I hope to also take this opportunity to plan for the future ahead. I want to start my 28th year with a big bang! Yap! Will be 28th in a couple of weeks time! Old already!! 2 more years and I’ll hit my next big 0!

I’ve got a lot of backlog to post but all will have to wait till I’m back! For now, I’ve got a video to share… see how clear the videos are on AMOLED! Beau-ti-ful!

Check out this Jet! Video taken with Canon IXUS 110IS. Am liking the HD video recording and its compact size! Bringing it with me for my trip! Foresee taking more videos than photos over the next four days!

Adios! for now. Be back on Friday!

So what have I got in store for this issue of Claud talks Gadgets?

• A cool MP3 player
• Latest TVs
• Get a second screen for your lappy!
• A bad ass but very portable DSLR
• Many phones!
• And new macbook pro + iPhone 3GS

Let’s find out… keep scrolling after the fold.

Starting off is my second third ‘bestfriend’ that I cannot leave without, especially for long rides on public transport. It’s green, very portable, wireless, super sound quality and very long lasting gadget I’m going to talk about is my Sony W-series Walkman NWZ-W202 MP3 Player.

Ever since I collected mine from Sony Showroom, I cannot leave home without it. My previous MP3 player was a green creative stone which I got tired of charging and having to spin the yellowing earpiece wire around the tiny thing. Now with the Sony W-series Walkman, I do not have to worry about charging (not so often) nor distracting wires! Freedom to jog in the gym, freedom to board/ alight train and freedom to move without having a dangling wire! The battery life for this is amazing too! I can listen to it throughout 4-days of commuting and still there’s battery to last. I charge it like once a week only.

Next up is something I wish to own but can never afford to! (Cause I would buy a macbook pro if I have that sum of money. I can live without TV for a few months but I cannot live without my lappie even for a day!) So yes, its a super sexy and amazing TV! The Samsung LED TVs was launched not too long ago and I’ve had 4 good hours with 3 amazing LED TVs when they had their movie night.

The image quality is amazing! The 5 LED Tv displayed at Samsung flagship store at Vivo City will sure to capture anyone’s attention when you enter the store. The paintings come to live and will blow your mind away! LED TVs though expensive, it consumes lesser power than the normal LCD TVs and the Samsung LED TVs come pack with amazing features such as the content library where everyone in the family can enjoy some entertainment or transform the TV to a digital art piece when you have guests over for dinner.

If you don’t believe that these LED TVs is so damn good, go check them out at Samsung Vivo City lah!

Samsung Lapfit Wide LCD Monitor (LD190)

The recent WWDC made me regret not getting an extra display for myself! I wanted to catch the live updates on Gizmodo and join in a chat on tokbox. But can’t keep up to the happenings on my mini 13″ macbook screen! If I had an extra display than, I would have done all that! *sadness*

And than Samsung came along and offered a review unit of their latest Samsung lapfit wide screen LCD monitor! And I am a damn happy woman! I can see my work stuff in full screen mode, and have other happening updates going on in the extra display! Hope they’ll give a super duper discount to buy in this review unit after the testing period. I want to keep it!

If you are having the same problem as me, working on a lappy and needing more screen space, head on down to PC Show today, tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday! Bring along the coupon below… Get Samsung Lapfit LD190 at PC Show 2009 and get free Takashimaya vouchers! Just print out the below coupon and show it before payment. And if you bring a friend along to buy, you and your friend gets an extra $10 voucher! Shiokness lah!

What are you waiting for? *Promotion only available at PC Show hor!

More about the lapfit can be found at Lester’s blog and DK’s blog.

Done with the non-photographying gadgets, next few that’s coming up all have got photography linked to them. Yes! Claudia simply loves taking photos! My fingers have been happy snapping away during my recent trip to Bangkok with a light and another amazing devices!

Yes! Its the one that I would like to swap my Nikon D40 with! Its the Canon 500D DSLR. When I first held the prototype at the Canon blogger event, I knew I’ve got to give this a test drive! And I did! And I regretted doing it! Cause now I’ve got to save money to buy it! BUT!! When I finally got the money to, Canon’s going to release another better one!! The frustration of the fast paced technology advancement!

Some shots taken with Canon 500D. Click to view larger image.

More photos can be found here.

Samsung BeatDJ mobile phone

This phone is for those who loves mixing their own ringtones and blasting your favorite music out loud! The sound quality from the Samsung BeatDJ is amazing for a mobile phone. Powered by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers, people around you might appreciate more when you start blasting in public. I strongly do not recommend you to do that though. Keep the blasting and showing off this cool phone among your peers when you’re at your private party or home.

Samsung BeatDJ phone is now available in the market.

More reviews of the Samsung BeatDJ phone can be found at:

• Tech65′s blog
• Joseph’s blog
• The Lilttle Match Girl’s blog

Nokia N97

My new found love that I cannot leave home without! After surviving two days with it at ad:tech Singapore, I think I have found my iPhone replacement! It fits (almost) perfectly to my current lifestyle and needs, both for work and for play! I’ve got much to share about this nifty gadget. More detailed review will come soon!

Some shots taken with the Nokia N97. Click on photo for bigger view.

The LG Viewty Smart phone

I don’t know how I should put this phone. I’m using it more like a standby camera rather than a phone. Cause I’ve got too many phones now! Seven to be exact!

I’m not commenting much about the performance of the Viewty Smart as a phone since I’ve got few much better ones, but I have to comment that their camera is not bad. Capture speed wise not as fast as the Nokia N97 nor my Samsung Innov8, but the quality of it with low ISO setting is pretty good. Than there’s the “Beauty shot” and “Art Shot (cool)” which I dig! Just look at this shot of pretty molemole! Makes her even more pretty lah!

Some shots taken with the LG Viewty Smart phone. Click on photo for bigger view.

Nothing much I can say about this phone for now. But do watch for a review of it later in the month. You can find this at PC Show yet, launching only next week at CommunicAsia. Which I can’t make it! *sulks*. Will be out of town next week.

And finally! I want one of these two below to be my birthday present! *hint-hint* Yes! I want one of those “Most affordable lineup ever”!

Announced few nights ago on WWDC09, the new Macbook Pro and iPhone 3GS. I don’t think I need to say much about them lah! Google for more information! Or you can bing it! *coughs*

Its been long long ago since I did a ezine for Claud talks Gadgets. Running an ezine on a personal blog is really not easy! If you’re doing it too, I’m sure you know the pain. I really must salute to Sheylara for her weekly Gamer Girl Friday!

This year, with a big shift of my responsibilities and involvement in social media, I think I would have to make a big shift too for my blogging habits. Perhaps I should find another person name Claud to take over this column here. Anyone willing to do it? The only requirement is to be able to take photos, write and review gadgets like the original Claud if not better than Claud! If you think you can, write to me now! Till I find this person, I’ll have to do it on my own.

So for my first issue of CtG in 2009, I’m going to touch on three (latest and not so new) products that are here in Singapore.

In this issue…

1. Review of the Samsung Pixon phone
2. The sleek and sexy PC that fits into your pocket!
3. DRM-free music from Sony Playnow

Review of the Samsung Pixon phone

The Samsung Pixon is a 8.0mp camera phone which (to me) is a combination of the Samsung F480 and Samsung Innov8 phones which I’d reviewed previously.

Quick note about the Pixon… 8.0mp auto focus camera which gives sharp and nice colored photos, 3.2inch full touch screen that’s big enough for photos and videos viewing, 3G, has GPRS that works well with google maps during my trial, comes with bluetooth, radio, mp3 player and all the usual features.

The Samsung Pixon (aka M8800) is suitable for those who wants a good quality camera on a touchscreen phone. Samsung has got Nick Turpin to photograph his life with the Pixon and Nick has created fantastic photos with it. You can find the photos here. But if you’ve noticed, all of his shots were with good lighting or outdoor during the day. One thing that I would really like to see is for Samsung to integrate a better flash for their phones.

Camera function and screen on Pixon

Another nifty feature I like is the mirror with the use of the front camera. You can call out this feature from the widget bar.

This is useful for quick check if you’ve got something stuck on your teeth without having anyone suspect you’re checking yourself out. But this works only when you’re under good lighting. Like the one of myself below…

Few more shots of the Samsung Pixon phone and features…

Overall, I like the Pixon phone. But still loves my Innov8 more. Perhaps I’m just still not buying in the idea of a touchscreen phone yet. But my boyfriend loves the phone thou. After trying it out himself, he’s including it into his to-considering-getting phone. On his list includes iPhone, Blackberry Storm and Pixon. Hmmm… wonders if there’ll be chance to review the BB Storm. Any one has any idea if its coming to Singapore?

Back up to content

The sleek and sexy PC – Vaio P

Alright, this next beauty is one that’s for the fashion cautious and has got spare cash to spend. The sleek and sexy Sony Vaio P. My first thought (before I saw the price) was, “Omg! I want to own this! It’s too beautiful! And it comes with a good sized keyboard!” But when I saw the price tag, my bubble was burst immediately. Price starting from SGD1299, you will get this sexy accessory which you can bring around and will never have to be ashamed to strut it out wherever you are.

Daniel from Tech65 has a very good description and thoughts of the Vaio P. Too good that I shall not add more to it. So please head over to Tech65′s blog for more ya? And here’s some shots of the real thing I snapped with my Innov8 at the launch.

Back up to content

Sony launches DRM-free music on Playnow

Good news for all Sony Ericsson phone users! You can now buy DRM-free music from PlayNow kiosk available in Asia (including Singapore of course!). This is the world’s first of its kind content delivery service that lets mobile entertainment lovers download full-length movies and TV series, also available are games and thousands of DRM-free music tracks directly to your Sony Ericsson mobile phones!

Few things I noted during the demonstration at the launch which I though would be useful for you:

• All SE phones can be connected to the kiosks.
• Micro SD and M2 cardslots are available on the kiosk too.
• DRM-free music can be downloaded and used on any other devices.
• Videos and games can only be used on the phone with the key that’s being sent to the phone number entered during purchase and stored on the phone. (i.e. only that phone with the key can play the videos and games)
• The transfer speed is very fast even for huge files.

These PlayNow kiosks can be found at the following locations:

• Junction 8, #02-28
• AMK Hub, #B2-16
• Tiong Bahru Plaza, #01-53
• Admiralty MRT station, #02-K8
• Boon Lay MRT station, #01-29
• Bukit Batok MRT station, #01-05
• Paya Lebar MRT station, #01-04

Back up to content

So that’s the end of my first CtG in 2009. There are much more CtG coming… I just need to find time to do it! So if you are willing to help, would love to have you onboard the CtG team! I’m driven purely by passion! So you’ve got to be passionate too! No money needed to join nor will there ever be money for your editorial work here thou. If you’re fine with that, contact me!

I may not have seen the worst, but I have seen enough…

1. The parent who couldn’t afford to buy a proper meal for their children.
2. The parent who can’t accept the reality that their child is autistic.
3. The parent who can’t understand why their perfect child isn’t able to learn like other children.
4. The single mother who is trying to get ends meet, had to make her 10-year-old daughter to work with her at the coffee shop serving beer to the uncles and men.
5. The child who has no one to turn to at home because her parents are always no way in sight.

All these and much much more. There are simply too many problems, family and children in need. Most of the times, the children in these cases are innocent and were brought to the situation by the lack of love, concern, care and support from their parents and family. But there is still hope. You can help them!

Singapore Children’s Society – http://www.childrensociety.org.sg

M.I.L.K – Mainly I Love Kids – http://www.milk.org.sg

The above are two local initiatives who are here to help these children. But it takes more than just their love, support, time and programme to spread out to so many children out there. Yes, there are fund raising events, flag day, donation drives and charity runs organised to help raise funds and awareness. But now, there is one more way for you to help…

Samsung has set aside USD700,000 for total of 21 beneficiaries from 5 countries. All of them already will receive a base sum set by Samsung. But now, you can help Samsung decide how they can distribute the remaining sum. Help them by pledging your hope at Samsung Hopes Take Off.

I have made my pledge. Have you?

If you have a blog too, you can help spread the words out…

Wear a badge of support (Simply copy and paste this code into your blog)

<center><a href="http://www.samsunghope.org/"><br /> <img src="http://www.samsunghope.org/img/badges/200x80-HopeTakesOff-button.gif" width="200" height="80" alt="Hope Takes Off !" /> </a></center>

Photos first. Talk later.

Couple of micro-group shots

Check out the food line-up! I think I’ve some close-up in my innov8. Will post later.

The sweetest couple… click and you’ll know why!

Someone has a google phone.
But he has got a google ipod!

Not so smiley faces…

Than Daniel decided to sing a song for all of us!

Than everyone started laughing…

No lah! He didn’t! But I like what I heard thou. More on this later.

There were Wii games to play!

The 60+% remaining at the end of the session…

I need a power nap! More updates coming later after my nap…

In the meantime, if you were at SMB5 today, can you please help with a simple survey? This will help us improve and bring you better SMB sessions in 2009.

Click here for survey

Thanks!

Click here to view photos taken with Nikon D40

I’m not going to be talking about gadgets today. But I’m here to give away 5 pairs of tickets to Juice Anniversary party at Zouk this Thursday from 9pm till late!

Featuring The Whitest Boy Alive

and your first drink is complimentary! AND! For you only! You’ll get a Limited Edition CD complimentary from Samsung mobile.

Getting the above is simple!

Be the first 5 9 to email me at contest (at) claudia.sg with answers to the following questions and you’ll win the tickets!

Questions…

• Name ONE Samsung phone which I’d reviewed before in Claud talks Gadgets series. [Clue here]
• What is your name?
• What is your mobile number?
• If you blog, what is the url?
• How old are you? (only those above legal clubbing age allowed. I think its 21?)

Quick send in your answers now!

Collection of tickets at the door on Thursday at 9pm. Winners will be contacted via SMS.

I think I’ve finally found the mobile phone I want! After trying out few other to-consider-getting phones, finally I found one that meets my needs!

Features I need in my mobile phone…
(+) Auto focus camera that produces good quality photos
(+) True web browsing feature that loads flash
(+) Good sound quality
(+) Loud enough alarm that plays mp3
(+) Comfortable and big enough buttons for my fat fingers
(+) Fuss-free user interface

The Samsung Innov8 (GT-i8510)

And this phone has got all of the above! I want to buy this phone! I’m so unwilling to part with it now that I’m loving it.

This phone fits perfectly into my palm and feels oh-so-sexy! The body feels steady yet sleek. The sliding of the phone is super smooth too. Unlike some of the slide phones where you feel a jerk when the phone is slide open. When you hold the Innov8 in your hands, you’ll just not want to let it go. (At least for me lah!) It was love at first sight for me.

Samsung Innov8 comes with a 8.0megapixel auto focus camera with super cool feature for a cameraphone! With options such as face detection, smile detection and blink detection, you’ll be able to capture perfect shots of your friends and yourself (perfect for camwhoring) almost all the time! With good lighting of course! Don’t expect good take at night or at dimly lighted places. There’s also scene modes for you to choose from. It’s almost like a point-and-shoot digital camera!

Easy-acess to video, camera and play mode

To switch between the different mode for your camera, all you need to do is the push of a button! This make switching between photo taking and video taking super easy. There’s also flash option for your videos and you can try doing slow-motion videos too!

One feature which I find pretty neat is the panorama shots. Usually cameras with such feature allows user to have the previous shot as preview and you’ll have to join the shots on your own and when you’re done, you’ve to press the shutter button again. But using the Innov8, all you need is press the shutter for the first take and just turn yourself to capture the shots. Below’s a video of the panorama feature in action…

This is how a panorama shot looks like…

In the day…

Click to view 2800×400 version

And at night…

Click to view 2800×400 version

You can take vertical panorama shots too!

that’s my messy room

You should be able to notice that the photos aren’t as sharp and clear, but that’s the not-so-good thing about this feature. Only the first shot is auto focused and the remaining shots are not. But still a pretty cool option to have.

Couple more test shots from the Innov8 camera…

Model at Canon VIP event

Parking FAIL!

Being categorised as an infotainment phone by Samsung, this small black beauty does have super powerful sound quality! Great for listening to music and watching your favourite movie on the go. But please please please use a earphone! It supports the standard 35mm audio jack! Spare a thought for others near you, they don’t want to listen to what you’re playing on the phone, no matter how good the audio quality is!

35mm audio jack at the side of the phone

This irritates me a little, when I have my earphone plug in, I can’t fit the phone into my pocket! Not so friendly for those who likes to have their music plugged in while you’re on the go.

Below’s a short video showing you the audio and video quality of the Samsung Innov8 phone.

Before this phone was released, I was upset that most of the slidephones comes with small keypads or not so comfortable to use ones. I’m so glad that the Innov8 keypad fits nicely for my fat fingers!

I simply cannot use phones with hard to use buttons. I’ve absolutely no problem with this one! (See I’m really loving it!)

With so much powerful features packed into a tiny phone, with a tiny and slim battery, the battery has to be charged daily. If you’re a hardcore information and content consumer, I’ll advice you to buy an extra battery or bring along your charger everywhere you go. From what I’ve tested, the battery will run low after about an hour listening to mp3 + total of an hour plus for web browsing + roughly 30 SMSes + less than 30 mins of talktime + about 20+ shots of photos w/o flash. Something like that lah! That’s a typical day for me with the mobile phone.

This phone is 99% perfect for me already. And when I showed my uncles during our recent dinner, they are all tempted to change too! Perhaps I’ll have a Samsung Innov8 outing one day when I get my own!

Now I can’t bear to part with the review unit lah! Singtel! When are you going to have another promotion for the Samsung Innov8? I missed the launch promo leh! Quick have another one! I want to buy! Wahahahaha!

There’s a whole lot more cool feature for this phone! If I continue, this will be the longest post on my blog ever lah! Here are few other links I found with reviews of the Samsung Innov8. Can go check it out if you’re considering getting this phone too.
>> Video review by PhoneArena
>> Hands-on with Samsung Innov8 by Mobile Burn
>> Smasung I8510 blog and forum