The Singapore Gadget Talk Show

[New Gadget] Mirrorless shooters are gaining popularity like KOI bubble tea. Well that’s probably a little exaggerating, but in truth mirrorless cameras are well like by amateurs and enthusiasts alike.

A combination of SLR-quality shots and compact physical size makes the NX10 a huge success. And Samsung is following up the success with NX11. Add a sub-S$1000 price tag, this is a winner.

The biggest feature among the upgrades from NX10 will be the famous intelligent i-Function lens. What the i-Function lens offer is the ability to access and adjust all manual settings with its lens ring. Very different from the traditional SLR. NX10 does not comes with the i-Function lens so Samsung is packing in it in with NX11.

And this is probably the only major upgrade. That is probably a good move, improving on a successful product.

Samsung NX11 has launched in the States now and we will be looking forward to the Singapore launch.

Source - dpreview

[GADGET UPDATE] Since last month, SingTelshop.com quietly put up a relatively unusual phone up for sale. Not the Samsung Galaxy Tab as you would imagine as a unusual phone but the ZTE S202. Yep, the phone built to for the elderly with huge buttons and on-screen fonts and the direct emergency call dial.

The emergency dial sends an message alert to the pre-stored numbers on the phone.

And the following as well:

GPS
Bluetooth
LED Lamp
Dimension: 108 x 49.5 x 15.1mm
Weight: 82g

For peanuts and a 2 year plan, you give the elderly in family a potential life-saver in the S202. But if I recall correctly, S202 is previously on sale for less than S$200. The average discount amount off the handset when you sign a two year telco contract. Food for thought?

In any case, the manufacturer has make it a point to add in some entertainment features for good measure in the likes of FM Radio and music playback. And oh, ZTE is a Chinese manufacturer that also include Android phones as part of their product line-up. Well which Chinese electronics manufacturer doesn’t?

Just before you brush ZTE off as another China’s company, take note of the following (They are not the ordinary!):

ZTE Corporation is a leading global provider of telecom equipment and networking solutions operating in more than 140 countries, servicing 59 of the world’s top 100 telecom operators.
Founded in 1985, ZTE is China’s largest listed telecom equipment company and trades on both the Shenzhen (A share: 000063.SZ) and Hong Kong (H share: 0763.HK) stock exchanges.
In terms of CDMA product shipments, it secured the No.1 global position four years in a row, and was ranked second in the world when it came to the shipment of fixed network broadband access products.

Link – ZTE S202 Official Web

[NEW GADGET] You got a 26” LCD monitor. As well as a 40” LED TV. And you thought you got enough devices to display moving motion. Well, add a projector to your collection.

One with 1 million : 1 contrast! How about that?

Check out the press release below for more information about these latest projectors from Epson.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEDIA RELEASE

Dear Editor,

EPSON ACHIEVES WORLD’S HIGHEST CONTRAST RATIO OF ONE MILLION TO ONE

WITH NEW 3LCD REFLECTIVE PANEL TECHNOLOGY FOR UNPARALLELED VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Singapore, November 2010 – Epson, a world leader in digital imaging and printing solutions and the top projector maker of the decade⁽¹⁾, has launched its newest range of high-end home entertainment projectors, the Epson EH-R1000 and the Epson EH-R4000, which can achieve a record-breaking dynamic contrast ration of up to 1,000,000:1⁽²⁾. This feat is made possible with the world’s first 3LCD Reflective Panel Technology, the latest technological breakthrough by Epson.

Epson’s exclusive 3LCD Reflective Panel Technology builds on the established 3LCD system and produces even deeper blacks and brighter whites while giving richness to the colours, making them lush and life-like across the spectrum for the ultimate viewing experience. The breakthrough technology allows for ultra-fast response time that is capable of rendering even the fastest of moving images smoothly, thus reducing blur.

The Epson EH-R1000 and EH-R4000, also incorporated with the new Ultra-Smooth Auto Iris, improved Hollywood Quality Video (HQV) Vida Processor, Refined Frame Interpolation and Super-Resolution Technologies, promise all users an unrivalled projection quality and a true cinematic experience in the comfort of their own homes.

“As the top projector maker in the world, Epson is constantly at the forefront of innovation. With our new Epson 3LCD Reflective Panel Technology, we have once again raised the bar for the home projection market by achieving the world’s first and highest contrast ratio of one million to one with our EH-R4000,” said Ms Tan May Lin, General Manager of Epson Singapore. “I am confident that we have delivered a strong product that brings dramatic new viewing experiences to our consumers.”

The Epson EH-R1000 and EH-R4000 retail at SGD$6999 and SGD$9999 respectively, and will be available at all authorised distributors from February 2011.

Key “Contrast Ratio Boosting” Features

New 3LCD Reflective Technology – Standard projectors that employ transmissive LCD optical systems have limitations in reproducing deep blacks that are needed to heighten contrast. Epson’s new 3LCD Reflective Panel System effectively solves this problem by using reflective HTPS (High Temperature Poly-Silicon) panels to reduce and correct variation of polarisation, preventing light leakage and vastly improving image contrast.

3LCD System with Transmissive LCD

Variation of polarisation occurs when light is transmitted through liquid crystal panels. These variations are hard to correct and sometimes cause light leakage.

3LCD Reflective Panel System

Light reflection reduces and corrects variation of polarisation. This enables rich, deep blacks.

DEEPBLACK Technology – With this technology, the projectors can regulate image contrast and brightness – white scenes can be deliberately brightened while dark scenes can be richly deepened, creating a dynamic colour contrast.

New Ultra Smooth Auto Iris – The improved auto iris found in the Epson EH-R1000 and EH-R4000 uses a newly designed motor and iris that speed up response, adjusting the aperture to provide optimum contrast and brightness for each scene. The result is a crisp and clear portrayal of bright scenes, while dark scenes retain all the details of the original movie.

A combination of these three technologies enables Epson to achieve the phenomenal contrast ratios of up to 1,000,000:1.

Key “Image Quality Boosting” Features

Improved HQV Vida Processor - The projectors also boast the new, top-of-the-line, Vida image processor from motion image processing experts, Hollywood Quality Video (HQV). This latest video processor enables the projectors to deliver the best Full HD images available, ensuring that every detail is perfectly resolved, even in dark scenes.

Refined Frame Interpolation Technology - Frame interpolation technology inserts new frames between original frames. As a result, blurring effects are suppressed and motion pictures look much smoother and sharper.

Super-Resolution Technology – Super resolution technology automatically detects blurred sections of an image and uses a mixed colour separation process to achieve sharper and refined image quality in full High Definition projection.

Key “User Experience Improvement” Features

Lens Shift and Position Memory Feature - With a motorised zoom and lens with the widest shift range in their class, setup of the projectors is easy and flexible. In addition, users can calibrate and store up to three settings in the projector memory, including the zoom and focus positions for various movie genres to enjoy the ultimate cinematic experience.

Anamorphic Lens – Movie enthusiasts can now enjoy their shows without “letterbox” bars at the top and bottom of the screen because the EH-R1000 / EH-R4000 support anamorphic lenses which are fully motorised and remote-controlled to convert typical 16:9 format to 2.40:1 cinemascope widescreen.

Bright Projection – Equipped with small and highly luminescent E-TORL lamps, both projectors can deliver high light output and colour light output of 1,200 lumens (lm), allowing users to enjoy bright projections on large screens (up to 300 inches) without worrying about ambient lighting.

HDMI Link - The Epson EH-R1000 and EH-R4000 can operate other equipment such as Blu-ray players from the projector remote control once they are connected using a HDMI cable. They also feature trigger-out functions to power equipment such as electronic screens for the true home cinema devotee. This enables control of a whole cinema room from just one remote control.

Stylish design – Sporting a super-compact design, the Epson EB-R1000 is available in white while the EH-R4000 comes in an elegant matte black finish that prevents light from reflecting off the projector surface, reducing distractions when viewing.

Key Specifications

Epson EH-R1000

Epson EH-R4000

Projection Technology

3LCD Reflective Panel Technology

Resolution

1920 X 1080 (Full HD)

Contrast ratio

500,000:1 (auto iris on)

25,000:1 (auto iris off / native)

1,000,000:1 (auto iris on)

40,000:1 (auto iris off / native)

Brightness

1,200 lm

Lens Shift Range

Vertical: -90.0% to +90.0% (H Center, Powered)

Horizontal: 40.0% to +40.0% (V Centre, Powered)

Screen Size

30 to 300 inch

Projected Distance

0.83 to 18.19m

HDMI Input

2 HDMI with HDMI link

Supplied Accessories

Power Cable (3.0m)

Remote Control (1.8m, HD15 / HD15)

Battery (with AA type alkaline batteries x 2)

HDMI Cable Clamp x 2

User's Manual Set

For more information and high-resolution product images, please visit the Epson Media Centre athttp://www.epson.com.sg/mediacentre

Footnotes:

(1) Based on independent research by FutureSource Consulting, Epson is the world’s top projector maker for the past decade (2000 to 2009) with a 16.1% global market share. Epson has also held the number 1 position for the last nine consecutive years.

(2) Epson EH-R4000 can achieve a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1; Epson EH-R1000 can achieve a dynamic contrast ratio of 500,000:1.

###

About Epson

Epson is a global imaging and innovation leader that is dedicated to exceeding the vision of customers worldwide through its compact, energy-saving, high-precision technologies, with a product lineup ranging from printers and 3LCD projectors for business and the home, to electronic and crystal devices. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises over 70,000 employees in 106 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. http://global.epson.com/

About Epson South Asia & Southeast Asia

Since 1982, Epson has developed a strong presence across major markets in South and Southeast Asia. Led by the regional headquarters, Epson Singapore Pte Ltd., Epson South Asia and Southeast Asia spans an extensive network of 18 countries and is responsible for delivering and supporting Epson’s cutting-edge consumer and business digital imaging products to the customers of these markets through its comprehensive infrastructure of 427 service outlets, 4 Epson solution centres, 10 manufacturing facilities and 1 R&D centre.http://www.epson.com.sg

About Epson Singapore

Epson is the world's leader in digital imaging solutions. The company’s Singapore operation is also the Regional Headquarters of Seiko Epson Corporation. The company markets and supports Epson printers, scanners, projectors, electronic devices including liquid crystal displays, semiconductors and system devices in South East and South Asia. For more details, please visit www.epson.com.sg

[Mobile App] In my opinion, the best app to keep track of your stocks prices and keep up with the news. Check out my quick introduction to the Bloomberg Mobile App.
This video is also found on the LG Ambassodor Facebook Page. Vote for me and stand a chance to win the LG Optimus One! – Link

[Gadget Update] The guys at SingTel has finally been authorized to tell the wallet-ready Singaporeans how much to pay for the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Tab. And we got the press release right in our mail box but surely all you want to see is the prices.

It seems that SingTel has also arranged a post-launch party for Samsung Galaxy Tab. Hey wait, is there one for iPad as well? The tickets are only limited to the first 150 Galaxy Tab owners that I guess, subscribe to SingTel’s data plan.

Are the prices what are you expecting previously? For me, the subsidized prices look just about on the side of being called “expensive”. But if you are going to bring it out every single day and you know, surf the internet and watch a few hours of “Ai” maybe, then it is probably worth it. After all a tablet can be fully utilize with the internet connection.

Anyone getting one soon? The SingTel Galaxy Tab micro site is currently close for registration but they should be back soon ready for your cash.

SingTel Shop – Samsung Galaxy Tab

[Mobile App] There are as many Android users in Singapore as cheap food at Orchard road. So I didn’t manage to ask more people on this one. But if you are having a problem using Google Goggles on your Android phone, particularly having a green image instead of the image taken, here is a backward solution.
Uninstall the latest Google Goggles 1.1.4 on the Android Market and try to google for version 1.0’s apk.
You will lose some features such as crop but at least it is working until the Goggle engineers fix it right?
What is Google Goggles you asked? Use a GPS device (aka your phone) and check that your current location does not read “MARS”.
Google Goggles is an App that allows user to take pictures of any object and search for information with regards to the object on the Internet. For instance, take a photo of the Nutella jam bottle with Google Goggles. It will return information such as what is Nutella jam and relevant company information. Works like a business card reader actually.

It is not going to recongise every objects you take, for instance taking a picture of your armpit hair will not return results such as Tan Ah Gao’s armpit hair. But still if it can return Nutella, I think it is quite impressive.
In case you are interested, the App is available on both iPhone and Android phones for FREE.

[NEW GADGET] I haven’t seen a more comprehensive Samsung Galaxy Tab video than this one. You caught me. Yes, I get a few cents when you click once but seriously, if you can’t tell the differences between a Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab, you gotta watch this one!

The Galaxy Tab will appear like a complete tablet with Samsung (you just have to give credit where it is due) inputting some custom Apps that ensure the consumers will not be stuck with a version of the Google’s OS in which Google thinks is not ready for tablets yet.

Engadget got a review already. Must read if you intend to get one on the 13th this month.

The highlight in their review has got to be the flash support. Does Android 2.2 really guarantee full flash support in a usable way? Maybe not, here the link – Engadget Review.

But again I just have to ask, why would you want tablet? And in this case, one that you can make a phone call which of course is why we use this thing call mobile phone.

My friends call the Apple iPad a “want”. I think the Galaxy Tab is a “Want” too. Which one would you WANT more?

[NEW GADGET] Cradle seems to be a rather popular accessory for devices these days. Even the super big iPad has got one so she does not have to lie flat on the table. So do the latest Andorid phone from LG, the Optimus One.

The dock is worth S$68 according to the LG Singapore Facebook page. Check out LG Singapore Facebook page for more information.

In case you are looking to get the Optimus One, here is a chance to win one. Become a fan of the LG Mobile Asia Facebook page. And there will be a winner every Friday.

Link – LG Challenge
Link – LG Singapore Facebook
Link – LG Optimus One review on TSGTS

[NEW GADGET] At a very recent Dell’s media event to introduce it’s refreshment of it’s Alienware, Inspiron, XPS notebooks and desktops, we were given a sneak preview of something else that overshadow the computers at the event. What else other than the Dell Venue Pro, the US manufacturer’s device running on the brand new Windows Phone 7 OS.

We actually spotted the phone with the Microsoft guys instead of the Dell guys for some reasons. And they are more than willing to let the media people toy around with the phone that is not official on sale in Singapore at the moment.

Despite knowing before hand that the Venue Pro is a huge phone, I was still quite taken aback by the sheer size. Mainly the thickness. But it feels extremely comfortable in hand, takes up my entire palm actually.

The Dell Venue Pro is physically daunting for a good reason; so that you can see more on the screen. Besides being a 4” screen, the screen is bright and sharp, just don’t put it beside the iPhone 4. But it is still very very good, don’t worry.

The keyboard is REALLY the part of the phone that I am most interested in. In the current line-up of Windows Phone 7 phones, only this comes with a portrait keyboard, something I have wanted since Dinosaur Age. So far only Palm Pre has been produced in the kind of form factor.

Dell Venue Pro’s keyboard is certainly broad, no problem even for people with Incredible Hulk’s thumbs. I find myself exerting a little more strength that I thought is necessary to type. The tactile feedback is not exactly I will rate as “good”. Maybe the final retail set will be better.

We didn’t have time to go in-depth into other areas but the Dell guys told us that the phone is coming really soon to our shores. And telcos tie-ups should be the case.

Looking back, Dell Venue Pro seems quite made for guys, the size and the design are screaming “MAN” in all directions. The only issue I guess will be a problem even for guys is probably the thickness.

[NEW GADGET] Finally, Samsung Galaxy Tab is set to make a red carpet entry to the Singapore market. SingTel once again has grabbed the device with both hands, well they probably bear-hugged the device, adding yet another high profile gadget into their stable first among the local telcos. Not sure about exclusiveness though.

Samsung Galaxy Tab is surely one hell of a super gadget with two extremely superior features that are currently no where to be found in the all-conquering iPad; Multi-tasking and Flash support.

When is it coming? Soon I hope.

Update: Straits Times reported that the Samsung’s tablet is coming on the Nov 13 in an EXCLUSIVE deal to SingTel.

Check out the Official video – Samsung Site
Register Interest with SingTel - SingTel Samsung Galaxy Tab

[REVIEW] I asked a LG engineer why the LG Optimus One is called "Optimus" which reminds me of Optimus Prime in Transformers whom is the leader of the Autobots. Meanwhile, the Optimus One is obviously built and priced to be a entry-level Android handset. He said "Optimus" meant "one of the best" in latin.

Then the description seems fitting because LG Optimus One is, for now, the best entry level Android phone you can possibly find among the three telcos in our little red dot. Take SingTel for example, $48 dollars with a 2 year plan, that's a new price level for a Android phone. Cheap phones aren't new but cheap phones with the most updated Android system is something really refreshing. Up till the debut of LG Optimus One, HTC Desire, Huawei Ideos and LG Optimus One are the only three Android 2.2 handsets available in the Singapore market. A serious mismatch isn't it? HTC Desire is price in the range of $500 to $600, a top end Android phone for HTC.

The polish and completeness of Android 2.2 as a smartphone OS makes LG Optimus One a very compelling option as an affordable Android phone. But that's really theory, taking it out for a spin will test the credibility of the LG latest Android handset.

Disclaimer: I have been honoured to be invited to blog as a LG Ambassador for the next 7 weeks. BUT that's not going to deter me from writing an independent review of the phone the best I can.

The Hardware

LG Optimus One is adopts a very traditional touchscreen phone look. Black plastic all round but it look durable enough. The metallic button on the bottom of the phone makes the overall look more sophsicated or a tab too odd, depending on how you look at it. The tactile feel from pressing those buttons felt extremely good though.

The back of the phone spots the camera hole and the Google logo. No flash for the camera.

Specifications:

TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors, 320 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches
113.5 x 59 x 13.3 mm, 129g
170MB Internal Memory, MicroSD Card Slot
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, video VGA@18fps
Android OS, v2.2 Froyo
600 MHz processor
Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh

The display is reasonably good, something you will expect with this sort of price tag. Like nearly all LG's recent release, the display is bright and vibrant. The resolution of 320 x 240 is certainly less sharp than the top end competitors but again you just have to look at the price tag to understand why.

The touch responsiveness is probably just about fast except on a few occasion the corners of the screen isn't as responsive as I would have like. Consequently, typing on the LG Optimus One with it’s default keyboard is not that all smooth like most Android phones. However, installing “Smart Keyboard” from the Android application store improves the typing experience tremendously though.

Packing Content:

USB Charger and Cable
Earpiece
Manual

The Software

Android 2.2 is the most important part of the package. I have used phones with Android virant of 1.6 and 2.1. But 2.2 is on a different planet. It's like putting a Ferrari engine in a Toyota. Froyo gives LG Optimus One a classier feel when using the phone especially the speed.

LG Optimus One packs in a 600 MHz processor but in no way does it feel laggy. Very impressive given that I have used Android phones of faster proccessors and they are not as speedy.

Froyo still look very much like Eclair except there are two very important features upgrade; Wireless Tethering and Installation of Apps on the MicroSD card. And you might want to know that most phones in the market do not have these features right out of the box.

Wireless Tethering is incredible useful if you do not have mobile broadband subscription. It allows the phone to act as a wireless router and thus you can share the data capacity on your phone data plan instead of subscribing to another data plan for your notebook. Very neat but you can expect the feature to drain the battery life really quickly.

Installation of Apps to the MicroSD card is a long awaited, terribly needed and almost the one feature to pull Android closer to being a complete smartphone operating system. Users of Android 1.6 and 2.1 had to install the Apps to the internal storage which is usually about 500mb to be shared with other applications already on the phone.

LG has also installed several custom Apps in the Optimus One. There is the App Advisor which as it’s name implies, tells you what is good to install in the Android Market. Well, Android Market is indeed one place where some policing is required. Since there is no restriction or review on any App prior to it’s appearance on the market, any Apps can get on it, even those that are tried to perform illegal activities on your phone. So in that sense, you get some help from the App Advisor though the Advisor does not keep really approve a lot of Apps.

Other apps includes some Ndrive, a navigation app and LG Bookmark widget which give you one click access to webpages. And top on of these, the ThinkFree Office app; not just a reader but also an editor! Here is the best part: The App costs S$19.44 on the app store.

Wrapping Up…

LG Optimus One really excel in the areas of pricing and software. But it is not just them, LG Optimus One also boast a pretty strong battery life as an Android device. It’s 1500 mAh battery and a smaller 3.2” display should have helped a lot in this area.

Call quality is good on the phone as per most other phones these days. Camera’s performance is average on the other hand, with a 3 Megapixel camera, I find the images to be a little less vibrant.

In short, LG Optimus One is one phone that presents the most compelling case for a budget Android phone in the market at the moment. Updated Android OS, better than average battery life and a productivity suite pre-installed are all in the Optimus One already.

At the end of the day, I think if you have bags of moolah to spend, LG Optimus One might not be the top end device that you eye but if you are not in that group, then think about it. It may just be a very good purchase. Even better than Global Logistic Properties IPO.

Link - LG Life's Good Challenge (Vote for me and win a LG Optimus One!)

[REVIEW] Once in a while, you see your fellow MP walking within your estate. Once in a while, we see a Singapore product take the international central stage. See the similarity? In both cases, it is about time you sit up and take notice because it could only mean that elections is coming and a Singapore company has produced something that the international community might actually like.

iTwin is the Singapore-based company that managed to showcased it’s original product, the iTwin at the famous TechCrunch50 Conference in Silicon Valley. Also, you will be interested to know that iTwin is a spin-off from the Institue for Infocomm Research under Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A Star). How’s that for you?

But reputation only goes as far as the real product performs.

What is iTwin?

The concept of iTwin is super innovative, surprisingly different and somewhat not difficult to understand.

Quite simply, iTwin enables direct data transfer between two computers which had one half of the iTwin (see the image above) plugged in. And… that’s all it does!

Simply sharing files between two computers including on-the-fly editing of documents.

No technical configuration is required.

You have a brain of Sherlock Holmes, I know. So essentially,this is how iTwin works. It sends the data via the Internet under AES-256 encryption with the pair of iTwin working as encryption token. Only the two halves of the iTwin can recognize each other.

So there are two levels of security, at the software level as well as the hardware. Pretty assuring. And for your personal assurance, you can also set a passcode to further encrypt the connection between the two PCs.

And no, there is no Mac support yet.

As you would have realised by now, Internet connection is absolutely required for iTwin to function. And your inner geeky self is probably screaming “Remote File Access” by now. Indeed it is, except for the much stronger security which is of paramount importance for obvious reasons.

Which adds to my curiosity of the device. Fortunately, I have one in my hands now. Courtesy of iTwin, of course.

What’s the Deal?

It is not often that I have to tell anyone how a device can be useful to their lives. I mean you are a clever dude/gal, you know the good stuff. But iTwin is in the class of it’s own. I guess it would be beneficial to share my thoughts on this one.

Sure, there are as many ways to transfer files over the Internet; Dropbox, Skydrive, MobileMe and ... you get the drift.

BUT, here is a big BUT, data duplication is often required. Synchronization, uploading and downloading data to edit or for viewing is unavoidable in many instances. Yet, it seems to be convenient enough for the most of us.

So what’s iTwin offering here? A solution for you to have direct access to your data in the original physical location. Edit files that reside on your home desktop from your workplace. Gain access to your entire library of documents and media. Something like a dedicated server to yourself.

More crucially, there is ZERO technical configuration needed. A person who knows where is the USB port can use it and this is equivalent to EVERYONE.

But things aren’t that straightforward yet.

For iTwin to act as a thumbdrive or delicated server, it means that you need to have a PC (with one half of the iTwin) has be switched on to accept the data connection from the other PC. Even in times of emergency.

In other words, the use of iTwin is pretty peculiar. Either you have your PC switched on most of the time or you plan to use iTwin in advance so you can leave your PC switched on. Another situation could a direct sharing of files between two users. Something like a secret channel between a CEO And his/her CFO. So each of them owns one half and no other people can have the same access.

For such a unique device, I have also penned down it’s installation and usage guide which you can spend the next 3 minutes of your life reading. Go on, you know you want to read it.

Setting Up

There aren’t much in the package. There is the pair of iTwin and a Getting Started Guide. Two first thoughts when I opened up the box; One, I wasn’t going to read the guide because the concept seems so simple and two, the hardware design is fairly professional but that’s not the point.

The real point is how well it works. So the iTwin went separate ways. One to my family computer and the other to my personal computer. Minutes later, they are connected again; literally virtually.

The installation screen automatically pops up on Windows XP while Windows Vista and 7 are more polite folks, they asked if I want to run the program. From what I see, the program installed itself to the computer, validate the program and try to find it’s counterpart (online of course).

I am installing the first of the twins, so clearly it is unable to detect the other half. The program told me so. You will also notice the iTwin icon in the system tray to facilitate the use of the device. And that’s is that, the installation flew past in 60 seconds. Well, another 60 seconds for another installation and they are instantly connected.

The Concepts

There are 2 simple concepts to note. In my explanation, I will always refer to the two computers, which I plugged each half of the iTwin, as “Computer A” and “Computer B”.

#Concept 1: On each PC, there are two folders; “Local Files” and “Remote Files”. The “Local Files” (on Computer A) will store all the files that you want to share with Computer B. The “Remote Files” (on Computer A) will show all the files being shared on the “Local Files” folder of Computer B. The exact same concept is mirrored on Computer B.

#Concept 2: To share a file, you use the “copy” on the mouse’s right click menu and “paste” it in the “Local Files” folder. That’s what we all know but I am not underestimating your intelligence. Here is the catch, the “paste” command would only insert the LINK to the file. The file still physically reside where it is located originally.

For example, let say you want to share your Edison-Chen-like photos (on Computer A) with Computer B and those scandalous photos resides in the folder “My Pictures” (on Computer A). By the way of “Copy” and “Paste”, the “Local Files” will now store the links to those photos. Deleting the links in the “Local Files” will in no way impact the original files.

Think Think Think…

The concept of inserting the links instead of moving the physical location of the files meant that your current folder structure will not be affect by sharing. For instance, you can share the Edison-Chen-like photos from the folder that keeps all your photos and also the videos of that nature from the folder that keeps all your videos without moving them out the original folder structure. There is no need to duplicate the files in two folders in a single computer too.

Just in case you wonder, yes, by putting in a folder, all the files between that folder will be shared automatically.

And there you have it, you have master the usage of iTwin.

Other details you might be interested in may be the following:

You will alternate between “Local Files” and “Remote Files”. There is no option to see both at the same time.
You can alternate the folders via the icon in the system tray.

Wrapping Up…

The single most impressive part of the iTwin is it’s ability to connect two computers without technical configuration. I said it three time in this post so you can absolutely believe in my testimonial. Clearly, this is the easiest solution to sharing files between two computers in the market at the moment.

Of course, you could treat iTwin like a thumbdrive, to store data anywhere you like. Except that it does not really function like a ordinary thumbdrive, you will require two things; Internet Connection and the other PC to be up and running (not in sleep mode).

Fundamentally, iTwin is does what is does in supreme simplicity. Practically, if sharing files between two computers connected to the Internet is a common use case for you, then it is high time you invest in iTwin.

Yet, is that the most common use case for consumers?

iTwin is in it’s first iteration and it certainly has great potential to be part of many digital lives. More so after the COO of iTwin, Mr Kal Takru, said something that interest me the most; “iTwin will extend the plaform over time to support Mac OS X, smartphones and other devices.”

Remember the first version of iPhone didn’t exactly set the world alight? For me, direct desktop connection from my Android phone is something that will surely wow me. And possibly the world.

Link – iTwin Official Website Purchase Page (iTwin is only for sale online for now)

[Event Report] [Hands-On] Following the introduction of A10, we finally laid hands on the actual retail set at the ultra-interactive launch event. That’s right, we got to walk around Fullerton One, ride on the Hippo Bus and toy with the mobile phones along the way. And then, there is the element of surprise; Garmin-Asus A50 also made its debut at the event and incredibly retails at a lower price than A10 despite boasting a bigger screen. Yep, there is one whole load of stuff I took away from a packed 1 hour event and I have cut and highlighted them for a busy you to know A10 and A50 like your long lost friends in 5 minutes.

The Maps in the Brain

Garmin-Asus A10 and A50 is all about maps and navigation. Some thing along the line of carrying a PND (Personal Navigation Device) with you. And it is more like adding the phone function to PND than adding PND function to the phone.

Preloaded with the NAVTEQ® map of Singapore and Malaysia, Garmin-Asus’ game plan revolves around Garmin’s professional 1690 car navigation software and that means both models come with standard PND functions such as turn-by-turn navigation and more advance features such as Lane Guidance and Junction View.

To show these features, the host told us to go Saint Julien from One Fullerton where the conference is held. The thing is, they aren’t prepared to lead us there; instead we were told to find our way there with the latest Garmin-Asus phones.

My experience for the short walk? It is harder to lose my way to the destination than ending up there.

First, key in the destination. The phone automatically finds my current location and gave me the directions to the end point. I didn’t know where Saint Julien is but the A10 in my hand vibrates when I am suppose to make a left. The only gripe I notice is that there is some lag to inform when I was already at the destination.

Next, the hosts brought us up onto the hippo bus.

I personally have never own a PND, mainly because I am not Peter Lim (the guy that bid for Liverpool FC), meaning I couldn’t afford the four wheels on our precious roads. I have a class 3 license though, so I am also not exactly David Beckham holding on to a basketball either.

But I knew these Garmin-Asus phones are really simply PNDs that are not called PNDs. While on the hippo bus, again we setup the destination of the phone and for the next 10 minutes, all I hear are the programmed voice to tell me to turn left and right and all I see are lanes instructions and speed limits on every road we turn into. Plain simple.

I am pretty sure the host checked the phones to ensure that all the features work during our short trip, so as far as I see, the map are updated and the ability of the phone to consistently discover my current location is accurate.

All in all, it looks like a premium version of Google Maps which is also installed on the phones. Including other features such as the Point of Interest database updated by Garmin-Asus and street views feature via Google Maps.

The navigation is brilliant but throughout my time with the phones, I just wished the screen on the A10 is sharper and larger than it is. It will no doubt improve the experience of using the maps.

The Twins with Strengths of their Own

The physical sizes of the phones does not differ too much. It is the screen size that you probably want to zoom in on. And to give you an even better breakdown, I have highlighted the areas in which the respective phones is stronger in. In the game of A50 and A10, Garmin-Asus is going against the market trend; to put a larger screen on your premium product (think Samsung Galaxy S or HTC Desire). And so, a Garmin-Asus customer will have to decide between have a speeder phone with better camera and battery life against a bigger screen. A difference of 0.3” might theoretically seem small, but holding them up tell a true story. I can’t harp on the screen since it is still a matter of personal preference though it is hard to imagine anyone in for a smartphone settling for anything less than 3.5” (incidentally, the screen size of an iPhone 4). Other specifications puts both models right in the bracket of the Mid-range Android smartphones.

	Garmin-Asus A50	Garmin-Asus A10
Networks	HSDPA downstream :7.2Mbps upstream: 384kbps	HSDPA DL:7.2Mbps UL: 384Kpbs,UMTS 900/ 2100
Operating system	Android 2.1 (Eclair)	Android 2.1 (Eclair)
CPU	Qualcomm 7227 600MHz	Qualcomm 7227 600MHz
Memory	256MB SDRAM + 256MB ROM, 4GB eMMC flash	512 MB SDRAM + 512MB ROM, 4GB eMMC Flash
Connectivity	Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB 2.0, WLAN 802.11b+g	Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB v2.0, WLAN 802.11b+g
GPS	Qualcomm GPSOne – Gen7 (AGPS supported)	Qualcomm GPSOne – Gen7 (AGPS supported)
Display	3.5 HVGA TFT with capacitive touch , 65K colors	3.2 HVGA TFT with capacitive touch , 65Kcolors
Camera	3 megapixel, autofocus	5 megapixel, Auto Focus
Battery	1150mAh lithium	1500mAh Lithium
Standby time	Up to 18 days (2G/3G)*	530-660 hours(2G/3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 hours (2G/3G)*	560-710 minutes(2G/3G)
Expansion	microSD ™ (supports SDHC, up to 32GB)	microSD (supports SDHC, up to 32GB)
Browser	HTTP/Google browser	HTTP/Google browser
Messaging	SMS/MMS/email/push email	SMS / MMS / Email / Push email
Video	Video playback: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/WMV @ 30 frame per second VGA Video recording: MPEG4/H.263 @ 24 frame per second VGA	Video Playback: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/WMV @ 30fps VGA Video Recording: MPEG4/H.263 @ 30fps QVGA

Holding Them like Babies

The A10, the pricer product of the two, is a compact phone. Only the front side is glossy while the back portion is setup with matte texture. It feels extremely solid with a little bit of weight. The curvy sides makes holding on to the A10 (the first of the two images below) a joy. The A50 is somewhat more economical in terms of the build quality. The black plastic casing feels a less solid than expected and the 5 way navigation pad is a little loose. But in general, A50 looks a lot like LG Chocolate Series; Simplistic black glossy design. Comparing the two purely on the terms of outlook, they are probably design for two different market segment in mind. But I personally prefer A50 with the larger screen. There I said it again.

Garmin-Asus A10

Garmin-Asus A50

Signing Off…

The launch conference of the Garmin-Asus A10 and A50 clearly shown the strengths and weaknesses of the phones. The navigation functions are excellent but the specifications of the phones are perhaps on the underwhelming side. Which to an extent, affects the core function of these devices; to be a smartphone.

Yet for the prices, Garmin-Asus A10 and A50 for $598 and $568 respectively (SRP without telco contracts), they represent value for your cash. The prices also reveals the indecisiveness of the engineers and designers to make which of these two a premium product. A mere S$30 dollars meant that A10 wins by a whisker. But I won’t bet on the consumers making the same decision. A 3.5” screen is particularly attractive to me (For a 3rd time in this post).

There are other details to cover but they shouldn’t go beyond the materials in this post in general. With the exception of the Android experience which should, navigation software which I will spend some time trying out, take the central stage in my A10 full review. I have gotten my review set. So if you wanted any particular information on the phone, I am probably able to provide some ideas.

Otherwise, enjoy your Sunday. Because Monday is sneaking up on us…

[EVENT REPORT] To be frank, prior to the invitation to experience a 3D movie on Panasonic’s 3D enabled TVs, I am not prepared to tell anyone to empty them wallets for a 3D TV. Yet, I could be prepared to do that to some selected ones. All will be reveal in due course.

The event is a causal one. Panasonic Asia probably wants the crowd to purely enjoy the movie and for specifications to take the back seat. To top it off, the breakfast served by Brotziet (313 Somerset) is brilliant.

But I did not forget my objective for every event. To understand and blog.

Let’s talk about the 3D experience first. Admittedly, Panasonic VT Series produce some of the best home cinema experiences. At the event, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3D version) is screened on a Panasonic VT Series TV. Compared to the early 3D TVs, the images are surprisingly vibrant. The fast motion of the cartoon characters are very smooth and in fact, I have to say that the 3D effects are probably the most natural one I have seen so far.

I think it is largely because the 3D effects are implemented well within the movie itself. For instance, when Scrat (the saber-toothed squirrel) digs for the nut beneath the stack of dry leaves, the motion of the leaves exploding into the air is perfectly illustrated by the 3D effects. I feel that the leaves are falling right into front of me and that leaves are fallen everywhere.

In another moment, a layer of ice cracked and the camera is positioned as if we are watching from beneath the layer of ice and as a result, the TV screen “acted” as that piece of ice and it “cracked”. Refreshing stuff.

After 20 minutes of the movie, I got to admit, the experience is damn pretty good. 3D can certainly create more visual entertainment than we think it could and I think most people will enjoy Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on 3D than on 2D.

At this point, we have to talk about the glasses, don’t we?

Right off, I am short-sighted. So I am putting on the 3D glasses on top of my own regular glasses. And yes, it is not the most comfortable experience I have but neither is the level of discomfort at the point of irritation. Panasonic also tried to make it better for bespectacled people like me. The glasses come with removable nose pads. So if you are already wearing a glasses, you can remove the nose pad on the 3D glasses.

The issue of glasses is really dependent to individual’s preference. Those without glasses already should not have too much of a trouble. Other things you should know about the 3D glasses are that there is a on/off switch and it is powered by battery with a life of around 40 hours. Also, the glasses don’t work well if you are sitting too far to the side. And of course there is the problem of buying more 3D glasses (if you have more than 2 viewers at one time) which there have been no solution yet.

So, the question that you ask and I probably should try to give you some clues is: Should you buy a Panasonic 3D TV (VT Series) then? Or 3D TVs in general?

The first part of the answer is the content. Will there be a wide range of 3D movies make available soon? Will those movies be making a use of the 3D effects? There isn’t a lot of value add watching 500 Days of Summer on 3D. So content are largely dependent on the likes of publishers and maybe in the future, cable TV suppliers; SingTel and Starhub. For now, 3D content is still limited to an occasional movie, though it seems that many companies are trying hard to push for 3D content.

If that occasional movie is Ice Age 3, I think money will be well spent.

The second part of the answer is perhaps more intriguing. In case you didn’t know, 3D effects are actually a feature of a standard HDTV. And therefore, when you purchase a Panasonic VT Series TV, you are really getting a premium plasma TV instead of a “3D TV”. Hence, underlying question is more important: Is Panasonic VT Series a HD TV that you would buy?

The conclusion to the 3D TV debate revolved around the prices then. If there is no significant price differences, then buying a 3D enabled TV is great. If there is, then it is worth considering if you have the extra budget or 3D movies are something that you craved. Which is why I would only recommend 3D TVs to certain people.

At the end of the day, I guess a combination of the hassle of glasses, the limited content and uncertainty about the technology makes 3D enabled TVs still a product for the early adopters.

But you should try it out if you haven’t, especially on Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Link – Panasonic 3D Microsite

[COMMENTARY] Next Monday, October 11, is no ordinary day. It is not a day for Monday blues. Microsoft and Steve Balmer certainly will hope it will not be the start of an extended blue Monday. All because that day has been penciled in as the day where every human being (whom are not holding to an iPhone or Android or Blackberry phones) will hold their breath and witness Microsoft unveil Windows Phone 7 as their latest mobile operating system and the initial series of handsets.

Here is the problem, after leaving out iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones’ users, there aren’t many people around that is going to hold their breath for this event. Instead, these people will mostly read, watch and discuss this historical Microsoft events on their iPhones, Androids and Blackberries. How ironic.

What’s even more ironic, some of these people may have been old enough to once be followers of the legacy Windows Mobile OS. Right now, Microsoft have to convince them to rejoin.

For us, the Singaporeans, it seems that October 12th could be a launch day for the Windows Phone 7 manufacturers. We got an invite from LG for an event on that particular day (LG sent us the image above.) More to come with our coverage then.

Check out the Windows Phone 7 official website here – Microsoft Windows Phone 7 and one last technical preview before the launch next week.

Launch date’s Source: Wall Street Journal

[NEW GADGET] After the Olympic torch, Singapore is set to officially welcome the next torch; Blackberry Torch 9800. But it seems as though the interest for the latter won’t be as high as the former.

SingTel has begun to accept pre-orders for the RIM’s latest phone, its first slider cum touch screen phone. The Singapore’s oldest Telco has offered to sweeten the pre-order deal with S$50 off the handset price with a limited edition backcover.

A Blackberry with physical potrait keyboard plus capacitive touch screen sounds like a winning formula. Yet, it has been a few months since RIM officially launched the device in United States and the reviews during this period hasn’t been that favourably to be honest.

In essential, the sentiment hovers around Blackberry Torch 9800 to be a step in a good direction. It has got Blackberry OS 6, the latest from the company. And in it, is a brand new web-kit browser which has been a remarkably improvement from the old time favourites of the Blackberry Bold series. To top it off, Blackberry Torch’s outer hardware is still as brilliant as ever.

BUT, the latest OS is still not comparably against the competition in terms of speed and usability. So is it’s application store. And it’s screen resolution is in the range of being called “low res”.

Specifications:

TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Multi-touch input method
4 GB storage, 512 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
624 MHz processor

Hit the links below to see the extensive reviews of the Blackberry Torch 9800.

For me, from the Singapore’s market perspective, I think Torch 9800 is probably going to do fairly well. The reason being despite the fact that the iPhones and Android phones outperformance, Blackberry still has a rather good following in Singapore even excluding the business segment of the market. And based on this, I think Singaporeans will continue to flavour Blackberry’s superb keyboard, business class outlook and not forgetting its Blackberry messenger.

I mean Blackberry Torch is not a superhero but it does not mean that it is a villain.

Review – Engadget
Review - Slashgear
Pre-order Page - SingTel

[NEW GADGET] Garmin-ASUS releasing Android-based Garmin-ASUS A10! Very interesting piece coming in from a co-brand alliance that used to make GPS-centric phones based on Windows mobile. Of course we all know it is not up-and-coming Windows Phone 7 but the now infamous Windows Mobile 6.5.

Android will mean a great deal to Garmin-ASUS and consumers alike. Garmin ASUS has always differentiate their products by presenting phones with strong navigating functions. It is a concept that, in my opinion, is liked by some consumers. But obviously the previous models from Garmin-ASUS hasn’t set the world alight or created strong sales figures.

The key to a successful mobile device is always two-fold; the hardware and the software.

It is not easy to create brilliant hardware of trendy and likable looks. But manufacturers are consistently getting better. Nokia with N8, Motorola with Droid (Milestone) or Samsung with Galaxy S. All great design with hardware of good specifications.

Garmin-ASUS with it’s A10, in my opinion, ranks well among competition. Based on the tried and tested design of full-touch screen and three buttons at the botton of the screen, Garmin ASUS A10 looks tidy and neat. Just about the looks of a 2010 smartphone but could potentially by let down by the 3.2” capacitive touchscreen which by today’s standards, is relatively small. More so considering the “navigating” theme of the phone. Everything else looks standard.

Garmin-Asus A10 Main Specifications:

Networks: HSDPA DL:7.2Mbps
OS: Android 2.1 (Eclair)
CPU: Qualcomm 7227 600MHz
Memory: 512 MB SDRAM + 512MB ROM, 4GB eMMC Flash
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB v2.0, WLAN 802.11b+g
GPS: Qualcomm GPSOne–Gen7 (AGPS supported)
Display: 3.2 HVGA TFT with capacitive touch , 65Kcolors
Camera: 5 megapixel, Auto Focus
Battery: 1500mAh Lithium
Expansion Slot: microSD (supports SDHC, up to 32GB)
3.5mm earphone jack

On the software side, by going with Android, Garmin-ASUS has at least caught the attention of the ever-increasing Android audience. More importantly, Android OS can balanced up Garmin-ASUS’ concept of “navigating phones”. Garmin-ASUS’ past products seem to be caught in the case of bad usability due to the operating, read Windows Mobile 6.5. But with Android, it appears to me that this is A10 could yet really be a phone to reckon with and an excellent navigating system to boot.

Whether or not this is true depends usage of the final product but at least we are looking at a very good concept.

To add more chili to the laksa, here are some features of the Garmin-ASUS A10 which I find interesting.

Powered by NAVTEQ map data, pedestrian navigation on A10 provides accurate turn-by-turn, step-by-step directions when walking or using public transit.
Other NAVTEQ map content on the A10 includes speed limit information to enable warnings of potential speed violations while providing information about maximum speed on a road.
The A10 is also preinstalled with the equivalent capabilities of Garmin 1460 PND worth S$499.
A10 features Google Maps™ with Street View which enables users to take a detailed look at their destinations before embarking on navigation with just one click.
A large built-in point of interest (POI) database in the A10 provides real-time information on weather, movie showtimes, restaurant guides and public transportation such as bus and SMRT services.

The A10 will be available in Singapore from 25 September 2010 at all major telcos and retailers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE

Media contact:

For Garmin-Asus, Singapore

Yamuna. S

Phone | + 65 9690 9273

E-Mail| yamuna@xpr.com.sg

Garmin-Asus Launches Pedestrian-Centric Advanced Android™ Smartphone with Multiple Navigation Modes

The A10 Delivers Professional Pedestrian and In-car Navigation

Singapore/ September 25, 2010 — Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin^® Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), and ASUSTeK^® Computer Inc. (TAIEX: 2357), today announced the Singapore launch of the Garmin-Asus A10, a touchscreen smartphone running on the Android platform that boasts Garmin’s professional pedestrian and vehicle navigation. The A10 being sold in Singapore has Android 2.1 and is designed for urban professionals who travel frequently within city environments whether by foot, car or public transport with its top of the line navigation-centric system.

“The A10 is the only smartphone on the market today that not only offers multiple navigation options, but delivers one of the best experiences for pedestrian navigation to today’s urbanite – whether for shopping spree, sightseeing in the city, or just simply getting to your destination comfortably and fast,” said Andy Chen, Regional director of Garmin Asus SEA. “The A10 brings the professional navigation pedigree and power Garmin is renowned for into a sleek and compact form-factor.”

The A10 comes preloaded with the NAVTEQ® map of Singapore and Malaysia. NAVTEQ® is the world leader in premium-quality digital map data and content. Powered by NAVTEQ map data, pedestrian navigation on A10 provides accurate turn-by-turn, step-by-step directions when walking or using public transit. Other NAVTEQ map content on the A10 includes speed limit information to enable warnings of potential speed violations while providing information about maximum speed on a road. In addition, intuitive visual cues such as extended lane information helps guide drivers into the most appropriate lane as they approach complex intersections, avoiding difficult last-minute maneuvers.

“The Garmin-Asus A10 aims to deliver superior navigation experience. NAVTEQ is uniquely positioned to support Garmin-Asus through its high quality map data and innovative map content.” said Ogi Redzic, Vice President, Business Development, APAC, NAVTEQ.

The Only Smartphone to Offer Multiple Navigation Options

The A10 features distinctive pedestrian navigation functionalities and an electronic compass, making it ideal for city navigation. Both car and pedestrian navigation on the A10 does not entail any GPS data charges. The A10 is also preinstalled with the equivalent capabilities of Garmin 1460 PND worth S$499! Detailed maps powered by NAVTEQ are preloaded on the A10 so that users do not have to pay and wait for third party maps to download from a server. This also ensures that users do not lose their turn-by-turn, voice-prompted navigation even if they go out of range on their cell phone coverage. In addition, the A10 features Google Maps™ with Street View which enables users to take a detailed look at their destinations before embarking on navigation with just one click. The smartphone’s Junction View and Lane Guidance features lets users know the exact lanes to turn into at intersections. With its uniquely designed car kit, the A10 is ready for use in an automobile straight out of its packaging. The car kit comprises a powered audio mount that magnifies the volume of the handset’s voice commands. The car mount also automatically switches the A10 to hands-free mode when the phone is docked, and records the final GPS location when the phone is removed, enabling users to home in on their parking locations with ease. With the Fastest Satellite Positioning at 32 seconds^ and seamless integration of navigation features, the A10 boasts an unparalleled in-car experience.

Discovering the Real World: Robust Specifications and Location-based Services

The pocket-sized A10 has a bright 3.2” capacitive multi-touch screen and a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera that automatically geotags images with an exact location reference. A geo-tagged photo can be sent to friends who can then initiate navigation to the location by simply clicking on it. Designed to deliver a rich entertainment and productivity experience on the go, the A10 is equipped with abundant memory – 4GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM – for work documents, multimedia files and applications. The A10 is fitted with a 1500mAh battery that ensures uninterrupted navigation, outstanding standby and talk times.

A large built-in point of interest (POI) database in the A10 provides real-time information on weather, movie showtimes, restaurant guides and public transportation such as bus and SMRT services. These Connected Services can be accessed instantly via the A10’s ‘click and go’ function.

Connecting to the Virtual World: Comprehensive Online Capabilities

The A10 has everything users need to stay connected to the people important to them and to keep updated on the events in their lives. It integrates Google™ mobile services with one-click access to Google Maps™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, calendar, contacts and Android Market™, where users can find thousands of applications to expand and personalize their phone to fit their individual lifestyles. 510MB of memory is dedicated exclusively to applications making it ample for over 400 applications. The A10 also supports Wi-Fi sharing which enables users to access the Internet anytime, anywhere, through any Wi-Fi capable device. Packed with a comprehensive range of features and with its unique navigational-centric system, the A10 is the ideal smartphone for those who live on-the-go.

The Garmin-Asus A10 will be available from September 25, 2010 at all major telco shops and retailers. Additional information on Garmin-Asus products can be found at sg.garminasus.com.

Garmin-Asus A10 Main Specifications:

Networks	HSDPA DL:7.2Mbps UL: 384Kpbs,UMTS 900/ 2100 EDGE/GPRS/GSM 850/900/1800/1900,
OS	Android 2.1 (Eclair)
CPU	Qualcomm 7227 600MHz
Memory	512 MB SDRAM + 512MB ROM, 4GB eMMC Flash
Connectivity	Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB v2.0, WLAN 802.11b+g
GPS	Qualcomm GPSOne–Gen7 (AGPS supported)
Display	3.2 HVGA TFT with capacitive touch , 65Kcolors
Camera	5 megapixel, Auto Focus
Battery	1500mAh Lithium
Standby Time	530-660 hours(2G/3G)
Talking Time	560-710 minutes(2G/3G)
Expansion Slot	microSD (supports SDHC, up to 32GB)
Browser	HTTP / Google browser
Messaging	SMS / MMS / Email / Push email
Video	Video Playback: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/WMV @ 30fps VGA Video Recording: MPEG4/H.263 @ 30fps QVGA
Audio	Mp3/mpeg4/wma/aac, aac+, aac+/wav/midi/ogg/3.5mm earphone jack

Garmin-Asus A10 Car Mount **Features:

● When the A10 is mounted, the car mount will automatically recharge the phone.

● It automatically switches the A10 to hands-free mode.

● A built-in speaker amplifies the volume of calls and of sounds from the handset.

● When the A10 is dismounted, it will automatically record the final GPS location.

^ Depends on environment and phone usage

About Garmin-Asus
Garmin-Asus is a co-branded strategic alliance that enables Garmin Ltd. and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. to combine their complementary resources to develop world class LBS-centric mobile phones.

About Garmin Ltd.

The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200.

About ASUS

ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia, wireless solutions, networking devices and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than ten thousand people and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company's revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion.

ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

Google, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Android and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc.

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data (digital location content) enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ was founded in 1985 and now supplies comprehensive digital location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, proudly supported by approximately 5,000 employees located in 211 offices in 48 countries.

Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 2010, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-Q is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

[REVIEW] Don’t ask me why, but I have never be a fan of the in-ear canal type of earphones. Maybe it has something to do with my character. I am a traditional guy through and through and I prefer earphones that rest nicely in the outer area of my ears. This preference for tradition means I am choosing from a very limited pool of earphones in the consumer electronics market.

Today most consumers prefer in-ear canal earphones because by squeezing the earbuds into the ear canal, the bass will be heavier and less noise from the environment will filter into the listening experience. Hence in recent years, we seem brands like Shure and Bose producing premium ear canal-fit because this type of earbuds produced superb audio experience. And more importantly, it seems that most consumers don’t find earbuds in ear canal a uncomfortable setting like I do.

Because the trend, less and less non ear canal fit earphones are produced over the ears and it is, as I can testify, very hard to find a top range, or even mid range, pair of traditional type of earphones. The likes of Sennheiser, Sony and Creative do have some products of such nature but in general I do not like their quality and design since these manufacturers mainly focused on ear canal fit. (Senniheiser has some really good ones at nearly a hundred dollars, I obviously didn’t go ahead with it.)

It was against this backdrop when I saw Sennheiser MX 471 at Epicentre, 313 Somerset branch. It checks all the boxes for a pair of earphones that I would buy; It wasn’t a ear canal fit, it is a mid range product and it is made by Sennheiser.

MX 471 is ergonomically designed for ladies and those with smaller ears according to Sennheiser. (I have small ears.) But what’s more important than producing quality audio performance. Sennheiser’s Live Bass system sounds good.

Specifications:

Frequency response: 18 – 20000 Hz
Impedance: 16 Ω
Sound pressure level: 119 dB

And so I bought it at S$42 after a 5% Epicentre membership discount. MX 471 comes with ear pads, sleeves and a very useful storage pouch.

The design is modern and classy. The gold stripes design is unique to each pair (according to Sennheiser) and the cables are of good material. Not the rubbery kind that will tangle easily.

And indeed, they are really comfortable for my small ears.

The audio performance is certainly up to scratch. Still not comparable to the premium (not the China brands) ear canal fit earphones fit. But it is certainly punchy and packs in very good bass. And certainly MX 471 performed much better with songs of strong bass than outstanding vocals. While the treble is not on the high side, I think the overall experience is what I would expect from Sennheiser.

I think at the end of the day, earphones designs should be a balance between comfort and audio performance. MX 471 is a good fit for me, and maybe for you too.

Link - Official Product Page

The Singapore Gadget Talk Show

The Hardware

The Software

Wrapping Up…

What is iTwin?

What’s the Deal?

Setting Up

The Concepts

Think Think Think…

Wrapping Up…

The Maps in the Brain

The Twins with Strengths of their Own

Holding Them like Babies

Garmin-Asus A10

Garmin-Asus A50

Signing Off…

Advertisement

About

A Random Thought

Archives

About

Subscribe us