iPad Air in Singapore

Apple has announced its new iPad line of tablets. iPad Air, the 5th generation of iPad, will be equipped with new A7 processor and is just 450 gram. iPad Mini Retina Display, 2nd generation of iPad Mini, will be equipped with A7 processor and retina display.

iPad Air release date in Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Japan is November 1st 2013. Although Apple kept iPad as a pretty expensive tablet, expect long lines of queues for the new device and an overwhelming demand.

iPad Air Specifications and Prices
240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm iPad Air will weight just 469 grams and come in silver, space gray and aluminum colors. 9.7 inch and 2,048 x 1,536 pixels screen will hide a 64-bit A7 processor behind and a battery powering the device for 10 hours on Wi-Fi. iPad Air still comes with 5 megapixels camera.

iPad Air prices for only Wi-Fi version are US $499 for 16 GB, US $599 for 32 GB, US $699 for 64 GB and US $799 for 128 GB models. For Wi-Fi plus cellular iPad Air prices are US $629 for 16 GB US $729 for 32 GB, US $829 for 64 GB and US $929 for 128 GB models.

iPad Mini Retina Display Specifications and Prices
200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm iPad Mini Retina Display will weight just 331 grams and come in silver, space gray and aluminum colors. 7.9 inch and 2,048 x 1,536 pixels screen will hide a 64-bit A7 processor behind and a battery powering the device for 10 hours on Wi-Fi. iPad Mini 2 comes with 5 megapixels camera.

iPad Mini 2 prices for only Wi-Fi version are US $399 for 16 GB, US $499 for 32 GB, US $599 for 64 GB and US $699 for 128 GB models. For Wi-Fi plus cellular iPad Air prices are US $529 for 16 GB US $629 for 32 GB, US $729 for 64 GB and US $829 for 128 GB models.

SingTel iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C Contract Price Plans and Launch Date in Singapore

SingTel, the largest mobile network operator in Singapore, has announced launch dates for Apple's new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models along with price plans. SingTel's launch event will be on Friday September 20th and start 8 am at Exhibition Hall E in Basement 2 of the Marina Bay Sands.

iPhone 5S 32 GB model is priced at 668 SGD,  16 GB model is priced at 538 SGD and 64 GB model is priced at 818 SGD with SingTel Lite plan of 39.9 SGD per month while all models (16 GB/32 GB/64 GB) will be free with the Prestige price plan of 239.5 SGD per month.

iPhone 5C 16 GB model is priced at 318 SGD and 32 GB model is priced at 538 SGD with SingTel Lite plan of 39.9 SGD per month while all models (16 GB/32 GB) will be free with the Prestige price plan of 239.5 SGD per month.

Apple has recently released these quite disappointing models and although iPhone 5S is almost same with iPhone 5 and supposedly cheap model iPhone 5C is not cheap expect some queues in SingTel's launch event. If you are interested in these two iPhone models you can book an appointment online to purchase iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c at the launch event from 4pm onwards on Wednesday, Sept 18.

For customers who have registered, you will receive an email and/or SMS from SingTel that enables you to book an appointment with them to secure your iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

SingTel iPhone 5S Price Plans
	Lite $39.9/month	Value $59.9/month	Plus $99.9/month	Prestige $239.9/month
16 GB	$538	$278	$48	$0
32 GB	$668	$368	$128	$0
64 GB	$818	$528	$278	$0

SingTel iPhone 5C Price Plans
	Lite $39.9/month	Value $59.9/month	Plus $99.9/month	Prestige $239.9/month
16 GB	$318	$118	$0	$0
32 GB	$538	$238	$28	$0

Other telcos has not announced the price plans yet. StarHub on September 11th announced it will offer iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to customers beginning on Friday, September 20.

iPhone 5S in Singapore

Apple's new iPhone, iPhone 5S, is announced. iPhone 5S is equipped with A7 Processor which, according to Apple. provides desktop level performance. It also has a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1,136 x 640 pixels, a 8-megapixel rear camera and dual LED. iPhone 5S comes in 3 colors: black, white and gray.

Release date? Both iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, a low cost iPhone model announced with iPhone 5S, are expected to be released on September 20 2013. The iPhone is usually made available to the public in major markets including US, Canada, France, Japan, Hong Kong, UK, and Singapore, around a week after the official announcement[1]:

If one connects the dots, Nikkei, the Japanese business publication had earlier suggested that Apple would release the iPhone 5S and the low cost iPhone or iPhone 5C on September 20 in Japan, indicating that the first wave of the new iPhone's release would commence on the same day. Greece-based website, Techmaniacs had also confirmed that the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C would launch on September 20.

The iPhone 5C with 16 gigabytes of memory will start at $99 with a two-year US carrier contract and $549 without a contract -- $100 less than previous iPhone base models.

The top-line iPhone 5S, which starts at $199 with a contract for US buyers and $649 without one, "is the most forward thinking phone we have ever created," said Apple vice president Phil Schiller.

Singtel, M1 and StarHub has announced that they are accepting registrations of interest for the new iPhone 5S and 5C.

Interested customers can register their interest for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C online on SingTel, StarHub or M1 sites today. Starhub customers can pre-order the new iPhones on Friday.

The telcos did not release contract prices of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C yet.

Pricing & Availability (From Apple Press Release)
iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.⁵ iPhone 5s will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 5s cases will be available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for a suggested retail price of $39 (US) through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. iPhone 5s will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free.⁵ iOS 7 will be available as a free software update starting on Wednesday, September 18 for iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and iPod touch (fifth generation). Some features may not be available on all products.

Apple's invitation for September 10 event

[1] -  iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S: More evidence suggests September 20 release date

iPhone 6 in Singapore : Prices, Release Date, Contract Plans and specs

iPhone 6 release date in Singapore is 19 September 2014. The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have been revealed on September 9th. The phones will be available for pre-order on 12th September in USA and will be released in 9 countries on 19th September. The 9 lucky countries are United States, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. StarHub is mentioned as retail partner for Singapore.

iPhone 6 Singapore prices have also been revealed. iPhone 6 price starts from $988 for 16 GB model. There is no 32 GB iPhone 6 model and 64 GB is priced at $1148 and 128 GB iPhone 6 model is priced at $1288 without 2 years operator plans. 16 GB iPhone 6 price in Singapore is $1148, 64 GB will be $1288 and 128 GB will be $1448.

The iPhone 6 is probably the most leaked Apple devices or any smartphone in the history. Detailed specs, release dates and photos (apparently stolen from the Chinese production line) were leaked. And everything announced about the phone are matching the leaks. As expected, iPhone 6 will come in two sizes : iPhone 6 will have 4.7 inch and iPhone 6 Plus will have 5.5 inch screen. The new generation iPhone uses  Retina HD and has A8 Processor.The camera on the smartphone (or Phablet for the plus)  8MP iSight camera with True Tone LED flash. The 5.5-inch screen iPhone 6 Plus is by far the largest phone Apple has created.

Singapore M1 iPhone 6 prices and plans were first to be released ahead of SingTel and StarHub prices. M1 offers iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in following packages:

	i-Lite	i-Lite+	i-Reg	i-Reg+	i-Max	i-Max+
Monthly Subscription	$28	$41	$61	$81	$101	$208
Get your iPhone at attractive pricing with a 2-year iPhone contract.
iPhone 6 16GB	$645	$525	$285	$85	$40	$0
iPhone 6 64GB	$785	$665	$425	$220	$125	$40
iPhone 6 128GB	$925	$805	$565	$360	$265	$180
iPhone 6 Plus 16GB	$785	$665	$425	$225	$125	$60
iPhone 6 Plus 64GB	$925	$805	$565	$360	$265	$180
iPhone 6 Plus 128GB	$1,060	$945	$700	$500	$405	$320
Voice/Video Calls (mins)	100	200	300	400	800	Unlimited
	Unlimited free calls to 3 M1 numbers
SMS/MMS	500	1000	1200	1500	2000	5000
Data	300MB	3GB	4GB	5GB	7GB	13GB
	Excess data charges: $10.70/GB, capped at $188.32/mth
4G VAS	Waived permanently
Download Speed*
3G – Up to 14.4Mbps	Typical download speed range (at fixed location): 2.5 – 8.2Mbps
4G – Up to 150Mbps	Typical download speed range (at fixed location): 16.7 – 66.5Mbps

Later, StarHub also released the iPhone6 price plans for 2 years contracts.

StarHub iPhone 6 price plans

SingTel iPhone 6 Singapore prices for 2 years contract are not released yet. We will update you here once they are out. You can pre register your interest for iPhone 6 with SingTel here and StarHub here.

The new phones will feature WiFi calling and Voice over LTE, which will let you use your data to make phone calls rather than cellular (whenever it is possible). And your operator will not like it.

Apple also released a new smart watch named "Apple Watch" (not iWatch). An iPhone would be necessary for the watch to work according to Apple VP Kevin Lynch.

It is also confirmed that iPhone 6 will have NFC Hardware for a new payment system called Apple Pay. Apple wants to replace the wallet with a smartphone!

	iPhone 6	iPhone 6 Plus
Colors Available	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Size	13.81 x 6.7 cm Screen Size : 4.7 inches, 11.9 cm Width : 6.9 mm	15.81 x 7.78 cm Screen Size : 5.5 inches, 14 cm Width : 7.1 mm
Weight	129 grams	172 grams
Processor	64 bit, M8 Motion Coprocessor (accelerometer, compass, gyroscope and a new barometer)
Battery Life (Standby Time)	Up to 10 days (250 hours)	Up to 16 days (384 hours)
Screen Resolution	1334 x 750 pixels 1300:1 contrast ratio (typical)	1920x1080 pixels 1400:1 contrast ration (typical)
Camera	8MP iSight camera with Focus Pixels 1.5-micron pixels and f/2.2 apeture Panorama (up to 43 megapixels)
Video Recording	1080p HD at 60 fps 720p slo-mo 240-fps, time lapse video
Connectivity	150Mbps Download speed, 20 LTE Bands, 802.11AC WI-FI
Features Included	Touch ID, Reachability, Camera Burst Mode, FaceTime, Audio Playback, Siri
Operating System	iOS 8

According to Japanese Mac enthusiast site MacFan's claims, the next-generation iPhone, probably be called iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S, will be unveiled on June 20 and the sales will start some time in July. Apple is already expected to launch iPhone 5S in June or July by Apple fans since original iPhone and the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 were released during the June and July period (iPhone 4S and 5 were released in autumn):

A new rumor from Japan echoes previous speculation that the next iPhone -- presumably the "iPhone 5S" -- may be formally announced at a special event on Thursday, June 20. MacFan, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary as a Mac enthusiast site, claims that the new model will go on sale in July, a few weeks after its introduction. According to the report, a "low-cost" version of the iPhone aimed at the larger larger pre-paid market in developing countries such as China and India may debut in August.
Source : Rumor: Next iPhone to be announced June 20, arrive in July

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is believed to be readying production of its next-generation iPhone during the second quarter of 2013 in preparation for release as early as this summer:

Apple Inc. AAPL +0.51% plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device's production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.
At the same time, Apple continues to work with its manufacturing partners in Asia on a less expensive iPhone that could be launched as soon as the second half of this year, these people said. The four-inch device likely will use a different casing from the higher-end iPhone. Apple has been working on different color shells for the phone but its plans remain unclear.
Source : Apple to Begin iPhone Production This Quarter

In the design and specification side the rumours are very conflicting. Some says the design will not be very different while others expect a radical re-design in current trend towards larger screen machines. It is also rumoured that Apple will release multiple handsets, some of which may be budget models fabricated from plastic and with no physical home button.

According to some reports, Apple has already designed the next two versions of the iPhone while Steve Jobs was alive. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón was told by an Apple representative that the next two iPhone models "preceded Tim Cook", according to a report in The Examiner.

On the software and hardware side many expect an upgraded iOS 7, A7 processor and a 13-megapixel camera for the iPhone 5S’s iSight setup.

[1] - Apple iPhone 6 Release Date Tipped for 19 September
[2] - Apple iPhone 6 event officially set for Sept. 9

iPad Mini in Singapore

Apple's new iPad Mini, 7.9 inch version of iPad tablet, will be released on November 2 2012 in Singapore by all of the three telcos - SingTel, StarHub and M1. Apple's fouth generation iPad will also be released on the same day. Pre-orders for iPad Mini will start on Oct 26. The price of iPad Mini starts from $466 for 16 GB Wi-Fi model. 32GB price is $578 and 64GB goes for $708. Cellular version prices are much higher: $788 for 16GB, $788 for 32GB and $918 for 64GB. Price of the device started a debate around the world. Some found it expensive and some thinks that it is the right price. I think the price is high but Apple will probably sell good because it has a brand in the domain and loyal followers. But yes, it is still expensive and as a person not using any Apple product, there is not reason for me to buy an iPad Mini when there are cheaper and very good mini tablets in the market.

Ok, this one is a shocker. The iPad mini is priced at $329 for a 16GB version with Wi-Fi only. The one with Cellular connectivity will start at $429 for the 16GB. That is expensive.

7 inch tablets have been a hit by consumers in Singapore with their compact size which still provides an ideal screen size for multimedia applications such as games, e-books and videos (you can basically hold it in your palm and it has half the weight of the standard iPad). According to the research firm GfK Asia, sales of 7-inch to 7.9-inch tablets grew from 45,000 units in the period from January to Septe mber last year to 75,000 units in the same period of this year in Singapore. For many users, current 9.7 inch version is too big to carry around or to hold up for a long period of time to use a multi media application.

There are cheaper 7-inch tablet options, like the Google Nexus 7 which has a higher resolution screen compared to iPad Mini which is sold for $399 (16 GB Wi-Fi model). Still the iPad Mini is the thinnest and lightest among 7-inch tablets in the market and also it is one of the few 7-inch tablets with both front and rear facing cameras.[1]

iPad Mini, iPad in your palm, will go on sale in Singapore by November 2 2012.

iPad Mini runs on dual-core A5 chip and although it is ultra light and portable, it provides a long 10 hours of battery life. A great tablet to hold in one hand in a ultra crowded MRT train.

[1] - Apple iPad Mini: All the iPad at (nearly) half the cost

iPhone 5 Singapore release date is September 21

As expected Apple has announced iPhone 5, the 6th generation of iPhone, in a media event held at Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts today. And Singapore will be one of the first countries to get iPhone 5 on September 21.[1] As we have just written, these facts about iPhone 5, its announcement date, its naming and its Singapore release date were already leaked.[2] Apple's Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller revealed Apple was working with SingTel and M1 on making the iPhone 5 compatible with the telcos' respective LTE networks.[3]

Singapore's three telcos, Singtel, Starhub and M1 were fast to announce their iPhone 5 selling dates in Singapore. Singtel announced today that it will start sales of iPhone 5 from Sept. 21. Singtel iPhone 5 prices and subscription plans are not released yet.[4] StarHub also announced that it will offer iPhone 5to customers in Singapore beginning Friday, September 21.[5] You can have more information on Starhub iPhone 5 offers from this web page. iPhone 5 pre-orders begin on Friday Sept 14 2012. And M1 also today announced it will offer iPhone 5 to customers in Singapore beginning Friday, September 21.[6]

The iPhone 5 comes in either white and silver or black and slate. Singapore retail price of iPhone 5 will be S$948 (including GST) for the 16GB model, S$1,088 for the 32GB model and S$1,238 for the 64GB model.

Two good news and an expected bad news for iPhone 5: It comes with Apple's new A6 dual-core processor. This will make iPhone 5 run twice as fast as the iPhone 4S. Battery life is also improved - the iPhone 5's will be able to support eight hours of 4G Web browsing.[3] But the size of the phone's dock connecter has been reduced by 80 per cent so old docking devices will be obsolete without an adapter.

iPhone 5 Singapore release date will be Sep 21. iPhone 5 will be released in
Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan,
Hong Kong and Singapore on this date.

Apple was also expected to disappoint since the photos of iPhone 5 were leaked from a vendor. Apple also delivered as expected with the new iPhone being only evolutionary increment instead of a revolutionary device to beat up Samsung's new amazing phones:

The iPhone 5 met the predictions laid out by gadget geeks and tech analysts ahead of the unveiling last night (this morning, Singapore time), but offered few surprises to give Apple shares - already trading near record highs - another major kick. Apple had already telegraphed many of the software changes to expect in iPhone 5 when it debuted iOS 6, its latest mobile operating system, in June. iOS 6 software will be available next Wednesday as a free software update. 

"There is no 'wow' factor because everything you saw today is evolutionary. I do think they did enough to satisfy," said Mr Michael Yoshikami, Chief Executive of Destination Wealth Management.[3]

Samsung now leads the smartphone market with a 32.6 per cent share followed by Apple with 17 per cent, according to market research firm IDC. Both saw shipments rise compared to a year ago, with Samsung riding its flagship Galaxy S III phone.[3] I can count more Samsung's then iPhones since Samsung Galaxy S 3 was released in Singapore and according to the DBS Group Research, Android based phone sales are booming in Singapore in 2012 with 70% of M1's new customers in 2Q12 chose Androids.

[1] - Apple unveils iPhone 5, arriving in Singapore on Sept 21
[2] - iPhone 5 in Singapore on Sep 21 says HardwareZone
[3] - iPhone 5 available in Singapore on Sept 21
[4] - Singapore's SingTel to sell iPhone 5 from Sept. 21
[5] - Starhub Media Statement - iPhone 5
[6] - Mobile1 (Facebook)

iPhone 5 in Singapore on Sep 21 says HardwareZone

UPDATE:
As rumored, Apple released iPhone 5 in this event and iPhone 5 Singapore release date is September 21.

While all eyes are on Apple for iPhone 5 debut today, iPhone 5 prices and available dates in Singapore are eagerly waited and speculated by die hard Apple fans as well as tech community here. And according to HardwareZone Singapore,  next generation Apple iPhone, expected to be named as iPhone 5, will be launched in Singapore by September 21 2012. HardwareZone says "the information comes from sources that have provided HardwareZone with accurate launch dates in the past, which include the local launches of the iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S III."

iPhone 5 is expected to be announced on September 12 in an Apple Keynote Event. The invitation for the event, It is almost here, made public believe this since the shadow of 12 in the image (see below) had a number 5 as shadow. This also hints that the new iPhone will be named as iPhone 5. It is thought that it will be available later in the same month. Two of US biggest Telcos (Verizon & AT&T) has stopped their employees from taking any leave from September 21st to 30th.[1] Apple has reportedly begun manufacturing on its rumoured iPhone 5 handsets. Reports suggest Sony has been working on display components for the Californian company’s next-gen smartphone since February – and will ramp up production on the panels at the end of this month.[2]

Apple's invitation, It is almost here (pay attention to the shadow)
Source - Wired.com

iPhone has been a great hit in Singapore since the first iPhone was unveiled by then CEO of Apple Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007. It has been widely adapted and dominated smartphone market here but since Galaxy SIII Samsung started to increase its share.

[1] - iPhone 5 Singapore Launch Date & Price
[2] - iPhone 5 release date, price, specs, news & rumours

new iPhone 5's look disappoints many

Apple's new iPhone, iPhone 5, is expected to be released in September 12th 2012[1] but before it is officially released, its supposedly real photos traditionally leaked from an Apple parts supplier and repair company. And the "new" iPhone looks exactly the same way the iPhone 4S looks, which is almost identical to iPhone 4!

As expected many are unimpressed with the photos supposedly belonging to next iPhone:

But it's not a major change, and some reviewers are saying the iPhone is starting to look dated.
- Forbes Magazine says Apple appears to be "phoning it in" if these photos are to be believed.
- Fox News says it looks "small and chubby" compared to newer phones.
- And CNET says "gadgeteers will be disappointed" if this is the final phone.  

The problem, many say, is Samsung's new Galaxy 3, which is sleeker and thinner, with a much bigger screen.  The Galaxy raises the bar the way the iPhone used to, three or four years ago. 

Source : New iPhone photos leave many unimpressed

And this time users have one more important excuse to directly upgrade from their current iPhones to Samsung Galaxy SIII: New iPhone is expected to come with a smaller connector plug which will basically make current chargers and zillions of types of docks useless (if they do not allow some space for a converter.)

iPhone versus Samsung Galaxy S 3. Henry Blodget says
Galaxy SIII looks like a next generation phone while iPhone looks old now.
Source : Business Insider

Some like Henry Blodget even went further to say that it will be a disaster for Apple if this photos really belong to the new iPhone. henry Blodget wrote in Business Insider that if the iPhone 5 really looks like this, Apple may be screwed:

"And I can't be the only potential customer who is deflated by what they see. In fact, I'll go far enough to say that, if the iPhone 5 looks like the pictures that have recently appeared, Apple may be screwed. 

Why? 

Because the "iPhone 5" looks pretty much like the iPhone 4S. Which looked exactly like the iPhone 4, a phone that is now two years old. In the meantime, Samsung and other manufacturers have come out with phones that make people's jaws drop, such as the Galaxy S3, which has a (relatively) humongous screen. Although the Apple faithful may start hyperventilating about things like the movement or elimination of a button, most phone buyers couldn't care less. Now that most phones do the same things and work pretty much the same way, the most obvious (and, arguably, important) difference between them is the screen."
Source : If The iPhone 5 Really Looks Like This, Apple May Be Screwed...

Henry Blodget argues that Apple's decision to move the release of last year's iPhone from the summer to the fall, and then to release a phone that was only a "refresh" of the prior generation, had allowed Samsung, et al, to catch up.[2]

[1] - Apple Will Announce The iPhone 5 And iPad Mini On September 12
[2] - Here's How Apple Blew It On The iPhone

iPad rental for tourists in Singapore

There may be times in your Singapore visit when you regret that you just did not have an iPad equipped with unlimited high-speed 3G connection. Do not regret, rent an iPad. A company in Singapore is renting out iPads loaded with Singapore and Travel Apps and daily updates on cool events and things to do for 30 Singapore Dollars (24 USD) per day. All you need to do is to e-mail rental period, date & time of collection and pick-up location to the company and they will deliver the TouristPad, charger, cable and Apple iPad Smart Case to your chosen location and payment is collected on the spot. But you had better look after your TouristPad-a-day very well. On the spot, you will be required to sign a rental contract for a hold amount of S$800 on your credit card. If you manage to return the device in one piece and working and good condition this amount will not be deducted.

Here is the press release from the company web site:

A new iPad rental service is in town. Better known as a TouristPad, this trusty tool will empower all travelers to have the most amazing, effortless holiday experience. With a lightweight iPad on hand, consumers can access resources at their fingertips and make informed choices that maximize their stay in Singapore.

Travelers can now reserve their iPad easily online at www.touristpads.com for S$30 a day. The TouristPad will be hand delivered to them at their hotel/ the airport so that they can start enjoying the service immediately when they arrive in Singapore. A deposit of S$800 will be blocked on their credit card, which will be unblocked at the end of their rental.

It definitely worth to carry your connectivity with you in Singapore where information on hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. may be very time and money saving.

iPad for S$30 a day

4 reasons why a TouristPad is made for travelers

1. Power comes with connectivity. They now have unlimited, high-speed 3G connectivity available on the go. Tourists can make a Skype call, get their YouTube fix and have online resources at their disposal.
2. Get around like a local. It’s more than just Google Maps. Our localized apps will have travelers using Singapore’s wide array of public transport networks as they get directions on the most time-efficient route from any road, street or alley.
3. Our App-visors save the day. If you fail to plan, you don’t necessarily plan to fail. At least not with our trip planning apps. Travelers will be discovering the best of Singapore with hundreds of recommended places and things to do. Air tickets, accommodation or even shows can be booked in record timing.
4. Capture the best moments. Photography buffs who love capturing moments in photos and sharing them with the world are in for a treat when they can do it effortlessly with a TouristPad. Tourists can enhance photos instantly or better yet, record and upload a video

3rd generation Apple TV available in Singapore

Since June 2012, Apple has launched local Singapore iTunes Store and now, 3rd generation Apple TV, a digital media receiver which can stream high-definition TV from the iTunes Store or a computer running iTunes, is available for consumers in Singapore. The price tag for Apple TV in Singapore is 148  Singapore Dollars.

The first two generations of Apple TV were not available in Singapore because iTunes Store was just opened here. 3rd generation device has a faster processor than the first two versions which allows streaming 1080p HD movies. The device is quite simple in look and use. You basically connect to a TV through an HDMI cable and switch it on. The device can connect to internet either through Wi-Fi (which is the mode most users prefer) or Ethernet cable. All you need to do is to enter your WiFi password and iTunes store account name and password to make the device ready to use.

Although the device has a great movie choice for the folks in US, you do not have the access to the range of movies and TV shows folks in the US do with just the click of the Apple TV remote. In fact, one of the biggest drawbacks of an Apple TV device is its content provided in Singapore.

June Yang does not hide her disappointment about the available content in Today Newspaper:

A big selling point of Apple TV Stateside is the content available via the iTunes Store. In Singapore, this argument falls apart.The poor selection of movies was a deal-breaker for me. There are barely a handful of titles, and many are B-list movies or blockbuster hits from 10 years ago (Jurassic Park or Ratatouille, anyone?). Unlike in the United States, we don’t get the benefit of subscribing to season passes for TV
series due to rights issues.

Also, the only content you can access from connected devices are those that are playable on iTunes — so no importing your personal .wma or .avi files, for example. A lot of the things Apple TV does — playing full HD movies and music — can be done just as well on my laptop, which I could just as easily plug into a big screen.  

Throughout my review, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t quite need Apple TV in my life since I had to import most of the useful content from elsewhere in order to use it, instead of getting them natively through Apple.

Source :  Apple TV or not TV?

Apple TV is now available in Singapore

Apple TV also provides a feature called AirPlay which lets you wirelessly stream what’s on your iOS device to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV. Or you can mirror exactly what’s on your mobile display to the big screen. 

AirPlay allows you to mirror (show exactly what’s on your Mac, iPhone or iPad screen) to everyone in the room. You can show web pages, games, photos, videos, spreadsheets, class material and more on your HDTV via Apple TV. With AirPlay you can also convert your iPhone 4S or iPad to a game controller and your widescreen TV to a game console screen.3.

Since Singapore is obsessed with Apple products and many own an iPad, iPhone or a Mac, the Apple TV with its reasonable price is a must have for many. 

Android based phone sales are booming in Singapore in 2012

I have started to observe an interesting and important shift in Singapore in terms of smart phone usage. I have a habit to count the number of iPhones and other smart phones in MRT train rides and up until recently, it looked like Singapore is dominated by Apple. It was like 4-5 iPhones to 1 Samsung. But recently, I frequently end up with opposite results. Today for example, I have counted 5 Samsung smart phones (most of them are these fantastic Samsung Galaxy S III) to 1 iPhone on the feeder bus and 4 Samsung smart phones to 2 iPhones in the MRT train car.

So when I have read the news that Singaporeans no longer obsessed with iPhone, I was not surprised:
70% of M1's new customers in 2Q12 chose Androids. Telcos provide lower handset subsidy on Androids versus iPhones due to the cheaper retail price of Androids. According to DBS Group Research, this is likely to benefits SingTel and StarHub.

"In mid- August, we expect StarHub to beat market expectations by 12 % and report 2Q12 earnings of S$95m (23% y-o-y and 8% q-o-q). We like to highlight that the upcoming launch of iPhone5 (rumored to be in September end) could reverse the trend just like how the iPhone 4S did last year," said DBS.
Source : Singaporeans no longer obsessed with iPhone

Singapore consumers queuing for Samsung Galaxy S3 in front of M1 shop in Paragon - Source : CNet Asia

Recently, there were long queues during the day 1 of Samsung Galaxy S III Sale In Singapore all 3 operators in the country offers the smart phone for prices starting from 198 SGD depending on the subscription plan.

Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It is developed by the Open Handset Alliance, led by Google.

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