The Chinese are super excited about the upcoming year of dragon, because dragons are considered a good omen in our traditions, so everyone is rushing to get married or have kids this year. Want to catch up with the fad in Chinese New Year? How about jazzing up your look with some funky yet auspicious accessories? Here’s a few of my favourite picks:
Patinova’ssterling silver Chinese dragon cufflinks are designed right in time for the year of dragon. Based on a prototype from the early Republican Period around a century ago, these cufflinks are both monumental while maintaining its contemporary twist.
Wanna know what my other picks are? Read the rest of the article at Aroxta!
Vicious Venom’sred convertible wallet/pouchette, which could be used as a wallet and a shoulder bag, makes the most versatile piece during the holidays! Red and gold are usually worn during Chinese festivals and weddings, and the pouch, made of luxurious Italian leather and Thai silk, comes with its very own gold chain so that you can easily make the switch for a different look in family gatherings.
Cufflinks are making a huge comeback. Lots of boys in Hong Kong are getting their shirts tailor-made with initials on the cuff nowadays, and catered for using cufflinks. This is not just for menswear. Look at the cute white shirts from Anne Fontaine! Most of them have buttonholes on both sides to accommodate for fancy and feminine cufflinks, which are especially popular among female financiers and lawyers. And that is why Ben gave up his career in landscape architecture and started Patinova, specializing in cufflinks made of demonetised Hong Kong coins, Qing dynasty commemorative coins, and Chinese calligraphy characters.
Patinova merges two Latin words together, with patina meaning changes through weathering, and nova standing for new. Ben aims to offer these fine historical pieces a well deserved new life by giving it a spin and turning it into something attractive yet practical. As a proud Hong Kong company, Patinova produces cufflinks that carry our little city’s history, making them a distinctively conversational piece. I have been fortunate enough to grab hold of Ben for a quick interview, who gave us some insider’s insights on converting from landscape architect to jewellery designer, as well as offering his personal tips on how we should pick and choose cufflinks!
Why did you decided to fuse collector’s coins with cufflinks?
Coins are like a living part our history, since we would, hopefully, be encountering them a daily basis. As a coin collector, I have always been captivated by how our money reflects our past like an instant snapshot in time. Look at this pair of five cents featuring the bust of the late King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II’s father, a reluctant monarch well portrayed by Colin Firth in the King’s Speech! These coinages are great ways of communicating the fascinating Hong Kong story, and keeping them well is another excellent approach in preserving our collective memories, which doesn’t just consist of buildings and piers.
Jewellery has been made from currency for as long as we had currency, from our earliest denominations, seashells, which were used both for trading as well as for decorating. Picking out exclusive jewellery pieces have been an increasingly popular way to express our individuality. For me personally, I have been searching high and low for some coin cufflinks, but I just couldn’t find what I want. I even went off to a couple of local silversmiths to get some made, and have been told one time too many that it just could not be done. That is why I decided to challenge myself in making the impossible, though to make the project viable, I need to produce a certain quantity to meet the minimum manufacturing requirement, which is why I had to have a plan in selling the extra few off. That is how Patinova made its initial start. All of the manufacturing, though pricey, is done in Hong Kong, since it is easier to keep a closer eye over the process that way, and the quality control is reflected tremendously in our end products.
By turning rare collectable coins into trendy cufflinks, it feels like we have given these historical pieces a new chapter of its existence, conveying the history of Hong Kong’s colonial past from its beginnings with Queen Victoria all the way up to Queen Elizabeth II, each marking a different period in Hong Kong’s history. Some of the coins, with over a century behind them, are actually classified as antiques, so it would make an awesome Chinese New Year present paired with our iconic laisee packaging. Definitely a conversational piece over dinner at one of those hum-dee-dum relatives gathering!
Why did you decided to stop being a landscape architect and start being a jewellery designer?
With my background, though different as it may be in spatial design and jewellery design, the basics still apply, with the deliverables for both having to be functional while appealing. My prior training has made it much easier for me to put a finger on what I specifically wanted, especially with the aid of transferable skills like sketching and the command of Adobe Photoshop. I do enjoy being a self-employed jewellery designer over being a staff landscape architect, since the designs are more in my control, and I can express my creativity with fewer concerns regarding multiple stakeholders. Fewer boundaries I would say.
I can also see the fruits of my labour much quicker now, since landscape architectural projects are usually measured in years while jewellery assignments in months, so there is more job satisfaction now in going through a terrific journey discovering and exploring my Chinese heritage. I do hope that the Chinese side of my products will hit the right note with expats who appreciates the Chinese culture, repatriates who identifies with their Chinese background, locals who find collective memories with my pieces, as well as Mainland Chinese who is eager to learn more about our little city which is now part of the motherland.
Tell us more about your Qing Dynasty zodiac coin cufflinks and Chinese calligraphy characters cufflinks!
The Qing Dynasty zodiac animal coin cufflinks are reproduced from a set of talisman coins that dates back to the late Qing dynasty, which was generously given to me from a fellow coin enthusiast. They are great for blend something old with something new, so I fabricated the rabbit ones for 2011, and will be pushing through the entire line of zodiac animals out shortly, especially the dragon one, since the year of dragon is next in line.
The Chinese virtue characters cufflinks also started off as a personal project. I wanted to create unique gifts for my nephews, who had these Chinese characters in their names, which happens to form a classic phrase in Chinese, describes some well-desired virtues. That was how this series came into being, which is especially expressive since the different combinations of any two characters will create entirely different but equally auspicious meanings, making it a special way to describe yourself as well as a thoughtful gift for ones that you think well of.
How should we choose good cufflinks? How do we care for them, since it is so prone to lose just one of them?
Whether you are buying a pair for yourself or for others, you should always go for ones that are beautiful yet practical, which you know will be used and loved, since cufflinks should always be worn, and not just sitting there at the back of the drawers! There aren’t so much out of the way caring tips for cufflinks, since most of them would stay shiny as long as they are being worn. However, if they are being tucked away, they will start to oxidise, so the truth is it is less work in wearing them than protecting them for keepsake.
One of the annoying things about cufflinks is that you always tend to lose just one of the twins, and you have absolutely no idea what to do with the remaining one. The great thing about our Chinese virtue characters series is that since different character combinations have different meanings, so even if you do accidentally lose one, just get an entirely different character, and you will have new cufflinks instantly with a brand new meaning behind them.
Where is Patinova heading towards in 2012?
In the landscape architectural field, a design is considered successful for the more functions it can serve. Which is why in the coming year, more of my designs will be making small adaptation for it to be used as pendants, bracelets, and charms on top of its original cufflinks designs. There are two new Chinese-themed series down the pipeline, with special emphasis on dragons for the coming year of dragon in 2012. I am rather fond of the miniature dragon paperweight from the Republic of China period in Mainland China, so I shall be reproducing it as cufflinks, pendants, and charms with an antique finish. In a long term perspective, I am keen on take the concept of something old made anew, and spreading it to other cultures, transforming their everyday objects into chic and modern accessories, for its wearer to flaunt their superior taste and individuality.
First published in NecesCity, Hong Kong's only online daily lifestyle guide for men, distilling everything from dining to nightlife and money matters to style, on 23 December 2011.
On the topic of guys getting lingerie for their partners, I have done some convenience sampling survey, and got a bunch of rather mixed comments. Some girls think it's hot, some find it pretty much impossible to get what they like, and some take it the wrong way when they receive what isn't even close to their size or taste. Guys are probably as apt in buying lingerie as we girls are in boxers, so here's a short guide on what to look for and where to find it!
What to Look For
Lingerie is a general bracket that covers lots of different bits and pieces, including teddy and camisole. For this article, let's just focus upon the bra/knickers matching set. Everyone I spoke with agrees that the right size is the most important part, so it would be great if you could sneak one or two of what she has in the drawers now out for your lingerie shopping trip. Unless you are getting the exact same brand as what she is wearing now, a 36C from Calvin Klein Underwear can vary quite a bit than one from Wacoal, so just reading the sizes off the labels doesn't quite work.
The easiest way to buy something that fits is to get soft cups, which is unlined, instead of moulded cups, which has a pre-formed shape and provides full support. Although soft cups are more revealing, they tend to give less form since there isn't much support, so if you see that most of her bras have underwire, perhaps it is a better idea to get that. Also, cups cutting can be either a 1/2 cup, which is more alluring, or a 3/4 cup, which is creates uplift and offers great support, or a full cup, which offers great coverage. So which cup to get is entirely up to you, or actually, what you think she would enjoy.
As for the materials, satin, lace, silk, and chiffon would be most sexy yet comfy. Ones made out of cotton are usually only comfy but ain't so seductive, while the synthetic material ones aren't very comfy, and you don't want her to feel that way, right? When you are out picking the colours and styles, you should again, if it is available to you, check out her current collection. Is everything either black or white? Or is it filled with fluffy pink stuff? Obviously she would like it because she knows you like it, but take her preference into account as well!
Do you know how much a bra cost? Usually guys are quite shocked when they realise that a bra usually ranges from a few hundred to several thousands, considering how small these things are. But that is the average price, and no you are not getting conned. So bear that in mind and try to handle all the lace and other delicate materials with care.
Where to Buy From
I know it is a bit embarrassing to step right into a shop in IFC and start pick out bras, so Flaunt is here to the rescue! You can either get it from their online shop and have it delivered to avoid the awkwardness, or you can head over to their discreet shop in Central, which comes equipped with masculine leather couch, a handful of magazines, and a fridge full of beer! Emily from Flaunt suggests this Demi Bra/Cheeky Bikini combo from their latest collection, Jenna Leigh, which is made of sexy lace, with the bikini cut showing just a little more than your average panty. She also recommends Eberjey'sDelirious Bralet/French Briefs matching set, which has fun colors, and it oozes sexiness in a relaxed yet flirty manner!
Even if you are a bra buying rookie, I am sure you have heard of La Perla before, or at least ran past it in the IFC Mall. It is the ultimate lingerie brand, and for their 2011 F/W season, they are featuring a Roaring Twenties collection, which combines patterned lace, tuxedo details, fluffy fringing, as well as animal prints to create a mysterious and feminine effect. Samantha from La Perla recommends the Smoking Triangle Bra with shorts in Nero/Verde, which has lots of lace, tulle, and silk to create a sophisticated feel to it, oozing sexiness from within. Another one she recommends is the Lulu in Oro, which was inspired by the timeless elegance of the twenties, with added details that spell seductiveness out loudly and clearly.
Avec Amour is right in the heart of Central, so you can pop there quickly at lunch or after work! Rachel from Avec Amour suggests the Bisou Bisou Blush from Mimi Holiday, which is a romantic and flirty black-pearl combination. It is chic and bold, made of the most indulgent lace of the season, while the sophisticated twist on the graphic scallop lace is mixed with soft pearl silk satin, creating a ladylike look. Another one she suggests is Kitty from Lascivious, which is an incredible combination of flattering tulle placed strategically to accent the curves, yet still giving complete freedom to play around.
Agent Provocateur is known for their seductive lingerie, available from the most secluded area of Lane Crawford in IFC Mall, and their 2011 F/W collection features the provocative Emenuell, which combines the alluring midnight blue satin with red and black French lace. The innovative cut is subtly revealing, making it a clever construction while creating the perfect fit. The revealing Basque, on the other hand, is made of luxurious French floral vintage lace, paired with sleek black satin, creating a stunning 60's look.
Bubies, a new lingerie shop on Wellington Street, is a classy and sophisticated brand exclusively launched by a team of young Hong Kong designers, bringing in a fresh and innovative approach to the intimate wear. Their creative director, Nick (a dude!), loves the Jack-o-lantern soft bra and thong combo, which is flirtatious and alluring. He also recommends the Mint-on-your-pillow camisole, wire bra and panties set, which he promises would bring amusement and satisfaction to both you and your girlfriend. You can pick it up discreetly at ShopdesCreateurs.com with a special 10% off, so just enter the promo code gillianchu when you get to check out! If you are the kind who prefers to visit the good ol' physical store before putting your buck down, email them with your full name, and they will send you back a voucher that is also good for 10% off. Your wallet will thank you for it.
Sponsored post first published in Elysiants on 12 January 2012.
Tudor has updated their iconic heritage line with a stylish addition, Tudor Heritage Advisor, which perfectly combines the modern horological approach with seductive subtleties from their unique composition, like the glossy black classy alligator strap, as well as winding on the 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock. This special version was inspired by one of Tudor's most recognisable watches from 1957, paired with the most up-to-date advancements from 21st century.
The new Tudor Heritage Advisor is still an alarm watch, and now, revised with contemporary expertise, it has an exclusive on/off indicator at 9 o’clock, which is activated by the distinctive pusher at 8 o'clock. It also has an exceptional alarm power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, all adding up to make sure that you are in total control of when the alarm goes off, with a clear, sweet chirp that is particular to Tudor.
The latest Tudor Heritage Advisor has a larger titanium case than its prototype back in the fifties to suit the present tastes, with simple complications like adding a date counter at 6 o’clock. It does still bears much resemblance of its predecessor, with obviously Dauphine hands, bevelled hour markers, and glaring red alarm hand, bringing together the best of traditional handicraft with original innovations from sophisticated watch-making technologies. Grab one of these comfy beauties with a vintage edge for your loved ones today, and I guarantee it will spark a memorable Christmas!
Appreciating the finer things in life usually starts with collecting luxury watches. Their slender and streamlined designs make an elegant match with your evening wear, while their mechanics and engineering parts involve intricate technical know-how, flaunting your capabilities to appreciate what is beneath the surface. There are several rather important technologies in watch-making, so as an amateur appreciator you should be looking out for these!
Widely known as the pinnacle of timekeeping excellence, even those who don't know much about watches would have heard of tourbillon before. Well, at least from Eason Chan'spop song. What it does really, is to compensate for the effects of gravity and increases precision of your wristwatch. It is one of the most complex mechanisms in the horological field, alongside of the minute repeater technology. The reason why tourbillon is so much more widespread than minute repeater though is because there are suppliers who specifically manufacture these parts, so non-technical watch designers can just buy the bit and built it into their ideas, instead of developing it on their own.
Breguet is best known for their tourbillon mechanism, and they tend to focus more on featuring the watch movements, highlighting only the conservative details. Their Marine Tourbillon highlights their skills in this specialised expertise, featuring a part-titanium tourbillon carriage. Made of 18-carat white gold, dials in silvered 18-carat gold, and hand-engraved on a rose engine, its luxury is enhanced by diamonds being set pretty much everywhere around the watch.
As I just said, minute repeater is one of the most complex mechanisms, along with tourbillon. However, it isn't as popular because it requires the factory in producing such to maintain a high level of precision, so decorative wristwatch makers haven't exactly got the resources to master the skills. What it does is that it chimes on demand, allowing its wearer to be able to tell time in the dark, or rather, more likely for vanity reasons. Since these watches are produced in limited quantities by hand, so it could cost up to a small fortune, and is really mainly for serious collectors, who truly appreciate its functionality.
Patek Philippe is the most experienced, and so produces the most sophisticated mechanisms for minute repeater, especially with their new interpretation of their iconic Grand Complication. As the most complex minute repeater, its slightly larger case allows for a larger cavity, so that the chimes can resonate further, enhancing its fullness and creating an unique acoustic signature on your wrist. Made of sleek rose gold case with distinctive minute repeater trigger, paired with classic hand-stitched alligator strap and 18K gold fold-over clasp, it is the most complicated yet understated watches ever produced.
Skeleton watches are the most unapologetically flashy type of mechanical watch, showing off the technological advancements of its manufacturer. Usually manual winded, skeleton watches are named that way because you can see all of its parts in action on the front of the watch, with its mechanics decorated with leaves and flowers engraved using burin, a special type of chisel. Designs usually involve guilloche, which are interwoven lines and ribbons; perlage, decorating with overlapping circles; and Geneva stripes, which looks like parallel trenches. Just in case you can't find your dials from all the mechanisms, the dials on a skeleton watch are usually made of blue steel. After all, being able to tell time with it is kind of important too.
Since it takes a lot of time and effort to make one, they tend not to make it with steel, but with more luxurious metals such as platinum, white gold, rose gold, and just plain ol' gold. Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is the master of skeleton watches. Being the watchmaker for Napolean Bonaparte and Duke of Windsor shows just how regal their pieces are intended for. Their Patrimony collection was designed as the world's thinnest mechanical watch at its time, and the Patrimony Traditionnelle Skeleton flaunts the best of their skills.
Skeleton watches may sometimes be a bit over the top, and especially in the dark, it is rather difficult to figure out what time it is. If you want to enjoy the smug feeling of being able to see the mechanics of your watch without mucking about with telling time, there are designs where the back of the case is clear, so you can take your watch off every so often and admire its delicacy and sheer craftsmanship. It has really evolved into a form of art, showcasing the mechanical excellence as well as giving a brand new bare-bone approach to designing, combining precision with elegance.
Franck Muller is known for its sapphire crystal case back, and its Long Island collection combines it with the art deco movement inspired by the Parisians. It comes in Franck Muller's signature barrel-shaped case design, with its sleek rectangular shape and numerals that are straight and arched at the same time.
John Hardy, a luxurious yet environmentally friendly jewelry brand, recently launched their first men’s store at the Landmark, spicing up an international style hub with the serenity of Bali. Their artisans created a line of products that is just sheer beauty, with much respect for the natural world. Their collections are inspired by traditional Balinese techniques, with designs adapted to suit tasteful men’s wardrobe.
A brand that opens their shoe shop on the same corner as Christian Louboutin says a lot about their quality, and Mengoli Lado has lots of guts to kicks off with their new shop on On Lan Street in Central, as an Asian attempt for longstanding Italian shoemaker, Romit S.p.A., who has been in the business for over three generations.
Romit S.p.A. handmade every shoe meticulously and also created a line of belts and bags for Mengoli Lado, exploiting their expertise in leather goods. So next time when your girlfriend is doing some crazy shoe-shopping, you can go down the road and enjoy yourself as well.
So you are a fan of Bruce Lee? Gear up with a pair of kick-ass shoes from Kung Fu Kicks! As an innovation from Hong Kong, it fuses artistic designs and the traditional Chinese styling to reinvent the classic look. There isn’t a better way to voice out your individuality than spicing up your business casual day with a pair of these, which also makes comfy lounge shoes for your guests visiting during Christmas!
It isn’t just kung-fu shoes they produce. They extended their twist of traditional and modern concepts to tops as well, creating martial arts inspired designs with an Asian accent. Just drop them an email listing what you want, and before you know it, you have the perfect look for your inner kung-fu master!
If you are heading over to the beach for Christmas, then a pair of decent sandals is what you need! KJacques, another renowned brand from Saint-Tropez, has been making this Roman-inspired footwear for almost a century. These leather sandals give an extra air of style in comparison to your boring ol’ plastic flip flops, and with the subtle maroon strip, it adds a touch of cheekiness to your look.
Solange Azagury-Partridge introduced her unique approach to jewelry at IFC Mall after rocking Bond Street with pieces that aren’t just pretty bling blings, but makes bold statements. She began her journey by designing her own engagement ring, and it led onto a career in creating surreal pieces, each telling a story of its own. With an unconventional sense of beauty, her designs lie between pop art and ancient mysticism. Look at her collection of playful rings!
Her stores all have the same goal: to enhance the shopping experience. Wooden paneling matched with luscious red velvet and silver ball mirror creates a theatrical journey in discovering the secret world. Make your Christmas shopping more enjoyable and stop by this exquisite salon!
Doorstepluxury.com just launched a Bangkok Design Collective for Flood Relief. As a gateway to the renowned Fashion Weeks, they went an extra mile with Singaporean jeweler Marilyn Tan and reached out to Bangkok’s jewelry designers, whose lives have been affected by the recent floods. Rest assured that all the profits made from their colourful earrings collection will go directly to the designers. It is way better to help the Thai designers in helping themselves, rather than merely providing donations!
Fancy something more exotic? Firouzeh Jewelry offers pieces with a Byzantine twist! British jewelry designer, Touran Reddaway, with Iranian and British heritage, brings out the mysterious aspect from her days in Iran and Turkey, and channels it towards her designs. I love these Byzantine Angels, which are perfect for the Christmas spirit!
Her pieces are built upon forging traditional Persian customs with modern designs. These gems were each made with a particular ancient tale in mind, so here’s your chance in grasping a tiny part of the Middle East for keepsake. These Tradition Dragonflies are rather refreshing, and will make an eye-catching piece at a dinner date or a night out!
What do Madonna and Kate Moss have in common? They are all fans of David Yurman’s iconic jewelry! Their pieces have been attracting trendsetters and celebs for over for 30 years. The Starburst Collection is their ultimate tribute for 2011 F/W, resembling a shining a ray of light in the illuminated night sky. It was first featured with Beyoncé on a cover shot in W Magazine, so follow the stunning celeb-studded trail and get the ultimate piece for your Christmas look!
With the world becoming more environmentally conscious, upcycling has turned into a global phenomenon, which is how Handsome Co made its start. It all began with lawyer Billy Potts casually trotting around his ‘hood, and he couldn’t help but noticed all the waste generated by taxi garages. He envisioned a second life to these taxis’ cast offs, so he persuaded architect Joseph Ng to help in creating unique designs with this unlikely material. Joe was excited about this amazing opportunity in using creative ways to solve problems, and soon enough, the two came up with their first line of bags and accessories made with discarded taxi upholstery.
Time flies, and it has been a bit more than a year now since Billy first spotted the taxi seats, with Handsome Co now being a full-fledged multi-disciplinary design firm and consultancy. I have managed to catch Joe for a quick chat on how to turn the mundane to the sublime with an urban Hong Kong twist, which attracted a list of local celebrity followers, including Chet Lam and Jessica Hester Hsuan. Let him explain to us how they balance cultural, social and environmental sustainability through their designs!
What is the concept behind Handsome Co?
The name Handsome Co, which is Chun Kee if you translated it directly from Cantonese, is derived from Billy's Chinese name. Calling your store [Name] Kee is the traditional Hong Kong way of naming a sole proprietors’ shop, just like your neighbourhood shoe cobblers. Since we design our stuff right here in Kowloon, then subsequently manufactured by experienced Hong Kong craftspeople, manufacturers, and NGOs, we want a name that goes in line with our locality. The people that we work with plays an important role in our creation process, since we have learnt a lot about bag constructions from them, and, in some cases, their solutions were much better than ours!
Our mission behind this project is very simple. We want to raise awareness about wastage, and prevent usable taxi parts from going straight to the landfills by using Hong Kong’s unique brand of creativity and turning it into ethical, functional, and culturally meaningful pieces. Having said that, quality is a big deal to us, so when we reclaim the reupholster taxi seats, we inspect them thoroughly to make sure it is in good condition, and then we treat it using industrial disinfectant to ensure that it is clean from inside out. After all, we are talking about something that has touched potentially millions of bums! It was rather difficult to start up, because it was hard to find like-minded individuals who would like to experiment with new ideas, but it has been more than one year since we first began with this project, and since then it has taken us around the world, participated in important fashion events, and met great people throughout the journey.
Tell us more about your products!
We are inspired by materials we see on a daily basis around our hometown’s rich urban landscape, and have now designed watches made of reclaimed taxi seats, Strida bicycles with a taxi theme, as well as furniture and kitchenware. There are a few more exciting projects down the pipeline, such as this upcoming project with tcn:y, a proudly Hong Kong clothing company that makes classic bespoke suits. Watch out this space for further updates!
The best part about our products is that the designs are very interactive, where after our pilot piece was made, it gets tested in the real world, and often our customers would come back with constructive feedback as well as various ways to improve upon our existing designs. In some cases, these improvements have led to an entirely different effect, so we name it after the customer who did the innovation! Our Chet tote was named after Chet Lam, a celebrated local singer/composer, who immediately spotted Billy’s tote when he was at the TV station, and so he subsequently became one of our first customers. Our Joyce book bag, on the other hand, was named after my sister who loves to read. This design was inspirations by the book bags we had as a part of our primary school bag.
[Read: I came from the same school as Joe and Billy, so I know exactly which bag Joe is referring to. His take on the bag is so much classier than the original, which was made of synthetic material, and came in maroon or navy blue. This shiny black reclaimed taxi leather version, with contrasting matte red lining, velcro and stitching, can instantly turn a school nerd into a fashion icon. I am sure kids from our school will be rushing to get one of these for their readings and homework!]
Sponsored post first published in Elysiants on 16 November 2011.
I have been contemplating about getting a tablet for a long time, mainly because I need to jot notes at interviews and blog while I am away from my laptop. What keeps me from getting one though is how it duplicates the exact same functions that I already have on my phone, with the only difference of having a bigger screen, so it seems a bit pointless to be carrying an extra gadget in my small clutch. Thankfully, Samsung comes to the rescue with their latest innovation: Samsung Galaxy Note.
The thing I like best about it is how it fuses the functions of a smart phone, Microsoft Office, and a physical notepad all in one, so you really only need to carry one thing when you are out, and not having to worry about rushing back to the office to brush up your Powerpoint presentation or tweak a few figures on your Excel spreadsheet. Usually phones that do a lot of stuff are pretty ugly, because its functionality overrides its aesthetics, but the Samsung Galaxy Note would be an exception to that. With a 5.3” display yet only 9.65 mm thick, it has a large enough screen for you to process documents, but small enough to fit in your evening clutch.
What's more? This baby comes with its very own in-built stylis, so you can draw all over it however you like. Great gizmo for architects and designers! What I like most about the stylis is that you can crop non-rectangular shapes on your phone, so if you need to cut a person out from a photo and paste it onto another document, you don't need to wait till you get back to your desk now. There is also a memo function, which can convert all your pictures, voice recordings, typed text, handwritten notes or drawings into a memo, and have it digitally edited, annotated and shared. If somebody has thought of this earlier, it would have saved me from buying a digital note taker for taking minutes.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is also built for using VPN, so it is great for bloggers who travel to China often and need to update their blogs regularly. Well, either that or if you are an investment banker and needs to remote access your files in office. And it isn't a phone that only does boring ol' work! It also has a camera that does everything a real digital camera does: timer, scene mode, anti shake, blink detection. You name it, it has it. It even has a built-in beauty camera mode, so you don't need to download an app just for that. I have never been a fan of the Apple Juice, because frankly who wants to bulk up a sleek phone? That is why Android phones are great with the option to change your batteries when they are out, as well as having a Micro SD slot, so you won't be bounded by the limited gigabytes that your phone has.
So there you go, here comes a phone that is truly smart!
