For those of you who intend to buy the iPad mini, it is important to take note that the iPad mini LTE version would not be able to take advantage of the dual band 1800MHz and 2600MHz available in Singapore.

According to the specification provided by Apple, there are two models available. One model supports only Bands 4 and 17 while the other supports band 1,3,5,13,25.

Singapore telcos supports dual band LTE, Band 3 (1800MHz) and Band 7 (2600MHz).  The situation is the same for the iPhone 5. The model that is suitable should be model A1455.

LTE at 2600MHz usually give you better throughput. In this case, users will to run their devices under the 1800MHz Band 3 since it is the only supported band on the iPad mini LTE.

•Model A1454* ◦GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
◦UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

•Model A1455* ◦CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
◦UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
◦LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

•Data only3
•802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
•Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

The iPhone phenomenon

Apple fans throughout the world are fasincated by the launch of the iPhone 5 today. Pre-orders were available in Singapore but that didn’t deter people from queueing to collect it overnight.

Look at the overnight queue at EpiCentre, Singapore.

Although the iPhone 5 is not technically superior than some of the Andriod phones out there, there are still a die hard group of fans that will go for the iPhone. It happened for 3GS, 4, 4S and now iPhone 5.

Some of it’s competitors has larger screen and slimmer body. Some even has anti dust, water resistance. The most important thing that most review sites forgot to mention is that the iPhone 5 comes with single band LTE 1800MHz unlike the others with Dual band of 1800MHz and 2600MHz. This is important as outdoor coverage is mainly 2600MHz and iPhone 5 will likely be seeing access speeds.

So, why is it that people are buying into Apple products knowing that the technical specifications might not be as good as the competitor. What I feel is the software that is more important than the hardware. Look at the apps you have on iPhone versus others. Secondly, it is the only brand that provides iOS upgrade from version 3 to 4, 5, and now iOS 6 across all iphones and iPads. Older phones gets a new life with every OS update. Compared to the Android, most of the older phones are still stucked at version 2.3.4 Gingerbread.

If you just bought your iPhone 5, I would like you to do a speedtest (using Speedtest app) on the LTE network. Do a screen capture and send it in to us on our Facebook page or email us at webmaster at ocworkbench.

Screen shot of Singtel phone user testing the LTE speed test at Kovan. It achieves 11Mbps for downlink and 27.11Mbps uplink.
Picture courtesy of Sgphonedeals

So what is your opinion about this phenomenon ? Will you buy one ? Post your comments below :

Today LG announced the launch of the Optimus G, a new premium flagship device offering a unique User Experience (UX) supported by innovative hardware performance. The powerful hardware included in the Optimus G allows for the possibility of such a creative and engaging UX which will enable Optimus G users to “live without boundaries.”

With the powerful quad-core CPU, Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and industry best technologies for enhanced viewing and longer battery life, LG adds the finishing touches on the Optimus G with a beautiful sleek design and innovative UX features. The offerings in the Optimus G will provide users an experience currently unavailable on any other smartphone.

“The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.”

LG Optimus G will go on sale in Korea starting next week followed by key global markets in October. The date of local availability has not been confirmed yet.

Press Release

LG TO CHANGE MARKET DYNAMICS WITH OPTIMUS G

BY FOCUSING ON DIFFERENTIATED USER EXPERIENCE

LG’s New Flagship LTE Device Offers Superior

User Experience for “Living Without Boundaries”

SEOUL, Sep. 18, 2012 – Today LG announced the launch of the Optimus G, a new premium flagship device offering a unique User Experience (UX) supported by innovative hardware performance. The powerful hardware included in the Optimus G allows for the possibility of such a creative and engaging UX which will enable Optimus G users to “live without boundaries.”

With the powerful quad-core CPU, Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and industry best technologies for enhanced viewing and longer battery life, LG adds the finishing touches on the Optimus G with a beautiful sleek design and innovative UX features. The offerings in the Optimus G will provide users an experience currently unavailable on any other smartphone.

“The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.”

New Form of Cross-Tasking and Engaging UX

With reliable and speedy performance, LG’s Optimus G doesn’t solely enable multi-tasking but “cross-tasking” of activities without limitations. If multi-tasking applies to running various applications at the same time, cross-tasking applies to complex tasks that can be completed simultaneously without having to compromise other tasks. Some new UX features that will be included into the Optimus G to showcase its cross-tasking and engaging capabilities are:

• QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display. As it doesn’t just show a part of the screen but the entire screen of both functions, the user can complete two tasks concurrently – such as sending a text message or searching the web while watching a video;
• Live Zooming enhances the video-watching experience as users can zoom in up to five times while the video is being streamed for a close-up of one’s child while watching a recorded video from a school recital;
• Dual Screen Dual Play not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen wirelessly. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;
• QuickMemo allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo with their finger directly on the captured screen for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL. The QuickMemo can also be used as an overlay feature – like jotting down a number using the QuickMemo and directly dialing the number while the number is on the top layer;
• Screen Zooming allows for the zooming in and out of lists in music player, email, text messages and photo gallery. It also offers the ability to change the font size and screen layout;
• Application Link launches preset applications (email, calendar, weather, etc.)  when the alarm is turned off – making preparation time in the morning go a little faster with all the information on your screen;
• Icon Personalizer allows users the ability to customize icons by editing size and adding images so the most frequently used apps can be most easily accessible.

In addition, smart and fun camera features in Optimus G will allow for capturing and seizing those special moments in our lives. Utilizing the industry’s highest resolution camera at 13MP, users will have the opportunity to capture their favorite scenes with:

• Smart Shutter senses camera vibration or the movement of the subject and adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot;
• Time Catch Shot enables the user to choose the best among various shots taken before the shutter button is pressed;
• Cheese Shutter takes photos easily with voice activation command just by saying cheese, kimchi, smile or even LG;
• Low Light Shot Noise Reduction employs a light monitoring system and activates when the camera is used in a low-light situation for the least amount of noise.

Design Masterpiece with Timeless Value

Inheriting LG’s design DNA and heritage, the blend of delicate design and technology placed the emphasis on simplicity with a completely black unibody form in the Optimus G. For this unique look, LG developed and patented the Crystal Reflection finish, which is applied to the back of the Optimus G for a luxurious look and feel. Crystal Reflection gives the Optimus G’s back cover the ability to display different patterns depending on the viewing angle and lighting. Also, the intricate polarized pattern, which sparkles under the sleek surface, creates a three-dimensional illusion that is eye-catching and exquisitely reminiscent of a jewel. And finally, laser cutting gives the Optimus G a clean finish with metallic highlights.

Unparalleled Technologies for Ultimate UX

The elegant yet sleek design and the imaginative UX experience displayed in the new Optimus G were possible thanks to a collection of technologies from industry-leading developers in their field.

As the first quad-core smartphone with LTE connectivity capabilities, Optimus G complements the enhanced UX features with unsurpassed speed and power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 Pro Quad-Core CPU processor. The state-of-the-art display technologies such as the Zerogap Touch and True HD IPS^Plus Display from LG Innotek and LG Display harmonize to offer the slimmest, sharpest and clearest viewing experience yet. The new battery from LG Chem has a longer life of 800 cycles, a significant improvement over existing mobile phone batteries. An ultra high-resolution, compact 13MP camera is employed in the Optimus G to offer the sharpest photos without pixelation – even when creating extra-large prints.

LG Optimus G will go on sale in Korea starting next week followed by key global markets in October.

Key Specifications:

Ÿ         Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHz Quad-Core Krait CPUs and LTE

Ÿ         Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Ÿ         Network: 2G / 3G / LTE

Ÿ         Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS^Plus (1280 x 768 pixels) / 15:9 ratio

Ÿ         Memory: 32GB

Ÿ         RAM: 2GB DDR

Ÿ         Camera: 13.0MP or 8.0MP rear / 1.3MP front

Ÿ         Battery: 2,100mAh (570Wh/L) / Talk time: 15 hours / Standby: 335 hours

Ÿ         Size: 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm

Ÿ         Weight: 145g

Other: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL and DLNA, NFC 

LG TO CHANGE MARKET DYNAMICS WITH OPTIMUS G

BY FOCUSING ON DIFFERENTIATED USER EXPERIENCE

LG’s New Flagship LTE Device Offers Superior

User Experience for “Living Without Boundaries”

SEOUL, Sep. 18, 2012 – Today LG announced the launch of the Optimus G, a new premium flagship device offering a unique User Experience (UX) supported by innovative hardware performance. The powerful hardware included in the Optimus G allows for the possibility of such a creative and engaging UX which will enable Optimus G users to “live without boundaries.”

With the powerful quad-core CPU, Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and industry best technologies for enhanced viewing and longer battery life, LG adds the finishing touches on the Optimus G with a beautiful sleek design and innovative UX features. The offerings in the Optimus G will provide users an experience currently unavailable on any other smartphone.

“The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.” 

New Form of Cross-Tasking and Engaging UX

With reliable and speedy performance, LG’s Optimus G doesn’t solely enable multi-tasking but “cross-tasking” of activities without limitations. If multi-tasking applies to running various applications at the same time, cross-tasking applies to complex tasks that can be completed simultaneously without having to compromise other tasks. Some new UX features that will be included into the Optimus G to showcase its cross-tasking and engaging capabilities are:

·       QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display. As it doesn’t just show a part of the screen but the entire screen of both functions, the user can complete two tasks concurrently – such as sending a text message or searching the web while watching a video;

·       Live Zooming enhances the video-watching experience as users can zoom in up to five times while the video is being streamed for a close-up of one’s child while watching a recorded video from a school recital;

·       Dual Screen Dual Play not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen wirelessly. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes; 

·       QuickMemo allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo with their finger directly on the captured screen for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL. The QuickMemo can also be used as an overlay feature – like jotting down a number using the QuickMemo and directly dialing the number while the number is on the top layer;

·       Screen Zooming allows for the zooming in and out of lists in music player, email, text messages and photo gallery. It also offers the ability to change the font size and screen layout;

·       Application Link launches preset applications (email, calendar, weather, etc.)  when the alarm is turned off – making preparation time in the morning go a little faster with all the information on your screen;

·       Icon Personalizer allows users the ability to customize icons by editing size and adding images so the most frequently used apps can be most easily accessible.

In addition, smart and fun camera features in Optimus G will allow for capturing and seizing those special moments in our lives. Utilizing the industry’s highest resolution camera at 13MP, users will have the opportunity to capture their favorite scenes with:

·       Smart Shutter senses camera vibration or the movement of the subject and adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot;

·       Time Catch Shot enables the user to choose the best among various shots taken before the shutter button is pressed;

·       Cheese Shutter takes photos easily with voice activation command just by saying cheese, kimchi, smile or even LG;

·       Low Light Shot Noise Reduction employs a light monitoring system and activates when the camera is used in a low-light situation for the least amount of noise.

Design Masterpiece with Timeless Value

Inheriting LG’s design DNA and heritage, the blend of delicate design and technology placed the emphasis on simplicity with a completely black unibody form in the Optimus G. For this unique look, LG developed and patented the Crystal Reflection finish, which is applied to the back of the Optimus G for a luxurious look and feel. Crystal Reflection gives the Optimus G’s back cover the ability to display different patterns depending on the viewing angle and lighting. Also, the intricate polarized pattern, which sparkles under the sleek surface, creates a three-dimensional illusion that is eye-catching and exquisitely reminiscent of a jewel. And finally, laser cutting gives the Optimus G a clean finish with metallic highlights.

Unparalleled Technologies for Ultimate UX

The elegant yet sleek design and the imaginative UX experience displayed in the new Optimus G were possible thanks to a collection of technologies from industry-leading developers in their field.

As the first quad-core smartphone with LTE connectivity capabilities, Optimus G complements the enhanced UX features with unsurpassed speed and power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 Pro Quad-Core CPU processor. The state-of-the-art display technologies such as the Zerogap Touch and True HD IPS^Plus Display from LG Innotek and LG Display harmonize to offer the slimmest, sharpest and clearest viewing experience yet. The new battery from LG Chem has a longer life of 800 cycles, a significant improvement over existing mobile phone batteries. An ultra high-resolution, compact 13MP camera is employed in the Optimus G to offer the sharpest photos without pixelation – even when creating extra-large prints.

LG Optimus G will go on sale in Korea starting next week followed by key global markets in October.

Key Specifications:

Ÿ         Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHz Quad-Core Krait CPUs and LTE

Ÿ         Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Ÿ         Network: 2G / 3G / LTE

Ÿ         Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS^Plus (1280 x 768 pixels) / 15:9 ratio

Ÿ         Memory: 32GB

Ÿ         RAM: 2GB DDR

Ÿ         Camera: 13.0MP or 8.0MP rear / 1.3MP front

Ÿ         Battery: 2,100mAh (570Wh/L) / Talk time: 15 hours / Standby: 335 hours

Ÿ         Size: 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm

Ÿ         Weight: 145g

Other: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL and DLNA, NFC

If you think are going for the latest LTE network, you might not be getting better downlink speed. You must really watch the video and see for yourself.

The test is done in Hong Kong. It compares Smartone 3G DC-HSPA+ versus the new 4G LTE network. It also compares the speed of CSL 4G LTE vs CSL 3G at the same time and location.

The video also compares LTE 1800MHz and 2600MHz modes. When reception is bad, LTE 2600MHz outperforms the downlink speed compared to a LTE 1800MHz network.

So, if you are buying the iPhone 5, do take note that it will only operate in single band LTE 1800MHz, so you might not be getting the best speeds.

Post your comments below :

2 days ago, M1, Singapore’s first LTE operator that covers the whole country announced it’s 3G and 4G price plans. To enjoy 4G experience, you have to subscribe to the VAS (value added service of S$10.70) while other telcos charge the same rate for 3G and 4G plans.

A couple of minutes ago, M1 posted a note that their Facebook page that they will waive off the S$10.70 surcharge until further notice.

This is definitely good news as M1′s 4G iPhone value+ plan is the cheapest among the 3 telcos at S$36/mth.

“We are pleased to share that our new 4G smartphone service plans, to be available from 15 September, will now include free 4G VAS until further notice. “

If you intend to buy the new iPhone 5 with 4G support. It is important to know that the Singapore LTE network is a dual band network supporting 1800MHz and 2600MHz. Unfortunately, the new iPhone 5 supports only the 1800MHz band, generally great for indoors.

As for Hong Kong, only SmarTone supports the 1800MHz band. The iPhone 5 will be compatible with SmarTone network. The rest of the operators do not support the 1800MHz band yet.

Here is a list of network the mode A1429 iPhone 5 will work on

GSM model A1428*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)
CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)
GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)
802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

The iPhone 5 is finaly launched. So what is new ? Let’s take a look at it’s specs :

iPhone 5 specs: 112 grams (20 percent lighter than 4s), 7.6 mm (18 percent thinner), 4-inch display (up from 3.5 inches), 1136×640 pixel resolution (up from 960×640), a fifth row of icons on the screen, 44 percent more color saturation, LTE network compatible, available on Verizon/Sprint/ATT, processor and graphics are 2x faster.

The battery life far exceeds the iPhone 4S. It will have 8 hrs of talk time, 8 hrs of 3G / LTE browsing, 10 hrs for WIFI, 10 hours for Video, 40 hours for music and 225 hrs for standby.

The camera is improved too. It has a ‎8 megapixel camera
3264 x 2448, has backside illumination, Hybrid IR filter
Give elecment lens
f/2.4 aperture
25% smaller

It has an improved low light mode and a sapphire crystal lens cover.

The facetime front camera is upgraded and it supports 720p, backlit illumination, face detection
and now facetime over cellular.

Audio quality is improved too with an Improved speaker with 5 magnet transducer. Also Wide band audio too. Makes voice sound more natural.

The old USB cable goes into history as Apple introduces “lightning” connector. The new connector is smaller but there will also be an adapter for the old one

The new iPhone 5 will ship with iOS 6. It comes with new map applications that replaces google maps. Some other changes include tweeting right at the notification centre.

There is also iCloud Tabs which syncs whatever sites you have open on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. A VIP VIP feature – messages from VIp filtered to special mail box.

iOS 6 also feature the Passbook. Passbook takes care of all the passes – boarding pass, ticketing etc. It has has push notifications — brings up boarding pass right on the lock screen, swipe it and you are right at your boarding pass.

Photo stream now can be shared with friends so that you can view what your friends are shooting.

There are also updates to Siri. It is now able to launch applications, recomend movies and check restaurants and do reservations. You can also update facebook using Siri.

Pricing is USD 199 for 16GB (contract). iPhone 4 8GB is Free with contract, iPhone 4S 16GB is USD 99 with contract.

iPhone 5 16GB is USD 199, 32GB at USD 299 and 64GB at USD 399, all with contracts.

Pre order starts from 14 sep, ships 21 Sep. iOS 6 comes Sep. 19th.

The 3 telcos has been catching up with one another in delivering the fastest broadband speeds. Although M1 was late to introduce the service, they are the first to introduce it country wide this September 15.

M1′s LTE speed will range from 6.9Mbps to 17.4Mbps and will cover 95% of the including both outdoor and indoor locations.

New smartphone and mobile broadband service plans

M1 also announced that it will introduce new smartphone and mobile broadband service plans, in conjunction with its 4G service launch.

New M1 Smartphone Service Plans

New M1 Mobile Broadband Service Plans

With the new data bundles starting from 2GB per month, the majority of customers will not incur higher charges. 78% of smartphone users consume less than 2GB of mobile data per month and 93% less than 5GB of mobile data per month. For customers who use beyond bundled allowances, excess data will be priced at an affordable $5.35 per GB.

Furthermore, re-contracting M1 customers will be given an additional 1GB of complimentary data bundle on the new smartphone and mobile broadband plans.

M1’s new smartphone and mobile broadband service plans will be made available to all new and re-contracting customers from 15 September 2012.

At launch, 4G devices that will be available include handsets: Samsung GALAXY Note LTE, Samsung GALAXY SII LTE, HTC One XL and LG Optimus True HD LTE; tablets: ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TL and Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 LTE; USB modem: Huawei E392, and mobile Wi-Fi modem: Huawei E589.

Live Demonstration

Customers can experience live demonstration of the amazing 4G service at M1’s flagship shop at Paragon from 6 September 2012. At the Live 4G demo-zone, customers will be able to test out new 4G handsets and tablets on M1’s 4G network, and experience first-hand, the next generation mobile experience.

For more information on M1’s amazing 4G network and services, please visit www.m1.com.sg/4G.

SingTel on the other hand was launched in June and will only cover 80% by year end and 95% by 1Q 2013. Starhub is expected to roll out LTE by year end.

Both telco uses LTE that runs on 1,800MHz and 2.600MHz frequencies. Customers who buy 4G devices do take note that it must support these spectrums otherwise it can’t take advantage of LTE.

Phones and tablet that will work are Samsung Galaxy Note LTE, Samsung Galaxy SII LTE, HTC One XL and LG Optimus True HD LTE phones, as well as the Asus Transformer Pad TF300TL and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablets. Unfortunately the Apple new iPad won’t run in LTE mod as it supports the 700MHz and 2100MHz spectrums.

LG LAUNCHES OPTIMUS LTE,
FIRST 4G HD SMARTPHONE IN KOREAN MARKET
Leading the LTE Era with Advanced True HD IPS Display Technology

  
SEOUL, Oct. 4, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) today announced the Korean market launch of LG Optimus LTE, the first mobile device in the country to offer 4G connectivity with the highest resolution IPS display available on a smartphone. Developed in close collaboration with sister company LG Display, Optimus LTE features a striking 4.5–inch “True HD IPS” display which offers advanced resolution, brightness and clarity and shows colors in their most natural tones, as they were meant to be seen.

Optimus LTE also delivers enhanced performance with 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS platform. With a large 1,830 mAh battery, Optimus LTE is perfectly suited for multimedia usage. In addition, the device enables content sharing seamlessly through HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance).

“LG Optimus LTE is the first smartphone in Korea to offer vivid and clear HD content on a 4G network,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our goal is to be a leading player in LTE devices by continuously offering best-in-class products based on our LTE patents and know-how.”

According to a recent report by Jefferies & Company, LG was listed as the global leader in LTE patents with ownership of 23 percent of approximately 1,400 LTE patents filed worldwide, with a financial value of almost USD 8 billion. LG demonstrated the world’s first LTE technology in 2007 and developed the world’s first LTE modem chipset in 2008. LG introduced the world’s fastest LTE technology in 2010 and conducted the world’s first video phone call on a LTE network in 2011. LG’s first LTE smartphone, RevolutionTM, was launched in the US earlier this year.

Availability of Optimus LTE in markets outside of Korea has not yet been determined.