Birthday Celebration at CUT, by Wolfgang Puck

It was Andre's (Dawn's brother) 22nd Birthday and the family decided to head to a restaurant with his favorite cuisine - a Steakhouse! And when it comes to steak, CUT by Wolfgang Puck is one of the obvious to-go-to choices in Singapore. For those who have no idea who this legendary chef is, here's a little background:

Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian celebrity chef and restauranteur who has more than 13 fine dining restaurant names under his belt. Amongst all these, the Steakhouse CUT is one of the most famous names can be found in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, London and of course... Singapore. Some of his accolades include the two Michelin Stars and James Beard Foundation award for his Spago Beverly Hills in 2008 & 2009 and an Emmy Award in 2002. For fans of the popular reality show Hell's Kitchen, you probably can remember him as one of the guest judge for the Final 2 Challenge. 

Entering CUT

Personally, I have only been to one other fine-dining Steakhouse - Morton's. So obviously, I have only one other point of comparison. BTW, please forgive me for the lousy quality photos, I forgot to bring my camera on that day and had to rely on my iPhone (NOT iPhone 5).

Drinks To Start

First, let's take a look at the decor. The layout of the entire place is pretty simple - just like how a fine dining restaurant should look like. The lighting is dim, the tables are placed in a neat fashion (though it was a little cramp) and the decor is minimalistic yet exquisite. This place no doubt has the right ambience for a fine dining experience.

Simple Decor Does The Trick

Next is Service. No matter the place or the food, as long as the service is not up to mark, it can severely mar the fine dining experience of the patrons. For CUT, the service staff is still quite inexperienced and there's still room for improvement. This is not to say that the service was bad - the staff was friendly, helpful and prompt. However, they could do more with in depth knowledge of the food/wine and could take more initiative in attending the patrons' needs (before they ask). Basically they were good, but not excellent.

Love The Wine Collection

Now to the main highlight - the Food. Given that we were afraid of over-ordering, we settled for two appetizers and two sides, together with our individual (Dawn and her parents shared a steak) steak.

The appetizers were Hokkaido Scallop “Carpaccio,” Shaved Myoga, Wasabi-Kosho Ponzu and the American Blue Crab and Shrimp “Louis,” Spicy Tomato-Horseradish. 

Mac & Cheese and Sautéed Broccolini came as sides. 

Dawn and her parents shared the Wagyu Rib Eye (For 2), Andre ordered the Australian Angus Bone in Ribeye Steak and, Priscilla and I ordered the USDA PRIME Ribeye each.

Hokkaido Scallop “Carpaccio,” Shaved Myoga, Wasabi-Kosho Ponzu

The Hokkaido Scallop was to die for. The pieces of raw scallops were fresh and sliced perfectly. On top of that, the spicy Wasabi-Kosho Ponzu sauce goes perfectly with the scallops (though they were perfectly fine without any sauce) as the tangy ponzu taste brings the best out of the scallops. Lovely!

American Blue Crab and Shrimp “Louis,” Spicy Tomato-Horseradish

After the fabulous scallops, this dish paled in comparison. But that doesn't mean its a bad dish. They were generous with the Blue Crab meat, the sauce blended well with the meat and the dish was tasty overall. It probably won't blow your mind away but still a good start to the meal.

USDA PRIME Ribeye with Mac & Cheese

Here's the highlight of the day - USDA PRIME Ribeye with our sides of Pasta & Broccolini. First, I would like to point out why Ribeye is my favorite cut of steak. Compared to most cuts, the ribeye is one of the fattest portion of the cow. The key feature of this cut is the marbling of that fats and the juiciness of the meat. Because of its fat-to-meat ratio and the nature of the cut, the meat is really tender and often have it's "juiciness" locked inside the meat, which basically "flows" out the moment you cut and eat it. This cut of meat is usually best serve medium-rare or medium - cooked enough for the fats to marble but not too much in order to maintain its juice. 

My Medium-Rare Steak

So obviously, to judge this steak, one has to look at two factors (besides the temperature of the meat) - the juice and marbled fats. I would say CUT scores full marks in both factors. The fatty portions marbled so well that it simply melted in my mouth. The meat was juicy and tender, much to my liking. The steak here were all grilled on hardwood and charcoal before finishing in the oven and this gave it a nice "woody charred" taste which makes the steak even more flavorful. I ended up finishing my steak without even touching the mustard sauce that they provided.

P.S. I took a bite of Dawn's Wagyu Steak. The taste and texture was so much better than the USDA PRIME. The Wagyu is simply in a league of its own.

Oooooooohhh Lala

Comparing the steak here with the ones at Morton's, I would give the edge to CUT. The steak at Morton's is bigger in size (considering size to price ratio) but in terms of flavor, CUT beat Morton's hands down. The charred outer layer gives it a much tasty flavor which puts one over the other. The quality of beef is obviously the same and, for service and decor, both restaurants would probably go neck to neck.

Menu For Us

After the excellent main course, we ordered a few desserts to share. The restaurant was also kind enough to give us a complimentary plate of ice cream for the Birthday Boy. The dessert themselves were also remarkable and we cleared the plates in quicktime despite being stuffed by the main course. 

Their Special Seasonal Pineapple with Rum Dessert

Valrhona Chocolate Souffle, Crème Fraiche Cream, Hazelnut Praline, Nutella Ice Cream    

Warm Pear Crumble, Cinnamon Oat Streusel, Ginger Ice Cream

Overall, it was a fantastic gastronomical experience for us. The ambience was nice, the service was good and the food is out of this world (though the price is equally 'out of this world'). I would admit that it is really very pricey even given such quality of food. However, places like this still isn't a commonplace in Singapore and is certainly an experience worth trying at least once. An experience (note: it's not just a meal, it's an experience) here will definitely bring a fresh perspective on food & dining, and worth the occasion splurge. I am certainly looking forward to my next gastronomical experience!

Thank you Uncle Deryl and Aunty Joyce for this fabulous experience. And Happy Birthday Andre!

Johore Bahru: KSL & Legoland Trip

Recently there has been quite a bit of hype about the newly-opened Legoland Malaysia in Johore Bahru. I have received tons of emails for Deals and packages for this new packages and it took a while to pick the right one. Finally, we managed to pick the one that allowed us to go over the Hari Raya weekend, which included one night stay at the KSL Resort for us to also enjoy a relaxing day at Johor Bahru.

Let me start with our little gastronomic adventure near KSL (trust me, it's as good as Legoland) before jumping into the theme park.

Soon Soon Bak Kut Teh

Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh

Located right across KSL (Exit at the bottom floor through the Hong Kong Cafe), this Bak Kut Teh stall is one of the most visited in JB (A poll to 10 other friends, almost all went there before). When we went in at around 2 p.m., the place was very crowded and we had to wait quite a bit before getting our tables. However, the turnover rate here is usually very fast, so don't be turn off by the crowd - it is worth the wait.

Peak Period Throughout e Afternoon

The table-waiting and ordering can be quite chaotic and intimidating for first timers (there isn't a menu or similar), but once you know how everything works, it will become very simple. While waiting for your tables, head on to the 'kitchen' (the front of the shop) and make your orders.

The Kitchen Area

The way JB BKT is being served is slightly different from the Singapore version. Instead of individual bowls, the JB version puts everything (including your Meats, Innards and Vegetable) into a single Claypot. So its important to tell the server what you want or do not want in your pot. On top of that, communal style is favored, so rather than an individual bowl for each person, everyone shares from the same pot. Other dishes like Pigs Trotter and Salted Vegetables can be ordered separately.

One Claypot For All

We ordered the standard BKT soup (2 pots for 6 people) with Pig Innards (Intestines, Liver & Stomach), extra Golden Mushroom and of coz... the pork meat. In addition, we tried the Pork Trotters and ordered generous portions of Salted Vegetables (aka "Kiam Chai").

Sizzling Hot Bak Kut Teh

Let's start with the main attraction - The BKT soup. Once again, let me highlight the difference between the typical Singapore soup and the JB soup. The Singapore soup is usually Peppery  whereas the JB's soup is more herbal. The meat in Singapore usually comes in big chunks (probably 2 - 4 pieces per bowl) but the ones in JB is smaller and more "bite-size". And the most obvious - one is served in a claypot with everything inside and the other is served in different bowls.

Read on to find out more about the BKT and other dishes

Personally, I prefer the Herbal BKT soup. However, I'm being unfair to the Singapore version as, I have an general dislike for anything Peppery. So all that I can say is it isn't fair to put one over the other, it all depends on personal preferences.

The Soup: With so many ingredients inside, The Soon Soon BKT soup is especially delicious. They not only added the typical ingredients like mushrooms, tau kee and pork, they have also added a generous portion of clams and a tinge of pepper. With the extra pepper, the soup would appeal to BOTH camps of BKT (the peppery and the herbal people) as it gives a good mix of both inside the soup. My favorite thing about the soup is the balance they have achieved (especially with so many ingredients) as the soup isn't too 'gamey' (if there's too much innards) or too 'tau kee-y' (too much tau kee inside).

The Meat: It's easy for me to be satisfied in this area. The meat just have to be soft (but not shredded) and easy to eat and Soon Soon scored full marks here. The meat falls right off the bone and the bite size pieces makes it a pleasant experience. Did I mention how generous they were with the meat?

The Others: This would refer to the Pig innards and vegetables. Nothing much to rave about here as its all standard stuff. They could have added more intestines though.

Pigs Trotters

Next order was the Pigs Trotters in Dark Sauce. I would have to say this isn't their best dish. The meat was soft and nice, the sauce was quite rich and the portion was pretty generous. However, the meat was a little too gamey for my liking. It was one of the less popular dish on the table (the others were wiped clean).

Boiling Hot Sauce

Next up was one of my favorite dish in the world - Salted Vegetables or also know as "Kiam Chai".

Service Pot for Salted Vegetables

Singapore's version

For me, this is the dish which makes or breaks the BKT stall (this is purely due to my love for this dish). Once again, this stall scores full marks!

There is a slight difference between the Singapore version and the JB one too. The Singapore one is usually made mostly of pickled vegetables (sometimes with chili), taste more salty and comes in bigger chunks. However, the JB one has more ingredients like Pork Lard, is usually less salty and comes in smaller pieces with more leafy parts (as illustrated on the right).

[Note: If you are comparing the JB one to the Singapore's "Chai Buay" or "Muay Chai (aka Porridge Salted Veg)", the JB one will be dryer and saltier.]

1 Portion of Kiam Chai 

The Soon Soon Kiam Chai is one dish that I would go back for again and again. The salted vegetables was served hot and they were very generous with the pork lard. This gave the dish more "kick" and prevents it from becoming too salty. The moisture level was just right - not so dry that it becomes crunchy and not too wet that it becomes soupy. Lovely!

Cold Refreshing Honey Jelly

Just a side note: Try the Honey Jelly dessert. Its a good way to beat off the heat and cool down, especially in such a hot weather.

Our lovely lunch

Overall Verdict: This is one stall that I would go over and over again. In fact, this makes the (really short) drive/ride up here totally worth it. The soup is tasty and cater to both pepper and herbal supporters. The portions is generous and their salted vegetables is to die for. Oh, did I mention? We only payed 25 RM pax for everything.

Soon Soon Bak Kut Teh: 236, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, 80150, Johor Bahru, Johor. Open 8 a.m - 5 p.m


I'll leave my Legoland post for tomorrow. So stay tuned for more...

Break for a October

For those who are following (and are wondering about) my blog, I would like to Thank all of you and inform you that I've decided (or rather decided about a week ago) to take the whole of October off from blogging.

This is due to the fact that I've been pretty much tied down by job application (resume editing, cover letter, etc) and interviews. I have decided to make this my number (it has all along been, but I'm just dedicating more time) ONE priority at this time.

On top of that, I'm picking up some new skills/knowledge which includes putting my money in the right place and BLOG UPGRADING.

So basically this blog is UNDER RENOVATION for the time being.

I'll be back in November and will be soon upgrading this blog.

In the meantime, I'll still be updating my personal blog:
http://marcusfong.wordpress.com

PS. This blog is NOT dead, so just stay tuned for my next entry :)

iOS6: A review of the latest iOS for Apple OS devices

After three days of renovations, my room is finally ready for me to work in (which explains my absence for the early part of the week). However, I won't be blogging about that now because I'll have to wait till the entire room is completely done (sometime next week).

Photos courtesy of Mac Rumors

While a beeline of people are queueing for the iPhone 5 (I'm still on the fence as to whether to buy the phone), I have decided to download the latest iOS 6 and see how it pans out in the Singapore context.

Here's a lowdown of the newest updates:

Maps

As mentioned in my previous post, the new native Maps app has replaced the usual Google Maps as the main navigation app in the new iOS. Besides the typical mapping devices, it features the new turn-by-turn (aided by Tom-Tom) with Fly-over Function.

Let's start with the Pros:

Firstly, the free rotation and smoother zoom interface really makes life easier. This is especially so if you are one that needs to rotate your map to the orientation you are comfortable with.

Secondly, the Turn-by-turn feature works seamlessly and would save a lot of money from downloading the Tom-tom app.

Other than these two features, the app generally gives more information both within the map and in-location. This would be really helpful. However, for places in Singapore, the information available is still considerably limited.

Now with the Cons:

Most importantly, there is NO transit direction function in the new native app.  Apple has decided not to add in transit directions, instead they have suggested (in-app) a list of 3rd party apps that would do the trick. Unfortunately, gothere.sg or street directory is not in that list (so you'll most likely get an error instead of a suggestion).

As expected, the Fly-by function doesn't work for most places in Singapore. All you get is the default 3-D satellite imaging.

To me, this new app is really disappointing. For someone who doesn't own a car, but instead relies on public transport, the lack of transit directions is really a deal breaker. Although there are good 3rd party apps that will do the job, this would greatly handicap the reliability for the new Map App. Interestingly, this new feature is the feature that has taken the most flak from reviewers around the world.

Mail

Apple has certainly delivered on this one. The additional VIP function allows for automated sorting for important recipients (not that I have any now). The improved Flag function makes sorting of mail easier and ensures that you don't miss out on important messages.

Passbook

This app is basically useless for now. Most of the companies that jumped on the passbook bandwagon are US-based. So unless I want to buy a ticket to Los Angeles or New York, passbook is next to useless in Singapore.

If you want to play with Passbook, you can go to http://www.passsource.com.

Siri

Siri really DID get smarter. In fact, I'm actually impressed.

As promised, Siri was able to tell me about the English Premier League scores, standings and help me look for nearby food and amenities. Also, (if opentable allows) Siri can make reservations. Siri gave me quite a bit on what movies to watch too.

However, don't expect too much. As for sports, Siri doesn't know anything about Champions League and I'm not too sure about the other leagues (pretty sure nothing will come up for Malaysian cup or S League). The food and amenities information is still very limited, so don't expect to be able to find your favorite Laksa or Char kuay teow. Hungry.sg might be a better app for that.

Safari

The iCloud Tab is pretty awesome in integrating all my iDevices together. It is a really good move to make, allowing me to seamlessly switch between the devices. For me, this is easy to use and I'm pretty sure it will be helpful for most people.

Other Additions

Other addition includes the Facebook/Twitter Integration, Reply with message, Facetime over cellular, Privacy Settings and Photo Stream. Except for the Facebook/Twitter integration, I didn't really get to try out the other new features as I wasn't able to get hold of another person to test it with at 3 am in the morning. For Facebook/Twitter, it works perfectly so for those social media junkies, updating is just as easy as it can ever get.

All in all, this new iOS system isn't the big jump that I have expected (as seen from previous iOS jumps). I would agree that the integration of the different iDevices and with Social Media is the right way to go, but the major changes made to the iOS has served to do more bad than good.

The Passbook app is touted to be Apple's answer to the growing NFC technology. However, in Singapore, does that really hold up? The banks are coming up with NFC enabled credit cards and many other companies are following suit. I'm still unsure as to whether passbook will be more prominent than NFC in Singapore in a few months time.

The deal breaker for me is the native Map app. With the transit directions gone and the highly anticipated fly-over function crippled, this new app seems to have taken a step back. Personally, I can't wrap my head around the new changes and am uncomfortable having to use TWO apps just to obain directions (or simply just get rid of the new Map app). I admit that I am too reliable on the Google Map but like a common saying, "why fix the wheel when it is not spoilt".

For me, the lack of transit directions has led me to uninstall the iOS 6 and switched back to the iOS 5.1.1 (which explains the lack in screenshots). For now, I'll accustom myself (to see if I can really live without my precious google map) to using 3rd party apps for directions first before switching over to iOS 6. When I do switch over (probably in a week or so), I'll re-review the new OS and post it here. Hopefully, I was too quick to judge and the new iOS will prove me wrong.

Dunman Food Center: Dragon City Claypot Frog Porridge & Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Every time someone asks for a recommendation for Frog Leg Porridge, the first thing that comes to mind is Geylang. The only variation is about which Lorong to go where the actual stall is. Now, thanks to the recommendation by my friend Cecilia, I have a alternative - in fact, it's a better alternative.

Dunman Food Center

 The one bad thing about this place is the accessibility of the food center (or rather the lack thereof). The nearest MRT station from here is Eunos Station and for those who drive, parking is a nightmare.  Nevertheless, we made it there after parking further down Joo Chiat Road.

DragonCity Claypot Frog

The place is pretty small so it isn't really hard to find the stall. For those who still need directions - just head up to the second level and its the stall at the corner near the railings. As there were only two of us, we ordered 3 Frogs and 1 pot of porridge.

Porridge

First up - the Porridge. Served in a claypot, the porridge was smooth and the portions were pretty generous. Some might find that the porridge is a little too blend but I think it's just right when combined with the salty black sauce from the frog leg pot. I'm not a fan of porridge but this is one pot that I'll come back for more.

Dried Chilli Frog Legs

Next came the frog legs. First thing that hit me - the pot is really huge! The ones in Geylang usually comes in much smaller (but slightly deeper) pots that makes it harder to "navigate around". Another major difference from some of the stalls in Geylang (the not-so-good-ones), the frogs inside are big and very fleshy. This frogs are definitely bigger than usual, making them more value for money.

Tender meat

Even though the meat on these frogs are much more chunky, they are cooked perfectly to become soft and tender - which basically differentiates frog meat from any other meat. Even the harder-to-eat parts like the ribs is easy to eat as it comes of the bone easily. Kudos to the chef!

Porridge and Frog

The last element for this entire dish is the sauce for the frogs. Most places would go heavy on either the saltiness or spiciness but here, there is a good blend of spice and salt. So basically you won't go away with extreme thirst or with a numb tongue and burning lips. The sauce is still too salty to be eaten on its own but when put together with the porridge, it pretty much evens everything out, giving you a good blend of taste. 

Enjoying the pot

Besides the Frog Leg Porridge, we ordered some sides to go along. This included the Popiah and the Rojak (which was reviewed by ieatishootipost)

Popiah

The $1.30 Popiah was so-so. There was a generous serving of Bangkuang. However, that made the skin really wet and the entire thing fell apart when we tried to "kiap" it with our chopsticks. 

Termed as "The Undisputed Champion?" by Mr Leslie Tay of ieatishootipost blog, this Rojak is definitely one of the best Rojak that I have eaten in Singapore. So what makes it so good?

Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Firstly, the entire plate is NOT drenched in sauce. I admit I love the rojak peanut sauce but more often than not, some stalls simply spam the sauce and drowns all the taste and texture of the ingredients. The sauce was perfect as it wasn't too wet yet it managed to cover all the ingredients.

Next, the You Tiaos were crispy when the food came to us. The sauce did nothing to dampen the texture so you get a crispy texture together with the tasty peanut sauce. I can't ask for a more perfect combination.

Lastly, the ingredients tasted fresh (despite it being late at night) and the portion was pretty generous. The plate you see above is $3 and took more than 20 minutes to come. So be prepared to wait for a bit especially during busier periods.

All in all, this place is (IMO) a better alternative to similar selections found in Geylang. Did I mention that its $18 for 3 frogs? I'll definitely will be back here for more.

Dunman Food Center
271 Onan Road 
Open till late

New iOS 6 - The new program to complement the iPhone 5

With a new hardware comes a new software to complement it. Right after the introduction of the iPhone 5, Apple wasted no time in presenting the new features of the latest iOS 6. Here are the features that was mentioned at a glance:

The new iOS

Maps

Flyover feature - photo courtesy of businessinsider.com

With Apple trying to completely divorce itself from Google, it has taken out the native Google Maps app from the previous OS and replace it with their own native app Maps. Here are the features of this new app:

Smooth zoom and rotation - From the demonstration, zooming in and out seemed a lot smoother and the app has the new ability to rotate 360 degrees and works in both landscape and potrait mode.

More detailed information for specific locations - Apple has collaborated with Yelp and more information will be provided which includes detailed description, more reviews and even more pictures.

Turn-by-turn 3D directions - Just think of Tom-Tom, the popular GPS guiding system. So basically a Siri-like voice telling you where to turn with the buildings in 3D view.

Flyover (Satellite View) - In Flyover mode, it allows you "fly over" the satellite (or realistic) images of the location. Probably something like Superman meets Google map Street View.

To sum it up, Maps app has managed to marry Tom-tom with Google Maps, drawing on the popular turn-by-turn directions and street view. Though all these features seemed really awesome during the demonstration, I'm still holding my praises due to some concerns.

Firstly, apple is collaborating with Yelp. And we all know how Yelp is next to useless in Singapore. So will we get another Siri-like problem with locations when searching for more information using Maps? Secondly, with our Telco cashing in on LTE and cutting our data limit, will all these additional features just put us closer to exploding our data limit? Lastly, without the A6 chip, I'm afraid the older iPhones is going to have trouble keeping up.

Notification Center

A simple addition - You are now able to Tweet or Update your Facebook Status from Notification Center.

Safari

iCloud Tab - photos courtesy of Apple.com

Two additional features.

Full Screen Mode - This is one of the ideas that have migrated from the MacBook to their mobile. devices. Now you can "use every pixel" on your mobile device when browsing your favorite sites.

iCloud Tab - This ties in nicely with Apple's strategy of integrating all three devices. iCloud Tab would allow you to push the tabs that you have opened on your MacBook to your mobile devices. Simply go under a special tab named "iCloud Tab" and you can continue reading what you have left off on your laptop.

Mail

VIP - photos courtesy of hongkiat.com

It will be now easier to flag your mail (direct access from your bottom toolbar) and a special folder is created just for your flagged mail.

On top of that, there is now a new VIP Section where all your contacts that is put under "VIP" will have their mail directed to this dedicated folder.

Passbook

photos courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Another new native app by Apple. This app is for you to store all your tickets (e.g concert tickets, sports tickets), boarding passes, discount coupons and loyalty cards. On top of that, it is integrated with your lock screen and alerts you whenever you are near the location to use your passes/tickets/coupons.

As with the Maps app, my main concern is that how effective will this App be in Singapore. What will the take-up rate be like for companies in Singapore? (The Starbuck Card app can't even be used inSingapore) On top of that, will this be overrun by the new NFC technology which is provided by Samsung Galaxy SIII and other mobile devices? I seriously have my doubts.

Shared Photo Stream

Fundamentally its your Instagram/Pinterest/Whatever photo sharing platform integrated into the native Photo app. You can even comment and like the photos (not sure if you can re-share though) that is being pushed to you.

Once again, another Apple's attempt to use the features of 3rd-party app and integrate it with their native app (Remember iMessage vs Whatsapp). Probably a method to get more people onto the iDevice band wagon to enjoy these "exclusivity". Oh well,  I still use Whatsapp a lot more than iMessage, so I don't see how this will break my habitual platforms for photo sharing.

Siri

Well, Siri just got smarter. She can now:

Tell you more about Sports (the demo was ALL about NFL football)
Give you movie reviews & recommendations (based on Rotten Tomatoes)
Recommend you a restaurant and book a table for you (through opentable)

Seems really smart eh? But up till now, my dearest assistant is still unable to give me location-based service in Singapore. So whats the point of being smarter when you can't use it in your home country? Oh and better sports knowledge? Try asking Siri who is at the top of S-League table or how did our Young Lions did against Kelantan. I can totally imagine Siri's quizzical looks.

Photos courtesy of Apple.com

Well, there you have it - some of the features highlighted in the Apple keynote event. Some of the features that have been left out or only briefly mentioned includes the ability to reply phone calls with iMessage/Message, guided access and Facetime over cellular network.

All in all, these features seemed pretty good but I'll hold any judgement till I try to use them in Singapore. Most of these new features seemed to be very US-based and I have serious doubts about it being even half as effective here. I remember how Siri was a major disappointment when she became toothless when her location-based service was disabled. I really hope Apple will do something about that and ensure that these features maintain its effectiveness even after traveling halfway around the world.

Till then, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait till 19th September 2012 before we can get our phones on the new iOS6. Stay tuned to find out how these new features actually function in Singapore.

The new Iphone 5 in simple terms

Well, there we have it - the unveiling of the highly anticipated iPhone 5.

As anyone would know, I'm definitely not famous or popular enough for them to send me a free iPhone to try, so whatever information I have here is courtesy of the two live blog that I followed throughout the event - Engadget and App Advice. 

Here is the new iPhone 5 at a glance (no pictures though):

Physical Specifications

Weight: 112g (20% lighter)

4” Display

326 Retina ppi with 1136x640 Resolution

Apps are centered and to be designed to show more instead of merely stretching or expanding the app. (Example: Calendar to show more information at a time and homescreen has 5 rows of apps)

Basically what you have here is a lighter, taller and thinner phone as compared to the iPhone 4S. With a taller phone comes a longer screen (but not wider), According to Apple, with all these changes, the phone will still fit nicely in your hands.

Connectivity

LTE Connection

"Ultrafast" Wireless

Bottom line: Assuming if all goes well (and you are willing to pay your telco), your internet speed on your phone just got way better.

Processer Chip

New A6 Chip (luckily, the chip number doesn't follow the iPhone number)

The A6 Chip is basically two times faster in terms of the processing speed and graphics. Though this mean speed for new phones, this might be bad news for older phones as they try to keep up with the new programs built for the A6 chip.

Battery Life

3G Talk Time / 3G Browsing / LTE Browsing - 8 Hours

Wi-fi Browsing - 10 hours

Video - 10 hours

Music - 40 Hours

Standby - 225 hours

Uh-huh! The bane of all iPhones - the Battery Life. Obviously they have made improvements (or maintained for some) and made the machine more energy efficient. However, all these are based on the  assumptions of the phone being in next-to-perfect conditions. So, things might not be so rosy after a certain time. Question here is - how long will this "honeymoon period" last?

Camera

8 Megapixel sensor

3264 x 2448

Backside illumination

Hybrid IR Filter

Five-elment lens

f/2.4 aperture

Dynamic low light mode

Precision lens alignment

Sapphire Crystal (For durability)

Looks like they are giving all point-and-shoot camera (or even semi-pro camera) a run for their money. They practically made an already awesome camera into an even more fantastic one. What I like about the camera improvements is that they don't merely pump the Mega Pixels but developed the camera in a more holistic approach. With backside illumination and a f/2.4 aperture, I'm pretty sure my foodie pictures will turn out to be much better.

Oh I forgot to mention - they added Panorama into the camera app!

Dock

Yeap, the rumors were absolutely spot on. They have done away with the old iPhone connector and introduced the new iPhone lightning connector. Unfortunately, this means that ALL your old devices CANNOT be used directly with new iPhone 5. 

Fortunately (which means more $$$ for Apple), they have offered a one-stop solution in the form of a connector adapter. Make sure you budget that in when you are purchasing your new iPhone (unless you intend to throw out all your iDevices). Btw, there is no mention of the price for the adapter.

Here are the specs of the new connector (and here lies their justifications for the change):

All-digital, 8-signal design

Adaptive Interface

Improved durability

Reversible, easier to use 

80% smaller

So there you have it - the main changes made to the iPhone to warrant a jump from iPhone 4 to iPhone 5. A few other changes which I didn't mention above include improvement made to Video Recording, the microphones and speakers, and Photo Sharing. 

Price

The price will be the same as when iPhone 4S was released

$199 for 16GB 

$299 for 32GB

$399 for 64GB

(All prices in USD for contracted purchase)

Here's a breakdown of the prices in USD

Photos courtesy of Engadget

This new machine is obviously Apple's answer to the Samsung Galaxy SIII (and of course the lawsuits too). They have managed to give the consumers the highly sought after "bigger screen" which the Galaxy has kindly provided without compromising their trademark "iPhone look". As expected, the device is built to be faster and battery designed to last longer. My favorite part is the improvements made to the camera.

Unfortunately, there was no mention of the NFC (Near-field-communication) or 4.0 Blue tooth (which are both offered by the Galaxy). With all the ruckus about the NFC coming to Singapore, it will be really disappointing to get left out because I'm sticking to Apple. Somehow I got this feeling the iPhone 5S will feature this new technology (please don't quote me on this).

All in all, the iPhone 5 is certainly a powerful machine that will tempt many. However, the lack of surprises in the event (no more "one more thing") has somehow eroded the magic that these events usually bring. Hopefully Apple can pick themselves up from all these controversy and continue to surprise us with revolutions for many more years.

So will I be getting the New iPhone 5? Well, I'm still pretty much on the fence about it. The lack of NFC is quite unsettling but the other features are just too tempting. Regardless, if I do get the phone, I'll definitely give my full review on this blog.

Stay tuned as I'll give me reviews on the new iOS6 after I get a chance to download and fiddle with it.

Living it up in the Sin City: Paid Exhibitions & Shows in Las Vegas

In my previous post, I blogged about the stuff that you can do while on a budget in Las Vegas. Now, I'll talk about the shows and exhibitions that we went for which were pretty much worth every penny!

Peering through the glass of Vegas

Night shows

There are over 100 shows available in Las Vegas, hence choosing one or two for your stay can be quite daunting. To make things simpler, these shows can be broken down into a few main categories:

1) Cirque Du Soleil
2) Burlesque Shows
3) Magic and Illusions
4) Musicals and Concerts

Unless you are staying in Vegas for a month or so, I'm quite sure picking one or two from each category would be more than enough to fill your nightly itinerary for paid shows in Vegas.

Read on to find out what we chose to watch in the end and other shows in Vegas



Here are what we chose to watch in the end:

O - Cirque Du Soleil at Bellagio

One of the main draws in Vegas is the Cirque Du Soleil series. Your main choices would include O, KÀ, Mystère, Zumanity, Love, Believe and Viva Elvis. Each of the show has its own unique theme based on a series of circus acts (e.g Zumanity has a sensual theme while Viva Elvis is dedicated to the King of Rock & Roll).

The O Theatre

For O, it has a water-themed stage production where all the acts are performed above a huge pool. All the stunts will somehow involve the pool, with varying depths at different points of time during the performance, with divers and synchronized swimmers doing their performances inside the water. On top of that, the stunts (a lot more daring stunts then I usually see) are done over the water, with most of the acrobats diving straight in. 

Awaiting the start of the show

This is one show that all of us enjoyed. though we were pretty tired from the long day. The set and props were elegantly designed and gave a beautiful back drop to a stunning performance. The acrobats were daring and creative while the synchronized divers put a graceful feel to the entire production. The tickets costed more than 100 SGD but it was totally worth the price. Many have said that O is certainly one of the more spectacular ones. Don't miss this!

Pre-show

X-Burlesque

Probably not the most family-friendly show, Burlesque shows (if you haven't already known) feature dancers (for our case - women) performing sensual dances on stage (mostly with a pole) wearing next to nothing.

X-Burlesque

Although some might not approve of a show with such a level of sensuality and sexuality, my take is that there is no harm in going for it. After all, these girls are still professionals and it is merely just a show. Furthermore, since you are in Las Vegas, go for it! It was really quite an eye-opener for me (it's my first time) and I'm quite sure it was as enjoyable for girls as it was for the guys. As for whether X-Burlesque is the best in town, I really don't know as I have no other comparison. Perhaps, the next time I return to Las Vegas, I'd watch another burlesque show production!

Day Exhibitions

Most of our days in Vegas was taken up by (IMO) the greatest sin of all - SHOPPING! We went to the outlet shops twice and shopped at Ross. Luckily, we managed to visit Grand Canyon first. So our only time to explore Vegas by the day (without dropping by any bargain places) was on our very last day. Unfortunately, it was very rushed because we did not have much time left.

Some of the highlights include:

Little White Chapel

No one but the King

Well, the first highlight ain't exactly "paid", unless you really want to get married here. The place itself is in some inconspicuous corner off the strip. A visit here is more symbolic, more like a "I-have-been-here" kinda thing. A good stop to make on the way to the Stratosphere.

There's a price for everything

Limo by the side

Side tidbit - Pawn Wars pawn shop

The Stratosphere Hotel & Casino

Located right at the end of the strip, this newest addition provides both an exhilarating view and experience at the top of the building. It's quite a far drive down, but certainly worth the time and effort.

Approaching the Stratosphere

First up - the exhilarating experience. At the top of the hotel lies an exciting array of breath-taking rides. The rides themselves are pretty normal stuff - Skyjump, X Scream, Insanity and Big shot, except that this time, its 107 floors and more than 1000 feet of the ground (any tame ride will instantly increase in multitude).

The X Scream

 Obviously, I didn't take any rides. Just some basic information: There are the obvious package deals that offers all the rides as well as individual rides too. If you only want to see the view from above, there is a separate ticket for that. Just make sure you get the right tickets and exit at the correct floor.

Riding over the edge

Next up - the spectacular view. Fine, it's not really as spectacular as most cities (especially in the day) but I still feel its worth giving it a shot. If you love Vegas and the casinos, it adds a little bit more glam to the whole experience. My advice: Go at night - the lights would make the view 100x better.

View from atop

The ride we skipped

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium

Basically, it is just like our Underwater World (though it has been years since I have stepped inside there). The Shark Reef Aquarium is very family-friendly and would be an interesting visit if you are a) very interested in Marine Life or b) Slightly interested and are not visiting other bay areas like Boston or San Francisco.

Entering the Aquarium

To be fair to the place, the huge array of marine life inside is interesting and I enjoyed myself there! Furthermore, the structure of the place is very interactive and allows you to be as close to the marine life as possible. No regrets going in there :)

Highlight of the day - Sharks

Who wants a feel of a Stingray ?

Food & Other Stuff

I'm almost at the end of my travel log of the fabulous Sin City. The last thing I want to talk about is the food in Vegas. Being situated in the middle of the dessert, there isn't really much "Vegas food" to talk about. However, the choices that you have are abundant. It can range from the cheap USD 9.99 fast food meals  to the expensive USD 100-a-steak meals. Some of the recommended buffets (around USD 19.99 - 29.99) include, Wynn's The Buffet, The Buffet at Bellagio and Mandalay Bay Seafood Buffet. Just do your research beforehand to know what you'd be in for! 

For us, we usually have Denny's for breakfast, skip lunch and head to the buffet or random hotel restaurant for dinner.

Hello and Goodbye Las Vegas

This marks the end of my travel log in Las Vegas! It has been a fun-filled, non-stop exciting experience for me in Sin City. Despite cramping the entire itinerary (Thanks Andre for planning!) with activities after activities, I still feel that I have only scratched the surface of this amazing entertainment city. I can't wait to be back! So till then, I just have to make do with the pictures and memories from the Fabulous Las Vegas

Stay tuned for our drive to one of the Natural Wonders of the World - The Grand Canyon.