In a few hours time, we usher into the year 2013. OCWorkbench here wishes all readers a Happy and Fruitful Year 2013. Enjoy!

Do not forget to join our forums at http://forums.ocworkbench.com and Facebook page at http://www.fb.com/ocworkbenchconnect and stay tuned keep yourself updated on news and prizes.

Unboxing video of the ECS A85F2-A Golden

Try it on Google Maps (Android, PC, iPad, iPhone) or Apple Maps on your iPhone/iPad. You will bound to hit the wall searching for this location

JOHN HANCOCK TOWER, Singapore.

A Search on Google maps returns the John Hancock Tower in Boston in USA. Likewise if you were to use Apple Maps returns no results.

So what happens on the Windows Phone, it shows you the map but it indicates the location to be at Selegie Road which is totally wrong.

So far, the only map application that returns a result with correct location is Nokia Maps. Nokia Maps runs on Windows Phone 8 and there is also a version available on the iPhone/iPad. it is HERE MAPS.

So, remember to install different versions of the map software just in case you get lost in this concrete jungle

Discuss</>

Microsoft gets ready for 2013 with new Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium
Bluetooth 23 Dec 2012

November should be the busiest month for Microsoft as they launched the highly anticipated Windows 8 followed by Windows Phone 8. The Windows 8 operating system brings a revolution to computing. Windows 8 is now tablet friendly. In addition, the move from conventional storage to the cloud using SkyDrive definitely changes the way users interact with their applications through the conventional desktops and portable devices including tablets and phones.

So, what is new for 2013 at Microsoft ? Well, we were invited to the Microsoft Technology Centre in Singapore for a heads up on the upcoming product that is scheduled for a January 2013 lanuch.

At the event, we saw the Windows Surface tablet and other Windows Phones on display. See the Gallery below.

Today, Microsoft Singapore hosted a Christmas gathering for media and bloggers. Microsoft gave a demonstration of the upcoming Microsoft Office.

According to Microsoft, there will be 2 variants of the product. The first is probably Office 2013, the plain vanilla DVD that you can purchase at the stores justl like Office 2010. The other variant is a renewable license for a fee. Each year there will be updates and it will automatically be available for upgrade. It is also mentioned that there will be 5 user license family pack which you can install on your PC, Mac and tablets. The license will be tied to your Microsoft ID.

Anyway, all will be clear as the product is scheduled to be lanuched on 16 Jan 2013 if everything goes as planned.

Apple just released iOS 6.0.2. The software update is now available in iTunes. According to Apple, the update includes “improvements and bug fixes”, including a fix for a bug that ”could impact Wi-Fi”. At the moment of writing this, iOS 6.0.2 is only showing up in iTunes, as Apple’s own software update tool for iOS is returning an error.

iOS 6.0.2 is available only for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini.

Direct Links

• iPad mini WiFi (2,5)
• iPad mini GSM (2,6)
• iPad mini CDMA (2,7)
• iPhone 5,1 (model A1428, AT&T/Canada)
• iPhone 5,2 (model A1429, all others)

AMD A-series platform
Bluetooth 18 Dec 2012

Christmas is round the corner, have you decided what platform is the most cost effective solution out there? Last year, AMD delivered the first APU LIano which delivers integrated graphics into the core. This October, AMD delivered the 2nd generation that is built on the strength of the earlier generation.

If you have read our reviews, you would have noticed how well the Trinity or A10-5800K performs especially in the graphics performance against even the high end Intel Core i5-3570K. So what has changed ?

Basically, the the new A-series plaform Socket FM2 features the new X86 architecture featuring the “Piledriver” cores. Some features of it includes supports up to 4 cores and latest ISA instructions including AVX, AES, XOP, FMA4/3. There is also enahnced cache performnce over the previous BullDozer cores. It has also improved it’s max turbo frequency to up to 4.2GHz and is configurable through AMD Overdrive.

The GPU is also improved and feature 384 shaders at 800MHz, It supports 8xAA and 16AF  and DX11 support. UVD and VCE allows video encode and decode hardware to offload CPU and AMD Picture Perfect support with HD post processing technologies are included in this new design.

For those who always do file compression using WINZIP, you can also take advantage of the OpenCL instructions. One of such application is WinZip 16.5 x64 build 10095. Another such application is Cyberlink PowerDirector ver 11.

In fact, something that most users overlook is the support of new display technologies. This new platform comes with AMD Eyefinity technology that can support 3+1 monitors and has Display Port 1.2 support.. In addition, it has AMD Dual Graphics enhancements that allows you to pair up with an external graphics card to boost the graphical performance.

Christmas is round the corner and it’s also the time to buy some presents for your loved ones. So, what do you have in mind for them. Check out this catalog for the best bargains from amazon.com

Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB and Western Digital Black 4TB Hard Disk Review
poor poor 16 Dec 2012

The traditional hard disk isn’t obsolete. If you thought it would be, it is still around and has served users beyond the expected life span. In fact, my first SSD was dead within a year but my desktop HDD from Western Digital is stil running right now.

Western Digital has 4 series of desktop/workstation hard drives. They are the Blue series WD Blue which offers solid performance an d realiability for everyday computing. It ranges from 80GB to 1TB. The other series which is environmental friendly is the Cool and Quiet WD Green. It has storage capacities of 500GB to 3 TB.

The WD Black series has the highest capacity range from 500GB to 4TB and offers maximum performance for power computing. It has a 32MB – 64MB cache and 5 years warranty.

The WD VelociRaptor, the highest end is more suitable for workstation. It comes in the capacity of 250GB to 1TB and in form factor of 2.5 and 3.5inches. It has a 64MB cache and runs at a high speed of 10,000 RPM.

Both WD Black and WD VelociRaptor has 5 years warranty.

Today, we will take a look at two products from Western Digital, the high speed Western Digital 1TB VelociRaptor & the WD Black 4TB 3.5inch.

Both hard disks are high performance drives, one with speed while the other with high capacity.

There has been a lot of speculation that Windows Phone 7.8 firmware upgrade won’t appear until 2013. It proved otherwise. It looks like the Windows 7.8 upgrade firmware are now appearing on navifirm for all the older 1st generation Nokia lumias. Here is a list of all the upgradable phones.

Source: Nokiapoweruser

NASA posted this video to demystify the myth that the end of world on 21 Dec 2012.

The video seemed to be released on youtube before it’s scheduled date on the 22nd Dec 2012. NASA might have their reasons for doing so. This might be due to the amount of emails questioning NASA.

Check out the video before you do something stupid !

Google has released a new downloaded Google Map app for iPhone. This new app now comes with turn-by-turn navigation and “vector” maps which don’t need constant data downloads, just as the iPhone maker had previously wanted.

This new app comes 2.5 mths after Apple releases iOS 6 which removed the Google Maps and Youtube, replacing the Maps with Apple’s own map application.

The Apple maps have widespread criticism because they mislabelled locations, left off some public transport information and in some cases could even put people in life-threatening situations.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, was forced into a humiliating public apology, including recommending that dissatisfied users try rival products from Microsoft or Nokia.

You can now experience the new Google Map by downloading it off the App Store. The version is only available for the iPhone but it can also be installed on the iPad.

Source

What is new for the upcoming year 2013? Well it would be the ASUS USB-AC53.

Based on the 802.11ac spec, it will enable multi-station WLAN throughput of at least 1 gigabit per second and a maximum single link throughput of at least 500 megabits per second (500 Mbit/s).

This is accomplished by extending the air interface concepts embraced by 802.11n: wider RF bandwidth (up to 160 MHz), more MIMO spatial streams (up to 8), multi-user MIMO, and high-density modulation (up to 256 QAM).

The USB-AC53 (AC1200 USB wireless adapter) is ASUS’s first 802.1ac dual band USB adapter. It comes bundled with a long USB cable and attachement NetClip in the box.

Here are some early pictures of it.

We should be seeing more 802.11ac wireless devices in 2013.

StarHub to launch Anytime TV, a new cable TV plan exclusively for broadband customers

Singapore, 7 December 2012 – StarHub today announced that it will offer a new pay-as-you-watch cable TV plan exclusively to its home broadband customers who presently do not have a StarHub TV subscription. Called ‘Anytime TV’, this new plan will allow customers to access StarHub TV’s on-demand library of more than 6,500 TV shows and movies as well as 12 complimentary cable TV channels.

“Most of our broadband customers today have our cable TV service. However, we recognise that there is a segment of customers who would prefer a more flexible, pay-as-you-watch cable TV service as they may not want to commit to a monthly subscription,” said Ms Iris Wee, Vice President of Home Solutions & Content, StarHub. “Our cable TV customers today enjoy access to more than 6,500 on-demand titles. We therefore thought that it would be great to extend our catalogue of on-demand content to this customer segment as well. Anytime TV will offer subscribers the flexibility to pay for what they want to watch at a time convenient to them, from as low as $1.07 per title.”

Anytime TV subscribers can catch the latest movie blockbusters and TVB dramas as early as a month after their DVD release or premiere in Hong Kong respectively. Popular Malay movies can be purchased as early as two weeks after their Malaysia box-office debut. During this holiday season, Hollywood movie fans can look forward to box-office hits in High Definition (HD), such as The Amazing Spider-Man andThe Bourne Legacy. StarHub is also working with long-time content partner TVB to bring in popular TVB dramas, such as Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles (名媛望族) and The Confidant (大太监). For added value, StarHub offers Anytime TV subscribers 10% off StarHub TV’s Video-On-Demand titles and KaraOK! Day Pass.

Besides its on-demand video store, Anytime TV subscribers will get complimentary access to StarHub TV’s FreeView service comprising 12 StarHub TV channels, including Bloomberg Television, E City and SuperSports Arena. By end-2012, StarHub will bring the total number of complimentary channels to 14 with the launch of ESPNews (Channel 207) and China Business Network (Channel 809). This new plan more than doubles the number of TV channels for customers who presently only watch free-to-air TV. StarHub‘s more than half a million cable TV customers are already enjoying this FreeView service.

Starting tomorrow, StarHub’s home broadband customers who wish to enjoy Anytime TV can call 1630 or visit any StarHub Shop or authorised dealer to rent a set-top box. The set-top box rental fee starts from $6.42 per month for the HD Interactive set-top box, to $14.98 per month for customers who wish to record and watch their favourite TV shows on HubStation HD.

“This hubbing initiative is yet another milestone in our efforts to ensure our home broadband customers continue to get better value,” added Ms Wee.

WD® ENTERS WIRELESS HOME NETWORKING MARKET, USHERS IN NEW ERA OF BLAZING FAST HD ENTERTAINMENT STREAMING

My Net™ Family of Dual-Band Routers with Exclusive FasTrack™ Technology Accelerates Video and Games using Intelligent, Real-Time Entertainment Prioritization

SINGAPORE – Dec. 6, 2012 – WD^®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) company, and a world leader in external storage and maker of the popular WD TV^® media player family, today unveils its first line of wireless home networking products, designed specifically to accelerate movies, video and gaming, delivering a premium high-definition entertainment experience. With the My Net family of powerful and easy-to-use home networking products, WD debuts its exclusive FasTrack™ technology that instantly detects entertainment traffic on the network and fast-forwards it to gaming consoles, media players, smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers and other Wi-Fi connected devices.

“With increasingly more people within the home simultaneously watching movies, playing games and browsing the Web via a variety of smart devices, the network demands placed on today’s connected home has grown exponentially,” states Amy Tan, senior manager, sales management, branded products group, WD South East Asia region. “Our successes in creating Connected Home solutions with our WD TV media players and personal cloud products have given us valuable insights into the network-overload problems of home wireless users, and entering the wireless home networking market offers WD an exciting opportunity to strengthen our Connected Home offerings that are aimed at enhancing the home entertainment experience for consumers.”

Accelerated Entertainment

According to Nielsen’s Digital Media Habits and Attitudes of Southeast Asian Consumers Report, data from the fourth quarter of 2011 shows that 42 percent of Singaporeans watch TV online or stream movies from the internet. Further to that, 49 percent of Singaporean digital consumers stream, or download online video on a weekly basis. Internet video services, multi-player online gaming sites, and live video chat services, combined with the explosive growth of tablets, smartphones and other devices that connect to the home network, have created a new model of home entertainment and Internet usage.

With the industry’s only full line of HD dual-band wireless N routers, My Net customers can fully enjoy this new age of home entertainment. WD’s exclusive FasTrack™ optimization technology intelligently and automatically prioritizes Internet favorites like Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, YouTube™, Xbox^® LIVE, Skype™ and others, to create a smooth streaming experience in up to Full-HD 1080p quality. By using real-time analysis to maximize bandwidth for entertainment services, My Net routers provide a premium entertainment experience on any screen in the home that is connected to the router.

Streamlined Setup and Ease-of-Use

The sleek hardware design of the My Net family of routers is complementary to the devices’ friendly and intuitive user interface, which was designed by a veteran team of developers to enable quick router setup from wireless or wired devices such as iPads and other mobile devices, as well as PCs and Mac^® computers. The streamlined router setup is designed to make it easy for novice users to be up and running in minutes, while also providing all the customization tools expert users crave. The included My Net Dashboard makes it easy for users to customize, monitor or change the settings of the network, including setting parental controls, Internet security, guest network access, network name and password, printer and scanner settings, and mapping storage drives, all in one easy view.

New Combination Router, Personal Cloud and Automatic Wireless Backup

In addition to getting a premium home entertainment experience with My Net routers, customers can centralize storage and backup for all the computers in their home, as well as create a personal cloud for their digital media and remotely access those files anytime, anywhere. Part of the My Net family, My Net N900 Central is WD’s all-in-one N900 router with an integrated 1 TB or 2 TB internal hard drive. Remote access to My Net N900 Central is available on any computer through www.WD2go.com and with WD mobile apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch^® or Android™ smartphones and tablets.

In addition to keeping content safe at home and always accessible while away from home, users can rely on My Net N900 Central for automatic wireless backup with the included WD SmartWare™ software for Windows^®, while Mac users can utilize all the features of Apple^® Time Machine^® backup software. Additionally, any WD external hard drive with SmartWare software can connect directly to a My Net router to wirelessly backup all PC computers in the home.

My Net Router Family

• My Net N900 Central – The My Net N900 Central HD dual-band storage router provides accelerated HD streaming plus integrated storage for wireless backup and remote access. With FasTrack™ Plus optimization technology, My Net N900 Central delivers high quality, accelerated HD entertainment that is intelligently and automatically prioritized to ensure smooth streaming. The wireless-N storage router features fast wireless performance with speeds up to 900 Mbps (450 + 450 Mbps on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands combined), as well as integrated 1 TB or 2 TB internal storage for automatic wireless backup. My Net N900 Central includes 4 LAN and 1 WLAN Gigabit Ethernet ports for up to 10/100/1000 Mbps wired speeds, 1 USB port for additional storage, printer and media share server use, and range amplifier antennas for extended range. Additionally, My Net N900 Central is Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certified for easy detection and connection of Wi-Fi devices.
• My Net N900 – The My Net N900 HD dual-band router also provides a premium entertainment experience for movies, games, video, music, video chat and more. The My Net N900 offers the ultimate performance for all connected devices in the home, even while streaming to multiple devices at the same time. The exclusive FasTrack™ Plus technology provides intelligent, real-time traffic prioritization for simultaneous HD and 3D media streaming and online gaming. The wireless-N router features high wireless performance with speeds up to 900 Mbps (450 + 450 Mbps on the 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands combined) and also includes 7 LAN and 1 WLAN Gigabit Ethernet ports for up to 10/100/1000 Mbps wired speeds, 2 USB ports for additional storage, printer and media share server use, and range amplifier antennas for extended range. Additionally, My Net N900 is UPnP and DLNA certified.
• My Net N750 – The My Net N750 HD dual-band router is optimized to deliver multiple simultaneous HD media streams on the network, delivering accelerated video to all connected wireless and wired devices. WD’s exclusive FasTrack™ technology detects entertainment traffic and prioritizes bandwidth on the network to smoothly stream multiple HD movies, shows, games and more to connected devices. The router provides a combined data rate of up to 750 Mbps (300 + 450 Mbps) and features 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 USB ports.
• My Net N600 – The My Net N600 HD dual-band router is ideal for simple and fast web surfing and entertainment streaming with FasTrack™ technology for a smooth HD viewing experience. The router provides a combined data rate of up to 600 Mbps (300 + 300 Mbps) and features 5 Fast Ethernet ports with 1 USB port.

Pricing (MSRP)

Availability

My Net N900 Central, My Net N900, My Net N750 and My Net N600 will be available at select retailers by mid of December. The My Net family of routers will be distributed by select distributors and resellers.

Introduction to the Sony Xperia V LTE Smartphone
bluetooth 5 Dec 2012

Sony Mobile launches it’s LTE flagship mobile phone the Sony Xperia V in Singapore yesterday. The Bond Phone was showcased in the release of Skyfall.

This new mobile device is comes with full NFC and IP57 dust and water resistance just like the Xperia Acro S. In addition to these features, it supports LTE high speed data, supporting modes I, III, V, VII.

In contract to the Xperia Acros S which comes sealed, the Xperia V comes with a 1750mAh battery that is replaceable.

The phone comes in 2 variations a black and a white model. It has a dimension of 129 x 65 10.7mm and weighs 120 grams. It runs on 1.5 GHz Qualcommm MSM8960 Dual Core processor and powered by Google Android 4.0 ICS.

Features wise, it has a 3D Sweep panormam 13 megapixel 16x Digital ZOom camera which can do 1080p video recording. It also has a front facing 720p camera. It uses the Sony Exmor R image sensor and HDR.

For music it has Clear Audio+, XLoud, music equaliser and WALKMAN application. The display is a 4.3″ HD display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp quality content.

The phone uses MHL connectivity for outputting contents on a big screen.

It has a talk time (GSM) of up to 7 hrs standby time (GSM) up to 300 hrs talk time (UMTS) up to 7 hrs standby time (UMTS) up to 400 hours standby time (LTE) up to 270 hours Music Listening time up to 18 hours video playback time Up to 4 hours.

In the next few pages, we will take a good look at the features of this phone.

Page2

The Bond Phone arrives in Singapore -
Sony Xperia™ V

Sony Mobile’s latest smartphone, Xperia™ V, is showcased in Singapore with the release of Skyfall
Xperia™ V features Sony’s award-winning arc design and best HD technology
Includes super-fast download speeds with LTE and seamless connectivity with One-Touch NFC sharing

4 December 2012, Singapore – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today showcased the highly-anticipated Bond Phone Xperia™ V for the first time in Singapore in conjunction with the release of Skyfall, the latest movie in the James Bond franchise.

Xperia™ V combines Sony’s best HD screen and camera with seamless connectivity that allows consumers to enjoy content on any screen – tablet, TV, laptop, at any time with just one touch through Near Field Communications (NFC) technology.

In addition, the Xperia™ V has the highest level of water resistance that a smartphone can endure (IP57*), making it indispensable and trusted by James Bond.

Xperia™ V builds on the same design language first introduced by the award-winning Xperia™ arc and Xperia™ arc S – combining a slim form factor with an emphasis on display for excellent viewing.

“With the best of Sony’s technology and connectivity in a sleek and durable design, Xperia™ V boasts incredible HD and LTE experiences and One-Touch sharing that would be the perfect companion for any secret agent”, commented Ola Lilja Molén, Head of SEA Markets of Sony Mobile Communications.

Xperia™ V key features:
4.3” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp quality content
Latest generation clarity
13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second
Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest
1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra-sharp graphics
LTE for the fastest data download speeds
Easy connectivity with One-touch sharing enabled by NFC
Clear audio+ for the highest level of sound quality
PlayStation™ Certified
Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) from mid Q1 2013
Highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57*) ensure protection from the effects of immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes
MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger

*IP55 Rating = Protected against dust-limited to ingress (no harmful deposits) and water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects
IP57 Rating = Protected against dust-limited to ingress (no harmful deposits) and the effects of immersion between 15 cm and 1 m for 30 minutes

Availability
Sony Xperia™ V will be available in Singapore on 8 December 2012 at all operator stores, Xperia™ stores and Sony stores in the colours black and white at a recommended retail price of S$698.
 Recommended Accessories
In addition to the existing 8GB memory, Sony’s Class 4 microSD card further expands Xperia™ V’s storage for a higher volume of photos, music and videos. MicroSD cards with SD adapter are available at S$9.75 (4GB) and S$12.20 (8GB). MicroSD cards without SD adapter are retailing at S$12.20 (8GB), $21.90 (16GB) and S$58.60 (32GB).

Sony has started rolling out* a new software update for Xperia P, Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola that brings bug fixes and performance tweaks.

The Ice Cream Sandwich firmware includes improvements to: stability, WiFi, tethering/portable hotspot, camera (capture and playback), NFC and Messaging.

All Xperia P users will get a notification when the upgrade is ready, but direct availability in the phone may vary across different markets and carriers.

For Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola users – if you’ve already upgraded to ICS, you’ll receive a notification in your phone and be able to download it over-the-air. For those guys on Gingerbread, you’ll need to plug in and upgrade using PC Companion or Bridge for Mac. For more information, please visit http://www.sonymobile.com/update

Let us know how you get on, and feel free to drop a comment below.

*Over the coming weeks, the availability and scheduling of this software upgrade will vary by market and carrier requirements

hybris Enables Digital Content Providers to Create High-Value, On-going Relationships with Customers

Enhancements to the hybris Commerce Suite Help Publishers of Books, Magazines, Software, Games and Online Services to Sell More Digital Products

Singapore, 27 November, 2012. hybris, the top-rated provider of omni-channel commerce software, today further strengthened its position of offering the most agile, most modern commerce platform by announcing important new features that empower publishers of books, magazines, games and software, as well as other service providers, to sell more digital goods, content and services online.

“Digital products are different from physical products. They’re alive,” stated Ariel Ludi, CEO of hybris. “Using the internet to stay connected after the initial sale, offering related or next-in-series products in context, gives publishers of any digital goods or content the ability to have high-value perpetual digital relationships with their customers. hybris helps them create – and grow – those relationships.”

A host of new enhancements to the hybris Commerce Suite, purpose-built to support the sale of non-physical products, enables online sellers to offer a variety of flexible recurring pricing models. In addition, merchandisers can easily construct complex bundles of products, with sophisticated rule-based discounts, and give their customers the power to create their own packages with a modern guided-selling user experience.

For all publishers of digital goods and content, the result is higher conversion rates, higher average order value, higher lifetime customer value, a recurring revenue stream and much better ability to monetize their long tail of previously issued products.

For book and magazine publishers, hybris’ new capability makes it possible to sell individual chapters or articles, or bundle them on the fly. Software and game publishers can leverage the new features to more easily sell add-ons, upgrades, subscription renewals and downloadable content (DLC).

In addition to the new capabilities, hybris Commerce Suite offers proven tools for personalization, merchandising for cross-selling and up-selling, a highly-acclaimed master data management / product and service catalog and order orchestration capabilities, all delivered on a single, modern, integrated technology stack. This capability is unique among commerce platforms.

hybris also delivers powerful technology (known as a REST API) for implementing “headless commerce”, where the product itself – the book, magazine, game or application – is the commerce front-end, and transactions are effected in-context, greatly increasing conversions. This technology also makes it much easier for publishers to support the complex array of different and constantly changing devices.

“As the shift from paper and CDs to downloaded or streaming content accelerates, companies are increasingly experimenting with innovative selling models. hybris supports these initiatives with an agile selling platform that is engineered for extension, expansion, and innovation,” said Moritz Zimmerman hybris Chief Technology Officer. “With these new capabilities, publishers selling to consumers, professionals, academics or industry will get much faster time to innovation and a much better total cost of ownership.”