ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Launched!

Showcase sets at the launch event
Showcase sets at the launch event

I attended the launch event for the Asus Eee Pad Transformer in Singapore a few weeks back.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is now available in major electronic and IT stores in Singapore. The recommended retail prices by Asus are:

·         Eee Pad + docking Station – SGD$799
·         Eee Pad (without docking) – SGD $699
·         Docking station only – SGD $199

It make more sense to buy the Eee Pad with the docking station, price-wise as well as functionality-wise. I like the fact that the Eee Pad is sort of a cross between a tablet (Eee Pad alone) and netbook (Eee Pad on the docking station). Moreoever, the prices offered by Asus is extremely competitive compared to similar products in the market.

A few of my friends had even pre-ordered the Eee Pad prior to the launch and are now singing praises of the product, recommending me to get one as well (Fyi, all 100 pre-order units were snapped up within three hours, with 3 units sold in every 5 minutes). I figured I will wait for the launch of their 3G version which is slated to be in June this year.

Live demonstration
Live demonstration
Functioning as a netbook
Functioning as a netbook
Detached pad
Detached pad

More about the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer:

Power-packed entertainment on-the-go

A true entertainment device, the Eee Pad Transformer provides a cinematic experience wherever you are. Powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 dual-core processor, it allows browsing at lightning fast speeds giving users a quicker response time and better performance. Its IPS panel, made from a durable, scratch-resistant glass that is viewable at angles of up to 178 degrees, and producers a crisper and more accurate colour range by up to 50% compared to other tablets in the market. The built-in SRS Sound technology provides users with a 3D stereo audio experience with maximum bass response and a wide sound field from its discrete speakers housed in the 12.98mm thick frame that weighs only 680g. The Transformer comes with a 5MP rear and 1.2MP front facing camera that can shoot and record videos which can be played back in video on HDTVs via a mini HDMI output port.

A pad or a notebook – you make the call

Setting the stage for a new generation of tablets, the Eee Pad Transformer comes with an optional QWERTY keyboard docking station along with unique Android Function keys, transforming the pad into a full-fledged notebook. Preloaded on the Transformer is Polaris® Office® 3.0, a professional Mobile Office Solution which enables users to edit various types of office documents including documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls) and presentation (.ppt) files, turning the Transformer into a mobile warrior at work. The Transformer turns into a versatile media hub with a touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability. The docking station also extends the otherwise 9.5 hours* of battery life to 16 hours*.

Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS with ASUS Waveshare UI

Google’s Android Honeycomb is a revolutionary operating system specially designed and optimized for tablets which enables users a full web experience for on-the-go web browsing, communicating and casual computing. Supporting Adobe® Flash® 10.2**, users await stunning and rich entertainment experiences. The convenient ASUS launcher makes launching software, managing content, accessing online services and connecting devices easy at a tap of a finger. Together with the ASUS’ Waveshare Interface, the Transformer hosts a variety of unique applications such as MyNet, MyLibrary, MyCloud, and more. MyNet wirelessly steams digital media within home network devices so HD videos or music can be played on such devices such as a HDTV, or desktop PCs from the Eee Pad Transformer. MyLibrary is a one-stop solution to browsing the profiles of downloaded books, magazines and newspapers. MyCloud provides easy access to digital content such as music, videos and files from the cloud anywhere, anytime. Users can also use MyCloud to remotely access and control any PC or Mac system, applications and files, extending the versatility of the Eee Pad Transformer experience.

*9.5 and 16 hour battery life estimated under certain conditions.
**Adobe® Flash® 10.2 support requires an upgrade available online.
Eee Pad Transformer EP101 (TF101-16) specifications:

CPU:
Nvidia Tegra TM 2 Dual-Core ARM Cortex A9 (1.0GHz)

OS:
Android Honeycomb 3.0

Display:
10.1” WXGA (1280×800) IPS with capacitive touch

Graphics:
ULP GeForce GPU

Memory & Storage:
1GB LPDDR2 (667MHz) + 16GB eMMC Flash + ASUS WebStorage

Connectivity:
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Camera:
1.2 Mega pixels (Front); 5 Mega Pixels Auto-Focus (Back)

Pad Interface:
1x Mini HDMI, 1x MicroSD Expansion Slot, 1x Audio jack, 1x Docking/Charging Connector Port

Docking Interface:
2x USB, 1x SD Card Reader, 1x Charging Connector Port

Audio:
Hi-Definition Audio CODEC, Stereo speaker, Microphone

Video:
1080p HD Video playback

Battery life:
Up to 16 hours* (With docking station)

Features:
Built-in GPS

Warranty:
1 year international warranty (Eee Pad)
6-months international warranty (Docking station)

About ASUS

ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best-selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktops, Eee Box and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, tablet devices, servers, multimedia and wireless solutions, networking devices, and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,398 awards in 2010, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company’s revenue for 2010 was around US$10.1 billion.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Advertisement

Singapore Arts Festival 2011: HERstory 她的故事

HERstory/ Black Peony
HERstory/ Black Peony

Yesterday noon, Rachel and I watched HERstory 她的故事, Dramabox’s latest theatre production, commissioned for Singapore Arts Festival 2011.

The Singapore Arts Festival 2011 theme this year is “I Want to Remember “. The festival seeks to reconnect with you through memories, histories and places long forgotten. Told through sights and sounds, I Want to Remember “engages in a past that redefines the way we look at the present even as we race toward the future”. More information and program line-ups are available on the official Singapore Arts Festival website.

Back to HERstory, both Rachel and I enjoyed the production very much. On the macro level, HERstory gives voice to the losing Barisan Socialist (社会主义阵线) faction during Singapore’s fight for independence from colonial rule in Malayan history. On the micro level, it is a moving story about a mother’s love and playwright Otto Fong‘s experience growing up as the son of Barisan Socialist member, Fong Swee Suan.

Rachel reading the production booklet
Rachel reading the production booklet
Quite a lot of people turned up for the show
Quite a lot of people turned up for the show

Synopsis:

While history often celebrates men, HERstory is a tribute to Singapore’s forgotten women in the 50s and 60s. Inspired by the women of that generation, Otto Fong tells the story of a tenacious woman with an unfulfilled dream. 

She was a young girl with a beautiful voice and a love for singing. Embroiled in the politics of that era, this young woman was forced to give up the chance to pursue her love in choral singing, while struggling to keep her family together during the years of turmoil. When the 21st century arrived and she thought she could finally lead a normal life, she found herself in the thick of a changing world, along with changing values, ethos and beliefs. 

HERstory is directed by Kok Heng Leun, Artistic Director of Drama Box, one of Singapore’s most prominent contemporary Mandarin theatre companies. Drama Box has a reputation of having an acutely sensitive understanding of social issues, while being committed to heightening civic responsibility and social awareness in a manner that is both entertaining and reflective. 

Expect an insightful and honest tribute to the unsung heroines of Singapore.

History is written by the victor in a war or political battle. The PAP won the political battle in post-independence Singapore and very much dictate the “official” version of Singapore’s history during our tumultuous years in the 50s and 60s.

There are limited historical records or literature of the losing Barisan Socialist faction. Who are these people? Why did  they enter politics? What were their lives like off the political stage?

A production like HERstory is important to help patch this gap. These discourses are part of Singapore’s history too and our future generations should keep an open mind to history, beyond just reading MM Lee’s multiple memoirs and books.

Key cast and crew of HERstory
Key cast and crew of HERstory

There’s another two screening today (29 May) at 3pm and 8pm. Do catch it if you are interested in an alternative history of Singapore. I am quite sure you will be able to take away something valuable after viewing HERstory, whether at the macro intellectual level or micro emotional heartstring level. I did. 🙂

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,