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The Christmas and New Year festive season is coming soon, while this is a time of gathering and celebrations with family, loved ones and friends, there are also people around us who are less fortunate and we can do something for them too! This is a great time to help children and youth with special needs by simply folding a heart with just a few clicks at http://info.singtel.com/foldaheart.

For every heart that  you fold, SingTel donates S$1 to the SingTel Touching Lives Fund. SingTel Touching Lives Fund (STLF) is SingTel’s philanthropy programme dedicated to raising funds for children and youths with special needs in Singapore. For more info, visit http://stlf.com.sg . You can make a difference and let’s all Pay-It-Forward and our simple act can touch their lives!

Are you a Hello Kitty fan? If you are, let me share something interesting with you! The Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary X Casio EXILIM EX-TR15 will be available in Singapore! The much-sought after EXILIM EX-TR15 camera and limited edition set of accessories will be available in Singapore on 1st November, following its world debut in Hong Kong.

Weighing only 170g (inclusive of battery and micro-SD card), the Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 is only slightly thicker than an average smartphone, and yet, beneath its stylish exterior, the Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 packs a punch with its powerful dual-core EXILIM HS3 engine which significantly speeds up post-processing time, so users can take more photos within minutes.  The Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 will also feature exclusive Hello Kitty-themed stamps and frames, allowing self-portrait and Hello Kitty enthusiasts to decorate their photographs with the fashionable feline.

The Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 comes in a beautifully-decorated attaché case featuring the 40th Anniversary Hello Kitty, and a sling that enables users to carry the attaché case on their shoulder, or as a backpack with a variety of Hello Kitty-themed accessories that is bound to delight every Hello Kitty fan. This includes a lanyard, camera pouch, travel wallet, laser-etched plaque of exclusivity and unique serial number as well as a limited production Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? Baby-G timepiece for fans to indulge their passion for Hello Kitty from head to toe.

Where to Buy

Priced at S$1,499.00 each, 200 units of the Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 is available exclusively at the Consumer Electronics Exhibition (CEE) 2013 at Suntec City Hall 6, booth 6121, on 1st November 2013. An additional 200 units will be sold through premium CASIO EXILIM retailers after CEE 2013.

For more information, please visit: http://www.casio-intl.com/asia-mea/en/news/2013/EX-TR15_10_detail/

Hello Kitty fans, do take note of the following points -

1. No reservations or pre-orders are allowed.

2. Sale of the Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary ? EXILIM EX-TR15 is limited to one unit per customer.

3. Compatible with Google Android and Apple iOS mobile operating systems only.

4. The iPhone, Apple iOS, iTunes, Google Android and Google Play are trademarks of their respective owners.

5. Technical specifications are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit http://www.casio-intl.com/asia-mea/en/dc/

* Information and Photograph Courtesy of Casio Singapore and Ogilvy Public Relations *

3D Printing, this is an upcoming and exciting development and expansion in the years ahead. While this is not a new technology, 3D printing recently received a lot more publicity and coverage for the good and bad reasons! It’s entering into our industries, currently more on the Business-to-Business (B2B) level, we might be looking at 3D printing into our home, how long will this take? I am making a guess of 10 years later, maybe it will be common to have a 3D printer at home?

There was a first Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo in Asia Pacific held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore recently. I visited Stratasys at the first Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo in Asia Pacific and had a tour of their various 3D printing machines and their capabilities. It was very interesting to listen, learn and have a greater insight of the 3D printing industry, the size of the industry, where they are currently making an impact in some of the industries such as medical and automotive industries. These demonstrated Stratasys industry leadership at the First Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo in Asia Pacific and their plans to expand in Singapore and the region.

Stratasys also announced the opening of its local office in Singapore. The new office will enable Stratasys to meet the demands  its Asean-based customers and the local 3D printing market. The Singapore government recently announced the support of the industry with an investment of S$500 million over the next five years under its “Future of Manufacturing” program.  This program is designed to drive the development and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. The new local operation allows Stratasys to capture this opportunity.  Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo will feature  many influential industry leaders and analysts from within the industry, sharing insights on 3D printing industry trends and policy issues and showcasing advanced 3D printing technologies and services. In his keynote, Jaglom  will address the 3D printing trends in areas of mass customization, rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to share our views on the 3D printing industry with industry leaders and stakeholders,” said Jonathan Jaglom.  “Adoption of 3D printing, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, has increased significantly in the past few years.  In addition to Singapore, other governments, including China and Japan, have also stated their support for the industry.  We expect adoption to grow in the region. As an industry leader, we strive to continue offering cutting-edge technologies, helping to shape the industry’s innovation and service excellence standards. ”

Stratasys has been serving customers in the South East Asia and in particular, in Singapore, for many years, spanning multiple sectors including automotive, consumer electronics, consumer goods, industrial machinery, education, medical and dental.  Establishing local presence in Singapore will enable Stratasys to offer the most appropriate solutions and support to both its channel partners and customers in Singapore.

The 3D printing industry is going to expand right here in Singapore and grow bigger. It is not going to totally replace traditional/heavy industries manufacturing and production, however 3D printing industry will grow and stand tall in its own right, as a key industry on its own. If you are a business owner and you are keen to look into 3D printing, visit Stratasys and check out their 3D Printers!

I would like to thank Edelman Singapore for inviting me down to the First Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo in Asia Pacific Conference and Stratasys for bringing me around for a tour and sharing their expertise on their 3D Printers and 3D Printing industry.

* Information courtesy of Stratasys and Edelman Singapore *

DBS is actively involved in livening up the Marina Bay area, with many exciting initiatives and fun activities. The DBS Marina Regatta 2013 that took place earlier in the year attracted great crowds and participation from local and overseas dragon boating teams, along with community carnivals and sea activities for the public to enjoy! Do check out my coverage and write up of the DBS Marina Regatta 2013 that happened on the weekend of 18th and 19th May 2013 and the Bay Festival that happened on the weekend on 24th and 25th May 2013!

Coming to you, happening at Marina Bay is ….

DBS Movies by the Bay – You can vote for your favourite movie to be screened

With DBS Movies by the Bay, the public will be able to enjoy their favourite movies in the open air, by the lapping waters of Marina Bay, compliments of the Bank. To kick off the event, box-office hits ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Avatar’ will be screened on 18 and 19 October respectively. As part of DBS’ support of social entrepreneurship, various social enterprises which will be selling popcorn, drinks and snacks during the movie screening.

DBS Movies by the Bay is unique in that every month, members of the public can vote for which movie to watch. From November onwards, prior to a movie screening, DBS will post a shortlist of five blockbuster movies on its Facebook page. The two movies which garner the most ‘likes’ from members of the public will be screened that weekend.

 The movie screening will take place at the Waterfront Promenade every third Friday and Saturday of the month in October, November and December this year. A different blockbuster movie will be screened each night. This initiative is part of a year-long series of activities the bank has lined up to enliven the Marina Bay area and enable people from all walks of life to enjoy the Bay, such as the DBS Sailing Programme, DBS Marina Regatta – Singapore’s largest water sports festival, and the POSB PAssion Run for Kids.

Here are the key information and details for DBS Movies By The Bay

- When: Every third Friday and Saturday of the month in October, November and December

- Time: 7pm

- Venue: Waterfront Promenade at Marina Bay Sands (Event Square @ Marina Bay, next to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands)

For more details, do check out DBS Facebook Page for the latest news, happenings and updates! Drop by at Marina Bay and enjoy outdoor fun and movies watching with DBS Movies By The Bay!

* Information Courtesy of DBS Marketing Communications *

The art and science of audio products and entertainment, along with the growth and expansion in technology, vastly changed the landscape and evolution of home audio till today. Do you remember the time when you were listening to music, what was its format and type of audio technology? From the invention of the Phonograph to the invention of CDs (remember when it was cool to design your own CD labels?) and the growth of digital music, the way we listen to music is constantly evolving with new products and technologies. The era when I grew up with cassette tapes followed by CDs, are not really seen around in the audio entertainment world.

To explore the evolution of audio consumption and celebrate the launch of the Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600, Logitech has produced an infographic showing the journey of the home audio system. It includes key dates, facts, and figures about the technology that helps us listen to our favourite music every day. For example:

• The first recording on the human voice was made by Thomas Edison in 1877 – a milestone which led to the invention of the first gramophone in 1888.
• The first LP record on vinyl was released in 1948.
• The first CD hit shelves in 1982 – the format had almost 18 years before the digital music revolution began.
• By February 2001, 26.4 million people were sharing music digitally via Napster
• The iPod was born in 2001. Today, the average user has 7,160 songs in their iTunes library.
• If you were to listen to every song on Spotify back to back, it would take you 114 years.

Designed for the modern living room, the Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 is made to go further than the tradition computer speaker system, providing room-filling sound despite their small footprint.

For more information about the Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600, do drop by their website and check them out!

* Information and Infographic Courtesy of Logitech Singapore and SPRG *

The Sony Xperia Z1 (that I wrote about earlier) is finally reaching Singapore and I would like to share with you some exciting news and information about the Sony Xperia Z1 price plans and exclusive promotions with SingTel. If you are looking to get the Sony Xperia Z1, now’s the time to do your pre-order for it!

SingTel customers will be the first in Singapore to get their hands on the stunning new Sony Xperia Z1 waterproof smartphone. SingTel will accept pre-orders of the handset from Wednesday 2 Oct at www.singtelshop.com.

As a bonus, customers who pre-order the handset will enjoy the following:

• Exclusive Justin Timberlake “The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience” part 1 & 2 CD album (worth $21.90) (The album is only available from  CD shops from 1 Nov).
• Sony Social Live Premium Account subscription for 3 months (worth S$8.16)

• Sony Stereo Bluetooth Headset worth $108
• Official guide to Xperia Z1 (worth $40)

Those who purchase the Xperia Z1 before 6 Nov can enter a lucky draw to win a pair of tickets to Las Vegas to watch pop superstar Justin Timberlake perform in his first solo tour in six years.  Two pairs of tickets are up for grabs.

* Information and Photograph Courtesy of SingTel Corporate Communications and Sony Singapore *

TP Vision presents its new Philips PFL6008 TV series. The new Philips TVs are a good choice for consumers who value a well-balanced mix of attractive design, great picture quality, comprehensive Smart TV services, convenient streaming capabilities, ease of use and an attractive price. The PFL6008 Philips TVs have a very modern, frameless design that complements the slim-line Philips ‘U frame’ stand by mounting the screen’s glass panel within a narrow brushed aluminium rim.

Crisp and vivid pictures

Philips PFL6008 series TVs are packed with advanced and versatile features. They display pictures in vivid, brilliant colour and with impressive contrast thanks to Micro Dimming contrast improvement. 500Hz Perfect Motion Rate, along with Perfect 3D Natural Motion for motion artefact compensation, delivers a great on screen TV experience even in fast-action movie scenes and sportscasts. To intensify the viewing experience, the Philips PFL6008 series TVs feature two-sided Ambilight that allows the set to project light on to the rear wall precisely colour matched to the on-screen image and giving the impression of watching a much larger TV.

Built-in keyboard on remote control

The remote control with both classic cursor control and sensor-driven keyboard input makes internet browsing and navigation, through the comprehensive Philips Smart TV portal, hassle-free and easy.

Advanced Easy 3D features

All Philips PFL6008 TVs are Easy 3D (passive 3D) enabled and come with Premium 3D Depth allowing users to adjust the depth of 3D pictures. To expand the 3D experience and to overcome the limited availability of 3D content, Premium 2D-3D conversion adds the third dimension to 2D movies.

Embracing second screens

Philips PFL6008 TVs easily connect to other screens in the house. They support Philips MyRemote app, Wi-Fi Miracast™ and SimplyShare, which allows wireless streaming to and from mobile devices. Access to social media while watching TV, is also possible.

Pricing and availability

The new Philips PFL6008 series TVs are available in Singapore at all authorised retailers, at the following prices:

About TP Vision

TP Vision is a dedicated TV player in the world of visual digital entertainment. TP Vision concentrates on developing, manufacturing and marketing Philips branded TV sets in Europe, Russia, Middle East, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and selected countries in Asia-Pacific. We do this by combining our design expertise and innovative Philips TV heritage with the operational excellence, flexibility and speed of TPV Technology. With these combined strengths, we bring high-quality TV sets to the market: smart and easy to use with sophisticated styling accentuating i.e. new materials and slim design. We believe in creating products that offer a superior TV experience for consumers. With Philips TVs, TP Vision is a global leader in the hospitality market. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, TP Vision is the exclusive brand licensee of Philips TV for the above listed countries. The TV Company is 70% owned by TPV Technology, headquartered in Taiwan, and 30% by Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in the Netherlands. TP Vision employs close to 3,300 people in several locations around the globe.

* Information and Photographs Courtesy of Philips, TP Vision and Cohn-Wolfe XPR *

Sony recently announced the Xperia Z Ultra to their line-up of smartphones, the world’s slimmest and largest wide screen full HD smartphone, will be available in Singapore from 05 September 2013 onwards.

The new Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof*, ultra-slim with a lightweight design so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. It’s the first smartphone ever to incorporate a Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by Sony’s latest X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine to deliver the most immersive viewing experience imaginable. Additionally, the Xperia Z Ultra will also feature the fully integrated Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs, 4GLTE and HD voice to provide a seamless connected entertainment experience, industry-leading battery performance and amazing speed.

Features of the Xperia Z Ultra

• 6.44” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate viewing experience
• Ultra slim, waterproof* and dust resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
• Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
• Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm)
• 8 megapixel camera with “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor and HDR for videos and photos
• Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and connectivity
• Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life

Availability

The Xperia Z Ultra will be available in Sony stores, Sony centres, Xperia concept stores, authorised retail outlets as well as all telco operators from 05 September 2013 onwards at a recommended retail price of S$1,038 without contract.

For more information, visit Sony Mobile Singapore Facebook Page for more information!

* Information and Photograph Courtesy of Sony Singapore and Waggener Edstrom Worldwide *

The LG G2 smartphone is the latest flagship smartphone by LG Electronics, that pushes boundaries, setting a new standard in the smartphone industry and it promises to change the way we smartphone owners use our smartphones. I recently attended a LG G2 mobile photography workshop conducted by fellow photographer friend Aik Beng Chia and the LG G2 was a pretty impressive smartphone! Having played and tested the LG G2 smartphone during the LG G2 mobile phone photography workshop, I will share about it more soon. Meanwhile, here I am to share with you, my friends and readers, information and details on the latest LG G2 smartphone!

“In our pursuit of innovation and perfection, we have always observed, listened to and learned from consumers. LG has embarked on a study of consumer lifestyles and behaviors and that led to the creation of LG G2, the most exciting and ambitious phone in our company’s history yet,” said Mr. Scott Jung, Managing Director, LG Electronics Singapore.

Introduced under LG’s new “G” Series for premium devices, the G2 exemplifies LG’s aim to bring forth more customer-centric innovations, offering a variety of real-life benefits such as an ergonomic design, practical functions and an intuitive user experience.

Intuitive and Refined Rear Key

The LG G2 has revolutionized smartphone designs by placing all the buttons at the rear of the device, making it the first smartphone to be completely devoid of buttons at the sides of the phone. The Rear Key concept was derived when studies found that it was increasingly challenging to properly access the side buttons of a phone as smartphones got bigger. The rear keys give users more control as it is placed where the index fingers will naturally be located when using the phone.

Magnificent, Edge-to-Edge Display

Equipped with a 5.2-inch Full HD display, the LG G2 boasts the largest display designed for one-handed operations in today’s popular 2.7-inch width smartphone category. In addition to the expansive viewing experience, LG’s innovative Dual Routing technology reduces the phone’s bezel to a mere 2.65mm on the side edge, making the phone remarkably light and slim. LG’s proven in-plane switching (IPS) technology also gives the LG G2 superior graphics, accurate colors and clearer images without any distortion.

Best-In-Class Power Capacity

The LG G2 also employs Graphic RAM (GRAM) for greater efficiency in energy usage. GRAM reduces the display’s energy use by up to 26 percent on a still frame and increases overall usage time on the device by approximately 10 percent. This is coupled with a generous 3,000mAh step-designed battery that takes maximum advantage of the phone’s interior space.

Running on the industry’s most advanced mobile chipset, Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 800 Processor, the LG G2 enhances the user experience through stunning performance, rich graphics and outstanding battery efficiency. Through a long-term partnership with Qualcomm, LG is able to deploy the chipset that integrated perfectly with the hardware to offer a powerful and yet stable performance.

OIS and High Resolution Camera for Great Pictures

The LG G2’s in-built camera offers 13 megapixels and Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) technology in a slim design without a protruding lens. The OIS technology prevents blurring, allowing for clearer, brighter and sharper images even when in motion or shooting in dim environment. Other notable features include Super Resolution and Multi-point AF, keeping images in focus, comparable with a standalone point-and-shoot digital camera.

Superior Hi-Fi Audio Sound

As consumers rely more on their smartphones for music enjoyment, superior sound in smartphones is the feature that is lacking in most smartphones in the market. The LG G2 is the first smartphone in the market today to feature 24 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback that reproduces studio quality hi-fi sound. Consumers can now hear a level of realism and clarity in sound from a smartphone. Preloaded music from the world famous Vienna Boys’ Choir is also available on all LG G2 smartphones, allowing users to enjoy the incredible sound quality.

Practical, User Centric UX Features

The LG G2 also comes with a number of practical user experience (UX) features that provide the most practical value by focusing on a smartphone’s most popular tasks:

• Guest Mode — Protects the owner’s privacy by displaying only pre-selected apps when guests access the phone with a secondary unlock pattern
• Audio Zoom — Enables users to zoom in the sound, as they zoom in the images while video-recording. Not only is the image enlarged, the sound associated with the area is also amplified
• KnockON — Turns the device on and off by tapping the display twice
• Answer Me — Automatically answers the call after lowering the ringtone when the phone is raised to one’s ear
• Plug & Pop — Recommends options or related features to choose from when the earphone or USB cable is detected
• Slide Aside — Enables easier multitasking by simply “sliding” open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe
• QuickRemote — Not only can the LG G2 be used as a remote control for popular LG home entertainment devices, it can also learn from conventional remote controls and can be customized to operate multiple devices with flexible layouts and keys

 Available accessories for the LG G2 include QuickWindow^TM, a line of premium cases that allows users to glance at various information displays without having to open the cover flap and Quadbeat earphones. The LG G2 will be available in stores soon.

Key Specifications:

- Processor: 2.26GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 800 featuring quad Krait CPU

- Display: 5.2-inch Full HD IPS (1080 x 1920 pixels / 423 ppi)

- Memory: 32GB RAM: 2GB LPDDR3 800MHz

- Camera: Rear 13.0MP with OIS / Front 2.1MP

- Battery: 3,000mAh

- Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2

- Size: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9mm

- Colors: Black / White

Pricing and Availability

Recommended Price is SGD $898, available at all telecommunications and authorised dealers from 21st September 2013.

* Photograph and Information Courtesy of LG Electronics Singapore and Strategic Public Relations Pte Ltd *

EmancipAsia, a Singapore based not for profit organisation, supported by the Singapore Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, opened for registration for their inaugural 5km fun run/walk; set to take place on Saturday 30 November 2013 at Silver Garden, Gardens by the Bay. The organiser EmancipAsia, a Singapore-based not-for-profit organisation that aims to raise awareness, advocate change and empower people to take action on issues such as sex trafficking, domestic servitude and  labour trafficking, conceived the event to help them to raise funds and awareness of these issues in both Singapore and South East Asia. EmancipAsia had a photography exhibition in 2012, titled “Bought and Sold”, it was a very powerful photography exhibition that sent strong messages across to the audience during the photography exhibition.

Participants in the first STEPS in the Park event are asked to take their first steps to meet and join like-minded people, and their first steps to take action and help make a difference to those enslaved or vulnerable to slavery. The fun-filled event has been designed to engage participants through a variety of senses, with visual, audial and physical elements, all generating a sense of purpose and hope. After the run/walk, there will be live entertainment, lucky draws and merchandise stalls open till lunchtime.

Online registration for STEPS in the Park opens today on www.emancipasia.org/steps and the page contains all the necessary information for the event on Saturday, 30 November.

For more information about supporting STEPS in the Park or EmancipAsia, please visit the EmancipAsia website www.emancipasia.org or connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmancipAsia

Do Support a worthy, noble and wonderful cause with STEPS in the Park 2013!