Bytes – In Case You Missed Out On The Man Bag For Dad…

Sweeties! Did you see the uber-cool Tods Man Bag in Elaine’s post (‘Quirky But Useful Father’s Day Gifts’ – 25 May)? Don’t we just absolutely love it for good old Dad or even our guy, for that matter?!

Well, if it runs out of stock while you’re rushing down to grab it – and we can just SEE the frenzied queues of people tearing the house down just to get hold of one – don’t despair! There are robust alternatives out there that will soothe both you and your deprived dad. Here’s our picks of more Father’s Day gifts.

A camera is always more exciting than a tie or pair of socks. Of course, it comes nowhere in comparison with the Tods Man Bag but at least Dad can take his mind off it by photographing the grandkids, the birds and bees and stuff around him. The Olympus SP-800UZ is the smallest compact digital camera in its class and the first in the world to incorporate a super powerful 30x optical zoom. Combined with digital zooming, the total effect is increased to 150x which means you can zoom right in on the craters of the moon. So cool!

It’s also got a wide shooting range with focal lengths ranging from 28mm wide-angle (think Himalayan panorama) to 840mm telephoto (craters of the moon or ex-boyfriend’s face). High resolution 14 megapixel CCD means good clear pictures, a 3-inch wide screen means Dad can see the pretty pictures without straining his eyes, and CCD-shift image stabilization function and high-sensitivity imaging means no blurred pictures whether Dad is shaking or the object in this viewfinder is. A big bonus – he can record HDTV movies on this camera too. Lots of other bells and whistles are packed into this little sweetie, and it’s so small it fits just nicely into the Tods Man Bag (if only we got it!) and also in the palm of your hand. Only comes in titanium silver, priced at $748, with 8GB mSD card.

If he is into sound, Creative’s ZiiSound D5 – it’s flagship wireless speaker system – is easy peasy for even the most technophobic dad to plug into. Just launched, this rather compact wireless speaker system is locally designed and developed and gives great, rich sound (I heard it myself and was so impressed!) and is so easy to use. Essentially, you blue-tooth it to any blue tooth-enabled gadget – be it your laptop, notebook, iphone, ipad, etc – and it will deliver the fantastic sound that rivals any hi-fi system. No complicated installations or downloading programmes from a CDRom - it's just literally plug and play. I saw the demo.

It won't fit into the Tods  Man Bag but it's so light, Dad can bring it around the house with him and soothe his (Tod's Man-)Bagless woes away with crystal clear music. An added bonus – the speakers charge the iPhone or iPod while they are docked. What I can’t understand is why it isn’t compatible wirelessly with its own Zen MP3 players! Duh!! Still, I say, buy local!! Costs S$399 and bundled with USB Transmitter for the launch period (worth $59) while stocks lasts. Available at  Creative stores at International Buisiness Park, Marina Square and authorised dealers.

Finally, SingTel and Samsung Electronics has just announced that the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S smartphone will be available from 4 June 2010 – the first time it hits Singapore’s shops. The Android-powered Galaxy S has an ultra-responsive SUPER AMOLED screen, super sharp viewing of images and movies, 80% less reflectivity even out in the sun, video play and record functions, and allows you to record, edit and play HD video, browse the Internet, and read e-books. You can also check emails, listen to music and send messages without having to open and close applications, and it fits niftily into the Tods Man Bag. In fact, with this smartphone, he can keep track of the new shipment of Tods Man Bags the moment it hits the stores, with just a call to the boutique, anywhere, anytime! 

SingTel is introducing three enhanced Galaxy 3G Flexi price plans at launch from $39/month including unlimited LIVE MobileTV Basic Pack viewing for up to 24 months, free additional 200 minutes of talktime*, free local mobile data of 12GB (capped at $30), plus free access to SingTel AMPed offering unlimited music downloads. You can get it from today online at www.singtel.com/galaxyS and Singtel stores from 4 June.

- by EW

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Bytes - Pick Up That Phone Now!

Mobile mania .. this season brings you more phone models than ever so if you are in the market for one, take your pick from these latest launches:

For a sexy phone, Samsung goes all the way with its full Monte! This sleek and glossy, full touch phone with a with a 3.0-inch WQVGA LCD screen and 16:9 landscape viewing has a 3.2 megapixel camera and a host of multimedia functions including integration with Facebook and MySpace, advanced Twitter and Bebo widgets - and multi-IM capability – to provide users with the opportunity to chat in real-time via their chosen service. There is a GPS function and Geo-tagging which means that you can imprint your photos with geographic tags to share travels and experiences with friends. At the same time, you can simultaneously update your social network schedules and Outlook calendar, without the hassle of accessing each application individually.

Irritated with the greasy finger prints left on your phone? These are a thing of the past with the new Samsung Wave, a Smartphone with anti-smudge technology and a Super AMOLED 3.3” display so that what you see is brighter, clearer and more vivid. The phone has a Social Hub that seamlessly integrates all major portal’s email, IM and SNS services. You can change the layout of your home-page to allow instant access to Twitter, Facebook and a host of other social networking services. A superb 1GHz processor offers the best graphic performance available today with a speed that makes the touch screen user interface seem incredibly responsive and intuitive. Junior is entertained on holiday or on the plane as you can play DivX Xvid, MP4 and WMV movie files and with a virtual 5.1 surround sound delivery which means you have a personal entertainment system in your pocket. A HD video (720p) decoding and recording capability makes this model an outstanding device for capturing, sharing and viewing video. Tune into an integrated application store called Samsung Aps and download a wealth of games, navigation, social networking, e-book, health and lifestyle applications.

HTC has been extremely busy with launches this year. They launched, the HTC HD2, the HTC HD Mini, the HTC Smart and the HTC Legend all in a matter of a few months. SimplyFab men will appreciate the HTC HD2 for its optional car kit that automatically transforms the phone into a finger-friendly in-car navigation experience while driving. A 1GHz Snapdragon processor in the phone promises speed and performance and an industry-leading high resolution 4.3-inch screen with touch display allows you to view, zoom and resize documents, websites and photos. The impressive screen with 480 by 800 WVGA resolution assures a deluxe viewing experience with vibrant colours so that watching videos on your phone will be a treat!

Gadget Girl's, the HTC HD mini is perfect for you, complete with style, chic and smart smart sensors so that when a call comes in during a meeting, simply flip the phone facing down and it will automatically silent the ringing. When you’re out shopping, the HD mini will automatically detect the swinging motion of your phone in your bag and when it rings, it will increase the volume to the maximum so you don’t miss any important phone calls. A 5 mega pixel web camera with autofocus capabilities also makes taking photos a delight!

Gamers will like the HTC Legend with a smooth, continuous surface, machined from a single aluminum block into a seamless compact frame. To complement its looks, the HTC Legend includes a stunning 3.2 inch, AMOLED HVGA display. The traditional trackball has also been replaced with an optical joystick, surrounded by a narrow button to improve usability without interrupting its unique design.

Then for one and all there is the HTC Smart’s with a friendly compact design. It integrates an intuitive user experience that is centered around HTC Senseä, an HTC design philosophy that puts people at the center by focusing on three core areas: Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected. HTC Smart enables personal customization of each person’s own phone experience. It also provides a quick and easy way to see what friends are up to via various social networks as well as quickly communicating over the phone, through text messaging or email. Comes in Black, White and Pink.  

See all their phones for yourself on the HTC Mobile Truck, pimped up with a showcase of the latest product offerings.  The HTC Mobile Truck will make its rounds at Plaza Singapura (8 and 9 May, noon to 10pm), West Mall (15 and 16 May, noon to 10pm),  Toa Payoh HDB Hub (17 to 19 May, noon to 6pm) and opposite Parkway Parade (22 and 23 May, noon to 10pm).

Finally if you are a biker, your choice would be the Garmin Asus Smart phone A10 and A50. This is the first Android-powered smart phone that delivers a fully integrated Garmin navigation experience. Garmin are well known global leaders in satellite navigation and together with computer maker Asus, have delivered a phone that is as intelligent and intuitive (if not more intuitive) than a GPS tracker. Cycling yourself lost around the Marina Bay Sands area or have you decided to bike to Sentosa? The phone easily guides you to the right path and finds the shortest route for you to get you your destination. There are 140,000 key interest points and the latest routes all keyed into its database.  










- Elaine

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