Stadia started off with a bang but its progress has been slow. News that they’ve shut down its in-house game development team means further delay to an all-cloud gaming future. If you’re a TPG subscriber who prefers no delays in getting a new mobile line, they’ve just opened another customer centre. Self-help guru Deepak Chopra is now on hand, quite literally, to help you find your centre with a collaboration with Fitbit. While not exactly a collaboration, Sharp’s large-format Bluetooth speaker features Onkyo tech. And you don’t have to worry about missing out on the latest security tech by persisting with your trusty Samsung galaxy phone…
TPG opens another customer centre
TPG has a new flagship customer centre in Kaki Bukit to provide in-store online services. So if you prefer face-to-face sales support for TPG services you have the choice of either Orchard Central, Canberra Plaza and now Techview at Kaki Bukit View (1 Kaki Bukit View, Techview, #02-10, Singapore 415941). The new store will be open from 10 am to 7 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. TPG is also offering you eight “golden” mobile numbers if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
Stadia steadies itself
Google has reportedly shut down its in-house game development team for the ambitious Stadia project. The team was put together to populate and kickstart Stadia with original content. After months of missing targets for its sales of controllers and monthly active users, it looks like the “future of gaming” needs to take a more measured approach in its bid to make cloud-based gaming the de facto way of gaming. (via Bloomberg )
A Bluetooth speaker for large spaces
Looking for a large Bluetooth speaker for the outdoors? Just to add to the myriad of options already available, Sharp’s GX-BT480 is finally available in Singapore. This 40W 2.0 speaker is powerful enough to drop 100dB of sound and its 10,400mAh battery can deliver up to 20 hours of continuous play. Its three equalizer settings offer a standard mode along with a bass boost (but of course) and a movie mode that prioritises dialogue and vocals.
Other amenities include IP54 protection to resist dust and water, a micro SD card slot on top of the usual USB and 3.5mm AUX, as well as Bluetooth 4.2. The GX-BT480 is also compatible with Siri and Google Assistant and can be paired with multiple speakers for a surround-like effect.
Fitbit goes spiritual with Deepak Chopra
Fitbit is now working with Deepak Chopra on Deepak Chopra’s Mindful Method, which is a wellness collection created for Fitbit Premium members. It’s a collection of over 30 audio and video sessions (ten released at launch) led by Chopra to improve your emotional wellbeing through meditation, breathing exercises, and so on.
The sessions cover themes like mindfulness, sleep, stress management, mental wellness and the mind-body connection. These centre around potentially useful exercises like incorporating mindfulness throughout the day, and setting the right tone each morning, or resetting a bad mood.
Four more years of Samsung Updates
Here’s another reason to go Samsung if you’re in the Android camp – they announced that Galaxy devices released in 2019 on beyond will receive at least four years of security updates. Devices are as follows but the availability of security updates may vary by device and market, and the list will be subject to change:
- Galaxy Foldable devices: Fold, Fold 5G, Z Fold2, Z Fold2 5G, Z Flip, Z Flip 5G
- Galaxy S series: S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, S10 Lite, S20, S20 5G, S20+, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra, S20 Ultra 5G, S20 FE, S20 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy Note series: Note10, Note10 5G, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Note10 Lite, Note20, Note20 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy A series: A10, A10e, A10s, A20, A20s, A30, A30s, A40, A50, A50s, A60, A70, A70s, A80, A90 5G, A11, A21, A21s, A31, A41, A51, A51 5G, A71, A71 5G, A02s, A12, A32 5G, A42 5G
- Galaxy M series: M10s, M20, M30, M30s, M40, M11, M12, M21, M31, M31s, M51
- Galaxy XCover series: XCover4s, XCover FieldPro, XCover Pro
- Galaxy Tab series: Tab Active Pro, Tab Active3, Tab A 8 (2019), Tab A with S Pen, Tab A 8.4 (2020), Tab A7, Tab S5e, Tab S6, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6 Lite, Tab S7, Tab S7+
