No more cable services in Singapore next year

From July 2019 StarHub will no longer offer cable services. The company is helping cable customers migrate to fibre connectivity instead.

Donovan Kik, VP of Segment and Marketing, StarHub, said, “We constantly refresh our service offerings to ensure they are aligned with what our customers desire, including the best possible service standards and more choices on the most modern all-fibre broadband network where they can enjoy faster Internet surfing speeds as well as higher quality pay TV services with better interactivity and smarter features.

"This way, they would also be well prepared to adopt new, transformative digital services such as in telehealth, asset monitoring and remote learning that will depend on high-speed, low latency communications networks running on fibre.”

StarHub promotional offers for value customers include discounted subscriptions, a free wireless router, free fibre TV set-top box rental, and free additional StarHub TV channels. This makes the cost of the fibre subscription the same as paying for cable, StarHub said.

In addition, StarHub’s technical experts will take care of the end-to-end installation and activation of fibre services for customers, and that includes providing home networking advice such as ideal wireless router placement and fibre TV cabling solutions.

StarHub is progressively reaching out to existing cable customers through various channels including letter, phone call and SMS to provide more information and assistance for a smooth transition to fibre networks.

Customers may also submit web requests at www.starhub.com/switch-to-fibre to receive specific information such as fibre promotional offers and wired or wireless solutions for receiving fibre TV services in their bedrooms. A customer guide to upgrading to fibre is also available at this dedicated site.

The telco, which has also exited the electricity resale market, will cease the provision of cable services after 30 June 2019.

Altec Lansing launches ruggedised mobile accessories at CES

Altec Lansing has announced new collections of "everything-proof" chargers, power banks, cables and cases for smartphones and tablets which are designed to withstand wear and tear as well as less-than-hospitable conditions. Scheduled for roughly Q216 release, the new accessories will provide ruggedised features such as IP67-rated, military-grade construction to ensure reliable waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant operation and device protection.

The new products will include:

Altec Lansing Everything Proof 3,000, 6,000 and 10,000 mAh Power Packs for smartphones, tablets and MP3 players, providing up to 100 hours of talk time, 75 hours of music, 50 hours of video and 4.5 full charges depending on the model. All three will be IP67-rated for waterproof protection even in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes; sealed from dirt, dust and sand; designed to float to prevent loss if they accidentally go overboard; and come pre-charged and ready to use out of the box. Each will incorporate a carabiner for on-the-go attachment to belts, backpacks and other equipment. (Manufacturers' suggested retail pricing [MSRP] US$29.99, US$39.99 and US$69.99)

Altec Lansing 3.4 Amp Dual USB Rapid Car Charger, a quick-charge unit that will charge two devices simultaneously. Protective silicon seals over both USB ports defend the charger against moisture, dirt and other materials. Supports iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. (MSRP US$19.99) 

Altec Lansing 3.4 Amp Dual USB Rapid Wall Charger, offering the same rugged construction, two-device charging ability and durability as the car charger. (MSRP US$19.99)

Altec Lansing Shock-Proof Lightning Cable, a 3' braided, tangle-proof cable with extra layers of protection including a spring coil that provides strain relief to prevent fraying and breakage at the tip. Other protections include dustproof construction and silicon tips for additional breakage resistance. Compatible with iPhone 6/6s, iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus, iPhone 5/5S/5C, iPod Touch 5th Generation, iPad 4th Generation and iPad Air. (MSRP US$19.99)

Altec Lansing Shock-Proof Micro Cable, featuring the same 3' braided, extra-durable construction as the Lightning cable. Compatible with Android, BlackBerry and Samsung smartphones and micro USB devices. (MSRP US$14.99)

Altec Lansing Everything Proof Smartphone Cases built to provide maximum protection for iPhone 6/6S and Galaxy S5/S6 smartphones. Features range from 5' drop protection, 360-degree impact protection and dirt-proofing to IP67-rated waterproofing, depending on the model. (MSRP US$29.99 and up)

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Altec Lansing's new earbuds at CES.

Hashtag: #CES2016

Bosign expands tech collection

Bosign, a privately owned Swedish company that specialises in the design, patenting, and manufacturing of high quality, affordable Scandinavian lifestyle products, has launched a number of tech accessories for mobile device owners.

The key feature of the new iPad Carrying Sleeve are its camouflaged leather fold-up handles, which provide an alternative way to carry the iPad. The iPad Carrying Sleeve, measuring 28cm (W) by 21cm (H) by 1.2cm (D), is made from felt to protect the iPad from scratches and dust. 

The sleeve body is padded to protect the iPad against light impact damage. There is room for a charger and small items too. The sleeve is available in a wide range of colours, including dark blue with dark grey and a mix of turquoise, grey and chestnut.

The soft and adjustable Tabletpillow 2, the latest addition to Bosign’s Surfpillow range, is an improved version of the original Tabletpillow. Bosign’s Tabletpillow can be placed on any surface for safe, comfortable tablet use. The pillow is filled with micro spherical beads to adjust to various working angles.

Two extra inner pockets serve as a protective sleeve for the tablet and provide ideal storage for memory sticks, chargers, and pens. The pillowcase is made of water-repellent, washable material, and covered in an anti-slip silicon print that grasps hard, uneven or soft surfaces and holds the tablet in place. 

The Tabletpillow 2 is available in black, lime, turquoise, wine red and chocolate brown together with black accents. It measures 27cm (W) by 9.5cm (H) by 22cm (D).

Bosign also launched its Hideaway cable organiser in white. The easy-clean, fireproof Hideaway is available in the medium size (30cm (W) by 13.5cm (H) by 18cm (D). It is designed to hide the cables for electronic equipment and provide a single place for all chargers.


All products are available through the Visceral Goods online store, which offers free shipping for Singapore and charges affordable shipping rates for international orders.

*All images from Bosign.

Kickstarter focus: A USB cable that charges smartphones twice as fast

Minsoo and Emily Seo have come up with a USB charging cable that charges iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones roughly twice as fast as ordinary charging cables. 

As they explain on their Kickstarter page, USB cables automatically try to communicate with the attached device while providing limited electric energy, whereas their DouBBleTime USB charging cable has a switch that limits the cable to charging only, shortening charging times substantially.

Source: Kickstarter.

"A simple yet ingenious special chip inside the switch talks to your computer saying, ‘I’m not a phone; I’m not going to sync, so give me maximum charging energy.’ This message allows the cable to bypass the capped out maximum power a USB can output and connect straight to the mainboard. The special chip also provides over current protection (OCP) and short circuit protection, which guarantees the safety of both your computer and device while charging," say the Seos on their Kickstarter page.

The second wave of backers can get their choice of a Lightning or Micro USB cable for US$18, with US$5 more for international shipping.
 
View the associated video here. The Kickstarter campaign ends May 23, and is already heavily oversubscribed.