Singapore iPhone Fan

Apple has just released the much anticipated tablet computer called the iPad. From a first glance, it looks really like a giant iPhone. It has a 9.7 inch (compared to iPhone 3.5 inch) multi touch screen and the familiar Home button. The whole iPad is just 0.5 inch (0.48 inch for iPhone) thin and weighs just 1.5 pounds (4.8 ounces for iPhone). The whole user interface is the same as iPhone except that it is much bigger (1024×768 pixel vs 480×320 pixel).

Apple created iPad to fill in the gap between smartphone and notebook as Apple does not believe netbook is the answer. iPad is targeted to do tasks like surf net, email, contacts, calendar, photo, video, music, games and books. It can access iTunes Store, App Store and the to be launched iBook Store. All the existing applications from the App Store can run on iPad without any modification. On top of that, Apple released new SDK specifically for iPad to take advantage of the bigger screen. Apple also completely re-designed iWork for iPad. All iPad come with WiFi and there is option for 3G model.

So you can see that it is more than a giant iPhone. In my opinion, the disappointing feature in iPad is the camera for taking photo, video and video conference. But I am confident that Apple will add it in the next version. And very soon I, like all iPhone fans, will also become iPad fan.

Look, my invisibleSHIELD and ZAGGSkins that I ordered earlier have arrived. For the past few days, I have been extremely careful with my iPhone as I didn’t have any protection for the screen. I was only using a leather case to hold it when I carried it around. Luckily, there is no scratches and it still looks very new. With the invisibleSHIELD and ZAGGSkins, I have no more worry. I can scratch proof and personalise my iPhone.

I searched YouTube for the installation procedure for the invisibleSHIELD and ZAGGSkins. There are quite a few video showing you how to paste them. It looks quite easy but in actual fact, it can be quite tricky. There are a few small visible bubbles on my invisibleSHIELD. Hopefully, it will subside after a few days. The ZAGGSkins is relatively easier to install. There is no need to spray the solution. At first, the alignment was slightly off and I could easily peel it off and apply again. There is no bubble at all.

For your information, ZAGG is giving a year end sale again. From now till 31st Dec, you will get one ZAGGSkins free for every ZAGGSkins you buy. So, if you intend to personalise your iPhone, now is a good time to buy.

My first iPhone

Look, I finally got my first iPhone after more than 2 years of waiting. I can proudly declare that I am no longer an iPhone Fan without an iPhone.
It was past midnight when I returned to Singapore. The next morning, I immediately rushed to the M1 shop to collect the 16 GB Black iPhone 3GS that I had reserved. After almost 1 hour of waiting, I finally got my iPhone that I have been waiting for. I signed up the iPhone Value plan and bought the additional AppleCare Protection Plan as I believe I am going to keep it for at least 2 years.
I spent the whole afternoon playing with my new toy. Stay tune with this blog and I will have more updates on my experience on iPhone.

Zagg is giving 50% discount on all their products today. Hurry, go to their website and grab your iPhone skin or other iPhone accessories now.

I have already ordered the ZAGGskins before I even collect my iPhone.

In my earlier post, I said that M1 has more competitive iPhone plans compared to SingTel. Later, SingTel has upsized their iFlexi plans to include 12GB of free data bundle (instead of the original 500MB) and capped it at $30 per month for excess data usage. Furthermore, they reduced the iPhone price to match M1’s iPhone price in various plans. That makes SingTel’s iPhone plan more attractive than M1. Subsequently, M1 followed up with data bundle to 12GB and price cap at $30 to match SingTel. StarHub has also adjusted its SmartSurf plan to match both SingTel and M1 although its iPhone price is still slightly more expensive.
For the past one year, data usage was a cash cow for SingTel being the exclusive iPhone distributor. Many of my friends had unexpected surprise when they received their phone bill after they bought the iPhone. Now with M1 and StarHub offering iPhone, SingTel has no choice but to offer more competitive data usage bundle. I think the iPhone price war has more and less settled. The Red, Orange and Green will not cut the price further until it hits their bottom line. I believe in the coming months, we will see them introducing more iPhone applications to keep and attract more customer.

(After post edit: I realised that the sequence of events happened between the Red Orange and Green in my post above may be wrong. Anyway, all the three are offering 12GB of data bundle and price cap of $30 per month now)

The wait is finally over. iPhone will be available from M1 on 9 Dec. M1 will hold a mid-night launch at M1 Shop Paragon and West Mall at 12am. Be the first to own M1 iPhone and you can even extend the iPhone warrant at 20% discount during the launch.

M1 has also announced the price plan for iPhone. It is more competitive compared to SingTel. The cheapest plan iPhone Value is $36 per month which come with 100 mins talktime, 500 SMS and 10GB of data bundle. The phone price for 16GB 3GS is $518. This is cheaper than SingTel’s iFlexi Lite plan where monthly subscription is $39 and the same phone costs $548. Furthermore, the data bundle is only 500MB and there is no max data usage cap (M1 data usage capped at $36.38). The 32GB model and higher plan are also cheaper in M1. And if you don’t mind the older iPhone 3G 8GB, you can even get it free with the Take3 plan. You can visit http://www.m1.com.sg/iPhone/plans.html for more detailed information.

As for me, I have been waiting for this day for more than 2 years since Apple launched its first iPhone on 29 June 2007. But too bad, I can’t be at the official launch on 9 Dec as I am overseas. The first thing to do after I go back Singapore is to rush to the M1 shop and collect my iPhone.

Remember I talk about how you can scratch proof you iPhone. Now, ZAGG has just released a new product called ZAGGskin. It is using the invisibleSHIELD technology combined with high resolution graphics. It still has the toughness of invisibleSHIELD to protect your iPhone from scratches. At the same time, it allows you to personalise your iPhone. You can choose from more than hundred available designs. And the best part is that if you cannot find any design that you like, you can upload your favourite photo and create your own iPhone skin. Go to their website and start designing a skin for your iPhone.

I believe you should know by now that both M1 and Starhub will be launching their iPhone by end of this year. Now, both operators are accepting pre-ordering of the iPhone. For M1, you can go to http://www.m1.com.sg/iPhone to order your iPhone and for Starhub, you can go to http://www.starhub.com/promotions/events/iphone3gs.html to order. The models available are iPhone 3GS 32GB (Black/White), iPhone 3GS 16GB (Black/White) and iPhone 3G 8GB (Black). No price and subscription plan information is available. If you place an order, you will be the first to know when the stock are ready. So, be fast!

Another good news for Singapore iPhone Fans. Today, Starhub announced that it has reached an agreement with Apple to sell iPhone in Singapore. Although there is no mention of the price and plan, it will launch the iPhone by end of the year. Starhub is the last Telco operators to announce offering iPhone after M1’s announcement last month. That means all the three operators will sell iPhone by end of the year.

As mentioned earlier, I don’t expect large reduction in the price of the phone. However, there will definitely be new creative way of bundling the data plan and applications with iPhone. Currently, both M1 and Starhub have data plans that cap the maximum charges. My guess is that SingTel will come up with similar plan given that it has lost its exclusive right to sell iPhone. I am also hoping them to come up with new iPhone applications related to Singapore context, eg ERP rate, cheapest parking rate, stock watch, latest local news, etc.

For me, I am really looking forward for my first iPhone when my contract expires end of the year, be it RED, ORANGE or GREEN.

M1 has confirmed that it has closed a deal with Apple to sell iPhone in Singapore. Although the details have not been announced, M1 will launch Apple iPhone by end of the year. This will break SingTel exclusive sales of iPhone after 14 months. With two operators selling iPhone, there will be some fierce competitions. While I do not think the iPhone price will drop by a large amount, it is likely that they will compete on the subscription plan and data usage rate. In either case, it is definitely a good news for all the Singapore iPhone Fans

Remember I mentioned in my earlier post that if SingTel continues to be the exclusive iPhone distributor, I will definitely ditch my current mobile phone operator and switch to SingTel when my contract expires. Now I don’t have to do that. iPhone will probably be my best Christmas present for this year.