The good:

+ Outstanding battery life.
+ Flexible enough to withstand pressure from bending.
+ Huge 6-inch screen that’s great for multimedia purposes.
+ Curved design gives this device the novelty factor.

The bad:

- Self-healing back panel attracts dust and smudges.
- The curved surface takes some getting used to.
- The display resolution isn’t the best in the market.
- No expandable memory card slot.

Verdict: Credit to the folks at LG for creating such an innovative piece. Given the price tag, it’s worth considering if you’re into phablets. Also, with a battery life this good, for once you won’t need to carry a mobile charger around with you.

$1,088 from all M1, Singtel, Starhub and authorized LG mobile retailers.

How does ReferralCandy work?
Suppose you run an online store. ReferralCandy allows you to automate your own customer referral program. After customers make a purchase, they’re given a referral coupon to share with friends. When their friends make purchases, the customer gets referral rewards.

How did the idea come about?
It started during lunch with a friend who owned a shop. How could he get new customers to his store? We knew his existing customers loved him—surely there had to be some way to build on that. The conversation got around to social networking sites. Could there be a way to reach out to the friends of his customers? There wasn’t anything on the market that was easy to install and run, so we decided to build it ourselves.

Is Singapore good for start-ups?
Yes, especially if you’re a tech start-up. There is an incredible amount of untapped talent here, and the environment is very pro-business.

Is it a dog-eat-dog world in business?
There certainly are some zero-sum games in the world, but technology is not one of them. If you come up with a powerful idea, the Internet gives you the ability to create value and make a huge impact on a global scale.

Many people have to pay their dues to be great at their sport. What do dancers have to do?
With wanting to be good at anything, time is often compromised. Therefore you will have less time to do and try other things that you perhaps would have liked to do. I would say I had a pretty normal childhood as I didn’t train so intensively until I was in my teens. Some of my friends were sent off to boarding school away from their families to train when they were 11. Dance is also an art form where you have to be aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes dancers have to watch their diet, if they are not blessed with a good physique. Spending extra time outside work hours upping fitness levels is also something that we do.

What's the holy grail for ballet dancers around the world?
Finding yourself and to be that unique individual when you dance. Striving to be as 'perfect' as possible is also something that every dancer works hard for, even though it's impossible to be 'perfect'. There is virtually no end point for anything. We do class and rehearsals daily to keep improving and refining our technique. You finish your career and you're still not perfect. You just get better, develop artistically and are more of an artist than a technician or student, hopefully.

Who's your greatest mentor?
I have been blessed with many great teachers and mentors so far and picking one out is almost impossible. Each of them has been vital in nurturing me at different stages of my training and career.

If you'd not gone down this path, what do you think you would be doing today?
At the moment I know that I want to be a physiotherapist for dancers or athletes in general when I retire or can't continue dancing, for whatever reason it may be. If I hadn't gone down this path, I would perhaps choose to do something related to the medical field. I have a great interest in the sciences, especially biology. 

You trained in London for a few years. Is there anything you miss?
The one thing I miss a lot about London is the vibrancy of the arts scene and how people are very open, receptive and appreciative of the arts. I don't think this is something we can emulate but needs time to cultivate and educate to change certain stereotypes and mindsets. Having said that, I feel that it is a lot better now compared to a decade ago. More money has been pumped into the arts and with School of the Arts (SOTA) around we are hopefully educating a generation that would be involved and appreciative of the arts. Things are moving forward, slowly.

Why should people see Romeo & Juliet?
Firstly, Prokofiev (Russian composer) is a genius whose score alone tells the story. Secondly, Romeo and Juliet is a timeless classic.

What do you have to say to up-and-coming dancers?
Work very hard, work smart and work for yourselves. Be humble and receptive to learning. Lastly, lots of determination.

Elaine Heng performs in Romeo & Juliet on Mar 13-16, various times. $30-70 from Sistic.

How did you get started?
When I was a little boy, I used my imagination and hands to create my own toys. These toys were usually made from cardboard, stationery, accessories and other odds and ends. After picking up art and craft in primary school, I got hooked on assembling my own model airplanes, skeletons of dinosaurs and the like. Starting from scratch was always my kind of thing.

What’s the most exciting thing about this job?
Architectural model-making is a team effort. It is a combination of the hard work and skills of different people. After putting in all that time and effort, the satisfaction comes when you see the completed models. The job also gives me a sneak peek into Singapore’s future developments.

Do you ever fantasize about living in the miniature homes you make?
Sometimes when I’m making the models, I do try to imagine how it would be like to be physically in these developments. This helps me better understand the designs of the architect or planner.

Do you pay great attention to detail in other aspects of your life too?
Yes, organization is part and parcel of my life, whether it be at work or at home. At work, I like to organise my work space in a certain way. Back home, the clothes in my wardrobe are also arranged in a certain pattern. During vacations, I pay a lot of attention to how I pack my luggage. I will make a list of necessary items and go down the list as I pack. My wife is more spontaneous—she would just grab and go! And when I’m overseas, I find that I pay more attention to anything that has intricate details. I like to think about what goes on behind the making of these objects.

How much flexibility do you have in making your models under the URA? Do you try to sneak in any “signature moves”?
Due to the design requests of architects and planners, we sometimes have the opportunity to try new ideas and methods of model-making. With that said, we do have to discuss with the architects and planners before new techniques are implemented. Model-making is an art form that is learnt through a lot of practice. Through the years, each model maker has developed his or her own distinct style. We do use hand carving for the finishing touches. Hence, each model feels handmade.

What do you think about Singapore’s development as a city? Do you think it’s moving at a good pace or too fast?
I have seen the transitions of the models to real-life buildings myself and these developments are wonderful and exciting. In fact, many cities are learning from us. But as society matures, we need to find a balance between economic progress and conservation. I feel more can be done to understand Singapore’s iconic structures and its surroundings before they are redeveloped.

It’s been a few years since MLTR performed in Singapore. Where’s the band been touring?
We’ve been visiting places such as Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal, Dubai, and other Asian countries—we’re always planning concerts and recording new music.

Why do you think Asia is one of MLTR’s biggest fan bases?
I think the way the songs are composed —melodic, romantic, easy to sing along to—is something that appeals to our Asian audiences.

What’s the secret to your longevity?
Our fans really motivate us and give us the energy to make new music.

How has touring changed for you over the years?
Our first years in Asia were very busy—there were so many interviews to attend, and as a result, we didn’t have a lot of time to sightsee. It’s a lot less hectic now, so we have time to relax and take in the sights of each city.

Which artists would MLTR like to collaborate with?
We would have loved to collaborate with Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, but they’re no longer around, unfortunately.  We would love to play with Bruno Mars.

What are the top three songs in your playlist right now?
I’m currently listening to “My Love is Your Love” by Whitney Houston, “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, and some Justin Timberlake.

What has been your most memorable concert to date?
Our first concert in Singapore, in the 1990s, was really memorable. We had been performing at a lot of small gigs before that and we suddenly found ourselves in a huge stadium with screaming fans. It was really something.

Michael Learns to Rock performs on Feb 22 at The MAX Pavillion @ Singapore Expo, 7.30pm. $78-158 from Sistic.

Lenovo IdeaCentre A530 √√√√

The looks: A versatile 23-inch screen with one of the slimmest profiles. Mounted on a hinged stand, you can shift the monitor from to any angle from vertical to horizontal. It definitely doesn’t look cheap.

The goods: Most of the main internal components are located at the base below the screen. Inside, you have Intel’s latest i7 processor equipped with a muscular 8GB RAM that works well with the graphics card to help power through intense tasks like photo and video editing as well as gaming.

The verdict: Great-looking with even better components under the hood. Critics have lauded it as a worthy mid-range option. This one’s able to take on high productivity and gaming tasks without a hint of lag.

$1,999 from Harvey Norman

Asus ET2702IGTH √√√

The looks: This one feels savvy with a black bezel screen and silver strip at the bottom, making it a stunning addition to any home or office space. The colors are crisp and bright, thanks to the 2,560 by 1,440 pixel, 27-inch screen, which is better than normal high-definition standards.

The goods: The Asus is right up there when it comes to performance. The processor comes with up to 16GB of RAM, making it super fast, plus you can opt for 3TB worth of memory, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space.

The verdict: This suits heavy-users looking for ample storage and plenty of muscle to last the whole day, be it in the office or at home. It’s good-looking too.

$2,949 from Challenger

Acer Aspire U5-610 √√√√√ (IS-PICK)

The looks: The glass display is stunning, with 80 degrees of screen tilt to play around with. This is one of the best-looking displays we’ve ever seen on the market.

The goods: Although this AIO is designed to be more aesthetically driven and compromised on performance, it has a few tricks up its sleeve, like the Blu-ray combo drive and improved Kepler-based GeForce GTX 7600M graphics card that’s great for media creation and multitasking.

The verdict: Movie buffs will love this. Despite paying a premium for its good looks, buyers in the creative industry will be lured in by the large high-resolution screen coupled with its VESA wall-mount.

$1,999 from Harvey Norman

Dell Inspiron 23 √√√

The looks: A really basic look with a black frame and silver metallic stand, coming with a black keyboard and mouse. Not the type to turn heads.

The goods: What’s impressive is the collection of audio-video ports, not commonly found in the competition, like the old-school VGA jacks that are useful for connecting old monitors or processing units.

The verdict: Scoring well in the looks department has never been Dell’s greatest strength, with their latest AIO looking rather uninspiring—almost like they’re resisting current trends. But that weakness is also its strength—they’re value-for-money and best for light users that are not looking to conquer the world from their desktop.

$1,799 from Harvey Norman

Essentials

Harvey Norman #02 69/71 Suntec City Mall, 1 Raffles Place, 6332-2312, www.harveynorman.com.sg. | Challenger #06-00 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-9008 , www.challenger.sg. | Best Denki ##02-07 Vivocity, 1 Harbour Front Walk, 6276-6636, www.bestdenki.com.sg.

Some artists get disillusioned with what they're doing or even what they're called. Have you guys mixed things up a little over the past 17 years?
Sham: Yes we change the sound and approach to song writing. Our priorities are different now.
Jon: You can't be in a certain specific genre and expect that you'll be fresh all the time. Even jazz adds things different every single time they play. While we've tried to be faithful to what we did well, we've played around a little bit here and there.

What's your secret to staying together for so long?
S: Just making time for the band and cool wives, and of course loving what we do.

How does it feel to be classified with the big names out there around the region?
S: It’s nice and we feel honoured to be classified with the big names—but then again we don't really do much. We’re a simple sing-along rock band.
J: Nice but it’s not one of our priorities. Just tried to be the best we could and not a regional thing—that was a bonus. I think when we started out, things like this weren't available to local bands, so we never had this sense of expectation that things like this would happen.  

What's touring like these days? Have your energy levels changed at all?
S: Touring nowadays consist of staying in the hotel room, finding places to eat, sound checks, getting as much rest as we can so that we can release all the energy on stage.
J: We’re very chill by comparison. I think going out for beers and maybe a bottle of something at the hotel room--that's about it. if there's time, then we talk about everthing else. I guess the most unusual was when we went to Manila—a couple of us went to a public firing range and tried out a whole bunch of handguns. Apart from things like that, I'll go look for a bar and watch the football match.

You guys featured plenty of local bands and artists in the latest EP, The Gift. How was coming out with that album like?
J: I think we never really met any of them as everyone's busy. But there's always been a good vibe whenever we see them on the street or at gigs, so I guess it carried on right through the project. We didn't interfere with them; we just wanted to let them get their idea out and it usually ended up sounding better than ours.

How much faith do you have in the local scene? What are some of your reservations about it?
S: it would be great if all radio stations play Singaporean music.
J: I think we need to work harder, personally. There are some really hardworking bands out there, like Caracal, Inch Chua—I applaud them thoroughly. But as a whole, I feel as if I want to say to the younger guys to stop waiting for one of those big opportunities to come by and be prepared to build a following the old-fashioned way—playing live in front of people, not on YouTube. 

Wise words for bands starting out?
S: Practice, practice and practice.
J: Similar to the previous question, which is aiming for a slow build-up following at your live shows. Also, check your heart. If you come up with a sense of entitlement, like you’re waiting for someone else to 'discover' you and not bother to practice or look for hard gigs, that breakthrough may not happen.

What's the weirdest request you've received from a fan?
J: Not so much weird I guess; someone once had a birthday surprise at a practice. We'd planned it with her friends so that they surprised her and took her to our practice, blindfolded. She took off the blindfold and we played her a song. I thought that was unusual, flattering and sweet. But no weird requests like used boxer shorts or something—I think we're too boring for that.

Describe to us in detail your typical listener.
S: He or she would not be shy to sing his heart out at a Plainsunset show.
J: I agree. I think we appeal to folks who like live explosive shows, and understand that we don't particularly follow trends.

If your band was a cocktail, what would it be called?
S: We'll be called the ‘Green Monster’.

Plainsunset will be performing their 10th Anniversary Show at Tab on Feb 8. Tickets at $20.

The Good:

• Its petite dimensions and smooth metallic surface make it slip effortlessly into your bag or pocket—great for outdoor settings.
• Bluetooth calls are crisp and clear.
• Loud enough for a big room or small party.
• There are six awesome designs to choose from, each with a unique patterned front mesh.

The Bad:

• It’s not the toughest speaker around, so you have to be careful
• You can’t power a dance hall.
• It’s pretty expensive compared to its counterparts, like the Marley Chant ($138).

Verdict: The Jambox skillfully blends great sound quality with neat design. While it isn’t the best bang-for-the-buck speaker, it’s definitely a real looker.

You have to be obsessed with doing something or else you’re just an average Joe. 

I think it’s a waste to live life without seeing how strong or fit you can be. Just put on your running shoes and get out there. Run while you can. 

I don’t think many people are as motivated as me. 

There are ways to get around eating healthily and affordably. If healthy food is expensive, make your own juice. At the end of the day, it boils down to effort. 

My guilty pleasure is Swensen’s Mega Burger. I love it, even though I know it adds up to a million calories. 

I have too many friends who are doing full-time work on a day-to-day basis with a complete lack of interest. Do what you love and love what you do. 

No matter how much I love rowing and want to train full-time, the government doesn’t pay athletes. They’re not going to pay your hand-phone bill. 

I hope the government supports athletes no matter how big or small the sport is. Every athlete deserves an opportunity to be the best. 

It doesn’t hurt to be self-centered once in a while. If you’re always out to make people happy, you won’t be happy yourself. 

I complained once to my Japanese coach about having too many foreigners in Singapore, without realizing that he’s one himself. Truthfully, we can’t chase them away because they’re contributing to our economy. We must learn to adapt. 

Men with the right amount of muscle in the right places turn me on. 

Love is about being obsessed with something until you want to spend as much time as possible with it. You’re truly in love when you go through a day feeling empty without it. No guy can replace the love I have for rowing. 

I would want my future kids to grow up in a society where sport is big and well supported in every way. 

When I was in Sydney, I lived with a doctor and an engineer who managed to row in the morning at six, have coffee, breakfast and go to work by 8.30am. We seem to not be able to do what we really want here in Singapore. 

I want to be able to stop time because we’re always rushing and wanting to get things done without enjoying life.