The Samsung GALAXY Note is getting an update to the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it’s quite a huge update with lots of improvements to the Samsung GALAXY Note calling it the “Premium Suite”.

Here’s a run through of the improvements:

• S Note – Create your own notebook through various productivity tools
• 7 templates – Note, Meeting Note, Idea Note, Magazine, Travel, Diary, Recipe
• Record and play back step-by-step details of your drawings
• Quick access to productivity tools with the floating tool bar
• Automatic shape correction
• Predefined shapes with editable size and colour
• Find answers to complicated formulas using Wolfram Alpha
• Knowledge Search with Wolfram Alpha by writing
• Various notebook covers, and paper backgrounds
• Quickly scan through contents of notebooks
• Annotate and save PDF documents
• S Memo Upgrade – Capturing ideas from anywhere
• Instantly capture any idea directly from the homescreen
• My Story – Express emotions to family members and loved ones
• Write a letter or card and make multimedia albums to share
• Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade -  a more intuitive user interface, faster performance, Face Unlock, Snapshot, Photo Editor and other features
• Multi-task and visually manage tasks with simple swipe gestures
• Visualize data usage and easily manage data consumption
•  Improved Hangouts experience
• Exclusive Samsung GALAXY Note level in Angry Birds Space, the newest Angry Birds game from Rovio Entertainment, along with a special package of 30 challenging levels in “Danger Zone”

The Samsung GALAXY Note upgrade will be made available any time between March 22nd to June 21st (2Q 2012), depending on markets. No idea when Singapore’s going to get the upgrade. Fingers crossed!

“Sponsored by Samsung”

SamKnows is an international broadband research specialist and they are doing a survey that’s backed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). It’s the “Singapore’s first objective broadband performance benchmark study”, and they are looking for 900 volunteers to participate.

The study will help identify areas for improvement to ISPs, a vital step in bringing top-notch internet services to local users. As part of the study, volunteers will receive reliable reports about the service they are receiving which can be used by ISPs to diagnose issues with an Internet connection.

Volunteers can sign up for the study anytime by visiting: http://www.samknows.sg. They will be sent a small, purpose-built ‘Whitebox’ device that plugs into their internet connection. When a volunteer’s broadband line is not in use, the Whitebox runs a series of automated tests to measure the speed and performance of the connection.  The device only tracks bandwidth speeds and does not collect or track personal internet usage.

For more Information about this study, go to http://www.ida.gov.sg/Publications/20061206120929.aspx.

The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface features PixelSense technology, which gives LCD panels the power to “see” and respond to touch and objects without the use of cameras.

It is now possible for people to share, collaborate and explore together using a large, thin display that recognises fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen. The interactive 40-inch Full HD LCD panel can be used horizontally as a table, mounted vertically on a wall or embedded in other fixtures and furniture.

• Features a large, thin display that recognises fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen – supporting up to 50 points of contact at one time.
• 40-inch Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) LCD LED panel combined with Gorilla protection glass for optimized screen durability and to protect from external shock and liquid ingress.
• Offers a rich sound experience that can connect to a wide range of peripherals such as bar code scanners, cameras and printers through WiFi (802.11.n), Bluetooth or Ethernet connections.

The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface is now available through the Samsung channel and reseller partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Pricing and availability may vary across countries and/or regions based on country-specific duties, taxes and fees.

Estimated list price in Singapore is ~USD$11,960 (LCD display only) and ~USD$12,590 (with matching stand).

The Samsung GALAXY Note Pink will be available in Singapore from Saturday, 14 April 2012 at a suggested retail price of SGD$948 without line contract from all leading mobile phone dealers.

Samsung GALAXY Note Product Specifications

• A wide variety of input methods, including a digitizer pen, touch screen interface and optional Bluetooth wireless keyboard, allows users to touch, write, or type meeting notes, create documents or browse online
• Samsung’s LCD technology is 100% brighter than normal laptop displays
• Samsung’s FastStart technology allows the Samsung SLATE PC Series 7 to wake in 2 seconds and boot up in 15 seconds

The Samsung SLATE PC Series 7 is already available in April 2012 at a suggested retail price of SGD$1,688. I’ll probably get the Samsung SLATE PC Series 7 just for using Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Specifications:

Pre-ordering for the Sony PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) 3G/WiFi model begins from 28 March at designated PlayStation Partner Shops (included Sony Store, HMV and Game Shops), SingTel shops and SingTel’s authorized dealers and get the special premium: Original designed SGD20 PSN voucher card.

Bundle Pricing:

The 3G/WiFi version of the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) will be available at SingTel from 14th April 2012.

Price Plans:

The PS Vita 3G/WiFi model is available with a range of price plans that offer theoretical download speeds of 7.2Mbps and free bundled local data usage.

Customers may pre-order the PS Vita online at www.singtel.com/PSVita from 28 March.  As an exclusive bonus, pre-order customers will receive $20 worth of Sony PlayStation Network credits to purchase games.

Men’s Fashion Week (MFW) Singapore 2012 is back for the 2nd year, with 19 participating fashion brands and labels showcasing their latest menswear for 2012, most new to Singapore, making their runway debut at MFW Singapore 2012.

The 19 fashion brands and labels are:

From Korea: Beyond Closet (Tae Yong Ko), D.GNAK (Dong Jun Kang), General Idea (Bum Suk Choi), Resurrection (Lee Ju Young), Vandal (Heemin Yang), Songzio, MCM
From Japan: Diet Butcher Slim Skin (Hisashi Fukatami), Factotum (Koji Udo), Jun Hashimoto, Pascal Donquino (Akira Takeuchi)
From UK: Matthew Miller, Casely Hayford, Spencer Hart (Nick Hart), Bodybound (Kim Choong-Wilkins)
From France: Alexis Mabille
From USA: Richard Chai
From Singapore: Reckless Ericka (Afton Chen and Louis Koh)

Making this year’s MFW Singapore 2012 even more special, there will be several famous Japanese and Korean pop stars like 2pm, 8eight, and more performing at MFW Singapore 2012 between each show jazzing up the week-long fashion season, making this uniquely Music & Men’s Fashion Week (M2FW). The confirmed lineup will be announced later.

WORLD RUNWAY II, the second installment of a fashion styling competition that was inaugurated last year, will be using MFW Singapore 2012’s platform to showcase the talent of stylists from Singapore, Japan, and the UK.

Show time will run promptly from 6.30pm, hourly, with the last show at 10.30pm. There will be 500 seats per show, with 20% of the show tickets, priced at S$40 each (does not apply to Gala shows), available to the public from 1st April 2012 from SISTIC.

The Nikon D4 will be available at a suggested retail price of S$9,799 starting from 22 March 2012 at selected Nikon authorised dealers. Download Nikon D4 Brochure for more information.

Key Features:

• New Nikon FX-format CMOS image sensor
• Support for an incredibly wide range of sensitivities, from ISO 50 to ISO 204800
• New EXPEED 3 image-processing engine with superior, high-speed processing capabilities
• 91K-pixel RGB sensor for the more accurate Advanced Scene Recognition System
• Faster and more accurate AF with 51 focus points
• Multi-area Mode Full HD D-movie with three image area options
• Smooth workflow from initial setup to image transfer
• The new compact Wireless Transmitter WT-5 with simple connection to the camera (available separately)
• Capture NX 2 Ver. 2.3 for significantly faster processing

The Nikon D800 will be available at a suggested retail price of S$4,488 starting from 22 March 2012 at selected Nikon authorised dealers. Download Nikon D800 Brochure for more information.

Key Features:

• 36.3 Megapixels
• ISO range of ISO 100 to 6400, expandable to ISO 50 to ISO 25600.
• Optical low-pass filter optimized for sharpness
• New image-processing engine EXPEED 3
• Newly developed 91K-pixel RGB sensor
• Approx. 921k-dot, 3.2-in. LCD monitor
• Dual card slots for a CF card and SD memory card
• High-speed data transfer with USB 3.0 supported
• Full HD video quality (1920 x 1080/30p)
• High-fidelity audio recording control