Locations

• Dell Direct Store SUNTEC: 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-010C/D, Suntec City Mall (Near Suntec Tower 5), Singapore 038923
• Dell Direct Store FUNAN: 109, North Bridge Road #03-26, Funan Digitalife Mall, Singapore 179097

Press Release

SINGAPORE, May 16, 2013 – Dell today reopened the Dell Exclusive Store at Funan DigitaLife Mall, following an intensive make-over to deliver a new, refreshed concept store that sports simpler, contemporary yet bolder interior designs.

 

Aimed at creating a more consistent global brand and shopping experience for its customers, the new look takes on a distinctive customer-centric approach, complete with experience suites that allow customers to experience technology as they would in real life. The Funan store is the first Dell Exclusive Store in the world to adopt the company’s new global retail brand guidelines.

 

“Along with our purpose to deliver innovative products and give customers both performance and value in a single package, Dell also places high priority in providing a fulfilling product purchase experience for our customers,” said Chue Chee Wei, managing director for Dell’s Commercial Business, Singapore and Malaysia. “Dell’s new store design brings a great shopping experience to our customers, whether you have a specific product in mind, or just casually browsing.”

Dell Direct Store at Funan has been there since December 2007 and they recently renovated their store (two weeks of intensive renovation) and renamed it to Dell Exclusive Store. The store’s new interior design is the first in the world to match Dell’s global retail brand identity guidelines, developed in 2012 as a standard for all flagship stores around the world.

Dell Direct Store at Suntec on the other hand has been there since 2003 and still being known as Dell Direct Store and they have no plans for renovation yet.

The Dell Exclusive Store at Funan is open from 11am to 9pm daily, and measures 1356 square feet in floor space.

Dell’s Exclusive Store at Funan Singapore

Dell’s Exclusive Store at Funan Singapore

Dell’s Exclusive Store at Funan Singapore

Nook HD+ doesn’t come with camera, GPS or 3G capability. It uses microSD card as a storage expansion. It uses its own proprietary 30-pin charging cable and since Nook is not available in Singapore,it is advisable to get a spare charging cable in case you misplaced yours.

There are 2 options available if you want to get the charging cable, the first one is the Nook HD+ Tablet Power Kit (USD$15/GD$18.70) which comes with the cable and an AC adapter and the other is just the Nook HD+ Charging Cable (USD$14.95/SGD$18.64). You should get the Nook HD+ Tablet Power Kit because it is just USD$0.05 more expensive and you get an additional AC adapter.

In total, I paid USD$179.00 (SGD$222.80) + USD$15 (SGD$18.67) = USD$194 (SGD$242) for the Nook HD+ Tablet and the Nook HD+ Tablet Power Kit.

I am using HopShopGo which is powered by comGateway and PayPal as my freight forwarder. Paid USD$21.39 (SGD$26.67) for express shipping back to Singapore.

I placed my order on the 8th May 2013, HopShopGo received it on the 10th May 2013, shipped out to me on 11th May 2013 and I got my item on 14th May 2013.

The stock Barnes & Noble ROM on the Nook HD+ is pretty laggy. The current version now is 2.1.0 and it includes Google Play as well as some other Google apps. Before 2.1.0, you do not even have access to Google Play and Google apps and the only way is to get those is to flash the ROM with CyanogenMod (CM).

CM10 is based on Android 4.1 and CM10.1 is based on Android 4.2. There are 3 ways to flash it, overwriting the stock B&N ROM with CM (emmc), booting CM from SD card (SD Card), and placing some operating system files on internal memory and some on SD card (Hybrid).

Personally, I am using the SD Card method as I don’t want to mess with the stock ROM in case anything goes wrong. After giving it a spin for 1 week, the SD Card method is just too laggy to be useable for the long term, I decided to re-flash it using the emmc method and it is WAY more responsive. I totally recommend the emmc method for everyone!

Here is what I did:

• Download leapinlar’s NookHDplus-bootable-CWM-6028-for-stock-4GB-rev4-(05.15.13).zip
• Extract the zip above and burn the img to a 4GB or larger microSD card
• After burning, copy cwm-recovery-ovation-2.zip, cm-10.1-20130512-UNOFFICIAL-ovation-emmc.zip and gapps-20130301-jb-signed.zip back to the microSD card
• Place the microSD card back to the Nook HD+ and boot it
• Do a backup for the stock ROM
• After backup is done, do data wipe/factory reset
• Flash cwm-recovery-ovation-2.zip first, followed by cm-10.1-20130512-UNOFFICIAL-ovation-emmc.zip and lastly gapps-20130301-jb-signed.zip

Technical Specifications

• OS: Android 4.0.3 with customized UI
• CPU: Dual Core Texas-Instruments OMAP 4470 @ 1.5GHz
• Storage: 16/32 GB with microSD slot
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Display: 9″ LED Backlit screen (1920×1280 @ 256ppi), multi-touch, fully laminated screen with no air gaps reduces glare and provides extra-wide viewing angles
• Graphics: POWERVR SGX544
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth
• Connectors: Universal 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, 30 Pin Port for charging and connecting to a computer
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of reading/9 hours of video
• Weight: 515g
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 240.3mm x 162.8mm x 11.4mm

Nook HD+ – Box Front

Nook HD+ – Box Back

Nook HD+ – Box Open

Nook HD+ – Charger In The Box

Nook HD+ – Proprietary 30-pin Charging Cable

Nook HD+ – Front

Nook HD+ – Back

Nook HD+ – Speakers

Nool HD+ – Signature Ring Hole

Nook HD+ – Signature Nook Corner

Nook HD+ – The Home Button

Nook HD+ – MicroSD Card Slot + 30-pin Port

Nook HD+ – Power Button On The Right

Nook HD+ – Volume Keys & 3.5mm Audio Jack

The project was delayed by a few months, it was suppose to be shipping in January 2013 but I only got my last week on the 10th May 2013.

Since I was the early backer, I paid USD$59 (SGD$73) for the OCDock and USD$20 (SGD$24.77) for international shipping and thus bringing the total amount to USD$79 (SGD$97.84).

The OCDock stands out from the rest of the docks because its wire is as thin as paper (0.18mm), allowing it to run underneath the display stand of an iMac or a Thunderbolt Display.

The base of the OCDock is not flat, there is a small cutout, it is meant to be placed on the stand of your iMac/Thunderbolt Display. Because I am using the Twelve South HiRise for iMac, the OCDock could not sit on the stand of my iMac and thus the OCDock is leaning a little backwards. It didn’t really bother me.

The materials used to make the dock also matches that of your iMac/Thunderbolt Display. It is made from a solid piece of high-grade aluminum, glass bead blasted and anodized to match the finish.

It comes with three rubber backings to allow you to adjust the gap between the dock and your iPhone 5 in case you are using a back cover for your phone (like me).

OCDock – Box

OCDock – Box Contents

OCDock – Different Thickness Rubber Backing And Extra Sticky Tape

OCDock – Instructions

OCDock

OCDock – Underneath

OCDock – Side View

OCDock – Back View

OCDock – 0.18mm Thin Wire

OCDock – Sits In Front Of Your iMac

It’s sale price is only USD$10 (including free US Shipping) till 27th May 2013. For shipping to Singapore, I paid USD$14.65. So in total I Paid USD$10 (SGD$12.43) + USD$14.65 (SGD$18.21) = USD$24.65 (SGD$30.65)

I placed my order on 24th April 2013, it got shipped on 3rd May 2013 and I received it yesterday on 14th May 2013.

WordPress 10th Anniversary T-Shirt

WordPress 10th Anniversary T-Shirt

Li Xiang got me the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag (Small) for just SGD$69 from their Bugis outlet.

Both the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag (Xtra Small) and iPad sleeve were also on sale and they are selling for SGD$59.90 and SGD$25 respectively. The selection and colors are very limited though.

The small, medium and large size of the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag is exactly the same as the Timbuk2 Custom Laptop Messenger Bag. The only difference is that the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag doesn’t come with the extra padded laptop compartment.

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Front

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Back

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Opened

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Inside

Timbuk2 Custom Laptop Messenger Bag – Inside (Extra Padded Laptop Compartment)

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Shoulder Pad

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag – Cross Strap

Immediately after lunch, I went to the nearest 4 Starbucks stores located around my office but unfortunately these 4 stores ran out of stock. I was pretty disappointed, so I wrote on their Facebook page asking when it will be restock and whether are there any stores that have available stock.

They replied, saying it is a seasonal item and will not be restock and told me to write in to customer@starbucks.com.sg to enquire about the stock level in other stores which I did.

Today (10th May 2013), Shareen Wong, from Starbucks got back to me and told me that the following stores still have stock:

• Centrepoint
• Novena Square
• West Coast Plaza
• University Town
• Shaw Towers
• Liang Court
• Thomson Plaza
• Cathay
• Clementi Mall
• Woodlands Civic
• Capital Towers

As I was in The Central, Clark Quay at that time of the email, I immediately called Starbucks at Liang Court and told them to reserve for me! There are a total of 4 cups left at that store, I bought 3, leaving 1 behind.

I want to say a big thank you to the team managing Starbucks Singapore’s Facebook page and the team behind Starbucks Singapore’s customer service for the prompt reply!

So if you want to get one for yourself, be sure to call the stores (listed above) first, you can find their number on the Starbucks Singapore Store Locator page.

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Top View

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Bottom View

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Lid With Metal Straw

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Lid Bottom View

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Lid Top View

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Metal Straw

Starbucks Stainless Steel Cold Cup – Usgae Tips

Adobe will be dropping the Creative Suite (CS) name for all of its product going forward and it will be replaced with the name Creative Cloud (CC). Example: Adobe Photoshop CC, InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Dreamweaver CC and Premiere Pro CC.

Adobe Creative Suite 6 products will continue to be supported and available for purchase, but Adobe has no plans for future releases of Creative Suite or other CS products.

Creative Cloud Features

• Desktop, Web and Mobile Access. Creative Cloud allows users to stay connected with workgroups and the creative community via their desktop, website, or mobile device. With Creative Cloud, your entire creative world gets its own centralized hub where ideas, files, fonts, settings, notifications, and team members are connected and organized. Join group folders to work collaboratively; track updates and comments to shared files; stay connected to work on Behance; get notified when app updates are available and download the latest updates; and access favorite colors, fonts and settings, wherever you are.
• Integration With The World’s Leading Creative Community. With Behance now integrated with Creative Cloud, members will be able to publish their own portfolios, follow other creatives, publish work-in-progress from within a growing number of CC apps and solicit feedback from the worldwide creative community. Over 1.4 million creatives globally are part of the Behance network.
• Synchronize, Store, Share and Collaborate. All files and assets will be automatically synchronized between the desktop, cloud and mobile devices. A designer can take a photo on their iPad, use Photoshop Touch to refine the photo while on the go, then access that file, via the cloud, and use Photoshop CC on their Mac or Windows PC to further enhance the image. Designers can designate shared folders and invite others to collaborate on files. Edits are stored with version history so users can share their files with confidence. Individual members receive 20GB of storage.
• Seamless Publishing. Creative Cloud members have access to the services necessary to publish highly personalized portfolio web sites using Behance ProSite, high-impact digital magazines for iPad using Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) Single Edition, and PhoneGap Build to create and publish mobile apps for any device. Adobe Typekit features an unmatched library of old-classic to new-favorite fonts for use on websites – and, with this update, creatives can use many of these same fonts directly in their desktop applications.

Creative Cloud Individual Price Plans

• Single App (SGD$26/month)
  Single App (SGD$13/month) – Existing CS3 & Later Customers
  • A full version of selected apps
  • 20 GB of cloud storage
  • Limited access to services
• Complete (SGD$66/month) – Annual Commitment
  Complete (SGD$99/month) – Able To Cancel Any Time
  Complete (SGD$39/month) – Existing CS3 & Later Customers
  Complete (SGD$26/month) – Existing CS6 Customers
  • Full versions of every app
  • 20 GB of cloud storage
  • Full access to services
• Educational (SGD$15.88/month) – Annual Commitment
  • Full versions of every app
  • 20 GB of cloud storage
  • Full access to services
  • Institutional affiliation required
  • Requires annual commitment

Adobe Creatie Cloud Logo

The only downside is that it supports only USB2.0 in order to keep the price low. I would totally get the 32GB one and attached it to my key chain/pouch.

It comes in 4 sizes, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB.

• 4GB – SGD$9
• 8GB – SGD$11
• 16GB – SGD$17
• 32GB – SGD$32

SanDisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive

In Singapore, it is being distributed by Bridgemen, of course you can get it online directly from them and they deliver to you for free.

Right now the Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp is in it’s 3rd generation, I have been eyeing on it since the 2nd generation when I first saw it at DG Lifestyle Store at VivoCity. Unfortunately that store is no longer around but on the bright side, you can get it even cheaper at Challenger.

The Koncept LED lamp might be a little expensive at first glance, but if you compare it with some Phillips or 3M desk lamps, you will find that the price is actually pretty reasonable.

The Z-Bar LED Desk Lamp comes in 3 sizes, Z-Bar (42 LEDs), Z-Bar Slim (35 LEDs) and Z-Bar Mini (28 LEDs). The main difference in them is the number of LEDs and the height of the arm.

For the Z-Bar Slim, there are 3 colors available, black, red and silver and for each color there are 2 light options, daylight and warm light. I chose the silver color and daylight combination (Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp AR3200D-SIL-DSK).

What I like about the Z-Bar LED Lamps is that the LEDs are in a straight row, this allows you to illuminate your monitor screen as well as your keyboard area. If you notice the placement of your monitor/keyboard/mouse is always in a rectangle shape. Traditional lamp will only illuminate a circular area which is pretty useless for my case.

It comes with a touch sensitive control that allow you to adjust the intensity of the LEDs. And as an added bonus, it matches the style of your iMac!

Specifications

• Energy Consumption: 8.5 watts
• Number of LEDs: 35 LEDs
• LED Rated Lifespan: 50,000 hours
• Color Temperature (Typical) – Cool: 4,500 K
• Color Temperature (Typical) – Warm: 3,500 K
• Color Rendering Index (CRI): 85
• Dimmer: Built-in touchstrip
• Brightness Adjustability: Multiple dimming levels
• Standard Color Finish: Metallic Black, Silver
• Material: Aluminum/Plastic
• Cord Color: Black
• Cord Length: 10″
• Transformer (100–240 V; 50/60 Hz): Included – C-UL-US Certified

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – Box Front

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – Box Back

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – Box Contents

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – LEDs Are In A Straight Row

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – Touch Sensitive Control

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – On My Desk

Koncept Z-Bar Slim LED Desk Lamp – Lit Area

Post-Operation Day 1 (Tuesday, 2nd April 2013)
The next day, you will have to go back to have your eyes checked, I was very happy to have a 6/6 vision after the check. The nurse said my left eye is recovering faster than my right eye. Doctor also said everything is good, reminded me to keep up the same procedure of putting the 3 drops every hour and not to rub my eyes.

Since I have phobia of putting eye drops, the drop keep missing its target which is my eyes, a lot of drops has gone to waste and hence I bought 1 more bottle of Cravit and Pred Forte 1% and 2 more boxes of OptiClear UD as I don’t think they can last me for 1 more week.

1x Bottle of Cravit + 1x Bottle of Pred Forte 1% + 2x Bottles of OptiClear UD = SGD$50.59 (SGD$54.13)

The initial prescription (especially the Cravit and Pred Forte 1%) should be able to last you for one week. But to be safe, I just recommend you get another 2 boxes of the OptiClear UD.

Bathing might be a slight problem. I have to close my eyes and bath. And before opening my eyes, I have to ensure that my face is totally dry! And when I use facial wash, I avoided washing the area around my eyes.

Post-Operation Day 2 (Wednesday, 3rd April 2013)
I started driving on the 2nd day after my operation, night vision is fine for me, but I see halo starburst on traffic lights and street lamps. However, it is still manageable.

The 2 anti-inflammatory drop has been reduced to once every 2 hours.

Post-Operation Day 3 (Thursday, 4th April 2013)
Went back to work even though I cannot stare at the computer screen for long, I make it a point to look away every 30 minutes to take a break. I should have taken the whole week off from work!

The 2 anti-inflammatory drops have been reduced to once every 3 hours.

Post-Operation Day 4-7 (Friday, 5th April 2013 – Monday, 8th April 2013)
The 2 anti-inflammatory drops have been reduced to 4 times daily.

Post-Operation Day 7 (Monday, 8th April 2013)
Went back to get my eyes checked. You will have to go back a total of 3 times. The first time is the next day after your operation, the second time is 1 week after the operation and the last time is 1 month after the operation.

My eyesight is still 6/6 according to the nurse, but the doctor said my eyes are a bit dry and prescribed me the Vidisic Gel SGD$13 (SGD$13.91) and asked me to apply it 4 times daily for the next 3 weeks. I will still have to use the lubricant eye drop every hour for the next 3 weeks as well.

According to the doctor, normal eye drop lubricant, will only last for 10 minutes while the gel based lubricant will last longer (I can’t remember how much longer).

On top of the 2 Vidisic Gel, I also bought 5 more boxes of the OptiClear UD since I have to use it every hour for the next 3 weeks.

5x Boxes of OptiClear UD + 2x Tubes of Vidisic Gel = SGD$91 (SGD$97.37)

Today is the last day that you will need to drip the Cravit and Pred Forte 1% and wear the eye shield!

Post-Operation Day 8 (Tuesday, 9th April 2013)
Your lifestyle should be back to normal (I can finally bath normally), but you will still need to carry on dripping the OptiClear UD every hour for the next 3 weeks.

On top of that, for me, I have to use the Vidisic Gel 4 times daily!

Post-Operation Day 14 (Monday, 15th April 2013)
Don’t think my OptiClear UD can last me another 2 weeks and hence I went back and bought another 11 boxes at one go, bringing the total boxes I bought to 20.

11x Boxes of OptiClear UD = SGD$143 (SGD$153.01)

Post-Operation Week 3/Day 22 (Tuesday, 23th April 2013)
My vision has been fluctuating happening since week 2 and still is, it is more noticeable on my right eye than my left eye. I printed an eye chart and pasted it 3 meters away from my work desk in office and use it to test my eyes everyday.

My dry eyes seems to be getting better and my eyes are not easily tired anymore when staring at my computer screen for long hours (I still try to take a break every hour by looking away for 5 minutes).

Post-Operation Month 1/Day 29 (Tuesday, 30th April 2013)
Went for my 1st month check and sadly, my right eye might have a residue of 50 degree due to the dryness of my eye. This might be due to my eyelid not fully closed when I sleep (Picture). But luckily my left eye is fine.

Dr Lee prescribed me a bunch of additional medication and told me that the 50 degree can be fix if my eyes are moisturised.

There is the Duratears Ointment SGDS$10 (SGD$10.70) which is a thicker lubricant gel to be used before I sleep.

Restasis 0.05% eye drop SGD$75 (SGD$80.25) (which is freaking expensive), to be used when I wake up and before I sleep to aid in the production of tears.

The Tranquil Eye Google SGD$80 (SGD$85.60) which cover my eyes and create an air pocket to prevent the moisture in eyes from evaporating. I think I shall stop sleeping with the air condition switched on for the next month.

I also top up 10 more boxes of OptiClear UD (which I can share it with Li Xiang also) and 2 tubes of Vidisic Gel.

My next month appointment is on 29th May 2013 and this time it will be chargeable since only the first 3 consultations are free.

Spent a bomb for this visit:

LASIK at Shinagawa

• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 1
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 2
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 3

The Samsung Galaxy S4 model available in Singapore is the GT-I9505. It is the LTE variant with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T SoC and Qualcomm Krait 300 processor (1.9 GHz Quad-Core) and NOT the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa SoC with ARM Cortex-A15/ARM Cortex-A7 processor.

Two accessories which will be available at launch and they are the S-View Cover (SGD$78 in black and white) and Flip Cover (SGD$58 in black and white).

Samsung Galaxy S4 Highlights

• Comes in a slimmer yet stronger design featuring the world’s first Full HD SUPER AMOLED display with an ultra sharp pixel density of 441 PPI, to present the best viewing experience for users, making it an ideal device for videos and images
• Capture meaningful moments with a series of enriched and intuitive camera features including the ‘Dual Shot’ function, which allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras for photo-taking, ‘Drama Shot’ which allows you to see all the action in one continuous time-lapse, and ‘Sound & Shot’ which uniquely stores sound and voice together as the picture is taken
• Comes with ‘Smart Pause’ which enables users to control the screen by where they look, especially useful when one is watching a video while on the go
• Enjoy music, play games, share pictures and documents with friends with the ‘Group Play’ function without a Wi-Fi AP or cellular signal. This function also allows users to have the same song playing on multiple phones in sync to create the best party atmosphere. Connect directly to another device for ‘Group Play (Play Games)’ to immerse in competitive or collaborative gaming
• ‘Air Gesture’ helps to bring more convenience to users who can wave their hand to change a music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call

   
Samsung Galaxy S4 (White Frost)

   
Samsung Galaxy S4 (Black Mist)

Samsung Galaxy S4 – Flip Cover

Samsung Galaxy S4 – S View Cover

Samsung Galaxy S4 with LTE Technical Specifications

• Network: [4G: LTE Band 1 (2100 MHz) / Band 3 (1800MHz) / Band 5 (850 MHz) / Band 7 (2600 MHz) / Band 8 (900 MHz) / Band 20 (800 MHz)] [3G: 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz] [GSM & EDGE Band: Quad Band (850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz)]
• Display: 5 inch Full HD SUPER AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display, 441 ppi
• Processor: 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Memory: 16GB User memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB)
• RAM: 2GB
• OS: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Camera Main(Rear): 13 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with LED Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
• Camera Sub (Front): 2 Mega pixel camera, Full HD recording @ 30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
• Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
• Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X
• Camera Features: Dual Shot: Dual Recording, Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Night, Best Photo, Best Face,Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports
• Samsung Features:
  • Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Document, Play Games
  • Story Album, S Translator, Optical Reader
  • Smart Scroll, Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View
  • Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling)
  • WatchON
  • S Travel (Trip Advisor), S VoiceDrive, S Health
  • Adapt Display, Adapt Sound
  • Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly)
  • Safety Assistance, Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring
  • Samsung KNOX (B2B only)
• Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80), GPS / GLONASS, NFC, BluetoothTM 4.0 (LE), IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
• Sensor: Accelerometer, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Gesture
• Dimension: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, 130g
• Battery: 2,600 mAh

Before The Day of Operation
You should not wear soft contact lenses for 3 days, soft toric contact lenses for 7 days and hard (rigid gas permeable) lenses for 14 days before the operation date.

For ladies, you need to cleanup all eye makeup thoroughly 4 days before the operation date. No eye makeup (eye liner, mascara, eye lash extension, and other foreign materials used on the eyelid) as well for 4 days before the operation date.

LASIK Operation (Monday, 1st April 2013)
I have my LASIK operation on Monday, 1st April 2013 (not an April’s Fool joke). My appointment time is 9.15am but I need to come 15 minutes earlier to do the registration.

You are advised not to drive (duh) and it is better to get someone to accompany you because you will have hazy vision after the operation. Please also bring along sunglasses, as your eyes will be sensitive to sunlight after the operation.

You need to come with a bare face, meaning for ladies no makeup, skincare and no perfume on your body. The operating theater might be slightly cold, so wear a jacket.

Once you have registered, you will be asked to make payment. After payment, you will need to sign 1 form (2 forms in my case because of LASIK Xtra), which basically acknowledges that you know the risk and side effects of the LASIK operation. Similar to an indemnity form.

Once that is done, your name will be called and you will be ushered into the preparation area where they will test your blood pressure and you have to take 1 sleeping pill for relaxation. Your eyes will be numbed as well with numbing drops.

Once all the effects has taken place, you will be brought into the operating area where you have to remove your shoes and wear the provided slippers and put on a patient gown over your current clothing.

While waiting for the doctor to arrive, numbing drops will be used on your eyes again; by now your eyes will be so heavy that it is very difficult to open. The doctors arrived and will do 1 last check to your eyes. If everything is good, you will be brought to the 1st operating room where the flap will be created.

After you lay down on the operating bed, the doctor will put a suction cup on your eye to hold it in place. Your eyes will be too numb to feel anything.

It takes 17 seconds to create a flap for each eye. There is no pain and you can’t see anything while the flap is being created (unlike the LASIK procedure). You will hear the nurse in the background counting down.

Once the flaps have being created, you will be brought back out to the operating area. You can still open your eyes and blink, as the flaps are not opened yet. In fact you are supposed to blink for 30 minutes for the bubble under your flap to disappear before you can have your LASIK.

The doctor will do one last check to ensure that the bubbles are gone before ushering you to the LASIK operating room. Same thing happens here, the suction cup will be placed on your eye to hold them in place.

It takes 25 seconds to correct each eye and there is no pain. You will only smell a pretty strong burning smell because after all there is a laser burning your cornea tissues. The nurse in the background will be counting down as usual.

Because of my LASIK Xtra, my procedure is slightly different from the rest. After my cornea has been reshaped, VibeX is applied for 1 minute to the surface of my cornea. The flap is then replaced and the VibeX is thoroughly washed off the eye. The Avedro KXL system is then positioned over the cornea and ultraviolet light is shone onto the cornea for 90 seconds.

For the rest who does not need the LASIK Xtra, your flap will be replaced and you have to stay put for about 3 minutes for the flap to stick firmly and minimise the chance for flap slippage later.

After the operation, you will be taken back outside to the preparation area to rest for 30 minutes. They will also pass you all your medication and teach your how to apply them.

Basically you will get the following:

• 1x Bottle of Cravit (for anti-inflammatory)
• 1x Bottle of Pred Forte 1% (for anti-inflammatory)
• 2x Boxes of OptiClear UD (for lubricant)
• 2x Eye shield
• 1x Surgical tape
• 5x Lorazepam 0.5mg (sleeping pill)
• MC (if you requested)

By now, you should have about 75% clarity of your vision back and please return home to rest immediately! I spend about 90 minutes in the clinic on that day, came at 9am and left at about 10.30am.

You are supposed to keep your eyes closed as much as possible on the first day and hence I went home and took a nap, but woke up every hour to put the 3 eye drops. You need to put them at a 5-minute interval.

For the next 1-week, you are not supposed to rub your eyes, put on makeup (for the ladies) or let water, soap or shampoo into the eye.

Also before you sleep at night for the first week, you need to wear your eye shield, to prevent accidental rubbing of your eyes when you are dreaming!

In total, I paid SGD$4,219.64 for the package and that includes the following:

Because I opted for 12 months interest free installment, I will be paying SGD$351.71 for the first month and SGD$351.63 for the next subsequent 11 months.

LASIK at Shinagawa

• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 1
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 2
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 3

The official retail price is SGD$189.90. So far, I only saw it being sold at Challenger (Funan), EpiCentre and infinite stores. I think give it some time and it will be selling at all Challenger branches.

I totally recommend getting it from Challenger, because if you are a member, you will get 10% discount and hence after the discount, it only cost you SGD$170.91, which is the cheapest price you can get in Singapore.

Many people are comparing the Jawbone UP with the Nike+ FuelBand, let me tabulate some of the difference down (feel free to add on to it by suggesting it in the comments):

One thing I really like about Jawbone UP is the really well designed and gorgeous UI on the iOS app, the Nike+ FuelBand iOS app is pale in comparison. I did not use it to keep track of my food intake because the choices of food is limited and I could not find any local (Singapore) food in it.

Jawbone UP – Box Front

Jawbone UP – Box Back

Jawbone UP – Box Contents

Jawbone UP – Charging Cable

Jawbone UP

Jawbone UP – Cap Off

Jawbone UP – Plugged Into iPhone 5

Jawbone UP iOS App

Jawbone UP iOS App

Jawbone UP iOS App

Jawbone UP iOS App

Public Talk on LASIK (Friday, 8th March 2013)
I attended the talk by Dr Lee Sao Bing on Friday, 8th March 2013 at Shinagawa LASIK & Eye Centre, which is located at 501 Orchard Road, #05-01, Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880. The talk is normally in the evening at about 7pm and will last till about 8.30pm.

Dr Lee Sao Bing

If you are thinking of doing LASIK, I totally recommend you to attend the talk because at the end of the talk, there will be discount given to the LASIK operation. For the talk I attended, the discount given was for IntraLase Wavefront LASIK (both eyes) using the Schwind Amaris 750S Laser. The normal price is SGD$3,888 (SGD$4,160.16) and the discounted price is SGD$3,488 (SGD$3,732.16).

For some reasons, all prices quoted by Shinagawa DOES NOT include the 7% GST, so for the purpose of this blog post, the price stated in the bracket is the price with 7% GST.

Actually, I have no intention of doing LASIK after watching the procedure on YouTube. They all look scary. But trust me, it is not as scary as it looks.

Do note that, you need to have the operation latest 1 month after the talk in order to get the discount. If you can’t make it within the time frame, don’t worry, wait for the next talk. On average, they have a talk once a month by either of the two doctors (Dr Lee Sao Bing or Dr Jovina See).

After the talk, you will get to book your first appointment, which is the pre-LASIK assessment. I recommend immediately proceed to the counter to book your appointment after the talk ended. You do not want to be the last few ones because most of the timeslots will be gone (especially Saturday if you are working). And also you need to take note of the 1-month constraint mentioned earlier. It is 1 month after the talk and not 1 month after your pre-LASIK assessment.

After you have secured your appointment, then walk back to clarify any questions you have with the doctor, he or she will still be around.

Pre-LASIK Assessment (Saturday, 23th March 2013)
I booked my pre-LASIK assessment on Saturday, 23th March 2013 (2 weeks after the talk). As you can see, I am the last few people who booked the appointment, so I hope no one will be in my shoes after reading this blog post.

The Pre-LASIK assessment will take about 2 hours and you are recommended not to drive because they will dilate your pupil and your vision will get blurry for the next 5 to 6 hours. In Addition, your eyes will be very sensitive to light because of the dilation. So bring along a sunglass if you have one.

The check is pretty detailed and each check is if no particular order as it depends on the availability of the room and the machines.

They will do the following check:

• Visual Acuity Test
• Computerized Visual Test
• Subjective Refraction (Spectacle Power)
• Pupil Size Measurement
• Topography (Corneal Map)

After the above checks are done, your pupil will get dilated and you will be brought to a room where you will have to watch 3 videos each lasting about 8-10 minutes about LASIK. This is to give your eyes some time to react to the dilation.

You will see the doctor after watching the 3 videos and he will advise you what type of LASIK can be done depending on your corneal thickness and your degree of shortsightedness (doesn’t mean you are suitable for the most expensive one).

After your consultation with the doctor, you will be brought back to the waiting area where you have about 10 minutes to think whether you are going ahead to spend SGD$3K to SGD$4K for the LASIK operation. I am guessing most people have no time to think it through and just go ahead with the operation because of impulsion (like me).

They accept up to 12 months 0% interest free installment for a few credit cards. For me, I used my Citibank Credit Card.

After booking my LASIK operation appointment, they brought me to do one last round of tests, which are:

• Cyclo Refraction (spectacle power with dilated pupils)
• Pachymetry (Corneal Thickness Check)
• Tonometry (Eye Pressure Check)

And basically after that, you are free to return home! Remember to wear your sunglasses before going out because your eyes will be very sensitive to sunlight.

Based on the doctor’s recommendation, he recommended me to do the IntraLase Wavefront LASIK (for both eyes) using the Wavelight Allegretto Laser which cost SGD$2,888 (SGD$3,090.16) and top up SGD$1,000 (SGD$1,070) for LASIK Xtra as my cornea is slightly below average.

The reason he opted me to use Wavelight Allegretto Laser instead of the more expensive Schwind Amaris 750S Laser is because the later burn more tissues and is not suitable for people with thin cornea.

The LASIK Xtra is an addition to the normal LASIK procedure, which seeks to minimize the weakening effects of LASIK on the cornea by strengthening it with cross-linking treatment. After your cornea has been reshaped during a LASIK procedure, a small amount of vitamin B2 called VibeX is applied for 1 minute to the surface of your cornea. The LASIK flap is then replaced and the VibeX is thoroughly washed off the eye. The Avedro KXL system is then positioned over the cornea and ultraviolet light is shone onto the cornea for 90 seconds.

My degree is about 800 with 150 astigmatism on the left eye and 725 with 100 astigmatism on the right eye.

LASIK at Shinagawa

• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 1
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 2
• LASIK at Shinagawa – Part 3

CP900 – Box

CP900 – Partial Box Contents

CP900

CP900 – Ink Cartridge Slot

CP900 – Direct To Computer / Direct To Camera (PictBridge)

CP900 – Memory Card Slot + Photo Paper Tray

Wireless Printing
Apart from wireless printing, it also supports printing from USB Flash Drive, Memory Cards, Direct to camera via PictBridge and Direct to Computer via USB. For this short review, I will only be reviewing wireless printing using Canon’s EasyPhoto Print app.

There are 2 modes that CP900 supports, Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Infrastructure basically connects your CP900 to your wireless network and any iOS and Android devices connected to the same network will be able to print. For Ad-Hoc, the CP900 will create a wireless network and the respective iOS or Android device have to connect to the ad-hoc network to print.

Photo Paper Types
There are two photo paper types that canon supports, 4R and Credit Card Size. Pricing as follows:

• (KP108IN) 4R Size Paper + Ink Cartridge (108 Sheets) – SGD$37.90
• (KP36IP) 4R Size Paper + Ink Cartridge (36 Sheets) – SGD$15.90
• (KC18IL) 8 Mini-Stickers Label in One Credit Card Size Sheet + Ink Cartridge (18 Sheets) – SGD$15.90
• (KC18IF) Credit Card Full Size Sticker Label + Ink Cartridge (18 Sheets) – SGD$15.90
• (KC36IP) Credit Card Size Paper + Ink Cartridge (36 Sheets) – SGD$15.90

For printing credit card size photo papers/stickers, you will need the Credit Card Paper Cassette (PCC-CP400) which is retailing for SGD$xxx.

Based on the pricing above, a 4R photo works out to be about SGD$0.35 per piece (108/SGD$37.90) while the credit card size photo works out to be SGD$0.44 (36/SGD$15.90) per piece.

Setting Up CP900
Out of the box, to get the CP900 working, you will just need to setup two things, connecting to your wireless network and the printer name.

CP900 – Settings Menu

I find pressing on the buttons on the CP900 not very responsive, I have to press the button hard for the CP900 to register it, perhaps my review unit is slightly abused.

CP900 – Connecting To Wireless Network

Connecting to the Wireless Network involves going through 6 screens.

Settings -> Wireless Settings -> Infrastructure -> Search For Access Point -> Select Access Point -> Enter WPA Key

CP900 – Set Printer Name

I have no idea, why setting the printer name is under Wireless Settings! Setting up the printer name took me through 5 screens.

Settings -> Wireless Settings -> Other Settings -> Set Printer name -> Enter Printer Name

I think Canon’s need to reorganize the settings, it can be better.

Printing Using EasyPhoto Print App On iOS
You can download the EasyPhoto Print app on iOS (iEPP) from the App Store.

Printing from the iEPP App is pretty straight forward, upon launching the app, select the photo you want to print and on the next screen choose the printer you want to print from and tap on Print. It takes about 1 minute to print one 4R photo.

CP900 – EasyPhoto Print App On iOS

CP900 – EasyPhoto Print App On iOS

If the printer is currently printing another photo, you will see the busy screen. Just leave it alone and once the previous photo has finished printing, your photo will automatically gets printed.

CP900 – EasyPhoto Print App On iOS

CP900 – Printed

If you look at the photo above, it is the 2nd time I printed that same photo. The first time I printed it, there is a green strip overlaying on the bottom of the photo after it was printed (like some sort of glitch). I have no idea how that happens. After printing more photos, they all turn out fine.

Summary
Personally, I don’t print much photos, I prefer to keep the digital copies instead. For those who loves to print photos for scrapbooking purposes or just to keep it for memories, I would totally recommend the CP900. Priced at SGD$199 and each printed 4R photo cost only SGD$0.35, it is pretty reasonable. If you were to print it outside, the average cost for a 4R photo is about SGD$0.50.

Pros:

• Each printed 4R photo is priced at SGD$0.35 which is reasonable
• Easy and straightforward to setup
• Able to print photos directly from iPhone/iPad/Android devices using EasyPhoto Print app

Cons:

• The placement of certain settings is confusing
• Printing glitch may happen

ESET Smart Security 6 has received the Windows 8 Certification and will bear the “Windows 8 Compatible” logo.

ESET Social Media Scanner

ESET Social Media Scanner protects social media users from malicious content, including their profile, wall, newsfeed and private messages, even when the user is not logged in. If an infection is found, a notification arrives by email, so that immediate action can be taken. The app also helps the user’s friends stay a safe distance from malicious content, checking their walls for potentially dangerous links.

Anti-Theft

The Anti-Theft feature helps locate missing notebooks and makes it possible to monitor activity on lost or stolen devices, while the introduction of a dedicated Anti-Phishing module offers complex protection against digital identity theft.

Features

• Anti-Theft – Automatically monitors a missing device and displays its position on a map based on visible Wi-Fi networks in range when it comes online.
• Anti-Phishing Module – Protects the user from attempts to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords or banking and credit card details by fake websites masquerading as trustworthy ones.
• Personal Firewall – Prevents unauthorized users accessing the computer and taking advantage of personal data. The users can go online without worries to shop, bank and use social media.
• Parental Control – Helps keep kids safe on the Internet with categories of sites to block depending on age.
• Idle-State Scanning – Performs in-depth scans when the computer is not used, aiding system performance and detecting potential inactive threats before they can cause any damage.
• ESET Social Media Scanner – it protects the social media user and their friends from malicious content, including profile, the wall, newsfeed and private messages.
• Antivirus and Antispyware – Provides proactive protection against all types of online/offline threats and prevents malware spreading to other users.
• Cloud-powered Scanning – Speeds up scans by whitelisting safe files based on ESET’s file reputation database.
• Scan While Downloading Files – Decreases access time to downloaded files by scanning them already during the download process

Retail Prices

• 1 User, 1 Year – SGD$39
• 1 User, 3 Years – SGD$78
• 2 Users, 1 Year – SGD$49
• 2 Users, 3 Years – SGD$98
• 3 Users, 1 Year – SGD$59
• 3 Users, 3 Years – SGD$118
• 5 Users, 1 Year – SGD$120
• 5 Users, 3 Years – SGD$240
• 10 Users, 1 Year – SGD$240
• 10 Users, 3 Years – SGD$480

ESET Smart Security 6 – Box Front

ESET Smart Security 6 – Box Back

ESET Smart Security 6 – Box Contents

Giveaway
Version-2 (the distributor of ESET products in Singapore) is now having ESET Smart Security 6 giveaway at www.eset.sg/ess60days/2013/.

Exclusive to my readers, Version-2 will be giving away 3 copies of ESET Smart Security 6 (1-User, 1-Year) worth SGD$119 to 3 lucky winners. To participate please quote “Lesterchan” under “Special Code” in the registration.

Upon registration you will also get a 60-Day license that stand a chance to win SGD$50 Gift Vouchers weekly from Fairprice / CapitaMall / Starbucks / Cathay / EpiCentre.

This giveaway will runs from Friday, 12th April 2013 to Friday, 17th May 2013.

The winners will be announced on Friday, 17th May 2013 and contacted via SMS and Email.

For the HTC One (Glacier Silver 64GB) and HTC One (Stealth Black 32GB/64GB), it will be available from May 2013.

HTC One 32GB will be retailing for SGD$968 while the HTC One 64GB will be retailing for SGD$1,068.

HTC One (Glacier Silver)

HTC One (Stealth Black)

Technical Specifications

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.7GHz, Quad-core
• Platform: HTC BlinkFeed with HTC Sense 5 & Android Jelly Bean
• SIM Card: Micro SIM
• RAM: 2GB DDR2 RAM
• Storage: 32GB or 64GB with 25GB Dropbox (free for 2 years)
• Size (Length x Width x Thickness): 137.4 x 68.2 x 9 mm
• Weight: 130 grams with battery
• Display: 4.7″ 1080p Full HD super LCD 3 touch screen, 1080 x 1920 pixels (468 PPI), Corning Gorilla Glass 2
• Battery: Embedded rechargeable battery with capacity of 2300 mAh
• BoomSound
  • Beats Audio
  • Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
  • Studio-quality sound with Beats Audio
  • HDR Microphone
  • Sense Voice
• Network
  • HSPA/UMTS Quad Band: 850/2100 MHz
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad Band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • LTE: 1800/2600 MHz
• Connectivity
  • 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
  • NFC capable
  • Compliant with Bluetooth 4.0
  • Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX enabled
  • Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n
  • DLNA for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer
  • Support consumer infrared remote control
  • micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection
• HTC UltraPixel Camera
  • BSI sensor, Pixel size 2.0 µm, Sensor size 1/3′
  • Dedicated HTC ImageChip 2
  • f2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
  • Smart Flash: Five levels of flash automatically set by distance to subject
  • Front Camera: 88 wide angle lens with HDR capability
  • 1080p Full HD video recording for both front and back cameras HDR Video
  • Continuous shooting and VideoPic
  • Slow motion video recording with variable speed playback
  • HTC Zoe with highlights and HTC Zoe Share
  • Retouch with Object Removal, Always Smile, and Sequence Shot

As I was the early backer, I am entitled to get the Flybridge for just USD$10 and hence I bought two and shipping is an additional USD$10. In total I paid USD$30 (SGD$37.20). Flybridge shipped on 28th February 2013 and I received it on 27th March 2013.

I think Flybridge is the first Kickstarter project that I backed that was not delayed. Normally Kickstarter projects has an average delay of 1 to 3 months.

Flybridge is an adapter that convert your existing iPhone/iPad devices equipped with the old 30 Pin dock to the new Lightning connector.

Because it is just an adapter, you will need to pair it with the Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (SGD$42) from Apple to make full use of it.

Flybridge is compatible with most if not all 3rd party docks, I am using the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2 as my alarm clock dock and it is compatible with it as well.

It also works fine with my Apple Universal Dock (SGD$84).

Flybridge – Black & White

Flybridge – Front View

Flybridge – Back View

Flybridge – Side View

Flybridge – Bottom View

Flybridge – With Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (Bottom View)

Flybridge (Black) – With Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (Top View)

Flybridge (White) – With Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (Top View)

Flybridge – Compatible With The Sony ICF-C1iPMK2

Flybridge – Compatible With The Sony ICF-C1iPMK2

Flybridge – Compatible With The Apple Universal Dock

Flybridge – Compatible With The Apple Universal Dock

If you are getting a Microsoft Surface RT on that day, you will receive a SGD$100 Challenger voucher and a 10,400 mAh Valore Powerbank worth SGD$109 (while stocks last).

Do note that the Microsoft Surface RT will only be available at Challenger Funan on that day, and at 19 Challenger outlets from Saturday, 6th April 2013.

Surface RT Pricing

• 32GB: SGD$668
• 32GB + Touch Cover: SGD$798
• 64GB: SGD$798
• 64GB + Touch Cover: SGD$938
• For Challenger members only: 64GB Surface RT + Touch Cover: SGD$928

Accessories Pricing

• Touch Cover (Black, White, Cyan): SGD$168
• Type Cover (Black): SGD$183
• Wedge Touch Mouse Limited Edition Surface Model: SGD$89
• 24W Power Supply: SGD$58
• VGA Adapter for Surface RT: SGD$58
• HD Digital AV Adapter for Surface RT: SGD$58

Microsoft Surface Tablet

Technical Specifications

• Operating System: Windows RT; Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote). Works exclusively with apps available in the Windows Store.
• Exterior: 27.5 cm X 17.2 cm X 9.4mm, 680g, VaporMg casing, Dark Titanium color, Volume and power buttons
• Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB
• Display: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display, 1366×768 pixels, 16:9 (widescreen), Five-point multitouch
• CPU: Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, 2 GB of RAM
• Wireless: Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 technology
• Battery:31.5 W-h
• Cameras and A/V: Two 720p HD LifeCams, front- and rear-facing, Two microphones, Stereo speakers
• Ports: Full-size USB 2.0, microSDXC card slot, Headset jack, HD video out port, Cover port
• Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass
• Power Supply: 24W power supply
• Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty
• Apps (included): Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote); Windows Mail and Messaging; SkyDrive; Internet Explorer 10; Bing; Xbox Games

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags is just another brand of NFC tags, just like the NFC Tags by Tapway which I reviewed back in November 2012.

Personally, I prefer the quality of the Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags. It is smaller, thinner and the sticker quality is better.

What is Samsung TecTile?

Samsung TecTile is an app which lets you read and write TecTile NFC tags. You can create TecTiles to change settings on your phone, launch applications, check-in to places, update social status, or even make phone calls or send text messages automatically. Once you create a TecTile using the TecTile app, place the Tile in a convenient place, then tap your phone to the TecTile to perform the actions stored in the TecTile.

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Packaging Front View

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Packaging Back View

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Packaging Inside View

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Front View

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Back View

Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags – Compare With NFC Tags By Tapway

In terms of features and usability, Tagstand’s NFC Task Launcher is far more superior than Samsung’s TecTiles App. For example, if you are going to check-in to a specific location in foursquare, there is no way to search for the location.

Also, because there is no authentication between Samsung TecTiles app and Foursquare, upon executing the Foursquare’s task, the Foursquare app will be launch and you will have to manually press the “check-in” button in the Foursquare app itself.

There is also the history and statistics feature which is present in Tagstand’s NFC Task Launcher, but is missing from the Samsung TecTiles app.

Tagstand’s NFC Task Launcher allows you to assign 2 tasks to a mode/profile and this allows you to toggle between them each time an NFC tag is tapped. This feature is also missing from the Samsung TecTiles app.

I am happy to say that Tagstand’s NFC Task Launcher DO WORK with Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags, so you need not use the official Samsung TecTiles app to read and write the NFC tags.

Samsung TecTiles App

Samsung TecTiles App

Samsung TecTiles App

Samsung TecTiles App

Samsung TecTiles App

Samsung TecTiles App