HWM Singapore January 2022

OF MULTI- AND META-VERSES, I honestly don’t know where 2021 went, do you? I remember the beginning of the pandemic and the chaos. I remember the lockdowns, the restrictions, the cancellations and the inconveniences it brought to our lives. But what exactly happened in 2021? A whole year where working from home, virtual meetings and events blended into one another in an ethereal dream-like state. And suddenly I find myself editing the January 2022 issue of HWM. However, as I look back, there actually have been major events that have shaken up the tech industry, just not what we’re used to hearing and reading about. While our editorial team sniffs out every last bit of tech news and product reviews for HWM and HardwareZone.com, the landscape of technology has been changing in…

We’ve gotten used to heightened cleaning measures brought about by Covid-19 concerns. Beyond the frequent use of hand sanitisers, our office spaces are disinfected regularly as well. But there are tools we can use to ease the workload on cleaning staff. But as most companies aren’t don’t own the building they work in, what can they do to ensure staff are safe as we head back into our offices? Ecosparks is a Singaporean company supplying things like air disinfection and ultraviolet disinfection solutions for companies and building owners. We spoke to Cliff Tong, CEO of Ecosparks to find out this and more. How regularly should high-touch surfaces be sanitised? What’s the schedule and processes like? Cyberattacks have become commonplace over the years and even more so as we began to Work From…

It has often been said that Covid-19 did not change the course of history but accelerated it. This pandemic hastened climate action, geopolitical disorder, consumer behaviour shifts and digital transformation by, arguably, four years. As companies grapple with the “here and now” urgency to serve their customers with digital-first fulfilment models during this period, what should they look at in their next phase of transformation? And how should they make sense of and incorporate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, immersive reality and 5G? Before addressing these questions, consider the paradigm shift of 2020s - which affects not only business and technology, but the entire world. Thinking digital is necessary - but insufficient - to anticipate the substance, scale and scope of what is to come. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the…

Like any successful longterm relationship, premium compacts require compromise to work. Luxury marques agonise for months over how they can make their cars look and feel expensive without cutting too many corners. Get it right, and you can have a huge hit like the last-generation A3. Let’s get price out of the way first. Because of high COE prices, the A3 Sportback starts at $192,720, which makes it very premium indeed. It wasn’t so long ago that I remembered you could get an A3 for a whole lot less. That’s an issue with our COE system that remains to be addressed. Any any rate, in line with Audi’s new design direction, the A3 has a more bellicose demeanour. The front grille is large and the car is all sharp lines and angles.…

The Hex.4B was released earlier this year at $295, and the Dreamcore Edition is more expensive at $350. You get the same 6061 aluminium construction, now anodised purple, and an internal alloy 260 brass weight stamped with the Dreamcore logo. It is delightfully hefty, weighing a good 2.1kg when built. If you’re more used to mainstream gaming keyboards with predominantly plastic construction, the Hex.4B will feel like a completely different beast altogether. The base is also narrower than the top, which provides helpful purchase when you’re looking to pick the keyboard up. This is especially crucial for a keyboard that weighs this much, and I appreciate the functional nature of the design. However, the rather tall front height means that this keyboard is most comfortable when used with a wrist rest. Dreamcore…

Just Dance is a franchise I haven’t touched since I was a young kid flailing around like a tube man at family Christmas parties. Dancing games are something I usually avoid outside of arcades, but this review felt like an opportunity to check in on a franchise I’d long lost touch with. As it turns out, Just Dance 2022 is a pretty fun time for those looking to keep active at home. It’s also an opportunity to get laughed at by your family members for your general lack of dancing skills. Just Dance is a franchise that takes after Electronic Arts’ FIFA, in that it only takes one trip to YouTube to see that this year’s entry hasn’t evolved much beyond last year’s. To be fair, you don’t pick up a…