This years PC Show 2012 starts from 7 to 10 June. As usual, the event will occupy level 1, 3, 4 and 6 of Suntec Singapore. The PC Show opening hours from 12 noon to 9 pm daily. Avoid the first hour of the show or else you’ll have to queue to get in.

PC Show 2012
7-10 June 2012
12 to 9pm
Suntec Singapore

Consumers flock to this IT and electronics fair to hunt for the best bargain laptops such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba, etc. and related computer hardwares and accessories.

Major camera brands such as Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony have promoted their latest compact cameras and DSLRs in previous shows and it is expected they will be present in this year’s event too. There were many new models released over the past 6 months and competitions are hotting up.

Besides computer hardware and digital cameras, the PC Show has become the “battleground” for Singtel, Starhub and M1 to gain market share for broadband subscribers. As observed over the recent years, the freebies are getting more attractive e.g. MacBook Pro for a 2-year subscription plan. Indeed, it is the best time to sign up for a new plan or recontract your broadband during the PC Show. Only the three telcos are allowed to carry Apple products i.e. iPhone and iPad at the show. These booths are not only attractions to Apple fans but also people looking for the latest Android phones from Samsung, HTC and etc.

To find out more information on The PC Show 2012, please visit http://www.pcshow2012.com

iPhone 4S will be available in Singapore on 28 October. This is the launch date posted on the official Singapore Apple Online Store web page. I reckon the local telcos, especially Singtel will be able to start sell the iPhone 4S on that date too.

You can find out more on the iPhone 4S Singapore launch date at this official Apple web page:

http://store.apple.com/sg/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

No pricing of the new iPhone 4S in Singapore dollar yet, however, I expected the price of the iPhone 4S without contract to be same as iPhone 4. SGD888 for 16GB and SGD1,048 for the 32GB model.

At the time of writing, there is no news from any of the telcos: Singtel, Starhub or M1 on their official launch date of iPhone 4S in Singapore yet. Meanwhile, we just have to wait for a few more days for the confirmed date and pricing for the iPhone 4S plans.

SingTel iPad 2 will be available from Sat, 14 May 2011. The cheapest iPad 2 with data plan offered by SingTel starts at SGD399. The mobile broadband plan costs SGD40 per month.

SingTel iPad 2 Mobile Broadband Plan at $40/mth

If you have made up your mind to get the iPad 2 64GB WiFi+3G, it will cost only SGD599 – you save SGD509. Factoring the data plan cost for 24 months which total to SGD960, you end up paying SGD18.80 per month for the 7.2 mbps data plan. I think the SingTel iPad 2 offer is reasonable and quite attractive.

To be among the first to get hold your iPad 2 from SingTel, go register your interest before 12pm, 13 May 2011 at

www.singtelshop.com/ipad/register.html

The IT Show 2012 will start on 8 Mar until 11 Mar at Suntec Singaproe. This is probably the largest, in term of visitors and revenue, among all the consumer electronics trade fairs in Singapore.

Last year, the 4-day IT Show attracted a massive turnout of over 80,000 visitors and chalked up over $65 million in sales

People flocked to the Singapore IT Show to look for latest gadgets such as smartphones, iPad-like tablet PC, digital cameras, portable entertainment devices. As for the staples like the laptops, netbooks, flat panel TVs and monitors, printers and etc., people come to the IT Show to look for the best bargain.

Beside major brands e.g. ACER, ASUS, Apple, Canon, Creative, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Nikon, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba, you can expect the 3 Singapore telcos: Singtel, Starhub and M1 at each other’s throats vying for more subscribers.

Hot Gadgets at the IT Show 2011

Here’s my list of hot gadgets for IT Show 2011:

• MacBook Pro
• Lumix GF2
• Olympus E-PL2 and XZ-1
• Free MacBook Air offer by telcos

Have I missed out something? Tell me what hot gadgets you are buying at the IT Show 2011. Leave your comment at the box below.

Singtel is giving away a “free” Apple MacBook worth $1,488 when you subscribe to 10Mbps Home Broadband for $85/mth. The catch is… you have to commit to a 24-month contract. The total cost for the MacBook and the fixed broadband is 24 x $85, $2,040. To me, it’s a installment plan to own a MacBook and you are paying for your free MacBook.

Singtel 10 Mbps Fixed Broadband at $23/mth

Effectively, you are paying $23 per month for the 10 Mbps home broadband, which is a good deal. Look at it this way. If you always wanted a MacBook but find it hard to justify for the higher price compared to a Acer or Dell then here’s a good excuse for you to get hold of a MacBook.

Why not pay $85 per month for a MacBook and faster 10Mbps broadband.

Am I stuck with 10Mbps when Next Gen NGN is ready?

Singtel 10Mbps will probably be fast enough until the Next Gen NBN becomes fully operational in 2013. But I expect some home users will be able to connect to Next Gen NBN by 2012 and prices of home broadband will spiral down as more players come on board to offer high-speed broadband.

If you are not current bounded by any fixed broadband contract, then go down to Suntec Singapore Level 6 Hall 601 to grab your free MacBook!

I have been using the iPhone 3GS for more than 6 months now and I didn’t realize I have been using these essential iPhone accessories from day 1.

• Screen Protector
• iPhone Cover

iPhone Accessories Voucher from Singtel

The reason why I forgot their existence was due to the fact that I have them on the very moment I bought the phone. Thanks to Singtel which gave me a $50 voucher to buy the iPhone casing and the screen protector film.

Even thought I have the iPhone screen protector on the touch screen, I don’t feel the phone is any less responsive.

And I really like my leather iPhone case. It looks stylish and at the same time very functional. Believe it or not, I was asked by a passenger(China nationality) across the aisle on my flight returning from China last month. Isn’t it where they make all these iPhone cases for the rest of the world!

Both iPhone accessories became part of my iPhone from the very first moment I used it. No wonder I took them for granted. Without the iPhone cover, it would not look as brand new after 6 months of heavy usage.

If you are going to get your iPhone, make sure you invest on a good casing and screen protector.

I am thinking of getting a bluetooth headset for my iPhone but really concerned about the iPhone bluetooth connectivity and voice quality.

What accessories have you bought for your iPhone? Write your list of iPhone accessories in the comment box below.

Just got an email from Singtel on the new launch of the iPhone 3GS price plan on 10 Jul 2009. The Singtel iPhone plan is no diffferent from the existing iFlexi except for the new iFlexi lite.

For more information, visit Singtel website now.

What’s new are the BBOM Premium and Platinum plans (7.2Mbps/1.5Mbps):

• BBoM Plus – 1GB @ $19.90
• BBoM Premium – 10GB @ $29.90
• BBoM Platinum – 30GB @ $39.90

[Updated on 10 July 2009]

I like Singtel’s inSing.com and I think it’s a winner. As an internet directory, it is easy to use and as a food, shopping, entertainment portal I couldn’t stop clicking further into the portal. There are so much to explore in inSing.com…

The local internet directory, classifieds and search space is already crowded by

• eguide.com.sg
• yellowpages.com.sg
• hotfrog.sg
• rednano.sg
• mocca.com
• st701.com
• sg.88db.com
• streetdirectory.com

and many other smaller players. Many of these portals are useless and boring if not downright spammy.

inSing.com Launch Party

I think inSing.com really stands out among the crowd and is a breath of fresh air for Singapore internet users.

I will definitely try to use it to search for local food and shopping. Well done, Singtel!

inSing.com Criticism

I am sure there are critics out there who may not agree with me. So, what do you think?

Send me what you think at the “Leave a Comment” box below.

I was looking at last Saturday paper and thought what’s the big deal about Singtel HTC Dream. What so exclusive about this “beta” phone using Android OS?

Who wants to pay $38 for this HTC Dream when the new HTC Magic (Android G2) has already been announced on HTC official website.

Singtel HTC Dream Launch

A report in today’s Straits Times (B14)… “Although there were no long queue at the weekend launch, Singtel said sales of the phone fell within expectations.”

It depends where you set the expectations!

HTC Dream Review

Try google for htc dream review or t-mobile g1 review(for the USA market) and you will see for yourself why you should wait for the HTC Magic.

Engadget said: “The G1(HTC Dream) isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind right out of the gate.”

The Sydney Morning Herald said: “Unfortunately the Dream can’t decide whether it’s a touchscreen device or not.”

So much for the negative comments of the HTC Dream. Let’s take a sneek at the HTC Magic instead.

HTC Magic Getting Rave Early Review

Unfortunately, there is no HTC Magic review on the production unit yet. What we have here are units displayed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Whether it’s early hype or otherwise it is good for the HTC Magic to be said to be “Getting close to perfection…”

So one can’t help but to compare this new HTC Magic to the iPhone.

“HTC has got a very smooth phone, which feels great on your hands and in your pants’ pockets. While it’s sightly thicker than the iPhone, the narrower, rounded body, and weight makes it feel the same size.”

And, this time round, HTC remembered to include video recording in the HTC Magic.

See it for yourself, here’s a HTC Magic Hands-on Video:

Now, I can’t wait to get my hands on the new HTC Magic aka Android G2. Maybe, Singtel should have included free upgrade to HTC Magic for all those who have purchased the HTC Dream and I don’t think they have sold many!

[Updated on 13 May 2009] I changed my mind on the HTC Magic, instead I will go for Samsung Android Phone – the Samsung i7500. The i7500 has a 8G memory, the 3.5mmm ear jack and other better specs; and I always wanted to get a Samsung.