Have you Kata today?

As promised, I'm doing my review on my latest toy Kata i3s! Being a recently converted Android user, I am looking forward to what Kata phones have in store for me and boy would I say I am not at all disappointed. Looking at the specs of the phone, one wouldnt even dare think of this phone being one of the most affordable smartphones in the entire Singapore.

Kata i3s Specifications

5-inch HD display, 294ppi
1.3GHz MediaTek MTK6582 quad-core CPU

1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
13 megapixel AF rear camera w/ LED flash
5 megapixel front camera
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby
3G HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0 + HS
Android 4.4 Kitkat
2,250mAh Li-po battery
152.8 x 79 x 8.5 mm
168.9 g
Grey, Violet, Blue

What amazes me the most when I first got the phone is its camera. 13 MP camera on a phone that costs less than SGD$200? Are you serious? Absolutely yes! Check out the photos I took with my Kata i3s!

The 5 MP front camera also allows me to take almost HD videos from front. I did a test while covering Jay Chou's latest song 算什么男人 last week. I took the video using the front camera Kata i3s.

Speed test on the Kata i3s was ok. No lags was observed and apps launch pretty fast. The scrolling was pretty smooth and sensitive too. The user interface is almost the same as what you would see on any android phones, with a pretty much customisable everything including widgets and the google search bar. The on off button is on the side and the screen is the same "slide to unlock" feature. Keyboard typing is precise and accurate and supports multi languages.

Watching a movie on the Kata i3s is also an amazing experience. The 5 inch HD display gives me the ultimate visual satisfaction when I put on 1080p movies. The speaker is loud and clear too and you can hear to the slightest footsteps sound in the movie. There was no lag or whatsoever. Clean and clear 2 hour amazing movie experience.

That being said, using the Kata i3s as an MP3 player is also an ideal choice. Gone were the days where I need to bring an extra MP3 Player everywhere I go now that the internal memory can hold up to 32GB. Being at less than 169 grams so meant that I can carry it while I go for my usual jog with my headphones plugged in blasting music while exercising.

Battery life is also one of the another plus point of the Kata phone. I only need to charge on the 2nd day after some intensive use of the phone compared to my previous smartphone, which requires me to charge daily. It can also connect to Bluetooth Devices and can also tether internet connection. One of the other main features of Kata products is the inclusion of Kata Cloud, which lets you backup your data like iCloud does for Apple.

All in all, I would say that my Kata experience so far has been magical. I always have my doubts when taking on new challenges but the Kata i3s simply blew me away after I start using it. At this price, I would say it is an absolute steal and value for money for everyone. I would strongly recommend Kata i3s to anyone who wants a user friendly, is a camera freak, movie buff, music lover and multitasker phone but yet enjoy economic savings on your pocket. That being said, I cant wait for the release of Kata i4, coming soon.....

Kata i3s is currently on sale at:

1 Irving Place

#02-26 The Commerze @ Irving

Have you Kata today? Anyway, hereby wishing all my friends and music supporters, clients and partners at I-Asia Star, clients and colleagues at Assurance Awareness and Property Awareness, volunteers and sponsors at Project Awareness, a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Do a kind deed and hashtag "#KindnessChallengeElson"

It's December again and speaking of December the first thing that comes to everybody's mind will be Christmas! Yep. It's the season of giving again. Not just giving gifts and chocolates, but also love and concern, about bonding with people around you. Remember to support some of the Perk's products at their official Facebook Page Perk Beverages today!

To me 2014 has been a fruitful year. I met many new friends and comrades who has been very supportive towards me. I appreciate time spent with fellow real estate agents from every company as there is always something to learn and share between everyone, sometimes me to them, sometimes them to me. For one I am not a fan of doing bad things to your competitors and this is also one of the rules in Property Awareness as well - Be friend and kind to your competitors!

To me we should not be fighting against one another but rather bond together as one to forge a more productive relationship and close more deals. And it also applies to my singing industry as well. Which is why till today although I had times when my trust was misplaced in people, I move on and make peace with myself.

In Project Awareness bonding is also important. Not just with my volunteers and families but also encourage the families to bond within themselves. Many a time I visit households with family problems and it is really sad to see people suffer especially young kids. We must really put our hands together and help as many people as possible.

Lets all try for the month of December to either do one kind deed or say a word of kindness starting from today 13/12/14. This is a challenge to all my readers, fans and friends.

Instagram and Facebook users you may post a quote or post anything on kindness or a photo of you or your friend doing a kind deed and hashtag "#KindnessChallengeElson". I will pick three lucky winner each Friday of the week to win something special. It may not be much but I hope everyone can take this chance to do good. Even by hugging your parents, taking a selfie with them, teaching them how to use a computer etc can also qualify.

So lets roll out our hearts and do good this December! 大家一起跟我說：行善之舉，由我做起！

Singapore can also do good quality music and productions

Time really flies. 2014 is coming to an end soon. Thinking back, it's been a long time since I was exposed to the music industry. I've met alot of kind people and mentor along the way, made some really good friends along the way, experience the pain of being betrayed by people around me along the way and also been the target of unprovoked hating by people whom I didn't even know or worse still people whom I thought were my friends.

 

2014 had been kind to me. I made my debut in Taiwan and Korea, became the Voice of Kindness ambassador to Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), endorsed a few new products and also released my new single 彩虹也会哭 (Rainbows Do Cry). I am also happy to see Project Awareness progressing well now even though we met some unforeseen obstacles sometime back. I think thats what the mean by sunshine after the rain.

 

Debuting in Taiwan has always been my dream as a kid and when I finally got to do it, I was thrilled and anxious at the same time. I met several stars along the way like Jam Hsiao 《萧敬腾》 and Lan Xin Mei 《蓝心湄大姐》 etc and also made friends with 小冷老师，the composer of Rainie Yang's 暧昧. I also finally met my Taiwan fans and friends who have been supporting me even before I made my debut in Taiwan. It was a magical experience which I can never forget!

 

Going to Korea was a bonus. I got invited to perform at a music festival at Hong Dae by one of my sponsor and that's how I got there. It's surprising to know that I have supporters in Korea too, despite me not being active there. Thank you all too. Love you guys.

Come to think of it, I have released about 20 songs in 3 different languages so far. Well people often ask me what is my favourite song but again, coming from a composer point of view, every song is my favourite song if not why would I even bother releasing right? Haha. However on a serious note, if I were to really need to choose, I guess these will be my top 3 favourites.

For the Chinese song category, I will choose 《彩虹也会哭》 (Rainbows Do Cry). It's because it's my first ever new song to be performed overseas, namely Taiwan, and also my first song new song to be aired by Taiwan radio. I would have chosen 《Saranghamnida》 too if I can because it's the first song that made me known by my Taiwan supporters. 《彩虹也会哭》is also special because it's the first time I worked with my producer cum idol Jim Lim （林倛玉老师）and I had wonderful memories of our work time. I also learnt a lot in the process.

 

For the English song category I will choose 《You'll Never Be Mine》. This song is the first ever English song I wrote based on a story about not having the person you want. It's also my first ever song which I self-penned the lyrics. It's also the first song which I directed the music video myself.

 

As for my two Malay songs, I will choose 《Cinta Padamu》 to be my favourite. Firstly, from a composer point of view, it's one of the songs which I felt the melody was written differently from my usual compositions. The song also won praises from my another idol producer Peng Xue Bin 《彭学斌老师》, which I felt truly honoured to receive. It's also my first ever Malay song that was released which made me known in the Malay market locally and overseas.

I have always dreamt of making my country proud, like how Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin and Tanya Chua did. But I wanted something more. I wanted to make Singapore to be known as a musically recognised country too. Which was why my album and songs were all composed by local lyricists, produced by local producers, arranged by local song arrangers, recorded in local studios and album photos by local photographers. Then I bring my song out to overseas and let everyone know that we can also produce international quality songs.

It is surprising though along the way I received some negative feedback not from people overseas, but from some of our own people back in Singapore. I don't blame them though as everything to me is part of a learning process.

 

Till today I have never given up on this dream. Everywhere I go, I still carry my country's flag proudly telling everyone how Singapore can also do good quality music and productions.

Come year 2015, I have plans to compose and produce a local song on Kindness. I hope to be able to bring all my aspirations and plans together in one song. I also hope more local people can encourage local artists. Will keep everyone updated. Meanwhile to all my readers, do take care and god bless all of you. Love.

The spirit of volunteerism at Project Awareness

I am proud to announce another successful distribution by Project Awareness yesterday! It was a rainy morning but I'm glad all my volunteers took time off and effort to brave the rain and participate in yesterday's event.

Just a week back, we had joined forces with Singapore Kindness Movement and Gardenia to complete the Nation Of Kindness event, distributing 500 loaves of bread to the residents of Block 8, French Road and Block 7, King's George Avenue and yesterday, we are giving out ready to eat rations.

Some of you may not have known why are we giving out food twice in such a short time span to the same area, maybe I'll explain here. The rations that we give to families adopted by Project Awareness (PA) are usually separated into Dry and Fresh rations. Dry Rations being canned food, instant noodles, rice etc and Fresh Rations being Bread, Chicken, Fish, Vegetables etc.

Since we have given only bread the last round, I decided that we should complete the set for them yesterday. Also as some of you may know we do not always have enough to give to the entire area and so sometimes we need to do 2-3 rounds of distribution in order to cover all the blocks.

I am glad to see many new and familiar faces. Apart from my volunteers from Project Awareness and property agents from Property Awareness yesterday, we are also graced by the presence of local actress Kanny Theng 邓晴冰, famous food blogger Brad (Lady Iron Chef) and other several famous online personalities, Sheila (Holly Hoque), Melody, Ang Geck Geck and their friends. It is heartening to see everyone coming together as one, working together for a common cause, regardless of their status and fame. They are all so humble and nice in person!

I want to also take this opportunity to thank all my volunteers who came down yesterday. For without your time and effort, this event would not have gone so smoothly and efficiently. Thank you all so much for lending your helping hand to the families.

Like I have said, volunteering is a meaningful activity as you are giving up a part of your life that you will not get back to make someone else's life better. Thank you all for walking the talk and also helping me to spread the spirit of volunteerism!

I would also like to thank my sponsors for yesterday's activity. Thank you all for contributing to the cause and feeding the people in need and making their lives better.

Thank you:

Lock Tze Chiang

Irene Lek

Audrey Tay

Chong Muimoi

Stephanie Toh and Friends

For contributing 100 fresh ready to eat chickens today.

Thank you:

Sheila (Holly Hoque) and her friend Liz, for contributing 100 packets of biscuits.

Thank you:

Chef Pang, CEO of Sugar Daddy Group Pte Ltd (Owner of Antoinette and PiqueNique restaurants), for contributing 100 loaves of French Raisin Bread and 100 Packets of Instant Noodles.

Finally, I sincerely apologize for the crop up by Kee Song Online regarding some of the orders today. We will arrange another distribution for the undelivered chickens or otherwise Kee Song Online will refund our donors who had purchased from them via Project Awareness.

Nevertheless, it is wonderful to see so many of you here yesterday. Thank you all and god bless your kind heart! Hope to see you guys soon again and remember, a little thought can mean so much! Spread the spirit of volunteerism today! #NationofKindness #ProjectAwareness #PropertyAwareness

My thoughts for November 2014

Today is the last day of November 2014 and what had you done during this month? For me, November is consider a busy month for me as I have to start planing for my new songs and attend events, house visiting and distribution with volunteers at Project Awareness, doing duty as Group IC at new launch condo with my team-mates and updating plus recruitment of new agents for Property Awareness.

My objective for 2015 is to be a successful singer-actor and entrepreneur just like famous celebrities Jay Chou and Andy Lau. Of course I still believe in lending my helping hand to the less fortunate and low-income families, helping new property agents to establish their career in the property industry and encourage my music supporters to work hard for their dream and passion too. 

This is my new mobile phone Kata i3s sponsored by Kata Singapore. Quite a cool phone and I really love the functionality of the phone. Many of my music fans are so excited and waiting for me to record a video clip using Kata i3s and I promise to do it soon for every of you. My fellow friends Javier Ng, Hayden Chen and Daniel Chin, your Kata i3s is on the way to your country now.

Currently preparing for my new songs' releases in 2015, as I plan to release at least one new song every year and also planning for my upcoming concert in Singapore. Since 2011 concert at The Max Pavilion, it is time to hold another concert next year to get all my music supporters together! Now thinking who I should invite as my guest artistes for the concert. Any suggestion from any of you? 

For Project Awareness, I'm very happy to work together with Singapore Kindness Movement, Friends of Gardenia, Nuffnang and their famous bloggers, including our volunteers for a cause on 22 November 2014. We distributed 500 loaves of bread today to the families in French Road and Maude Road. Thank you everyone who came to be a part of this event! 

As for Property Awareness, I'm currently recruiting property agents to join my team and every agent joining my team will receive the following start-up kit upon successful application:

- Personal Branding for agent
- Business cards included
- Promotional property brochures
- Studio makeover photo-shoot
- Listing at JustClick.SG portal
- Participation in quarterly Property Roadshows
- Participation in quarterly Team Bonding Session
- Participation in quarterly Sales and Marketing Course
- And many more other benefits coming your way in 2015

Regardless whether you are a experience or inexperience agent, let's work together and allow me to build your personal branding with my elite team. 2015 is a good year to start anew and mark your success in the property industry under my team! If you are interested to be part of the team, do kindly message me at +65 9092 6068 to arrange a meet-up to understand how we can brand you and build your income in the property industry.

Which Elson Soh do you like?

Which Elson Soh do you like? Lol. Just want to know as I seldom ask my friends or music fans on this question. My blog post today is to check out each of your answer. (",)

As the founder of Property Awareness and Property Agent, or

As the founder of Project Awareness, or

As a normal guy next door, or

As a singer-songwriter?

Why TRE Residences is worth investing?

TRE Residences is the perfect condo for you if would like your home to be close to the city and still enjoy complete serenity. This condominium consists of two blocks of 17 storey residential blocks. 

TRE Residences extend through a large piece of land of approximately 67,122 square feet with a total of 250 exclusive units. It is like living in your own small Island – And the best part is that the condo is full of superb amenities to guarantee absolute relaxation for you and your family. 

As the founder for Property Awareness, I would consider this as a good investment choice for everybody who wish to buy new house or intend to move into a new location, or even take it as one of your investment plan. 

Why TRE Residences is worth investing? 

 TRE Residences is everything near you. It boasts itself being the center-point of good food, shopping, work, iconic hubs as well as other family wellness. Staying at TRE Residences not only brings home closer to work, it also brings fun nearer to home! TRE Residences is located a stone's throw away from Aljunied MRT Station. There is no private residential in recent years to be built so close to an MRT station. What's more, being so near to a station that is 10-mins away from Raffles Place? 

TRE Residences is a 5-mins drive away from the upcoming Paya Lebar Commercial Hub. Looking at the Master Plan 2014 for Paya Lebar district, we can expect a tremendous increase in retail outlets, commercial spaces and offices to be stationed there. Being in Aljunied means you get to enjoy the benefits of being near a vibrant development, yet still enjoy the tranquility of a sub-urban development. You get the best of two worlds. 

The Singapore Sports Hub is located a mere 10-mins drive away from TRE Residences. It includes a 55000 seater stadium, shopping mall (Kallang Wave) as well as other state-of-the-art sports facility. It is bound to house many International events in years to come. Being near to the hub also means you get a free ticket to watch the fireworks each time if there is to be any. 

Being a resident in TRE Residences also means being surrounded by good food all around. With the renowned "126 Dim Sum" (Wan Dou Sek) and Geylang famous Frog Porridge just 10-15mins walk away from home, you can be prepared to have a feast everyday, as and when you like it. 

TRE Residences is located less than 500m away from Geylang Methodist Primary School and Geylang Methodist Secondary School. In its opposite direction is the Geylang East Public Library. The upcoming James Cook University campus is also located a mere 1.4km away from TRE Residences. James Cook University is looking to increase its student intake from 3400 to 7500 in years to come. For those looking to yield rental gains, imagine the demand for residences nearby the school when the institution is open! 

If you have any questions, please contact me by telephone or email and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Look forward to hear from you soon. 

Bedroom types ranges from the usual 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- as well as 4 bedroom Dual-Key units. A total of 3 penthouses will be built, with all being Dual-Key units. 

Click HERE to register your interest with me, or message me at (+65) 9092 6068, so that I can fix an appointment to meet you in person. 

Eligibility

There are no eligibility restrictions in purchasing a private condominium in Singapore. The only thing to take note is the Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD), which is applicable to Singapore Citizens purchasing their second property as well as Singapore Permanent Residents and Foreigners.

Singapore Citizen:

1st Property - 0%
2nd Property - 7%
3rd Property and beyond: 10%

Singapore Permanent Resident:

1st Property - 5%
2nd Property - 10%
3rd Property and beyond: 10%

Foreigner:

1st Property - 15%
2nd Property - 15%
3rd Property and beyond: 15%

What's next after my Korea performance?

Had been sometimes since I last blog and it is time to start off my blogging regularly again. Lol. 

2014 is a busy year for me, especially my music career as I finally start my tour to Taiwan in August and the responses from the music fans is quite good. If you missed our concert at Taiwan, you can actually visit my YouTube channel too.

In September, my fellow juniors came to Singapore to continue our album promotion tour and one of our achievements is to assist Singapore Kindness Movement to promote kindness. 

As for October, I went to Korea for my debut music performance and I really love Korea so much now. Hope that next year I can release a new Korea single for my music fans over there. 

This is my new hairstyle by a Korea renowed salon arranged by our Korea team during my trip there. Nice? Lol. 

By the way, congratulations to Christopher Lee for his award on Best Male Lead at Taiwan Golden Bell Awards! So happy for him. 

Got a honour to meet him 2 years ago and he told me that it's not easy to be in the entertainment trade, but with determination, you will succeed one day. Hope one day I can work with him in one of the drama or movie!

Coming in December, I will be flying back to Taiwan for my debut compilation album promotion together with Javier Ng. So looking forward to perform with him again as he is super talented!

Sometimes it saddens me to see them going through this

Some of you may not have heard of French Road in Singapore. It is not at all anything to do with France. In fact a portion of housing there lives low-income families and elderly, who are often alone.

This old couple in their 80s and 70s I knew last year when I first started Project Awareness, have been married for many years but they have no children. Most often their day starts with grandpa bringing grandma for a walk around the neighbourhood, having breakfast along the way and then back to their home where they watch tv and spend their day. On alternate days, grandpa will wheel grandma in her wheelchair to NKF for her dialysis sessions. Both of them are not working anymore.

Having knew them for so long, I always felt they needed something but they don't say it out directly. Visiting them time to time I always notice the food in their fridge being bare. I guess they try to make do with whatever that is given to them, even though at times grandma's health condition requires her to eat better.

I also know that loneliness is sometimes a problem they face. Grandma's face lights up everytime she sees me and I knew they hope to have a grandson or granddaughter or a family member to visit them and talk to them.

Recently grandma went for a surgery and hospitalize for about a month and grandpa is getting weak as well. Sometimes it saddens me to see them going through this. For me I try to help them with whatever I can hoping to make a little difference in their life. If you want to be part of the difference, do let me know. Let's spread love around.

If you can lend your helping hand, do PM me in Facebook for more information and I hope that we can further improve their current lifestyle.

Ultimate and most affected victims from the recent saga are the children

Freedom of speech has always been something I strongly support. But today a group of people has abused this privilege given to them to create an unnecessary incident which to them may have not much impact but serious repercussions on the victims themselves. In view of the recent saga at Hong Lim Park, I felt a strong urge to speak out even though my views may not mean anything to anyone out there. Project Awareness has always been a neutral volunteer group that provides assistance and care for the less privileged families, and children, especially disabled children.

Being in contact with a few of them during my family visits, I realized that they are actually as normal as anyone can be. They too have feelings and they too have the same train of thoughts as anyone of us. Perhaps the only difference is their (some of them) inability to accurately express their discontent or disappointment. Some are expressionless but that doesn't mean they don't hurt inside

Roy's supporters accused Minister Teo Ser Luck, saying he is attended the YMCA event to get exposure, but how many people will want to spend their day on work, especially on a weekend? They can very well spend their day with their own family. Anyway selfies do not disrupt the performances, but shouting "Return our CPF" will affect the children performing and they will be frightened by angry protesters, not the minister taking selfies.

But regardless on whatever claim each party can make, I feel that the ultimate and most affected victims are the children, who had spent god knows how many numerous days rehearsing for this show, only for it to be ruined by a group of protestors. As the saying goes, "台上一分钟，台下十年功", a minute on stage is a result of 10 years of practice. If to us it is already 10 years of hard work for 1 minute, I cant imagine how much hard work they had gone through to prepare this performance.

Is this acceptable? It is already an amazing feat for them to put up a performance for everyone but these people only cared for their selfish intentions to speak off their minds over issues which they themselves do not have the solution to too.

I feel really sorry for these children. They are already being under privileged in their lives and now this has to happen. To the protesters it may be just a performance but to them its like climbing Mount Everest with zero mountain climbing experience. All they needed was our recognition and encouragement.

Let's all come together to commend the effort of the children who have put in so much effort to bring happiness into our lives. If you are one of the performers that day, I just want to say GOOD JOB and WELL DONE! Keep up the good work, we will all be supporting you! ;)

Singapore Kindness Movement - Kindness Day SG 2014

Got the honour to perform at Singapore Kindness Day - Kindness Day SG 2014! It is my second time participating in this event and I hope in future to come, I can always be part of this event. 

Thank you Dr William Wan and SKM for extending this invitation to me. I met many wonderful people and caught up with some long lost friends like Lorraine Tan and my vocal instructor John Lee from Vocaluptous.

Great to took many photo with friends, supporters and artistes who performed at this event. It is my honour to took a photo with MP Mr Baey Yam Keng as well. Look forward to participate in your voluntary project in near future.

Thank you Jia Huai Ren, Joycelyn and Jace for coming down to support me. This is my first time meeting Jace and she is so shy, but I'm to see you more often next time. 以後不要再臉紅了！(",) 

During my performance on stage, I saw Jia Huai Ren holding up my poster and I'm so touched for your action. Thank you Joycelyn as you are always a great supporter in my music and career, and thank you for always sharing my music to your friends as well.

總之，你們的好意，我都收到了！

Below are some of the photo to share with everybody. Grab any photo that you want and share the happiness with your friends in your Facebook! 

 

I think Kindness Day is a meaningful day to be celebrated and remembered, not just spreading the spirit of kindness, but also to remember that kindness still exist!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, fans and sponsors for always been so supportive of me all these while.

Also a big thanks to my volunteers from Project Awareness for lending their support to us all these while.

Not only so, there are people performing acts of kindness everyday without asking for anything in return and are not recognized by the world. Kudos to the unsung heroes too. These little acts of kindness are priceless.

Lets all continue spreading this wonderful spirit around! Happy Kindness Day!