tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768738103047305432024-03-19T17:58:19.158+08:00Tech Attack<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png"></a><br>This blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-14734045524317211642015-12-01T09:00:00.000+08:002015-12-01T09:00:02.563+08:00The Future of Us - possibly the best SG50 product<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2015 has been a year of unabashedly lavish indulgence for the Singaporean psyche. In stunningly predictable fashion, the populace made #SimiSaiAlsoSG50 a running joke before the first quarter of the year was over. With the year now drawing to quite the comfortable close, I'd say the Singaporean public, in particular those connected on the interwebs, is very much done with SG50. But ohhh dear friends, Singapore's not done with you just yet. Oh no, sir. No ma'am. December sees a final burst of activity to close the Golden Jubilee of our independence (if you've ever observed or analysed the pyrotechnic sequences of our National Day or New Year celebrations, you'll know what I mean).<br />
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Chief amongst these activities is the <a href="http://www.thefutureofus.sg/" target="_blank">Future of Us</a> exhibition, happening from 1 December 2015 till 8 March 2016 at Gardens by the Bay (just across from MBS, near the Meadow). According to its website description, <i>"‘The Future of Us’ exhibition is an immersive and multi-sensory
experience that offers a glimpse into the possibilities of how
Singaporeans can live, work, play, care and learn in the future. ... It is the capstone event to
round up Singapore’s SG50 year of celebrations."</i> Tickets are free, but need to be pre-booked <a href="https://apps.thefutureofus.sg/main/Registration.aspx" target="_blank">on the website</a>, and collected before entry into the exhibition.<br />
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<i>The Future of Us</i> presents a forward-looking message of hope. Within its expansive (and logically, expensive) omnitheatrette, fancy projection mapping and literal sandcastles in the air of what the future could be, a singular message constantly rings clear.<br />
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The future may bring technology even sci-fi movies couldn't dream up. It may well hold possibilities that most of us would scoff at today. The future is as limitless as They say, but They always to neglect to mention one factor - you and I, the people piloting the future.<br />
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We who brought automobiles about. We who brought computers into our lives. We who have made smartphones as ubiquitous as day and night. Just as our evolving demands shape the development of technology and the world around us, so will our hopes, dreams and aspirations drive our future. We didn't become a global powerhouse within half-a-century by merely sitting about, so there's no reason why we should do so and expect to continue leading air-conditioned lives.<br />
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The future is up to us.<br />
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With all the hysteria of the year's celebrations, and no thanks to the countless brands who dived at this opportunity to show us just how bad their marketing can possibly get, such messages have sorely been lacking the government's overarching rhetoric. And that is not to say that there is no place for over-the-top celebrations and unbridled glee. We've come this far and we sure as hell deserve a party. Few other sovereign nations can claim as unique a milestone as its 50th year of independence, in such a time in the world's history as 2015. But even if it comes at the tail end of this year to remember, I'm glad to see that we have not neglected the biggest message that needs to be heard - that if not for its people, Singapore is nothing. Nothing at all.<br />
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<i>The Future of Us</i>, under the hand of creative director Gene Tan, has brought this message home like no amount of fireworks can.<br />
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Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-77207881839400025812015-03-22T04:13:00.000+08:002015-03-22T04:16:04.970+08:00Tech Review: Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>TL;DR - if you aren't insanely particular about audio reproduction, and are instead more interested in not breaking your back or your baggage allowance, get the <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar-2" target="_blank">Roar 2</a>.</b><br />
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A year ago I went on what David Attenborough might have described as a frenzy, technolusting after a product I only had theoretical knowledge about, eagerly awaiting the day I would be able to queue up (short one, because obviously I was one of the first), fling dolla dolla bills at the poor staff behind the counter, and dance out of the convention hall with my new-found (still theoretical) love into strawberry fields forever.<br />
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I did so, minus the swag bits (because civilization, guys), and went home with the <a href="http://wongrenhao.blogspot.sg/2014/03/tech-review-creative-sound-blaster-roar.html" target="_blank">Creative Sound Blaster Roar</a>. And for once, the hype did not disappoint. It performed as it said it would, and astounded as it promised it would.<br />
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Courtesy of the awesomely hospitable Creative team, I got a chance to learn more about the <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar-2" target="_blank">Roar 2</a>, and take a review unit home for further testing.<br />
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"20% smaller, 10% lighter, 100% sexier" is the tagline they've come up for the Roar 2 - I have my subjective reservations about the 100% sexier bit, but I still think the phrase makes brilliant sense from a marketing perspective. Creative basically said that they looked to shave as much external material and components without changing any of the core internal components that have contributed to the original device's jaw-dropping audio quality. For those considering the Roar for the first time, those internals are a bi-amplifier system separately driving two higher-range drivers, and one woofer with two passive bass radiators on either side that amplify and throw lower frequencies outwards, along with aptX and AAC Bluetooth audio codecs to ensure the best possible wireless sound.<br />
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Before I go on, Creative has made it clear, both to me and within their press and marketing materials, that the Roar 2 is not an upgrade, or a Gen-2 product, it is an alternative choice for customers in line with feedback asking for something even more compact, and lighter. Keep that in mind as you read through the rest of this review and assess which is better for you, the Roar 2 or the Roar Classic. <br />
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Shaving as much of the chassis off meant sizing down with as little compromise to the product's now famous audio quality. I suppose it is natural that the first thing to go were the metal grills protecting the bass radiators on either side. This along with the reduced overall size does mean that there is less room within the speaker for the bass to resonate, but more on how that affects overall sound later. Creative assures me that the now exposed radiators have been suitably reinforced, and indeed the metal plates are made of beautifully machined aluminum surrounded by a springy flexibie rubber that feels it can take some accidental impact. If it is your thing, the radiators now visibly pulsate to tangibly mesmerize you with almost-holographic Creative logos. Like so:<br />
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Other external enhancements: I love that the front buttons are now tactile bumps, instead of being flush with the surface. So much easier for you to deal with your speaker without looking at it, because there should be plenty more important things to do in a party, or indeed, for visually impaired people to use the device. The MicroSD card playback and voice record buttons sets at the back remain the same, but they have removed the alarm button out (I love bells and whistles but that was a vuvuzela right there if you know what I mean) and moved the Roar button to the back, which now functions to cycle between regular, Tera Bass and Roar audio modes. There is also now a switch between USB Audio and Mass Storage modes, to cut out the problem of cranky computers not recognizing your Roar's MicroSD as a storage device. This switch makes it clear what you intend to do - use it as audio output or manage your MicroSD card. Ports remain the same - MicroSD slot, MicroUSB, USB out for charging your device (the Roar uses a 6000mAh Li-ion battery), Aux In and DC In.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBuABR7OZUCASP-JxEzGDsXxwaduGBO5pIDgoa9OebYPdTYVz5N1jHNX_KW5qiJWrMhJnJE5-O729EgBSkr_a8TmkaJBv5yFMzhRfG41x6-fjX3K7m5BZLbuUsyzYFeLzbf64dvcZLIgn/s1600/Product_SB+Roar+2_White_Back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBuABR7OZUCASP-JxEzGDsXxwaduGBO5pIDgoa9OebYPdTYVz5N1jHNX_KW5qiJWrMhJnJE5-O729EgBSkr_a8TmkaJBv5yFMzhRfG41x6-fjX3K7m5BZLbuUsyzYFeLzbf64dvcZLIgn/s1600/Product_SB+Roar+2_White_Back.jpg" height="280" width="640" /></a><br />
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If you've read this far, you're interested in the crux of the matter: just how does a sized down Roar perform aurally?<br />
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Maintaining the same innards as its predecessor means that the Roar 2 essentially can handle just about any genre of music you throw at it - classical, opera (not the same), hard rock, jazz, musicals, live recordings, funk, classic rock, electronic, dance. Those are just what I have in my library, and if tests are anything to go by, the list goes on. Nuances that you would think to forgo in a portable speaker surprise you by showing up anyway - the squeak of fretting on guitars, shadow beats on cymbals and drums, breathy harmonics on a flute. These are the marks of solidly crafted mid-high frequency drivers.<br />
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The bass continues to be a pleasure to indulge in, and now have throbbing aluminum plates to boot. The massive bass drops in Jamiroquai's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3EsPTX0wuQ" target="_blank">Tallulah</a> and Giorgio Moroder's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u5c-Qndqio" target="_blank">74 Is the New 24</a> did prove to be a little beyond the speaker's capabilities, but for one with dimensions similar to that of a paperback novel, the fact that it managed to reproduce half of those drops already speaks volumes (heheh volumes, geddit).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1mEr_TOvWxh-1i61B9uHSt1H6CTYsJuUMFcYs-nxGqGZHyGbTmrnaD0tvO0PZ6yhWEhX6yzVyKTJHHQxApy8R2e7CtbQZdz5ajUcSqYGNqg72KBlG0tXrPs41SzoCzEH6hBsWUplSMNb/s1600/Product_SB+Roar+2_See+Through.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1mEr_TOvWxh-1i61B9uHSt1H6CTYsJuUMFcYs-nxGqGZHyGbTmrnaD0tvO0PZ6yhWEhX6yzVyKTJHHQxApy8R2e7CtbQZdz5ajUcSqYGNqg72KBlG0tXrPs41SzoCzEH6hBsWUplSMNb/s1600/Product_SB+Roar+2_See+Through.jpg" height="493" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Roar 2 speaker configuration</i></td></tr>
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A key difference between the Roar Classic, as they are calling it, and the Roar 2, is that the two mid-high speakers now accompany the low-mid woofer in firing upwards, as opposed to the front-firing configuration in the Roar Classic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Roar 1/Classic speaker configuration</i></td></tr>
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This crucial change makes for several things: with the Roar 2's configuration, you are now able to either lie the speaker down for coffee table-type use, or sit up for more directional, party-type use. This, Creative says, is in line with user feedback which requested this flexibility. When told this I nodded with a smile, guiltily wondering how many times I made my Roar Classic sit up, completely forgetting that the two more important speakers were firing right into solid wood or stone. Honestly, it still sounded good, which is why I never had enough cause to doubt I was using it wrongly, if I even did so in the first place.<br />
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The down side to this that, from a strictly audio perspective, you do not get the best-of-both-worlds configuration that the Roar Classic offers, firing mid/high frequencies forward while throwing low/mid frequencies upwards and sideways, where it would have more space to resonate. But hey, if you wanted something that can produce great audio at both low and high volumes, with audible bass, wherever the hell it fires as long as you hear it, then get the Roar 2, because it will be less of a strain on your luggage space, or your shoulder if you are hand-carrying it. If you know that you will be using this speaker for evening tunes before bed as much as you will be using them on travel, then get the Roar Classic, because you will most likely appreciate the more carefully projected soundstage the Classic offers.<br />
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If you already have the Roar Classic, I wouldn't advise purchasing the Roar 2, unless you have a family member whom you can pass the Classic to - remember, it is not an upgrade, it is an alternative choice for customers.<br />
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The original <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar" target="_blank">Creative Sound Blaster Roar</a> is available at the IT Show 2015 at Suntec Convention Center Hall 601 for S$198, and the <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar-2" target="_blank">Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2</a> available in limited quantities for S$249 in black or white, bundled with a really sexy neoprene carrying case. If you are going to pick either products up there, ask for the discount vouchers.<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-87185822188056109492015-01-06T08:45:00.000+08:002015-01-06T08:45:00.033+08:00Tech Review: Bowers & Wilkins T7 Portable Bluetooth SpeakerBowers & Wilkins, generally known as purveyors of hi-fi (seriously hi-fi) products with equally high aesthetics to match, entered the portable Bluetooth speaker foray last November, with the introduction of the <a href="http://www.bowers-wilkins.net/Wireless-Speakers/Bluetooth-Speakers/T7/product-details.html" target="_blank">T7 Bluetooth speaker</a>. Featuring and proudly displaying the company's first commercial application of its honeycomb-structured Micro Matrix technology for greater cabinet support, the aptX-capable speaker uses two 50mm drivers with patent-pending force-cancelling high-output bass radiators (all them hyphened phrases... someone hold me please), supported by DSP and DAC modules, and high quality Class D amplifiers (you know... whatever they mean).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mp8sfKFHkuJIx1-Xs-27Zh0zkSP72ceWhxfcCgHB-2RJ2iCrZn38aVPfR-trWhy1LfQ29oKLr_ElpRrv1S5imoOYxBKW0q1iYpSffwe96aWk1HMotNn5DG06fcr340JDsefCKQE-WH06/s1600/BW-T7-Beauty-White-Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mp8sfKFHkuJIx1-Xs-27Zh0zkSP72ceWhxfcCgHB-2RJ2iCrZn38aVPfR-trWhy1LfQ29oKLr_ElpRrv1S5imoOYxBKW0q1iYpSffwe96aWk1HMotNn5DG06fcr340JDsefCKQE-WH06/s1600/BW-T7-Beauty-White-Front.jpg" /></a></div>
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Designed with B&W's signature minimalism, the slim yet solid rectangular block features no more than a power button and battery level indicator on the right, volume, play/pause and Bluetooth connection buttons on top, and discreet charging, auxiliary input and Micro USB ports, along with a reboot button.<br />
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Battery life is impressive. I only charged it once, mistakenly as it turns out, since the battery was already almost full. And being the cluttered anti-minimalist that I am I fiddled about for a good 5 minutes before discovering the power button, along with the battery level indicator. Since then, I have used the speaker in approximately 5 half hour sessions at rather high volume, and have not had to charge the speaker. Its specifications boast up to 18 hours of battery life "at normal listening levels".<br />
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So let's get down to what this review really is about - does the T7 live up to the grand legacy of its older siblings? Yes, but not without its caveats.<br />
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The bottom line - sound is great. Said audio drivers were not developed and chosen lightly, and they throw sound far and forward quite commendably. Sound is clean and crisp, great across the board, but especially fantastic for jazz, be it quartet, big band or electric-style. Stereo separation is almost non-existent, but I've come to not expect that in a portable speaker anymore, except perhaps the X-mini Max (feel free to surprise me though).<br />
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My biggest problem with it? The lack of bass. The sleek and compact design ultimately took its toll on low-frequency resonance, and as far as I'm concerned anyway, the otherwise fantastic sound quality just makes the absence of bass even more apparent.<br />
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Fortunately, I stumbled upon a solution before completely writing the device off. While there is insufficient bass resonance, the speaker does still have good acoustic throw, and that applies to bass too. By setting it on my window ledge, I inadvertently turned the recessed space framing the ledge into a massive bass cabinet. If you have purchased the speaker and are fretting about this, find yourself a window ledge, cubby hole, or shelf measuring ideally 1 meter across diagonally - the squarer the space the better. Place your T7 approximately 40cm away from the wall of the space, step 2-3 meters back, and hear the difference for yourself. And if you are considering the T7, keep this in mind before cashing in. Alternatively if you aren't fussy about bass, and who am I to judge, even though I already am, then why not. Go right ahead.<br />
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The T7 is available now for S$590 at authorised dealers.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-56969384308530434732014-11-27T14:37:00.001+08:002014-11-27T14:52:53.513+08:00Alienware Area-51 Desktop & Alienware 13 Laptop debut at SITEX 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT5SnMM-ieGgcTLX7qps8m6n9NsFFR2qZ5fD2j6VEVqZQZk9dcJuqfaQ0TqeTfG2FOck_o6UaIvGri_Y8ycOXpgtIWZ8bSZGNtD0D5GQEMP4VCNOW41FVWVoPDUOLHCG-ZGHt7jop2Dz8/s640/blogger-image--1758247440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT5SnMM-ieGgcTLX7qps8m6n9NsFFR2qZ5fD2j6VEVqZQZk9dcJuqfaQ0TqeTfG2FOck_o6UaIvGri_Y8ycOXpgtIWZ8bSZGNtD0D5GQEMP4VCNOW41FVWVoPDUOLHCG-ZGHt7jop2Dz8/s640/blogger-image--1758247440.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxqOQyzDo9TvJrrP4bqfe4BvePIF9aWBSj-o28ZBst0t-GuYWdfssZeCFiQ1-8IFMilw3CUTqJSL5ZvsPpMgiQFgGiX6wTg-z1Mf9pLYVzsnsUsrIuaX_S0ZEKsq7d_Y-wL1RPH7QOhWb/s640/blogger-image-734814665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxqOQyzDo9TvJrrP4bqfe4BvePIF9aWBSj-o28ZBst0t-GuYWdfssZeCFiQ1-8IFMilw3CUTqJSL5ZvsPpMgiQFgGiX6wTg-z1Mf9pLYVzsnsUsrIuaX_S0ZEKsq7d_Y-wL1RPH7QOhWb/s640/blogger-image-734814665.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div> Alienware has brought the legendary Area-51 gaming desktop back in style, with a bold new form factor, and showcased their newest gaming laptop, the Alienware 13.<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><br></div> <br><strong>Alienware Area-51</strong><br>Driven by Intel's latest six- or eight-core Haswell-E Core i7 K-series factory-overclocked processors, the Area-51 allows customers to configure the ultimate gaming machine, with options for up to:<br><ul> <li>triple AMD, triple NVIDIA or dual NVIDIA Titan Z graphics cards</li> <li>32GB Quad Channel DDR4 RAM</li> <li>512GB SSD with additional 4TB HDD storage</li> <li>Killer Gigabit Ethernet</li> <li>Wireless-AC</li> <li>and... Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit (<a href="http://mhisham.org/" target="_self" title="">Hisham</a> asked if there were options to downgrade to Win 7. "Not at the moment", they said)</li></ul><div>This state-of-the-art pyramid will set you back S$3999 (dual GPU) or S$4999 (NVIDIA Titan), and can scale up or down depending on configuration options.<br></div><div> </div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UCVfbxmhN3r_l66xmW_HWMb1S8kWs9ByTvcOXuYXx-yWx0HbQlqFcbUuYSHMeRQzlZC_hIaDi-59kSxQdMjWqpTYzBTk_nfWan8sAVYL5qv5OmZXbwYZ1hkiJ8P9wWfl6DMVbeRlLyZ1/s640/blogger-image-95395529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UCVfbxmhN3r_l66xmW_HWMb1S8kWs9ByTvcOXuYXx-yWx0HbQlqFcbUuYSHMeRQzlZC_hIaDi-59kSxQdMjWqpTYzBTk_nfWan8sAVYL5qv5OmZXbwYZ1hkiJ8P9wWfl6DMVbeRlLyZ1/s640/blogger-image-95395529.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UCVfbxmhN3r_l66xmW_HWMb1S8kWs9ByTvcOXuYXx-yWx0HbQlqFcbUuYSHMeRQzlZC_hIaDi-59kSxQdMjWqpTYzBTk_nfWan8sAVYL5qv5OmZXbwYZ1hkiJ8P9wWfl6DMVbeRlLyZ1/s640/blogger-image-95395529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPsUy8ldD_NpbXPMArbK6MGBq1VvWD_Gml02EygNjAH39EZtXsoJn5n5858twI33Xmr-yoZSRENqGYe0CXk8u1CQI513xGYIq-TGNEx13pJzzgY3PPSXUr2xNEGOfzYhqgDFjDy-VA1sI/s640/blogger-image--534302703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPsUy8ldD_NpbXPMArbK6MGBq1VvWD_Gml02EygNjAH39EZtXsoJn5n5858twI33Xmr-yoZSRENqGYe0CXk8u1CQI513xGYIq-TGNEx13pJzzgY3PPSXUr2xNEGOfzYhqgDFjDy-VA1sI/s640/blogger-image--534302703.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPsUy8ldD_NpbXPMArbK6MGBq1VvWD_Gml02EygNjAH39EZtXsoJn5n5858twI33Xmr-yoZSRENqGYe0CXk8u1CQI513xGYIq-TGNEx13pJzzgY3PPSXUr2xNEGOfzYhqgDFjDy-VA1sI/s640/blogger-image--534302703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDItIbbSECeOsYKmN9zCxme2to29laaO_m-F8El0bW7SXJy-JqG00Pt2zD_8O6hI99qNkZvrJlBkQ54K-hHyqSzeooyhfSKMOQ9nvHkZt4vuu8vbvBYDAY8qZglnzgspzgqv1FLJvlMkIr/s640/blogger-image--889718537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDItIbbSECeOsYKmN9zCxme2to29laaO_m-F8El0bW7SXJy-JqG00Pt2zD_8O6hI99qNkZvrJlBkQ54K-hHyqSzeooyhfSKMOQ9nvHkZt4vuu8vbvBYDAY8qZglnzgspzgqv1FLJvlMkIr/s640/blogger-image--889718537.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div> <br><strong> Alienware 13</strong><br>The newest laptop in the Alienware's arsenal features a design refresh that, let's be honest, responds to the community's sentiment. The sharp aerospace-inspired designs have been well-received, but the bottom line is that the chassis is still way too thick and bulky to go up against competitors. I'm happy to say that the design language has been retained, within a much slimmer, and waaay sexier chassis, measuring 1-inch thin and starting at 4.5 pounds in weight. The screen comes in FHD by default, and Alienware offers options for up to QHD resolution, and touchscreen (in case you want to play Angry Birds in glorious 4K).<br> <br>In addition to this, beginning with the Alienware 13, all new Alienware products will feature a special dedicated PCI Express-based port for the Alienware Graphics Amplifier, which houses full-length, dual-height graphics cards with up to 375W of power, and provides 4 powered USB 3.0 ports for easy connection of peripherals. The Amplifier aims to give users the choice of desktop graphics card from either AMD or NVIDIA, to work alongside their Alienware laptop. Great solution for a performance boost at home, while retaining portability on the move.</div><div> <br>The Alienware 13 begins at $1,999, and the Alienware Graphics Amplifier retails for S$418.99 (card not included I assume).<br> <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAq8E0a1ZKCkJD4gpE_Rqx6zFsArjYaza3UFJykLp66bumUPQuT4wO0BvxUbp3NIVrQPmSetsbUI0PLkIX_DgVgYu5DZ1bOygnAPXFJ0ydUB5_YHpVm34KxNXiquX7_Rl1RR6Sdd3xPoK/s640/blogger-image--1264730294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAq8E0a1ZKCkJD4gpE_Rqx6zFsArjYaza3UFJykLp66bumUPQuT4wO0BvxUbp3NIVrQPmSetsbUI0PLkIX_DgVgYu5DZ1bOygnAPXFJ0ydUB5_YHpVm34KxNXiquX7_Rl1RR6Sdd3xPoK/s640/blogger-image--1264730294.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAq8E0a1ZKCkJD4gpE_Rqx6zFsArjYaza3UFJykLp66bumUPQuT4wO0BvxUbp3NIVrQPmSetsbUI0PLkIX_DgVgYu5DZ1bOygnAPXFJ0ydUB5_YHpVm34KxNXiquX7_Rl1RR6Sdd3xPoK/s640/blogger-image--1264730294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQnVO8QBQhMbFMxEeA755WUKf0ILleew3czjd7W54KZkNWcZx5Px0pN5EC_BwYwi_uacxEFJRSOcHFQOV2hM-HGNcjKlEqbIgxCQZnnjrWxNqOAaRmHkHlhO0APUi2ymkG7Rmq0aHj2Ai/s640/blogger-image-47520872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQnVO8QBQhMbFMxEeA755WUKf0ILleew3czjd7W54KZkNWcZx5Px0pN5EC_BwYwi_uacxEFJRSOcHFQOV2hM-HGNcjKlEqbIgxCQZnnjrWxNqOAaRmHkHlhO0APUi2ymkG7Rmq0aHj2Ai/s640/blogger-image-47520872.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div><br>If you want to check these new products out for yourself, Alienware is at SITEX 2014, Expo Hall 5.<br> <br> <br></div>Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-53933468354910853432014-11-27T08:48:00.000+08:002014-11-27T08:48:28.916+08:00Tech Review: Lomography Petzval Art Lens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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When asked to review the <a href="http://microsites.lomography.com/petzval-lens/" target="_blank">Lomography Petzval Art Lens</a>, I quite quickly said yes, without too much thought about what would be in store for me. I've toyed (hurhur geddit) around with Lomo products before, and as a digital photographer accustomed to minimal chromatic abberations, tack-sharp images, clearly-distinguishable bokeh and other clinical perfections achievable with the single click of a button in Lightroom, even my most twisted frame of mind had trouble making me let go of the fact that I have all but lost precious control of my aperture, shutter speed, focus and ISO.<br />
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For the record I still feel comfortable with a manual SLR. But Lomography's artistic concept is quite a different ball game, oftentimes leaning heavily on the highly forgiving nature of photographic film to capture otherwise ruined shots (and celebrating said near-destruction as art).<br />
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In the past year, Lomography has turned its focus towards engaging the digital photography market, with the <a href="http://microsites.lomography.com/micro-four-thirds-experimental-lens-kit/" target="_blank">Micro Four-Thirds Experimental Lens Kit</a> for mirrorless systems, the upcoming <a href="http://shop.lomography.com/sg/accessories/russar-plus" target="_blank">New Russar+</a> for L39 and M mounts, and the Petzval lens for Canon and Nikon DSLR systems. This represents a slight change, or at least deviation, in direction for them, aiming to make unique, optically idiosyncratic lenses available to digital shooters instead of drawing them back to good ol' analogue photography..<br />
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At a focal length of 85mm (often considered the most flattering focal length for portraiture) and a maximum aperture value of f/2.2, let's be clear about one thing - the Petzval lens isn't your typical plaything from Lomography. Without the luxuries of electronic apertures, auto-focus or even focus confirmation, users in my opinion will require adequate experience in aperture management and a keen eye to lock focus optically while capturing moments. If you don't already have a full frame DSLR body, I would recommend thinking about that first before spending on this lens. APS-C cameras will result in focal lengths of 127.5mm or 136mm (Nikon/Canon respectively) and unless you somehow feel comfortable working within that range, I imagine it will be quite the nightmare to operate snappily. I also believe full-frame cameras will more effectively bring out the unique optical features of this lens. While it isn't impossible to use this lens for street photography (by which I mean un-posed pictures), it will definitely be a heck of a greater challenge to use day-to-day than the more conventional 35mm or 50mm lengths.<br />
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Aperture size is controlled by a series of old-school-looking brass plates that frame the aperture hole nicely in the center of the lens. The plates start from the lens' maximum aperture of f/2.2, then move up to the conventional value of f/2.8, through to f/16 in 1-stop increments. After you get used to operating the lens, there's something quite therapeutic about palming an aperture plate (or two, if you're awesome like that), to have options on hand without having to fish out and sort through the whole carabiner of plates everytime you wish to switch. In my sessions with the lens I've alternated between f/2.8 and f/4, and f/4 and f/5.6. As far as my limited time with the lens could show, these were ideal aperture values that brought out the best of the lens. I also had the chance to mess around with the <a href="http://shop.lomography.com/sg/petzval-special-aperture-blades" target="_blank">Petzval Special Aperture Plates</a>, which feature unusual shapes that will show up in your background's bokeh. Great for concept stuff, but perhaps not for everyday use, in my opinion.<br />
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If an image shot with the Petzval were to be immediately recognized, it would perhaps be because of its swirling, arcing bokeh patterns and soft, misty feel, which I expect would usually prove a source of anguish and despair to aforementioned digital photographers, but otherwise has a rather dreamy and artistic effect to it. This is where aperture comes into play - too wide and the bokeh smudges into a huge singular blur; too small and the bokeh closes down, minimizing the swirly effect. On sunny days, on-focus images shot at f/5.6 onwards are guaranteed to produce painfully sharp shots. Indoors where more light input is required and larger apertures are in place, the focal sweet spot becomes paper-thin and misty images are not uncommon (or it could be my unsteady hands. YMMV~). <br />
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As far as the lens itself fares, it lives up to its inclusion under the
Lomography brand: a slightly unpredictable, not-always-easy-to-use lens
that you'd do well to just go on a journey with, and discover a new
dimension of photography with. But perhaps the golden question boils down to this: is your photographic journey worth S$998 for a large, heavy, manual lens?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait, <i>how much</i>?!</td></tr>
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Yep. S$2 short of a whole grand. That's the price you will pay for a Petzval. As a photographer not naturally inclined towards portraiture, this frankly isn't a lens that I would consider purchasing. I always recommend my readers to try the product in question for themselves - I am after all just a single point of view. Failing that opportunity to do so, the most telling question I would say you should ask yourself is be your natural affinity towards portraiture. As with all things analogue, the lens will make you slow down and consider the value of your shot before taking it. After all, you will be quite obviously crouching or bending, trying to get the focus right. This exercise will very likely bring about a more thought-out shooting process, slowly improving the effectiveness of your photos.<br />
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So how much is your photography worth?<br />
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View the rest of my published shots at my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/renhao/media_set?set=a.10155021590350508.1073741925.605740507&type=1" target="_blank">Facebook album</a>.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-991564966277414442014-11-04T16:14:00.001+08:002014-11-04T16:14:40.293+08:00The Drive Behind Pangdemonium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When thinking about digital storage in relation to performing arts, we usually gravitate towards filmmakers and musicians, they being the ones having to record numerous drafts and snippets and footage and clips as they work towards a final piece, often in uncompressed data formats that require obscene amounts of storage capacity.<br />
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Thespians aren't the first performers that come to mind when considering the horrors of a perpetual digital storage crisis. As an art form that is brought to the audience in real life and real time, the world of theatre, traditionally at least, requires far less storage than their counterparts. It's hard to say in this day and age that there is zero requirement for storage in theatre, where sound effects and soundtracks often support shows, and video embellishments and interactivity are increasingly commonplace and complex.<br />
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Local theatre company <a href="http://pangdemonium.com/about-us" target="_blank">Pangdemonium</a> was founded in 2009 by actor Adrian Pang and wife Tracie. Following the success of "Fat Pig" and "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice", the latest play to undergo Pangdemonium's treatment is "Frozen". No, something much darker than a princess with ice-making powers.<br />
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I had the opportunity to learn more from the man himself, Adrian, about how technology has changed us as a society, and how it has affected him and the company. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOZu5tT5T1Y9-Gsr3ojcKCmuUEuTzkUUISZjjX67cRZRqdZQY6wy0u_DvgDyHLgntkNGf3g1oTpaD9h8n464qUYGxdi6Y-pwTxPSGB5FwKUnGMpNd27teuXF3wt1BVh0ybg0pYqCz_Oft/s1600/AdrianSolo_HiRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOZu5tT5T1Y9-Gsr3ojcKCmuUEuTzkUUISZjjX67cRZRqdZQY6wy0u_DvgDyHLgntkNGf3g1oTpaD9h8n464qUYGxdi6Y-pwTxPSGB5FwKUnGMpNd27teuXF3wt1BVh0ybg0pYqCz_Oft/s1600/AdrianSolo_HiRes.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><b>First of all Adrian, what would you say Pangdemonium stands for?</b><br />
Pangdemonium stands for theatre that is not only entertaining, but also enriching, enlightening, and empowering; we believe in theatre that is aspirational and inspirational, passionate and compassionate, and impacts on audiences viscerally, intellectually, emotionally.<br />
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<b>As you see it, is technology today stripping away what it means to be human, or does it in fact help reveal more of the human condition?</b><br />
Technology certainly is keeping people apart, especially when people are together. You only have to observe friends or families in public, for proof that people have forgotten how to truly be together. Even in the theatre or the cinema, many individuals feel the compulsion to disengage from what they have paid to experience, in order to check up on what is happening on the outside. Which, by the way, is bloody rude, not only to the actors on stage, but also to the other members of the audience. If someone ever does so when I'm on stage I WILL MAKE SURE THEY STOP.<br />
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<b>In fact your latest play <i>Frozen</i> deals very much with the human condition. What do you ultimately want your viewers to take home from that?</b><br />
Three things:<br />
<ol>
<li>that we all have a responsibility as a community to protect all children from abuse in all its forms;</li>
<li>crime and punishment, justice and retribution, redemption and forgiveness - forget everything you think you know, because Frozen will test you and make you re-evaluate your beliefs, and even get into heated arguments about them; </li>
<li>there does not need to be singing and dancing, fancy costumes and moving sets, for it to be a great night at the theatre. </li>
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<b>Hand on heart, how much time do you spend on your gadgets? Are they a big part of your life? And what can’t you live without?</b>I am a bit of a tech moron, so my gadget needs are very basic. I probably would have trouble with an electric toothbrush. But having said that, I cannot live without my laptop. In fact, I have a love-hate affair with it.<br />
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<b>That said, you work with Western Digital for your storage needs for Pangdemonium; what do you use and can you tell us how does it fit into your workflow?</b> <br />
I am constantly working on some kind of writing - whether it's composing copy for publicity collateral, scripting, content for production programmes, etc - which takes up a lot of time, because there's always updating, editing and re-writing to do. I actually secretly love it! And having WD for my storage needs has been a real blessing and huge help to me, because I know that WD always has my back: speed, volume, security, reliability - for a borderline OCD writer like me, it's a perfect writing companion! <br />
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Pangdemonium uses a mix of portable and desktop hard disk drives from Western Digital, with the <a href="http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1170" target="_blank">My Cloud EX4 storage server</a> at the heart of their operations. As the company's central drive, it provides secure remote data access to employees wherever they are, as long as they have an Internet connection, and automatically backs up all computers and devices. This increased accessibility to the latest and most updated information has given the team more time to prepare for each production, instead of constantly having to housekeep their shared drive, and added assurance of data safety, with its backup measures.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-45892222331642662172014-11-03T07:30:00.000+08:002014-11-03T07:30:00.333+08:00Adobe Creative Cloud 2014: Keeping up to date without breaking your bank<i>This is part of my on-going review series for <a href="http://www.adobe.com/sea/creativecloud.html" target="_blank">Adobe Creative Cloud 2014</a>, of which I was given a complimentary one-year subscription.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /> When Adobe CC was first announced last year, many weren't sure where to place their opinions. A good many (such as I, initially) made calculations to see the difference between Creative Suite and Creative Cloud, and quite quickly realised that you the S$792 you will fork out over a year for a complete Adobe CC subscription will never compare to the thousands of dollars you would have to spend on any previous CS Master Collection. And perhaps why that wasn't so immediately apparent was because, and I'm sure many of my readers would already know this in... more than one way, Adobe products are amongst the most pirated software in the world. Adobe hopes to mitigate that with the availability of Creative Cloud.<br /><br />I won't claim that Creative Cloud can or will shut piracy down. <a href="http://www.vilabs.com/code-confidential-post/adobe-photoshop-creative-cloud-has-been-pirated-why-is-everyone-surprised" target="_blank">Neither does Adobe</a>, and quite prudently so. That would have been disappointingly naive. Instead, much like music and Spotify, or videos and YouTube, it feels like Adobe is looking to make their very desirable offerings more affordable through technologies that weren't available before, with value adds to the greater ecosystem that will complete the user experience. In doing so, they hope, as do I, that more users will appreciate the benefits of paying a reasonable monthly price to have access to the latest updates and features. There will I'm sure be those who have built enough of a personal ecosystem around their Creative Suite apps that they will feel no impetus at all to move to the Creative Cloud, just because they've been doing fine the last 5 years. Obvious legalities aside, it's hard to blame them, given Adobe's pre-CC pricing model.<br />
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I should qualify at this point, to conclude the pre-amble, that I don't think Adobe's previous prices were unreasonable. Premium, perhaps, but given the almost unfathomable amount of features and possiblities built in to Photoshop, to name just their most popular product, they are qualified to ask that sort of money for it. What it was though, was simply unreachable, and adding to that the fact that most users probably use no more than the most common 5-10% of its capabilities - advanced users perhaps stretching that figure to 50% - it is near impossible to justify paying in excess of a thousand dollars for the program.<br /><br />
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<br /> One year and lots of aggressive marketing later, the Creative Cloud apps have undergone major refreshes, both inwardly and outwardly, as they move into their second year of service with Creative Cloud 2014. One of the greatest advantages of CC is its update cycle. I've had my subscription for no more than 3 months, and in this time I have already been bugged 3-4 times by the CC manager app to download and install updates. Along with that there is also the rather obvious matter of choice. Anytime you decide you don't require a service anymore, you'll be able to drop it within 30 days of your decision, depending on the plan you selected, keeping sunk costs to a minimum. What's not to like?<br /><br />As a photographer who also dabbles in abit of video and audio production from time to time, I primarily use Lightroom and Photoshop, along with Premiere Pro and Audition once in awhile. As my main tool, Lightroom can today still be purchased and function on its own as a One-Time License, for which I'm grateful. Subscribing to Lightroom through CC, however, unlocks Lightroom Mobile on the iPad, allowing you to sort your photos and do rudimentary edits (exposure, contrast, color/B&W, etc) on the go. This is great for the mid level professionals who have back to back schedules but don't necessarily have a team yet to hand the processing and editing to, post-shoot. CC subscriptions also allows users to use <a href="https://www.adobe.com/sea/creativecloud/catalog/mobile.html" target="_blank">companion mobile apps</a> like Photoshop Mix and Adobe Sketch with Photoshop CC, or Adobe Premiere Clip with Premiere Pro CC, powerful and accurate tools to help you capture those creative brain farts wherever you are.<br /><br />At this point I need to shout about Adobe's incredible <a href="https://creative.adobe.com/plans/photography?store_code=sg">subscription plan for photographers</a>. Keeping in mind that a single app subscription, ie. an ala carte selection, is S$26/month, the Photographers plan gives you the latest versions of Lightroom, Lightroom Mobile, Photoshop CC and Photoshop Mix - basically the complete set of desktop and mobile tools available from Adobe that a photographer will need to function - for S$13/month. If you haven't already done the math, that is half the price of 1 app for 2 apps and their mobile companions. Even if you find zero use and interest for Lightroom, you would have to be frighteningly stupid not to take up this deal.<br /><br />CC apps, I have noticed, also boot up faster than its predecessors, probably due to tightened code. This is surely a welcome change for efficiency maniacs (come on, say it loud and proud) or those like me who want to execute an idea snappily, before the inspired processes or creativity slips our minds. Yes, it's a thing. It happens. No, you don't have to be old and forgetful to experience this.<br /><br />Because Photoshop is to me a secondary tool that I only use for more complicated operations like image stitching, image stacking or HDR blending, I haven't had much opportunity to explore the great new features of Photoshop CC 2014, like automatic searches and downloads of missing fonts from the Typekit library, new blur motion effects and focus masking.<br /><br />There will be more in-depth articles on that and the other apps I use, so stay tuned to this space!Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-56607465208258930702014-10-28T16:04:00.001+08:002014-10-28T16:13:36.682+08:00LifeTrak R450 Activity Tracker
<p>The advent of smart watches have been followed by a slow but large wave of fitness trackers such as <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/sg" target="_self" title="">FitBit</a> and the <a href="https://jawbone.com/up/" target="_self" title="">JawBone UP</a> (these two being the more premium and well-known models). This in turn was more quickly followed up with by combination devices that monitor your physical activity alongside remote smartphone notifications, conveniently delivering to you the latest in your digital and online activities. The <a href="http://www.lifetrakusa.com/product/brite-r450/" target="_self" title="">LifeTrak Brite R450</a> is fitness tracking company LifeTrak USA's latest flagship product, first launched towards the end of September and now available here in Singapore.</p>
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<p>In addition to basic activity tracking, the R450 boasts some pretty impressive (-sounding, at least) features:</p>
<ul> <li>ECG-accurate heartrate monitoring that allows for more personalized calorie-burn information</li> <li>light exposure levels, particularly the blue wavelength, which is said to affect mood, energy levels, and quality of rest</li> <li>nap/sleep management, waking you up at an optimal time when you are not in deep sleep so that you are properly refreshed</li> <li>enhanced step filtering and dynamic distance calibration (basically no more pedometer cheating like you did by rattling your Digimon)</li>
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The R450 also helps keep a check on your fitness goals (totally need this...), and lets you know when you have fallen behind or accomplished your goals, to keep you on trak (teehee). It syncs with the LifeTrak smartphone app to save longer term data for deeper insights. It supports </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">8 types of smartphone notifications, including IM, SMS, reminders and notifications from major apps.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At this point the R450 is compatible with iOS devices </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(click link to product page in first paragraph for detailed product compatibility)</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, but the website as well as the distributor here confirms that the company is hard at work to expand compatibility to Android devices by the end of the year. Data can only be fed to the LifeTrak app right now, but "development is underway to get it integrated with Apple Health Kit and the Android equivalent". Which is </span><em style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">tres bien</em><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. The watch uses a coin cell battery, avoiding the need to charge every other day (press release claims up to 6 months, which I think is quite impressive considering the stuff it purports to do), but neither is it self-recharging, so half-yearly battery replacements </span><strong style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">will be necessary</strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> if you choose to get this watch.</span>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lastly, the R450 is waterproof up to 30m, so basically having it with you 24/7, in the shower and while you swim, will be no issue. The only advice given is to try as much as possible to avoid pressing the device's buttons while underwater.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The LifeTrak Brite R450 is now available for S$179 at </span><a href="http://www.axtrosports.com/lifetrak-brite-r450.html" target="_self" title="" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Axtro Sports</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, Challenger, Courts and Perfect Watch at Sim Lim Square. As I type, a test unit is on its way over, so stay tuned for the full review!</span></p>
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</div>Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-64006220493820706102014-10-24T17:58:00.000+08:002014-10-25T00:36:45.182+08:00Let your ears be loved with Sennheiser UrbaniteFollowing a successful run (I think, certainly looks so at the surface but I haven't been following that closely) with their <a href="http://en-sg.sennheiser.com/over-ear-headphone-momentum-stereo">Momentum</a> series of stylish headphones, Sennheiser looks to capture the increasingly discerning youth market (read: #richkidsofsingapore) by following up with the Urbanite range of street-friendly headphones.<div style="text-align: start;">
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As with the Momentum series, the series consists of two main models - an on-ear version and an over-ear version. Each model then has removable remote control cables (1.2m) suited to either Apple or Android devices. These cables will also be available separately, shortly after the range's availability date of 28 October 2014, along with a universal version with slider-controlled volume (ie. analog, not electronic).</div>
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Unlike the Momentum series, which is predominantly dressed in leather, the Urbanite range sports denim and canvas fabrics, complemented with highly flexible and durable stainless steel and aluminum parts to travel with you all day. And what's a fashion-oriented line of products without a range of colors? The <a href="http://en-sg.sennheiser.com/urbanite-xl" target="_blank">Urbanite XL</a> (top) and <a href="http://en-sg.sennheiser.com/urbanite" target="_blank">Urbanite</a> (below) don't exactly come in bright, eye-shredding shades, but its options will quite easily coordinate with your wardrobe (this coming from a self-professed fashion dunce, so if you can't even manage to complement light and dark against each other properly then just get yourself the black model and be done with it). It must be mentioned that the earpads are made of velvety material, which makes for a very comfortable rest, but absorbs sweat like a sponge. I foresee this may will cause some awkward moments in the longer run.</div>
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Ok, first impressions of the audio quality. I used to shy away from products claiming "extra bass", because no matter how marketing spins it, the sound almost always ends up muddier than a Muk after it's had a dip in the Ganges. I was very pleased, therefore, to note that Sennheiser has not sacrificed its legacy of pristine audio in favor of style. While I unfortunately neglected to check if the drivers for both products were different, the XL/over-ear version definitely provided accurate, tight bass lines, whether you are listening to defined beats in techno or rock, or wider, further-reaching rumbles and pulses in musicals and classical music. Mids are richly defined, and highs rarely, if ever, turn exceedingly sharp. With a smaller circumference, the Urbanite/on-ear version pipied out a more concentrated projection of sound. For me, this seemed to bring about a more packed-in bass that didn't resonate as well as that of the XL. Similarly, while its high-fidelity was quite apparent, the mids and bass felt like commuters jostling onto an already crowded train platform during peak hour, unable to reach their full aural potential. Fellow bloggers who attended the event with me opined otherwise though, so as I always recommend to anyone who asks me about audio, that's my opinion, but try it out for yourself to be sure. I can give you my point of view but I can never hear on your behalf.</div>
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The Urbanite (on-ear) will retail for S$269, and the Urbanite XL (over-ear) will retail for S$339. They will be available from 28 October 2014 onwards at the Sennheiser Concept Store at Marina Square (try it out here!) and authorised retailers.</div>
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With the range's focus on street style, Sennheiser in Singapore has partnered with "a local independent, multi-label company", SUP Clothing at Haji Lane (I mean, where else right?), to launch the line, by identifying and engaging with fashion-forward people, who will receive the chance to win fully styled outfits along with Urbanite headphones.</div>
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Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-38836399833338174282014-09-29T08:00:00.000+08:002014-09-29T08:00:05.562+08:00Tech Review: Logitech X300 and X100 Mobile Wireless SpeakersWhen I requested to try out the Logitech X300 portable speakers, and got myself the X100 speakers to go along with it as well, part of me wondered if I had dug myself a hole.<br />
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Logitech is best known for its practical, nothing fancy (apart from color options lol), value-for-money products. But as far as recollective comparisons go, I mostly had higher-end portable speakers or small speaker set ups as reference, such as the Creative Roar. Would I be able to make a fair comparison across two different product tiers?<br />
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In a strange way, therefore, I eagerly unboxed the product when I received it and tested it out.<br />
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I would like to say I did my worst to it in testing, but the truth is that there is nothing really to test beyond its intended function. True to its principles, the portable Bluetooth speaker was... a portable Bluetooth speaker. It's functions were made clear on the product itself, that it would do nothing more, but nothing less that what it promised either. There weren't any fancy USB ports for charging smartphones, or alarm systems, or custom docks, or other fairy dust. And that was alright in its own way, because I hardly needed to read the instruction manual to get myself set up and running with the device.<br />
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Let's get to the crux of it, and I'll tell it like it is. There is no bass. Perhaps some indication of a bass beat, but nothing more to lend conventional foundation to your music. But being straightforward as it is, I imagine Logitech must have weight the options with cost effectiveness as a priority.<br />
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Now what would does the X300 offer? Mainly, stereo speakers that are angled to maximize stereo effect and reach. For all the quality boasted (rightfully) by Creative and Bose and its peers, stereo separation is something hardly addressed, and very often a weakness of portable speakers priced in excess of S$300. In a party or picnic setting, when you mainly want to have some background music running to add to the mood, I would argue that reach would be way more of a priority than tight, noticeable bass response. And that is what the X300 aims to deliver. Nothing more, but nothing less. It must be said that crackling was observed, but minimum and only at levels so high that one either would find uncomfortable for background music, or ignore because the party was louder anyway.<br />
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The X100 is even more utilitarian, sporting only a single large speaker to blare out your music. I used the included cord to fasten the speaker to a bicycle on a long-distance ride with my friends, and had the Best of Queen accompany us for the ride. Again, it was apparent that the speaker's job was done without the need for clear bass. The cord fastened very tightly, to the point where I had some trouble removing it at the end of the ride, but I would really much rather it got stuck than unfastened itself halfway while I was going down a path at 15km/h. Although knock on wood, if that really happened, both the X300 and X100 are encased in rubber finishes that I believe will provide a degree of protection from unintentional shocks.<br />
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At the end of the day, the Logitech X300 (S$99) and the Logitech X100 (S$69) mobile wireless speakers present a very viable no-frills option for those of you out there who aren't fussy about the quality of their music on-the-go, and just want a simple device to spice up your outings and gatherings. They say you get what you pay for, and with Logitech, every cent is worth its money.<br />
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No more, no less.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-52555728361645699132014-04-25T08:00:00.000+08:002014-04-25T08:00:04.524+08:00Movie Review: Muppets Most Wanted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So earlier this week I was invited to the media preview screening of Muppets Most Wanted, the second Muppets movie following...... The Muppets.<br />
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Picking right where the previous movie left off, Kermit and gang have pulled off a successful comeback, and they want to keep that momentum going. Tour manager Dominic Badguy ("<i>It's pronounced Badgie... it's French... meaning... good guy.</i>"), played by the ever-talented Ricky Gervais, enters the scene with perfect timing to offer to make that a reality, with... of course... a darker secret behind him.<br />
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What struck me about this film was its irreverence. But it's easy to be irreverent. Just systematically go against the grain, offend plenty of people along the way and not give a flying hockey puck about said people. Muppets Most Wanted, however, manages to display their nonchalance to Hollywood and their own tall legacy in a coy, teasing and completely clean way. In other words, good old humor that demands more effort in both writing and execution.<br />
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Ty Burrell, better known as the hapless father Phil Dunphy in arguably the best sitcom on American TV today, Modern Family, and Tina Fey, from SNL and sometimes known as Sarah Palin's comic double, both take on accented roles in this movie, Ty Burrell playing a French Interpol inspector and Tina Fey playing a Russian prison guard. I personally think this is a risky task to undertake. Maintaining a fake accent consistently for a full-length feature film isn't an easy task, and efforts can all too easily fall to derisive calls of "trying too hard". Ty and Tina manage to pull this off decently though, turning their respective imitation dials to 11.<br />
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If you're looking for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and enjoy being the only one in an entire theatre to go "HAHA" because that means only you were smart enough to catch a less obvious reference (no come on, don't giggle like you don't like it, you know you've just one-upped like 149 other people), Muppets Most Wanted is showing in cinemas islandwide. Go catch it this weekend!<br />
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<br />Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-33052190429106910602014-04-12T10:30:00.000+08:002014-04-12T10:30:00.308+08:00SingTel Group and Samsung cooperate to accelerate mobile data growth in the region<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On the sidelines of the Galaxy S5 launch in Singapore today, the SingTel Group - comprising SingTel (Singapore), Optus (Australia), AIS (Thailand), Airtel (India, Africa), Globe Telecom (Philippines) and Telkomsel (Indonesia) - and Samsung today announced 4 joint initiatives to encourage the growth of mobile data in the region, benefiting over 500 million customers in all.<br />
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<b>Retail Collaboration Programme</b><br />
This allows select Samsung Stores to provide the respective local carrier's sign-up services, providing a simpler retail experience for customers. Currently available in Philippines and soon to be available for India and Indonesia.<br />
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Those who visited the Samsung pop-up store (well, sort of) outside Ngee Ann City some time ago may remember this in action. It certainly does drive sign-ups of customers who are already considering getting a Samsung smartphone with SingTel, but for walk-ins, at least in Singapore, I think this won't be so effective, since we're so used to getting everything done at a telco outlet anyway.<br />
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<b>Direct Carrier Billing with Samsung Apps</b><br />
Singapore already offers this and it will be rolled out to Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia. Customers can buy Samsung apps and content by either charging to their mobile bills or deducting from their prepaid balances.<br />
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This was most interesting to me. Alistair Johnston, CMO of Telkomsel (above left), revealed in the Q&A of the press conference that Direct Carrier Billing is an attractive alternative to payment by credit cards, which do not enjoy as high a penetration rate in emerging markets. Pratthana Leelapanang, SVP for Digital Service of AIS (above right), noted that NFC technology is being used in Thailand as a direct means of payment for public transport (ie, using your smartphone as an EZ-Link card) as well as cashless contactless payment for about 300 major establishments such as fast-food chains, and this can be linked to Direct Carrier Billing.<br />
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<b>Mobile App Development Programme</b><br />
This is just basically calling on start-ups around the region to bring their development ideas to the SingTel Group and Samsung, and if they like it they will accelerate their development and open access to the half a billion mobile customers around the region. Selected developers will have their apps marketing in Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.<br />
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Nothing new, and I'm no expert on this, but dang those figures look real good to me.<br />
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<b>Direct Access to Applications</b><br />
Gonna have to be honest here - this is a fancy term for pre-loaded apps by the telco, albeit "carefully customised to reflect local requirements and content", starting with the Galaxy S5. Will be available to Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.<br />
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Take what you will of it.<br />
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All in all, this sounds like a promising push, with SingTel flexing its international muscles by bringing so many telcos in on it. Perhaps there'll be a progress update on the morning of the Galaxy S6 launch.<br />
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If you aren't already thinking about that SingTel... time to start planning? :) <br />
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After the press conference the media were invited down to witness the commencement of sales for the Galaxy S5. First 10 customers in the queue were rewarded with an extra (quite good) goodie bag.<br />
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<br />Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-51300064373987993212014-03-10T08:30:00.000+08:002014-03-10T08:30:00.049+08:00Movie Review: Need for Speed (2014)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've always loved driving, and I always tell people that while I enjoy gaming, the only form of gaming I think I stand any chance in is the racing genre. And to most console racers, the Need for Speed series of games represent an important part of gaming history. Thanks to Walt Disney Studios and Bates&CHI I had the privilege of catching the media preview of the movie based on the game franchise. </div>
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As Justin rightly pointed out, it mustn't be easy to create a story out of a game franchise that hardly ever has a proper story to any of its titles. Not that that's a problem for the games, since just about everyone who'd buy it just want to hit the gas pedal and preferably knock some cars off the road. But given the franchise's 20 year history, there has to still be quite alot to live up to.</div>
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Without spoiling the plot for you, what struck me about the movie was that it quite nicely embodied the theme that its games were centred around - the concept of a perhaps not-always-apparent, but nevertheless deep-seated rivalry, whether between cops or between racers. The cops in the movie did get in the way of the illegal races, but they are pretty normal cars that "top out at 130", as mentioned by one of the film's characters. That's pretty crap considering that they were up against 6 supercars, from Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Spano, Saleen, Bugatti and McLaren. The chief rivalry that drove (hurhur) the plot was one between two racers, and if you watch the movie, you will see that there's a pretty solid reason for it.</div>
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<br />The movie was great in building up the adrenalin of races, beginning with a race amongst muscle cars and ending with a flat-out supercar showdown. With quite a number of surprises thrown in, it was an enjoyable 2 hours relishing the sights and sounds of the best of automotive technology today, capturing with some exhilarating camera work.</div>
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Need for Speed opens March 13th in Singapore's theatres.</div>
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Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-84297313740347754532014-03-05T11:40:00.000+08:002015-03-21T11:07:02.992+08:00Tech Review: Creative Sound Blaster Roar Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>TL;DR: it's good, <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/speakers/sound-blaster-roar-sr20#tag-buy" target="_blank">go get it</a>, mai tu liao.</i></b><br />
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Given that audio reproduction revolves chiefly around the induced movement of air, when audio products come in small sizes, they have a great tendency to leave much to be desired of its quality. Smaller drivers are only able to move so much air, and that usually makes for a weak, unbalanced or worse, forced output. From time to time, however, certain products find the means to go against the odds of physics to create highly admirable sound within a compact package. I consider myself immensely fortunate to be able to own a number of such products, and the latest addition to the family is the freshly released <a href="http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar-sr20" target="_blank">Creative Sound Blaster Roar</a>.<br />
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When this portable Bluetooth speaker was first announced at CES 2014, I noticed news of it but never bothered to read any article that featured it. All of that came back to me when I received Creative's eDM on the then upcoming IT Show, announcing they would be debuting their latest star product, one that has won international recognition, with a 41% introductory discount. A quick search revealed a fresh article on <a href="http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/review-creative-sound-blaster-roar-wireless-speaker-proof-best-things-come-small-packages" target="_blank">Hardware Zone</a> reporting on their closed-door preview of the device, which I have perused extensively in the lead-up to my purchase. The writers at Hardware Zone take after my heart in their standards for aural excellence, so if they've waxed lyrical about it, that's theoretical reason enough for me to go for it. Check the article out for more technical and feature-centric points on the product.<br />
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By the way, having seen the mad sell-outs on the first two days of the IT Show, I went down at noon when the show opened on Saturday and literally brisk-walked to the Creative booth to listen to the device for a grand 15 seconds before zipping to the payment counter to pick up a unit. I thought that kiasuism had gotten the best of me, and was just starting to feel foolish when I found out later that units for the day sold out at 2pm.<br />
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BAZINGA. More pre-order information below.<br />
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Ok, review. With the product lying down, Creative logo facing towards you, there are two mid/high speakers projecting stereo sound towards you, bass projecting upwards because obviously that's where the least obstruction of air should be, and radiating panels on either side to push the sound outwards evenly. This is something that's really apparent with the device - it's of course easy to tell where the sound is coming from or projecting towards, but wherever you place the Roar, you get a great sense that its sound reaches outwards to fill the space, which I think is well beyond the expectations of many smaller sounds systems, to say nothing of portable wireless speakers.<br />
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Will you get tight and defined 10Hz bass beats? No. Is the bass tangible? Heck yes, and I think it's something that will continue to impress me for a long while. As for the main pair of speakers, it's got the good ol' signature warmth of Creative speakers, without getting muddy and in fact being impressively crisp, that I so love. I have yet to hear it crackle, and I don't want to make that happen because 1) I would like to retain my precious hearing please and 2) I don't want the police paying me a visit.<br />
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Having put everything together in such a compact case, I think the choice for hard metal grills are highly sensible, if not pure genius (which sensibility seems to be as rare as these days). Metal grills will provide due protection to the many speakers and driving elements inside, while ensuring that air is able to move freely. <br />
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Here's the thing about the Roar button though. It was made to amplify, enhance and spatially widen the sound so that it still cuts through in larger gatherings and spaces, and that will of course contribute to an accelerated loss in battery life. But there is a marked difference in quality between Roar and normal modes, so great that I would much rather turn the Roar on and reduce the volume, rather than go with the normal mode at a higher volume. Even better audio quality, enhanced for longer reach, which can be enjoyed at lower volume - why would you not take that? I certainly would. Every time. In other words, I would have been happy without an option to un-Roar the speaker.<br />
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Quick note: it is mentioned in the manual that plugging the power supply in would further enhance the quality of the Roar mode, and that it is recommended to keep the power supply plugged and running while on Roar mode. While I would gladly endorse the latter statement, I noticed no significant difference between battery-powered Roar, and DC-powered Roar.<br />
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Another difference I was pleased to find a lack of is the audio quality between direct playback and Bluetooth playback. I've loaded 320kbps MP3s as well as WAV files into the card, and playing the same music from my phone through Bluetooth, I found only the same sparkling audio quality from it. Be warned: Your mileage may vary on this point.<br />
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The sheer multitude of features were also a huge factor in influencing my purchase. Offering not only playback from a MicroSD card but read/write via USB, audio output via USB in which your sound experience can be further tweaked with downloadable software, the ability to answer calls and record either currently streaming music or voice via in-built microphone into the card, and good Lord why has no one thought of this, a USB DC-Out to supply extra juice to your mobile device streaming music to the speaker, this portable speaker has all you need and more, with fantastic audio quality to top it all off.<br />
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While I definitely do find the Alarm mode useful (calling-for-attention alarm, not wake-up-at-7 alarm) I don't think I'll be using it anytime soon. Ditto for Life-Saver modes, which play loud noises randomly to keep you awake, although I'm way more appreciative of this feature, since it can help with midnight oil burners who don't want to wake up the next day to find that their report consists of 6 words and a pool of saliva on the table, and more importantly long drives in other countries.<br />
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An unfortunate problem of the speaker, even though it technically has stereo output, is the lack of effective separation between Left and Right audio channels. This is due to the fact that the speakers are so close to each other, but I gather you don't really need such details when you are groovin' away at the party. This will be more of a pain point to the discerning audiophiles who just want to bring their music along with them to enjoy. I would have thought that it would be a simple matter of angling the speakers away from each other to pull the audio channels apart, but perhaps that would be detrimental to the effective projection of the sound, which is obviously key in this product and while I well won't argue with.<br />
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The speaker is also rather hefty, at more than 1kg. It's kinda like the Alienware of the portable speaker world - while it can definitely be moved around and transported quite freely, you will find the bulk and weight to be the cause of slight annoyances if you're hand-carrying the speaker, even with the carrying case that they're currently giving away free with purchases of the product.<br />
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The Recommended Retail Price of the Sound Blaster Roar is S$338. At time of writing, you may still pre-order your unit at S$199, to be delivered from 8 April 2014 onwards, though this extended IT Show promotion <b>will end 10 March 2014</b>. As echoed by many others, it offers tremendous value for money even at its standard price, and at $199 you are getting practically glorious quality and features for pretty much a third of the market price for such products. If you are in the market for a portable audio solution of any kind, you need to have this product in your consideration list.</div>
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Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-33352774231395288152014-01-13T08:15:00.000+08:002014-01-13T08:15:00.015+08:00Tech Review: Sony XBA-H3 Hybrid Balanced Armature Headphones<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKGv0E8voz71nYKUhZWXD-7zPxQs73-Tise1P3ku1kSQ_ayjioSMF0a6Amn_XusvKtaNHw0RQIRBYOSE5TtmwMqLPn7IcbkfHBEEfbgr29EmgSiUkZNU6NHk_7iMJGmsLCYGhiErprOi7/s1600/_MG_4755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKGv0E8voz71nYKUhZWXD-7zPxQs73-Tise1P3ku1kSQ_ayjioSMF0a6Amn_XusvKtaNHw0RQIRBYOSE5TtmwMqLPn7IcbkfHBEEfbgr29EmgSiUkZNU6NHk_7iMJGmsLCYGhiErprOi7/s1600/_MG_4755.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsMxv0V-akPkQXUio6C5JwsgFAEivWBpWV_4Var0tX-5R2aFDCZg5SawUxjcYwKcFILRAITKCyOZJD7M6HRaAR1Ra7Q1jLNJkjT3SFTKVnTQ-PJYWFMmY3H6-HlbWwSZOr4eHbbJGkH2q/s1600/_MG_4762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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One of the natural drawbacks of using earphones is that with 8mm circular drivers or balanced armature drivers, however many, the sound that is piped through, regardless of accuracy, remains rather lateral and flat. You don't enjoy the same experience you get with headphones of larger driver sizes, which get much closer to reproducing the natural sound-stage of the recording - in other words, the placement of instruments within an ensemble, as well as the unique reverberations of the individual locations where the recording took place, whether a stadium with a live audience, a concert hall, a high-ceilinged cathedral or a small studio.</div>
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After the boom, and to a certain extent consumerization (lookin' at you Sony, you market spoiler you) of Balanced Armature products in the market, manufacturers of personal audio products have recently turned to exploring hybrid earphones, in which the two dominant technologies of personal audio, dynamic drivers and balanced armature drivers, are combined within a single product to provide the best of both worlds. To this end, Sony has produced the XBA-H series of products.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2CgGwIMk3iTm31-EPpFN2bhGDwu8R9-W_zaEUy_nTy3-w6FlVvEFe3RdnDsuZ98GjZSfjSTKxvhhhiGYAIr2LHNWWouEJnMVzYP0yN_gp4vlRFCbryrp8ueuFpiFvgZSm_ApVFs2754w/s1600/_MG_4756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2CgGwIMk3iTm31-EPpFN2bhGDwu8R9-W_zaEUy_nTy3-w6FlVvEFe3RdnDsuZ98GjZSfjSTKxvhhhiGYAIr2LHNWWouEJnMVzYP0yN_gp4vlRFCbryrp8ueuFpiFvgZSm_ApVFs2754w/s1600/_MG_4756.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.sony.com.sg/product/xba-h3" target="_blank">XBA-H3</a> is the highest grade of the series, with one large 16mm dynamic driver to provide the bass, and two balanced armature drivers: a full-range driver, and a tweeter to further drive higher frequencies. Other products in the series include the XBA-H2, with a 13.5mm dynamic driver and a full range BA driver, and the XBA-H1, with a 9mm dynamic driver and a full range BA driver.</div>
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In short, the H3s (I'm just gonna call them that cos it's really quite tiring to keep typing XBA-H3s) completely caught me by surprise with its huge soundstage. It scored impressively on clarity, but having tested the XBAs before I already expected it to. To so tangibly feel the breadth and depth of the recording though, is this product's greatest success.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9uG-YgbguhH37d3E83HEfo0_gO80X7ret_-4gVXtJpkHhJ8DUX18gh09u7wf6usmW0tYK8AOmp3uvgWZMEXVEoG3kHkw07K0aPsbXhAqDbE6KKfX5i9mvNggYrfrzYNLv69ZIifcXyXG/s1600/_MG_4748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9uG-YgbguhH37d3E83HEfo0_gO80X7ret_-4gVXtJpkHhJ8DUX18gh09u7wf6usmW0tYK8AOmp3uvgWZMEXVEoG3kHkw07K0aPsbXhAqDbE6KKfX5i9mvNggYrfrzYNLv69ZIifcXyXG/s1600/_MG_4748.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKGv0E8voz71nYKUhZWXD-7zPxQs73-Tise1P3ku1kSQ_ayjioSMF0a6Amn_XusvKtaNHw0RQIRBYOSE5TtmwMqLPn7IcbkfHBEEfbgr29EmgSiUkZNU6NHk_7iMJGmsLCYGhiErprOi7/s1600/_MG_4755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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The dynamic driver is tuned to handle the bass, and it does so tightly and impactfully, cutting through the music most delightfully. I've learnt early on that if you were to press dynamic drivers in to your ears such that a seal is created by the diameter of the earbuds, you actually can get very good fidelity from most earphones, including Apple's iBuds. Given that doing so all the time is not at all a comfortable experience, plus the fact that you look like you are trying to block out your own music and therefore quite mad, that is an impractical solution. I would theorize with admittedly no knowledge of this particular field that a lack of free-flowing air and an overly muffled sound prevented manufacturers from simply sealing the sound in and channeling it through silicon earbuds, much like what the H3 does, but with the addition of balanced armature drivers to cover the higher frequencies, plus the innovative addition of an air vent at the back of the housing, this has been all but smartly eliminated.<br />
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Continuing their aforementioned legacy of balanced armature drivers, highs are cleanly delivered, and rarely sound sharp to the ear. It took some mad crashing of cymbals in a drum solo to make me start to wince, but it was generally tolerable and should be extra good news to most other users because 1) I am extra sensitive to higher frequencies, and 2) I listen to my music at generally louder volumes.<br />
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Now the catch. Yes. Yes there is, much as it pains me to say it.<br />
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There is a disappointing lack of mids in the tuning. Funnily enough, the two pieces of music I found completely acceptable were by the Chick Corea Super Trio and Diana Krall, where mids came through in full glorious force, so I suppose if you are a jazz person, <i>mai tu liao</i>, as they say. I did however, consistently notice hints of crackling at mids-intensive portions of the songs, which again may not happen if you listen to your songs at a lower volume. I was doing about 70-75% on the iPhone audio scale. I know I know. But with the other songs I sampled, spanning across Pink Floyd, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Disney, Immortal, Les Miserables and more, there was a resounding absence of mids, which contribute to the soul of the music - the oomph, excitement, richness and warmth. Many a times this made the music sound like cold and clinical renditions.<br />
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Driving the earphones are no problem - there wasn't a significant difference between listening from my audio amp, and listening from the iPhone directly, except for the source amplitude. <br />
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Here are a list of artistes and songs that I tried out, and my impression of the output from the H3s:<br />
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<li><b>Chick Corea Super Trio</b>: sparkling, lively rendering, crackling at piano solos, nearly peaking at drum solo cymbal crashes.</li>
<li><b>Diana Krall</b>: near-perfect rendition. Both ensemble and solo parts clear as day.</li>
<li><b>Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Japanese rock)</b>: great Rock-like EQ, but lack of mids = lack of excitement.</li>
<li><b>Disney classics</b>: every individual instrumental and vocal part in Disney orchestras and ensembles, which are HUGE (think <i>Under the Sea</i> and <i>Be Our Guest</i>), can be clearly heard. You can quite clearly imagine where each section would be sitting if you were in the conductor's spot.</li>
<li><b>Pink Floyd</b>: The stereo bounce in <i>Us and Them</i> was aurgasmic, to say the least. The high reverb in <i>Money</i>'s emotive, soaring solo is generously reproduced, although the solo itself felt thin with the lack of mids. Similarly for the scatting in <i>The Great Gig in the Sky</i>, one of the most emotional lengths of senseless yelling anyone's ever done, there was little impact in the output.</li>
<li><b>Immortal (black metal)</b>: no mids, but extreme metal relies a fair bit on the high mids, so the tweeter sort of saved it by reproducing the gritty crunch of the highly distorted electric guitars.</li>
<li><b>Muse (live rock recording in a stadium)</b>: no sense of excitement, and this from a mids-heavy live recording.</li>
<li><b>Les Miserables</b>: Nicely reproduced, almost captivating. I do play this quite high on the volume.</li>
<li><b>Casiopeia (Japanese fusion jazz)</b>: anti-climax at electric guitar solo.</li>
<li><b>Daft Punk - Random Access Memories</b>: Great tight bass, immersive environment.</li>
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Quick note about ergonomics before I conclude: it is quite cumbersome handling. The audio unit itself is already so blocky, you definitely aren't gonna be sleeping on your side with them on. The wires are rather disobedient, especially the top loop around your ear, although I will say it does a mostly good job of keeping itself out of tangles. ... when it doesn't get caught up with the rubber portion of the top loop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GN95ZNLcro4ImFSDhXvAc1vOjSQvzHh0l12N8Gic-4JlcReDyjiGgJ9xA9YFw7bJ9Ul1lTnQZJD2DoiWxkj7nPE2f7HBoSY98c_HB9i9HlCNntNK0q7I4wZ0F4Hx_gIxipORpo7sa_eh/s1600/_MG_4758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GN95ZNLcro4ImFSDhXvAc1vOjSQvzHh0l12N8Gic-4JlcReDyjiGgJ9xA9YFw7bJ9Ul1lTnQZJD2DoiWxkj7nPE2f7HBoSY98c_HB9i9HlCNntNK0q7I4wZ0F4Hx_gIxipORpo7sa_eh/s1600/_MG_4758.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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The success of the H3s, therefore, are highly dependent on how sound
engineers tune their final mix to be burnt on to the disc, which should
not be the case. Even as someone who understands that I have a highly personal taste in musical output, I can't really imagine alot of people appreciating the lack of mids, unless perhaps clarity is a personal preference for you. For audio engineers and other professionals whose jobs require on audio monitoring, the earphones don't have the flattest tuning, but depending on your personal audio consumption tastes and needs at work, this pair of earphones can serve a good balance between both. They retail for a recommended price of S$438, and can be found at Sony stores and retailers around the island. Go to Sony's Singapore flagship store at Wisma Atria to try them out.</div>
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Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-29219318014033246282013-10-24T20:15:00.001+08:002013-10-24T20:15:47.703+08:00Skullcandy Crusher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of months ago I was offered the opportunity to try out the Skullcandy Crusher, then the freshest release. The Crusher promised a new way to experience bass with its - in a sense it's true - dual drivers. The Sensation55 driver is an actively driven bass extension driver that amps up the bass to give more thump, controlled by the slider you see in the picture above. An AA battery is required, but there wasn't a noticeable difference in weight between both ears.<br />
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I've never been a big fan of Skullcandy. I have reasonable respect for them as a personal audio brand, in that their churn out alright audio quality. It's something that I'd give a nod to if my friends asked what I thought about it, but I wouldn't use it myself. In recent years, I felt that they got a little over-focused on the fashion aspect of their products and did the minimum to keep their audio quality and technologies above the water.<br />
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The overall sound quality from the Crusher is still not what I'd call desirable. It's crispy, but sounds tinny - a little far away, in other words. There's a whole lot of intimacy lacking in the delivered audio, as if the insides were just being very business-like about getting the goods to you and coldly ignoring emotion in the process. In my case I had a vacuum tube audio amp to salvage the result a little with its signature warmth, but since this is meant to be brought out on the streets (and is portable enough to be by the way), one should assume that that is how it normally is used, not hooked up to a signal-enhancing circuit.<br />
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The thing about the Crusher though, is that the powered bass is not so much an aural experience as a physically tangible one. The bass driver generates more vibration than it does actual bass signals, which sort of breathes a new dimension of life to the music you are listening to. Suddenly you are moving, progressing and transitioning along with your tunes. I've heard a whole lot of stuff on it - Jamiroquai, Tchaikovsky, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Zero Sequence (mad props if you know who they are), Verdi, Puccini - and though the bass doesn't always work in favor of enhancing the audio per se, it does sweep you along with the piece.<br />
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The obvious downside to all of this is that this otherwise brilliant bass can quite easily cause you a massive headache, because it's essentially a very rapid series of air waves knocked in to you. Repeatedly. At it's highest power, with songs like trance, funk or rock where strong bass beats feature, the Crusher quite literally rattles with each beat, and I'm pretty sure my neighbors can hear some of it, in addition to seeing the headphones occasionally flinch. There is plenty of air within the circuits and plenty of routes for escape, giving a very free flow of air. In fact, whenever I put the headphones on, I have this little habit of pressing the cups against my ears, causing in this case for the headphones to quite audibly sigh, and breathe again when I let go.<br />
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If you are a fan of Skullcandy and its sound signature works for you and your music, you can definitely consider the Crusher if you think it's time for an upgrade. The bass level controller is smooth, and the best thing about it is that it caters to the days you've just had enough of the the low-frequency ear-slamming, days you want some serious thumping to get you going, and everything else in between. You suffer from neither excess nor lack, because that is in your hands to control.<br />
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The Skullcandy Crusher is available at all leading lifestyle electronics stores at an SRP of S$165.90.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-49133802607940938892013-04-28T10:30:00.000+08:002013-04-28T10:30:02.351+08:00Sennheiser HD 598<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been eyeing <a href="http://www.sennheiserusa.com/over-ear-headphones-acoustic-headphones_504633">this pair of headphones</a><a href="http://www.sennheiserusa.com/over-ear-headphones-acoustic-headphones_504633"></a> for the longest time. It's luscious creme-colored leather skinning and brown earpads were the first thing to catch my eye (yes yes shallow like that), and when I picked it up to listen to it, I was astounded by the clarity of what I heard.<br />
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That was, however, in a Sennheiser store, with properly-amped, high-quality music, and just plugging it to my phone and playing music from the in-built audio circuit does this pair of headphones no justice at all. I was very pleased to be linked up by <a href="http://sgstory.com/">SG Story</a> to the Sennheiser Asia folks, who very readily sent a pair my way for review.<br />
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<b>The Set Up</b><br />
If I were to actually buy this for myself, it would be sitting in office, where I have placed my trusty little tube amp and 30-pin iPhone dock, which in turn holds my iPhone 4 and pipes its music out via Line Out to my amp when connected.<br />
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<b>The Music</b><br />
Pretty much everything I have. I've been taking a more orchestral slant so I've been listening to alot of operas, musicals, concertos and symphonies. But I've also tried out rock, hard rock, metal, jazz, blues, funk, post-rock, vocals and some pop, wherever my fancy takes me. I try to have my music source in as high a sample rate as possible, so most of them are in 320kbps, but some of my more complex music like concertos and jazz are in lossless WAV, running at 1411kbps.<br />
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<b>The Verdict</b><br />
The defining factor about the HD 598 is that it is open-canned, meaning that air is free to pass through the earcups, allowing for wider sound reproduction as opposed to closed cans, where the air available to transmit sound is limited from what's within the earcup, up to your ear drum. That is, unfortunately, also it's only pain point. Air moves so freely that people around you can pretty much hear whatever you are listening to, and you can still hear everything that goes around you, even a suppressed cough. Some argue that if people can hear what you are listening to, you're listening to it too loud. And with proper amping, the HD 598 can produce all frequencies evenly at low volumes. But for lack of a better phrase, it's quite simply <i>tak shiok</i> when the music isn't completely washing over you. Even feels like a bit of a waste at times, listening to music so softly when you have such powerful hardware. But to each his own. In fact, even with air flowing so freely, your ears start to feel tired, not from the prolonged cupping of the cushions, but if the volume is too loud.<br />
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The thing about the HD 598 is that its transducers deliver music so smoothly that it quite often feels flat. That is not to say the music feels lifeless - rather, it's helped me pay more attention to the details of my music, and rewarded that attention by faithfully reproducing every last bit of audio information that the little bits you never knew were there - a cough, a musician shifting in his chair, a slide on the fret, the sigh of a piano's sustain pedal - presents itself to you and delights the heck out of you.<br />
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Along with the open-cans, Sennheiser's Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement technology claims to give you the experience of sitting in front of a hi-fi system. Not sure how effective that has been for me. For sure the soundstage can be matched by few within its class, and stereo separation is well-defined, but it can feel very lateral, instead of the more forward placement you would expect from a hi-fi system.<br />
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Bass instruments that are often glossed over by lesser audio products - softly rumbling kettle drums, double basses, the lower harmonics of trombones, even some frequencies of bass guitars, are clearly heard with these headphones without getting too overwhelming.<br />
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The same can be said for the high frequencies. I have yet to hear something that could push the headphones' high frequency output into "ear-piercing" territory. Cymbal clashes, crashes and bashes, high notes of female singers, piccolos, trumpets and usually painful guitar squeals are all pumped out clearly yet tolerably, allowing you to enjoy musical climaxes without destroying your eardrums.<br />
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Mids have an unfortunate chance of getting overshadowed by the higher frequencies, but I've only heard that happen when everything is playing together, for example when chorus and orchestra are both going at full volume. If there is a tenor or baritone singing however, you can be damn sure that they'll cut through and be the centre of your attention. Even if they've been mixed to be in the background.<br />
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The recommended price of S$399 is a hefty one to pay if it's your first or second time making the jump to higher quality audio. And it's seldom worth it unless you already have an amping system in place that can provide proper output support. Music forced at loud volume from inferior audio circuits merely sound like wind through a tunnel. Try plugging any high quality headphone to your iPhone and maxing out the volume to see what I mean. Not a pleasant experience, and certainly not an experience worth draining your player's battery for. But if you want to jump into the world of audio goodness, and are willing to pay for an amp, the HD 598 offers amazing value for what you are paying, and should last you a very long time in your journey towards better music.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-24844108339636049312013-04-27T09:00:00.000+08:002013-04-27T09:00:01.485+08:00Sony 2nd-generation XBA Balanced Armature Earphones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3IcaOvMZW8BK217vHKgLLXcK6xOBF8JARKnUi1V-efXEw5IPfqIeoB77hlX5k9UK9goo8s2Zq5l8qgdF7Fhjyix7RK0WiOYUn0gum73JuGqwiKxojmOww1lb_9KAKEgDatQgRSgBTWwc/s1600/_MG_3347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3IcaOvMZW8BK217vHKgLLXcK6xOBF8JARKnUi1V-efXEw5IPfqIeoB77hlX5k9UK9goo8s2Zq5l8qgdF7Fhjyix7RK0WiOYUn0gum73JuGqwiKxojmOww1lb_9KAKEgDatQgRSgBTWwc/s640/_MG_3347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
When Sony first launched the XBA series in late 2011 (and in Singapore early 2012), its suggested retail prices took many by surprise. Single driver in-ear monitors (IEMs) from well-known high grade audio brands such as Ultimate Ears, Westone and Shure were priced at approximately S$199, often breaking the $200 point. Sony's XBA-1 was priced at S$109. Did they spoil the market? Absolutely. Did they minimize the risks associated with entering the market?<br />
<br />
I doubt. Being a corporation of their size they could definitely lower production costs by mass manufacturing, but that would have made for a major loss if it didn't sell. In fact, the 2011 Japanese tsunamis nearly wrecked the manufacturing process, and threw Sony into a delay.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshVa2KAucgt0QowJHXD61G5my0vn0_47FEcG5RhAe0kzzZGVqDiy8xjYqYK0IyxNXHt_JMUVrsdJ4D1oWDlIXWN2JrLoHS9_p0EB6X8xmz890HWR1YrImiO40VD9-o73Mt1hu4bRpXXzX/s1600/_MG_3313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshVa2KAucgt0QowJHXD61G5my0vn0_47FEcG5RhAe0kzzZGVqDiy8xjYqYK0IyxNXHt_JMUVrsdJ4D1oWDlIXWN2JrLoHS9_p0EB6X8xmz890HWR1YrImiO40VD9-o73Mt1hu4bRpXXzX/s400/_MG_3313.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I only have a fleeting impression of the first generation XBAs, since they were mostly tested at the event, save for the XBA-1 that we had each received. This time however, I have been sent all 4 earphones (XBA-10, 20, 30 and 40) to try out, so I can take my time to make my humble judgments on each one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoAQqrHkB5dO1fITDKylmYjxNt4kNHzt5GxgTj47BCR4TzR0PsWloatGbuD1nUCEeAHAELrVOLGFpOY8B3zadrRrWyaQFtJEx_a7jcSoyGAUp_2Cn5T_dWS7_FJghewF4lhv59zDNO5gZ/s1600/_MG_3330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoAQqrHkB5dO1fITDKylmYjxNt4kNHzt5GxgTj47BCR4TzR0PsWloatGbuD1nUCEeAHAELrVOLGFpOY8B3zadrRrWyaQFtJEx_a7jcSoyGAUp_2Cn5T_dWS7_FJghewF4lhv59zDNO5gZ/s200/_MG_3330.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b>
<b>The Set Up</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooFF-siy7Z8Q2Ya3bAo7HTlBHB2M34M-UdPOpREViiBH3e4nNMniW9rAd-kLGZzYjrzzpeXOVyNffe1fMvL-24e2DAI87KOhJvvP8OssLC-bQByhnOEzCyfacSK0Khvwow84VDVVyb2Rk/s1600/_MG_3331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooFF-siy7Z8Q2Ya3bAo7HTlBHB2M34M-UdPOpREViiBH3e4nNMniW9rAd-kLGZzYjrzzpeXOVyNffe1fMvL-24e2DAI87KOhJvvP8OssLC-bQByhnOEzCyfacSK0Khvwow84VDVVyb2Rk/s200/_MG_3331.jpg" width="200" /></a>I decided to test the earphones in 2 different settings - powered by my iPhone (5, if it matters to you) on the go, and powered by my trusty little desktop headphone amp, with my old iPhone 4 as my music source via Line Out. The amp did not make as much of a difference as it usually does because the XBAs have relatively low resistance, but it did help me confirm certain points that I couldn't judge with my iPhone. All models' silicon earbuds were swapped out with the noise isolation earbuds, which includes an extra layer of sponge within the inner flange of the bud to absorb ambient noise. I always start my tests with tracks from Muse's HAARP live concert (hard rock, sharp bass, keyboards, stereo effects, live audience) and slowly branch out after that to jazz, metal, opera, classical and classic rock tracks.<br />
<br />
<b>General Good</b><br />
If I had to describe the series in a single word, it's obvious that clarity is the XBA's main focus. How that clarity manifests itself though... that comes up a little differently. The XBA's extensive range of silicon earbuds, both normal and noise isolating, also ensure that you have the best fit possible. Little things like lapel clips and cord managers also let you customize the way you use your earphones.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQupaEqGw9JLqPUjh4s9qc4n32mxA48io-3biCe6dP2o_RuNBbWA7_yqModVf-thA8t9VLXCDMyrF7teH7CZdka2S5mtcp1gJ6d_zl-z8icQRlM9fKh5xz6iXQJrLVx54od8dHHI7sDsC/s1600/_MG_3333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQupaEqGw9JLqPUjh4s9qc4n32mxA48io-3biCe6dP2o_RuNBbWA7_yqModVf-thA8t9VLXCDMyrF7teH7CZdka2S5mtcp1gJ6d_zl-z8icQRlM9fKh5xz6iXQJrLVx54od8dHHI7sDsC/s400/_MG_3333.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>General Bad</b><br />
The wires aren't so much anti-tangle as tangle-resistant. A fair bit of acoustic noise from the cable can be heard, but that can be solved by looping the cable over your ear. The problem with the higher models though, especially the XBA-40, is that the light wires keep popping up when looped around the ear, making you look weird. And slightly loony.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>XBA-10 (Full Range, S$98, iPhone version S$118)</b><br />
The XBA-10's clarity take the number 1 spot out of the four models. Mids were rich and full-bodied, and to my treble-sensitive ears, highs were delivered with sparkling precision, without shredding my ear canals. This actually allows your music to cut through and overpower a fair bit of ambient noise.<br />
<br />
However, as brilliantly as Sony's full-range driver handled mids and highs within a single armature, bass, the number one problem with single armature earphones, was still conspicuously missing. This gets slightly better while the earphones are driven by the amp, along with slightly more pronounced mids, but the higher frequencies can get overwhelming before the bass reaches an amplitude of your liking.<br />
<br />
<i>Use for: traveling on public transport, plugging in at work or in cafes</i><br />
<br />
<b>XBA-20 (Full Range + Woofer, S$238, iPhone version S$268)</b><br />
The simple addition of a woofer driver pretty much compensates for what the Full Range driver is missing, and adds bass to your experience, with both drivers operating at full amplitude (if you don't quite get what this means read on to 30 and 40). This can make the earphones too bassy for some ears, but for me and my favourite music, this is an almost ideal output that comes close to matching my triple-driver custom earphones in richness and clarity. For this reason, the XBA-20 wins my vote as the best model of the lot.<br />
<br />
<i>Use for: needs specified in XBA-10, your bass-hungry ears, and probably if you listen to hard rock with heavy distortion and overdrive.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMPLPn0Tt1U6vLFpKbjGLBL8_vTyGCBb7JbjFH_kwrpfhXewMWzSgSD0QsKK_lqm9X5jUiNZVZA_-WFyWk5nMw7hEt5h0Buod-M5iWE1otzYk27bnSWSKOmTpoqxRXIrCHPBp6McRM2_5/s1600/_MG_3323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMPLPn0Tt1U6vLFpKbjGLBL8_vTyGCBb7JbjFH_kwrpfhXewMWzSgSD0QsKK_lqm9X5jUiNZVZA_-WFyWk5nMw7hEt5h0Buod-M5iWE1otzYk27bnSWSKOmTpoqxRXIrCHPBp6McRM2_5/s400/_MG_3323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>XBA-30 (Full Range + Woofer + Tweeter, S$318, iPhone version S$338)</b><br />
The triple-driver offering adds booster drivers to either end of the audio spectrum, but instead of accentuating the high frequencies, some tuning and volume leveling of the drivers completely flattened the sound signature of the XBA-30. Especially after having listened to the richness of the XBA-20, the XBA-30 seems to withhold the life from my music, pumping it out in a very <i>matter-of-fact</i> way. What it does give you, however, is an incredible soundstage, so wide and distinct that I could clearly map out the placements of sections of a 50-piece orchestra, along with a similarly sized chorus and the main singers. I could tell when singers shifted position on the stage, or when two similarly voiced sections of the chorus were singing different lines side by side (for example, <i>Tenor 1</i> and <i>Tenor 2</i>). That, to me, is the XBA-30's principal selling point. That said, I hate my music flat (delivered as-is without aural influence of the output device), but if there is some insight that most audiophiles who would consider the XBA-30s like their music flat, then hey, go for gold I say.<br />
<br />
<i>Use for: a portable solution to serious music study, listening to how orchestras or bands work and how they place themselves. Or if you are a stickler for flat output.</i><br />
<br />
<b>XBA-40 (Full Range + Woofer + Tweeter + Super Woofer, S$388, iPhone version S$408)</b><br />
From a manufacturing point of view, the XBA-40 could be said to be Sony's bud-sized trophy. Where similarly-speced earphones cost close to or over S$1000, the XBA-40 retails for just over 40% of that price.<br />
<br />
Aurally though, it feels like the XBA-40 falls short of the success it very well should be. Little more can be said about it that hasn't already been articulated for the XBA-30, save for the fact that with the addition of the last driver, the Super Woofer, music with very deep and subtle bass parts, such as that elusive bass drum in classical orchestras, are done justice with a satisfying rumble. That said, it isn't a 100% hit rate, and for bass heavy music like techno and rock, it doesn't really matter as much because the Woofer can more than deliver on the output.<br />
<br />
<i>Use for: ultimate music enjoyment <b>if</b> you enjoy your music delivered flat</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNljeUWj4maOL8mmxR_7MMHGfwpsq7uC1RfJSqXPk66bVtKbpvo8nac8ilpst9H_Au4Q1MxoekXKJvVbqww5PbDIl8buxyyj6FcGa741Z520BvFowj7Ufs3doeDWrYUHsH3yYZAE-MrS4b/s1600/_MG_3352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNljeUWj4maOL8mmxR_7MMHGfwpsq7uC1RfJSqXPk66bVtKbpvo8nac8ilpst9H_Au4Q1MxoekXKJvVbqww5PbDIl8buxyyj6FcGa741Z520BvFowj7Ufs3doeDWrYUHsH3yYZAE-MrS4b/s640/_MG_3352.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The packaging. Really love the design and efficient use of space!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
Sony's definitely gone in the right direction, and for the brilliant work they have done in commercializing balanced armature drivers for the mass market, I'm willing to shrug off their misses with the 30 and 40. Personally, I think they can make the 30 and 40 even friendlier to a larger crowd of prospective buyers, and I think these buyers wouldn't even mind forking out more than the current price for future iterations, if it can hit their sweet spot.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-53343302127792756862013-01-25T08:00:00.000+08:002013-01-25T09:54:26.638+08:00Sony introduces PHA-1 portable headphones ampRather dated news but took me a long time to get my blog going as I like it.<br />
<br />
So right on the heels of its second generation of balanced armature driver earphones, Sony announced their entry into the portable amplifier market with the PHA-1 portable headphone amplifier. This news has been out in Japan as early as September 2012, but Singapore will find this product in stores from March 2013 for a recommended price of S$599.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVwwFHBKAjQyW9AaUr_ww2P3gqpJxRqK2atrI-NhnlrJ6uNDeNm16F-wLwUTB9dDI5gfscyZ9XiP2lyKhrzuW7hNFfOnJs3FD_Rl7B2jQPXOg3gyVwpggtZL7TTc0rJxJqZfg-mtwI8QC/s1600/PHA-1+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVwwFHBKAjQyW9AaUr_ww2P3gqpJxRqK2atrI-NhnlrJ6uNDeNm16F-wLwUTB9dDI5gfscyZ9XiP2lyKhrzuW7hNFfOnJs3FD_Rl7B2jQPXOg3gyVwpggtZL7TTc0rJxJqZfg-mtwI8QC/s320/PHA-1+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ideal for the "mobile audiophile" (sounds rather ridiculous when you type it out but goodness knows our numbers aren't scarce), the PHA-1 supports audio signals as high as 96KHz, with 24-bit resolution. Are those specs cool? Yes. Are those capabilities maximised? Not easily, these days.<br />
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The amp can also be hooked up to your computer to serve as a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) (in English, better quality music). It has an in-built, USB-charged battery that runs for up to 10 hours when music is piped in through Audio In, and 5 hours through Digital In. <br />
<br />
You can hook your player or smartphone up to the amp by the Audio In jack in front, which I along with most other aurally-inclined technophiles tend to discourage, if there are better alternatives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zy55RPMgHeUQc8acon2hzpzvVscjOWSfx2Dis3ZAZh_JMz5e3CejZ-XPtMgQP13hd15iLWD2Jwpu2415e6SVrAF1I-tfV8fp8vUdEgW2G0YI1SHWxwJEKWa91RFSou762RGJVoEIseYI/s1600/PHA-1+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zy55RPMgHeUQc8acon2hzpzvVscjOWSfx2Dis3ZAZh_JMz5e3CejZ-XPtMgQP13hd15iLWD2Jwpu2415e6SVrAF1I-tfV8fp8vUdEgW2G0YI1SHWxwJEKWa91RFSou762RGJVoEIseYI/s320/PHA-1+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>1.</b> It causes the audio to be double amped. Think of the audio circuit in the amp as a large shiny water pipe with treatments to make the water better, and think of your audio player's audio circuit as a thin, old rusting pipe whose impurities the water carries along with it as it travels through (it's probably not all that bad your player's audio quality but just as a comparison...). Running your water through the old pipe and into the large shiny pipe is merely throwing impurities into the latter - remember it has enhancement features, not decontamination treatments.<br />
<b>2.</b> As a source your player will need to push a strong audio signal, which almost certainly means that you need to pump your player's volume to maximum. Remember that this is usually meant to go straight to your earphones and so uses the full audio circuitry in your player. Nothing like full-powered audio output to burn your player's battery life.<br />
<br />
But here's the cool thing about the PHA-1, you can hook your device directly to it via USB. Apple's 30-pin connector, Walkman's connector and a standard 3.5mm jack are included in the package. Sony says that Lightning devices are supported by the amp but that the cable will not be included. With this method your audio source gets piped in via Digital In, and the amp acts as a DAC to pump the music out to your earphones.This is a far better way to process music than Audio In, and maintains alot more audio fidelity, especially if your sources files are lossless types like AIFF, WAV or FLAC. However, it utilizes pretty much all of the PHA-1's circuitry, which explains the higher battery usage.<br />
<br />
And Sony says the amp doesn't require burn-in. I haven't had a chance to test this so I cannot verify this at the moment. Take it how you like.<br />
<br />
Most of us know Sony to be the company responsible for Playstations,
Bravias and Xperias, but my friend pointed out that they started as an
audio company after all. This is a cool step for Sony to take, to return to their roots perhaps? But unlike the balanced armature earphones this amp isn't priced below the market rate. S$599 is what a mobile audiophile in these parts would have to cough up, at the very least, for a decent portable amp. Is this a sign of Sony's confidence in what this tiny giant can deliver?<br />
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I'll let you know when I've tested this out. Meanwhile, XBA reviews coming soon.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-12107697262909951662013-01-06T01:26:00.001+08:002013-01-06T01:26:11.831+08:00Back in the gameHi. I'm back.<br />
<br />
I think it's about time I started
writing again. I miss dishing out my opinions, and I'll never be able to
do so as freely as I could 4 years ago. But I should at least try.<br />
<br />
I
may come to regret this seeing as I probably will have some writing
coming my way at work. Till then, please look forward to my posts.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-66565503816505556682012-01-02T22:41:00.001+08:002012-01-02T22:41:51.978+08:00Au revoir, et salutAnother day, another month, another year. 2011 left as soon as it swooped down, and I have to say, it left quite a trail of destruction in its wake. Tsunamis, floods (talking about Thailand, we only pond here in Singapore), uprisings, revolutions. I wonder if humankind has been any unhappier, discounting the wars.<br />
<br />
I suppose I've had a good enough break. All I have done is spend money, more money in a week than I usually spend in 3. That should be a good enough sign that I had fun. It's back to full speed immediately on the first day of work, and I hope I can pace myself and stay another year in OPR while helping with Tech65 and developing my own photographic and videographic skill sets.<br />
<br />
It's purported that the world is due to end in 2012. Kinda hoping it wouldn't. I do have quite the checklist of things to do before I run along to heaven. <br />
<br />
<br />I've fallen asleep two times writing this.<br />
<br />
<br />I suppose that's another sign.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-50721350209206264652011-07-30T00:53:00.000+08:002011-07-30T00:53:42.857+08:00Infocomm Accessibility Centre Tweet Meet 2011In a few hours I shall be making my way to a home to witness two volunteers present a person with disabilities (PWD) with a netbook, and help set up his social presence on Facebook and Twitter. I really have no idea what else to expect out of the session, which makes it all the more interesting.<br />
<br />
The idea is for PWDs to get over their social awkwardness born out of their self-consciousness over their disabilities through the now notorious mask of the Web. Through a higher volume of communication, perhaps they will feel a little less alone in this world and earn themselves a new group of friends as unique as themselves. You wouldn't be the most cheerful person in the world if you were devoid of sight, sound or the ability to move freely, but one hopes that technology can change that.<br />
<br />
Watch the Wall on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Infocomm-Accessibility-Centre/376294793829?sk=wall">Facebook page</a>, or keep an eye on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23TweetMeetSG">#tweetmeetsg</a> over the weekend as volunteers move out around the island to rekindle lives with technology!Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-8155531526244487522011-04-23T02:54:00.001+08:002011-04-23T02:55:20.478+08:00BlackBerry Playbook: iPad nightmare but for one thing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/217513_10150548625440508_605740507_18329445_4424593_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/217513_10150548625440508_605740507_18329445_4424593_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Well not long ago Hisham dragged me along with... actually the whole of <a href="http://www.tech65.org/">Tech65</a>'s local team to attend the BlackBerry Playbook preview, innovatively situated in a limo bus that I assume traveled around the island during the day to the various major publishing houses.<br />
<br />
If you haven't already seen other reviews around (thank you, I'm honored), you should know that with a combination of a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and the BlackBerry Tablet OS based on QNX architecture, this device has proven itself to be faster than the benchmark iPad (it's far from <i>ceteris paribus</i>, but that's pretty much the long and short I'd give). Games run smoothly, videos run smoothly even when running out via HDMI at 1080p, the audio plays like a dream, and there is full Flash support. And all this happening simultaneously. It creates one hell of a racket, but it's technically very impressive.<br />
<br />
Assuming you own a BlackBerry, the Playbook very smoothly becomes one with it (not that I would expect anything less). Whatever security your company dictates, your BB phone will follow, and consequently, so will your Playbook. After work, when you're chillaxing on the sofa with a glass of wine, you can hook up to your home's WiFi network, and the only restrictions are those of the World Wide Web (and well, the MDA's).<br />
<br />
The problem is, without the BlackBerry Bridge program to link your phone and tablet together, the Playbook runs without local mail, calendar or address book apps.<br />
<br />
Dun dun dun.<br />
<br />
Now obviously it's a very questionable and arguably crazy thing to do, and I am of course puzzled by it, but here's my point of view from from the perspective that, now at least, I am far more interested in the tablet than I ever will be with the phones. And with that in mind, I will be getting the Playbook as more of an entertainment device than something to augment my working life (play > book).<br />
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To take the other major players in the smartphone business into consideration - Apple, Android and Windows Phone 7 - people who get the Playbook with the same motivations as me would have one of these phones in their pocket. And if they did, chances are that their mail, calendar and address book wouldn't be too far away from them. And if you're the type to check your webmail (or web calendar), well there you have it. It's part of the Web, which the Playbook renders flawlessly. You're probably going to be further away from your phone at home than you are on-the-move anyway.<br />
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Which I suppose means that the non-BB buyers will wait for the 3G version, whenever that may reach our shores.<br />
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Because being the ultimate cloud warrior isn't any use when you can't connect to the Web. I'm absolutely fine with checking my Gmail and GCal (and whatever the G Address Book is called, if it exists - I'm a lousy geek that way) through the web browser, but one simply cannot rely on WiFi or phone tethering all the time, it's quite a bother to set up each time, and if you just quickly need to do access that one mail to extract the meeting place of your next appointment, you wouldn't activate your hotspot just to use your Playbook's beautiful 7" hi-resolution screen to do that, you would just check it on your smartphone and be done in 15 seconds.<br />
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Would I get the Playbook? I'll probably get the iPad in the end, simply because I have an iPhone with so many apps that can be reused or look even better on the iPad. But the Playbook holds the modest distinction of being the only tablet device that made me stop and stare.<br />
<br />
Learn more about the Playbook <a href="http://us.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet/">here</a>.<br />
The rest of my pictures from the event can be found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150548625040508.667202.605740507&l=d14bcf56b2">here</a>.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-33786980474913298962011-04-09T23:47:00.001+08:002011-04-09T23:48:55.502+08:00Lowepro Passport Sling - The Traveller's Doraemon Pocket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVwX2-T64hBiVABVm7d1D4bmxnWP1JwrV5FgI0u9sY_muCGiYCjZKB06Xn3GQX-OKY9R_RqqPlnjkfMydBa9rnslhOEnF2FR6GaP_z-FjxiS4AFc6hgTpOj5oMgpeLW7QCSXiTTCj_8oU/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVwX2-T64hBiVABVm7d1D4bmxnWP1JwrV5FgI0u9sY_muCGiYCjZKB06Xn3GQX-OKY9R_RqqPlnjkfMydBa9rnslhOEnF2FR6GaP_z-FjxiS4AFc6hgTpOj5oMgpeLW7QCSXiTTCj_8oU/s640/IMG_1204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Meet my new friend, the <a href="http://www.lowepro.com/passportsling">Lowepro Passport Sling</a>. It's my friend, because it makes my life easier. Anyone who makes my life easier is my friend. The only exception will be my wife, who ever this blessed lady will be.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj65q5jvYtYphY9iN-zgX4eHSRuXrpegSZ5pITjkTLTA6Wh1HjttZvLvmdL5D8d0NlWuKZPP_ll10XhTQvGBfJZB781-nzl4G_vALNXaojCwXZV7pJ_OHgEYK62OYBhfhifz67pRWFCCQ/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj65q5jvYtYphY9iN-zgX4eHSRuXrpegSZ5pITjkTLTA6Wh1HjttZvLvmdL5D8d0NlWuKZPP_ll10XhTQvGBfJZB781-nzl4G_vALNXaojCwXZV7pJ_OHgEYK62OYBhfhifz67pRWFCCQ/s640/IMG_1206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
But what if I was a conniving turncoat? What if I was jealous of my friend's ability to make my life easier, and spilled its guts with this cute little rusty penknife?<br />
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Police will rush to the scene of the murder to find split from its stomach, the following items:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6l6pI7lclo8eT4N6Ev1Pr5Nfo9gilM-9i11jY1krJ3D27v0MhM4A6coD4c4OttSL1tqqR_RrTZC2jAPHN_5QqsT71VayRFoQifYXefvcrbGvbLsDbejsOiXaIyPdmeU2Yg4UVx7t3Svd/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6l6pI7lclo8eT4N6Ev1Pr5Nfo9gilM-9i11jY1krJ3D27v0MhM4A6coD4c4OttSL1tqqR_RrTZC2jAPHN_5QqsT71VayRFoQifYXefvcrbGvbLsDbejsOiXaIyPdmeU2Yg4UVx7t3Svd/s640/IMG_1210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<ol><li>Canon 7D with 18-135mm kit lens mounted</li>
<li>Canon 350D body with battery grip</li>
<li>Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash</li>
<li>Lowepro filter pouch</li>
<li>Large blower</li>
<li>Flash diffuser cap</li>
<li>Cleaning cloth</li>
<li>Lens pen</li>
<li>CF card</li>
</ol>9 items, in a camera sling bag little larger than (and looking quite like) a bagpipe. And that's with the restricting zip approximately 3/4 zipped up. The full capacity of the bag could probably contain another large telephoto lens.<br />
<br />
As my friend succinctly put it, it was a rare product that looked good whether it contained 1 item or 10. Reviews have also asserted its superior stitching, durability and water resistance. And if you think that this Doraemon's Pocket would naturally cost a bomb for its innovative size-space ratio, then you will be very pleased to note that it retails in Singapore at all major camera stores for $55-58. Surely an ideal 1-system mobile solution for both amateur and seasoned photographers.<br />
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Go get it!Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276873810304730543.post-8553765919256450502011-03-02T00:04:00.001+08:002011-03-02T00:10:16.362+08:00A Shutter JourneyWith an hour left to go as I'm writing this, today, the 1st of March, is my beloved Shutter Journey's 1 year anniversary.<br />
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10 months ago, I joined with Nicole's invitation what SJS founder Allan commented was one of the more challenging shoots to date. I was carrying a G11 which, very brilliantly I say, ran out of battery halfway. Still, I got some decent shots.<br />
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The first lesson I learnt in SJS was that your camera system did not matter. There were people who came to shoots with compact cameras, with handphone cameras and even with film-based toy cameras that didn't even give you an accurate view of what you were shooting (oh the horror).<br />
<br />
But photography comes from the heart, as do all the arts on our good green(ish) Earth. When you have an idea of what your photography stands for, what it wishes to communicate, the story it wants to tell, then you may regret all you want that you didn't have your 1D, D3, a900 or S2 to capture that brilliant moment, but you will never need to regret that you did not capture the shot in the best possible way.<br />
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The second thing I learnt is that going for shoot after shoot after shoot has given my skills a chance to grow naturally, regardless of camera system. It's quite like how a pure diamond-crafted sword honed once a week will never be as sharp as a simple iron sword that is sharpened daily. Many images are not done justice to not because the photographer is bad, but because of the great barrier formed by electronic technicalities, ranging anywhere from "Why this white balance setting here?" to "Why use spot metering and not partial metering here?" I still don't know the latter, by the way.<br />
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I however, for one, don't see lessons in photography as the often-marketed "Crash Course to ABC". Instead these things just get some necessary technicalities out of the way (ISO, WB, metering, focal point, contrast, purposeful over/underexposure, I could go on) to free our eyes and minds to wander across the wonders of our environment. Only when we aren't preoccupied with the million settings on our cameras can we focus on what is a shutter-worthy frame. Because on the other hand, what good is a perfectly exposed photograph containing an utterly boring subject? <br />
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The last major thing I learnt is of course that there is no such thing as "aiyah buy one camera enough already. Kit lens is enough."<br />
<br />
<i>L i e s.</i><br />
<br />
Naw I kid, although every word of that was true. The last thing I learnt was that quite simply, we aim to enjoy every shoot because we share and learn more that way. I'd like to see you try to get a lesson on f16 vs f20 out of a hungry, grumpy photographer who just missed his magical sunset minute after camping at the best spot for miles since after lunch.<br />
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I still have to thank the founders and moderators for giving me a chance to be part of the core team. Over the past couple of months I have learnt alot from every one of you, and I have to say, we form quite a tight group (Whatsapp group chat positively superglued us together).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/190416_168410399875272_100001189380048_342975_7041024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/190416_168410399875272_100001189380048_342975_7041024_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With much thanks to Alvin even though I kinda didn't actually ask first, and much love to the missing mods Ruiping and Cass. You know I love you still. As a friend. A good friend. But just a friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For believing in my ability to contribute to this passionate group of carefree photographers, thank you Allan, Ling, Celes, Shela, Noel and Connie.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday SJS. Live long and prosper.Renhaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352090243861331142noreply@blogger.com0