Made in Singapore 2004
By CNETAsia Staff
06/08/2004
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/pcperipherals/0,39051168,39188942,00.htm
Mention made-in-Singapore tech products, and likely Creative will pop into mind. However, there's more to the homegrown tech scene than just Sim Lim Square and Funan the IT Mall. Here, CNETAsia celebrates National Day on August 9 by spotlighting 10 gadgets that proudly carry the Made-in-Singapore label.
Doing it our way: First 5 homegrown gear | Next 5 homegrown gadgets
 Aztech HL100E HomePlug Ethernet Adapter
Device: Powerline network adapter
Est. price: S$159 (US$92.60) per pair
Availability: Early September
Manufacturer: Aztech Systems Ltd.
Pros: Convenient; easy to set up; no messy cables.
Cons: Requires two of the same adapter to work; have to sacrifice one power socket.
This will be one of the first Powerline networking products to be launched in Singapore when it arrives in stores next month. Making use of the electrical grid around the house as a network, the HomePlug converts any power socket into a network point, thereby allowing broadband access to be shared easily among family members. According to the Singapore-based manufacturer, the HomePlug will serve to facilitate file sharing, LAN gaming and VoIP calls around the house. It is designed to work with both ADSL and cable connections.
Deja View Model 100
Device: Camwear with recorder
Est. price: S$685 (US$399)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Advent Electronics for US company Deja View
Pros: Cool factor; easy to bring around.
Cons: Expensive.
Soon, capturing and reliving memories may come with just a touch of a button. US company Deja View is selling a gizmo, made in the Republic, which continually captures whatever it's pointed at. The Model 100 then saves the last 30 seconds of footage to a Secure Digital (SD) storage card when the user wishes to save it. Besides the innovative way of recording, the device is also diminutive. The camera portion of the device is light and small enough to clip to head- or eyewear, while the storage unit can be worn on a belt. So the next time you experience a "repeat" event, it probably isn't a bug in The Matrix.
DigiSAFE KeyCrypt
Device: Powerline network adapter
Est. price: US$165 (for businesses in min. units of 50)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Digisafe
Pros: Provides door access; security for applications assured; one of fastest USB cryptographic tokens in the market.
Cons: Expensive.
Local R&D company DigiSAFE has come up with the KeyCrypt which claims to be the world's first multifunctional USB token for logical and physical access. The KeyCrypt has three functions: It can act as a cryptographic tool; a door access control; and last but not least, as a USB data storage device. Storing VPN client and email client combined with the option to store up to 256MB, the KeyCrypt is overall a handy device able to provide information security.
GP PowerBank U-Smart
Device: Battery charger
Est. price: S$89.90 (US$52.35)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: GP Batteries International Ltd
Pros: Under 45 minutes to fully charge up to four AA- or AAA-sized rechargeable batteries.
Cons: Works for Ni-MH batteries only.
One of the fastest battery chargers in the market today, it needs just 43 minutes to fully recharge four 2,500mAh AA cells. This makes the charger extremely useful for those who utilize high-powered devices such as portable DVD players and digital cameras. While its price may seem a tad too steep, the PowerBank U-Smart does offer users better peace of mind compared with cheaper models, due to its built-in temperature protection and damaged battery detection features. It's good for AAA-sized batteries, too.
Motorola C650
Device: Camera-phone
Est. price: S$68 (US$40) for 2-year plan
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Motorola
Pros: Triband; MP3 ringtones; VGA camera; personalized lighting.
Cons: Lackluster CSTN screen.
Motorola C650 joins the Made-in-Singapore marvels. Churned out by Motorola's design center located in Ang Mo Kio, the C650 comes at an attractive price tag, too. Plus this triband camera-phone doesn't cut corners with features such as MP3 ringtones and personalized lighting. According to a survey conducted by Schwab Soundview Capital Markets, this sleek mobile has been voted one of the most popular handsets. Not too shabby for innovation from the Republic.
Next five gadgets made in Singapore
Doing it our way: First 5 homegrown gear | Next 5 homegrown gadgets
MuVo Slim
Device: MP3 player with FM radio
Est. price: S$299 (US$174)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Creative
Pros: Sleek credit card form factor; solid sound quality and battery life; uses removable Lithium cell; good FM radio tuner.
Cons: No memory expansion options; small LCD.
We've seen some increasingly small flash memory MP3 players in recent years but the new Creative MuVo Slim has to be the sleekest and most feature-packed of the lot. It fits in the palm of your hand, weighs little more than a stack of credit cards, and comes with an executive-like wallet casing for ultimate posing potential. For professional yuppies and men-in-suit types who don't want to lug a jukebox to work, this is one musical entertainer that fits perfectly into the suitcase, next to the Filofax and PDA.
Neuston Virtuoso MC-500
Device: Wireless networked entertainment device
Est. price: S$399 (US$234)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Neuston
Pros: Slim, compact; wealth of connectivity; handles MP3 as well as DivX and XviD video; option to convert incompatible DivX3 video files to newer DivX4 format; uncomplicated user interface; firmware upgradeable; Mac support.
Cons: Stuttering video when using 802.11b wireless; doesn't do Internet radio, WMV or audio CDs; chintzy credit card-sized remote; server stalls when playing corrupted videos; deletes older DivX 3 files after converting them to new format.
There's no denying that the future of home entertainment is digital. Just like how MP3s changed the way we listen to music, DivX will do the same for video. With most PCs still looking out of place in the living room, the Neuston Virtuoso MC-500 bridges this digital divide by functioning as a wireless networked entertainment device. This gadget streams different types of media throughout the house, allowing you to enjoy Internet movies and digital music on your television or home theater.
Prestigio M120C
Device: Notebook
Est. price: S$2,399 (US$1,397)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Prestigio
Pros: Good value for money; portable; PC camera included.
Cons: Lacks ports such as FireWire; S-video also missing.
The Prestigio M120C is a thin-and-light notebook that offers reasonable features for a notebook of its price. Weighing a mere 1.8kg, the laptop's small frame combined with its affordability make it an ultraportable to look at. Combined with a PC camera module, this Singapore-made machine satisfies the user looking for price and portability.
Zen Touch (20GB)
Device: Hard drive-based MP3 player
Est. price: S$499 (US$291).
Availability: August
Manufacturer: Creative
Pros: Claimed 32 hours (playing at 48kbps); roomy 20GB storage.
Cons: Pinpoint accuracy of touch-sensitive scroll too sensitive; hefty size.
At first glance, one would easily mistaken the Creative Zen Touch for a long lost cousin of Apple's iPod. The former sports the same white anodized aluminum face plate, a soothing arrangement of buttons that are arrayed neatly in two rows on the front of the device, 20GB worth of storage and a claimed 32-hour battery life; we had no doubt that this is a pseudo iPod sibling that is bent on replacing its former brother.
Zircon G88
Device: Phone running Palm OS
Est. price: S$938 (US$546)
Availability: Now
Manufacturer: Group Sense Technology
Pros: Large 260K-color screen; slide-out keypad; digital camera.
Cons: No onboard expansion slot.
Don't mistake the Zircon G88 for the Samsung SGH-D410 as this mobile phone is a lot more versatile. Designed in Singapore and manufactured in China, the G88 is touted by Group Sense as the smallest Palm-powered PDA phone currently. This latest offering addresses a shortcoming inherent in the previous z3--the lack of a keypad. Running on Palm OS, this smart phone is equally capable when used as a PDA.
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