singapore

Smartphones banned? Not in this primary-school class

It's not unusual for schools to ban mobile devices during class, but it's a different story at Nan Chiau Primary School in Singapore. Here, 350 third-graders gaze and poke at Windows phones while their science teacher elaborates on their assignments for the day. The students are free to shoot photos and videos using their Nokia Lumia 710 smartphones to help them remember what they've learned.

Using an app called myDesk -- developed by undergraduates at the University of Michigan -- the students make diagrams and concept maps, as well as append text and photos to their assignments. Teachers are also able to use the app to review the work submitted and leave feedback. … Read more

Can Asia's tech-loving areas spell widespread iPhone woes?

If Singapore and Hong Kong are to be our guides, Apple might be having some trouble in Asia, according to a new report.

Reuters yesterday made some waves in a report outlining Apple's perceived troubles in Asia. The news outlet argued that in the most "trend-setting" areas in Asia, the popularity of Apple's iPhone seems to be dropping off.

To make its point, Reuters pointed to data from StatCounter, an analytics provider that delivers market share data based on page views collected from sites running its platform. At last count, that meant a global sample of … Read more

Navigate through cities and country with this superb GPS mapping app

Papago! is a GPS navigation app for the iPhone and iPad that covers many areas in Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and in this case, Singapore + Malaysia. There are different versions of the Papago! Singapore + Malaysia guides available at different prices on iTunes. There is an older Lite version for $14.99 and a Pro version for $24.99 for the iPhone, and a special HD version for the iPad at $29.99.

Graphically, Papago! Singapore + Malaysia is a delight. The maps are clear, instructions are simple and readable, and the interface is both intuitive and easy to … Read more

Singapore lines up for the iPhone 5

Like their compatriots across Asia, many Singaporeans couldn't wait to get their hands on the iPhone 5. So up they queued the night before -- not five days ahead of time, as in New York, or three days, as in Sydney, but still plenty early.

Here are some scenes from the launch at two Singapore carriers, which started at 8 a.m. local time. For more, see this CNET Asia slideshow.

Good deal: Groupon opens first physical store

E-commerce just dropped the letter "e," with Groupon setting up its first retail store in the heart of Singapore.

The store is an avenue for shoppers to redeem their purchased goods instantly, Groupon Singapore CEO Karl Chong told CNET Asia during the official launch. It's also a way for the company to get to know its customers.

The shop has three computer terminals, as well as a handful of Apple iPads, where customers can browse, buy, and print deals on the spot. However, only physical goods can be redeemed at the store in the Suntec City Mall. … Read more

Airline axes 2 tons of TVs in favor of Apple's iPad

Singapore Airlines subsidiary Scoot Pte recently launched its low-cost airline carrier, a business made possible in part by shedding nearly 2 tons of television and other video equipment in favor of Apple's 1.44-pound iPad, according to Bloomberg.

By shedding the weight of outdated video equipment, Scoot Pte was able to increase its seat capacity by 40 percent and still come in at a weight loss of 7 percent. Perhaps a show titled "Biggest Loser: Budget Airlines Edition" is in order.

Weight, of course, is the biggest issue when airlines are deciding on ticket prices. The weight … Read more

Google building data center in Taiwan to meet greater demand

Google's upcoming data center in Taiwan will join those already being built in Hong Kong and Singapore as a sign of increased demand in Asia for the company's online services.

Costing a total of $700 million, the three data centers are being geared to provide users "with the fastest and most reliable access possible to all of Google's services," according to the company.

"More new Internet users are coming online everyday here in Asia than anywhere else in the world," Google said on its Web page for the new data center. "They … Read more

Who's Siri? Singapore get its own concierge app

Siri may not be able to search for businesses outside of the U.S. or understand Asian accents, but Singaporeans need not fret. They now have Def!nd.

Just launched by local telco SingTel, Def!nd is a digital concierge app that's able to do some things Siri cannot. Def!nd can locate nearby restaurants and amenities, book taxis, and find shopping deals. Through the app, users can even book a restaurant and receive an SMS confirmation.

The best part? You don't have to be a SingTel subscriber or own an iPhone 4S to use Def!nd. … Read more

Singlish-speaking Siri rival seen in Singapore

Apple's Siri voice assistant may soon have some competition in Singapore.

Local carrier SingTel has cooked up its own voice-recognition assistant application for iPhone and Android that's designed to understand the locals, reports Agence France-Presse.

The app, called DeF!ND, is able to pick up on what the AFP refers to as "Singlish" which is a blend of English and words in languages from neighboring countries, along with a helping of local accents.

By comparison, Apple's Siri (which is still in beta) currently supports English, French, and German. Apple has said that it's bringing … Read more

Facebook time is tops abroad, with Singapore No. 1

Here at the epicenter of social networking, birthplace of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it's easy to lose sight of just how much the rest of the world loves our homespun social-media creations.

As it turns out, social networking is enjoyed overseas even more than here at home in Silicon Valley. Underscoring this notion is a newly released international study from Experian Hitwise tracking the top eight countries spending the most time on Facebook and other social networks.

Here's the lowdown: Singapore loves Facebook more than any other country. In August, people in Singapore spent the most time on Facebook 38 minutes and 46 seconds per session, while those in New Zealand spent 30 minutes and 31 seconds. Australians spent 26 minutes and 27 seconds; next, folks in the United Kingdom spent 25 minutes and 33 seconds; and the United States came in 5th place with 20 minutes 46 seconds, followed by France, India, and Brazil.

Not surprisingly, Facebook was the most visited social network in the United States in August, leading with 91 percent of all visits. Second place went to Twitter with 1.92 percent of all social-networking visits. San Francisco-based Tagged.com came in third place for the first time with 1.04 percent of all visits, overtaking MySpace. … Read more