic box set for the Philips Hue Play light bar comes in a pack of two at an RRP of S$209. Currently selling online at S$146.

But that living space was a tad boring with the TV sitting on a plain cabinet against a blank wall – even though the yellow wall had been painted with an arty sponge effect.

To add some coloured ambient lighting, I got a pair of Philips Hue Play light bars and stood them on either side of the TV, atop the TV cabinet.

The light bars were really easy to set up and took all of five minutes: simply plug each light into the smart plug that came with the Hue Play light bar double pack, stick that plug into the power socket and switch on.

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Accessory Review: Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C Cables

July 11th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): Need rugged and durable USB-C cables with USB-A or USB-C connectors for your Android devices or PCs? Check out these two cables from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-A Cable (S$34.90) and USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90) are available at Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-A Cable (S$34.90) and USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90) are available at Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

When I got the BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger from Belkin, I also got two USB-C cables along with it, for charging my Android smartphones, tablets, PCs and other gadgets like smartwatches and earbuds.

  1. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90)
  2. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-A to USB-C Cable (S$34.90)

These cables are more durable and flexible compared to generic cables – they are supposedly up to 30x more durable and are more resistant to tangling, fraying and kinks.

They have been tested to survive more than 30 thousand bends.

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Accessory: Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex Lightning to USB Cables

July 10th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): Need charging USB cables with Lightning connectors for your Apple devices? Check out these two cables from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB to Lightning cables are available for S$39.90 each at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB to Lightning cables are available for S$39.90 each at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

Over the weekend, I got these two cables for my nephew who is an Apple fan.

  1. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-A Cable with Lightning Connector
  2. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C Cable with Lightning Connector

Why use these cables instead of those generic cables that came with the devices?

Because of greater durability and flexibility.

Belkin boasts that the BoostCharge Pro Flex USB cables are up to 30x more durable than ordinary cables, so that they are more resistant to tangling, fraying and kinks.

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TUCU Review: Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger

July 9th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): This compact and fast GaN charger takes care of the charging needs of all my smartphones, tablets and laptops at home and on my travels.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger is available for S$149 at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall, Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger is available for S$149 at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall, Belkin Shopee Mall.

I’ve been using this BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger from Belkin since it hit shelves in Singapore last month and it has become the charging “hub” for my electronic gadgets.

The charger includes 2x USB-C and 2x USB-A ports to power a laptop and three additional devices, using USB-C PD and GaN technologies to provide a high-powered and efficient charge.

Combinations for simultaneously charging different devices on the four ports.

Combinations for simultaneously charging different devices on the four ports.

It can charge my Asus laptop at full speed or fast charge a Samsung S22 Ultra and an iPad while charging two additional devices such as the Sony LinkBuds S earbuds and the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro smartwatch.

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New Arrival: Signify Launches WiZ Smart Lighting in Singapore

July 8th, 2022

Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is launching in Singapore a new smart lighting product line under the brand WiZ.

 

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WiZ is a new line of plug-and-play smart lighting system that Signify is introducing into the Singapore market.

Based on Wi-Fi connectivity, the WiZ platform is in addition to the existing Zigbee-based Philips Hue smart light ecosystem.

“When people think smart homes, they think smart lighting. Lighting is the top device that they want to control with voice. With the intuitive, relevant and accessible WiZ product range, Signify is making it effortless for consumers to get started on their smart home adventure and ushering them into new realms of connectivity, control and convenience,” said Jitender Khurana, Country Head and Managing Director, Signify Singapore.

The plug-and-play WiZ Connected portfolio comprises modern bulbs, portable lights, ceiling lights, downlighters, lightstrips and accessories, enabling users to easily inject smart, connected lighting to every corner of their home.

Designed for hassle-free set-up over Bluetooth and connectivity over existing Wi-Fi networks, WiZ comes with multiple control options including the WiZ app, voice control, smart switches and motion sensors to make daily living smarter, easier and more comfortable.

It is a multi-protocol smart lighting system built on an open Internet of Things (IoT) platform to give users the ultimate smart lighting experience.

More details below from the press release.

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Opening: Decathlon Unveils 700sqm Data Lab in Singapore

July 7th, 2022

The Data Lab will consolidate Decathlon Singapore’s efforts in the development of new digital services for Decathlon International as well as incubate data projects in collaboration with partners such as Sport Singapore, various research agencies, and schools.

Located within the Kallang Alive district, the Decathlon Data Lab sits at the intersection of a growing number of sporting and community facilities that is part of an effort to strengthen the district’s standing as an inclusive sports precinct, outlined in the Kallang Alive Masterplan.

Located within the Kallang Alive district, the Decathlon Data Lab sits at the intersection of a growing number of sporting and community facilities that is part of an effort to strengthen the district’s standing as an inclusive sports precinct, outlined in the Kallang Alive Masterplan.

The new Decathlon Data Lab will provide a collaborative working environment that will house Decathlon’s teams such as data experts, software developers and designers, network and security team, innovation teams as well as industry partners and students.

Projects and ideas initiated at Decathlon Data Lab will be tested in the adjacent Decathlon Singapore Lab store, and subsequently introduced to other Decathlon stores in Singapore and beyond.

More details below from the press release.

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