After several articles written on my first impression of the iPad, I started to use it more frequently on daily activities. I was lucky to be invited to talk to the latest iMedia Brand Summit in Phuket and I confess I brought the new toy.

It was a bit of a strange situation where you want to use it but you do not want to show off (too much…:=) ) . Definitively, this thing is a magnet ! and even though you try to use it on your lap, table, it is so much anticipated in the region that you draw attention and this becomes the key discussion point.

My conclusion after one week : If I have to attend a conference, go on holidays or client meeting, no reason to carry a laptop anymore. Of course, I am still missing multitasking and a real application to mix note (keyboard) + drawing but nevertheless, this is so much easier and faster than having your laptop with you.

iPad is great to tweet, check quickly emails, update quickly a presentation, take note, switch to an App to check BBC news , play 10minutes games, watch 30mn a TV show for lunch break…and battery life is good. I would not bet on the 2 weeks claimed by Apple but should you charge it every alternate day on business trip, you are safe. I did not face any specific issue to connect to Wifi network and the official Apple cover is a must to protect, carry and type properly.

Back in the plane, it is perfect to watch a movie or even play some games or update (again) some presentation.

At home, I do not use my computer in the living room or kitchen anymore. We surf on the iPad for web information or use some dedicated Apps to watch online video news like BFTV for iPhone for example.

Finally, As Gunny said “last time I tried to teach my mother on how to use a computer, I told her to put the mouse on the icon and she physically placed the mouse on the screen…:=) ” Well finally, she will be able to do it now by pressing on the screen the right icon and access content.

Yes, as described in that recent article on media magazine , the iPad is going to revolutionize the way you see computers.

I know…:=) some of you will complain I push Apple products too much..well nobody is perfect…:=)

Here it comes in Singapore!

4days after shipping from USA, the new all so wanted gadget arrives in my hand. Proudly opening it at 2250 after landing from a trip, I start to open the box as eagerly as kids open their x’mas present…

No surprise, expectations are fulfilled. it is gorgeous….

How does it feel after 24hs ?

A bit heavy to be handled like a book that you carried on the beach but this is undeniable a great high tech piece of computer.

Is the iPad the future of a new kind of computer? Yes. True that it misses a couple of features but it brings more. It brings what laptop brought 20 years ago desktop, a new level of mobility and freedom.

Some USA-only apps

Totally immersed in the iTunes store, I confess I have been buying apps just to try. Some frustrations for the USA-enabled apps like netflix or ABC. Imagine the ABC app where you can watch all episodes of your favorite shows …no more TV needed…

Games

Games…those are more for casual gamers. Some are really great, some fun, some purely nonsensical, the usual mix of games for all. My favorite is dungeon hinter from Gameloft. A real well done Diablo like experience. Yes, Crazy Bird is fun but boring after a while. Yes, Real racing HD is really well done but does not bring the joy of GTA on PSP (however I confess the quality is very impressive)

Marvel apps is a must for all +30 years old who wants to remind the, the old school comic…

Previous apps for iphone are more a random choices of blurry, not working or not acceptable.

Video and pictures

The only moment of tiny pain is to wait impatiently in front of your new toy. It resizes the pictures to your desired format and transfers the video previously purchased. Quality of the videos purchased on iTunes for iPhone is surprisingly acceptable. Pictures quality are excellent with the great slideshow /music features. Navigating iPod has never been so easy

Internet

We know the drill: 75% of websites supports flash and ipad does not.

So this is maybe the only grinding moment of teeth you will have. Yes you can surf instantly and easily but you miss lots of actions. Fortunately for us, vendors will start to release some dedicated iPad apps that will allow consumers to watch their online video or surf differently (New York Times for example)

Despite this, I had a generally very good impression with the function though.

Always online

The main change is online connection. We are reaching here a new level of connectivity where almost all apps I tried requires an online connection to the server. In order to maximize the usage of the iPad, the 3g version seems a must. I will try to hook it up to a 3g-wifi key and let you know.

The best of it : incredibly practical to be carried anywhere, real pleasure to open it and play with it and a more than decent, (was about to say excellent) keyboard that allow you to type, finally, almost like on a regular keyboard.

iPad sets, again, a new bar in consumer electronics. We will review why and how in our next episode.

Gregory Birge

Last week, Steven P. jobs unveiled the new Apple product called iPad. It is a tablet computer which resemblance a giant iPod Touch or iPhone.  It’s 0.5 in thick, weighs 1.5 lb and has in 9.7 in multi-touch screen. You are able to get one at the end of March, sale price starting at US$499.

However, is iPad the iThing that you have dream of? Some reviewers said that it was a bit of letdown as they are hoping for the something that will surprise them and compel them to stampede to the Apple Store yet again, to recreate the phenomenon that iPhone and Touch has produced.

If you are a typical consumer, this iPad maybe nothing fantastic to you. Since you may have already got your Touch or iPhone, it seems that there is no need to get a giant version of them!  Well, I felt that this time round Apple is not targeting the Touch/iPhone mass of users but people that like to read and in love with their App Store.

Currently, in the eBook market, Amazon Kindle is the king. However, with iPad coming out, this is going to change. When Kindle displays books in grayscale, the iPad makes them look like real. This is a great feature and important in creating a new user browsing experience. Also, with its surprising battery that lasts for 10 hours. Schools may load the textbooks into the iPad and create a brand new learning experience! This is the potential of iPad!

With the success we saw in App Store, iBookstore is just going to be another hit. In addition, Apple is opening a store that allow publishers to set their own prices.

For me, I am not a book lover, but I may buy one for my mum. She likes to play games in the App Store but the screen of iPhone is too small for her. So maybe I can buy it for her birthday?

Just when you thought that Macbook Air was the slimmest laptop that you could find in the market, think again. Dell launched the Adamo XPS laptop which is just 9.99mm in thickness.

It doesn’t really look as heavy as its weight of 1.5 kg. This wonderful piece of technology comes with a full-size keyboard and a 13.4-inch widescreen LED.

On top of that, Dell’s Adamo XPS laptop has unique functions such as the lid’s heat sensing strips for unlocking the laptop where all users need to do is stroke it, an angled position that provides for a more comfortable typing experience then using a laptop keyboard when the set is place on your lap.

Besides that, the laptop is designed in a way where the computing hardware is located under the screen instead of the common laptop where the hardware is found under the keyboard.

It definitely has better functionality than other netbooks available in the market taking its multi-tasking ability into consideration. Dell Adamo XPS will certainly attract working adults as its portability, stylish and the modern design overcomes the liability of it’s weight.

The battery life however, is rather disappointing considering the laptop weighs 1.5kg but has a maximum lifespan of 2.5 hours. It won’t even last that long if the user is running multiple programs on the Adamo XPS such as playing online games, listening to music and running Windows messenger . But the ability to go into sleep mode when the battery is flat makes up for the short lifespan. The user would then be able to swap batteries when the laptop goes into sleep mode without losing important documents.

Dell Adamo XPS, the one laptop working adults would want to get their hands on.

Aiming to fend off competitors in a bid to expand  Microsoft’s consumer reach, CEO Steve Ballmer announced a new slate computer on 7th January early this year,as he kicked off the annual International Consumer Electronic Show. Teaming up with HP to introduce what they called “Slate PC”, Microsoft and HP unveiled Windows 7-powered touch screen tablet

In an on-stage demonstration at the consumer indusrty’s biggest annual gathering, Mr. Ballmer showed the small touch-screen device, which looked like an enlarge version of Apple’s iPhone. It runs Amazons’s Kindle eReader software and can be used to play games – then main functions expected  to be offered by the  rumored Apple devices.

Introducing the latest machine by Microsoft, Ballmer said ” We’re talking about something that’s almost as portable as a phone and as powerful as a PC running Windows 7. This emerging category of PCs really should take advantage of the touch and mobility and capabilities of Windows 7, and are perfect for reading, for surfing the web, and for taking entertainment on the go. Our OEM partners are doing some great work with Slate PCs that will be rolling into the marketplace this year.”

However, ther were dissappoinments from many as there were no details specifications given on the slate PCs. I personally think that the Slate PCs are not a “wow” announcement as compared to apple’s iPhone when it first announced.  it was more a shiny new thing announcement to add into another Microsoft products. It looks almost similar with a laptop with no keyboard in it (it used multi touch interface). One great feature that impressed me is the “natural user interface” , – which allow users to interact with a device through motions and gestures.

Although it aims to bridge the gap between laptop and smartphones, the size of the machine is considerably big compared to other mobile devices. Besides, there is not much information given by Mr.Ballmer about Slate PC, which many have expected that the devices will feature two 7 inches screens joined by a hinge, the multi-touch screens are designed for writing, with the ability to be controlled by either finger or a stylus. The leaked prototype reportedly includes Wi-Fi, an iPhone-style home button, a camera and even an inductive charging pad similar to the palm’s pre’s Touchstone charger. but it was all not mentioned in his speech on tablet PC.

In the first week of the New Year, Skype announced partnerships with LG and Panasonic to offer Skype-enabled HDTVs.  This would mean free online calling service on a widescreen TV and because it’s free Skype-to-Skype, you can call as often as you like.

This announcement was timed to coincide with the opening of the annual consumer electronics show held in Las Vegas, where both LG and Panasonic demonstrated the service.

Skype software will be embedded into the new internet-enabled, high definition televisions from Panasonic and LG, namely Panasonic’s line of 2010 VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs and LG’s 26 new LCD and plasma HDTVs with Netcast Entertainment Access. Both lines of HDTVs are expected to be available in mid 2010.

Both television makers will also offer separate HD web cameras, optimized for Skype video calls that can be plugged into the compatible TVS. Skype claims that these HD webcams will include special microphones and optics that can pick up sound and video from a couch-distance. Soon you’ll simply be able to gather the whole family on the couch and communicate with your overseas family and friends from the comfort of your living rooms.

This collaboration takes Skype to another platform, in addition to the computer and the mobile phone, which is the technology heart of the home, the television.

“The popularity of Skype video calling has increased substantially in recent years with an average of 34 percent of Skype-to-Skype calls now including video,” Skype chief executive Josh Silverman said.

“Many people who are video calling on Skype… expressed a desire to communicate with their friends and family from somewhere comfortable, and preferably on a big screen,” Silverman said. “Logically, this led to the development of Skype embedded on HDTVs.”

Well, now the TV is not just a one way entertainment device but a two way communication device and a portal in other people’s lives. The plan to move video conferencing to the big screen makes sense because as much as the ability to make free video calls is nice and convenient, but having to speak to a laptop web cam is not the greatest user experience. This move will open up a new whole way for users to connect with friends and family from the comfort of their living room.

Personally, I feel to bring Skype to TV is a great approach for people who often communicate with their families and friends who are overseas. I could imagine how close these users would feel when they are able to chat and watch what the other parties are doing from their wide TV set. This makes having dinner together while far apart possible.

Also, no more having to miss your favorite TV show while waiting for your love ones to skype you : ) But the TV program will stop when the chat is on. Technology today does not allow you to watch TV and chat from there at the same time ;p

Sometimes, I’m wonder if innovations are created by brands and their ideas or by consumers and their desires…..
A perfectionist once mentioned that GPS systems that are integrated into the dashboard are neater as compared to those sticking out from the windscreen.
Well, to that perfectionist, you may get more than what you wished.  At the latest Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it seems that Internet is making its way to dashboard; much to the dismay of drive-safely advocates.

It seems big technology companies like Intel and Google are keen to spread the power of personal computers to the cars. Largely know as the ‘infotainment system’, it will be make available in the US market later this year. Drivers will be able to retrieve information as they drive, like wikipedia entry, photos, reviews of nearby restaurants of the area and animation of the various ways to get there, not to mention other functions like watch movies, play music and double up as cell phone.
Most car manufacturers insist that safety usage is their key concern, with several features put in place to ensure that such as voice commands, active web browser when car is parked, etc… However, there is a limitation to the number of safety features built-in. Subsequently, car manufacturers will give in to customer’s demand for flexibility in terms of the features.
As a non-driver, I’m not sure how less distracted you will be when a voice kept droning, “ if possible, try to make a U-turn …… try to make a U-turn… ”
But as a passenger, the presence of some form of in-car entertainment is quite exciting especially when you are in for a long journey.
I guess creating an awareness of responsible-driving is the way to go in the long term; though it will face the same challenges as other similar campaigns.

Speaking in Singapore context, I think the ability to register the ever-changing ERP charging system and provide alternatives cheaper route or the function to locate the nearest car park with available lots might boost its popularity than the mere basic giving directions or playing music.

On November 28^th, after months of rumors and speculations, nearly 2 years since the official global launch, the iPhone 3G and 3GS finally reached the consumers in Korea.

Interesting phenomenons are arising from the launch of the iPhone in the Korean market. Because 2 of the leading mobile phone makers in the world are Korean, and because almost all foreign mobile phone brands that entered the Korean market were unsuccessful, everyone is curious as to how the iPhone will fare in such a hostile market. The news media is comparing Samsung’s Omnia II with the iPhone in order to position it as a legitimate alternative. But in a time when reporters are not privileged with exclusive information, online communities are in heated debates as to whether this comparison of the 2 phones is even justifiable, or just media propaganda being endorsed by Samsung and Korean telecom companies to shoot down the iPhone. Those who defend the iPhone are being accused of being blatant Apple brand loyalists, while those who defend the Omnia II are being mocked as blind nationalists. Here are some concrete facts and developments that have occurred, and is expected to happen in the near future, all because of the launch of the iPhone in Korea.

Because of the rumors that the iPhone was going to be launched at the end of November, Korean consumers delayed purchasing existing mobile phone models, resulting in the decline of sales in October for both Samsung (56% decline) and LG. Samsung still dominates the domestic market with 50% of the market share, but the iPhone is expected to own 5% of the market within a month. The iPhone has sold 90,000 units in 10 days.

The iPhone is expected to ignite the mobile internet and smart phone market in Korea, which has been slower in growth compared to other countries. Smart phone market share in Korea is currently only 5%, compared to 13% in other parts of the world.

Profits made from mobile internet usage by telecom companies in Korea is only 17.4%, compared to 41% in Japan, 32% in Australia, 27% in the UK, China and Hong Kong, and 25% in the USA. Because mobile phones in Korea do not have Wi-Fi function, consumers are reluctant to use the current mobile internet service provided by the mobile telecom companies.

The Wi-Fi function was one of the obstacles that prevented the iPhone from being launched in the Korean market. While the iPhone had it, all of the other mobile phones in Korea didn’t. Most of the Korean phones that were being sold overseas had it, but the same mobile phones sold in Korea didn’t.

Mobile phone makers justified leaving out the Wi-Fi function on mobile phones for the Korean domestic market to the consumers’ need and use. They said Korean consumers preferred the DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) function to the Wi-Fi function, and they could only fit in one or the other into the phones. Hence, none of the mobile phones available in Korea had a Wi-Fi function.

Because the Korean mobile telecom market is more so controlled by the telecom companies, the specs of the mobile phones sold in the Korean domestic market are discussed with the telecom companies before the phone makers assemble them. The Wi-Fi function being left out was probably not just about the consumers’ needs, but about the profit the telecom companies were making with the mobile data usage as well.

The iPhone was launched in Korea by KT, which is second to SK Telecom in mobile telecom market share. KT is hoping the iPhone will convince consumers to switch over from SK Telecom. While still minute in numbers, so far it seems the iPhone is having an effect. Half of the new iPhone users have come from other telecom companies, and of the half, 70 to 80% are from SK Telecom.

Since the launch of the iPhone was announced, the price of Samsung Omnia II, the mobile phone that is currently supposed to be the challenger to the iPhone in the Korean market, was reduced drastically. Many smart phones that will be released in Korea in the coming days announced that it would include the Wi-Fi function. SK Telecom is planning on launching Android phones into the Korean market to compete with the iPhone in the smart phone market.

It has only been 2 weeks since the iPhone was launched in Korea. Regardless of how successful the iPhone will be in the Korean market, the effect it is having on the Korean market is quite remarkable. The iPhone is making telecom companies change their stance on mobile internet service. The iPhone is making mobile phone makers change their stance on functions that were excluded in smart phones for the domestic market. Regardless of the sales result the iPhone will bring to KT or Apple, it is helping to give the consumers of Korea more choices that the telecom companies and the mobile phone companies had been ignoring.

Last Fri. evening, I passed by the Plaza Singapura Open Plaza.  There was a stage, complete with high resolution screen & rock band set-up, eloquent emcee & a scattered group of audience? It was only upon the emcee mentioning that I realized there’s a Guitar Hero competition preliminary round going on.
Guitar Hero?! How come no one is the office is mentioning it? Most of my colleagues and suppliers are fanatics, even the boss himself. How come turnout is so low? Strange… It’s Guitar Hero!
So out of curiosity, I did a search online using “guitar hero contest at plaza singapura”. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any official site on this. Quite an rare occurrence these days…

The most direct link was http://www.breathe.sg/happeningsdetail.aspx?id=476 where the event details were listed. Only then I realized the event was part of the continuous effort by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to discourage smoking.  I popped over the HPB’s website and was surprised to see that nothing on the road show was mentioned.
The rest were merely links to blogs that briefly mentioned about the event. Another search with the event title, “Rockin’ Without Smokin’ doesn’t generate much difference in results. More question marks….
When I saw the poster on breathe.sg, it just dawned to me I’ve seen its bus stop billboard several times a day at different locations but I was totally clueless what it was all about because it is always blocked by people standing in front of it or the rubbish bins.

What a waste, really…
Creative are fantastic! The contest idea is good, theme was cool & relating; tagline was appropriate and great “Live it up without lighting up” and poster design was good, etc.
Assuming if they had create a micro site focusing on the competition off the HPB website, ping the link on the 500++ Guitar Hero fan page on face book ….( I don’t know… but they ought to be some Singapore –based folks somehow right?), online forums (there’s a guitar hero thread on sgclub) or  ping it on the tag box on gaming bloggers, etc…  At least it’s more targeted and costs lower than billboards I guess?!
Unless the organizers are betting on the weekend crowds & the fan base of the celebrities (think they cost more than building website? Shrugz) to hype-up the day of the competition finals? Nothing wrong actually. Everyone can be the target audience of a nation-wide health education program. I’m just sadden by the fact that such a good idea was unable to shine as much as it could potentially could.

On another note, the hassle of the pre-registration process could be another reason for the low turnout.  People like conveniences. Given a choice, I would rather
1.    type, type, click, click in the various fields and

2.    submit online (connect to singpass if necessary

(This can be easily integrated into a micro site using simple CMS or Googledocs)

Rather than
1.    downloading a word.doc,
2.    fill it up when trying hard not to shift the alignment
3.    then realized I need to sign on it,
4.    scan it,
5.    attach in email back to the HPB officers…… and probably received a email from the officer saying “Hi, you forgot to attach.” Urghs …
Unless I’m really desperate to win that $500/- cash, chances are I won’t re-attach. (I’m generally a patient person).

For some others, they never see that email because 90% of the time is spent is trying to clear the advanced level on Guitar Hero.  LOL
My point is: It IS possible to attract the right people to go down for your road show. Our favorite French intern joined some french-in-singapore group page in face book, the committee will arrange parties & send invites via face book. RSVP back the same channel & the response & turnout rate is ALWAYS fantastic.
As I’m churning this article on the Sunday at an isolated corner of this sunny island, I won’t be able to know how’s the turnout rate is going to be like.  Though I’m seriously curious to know.
Anyone who managed to catch the contest finals this evening at Plaza Singapura, tell me how it went =)

I received an interesting link the other day about video games. Though it’s pretty simple, but I think it pretty much sums up the target audience for each gaming platform. The diagram is also making fun of PC gamers in the sense that PC gamers are more commonly attributed to be hardcore gamers. But that itself is a point for contention which I will not expound on.

I’m not sure if the respective platform owners came up with the concept for their platforms with this diagram in mind but out of all the 3 console platforms, Wii has definitely defined itself very well as the casual/family oriented platform. PS3 and Xbox360 are still wavering between catering to hardcore and casual gamers, though Xbox360 stands out in terms of community activities. Xbox360’s marketing efforts have also paid off with their roadshow at Marina Square last year, the election of another Xpert and a new profile page (which I must say, looks similar to Wii). Though, PS3 is slowly stepping up its game by making more online games available, it’s a tad bit slow for me and they haven’t been doing much marketing in the region as well. I hope Sony comes up with something soon.