March 19th, 2021
Today is World Sleep Day, so here are five tips on how to get a better night’s sleep from sleep expert Fitbit.
Sleep like a baby with 5 sleep tips from Fitbit. Photo by Tara Raye on Unsplash.
Getting our eight hours of quality sleep every night is important as adequate sleep and regular sleep patterns help rejuvenate our mood regulation, cognitive function, and overall health.
According to Fitbit’s data in 2020, Singaporeans were sleeping more last year.
However, Singaporeans still had one of the lowest sleep durations in the region, indicating there is still room for us to improve our quality of sleep.
So here are five tips for ways you can sleep longer and get a better quality shut eye.
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Tags: Fitbit, howto, sleep, tips
Posted in Fitbit, Healthcare, Howtos, Lifestyle, Lists, Medical, Tips | No Comments »
March 18th, 2021
The Philips 2021 global sleep survey finds that Singaporeans now average 6.8 hrs of sleep per night, down from 7 hours in the 2020 survey.
A year since the start of COVID-19, Singaporeans’ sleep issues loom large.
The Philips 2021 global sleep survey, in its sixth annual installment, is being released to mark World Sleep Day tomorrow.
Online Sleep Quiz and Home Sleep Test
In conjunction with World Sleep Day, Philips has launched an Online Sleep Quiz and Home Sleep Test for individuals to assess their sleep issues and get diagnosed for OSA.
Participants who are assessed as having a high risk of OSA through the online sleep quiz will be offered a home sleep test at S$39 (U.P: S$350).
Should they be diagnosed with OSA, they will be referred to a sleep specialist for a follow-up.
The study also found that over half (57%) of Singaporeans’ ability to sleep well has been directly impacted by the pandemic, with more than a third experiencing negative impact on their stress, ability to sleep well, mental/emotional health, sleep and work routines.
With telehealth on the rise, Singaporeans are open to online means to address sleep-related
concerns, yet fear hinders many from getting tested for obstructive sleep apnea.
More details below from the study.
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Tags: apnea, Philips, sleep, study
Posted in Figures, Healthcare, Infographic, infographics, Lifestyle, Medical, Philips, Reference, Study | No Comments »
March 15th, 2021
Did you know that sex toys could be connected to the Internet, to a smartphone or to another sex toy? Along with the technology that makes sex toys smart, vulnerabilities are introduced that could endanger the user’s data, privacy and even safety!
Architecture of a smart sex toy.
With the emergence of the IoT, many manufacturers have entered the sexual pleasure market by integrating the ability to control devices through mobile apps as well as adding web-based interconnectivity.
There are currently numerous different apps available, each of which offers the ability to control a wide range of models.
In terms of their architecture, most of these devices can be controlled via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) from an app installed on a smartphone.
Sex in the Digital Era
ESET has published a White Paper on their study on the potential security and safety flaws of connected sex toys.
The title of the report is “Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” and here is an excerpt on the characteristics of sex toys.
The main advantages of this protocol are that it has very low power requirements, communications are within an acceptable range, there is interoperability among chipset manufacturers, and it all comes in a very compact size.
As a result, a lot of smart devices for the home, health, car, and even sex toy fields, use BLE between the device and the app that controls it.
Like Bluetooth, BLE operates on the 2.4 GHz ISM band.
However, unlike standard Bluetooth, BLE stays in sleep mode all the time, except when a connection is initiated.
Also, the actual connection times themselves are just a few milliseconds, unlike Bluetooth, which takes more than 100 milliseconds.
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Tags: Bluetooth, ESET, IoT, security, sex, study, toys, vulnerabilities, White Paper
Posted in Accessories, ESET, Gadgets, gadgets, Reference, smartphones, Study | No Comments »
March 14th, 2021
ESET has published a White Paper on their study on the potential security and safety flaws of connected sex toys. The title of the report is “Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” and here is an excerpt on the evolution of sex toys.
“Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” is an ESET Research White Paper published by Denise Giusto and Cecilia Pastorino.
As IoT (Internet of Things) devices continue to seep into our homes and offer an increasingly wide range of features, new concerns are beginning to arise about the security of the data processed by these devices.
Though they have been subject to countless security breaches leading to the exposure of people’s login details, financial information, and geographical location, among others, there are few kinds of data with more potential to harm users, if published, than those relating to their sexual behavior.
Sex in the Digital Era
So, how secure are adult toys right now?
Have the necessary precautions been taken to protect people’s data and privacy?
These are some of the concerns addressed in this whitepaper.
We will analyse the increasingly important role played by these types of devices and the vulnerabilities in some of them, placing an emphasis on the importance of demanding—as informed consumers—that best practices and standards are applied to these products in order to ensure that our data is secure and we are unharmed.
With new models of smart toys for adults entering the market all the time, we might imagine that progress is being made in strengthening the mechanisms to ensure good practices in the processing of user information.
However, our research shows that we are a long way from being able to live out our sexuality through digital media without exposing ourselves to the risk of cyberattack.
Today, these findings are more relevant than ever, since we are seeing a rapid rise in sex toy sales as a reflection of the current health situation around the world and the social distancing measures related to COVID-19.
Though many experts have devoted time to identifying and reporting security flaws within this industry, with every passing year these devices incorporate an ever wider range of features: Group chats, multimedia messages, videoconferencing, synchronisation with lists of songs or audio books, and much more.
Each time their code is re-engineered, some vulnerabilities are corrected, new vulnerabilities may be created, and many more remain unchanged in the updated versions.
Read about the evolution of sex toys below.
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Tags: ESET, IoT, security, sex, study, toys, White Paper
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March 13th, 2021
Vulnerabilities in smart sex toys could leave users at risk of data breaches and attacks, both cyber and physical, according to a new white paper from global cybersecurity experts at ESET.
The We-Vibe Jive (left) and Lovense Max (right) analysed in the study.
The “Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” report explores the potential security and safety flaws of connected sex toys and includes an in-depth analysis of two popular devices.
Amidst ongoing social restrictions due to the pandemic, sales of sex toys has risen rapidly, and associated cybersecurity concerns mustn’t be overlooked.
Sex in the Digital Era
“Sex in the Digital Era – How secure are smart sex toys?” is an ESET Research White Paper published by Denise Giusto and Cecilia Pastorino.
Stay tuned over the next few days as I feature interesting extracts from the White Paper.
As newer, technologically advanced models of sex toys enter the marketplace, incorporating mobile apps, messaging, video chat, and web-based interconnectivity, devices become more appealing and exploitable to cybercriminals.
The consequences of data breaches in this sphere can be particularly disastrous when the information leaked concerns sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and intimate photos.
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Tags: ESET, IoT, Lovense, security, sex, study, toys, We-Vibe, White Paper
Posted in Accessories, ESET, Gadgets, gadgets, Internet of Things, IoT, Press Release, Security, Study | No Comments »
March 12th, 2021
In an IDC survey commissioned by ASUS, SMBs are more inclined to equip their employees with laptops rather than desktop computers – compared to prior to COVID-19.
Hmm, still somewhat behind Japan I suppose. I recall, when attending a senior management & leadership course in Japan in the late 90’s, the staff at the college were already equipped 100% with laptops, while fellow-attendees of the year-long course were issued with a personal laptop. It was a cultural mindshift – coming from a work environment at home when it was still 100% desktop.
Presented during the IDC & ASUS Webcast 2021 Singapore – Digital Transformation for the Next Normal in Asia/Pacific, ASUS revealed that 45% of Singapore SMBs are likely to convert to a 100% laptop setup post COVID-19, underscoring the importance of mobility in a hybrid workplace model.
The finding is among other strategic insights to SMB technology use and how COVID-19 has affected related decisions.
Three suggestions from IDC that Singapore SMBs can implement with regard to technology implementation.
Considering the survey findings, IDC advised that equipping employees with the latest devices that can support both a remote and hybrid work environment will have a significant impact not only on employee productivity and experience, but also will provide a competitive edge to organizations to attract and retain talent.
More details below from the press release.
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Tags: Asus, computing, COVID-19, IDC, laptops, mobility, study, survey, work
Posted in Asus, Brief, Business IT, events, Figures, Gadgets, gadgets, Infographic, Notebooks, notebooks, Online, Opinion, Press Release, Seminars, Study, Trends | No Comments »
March 11th, 2021
The Oppo Find X3 Pro (12 GB + 256GB: S$1,599) will hit Singapore shelves on 27 March, with pre-orders beginning at 11pm tonight. Promotions below.
The OPPO Find X3 Pro is available in Blue and Gloss Black with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage at a retail price of S$1599.
The Find X3 Pro features Oppo’s Full-path 10-bit Colour Management System and True Billion Colour Display (QHD+ 3216 x 1440 @ 525ppi, 1300 nits and 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio).
Orders & Purchases
- Online Pre-order (11-26 Mar)
- Offline Pre-order (12-26 Mar)
- Oppo Concept Stores
- Challenger
- Sales Begin (27 Mar)
- Oppo Concept Stores, Shopee, Lazada, M1, Singtel, StarHub, Resellers
Boasting a colour accuracy rating of 0.4 JNCD, and A+ DisplayMate certification, the display offers a 5 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate with its power-saving LTPO OLED panel
The flagship phone sports two billion-colour cameras.
Both its wide and ultra-wide cameras have an IMX766 50MP Sony sensor.
It has a macro focus distance of 4cm while its 60x magnification Microlens offer microscopic photography to the user.
The Find X3 Pro offers billion-colour 4K 10-bit video recording.
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Tags: 5G, Find X3, launch, OPPO, Reno, Singapore, smartphones
Posted in Android, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Launch, newArrivals, OPPO, Phones, Press Release, Prices, Promotions, smartphones, Specifications | No Comments »
March 5th, 2021
Lenovo is launching today its 2021 collection of Legion gaming PCs and accessories. These AMD– and Nvidia-powered machines will be launched online and broadcast live across the Asia-Pacific at 8pm this evening. Prices below.
Lenovo’s 2021 collection of Legion gaming laptops.
Lenovo showcased the 2021 collection of Legion PCs to a select audience in Singapore in a sneak preview prior to tonight’s launch.
The collection comprises four new gaming laptops and two accessories.
- Legion 7 (16″ AMD): S$3,999
- Legion Slim 7 (15″ AMD): S$2,499
- Legion 5 Pro (16″ AMD): S$2,399
- Legion 5 (15″ & 16″ AMD): S$1,999
- Legion S600 Gaming Station: S$149
- Legion H600 Wireless Gaming Headset: S$149
More information will be added after tonight’s launch.
Tags: computers, desktops, gaming, laptops, launch, Legion, Lenovo, new arrivals, notebooks, online, prices, Singapore, specs
Posted in Accessories, Audio, audioVisual, Brief, Entertainment, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Gaming, Gaming, headsets, Launch, Lenovo, Live Event, newArrivals, Notebooks, notebooks, Online, Press Release, Prices, Specifications, Sports, Windows, Windows 10 | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2021
StarHub is offering the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi6 mesh router (RRP S$399) free to its 2Gbps Fibre Broadband subscribers (new and recontract). Additional units to set up a mesh network at home are available at S$288 per unit or monthly installments of S$12 or S$24 over 24 or 12 months respectively. Prices include GST.
The new Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (AKA StarHub Smart WiFi Pro).
StarHub’s name for the router is the “StarHub Smart WiFi Pro”.
The MX4200 is StarHub’s first Wi-Fi 6 router and is the product of a continued partnership with Linksys.
Purchasing the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router
Subscribers of StarHub’s 1Gbps and 500Mbps Fibre Broadband will not get a free unit, but can purchase one or more of the MX4200 at S$288 per unit or in monthly installments.
Cash and carry router purchase for in-contract customers at S$288 per unit (via ePOS) is available at StarHub Shops and Platinum Shops.
The router combines mesh networking and Wi-Fi 6 technology to promise 4x speed, 4x capacity (compared to Wi-Fi 5) to more than 40 Wi-Fi devices within the home.
The router is especially suited for gamers – who typically subscribe to StarHub’s 2Gbps Fibre Broadband – and desire ultra-low latency and lower ping times.
The 2Gbps plan costs S$62.90 per month.
Those who purchase the MX4200 from StarHub can look forward to firmware upgrades within the year for two additional features that would optimise the home network for gaming and increase speed through intelligent allocation of radio bands (DFS – Dynamic Frequency Selection).
Media briefing by Linksys and StarHub on the Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 mesh router at the company’s office at Level 30, South Beach Tower in Singapore. “Throughout 2020, we have witnessed how pivotal stable connection is for every household as the modern world shifts to normalise home-based learning and working from home. 400 million Southeast Asians – nearly 70 percent of the population – are now online. In Singapore alone, 90 percent of the population are connected online. This increase means demand for faster internet connection will only continue to grow exponentially. Through this partnership with StarHub, we believe that our WiFi 6 offerings will successfully meet consumers’ demand for next generation ultra-high-speed router technology,” said Jenny Ng, General Manager for Asia, Linksys.
More details below on the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 mesh router from the press release.
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Tags: broadband, DFS, Linksys, MU-MIMO, networking, new arrivals, routers, Singapore, StarHub, Velop
Posted in Accessories, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Gaming, Internet of Things, IoT, Launch, Linksys, Network, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Router, Specifications, StarHub | 6 Comments »
February 25th, 2021
Xiaomi also launched appliances from its ecosystem – Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10, Mi Ionic Hair Dryer H300, and Mi 360º Home Security Camera 2K. Prices & promotions below.
The latest Android flagship smartphone from Xiaomi – the Mi 11.
Following its global unveil two weeks ago, Xiaomi has launched its latest flagship – the Mi 11 – for Singapore, with availability beginning on 20 March, 2021.
Check out the features of the Mi 11 here.
Price & Availability
- Mi 11 (20 March)
- Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10
- Mi Ionic Hair Dryer H300
- Mi 360º Home Security Camera 2K
The Mi 11 comes in two storage variants: 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB with enhanced LPDDR5 3200MHz RAM + UFS 3.1 storage.
The Mi 11 8GB+128GB version will be available as an online exclusive at Xiaomi official stores on Lazada and Shopee, whereas the 8GB+256GB version will be available for purchase online and offline at Authorised Mi Stores and other official retailers in Singapore.
Mi 11 comes in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue, which are available from 20 March; and Cloud White, which will be available at a later date.
In addition, the first 100 customers to purchase Mi 11 will receive an Mi AIoT premium pack worth S$461.90, and the subsequent 600 customers to purchase Mi 11 will receive a free Mi Air Purifier 3C (RRP: S$179).
This special first day sale campaign is only valid for one day on March 20.
The new Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 features a digital motor that spins at 125,000rmp, creating up to 150 air watts suction power (25% more than the previous generation) with HEPA filter with 99.97% whole filtration rate.
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Tags: Android, appliances, cameras, flagship, hair dryers, launch, local, new arrivals, Qualcomm, Singapore, smartphones, Snapdragon, vacuum cleaners, Xiaomi
Posted in Android, Cameras, cameras, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Hair Dryers, Home, Internet of Things, IoT, Launch, newArrivals, Online, Phones, Press Release, Prices, smartphones, Specifications, Vacuum Mop, Xiaomi | No Comments »
