Dell Singapore: Dell Service Card
[gadget news] Another’s one of the “What took you so long?” here. Dell Singapore is rolling out the concept of “Dell Service Card”, which is the warranty package offer by Dell for it’s computing products such as Inspiron, XPS or Alienware. And such a card is available at Dell Direct stores and authorized dealers.
Well, like what Apple does with Applecare.
In the first place, consumers who would buy a Dell or a HP over a “Sim Lim Square” have only one goal; to have a fast, functioning PC for as long as possible. Now the problem is most of the PCs comes with just one year of warranty.
Warranty then becomes so important but yet it wasn’t a thing to do in Singapore when it comes to extending warranty with PCs.
ps: This press release was sent in March but I only read it today when clearing my inbox. Seriously a cool hard fact; I have been working really hard!
MOTOACTV: World’s First GPS Fitness Tracker and Smart MP3 Player
[new gadget] “You only need to step outdoors to see that people in Singapore are passionate about fitness,” said Tracy Yeo, regional sales manager, Southeast Asia, Motorola Mobility.
A line taken from the press release. About right.
I consistently feel that Singaporeans are certainly getting more fitness frenzy and crazy! More cyclist, more marathons and triathlons. So much more than I felt like a fat ass!
Anyhow, gadgets are still first love and MOTOACTV one of the latest from Motorola Mobility whom of course is now a company of Google. Which could have explain a concept of such a device.
At S$399, it sounds like a sizable investment to make for features that is probably already on your phone.
Features and Specifications:
· Ongoing tracking of fitness performance stats, including pace, distance, calories burned, and map of route covered, with automatic wireless syncing of workout data to MOTOACTV.com
· 8GB of storage for endless playlists
· Sports a 1.6” full-color touch-screen display that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting and is sweat-proof, rain-resistant and features scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass
· Option to sync with the latest Android-powered smartphones to receive incoming calls and texts
· FM radio capabilities for more song variety
· Up to five hours of battery life for outdoor workouts, 10 hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby
· Supports both Bluetooth® 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity for your existing fitness sensors and your future ones
By-Election and Management Committee
Two of the big happenings today; President Tan announced By-Election for Hougang on May 26th and I attended and presented at the branch’s management meeting. Have I ever work harder?
Photo taken in 2011 from the Ancient Great Wall of China in Beijing.
TP-LINK TL-MR11U: The 3G Router Review
[Review] Like many, I like to buy gadgets. Unfortunately my bank account doesn’t support my hobby freely. But I spend when it is necessary, and I was very happy when recently I found a case to take in a 3G router. A search in the Shanghai gadget market, I decided to go for TP-LINK TL-MR11U.
TP-LINK TL-MR11U is not the conventional 3G Router with SIM card slot. Instead it comes with a USB slot and a RJ-45 Ethernet port. The USB slot allows a USB 3G modem (with SIM card inside) connection and the RJ-45 Ethernet port allows regular wired connection.
Not an Ordinary Working Day.
3 days in Singapore branch and 9 days of family vacation later. It is now 12 midnight, May 7th 2012. Monday is a working day. Not an ordinary one though.
Nokia Lumia 710 and 800: Wifi Tethering Coming Soon!
[gadget update] Finally. Nokia Lumia series is becoming more complete as a modern smartphone as Nokia said one of it’s FAQ page that Lumia 710 and 800 will be Wifi Tethering equipped “soon”. We won’t know when at the moment but it’s great news.
I have been BB (corporate) and WP7 user for the last 1 year and 1.5 years respectively, time is clicking for a new phone.
As of right now, Nokia Lumia is a leading candidate because it is fast becoming the best Windows Phone in the market.
Story source: Weiphone
Photo source: Celularactual
Motorola ATRIX 2: Round 2 with 10 Free EA Games!
[new gadget] No sight of Google giving its newly bought over company any advantage over the rest of the Android fields. Motorola ATRIX 2 is another attempt to convince the world and possibly the management of Motorola that Motorola has a winner in hand.
Or not.
Before anything, it should be said up front that Motorola is offering 10 EA games free of charge with the purchase of ATRIX 2. Would you factor 10 Android Market games when considering a new phone that is going to last you the next two years is probably up to individual consumers but should be a big bonus for anyone considering to get a ATRIX.
Engadget Review – Link
I don’t think ATRIX 2 specifications come across as top-end but I would say it is matching it’s price point at S$699. Not yet the likes of the popular Samsung Galaxy S2 but yet competitive to the rest of the field.
And if you are interested the most distinctive feature of ATRIX 2, Webtop would be it. The technology allowing ATRIX 2, when connected to its dock (sold separately), allow userst to instantly launch a full version Firefox browser on any full-size monitor or HD TV. I love whacky technology. (There is also this laptop dock that allows users to dock in ATRIX and access the Webtop feature from the laptop, but come on, the price of the laptop dock is too costly and the whole idea of buying a dock to use an app is erm… strange.)
Motorola ATRIX 2 will be available from March 3, 2012 exclusively at SingTel, M1 and Newstead at a recommended retail price of SGD$699.
Specifications:
- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
- 66 x 126 x 10.4 (mm) / 147g
- 4.3-inch qHD
- Dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP 4430
- Up to 8.5 hours of talk time and 15.9 days in standby
- 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth Version 2.1+EDR
- HDMI
- 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities – Allows customers to connect up to five other Wi-Fi-enabled devices and laptops
- 8MP auto focus with LED flash, VGA Front Camera
- 1GB RAM, 4GB on board, microSD slot with support for up to 32GB, 8GB microSD card in box
Apple iPad: Nubox iHealth Campaign
[event] We talked about technology changing our lives; corporates, armies and hospitals adopting tablets into their workflow. But the strange thing is the consumers’ usage of the iPad hasn’t really change that much. We are merely watch movies, playing games and reading emails on a bigger screen!
As the story goes, Nubox has product demostrations at 7 stores in our small island; iHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System and iHealth Digital Scale. And if you can’t tell what these gadgets do by their names, i fear for your health or your IQ.
It’s about going beyond entertainment and productivity, to add a dose of technology to a boring chore to keep up with your health. More details below.
March 1 to March 18, 2012 – Nubox@112Katong Mall, Nubox@Causeway Point, Nubox@Junction 8, Nubox@Jurong Point, Nubox@nex Mall, Nubox@Raffles City and Nubox@Tampines.
3 Days in Hangzhou – Part 2: Cycling Around the City
Survival and cycling are not totally mutually exclusive in China, Hangzhou is an exception. That’s where the fun begins. Imagine cycling along with the rest of the cycling citizens in China, China style. And probability of survival looks great.
I am not an expert of China but Hangzhou is probably the only modernize city in China that where there is a mature bicycle rental system around the city, plenty of bicycle exclusive path (in key areas) and great sceneries to go with.
Ignorant as an infant, cycling booths are an amazing discovery when I got there. It was supposed to be a lazy vacation in Hangzhou but I am irresistible to cycling booths. Especially the dream of cycling in China.
Out goes 300RMB (200RMB refundable deposit and 100RMB prepaid) at a rental booth and said ‘no’ to an offer to GPS, I got the golden card (picture below) to start cycling around with freedom. Unlike most public systems I seen in Shanghai, Hangzhou’s cycling system actually works. With a tap of the card on the lock (picture above), bicycle is unlocked.
An advice: The seats are at fixed height and as with public goods, some had flat tyres and loose brakes. Choose!
So instead of travelling in cabs and buses, I completed the trip on two wheels and to my surprise, at the end of the 3 days, I did not spend a single cent on renting the bicycles. Apparently, if the rates are payable by hour with the first hour being free. Subsequently, the rates are like few RMB per hour. Really good stuff, Hangzhou!
In the end, it was one of the best trips I have alone.
And I probably have to say the there aren’t bike routes that I wouldn’t really recommend. For the best fun comes from circling out the destinations on the map and then start cycling!
The booths are really located in many key areas; for instance the famous West Lake has been littered with booths and many travel guides recommend cycling around the West Lake as the best way to visit it. But really, how about a more responsible way to end of the post rather than just saying cycling in Hangzhou? Read the next statement!
More information regarding Hangzhou cycling: CNNGo
Prada Phone by LG 3.0: Own a Prada!
[new gadget] My closest experience to Prada is a spectacles frame; make no mistake, my optical shop friend gave me a discount I couldn’t resist. But here is a chance for every other common people like me to own a piece of Prada. Meet Prada Phone by LG 3.0.
Nova display technology at 800 nits, Near-Field Communication (NFC) plus a dual core 1 Ghz processor, the Prada Phone isn’t just pretty. Throw in a 4.3" screen and Saffiano leather (used in Prada products) back casing, it appears solid and capable (and slim, 8.5mm)
A third phone to be produced by a collaboration between Prada and LG, Prada Phone 3.0 features Android OS 2.3. A perfect example showing the value of Android in the open market. Prada and LG are experts in design and hardware, leave the software to software giant, Google. Instantly, a very competitive handset is out in the market.
Now, a Prada Phone by LG 3.0 is available in the Singtelshop at S$548 with a 2 year iOne Plus plan (S$25 approx. a month).
Official Website – link
SingtelShop – link
Specifications:
- OSAndroid 2.3 (Prada UI)
- Band: GSM / GPRS /EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) HSPA+ 21 (900/1900/2100)
- Dimension: LxWxD(mm)127.5x69x8.5
- Display: TFT touchscreen, 4.3", 480 x 800 (WVGA)
- Battery Capacity: (mAh)Li-Ion, 1540mAh
- ChipsetOMAP: 4430 1.0GHz Dual Core / Channel
- FM Radio
- Built-In Camera 8.0 Megapixels
- Internal Memory: 8GB eMMC
- External Memory: MicroSD up to 32GB
- A-GPS Navigation
- SmartShare (DLNA)
- Video codec Playback: 1080P@30fps, Recording: 1080P@30fps
- Brightness: 800 nit
- NFC: Share contacts, URL, memo, text messages
