I have a few friends who didn’t know that iPod Touch actually work very well with Microsoft Exchange Server, Gmail and many other email server or provider.

Its pretty easy to setup for Gmail since its really easy, just key in your email address and password and you are good to go. Its similar for Microsoft Exchange Server except that you need to know which server your account resides on.

So there you go… the configuration.

For email address I erase mine, just in case I got spammed.

For server, this is the one you probably need the most. It is actually the one you use to access NTU’s mailbox.

For domain, its ‘student’ without the ‘/’.

For Username and password, I cant help. LOL.

Description is by default, but you can change i think.

As for the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) switch, it has to be on. Its the security for the mailbox.

And there you go, connected to NTU mailbox and receive spams from the school now!

In case you do not know, there is an auto login for NTU Wifi network. Read this post (link).

Hi guys it has been a long while since i posted anything… haha… been trying to adapt to my new work.

This week on the 25th Aug, Myself and V was invited to the Kungu launch of Kaspersky. This time they are launching their new Anti-virus 2010, Internet Security 2010 and Mobile Security 8.0.

One thing that surprise me was this.

So now jacky chan is also helping to fight virus.

One more piece of news is that those who bought Kaspersky Anti-virus 2009 products are eligible for free upgrades to the 2010 versions. Licenses will be brought over. meaning if you have 6months left in your 2009 version by installing 2010 version you can use the 2010 version for the remaining 6months. those who are interested in purchasing the anti-virus you can visit Kaspersky’s estore here.

As for the reviews of the Anti-Virus 2010 i will need some time to take an in depth look. Do stay tuned for updates.

 
I reckon that one of the must have applications on the iPod Touch / iPhones of anyone staying in Singapore is surely the “SG Wireless”. But not just because it is FREE!
And what it does is actually very simple, automatic login of the Wireless@SG network. Well it is simple, but sorely lacking in most devices (or should I say all, I have heard of http://www.devicescape.com/, but I am not sure if it works for our ‘wonderful’ local Wi-fi network.)
Anyway I have it now, and that is what that matters since this application is one of the little things that really please me!
How “SG Wireless” works is this;
1. Give the application your login details for Wireless@SG Network. (Oh yes! it does have the function to auto-login for NUS and NTU Wi-fi Network! I will test it soon and revert.)

2.Switch on Wi-fi on the iPhone/iPod Touch

3. Select Wireless@SG (Of course, you have to be at one of the hotspots lah!)

4. Boot up "SG Wireless”
And watch the application work its magic! Within seconds, you will be connected.
Since I am on the topic, it is worthwhile to mention that auto-login to Wireless@SG will certainly greatly improve the usage of the local Wi-fi network. The big issue right is with connecting to the network which require quite alot of steps, especially in keying in the details such as username and password. I am sure many share my sentiments.
Now with SG Wireless, basically I can probably check my mail or update the Channel News Asia application on my iPod Touch (that is probably another review) to read while waiting for friend etc.
Incredibly useful. Incredibly rare for any other device.
And I do feel the difference of Apple devices and Windows devices…
Thanks to Junda Ong for this wonderful application.
(Link) – Just2Me
And lastly, SG Wireless is not the only application that serve this purpose. But I couldn’t get the other one to work due to the version of my iPod Touch’s firmware, so I couldn’t test it. Nothing against it. You can easily find it on the iTunes Store anyway.

Windows 7 is slated for retail on the October 22nd this year. But… the full version of this latest Operating System from Microsoft made it to the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) first!

MSDNAA is a network program for academic institutions to obtain Microsoft products easily and more importantly cheaply. Basically the certain Microsoft softwares are free for download on the network.

I am not sure about other schools, but if you are a student of NTU, you can register and get Windows 7 Professional! (Registration might take some time though.)

(Link) – Register for NTU MSDNAA

Updated (10/09/09): Download the x86 version (32-bit), it is the common version nearly everybody use. AND I am told that only NBS and SCE students can subscribe to it. – Thanks to Alan and Kenny for the reminder and correction.


In 2008, Netbooks were the product that is routed to empowered consumers with processing power and real mobility. One year later, consumers find that Netbooks offers neither processing power nor real mobility because Netbooks really is a single core machine with a small keyboard. Manufacturers tried as much as possible to give it a standard keyboard and soon find themselves making a 12.1” notebook that was previously available many years ago.
In 2009, another category of products made its debut. Introducing Mobile Internet Device (MID). As the spirit of the TSGTS goes, we focus on gadgets that are released locally and in the picture is Viliv X70 Ex Premium 3G, available for pre-order right now. 
To really describe this new type of gadget, the specifications speak volumes.
Specifications (Viliv X70 Ex Premium 3G):
  • Processor: Intel Atom 1.33GHz(Z520)
  • Display: 7" WSVGA(1024 x 600) with Touch Screen
  • Launcher: Viliv Cube
  • OS: Windows XP Home
  • Memory: DDR2 1GB
  • Storage: 32SSD
  • Camera: 1.3M Pixel
  • Keyboard: Viliv Haptic Feedback Keyboard
  • WLAN: 802.11b/g
  • HSPDA: YES
  • Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR
  • GPS: Sirf Star3
  • Battery: 24Wh
  • IO port: SDHC, AUDIO, USB,USB(LINK), Multi IO
  • Size: 210(W) x 117(H) x 22.5(T)mm
  • Weight:660g(with battery)
Viliv X70 Ex Premium 3G is a MID and MIDs is a PC that you can hold it up in your hands and still type. It also offers 3G connection as well as WIFI. Also on the cards is the GPS. Basically, whatever a smartphone can do.
What’s set MIDs apart from Netbooks and mobilephones are the facts that you are able to use it without a table (unlike Netbooks) and it has a Intel Atom processor and 1GB of RAM (more power than mobilephones).
Running on a Windows XP, MIDs could yet be another attempt to give consumers more options to do work or access to multimedia on the move. But there is only one problem.
 
It might still be a tab too big for most people who do not really need computing power on the go.
 
There is another version on offer, the Viliv S5 Premium 3G. Smaller and without camera.
 
Specifications (Viliv S5 Premium 3G):
  • Processor: Intel Atom 1.33GHz(Z520)
  • Display: 4.8 WSVGA(1024 x 600) with Touch Screen
  • Launcher: Viliv Cube
  • OS: Windows XP Home
  • Memory: DDR2 1GB
  • Storage: 32SSD
  • Keyboard: Viliv Haptic Feedback Keyboard
  • WLAN: 802.11b/g
  • HSPDA: YES
  • Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR
  • GPS: Sirf Star3
  • Battery: 24Wh
  • IO port: Audio, USB, USB(link), Multi IO
  • Size: 154(W) x 84(H) x 24.4(T)mm
  • Weight:436g(with battery)
Viliv is a Korean company, in case you are wondering. (Link) – Official Web
And of course, if you haven’t notice it, the the launch event is on this coming Wednesday!

Introduction

Once in a while, we see gadgets that make us say… “What does it actually do?”

“Siso Tablo For Laptops” is definitely one gadget in this category. This gadget you are looking at in the picture is actually just one part of the whole package. What Siso Tablo does is that it transforms your non-tablet laptop into a tablet, or simply, it is an innovative pen input device performing a full tablet function with simple installation.

Siso Tablo is produced by Hantech, a company located in Canada. And it made its debut just in May this year. The device uses a magnetically mounted sensor (which functions like a Nintendo Wii) to detect the location of the Pen and enabling all handwriting and movements to be detected. Well, basically, like a tablet notebook. Its compatible with all Windows Vista’s tablet functions.

Highlights of Siso Tablo

  • Gives a normal laptop a full-fledge tablet function (do everything from drawing and handwriting recognition to controlling the cursor)
  • Direct input on screen or inches off the screen
  • Perfect brush effect by speed pressure technology
  • For Windows Vista and XP
  • Works with numerous applications


Packaging Contents

The packaging and the quality of the product is really outstanding. Simplistic design of and a touch of thoughtfulness. There are three main components: the stylus, the transceiver, small unit that attaches to the laptops screen and plugs into the USB port and the receiver magnet (the rectangular metal in the center of the picture).

The stylus is comfortable to hold on to and its very light (probably the weight of a pencil). It has a soft tip (no ink in it) that can be replace by a ball-point tip (yes, it can actually allow you to write and capture it on screen). And three L738 button batteries are required to power up the stylus. There are ten batteries given in the package.

Hantech has actually put in a small casing to pack in the supplies. Very thoughtful. But at the same time, is a good question how long will each soft-tip and ball point tip last, although you can get the supplies from Hantech. In case you are wondering why there is a need for ball point tips, yes. Siso Tablo can allow you to write on paper! Read on!


Setup

Setting up the Siso Tablo on my MSI VR320 is a breeze, following the instructions on the manual provided. However, it feels kind of uneasy when I had to stick the magnet onto the back of the LCD screen. The transceiver will then be hook on to the magnet.

And there are two softwares to be installed. One for the usage on the Operating System itself and the other for other applications such as Microsoft Office.

Experiment in Progress

At this point, you might be wondering, wouldn’t using a stylus hurt your screen which is a non-touch screen by default? Indeed, this is our primary concern when we first received the Siso Tablo. In fact our concern grew when we are calibrating the stylus for the laptop, because you actually have to press the tip of the digital pen against the screen with a bit of strength. But I do think that a matt-surfaced screen protector will work well with Siso Tablo because of its smooth surface and at the same time protect the LCD.

This concern is ease considerably when we started to use it because the stylus does not have to make a heavy contact with the screen to be accurate. In fact, the stylus can be detected when it is millimeters off the screen, to write, just press the left click button. This is possible because of the infrared technology. On the other hand, it will take some time to get use to it since it not easy to control the stroke while not touching the screen.

The fun begins after the calibration; it feels really refreshing to see my notebook become a tablet. I can actually use the stylus like a mouse. It was a great experience to surf the Internet with Siso Tablo, something like a touchscreen phone. The lower button is the left click and the upper button is of course the right click. These options are also on the pen tip itself, as shown in the image below, the issue is of course if you want comfortable with pressing it against the screen.

Siso Tablo can operate in two mode, the screen mode and the table mode. With the screen mode, you use the stylus on the screen itself, just like a normal tablet notebook. The table mode is more interesting. You can actually write on the smooth surface on the table, just like using a tablet pad.

The next thing we try is if works well in the screen mode with Microsoft Word. Before using it, you will have to start the PenInk tool so as to activate free handwriting. And by the way, you can check the list of softwares that Siso Tablo is compatible with. (Link) – Offfical Web.

Siso Tablo is probably not going to work with everything out there but certainty most that you would need a tablet pen for.

My general feeling is that Siso Tablo is as good as (or as normal as) any tablet I used before. I have tried the Panasonic Toughbook Tablet version before by the way, and I think there is few differences in terms of usage.

Typically, you can write pretty well on screen but to take notes with it? Unless you got a good handwriting. Probably a lot more useful if you are trying to copy a graph or diagram. In fact, I do feel that Siso Tablo is very efficient at drawing. I am not a graphic designer myself, but I do some editing and Siso Tablo proves to be very capable. And of course, there is no problem capturing signatures.

I also tried the table mode where the transceiver is clipped to a piece of paper and whatever that is written on the paper will be on the screen as well. This mode does not work perfectly because it seems that the transceiver does not sense the drawing area accurately. For example, if you write in the center of the paper, everything is fine, but once you move to the edge of the paper, the writing will probably appear at the edge of your screen which is often not the working area in applications such as Microsoft Office.

And oh, I realize that one of the better advantages over a separate tablet is the drawing surface. A typical tablet is usually about 7” to 10 “. For Siso Tablo, the drawing surface is of course the entire LCD of your notebook.

Final Words

My guess is that your initial reaction is the same as mine: “If I want a tablet, I will get a tablet”. But the question is Siso Tablo any different from a tablet. From my experience, apart from using vertically, it certainly operates like a normal tablet.

I am not a graphic designer. But I think graphic designers would not fancy something like Siso Tablo for their profession since Siso Tablo is more suitable for writing on the screen instead of the paper or drawing pad in my opinion.

The issue with buying a tablet laptop is not so straightforward. Unless you are the graphic designer, most likely you would not need a tablet the entire time. In fact, an average consumer is more likely to use it for business use (ie. collect signatures), for causal drawing and notes taking. And the need for a tablet function often requires one to purchase a tablet notebook which easily goes up to S$3,000. Or, buy a tablet pad, and carry the entire setup including the drawing pad with you which is of course not convenient as well.

Siso Tablo is a wonderful solution then.

Especially with the S$200 price tag.

And because it can teach your old dog (notebook) a new trick.

If you are rushing to buy one, you should know that Siso Tablo does not work with all laptop models for some reason. That list of laptops is available on the Hantech website. And Siso Tablo only work with LCD that goes up till 15.4”

PS: Thanks to Ideals.com.sg for loaning the retail set to review. You can purchase Siso Tablo there as well! By the way, there will be local warranty for this cool stuff.

(Link) – Ideals.com.sg

LG GM730 Eigen has hit SG!

LG has kindly pass us a retail set to check their latest fray into the smartphone market. Before we got into a review, I tested it out and got a few shots of this little shiny creature.

After 10 minutes to fooling around on the phone, I have got to admitted this is a remarkable improvement from LG Viewty. I have experienced the touch mechanism on Viewty and GM730 Eigen is in a different league altogether. There is tactile feedback as usual but this time it is much more responsive. And the engineers at LG did not stop there, see the square button at the bottom of the phone? It served as a scroll pad, for those who still cannot live with the scrolling of touch screen phones, this is a welcome feature.

The LG developed S-Class interface, overlaying the Windows Mobile 6.1, is refreshing as well. Intuitive is the word to describe here but some odd designs here and there. There is a on-screen qwerty keyboard by the way.

Next up, the camera. Looking sharp on its 3” LCD. And yes, there is autofocus. Moving on, GM730 Eigen is LG application store compatible. It seems that I will be given credit to download some to try though. Nice.

A quick last words: The interface is responsive, one of the first few qualities a full touch screen phone should have. Price tag? Singtel has put it up at S$468 for a basic 2 year contract.

A longer review coming this way… Watch this space.

Happy 44th Birthday, Singapore! 

Epicentre Promotions – Apple products (Link) Via Living in Singapore

Harvey Norman Explosive Sale @ Expo (Link) Harvey Norman Web

EA Games National Day Promotion (Link) Via Greatdeals.com.sg

The EA games promotion is an interesting one, as consumer can now download games to their thumbdrive at the physical store instead of taking nice package home. This sales method is still a trial program at the moment.

But seriously, I prefer a nice package and a CD so that I put it on my shelf to admire.

Just when you thought there are more choices of Netbooks than the ERP gates in Singapore, Prolink decisively joined in the crowd just like the government decisively increase the ERPs around our island.

If you have not heard of Prolink, you ought to, unless you are as rich as our ministers. Because this homegrown brand do offer a very impressive range of networking products at a very value for money price range. And now, they decide to release a Netbook, out of nowwhere.

However, then it is no surprise that this Netbook comes with a optional 3G card slot. I think optional means that there might be 2 models, with and without the slot. Anyway, that slot will be 3.75G ready. Yes, its above the 3.5G we often talk about because apparently, it has a faster uplink speed. So it will be called HSUPA instead of HSDPA (Link).

Prolink Glee comes with very standard Netbook specifications such as Intel N270 Processor and it does have other features like the 3G card slot and LED screen (instead of the common LCD screen.) (Link) – Official Specifications

Prolink Glee will retail at S$699 according to CNET. And at this price, it could just be the cheapest Netbook with a 3G card slot. ASUS EEE PC is bundled with Singnet Mobile Broadband plan previously, but I am not sure if the bundle is still around.

But it seems that there are people trying to crash the price market (Link).


From 6th August to 9th August 2009, Funan is having some sort of event going on called “Believe It Or Not Sale”. Let’s see if I can really believe.
I am not very keen on other things except the price of the gadget, but this one has alot of “side events”; $1 Auction, Carpark rebate, cash rebate for CapitaCard Member and of course, lucky draw. Ok, moving on to gadgets highlights.

Recently released by Samsung as the Korean brand tries their hand at the netbook market. Read what we said: (Link). Retail price is S$799, so you won’t get any advantage in terms of cash. But a 7” digital photo frame cost about S$60 to S$70 bucks, so that is a good gift if you are keen on one.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can get this price at Challenger. Again, its Samsung. Don’t think that I am a fan of Samsung, I am surprised when I realized I have been subconsciously focusing out Samsung’s products. Anyway, do your homework before you head down there to get this. In this case, the price is lower than the retail price, so I listed it here as well (Although, its called a “Sale”, most products are still selling at retail price, speaking of “Unbelievable”! ). Specifications else, Samsung’s cameras haven’t got a very good F-number(so called the metric to gauge how detail the camera can capture). Features else, 5X optical zoom and 3” LCD are almost the norm now. Too bad it only record VGA video.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also from Challenger, I recall this mouse is selling at S$49.90 usually. So this is a good price and also a very good mouse. For those who are still chaining your mouse to the computer, try this one from Logitech, fast, comfortable and won’t hurt your wallet.
Ok… That’s enough crap for this one. My conclusion is straightforward, “believable” deals.
Check out the link below for the entire brochure.
(Link)
 
No. It's not just a MP3 player.
No. You can't get it in Singapore yet.
No. It's basically not for consumer.
Yes, it's developed by Creative (Mr Sim's)
 
So why has it got the attention of many? Because Zii Egg is the first device to use Zii Plasma Open Source Platform and Creative's ZMS-05 chip.
 
Zii Egg is bascially a device that do nearly everything a high-end mobile phone does except call. HD Video, GPS, Wi-Fi, 32GB and above memory. Things that gadgets lovers would willing shelf out more money.

The only talking point here is, if consumers can't buy it, who will? Creative wants to market Zii Egg as a developer's product or more commonly known as a Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) product. For example, you would have seen the exact same mp3 players at SIM LIM Square bearing different brands. Basically that is because the manufacturer is the same and the same product is sold to different sellers. So that those sellers can stamp their own brand and see as their product without research and development cost.

Zii Egg is in the same category. It runs on a open source platform (Android OS) so that manufacturer can take it further with their own software. The excitement is all due to the potential development of this new machine made by the Singapore-based company.

Wait for a longer while, hopefully we will see something that is REALLY exciting to us, the consumers.

(Link) Via Gizmodo 

(Link) Official website

Next PostNewer Posts Previous PostOlder Posts Home