LG Optimus 7 coming to Singapore

Oct 13, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg LG Electronics has announced the launch of LG Optimus 7 in Singapore, introducing a revolutionary experience of mobile living for customers.

LG Optimus 7, LG’s first Windows® Phone 7 device, is a direct result of the partnership between LG and Microsoft in the smartphone market. Among its innovative features include augmented reality (AR) ScanSearch, DLNA-based Play To and Voice-to-Text, which are available as Live Tiles on Windows® Phone 7 and can be accessed through integrated “Hubs”.

“We have designed LG Optimus 7 series to include a truly innovative content sharing experience via the Windows Phone 7 environment,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, chief executive and president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Having worked closely with Microsoft to develop these fantastic devices, we are thrilled to now be able to reveal our vision of what a true Windows Phone 7 should be.”

Andy Lees, head of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft, added: “We are very excited to be working with LG, a mobile phone industry innovator. Windows® Phone 7 is designed to bring together what you care about most and LG is a key partner in making that experience a reality for people around the world.”

Consumers will have a chance to see the new LG Optimus 7 at the LG Optimus 7 Experiential Zone at Wisma Atria from October 15 to 17.

The LG Optimus 7 will be available nationwide through all telcos and major telecommunications outlets later this month. The recommended retail price for the device is yet to be announced.

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Renewing the Lost Glory

Jan 30, 2009 - PropertyGuru.com.sg
Many people who knew Madam Lyn Lee and her husband are scratching their backs after the couple shelled out $500,000 to renovate a 1920s pre-war shophouse. Some are even considering this as insanity to buy the rundown 1,300 square feet corner unit eight years ago near Tembeling Road with a market value of $800,000.

For the couple, however, it was an endeavour that gives fulfilment for their hard-earned money. Madam Lee said she loves to live in the company of her neighbourhood and take part in preserving the rich cultural heritage of her newfound home.

Aside from achieving her aspiration to own a dream house with traditional architecture, she wants to maintain the cultural heritage of their area. Within the community, the couple’s popularity for preserving the rich culture of the place has been recognised, particularly the Peranakan-style terraced building designs, decorated with tall and multi-coloured louvred windows and carved plastering.

Recently, the couple’s move has influenced infrastructure planning of the other 100 buildings situated in the Katong/Joo Chiat that will soon be part of the conservation scheme of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. This plan covers 95 terrace dwellings and shophouses built in areas like Koon Seng Road, Tembeling Road and Onan Road, along with the other 700 buildings given the conservation status beginning 1993.

Maintaining the functional and traditional structure of old buildings is a noble task than simply renovating them to give way for new condominiums.

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HK architect's innovative solution for space crunch

Feb 9, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg After living in the same boxy, 32-sq-m dwelling for three decades, Hong Kong architect Gary Chang came up with a science fiction-like 'domestic transformer', as an innovative solution to the increasingly repressed lives of many urban residents.

“The idea is everything is moving. This is my laundry space,” said Mr. Chang while sliding a wall filled with CDs to reveal a dryer and washing machine.

A kitchen has materialized by sliding another track-mounted metal wall that bears a plasma TV. Next to that is a grand 1.9-m bathtub, which itself turns into a guest bed.

The award-winning architect has taken the concept of space-saving to the extreme, while people in other crowded cities like Tokyo, have resorted to foldable futons and drop-down beds.

His small rectangular flat, tucked into the bowels of an old, plain tenement building, has polished chrome walls, bearing 24 configurations, with each suiting a particular need.

The available space turns into a kitchen, home theatre, bedroom, spa, chill-out zone rigged up with a hammock, depending on what Mr. Chang needs at any moment.

“The high intensity of use makes (it) more like a large home appliance than a dwelling,” Mr. Chang wrote in his book, 32-metre square apartment -- a 30-year transformation that accounts the beginnings of his innovative dwelling, which has undergone several facelifts through the years.

Mr. Chang, who operates his own architectural and design firm, describes a vacant space as a “luxury”. He once built a 'Suitcase House' in Beijing, blurring the boundaries between private and public space.

“The only enclosed space is the toilet, and again, it's bigger than usual,” said Mr. Chang, whose flat is surrounded by skyscrapers and highways that embody the extensive urban development in Hong Kong that have transformed spacious flats into a pipedream.

At a cost of HK$1.8 million (S$329,600), Mr. Chang hopes that his dwelling will provide a practical, life-enhancing alternative for Hong Kongers who cannot hope for anything bigger.

“The idea is to tune your home closer to what you really want instead of being dictated by the market or by the space allocated,” said the designer, who is now in negotiations with real estate developers to replicate his flat in other costly and space-starved cities across Asia and Europe.

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Xbox 360 Kinect coming to Singapore

Oct 11, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect is set to come to Singapore on November 18, clearing the way for controller-free gaming.

“Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways, no controller required,” said Ben Tan, Regional Director, SEA and Korea, Retail Sales and Marketing for Microsoft.

Microsoft and LucasArts also said they will bring Star Wars to Kinect next year. Disney is also set to bring its magic to Kinect, and about 15 Kinect games are expected for launch by the end of the year.

On the Singapore market, StarHub has confirmed its collaboration with Microsoft to develop promotional packages for local Kinect customers.

“We are very pleased to work with our long-term partner, Microsoft, to offer Kinect to our customers as part of our exciting line-up of year-end festive goodies. With the tie-up, our existing and new MaxOnline customers can look forward to picking up a special StarHub- Xbox360 Kinect bundle at StarHub shops next month,” said Mr. Ng Long Shyang, Head of Sales and Marketing at StarHub.

“This festive season, there will be more reasons for StarHub's customers to get cosy at home! Besides our best cable TV entertainment and fastest broadband surfing experiences, they can also have fun playing motion-controlled Kinect games with family and friends,” added Ng.

The Xbox 360 4GB console, the revolutionary Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” are packed together for a price of $469 and will be available from retailers islandwide.

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Keppel Land collaborates with Saporiti Italia for Reflections project

Oct 14, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Keppel Land is collaborating with luxury Italian interior and furniture design company Saporiti Italia to furnish Reflections @ Keppel Bay, which is slated for completion in 2012.

The premier waterfront residences development features 1,129 luxurious waterfront units along a 750m shoreline, all with prominent views of Mount Faber, a golf course, lush parks and the bay. Currently, 97 percent of the 800 units released have been sold.

Saporiti Italia, whose illustrious portfolio includes furnishing the UN office in Geneva, will appoint six award-winning international designers to create unique furniture designs for the project.

“We want to raise the benchmark for luxury living and are committed to bringing together the finest names and brands in the industry to lend their signature quality to our developments at Keppel Bay,” said Mr. Augustine Tan, president of Singapore residential and head of regional investments (Middle East & India) at Keppel Land.

“In enhancing the premier and luxurious waterfront lifestyle experience, no effort is spared to provide the highest quality fittings, fixtures and features.”

“Saporiti, a luxury brand celebrated worldwide for their creative use of innovative materials and unique manufacturing technologies provide bespoke luxury to the clubhouse and lobbies of Reflections at Keppel Bay,” he added.

Mr. Raffaele Saporiti, chief executive of Saporiti Italia, said: “Saporiti Italia has a history of teaming up with the best names in the design community. For this prestigious Reflections at Keppel Bay development, we have gathered some of the best European designers such as Mauro Lipparini, Marti Guixé and Park Associati, to create exquisite and one-of-its-kind designs and creations. We believe that this will set new benchmarks for design in Singapore.”

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World's slimmest washing machines coming to town

Sep 24, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Courts, the largest retailer of electrical, IT products and furniture, will bring a range of washing machines from Italian brand Candy into Singapore.

A forerunner in the industry, Candy has designed the GrandÓ Plus, the world's slimmest washing machine, which includes a tub with 50L capacity in a 40 cm depth and yet washes up to 7 kg of laundry.

The range of washing machines includes standard capacity at 6 kg load up to maximum capacity at 10 kg load, with sizes ranging from 40 cm depth to 60 cm depth.

“Candy is a well established and leading brand in Europe but has not been available to the Singapore market. Courts, always in the forefront of bringing the latest technology and new experiences to our customers; we feel that this is a great opportunity to introduce Candy’s range of innovatively designed washing machines to the Singapore market. Especially its slimmest range of washing machines, the GrandÓ Plus answers the need of optimising kitchen space available at home which is becoming smaller compared to what it used to be,” said Terry O’Connor, OBE, CEO of Courts.

Candy's washing machines will be available at all Courts stores from early October. Prices start at $699.

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Indoor Plants for High Homes

Nov 28, 2008 - PropertyGuru.com.sg
Living in a high place with no direct sunlight becomes problematic when it comes to growing plants. Here, some high-dwellers and plant experts provide tips on how to go green in such place.

Relations manager with an Italian luxury brands and owner of an expensive four-bedroom condominium apartment in Kembangan, Fiona Manini, decorate her home with plants because she believes that "plants give character to the home." Since their family's apartment does not have a balcony, her plants are all indoors, showing that it is possible to grow plants at home even if it does not receive direct sunlight.

Brand Manager Calvin Ong wants to plant real plants to add life to his home, but his apartment does not have enough sunlight. To make his home look more alive, Mr. Ong displayed a plant called kusamaki (called lou han song in Chinese), which he puts in a vase fulfilled with water, in his three-room HDB unit in Toa Payoh.

A marketing communications and public relations manager Brenda Loke, however, placed plants in her dining area so that it will not look so plain. Ms. Loke moves her pots of money plants regularly from shelves in a place where they can have some light through a skylight.

For home-owners who worry that indoor plants may attract insects, Mr. Lee Meng Kwan, assistant general manager of sales and marketing at World Farm, explains that this situation is far from happening because insects want the nectar from the flowers, and most indoor plants do not bear flowers.

However, he advises that to avoid mosquito breeding, home owners who have indoor plants should eliminate sluggish water on a regular basis.

On the misconception that plants should not be placed in the bedroom because they take oxygen at night, Mr. Lee stated, "Plants do use a small amount of oxygen at night, but during the day they create more oxygen than they use at night."

Plant experts also recommend that while there are no difficult and quick rules as to where to place indoor plants, putting them in a well-ventilated location always give the best results.

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A good time to install security alarm

Feb 15, 2009 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Investing in a dream house is something that several people will do, but not many of them will consider investing in the security of their property.

Since the deteriorating economic atmosphere may promote more crimes, it may perhaps be a good timing to give this issue some consideration.

The reported number of residences broken into went down to a 60-year low in the previous year. It was under the 866 cases recorded in 2007, based on the police data. This low number of robbery cases was reportedly moderate due to the efforts to get homeowners to fit alarms and lock up. The police authorities are expecting a crime increase this year as the conditions of the economy weaken.

Mister Charles Lim, the country manager of ADT Security Services, said that his firm has recorded more burglar alarm cases lately, even if these burglary attempts were unsuccessful because the intruders fled after the alarms activated.

While the feeble economy can influence the sales of house security or trespasser alarm systems, two top security companies claim that they continue to obtain inquiries.

”Despite the challenging market conditions, inquiries are still coming in the past few months”, according to Mr. Arumugam Balakrishnan, the UTC Fire & Security general manager (South-east Asia).

According to ADT, it perceived a 17 percent increase in inquiries regarding its house security systems during the last year’s second half as compared to the first half. “More people are asking about the systems or about upgrading their systems”, Mr. Lim said.

The companies that were interviewed had declined to give information on the actual business performed.

In the previous years, a large number of HDB households, almost all young families residing in new HDB properties such as Punggol – have subscribed to the security service, Mr. Lim added.

According to companies, these home security systems offer safety and defence against intrusion, fire threat, medical emergency and duress.

Mister Lim also added that some of the clients of ADT use its security systems to keep an eye on the elderly who stays at home. An elderly person holds a water-resistant transmitter, which will give signal to the monitoring centre whenever there is a problem – for instance, if the old person is not capable of getting up after falling down.

When there’s a medical situation or emergency, the elderly individual can also push the transmitter’s button in order to connect to the monitoring centre to get some assistance. There are just a small number of huge players in the monitored house security market here, which includes ADT, Certis Cisco and UTC.

The monitored system is different from a non-monitored system since the former allows the homeowner to make use of an intrusion detection service or 24 hours surveillance, according to Certis Cisco.

ADT noted that the monitored system is connected to an uptime monitoring centre that will receive signal if there is a break-in situation. Security experts will find out the nature of emergency and will call for the attention of owner and authorities right away.

The good news for subscriber is that these security systems are more affordable.

ADT and Chubb will only charge the subscribers for the security monitoring services, but not the systems itself.

Subscribers pay out a little amount of $38 every month for the security service, but are attached to a three-year contract. These charges can increase depending on the needs. For example, a huge house with several entry points will need additional equipments compared to an HDB flat, with just two or three entry points.

Some companies charge other fees for the security system and monitoring services. If the system is without a monitoring service, each can cost from $800-$2,000.

A necessary wireless package includes a magnetic door to detect closing and opening of windows and doors, and a movement detector.

“Some people go to fly-by-night players. They just want the system without the monitoring service. But it is like having a dog that doesn't bark”, said by an unnamed industry source.

However, if homeowners only want to utilise the system to monitor on their maids or neighbours, they should obtain a monitoring system that will protect their houses.

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LG Singapore launches LG Fiesta

Jul 28, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg For the first time, LG Singapore has organised LG Fiesta, a four-day special promotional event offering customers special prices and great product bundling across its product lines, which range from mobile phones, to home entertainment to home appliances. The event marks the celebration of the company's slogan and aims to share the “Life’s Good!” experience across Singapore.

The LG Fiesta will be launched on July 29 in major retail venues across the country including Harvey Norman at Millenia Walk, Gain City at Sun Plaza Atrium, Audio House at Bendemeer, Mega Discount Store at Kallang Leisure Dome Atrium, Courts at Tampines Megastore and Best Denki at IMM Atrium.

The event will showcase the company’s complete product range, as well as offer customers the opportunity to win several prizes, which includes a trip for two to Korea as the grand prize, free mobile phone sterilising, and great prizes on the ‘Sure Win Lucky Spin’ with every $200 purchase.

There will also be bundled deals with freebies to buyers, such as Bluetooth headsets, microSD cards and 3D Fuji cameras, among others.

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Home & Décor June Issue out now

May 25, 2009 - PropertyGuru.com.sg If you wish to update your garden’s wall with the most modern fad and the materials you will need for the make over, get a copy of Home and Décor’s June issue, available at bookstores only $5. This issue provides a free Designer Showcase booklet, a bumper issue consisting of 216 pages of fresh, new ideas for a redecoration. It also advertises 31 other projects and 19 interior design firms, such as the well-known Collective Design and White Living Space. The magazine also mentioned new faces in the industry like Space Sense and Nota Design.

A revitalised booklet of 88 pages, now has a reflective silver cover for a polished new look, intensifying several of the best Singaporean interior designers’ projects. They have turned a three-room HDB apartment in Serangoon into a 40-year-old semi-detached house that can be seen in Thomson neighbourhood.

If there is bad news, there is always good news. The bad news: The present global recession making it hard for companies and businesses all over the world to make it big. The good news: They are selling off their products and services in bargain prices. Even better news: Buyers can take advantage of the bargain prices. The magazine helps interested buyers on which perfect home to buy.

“From the start, we felt that the booklet should not just showcase glossy projects, but introduce the design pros behind them and explain their vision and signature style.” Sophie Kho, editor of Home & Décor, elaborated the reasons why they include such contents in the 20-year old magazine, read by around 80,000 Singaporeans.

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Niche living in Hong Kong

Jun 2, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg An architect made a breakthrough of squeezing more than a thousand rooms into a 344-sq-ft apartment. This innovative concept was created and designed by Gary Chang who had once lived in a near-limitless small space for over 30 years.

Mr. Chang has a successful interior design and architectural practice in Hong Kong, a city where most of the people are living in shoebox space apartments and luxury developments are simply defined as a bigger shoebox in a rich neighbourhood.

The award-winning architect has found his niche by transforming a tiny unit into a revolutionary home that changes according to individual needs. By using movable walls, a complex series of sliding curtains and panels and fold-down furniture to serve as room dividers, Mr. Chang has taken his concept to extreme and near-obsessive levels.

“I try to argue that the problem of living in small spaces is a global phenomenon,” said Mr. Chang. “Many major cities have to deal with similar issues - Hong Kong has a long history of working with the idea of tight spaces, but small doesn't have to mean depressing.”

In a space similar to a single-car garage, Mr. Chang has created a home that has a walk-in closet, a dining room, kitchen, home cinema, spa, guest room, a sizeable home office, a walk-in closet, a minimalist living room, and even a relaxation room equipped with hammock and mood music.

His home also features a sophisticated home automation system to help with the transformations, while several elements have multiple-uses, like a full-size home cinema screen which also serves as a blackout curtain.

The catch is that the space can only be one thing at a time. The toilet and the shower area are permanent fixtures and the full-size bathtub is inserted behind a panel that has a fold-up bed above the top for a guest. But this is a condition that Mr. Chang took into account from the beginning. He designed his apartment to fit his own needs, and he calls it the “Domestic Transformer”.

“The key factor is that I take a time-based approach,” he said. “At any one time you are only doing one thing, so instead of moving from space to space, the same space changes at different times for different needs.”

He added that “it is not entirely innovative, but a response to what we've always been doing - everything was always mutating due to the lack of space.”

Mr. Chang acquired the house for HK$350,000 more than 20 years ago. Since then, he has spent a lot of time and a large amount reinventing the space. The latest version for his home took a year, when he spent HK$1.8 million to renovate and design the apartment. Everything had to be accurate and precise, even to the smallest millimetre, and workers had to work one section at a time. The primary materials used are polished granite and stainless steel.

Mr. Chang estimated the current value of his house to be HK$1.6 million. “I have a very different concept of money,” he said.

“A lot of architects use their own homes to experiment,” he noted. “We should explore our own living environment and I don't really care how much I spend - it's a testing ground for me.”

“I'm not finished - it's like a game to try and squeeze in more elements - the next stage is a mahjong table for my friends.”

Mr. Chang attributed his ideas of space to those who grew up in a proverbial shoebox-size home, but he has proven that a small space can actually be liberating, not limiting.

“It was my problem because I grew up that way,” said Mr. Chang. “During my childhood, many tenants had full height wallpapers with pictures of waterfalls or forests to give them the idea of space - each generation had their way of making their home more tolerable.”

“Nowadays, people are more concerned with designing their home with the resale value in mind, rather than customising it to suit their lifestyles.” His own lifestyle includes travelling 120 days per year, and Mr. Chang has even published a book entitled ‘Hotel as Home’, where he describes each hotel room he had stayed in.

“My home may not be the ultimate way to transform a space, but the central spirit is the same - you look closely at your own life, see what you want, and organise the space accordingly,” said Mr. Chang.

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Think simple, live big

Aug 23, 2009 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Sometimes the best solutions to the most pressing and most complicated problems are just very simple and straightforward ideas. For instance, one of the best ways to save your well-earned dollar is not see it. That’s a simple notion to understand. If you get the overpowering urge to buy something you don’t really need but irresistibly want, you won’t be able to buy it if your cash is stashed away safely in your savings account.

Simple ideas can also solve big problems when one intends to renovate a home. If you want to make your living room more spacious, you don’t need to have your home extended because extensions tend to chew up a lot of time before the desired outcome become visible. Applying simple ideas can both save time and money in this kind of predicament.

33-year-old interior designer, Calvin Tan, wanted to make the living room of his three-room, 73-square-metre HDB flat more spacious. Living with Mr. Tan in his flat, which is located in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, are his wife, eight-month-old daughter, 64-year-old mother, and 31-year-old personal assistant.

To make the living room bigger and have a brighter feel, Mr. Tan made the family kitchen smaller and then applied a calming and austere theme.

“We knocked down the wall dividing the living room and the kitchen and replaced it with a glass sliding door,” Mr. Tan said. “I also made the kitchen slightly smaller because we don't need such a big kitchen. The glass door makes the room look longer and brighter.”

When asked what part of the house he is most proud of, Mr. Tan said the living room because “it doesn't look like that of a three-room flat.” The proud owner described the décor theme of the living room as simple and modern.

“It will not go out of style and it's easy to buy art and display items that will match. The living room is easy to clean and the theme makes the room look bigger,” he explained.

Instead of having his home extended, Mr. Tan came up with simple ideas and that may very well be the cheapest and best solutions for his problem. Most importantly, he and his family love the outcome because it makes their home more cosy, relaxing and comfortable.

“Every time I reach home, I don't feel like going out,” Mr. Tan proudly said.

Source: http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/news/2009/8/21725/living-big-with-simple-ideas

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Sony launching new range of gadgets

Sep 29, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Sony Singapore is unveiling an extensive suite of 3D entertainment solutions aimed at revolutionising the viewing experience of consumers. With the launch of its newest range of 3D BRAVIA TVs and 3D Blu-ray home theatre system, consumers can enjoy high quality 3D entertainment in the comfort of their homes.

“As the leader in 3D innovation, Sony delivers unrivalled 3D entertainment by bringing consumers’ favourite movies and games directly into their living rooms in breathtaking quality,” said Mr. Taisuke Nakanishi, managing director of Sony South East Asia. “With 3D BRAVIA TVs as the centrepiece in the 3D ecosystem, Sony offers consumers unparalleled clarity and picture quality for fun and immersive 3D cinematic and gaming experiences at home.”

The company has extended the 3D BRAVIA line-up with two new network models, BRAVIA NX810 and NX710, transforming consumers’ living space with a combination of 3D capability, connectivity and Monolithic design.

With these new models, users can easily go on a 3D adventure by connecting the TV to the 3D Sync Transmitter and wearing the Sony Active Shutter 3D glasses. Quality is guaranteed thanks to BRAVIA Engine 3 high definition video processor, Dynamic Edge LED backlighting and Motionflow technology of up to 200Hz.

Giving homes the full cinema package is the Sony BDV-IZ1000W, which offers incredible surround sound through five slim speakers using virtual 7.1 wireless rear speaker system and 1000W of S-Master full digital technology.

3D Blu-ray firmware updates are also available to all 3D-ready Sony Blu-ray players. In addition, with Sony’s newest range of Cyber-shot cameras, moviemakers can produce 3D panoramic shots with the company’s exclusive 3D Sweep Panorama function.

The new range of 3D entertainment solutions from Sony will be available at all Sony authorised retailers in October.

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IKEA Catalogue 2011 coming to Singapore households

Aug 11, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Home furnishing specialist IKEA is launching the 60th edition of the IKEA Catalogue 2011, which presents 376 pages of ideas, inspiration and solutions to make life at home easier to manage.

Starting August 12, every Singaporean household will receive a copy of the catalogue in their mailbox for free. For the first time, Singaporeans can also download the Singapore edition of the IKEA Catalogue 2011 into their iPad and iPhone from the Application store for free by the end of August.

Thousands of copies of the IKEA Catalogue will also be available in the Chinese language. Starting next month, customers can personally get a copy from IKEA stores, or go online to ask for a copy of the Chinese version.

The IKEA Catalogue 2011 features some of the company’s bestsellers at lower prices. For instance, the popular LACK side table is now offered at a retail price of $12.90, down from $17.90 in 2009. The catalogue does not only boast a range of new pieces of furniture, but also a new approach to colour, use of materials, design and sustainable production.

Initially published in 1951 in Sweden, the IKEA Catalogue is now in its 60th year of publication and is being distributed in 31 countries throughout the world. IKEA Singapore has produced 33 publications of the catalogue since 1978, bringing the IKEA store into homes.

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Samsung introduces full range of mobile PCs

Oct 14, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd unveiled its newest lineup of four new mobile PC series to further strengthen its position in the market.

Based on figures released by GfK for the third quarter of the year excluding September, Samsung secured the number two market position in the netbook category in August with 16 percent market share in units.

“Samsung continues to offer the market our best in design and performance with our latest range of mobile PCs. We currently offer the widest portfolio of netbooks and with our continued growth; we aim to secure the number one market position by the end of 2010. Likewise, our notebook segment continues to see strong growth and we are confident that we will boost our market share to become the top 3 brands by 2011,” said Mr. Moon Sung Hyun, managing director of Samsung Asia Pte Ltd.

Samsung’s new NF and SF series of netbooks and notebooks feature revolutionary and stylish curve designs along with improved productivity and performance. The new mobile PC series incorporates the brand’s Fast Start function, which enables users to begin working within three seconds from the Sleep Mode. Selected models also use lithium-polymer batteries for greater mobility and extended performance.

Both reliable and stylish, the 13.3in QX310 measures only 27mm in thickness and weighs 1.99kg, sporting a silver colour. It will be available from October 20 at a recommended retail price of $1,799.

Deemed the highest performing notebooks in Samsung’s mobile PC portfolio, the RF series notebooks use nVIDIA’s latest graphics solution – a GT420M card with 2GB of memory – and Intel® Core™ i5 / Core™ i7 processor. These performance notebooks come in two screen sizes – 14in RF410, which will be available from October 20 in black at $1,899, and 15.6in RF510, which is set to hit the market from October 18 in black at $1,999.

Under the SF series notebooks are the 13.3in SF310 and 14in SF410, which will both be available from October 27 at recommended retail prices of $1,549 and $1,599, respectively.

Meanwhile, the 10.1in NF210 netbook will be available from November 3 in silver, at a recommended retail price of $699.

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The passion for success

Nov 25, 2008 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Chances do come once in a lifetime and the chance for Lim Wee Lim came when he was 24 years old. When this chance came, he embraced it gladly, and then it flourished into something good. That something good is now known as the Kitchen Culture. Now at 42 years old, Mr. Lim is now Kitchen Culture’s managing director. He has supervised the success of Kitchen Culture to become one of the top best in the kitchen industry and auxiliary of KHL Marketing-Asia Pacific.

Kitchen Culture is like a convenient store for imported kitchenware. It presents popular brands such as Poggenpohl, Wolf, and Sub-Zero. The company also distributes over 25 brands of kitchen accessories, appliances, and equipments in the area.

What made Kitchen Culture a success today is probably because Mr. Lim has his passion as his motivation. He is able to actively take part in stern business matters, at the same time, he takes pleasure in them. “When you start learning, this industry becomes interesting. You learn about the innovation of the products and make friends travelling around frequently while visiting factories and attending trade conferences. It's not just taking a brand and that's it. It is following through the line of production and staying in contact with suppliers,” narrates Mr. Lim.

Mr. Lim also firmly believes that there should be a close relationship with the customers. Selling them their needs is just one part, but keeping in touch with them is another.

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New Dyson products coming to Singapore

Aug 4, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Global technology company Dyson has developed two new Dyson Air Multiplier fans, the AM02 Tower and AM03 Pedestal, which are intended for larger spaces, producing greater airflow without buffeting.

The floor standing machines, which have no awkward grilles or fast spinning machines, are easy and safe to clean.

“Air conditioning is inefficient and gives little or no ventilation, so we engineered machines to circulate smooth air in larger rooms. The popularity of the AM01 shows that people prefer smooth, non-buffeting air: so we adapted the geometry of the desk fan to draw in even greater amounts of air and maximise airflow,” said James Dyson, founder of the company, in a press release.

Dyson Air Multiplier fans draw air in via a mixed flow impeller. Only 7 percent of the air generated by the fans passes through the impeller, while 93 percent results from the surrounding air’s inducement and entrainment.

While conventional fans have limited settings, Dyson Air Multiplier fan airflow can be adjusted and oscillated by the controls on the machine or remotely for the AM02 Tower and AM03 Pedestal.

Standing at 1m high and 16cm wide, the Dyson AM02 Tower occupies limited floor space, while the Dyson AM03 Pedestal fan, which ranges from 1.2m to 1.4m in height can be used in larger areas.

The Dyson Air Multiplier AM02 and AM03 fans will be available in Singapore from mid-September for a recommended retail price of $699.

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Interior Affairs set to open in Singapore

Jul 16, 2010 - PropertyGuru.com.sg Interior Affairs, a one-stop experience centre that offers a wide variety of European kitchen and bathroom solutions in Singapore, is set to open its doors to the public on July 17.

The 28,000-sq-ft, $3-million venue features 32 kitchen and 27 bathroom showcases.

René Maan, managing director of Interior Affairs, said, “The objective of Interior Affairs is to provide consumers with solutions, not just products, in an environment that comes to life. Singaporeans are increasingly sophisticated and looking to create their dream bathrooms and kitchens – spaces that are no longer just functional but also serve their needs to relax and recharge. We aim to meet this growing demand by offering a wide variety of European solutions in these categories under one roof, and we expect Interior Affairs to greatly boost the bathroom and kitchen industry in Singapore.”

Interior Affairs features 14 European brands, which include the Spanish label Sonia and German brands GROHE, Pronorm and Barletti. Prices for a bathroom range from between S$3,500 to S$100,000 and S$20,000 to S$100,000 for a kitchen.

The venue also features a live kitchen dubbed as “The Square”, where visitors can rejuvenate and rest while having snacks and coffee. Architects and interior designers can also meet with clients to conceptualise their dream kitchens and bathrooms at a dedicated area built into the Experience Centre.

Professional consultants will also be on-site to give expert advice on kitchens and bathrooms. The venue will also hold live cooking demonstrations and events.

Additionally, during its opening this weekend, Interior Affairs will hold several contests for visitors and customers who could win prizes such as hotel accommodation and bathroom solutions.

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Property value in flood-prone areas could suffer if problem not fixed

Property watchers have warned that the value of developments in flood-prone areas could suffer if the problem of flooding is not fixed.

They said prices and rental rates for residential and commercial properties could fluctuate if the problem continues for another three months. This may force businesses to move out.

Landlords may have to lower rent or take measures to prevent flooding to attract tenants.

Some buyers are now asking about the risk of flooding when they check out a property, including those that are not directly hit.

Executive director of Residential Projects, Orange Tee, Steven Tan, said: “In the past, this was never an issue. Now we can see that they are starting to have a concern whether the condominium or house that they want to buy will encounter this problem.”

Nicholas Mak, Real Estate lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said: “Even if the property is not prone to flooding, but just because it is near another property that often suffers flooding whenever it rains, it could be guilty by association and its value could also be adversely affected.”

Source: Channel NewsAsia

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Private home prices up 5.3% to reach new record in Q2

Private home prices in Singapore continued to trend up but at a slower pace.

Data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Friday showed that overall prices rose by 5.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2010, compared to 5.6 per cent in the first three months of the year.

This was marginally higher than the initial forecast of a 5.2 per cent climb for Q2 reported earlier this month.

The increase pushed the residential property price index to an all-time high, surpassing the market peak of 181.4 points in Q2 of 1996.

Non-landed home prices in the city and prime districts rose 5.4 per cent in Q2. Those in the city fringe cost 4.6 per cent more. And suburban home prices increased 5.7 per cent.

Landed home prices rose at a slower rate of 6.2 per cent in Q2 compared with 8.3 per cent in Q1.

Projects like The Minton and Waterbank were among the star performers in the second quarter.

But new home sales slowed in late-May, with sentiment hit by the European debt crisis.

Even with prices at a new high, observers do not expect more government intervention, for now.

Liang Thow Ming, Credo Real Estate’s executive director (residential services), said: “The measures that they have put in over the last two years have already brought sub-sales, in terms of percentage point, to a not-normally-seen single-digit (number). In that sense, I think speculation has been managed.”

Sub-sales, a key gauge of speculative activity, fell to 7.7 per cent in Q2, down from 9.6 per cent in the first three months.

Looking ahead, market watchers expect home prices to continue to moderate. They said prices could rise by some 3 to 5 per cent in the third and fourth quarter. That will bring the full-year increase to between 16 and 21 per cent.

Investors may also be comforted by rentals of private residential properties rising 5.9 per cent in Q2, up from 4.7 per cent a quarter ago.

Nicholas Mak, real estate lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said: “This could be due to the improving job market. We are starting to see more foreigners being attracted to our shores and this will likely to continue due to the better economic forecast.”

Higher rentals may also spill over into the HDB rental market.

With economic recovery, observers expect property market sentiment to remain positive.

All in, new home sales reached 8,413 units in the first half. Analysts said sales could hit 14,000 units for the whole year.

- CNA

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