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Sony says PlayStation Network will return to Asia, starting tomorrow
Good news, Asia -- the PlayStation Network is finally coming back. Today, Sony announced that it will restore its gaming network across the continent, more than a month after falling prey to a crippling data breach. The company's PSN services are already up and running across other parts of the world and, beginning tomorrow, will light up once again in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and even Japan, which had been harboring serious reservations about the network's security. Gamers in South Korea and Hong Kong, meanwhile, will have to wait a little longer before returning to normalcy, though Sony is hoping to completely resolve the issue by the end of the month. The company certainly seems eager to put this saga to bed, and for understandable reasons. The incident has already cost Sony an estimated $171 million in revenue -- not to mention the untold numbers of suddenly wary consumers.
Dell XPS 15z available in Australia and Asia, fits Sandy Bridge in under an inch of thickness
The XPS 15z, true to Michael Dell's word, is now with us. Provided "now" is May the 24th in whatever part of the world you happen to live in. Laptop shoppers in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan -- a group of nations already enjoying the glories of Tuesday -- can now buy the 0.97 inches-thick 15z for prices starting at just under A$1,400. That buys you a Core i5-2410M from Intel (2.3GHz default speed, 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost), a generous 6GB of DDR3 RAM, backlit keyboard, GeForce GT 525M graphics with 2GB of dedicated memory, a 750GB hard drive, and a 64WHr battery. The screen spans 15.6 inches diagonally and offers 1920 x 1080 resolution. Stepping up to A$1,700 gets you a Core i7-2620M (2.7GHz default, 3.4GHz TB) and 8GB of RAM. Juicy specs, we must admit. Now when's midnight coming? [Thanks, John]
White iPhone reportedly sells out in China
Apple kicked off sales of the white iPhone 4 yesterday and the launch in China was marked by long lines and steady sales. According to interviews from those in line, many Asian consumers passed on the black version of the handset and waited for the white variant to make its debut. Sales were so strong that the white version is reportedly sold out in Beijing, one of China's largest cities. Hong Kong sales were also brisk with reports suggesting the available stock of the white iPhone 4 sold out in one hour. This demand for the white iPhone 4 was forecast by Brian White of Ticonderoga Securities. The analyst predicted sales of the white version would be strong in Asia where white is a desirable color. Besides delivering on a promise to launch the white iPhone 4 this spring, the launch of the white model will also keep Apple iPhone sales strong in the current quarter. Last quarter, Apple sold over 18 million iPhones globally.
Hong Kong Apple Store locations revealed
ifoAppleStore has discovered the locations of Apple's first and second Hong Kong stores. The first location is in the International Finance Centre on Hong Kong Island. The IFC comprises two towers that include office buildings, a mall and a cinema. The Apple Store will be located in Tower 2 and span 6,300 square feet. The IFC store will be open by year's end. The second Apple Store to open in Hong Kong will also be on Hong Kong Island in the area known as Causeway Bay. The Apple Store will be located in Hysan Place, an environmentally friendly block-sized building. The Apple Store there will span 20,000 square feet. According to the developers, Hysan Place is expected to be finished in the second quarter of 2012, which is likely when the Apple Store will open.
iPhone 4 supply stabilizes in Hong Kong, China greenlights iPad 2
Supplies of the iPhone 4 in Hong Kong have nearly caught up with demand, according to a report from MacNN. The popular handset is now regularly available on the Apple online store in Hong Kong, with wait times of 5–7 business days. Previously, Apple intermittently suspended sales of the iPhone 4 in the region, presumably in response to incredible demand. Since Hong Kong has no sales tax, visitors from mainland China and other neighboring countries would reportedly visit the region, buy as many bargain-priced iPhones as they could, bring them home and then sell them for up to twice as much on the gray market. As a result, the Apple online store in Hong Kong often listed all models of the iPhone 4 as "currently unavailable." Now, in response to increased supply or tapering sales, Hong Kong apparently has enough iPhone 4s to keep the device on sale full time. On a related note, China certified Apple's iPad 2 for sale on the Chinese mainland last Friday. The China Compulsory Certification (3C) is mandatory for many products sold in China. Apple has yet to announce a launch date for the iPad 2 in China, but the compulsory license, which lasts until April 8, 2016, allows the company to begin official sales of the device on the Chinese mainland at any time. The iPad 2, which is currently shipping in over two dozen countries, is scheduled to go on sale in South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong later this month.
Apple slinging iPad 2 to 25 more countries this Friday, even more next month
Still having trouble locating an iPad 2 here in the US of A? Grab your passport, bub. Starting on Friday, March 25th, Apple will start hawking its latest and greatest tablet in 25 other nations, with sales to begin at 5PM local time through Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers (or 1AM online). 'Course, this is a move we've been expecting all along, but at least the folks in Cupertino seem to be wasting no time in expanding availability. You can find the full list of nations just after the break, but if you're situated in Hong Kong, Singapore or South Korea, it looks as if you'll have to wait until April. A real downer, we know.
64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China? (Updated)
If 32GB just isn't enough to carry your entire collection of Police bootlegs and Greatest Hits compilations, prepare to look enviously upon this bastion of storage salvation. It's a 64GB iPhone 4, a supposed prototype leaked by a Foxconn employee. M.I.C. Gadget scored a quick video of the phone, even prying off the back cover revealing internals that certainly look official. The back is curiously designated "XXGB," which thankfully does not indicate a turn to Roman Numerals, while the model number and FCC ID are similarly X'd out. Other details, like a missing silver ring around the camera lens, indeed make this look like a prototype, but of course the question now is whether this plucky little handset will ever follow its dreams of becoming a production model before getting relegated to obsolescence. Update: We went over to the Sincere Podium shopping mall in Hong Kong to get up close and personal with this mysterious device. Shockingly, the folks wanted a hefty HK$13,500 (US$1,734) for their phone, but this alone doesn't really prove whether it's a legit Foxconn prototype. We also got some folks to run the numbers through Apple's system, and while the serial number is invalid, the model number indicates that this device was manufactured in early 2010, which probably means at one point Apple intended to release a 64GB version of the iPhone 4, but then changed its mind. Ah well, let's see what this summer will bring us.
Hong Kong gadget flea market: a blast from the past
If you've seen our Hong Kong feature from awhile back, then you would've already heard about my favorite gadget hangout Sham Shui Po. By chance, my post-flight stroll in said district yesterday coincided with Apliu Street's Chinese New Year flea market, which featured many vintage items like jade figurines, paintings, jewelry, video tapes, vinyl records, etc. Naturally, what really caught my attention were the old gadgets that were literally piled up along the street, and from just HK$30 (US$3.85), you could easily pick up an old classic such as a Sony Clié, an HP iPaq, a WonderSwan Color, an original GameBoy, a MiniDisc player, or even a proper old school laptop or camera. Hell, some guy even had a couple of Nintendo Micro VS Systems (Donkey Kong Hockey and Boxing)! The catch? Well, there was obviously no warranty for these old timers, plus the broken screens or the lack of compatible batteries for some meant that most were more suitable as collectibles. Regardless, we took a $6 gamble with a Sony Clié PEG-NR70 Palm PDA with docking station and boom! It works! Well, except for the battery that only lasts for an hour, but I'll figure something out. %Gallery-115754%
Hon Hai to expand retail chain, open 500 Apple licensed stores in Asia
A report out of Digitimes suggests that Cybermart, a retail arm of Hon Hai which also owns Foxconn, has recently received approval as an Apple-licensed retailer in the Asia-pacific region. The retailer intends to sell Apple products in up to 500 new stores planned for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Cybermart will open seven to eight stores in 2011, starting with its first store in Tianjin, China which will open on April 1, 2011. These retail stores will complement the 20 stores Apple is planning to open in China during 2011. While the Apple Stores will form the hub of company's Chinese operations, Cybermart's retail chain and household name will help Apple expand its presence in the growing Asian market. The retailer is known for its selection of electronics and aims to become China's top electronics chain. Apple is wisely eyeing the Asian market for explosive growth in 2011. In Apple's last quarter, Asian revenue is up 147% and could bring Apple up to $2 billion annually. The iPhone is also gaining in popularity with a 12% market share in Japan and over 20% post-paid share in South Korea.
Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on
Isn't it fun when you hit the right place at the right time? We just happened to be chillaxing in Hong Kong when Dell chose the city for the Venue's global launch (and it's actually hitting the shops slightly ahead of South Korea), so a quick hands-on is inevitable. As we've seen previously, this HK$3,999 (US$514) handset is essentially the Venue Pro's Android 2.2 cousin, sporting the same curved (or "Shear Design") vibrant AMOLED display at 4.1 inches and 800 x 480, but missing the slide-out keyboard. Under the hood lies a 1GHz Snapdragon with 1GB ROM and 512MB RAM, along with the usual microSD expansion, 1400mAh battery, 8 megapixel AF camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 2.3 EDR, WiFi and AGPS. There aren't any surprises in terms of software -- the Venue shares the same snappy Stage UI and Swype keyboard with the Streak, except for the lack of landscape orientation for the homescreen (and that's with orientation enabled in system settings). As for hardware, the killer feature here is the screen, and we found its curved Gorilla Glass to be surprisingly nice for our thumbs while swiping across it. The AMOLED panel underneath is also vibrant with great viewing angles. Elsewhere, build quality is almost solid bar the squeaky battery door, but at least it provides some grip. That's all we got for now -- we'll delve into more details in our forthcoming review, so stay tuned. %Gallery-111900%
How to pronounce ASUS (video)
A-suh-ss? Ah-sue-ss? As-ses? Nope, all wrong. We've been informed by ASUS that its head honcho has recently set a new rule in an attempt to rid our frustration, so what used to be "Ah-seuss" is now "A-seuss" (or "Eh-SUS" according to Taiwanese phonetics, as pictured). The logic behind this? Apparently it's a direct chop from the pronunciation of "pegasus" -- the origin of the company's name -- which ironically seems to favor the former diction. Anyhow, let's not confuse ourselves any further and just study this lovely lady's video demo after the break.
Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video)
There's not much to see right now, but it appears that Red MR is well on its way to becoming one of the most advanced (and probably the most amusing) karaoke bars in the world. Ahead of its Hong Kong debut this Saturday, said company has already installed six Surfaces in its two bars, and is aiming to fit more to fill up all 80 rooms -- and that number could go up to 300 in the near future -- once Microsoft has ramped up production. With Red MR's customized software (still under wraps), customers will be able to pick songs, order food, watch TV, and play games on the Surface while listening to a drunk rendition of My Heart Will Go On. Oh, and there'll also be a few Kinects dotted around the bars, but it's not exactly clear whether they'll be in the rooms as well. Anyhow, we'll be flying out to Hong Kong to check it out later this week, so stay tuned. For now, you can watch a demo of the Surface's Liar's Dice game after the break. Update: Our friends over at M.I.C Gadget found a video from Apple Daily that teases the karaoke UI. Have a look after the jump.
Android Gingerbread officially teases you in Google's voice search video tutorial
Sure, we've already gorged ourselves on plenty of Gingerbread by way of Mr. Blurrycam and even Eric Schmidt himself, but it's only now that Google's officially (or accidentally) given us a tour around the next Android release. In a recent voice search video tutorial from Google Hong Kong, eagle-eyed peeps have spotted many tell-tale signs of Gingerbread on what appears to be a Nexus One. As you can see above, said firmware sports the previously-seen black status tray with its new icons, along with a subtly tweaked launcher bar at the bottom of the home screen. A quick peek in Settings also reveals the restyled buttons, as well as a new tab called "Related" or "Similar" on Market's app description page. Help yourself to some more spicy goodness before it's too late -- the video's right after the break (from 0:47). [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Surprise surprise! Google's pulled the offending video, but fear not -- we've got a backup posted after the break. %Gallery-108671%
iPhone demand in China still exceeds supply
We've heard some crazy stories out of China about the call for Apple products there, both that Apple is trying to increase supply as quickly as possible, and that they're still not living up to the demand. And here's more news that Apple is racing, and probably failing, to keep up with all of the demand there. China Unicom says that Apple is still falling short of orders in that country. So far, 600,000 iPhone 4s have been ordered, but there's no word on how many of those have been delivered yet. Hong Kong's Telstra also says demand is high there, and that company says that it too has had trouble keeping up supply under all the demand. This is both good and bad news for Apple -- China has already been identified in the past as one of the company's biggest possible markets in the future, and it's great to hear that the expectations of demand are being matched, if not exceeded. On the other hand, it's never good to leave money on the table, and if Apple can't take advantage of all of this demand, it'll be doing just that.
Shanzhai Steve Jobs makes a special appearance in Hong Kong (video)
You know, we've had all sorts of KIRFtastic encounters while visiting China, but take this four-letter word to a whole new level and you get this: a Chinese clone of Steve Jobs. What's actually happening here is Hong Kong MTR launching the latest release of its iOS subway app (which does augmented reality!), and to mark this special occasion, the company invited local celebrity Law Kar-ying to recreate Apple's notorious reality distortion field. That said, unlike the real Slim Stevie, this dude was also giving away iPhone 4s to a few lucky audience members -- just goes to show that not all clones are bad, mmkay. Video after the break.P.S. This isn't the first time that a renowned CEO's been portrayed by a celebrity from the Far East -- Taiwanese news anchor Jeffrey Mindich unintentionally played Bill Gates a little while back. Let us know if you have a good candidate for Steve Ballmer.
Report: Apple canceling iPhone 4 orders in Hong Kong
According to M.I.C Gadget, Apple is canceling online iPhone 4 orders in Hong Kong in an attempt to thwart would-be resellers. Recently, customers have either had their existing orders canceled or been prevented from placing new orders. Many shoppers received this email from Apple: "Dear Apple Online Store Customer, Thank you for your recent Apple order. To ensure that all customers are given the opportunity to acquire iPhone, we have limited the quantity available per customer. Our records indicate that you've exceeded this limit for iPhone orders, therefore this order has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Sincerely, Apple Online Store Customer Support" That sounds like a message to someone trying to exceed Apple's one-per-customer limit. However, M.I.C Gadget insists that their "deep research" revealed that all kinds of orders have been canceled, from new ones to those placed back in September, regardless of quantity or purchase history. Last week, Apple Store security temporarily shut down a Beijing store that had attracted would-be resellers who were buying iPhones 20 and 30 at a time, only to offer them to passers-by right outside the store. Within hours, the store re-opened with the one-per-customer policy in place. Grey and black market iPhone sales have been an ongoing problem in China, recently made worse by significant supply shortages, despite manufacturer Foxconn's best efforts. Here's hoping a resolution can be found. [Via Mac Stories and M.I.C Gadget]
iPhone 4 prices from around the world
Now that the iPhone 4 is available around most of the world, iFun designed this interesting little infographic that compares the various prices of the handset around the globe. Note that all of these prices are in Euros, and that they all reflect the out-of-contract price -- because the US iPhones are locked to the AT&T network currently, our country doesn't appear on this list. But if you want to buy an unlocked iPhone elsewhere in the world, you should probably go with Hong Kong, where an unlocked 16gb phone will set you back US $653. Italy sells the costliest iPhones, with the price reaching up over US$1000 there for an unlocked phone. This whole thing is really just more of a fun comparison rather than a really solid analysis -- most people who want an iPhone will probably buy it in the country where they live, especially if they need a certain contract. But it is interesting to see just where Apple has determined it can go higher on the price, either because of certain tariffs or shipping that must be paid, or just because the demographic calls for it. [via MacStories]
iPad hitting nine more countries this Friday
Apple has just let word out that it'll be bringing its super-selling slate to nine new markets. The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore are all getting their hands on the device this Friday, July 23. We were just remarking on how the iPad's sales pace had slowed down recently, but this expansion in markets should move things along toward rounding the next milestone. Local pricing hasn't yet been revealed, but it's not like there's long to wait now. "Many" more countries are promised before the end of the year, so don't despair if your local Apple Store isn't stocking the iPad just yet.
Tesla Roadster goes continent-hopping, expands markets to include Canada and Japan
Seems like reports of the Roadster's demise were indeed exaggerated. Tesla has announced it's bringing its iconic electric automobile to five new nations. Canada and Japan are accompanied by Hong Kong, Poland and Turkey in being able to now take deliveries of freshly charged Roadsters. Of course, sufficiently motivated buyers could have imported theirs by now, but it's always good to have local support on an official basis and this does seem to signal a more ambitious outlook on the part of Tesla. Also included in the press release -- yours to peruse after the break -- is word that the company has shifted 1,200 Roadsters since inception. That might not be a lot but you have to start somewhere, let's hope the next 1,200 don't take nearly as long to hit the road.
Google modifies its policies in China, resumes hosting some content on Chinese servers
Well, it looks like that "entirely legal" workaround to Google's censorship woes in China may not have been the answer the company hoped it was. Faced with the possibility of China revoking its license to operate in the country (in addition to blocking the site), Google has now stopped automatically redirecting Chinese users to its Hong Kong website and is simply presenting them with a link to Google.com.hk instead. What's more, Google has now also starting hosting some content on Chinese servers again, including maps, music and translation services that it says cannot be censored, and which can be accessed on Google.com.hk from within mainland China. Google will continue to host its main search operations on servers in Hong Kong, however, and it still remains to be seen if these changes will be enough to ensure it keeps its license -- China will reportedly decide that on Wednesday.
