As technology users welcome 2012 everywhere, it’s clear the year that had just passed was filled with no little controversy and memorable incidents.

From Steve Jobs’ death to the delay of the much-awaited iPhone 5, from the rise of Android devices to Nokia’s return with its Windows Phone devices, and finally, with the potent mix of mobile devices and social media that  helped ignite protests in the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, but also encouraged the thuggery of the London riots, 2011 was a big year in technology.

The next 12 months look to be just as interesting, as existing technologies mature and grow, while other new trends emerge. Here are five things to look out for in 2012:

1. The arrival of the “transform” device
Just a few years ago, it was unfathomable that people would junk their desktop PCs for laptops. Because the portable device had a smaller screen and usually lesser computing prowess, the portable device never matched up to the silent giant under the desk.

These days, however, with power-efficient yet advanced CPUs and graphics chips, laptops can do the job just as well, plus they can be hooked up with a monitor, keyboard and mouse easily to transform into a desktop PC in a jiffy.

The same is happening with tablets and smartphones. In 2012, there will be more devices like the Motorola Atrix, first unveiled in early 2011, that basically turns into a laptop once it is docked with a laptop dock. The Atrix taps on its dual-core chip to run Webtop, which is based on Ubuntu Linux, to give users a regular desktop OS look and feel. It runs the OS you prefer at any time, all in one device.

Essentially, you only need one smart device – your phone or tablet – to do everything you need in future. What you will have are many docks or keyboards and screens to hook up to this increasingly powerful (expect quad core gizmos in 2012, starting with the Asus Transformer Prime) yet portable device in your hands.

Desktops and laptops will definitely still be around, but the mobile gadget is set to be the central device in your life.

2.  Windows 8 brings “touch” on everyday PCs
Related to this portable device rush is Windows 8. The upcoming Microsoft OS, expected this year, is being billed as the biggest upgrade in years for one reason – it is going to unify both mobile devices and PCs with one OS.

It works with touch, and features a Windows Phone-like tile system, where users will be given a panel of information and the ability to go into the nitty gritty only if they wish to. The big icons and friendlier interface also mean that this is the first time the Start button and taskbar – at least in their present forms – will be out of the picture.

Along with Windows 8′s arrival, expect computing of all types – from smartphones to laptops to desktops – to tap on the novel OS.

What to expect? Look to something like the Samsung Slate PC, which crams a powerful Intel dual-core CPU into a thin, portable tablet that can be hooked up with a keyboard and screen to become a full-fledged desktop. It runs Windows 7 now, but come next year, devices like these will sport the even more touch-friendly Windows 8.

3. Tougher times for Apple
It’s not just Steve Jobs’ passing that will affect Apple for the coming year, but also the fact that it is a company that wins big because of the very sharp innovation curve that it sets out each year.

When the iPod was commoditised, the iPhone became the next big thing; when Android smartphones managed to grab huge chunks of market share in 2010, the iPad became the market-conquering portable gizmo in a class of its own.

The question in 2012 is: what next? Surely, there’d be new versions of the iPhone (after the disappointing iPhone 4S) and iPad (which still has a good lead over all over Android rivals). But can these upgrades keep Apple at the top of the pile, or will it see its innovation and design lead cut short in 2012?

The emergence of the Windows-based Ultrabooks in 2011 from Asus, in particular, is a clear answer to how fast the competition is catching up, in this case, with the MacBook Air.

In the next 12 months, Apple will find the going even tougher. Users are often willing to accept Apple’s closed “my way or the highway” approach because of the perceived better design and innovation from the company, but it has to keep coming up with new winners to redefine the field. In 2012, it needs another big winner to pull away.

4. Say hi again to a smart TV
It’s been prophecised several times before, but 2012 could finally see the arrival of smart TVs that do more than just show your cable TV programmes or Blu-ray movies in all their 60-inch Full HD glory. These TVs could be the conduit to many services and apps that were just becoming common in 2011.

Yes, Facebook will be there, as will Twitter and other PC-based services and apps that you had seen on your 2011 Samsung or LG TV when you were free enough to venture into some of its sub menus. But what about YouTube, or rather, a YouTube-type service – on steroids?

Think of an app that is smart enough to offer the same multi-tasking you’d expect on a PC screen, say, talk to a friend on a chat window while watching a live football match, or checking out background information from Wikipedia on the JFK assassination, if you are watching a documentary on it on a National Geographic app, for example.

Not so new, I hear you say? The main difference this time is that the intelligence is built into the TV and possibly delivered straight to the screen – over the TV’s Net link – instead of via a third-party set-top box and third party broadcaster.

Sure, it’d be a leap of faith for content executives who have always preferred to work with their favoured “platform partners”, i.e. broadcasters like StarHub and SingTel.

But for indie channels and content owners looking to jumpstart their work by showing their programmes direct to viewers, they can now create their own content and app and reach out to viewers – in the same way cellphone app developers sell their apps direct to users.

Creating a smart TV programme would thus involve skills needed to develop an app for, say, the mobile phone or tablet. Will this model work for TV? Well, it’s already proven already by Apple and Google in their respective app marketplaces, and what’s there to stop you paying S$2 for a movie on a smart TV, just like you’d buy an app on your phone?

If rumours hold true and Apple decides to create its own TV set in 2012 or if Google takes YouTube to the big screen by signing up more content creators as it has done in 2011, then the next 12 months could see big changes in the way video content is created, delivered and consumed in the big screen in the living room.

5. Fibre broadband takes off in Singapore
This is a banker of a trend, because we know that 95 per cent of the city will be covered by the fibre optic network this year. Going by the long waitlist to turn on a fibre broadband service now – up to a month with M1, we are told by users – the demand for light-speed downloads is going to be even higher in 2012.

It helps, of course, that the network has finally forced open a market that once was dominated by SingTel and StarHub.

Take M1, for example. It used to have to rent the network from the two telcos, but now it can get wholesale access at the same price as its bigger rivals, and it can price its services competitively, as a result. Its S$39-a-month 100Mbps fibre plan sold at computer expos in 2011, for one, has become the benchmark to follow in 2012.

Since Steve Job’s untimely death, Samsung has been ramping up the assault on Apple, having launched a series of funny ads attacking the iPhone 4S.

Take a look at this ad which was just released a few days ago:

And of course, here was the original ad that mocked the throngs of people who queued up to buy the latest iteration of the iPhone 4S.

Of course, the battle isn’t just being fought in the realm of marketing and PR.

A global war is being fought on the patent lawsuit end between the two giants, and Apple just suffered a setback when it failed to get Australia courts to prevent the sale of the 10-inch Galaxy Tab just this week.

Of course, Apple is well-known for using patents to go after the competition, in this case Android and the phonemakers who support the platform, like Samsung and HTC. Apple has purportedly even dipped into the shadier side of the law through patent trolling in its all-out war.

Steve Jobs himself famously vowed to “go thermonuclear” on Android in the recent official biography by Walter Isaacson.

This book, by the way, even though it is only about two months old, has already become Amazon’s top grossing book of 2011. A testament to the man’s legacy that even the big Apple detractors here at Techgoondu have to admit.

With the mobile wars between Apple and Samsung and HTC heating up, and not forgetting dark horse Nokia (with Windows), 2012 will surely be an interesting year. Fight!

Singapore Expo is a long way away for most people, other than folks living in the east, so before you head down to Sitex, Singapore’s last quarterly IT bazaar for 2011, check out some of the standout deals that people have been putting up on brochure sites.

Yes, in the past, you had to squeeze your way through the halls for some small bargain, collecting loads of brochures on the way. Today, you can check out what’s on offer online before heading down for a more targeted trip.

Here are some great deals so far at this weekend’s show. We’ll update this page as we get more info.

D-Link’s DIR-825 router and DNS-320 network attached storage (NAS)

These are some of the best bang for buck gear that you can hook up your home with if you are looking for both high performance and value for money.

A great router for homes, the DIR-825 (S$129) supports dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi and comes with four gigabit ports that are necessary for today’s fast PCs and large file transfers. Not too long ago, similar routers cost a whole lot more, likely closer to or more than S$200.

The DNS-320 is another favourite NAS of home networking buffs because it’s not only good looking but also extremely speedy and feature-packed. Supporting two hard disks, it even lets you convert the backup device from a non-RAID to RAID 1 configuration easily, so you can mirror your hard disk content for safer backups.

Needless to say, it also comes with a bit-torrent client that you can use to download to your heart’s content, especially with that S$39-a-month M1 fibre plan offering 100Mbps to homes. At S$109, the DNS-320 is a definitely worth checking out for folks looking to set up their own NAS for the first time.

>> Download the brochure.

Pay S$48 for an Apple Magic Trackpad and memory upgrade with an Apple iMac

Buy an iMac at nubox’s stand, one of several offering Mac computers at the show, and you can pay just S$48 for a double memory upgrade (usually from 4GB to 8GB) and have an Apple Magic Trackpad to add to the style of your Apple computer.

The offer goes with several models of the iMac, from the entry level 2.5GHz version with a Core i5 chip and 21.5-inch screen costing S$1,648 to the top-end S$2,748 version with a 3.1GHz Core i5 chip and 27-inch screen.

Also noteworthy to folks opting to run Windows on a Mac: Parallels Desktop 6 and Windows Home Premium (OEM) are being bundled at S$238 (usual S$298). The package of software lets you run your Windows programs right on your Mac desktop as if they are Mac programs.

>> Download the brochures.

Print anywhere with an HP printer
Printers are a mainstay at each IT show in Singapore and this Sitex expo is no different. One interesting all-in-one machine worth checking out is HP’s Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-in-One, which lets you print remotely using the Internet. It also comes with all the useful features expected these days, like Wi-Fi support, so you can share the printer at home easily without worrying about wires.

The S$369 printer is going for S$299 at Sitex, so it may be worth checking out.

>> Download the brochures.

Buy Microsoft Office, get a wireless mouse free
This is the type of deal that will be welcome news to new PC or laptop owners. Microsoft is dangling a free Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 (usually S$39.90) as part of a deal with its Office 2010 productivity software, which will be nice to install on a new PC.

The Office packages you can buy at the Microsoft booth include Office Home & Student Edition 2010, which costs S$199, and the Office Home & Business Edition 2010 which retails for S$298.

>> Download the brochures.

Nokia N9 at S$98 at StarHub

Nokia’s neat-looking N9 is going for a nice S$98 at StarHub’s booth, along with other Android favourites now like the Samsung Galaxy S II (S$218), HTC Sensation XE (S$198) and Motorola Razr (S$48), if you sign up with a high-end mobile plan.

Worth queuing up? Well, if you plan to spend a day at Singapore Expo anyway, no harm doing so!

>> Download the brochures.

Share with us other great Sitex deals you have spotted in the comments here!

Higher launch prices notwithstanding, hundreds of iPhone fans queued up late Thursday night to be among the first people in Singapore to own Apple’s latest gizmo – the iPhone 4S.

Although the launch time stated by all telcos was Friday 12 midnight, some began queuing as early as 8.30am on Thursday to ensure that they get a place in the queue.

Take Melva Yip, a 21-year-old student at Nanyang Polytechnic. He and his friend agreed to work in shifts and started their quest from 8.30am on Thursday. His reward: the first M1 customer to own an iPhone 4S.

A current iPhone 4 user, Yip is convinced that the 4S is a worthy upgrade. “I’m upgrading for the speed, for the camera,” he said.

Also in the M1 queue was 20-year-old Jayden Chen. He said, “What attracts me is the Siri function. I’m switching over from SingTel because I think there’s a lower chance of getting the phone fast with SingTel, as they’re going with a pre-order system.”

In comparison, M1 offered the iPhone 4S on a first-come-first-served basis.

But others were less willing to queue for the phone themselves. 27-year-old Amit Sawhney, who owns a construction materials manufacturing business, conveniently got his foreign worker to stand in line for him from 9.30am. As a result, he managed to be the first SingTel customer to own an iPhone 4S.

In addition to the launch of the physical handsets, SingTel also unveiled their exclusive apps for the iPhone 4S, including one which localises voice-controlled assistant Siri’s functionality in a separate app.

Called deF!NE, the app allows users to search their surroundings with familiar terms like “char kway teow”. A quick hands-on with the app shows that it’s nowhere near Siri’s polish, but still works well enough to be useful.

These apps could prove to be a key differentiator for the red telco, as the iPhone 4S is otherwise identical across the board.

Update: Record crowd turnout

According to M1, it was a “record turnout” crowd for the iPhone 4S, which dwarfed previous crowds for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

An estimated 750 people were in the Paragon queue on 27th October Thursday night.

Customers hoping to get an iPhone 4S at M1 outlets this weekend should check M1′s Facebook page for the latest updates on availability. Thus far, M1′s online store is all out of stock. The 64GB iPhone 4S model is also out of stock at all retail outlets.

Information for SingTel stores can be found on SingTel’s Facebook page, and updates and availability for StarHub on StarHub’s Facebook page.

(This story first appeared on Techtalk, our technology content partners at Yahoo! News Singapore, with additional updates by Chan Chi-Loong, Techgoondu. Photos courtesy of Yahoo! News Singapore)

Queue outside the Paragon for M1 on Thursday 27th October night

Queue outside Suntec Hall 4 for SingTel on Thursday 27th October night

The iPhone 4S might have disappointed many fans, and validated others of their move to Android, but it’s still a highly awaited smartphone to many people.

As the local launch dates draws near, both SingTel and M1 have already unveiled their plans and pricing for the new iPhone.

StarHub, on the other hand, is keeping mum over its plans for the device, and already some fans are speculating whether the green telco has failed to secure an agreement with Apple in time for the launch.

But let’s work with the numbers we already have. Based on the cheapest plan from both SingTel and M1, the new iPhone will cost you anywhere from $498 to $798.

M1 offers a lower monthly subscription and lower iPhone prices (with the exception of the 16GB version), but bundles 50 less SMS than SingTel.

SingTel might offer you 50 more SMS, but the prices are generally higher. You’ll have to pay $39.90 every month, $32 more than M1 for the 32GB iPhone 4S, and $28 more for the 64GB version.
If you don’t mind paying up to $205 every month, then you can get the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4S for free from both telcos, with the 64GB still commanding at least $108.

M1 seems to be the clear winner here, with unlimited phone calls and unlimited data bundles for $198. SingTel, on the other hand, asks for $205 per month but restricts you to 2,000 minutes of calls and 30GB of data.

Now that the iPhone 4S will be hitting the streets, what’s going to happen to the iPhone 4?

M1 has not released renewed pricing for the iPhone 4 8GB, but it will be available at SingTel from $400 with the cheapest plan (iFlexi Lite at $39.90 per month), $120 for the next cheapest (iFlexi Value at $59.90 per month) and free for the more expensive plans.

If you prefer to buy the iPhone 4S without a telco plan, the prices will be significantly higher. But that might be the only option for those whose contracts with no end in sight. Retail pricing is available at the Apple online store.

Here are the full listings for SingTel:

And the full listings for M1:

In general, these prices are comparatively more expensive than the iPhone 4 when it launched, and could prove to be a major deterrent to consumers, especially those sitting on the fence about jumping to other platforms.

Update: StarHub has also revealed its pricing for the iPhone 4S.

(This story first appeared on Techtalk, our technology content partners at Yahoo! News Singapore).

As tributes pour in for one of the information world’s acknowledged geniuses, we thought it would only be right that we too remembered Steve Jobs for the way he changed computing for so many people.

His death this morning (Singapore time), when he was just 56, marked more than 20 years of endeavour to bring computing to the masses in a fun, accessible and imaginative way.

Not all his decisions and products went well with users, and not everything he touched turned to gold, but there is no doubt the former Apple CEO and founder of a company that created the iMac, iPhone and iPad had a profound influence in the way everyone used their digital gadgets today.

Here are four ways Steve has changed our computing lifestyles.

The way we use our PCs
Apple was the first to bring a graphical user interface (GUI) to the mainstream. For the first time, you didn’t have to know and remember complicated codes and commands just to operate a computer; you simply moved this incredible thing called the mouse cursor, point it at icons which clearly represented what their functions, and click. Computers went from cold, unfriendly machines to one which became the norm in every home – hence the term “personal computers (PCs)”. Bill Gates put a PC on every desk, but Apple made them fun.

The way we listen to music
Back in the Walkman days, did you ever think that some time in the future, you’ll be carrying 3,000 songs in your pocket? Sure, other MP3 players came before the iPod, but these were largely user-unfriendly. With iTunes and iPod, Apple opened our ears to portable music in a friendly and pretty package, with an easy way to edit and curate your music library. The iPod really took off when Apple released iTunes for Windows, proving that being open to other platforms has its benefits. And even though the iTunes Store never really reached countries like Singapore, it brought with it a new model of legal music downloads and an easy alternative to piracy.

The way we thought about smartphones
Whether you belong to the iPhone camp, the Android camp or any other smartphone camp, there’s no denying that the smartphone has been influenced by the iPhone. Before the first iPhone was launched in 2007, smartphones were clunky devices aimed at people like businessmen and verticals. They were complicated. With the iPhone, smartphones became fun, sensitive touch screens became the norm, and we all started to want a small computer in our pocket. Google responded by coming up with Android, and Microsoft had to do something to save their Windows Mobile. All because of a phone which didn’t even have a camera at launch.

The way we thought about tablets
It’s the iPhone all over again: before the iPad, tablet computers were clunky devices which sought to pile on features. Then Apple came along and showed how we didn’t have to torture our fingers for an interface built with the mouse in mind. People who didn’t even know what a tablet was became enamoured with the iPad, and it brought quick and causal computing to people who had never owned a computer before, whose iPads were their first PCs.

The end of an era
There are of course many questions floating around. What will Apple be like now that Steve is gone? Can successor Tim Cook continue Steve’s passion? But let’s put the speculation off for another day or so, and give our respects to the man who will no doubt become a legend in time to come.

Rest in peace, Steve. You’re a visionary, and you’ll be remembered.

A day before opening and as expected, the queue has begun outside Hong Kong’s first Apple Store that is scheduled to open tomorrow. But doesn’t look like a terribly crazy queue though.

So what are they queuing for? I’m guessing it’s for a chance to get one of 3,000 Apple Store HK T-shirts that they are giving out, and there’s a rumour that Apple CEO Tim Cook might be coming to town.

Oh, and if you want to meet the first to meet their Geniuses, better book a session now as the Genius Bar (located on the second floor) is open for bookings.

Hong Kong’s getting the real deal this weekend, and it comes in the form of huge Apple Store right smack in Central. And the curtains have literally come off. MIC Gadget has the scoop on that and has photos of … people taking photos of the store. Plus photos of the store.

At 20,000 sq feet spread across two floors, in one of the most expensive malls in Hong Kong – it sure sounds like a lot of money until you think about the US$7 billion in profits that the company raked in in a quarter.

Anyway, what CAN the average Apple fanboy/girl do at an Apple Store.

He/She could of course buy and learn how to use an Apple product. Get tech support from the beer-less Genius Bar. Sit in their many workshops to learn how to use their apps. And of course chat up fellow Apple fanboys/girls – where else would they rather be?

Oh but wait, can this be? Apple has JOBS in Hong Kong! No, not Steve himself, but salary-paying jobs. I can already hear the Magic Mice clicks and the frantic Magic Trackpad taps. They still have positions open – which leaves me wondering … have they already sucked up all the Geniuses in this Special Administrative Region?

No promises, but Techgoondu’s Hong Kong correspondent might just brave the Applemania this weekend to bring you some snaps of the madness.

Bought a new iPod/iPhone/iPad and looking forward to buying music for your new device? Local users have always been out of luck in that respect, as despite being the market leader for years, Apple has failed to bring its music download service to Singapore.

Now, a new software update to Research in Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will certainly be discord to Apple’s ears. The former has stuck a partnership with online music store 7digital to bring more than 9 million high quality MP3 tracks for Singapore residents to purchase.

The new Music Store app will allow users to search for songs, albums, and artists, as well as receive recommendations through a music discovery feature. Not sure whether a particular artist suits your tastes? The music store lets you preview tracks before plunking down the cash.

The cost of full albums on this new music store will range from S$8 to S$12, although users can also download just one or a few tracks if they don’t want the whole album.

However, the Music Store might be too little, too late. Although highly rated for its design and construction, the PlayBook’s lack of key apps such as a dedicated email client has hampered its early reception, especially when competing tablets running Android offers a full-featured experience.

Right now, the iPad sits at the top of the pile, commanding an impressive chunk of the tablet market share despite not having a music store.  Efforts by other computer manufacturers have failed to break Apple’s grip. The HP TouchPad, for instance, suffered a permanent price cut merely weeks after its launch.

But there might yet be a silver lining for RIM. A dedicated music store app is indeed a unique offering which could attract a select group of users. Currently, only the local telcos provide a relatively convenient way for their subscribers to purchase and download music.

22-year-old Luke Vijay Somasundram was one previous user of SingTel’s music service AMPed, but stopped because he found it wanting. “I didn’t like how the songs weren’t automatically added to my iTunes library,” he said. “Moreover, there was no clear to figure out how much the songs were costing me, or even if they were costing me anything at all.”

Somasundram welcomed RIM’s move to bring a dedicated music download app to Singapore. He added, “I’ve been waiting for years for the iTunes Store to be made available to Singapore but it looks like Research in Motion has beaten them to the punch.”

Nonetheless, it will be an uphill battle to unseat the iPad as the gold standard of tablet computing. Rivals like RIM can only hope to crawl back market share with these tiny differentiations in their products.

Unless you’ve been living in the deep recesses of a Linux terminal somewhere in Antarctica, you would know that Apple has released the newest version of their operating system, OS X Lion, ahead of schedule. But it’s not Lion in which I’m interested.

Along with new software comes new hardware, and Apple has upgraded the MacBook Air to become more powerful than before. They’ll be phasing out the iconic white MacBook a little down the road. For all intents and purposes, the MacBook Air is now Apple’s most consumer-ish offering.

Apple has swapped in Intel’s Core i5/i7 chips, added Thunderbolt connectivity, a full-sized back-lit keyboard and their flawless multi-touch track pad, and promised that battery life would still be excellent. The design is as dead sexy as ever, and even the most hardened of Apple-haters cannot look at it without drooling.

One can say a comparative Windows laptop still offers better value, but to many consumers, specs don’t matter. As long as the computer boots up, lets a user do what he/she wants without getting in the way and then shuts down perfectly, it’s a good computer.

With just S$1,288, you can be the owner of a cool Apple laptop, and that’s all the reason many people need.

This is undoubtedly going to be something PC makers will strive to emulate in the coming months. In fact, they have started working on this way before the new MacBook Air – earlier this year at Computex, Intel unveiled what they call the “ultrabook” concept: thin, elegant and cost-effective machines that are not underpowered in any way.

Take, for example, the ASUS UX21, a gorgeous machine that a spec-chaser like me will pick over the MacBook Air any day. Ultrabooks are designed to run Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors, but since those won’t be due until the first quarter of 2012, the UX21 is running the latest Sandy Bridge processors.

And don’t think for a second that Samsung will rest on its Series 9 laurels, the highly competitive Korean company will surely have its answer to these developments with new tricks up its sleeves.

The stars are aligning – solid state drives are becoming more reliable; chips are becoming smaller and faster and more power-efficient; and manufacturers are perfecting their art of hardware design. Laptops seem destined to go the way of the thin, light, and user-focused MacBook Air, while high-powered notebooks will be relegated to a more select market.

Apple has played a major part in this; it understands that sex sells, and the MacBook Air is sexy. With the new model, the ultrabook concept will really take off. Don’t be surprised to see even more laptop makers pushing out their own forms of super thin form notebooks this year.