Rockers Rejoice! Guns N’ Roses Are Finally Coming To Singapore

Guns N' Roses Singapore

Concert organisers LAMC Productions announced today that iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses will be making their way to sunny Singapore in 2017 as part of their Not In This Lifetime world tour.

Singapore is the band’s only stop in Southeast Asia and will be their first appearance together in the country.

The concert will take place at Changi Exhibition Centre on February 25 next year, with tickets available for purchase from October 17. OCBC cardholders will have early access to tickets during the priority sale on October 14.

Regular tickets are priced from S$199 to S$298 while there will be limited VIP tickets at S$568.

Those interested in VIP packages can also get their hands on the Live and Let Die Early Entry Package (S$1,038) and the Paradise City VIP Lounge package (S$1,393).

The tour reunites legendary guitarist Slash with vocalist Axl Rose and bassist Duff McKagan. The band embarked on their reunion earlier this year, selling out arenas across the Americas.

Tickets will be available for purchase from the

Drop Whatever You’re Doing and Watch The Latest Trailer For The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour Trailer

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are back in business and boy does it look good.

The latest full trailer for their upcoming new show for Amazon Prime The Grand Tour dropped earlier today and it makes Top Gear look unbearably boring in contrast.

The trailer gives us a glimpse of the new series, taking viewers to four continents in the first season. The banter is back and it comes to show that Top Gear‘s success was very much about the chemistry between these three personalities than anything else.

Without further ado, we present you The Grand Tour‘s latest trailer below.

GameStart Returns For A Weekend of Gaming Madness

GameStart 2016

GameStart is back for its third year for a weekend full of game showcases & previews, esports tournaments and cosplaying for gamers of all levels.

Sony Interactive Entertainment returns this year as a major exhibitor with the largest booth at the event. Sony will be showcasing their brand-new revamped PlayStation console, dubbed by fans as the PS4 Slim.

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They are also presenting sponsor for SEA Major 2016, the largest console tournament in Southeast Asia, involving top players in Street Fighter battling it out for a spot at the Capcom Cup 2016.

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Xbox will also be making its first appearance at GameStart this year, bringing with it upcoming games including Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3 and Final Fantasy XV.

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Following PlayStation’s Remote Play announcement, Microsoft will be introducing its own cross-platform feature between the Xbox and PCs. The feature will also allow Xbox users to get PC versions of their new games for free whenever they purchase one for the Xbox.

Visitors can also get their hands on some retro gaming with Pixel Play, an Indiegogo project that recreates the look and feel of arcade machines minus the bulk.

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As with every year, GameStart will be hosting its annual FIFA tournament, the GameStart Championship Cup, supported by Xbox Singapore.

Besides checking out the exhibitions, visitors can also take part in ‘side-quests’ by completing activities at specific booths around the hall to get a lucky dip and increase their chances for the GameStart lucky draw. Prizes include Secret Lab gaming chairs, ViewSonic 27″ monitors and an MSI notebook.

Google’s Pixel Announcement Represents a Radical Shift in its Strategy

Made by Google

Google is moving into hardware, and it’s doing it big time.

The company which started as a search engine became a software colossal, with a majority of the world dependant on either its operating system (Android), email service (Gmail) and word processors (Google Docs).

Sure, they dabbled into hardware a couple times before, such as the Chromecast devices that turned any ordinary television into a Smart TV, capable of YouTube and Netflix playback, streaming Spotify and playing a handful of casual games.

Google also partnered with several smartphone manufacturers to produce the Nexus line, known to be the purest form of an Android phone in the market given that it sheds off all the bloatware normally associated with Android devices.

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This time however, Google is no longer dabbling. This is the biggest statement they’re making in competing with fellow tech giant Apple, who has long developed its own software and hardware exclusively. The ability to control the entire user experience has allowed Apple to maximise the capabilities of both software and hardware.

Today, Google unveiled not just five devices, but an entire ecosystem of devices, interconnected to provide a seamless experience in our day-to-day lives. Being in total control of the user experience is a Google that we have not seen before, and is a clear sign that if no-one is taking on Apple, Google is going to take the responsibility into their own hands and show everyone how it’s done.

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The first of these devices is the centrepiece of Google’s hardware armada. The Pixel and Pixel XL aren’t just a rebrand of the Nexus line. While manufacturing duties were undertaken by HTC, make no mistake: the Pixel smartphones are designed through and through by Google.

The Pixel takes a completely different approach from the Nexus, which was meant to be a point of reference for phone manufacturers to see what the Android system could do. The Pixel is Google undertaking responsibility to take on Apple and iOS at its own game.

Google’s obsession with Apple is apparent in the design of the Pixel phones, from the rounded edges, metal back-casing and antennae band. From a distance, even the most hardcore Apple and Android fanboys would struggle to distinguish between the two.

With the controversies surrounding Samsung’s Note 7, there’s a gaping hole in the market that left Apple uncontested with its iPhone 7 Plus. The pricing and specs of the Pixel XL bring parity back into the fray and may even give Apple a run for its money.

screen-shot-2016-10-05-at-11-12-20-amBesides the phones, Google also introduced a range of devices for the home, an area which Apple has been interested in since the upgrade to Apple TV 4 and the release of HomeKit, a centralised app for your home devices.

A WiFi router kit, a ‘smart speaker’, a VR headset and an upgraded Chromecast may seem like predictable and rather ‘meh-sounding’ devices from a tech giant, but these devices are more than meets the eye.

Google WiFi takes strong inspiration from Eero, which uses a network of three routers optimised using software to provide the best coverage for your home. It improves on the current model of using one router which doesn’t get to hard-to-reach places.

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Google Home on the other hand is aimed at taking on another tech giant in the form of Amazon. The device is very much like the Amazon Echo and works as a ‘smart home assistant’, which is like an intelligent speaker system enhanced with Google new smart assistant features.

With Facebook, Sony and Samsung moving quickly into the VR space, Google unveiled its contender for the market with the Daydream View headset. It’s very similar to most of the VR headgears available in the market but with an added touch of specially selected fabric to keep it “soft and cozy”.

Lastly, Chromecast Ultra takes what we know and love from the Chromecast and makes it 4k-enabled. It also supports HDR and Dolby Vision. An Ethernet port in the power adaptor sums up the enhancements on the Ultra. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Google does enough to keep what made the current Chromecast great to make this a good buy for 4k television owners.

Time will tell

Unlike Apple however, Google has the awkward position of now being both competitor and partner to the hardware makers that use its Android platform. It took Microsoft decades before it made a flagship device in the Surface, which being a tablet, doesn’t necessarily compete largely with manufacturers that utilise its Windows system.

Google’s strategy has clearly shifted from being an industry enabler to one that will convert users at all cost. It’s need to develop devices, and ones that provide a holistic home experience is a sign of Google’s sheer focus to drive users onto its platform.

Time will tell if the move pays off for Google, but as consumers, the competition can only do good in driving innovation.

WhatsApp’s New Feature Lets You Doodle On Pictures and Videos

WhatsApp Doodle

In recent months, Facebook has been taking inspiration from Snapchat to beef up its portfolio of social media platforms.

The most notable was when Facebook-owned Instagram introduced Stories, which allowed users to post short video clips that lasted for 24 hours on their profiles.

Now WhatsApp, which is also owned by Facebook, is introducing a new camera feature that allows users to write and draw on photos and videos, as well as add emojis.

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Spotify Introduces Daily Mix – Fresh Playlists of Songs You Already Love

Spotify Daily Mix

Frequent Spotify users are probably familiar with “Discover Weekly”,  a two-hour tailor-made playlist of yet to be heard songs, customised to the tastes of each user.

Spotify is taking the best of “Discover Weekly” and upping its game in the ever-competitive streaming world by introducing Daily Mix.

The new feature is a series of endless playlists that combines music you already love with new recommendations based on your listening habits. If that’s hard to imagine, think of it as a Shuffle button on steroids, helping you rediscover forgotten favourites and make new ones in the process.

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Spotify’s algorithm takes about two weeks of daily listening to learn about your music taste to create the playlists. The mixes also evolve with your music taste, improving its lineup the more you listen.

Playlists are updated every day, so if you stumble upon a song you like, simply “heart” it to add it to your collection. You can also “ban” songs from future playlists if the algorithm ever gets it wrong, though unlikely.

Users will receive between one to six mixes a day, depending on the breadth of your music taste.

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An In-Depth Look at A Bathing Ape x adidas Originals NMD R1

A Bathing Ape BAPE adidas Originals NMD R1

Detailed images of the hotly-anticipated collaboration between A Bathing Ape and adidas Originals have surfaced online last night.

The close-up look at the collaboration detail two main colourways of BAPE’s trademark camo in either Olive and Purple.

The kicks also feature A Bathing Ape branding on the insole and heeltabs while remaining true to the NMD R1 silhouette.

The BAPE x adidas Originals NMD R1 is expected to drop on November 26 and retail for US$150

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7 Most Exciting Features in The All-New FIFA 17

EA Sports FIFA 17 Trailer

It’s that time of year again when non-gaming PlayStation owners enter a game shop for their annual purchase of FIFA 17.

Despite stiff competition from the Konami’s critically-acclaimed PES 2017 this year, FIFA 17 is poised to outsell its counterpart due to a combination of brand loyalty, outstanding marketing and added features to keep it fresh and exciting from the previous edition.

Here are the 7 top features that make FIFA 17 irresistible.

1) The Journey

One of the most hyped mode in FIFA 17, The Journey is an all-new “story mode” which sees players take on the role of Alex Hunter, an up and rising footballer, in his journey to soccer stardom.

Your journey begins at the youth academy of your Premier League club of choice. Players will make their way up their food chain through game time and interactions. It’s almost like an RPG within a footballing game, with decision-making mechanics such as responses to questions that will ultimately determine Alex’s temperament and relationship with the gaffer.

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2) Frostbite Engine

The impressive animations and cinematic scenes in The Journey is largely due to the incorporation of the Frostbite Engine, the powerhouse behind EA’s Battlefield series.

The engine adds depth that was missing in previous FIFA editions, particularly in the emotions and movement of the players and managers.

From a technical standpoint, Frostbite adds way more detail than previously possible, allowing more close-up shots of players.

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3) Low Driven Shots

Getting into the nitty-gritties of the gameplay, EA Sports is introducing the long-overdue low driven finish to the game. A low driven shot keeps the ball low with power when shooting.

The new feature is pretty natural to execute by double tapping the ‘shoot’ button. The power of the shot is determined by the first tap, so stronger shots will require players to hold the first tap longer and immediately tap again to pull it off.

4) Threaded Through Pass

Through passes in FIFA have often been a topic of controversy, with many players feeling that the move made it way to easy to score a goal in FIFA 14 and 15. FIFA 16 had nerfed the overpowered feature making it seem almost impossible to thread a pass through the defence, so thankfully EA listened and made some adjustments.

The ‘Threaded Through Pass’ feature now allows players to pass further into space, allowing quicker strikers to beat defenders in the process. The feature also allows for outside-foot passes and through balls in between defenders.

5) Pushback Tech

With the introduction of ‘Pushback Tech’, EA Sports have overhauled the physical battle within the game, adding more realism and dynamism to its gameplay.

This allows players to shield the ball from nearby opponents immediately when receiving the ball, allowing strikers to more effectively hold up the ball and act as target men.

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6) FUT Champions Mode

EA Sports struck gold with their FIFA Ultimate Team mode, keeping players engaged for a much longer term throughout the season than before. The developer has upped the ante by bringing in real-world activation to keep players motivated and engaged.

With FUT Champions mode, players can now compete for real-world prizes through a series of in-game Ultimate Team challenges. Players climb the ladder onto different leagues by winning tournaments in FUT and entering monthly leaderboards. Top players will have a chance to compete in real-life FIFA tournaments including the FIFA Ultimate Team Championship Series and the Interactive World Cup.

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7) Real Managers

While FIFA has included and improve on the accuracy of real-life players in game, team managers have always been neglected by the developer.

Well, not anymore. FIFA 17 are including real-life managers with somewhat accurate antics including the likes of Jurgen Klopp doing an over-the-top celebration. While the addition is mostly aesthetic, it adds towards the emotional element of the game, keeping players motivated to impress their managers just to see a big reaction from them in exciting moments of the game.

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[UPDATED] England Boss Sam Allardyce In Hot Soup After Undercover Investigation Revealed

Update [28 September]: Sam Allardyce has been sacked as England team coach after managing only one match for the national team.

Gareth Southgate will take charge as Allardyce’s temporary replacement for the next four games.

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England’s national football team coach Sam Allardyce is at the centre of investigations by the Football Association only two months from taking up the job.

Allardyce was filmed giving advice to businessmen on how to “get around” FA rules on player transfers and third-party ownership.

To Allardyce’s detriment, these businessmen were in fact undercover reporters from a 10-month covert investigation by British newspaper

 

According to the daily, Allardyce used his position as England manager to negotiate a £400,000 deal to help a “Far East firm” from profiting in the billion-pound Premier League market.

Allardyce explained to the men how they could bypass FA rules that prohibit third-party ownerships of players, which was enforced since 2008.

Third-party ownership pertains to the arrangement in which an agent or an investor owning part of a monetary rights to a player. Thus when players are transferred from one team to another, these agents or investors gain the upside in proportion to their ownership of the players.

Beyond this, Allardyce was also filmed mocking his predecessor Roy Hodgson, calling him “Woy” with regards to the latter’s speech impediment and suggesting that Hodgson’s voice would send reporters to sleep.

The FA previously condemned The Sun newspaper for similarly referring to Hodgson was “Woy”, calling it unacceptable.

Allardyce also spoke openly about Gary Neville, stating that the former Manchester United player was the wrong influence for the England team and should have been told to “sit down and shut up”.

Allardyce opined that FA’s decision to redevelop Wembley was a “stupid” move on their part.

These comments by the England manager in combination with the £400,000 agreement places Allardyce’s job security in question as it is unlikely that the English FA would take this controversy lightly.

Yeezy Boost 350 V2: Should adidas Produce More to Meet Demand?

yeezy boost 350 v2

Erik Fagerlind, CEO and CFO of Swedish footwear retailer Sneakersnstuff, published a public letter to adidas, highlighting the need to produce more Yeezys to better meet demand.

Fagerlind posted on his Instagram account graphs to show how his shop’s stock of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 barely met 1% of the demand for the shoe.

It’s yeezy season… I think we had more simultaneous visitors than @adidasoriginals global production of the Yeezy 350. I see a lot of people angry, frustrated and sad. And I share their frustration. We do all that we can for a fair and smooth release – but since we get nowhere near the qty to cover even 1% of the demand, people still misstrust us. I think there is a lesson to be learned here @adidasoriginals. If you continue to undercut the market this hard, people will get tired of trying. I know it is not likely that you will sell us 50000 pairs (I’m game if you are…). But you have to level the field here. Disrupting the marketplace with chaos on release day feels very 2015, and you are the “brand of the future”. I am in Herzo monday – happy to share all info, insight, feedback with anybody who cares #yeezy

A photo posted by Erik SNS Sneakersnstuff (@erikfagerlind) on

“I see a lot of people angry, frustrated and sad. And I share their frustration,” Fagerlind wrote on his social media account. “We do all that we can for a fair and smooth release – but since we get nowhere near the [quantity] to cover even 1% of the demand, people still misstrust us.”

Fagerlind added that if adidas continues to “undercut” the market, that frustration would lead to sneakerheads losing interest entirely.

Growing frustrations 

Fagerlind’s letter represents the growing frustrations from the sneaker community.

Rightly so, the post generated a fair bit of support and coverage across the board.

Many users commented on Fagerlind’s post, expressing agreement and urging adidas to take notice.

“I’m another one who’s given up,” Instagram user Dazman_datsdem commented. “Has become so pointless even trying! Can’t agree more with this statement and a lot of the people on here!”

The idea that sneakerheads would eventually “give up” on these releases would be worrying for adidas, who has relied on tight supply for hype for their new releases over the last year or so.

Need for exclusivity

While Fagerlind’s letter highlights the underlying sentiments of most sneaker fans, the idea that interest would die down may be premature.

Indeed, several comments on Fagerlind’s post denotes the need for exclusivity and hype for these releases to work.

Instagram user Chch.mikado commented: “This marketing tactic is incredibly similar to Supreme’s…and it’s been like this for so long. No one gets tired. Even if 80% of people stop trying, they will still sell out.”

Others suggested that exclusivity is the draw, as demand for the shoes are entirely due to the lack of its supply. Should supply increase to meet the demand, that demand would fall dramatically.

A sticky situation

Despite all the hoopla, we probably won’t expect anything to change from the status quo. Then again, the main production frustrations only apply to the hyper-exclusives like the Yeezys.

Increasing the accessibility to the Yeezys may be a dangerous move for adidas, learning from past cases on Nike’s Roshe and their NMD line.

Nike struck gold with Roshe in 2012 but once the silhouette became too ‘mainstream’ with a plethora of colourways, the hype died down.

All in all, adidas needs to tread lightly and find balance between hype and demand.