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Catch the HERE Expert Community Program on Youtube channel now! The first HERE Expert Community Program video featuring the Singapore community in action is now LIVE! Find out what’s going in the hearts and minds of the community across the HERE Expert Community Program in Southeast Asia. For more information, ideas and activities, visit our HERE ECP SEA YouTube page and subscribe! Our first batch of videos come from the HERE Expert Community Singapore Team. Featuring HERE’s Singapore collaboration with Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Toa Payoh students and cross country collaboration with Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya, Indonesia. Also, catch a glimpse of our 2 Map Masters from Singapore! Watch below: Enjoy!! [embed]https://youtu.be/QGzx64wB8Bk[/embed]

Patrick Torres is our interviewee today! Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janalfredpatricktorres and Instagram: https://instagram.com/patricktorres Enough dilly-dallying! Let’s get to the interview… ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Patrick: I’m Jan Alfred Patrick Torres and I’m from Balanga City Bataan, although for the longest time I’m based in Manila because of my studies and now for work. I’m currently working at Wizardsgroup Inc. as a Software Quality Assurance Tester. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Patrick: It all started during one of our Microsoft Student Partner sessions where the HERE representatives invited us to join a mapping contest exclusive for MSPs and as well as their newly established community in the Philippines. I contributed to the most number of edits in the Microsoft Student Partners edition of the Super Editor and in parallel to that, I was ranked #3 in the HERE Expert Community Philippines Badge Program in 2013 from then on I was named one of the HERE Map Masters for Southeast Asia and representing the Philippines together with 4 other Map Masters at that time. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Patrick: There’s only one thing a wannabe-Map Master should remember, “Explore”. Explore our country and discover new places and experience how beautiful the Philippines is. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Patrick: I have already been using HERE Maps in my smartphone even before I knew about the community during one of our MSP sessions. This led me to do some edits as part of the Microsoft Student Partners edition as part of the Super Editor contest. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Patrick: Apart from the people behind HERE itself, one member impressed me when I first join the community. He is one of the major contributors during the early days of the HERE Expert Community and currently a Map Master, Mr. Neil Ross Goco Jr. It’s ironic because I first saw Neil Ross before I became a Microsoft Student Partner and at that instance, I have a hunch that he would be actively involved in communities and it really happened. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Patrick: The HERE Appreciation Day is by far my best experience as a Map Master. This is where we were recognized for our contributions and got to know the community members more especially my co-Map Masters. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Patrick: Locally, it would be fun if there were “special interest groups” that each community member can join whether the group focuses on cities, barangays, beaches, parks, malls, etc. Internationally, I would like to see all the Map Masters gather in one place and learning from each other’s experiences which would also be a way to boost the Map Master award! HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Patrick: Nowadays, a digital map is not just for travelers only but for everyone. Each one of us has gone mobile and always on the move which is why HERE Maps could be an integral part of our every day journey. With the help of the HERE Expert Community, we could all enrich and make it a reflection of our journey through map edits. More travels, more edits, more fun! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Very well said Patrick on your motto as a Map Master. Thanks for your amazing contributions to HERE too! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Having a slow connection to your Ubuntu Server? “Speedtest-cli” is a tool that can help you perform a speed test from your Linux Terminal / Command Line. 1. Download and run Putty (http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe) 2. Enter your server host name or IP address. 3. Log into your server 4. Enter the following command sudo -i apt-get install speedtest-cli 5. After the download has completed, you may now perform speedtest-cli command You can run a speed test with the nearby lowest ping server by running the following command ...

Welcome to another installment of our blog series – Interview with a Map Master Today’s interview is with Fauzi Rachman. Visit his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fauzi.rachman.50?fref=pb_other -——————————————————————————————————————————————————– HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Fauzi: I am Fauzi Rachman and currently a student from the Faculty of Physics Engineering at Gadjah Mada University. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Fauzi: I was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java. When I started in the community, the map coverage was very little, so I contributed a lot of information through HERE Map Creator. I think this was one of the reason why I was nominated and awarded a Map Master due to my active contributions. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Fauzi: As a Map Master, we need to be very active. However, active doesn’t mean we need to contribute a lot, rather we need to have a good sense of ownership of our neighborhood. Once we noticed any updates/changes, we will add those changes/updates via HERE Map Creator and share our best practices with the rest. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Fauzi: I use Windows Phones (formerly known as Nokia Phones), so I definitely know about HERE Map. My first contribution was on geometry and point of interest around Tasikmalaya. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Fauzi: I am a research student from the Faculty of Physics Engineering at Gadjah Mada University. This community is focused on doing research and development which is related to my major. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Fauzi: Map Master Sanggi Rizki Paisal. He often shares tips and tricks, photos and his experience in the data collection process for the HERE Expert Community Program via social media. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fauzi: Travelling to Jakarta last June was one of my best experience as I got to meet up with all the Map Masters in one place. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fauzi: Establishing a small local chapter of the HERE Expert Community program based on each region’s activity would be desirable. HERE: Final words/your motto as a Map Master? Fauzi: As a map master, one of the expectation is to be able to contribute more to the HERE Expert Community Program, and one of my target is to get more users to start contributing. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————– Well, thank you, Fauzi for the kind words! The HERE Expert Community Program thanks you for your dedication and your commitment is crucial for everyone! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

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. ...

Microsoft Build is an annual conference event held by Microsoft aimed towards software and web developers using Windows, Windows Phone, Microsoft Azure and other Microsoft technologies. For the very first time, Build is coming to Singapore, and we’re like to invite you to join us! The Microsoft Build Developer conference was held in San Francisco on 29 April - 1 May 2015, where many interesting and cool things were announced. TL;DR, here’s a quick summary on how Microsoft is welcoming you to Windows 10: ...

InnovFest Singapore 2015 was a 2-day festival held over 2 days (28 - 29 April) at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event featured Asian innovation and brought the best ideas together. 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors, government agencies and researchers had the opportunity to meet, share their knowledge and network. [caption id=“innovfest_001” align=“aligncenter” width=“5184”] InnovFest - where Asian innovation meets the world[/caption] The Guest-of-Honor, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation initiative, shared in his opening address about the importance of innovation for our survival. He also took pride in sharing how half of Singapore’s cabinet ministers are engineers, and also how our very own Prime Minister can code. [caption id=“innovfest_002” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Dr. Balakrishnan had the opportunity to interact with the innovators[/caption] I had an amazing experience of talking to different innovators and sharing about Microsoft BizSpark, a program which gives startups 3 years of free stuff – software, service, tech support, and Azure cloud services. As I was roaming around different booths, I had the chance to check out all the new and really cool apps, innovations and cutting edge technologies! Some of the interesting ideas include a a watch that helps hook people up with the opposite gender located nearby, a smart home that can automatically light up your room with using a Kinect sensor based on your identity and profile, a bicycle with wheels that depicts engaging displays. [caption id=“innovfest_003” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Bicycle that displays advertisements[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_004” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Smart home using Kinect sensor[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Startup Gamurai showcasing their awesome product[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_006” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Nicholas sharing with start-ups about Microsoft BizSpark[/caption] Apart from exhibitions, there were also workshops and panel discussions on the latest trends in global & Asian innovations, keynote speeches and a series of satellite events. We have our very own Director of Developer Experience & Evangelism of Microsoft Singapore, Mr. Nobuhiro Ito, sharing about the secrets of Asia’s User Goldmine together in a panel discussion. [caption id=“innovfest_007” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Panel Discussion on Discovering Asia’s User Goldmine[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_008” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Workshops in InnovFest[/caption] Attendees were treated with a wide variety of delicious food, ranging from an international buffet spread to local delights such as chicken rice and nasi lemak, and also awesome tasting coffee. Over lunch, we also had the opportunity to network with different attendees and exchange ideas around the table. [caption id=“innovfest_009” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Buffet Spread for lunch[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] The roundtable setting facilitates discussions among attendees[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1919”] The Cortana boys[/caption] With so many mind-blowing ideas, amazing people and a constant spread of sumptuous meals, it is no doubt Asia’s most exciting innovation conference. I’m definitely looking forward to attending the next one, are you?

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. ...