Top 100 Products of 2012

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4

With the jump to a new process version, Adobe's Lightroom 4 (LR4) is a huge step up from its predecessor. The new Highlights, Shadows, Whites and Blacks sliders allow you to recover highlights and lift shadows to a degree not seen in previous versions, breathing new life into old images. The best thing about the upgrade is the downgrade in price, LR4 sells for nearly half the price of LR3, making this purchase a no-brainer.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is an important milestone for Google as it propels the Android platform ahead with its silky smooth performance. Thanks to "Project Butter", sluggish user interface navigation is almost a thing of the past as Jelly Bean deploys touch anticipation, triple buffering, and a fixed frame rate of 60fps to increase the responsiveness of the interface. Jelly Bean also brings a new service, Google Now which acts like a virtual personal assistant. Google Now answers your questions, gives recommendations, and delivers information based on your search results and location.

More information: HWZ Feature

Angry Birds Star Wars

What's better than the original Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Space, and Angry Birds Magic combined? Angry Birds Star Wars, that's what. Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms, Angry Birds Star Wars brings you on an intergalactic journey where you blast away Pigtroopers till you come face to face with Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Pigs, at the Pig Star.

Assassin’s Creed III

Leaving the cathedrals and busy streets of Europe, Assassin’s Creed III shifts the story across the Atlantic Ocean to the American continent around the time of the American Revolutionary War. The game continues the story of Desmond as he tries to solve the mystery of the First Civilization and prevent the 21st December 2012 apocalypse from occuring by reliving his ancestor's memories. This time he'll be reliving the adventures of the half-English, half-Mohawk, Connor.The game looks absolutely stunning as it features a new Anvil Next game engine, which has been built from the ground up to fully utilize the power of current generation systems.

Diablo III

After a wait of over a decade, gamers finally got to stay a while a listen to Deckard Cain’s ramblings again as Blizzard released Diablo III. Featuring five unique classes including old favorites like the Barbarian and new additions like the Witch Doctor, Diablo III is one of the most polished dungeon crawlers released to date. Diablo III also introduced the Real Money Auction House, a service that let players sell and buy items acquired in game for real-world money, letting many dedicated gamers finally realize the dream of making money by playing games.

FIFA 13

The best football game on any gaming console has just gotten better. FIFA 13 features improved game physics and gameplay, resulting in players moving more intelligently and passing the ball more naturally and fluidly. The game also has an updated career game system with a thoroughly reworked transfer system that includes counter-offers and player and cash transfer, making it more fulfilling to manage a team.

Forza Horizon

Always been a fan of the Forza Motorsport franchise but sick of driving around race circuits? Then consider Forza Horizon as your prayers answered. Set in a fictional locale that is modeled closely after Colorado, USA, Forza Horizon takes all your favorite cars from Forza Motorsport and puts them on the open road. Fans of the competing NFS franchise might disagree, but Forza Horizon is the most authentic and rewarding open road racer yet.

Google Maps for iOS

Yelps of frustration were heard around the world as Apple replaced Google maps in iOS 6 with its own home-grown ones – which weren't as accurate, with misplaced landmarks and even 'melted' bridges. Months later, Google released its own Google Maps app for iOS utilizing vector maps with the accuracy of the Google Maps we've come to depend on. It also brought turn-by-turn navigation to iPhones at large, something that previously only worked on Apple's Maps app with iPhone 4S and newer.

More information: HWZ News (1) (2)

Journey

The year 2012 was a good time for indie game developers. With the gaming industry going from strength to strength, titles such as Journey showed how far video games have progressed. Evoking a sense of smallness and wonder with the employment of breathtaking cinematography and wordless songs, Journey is anchored around an extremely strong narrative arc and great story-telling. A definite "must-play" for those bored with the standard fare from big developer houses.

Mass Effect 3

Bringing a close to the journey of Commander Shepherd, Bioware released the last installment of the epic Mass Effect trilogy. The game features an improved combat system, with better cover dynamics. Best of all, the choices you made in the previous installments of the series could be pulled over into the new title, impacting how the finale of the story plays out.

Microsoft Windows 8

Say what you will, but there's no denying that Windows 8 is Windows re-imagined. While it's built on the foundation of Windows 7, it's been improved on all fronts. You got a new user interface replete with touch gestures, much improved cloud-connected services, a renewed focus on apps, and a slew of new security features. The OS is also designed to work swimmingly not just on desktop PCs, but on laptops and especially well on tablets. With a sharp rise in tablet adoption and cloud-based computing and services, the OS has a lot of foresight in its design to deliver optimal tablet usage experience that could lead the next charge of computing.

In a nutshell, it's the best and most versatile version of Windows we've seen since Windows XP.

More information: HWZ Windows 8 Mega Guide

Microsoft Windows Phone 8

Microsoft rejuvenated its mobile platform this year with Windows Phone 8 (WP8), which also shares Windows core elements between WP8 and Windows 8 OS platforms. This will lead to a uniform user experience across desktops, notebooks and smartphones.

As WP8 is optimized for use with multi-core processors, supports up to 720p resolution and comes with microSD card support, WP8 vendors can finally step up their game and offer compelling alternatives to the market flooded with iPhone and Android devices. Its distinctive feature, Live Tiles, can also be re-sized to fit more information on the home screen.

More information: HWZ Feature

Nintendo Wii U and Wii U GamePad

Nintendo’s latest console, the Nintendo Wii U is the first console to feature a tablet-like gamepad, with its 6.2-inch touchscreen. The screen features the same resistive technology as Nintendo’s 3DS handheld console, and also comes with a stylus, which slots neatly into the back of the controller. While many games make use of the Wii U GamePad’s display as a secondary information screen, perhaps the best thing about the GamePad is its Off-TV Play function, which lets you use its display as your main display, allowing you to play games without a TV available. The Wii U itself also packs a host of hardware upgrades including HD output, an IBM PowerPC 750-based three-core processor CPU, 2GB RAM, and an AMD Radeon GPU.

Paper for iOS

If you love doodling, the Paper app for iOS is for you. Developed by people who are actually passionate about design, Paper has all the essential tools for the creative doodler. You can draw with fountain pens, sketch with lead pencils and even mix watercolors to create new hues. Draw anything you want and save them in beautiful "journals". The only limit is your imagination.

Tunnel Bear

Spotify, Pandora, Hulu, and Netflix; these are just a few examples of services that haven’t made their way out of the US due to licensing issues, and are only accessible via a VPN connection. However, setting up a VPN can be overly complex and time-consuming. Luckily, there’s always Tunnel Bear. Available on PC and Mac, as well as Android and iOS devices, both the mobile and desktop apps have clean and user-friendly interfaces, which makes Tunnel Bear dead simple to use and get started. All you have to do is sign up for a free account - which nets you 500MB of free bandwidth - and you can start tunneling away.

Beyerdynamic T90 Open Back Headphones

If you're looking for balanced sound and neutrality of tone from your headphones, then the Beyerdynamic T90 is the answer to your prayers. Great attention to detail and a vibrant tone make it suited to reproducing any music track from your collection. Armed with 45mm drivers and sporting an open back design, the T90 delivers audio which would impress even the most ardent audiophile.

More information: HWZ Review

Bose SoundLink II Mobile Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

When it came to portable, wireless speakers in 2012, the Bose SoundLink was one of the best options around. And during the course of the year it was upgraded and improved and released as the Bose SoundLink II. Using Bluetooth for connectivity, the speakers are platform agnostic and can hook up to iOS or Android devices with ease. For its tiny stature and size, the Bose SoundLink II also delivers quality sound with strong mids and bright highs.

More information: RelatedHWZ Review

Denon Cocoon Portable Docking Station

Rubberized corners and a degree of waterproofing make the Denon Cocoon Portable one of the more travel friendly docking stations on the market. But with the provision of AirPlay, you can also wireless stream tunes from the device. Two 3-inch, full range drivers also make it equipped to deliver enough audio for any situation. Thanks to its rechargeable lithium ion batteries, these speakers can keep on going for hours on end.

More information: HWZArticle

Philips Fidelio AS851 Docking Station

Docking stations for the Apple range of products are a dime a dozen. The Philips Fidelio AS851 on the other hand was one of the first docking stations intended solely for Android products. Its creatively designed cradle accepts smart devices in both portrait and landscape orientations to provide charging. Audio playback is accomplished via Bluetooth connectivity.

More information: HWZ Review

Philips Shoqbox SB7100 Speakers

Small enough to be easily carried without hassle, the pentagonal shape of the Philips Shoqbox SB7100 makes it look more like a drinks flask than a speaker. On board lithium ion batteries can power operations for up to eight hours. Philips has also included gesture based input so that users can change tracks or the volume with a simple flick of the hand.

More information: HWZArticle

Sennheiser HD700 Headphones

Sennheiser has a well-earned reputation as one of the best audio product manufacturers. With the HD 700 headphones they further cemented their credentials. Angled 40mm transducer with DuoFol diaphragms aims to provide a wide soundstage and ultra-fast response times. Great bass levels are guaranteed thanks to the multilayer design of the headband.

More information: HWZ Article

Yamaha Restio ISX-B820 Integrated Audio System

With sleek and minimal proportions, the Restio looks like it belongs firmly in a stylish, modern interior décor setting. You can dock your iPhone or iPad directly into the top of the unit, but wireless is definitely the intended mode of playback. Connectivity between device and the speaker is established thanks to Bluetooth. A two-way, four speaker system tuned to Yamaha’s usually high standards is responsible for strong audio delivery.

More information: HWZ Article

Yamaha YSP-4300 Sound Bar

Utilizing a grand total of 22 array speakers controlled by Yamaha’s YSP technology, the Yamaha YSP-4300 produces sharp beams of audio for extremely high quality surround sound. Two powerful 6.5cm woofer units handle bass duties and ensure your viewing experience is accompanied by sound with great impact. YIT-W12 technology also allows for wireless playback from iOS devices. Its audio performance is tough to match as it it can convincingly re-create true multi-channel audio and with enough power that would certainly have you thinking if the room had other hidden speakers.

More information: HWZ Article

Canon 5D Mark III

The Canon 5D Mark III offers a solid upgrade in every aspect over the 5D Mark II. Handling is improved, auto-focus is more comprehensive and responsive, the camera shoots a high six frames-per-second, and images are cleaner at high ISO levels. While its competitor the Nikon D800 blows the roof off the megapixel house with its niche 36MP sensor, the 5D Mark III is more than sufficient with its 22.3MP sensor and offers a more rounded, all-in-one package for most shooting situations.

More information: HWZ Review

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm's first mirrorless system camera, the X-Pro1 is a distinctive camera both in terms of design and technology. It comes with Fujifilm's hybrid viewfinder, first seen on the X100. The hybrid viewfinder lets you switch between an optical and electronic viewfinder, depending on which you prefer.

The X-Pro1 introduced Fujifilm's X-Trans CMOS sensor, which mimics the random arrangement of film grain and manages to do away with the optical low-pass filter. This allows it to capture images with a higher degree of detail than its peers, with exceptionally low image noise.

More information: HWZ Review

Nikon D4

The Nikon D4 is a high-performance, high-precision tool which is quite obviously not for everyone. But for those that do require its power, we can guarantee they won't feel disappointed. The D4 brings amazing high ISO/low noise sensitivity, fast frames-per-second shooting and smooth handling. Its one weakness would be its use of the rare XQD memory card as its secondary card slot.

More information: HWZArticle

Nikon D600

The D600 is Nikon's most affordable full-frame camera yet. One might have expected Nikon to cut corners in order to deliver a camera at this price, but that turns out not to have been the case at all. The D600 feels every bit a pro-grade camera as Nikon's higher-end full-frames, with the only compromise being the 39 AF points being bunched in the center.

More information: HWZ Review

Nikon D800

Nikon deserves kudos again for the Nikon D800, a camera which pushes the leading edge of DSLRs forward. At 36MP on a full-frame sensor, the D800 delivers incredible images, full of breathtaking detail and rich in tones with a very high dynamic range. If that wasn't enough, Nikon boldly released a D800E variant, which removes the optical low-pass filter and captures even more fine detail.

More information: HWZ Review

Olympus Tough TG-1

Heading off the beaten track? The Olympus Tough TG-1 is a rugged camera that is 2m shock-proof, crush-proof to withstand 100kg, 12m water-proof, and -10°C freeze-proof. Besides being tough as nails, the TG-1 also sports a maximum aperture of F2.0 and a high-resolution 610K-dot 3.0-inch OLED display that boosts scratch- and water-resistant coatings. We’re sure that the TG-1 will survive your adventures and capture the memories of them as well.

More information: HWZ Review

Olympus OM-D E-M5

There's just something about the E-M5. It's not just its specs: 16MP sensor, 5-axis image stabilization, weather-resistant body. It's also how well the camera handles with its twin control dials, quick AF speed and easy AF point selection. Add to that its ability to capture images with gorgeous color as well as its class-leading high ISO performance and you have a fun, remarkable little camera to shoot with.

More information: HWZReview

Panasonic HC-X900M

Videographers who are also audiophiles will want to check out Panasonic's X900M, which comes with a 5.1-channel surround sound microphone. It also shoots up to 1080/60p, with manual controls at the ready. The Hybrid OIS helps you keep your shot steady, and Panasonic's 3MOS system also ensures that you have plenty of image detail.

More information: HWZ Review

Samsung EX2F

The Samsung EX2F is the Korean Chaebol’s flagship premium compact. While Samsung hasn’t always been known for its cameras, the EX2F manages to hold its own with camera bigwigs like Canon and Panasonic with its bright F1.4 lens and swiveling AMOLED display. Image quality is generally good and build quality is robust, so if you can look past the EX2F’s larger size, it's a good camera to consider. But the main reason the EX2F makes our list is its advanced "smart" features to easily share your photos on social media channels through built-in Wi-Fi and smart applications for your smartphone to remotely frame and trigger the shutter-release of the camera. As a whole, it's the smartest advanced compact of the year if there was such a distinction.

More information: HWZ Review

Sony Alpha SLT-A99

Sony came back to full-frame in a big way in 2012 with both the RX1 and the A99. Their first full-frame camera since 2008, the A99 is the first to be built with Sony's proprietary translucent mirror technology. This means that the A99 has an electronic instead of optical viewfinder, but it also means that its phase-detection auto-focus is fast whether you're using the viewfinder or the rear swiveling LCD screen. The A99 also comes with a built-in GPS, live view focus peaking, 1080/60p movie recording with the ability to output uncompressed video and a fast six frames-per-second shooting frame-rate.

More information: HWZArticle

Sony Cyber-shot RX1

The most innovative camera to come out of 2012 didn't come from the big two; instead it came out of left field from Sony. The RX1 is a compact, full-frame camera with a fixed 35mm f/2 lens, in a size seemingly impossible for a full-frame camera.

The 35mm field of view is familiar to street photographers, and the camera's fast f/2 lens with its small size should prove to be popular with anyone who wants a discreet, easy to carry camera with no compromises in image quality.

Sony RX100

Sony's RX100 offers the best overall balance between image quality, performance and portability. It blows the rest of the digital compact competition out of the water with its large 1-inch sensor, which also sports one of the highest resolutions in the market for digital compacts. If you’re willing to fork out the S$999 for it, the RX100 is one of the best digital compacts you can get right now.

More information: HWZ Review

Sony Handycam HDR-PJ760VE

Sony's HDR-PJ760VE is easily one of the best camcorders of the year. It delivers great image quality, even in low light, and comes with Sony's excellent optical image stabilization. For those who love high frame-rates (anyone who watched The Hobbit in HFR and loved it) the PJ760VE can shoot up to 1080/60p, and you can even project your movies with the built-in projector.

Sony NEX-VG900

Sony isn't just pushing the boundaries with its full-frame digital cameras, this year it also introduced the VG900, the world's first camcorder with a full-frame image sensor. It uses E-mount lenses, and an A-mount lens adapter opens it up to Sony's existing library of DSLR camera lenses (if you use E-mount lenses, the VG900 only uses part of its sensor, akin to an APS-C crop). Unfortunately, while it should be able to do so, it doesn't actually shoot 4K video, but it will shoot beautiful full HD video.

LG 84-inch LM9600 Ultra Definition Cinema 3D TV

For a real visual treat, why not feast your eyes on this 84-inch Korean beauty, one that's capable of an equally gorgeous picture performance on its Ultra-HD (4K) panel? Framed by a metallic border, the TV is guaranteed to take your breath away with its stunning upscaling prowess and immersive 3D delivery. The only catch is its steep S$24,999 price tag, although, at that price, it's still more than ten grand cheaper than Sony's X9000.

More information: HWZ Review

Panasonic Viera E5S Smart TV

Not every TV out there offers an impressive picture quality at the right price, but we're glad to say that Panasonic's Viera E5S is worthy of that description. The E5S not only provides a natural display on its wide-angle IPS panel, but its ability to balance both shadow detail and black levels is truly noteworthy for its mainstream class and is also equipped with Panasonic's Viera Connect platform for internet based content options.

Panasonic 65-inch Viera VT50S Plasma TV

Panasonic's VT50S deserves its spot as the king of the PDP hill with its impressive picture performance on all fronts. Not only did Panasonic spruce up the designs for their 2012 Viera range, but you can expect no less than stunning black levels, accurate colors, realistic HD visuals, and crosstalk-free 3D images with this tantalizing plasma display.

More information: HWZ Review

Samsung 55-inch ES8000 Smart TV

The Series 8 brings Samsung's Smart Interactive features to the fore with its combination of gesture controls, voice triggers, and face recognition capabilities. On top of its comprehensive Smart Hub platform, the sleek and stylish display also boasts of a vivid HD performance which makes it one of the more compelling Smart TVs in the market.

More information: HWZ Review

Epson EH-TW8100W

The S$4,599 EH-TW8100W is Epson's current flagship 1080p 3D home theater projector. A 3LCD projector, it sports an Epson 480Hz panel drive technology to achieve super-bright 3D images. But what sets this projector apart from the others is its built-in WirelessHD receiver. In other words, you can stream 1080p content wirelessly to the EH-TW8100W. A transmitter box comes as part of the package, and has five HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, and one optical audio output.

More information: HWZ Article

JVC DLA-RS66

The JVC DLA-RS66 D-ILA projector has a brightness of 1,200 lumens and a contrast ratio of 130,000:1. But what's so special about this S$15,000, THX 3D-certified premium projector is its updated e-shift 2 upscaling technology, which basically shifts each pixel of a 2D 1080p footage diagonally by 0.5 pixel to quadruple the resolution and achieve a 4K image. Also new this time round are RF-based active shutter 3D rechargeable glasses and emitter.

More information: HWZ Article

Panasonic PT-AE8000EA

Using a new 220W 'Red-Rich' lamp, the S$4,699 PT-AE8000EA home theater projector is able to achieve a brightness of 2,400 lumens. Coupled with its 480Hz full HD LCD panels with overdrive technology, it also touts bright 3D images with very little crosstalk. Panasonic has also created a 3D Motion Remaster technology to further enhance the realism of active shutter 3D images. For sharpness, just let the enhanced Detail Clarity Processor 4 work its magic.

Sony VPL-VW1000ES

Want 4K, but feel that an 84-inch screen size still doesn't do it justice? Well, then you should definitely take a look at Sony's gorgeous VPL-VW1000ES SXRD high-end home theater projector. Besides a native 4,096 x 2160-pixel resolution, it supports 4K upscaling for 2D and 3D 1080p content, and boasts a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Yes, it costs a cool S$32,000, but what price is quality?

More information: HWZ Article

Apple iPad with Retina Display

Just when you think the iPad couldn’t get any better, Apple led a breakthrough with the Retina display on its 9.7-inch iPad this year. With a stunning resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, everything just looks better and sharper on the iPad. Relying on its custom designed processors, the iPad delivers highly optimized multimedia performance that is yet to be matched by any competitor in the market.

More information: HWZ Review

Apple iPad Mini

The world’s best selling tablet now has a smaller counterpart - the Apple iPad Mini. Measuring just 7.2mm thin and weighing a featherweight of 308g, the iPad Mini redefines the concept of portability. Though it commands a premium price over the other 7-inch tablets, the iPad mini more than makes up for it with over 275,000 tablet-optimized apps, a superior build quality and an unrivaled user experience.

More information: HWZ Review

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon calls it the world’s most advanced e-reader and the Kindle Paperwhite does have the specs to back that claim up. It has a patented built-in light technology that illuminates the display evenly, ensuring that you always have a comfortable reading experience. Moreover, the use of low-power LEDs gives the Kindle Paperwhite high power efficiency which can give you eight weeks of battery life. Don't forget, you also have access to Amazon’s library of over millions of books, newspapers and magazines including 180,000 Kindle exclusive titles.

B&N Nook Color

Unlike most e-readers, B&N's Nook Color is equipped with a 7-inch color screen. Displaying more than 16 million colors, the Nook Color is perfect for reading magazines, newspapers and books that are graphics-intensive. There is also a huge selection of content available for you to download on the Nook Color ranging from the New York Times to popular children's books.

Google Nexus 7

The first and, so far, only tablet to garner our Editor’s Choice Award, the Google Nexus 7 manufactured by ASUS is currently the best Android tablet in the market. Despite its lower than average price point, the Nexus 7 is well-designed, has a good build quality and offers great handling. Being a Nexus-branded device, the Nexus 7 is guaranteed to stay ahead of the rest with the latest software updates from Google. Its combination of top-notch hardware, nifty software features and affordable price tag makes the Nexus 7 one of the most sought-after gadgets this year.

More information: HWZ Review

Google Nexus 10

While the iPad (2012) is impressive with its Retina display, Google and Samsung team up to give Apple a run for its money with the Nexus 10. Armed with a display resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, the Nexus 10 one ups the Apple iPad (2012) with a pixel density of 300ppi. This means that you are looking at the sharpest and clearest display ever on a tablet device. Furthermore, the Nexus 10 is built for speed with the industry’s first dual-core ARM Cortex A15 processor, 2GB RAM and quad-core Mali T604 GPU.

Panasonic Toughpad

Touted as the most rugged tablet in the world, the Panasonic Toughpad is indeed built to survive in all extreme conditions. It is designed to survive drops, dust and water. In addition, the Panasonic Toughpad has embedded hardware security to keep your data secure. Running under the hood is a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Apple iPhone 5

The iPhone 5, long-awaited successor to the 4S, delivers on almost every account. First off, there's its classy industrial build, framing a lightweight body housing a speedy A6 processor and 1GB of RAM running on the buttery smooth iOS 6 platform. And of course, in iPhone fashion, a bigger 4.0-inch Retina display and the 8-megapixel camera performance showcased great performance. Best yet, the device comes with LTE connectivity.

More information: HWZ Review

ASUS Padfone 2

One of the more innovative devices to hit shelves this year, the ASUS Padfone 2 is not just a phone; it can also be converted into a tablet with its accompanying Padfone 2 dock accessory. If versatility is not what you want a device, rest assured that the ASUS Padfone 2 comes with solid specs, including a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, a 4.7-inch HD Super IPS+ display, and a 13-megapixel camera.

More information: HWZ Review

HTC One X+

The star of the HTC One series, the One X, gets a boost in the form of an upgraded HTC One X+ variant. The smartphone is no slouch when put against its competitors, with its optical-laminated 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 display and raw platform performance andsolid polycarbonate unibody build,which gives even the premium-looking Apple iPhone 5 a run for its money. Unfortunately, the version in Singapore does not come with LTE support but those in other parts of the world are luckier.

More information: HWZ Review

LG Nexus 4

The LG Nexus 4 might not be the best phone in the market right now, but it offers absolutely fantastic value when you consider the high-end hardware specifications that it comes with. Retailing at US$299 (8GB) and US$349 (16GB), you can get Android 4.2 OS (vanilla), an 8-megapixel camera, a 4.7-inch Super IPS+ screen with 1280 x 768 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core 1.5GHz processor and 2GB RAM. Now that's what we call a steal!

More information: HWZ Review

Motorola Razr Maxx HD

The Motorola Razr Maxx HD's 3,300-mAh allows it to reign over all other Android smartphone devices as king of battery longevity. While not available in Singapore, we were quite frankly bowled over by its good battery performance (something that Android devices usually falter in), its 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display and snappy 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. If you are one for looks, you will be glad that its trademark Kevlar back makes a reappearance here.

More information: Related HWZ Review

Nokia Lumia 920

Well, what do we have to say about the WP8-flavored Nokia Lumia 920? There's a lot to like about the hardware-heavy device as its excellent PureMotion HD+ with its splendid 332PPI screen gives Apple's Retina Display on the iPhone 5 a run for their money. Its 8.7MP camera imbued with PureView magic is also probably one of the best in the market so far. And that's not even factoring in its wireless charging capabilities, Nokia's tie-in with third-party brands for wireless charging products and its pool of functional Nokia-flavored apps.

More information: HWZ Review

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Looking for a phablet device? The Samsung Galaxy Note II is the best in the market thus far, especially considering that it comes with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED 720p display. Screen aside, there's plenty of power within this baby, including an Exynos 4212 Quad quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and the Android 4.1 OS. Complement it further with an 8-megapixel camera, LTE connectivity and software features to take advantage of the large screen, you have in your hands a very capable and well-rounded device.

More information: HWZ Review

Samsung Galaxy S III

The Samsung Galaxy S III sold millions for a reason - sporting a quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 processor, the 4.8-inch Galaxy S III runs fluidly on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform with excellent all-round performance and is loaded with features including the S Beam, AllShare Cast, and NFC connectivity. The upgraded LTE variant also comes with 2GB of RAM. It is one of the most polished smartphones in the market and is a benchmark for future devices in 2013.

More information: HWZ Review

Aftershock Titan

The 4.3kg 17-inch Aftershock Titan isn't going to win any awards for design, innovation or mobility. But it is, without a doubt, the most powerful gaming notebook available locally, right now. This 2-way NVIDIA Geforce GTX 680M SLI equipped monster offers performance equal to a desktop GTX 680, making it the perfect choice for gamers who refuse to compromise on game quality settings. It's not likely to turn many heads like the Razer Blade would, but in return you get enthusiast-level desktop gaming quality, something previously unheard of in a notebook from this region.

More information: HWZ Review

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (15-inch)

With the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, Apple once again sets the bar for notebooks. Not only did Apple include a gorgeous, high-resolution display, they also redesigned the chassis, making it significantly thinner and lighter than a regular MacBook Pro. This is achieved with a complete internal design overhaul, as well as the omission of an optical drive, which together makes it much more portable - the new chassis is just 1mm thicker than a 13-inch MacBook Air. Credit also goes to Apple for retaining the computing and graphical power that imaging professionals rely on, while reducing the machine’s footprint.

More information: HWZ Article

ASUS Taichi

Out of all the numerous innovative ways we’ve seen manufacturers turn their Ultrabooks into tablets, the 11.6-inch ASUS Taichi’s method must be the most unimaginative, because, well, there isn’t one. However, we do mean that as a compliment, because all it takes is simply closing the lid to convert the Taichi into a notebook or tablet. Built like a regular high-end Ultrabook, but with two full HD, multi-touch panels on the front and back of its lid, when the Taichi is closed, its external display enables it to be a tablet while, when it’s open, the external display becomes a handy secondary display for presentations without the need for a projector.

More information: HWZ Article

HP Envy 14 Spectre

The 14-inch HP Envy Spectre is very much a premium Ultrabook. Dressed up all over in stylish, glossy black Gorilla Glass and silver aluminum the Spectre is sure to turn heads in any environment. The Corning Gorilla Glass utilized on the lid, display and wrist rest make the Spectre slightly heavier than the average 14-inch Ultrabook, but also make it one of the toughest Ultrabooks around. Other features such as NFC connectivity also set it apart from the usual slew of Ultrabooks out there.

More information: HWZ Review

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga

The 13-inch Lenovo Ideapad Yoga is a perfect example of an item being worth more than the sum of its parts. Its durability, build quality, ease of use and good looks puts it in a favorable position when compared against other convertible Ultrabooks in the market. It’s a very much improved version of an already impressive predecessor, the U300s. Besides the component upgrades, the Yoga also has patented hinges that lets it switch easily from (a very functional) notebook mode to tablet mode. And in between, there’s also a "stand" and "tent" modes which give the Yoga plenty of usage options.

More information: HWZ Review

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Thinkpads have come a long way since their early IBM days. The latest model to come from its legendary enterprise lineage is the 13-inch Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon. It has all the hallmarks of an Ultrabook, like the processing prowess and low power consumption of a CULV processor and a thin and light form factor. Thrown into the mix are also robust and enterprise-ready security features, which make it a very capable business Ultrabook. And like its "Carbon" moniker would suggest, the X1 Carbon is almost entirely fashioned out of very strong yet light carbon fiber material that enables it to be tough as nails.

More information: HWZ Review

MSI GT70

MSI has put together a great gaming machine in the 17.3-inch GT70. It gives you stellar performance with its GTX 680 GPU, plus a superior Steelseries keyboard, built-in subwoofer, and a Killer Gaming network card. While its looks may not be for everybody, there's no other gaming machine out there that offers a more complete package of performance, usability and features.

More information: HWZ Review

Razer Blade (2nd generation)

The Razer Blade takes a very different approach to most gaming notebooks. Instead of cramming as much performance in as possible, Razer has opted to prioritize portability to create what they call the World's first 'true' gaming notebook. The 2.92kg, 20.33mm thick Razer Blade is certainly the most portable gaming notebook out there, and it also boasts Razer's innovative Switchblade UI, a 4-inch touchscreen panel that acts as a trackpad and secondary screen. It also utilizes 10 customizable buttons with LCD screens that can be mapped to any hotkey you desire. While the first generation Blade was definitely underpowered, the second generation model, while far from being a powerhouse, is much better, boasting an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M GPU.

More information: HWZ Article

Sony Vaio Duo 11

The Sony Vaio Duo 11 - winner of our Innovation Award for its smooth and elegant Surf-Slider mechanism - is one of the best convertible Ultrabooks we've seen so far. Out of all the convertible Ultrabooks out there, the Duo 11 feels the most 'tablet-like' with its compact 11-inch screen size, bright, full HD IPS display and bundled Digitiser Stylus. Despite its diminutive size, it boasts the best connectivity out of any Ultrabook available, with an HDMI port, RJ-45 LAN port, twin USB 3.0 ports and incredibly, even a VGA port. Given its design, build, connectivity options and size, the Duo 11 is a great fit for those looking for an all-purpose business tablet with Ultrabook specifications and even transforms into one if required.

More information: HWZ Review

ASUS RT-AC66U Wireless-AC Dual-band Router

ASUS has gone from strength to strength with each router release and the RT-AC66U is no exception. The RT-AC66U is ASUS' first Wireless 802.11ac trooper and also one of the earliest model to arrive here. This true dual-band router might not offer blistering rates on the 2.4GHz radio, but its comprehensive networking features and stellar throughput on the 5GHz (AC) band makes it a viable contender among its peers.

More information: HWZ Review

Western Digital My Net N900 Dual-band Router

Armed with cloud-based features and a user-friendly interface, Western Digital's My Net N900 router also offers a whopping total of seven Gigabit LAN ports plus two USB slots with file and printer sharing support. The dual-band 802.11n gateway is ideal for HD video streams as well with WD's intuitive FasTrack Plus prioritization technology.

More information: HWZ Article

Canon Imageclass MF4890dw

How much do you think a monochrome laser all-in-one printer that prints at 25ppm, has a 50-sheet duplex ADF, wired and wireless networking support, a large 5-line LCD on a vari-angle control panel would cost? Surely, it must cost more than S$1,000! Well, you couldn't be more wrong, for the Canon MF4890dw can be had for 'just' S$549. Premium and affordability usually don't go hand-in-hand, but they do in this case.

More information: HWZ Article

HP Officejet 150 Mobile AIO Printer

Standalone mobile printers and scanners are a dime a dozen. But it's not until now that someone has finally come out with a device that combines both functions. The 22ppm HP Officejet 150 has built-in Bluetooth for printing from mobile devices, and a lithium-ion battery that provides power to print up to 500 pages on a single charge. Users can also scan, store, and share documents using a memory card.

More information: HWZ Article

Lantronix xPrintServer Network Edition

What if we could print wirelessly from our iOS devices to any networked printers - even non-AirPrint-enabled ones - without the need to install any app on our iOS devices or desktop machines? Well, the Lantronix xPrintServer does just that. And the best part? There’s no need to install anything either on your computer or your iOS device. How's that for convenience?

More information: HWZ Review

Intel SSD 520 Series

The Intel SSD 520 Series is presently one of the best enthusiast grade consumer SandForce-equipped SSDs that money can buy. It packs blazing speed and top notch performance with Intel’s reputation for making reliable SSDs. Despite being launched early this year, it is still the yardstick by which all other enthusiast grade consumer SSDs are measured against.

More information: HWZ Review

OCZ Vector SSD

The OCZ Vector SSD is significant for a number of reasons: packing a brand-new Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller, the drive is OCZ’s first to use the company own in-house developed controller and firmware. Furthermore, its performance suggests lots of potential in the new controller making the Vector a genuine contender for one of the best SSDs released this year.

More information: HWZ Review

SanDisk ReadyCache SSD

The idea of using a small flash drive to help speed up your system is not new, but SanDisk ReadyCache SSD is the most refined execution of that idea yet. It is really easy to setup and in our testing we found the drive to improve performance by more than 25% and also significantly reduced boot up and application start times. All this for just a small price.

More information: HWZ Review

Seagate Backup Plus

The Seagate Backup Plus is the company’s latest portable hard drive and features a revamped Seagate Dashboard application that helps make backing up your data a breeze. Furthermore, the new Dashboard application can also automatically backup your photos from popular social media websites such as Facebook and Flickr.

More information: HWZ Review

Seagate GoFlex Satellite

The Seagate GoFlex Satellite is a unique portable hard drive because it doubles up as a media streamer and network bridge. The drive can broadcast its own Wi-Fi signal, which users in the vicinity can then log on to to access files within the drive. Think of it as your own personal and portable storage cloud or as a quick and easy way to share your media content with friends.

More information: HWZ Review

Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB

Who says that mechanical hard drives are dead? This year, Western Digital released an updated version of their venerable VelociRaptor hard drive. For the first time, a 1TB version is available and although the new VelociRaptor still spins at a heady 10,000rpm, the new drives are faster than ever thanks to a larger 64MB cache and an updated controller.

More information: HWZ Review

Western Digital My Book Velociraptor Duo

If you're a Mac user and you're looking for a speedy external hard drive, it’s hard to do better than the Western Digital My Book VelociRaptor Duo. Apart from featuring the latest Thunderbolt interface, this external hard drive is unique because it also packs not one but two VelociRaptor drives in an RAID array which can be configured in RAID 0 for the ultimate performance or RAID 1 for data protection.

AMD A10-5700 APU

AMD's A10-5700 APU is ideal for those who aren't thinking of overclocking (which doesn't provide much actual gains) and yet would like to obtain performance levels similar to the high-end unlocked A10-5800K processor - especially with regards to integrated graphics performance. At such a price point, this means a bundle price of an appropriate board and the A10-5700 can be as low as just S$250. This makes it far more attractive than the Intel counterparts if raw processing throughput isn't really going to be missed. As we've seen, AMD is all out to improve the immediate experiential aspects of using a system for mainstream users and we think the AMD Trinity APU might be just the trick.

More information: HWZ Review

ASUS ROG Maximus V Gene (Intel Z77 Motherboard)

This sprightly looking motherboard is small in stature, but jammed pack with features to satisfy the needs of gamers and power users looking for something special when building their next gaming rig. This board uses the Intel Z77 Express chipset along with the LGA1155 CPU socket which supports third generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs. The processors themselves still support only a single PCIe x16 link that can be split into dual x8 links. For that reason, this class of boards can easily get by with the mATX board size by featuring dual PEG slots. The board also manages to cram quad DIMM slots to support overclocked memory modules (DDR3 modules that are rated up to 2666MHz) up to a maximum capacity of 32GB.

More information: HWZ Review

ASUS ROG TYTAN CG8890 Gaming Desktop PC

The ridiculously powerful ASUS Tytan desktop PC boasts best-in-class components across the board, and spares no expense, utilizing a liquid-cooled six core, Intel Core i7-3960X (3.3GHz) processor, ASUS Rampage IV Formula (Intel X79) motherboard, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 dual-GPU graphics card, ASUS Xonar Phoebus sound card, 128GB SSD with a 3TB HDD for storage and 16GB RAM.

If that wasn't impressive enough, this S$5,900 behemoth features ASUS' one-touch Turbo Gear overclocking system, which allows you to dynamically overclock the processor up to 3.8GHz without requiring a reboot. For massive cool-factor points, hitting the Turbo Gear overclock button also transforms the chassis, with the lights changing from blue to red, and the system vents opening outwards to allow for improved airflow and better heat dissipation, ensuring system stability.

More information: HWZArticle

Corsair Obsidian 550D Mid-Tower Case

The Corsair 550D mid-tower case is one of the most complete casings we’ve reviewed in some time. Quality, however, comes at a price, because at S$219, the Corsair 550D is also one of the more costly casings in its class. Whether or not the Corsair 550D is worth the premium depends very much on the individual user's preferences and needs, but while the Corsair 550D commands a premium, it backs it up with class-leading aesthetics, performance and build quality. It is a casing worthy of your attention if you don't mind splurging a bit more money.

More information: HWZ Review

Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Kit

This pair of memory modules is rated at a clock frequency of 2133MHz, making them suitable for current Intel and AMD platforms, especially if you have invested in the latter, which officially supports a memory bus frequency of 1,866MHz. The additional headroom offered by its higher clock frequency will help in overclocking while its low latency timings help boost its performance. In terms of aesthetic appeal, it doesn’t hurt that the memory modules sport a sleek appearance, with their black heatspreaders that extend beyond the PCB of the same color.

Dell UltraSharp U2713HM Monitor

Dell's U2713HM monitor packs tons of features: a WQHD resolution (that's 2,560 x 1,440 pixels), a factory-calibrated IPS panel (LED backlit) that covers more than 99% of the sRGB color space, and great ergonomics where you can swivel, tilt, pivot, and adjust the height of the display. In addition to DisplayPort 1.2, VGA, DVI-D, and HDMI inputs, the U2713HM sports four USB 3.0 ports. If you're looking for a great 27-inch monitor, the U2713HM is it. And at S$800 on the Dell online store, it doesn't break the bank either.

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB Wi-Fi(Intel Z77 Motherboard)

The Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB Wi-Fi motherboard earns its spot on our list for its perfect balance of expansion options and built-in features. Sporting the standard triplet of PCIe x16 PEG slots, three PCIe x1 slots and a single legacy PCI slot. It also has a total of nine SATA connectors as well as a wide range of display connectivity options. The board also bundles a unique PCIe expansion card that will add wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 4.0 and IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The board also features Ultra Durable 4 components and its PCB is constructed out of a new glass fabric technology to add to its durability. Coupled with its stellar performance shown on our benchmark tests and its outstanding features, this board is a bargain with its S$315 price tag.

Intel Core i7-3770K CPU

With its improved new CPU architecture, the general performance of the Intel i7-3770K CPU prompts us to label it as one that is skewed for multi-threaded applications. It will appeal to power users and enthusiasts who demand workstation-like performance and power optimization balance. It's a fine line to walk, but we do strongly feel that the Intel Core i7-3770K does so with finesse. Its improved integrated GPU, which features the updated Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU that appeal to users who leverage on the LucidLogix Virtu MVP software to take advantage of the on-die GPU or the discrete GPU accordingly. The new integrated GPU has two additional 3D features: Virtual Vsync to reduce screen tearing and HyperFormance to increase frame rates. The choice of using either graphical processing option makes this Ivy Bridge processor even more appealing.

More information: HWZReview

MSI Big Bang Z77 MPower

MSI's Big Bang Z77 MPoweroffers a decent feature set and we were pleasantly surprised by its six rear USB 3.0 ports and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity options. The board is currently available at S$339, which makes it one of the most expensive Intel Z77 Express chipset boards on the market, however its premium price is justified in terms of the peace-of-mind enjoyed as overclocking is officially endorsed by MSI, with the board labelled as "4.6GHz OC" ready when paired with an Intel Core i7-3770K CPU.

More information: HWZ Review

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660

Utilizing a NVIDIA GK106 core designed especially for it, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 was the first true mid-range Kepler graphics card. Despite its mid-range positioning, it still boasted many of the features of its powerhouse bigger brothers including NVIDIA's GPU Boost technology, which dynamically adjusts the GPU's clock speed according to the operating environment of the graphics card. Offering great price to performance ratio, the GTX 660 scored very well in our benchmarks,even managing to outscore AMD's much higher positioned Radeon HD 7950 on many games.

More information: HWZ Review

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680

NVIDIA's new flagship graphics card may have arrived a bit later than rival AMD's offering, but it was definitely worth the wait. Utilizing NVIIDA's new 28nm Kepler architecture, the GTX 680 offered an excellent combination of performance, power efficiency and quiet operation. It alsoshowcased NVIDIA's innovation with new features such as its GPU Boost technology, whichdynamically adjusts the GPU's clock speed according to the operating environment of the graphics card. The GTX 680 was also the first NVIDIA card to support up to four monitors on a single card.

More information: HWZ Review

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690

Featuring two Kepler GTX 680 GPU cores running at a base clock speed of 915MHz, with 6008MHz DDR memory, 3072 CUDA cores, and backed up by a massive 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 easily laid claim to the title of most powerful graphics card of the year. While most dual-GPU cards fall short of an equivalent SLI or CrossFireX configuration, thedifference between the GTX 690 and a GTX 680 2-way SLI configuration was actually fairly small (between 1-4%) and we found that the difference could be easily overcome by some light overclocking.

More information: HWZ Review

PowerColor Devil 13 Radeon HD 7990

With AMD choosing not to release a high-end dual-GPU graphics card for this current generation, it fell to add-in partner PowerColor to take up the challenge. The result was the massive PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990, an absolute monster card utilizing two Tahiti XT Radeon HD 7970 GPUs and weighing 1.77kg. While the Devil 13 utilizes a modest default core clock of 925MHz, it also features a turbo OC button that will ramp up core clock speeds to 1000MHz. In our testing, performance was actually superior in most cases to anHD 7970 CrossFireX setup.

More information: HWZ Review

Apple TV

The third generation of Apple TV was launched in the US earlier this year and later made available in the Asian region along with the launch of the iTunes Store in June. With support for 1080p videos and a large library of movies and TV series you can purchase or rent from the iTunes Store, we believe the Apple TV is the only device in Singapore that comes with content you can purchase and own legally. Coupled with the ability to seamlessly stream either YouTube videos or music from your iTunes Match library, the Apple TV also happens to be one of the more affordable media players around. And if you're already deeply invested into the Apple device ecosystem, its support for AirPlay will give your devices like the iPad, iPod and iPhone easy wireless access to your large TV screen.

Intel NUC PC

Intel introduced a new 4 x 4-inch form factor PC this year in the form of the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) PC. By utilizing the same ultra low power Ivy Bridge mobile processors Intel uses in its Ultrabook processor range, they've managed to shrink the desktop PC to a size even smaller than mini-ITX. With two USB ports, an HDMI port and even a Thunderbolt port, the NUC PC has plenty of potential, ranging from low power HTPCs (Home Theater PC) to compact, space saving workstations and possibly even some light gaming.

More information: HWZ Articles(1) (2)

Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810

Logitech's K810 is a full-sized backlit Bluetooth keyboard that works with Windows, Android, and iOS and has the unique ability to pair with three different devices at the same time. Dedicated keys at the top of the keyboard let you toggle between devices, making it fast and easy to input text across your PC, phone and tablet. Build quality is also superb with abrushed aluminum finish and an ultra-thin, compact design.

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad

While keyboard covers for the iPad are nothing new, they've never been done better than Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard cover. The front keyboard section features a glossy black or white finish to match your iPad color of choice, while the back is made of one piece of anodized aluminium which mimics the the back of the iPad very closely and also offers a good level of protection. Despite its solid build, it's stillvery light at a mere 355g and, as the name suggests, it's also ultra thin at just under 10mm thick.

More information: Related HWZ Article

Razer Deathstalker Ultimate Keyboard

Razer's DeathStalker Ultimate keyboard is the ideal choice for anyone wanting a similar experience to the Razer Blade, but paired with the power of their own desktop PC. It features the Blade's Switchblade User Interface, which consists of a 4-inch touchscreen and 10 dynamic 1-inch touchscreen buttons located to the right of the main keyboard, and can be configured to show key binds, macros, skills, and spells from any game. The touchscreen can also be used as a second display for in-game maps and information, game FAQs or even YouTube videos. The keyboard itself also has a similar feel to the Blade's keyboard, utilizing green, backlit chiclet-style keys.

Seiko Astron Watch

Jet-setters and frequent fliers who often find themselves traveling from one timezone to another will find a friend in the Seiko Astron watch. The solar-powered watch is able to pinpoint its position on Earth using GPS satellite and then automatically set itself to the correct time. It is also able to correct itself by syncing itself to an atomic clock, ensuring that it loses no more a single second every 100,000 years.