This Week in Hong Kong’s Tech World

This past Friday, we finally see the release of the Apple iPad in Hong Kong. Due to limited stock available on the local Apple Store and for the local retailers, the price of the imported iPad still remain on the high side, around HK$800-1,000 on top of the official price tag (that’s as of this morning).

The official prices for the iPad released are as follow:

• 16GB WiFi ~ HK$3,888 (US$498.50) / 16GB WiFi+3G ~ HK$4,888 (US$627.00)
• 32GB WiFi ~ HK$4,688 (US$601.00) / 32GB WiFi+3G ~ HK$5,688 (US$729.00)
• 64GB WiFi ~ HK$5,488 (US$704.00) / 64GB WiFi+3G ~ HK$6,488 (US$832.00)

Judging from the price, only the 16GB versions are a bit cheaper than the US release prices whereas for the 32GB and 64GB version, it’s a buck or two higher.

As for the release of the Apple iPhone4 for Hong Kong, the official date is this coming Friday, 30 July 2010.  The iPhone 4 is available at the local Apple Store, SmarTone-Vodaphone stores and selected ThreeHK’s retail outlets. No news on the release price yet.

Meanwhile, across the border over in Shenzhen, tons of iPad-look-alike Android based tablets are flooding shopping malls all over.  Steve from Honkie Town was up in Shenzhen the past weekend and he blogged about it on his latest post. Link here.

Apple Released iOS 4.0.1 for iPhone

579MB for the full load, now available. According to Apple, iOS 4.0.1 “improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display.” Well, just wait and see what they have to say at tomorrow’s iPhone 4 press conference.

First Look – Sony NEX-VG10 – World’s First Consumer Interchangeable Lens HD Camcorder

image from imaging-resource.com

Shortly after releasing their NEX line mirror-less camera, the NEX-3 and NEX-5, Sony announced the all new NEX-VG10, the world’s first consumer interchangeable lens HD camcorder which utilizes the same E-mount lens.  Like the NEX-3 and NEX-5, this camcorder can use the alpha lenses as well by using the alpha-mount adapter.  The NEX-VG10 will start shipping this September at just under US$2000.  For a complete preview, check out this article over at image-resource.com.

Thanks Maverick for the video link.  This baby is looking sweet.

Source – image-resource.com, imageinsider

Video – Gandalf Goes to the World Cup

Source – PistolShrimps

CNET Asia Community Blog Entry – What’s in My Gear Bag (2010 version)?

My new entry over at CNET Asia Community Blog is up. This week’s entry, “What’s in My Gear Bag (2010 version)?”. Click here for the full read.

StartUp Saturday 2010 – 7 August 2010

So, what is StartUp Saturday all about?

StartUp Saturday HK 2010 is THE entrepreneurial event of the year!

The 1-day event at Cyberport in Hong Kong will bring together start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, students, media and tech enthusiasts from Hong Kong and around the region to see 20 Startups showcase their companies and an amazing line-up of panels focusing on funding, creativity, development and ideas for starting up the next big business in Asia.

Sign up now over at http://startupshk.com/sus2010/

Source – StartUp

SONY NEX Firmware Released

Shortly after SOny released their mirroless NEX-3 and NEX-5, they released the first firmware upgrade today.  Got my Sony NEX-5 two days ago (review and pics later), and I can say this update came at the best time.  So what’s new with this firmware? Sony added 3D sweep panorama (but only viewable on their own Sony Bravia TV, gee!). Apart from that,

• Improvement of ‘normal’ 2D Sweep Panorama shooting;
• Decreased power drain when the camera is switched off;
• Quicker start-up in low-light conditions.

You can find the download page here. Oh, one more thing, the firmware upgrade is for PC only, Mac users, eat your heart out.

Source – Sony

iOS 4 for iPad in November – Maybe

image via AppAdvice

AppAdvice ran an article yesterday indicating that iOS 4 would not be coming to iPad till November this year.  This branched off a post from Advertising Age indicating that the iAd platform, which is built from iOS 4, which is due to launch this week on iPhone 4, would not be ready for the iPad platform till November.  Bummer for we iPad users have to wait for another 4+ months to get multi-tasking and more on our iPad.  Hmm…. hate waiting.

Source – AppAdvice, Advertising Age

Salute to the last episode of GeekBrief.TV and Welcome GeekBeat.TV

For the past four years, I have been enjoying watching the GeekBrief podcast on my iPod/iPhone and the show is part of the reason that I turned into a tech/gadget geek myself.  The host Cali Lewis and her producer Neil Campbell produces great shows on the latest tech news week in week out.  Today, the 800th episode turns out to be the last episode due to a fallout between the production team and their sponsor, Mevio, real bummer.

According to the latest post on Cali’s blog, she pretty much outlines the reason of the fallout and her upcoming projects:

“Neal and I started Geek Brief over four years ago, on December 23rd, 2005. We had every intention of making it our full time jobs, and together with Mevio, we were able to achieve that goal very quickly. It’s been an amazing four years, ALL because of you guys, the Geek Brief family and community.

Early on in the show, we partnered with Mevio (then PodShow). It was a partnership that was beneficial to everyone involved, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities! Partnerships have their ups and downs, as did ours. Over the past several months, we’ve been trying to resolve some lingering business issues, but sometimes things just don’t work out.

I can’t even begin to express how much you guys mean to me. When I started, I had no idea what was coming, and I feel extremely lucky to have you in my life and do what I do for a living. You guys make me love my job, and I love you for that!!!

I’m NOT disappearing, though! My new show is called GeekBeat.TV at www.geekbeat.tv. I love technology and gadgets and exciting research projects from places like MIT, so don’t worry, you’ll still get your dose of tech news!

Please make sure you subscribe to the new show! I don’t usually beg you guys, but I do need every single one of you to change your subscriptions!! The first episode of GeekBeat.TV will be out very soon!

You can check out what Neal’s up to at www.nealcampbell.com.”

Here, I would like to wish Cali a great success on the new show which is due to be aired on Monday, 28 June 2010.  Good luck to Neil as well.

Source – Cali Lewis

Apple iOS 4 & iPhone 4 User Guide

Just in case you missed it, the link to the user guide download link is here (http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPhone_iOS4_User_Guide.pdf).

Video Demonstration of the Sony NEX5

Very informative video covering the main features of the Sony NEX5 which is due out next week in Hong Kong. Rumours also said that there will be a firmware upgrade in July to allow for capturing 3D via the 3D Sweep Panorama mode.

Source – SonyEurope

Phottix Atlas Wireless Flash Trigger Now Available

The Phottix Atlas is a transceiver – both a transmitter and receiver in the same unit. Photographer no longer need to work with one unit to transmit signals from their cameras and another to receive signals to trigger remote flashes or studio lights. The Atlas automatically switches between transmit and receive modes.

The four-channel Phottix Atlas uses digital circuitry and transmits on the 433 MHz frequency. It can reliably trigger flashes at distances of 100 meters or more at sync speeds of 1/250* sec.

Image from The Phottix Journal

The Atlas has a hot shoe attachment and can be used to trigger “speedlight” style flashes as well as larger studio lights and strobes. Flashes and strobes can be connected in a number of ways. The hot shoe as well as two 3.5 mm ports can connect studio strobes or smaller flashes by 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm, or PC Sync connections.

The Phottix Atlas can be used to trigger two flash units – as long as they are of the same make, model and trigger voltage. Photographers do not need a dedicated unit to trigger the same model of flash. The Atlas can also be used as a wireless shutter release. Using WRS Mode (Wireless Remote Sync), a camera and flash(es) can be remotely triggered, in sync.

The new trigger system is compatible with Sekonic Light Meters equipped with a RT-32 transmitter. Wireless mode on compatible meters will trigger Phottix Atlas units, providing photographers with an easier means of taking light readings.

The Phottis Atlas and other Phottix accessories are now on sale at my studio, PASM Workshop, more details on the home page.

For more test on the Phottix vs the Pocket Wizard Plus II, check out Charles Verghese’s three part review and testing posts, link here.

Source – The Phottix Journal, Charles Verghese – A Dubai Photographer’s Blog

The Best Browser on iPad – Life

Been using this browser the past couple days and loving it, the best web browsing experience across all platforms I’ve experienced so far. Definitely worth the US1.99 price tag. Check it out on their developer’s, It’s About Time’s website here.

Source – It’s About Time, saiedGO

3 Hong Kong Carrying The New iPhone 4 – Gee

Well, not much choice here. Looks like I’m gonna be tied up with 3HK for another …… year(s). Bummer.