Jason Chee

On the 18th of September, Microsoft awarded 5 students with the Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship during the Towards an Inclusive Workforce 2015 event organized by Society for the Physically Disabled. These outstanding individuals demonstrate excellent academic credentials, strong leadership potential and a passion for higher learning - impressing the judging panel with their inspiring display of strength, courage and resilience in overcoming a variety of physical and sensory challenges, including macular dystrophy (vision impairment), hearing impairment, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones disease) and Asperger’s syndrome. This year’s scholarship recipients include: ...

This comes a little late, especially with a bunch of lucky people getting to play with the HoloLens and an awesome Halo model at E3, where the HoloLens apparently had a few changes since I last tried it. Regardless, let me regale you with the tale of my experience with this fantasy-become-reality wearable at the Build 2015 Developer Conference in San Francisco on the 29th of April. Registration Microsoft announced they were accepting sign-ups for people to try out the HoloLens right after the opening Keynote (they started by saying they brought down a 100 sets, imagine the emotional ride as we realized we weren’t going to be able to bring one home). There were 3 categories available for sign-up – One-to-One Demo, Media Presentation, and Holographic Academy Training. With the link out to register, the people around us whipped out their phones to book their slot. Rong Kang and I had our laptops out, being in a conference call with our awesome colleagues back home. Registration for us was fast and easy, and we noticed that people were having trouble registering – the last step of the form (selecting your category) wasn’t working on some mobile devices! We ended up on the first batch of attendees to be on the One-to-One Demo, a 30-minute session with the HoloLens from 12:30pm to 1:00pm at the Intercontinental Hotel next to the Moscone Center. ...

Thinking of what to buy for your dad can be a tough decision. While getting the conventional tie and mug might be the easy way out, why not get a bit more creative this year and add on a sweet app package customized for your very own dad. From the busy workaholic dad, to the master chef inspired dad and even if you really think your dad could use a bit more exercise we have just the app for daddy dearest. If you have more to spare, why not throw in a new Lumia device to give him the complete Microsoft experience. ...

Windows 10 is coming on July 29th and it’s time as a developer to get ready for the next generation of Windows! Look no further, the Microsoft Student Partners from Singapore Polytechnic will be holding a workshop on Developing for Windows 10. Details Date: 20th June 2015 (Sat) Time: 10:00am - 5:30 pm (Lunch Provided) Venue: Microsoft Auditorium, Level 21, One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 (Closest MRT is Raffles Place) Open to Public, Intermediate “Level 200” Audience, Limited Slots Available! ...

Learn how to develop games for Windows 10 with Visual Studio 2015 and Win2D! Windows 10 brings about a myriad of new APIs for developers to explore. With Win2D being present on the Universal Windows Platform, find out how you can, using Windows 10 and Visual Studio 2015, build games for Windows 10, Windows Mobile 10, Xbox, Windows Holographic, Surface Hub and IoT! When: Saturday, 13 June 2015, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Where: Microsoft Singapore, #22-01, One Marina Boulevard Who: Young Developers, “Level 100-200” Developers Presenter: Riza Marhaban, Technical Evangelist In preparation for this event, you’ll want to be running Windows 10, either installed normally, through a VM or otherwise. You can download Windows 10 over at the Windows Insider website. You’ll also want to have Visual Studio 2015 installed, either the Community or Professional versions would work - download VS over at the Visual Studio website. Win2D is an easy-to-use Windows Runtime API for immediate mode 2D graphics rendering with GPU acceleration. It is available to C# and C++ developers writing Windows apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10. It utilizes the power of Direct2D, and integrates seamlessly with XAML and CoreWindow. ...

Microsoft introduces the most affordable Lumia smartphone in Singapore The Lumia 430 begins rollout on 9 May SINGAPORE — May 6, 2015 — Microsoft unlocked the promise of smartphone ownership for many more people with the introduction of Lumia 430 Dual SIM, the latest addition to its affordable range of Lumia smartphones. Built with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software, a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor featuring a dual-core CPU running at 1.2GHz, and with Microsoft Office, Skype and OneDrive pre-loaded, the Lumia 430 Dual SIM was designed to help people achieve more at work, at play and on the go. With an estimated retail price of SGD119, it is also the most affordably priced Lumia that will be able to upgrade to Windows 10.¹ Microsoft continues to expand its affordable smartphone portfolio, which now spans a diverse range of price points and capabilities, from the super-affordable Lumia 435 with Lumia Camera to the recently announced Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, which come with a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal. People can have their choice of Lumia device to suit their everyday needs and budget. Windows Phone 8.1 devices like the Lumia 430 Dual SIM will benefit from further innovation, with the ability to upgrade them to Windows 10 when the service debuts later this year. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM features a compact, durable and colorful design with a vivid 4-inch WVGA display that brings all the latest apps, games and videos to life. With Lumia 430, people can instantly achieve more every day, and they can use Microsoft Office and Outlook for work and personal productivity. They can access up to 30GB² of free cloud storage on OneDrive for safekeeping important content. People can experience the fun of video calls with Skype-integrated calling and a front-facing camera. Smart Dual SIM allows people to assign unique profiles to their SIM cards, such as “work” or “family,” to help them better manage daily communication. Favorite apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Candy Crush Saga and Instagram are available, with more apps and entertainment just a click away on the Windows Phone Store. “Given the success of our affordable Lumia range, it is clear that people are looking for a smartphone that is good value for money, but still works smoothly and easily,” said Bruce Howe, General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices Sales for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. “The Lumia 430 Dual SIM is optimized to bring price points even lower, while offering features that are capable of fulfilling the demands business and personal,” Howe said. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM will be available in Singapore at Microsoft Authorized Mobile Reseller in Funan DigitaLife Mall and GadgetWorld, 3Mobile and Handphoneshop outlets from 9 May, Saturday at a recommended retail price of SGD119. It will be available in two colors: bright orange and black. ...

First Microsoft Mobile Reseller Store opens in Singapore The launch of the First Microsoft Mobile Reseller (MMR) in Singapore at Funan DigitaLife Mall! This newly launched Microsoft Store will be the first in Singapore to offer an assortment of best-in-class Microsoft products, including Windows Phones, Feature Phones, Surface Pro 3, Xbox, Windows, Microsoft Office 365 and more. It will also offer an extensive line-up of Microsoft as well as third-party accessories to cater to different needs of Singaporean customers. The Microsoft Store will also have a Live Experience Table to showcase how consumers can truly enjoy seamless integration across multiple screens through Microsoft’s devices, apps and services. “The new store in Funan DigitalLifeMall is a big leap for our brand, and also signifies Microsoft’s commitment to the Singapore market,” said Bruce Howe, General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices Sales for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. “We want to provide Singaporeans with an enriched retail experience whilst continually empowering them with our products.” In conjunction with the store’s grand opening on 2nd and 3rd May, Microsoft has a series of activities and promotions lined up including: ...

Singapore, April 20, 2015 – SPRING Singapore and Intel Singapore today announced a joint initiative to support startups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) interested in developing products and services in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Wearable segments. The goal of this initiative is to establish an ecosystem of Singapore companies capable of developing world-class IoT and wearable products and services, based on Intel technology. The initiative is being managed under SPRING’s Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) programme, of which Intel is a supporting member. Under PACT, Intel works closely with SPRING to identify SMEs and provide business and technology guidance. Currently, there are nine local startups and tech innovators that are part of this initiative including T-Ware, ConnectedHealth, Newton Circus, gridComm, Trilogy Technologies, NexTan, RFCOM Technologies and Design Exchange. These companies have strong industry expertise in healthcare wearables, IOT solutions for remote patient/elderly monitoring, home energy management systems as well as expertise in wireless technology, manufacturing and user experience design. Jointly, the members will identify projects and business opportunities in Healthcare, Home Energy Management and Assisted Living verticals. The Centre of Innovation for Electronics located at Nanyang Polytechnic will also provide consultation and engineering support for this initiative. “SPRING is highly supportive of Intel’s mentorship role in this initiative. Building capabilities in IoT and Wearable technologies is a complex undertaking and we value the expertise and guidance from companies such as Intel. Through this collaboration under the PACT programme, SPRING will work closely with Intel to continue identifying projects and capability development programmes to support candidates in this initiative. The PACT programme, jointly administered by SPRING and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between large organisations and SMEs in various capability building areas,” said Fung Mok Wing, Director, Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT), SPRING Singapore. “We are pleased to be a part of the PACT programme and look forward to working with SPRING on this initiative, enabling solutions and platforms catering to industry needs,” said Sumner Lemon, Intel Country Manager for Singapore. “IoT is a rapidly growing market but faces scalability hurdles. By establishing a well-connected ecosystem with common goals focusing on verticals, we believe the Singaporean companies and tech innovators will be able to accelerate the development of products and solutions in the IoT and Wearable segments”.

Lumia 640 and 640 XL Now Available in Singapore Increasing productivity, maintaining affordability – and upgradeable to Windows 10. It just got better! SINGAPORE – Microsoft last Thursday announced the availability of the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL in Singapore for only SGD299 and SGD429 respectively. The latest devices to join the Lumia portfolio, the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL offer more personal computing and increased productivity through seamlessly integrated Microsoft Office experiences, OneDrive¹ storage and fast 4G connectivity. Both devices will upgrade to and benefit from Windows 10 as it becomes available later this year². ...

Microsoft introduces Surface 3: The thinnest and lightest Surface yet Pre-order begins April 1 in Singapore Singapore — March 31, 2015 — Microsoft Corp. is introducing a new Surface, the Surface 3. Like Surface Pro 3, it’s a tablet that can replace your laptop but is thinner, lighter and even more affordable. Powerful and efficient, Surface 3 is optimised to run full Windows and Office and features long battery life. The ability to run Windows apps and the versatile pen experience¹ — great for taking notes or marking documents — make Surface 3 ideal for students, schools and anyone looking for a portable device to get things done. Starting at just a suggested retail price of S$748, Surface 3 packs performance and value into an elegant, lightweight design. “Surface 3 brings what customers love about Surface Pro 3 to more people, delivering the premium design and productivity of Surface in a more affordable device,” said Ian Tan, Surface Lead for Consumer, Microsoft Singapore. “We’ve taken everything we learned making Surface Pro 3 and poured that innovation into this newest Surface. It’s beautiful, versatile, powerful and productive, and our customers are going to love what it lets them do.” ...