Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G will be available for pre-order at $2,888 from 9 September

Samsung’s latest foldable device will be available in Singapore from 18 September

Take your mobile experience to the next level. Meet the Galaxy Z Fold2, Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone that unfolds to a tablet-like display when opened.

Samsung has announced that the all-new foldable device will be available in Singapore from 18 September 2020, Friday. It will be available at a recommended retail price of $2,888 (including GST).

The device supports 5G and will be available in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black.

Consumers can pre-order or register their interest with local telcos, Samsung Online Store and Samsung Experience Stores and selected Consumer Electronics & IT Store from 9 September 2020, Wednesday, 10am.

Pre-Order / Registration of Interest at Telecommunication Operators

Consumers can visit the following URLs for more information on pre-order / registration of interest for
the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G:

Pre-Order at Samsung Online Store / Samsung Experience Stores

Consumers can also pre-order their Galaxy Z Fold2 5G without contract via the Samsung Online Store or by visiting the following Samsung Experience Stores during their opening hours:

  • Central: 313@Somerset #B2-24/25/26 Tel: 6836 1809, Bugis Junction #01-63/63A Tel: 6338 7911, Chinatown Point #01-48 Tel: 6222 7911, VivoCity #02-28/29 Tel: 6376 9150
  • East: Bedok Mall #B1-07 Tel: 6844 9310, Tampines Mall #02-29 Tel: 6782 9575
  • North: Causeway Point #01-01 Tel: 6891 1011, NEX #04-42 Tel: 6636 7392
  • West: Jurong Point #B1-09/10/11 Tel: 6791 2272, Westgate #01-01 Tel: 6369 9175

Pre-order at Selected Consumer Electronics & IT Stores
Pre-order for the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G will also be available online at the respective websites of selected
consumer electronics & IT stores (Best Denki, Challenger/Hachi, Courts, Gain City and Harvey Norman).
More information is available at the following URLs:

You can find more about the device and the produce specifications here.

 

 

 

 

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This Disney-themed home is an inspiration to Disney fans looking to live in a magical world

Disney-themed home

“Tale as old as time~ True as it can be~ Barely even friends, then somebody bends… unexpectedly~”

Did you find yourself humming or singing along to the above? Immediately guessed that it’s from Beauty and the Beast? Disney must have been an influence on your childhood then.

For the Hermansons, a family of four, they channelled their love for Disney right from their hearts to their home. Those who are getting your BTO flat or new apartment soon and happen to be Disney fans, this is truly an inspiration to look up to.

Let’s go on a house tour together!

#1: The entrance speaks a thousand words

disney-themed-home-kelsey-entrance

We love how the entrance already gives us a glimpse of how the house is going to look like. Step right into Disney magic as Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcome you back home.

#2: Rapunzel-themed living room

Rapunzel-themed living room

If you’re one that spends the bulk of your time in the living room chilling with Netflix, then a Rapunzel-themed living room sounds just about right. The Disney princess is usually spotted in a purple dress and thus explains the purple furniture and decorations from the couch to the flag banner and floor mat.

#3: Beauty and the Beast dining experience

Beauty and the Beast dining experience

It’s about time Beauty and the Beast makes its appearance. The dining area features high detailed ornate chairs and a Beauty and the Beast picture that sets the Disney mood for your meals.

Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs Potts and Chip

Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs Potts and Chip are also your dining companions in the dining room.

#4: Princessy bedroom fit for royalty

Cinderella-themed bedroom

Bedroom, a place where desires, fantasies, and dreams come true! Let Cinderella accompany you as you hit the sack. And we’re not talking just about having a princessy bed frame to fit the theme.

Take a look at the wall feature behind the headboard.

Cinderella-themed bedroom wall feature

Doesn’t it remind you of the soap bubbles that formed when Cinderella was scrubbing away?

Let’s not forget the iconic Cinderella carriage that appears in the story. The Hermansons found a golden exquisite carriage to go alongside the Cinderella-themed bedroom. Isn’t it lovely?

Cinderella-themed bedroom gold carriage

But it really takes effort to create such a room fit for royalty. If you noticed the nightstands by the beds, you will be surprised to know that it didn’t look the way it is now. Here’s it before the couple’s DIY labour.

Cinderella-themed bedroom nightstand

From the matching paint-combination to the door pulls, it was given fresh coats of paint and new life.

Cinderella-themed bedroom door pulls

Cinderella-themed bedroom DIY nightstand

#5: The Little Mermaid bathroom

The Little Mermaid bathroom

Thoughtfully planned out, don’t you think The Little Mermaid fits in right where it should be – the bathroom? Everything from the wall decorations to the bathmat and shower curtain catches the eye but yet not a bit out of place.

Seashell necklace belonging to Ariel’s daughter

The seashell necklace belonging to Ariel’s daughter, Melody, is also an added charm to the bathroom. Oh yes, if you have another bathroom to work the Aladdin concept, go ahead!

Aladdin concept bathroom

We’re simply wowed by the elaborate designs executed by the Hermansons. Even the washbasin spout takes on the shape of the magic lamp in Aladdin.

washbasin spout takes on the shape of the magic lamp in Aladdin

A lot of hard work involved but definitely worth every effort upon seeing the finished project. Hope this has been an inspiration for you too!

All images are taken from Home & Decor Singapore.

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4 Costly Investment Mistakes To Avoid During Pandemic

Investment is defined as the money committed or property owned that is acquired for future income. It has two main classes namely: fixed income (e.g., bonds or fixed deposits) and variable income (e.g., property ownership). The choices you make when investing your money can influence your future.

Most of us are unaware of the investment mistakes and other financial missteps that can affect our short-term and long-term financial goals. However, the pandemic has given us no choice but to face our financial nightmares head-on. On that note, please do your best to avoid making costly investment mistakes.

#1: SELLING OFF INVESTMENTS OUT OF FEAR

2020 hit us hard. Many people are maxing out on their credit cards and are breaking their savings to pay for rent, groceries, and other essentials. The market crash triggered a global panic as people are selling off investments, losing billions in the bear market.

Let us be honest. It is impossible to know when another market crash will happen. The market’s recovery has been based on the idea that the pandemic has become more manageable. The reality is that the COVID-19 cases continue to spike each day. The numbers may continue to get worse as the global economy reopens. In Singapore, new closures and safety restrictions have been employed by retail stores and other commercial establishments.

It is tempting to sell off your investments given the current situation. Think about it. You should not sell something due to relatively short-term market conditions. You are in this for the long-haul. Unless your investment beliefs and strategies have changed, you must consider keeping those stocks. Building an emergency fund by investing money can be a lifesaver.

#2: BELIEVING IN MARKET GURUS

Some people eagerly listen to “money gurus” that are believed to predict the market. Media gurus make their money from discussing about investments, selling their advice or charging fees to manage other people’s money. But, their followers are not all rich. If you could predict the market’s future, wouldn’t you shut your mouth and make money for yourself?

Forget about the money gurus, what will help you is to diversify your portfolio. Knowing the right companies to allocate your money to takes guts, wits, and luck.

#3: FOLLOWING YOUR PORTFOLIO ON A DAILY BASIS

The market is volatile and people are more concerned about the stock market than before. There is a lot of noise surrounding this. The noise may brew fear inside of you, which can lead to bad decisions. Try not to follow your portfolio on a daily basis.

Do not let fear consume you as many people are screaming voices of gloom and doom. As was mentioned a while ago, you are in it for the long-haul. You are not invested for today or tomorrow. Markets will fall and crash, but good companies will eventually recover as history showed us.

#4: WAITING FOR A BOTTOM TO BUY STOCKS

In theory, you can buy good stocks at a discount when the market crashes. However, it is nearly impossible to purchase something at a perfect price and a perfect time. Do not try to time the market as it can cause you to miss glistening opportunities.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

No one knows when a crash will come or where the bottom is exactly. Consider purchasing stocks from good companies at all-time highs. If you are planning to be in this journey for a long time, you can buy shares from the businesses you believe in. Just be strategic and realistic!

Source: 1

 

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Impact of COVID-19 on new parents: Fewer Malaysian confinement nannies and higher hiring costs

young-asian-mother-holding-newborn-baby

COVID-19 not only has had its impact on the economy, but parents with newborns are also feeling the strain. According to PEM Confinement Nanny Agency’s (PEM) senior business manager Mishell Lee, demand for confinement nannies had a sharp increase recently due to travel restrictions around the world.

Couples who had plans to count on their parents based overseas or hire a domestic helper to help them tide through can only turn to confinement nanny agencies now amid travel restrictions.

Ms Lee mentioned that due to the slower rate of approval for work permits and the need to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN) for each trip, the agency could only activate 200 out of its total manpower of around 400 nannies.

“Since the beginning of movement control order (MCO) and circuit breaker, PEM has been receiving a high number of requests from clients to extend the service of their confinement nannies, but we are unable to fulfil (these requests) due to the lack of manpower and this is still going on until today,” she said.

“Many of the mothers who signed up with us… have not yet fully recovered from delivery and being left alone will make it harder for them to take care of their newborn.”

New mothers left in limbo
asian-mother-comforting-crying-baby

Image Credits: Verywell Family

While most families would hire nannies for an average of 28 days, first-time parents may need a longer period.

A new parent who wanted to be known only as Ms Long, said, “Currently, I have no other options. We want a simple extension for 28 days and it will help us a lot. I would have recovered more and would be better able to take care of the baby.”

Ms Long’s parents, who are based in China, were supposed to travel to Singapore to help her after she gave birth. But plans were disrupted due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Another new mother, Ms Heather Huang, said, “The agencies told me that they had a limited supply and with border restrictions, they needed to make arrangements earlier to ensure the nanny’s work permit and quarantine can all be finalized.”

“I was a bit scared because I did not know how to bathe, feed, or just take care of the baby when she comes.”

Ms Huang stated that her preference for hiring Malaysian nannies was because of the relatively cheaper price and their rich experience.

Incurring higher hiring costs
confinement nanny with baby

Image Credits: The Wedding Vow

Some families are also incurring higher hiring costs due to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s requirements. The added costs include the nanny’s compulsory stay in a dedicated SHN facility and the payment for the COVID-19 test.

In the case of Malaysia, people arriving from overseas will also need to quarantine at designated facilities for 14 days. Citizens are required to pay RM2,100 (S$690) of partial costs, while foreigners have to pay the full amount.

These additional amounts are passed on to the families, nannies, or the agencies, or shared between the relevant parties.

Mr Jason Teo is one individual who agreed to share the added financial costs with the agency he hired his Malaysian nanny from. For a period of 28 days, he had to pay an additional S$700 on top of the S$3,000 to hire the nanny.

“I agreed because I think it’s not fair to expect agencies to absorb all the added costs. And I think it would even be worse to expect the nannies to pay for it,” said the 29-year-old engineer whose first child arrived on Aug 14. 

“The nanny has been great for us so we are fine with it,” he added.

Malaysian confinement nannies affected as well
tey-may-leng-confinement-nanny

Image Credits: PEM

With the ongoing pandemic, not only the lack of support for new mothers and higher costs are involved. Malaysian confinement nannies are also feeling the pinch on their source of income and the need to be apart from their loved ones.

Ms Tey May Leng, 51, an employee of PEM, expressed that she had difficulties paying the university fees for her two children over the last three months when she could not leave Malaysia to work in Singapore during the MCO period.

“As I have not been working since March, I have lost around RM16,000 of income in total. My children’s university fees are around RM5,000 a month so it has been difficult,” she said.

“I will serve fewer customers for each trip due to the COVID-19 quarantine duration, but I can no longer afford to be choosy,” she added.

Ms Yow Yin Fen, 52, is also another PEM nanny from Malaysia who is based in Singapore and is staying with her daughter. She has not seen her husband in Kulai, Johor for six months.

“I miss my husband but being in Singapore makes more sense for me. I can serve more families for the agency.”

“But I worry that my husband is home alone and he struggles sometimes,” she added. As soon as the Malaysia government relaxes the travel restrictions and allows citizens to quarantine at home, Ms Yow plans to return to Malaysia.

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People Are Raving Over Apple Singapore’s Floating Store

During Apple CEO Tim Cook’s last visit in December, he said that Singapore could use a third store as the Orchard branch was “pretty full”. Opening a new store may seem impossible given the global restrictions of the pandemic. Not to mention, Apple’s brick-and-mortar operations continue to grapple as the pandemic unfolds. In particular, the company has closed some of its stores due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in American states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, and Florida.

Many retailers, like Apple, have closed its physical stores due to the current situation. Thus, it was surprising to see Apple’s third store in Singapore. In case you’ve missed, the spherical structure floating on Marina Bay Sands is Apple’s newest store in the country. The upcoming opening of this store is groundbreaking for Apple as it is its first store to sit on water. According to the company, Apple Marina Bay Sands aims to bring its renowned products at an iconic location. Its other stores are located on Orchard Road and at the Singapore Changi Airport.

Apple writes this on its website:

“We will soon open the doors to our new store by the Bay. Apple Marina Bay Sands will be at the heart of creativity, a place we’ve made for you to capture your ideas and passions. It will be a space for you to explore, connect and create something new. We can’t wait to see where your imagination takes you.”

Picture a giant futuristic orb that lights up at night and is situated on the country’s waterfront. This was designed by London-based Foster + Partners architecture studio. Although this was the first floating store for Apple, this was not the first time that a slot of water was occupied by a commercial establishment. Avalon, a large nightclub, previously occupied the space from 2011 to 2016.

Many Instagram and Twitter users have shared images of this eye-catching flagship. If you are in the area, there are two ways to access the store. You may visit it via a footbridge or an underwater passage connecting to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Can you imagine the picturesque scenery it can create at night?

The company did not provide any other information as to how big the building was or when it will officially open.

Here’s the main entrance from The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands:

Let us just wait and see!

Sources: 1 & 2

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