Yesterday Concepts Technologies organised a Distributor Bootcamp for the resellers in Brunei, with the theme to empower the partners to be more efficient in dealing with cloud. I’ve learnt something new along the way and it’s Microsoft Azure – which can be a “Platform as a Service” (Paas) or even “Infrastructure as a Service” (IaaS). The bootcamp also introduced new licensing updates on Windows Server 2016 and System Centre 2016.

The event took place at the Brilliance Hall at Concepts Computer and Afif Mohamed Ali, Country Manager of Microsoft Brunei gave his welcoming remarks to the audience to kick start the event. He took over Haniza Zakariya since August 2016 as the Country Manager of Microsoft Brunei.

Concepts Technologies emphasized that Microsoft Azure is a growing collection of integrated cloud services where developers and IT professionals build, deploy and manage applications through our global network of data centres.

Now it’s a different story. With Microsoft Azure, you can be anywhere you want., using the tools, applications, and even frameworks of your choice. It’s more like an open source technology. It’s also an ideal place for hosting and website creation. So for those who are creating websites for the end users, Microsoft Azure would be a good choice.

As a Microsoft distributor in Brunei, Concepts Technologies is paving way on the challenging their partners and resellers to invest in the open source technology, data or apps and extend it to the cloud. You will enjoy seamless hybrid cloud capabilities in Azure span infrastructure, data, user identity, apps and management.

The event is in collaboration with Microsoft Brunei and they aim to keep the momentum of conducting events like this and nurture the growth of technology in Brunei.

Representative from Concepts Technologies conducting the workshop on Microsoft Azure and licensing

The partners and resellers during the Distributor Bootcamp at Brilliance Hall, Concepts Computer

I’m happy that I finally visited the Garmin store in Kiulap and got myself the Garmin Vivoactive HR

Many interesting features to like about on the Garmin Vivoactive HR

Garmin Vivoactive HR. Most of my friends would know that I’m not a watch person. I stopped wearing watches for quite some time as I’m don’t feel that comfortable wearing them. Then I started to be interested in wearing one as I was an active jogger and needed some thing to time my pace while I ran. So Garmin was the best bet for me. I burnt a big hole in my pocket as I went for the cream of the crop Garmin line. This was back in 2012 when I was quite active in jogging then. However, it didn’t take me that long to shelve my Garmin watch when I lost my desire to jog.

Fast forward to 2017, I found a new love for Garmin especially the Vivoactive HR model. So many things that I love about it. First of all, it’s light and it’s not as heavy as my previous Garmin watch (can’t really remember the model number).

The Vivoactive HR in some ways made me more efficient or even more active in my daily steps. I have yet to try other functions as I was more into checking my heart rate and most of all my steps. This is for me is the best model Garmin that will suit my every day usage. I tend to walk more and do sports such as tennis and badminton. Of course, I will cover more steps whenever I play badminton or tennis and these numbers will be show a significant increase on the Vivoactive HR.

It also tells you the floors you climb which is pretty cool. This watch is also a good tool to remind you if you are sitting too long or not doing any activity. It will vibrate vigorously so you get off your butt. So it’s a good reminder for me especially if I sit down too long in front of the computer.

The Heart Rate Monitor on the VIvoactive HR is pretty efficient. Of course, it’s not as accurate as the chest strap but it’s still a good indication for reading the heart beat especially during your exercises.

It also gives notification on the watch if you synced using bluetooth. So I would know who send messages on whatsapp or any social media alerts such as Instagram and Facebook. This is a handy watch indeed and I will be wearing this more than my previous Garmin watch.

With the recent announcement during the Legco Legislative session, watches and its accessories will taxed accordingly and up to 10%. This will definitely affect many watch dealers in Brunei and the reason for this taxation is that watches are considered luxurious items and hence, the Brunei Government see it fit that watches should be taxed accordingly. The previous tax was 5%. It is not known yet if Garmin Store in Brunei will increase their retail price with the new information given. We shall wait and see.

Anyway, the watch is now available at Garmin flagship store at Setia Kenangan II, Kiulap. The Vivoactive HR is my recommendation and the price itself is quite reasonable.

HR Monitor rate can be measured through the Vivoactive HR. Though it’s not as accurate but it’s the next best thing on your wrist

My social media updates popping up on the Vivoactive HR

Using my Garmin to good use during my tennis session yesterday

My steps yesterday and most of them are taken by my tennis workout

Last January, Garmin store was officially open with the presence of His Excellency Craig Allen, U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam

The family and relatives during the opening of Garmin

Do shop at Garmin store in Kiulap

My first Garmin watch that I bought back in 2012

GetItDone’s first marketplace fair will be held on the 6th-7th may 2017 at the Airport Mall. The event is catered to any vendors who are interested in joining our fair (limited spaces available) for more information please visit our website www.marketplacefair.com or contact us at +673 2650018.

The event is not just catered for our registered vendors but also for non-registered vendors as well. EARLY PRICES are applicable to both, registered and non-registered vendors, however, Registered vendors will have the benefit of purchasing their booths at a cheaper price.

Members booth prices (EARLY BIRD):
• Corner booth: $600
• Non-corner: $550

Non- Members(EARLY BIRD)
• Corner Booth: $650
• Non-corner: $600

Do expect many activities during the 2 days’ event. Local recording artist Aziz Harun will be having a Hangout session with his fans, Q&A Sessions and exclusive signed prizes from Aziz Harun! Exciting lucky draw prizes to be won! To be eligible to win these prizes are simple! Starting conducting transactions using the app (hire a service or buy a product) you are then automatically entered into the lucky draw. One transaction Is equal to one entry into the lucky draw. S0, the more you use the app the higher the chances of you winning.

The prizes:
• 2 return tickets to Kuala Lumpur including a stay at Grand Millennium Hotel.
• 4x CCTV camera + installation at home or office.
• Samsung A7 phone.

Lucky Draw Terms & Condition.

• Transactions must be made through the GetItDone App.
• A service/product request will not count as a completed transaction.
• One completed transaction will count as one entry to the Lucky Draw.
• Participants and winners of the Lucky Draw will have to be present during the announcement at Airport Mall 6th-7th May 20

B&O PLAY continues to drive the market for lifestyle audio products with the launch of B&O PLAY H9 – a beautifully designed wireless, over-ear headphone that combines craftsmanship and supreme comfort with flagship noise cancelling performance (ANC) that cocoons travellers from the roars of the city and immerses them completely in the music experience.

B&O PLAY H9 comes with a wireless, over-ear wearing style for a more expressive look, and is crafted in luxurious, lightweight and true materials. The headband is built up around a solid and lightweight aluminium frame covered with stitched cowhide leather, and underneath the soft lambskin coated ear cushion is adaptive memory foam that adapts to the shape and curve of the ear for supreme comfort and breathability.

Other than making the headphones comfortable for hours on end, the ear cushions act as an isolating element, which naturally leaves out many of the high frequency sounds. In combination with the ANC it gives travellers worldwide a beautiful listening experience, where you can hear every detail in noisy environments without compromising the sound.

Explore the sound. Feel the Silence.
On the side of the right ear cup is an intuitive touch interface in anodized aluminium that captures the latest acoustic innovations from B&O PLAY. With this interface, you can – with just a single touch or swipe – activate the noise cancelling function, change songs, answer calls and control the volume. Made for travellers in all weather conditions, the interface works under humid conditions and with gloves on.

B&O PLAY H9 features hybrid Active Noise Cancellation technology. Multiple microphones placed on the outside of the ear cushion as well as inside capture the noise before it reaches the ear and produce a reverse signal effectively cancelling out unwanted elements. This leaves the unique Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound intact – a well-rounded, authentic and clean sound performance, designed to bring you music the way the artist intended it.

Up to 14 hours of noise cancelling music
B&O PLAY H9 comes with up to 14 hours of noise cancelling music performance with just a three-hour charge. You can swap the battery in a snap, and if you run out on it just attach an audio cord to keep listening to your music. If you forgot to turn your headphones off the intelligent battery-saving function will automatically kick in.

Unboxing the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9

Adjust the sound profile with Beoplay App
B&O PLAY H9 is compatible with Beoplay App for Android, iPhone and Apple Watch, which gives you a variety of options for personalizing your listening experience:

•  Bang & Olufsen sound engineers have created a variety of sound profiles specifically for B&O PLAY H9: Commute, Clear, Workout and Podcast.

•  Users can adjust the tonality and sound staging themselves with the playful and intuitive B&O PLAY ToneTouch. The interface lets users feel their way through different sound settings and find the one that best suits the situation. Once adjusted, B&O PLAY H9 saves the setting on the product itself until you adjust it again.

• Connected to B&O PLAY H9, the Beoplay App makes it easy to monitor the battery status of the headphone.

•  Users can control the music (play, pause, forward, back), turn on or off the ANC and they can personalize the headphones in the app by giving it a specific color and name.

•  By connecting B&O PLAY H9 to Beoplay App, users also receive software updates over the air – a new functionality made available for B&O PLAY H9.

So if you want to check out the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 at their showroom at Sejalin Living at Kiarong.

B&O PLAY today introduced a new member to its family of wireless speakers for the home that brings people a beautiful and simple way to live with music. Designed by award-winning Cecilie Manz as a standalone speaker with multiroom audio capability, B&O PLAY M5 gives people a seamless way to connect to music they love, disperses the highly-acclaimed Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound evenly in all directions, and is clad in a premium wool-blend fabric that adds beauty and warmth to any interior arrangement.

“B&O PLAY M5 delivers perfectly on our vision of speakers for the home that play beautiful music and look wonderful doing so. For people who dream of a home where music flows through every room and speakers double as design objects that are controlled from the comfort of your smartphone or tablet, B&O PLAY M5 marks the perfect beginning to that journey”, says Jens Jermiin, Head of Global Marketing at B&O PLAY.

Sound that matches your interior

With its visually stunning appearance, the design of B&O PLAY M5 is inspired by the idea of using sound as part of your interior decoration. B&O PLAY M5 builds on the design language of B&O PLAY A6 and B&O PLAY A9, and drawing inspiration from this family B&O PLAY M5 is covered in a premium and acoustically transparent wool- blend fabric from Danish high-end manufacturer Kvadrat. The wool-cover can easily be replaced to fit your interior decorations, and using delicate multi-coloured threads the fabric provides acoustic transparency while maintaining the aesthetics in nuances that complements the speaker.

Dedication to superior craftsmanship

The speaker top is a disc made from crafted aluminium, which has been pearl blasted and anodized to create a matt and luxurious appearance. The disc provides a mesmerizing viscosity-based tactile functionality toned down to the essential, and with a 15 percent movement in each direction the disc will adjust the volume and calmly rotate itself to its neutral position – not too quickly and not too slowly as a testament to the beauty of functional design. Pressing the disc gently downwards will play or pause the speaker, and using the same gesture with an inactive B&O PLAY M5 will make it join other music experiences going on in your home.

“The design of B&O PLAY M5 is inspired by the way people use sound in their everyday lives – as a natural focal point for the family. The shape signals that sound is projected from all angles and visually, it can blend in or stand out in your home depending on personal preferences”, says the award-winning Danish industrial designer Cecilie Manz.

B&O PLAY M5 now available at Bang & Olufsen store at Sejalin Living

B&O PLAY M5 now available at Bang & Olufsen store at Sejalin Living

Fill your room with True360 degree Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound

Underneath the aluminium disc is a body manufactured from rigid polymer to house a large acoustic chamber that delivers the Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound optimized for the home.

• B&O PLAY M5 comes with True360 degree omnidirectional sound that lets you enjoy equally perfect sound no matter where you are placed. Three evenly distributed tweeters, a full range capable front facing midrange driver and a powerful 5” neodymium powered long stroke woofer that fires all its energy down towards a carefully designed dispenser, provide a uniform dispersion of well-balanced Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound all around.

• Three pre-set sound modes optimise the acoustic performance of the player depending on its position in the room. People can choose free standing, corner or wall position in Beoplay App.

• To optimize B&O PLAY M5 as a standalone speaker, B&O PLAY uses a proprietary Ambient Technology solution to create a true stereo sound experience from one single speaker. B&O PLAY creates this stereo like sound by psycho-acoustic knowhow and DSP capability to boost signal queues minimized by the physical size of B&O PLAY M5.

• The unique acoustic setup in B&O PLAY M5 is capable of beam direction and beam width control – a simpler version of the technology that Bang & Olufsen use in the prestigious BeoLab 90 speaker and the Bang & Olufsen patented reflected audio technology.

Connecting spaces with Chromecast built-in

B&O PLAY M5 comes with Chromecast built-in1, so the entire family can stream millions of songs from more than 100 music streaming services up to 96KHz/24bit lossless such as Spotify, Google Play Music and Pandora. Chromecast built-in is powered by the cloud, so you can connect more than one device to your speakers at a time and keep on using your phone while you stream your music. Answer a phone call, play a game or send a text with no sounds or ringtones to interrupt the music experience.

With B&O PLAY M5 you can easily connect to any Chromecast-enabled speaker to create a multi-room experience that lets music flow seamlessly through every room in your home. This includes the B&O PLAY speakers B&O PLAY A6 and B&O PLAY A9, which both come with Chromecast built-in and is a perfect solution for extending the Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound and beautiful design throughout your home. B&O PLAY M5 also supports Beolink Multiroom, Spotify Connect and QPlay 2.02 and at the same time embraces Bluetooth and Apple Airplay.

Now the B&O PLAY M5 is available at Bang & Olufsen store at Sejalin Living, Kiarong. Do drop by to check it out.

BeoPlay M5 Wireless 360 Speaker review. Check it out!!

Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer with Mr. Shimizu Tomoya, Epson Country Manager (Malaysia), Mr. Eric Tang, Epson Sales Manager, Retail Division (Malaysia), Alice Chan, Finance Controller of Concepts Group with associates of Concepts Computer during the launch of the new Epson printer earlier this morning

Today, Epson, a top printer-maker for the last 10 years, with the help of Concepts Computer, will be launching the latest printers from Epson in Brunei, a multi-function A3 printer with a continuous ink tank system in the form of the Epson L1455; it can print, scan, copy and fax with a total print-out of up to 10,000 pages total, and in duplex mode as well, making the Epson L1455 perfect for SMEs and even large corporate offices.

With the launch, Epson and Concepts Computer will be expanding its market-leading range to offer even wider selections, allowing schools, businesses or professional users to choose the most suitable model for their needs and take business printing beyond ordinary volumes to an extraordinary amount of pages.

A3-sized printing provides users with more creative and flexible options for all business printing needs, and gives the ability to go beyond normal limits of A4-sized printing. A3 printing will also make it easier to print larger and clearer architectural plans, spreadsheets, diagrams and charts, bringing out maximum clarity and details in your print-outs, making it easier to submit official government submissions as the need arises. A3 printing will also create greater visual impact when creating posters, newsletters and marketing materials when printed full from edge to edge. Add to this the value of a first party continuous ink tank system, A3 printing would now be easier and cheaper, making it a valuable, economical tool for those with large printing needs.

The first of it’s kind, on offer from any Printing Solutions provider; Epson will be unveiling the first duplex A3-sized multi-function printer with an external refillable ink tank which has not been tampered with by a third party. It will be the first printer with an affordable consumables solution through first party refillable continuous ink tanks. The Epson continuous ink tank printer will utilize Epson’s proven Ink Tank System to deliver reliable printing with unrivaled economical costs. It will also feature Epson’s fast ink top-up technology for easy mess-free refills; special tubes in the printer will ensure smooth and reliable ink flow at all times.

Vincent Pao delivering his welcoming remarks

An interesting invidual, Mr. Shimizu Tomoya, who hails from Japan but currently based in Jakarta, taking care of Indonesia and Malaysia market. He spoke how Epson continues to be innovative and investing more into R&D

A token of appreciation to Mr. Shimizu Tomoya

Eric Tang making his yearly visit to Brunei and presented product knowledge on the Epson L1455 printer

The new A3-sized Epson L1455 printer will be available for $1,318. It will utilize the standard Epson 644 colour inks but the Epson L1455 will also utilize the water resistant blank ink Epson 7741, which will make the black print outs be more versatile. Each of its colour consumables will be available for $10 per bottle for the Epson 664 series bottle inks, and $28 for the water resistant black Epson 7741 bottle ink; making the Epson L1455 one of the cheapest upkeep for any A3-sized printer available in the market and perfect for business use.

As you know that Epson has been a popular product and gaining more product awareness since it’s inception in the Brunei market in 2010. This has been the popular choice among students and businesses due to its cost effective measures and also its quality. I also learnt from today’s sharing that Epson invested heavily in R&D to further embed new technology into Epson products. It’s no surprise that Epson is among the Top 10 in Japan for its patent and registration.

Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer, said, ”Concepts Computer puts a lot of worth in value and we believe that this new printer model on offer from Epson will be valuable to businesses and most corporate users not only in terms of monetary value, that is cost-saving, but also in terms of value in usage, that is print quality and product quality, making them great tools for any IT-centric usage.”

Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive of Concepts Computer, added, “Third party modifications of printers is one of the main concerns for Printing Solution providers right now, as it affects print quality, machine durability and is sometimes toxic especially with the usage of unknown refillable inks, which is why Epson is trying to curb this problem by putting a lot of effort into research and development to come up with a larger range of continuous ink tank printing solutions”.

Also present during the launch was Epson Country Manager (Malaysia) Mr. Shimizu Tomoya, and Mr. Eric Tang, Epson Sales Manager, Retail Division (Malaysia).

For more information, please visit your nearest Concepts Computer showroom or call 2233551/2233552/2233553.

The new A3-sized Epson L1455 printer will be available for $1,318 and it’s a multi function purpose. Now available at Concepts Computer

The inks for Epson

Product demo to the resellers in Brunei

Want to enjoy a good movie outing at the comfort of your home? Check out the latest deal from Bilster Technologies – the Dell S320 projector. It inspire audiences with vivid 3D and shadow-free video projections and furthermore, it offers interactive and wireless capability.

As I mentioned, it reduces shadowy images with a short-throw projection. It has an HDMI port that lets you project multimedia from your PC, DVD player and of course for me, my PS4 or Blu-ray player. This projection is also ideal for 3D imagery.

It’s simple to use, maintain and secure. It’s also an energy saving device as it keeps the costs low with a long lamp life (up to 3,000 hours in normal mode and 4,000 hours in Eco-mode). It also has an authorized feature (password protection).

So check out the Dell S320 projector at Bilster Technologies at Citis Square.

For professional games, Steelseries have been the popular accessories among the youths here in Brunei. Do check the special promotion items at Bilster Technologies. So much rave reviews on the V/2 Headset from Steelseries and it’s a real steal for gamers.

Designed in cooperation with Apple, the SteelSeries Siberia v2 for iPod, iPhone, iPad features around the ear noise dampening, leather earcups with a comfortable over-the-head suspension design. The headset delivers incredible sound through its 50mm driver units for all types of entertainment from listening to music tracks, VOIP and web applications to interactive and competitive games. The headset also includes a unidirectional microphone that can be pulled out from the left earcup for talking on the phone, VoIP or communicating in a game, and then retracted and hidden when it’s not needed.

I haven’t yet to try the Kana Optical mouse but I’m pretty sure it will be doable for my work station as I don’t play games on my computer. This could be a good give for your loved ones and don’t be surprised as they are a lot of female gamers too here in Brunei.

The Yee Sang tradition during Gong Xi Fa Cai

Concepts Computer hosted its Chinese New Year open house at its establishment at Kiulap earlier today. The guests were among the business partners of Concepts Computer and Bilster Technologies as well as members of the media. As you know, this is the celebration in conjunction with the Year of the Rooster.

Present during the open house were Mr. Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer and Alice Chan. Finance Controller of Concepts Group.

Thank you once again, Mr. Vincent Pao, on your invitation and your continuous support in the local SMEs here in Brunei Darussalam. His company has been one of my longest business clients and it boils down to the strong relationship and professional friendship that I have with Mr. Vincent Pao. He is one of my aspirations to be a successful entrepreneur and I’m truly happy where he is right now.

A photo opportunity with Concepts Computer management and Richard Soo who drove all the way from Miri 🙂

With the management and associates from Netcom Computer House

Another photo opp

Zul Abd Rahman, Marketing Executive of Concepts Computer (centre) with representatives from the Brunei Press

Searching for good quality headphone? Have you actually tried the Beoplay H6 from B&O? It has quite rave reviews for its elegant look & feel and also its superb sound quality.

The Beoplay H6 are over-ears headphones that cover you ears with the classic round pads. If you ask me, it’s visually elegant and still practical for its usage. To me, I’m more into the look and feel of the H6 and it has a timeless design. The back of each ear cup is made of aluminium, and finished in a shiny pattern of concentric circles.

It also grips well on your head and you can even use it while jogging. The padding of the headband are quite slight and great. It’s a memory form topped with real leather.

I also like the idea of the removable cable (a 3-button iPhone remote) and it uses a 3.5mm jack which is easy to replace.

As for the sound quality, it’s definitely there and something we could have expected from a Bang & Olufsen product.

All in all, the BeoPlay H6 is one classy headphone which is a smash hit here in Brunei. The only setback is that it doesn’t have a wireless option but you won’t need to worry about battery life while using it.

In our Brunei showroom, there are two colour of choices to choose from. Do visit the store at Sejalin Living at Kiarong.

Check out the BeoPlay H6

Chances to win a Samsung phone

Get It Done app is running a competition for “Buyers” where you can stand a chance to win a Samsung phone. The idea is for the “buyer” to either buy a product or hire a vendor for a service through the “Get It Done” app. They are also participating at the Consumer Fair from 18th to 22nd of January at ICC.

Just refer to the image above.

How does the app work?

So the main idea of the “Get It Done” app is to bridge the gap between Purveyors and Customers. For your info, purveyor is a person who sells or deals in particular goods so hence the seller or provider. The great thing is that you can do this at your convenience, where you are.

If you happen to be a Vendor, you can enjoy privileges such as :

• Receive Requests from Customer’s for your Services
• Send Quotations to your Customer’s
• Post Services that you offer
• Post Products that you’re selling
• Post Portfolio of your completed or ongoing job, orders or testimonials
• Get Offers and Orders for your Product and Make Sales!
• Chat with your Customer’s

Now what is it in for the customer end? Well, choices will be so much easier for you for the services you sought for.

• Get to receive Multiple Quotations to different vendors at a time – Here you can compare prices
• Find and Hire the best vendors because you know what’s best!
• Find and Purchase products that you had in mind
• Can’t find it? That’s okay, Send Requests to make a special order with your purveyors.
• Who doesn’t love a good discount? Go ahead bargain with your vendors
• A variety of Business Profiles for you to view

So now you don’t have browse on your IG feed to look for that particular vendors or providers. It’s all provided in one single app and at your convenience. Another way to shop online.

Techbru Solution will be blogging about the feature until the end of countdown, stay tune for more, follow Them on Instagram and Facebook. Visit www.gogetitdone.com for updates! Available soon on Apple Store and Google Play and it’s coming to Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia.

Devin Kho won himself a Meizu phone as he was drawn as the lucky winner for being a vendor at Get It Done App last October 2016.