Archives for June 2007
Tronic slider-style UMPC
Darius Chang | Jun 20, 2007
Like the Sony VAIO UX series, the PMG UMPC by Singapore's Tronic International has a slide-out keyboard and weighs in at under 1kg. So how does it compare with the VAIO?
Despite the VAIO's small keyboard, the PMG UMPC's input device looks even harder to get used to as the keys are split into two sections. Presumably, due to its wider 6.5-inch touchscreen compared with Sony's 4.5-inch display, this design allows the device to be used thumbboard-style. It may not have a fingerprint sensor, but optional features include GPS, a TV tuner and TPM security chip. Using a VIA processor running at 1GHz, we do not expect blazing performance though it should have no issue running Windows Vista Basic Edition and simple productivity tools. Other features include two USB ports, VGA-out, an SD card slot and a 0.3-megapixel camera for video chatting.
The battery life is rated for up to 5 hours, with a footprint of 190 x 120.8 x 28.3mm.
The PMG UMPC is expected to hit Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia some time in September. The basic configuration starts at US$1,200 (S$1,843.08).
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More CommunicAsia coverage here
Mask yourself on your mobile
Stephen Tong | Jun 20, 2007
cMask is Singapore's and, supposedly, one of Asia's very first two-way anonymous mobile communications services to allow chatting via SMS or voice call. From a consumer perspective, dating seems to be one of the obvious uses and it seems that was the idea given that GlobalRoam and Singapore.cupid.com teamed up to introduce cMask.
The dynamics are as follows. Let's take it that "A" wants to contact "B". Now A registers and adds B's real number to cMask, after which A is given an cMask number, which is effectively a random fixed line number. A types the cMask number appended with B's contact number. B then receives the call and sees only the cMask number of A.
Why the need to conceal your identity, you might ask? Well, if B starts pestering A too much, A can simply block B and obviously you won't need to go through the hassle of changing your phone number.
As this is a very new service, users can register their demo accounts for free. The actual launch is currently pending Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) regulatory approval. For the actual usage cost, local incoming and outgoing SMS within Singapore cost S$0.10 each, while text to and from other countries costs S$0.15. Calls to and from other countries vary and can be viewed in detail at cMask's Web site.
| Editors' note:
June 21, 2007--We have amended the text to mention that cMask is a team up of the two mentioned parties and that A is given a cMask number as opposed to an Interactive Voice Response number.
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More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.
Sony's flash-based UMPC
Darius Chang | Jun 20, 2007
So what's the big deal about the flash-based harddisk used in the latest Sony VAIO VGN-UX38GN? Nothing at all, if you do not value faster performance, greater shock resistance and longer battery life.
The VAIO VGN-UX38GN is possibly the first notebook in Asia Pacific (outside Japan and Korea) to use flash storage technology. Similar to memory cards, flash drives have no moving parts, which make data access much faster than conventional magnetic platters. Moreover, this also means the unit is more resistant to damage due to vibrations and sudden shocks. Flash drives also consume less power, which gives the UX38GN an hour more of battery life than the cheaper VAIO VGN-UX37GN/L model with magnetic storage.
However, the downside is flash drives cost much more while offering a comparatively smaller capacity.
If a normal hard drive is fine and dandy for you, then the 40GB UX37GN is a grand cheaper at S$3,499 (US$2,301.97). However, a S$1,000 (US$657.89) premium for the 32GB UX38GN seems like a reasonable premium for greater performance and hardiness. We will be comparing both versions in the next two weeks. So stay tuned for the results.
Silent keyboard
Juniper Foo | Jun 20, 2007
Another device from Japanese retailer Thanko which has a tendency to call a pot a pot. So right next to the USB Butt Cooler, the Silent Keyboard is definitely not open to any other interpretation. It's silent. Period. Just to silence the critics, this USB keyboard utilizes silicone spring and an anti-resonance technology to produce only 6db of noise, compared with 30.9db from standard keyboards.
Via popgadget.net
Price: US$33.17.
Availability: Found here
Device: Keyboard
Specs: USB 2.0
Speedier connections ahead for M1 HSDPA users
Juniper Foo | Jun 19, 2007
This just out. Singapore telco MobileOne (M1) is putting the speed into its HSPA (high speed packet access) wireless broadband service, thanks to an upgrade of its network by Nokia Siemens Networks.
With the accelerator needle now jumping up to 10.8Mbps, from 3.6Mbps, this means a three-fold increase in downlink capacity. More importantly to the end user, this means no faltering connections even in high load conditions and an increasing pool of consumers.
HSPA enhances mobile broadband with two key technologies: HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access). This enables data speeds of up to 42Mbps in the downlink, and up to 11Mbps in the uplink in the future.
The upgrade is part of an agreement drawn up by both parties last year, after M1 awarded Nokia with a US$30 million contract to supply it with an HSPA network. This called for Nokia to expand M1's WCDMA 3G radio network coverage and upgrade its core network as well as provide a software upgrade. Nokia Siemens Networks later came into effect on April 1, 2007.
More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.
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