As I am writing my first commentary for this issue of The Straits Times Digital (ST Digital), it feels like I have come full circle. I joined The Straits Times eight years ago in 2007, as a correspondent at Digital Life. I then moved to The Sunday Times to cover general news, and later to The Straits Times newsdesk.
Last month, I landed back where I started - at Digital Life's new guise, ST Digital. This time, it is to helm the team.
I'm honoured to be the new editor of Singapore's longest-running tech publication, which I recently learnt our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reads regularly. Knowing this, though, has upped my stress level by several notches already.
So what's ahead?
The most obvious change, as many might have noticed, is the move to broadsheet format.
Readers are probably more familiar with the cosy read of our tabloid format in the past. But now, we can better project stories and pictures for the benefit of readers. We have a cleaner layout. We have also elevated the importance of tech stories as they come right after the Home section. This is good news for newsmakers and advertisers.
ST Digital will continue to focus on products and reviews. We will be adding more tech news and features. I will continue to keep my ear to the ground for breaking telco and data privacy news.
Expect also to read in-depth features like our relaunch cover story on July 1, in which we ran a 4G speed test at seven popular malls here.
The story pitted the three telcos against one another on network coverage and surfing speeds.
This issue, we look at the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (Oled) TV market and ask the question: Can Oled technology rejuvenate an increasingly saturated TV market?
ST Digital also wants to own the local digital start-up space and will be featuring the apps and games made by these companies. Last week's coverage of honestbee, which pledges to deliver in under an hour your grocery orders from multiple e-retailers, is a good example.
I also want to introduce the new ST Digital team.
Lisabel Ting, who was previously a reporter from ST Life, is our new gadget girl - and the publication's first female reporter in five years. She is also an avid gamer.
Lester Hio is the youngest member of the team. His interests lie in drones and hacking. No, he is not training to be a white-hat hacker. But he will keep an eye on what's hot in the security sector.
The remaining members of the team need no introduction.
Deputy editors Sherwin Loh and Trevor Tan have been with the publication for seven and four years, respectively.
Sherwin was the first to sniff out and break the news last week on our website that Google had rolled out movies for sale and rental on its Singapore Play Store.
Read his follow-up story today about Google Play offering R21 titles, calling into question the effectiveness of Singapore's media regulatory framework.
Trevor, our photography expert and Apple insider, will continue to provide tips, say, on whether to buy a charging dock for your new Apple Watch. Read his review of the Griffin WatchStand in this issue to find out more.
Last but not least, you can count on Vincent Chang to continue the rigour in his PC reviews. He is also expecting his second child in December.
Let us know if there are areas we can do better. We owe it to our readers for helping us arrive where we are today.
