Posts in Mobile Phones
Why I chose the iPod touch (and not the iPhone)
Reuben Lee | Oct 08, 2007
You'd think that years of being a CNET Asia reviewer would have taught me a thing or two about making tech purchases. Apparently not.
Prior to arriving in San Francisco for an Intel event, I had done my homework and somewhat set my mind on getting an iPhone. The US$200 price cut that the Cupertino company had recently announced was just too good to pass. Not to mention that I was as fallible as the next customer when it came to the iPhone, from the impressive touch display interface down to the sleek Apple styling that's simply irresistible. A further bonus was the fact that the iPhone would officially be launched in Asia only next year, giving me early adopter status in the league of extraordinary geeks and making me (naturally) the envy of my fellow scribes back home. And if it turns out I don't like the iPhone after all, well, there's always eBay.
However, when I finally found myself standing inside the Apple Store in San Francisco late in September, the iPod touch in one hand, the iPhone in the other, I started having second thoughts about the iPhone. Aside from not having faster connectivity options such as 3G and HSDPA, the iPhone needs to be unlocked by third-party options in order to be used with SIM cards other than AT&T's, and that's additional cost.
As much as I didn't like the glossy chrome finish of the iPod touch and its lack of a camera and cellular support, its slimmer design and larger 16GB capacity made it really attractive over the iPhone. Also noteworthy were the touch's video-out capabilities and normal 3.5mm-jack, both of which aren't found on the iPhone. The iPhone's 3.5mm audio jack is recessed into the slot, making it compatible with only a selected number of earphones out there (unless it is used with an additional adapter).
Eventually, on my sixth visit to the Apple store, during which the Apple staff now readily recognized me, I finally got the 16GB iPod touch. My rationale being that I'm still convinced a better iPhone will come along to Asia next year, complete with 3G and further improvements. There was that plus the limited availability of the iPod touch--the 16GB version was perpetually sold out on my first five visits to the store--which decided me. Am I happy with my decision now I've gotten it? You betcha!
Apple iPhone falls prey to the gold treatment
Damian Koh | Oct 08, 2007
How do you make a bricked iPhone stand out among all the paperweights on your desk? Easy, coat it in luscious gold. That's exactly what Goldstriker is coming up with--a 24 carat gold plated 8GB iPhone, though it didn't say whether it will be AT&T locked, upgraded with the latest software, or simply an iBrick. Whatever it is, if you've been with us, you'd probably know that not all things gold will get our attention. But with the amount of flak the iPhone is getting, this could jolly well end up as a valid reason for current owners in Asia to turn their iPhone into a gold brick. Start saving the money.
Via Newlaunches
Picture credit: Goldstriker
The TyTN II arrives
John Chan | Oct 05, 2007
After its initial launch announcement a couple of weeks back, the much-anticipated HTC TyTN II will finally be available in Asia Pacific, well, at least in Singapore.
Singapore-based operator SingTel will be the first with the goods for the island-state. From tomorrow, it will start selling the TyTN II from as low as S$388 (US$263.06) after a S$200 phone trade-in and contract subscription to both a high-end mobile plan and data plan (other terms and conditions apply). According to the SingTel flyer, the usual price of the TyTN II with a two-year mobile plan is priced at S$988 (US$670).
In Singapore, this will remain a SingTel exclusive for two weeks, after which retailers will start to offer the device at various outlets. Across Asia, the TyTN II will be rolled out over the next two weeks. If you are looking forward to buying this PDA-phone, check with your local mobile carrier or distributor for specific availability dates.
OneSIM card for use in Singapore and Indonesia
Reuben Lee | Oct 05, 2007
For those who travel frequently between Singapore and Indonesia, here's a piece of good news. Singapore-based mobile carrier StarHub has introduced the OneSIM Indosat, a service collaboration with Indonesian service operator Indosat that combines two SIM cards (one from Singapore and one from Indonesia) into one.
What this means is mobile users who travel between the two countries will now need only one phone and one SIM card to keep both a Singapore and an Indonesian number active for receiving calls and SMSes. Naturally, standard roaming rates apply in Indonesia for those based in Singapore and vice versa, but StarHub has added a carrot to the deal by offering a 20 percent discount on roaming rates.
The OneSIM Indosat is targeted mainly at business travelers and comes with a S$5 monthly subscription charge. The upgrade of the new SIM card is free. A StarHub representative told CNET Asia that this is the first time the company is offering such a service with an overseas partner. Depending on how this performs, StarHub is planning to introduce similar services with operators in other top business destinations in the region.
Sidle up to a Chinese Companion on your next museum visit
Reuben Lee | Oct 05, 2007
The handheld device, bundled with earphones, is part of the Companion project which involved around two years of conceptualization and research and up to six translators and 35 voice actors. It was developed by Canadian firm GSM. According to the museum, the handheld contains more than 9 hours of audio and video footage and covers a period ranging from the 14th century to 1972. Operating is as simple as keying in the numbers found at the various sections in the History Gallery. An English Companion has already been introduced earlier, with plans for Malay and Japanese Companions later in the year.
Here's a little tech specs here for the techie. The handheld comes with 32MB of onboard flash memory, 64MB of RAM, and runs on Windows CE 5.0. Onboard storage can be extended to 4GB via the CompactFlash card slot for a maximum of 250 hours of audio content. The screen is a 4.3-inch, 16bit-color TFT with a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels. In addition to infrared, the handheld also features RF technology that automatically triggers the relevant content via proximity.
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