The Loudest Silent Conversation.

Love is the most complicated thing in the world. Artists are the most eccentric people. So when artists fall in love, the passion must be special, beautiful and somewhat melodramatic. With feelings so strong and minds dazed, we guess their love stories are the greatest.

Meet artists Marina Abramovic. In the 1970s, Marina and her then boyfriend named Ulay broke up. But even until the very end of the relationship, they chose to do it in an interesting fashion, just like true artists. They went to the opposite ends of the Great Wall of China and walk towards each other in the middle. When they finally met, they gave each other one last embrace and parted ways. They never saw each other again after that.

More than 30 years later, Marina held a live art performance. She spent one minute in silence with complete strangers. They just stared at each other, probably getting inspiration or energy of some sort. But one particular man seemed to have captured Marina’s attention in a more special way because her reaction was different from the others. It turned out that the man at 1:30 was Ulay.

It was their first time to see each other after more than 30 years, and the moment was so emotional and beautiful.

#Warning. Someone will be cutting alot of onions when you are watching the video below. You have been warned.

Love is the most wonderful thing in the world and even if some relationships don’t last and the feelings fade, the memories still remain. We shall keep it in our hearts and minds forever. Even though Marina and Ulay just stood there without saying a word, we are sure that they were able to speak with each other through their hearts.

#LifeIsBeautiful #LifeIsShort #CanIReformatMyBrains

Credit: http://themindunleashed.org/

Anybody wants a #Free #Deezer Premium+ Subscriptions?

 

DEEZER AND GRABTAXI BRING UNLIMITED MUSIC TO TAXI RIDES

• From 1 to 31 July 2014, GrabTaxi and MyTeksi users can win 2-month Deezer Premium+ subscriptions
• Deezer Premium+ allows users to enjoy unlimited access to 30 million tracks online and offline, while on the road

 

 

Global music streaming service Deezer today announced a partnership with GrabTaxi, the largest Southeast Asian taxi-booking mobile app, to provide GrabTaxi users with access to unlimited music through its Premium+ subscriptions.

From 1 – 31st July 2014, GrabTaxi and MyTeksi* users in Singapore and Malaysia are entitled to win a two-month Deezer Premium+ subscription through a month-long contest. First-time GrabTaxi users in Singapore will need to download the application, activate their account and complete one successful ride to qualify. In Malaysia, both first-time and existing MyTeksi users will need to complete one successful ride as well as refer a first-time user to download and activate a MyTeksi account. All users are only allowed to participate once.

 

With Deezer Premium+, GrabTaxi users have the ability to listen to over 30 million tracks on their computer and mobile device with enhanced sound quality, both on and offline. The offline mode allows them to enjoy their most listened-to playlists and albums while on the road.

Dona Inthaxoum, head of label relations for Asia and Oceania, Deezer said: “Music is a perfect travel companion for many music fans, especially during their daily commutes. Through this partnership with GrabTaxi, we’re proud to bring additional enjoyment to taxi rides by giving passengers in Singapore and Malaysia direct and easy access to their favourite tracks without the worry of a stable Internet connection.”

 

Lim Kell Jay, GrabTaxi General Manger for Singapore, added: “We are excited to be partnering with one of the top music streaming sites in the world. This partnership is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia and we believe will give the GrabTaxi users a value added service on top of our core service. We are consistently seeking to understand the evolving needs of our users and we believe that this partnership will be extremely appealing for our users who are also music lovers as well.”

 

GrabTaxi and MyTeksi users in Singapore and Malaysia who have completed the contest requirements need to send their account details (as well as their referral’s account details – only for Malaysia) to a GrabTaxi representative (promo.sg@grabtaxi.com) to redeem the Deezer Premium+ code.

For more information, visit this website: http://grabtaxi.com/singapore/deezer/

 

Deezer is a revolutionary global music service available in over 180 countries with 5 million paid subscribers. Deezer removes any barriers of the past, providing music fans with unlimited access to a catalogue of 30 million tracks. Deezer is available on PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, wireless home speakers, in-car audio, smart TVs and Xbox. Combining the best of man and machine, Deezer puts the focus squarely on music discovery with a global editorial team searching out the best music around the world, and algorithmic recommendations helping fans discover music they will love.

 

 

 

 

GrabTaxi’s mission is to revolutionise the taxi industry in Southeast Asia. Runner-up in the 2011 Harvard Business School Business Plan Contest, its core product is a taxi-dispatch service with GPS-enhancements, allowing passengers to hail the nearest taxi with extreme ease. Since its founding in 2012, tens of thousands of taxi drivers have been using the GrabTaxi smartphone-based technologies to receive bookings in Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. With over 1.2 million downloads of the GrabTaxi mobile app around the region and with 250,000 users per month, GrabTaxi has become the market leader in Southeast Asia. Passengers can download the app to book taxis on their smartphones and tablets (iOS: http://bit.ly/grabtaxi-iOS, Android:http://bit.ly/grabtaxi-Android).

For more information, please visit: http://www.grabtaxi.com.

 

Microsoft-Nokia Lumia 930 is finally here!

Microsoft today announced the availability of the Lumia 930 with Windows Phone 8.1 in Singapore at a recommended retail price of SGD789, a device which integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver the ultimate video and imaging experience on a smartphone.

Lumia 930 packs a rich suite of differentiating applications and services into a beautifully crafted design with metallic details and vibrant new colours, while keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across Windows Phone, PC, tablet and Xbox devices.

• The crystal clear 5-inch Full HD OLED display lets you watch your favourite shows, movies or video clips in any condition, and thanks to a 2420 mAh battery and built-in wireless charging, there is no need to worry about running out of battery.
• An advanced 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization and high quality ZEISS optics makes capturing and reliving amazing images and videos fast and easy.
• With the enhanced Nokia Camera with Living Images, it’s easy to add movement and emotion to static pictures, while imaging apps such as Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Creative Studio and Nokia Refocus bring even more levels of creativity to any photo.
• With four high-performance microphones and Rich Recording, Lumia 930 captures HD video like never before, with incredible directional audio and support for surround sound capture and playback.
• A 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor makes activities like Xbox gaming, image capturing and video processing even faster and richer.
• The new SensorCore also brings low power motion sensing to help people track their activity all day without using up the large 2420 mAh battery – perfect for exercise and exploration using apps like Bing Health and Fitness.
• Integrated features including one swipe notifications from Action Centre, the new Microsoft Enterprise feature pack, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Nokia Camera, and HERE Maps and Drive+, all of which work seamlessly to make the Lumia 930 a great tool for work and play.

“In today’s social world, capturing and sharing video is more important than ever,” Vlasta Berka, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft Devices “The Lumia 930 provides the perfect blend of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver cutting-edge imaging technology for an unrivalled video and imaging experience on a smartphone.”

“Our customers want to stay in the moment and capture detail-rich videos without having to compromise on image or sound quality,” added Vlasta.

“With beautifully integrated Microsoft and Lumia experiences, the Lumia 930 is a leading smartphone that will allow people to capture full HD video with astonishing details like never before.”

 

The Lumia 930 will be available in Singapore at Nokia Stores and Nokia Solution Partners from 12 July 2014, Saturday, at a recommended retail price of SGD789. All 3 local operators will also be retailing the device with attractive data plans. The Lumia 930 will be available in a range of colors including bright orange, bright green, black and white.

 

 

 

 

 

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Microsoft Devices

The Microsoft Devices Group includes award-winning hardware used by over a billion people around the world, including Lumia smartphones and tablets, Nokia mobile phones, Xbox hardware, Surface, Perceptive Pixel products, and accessories.

Help yourself to more #Serunding!

SERUNDING returns!

by TheatreWorks (Singapore)

 

Serunding, written by Ahmad Musta’ain Bin Khamis (my popular smart brother!!!), is the winning script from the 24-Hour Playwriting Competition 2010 (Open Category). It was the first winning play to premiere in two Performance Tours to the South East District in 2010 and 2011. The re-staging of Serundingwill engage a new audience and encourage participants to aspire to be a winner in this year’s 24-Hour Playwriting Competition.

Starring the delightful & popular Aidli Mosbit once again, this one-woman play stirs to life the voice of Safiah like a perfect dish of serunding. A Malay homemaker, Safiah’s belief as a devout Muslim and parental expectations fall into conflict with her children; she also suffers tedious ties with her mother-in-law ‘Sofea Jane’. Told through humour, food and many phone calls, Serunding draws us to the heart and pain of a mother’s love. A spicy sweet expression of the Singapore family caught at the centre of cultural values and modern living.

The re-staging of Serunding is part of TheatreWorks’ Writing & Community. Writing & Community is a holistic and unique writing programme that serves the community while at the same time; harness the talents and creativity in the community. Writing & Community is one of the many strands of TheatreWorks Engagement work.

Performance Details:
6 June 2014 (Friday), 8pm
7 June 2014 (Saturday), 3pm & 8pm
8 June 2014 (Sunday), 3pm

Malay Heritage Centre, Auditorium

Performed in English with some Bahasa Melayu (no surtitles)
There will be a post-show discussion after each performance.

Approximately 30minutes
Free Admission

To get tickets, visit: https://peatix.com/sales/event/35640/tickets 

For enquiries, please call TheatreWorks at 6737 7213 or email tworks@singnet.com.sg

## The last I heard, tickets are going out super fast! Make sure you get yours now!

The 20 Things You Need To Stop Doing To Yourself.

We are our own greatest enemy. We doubt ourselves, complicate our lives, cloud our minds with unimportant thoughts and negativity, we punish ourselves, hate ourselves and then feel sorry for ourselves because “outside forces” are making our lives a living hell. Life is beautiful — you’re making yours a living hell all on your own. Each of us does things from time to time that make living happily more difficult than it needs to be.

Surely some of us have it difficult because those are the cards that we’re dealt, but most of us — especially those who are better off financially and don’t live on the streets — make our very own lives more difficult for ourselves. But there are things you can do to stop the miserable cycle that you have found yourself in — a cycle that I know all too well.

Here’s 20 of them:

1. Stop Running From Your Problems and Procrastinating.

Problems don’t go away on their own. You can either make them go away or live with them. If you know you can’t live with them, then don’t procrastinate because the weight of them on your mind only increases over time. If you have a problem, then accept that you have a problem and face it — deal with it. Life is a long list of problems that must be overcome. The faster and better you overcome them, the better and happier your life will be.

2. Stop Lying To Yourself.

People will lie to you left and right throughout your life; don’t add to the pile of lies. It is one thing for others to be lying to you and an entirely different issue if you’re lying to yourself. You are the only person that you can trust…but if you have a habit of lying to yourself, then you can’t even trust yourself. You have to be able to rely on yourself and on what you believe.

If you know something to be false, then stop convincing yourself that it is or could possibly be true. Improbable is one thing, but impossible is another. Feeding yourself lies or half-truths will lead to the forming of a reality that doesn’t actually exist past the confines of your psyche.

3. Stop Living In The Past.

Yesterday was yesterday — it’s gone and will never again be. Everyone carries emotional baggage with them. Some of us carry the weight of a depressing past while others live in those happy long-gone moments that we consider to have been the best of our lives. You can reminisce if you’d like as long as you don’t forget that your reality exists only in the present.

It can be a dangerous thing to dwell on the past. Nostalgia can overcome us and make us feel that the world we are living in today falls short of the happiness we experienced in the past. Other times we will punish ourselves for mistakes that we have done and dwell in the negativity and bad feelings that we had. Whatever the case, be wary of focusing on past events and do your best to live in the moment.

4. Stop Attempting To Buy Happiness.

I’ve tried; it doesn’t work. You can buy drinks, buy drugs, buy sex, buy trips, buy experiences, buy toys and clothes…none of it will make you happy — at least not past the day that you buy them. I always revert to Paulo Coelho on this matter: happiness must be something attainable by each and every person no matter what his or her circumstance. If the poorest of the poor can be happy, then happiness cannot lie in the material.

5. Stop Relying On Others.

People have their own lives filled with their own headaches, own problems, own mishaps and own successes. Friendship is great, but often doesn’t weather the storm. Be self-reliant. Be independent. We all find ourselves alone at several points throughout our lives. If you find yourself on your lonesome and don’t know how to deal with it because you are used to having constant support, then you will drown.

6. Stop Fearing Failure.

Failure is such a derogatory term… I don’t understand why. Failing is learning in the real world. There is only so much that you can read up about the way the world works, but true knowledge comes from experience. And no one gets it right the first time around. You failed. Great. Try it again. And again. And again. The more times you get it wrong, the more ways you know NOT to do it.

7. Stop Doing The Same Thing Over And Over, Expecting Different Results.

At the same time, don’t keep making the same mistakes and expecting different results. If you tried something one way and it didn’t work, then guess what will happen when you try again exactly in the same manner? Failure is only good if you learn from it. Otherwise it really is just failure.

8. Stop Rejecting Prospective Partners Because Of Your Past Sh*tty Relationships.

You fell in love and had your heart broken; we all have. Luckily for you, now that you have experienced the pain of a broken heart, you have fully experienced the love cycle and can grow as an individual. Relationships, like the rest of life, are learning experiences. Don’t generalize and make yourself believe that all relationships end in heartache because that doesn’t have to be the case. Ultimately, you and your partner decide whether or not the relationship will work. Check your baggage at the door.

9. Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself.

Life is tough for everyone. The richest of the rich have problems. The poorest of the poor have problems. We make problems for ourselves — they don’t exist outside of us. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and start interacting with the world around you.

10. Stop Trying To Change Others.

People don’t want to be changed and most often can’t be changed. You must learn to accept people for who they are. The less you focus on all the things you find wrong about an individual, the more you can focus on how to deal with them and all their discrepancies. Don’t fix people; learn to deal with them and — I hate to say it — learn to manipulate them into doing what you want them to do; mind-f*ck them.

11. Stop Making Excuses.

I understand that the time isn’t right, the place isn’t right, and the stars have yet to align perfectly. The setting will never be perfect for anything. Perfect is not the alignment of outside forces; it’s making havoc the perfect opportunity. Stop making excuses and start making opportunities for yourself.

12. Stop Worrying.

Sh*t happens. Then it happens again. Then sh*t won’t happen for a day or two…and then it returns with a vengeance. The more responsibilities that you have the more you have to potentially worry about. The key is to not procrastinate and approach all problems logically. You only have so much time in a week to work on the things that need to be worked on. You can do so much with that time. As long as you do as much as you can do, there is nothing you should be worrying about. The only thing worth worrying about is your own laziness; everything else is out of your control. If you worry about things out of your control, then you are setting yourself up for a mental breakdown.

13. Stop Focusing On The Negative.

Negativity is overwhelming and contagious. It tints the way we look at the world and makes us believe that we are worse off than we actually are. Negativity and worry go hand in hand and can be the downfall of all that you have worked so hard for. Living in a world filled with your negative thoughts doesn’t leave any room for the positive. Focus on the negative and you will hate your life.

14. Stop Being Ungrateful.

Statistically speaking, if you are reading this then most people in the world have it worse off than you do. That may not be very comforting…but consider that most of these people are likely to be happier than you. Happiness does not lie in the material, but in the immaterial. Be grateful for what you do have — especially those that play important parts in your life. You could be worse off and may very well be worse off some time in the future. Enjoy whatever prosperity you have.

15. Stop Wasting Time.

You are only allotted a sliver of time to call your life. Use those minutes and hours to make the most of your life. Ever hear your elders complain about how fast time flies by? Listen. They’re speaking the truth.

16. Stop Overloading Your Schedule.

Doing more does not necessarily mean getting more done. It’s all about efficiency. Human beings require certain things in order to live tranquilly. Divvy up your time for all the things that you MUST do and then divvy the rest for the things that you WANT to do. Just make sure to be clear on what you need before you start going after what you want.

17. Stop Trying To Impress Others.

It’s not worth it. The only reason you should ever try to get on someone’s good side is if you need them for something — only in business. When it comes to more personal relationships you can’t do anything more than be yourself. If they don’t love you for who you are, then they will never truly love you.

18. Stop Wishing You Were Someone Else.

Make sure that you know who you are and do all you can to develop — not change. People don’t change, they develop and grow. You are a great individual because you are a human being. You have the potential to do anything you want. Figure out what it is that you want out of life and go after it. There is no need to change who you are to match some preexistent notion of who you should be. Of course, certain situations you may find yourself in will have certain rules of etiquette, which you will need to learn and adopt. However, who you know you are and who others perceive you to be does not have to be the same person.

19. Stop Overlooking The Simple Things In Life.

The simplest of things are the most beautiful of things. Take walks. Talk to strangers. Look up at the sky, the trees, the birds. Connect with nature and all that which comes at little to no price. We often do our best to reach for things that we believe will make us more in tune with reality — happier — only to find out that we were greatly mistaken. Life offers us simple beauties. Relish in them.

20. Stop Hating Yourself.

We are often too tough on ourselves. We hate ourselves for our failures and our inabilities — which makes no sense whatsoever. Failing is learning and inabilities can be turned into abilities with enough work and patience. Whatever you dislike about yourself can be changed… just be sure that it’s worth changing. My advice: learn to love yourself the way that you are. Changes are easier to make when you already have a good relationship with yourself.

 

Special thanks to PAUL HUDSON.

Do you have storage problems on your gadgets? (Yes, there is a solution to it!) #sandisk

Yes, I have a problem. I have too much stuffs stored in my phone. I am not a hoarder, but somethings are meant to be stored. If you have storage problems on your mobile phone, or tablets or any gadgets, i suggest you read on cause the good people in Sandisk have found a solution!

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash storage solutions, recently announced the SanDisk Connect™, an award-winning line of wireless flash memory storage devices including the SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive and SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive in Singapore. These new wireless devices represent the next generation of portable storage, delivering an easier way to stream and store content on mobile devices, on-the-go, without the Internet.

 

“We are addressing a common problem of consumers running out of memory on mobile devices,” said Mark Eng, Country Manager, SanDisk Singapore and Malaysia.

“With the SanDisk Connect products, consumers can expand the memory on their mobile devices, stream movies, and share photos and documents with colleagues, friends and family with ease and style.”

 

 

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive provides a convenient and affordable way for consumers with a variety of devices to wirelessly store, share and stream content, across mobile devices and computers. This drive is a great addition for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Kindle Fire and Android™ devices to instantly increase storage capacity and enjoy more videos, photos and documents¹.

As easy to use as a USB, the drive allows users to enjoy up to 64GB² of extra storage for their devices without the need for an Internet connection, the hassles of cables or attachment limits. Additionally, the drive allows users to wirelessly connect to up to eight devices, view three simultaneous media streams, and share content on-the-go with up to four hours of   continuous streaming on a single charge³.

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive won Flash Memory Summit’s 2013 Most Innovative Flash Memory Consumer Application award. This award category recognizes innovation in how a product or service is being used to solve specific consumer problems. The Flash Memory Summit Best of Show Award is one of the Flash Memory and Solid State Storage industry’s highest honors.

 

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive a mobile entertainment companion for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Kindle Fire and Android devices. Users can easily stream and store high-definition movies¹, browse and share photos directly from an SD card and listen to music on-the-go, all without an Internet connection. This stylish pocket-sized device is designed for convenience and portability, and offers up to eight continuous streaming hours on a single charge³. It is available in capacities up to 64GB and has an SDHC™/SDXC™ memory card slot which allows users to store or share more content, or conveniently view high-quality photos on a mobile device from a camera’s memory card⁴. The media drive wirelessly connects up to eight mobile devices and can stream up to five different HD movies⁵ at once.

 

Additionally, at the 2014 Storage Visions conference, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive was a recipient of the Storage Visions Award for the best Visionary Mobile Consumer Storage Product. The Storage Visions Awards recognize companies advancing the state of the art in storage technologies utilized in consumer electronics, the media and entertainment industries, visionary products for the digital content value chain and digital storage media and entertainment end users.

 

Easy to Use and Compatible

The SanDisk Connect line of products is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Kindle Fire and Android devices as well as PC and Mac computers⁶.Movies, music, photos and documents can be loaded by simply dragging and dropping the files, and accessed via the SanDisk Connect apps available for download from the App Store, Google Play™ Store and the Amazon Appstore for Android.

 

Which one is right for you?

 

Which one?

SanDisk Connect™ Wireless Flash Drive

SanDisk Connect™ Wireless Media Drive

 

Best for	Instantly increasing mobile storage	Streaming HD content1
Content types	Video, music, photos and documents	HD video, music, photos and documents
Works with	iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire™, Android™ devices, PC and Mac computers	iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire™, Android™ devices, PC and Mac computers
Wireless connections	8 devices 3 simultaneous media streams	8 devices 5 simultaneous HD media streams
Mobile apps	Free SanDisk Connect™ app available on iTunes, Google Play or Amazon Appstore	Free SanDisk Connect™ app available on iTunes, Google Play or Amazon Appstore
Size	3.11 in. (7.9 cm) long	2.58 in. (6.55 cm) square
Capacity options	16GB, 32GB, 64GB	32GB, 64GB
Expandable memory	N/A	SD™ card slot
Battery life4	Up to 4 hours	Up to 8 hours
For even more information about the SanDisk Connect™ family, including all features, specs and how-to videos, visit their detailed product page.

Read more at http://www.sandisk.com/connect/#mOdmeSXjVmLtdk5E.99

 

 

Pricing and Availability

 

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive is available in 16GB, 32GB or 64GB capacities at an MSRP of SGD 89, SGD 109 and SGD179 respectively.

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive comes with 32GB or 64GB storage capacities at SGD139 and SGD209 respectively.

Both products will be available in Singapore through Challenger Technologies Limited, Sprint-Cass Pte Ltd, Nubox and Gadget World.

 

 

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a global leader in flash storage solutions. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has expanded the possibilities of storage, providing trusted and innovative products that have transformed the electronics industry. Today, SanDisk’s quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world’s largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smart phones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk’s consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide.

For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

 

#Deezer Fans, I got some major updates for you!

 

If you are not a Deezer subscriber, you are really missing out! Did you know that the wonderful people in Deezer recently announced two major new platform developments designed to give all music fans (you & me) an unbeatable experience across mobile, desktop and tablet devices.

For the first time, anyone using Deezer for free on the web can also listen to their favourite music on their mobile through two smart new features that take streaming radio services to the next level.

 

Let the music FLOW on your mobile

From today, when you tune into Deezer on your mobile, you’ll be able to access Flow, the first feature of its kind on a streaming service, designed to give you your very own personal radio station. Delving into your music library as well using your past streams on Deezer, Flow creates a unique radio station fully loaded with all the music you love, on the go and at your finger tips.

What’s more, Flow is free from all time restrictions giving you the ultimate freedom to listen to your favourite tracks whenever you want, wherever you want.

 

 

Discover more with PLAYLISTRADIO

If you use Deezer for free and are not content just listening to old favourites or chart toppers, a second new feature – the Playlist Radio – combines the best of yours with the best of ours. It takes your favourite playlists and combines them with recommendations from our expert editors across the world to create a radio station focused on music discovery which is available for free and unlimited on your mobile.

If that’s not enough, Deezer has also launched a brand new radio section on web and mobile. Featuring advanced search features along with hundreds of music genres to choose from, this new section provides bags of inspiration and unparalleled opportunities for music discovery.

Deezer is also going to be removing all time restrictions on desktop and tablet, giving music fans the opportunity to listen to and discover great new music, unlimited and on- demand, for free.

 

 

MAC Users, good news!

 

DEEZER FOR MAC to unify music collections

Today also sees the launch of the new Beta version of Deezer for Mac which, for the first time, allows you to seamlessly and easily merge your existing music collection with Deezer – putting all your music in once place and making it available on any device.

Regardless of the file format, your personal music library is automatically synchronized with Deezer meaning you’ll have access to Deezer’s entire catalogue of 30 million tracks as well as all your favourite music from your personal CD or download collection, at the touch of a button. Radically different from a simple desktop app, Deezer for Mac is much lighter and quicker than a web version.

 

Daniel Marhely, Deezer’s founder, said:

 

“Innovating to push the boundaries is part of our DNA, and our focus right now is on offering an intensely personal music experience for each and every one of our users. With Flow and the new mobile radio features, anyone will be able to discover great new music on their mobile, completely free from any limitations.”

“Meanwhile, our new Deezer for Mac is beautifully simple to use and allows anyone to unify the music collections they’ve painstakingly collected over the years, with music they’re streaming from Deezer. Today’s launch of Deezer for Mac will, I hope, help transition the streaming stalwarts and get them to try our service because when they do, we know they’ll get hooked.”

 

In addition to these new features, Deezer has also enriched its discovery options on mobile. The EXPLORE feature will now enable you to search by geography and genre while a new CHART tab will allow you to search by titles, albums, artists and playlists, meaning you’ll have no excuse for not knowing the words to the hottest new tracks. These latest features continue to offer music fans the most personalised music discovery experience yet and follow the launch of Hear This and Explore for web which were unveiled at the end of last year.

 

What Is…

 FLOW?

• Flow creates a personalised radio station based on your music library as well as your past streams on Deezer

• You are able to skip up to six tracks an hour

• There are no time restrictions which means anyone can to listen to their favourite music, wherever and whenever they want

• Flow is available for everyone exclusively on Deezer

 

 

PLAYLIST RADIO?

• The new Playlist Radio means free users can take a playlist they’ve made, or one from a Deezer editor, and turn it into a radio station accessible on their mobile

• The feature combines the chosen playlist with complimentary recommendations from Deezer’s expert editors to create a mix of the tracks you like as well as new music to discover

• You are able to skip up to six tracks an hour

• As with Flow, there are no time restrictions for free users

• Playlist Radio is only accessible to free users. Premium and Premium + users will be able to access a similar feature through the ‘Playlist Shuffle’ button.

 

 

DEEZER FOR MAC?

• Radically different from a simple desktop app and much lighter and quicker than a web version, this new app unifies your music collection

• Regardless of the file format, your personal iTunes music library is automatically synchronized with Deezer

• You’ll have access to Deezer’s entire catalogue of 30 million tracks as well as all your favourite music from your personal collection at the touch of a button

• Deezer for Mac is available for Premium + users from 31st March. The Windows version is planned to follow in the coming months.

 

Deezer in numbers:

 

About Deezer

Deezer is a revolutionary global music service available in over 180 countries with 5 million paid subscribers. Deezer removes any barriers of the past, providing music fans with unlimited access to a catalogue of 30 million tracks. Deezer is available on PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, wireless home speakers, in-car audio, smart TVs and Xbox.

Combining the best of man and machine, Deezer puts the focus squarely on music discovery with a global editorial team searching out the best music around the world, and algorithmic recommendations helping fans discover music they will love.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Reebok’s Pump Fury Series.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Reebok’s Pump Fury series, the brand has partnered with Singapore’s leading local brands Limited Edt and Hypethetic to redefine this icon.

Renowned sneaker retailer Limited Edt and clothing label Hypethetic were the only local labels selected for this collaboration due to their design forte in the cult fashion market in Singapore. The Limited Edt X Hypethetic X Reebok Instapump Fury 20th Anniversary sneakers is the tenth of 27 unique designs that Reebok will be releasing from partnerships with acclaimed designers from all over the world this year.

For this collaboration, Limited Edt appointed Joe Cher, a.k.a Twistedjoe, founder of the renowned clothing label sneaker customising collective Hypethetic, to give his artistic take on the Pump Fury classic.
Twistedjoe’s Instapump Fury rendition boasts Hypethetic’s signature colours and features style elements that are likened to the design of Limited Edt’s “Vault’ and “Chamber” boutique stores, which local sneakerheads or shoe enthusiasts dub as the “Temples for sneakers” in Singapore.

The ocean’s lethal Devil Ray served as the Joe’s inspiration for the pump’s mottled black and grey upper. With silver Reebok, Limited Edt and Hypethetic logos, two metallic silver stars representing the Fury’s 20-year legacy, a metallic chrome accent on the heel, and a blue inner lining, these rare pumps celebrate the well-loved Reebok Insta Pump Fury composure with an added sophisticated charm and a touch of “gangsta”.

Each pair will come with an individually numbered holographic box designed by art house WHALERABBIT. The exclusive shoe box is specially fabricated from polished translucent black acrylic, accented with a hexagonal holographic glow, and a magnetic lock with nickel-plated logos to boot. A special-edition not-for-sale t-shirt will also be given out with each purchase.

The Limited Edt X Hypethetic X Reebok Instapump Fury 20th Anniversary comes in US sizes 4 to 12 and will be sold exclusively at all Limited Edt stores island-wide from 15th March 2014 at S$249.00 nett.
Reebok’s Instapump Fury has and will continue to serve as a coveted canvas for future collaborations, and sneakerheads can look forward to seeing inimitable colourways and treatments from some of the world’s most distinguished artists and designers. The release of the next 20th anniversary design will be announced in April.

 

The Reebok Instapump Fury OG (1994)

Following their mega success with the Freestyle and the aerobics boom, Reebok faced the challenge of reinventing the brand as the 90s loomed. The inspiration came surprisingly not from within, but from Europe. When Reebok’s Paul Fireman invested in Ellesse, a ski boot with oversized brass fittings and a clunky air pump mechanism provided Reebok’s designers with the stimulus for an entirely new category of sneaker.
Paul Litchfield was the man challenged by Fireman to make the Pump concept work in a sneaker. The idea was easy to grasp and the no-two-feet-are-alike reasoning was logical. Pump would use inflatable chambers for a custom fit. Beyond performance, the notion of customisation, even at this basic inflate/deflate level, is hugely appealing to consumers on an aesthetic, and an interactive level. To encapsulate and brand this technology without it becoming too extraterrestrial was Litchfield’s challenge, not to mention bringing it in on a reasonable budget within an insanely short timeframe. It was far from easy. Stressful too. Teaming up with the Massachusetts-based Design Continuum in 1988 added additional expertise to the team. The biggest issue was keeping the air stable in the flexible film pouches. The solution finally came from a firm that made intravenous blood bags for use in the medical industry.
On November 24th 1989, The Pump finally hit the shelves. The basketball valve branding was instantly appealing and the $170 tag was sufficiently vast to confer aspirational status. It’s still a crazy price twenty years later, but remember, this was the 80s and bigger was infinitely better. Along with the Energy Return System (ERS) and Hexalite, the honeycomb padding apparently used in space shuttle seating, Reebok had a lock on futuristic tech that few in the industry could match. As the 90s dawned, Reebok excitedly welcomed consumers to a new decade with a fleet of Pumps built specifically for cross training, walking, running, tennis and even golf. But the original version known simply as The Pump – now more commonly known as the Bringback – was where it all started. For that reason alone, it deserves its place in the sneaker hall of fame.

 

 

About Reebok

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Canton, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied heritage in running, training and fitness. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division. For more information, visit Reebok at http://www.reebok.com

Mariah Carey revisits her classic, mid-to-late-’90s with You’re Mine (Eternal).

Mariah Carey has done it again with her latest single “You’re Mine (Eternal)”!

The mid-tempo tune, co-written and co-produced with Rodney Jerkins, is a breathless, throbbing quiet storm of a song that relies more on its hypnotic charm than Carey’s vocal pyrotechnics.  Instead, she’s fairly subdued throughout much of the song relying on a very deliberate delivery to draw in the listener. However, she picks up speed at the end and hits one of her trademark calling-all-dogs notes around the 3:22 mark.

Watch it!

The video was shot in January 2014 at the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico by director Indrani. The clip shows Carey covered in glitter while singing in several parts of the Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico, in addition to scenes of her swimming underwater while wearing an evening gown.

The clip also features Trey Songz seemingly portraying the lover in question who Carey is singing about. The song features Carey shown in a topless scene where the singer is seen perched in front of picturesque waterfalls and exotic greenery, doused in gold glitter, with sparkling butterfly wings on her bare back, and some serious cleavage. The singer Trey Songz is featured in a few topless scenes during the video as well.

NOW.

If you listen to it, the track sounds like it could have come out in 1990 or 2000 or now in that neither she nor Jerkins felt compelled to put in any whiff of contemporary production, which is, quite honestly, refreshing. While Mimi of the ’00s was very fond of incorporating hip-hop into the mix, she doesn’t do that here. Thank God she revisits her classic, mid-to-late-’90s R&B form to give a romantic, slower jam that celebrates a love she never wants to end.

This is the type of track that made her one of the best-selling divas of her generation. It’s very much about her voice and pristine production, without all the added urban bells and whistles.

Christina Garibaldi of MTV called Carey’s vocal runs “impressive” and reminded her of “We Belong Together”. She said: “Mimi shows off her impressive range throughout the song, but it’s the note at the end of the track that is bound to leave her devoted Lambily not only mesmerized by her vocals, but yearning for more.”

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard commanded the overall production of the song and highlighted the last note Carey notched at the end of the song, complimenting the song as being a “breathy, enjoyably straightforward love ballad” while complimenting her last note calling it “inevitable”

Jamieson Cox of Time also compared the song to “We Belong Together”: “It’s a gaseous, fluffy ballad that feels like a direct descendent of the song that rang in her mid-career renaissance, 2005’s mega-hit ‘We Belong Together:’ plinking piano melodies, a typically fluttering Carey vocal take, and a very similar beat. Only time will tell if ‘You’re Mine (Eternal)’ can duplicate that song’s record-breaking success.”

Jeff Benjamin of Fuse described Carey as the master on what she’s doing : “the new single is placed between the R&B and Pop sound that only Mariah knows how to do“. The writer also compared the production of the song to Touch My Body and Always Be My Baby and noted how impressive the last whistle “was”

Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush awarded the song a three stars out of possible five and compared the song to Carey music in the late 90’s and described Carey’s vocals by “soaring”: “Mariah Carey revisits her classic, mid-to-late-’90s R&B form with her new single ‘You’re Mine (Eternal),’ a romantic, slower jam that celebrates a love she never wants to end.[…]”That is, until the 3:20 mark. That’s when Carey goes for it, with one of her acrobatic vocal runs.”

That said, the song is a bit more dated than it is a throwback. It feels like she may have been trying to recapture the sound of her glory days since that formula has served her well, but her last few tracks haven’t gained as much traction at radio. ’90s nostalgia is rampant right now, so if Carey can take advantage of that, more power to her.

Could this get Carey back on the charts? Billboard thinks that this song will probably not going to fit in at Hot 100, but it could definitely see some love at Adult Contemporary and Adult R&B radio. Well, I’ll make sure to keep a close look out at that.

Remix!

A remix featuring guest vocals by Trey Songz was also made available to download digitally alongside the release of the original solo version featuring only Carey in each territory. In an interview with MTV News, Carey praised Songz for his involvement on the song: “I love what he did to the song because I feel like he gave us a lot of different moments artistically … Most people can’t sing, rap, and have a sound that’s current yet also classic.”

A video for the remix version of the song was filmed on February 4, 2014 by director Chris Robinson. It premiered on BET’s “106 & Park” on Friday February 14, 2014.

Did you know? Mariah’s “You’re Mine” underwater swimming scenes were shot not far from where she shot “Honey.” Seeing Mariah in the water immediately brings to mind the sultry, unforgettable moment in that 1997 music video when she dove into a pool in a dress and stripped it off to reveal a chic nude bikini underneath. They need to rename that area the “Mariah Carey Swim District.”

“You’re Mine (Eternal),” will be on Carey’s much-delayed new album. Her new album will be coming out May 6, and is no longer called “The Art of Letting Go.” The singer expressed frustration over her album title leaking last year and as of now, the album remains untitled.

Buy Now!

• iTunes: http://smarturl.it/iYoureMine
• Amazon: http://smarturl.it/aYoureMineRmx

Recommended Gym Deezer Playlist

If the holidays have left you sick at the sight of pineapple tarts and bak kwa and you’re wanting to amp up your fitness, Deezer is here to help! Top athletes n(and regular people like me) use music to enhance their performance, and researchers are now studying this phenomenon to understand how to fully harness its power.

 

Deezer spoke with Dr Costas Karageorghis, a leading sport psychologist from Brunel University in London, about how to maximise the beneficial effects of music for your workout. Dr Karageorghis has even made his own ultimate workout playlist on Deezer to get you started. Now there’s no excuse!

 

So can music really help us in the gym/workout?

His research demonstrates that music can be a tremendous supplement to exercise. For maximum impact the tempo and rhythmic pattern need to be targeted towards your movement rate and activity pattern. Music can benefit exercise particularly at low-to-moderate exercise intensities. It is less effective at high intensities, like during sprint cycling, because our brain struggles to process the sound – fatigue-related cues fight to dominate our attention.

 

Does different music work for particular types of exercise?

Weight lifting: Music that is fast, rhythmic, percussive or bass-driven is particularly good for psyching yourself up before a highly strenuous activity like lifting heavy weights.

 

Fast running: You need faster music for when you are training at a high intensity. Dance music of 130-140 bpm is ideal for very intense exercise.

 

Jogging, rowing, cycling: Our recent research has shown that the tempo range 125-140 bpm is ideal across the broad spectrum of exercise intensities when an individual makes no conscious effort to synchronise their movements to the rhythm (asynchronous music). A playlist should ideally contour your expected heart rate during a workout. If you are synchronising your movements with the music, the beats per minute need to match your intended movement rate, so it’s important to determine what this is likely to be and to select music accordingly.

 

What should we look for in a good workout playlist?

The music should possess a pleasing melody and harmony that improves your mood; the music should typically be in a major key. Music that promotes inspiring imagery or has strong personal associations can also be highly effective.

 

The musical rhythm (beat) should make you want to move; as well as having lyrics that contain positive affirmations of exercise such as “work your body”, “push it” or “run to the beat”.

Here is a playlist that I would recommend for the average gym goer, starting with three uplifting warm-up tracks and building up towards a tough cardio-type workout:

 

 

 

 

Dr Costas Karageorghis has been a consultant psychologist to many leading athletes and is the author of InsideSport Psychology, a guide to strengthening mind and body for enhanced performance. Between 2007-10 Dr Karageorghis was the lead consultant for Run to the Beat, a unique running event featuring live and pre-recorded music to boost performance.