Dell Venue 8 is the first tablet with an Intel
RealSense Snapshot Dept camera which captures a depth map for every picture
taken. It also featured the best tablet display technology available with
crystal clear images on an edge-to-edge screen. At the same time, it was
recognised as 2015 CES Innovation Award Best of Innovation Honoree.
Launch
On the 10 March 2015, I was fortunate to attend the launch
of the tablet in Singapore. It was first unveiled at the Intel Developer Form
last September. It got everyone excited since the much-anticipated tablet
features a series of “firsts” in its design and features.
Features
So how thin is this tablet ? Only 6mm and has an anodized
aluminium finish which gives it a sleek and premium look. It has a stunning 8.4
inch OLED display which provides sharper viewing from all angles. The tablet’
vivid 2560 x 1600 resolution delivers crystal clear images that enables users
to immerse themselves in their photos and videos.
The tablet runs on Android 4.4 “Kit Kat” OS, and drives
performance with the latest Intel Atom processor Z3500 series, allowing for
faster web browsing and photo editing. Users can also enjoy an immersive audio
experience through the tablet’s premium audio technology from MAXXAudio Waves
and its front-firing stereos.
If you are into digital photography, this tablet sets a new
dimension by integrating the Intel ReaSense Snapshot Depth Camera. The tablet
has an 8MP main camera and two 720P cameras separated b 80cm that capture a
stereoscopic image with every photograph. Together with the Dell Gallery
application, users will have much more flexibility when editng photos with
selective filtering and refocus functions.
In addition, Dell’s ecosystem of accessories enhances the
experience of the Venue 8 tablet.
Guest Panelists
At the launch, Dell invites Derrick Ong, a professional
wedding photographer since 2005 to speak on his experience with the
tablet. He has won over 50 international
awards from numerous photography association. The other guest is Ng Li Tying,
who started her own bakery. The spatula and the Pen. Li Tying also works at
Naiise, a design retailer based in Singapore. She was nominated for Her
World’s The Young Woman Achiever Forum 2014.
Dell
Dell Inc. listens to customers and delivers innovative
technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more
information, visit www.dell.com
Pricing
The Venue 8 is now available at S$659 with the Dell Venue Folio and at S$699 with the Dell Venue Keyboard Folio.
The highly anticipated, annual Tulipmania display returns to Gardens by the Bay in March - this time amidst a colourful setting of magical fairy tales. In this third edition, visitors can look forward to an even wider selection of tulips at Tulipmania - over 40 varieties in a myriad of hues and forms! Look out for captivating blooms like the scarlet "Red Riding Hood", the “Purple Prince”, and the “Orange Princess” as they grace familiar fairy tale settings like Cinderella‘s carriage, Rapunzel’s tower, and the ginger bread house of Hansel and Gretel. There’s even a tulip named “Singapore”!
"Tulipmania" is the second of six chapters in Gardens by the Bay's storytelling journey in 2015. This enchanting series of floral displays for the year will draw visitors into the magical world of folklore, legends, fairy tales and nursery rhymes as told through the language of plants.
It starts from 20 Mar - 10 May 2015 9am to 9pm at the Flower Dome. Admission charges to the cooled conservatories apply.
Do check out more information and promotions at this website. Tulipmania 2015
This award winning movie was
based on an age old social problem, poverty and the sexual exploitation of women.
The movie was rated R21 due to the sexual theme of the movie. Interestingly, no
male and female genitals were shown except for heavy petting, kissing and
undressing.
The exploitation of women centred
around two women. Both situations were quite similar. Due to poverty, they were willing to be sexually exploited in exchange for a better future. Sara (
Charlene Chooi ) exchanges sexual service with the educational official ( Simon Yam ) for an
opportunity to study. In the case of Dok-my, the young rural girl in Thailand provides
sexual service so that her family will not suffer hunger.
To address this issue of poverty
and sexual exploitation of women, Sara, a journalist, through her written article,
hope to create social awareness on this issue. She left for Thailand in search
of information for her journalism. She met Dong-My and help her to leave the sex
workers industry. By helping others, she hope to recover from her early
memories of her own sexual exploitation. At one point, her early memories haunted her and she committed suicide but was save by Dok-My.
There were a number of flashbacks
in this movie. It takes a while to get use to these flashbacks. It can be a bit
confusing initially. Flashbacks do have their advantages. In an early scene, Sara’s
mother was unable to rescue her daughter from her stepfather. She was raped. It
was comforting to see a flashback in the later part of the movie where the
mother comforted Sara. It was emotional. I did allow a few tears to roll down
my cheek.
My Opinion and Ratings
In my opinion, this is a serious
movie highlighting a serious social problem. It had achieved two important things.
It satisfies the audience appetite with a good story and also created social
awareness on the issue of sexual exploitation of women in the society. It is a
good movie and a highly recommended one. I shall rate it 4/5.
The movie will be showing on 26
March 2015. For those who cannot wait for this movie, there will be a special sneaks from 20 to 22 March 2015.
Brief Synopsis:
Journalist Sara has just spent four months completing an in-depth investigation piece. Her editor-in-chief, afraid of offending powerful politicians and business moguls, refuses to run it. Sara’s boyfriend, who works for the same magazine, chooses not to warn her and even sides with the editor-in-chief. In just one moment, Sara is turned off by her work, her love relationship and even about life.
At this low point in her life, Sara exiles herself to Chiang Mai, Thailand. One evening, while at a bar, Sara meets child prostitute Dok-my. During her time getting to know Dok-my and through the process of rescuing her, Sara becomes haunted by the memories of her own past.
*Note : Please take note that the movie is shown in colour. The photos provided in my blog were in B/W as I wanted to give an artistic feel of the movie. This is solely my own expression of the movie.
It was a beautiful early afternoon at the Singapore Botanic
Gardens, a chance to get away from the city life. It seems like it was going to be a green day
for me with lots of greenery and green tea. A shuttle bus specially came to
fetch us to another part of the Gardens. F&N Foods introduces OISHI Green
Tea in Singapore.
My First Encounter with a Bottled
Green Tea
What was exciting besides the venue ( Villa Halia ), is the OISHI
Green Tea. I love green tea. My first taste of green tea in Ready-To-Drink
bottle was in Taiwan. That was many years back when I was serving my yearly SAF
reservist training. In Singapore, there was no Bottled or Can green tea until
Pokka came up with their green tea. Besides Pokka, there were other brands such
as Heaven and Earth. I am glad that we have another choice of green tea brand to
choose from.
OISHI Green Tea
OISHI leads the new revolution of Japanese green tea with
its two alluring favours, OISHI Green Tea Original and OISHI Green Tea with
Genmai. Each bottle of OISHI is masterfully brewed using 100% organic tea
leaves with no added preservatives and artificial colourings. Only the youngest
three leaves at the top of each branch are selected for the brew. Through
advanced technology and under the attentive care of experts, the young organic
leaves are brewed using a refined manufacturing process to seal in the
authentic goodness of the taste of green tea.
OISHI Green Tea Original has a well-rounded and subtly crisp
with a tinge of pleasant vegetai and jasmine note. OISHI Green Tea Genmai has added
Germinated brown rice, used primarily as a food grain that has been allowed to
germinate in order to enhance the flavour and also to increase the levels of
nutrients such as y-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This rice used in Japanese
cuisine, has been gaining popularity as a health food because it is considered
more nutritious than white rice.
Availability
OISHI Green Tea Original and OISHI Green Tea with Genmai are
now available in handy 380ml PET bottles (S$1.00) and 1.5L PET bottles ($2.05)
at major supermarkets and hypermarkets. Taiko Drums Welcome
Personally, this was my third experience with Taiko Drums
Welcome. Somehow, I got addicted to the drum beats and the movement of the
drummers. Interestingly, I just cannot figure out the rhythm of the beat. It
seems to be very different in beat for every event, even though they are from
the same Japanese Drum Group.
Benefits of Green Tea Talk given by Ketki
Vinayachandra
Ketki is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and
Iridologist gave us a talk on the benefits of green tea. She has appeared on TV, Radio and various
events. I guessed she is quite popular. You may want to find out more about her at :
There are many video about the benefits of drinking green
tea. Here is one of them which I think it may be useful for everyone.
My Opinion
One thing I like about OISHI Green Tea, it is not too sweet.
Among the two favours, I prefer the one with the Genmai. I love the pleasant flavour
of Germinated brown rice. You can try it yourself. I believe you will like it.
As part of the 20th
anniversary celebrations with a first-ever international tour, Disney’s Beauty
and the Beast, the award-winning smash hit Broadway musical spectacular, is
coming to Singapore for the first time. This elaborate theatrical production
will come to life on stage at the MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands from 21
March 2015 for a limited season. Tickets are now on sale.
The
musical is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with Costume
Design by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony Award® winner for her work on Disney’s Beauty
and the Beast), Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, Scenic Design by Stanley A.
Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael
Kosarin.
Award Winning
Based
on the 1991 Academy-Award winning animated feature film, Disney’s Beauty and
the Beast premiered on Broadway in 1994, where it was nominated for nine
prestigious Tony Awards and ran for 13 years. It still ranks as one of the
longest-running and highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time. Since its
debut, the titles visibility and success have expanded globally with subsequent
productions produced around the world.
Since
licensing of the title began in 2004, there have been productions in 22
countries, seen by more than 35 million people, translated into 8 different
languages with over 28 thousand performances - equivalent to a run of 67 years,
generating over $1.7B in revenue.
Story
Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a
provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell
placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the
curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is
running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household
will be doomed for all eternity.
Music
The
musical boasts music by Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tangled) and
lyrics by the late Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), with additional
songs with music by Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice (The Lion King, Jesus Christ
Superstar). The book is written by Linda Woolverton (screenwriter of The Lion
King, Alice In Wonderland and the upcoming Maleficent).
Opinion
If you have enjoyed the
Disney film, Beauty and the Beast, why not go for this coming broadway musical
smash hit. Watching a broadway live show has a very different feel from a
movie. The singing, the creative lighting, stage settings and the live dancing
of the people, all fall into one live experience that you will never forget. In
fact, the audience is an integrated part of the live performance as compared to
a movie. You just don’t get to feel it when it is a movie.
I was honoured to attend
and watch the interview session presented by an interviewer and the two main
cast of the show. Hilary Maiberger ( Belle ) and Darick Pead ( Beast ) came.
Before they came out, there was a short video where the director, Rob Roth spoke
about the show. David Zack, Production Stage Manager also talked about the
beautiful lighting and the design of the stage setting. Both Hilary and Darick
also appear in the short video giving their views about the show.
Hilary sang the first song
and joined later by Darick, they sang the famous Beauty and the Beast song
which was popularised by singer Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.
I believe it will be a
wonderful experience watching this musical. Looking forward to the musical.
Here is a video that I have
recorded during the interview of the two main actors in the musical. Enjoy.
TICKETING
AND SHOW INFORMATION
Disney's Beauty and The Beast International Tour
Season : From 21st March 2015
Venue : MasterCard Threatres, Marina Bay Sands
PERFORMANCE TIMES:Tuesday – Friday 8:00pm; Saturday: 2:00pm and 8:00pmSunday: 1:00pm and 5.00pm
Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and
Hotel Tower 1 Lobby). For more information please log onto - www.MarinaBaySands.com
For exciting ticket package options including
accommodation at Marina Bay Sands please visit: www.marinabaysands.com/packages. Corporate and Group Bookings are available via
Showbiz. Email: corporate@showbizasia.comor call 6688 1029
ABOUT BASE ENTERTAINMENT ASIABASE Entertainment specializes in the development, production, programming and
management of live entertainment properties and theatre operations.
ABOUT
MEDIACORP VIZPRO INTERNATIONAL PTE LTDMediaCorp
VizPro International Pte Ltd has more than 10 years of experience in managing
and organising many successful entertainment and MICE events.
About Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Marina Bay Sands is the leading business, leisure and entertainment destination
in Asia. It features large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities,
2,560 hotel rooms and suites, the rooftop Sands SkyPark, the best shopping mall
in Asia, world-class celebrity chef restaurants and an outdoor event plaza. If you require an event photographer, wedding photographer or any other professional photography services, do email me at see323@yahoo.com.sg . You can also message me at my FACEBOOK account. To view my photos, click My Flicker Photos
This weekend St. Patrick's Day street festival ( 14-15 March 2015 ) is going to be exciting. This is an Irish world event happening yearly. Do check out the website for more details. I will be including some of the photos that I have taken during last year (2014). Do enjoy the photos and support my blog. Thanks everyone and have a FUN WEEKEND. Info on St. Patrick's Day Street Festival
