Legendarily unaffordable Tokyo is no longer the priciest metropolis in the world—it has been supplanted by another, far more inaccessible city. Want to take a guess who it is? It’s not New York. It’s not San Francisco. The world’s most expensive city is…
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Clickdrive wants to be the first open platform device that connects all driving apps and aftermarket monitors. The small black box, which plugs into an adapter under your steering wheel, lets you run several apps simultaneously from your smartphone, directly on the device itself, or on Clickdrive’s cloud platform.
“There are a bunch of driving apps coming out of various natures, but what we don’t have is the ability to use more than one at a time,” says Mark Sutheran, co-founder of Clickdrive, which is based in Singapore, but works with international car models.
He compares on-board devices currently on the market to computers where you had to load tape software one program at a time.
“You can have an iPhone app and connect it with a specific OBD. Then when you want to switch to another app, you have to pull out the adapter and plug another one in. It’s not scalable.”
Clickdrive is now raising funds on Indiegogo to start production and has hit about $10,000 of its $100,000 campaign goal, which has a March 15 end date. The device will ship in November, but to give people a chance to test out Clickdrive’s SDK before the final hardware is available, the startup is sending crowdfunding supporters a free lite version in April. (Since there’s been some confusion, Sutheran emphasizes that the Clickdrive lite, which works only with Android and is made with an off-the-shelf adapter, is definitely not the final device).
In addition to offering the convenience of letting drivers run several iOS, Android, or Windows apps at once, Clickdrive’s creators also claim that it is faster and more secure than most existing OBDs.
The device will come with a bundle of apps that other developers can add to using Clickdrive’s SDK or open API. (Check out demonstrations of its analytics for cars in Europe, the Americas, or Asia here).
Driving apps already on the market include Automatic, a Y Combinator alum and Techstars-backed Dash, both of which offer their own hardware to connect with smartphones. Apps like Dash also work with other Bluetooth-enabled OBD, including some that cost as little as $10 on Amazon.
But Sutheran says Clickdrive will appeal to car enthusiasts who are eager to run more than one app at a time, as well as people who don’t want to pick and chose between apps that monitor their fuel usage, carbon emissions, engine performance, or driving performance.
Clickdrive can download and run third-party apps on the device itself, which means it will continue to analyze and store data even if your smartphone is out of power. The Clickdrive is also upgradable, so you can add more storage or new connectivity options, like GSM, 4G or Zigbee.
Sutheran, a self-described “petrol head,” first became interested in car computers when the engine of his Fiat Coupe blew up after he bolted on a turbo. This was back in 2004 and connected diagnostic tools for vehicles were too expensive for Sutheran to afford after shelling out for repairs. So he built a device to connect his car engine with his laptop.
At that time, Sutheran was working as a software developer and consultant, creating trading systems for investment banks such as Lehman Brothers. Then in 2012, Sutheran decided to leave the financial industry and see what he could do with the advancements in mobile tech and cloud computing in the eight years since his Fiat Coupe’s engine met its fiery demise.
Sutheran and co-founder Rishi Saraswat say they built Clickdrive with the same engineering principles they applied to low-latency, high-performance trading systems. They expect the device’s first adopters to be other petrol heads, as well as tech enthusiasts and people who want to reduce carbon emissions.
But Sutheran expects the apps and devices that connect to Clickdrive to quickly become ubiquitous.
“In a few years, there may be many thousands of driving apps out there,” Sutheran says. “Insurance companies will offer premiums if you install their apps, and there will be ones for ridesharing, tracking your family members’ driving, parking. There are many, many different ways you can go with this.”
As of tomorrow, the longest flight in the world will shuttle passengers on a 747-400 from Sydney, Australia to Dallas, Texas. That 15-hour, 25-minute hop on board Qantas 7 may not be the lengthiest in duration, but at 8,578 miles gate to gate, it’ll lead the industry in miles flown. For a few more hours, however, Singapore Airlines’ decade-long run from Newark, N.J., to Singapore remains the record holder for both time (more than 18 hours) and distance (9,534 miles). It’s a journey that’s been on the bucket lists of the world’s most ambitious aviation enthusiasts since the city-state’s namesake airline first launched the service in 2004, and following tonight’s final jaunt, this record-setting A340-500 will touch down at Changi Airport for the very last time.
Despite this cheerless loss, it’s a spectacular time in the world of aviation. Sure, we don’t have our supersonic Concorde replacement just yet, and the Dreamliner rollout was not without significant heartbreak, but the past few years have represented a tremendous period, with banner launches from both Airbus and Boeing that will change the way we fly forever. But as with any category, aircraft manufacturing and design advances also serve to highlight the shortcomings of previous-generation products.
The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 make massive efficiency boosts a reality, leading gas-guzzling greats like the aging A340-500 to a premature retirement. In this case, the A345’s departure from Singapore’s fleet represents not only better things to come, but also the loss of a landmark route — it’s an unavoidable compromise, and with the end in sight, I drained my frequent flier account in order to score a ticket, and set out to discover the significance of Singapore Flight 21’s retirement.%Gallery-slideshow123017%
Filed under: Transportation
The city-state of Singapore might be spearheading another initiative to make other First World countries jealous – by the time 2015 arrives, driverless vehicles might not even warrant a second glance as it could very well be deemed as normal in Singapore then, thanks to the Navia driverless vehicle. The Navia happens to be an eight-seat shuttle which might resemble an elongated golf cart (it sure as heck is not going to win any kind of awards with its design), but that does not mean it ain’t a great people mover. Other than not requiring a driver to get you to your destination, the Navia will boast of touchscreen navigation as well as an electric motor.
It is smart enough to park itself on top of its charger when “resting”, and it uses a network of lasers and sensors in order to detect whether anything might be amiss or in the way of Navia, so that it can avoid any obstacles in real time without missing a beat. Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University is set to be the Navia’s very first real-world environment, which would be a great “last mile” solution for Singapore’s ever burdening public transport system. Will it be able to win votes for the ruling party as well during the next elections if the Navia was approved?
Navia Driverless Car Spotted In Singapore original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Pininfarina: you may know it as the high-end Italian firm that designs fast, expensive cars like Ferraris. Now, for the first time, its designers are branching out into residential design with a condominium in Singapore. And it looks like the cars they design.
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After several years of flying around Asia for tourism and business we decided to give our summary of the best airports in the region.
1. Changi International Airport- Singapore
Asia’s most convenient airport; connect to downtown Singapore by MRT or taxi in less than 30 minutes.
An awesome place to stay in transit with plenty of places to eat, chill out and shop with the option of easily exploring the city-state if you have more time. Clean, calm and comfortable with three well designed terminals that let you experience the charms of the Garden City.
Whether or not Singapore was the destination or just a stop over we are always happy to fly in and out of Changi.
2. Incheon International Airport- South Korea
Less than an hour to central Seoul by train, getting to and from Incheon Airport is cheap and easy. Shuttle buses and taxis also provide affordable alternatives.
For those visiting Seoul for business or contacting friends, consider renting a phone from the Airport to use during your trip, prices are very reasonable and it takes no time to apply (took me less than 5 minutes!).
If you have some time, energy and Won to spare, take out your pre-flight stress at the driving range or 72-hole golf course, spin around at the ice rink or catch the latest Korean blockbuster at the CGV movie theatre.
If you’re stuck in transit then also check out the airport sauna and spa; open 24 hours a day where you can forget about your long stop-over and flight delay.
Incheon Airport ensures that any trip to Seoul begins and ends in style.
3. Hong Kong International Airport- China
Asia’s second most convenient airport; get to central Hong Kong by express train in 25 minutes, alternatively take a shuttle bus or taxi which will deliver you to any destination in the SAR in less than an hour.
The most scenic airport in Asia! Located on Hong Kong’s largest island, Lantau the airport’s location makes take off and landing feel like taking an aerial cruise (just be lucky with the weather).
Lantau Island is also home to the Asia Expo Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Disney Land, Tai O fishing village and the Ngong Ping 360 Cable car experience which takes you to the famous Big Buddha statue. These attractions can be easily accessed from the airport and are a great way to spend several hours in transit.
Gateway to China; various buses and ferry routes also connect you easily from the airport to Macau and Mainland China, meaning that you can make Hong Kong part of your greater China experience.
We hope you enjoy flying in and out of these awesome Asian airports as much as we did!
After first being rolled out in Korea in February, the LG Optimus G Pro is now coming to other Asian markets. With the announcement on May 30, LG’s flagship 5.5-inch Android “phablet” will debut in Hong Kong in June followed by Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia over the course of the month.
The full press release with explanation of its specs and features is below:
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LG OPTIMUS G PRO ARRIVES IN ASIA
Fully Packed with Advanced UX and Features, LG’s Biggest Smartphone
Offers Asian Consumers Differentiated Smartphone Experience
SEOUL, May 30, 2013 — LG Electronics (LG) is demonstrating its commitment to the premium smartphone market in Asia with the introduction of its flagship smartphone, Optimus G Pro, in the rest of the region. Originally introduced in its home market of Korea earlier this year, the 5.5-inch display Android device is being rolled-out in the rest of the region starting on May 30. The smartphone will debut in Hong Kong in June followed by other Asian markets including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippine, Vietnam and Malaysia throughout the month.
“LG’s Optimus G Pro sets a new benchmark in the over 5-inch display smartphone category which is catching on with consumers everywhere who aren’t interested in owning both a phone and a tablet,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Asian customers are leading many of today’s technology trends and we’re confident Optimus G Pro will find a large following in this region.”
The Optimus G Pro is equipped with the swift Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. Combined with other industry-leading features such as a long-lasting 3,140mAh battery and 2GB RAM, LG’s Optimus G Pro is one of the most advanced smartphones currently on the market today. With its expansive 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD IPS display delivering a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels at 400ppi, the Optimus G Pro provides razor sharp images and wide viewing angles as well as a comfortable in-hand experience and great “pocketability.”
Backed by powerful hardware features, the Optimus G Pro also comes packed with differentiated UX features, such as:
• Dual Camera and Dual Recording: The Dual Camera and Dual Recording functions allow users to capture pictures or videos with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously for a unique picture-in-picture experience;
• VR Panorama: The VR Panorama allows shots of entire horizontal and vertical environments for a full 360° view;
• Pause and Resume Recording: The Pause and Resume Recording feature allows for the recording of short snippets of video which can then be viewed as one continuous file.
• Smart Video: Smart Video recognizes the position of the viewer’s eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without any manual input from the user.
Key Specifications:
• Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
• Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm? Snapdragon™ 600 Processor
• Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels / 400ppi)
• Memory: 16GB / microSD (up to 64GB)
• RAM: 2GB DDR
• Camera: Rear 13.0MP / Front 2.1MP
• Battery: 3,140mAh (removable)
• Size: 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm
• Colors: Indigo Black, Lunar White
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About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 87,000 people working in 113 offices around the world. With 2012 global sales of USD 45.22 billion (KRW 50.96 trillion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solution – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.
Singapore isn’t necessarily known for its generous media freedoms, but the Southeast Asian city-state is planning to tighten the reigns even further next month. Beginning June 1st, any online news outlet with more than 50,000 unique monthly visitors within Singapore that also reports on the country at least once each week will need to obtain an operating license from the Media Development Authority. According to a press release, the objective of such a policy, which already covers print publications, is to “provide greater clarity” when it comes to text and visual media the government will not allow to be published, such as “content that undermines racial or religious harmony.” The agency’s release lists a total of 10 online publications that will be affected by the new policy, including sg.news.yahoo.com, businesstimes.com.sg and straitstimes.com. According to a Reuters report, blogs are currently excluded, though we could see stricter regulation on that front in the future.
Taiwan might have an HTC One and an HTC First, but starting today, Singapore has a Synrgic Uno to join the banter (get it?). The name Synrgic might not immediately ring a bell, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see a mention of its earlier phone plus three tablets from a while back. Alas, said phone was eventually canned as the quality didn’t meet expectations, so consider this Uno a new attempt by the same Singaporean startup.
Announced in its home city just now, this device is positioned as a mid-tier Android phone with some modest specs, namely a 4.7-inch, 720p IPS display with Gorilla Glass and, more interestingly, a dual-core 1.5GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4470 SoC (with 1GB DDR2 RAM and SGX 544 graphics chip). With the upcoming TI OMAP 5 series shifting towards automotive systems, chances are the Uno will be one of the last OMAP-powered smartphones before TI waves goodbye to the mobile world. More after the break.
Update: We’ve added a hands-on video after the break. In short: smooth software and solid hardware build, with some room for improvement on the coating at the top and bottom sides.
Gallery: Synrgic Uno hands-on
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Synrgic
Having lived and travelled around different parts of Asia we thought it would be good to give a round-up of how things operate in these very distinct markets. From Thai tuk-tuks to doily-adorned Japanese cabs, Asia has a wide variety of options for getting from A to B. This is Part 1!
1-Hong Kong
Image via flickr
Overview: Fast, convenient and cheap; it is easy to hail a taxi from almost anywhere and you wont have to stop at an ATM to pay for the rest of your fare. An affordable and quicker alternative to public transport especially for first time visitors!
Price: HK$20 ($US2.6) for the first 2 kilometers and then HK$1.50 (US$0.2) for every subsequent 200m.
Hong Kong’s red, green and blue taxis service different locations in the territory. Image via HK Transport Department.
Bonuses: Most Hong Kong cabbies are friendly, chatty and speak some English and very patient considering all the drunken, vomiting and rowdy people they have to deal with coming back from Lan Kwai Fong (the party district) in the early hours.
Pimped up HK Taxi Driver’s dashboard. Image via shanghaibutter.com
Warnings: It is illegal for a Hong Kong cab driver to refuse to take you somewhere unless they have a valid excuse. That said you can probably always find another cab quite soon.
Hong Kong Cabbie. Jus’ Chillin’ image via Geographically Yours
Average price of a taxi from Hong Kong Airport to Central (downtown): HK$300 (US$39) and takes just less than an hour.
2- Singapore
Image via onsingapore.com
Overview: Singapore is small, so if you don’t have much time just take a taxi!
Price: between SG$3-4 (US$2.4- 3.2) for the first kilometer depending on which type of taxi you take.
Bonuses: Since Singapore is small you are unlikely to ever rack up a crazy taxi fare unless you get the driver to ride around in circles all night. Very talkative and opinionated drivers will ensure an enteraining ride; I recommend checking this out humorous and insightful blog by Singapore cabbie James Lim.
Singaporean Cabbie who returned $1m found in his taxi. Image via Jakarta Globe.
Warnings: If you are staying or visiting just outside the downtown/business district of Singapore then be aware that since cab drivers can get an extra three dollars picking someone up from inside the business district they are unlikely to stop for you. So you will have to walk the extra block to get a cab.
An average taxi journey from Changi Airport to downtown Singapore: ranges from SG$18.00-38.00 ($US14-30) and takes about 30 minutes.
3- Seoul
Seoul International Taxis (Image via Seoul.go.kr)
Overview: Getting around Seoul by taxi can be a cheaper and quicker option than by public transport and there are a variety of taxi types on offer including the deluxe taxis and International Taxis which speak English and Japanese.
Price: Seoul Regular taxi fares begin at ￦2,400 (US$2.15) for the first 2 kilometers and go up by ￦100 (US$0.9) every additional 144 meters.
Seoul Taxi. Image via Seoul Navi.
Bonuses: You can pay using t-money, credit card and cash, drivers are direct but friendly and you don’t have to speak Korean.
Image via Starsandstripes.com
Warnings: Hailing a taxi in Seoul at night can be difficult with some taxi drivers reluctant to take you to certain districts or on routes which are not economical enough for them. If you are a tourist or new to Seoul then Seoulistic provides some tips on avoiding getting ripped off by Seoul cabbies.
An average fare from Incheon International Airport to downtown Seoul: ￦50,000 (US$45).
4- Tokyo
Tokyo Taxi (Image via National Geographic)
Overview: Taking a taxi in Tokyo is an expensive luxury but of course every now and again you will find yourself missing the last train, completely lost or just tired and fed up of walking around.
Price: fares start at JPY 710 (US$7.4) for the first 2.1 kilometers taxi and increase by ¥90 (US$0.9) for every extra 288m.
Tokyo Taxi Driver. Image via news.com.au.
Bonuses: All Tokyo taxi drivers wear suits with waist-coats, white gloves and decorate the taxi interiors with laced seat covers like an old lady’s living room. They also open the doors for you which in a way seems to justify the price, but…
Image via wired.com
Warnings: Most Tokyo taxi drivers are not from Tokyo so don’t know the city that well and often don’t know how to use their satellite navigators so even if you have a copy of the address written in Japanese you might end up having to give the driver directions!
If you are crazy enough to consider taking a taxi from Narita airport to Tokyo station: you will be set back around JPY 20,000 ($US 209).
Check out Taxis in Asia: Part two coming soon!
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
