Go gadget shopping with HP this Christmas

by Trevor Tan
07:36 PM Oct 29, 2010

If you're planning to go gadget shopping for Christmas, HP has a slew of offers for you as it commemorates its 40th birthday.

The computer maker will have 40 days of offers for its products during the festive season (from Nov 22 to Dec 31).

For instance, its first 3D notebook, the Envy 17 3D ($3,499), will be up for grabs in December. The Envy 3D comes with a 17.3-inch high-definition (HD) 3D display and active shutter glasses. You can fit the laptop with a powerful Intel Quad-Core processor and pack it with 2TB of built-in storage.

If you can't wait, take a look (or listen, rather) at the Envy 14 Beats Edition laptop (from $2,599) instead. Custom-built for music, it's audio system has been enhanced with Beats Audio high performance audio technology developed by HP and Beats by Dr Dre so you'll get deeper bass and sweeter trebles to go along with your tunes.

Desktop fans should check out the cool HP TouchSmart 600 (from $1,899), which lets them operate the computer using multi-touch gestures on a 23-inch HD touchscreen display.

Peripherals such as the sleek HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One slim printer ($469, available in Nov 1) or the HP Mini 210 ($599) netbook are also on offer during the 40 days.

For more information on HP's offers, visit http://hp.com.sg/store during the promotional period.

This story is only available online.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

HP ENVY 17 Notebook (Intel Core i7 EXTREME i7-920XM Quad Processor - 2.00GHz with TURBO BOOST to 3.20GHz, 8 GB RAM, 2 TB Hard Drive 2000 GB, BEATS AUDIO, 17.3-inch WIDESCREEN display, Windows 7) DESKTOP REPLACEMENT Laptop PC

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Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung Galaxy Tab launches in Singapore Nov 13

by Hedirman Supian
Updated 07:36 PM Oct 29, 2010

A touchscreen-based tablet computer based on Google's Android operating system will be launched in Singapore next month.

In a media event held today, SingTel announced that it will be selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab at its outlets on Nov 13.

The Tab is a 7-inch tablet computer that can make voice calls and access the web with its WiFi and 3G connectivity. It runs a tablet-based variation of Google's Android operating system, which was initially created for smartphones.

Unlike Apple's iPad, the 385g Galaxy Tab supports Adobe's Flash technology, allowing video playback on websites like YouTube without the use of a customised application or a video format. It is powered by a 1GHz processor and comes with 16GB of built-in storage. Other features include GPS, a microSD slot for storage expansion, dual cameras for photo and video capture and video-conferencing as well.

SingTel is including its own slew of applications on the device, including one that allows users to purchase magazines. The purchase will then be charged to their monthly SingTel bill. The telco will also allow users to catch live video streams of football matches from the Barclays Premier League. Users will be able to download applications for the device from Google's Android Market, too.

The Galaxy Tab will be available from SingTel with a contract, which includes a monthly subscription plan that ranges from $39 to $95.

A Samsung spokesperson added that the device will be sold without a contract at the smartphone maker's selected outlets for $998.

Consumers will be able to pre-order the Galaxy Tab from Oct 30 at www.singtel.com/tab.

This story is only available online.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab Leather Case Folio - Black

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Nikon D7000 to hit Singapore shelves next month

by Trevor Tan
12:36 PM Oct 28, 2010

Contrary to what some believe, the Nikon D7000 is not the successor to the D90. The specifications of this digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera effectively sandwich it between the D90 and D300S to create a new market segment.

The D7000 is equipped with a 16.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor (1.5x crop factor), Nikon's latest Expeed 2 image processor, a 3-inch LCD screen and dual SD card slots (supporting up to SDXC). All these are packed in a magnesium alloy shell that weighs only 780g (including battery).

The D7000 also features a new auto focusing (AF) system with 39-point AF points and nine cross-type sensors in the centre to ensure razor-sharp shots. You can shoot still images up to 6 frames per second (fps) and full 1920x1080p high-definition videos at 24 fps.

The camera will be available in local stores at $2,299 (body with AF-S DX 18-105mm/f3.5-5.6 lens) early next month.

This story is only available online.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0 Inch LCD and 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens

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Low-cost quality home printing

05:55 AM Oct 29, 2010

Concerned about print quality and the running costs of having a printer? Epson's newly-launched MaxEconomy (ME) series of printers aims to address these two issues consumers usually fret about.

With the Epson ME320 all-in-one, and the ME141 ink cartridges, printing a monochrome page would cost 5 cents, and if it's in colour, it'll be just 8.5 cents.

The ME320 has a four-ink cartridge system and retails for $148. Despite its affordable price tag, it's not short on features. Documents are printed at a resolution of 5760x1440 dpi. The all-in-one can churn out 28 pages per minute in monochrome and 15 pages per minute in colour. Scanning is done at resolutions of up to 600dpi. Copying is an efficient affair, too, as it can duplicate monochrome documents at speeds of up to 11 seconds per page or 38 seconds for a page in colour.

If your needs get more advanced, you can go up a notch and get a printer from the Epson ME Office Inkjet series (ME Office 960FWD, 900WD or 620F), which have features like WiFi, Ethernet connectivity, fax and built-in duplex printing. Prices range from $228 to $478.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

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Shoot your own 3D movie

Digital Camera Review: Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W3

by Trevor Tan

Updated 12:51 PM Oct 29, 2010

Watching Avatar in 3D on your spanking new 3D TV? How about creating your own 3D high-definition (HD) movie using Fujifilm's latest FinePix REAL 3D W3 ($799) instead?

To achieve 3D images (still and moving), Fujifilm has placed two 3x (35-105mm of 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens 77mm apart to mimic the human eyes, with each lens having its own 10-megapixel CCD image sensor.

Shots taken are processed and combined using Fujifilm's new REAL Photo processor to create the 3D images, which you can view without wearing any 3D glasses via the 3.5-inch lenticular 3D display on the W3 camera. But you have to keep the 3D screen directly in front of you to see the 3D effect; tilting the screen reveals the two images.

At 12.4x6.6x2.8cm and 230g, the W3 is bigger and heavier than many digital compact cameras. But the build is sturdy, and the metallic finish and smooth curves offer a good grip. However, my fingers tend to block the lens, which are near the edges of the camera. Button placement is impeccable and the dedicated 2D-3D button lets you switch between 2D and 3D mode easily. A dedicated ISO button is sorely missed though.

There is no power button on the W3; slide down the lens cover to switch on the camera. Powering up takes around three seconds while shutdown is almost instantaneous.

Every 3D image you take will yield a 2D image. You can also shoot 2D images using special functions on the W3. For example, you can shoot two images with different focal length, or different ISO settings.

Image quality is good, with vivid colours and smooth skin tones. Noise performance, on the other hand, is not what you'd usually expect from cameras bearing the FinePix brand. You will start to notice slight chromatic noise at ISO 400. At ISO 800, chromatic noise is prevalent, with loss of details evident. It's the same story for the 2D and 3D 720p HD videos - noise is clearly visible at ISO 800. But audio quality is not bad and there is a lot less ambient or wind noise here compared to films shot on other digital compact cameras.

You can play 3D video clips taken from the W3 via an HDMI cable (not included in the box) on any 3D TV, as long as the TV has an HDMI input. I tried it on Samsung's C9000 and it worked beautifully. You will need the 3D glasses that come with your 3D TV in order to view the 3D videos. While you won't need 3D glasses for Fujifilm's V1 3D viewer, it only allows you to play 3D pictures, not 3D videos.

Other than its subpar noise performance, the Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W3 is a great 3D digital compact camera for 3D TV early adopters to get the most of their gogglebox. TREVOR TAN

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

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Sidekick for the mobile warrior

Pocket Router Review: D-Link DIR-457U myPocket 3.75G

by Trevor Tan

05:55 AM Oct 29, 2010

MY CAR was in the workshop after an accident, and I had to take the bus to the office. During one of my bus trips, I powered up my MacBook to search for a new car online and turned on my WiFi-only iPad to update my apps.

Sitting opposite me, a young geek looked puzzled. My MacBook didn't have a dongle plugged in and he probably knew MacBooks don't have internal 3G modems. What he didn't know was that I had a D-Link DIR-457U myPocket 3.75G ($299) router in my bag!

This portable 3G router weighs only 103g and measures 11x6.5x1.4cm, slightly bigger than a name card. The all-white design is minimalistic. You get a power button on top, a router/modem switch on one side and a USB port on the other side.

The downside of this design is that the battery and signal indicators aren't very clear as you need to remember what each colour means. When the 3G LED is red, it means poor signal strength; blue means excellent signal strength. You'll know you are running out of battery when the Power LED is blinking in red.

The battery compartment holds a 3G SIM card slot and a microSD card slot. You have to remove the battery before you can insert your 3G SIM card but you don't have to when you're inserting the microSD card.

You can use the DIR-457U as a USB modem or as a wireless router. To use it as a USB modem, switch to modem mode and plug it into your computer. The DIR-457U has modem drivers stored in its memory and you can install the drivers onto your Mac or PC.

Once you are done with the installation, restart and you can connect to the Internet via D-Link Connection Manager. Here, you can set up your Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) via the D-Link router web interface. The web interface is easy to use, and it offers a multitude of security options, such as WEP, WPA or WPA2. In addition, you can set up MAC (Media Access Control) address filters or firewalls and even enable DMZ (Demilitarised Zone).

The device allows up to 16 devices - from your iPads to your PSPs - to connect to the Internet via WiFi, and supports download speeds up to 7.2Mbps.

If you are on the road often, please don't put this pocket router in your bag for too long - it gets really hot. And though D-Link claims the battery can last for around four hours, it becomes flat after less than three hours of usage with only two devices connected to it. But you can always plug it to your laptop to charge.

Overall, the D-Link DIR-457U is a compact and light wireless router that is easy to set up and use. It will be an invaluable companion to the mobile warrior who has plenty of WiFi gadgets in his bag. TREVOR TAN

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

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LG Optimus 7

Optimus 7: A different kind of prime


Smartphone Review: LG Optimus 7

by Sim Cheng Kai
Updated 04:29 PM Oct 21, 2010

The Windows Phone 7 (WP7) platform's biggest strength - a stringent set of hardware requirements to ensure a consistent user experience and compatibility with future updates across all handsets - is quickly turning into a double-edged sword: It's really hard to distinguish among the first wave of WP7 handsets.

The LG Optimus 7 ($888 without contract) has specs similar to the other four WP7 handsets that will be sold in Singapore - a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480x800 resolution, and a 5-megapixel camera with HD 720p video. Internal storage capacity hits 16GB - higher than the minimum 8GB requirement. But that's all the storage you're going to get - no expansion slot is available.

Nevertheless, the Optimus 7 does try to set itself apart. This sexy, enigmatic phone smartly uses angular corners and curves in a way that invites you to examine the device from various angles. From the front, the Back-Start-Search button panel below the touchscreen appears to be curved. Set the phone down on its side and mysteriously, the front panel looks completely flat.

Optimus 7 users will be privy to exclusive apps from LG via a special section on the WP7 Marketplace Hub. There are three apps presently available - Panoramic Shot is a stitch-assist photo-taking tool, Scan Search uses augmented reality to search for nearby points of interests generated from Google and Bing, while Play To lets you beam media from the phone onto Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-enabled devices. All three are nifty, but not exactly features you would buy a phone for.

New LG-exclusive apps will be offered on a quarterly basis. In the works are apps that simulate piano and guitar sounds, and a global holiday calendar. What might turn out to be an exclusive killer feature is a voice-to-text app that will let you write SMSes and update your Facebook statuses, among other things, just by speaking to the phone.

Beyond that, the core pros and cons of the Optimus 7 have more to do with the WP7 operating system.

The best feature here is the People Hub - a giant phonebook populated by the contacts from your SIM card, email accounts, Facebook, and other online identities. This master list of contacts can get messy - you'll find contacts like "Elaine" and "Elaine Tan" listed next to email addresses. But the good news is WP7 will smartly link together contacts that have the same spelling, so that when you hit the Search hardware key and type in "Elaine" or "Tan", you'll find all her phone numbers, email addresses, blog websites and more neatly listed below her Facebook profile picture. You can pin Elaine's contact onto the Start screen, which comprises two vertically-scrolling columns of squarish tiles. Her profile will appear as an animated tile whose display alternates between her picture and name.

You can pin a number of favourites - apps, contacts, websites, Office documents, even music albums and videos - onto the Start screen. But to get music and videos onto the device, you will need to install Zune on your Windows PC (Mac support to come soon) - which works like iTunes. It may be a hassle to set up Zune, but once you have done so, there is a wireless syncing option that automatically syncs your content via your home network.

Other useful WP7 features include a free "Find My Phone" service, cloud-based contacts, and the ability to download entire email inboxes for quick offline searching. Typing messages and Web surfing is also smooth.

There are shortcomings, however. There's no cut-and-paste (this will come early 2011), multi-tasking, tap-to-focus in the camera app, zoom and manual focus in HD video recording, Internet tethering, and folder support. The biggest oversight is the lack of support for Google search and Google maps. You're forced to stick with Bing and Bing Maps, but the latter doesn't let you search for directions.

Verdict: As a Windows Phone, the Optimus 7 lacks a number of features that the savviest of smartphone users are used to. But it does have a vibrant and friendly user interface, impressive smartphone-syncing features, and looks that didn't emerge from the "rounded corners" or "flat edges" school of design.

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Motorola Quench XT3

Killer looks, but not great for texting

Smartphone Review: Motorola Quench XT3
by Sim Cheng Kai

05:57 PM Oct 19, 2010

The Motorola Quench XT3 is a sight for sore eyes. The back is sleek, glossy grey; a stylish assortment of silver fixtures (like a metallic rim band) adorns the body; and the phone's crowned with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen surrounded by a black bezel.

And at $398 without a plan or $48 with a two-year contract (exclusive to M1), the XT3 is easily one of the most affordable Android handset offerings anywhere.

But the phone's good looks and affordability do come with a caveat - lower-performance hardware. Specifically, a 600MHz processor, a screen resolution of 320x480, 512MB flash storage, 256MB memory and a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash.

The XT3 runs the dated 1.6 version of Android, which means that it has a better camera gallery (you can delete multiple photos at one go); but it lacks the new contact lists, speed increments, HTML5 and Microsoft Exchange support in 2.0 and above. Though Motorola says that a 2.x firmware upgrade is forthcoming, there is no known release schedule at present.

The first thing XT3 users will notice is that scrolling - either left or right through the home screens or up and down through a list (like in the Web browser) - is sometimes choppy. And after running just a scant few applications in the background, the screen begins to show signs of lag, often freezing for a split second in the middle of scrolling manoeuvres.

The display lag emerges as a bigger problem when typing on the virtual keyboard, which is a dealbreaker for power users who trust the anto-correction feature enough to hammer out messages as fast as their thumbs can go - the XT3's screen does not update fast enough to register every key entry.

The touch panel controls below the touchscreen are nice and sensitive, but almost to a fault - while performing upward and downward strokes on the trackball, I found my thumb accidentally grazing the home or search sensors. Furthermore, the trackball is not very precise - when scrolling through links on a Google search results page, for instance, with each trackball stroke the selection cursor would travel too far some times, and not all other times.

As a phone, the XT3 works well. Voice quality and reception during calls are good and a proximity sensor turns off the touchscreen when you hold it up to the ear. You can also choose from tens of thousands of apps in the Android Market, though you might not be able to keep a smorgasbord of them due to limited internal memory.

The XT3's display lag and trackball issues are troubling but the phone's killer good looks might appeal to newcomers to Android as well as smartphone users who anticipate themselves making calls and reading Web content more often than typing long messages.

This story is only available online.


http://www.todayonline.com/

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High-end projector from Canon

Published October 18, 2010


High-end projector from Canon

CANON has released a high-end projector meant for office boardrooms, ballrooms and auditoriums. Capable of 7,000 lumens of brightness, the LV-7590 comes with five interchangeable lenses and a lens-shift function, to enable projection in tight corners or different settings. It retails at $9,900 without the additional lenses.

Compuware appoints regional VP

COMPUWARE has named Nick Evered as regional vice-president for Asia and India. He will oversee the company's overall sales and strategic developments across the East Asia and South-east Asia regions and India. Mr Evered will be based in Singapore and report to the senior vice-president of worldwide product sales.

Sony's 3D home projector

SONY has released the first 3D home projector here. The VPL-VW90ES will work with Sony's active-shutter 3D glasses and can deliver a brightness of 1,000 lumens. The product will be available in November, retailing at $14,900.

Candybar from Sony Ericsson

SONY Ericsson has released a new model called Cedar, which comes with 3.5G connectivity for access to e-mail and social networking sites. The candybar device comes with a 3.5mm audio jack and a micro-USB port. It comes in black with a silver or red back, and retails for $198 without a contract.

Compiled by VICTORIA HO

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg

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Seven heaven

Everything you need to know about Windows Phone 7

by Sim Cheng Kai
05:55 AM Oct 15, 2010

SPEND less time on simple tasks. Updates and apps compatible with all handsets regardless of manufacturer or firmware. Smart integration with other Microsoft properties like Xbox Live, Zune and Office.

These are some of the promises Microsoft is making to consumers when Windows Phone 7 (WP7) handsets go on sale in Asia-Pacific and Europe next Thursday. Between launch day and November, a total of five models will be available here.

Designed around a "glance and go" experience that Microsoft says will help users save time on day-to-day smartphone tasks, WP7 handsets aggregate data from your SIM card and various online identities into Hubs: People, Pictures, Games, Office, Music & Videos, and Marketplace.

In the People Hub, contacts across various databases are automatically linked; you can manually link or unlink entries as well. Need to contact someone? Tap on his Facebook profile picture or search for his name to pull up his information - mobile number (with options to call or text), email addresses, personal website URL and birthday. A flick to the right reveals the "What's New" section that displays a stream of all his social network postings.

The Pictures Hub culls your photos from various sources, like camera roll and Facebook. Flick over to "What's New" and you get a stream of the latest photos your friends have uploaded.

If your Windows Live ID is tied to an Xbox Live (XBL) account, your XBL avatar will appear in the Games Hub. Games played on WP7 may earn you XBL achievements. Invites to join your friends and "turn notifications" will be displayed neatly in one of the panels.

Unlike other smartphone platforms, you will not need to pay an additional fee to edit Microsoft Office documents. WP7's Office Hub features Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and files can be synced between your desktop and the phone via Windows SkyDrive.

The Music & Videos Hub and Marketplace Hub are where your media and apps will be stored, respectively. These can be synced to your Windows PC via Microsoft's Zune media management software. The Zune music download and streaming service is not available here, but you can load podcasts and tune into FM radio. Apps can be downloaded through the Marketplace Hub or via Zune on your PC.

Other thoughtful implementations include voice command, powered by TellMe, which can be used to make calls and open apps - even third-party ones downloaded from Marketplace. A Find My Phone service, available via windowsphone.live.com, can track your phone's location, remotely lock it or erase all data.

WP7 will not have Adobe Flash Lite due to its commitment to Silverlight, which has similar features. It will also not have official support for Internet tethering and Windows Live Messenger right away; third-party app developers will fill in the void for now. At launch, a Messenger app from developer Miyowa will support Windows Live with multi-party chat.

It's all about the apps

More than 20 Singapore-specific apps will be available during the WP7 launch period. These include locally developed games such as 3D shooter Armor Valley, a xinmsn Web video playback app, and location-based apps built for local businesses like Wanderlust hotel and Butter Factory.

Globally, at least 50 apps will be available at launch, and Microsoft expects development on WP7 apps to pick up due to its use of Silverlight and XNA Framework - platforms many Web and Xbox Live games developers are already familiar with.

There will also be apps exclusive to handset-makers and WP7 telco partners, such as SingTel's turn-by-turn navigation app Xplorer. SingTel and StarHub will also offer music download and mobile TV apps.

Give me five!

THE five handsets differ largely in terms of form factor and special features, as all WP7 handsets must comply with a number of stringent hardware requirements that include a fast processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processors for all five launch handsets), a camera sensor size of at least 5 megapixels with auto-focus and 720p HD video recording, and a standard set of five sensors (A-GPS, accelerometer, compass, proximity and light).

LG Optimus 7

Positioned as what LG calls a "multi-tainment phone", the Optimus 7 is a solid device with a bit of heft to it - don't expect cheap plastic here.

What LG hopes will give the Optimus 7 an edge over the other new phones is a suite of features exclusive to the Korean electronics manufacturer. Its media player app, Play-To, will feature Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) protocols to allow the user to beam music, photos and videos from the phone to DLNA-enabled TVs and external displays.

Scan Search, an augmented reality app, comes pre-installed. This LG-exclusive app embeds nearby points of interests, such as restaurants, onto a map that self-orientates as the user points the phone's camera in different directions. Point skyward to fetch weather data, or point to the ground for a bird's eye view of all nearby points of interest.

Also unique are a stitch-assist panorama tool and a Voice to Text dictation service.

HTC HD7, 7 Mozart, and 7 Trophy

Sound is possibly the most crucial element in HTC's trio of WP7 handsets - each exclusive to a telco here. All three feature SRS WOW HD surround sound and come pre-installed with HTC Hub, which lets users download exclusive apps. HTC Hub's launch line-up includes a Stocks app, a 3D weather app with sound effects, and a photo enhancer with up to 15 effects.

SingTel customers get access to the HD7, which has the largest touchscreen of the pack at 4.3 inches. There is a kickstand on its back, useful for propping the device up on a table for multimedia playback.

StarHub customers are privy to the 7 Mozart, which sports an 8-megapixel camera sensor with Xenon flash, but the flash will not work during video recording. The phone sports a unibody design crafted from a single piece of high-grade aluminum.

Exclusive to M1 customers is the 7 Trophy, which has a slightly bigger screen than the 7 Mozart, and is the most affordable WP7 option here.

Samsung Omnia 7

The Omnia 7 is the only handset to feature a Super AMOLED screen, a technology that Samsung says is superior to other touchscreens due to lower power consumption, especially when rendering white text on black backgrounds. Samsung also claims that it is brighter, less reflective and offers a wider range of viewing angles.


http://www.todayonline.com/

Windows Phone 7 Secrets

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Everything you need in a player, and more

Multimedia Player Review: Philips GoGear Muse MP4 Player

by Sim Cheng Kai
05:55 AM Oct 15, 2010

FACING stiff competition from smartphones that do it all, portable music players these days are tacking on a number of easy-to-implement extra features in an attempt to grab market share.

The Philips GoGear Muse, available with 8GB ($219) or 16GB ($259) storage space, is no exception.

In addition to audio (MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and APE) and video playback (mp4, avi, H.264, rmvb, and wmv) on a wide variety of formats, it features a mic for making voice notes, an FM radio (with recording), HDMI output (for 720p video playback), photo slideshows, a text reader for .txt files, dedicated Audible.com audiobooks supported with three reading speeds, and - if you use the special pair of in-ear monitors (with a tiny mic embedded) that come with the device - noise reduction.

The button layout on the Muse is somewhat similar to that of the Apple iPod Touch or iPhone, but that's where the similarities end.

This slim device is covered in brushed silver metal that's easily scratched by other metallic objects (a casing is a must, unless you find hairline scratches attractive), with a 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen framed in a black bezel on the front.

Below the touchscreen is a Home button, while a lock/unlock button is located on the top edge of the device. Volume keys are on the right edge. And although it looks like a bar-type phone, the Muse is meant to be held horizontally at all times - the onscreen display cannot be rotated to suit the orientation of the device.

Most of the navigation is performed on the resistive touchscreen, which means you will have to apply pressure on the screen to make selections - it's easier to do so with your fingernail than your thumb.

Scrolling through the menus is smooth, though it may take you some time to get used to the user interface. For starters, you will have to use the Home button fairly often, as most menus on the device do not have an on-screen "exit" button.

Also, in the Music, Video and Photos playback modes, sorting options are limited - there is a list mode that works fine, and an album mode that plays all music tagged in an album but doesn't allow you to browse the files contained within. You will not be able to customise playlists - repeat and shuffle options will run through all content in that category - unless you hook it up to a computer and insert playlist files.

But hooking up to the computer is an incredibly simple and fast process. Just plug in a USB cable and it behaves like any flash storage device. Thankfully, you're not forced to install any proprietary drivers before you can transfer files. And if you want to sync music between the Muse and your computer, Philips has preloaded the installation files for Songbird, Mozilla's open-source music management program, which works for many devices but has official support for Muse.

Battery-charging is USB only, meaning there is no power plug, and a full charge lasts 25 hours for audio playback and five hours for video.

Most importantly, audio quality on the Muse is good, especially when you have Philips' FullSound technology turned on, which Philips claims will make all the notes in your music sound right - though I've found it to work like digital surround sound in that it gives your music tracks a roomy atmosphere, as if it were played live at a cosy bar setting.

Videos and photo slideshows play back smoothly, too, regardless if it's on the device or an external monitor through HDMI. That said, if your videos/photos are not in the same aspect ratio as Muse's 3:2 screen, the device has limited resizing options: You can either watch the content with black bars, or stretch it to fit the whole screen - there is no "crop" option.

The Muse pretty much has everything you'd look for in a portable media player. True, it may lack the extended functionality of the iPod Touch with apps from Apple's App Store, bells and whistles like visualisations, and a non-scratchable exterior. But what's good is that it behaves like a thumbdrive; file transfers and management is fast and simple.

There is a file browser on the device itself too, in case you need to check if you've brought that all-important office document with you.

Philips GoGear Muse 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver)

http://www.todayonline.com

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Siemens Gigaset C590 Dect phone

Cordless phone that sends SMSes


Siemens Gigaset C590 Dect phone

IT USED to be the case that the cordless phones used for fixed landlines were simply untethered versions of plain old, plugged-in telephones.

But Siemens’ Gigaset Dect cordless phone is as packed with features as they come. It can store up to 150 entries (including three phone numbers and e-mail addresses) with different ringtones and colours assigned to each caller.

The last 30 incoming calls are registered in the call list and calls from barred numbers can be silenced. It can function as a “baby onitor” and an alarm clock. It can even receive and send SMSes, with each message containing up to 612
characters.

Its reception clarity is good and interference-free. However, setting it up is not as easy as plug and play, as the handset has to be paired with the cradle before it can work.

How much: $128


Http://www.mypaper.com.sg

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Aztech GR7000 Wireless N Gigabit Router

Plug in this gigabit router for high-speed surfing


Aztech GR7000 Wireless N Gigabit Router

NOW that the Next Generation Broadband Network (NBN) is finally materialising, it would be timely to examine whether the routers we use currently are capable of handling the increased dataloads and transmission speeds.

Gigabit routers have been around for some time, but they are largely useless, given the quite-pathetic transmission speeds currently delivered by Internet service providers here.

But if NBN should turn out as planned, most households may enjoy higher speeds. They would then need routers that are better suited for the new Internet environment.

Aztech’s NBN-ready GR7000 is equipped with four 10/ 100/1000 ports and two USB hosts for connection to additional devices.

Theoretically, it can stream up to 300Mbps. It is very simple to set up and, at $129, it is very affordable.

Come next year, when more households are connected to NBN, the demand for such routers would climb.

How much: $129

Http://www.mypaper.com.sg

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Canon PowerShot G12

Portable camera with DSLR features

BY YEONG AH SENG

Canon PowerShot G12

ACAMERA equipped with many of the manual functions of a digital SLR while staying light, portable and readily deployable – that is what the PowerShot G12 seeks to be.

While it is true that micro four-thirds cameras like the Olympus Pen and Panasonic G series also fit the bill, the G12 is in a lower category in terms of price and has a fixed lens (28mm wide-angle and 5x optical zoom).

The G12 can shoot in both Jpeg and RAW formats. It also has a new High Dynamic Range shooting mode to allow capture of high-contrast scenes: Three shots of the same scene are taken, analysed and combined incamera to create a single image.

There is also a new front dial for manual settings and a 28- scene Smart Auto mode. The camera has a fairly quick response time and pictures taken are very acceptable. It also features HD (1280 x 720) video recording with stereo sound.

How much: $849

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Sony’s Google Web TV

SAN FRANCISCO

SONY’S line-up of sleek television sets boasting oogle’s Web-surfing system will go on sale on Saturday, testing how much consumers are willing to pay to combine access to the Internet with regular TV programming.

The high-definition sets unveiled on Tuesday evening in New York will have LCD screens ranging from 24 inches to 46 inches, with recommended retail prices from US$600 (S$782) to US$1,400.

Sony will begin selling the new sets in its online store on Saturday, and they should be available in Best Buy’s United States stores by early next week. Pre-orders are being taken on both Sony’s and Best Buy’s websites.

Sony’s price for its Google TV sets is US$200 to US$400 higher than those of comparable TV sets without the highly touted software, a differential that threatens to dampen sales at a time when the still-shaky economy is causing more households to pinch their pennies.

The strong sales of Apple’s iPhones and iPads have demonstrated that people are still willing to open their wallets to buy breakthrough gadgets, but persuading them usually requires a snazzy marketing campaign that shows why the products are worth the extra money.

Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said he is not convinced that Sony and Google will be able to make a compelling enough case to turn this new generation of TV sets into a must-have item, even though he is impressed with the technology inside the sets.

“Price is going to be important,” he said. “Google TV is a powerful experience, but most people aren’t going to understand it, unless they can see it in action. And Google isn’t known for its consumer-marketing experience. I think they have the right concept here, but I am not sure about the execution yet.”

Sony is planning a marketing blitz to promote its Google TV sets through the holiday shopping season, although the company is not saying how much it will spend on the campaign.

Google traditionally has refrained from buying TV ads, relying instead on its ubiquity on the Internet and the marketing acumen of its partners.

Like millions of mobile phones that have been sold in the past two years, Sony’s new TV sets will be built on Google’s Android operating system. They will navigate websites through Google’s Chrome browser and rely on Intel’s Atom chips for their processing power.

The system can comb through the Internet, television programming guides and even DVRs from satellite operator Dish Network Corp to find all videos connected to a request entered into a search bar at the top of the screen.

Said Mr Mike Abary, senior vice-president of Sony’s home division: “Finally, you can seamlessly search for your favourite TV programmes and websites on the same screen, at the same time.”
AP

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Microsoft's Kinect gets a local launch date

A date to Kinect

Microsoft's Kinect gets a local launch date
by Sim Cheng Kai
Updated 07:37 PM Oct 08, 2010

Microsoft's Kinect, its motion-based peripheral for the Xbox 360 gaming console, will be launched in Singapore on November 18 - just two weeks after its launch in the United States.

The Kinect peripheral is a sensor bar for the Xbox 360 that features a webcam, depth sensors and a multi-array microphone that will allow gamers to navigate through menus and play games using body gestures and spoken commands.

Retailers will offer Kinect in two packages: a bundle that includes an Xbox 360 4GB console for $469, or the standalone peripheral for $229. Both packages will also include adventure-based launch title Kinect Adventures.



This story is only available online.

http://www.todayonline.com/

Xbox 360 250GB Console with Kinect

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Windows Phone 7: Three local telcos to carry a total of five models

by Sim Cheng Kai
Updated 08:54 PM Oct 12, 2010

When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered his Windows Phone 7 (WP7) keynote at a New York press conference streamed live on the Internet last night (Singapore time), netizens here must have been surprised and worried to see the familiar SingTel logo flashed on-screen. Will SingTel be the only telco on our sunny island to carry WP7?

All speculation was put to rest today when Microsoft Singapore announced that it is working with all three telcos - SingTel, M1 and StarHub - to bring a total of five WP7 models to consumers. But SingTel will be the first to retail two of the phones on Oct 21, the day when Microsoft will launch WP7 phones in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Next Thursday, SingTel will retail the Samsung Omnia 7 ($998 for the 8GB model, without contract) and the LG Optimus 7 (pricing pending, about $900 without contract).

The Samsung Omnia 7 features a four-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 8GB or 16GB of onboard memory. Samsung said that it is in talks with StarHub and M1 on the possibility of releasing the Omnia 7 through them.

The LG Optimus 7 has a 3.8-inch touchscreen and runs on a 1GHz processor with 16GB onboard storage. It comes preloaded with LG-specific apps that let you beam your photos, videos and music over WiFi to a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-compliant TV or display, and search for nearby points of interest using augmented reality. StarHub has confirmed that it will carry the LG Optimus 7 soon. LG is also in talks with M1 on a potential release.

Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC will be releasing a trio of WP7 devices in Singapore - one exclusive to each of the telcos - that will feature SRS WOW HD surround sound and HTC-specific apps. These devices will not make it for the Oct 21 launch, but are expected to make retail between the end of October and early November. The trio will be released simultaneously, according to HTC's product marketing manager for Southeast Asia Wayne Tang.

Exclusive to SingTel is the HTC HD7 ($938, without contract), which sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 16GB of internal storage. Its unique feature is a kickstand on its back that lets you prop the device up on a table for multimedia playback.

StarHub customers can get the HTC 7 Mozart ($868, without contract), which is similar to the HTC Legend and Desire HD in that it touts a unibody concept. The Mozart has a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 1GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, and 8GB of internal storage.

M1 customers can go for the HTC 7 Trophy ($798, without contract), which has a 3.8-inch touchscreen, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera with flash, and 8GB internal memory.

All three telcos will start accepting pre-orders for the WP7 phones this week via their websites.

WP7 is Microsoft's latest foray in the smartphone arena, and is designed to deliver a consistently smooth experience regardless of handset. The user interface revolves around Hubs, which are apps that aggregate data from a number of sources such as Outlook and Facebook.

For more details on the WP7 user interface, visit our Tech Talk blog at http://blogs.todayonline.com/techtalk/2010/09/hands-on-windows-phone-7/

Look out also for a full round-up of WP7 and the five handsets in the Friday edition of TODAY.

http://www.todayonline.com

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Laptop Review: Asus NX90

Piece of engineering art


Laptop Review: Asus NX90

by Trevor Tan
05:55 AM Oct 08, 2010

ALMOST everyone who walked by my desk in the office the past few days did a double take. Many stopped to talk ... not about me but about the Asus NX90 multimedia laptop ($3,888) on my desk.

Designed by David Lewis, the man behind Bang & Olufsen trademark products, the NX90 is a piece of engineering art. Polished aluminium dominates the top outer shell and palm rest, while dual touchpads flank the keyboard. Speakers are placed alongside a gorgeous 18.4-inch full high-definition (HD) LED backlight display, completing the notebook's minimalist design and helping to warp sound around the user.

But while the polished aluminum surface looks good (and makes an excellent mirror), it is a smudge magnet and you do have to clean it a lot. The dual touchpads feel awkward to use (we would have preferred to use a mouse) and the keyboard layout is unconventional. For example, the Backspace key on the top right-hand side is replaced with the Delete key. Thus, you might hit some wrong keys. Plus, the laptop's hefty size and weight (4.8kg, with battery) means you will likely use the NX90 as a desktop replacement rather than a portable laptop.

Its specifications are better than those of many desktop computers. The review set sports an Intel Core i7-720QM processor (1.6GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz), 4GB of DDR3 RAM (8GB in retail), 1GB of video RAM in Nvidia GeForce GT335M, a Blu-Ray DVD combo drive, and 1TB of storage space. It boasts a 2-megapixel webcam and USB 3.0, HDMI and eSATA ports.

The NX90 takes around 68 seconds to boot up and about 18 seconds to shut down. In the PassMark PerformanceTest 7.0 benchmark test, it clocks a score of 1055. This is not bad if you compare it to gaming laptop Dell Alienware M17x's score of 1,288.

With a 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, you will also find running multi-thread applications such as Photoshop CS5 fast.

Playing movies on the NX90 is awesome. The sharp, glossy display is not too reflective and the speakers are magnificent. Just don't turn the volume too high, as distortion might occur. Trevor Tan

http://www.todayonline.com/

Disney Netpal by ASUS - 8.9-Inch Princess Pink Netbook - 5 Hour Battery Life

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Sharp unveils Android phone

MODELS displaying Sharp’s new Android-based smartphone, the IS-03, in Tokyo on Monday. The new smartphone, equipped with a double 3.5-inch high-resolution, low-consumption LCD, and a 9.57-megapixel camera, will go on sale in Japan at the end of this year. (PHOTO: AFP)

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An iPhone dock that lets you customise your alarm with a mobile app

iPhone/iPod Dock Review: iHome iA5

by Trevor Tan
02:10 PM Oct 07, 2010

These days, many people set their wake-up alarms on their mobile phone instead of using a conventional alarm clock. Now, how about using an alarm clock that charges your iPhone and lets you customise your alarm with a mobile app? The iHome iA5 lets you do just that.

Weighing less than 1kg and measuring 237x148x99mm, the iA5 looks like any iPhone/iPod alarm clock in the market and has a big snooze button and an on/off button on top. The speakers and the display screen lay behind a meshed grille, while the dock connector sits prominently in the centre.

The design of the dock is simple and practical. There is no need for adapters with the open dock connector. But at $169, the dock is expensive. And the pricing is even more glaring when you realise the dock lacks an FM radio.

What truly distingushes the iA5 from other iPhone/iPod alarm clocks is the app powering it.

Download the "iHome + Sleep" app on your iPhone or iPod Touch and you can customise your alarms by creating "Sleep Cards", such as 15 mins for your naps. You can specify tunes for specific activities as well. Once that's done, simply swipe your desired Sleep Card into a slot on the app and dock your iPhone or iPod to the iA5. The Sleep Cards will only work when docked.

With this app, you can also sync the time of your iPhone to the iA5, receive weather information, set reminders, and activate "overnight news" (your friends' Facebook and Twitter updates) to be downloaded so that you can read it when you wake up. You can even send messages on your Twitter or Facebook to tell your friends you have slept or woken up!

Despite the wealth of information on the app, there is very little displayed on the iA5's screen, except for the time, an alarm sign and a logo to show the app is running. Even the date is not displayed. But the good thing about the screen is that you can adjust its brightness simply by tapping on the snooze button.

You can play music from your iPhone or iPod when it is docked. Just don't crank up the volume too much as the speakers aren't spectacular.

The iHome iA5 would have been great if it were cheaper and if it included an FM radio. Nonetheless, it's a nice iPhone/iPod charging dock and alarm clock that lets you customise your alarms and broadcast your sleeping habits to your friends. Just make sure your boss is not on your Facebook!

This story is only available online.

http://www.todayonline.com/

iHome iA5 App-Enhanced Alarm Clock Speaker System for iPod and iPhone (Black)

iHome iP90 Dual Alarm Clock Radio with AM/FM Presets and Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black)

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A Sharp read

A MODEL shows off a Sharp Galapagos tablet reader during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday. Sharp, Japan’s largest maker of liquidcrystal displays, will start offering an electronic bookstore service in Japanese in December, amid the growing popularity of electronic books.

(PHOTO: BLOOMBERG)

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Garmin-Asus A10 smartphone with GPS

Phone for pedestrians

Garmin-Asus A10 smartphone with GPS

THE virtues of in-car GPS devices have been thoroughly extolled but little has been said about the usefulness of GPS for pedestrian navigation.

Finding a particular place or just getting to a destination – these are tasks for GPS on a mobile phone.

The Garmin-Asus A10 comes pre-loaded with Navteq maps of Singapore and Malaysia. It provides step-by-step and turn-byturn directions when walking or using public transport.

If you’re on foot and looking for a place, this would be a most useful device.

The A10 features Google Maps with Street View and, for drivers, the Junction View and Lane Guidance features let users know the exact lane to enter at intersections.

The phone’s 5-megapixel camera also automatically geotags images with a location’s longitude and latitude.

That’s nifty when you send the photo to friends, as it can help them navigate to the pictured location simply by clicking on the image.

How much: $598 net

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Nokia X3 Touch and Type

Touch and type on light Nokia X3

Nokia X3 Touch and Type JUST when it seems like everyone has written off Nokia, it has launched a number of handsets that seem to indicate that the company has seen the light, finally.

The X3 is a relatively cheap ($295) handset with both touch and keypad input. There is a 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom.

Dedicated music and messaging keys are provided. And there is direct social-media access, too.

The X3 is a slim and light device with large keys and a responsive touchscreen. The design is pretty and it should appeal to users who want bells and whistles at an affordable price.

Nokia has just launched the N8, which is supposed to be its answer to the iPhone. If what it has done with the X3 is an indication of what is to come, it may well have a fighting chance.

How much: $295 without a plan

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Still the king of mobile e-mail

BlackBerry Curve 3

THE third-generation BlackBerry Curve 3 incorporates one feature not available in earlier models: 3G connectivity.

It also appears to have a clearer screen and seems faster too. Otherwise, it still does what a BlackBerry does best: E-mail.

BlackBerry, like other handset brands, has been putting smartphone features, including Web and social-media functions, into its devices and that requires mobile broadband connectivity. While the earlier Curves had slower Edge (2.5G) connectivity, the inclusion of 3G in the Curve 3 takes the model back to the fore.

Having used various Black-Berry devices over the years, I must say it works superbly as far as e-mail is concerned. In my view, its e-mail connectivity and delivery speed are as yet unmatched. As a Web device, though, I amnot so sure if Black-Berry is on the right track.

There are now many Black- Berry models in the market. Some have new touchscreens and other smartphone features, but none really match the design and usability of competing models like the iPhone and those of HTC.

Perhaps, BlackBerry should stick to e-mail and continue to build on features that keep it ahead of the pack. How much: To be announced

BY YEONG AH SENG
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg

BlackBerry Curve 8900 Javelin Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, GPS, Stereo Bluetooth and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Black)

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3-D television set

Why no-glasses 3-D TV may not catch on

TOKYO

TOSHIBA believes it has a solution for television viewers who like 3-D but hate the glasses.

The Tokyo-based company unveiled yesterday the world’s first high-definition liquid-crystal- display 3-D television set that does not require special glasses – one of the biggest consumer complaints about the technology.

But whether consumers will embrace the new TV remains to be seen. Many might be put off by the fact that they will have to be very close to the screen for the 3-D effect to work.

Already, the glasses-free TV sets are enjoying a buzz in the tech world, but they are not without their detractors, who say that the technology may not yet be up to rolling out a completely consumer-friendly product.

“It’s not a 3-D cinema-quality experience, and there’s clearly room for mprovement,” said CNet of the new TV sets.

“But, again, you don’t have to wear any glasses.”

Electronics and entertainment companies around the world are banking on 3-D to fuel a new boom in TV, movies and games. In Britain, Sky TV and Virgin Media have launched 3-D channels, bringing movies and premiere programmes to viewers there.

But most 3-D TV sets in the market today rely on glasses to rapidly deliver separate images to each eye, which creates a sense of three-dimensional depth.

In its new TV, Toshiba uses a “perpendicular lenticular sheet”, which consists of an array of small lenses that directs light from the display to nine points in front of the TV. If a viewer is sitting within the optimal viewing zone, the brain integrates these points into a single 3-D image.

“The result is a precise rendering of high-quality 3-D images whatever the viewing angle within the viewing zone,” Toshiba said in its release. The system is similar to that of the Nintendo 3DS, the highly anticipated handheld device that features glasses-free 3-D gaming.

Toshiba will offer two sizes – 12 inches and 20 inches – designed for personal use. The technology isn’t advanced enough yet to be integrated into larger screens. The suggested viewing distance for the 20-inch model is 90cm, and 65cm for the 12-inch model.

But will consumers baulk at the price? The TV will go on sale in Japan in late December, Toshiba said. The smaller version will cost about 120,000 yen (S$1,890), and the larger one will be double the price.

There’s also one other potential hurdle that the glasses-free 3-D TV faces, said PC World: that of 2-D.

In January, website Engadget looked at a glasses-free display from Magnetic 3D, a maker of  auto-stereoscopic 3-D displays, and found that the lenticular sheet makes regular 2-D viewing “a messy blur”.

“Unless the world decides that nightly news and cheesy sitcoms are better viewed in 3-D, 2-D will always be important,” wrote PC World’s Mr Jared Newman.

PC World notes that perhaps this is the reason that Samsung has scoffed at the idea of glasses- free 3-D, and why Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute said that LCD 3-D TV sets without glasses won’t be commercially available on a global scale until 2015.

AGENCIES
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg

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Galapagos tablet readers

Japan's Sharp to start e-books business in December

Posted: 27 September 2010 1624 hrs

TOKYO - Japan's Sharp Corp said Monday it will launch an e-bookstore service in December with two new "Galapagos" tablet readers, with the service set to expand to movies, games and music early next year.

Sharp's new brand represents a shift for the company from conventional one-off sales of stand-alone products to devices that will continue to "evolve" through periodic software updates, it said.

It will offer a mobile device with a 5.5-inch LCD screen and a trackball for one-handed operation, as well as a device aimed at the home user with a 10.8-inch screen on which magazines can be read across a two-page spread.

In doing so, Sharp will enter an increasingly crowded market looking to exploit the popularity of gadgets such as Apple's iPad and the iBooks store and Amazon's Kindle range of e-readers.

Rival Sony has announced a similar e-book plan jointly with telecoms operator KDDI, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company and the Toppan printing company. Top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo has teamed up with Dai Nippon Printing.

Sharp said its devices will automatically download fee-based updates of different newspapers and magazines and will serve as a "concierge" for users by recommending books they might like using their purchasing history.

The company said it had used the name "Galapagos" in reference to the islands that inspired 19th Century British biologist Charles Darwin to formulate his theory of evolution.

Sharp said it aimed to launch the system in the United States and Europe "as soon as possible."

"We want to launch the second batch (of services) around spring, expanding to the distribution of videos, movies, games and music," said senior company official Keiko Okada.

Okada added that the service menu would be broadened to include e-commerce and advertising services.

Officials also said digital textbooks for use in schools is "a very promising market in developing countries."

Sharp will announce the price of the machines and other details later this year.

The company is targeting one million subscriptions in Japan.

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BlackBerry maker RIM unveils 'PlayBook' tablet computer

AN FRANCISCO: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion unveiled a touchscreen tablet computer on Monday called "PlayBook" aimed at business users.

"It is the world's first professional tablet," RIM president and co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis said as he showed off the device at an RIM event in San Francisco.

The PlayBook is one of a number of tablet computers slated for release in a bid to challenge Apple's popular iPad and is the first foray outside the mobile phone realm for the Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM.

The PlayBook has a seven-inch (17.8-centimetre) touchscreen, smaller than the 9.7 inches of Apple's iPad, and also plays Adobe Flash video software, which is banned from the Apple device.

"You are going to be able to get the full Web experience," Lazaridis said, stressing its integration with RIM's BlackBerry smartphone, a favourite among many professionals.

BlackBerry smartphone users can pair their handset with the PlayBook using a Bluetooth connection to view their email, calendar, documents or other content.

The PlayBook also features front- and rear-facing cameras to support video conferencing and allows multi-tasking between programmes.

RIM expects to begin selling PlayBooks in the United States in early 2011 and rolling the tablets out to other countries by the middle of the year.

Lazaridis did not reveal how much RIM plans to charge for the PlayBook.

"RIM set out to engineer the best professional-grade tablet in the industry with cutting-edge hardware features and one of the world's most robust and flexible operating systems," Lazaridis said.

"The BlackBerry PlayBook solidly hits the mark with industry leading power, true multitasking, uncompromised Web browsing and high performance multimedia," he said.

RIM said that in the coming weeks it would release a software kit so third-party developers can begin tailoring applications, or "apps," for PlayBook.

PlayBook debuted at BlackBerry DEVCON, a combined boot camp and pep rally for outside developers crafting programmes for the Canadian firm's devices.

RIM introduced tools that make it easier to build applications for BlackBerry handsets and make money with ads or "in-app" purchases.

RIM is also launching a free analytics service that provides applications makers with feedback regarding how, when and where BlackBerry owners are using programmes.

"We are enabling developers to better monetise their services and drive deeper engagement to create richer, more interesting social apps for BlackBerry," said Alan Brenner, senior vice president of the BlackBerry platform.

Approximately 35 million people use the BlackBerry "App World" shop, with 1.5 million programmes downloaded daily, according to RIM vice president of global alliances and developer relationships Tyler Lessard.

RIM released tools intended to let developers make "super apps" that can work with data in smartphones to automatically handle tasks such as sensing when a BlackBerry user is driving in a car and read email messages aloud.

RIM also opened the door to more "social" applications that tap into phone features such as chat, instant messaging, and groups, according to Lessard.

Hip, fun or functional programmes made by third-party developers have become vital to the popularity of smartphones and tablet computers.

Apple's App Store features more than 250,000 mini-programmes for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Blackberry's App World has about 11,000 applications, but programmes are also sold at other websites by developers.

Google has been aggressively working to expand an Android Marketplace, which boasts more than 80,000 apps for smartphones running on the California Internet titan's Android mobile operating system.

- AFP/de

Posted: 28 September 2010 0629 hrs

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/1083762/1/.html

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