Unlike in Bangkok, people in the provinces are unable to access fully equipped medical facilities for effective, integrated treatment of illnesses. This is the case especially with breast cancer, now the most common cancer in Thai women.

To narrow the health divide between people in the capital and the provinces, a fundraising campaign has been organised to establish the first breast cancer centre at Khon Kaen Hospital.

The campaign is headed by Prof Dr Supakorn Rojananin, Chairman of Surgeons for All and President of the International College of Surgeons, Thailand Section, under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, who has been mustering support from the public and private sectors in the hope of distributing advanced medical services to other regions of Thailand for the people’s well-being.

“We want Khon Kaen to be the first landmark in our success,” Dr Supakorn says.

Khon Kaen is the third most populated province in the northeast and has great potential for public health development, particularly in the field of breast cancer prevention led by Khon Kaen Hospital.

“The hospital has received admirable cooperation from the public and private sectors as well as from local people and it has been internationally acclaimed as a model medical institution for breast cancer prevention and treatment in the northeast. The new breast cancer centre at Khon Kaen Hospital is almost complete. After a long and continuous effort, the first one-stop breast cancer centre in the northeast is expected to open next year so that residents of the northeast will no longer need to go to Bangkok to receive breast cancer-related examination and treatment.”

Additional funding is still needed to acquire some medical equipment. The campaign has been supported by several private organisations, including ICC International Plc, distributor of Wacoal lingerie products; and its partner Thai Wacoal, which together have donated Bt15 million on behalf of their “Wacoal Pink Ribbon” breast cancer awareness campaign for the purchase of mammogram and breast ultrasound machines for the centre.

“We intend to make it an integrated centre for breast cancer-related treatment and education, with tasks ranging from primary prevention – educating the surrounding communities on the disease and health care – to treatment of terminal patients,” Dr Supakorn adds.

“We have worked closely with the general public, sending out teams to educate people on how to identify signs of breast cancer, how to perform breast self-exam, and how to avoid risks. Khon Kaen Hospital has held many breast cancer awareness activities, while encouraging north-eastern women of all ages at risk to receive regular breast checks.”

“Our goal is to elevate Khon Kaen Hospital to the centre of excellence in breast cancer treatment in the Northeast. This will not only help establish Thailand as the leader in breast cancer treatment and prevention in Southeast Asia, but our country will be an example of medical progress in this field for our neighbouring countries,” he says.

If the development of the breast cancer centre at Khon Kaen Hospital is successful, a similar centre will be created in the northern region through a collaboration between Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital and Mae Fah Luang University for the benefits and well-being of the people in that region.

The general public interested in donating for the purchase of medical equipment for the breast cancer centre at Khon Kaen Hospital should call (02) 716 5957 for more information.

The firm said in a press release on Wednesday that it has sold 50 million headphones around the world in recent years and 1More Thailand aims to replicate that success here.

The products, with prices ranging from Bt350 to Bt6,300, including both wired and wireless devices, are available at Speed Computer Pantip Pratunam in Bangkok.

The company designs and manufactures all of its own components “from the ground up”, not relying on third-party sources or middlemen, which would boost prices.

“For this reason, 1More can provide high-performance sound at extraordinary prices while producing a product that is as much form as it is function,” the firm said.

“With award-winning products like the Quad Driver and Triple Driver in-ear headphones, 1More has succeeded in making reference-quality audio products available to everyone.”

The Triple Drivers (Bt3,500) and Quad Drivers (Bt6,300) feature patent-pending design technology that allows for “a full-frequency, low-distortion, premium audio experience” using three and four separate driver components respectively, to deliver “unsurpassed clarity and dynamic power with a hi-res bandwidth”.

Both items carry a rare-earth-element dynamic driver, plus multiple balanced armatures dedicated to independent frequencies, to deliver “an ultra-realistic soundstage”.

Both also feature a streamlined, anodised-finish sound chamber with perfected ergonomics, which provides exceptional comfort and noise isolation.

As with all 1More products, the Quad and Triple Drivers are expertly tuned by Grammy-winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi for a fully balanced and ultra-realistic soundstage.

The Triple and Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones this year became the first THX-certified headphones, enhancing the value of products already lauded by industry experts for exceeding standards for both value and quality. THX certification is a guarantee of superior sonic qualities.

Peter Vasay of THX said his firm and 1More were “natural partners”, since “we share a common mission – delivering an experience that stays true to the artist’s intention.

“Out of all of the brands in the portable audio genre, 1More can be counted on to deliver a truly superb audio experience.”

Recently released were an active-noise-cancelling (ANC) in-ear headphone and an over-ear gaming headphone.

The Dual Driver ANC (Bt6,300) is the world’s first dual-driver Lightning ANC. Powered through the Lightning connector, and with no need for a bulky battery, it’s remarkably compact, light and easy to use.

The Spearhead VR Gaming Headphones (Bt4,190), a PC-based, wired set featuring 7.1-channel sound and a comprehensive UI for user-customisation.

They have synchronised vibrating drivers that respond to gaming-specific sounds, like explosions and aircraft noise, for a more realistic experience. A 3D audio-integrated VRX version will be available next year.

The 1More MK802 Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones (Bt5,250) feature rare beryllium drivers for an exceptionally comprehensive sound and a durable, lightweight and stylish TR-90 exterior.

The iBFree Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones (Bt2,100) are extremely light aluminium-alloy earpieces with Bluetooth 4.1 aptX coding, oblique-angled ergonomic comfort, titanium dynamic drivers and IPX water resistance for active sports use.

The 1Mmore Dual Driver Capsule In-Ear Headphone (Bt3,150) is a two-driver in-ear headphone that has a sleek pill-shaped deign meant for ideal comfort for long periods of use.

Seen through the eyes of Miyazaki, the two-part film installation, which was commissioned by the ArtScience Museum and SGIFF, depicts urban life, and scenes from Singapore. The isolation and anxiety of modern life is depicted in the first part of the experience, “Specters”, whilst “Tourists” reveals the temporary freedom that the protagonists experience in the absence of technology. Admission to “Specters and Tourists”, and the programmes that accompany it, is free.

In “Specters”, scenes from Miyazaki’s previous films are woven into a multiple-screen spectacle of people trapped like ghosts. Miyazaki lingers on the observation that the modern experience is homogenised and without meaning; without risk and thoroughly monotonous. As one peers into the windows of their uninspired lives, the spectator becomes the spectre himself.

“Tourists” was filmed in Singapore and stars Japanese actresses, Nina Endo, who also appeared in the director’s “Yamato” (“California”), which was screened at the 27th SGIFF) and Sumire Sato (from Japanese girl group, SKE48). In “Tourists”, two friends win a free trip abroad. They arrive in a cosmopolitan city identical to their home country, but find themselves displaced in its unfamiliar monuments when one of them loses her mobile phone. Without the predictability of a travel itinerary found on the Internet, the friends reconstruct their identities with their encounters in unwritten places.

Born in Yokohama, Japan in 1980, Miyazaki was one of the Berlinale Talents directors of the omnibus film, “5 to 9”, which screened at SGIFF in 2015. Miyazaki’s first feature “End of the Night”, was selected for numerous international film festivals and won the Special Mention Prize at the Toronto Shinsedai Cinema Festival.

“‘Specters and Tourists’ is an extension of ArtScience on Screen, our platform for film, video and moving image which explores the intersection of art, science, culture and technology. Daisuke Miyazaki’s thoughtful and compelling film installation gives us a new view on Singapore, and encourages us to think about our urban environment in a more imaginative way,” said Honor Harger, executive director of ArtScience Museum.

“Miyazaki has been a regular at the Festival, and it is really the next step for us to work with him on a multi-disciplinary exhibition that weaves together film, music and live performance, challenging the possibilities of how we use film to connect with our audience.” added Yuni Hadi, executive director of SGIFF.

In conjunction with “Specters and Tourists”, ArtScience Museum will also be hosting performances and screenings, as part of the museum’s ongoing programme strands, ArtScience Late and ArtScience on Screen. ArtScience Late brings experimental performances by outstanding local and international performers who work at the intersection of art, technology and science, to the public. ArtScience on Screen is the museum’s dedicated film and video programme, and is part of Marina Bay Sands’ ongoing commitment to local and international film culture.

On November 16 at 8pm, Miyazaki will be directing an immersive and exuberant ArtScience Late performance, “All Life is Tour”, in partnership with Singapore musicians, ARE. Sound project and art rock band, ARE create psych-art arrangements that sway between loud guitars, colourful electronics and lyrical tales. They have performed and recorded their melodic psychedelia and grainy electronics in Japan and Singapore, in locations as diverse as museum and abandoned houses.

“All Life is Tour” will combine improvised music and live cinema to allow visitors to experience life as both spectre and spectator.

Admission is free, on a first-come-first-served basis with limited capacity at the performance.

ArtScience Museum will also be screening a collaborative film by four regional directors – Tay Bee Pin (Singapore), Miyazaki (Japan), Vincent Du (China) and Rasiguet Sookkarn (Thailand). First premiered in Singapore at the 26th SGIFF, the programme comprises four short stories that transpire and interweave from 5pm to 9am on the evening of the historic Brazil-Germany match during World Cup 2014, spanning intimate vignettes of unrequited love and final meetings.

The screening will take place from November 5 and December 5. Admission is free. For screening schedule, please visit MarinaBaySands.com/ArtScienceMuseum

The Guide’s 2018 edition saw celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten suffer the indignity of being downgraded from three to two stars, leaving the US cultural and financial capital with just five three-star restaurants.

And San Francisco? It has seven.

Seventy-two New York restaurants were awarded stars by the celebrated culinary guide, down from 77 in 2016. Michelin said several previously ranked restaurants had been dropped from the list because they had since closed.

But most notable was the loss of three-star status for Vongerichten’s flagship Jean-Georges, one of the most glittering restaurants in New York and situated in the Trump International Hotel and Tower overlooking Central Park.

It was at Jean-Georges that then president-elect Donald Trump dined on November 30, 2016 with Republican grandee Mitt Romney, whom he was then considering but quickly afterward passed over as a possible US secretary of state.

After eating in full glare of other diners, Trump let Romney walk out alone after the meal to heap praise on the incoming president before the cameras, offering remarks that contrasted sharply with his criticism on the campaign trail.

Jean-Georges, which opened in 1997 to critical acclaim and has long been the jewel in the French-born chef’s empire, is now one of 11 New York restaurants with two stars.

Instead of the three-star ranking, which Michelin characterizes as “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,” its downgraded status is classified as “excellent cooking, worth a detour.”

The restaurant’s prix fixe dinner starts at $148 a head.

San Francisco now has the most number of three Michelin-starred restaurants in any US city. Chicago has two three-starred restaurants. Washington has none.

New York is home to 56 one-starred restaurants. Six new restaurants joined the star selections, three of which feature Japanese cuisine, the guide said.

While dwarfed by the population of New York, San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the country, hugely popular with tourists, famed for its Golden Gate Bridge and which in the 1990s became the hub of the dot-com bubble.

The device raises the bar for Dell’s most aggressive performance design and components offered within the Inspiron gaming laptop family. It comes with a striking, gamer-focused design with Intel’s 7th Gen H-series quad core mobile CPUs and NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 1060 graphics with Max-Q Design Technology, delivering clear, detailed gameplay.

Premium materials make this laptop stand out with an ultra-sleek finish. Durable magnesium alloy braces the system for exceptional rigidity. It’s equipped with fast, long-range 802.11ac WiFi with SmartByte network priority optimization, full 100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C and Type-A ports with multi-format media card reader so you never have to slow down.

The Inspiron 15 7000 gaming laptop’s SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 can support a single 5K display or dual 4K display output. The device comes with superior sound, allowing gamers to experience every beat of the action with improved clarity thanks to two front-firing speakers powered by Waves MaxxAudio Pro. The Inspiron 15 7000 (7577) comes in matte black.

WHEN THE funeral rites for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej conclude today, the ashes will be transferred from Phra Sri Rattana Chedi within the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to the two Bangkok temples most closely associated with him.

Wat Bovoranives Vihara is where he resided while ordained as a monk in 1956. At Wat Rajabopidh Sathitmahasimaram rest the cremains of other Kings of the Chakri Dynastry and those of his parents.

Through the morning, King Bhumibol’s relics will be kept in the Heavenly Abode of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, alongside relics of Kings Rama IV through VIII.

In the evening, King’s Guard cavalrymen under the authority of the late monarch’s granddaughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, will lead a motorcade procession in which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will accompany their father’s ashes to the two temples.

This will be the last of the six elaborate processions that have taken place during the five days of funeral ceremonies that began on Wednesday.

Cavalrymen of the King’s Guard will today lead the sixth and final funeral procession, transporting the royal ashes to the two temples.

Wat Rajabopidh – the name means “built by a king” – was indeed erected by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), King Bhumibol’s grandfather, in 1869. It was long the custom for monarchs to build a temple to commemorate their reign.

At the side of the temple opposite Khlong Lot, to the west, is the royal cemetery that King Chulalongkorn established for the interment of his queens, consorts and descendants.

It contains more than 30 memorials of varying designs. One, the Rangsi Vadhana, holds the cremains of King Bhumibol’s parents – Prince Mahidol of Songkla and Princess Srinagarindra – and his sister, Princess Galyani Vadhana.

“The ashes of King Ananda Mahidol [Rama VIII] – King Bhumibol’s elder brother – were enshrined at Wat Suthat because he’d had it restored,” says historian Chissanupong Talakana.

One portion of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s ashes will be enshrined beneath the base of the Phra Buddha Ankhirot, the main Buddha statue of Wat Rajabopidh Sathitmahasimaram.

A portion of King Bhumibol’s ashes will be laid beneath the base of the Phra Buddha Ankhirot, the temple’s main Buddha statue, situated in the Phra Ubosot (ordination hall). Also beneath the statue are the remains of Kings Chulalongkorn and Prajadhipok (Rama VII) and the latter’s consort, Queen Rambhai Barni.

The casting in bronze of the Phra Buddha Ankhirot, whose name means “aura from the body”, began late in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and was not completed until his son King Chulalongkorn was on the throne. Thongthong Chandrangsu, an expert in royal ceremonies, points out what a remarkable image it is.

“Many Buddha statues made in the time of King Rama IV are quite life-like, closely resembling actual monks. Take a look at the robes of the Phra Buddha Ankhirot – they look like real, folded fabric, just as monks wear their robes. King Rama V also provided gold ornaments he’d used in his youth to gild the statue.”

The exterior of Wat Rajabopidh’s Phra Ubosot is decorated with hand-painted tiles.

Wat Rajabopidh’s place in history is further secured by its classification as a royal temple first class of the Rajavoravihara type, and by the fact that it produced three Supreme Patriarchs, the leaders of Thai Buddhism. Its current abbot, Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong, is the 20th and incumbent Supreme Patriarch.

Thongthong notes that, while most Thai temples mark out sacred ground for the boundary of the Phra Ubosot with eight small sema stones, Wat Rajabopidh has eight huge ones set into the enclosing wall, thus consecrating the entire compound. Its monks can thus perform religious ceremonies, including ordinations, outside the Phra Ubosot.

The architecture of Wat Rajabopidh blends classical Thai and European styles.

The architecture of Wat Rajabopidh blends classical Thai and European (mostly Gothic) styles, reflecting Siam’s opening to the West under Kings Rama IV and V.

The Phra Ubosot is distinctly Thai, with the exterior covered in hand-glazed tiles and the interior featuring a raised ceiling with chandeliers. The doors and windows are decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl in the form of various royal insignia.

Thongthong says Wat Rajapradit and Wat Rajabopidh were specially built to commemorate the reigns of Rama IV and Rama V, respectively, but there has been no official announcement about dedicating a temple to King Bhumibol.

“He did, though, initiate the building of Wat Phraram Kao Kanjanapisek.”

The Rangsi Vadhana Memorial in the royal cemetery at Wat Rajabopidh contains the ashes of King Bhumibol’s parents and sister.

Each of the varied memorials in the royal cemetery is marked with a name and number. The four most prominent ones are topped with gilded chedis.

These are dedicated to King Chulalongkorn’s four principal consorts. The Sunandha Nusavaree Memorial is for Queen Sunandha Kumariratana, the Rangsi Vadhana for Queen Savang Vadhana (King Bhumibol’s grandmother), the Saovabha Praditsatharn for Queen Saovabha Phongsri, and the Sukhumala Naruemit Memorial for Queen Sukhumala Marasri.

“You can see some European influence in the memorial stones, too,” says historian Chissanupong. “One of the big memorials belongs to the Yugala family and it’s modelled after the Phra Prang Sam Yot in Lopburi and adorned with three Khmer-style prang. The stupa-like Chao Chom Manda Uam Memorial was built by the Kitiyakara family.”

In the Phra Ubosot of Wat Bovoranives Vihara is the Buddha statue Phra Buddha Chinnasi, under which a second portion of King Bhumibol’s ashes will be laid.

Wat Bovoranives Vihara – Wat Bovorn as it’s commonly known – was established in 1829 under King Rama III. This is where Siam and Thailand’s Kings and princes have traditionally spent time as monks, including King Bhumibol and his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The Phra Ubosot houses the revered Phra Buddha Chinnasi, a statue believed sculpted around 1357. The second portion of King Bhumibol’s ashes will be enshrined at its base, near those of King Rama VI.

Wat Bovorn is a first-class royal monastery of particular importance as the temple where six monarchs donned monks’ robes. The others were King Rama V, King Rama VI and King Rama VII.

Wat Bovoranives Vihara is where six monarchs of Siam and Thailand were ordained as monks.

A museum within the monastery pays tribute to its six abbots through the ages, and one of the resident monks insists it’s “not just for devout Buddhists”. It’s a wonderful place to learn about Thai history, politics and traditions, says Phra Soponkanaporn, and especially about the religion.

“Four of the temple’s six abbots served as Supreme Patriarchs and worked closely with the royal family,” he points out.

The first abbot, in 1836, was in fact Prince Mongkut. He was a monk for 27 years and the abbot for 14 years before being crowned King Rama IV.

The second abbot, Krom Phraya Pavares Variyalankarana, became the eighth Supreme Patriarch, serving from 1851 to 1892, and acting as upajjhaya (preceptor) under King Rama V while he wore the robes of a novice and a monk.

Krom Luang Vajiranyanavongse – the fourth abbot, from 1921 to 1958, and the 13th Supreme Patriarch – was preceptor to King Bhumibol following his ordination in 1956. It was Krom Luang Vajiranyanavongse who conceived the names for His Majesty’s children.

A new DX-format digital SLR camera with fast performance, excellent image quality and true-to-life colours, the Nikon D7500 draws on the success of the flagship D500’s high-performance Expeed 5 image-processing engine. That alone means that it’s a significant improvement over its predecessor, the D7200.

Among other things, it combines 4K UHD video recording finesse with outstanding low-light capabilities in capturing stills, all within an improved camera body.

Its improvements over the D7200 include a faster continuous shooting speed of 8 frames per second, a touch screen, a maximum ISO of 51,200, 4K video shooting, pixel area of 17.85 micron and even weighs 125 grams less.

If you like to record 4K videos for enjoying on your UHD TV, you will be happy to know that the D7500 is capable of shooting 4K UHD video in 30p format for both regular and time-lapse formats.

You can also simultaneously record files on external HDMI-compatible devices as uncompressed data, and on the DSLR’s own memory card. Sharing and viewing of videos on smart devices is seamless too, with the option to write files in MP4 format and AAC recording.

The D7500 allows you to capture good quality photos in challenging environments thanks to the updated Nikon DX-format 20.9-megapixel CMOS sensor and that Expeed image-processing engine mentioned earlier. The DX-format is actually Nikon’s alternative name for an APSC sensor format.

The sensor works with the high-performance image engine to capture high-definition image quality with minimised noise, even in low-light environments in ISO capability of up to 51200.

Beginners will appreciate the excellent full automatic exposure mode that is assisted by highly precise Autofocus (AF), Auto Exposure (AE), and auto white balance performance, delivered by the 180K-pixel RGB sensor and 51-point AF System as well as Auto Picture Control option.

In the auto mode and when the Auto Picture Control is selected, the camera automatically recognises and analyses each shooting scene and adjusts accordingly when the new Auto Picture Control option is selected. When this option is enabled, the DSLR determines the optimal colour adjustment by fine-tuning the tone curve, colour and sharpness, within the camera, delivering consistency across multiple images taken with continuous shooting. This allows for softer skin depiction in portraits and an enhanced contrast for vibrant landscapes.

Moreover, the D7500 also incorporates flicker reduction for still images, which reduces exposure variations under flickering light sources.

The D7500 is good at capturing photos of fast action. It uses a 51-point AF system and high-speed continuous shooting at up to approximately 8fps to capture spontaneous moments.

The D7500 has the ability to shoot up to 50 shots in 14bit lossless compressed RAW, with extended buffer capacity. This speed is accompanied by a 180K-pixel RGB sensor, also found in the D500, which supports an Advanced Scene Recognition System for improved face detection performance for auto-area AF and enhanced subject acquisition performance for group-area AF and 3D tracking. To prevent blownout highlights, the new option for highlight-weighted metering is also available.

The D7500 has multiple exposure options and incamera Raw processing options. Individual images and composition or partially overlaid images that make up a multiple exposure shot can be previewed while shooting, with the option to save all or selected images to be combined on a computer after shooting. The enhanced multiple exposure also simplifies the image creation process by providing the option to delete or retake the last image.

You can also process multiple Raw files in batches with the additional ability to apply settings, such as white balance and Picture Control during shooting in RAW, to processing parameters. Just select the “original” setting from the menu.

The D7500 is a good for travel photographers thanks to its true-to-life and vibrant colours when taking landscape shots.

Another advantage is its size. It weighs just 720g and the slim body has an ergonomic design and a deeper handgrip that is both comfortable and secure thanks to a monocoque body structure, which reduces both size and weight without sacrificing durability or strength.

You can also easily share your shots from D7500 to your social network pages thanks to its SnapBridge technology. The camera has builtin Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable continuous transfer of images and video files to a paired smart device via the mobile app.

SnapBridge also provides a suite of additional functions, such as remote shooting, automatic update of camera’s time and location information, embedding of credit information, reception of firmware updates.

The camera has good performance and I didn’t experience any shutter lag during the test. The touch screen and function buttons make the controls a breeze.

The camera provides professional mode of Manual, Programed Auto, Shutter-priority, Aperture-Priority and full auto modes. I stuck mainly to the auto mode and found it was able to analyse various scenes accurately. You can also select scene modes on your own. The available scene modes are portrait, landscape, child, sports, close up, night portrait, night landscape, party/indoor, beach/snow, sunset, dusk/dawn, pet portrait, candlelight, blossom, autumn colours, and food.

I tested the camera with the Nikkor kit lens 18140 VR F3.556 and was pleased with the image quality.

Nikon D7500 with the kit lens 18140 VR F3.55.6 sells for Bt59,900 while the body only sells for Bt49,900.

KEY SPECS

– Type: Single-lens reflex digital camera

– Lens mount: Nikon F mount with 1.5x crop factor

– Image sensor: 20.9 million Nikon DX format 23.5×15.7mm CMOS sensor with

– Media: SD (Secure Digital) and UHSI compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards)

– Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism singlelens reflex viewfinder, 100 per cent coverage

– Monitor: 3.2-inch, 922k-dot TFT touch screen

– Shutter: 1/8000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb, time

– Metering system: TTL exposure metering using RGB sensor with approx 180K (180,000) pixels

– Focus: Nikon Advanced MultiCAM 3500 II autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points

– ISO: ISO 100 to 51200

– Exposure modes: A, P, M, S, A, Scenes

– Max movie resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD); 30p (progressive), 25p, 24p

– Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11g, Bluetooth 4.1

– Dimensions: Approx. 135.5 x 104 x 72.5 mm

– Weight: Approx. 720 g with battery and memory card but without body cap

Jabra has upgraded its advanced, true-wireless Elite Sport with longer battery life and new electronic chipsets that can personalise the equaliser. There’s also a fresh option in the colour.

The major upgrade gives the wireless earbuds 4.5 hours of battery life per single charge, up from three hours in the previous version. With that much battery juice, you can rest assured that your Jabra Elite Sport Upgrade won’t let you down in the middle of a long exercise session, such as a marathon run.

Moreover, the earbuds’ carrying and charging cradle lets you recharge the unit more often, boosting potential battery life to 13.5 hours, a big cumulative jump over the nine hours in its predecessor.

Since the black version of the Elite Sport Upgrade looks identical to the previous edition, Jabra has actually prints “13.5” on the lid of the charging case on each of the earbuds.

There’s now a Lime Green Grey version added to the other colour options, but you won’t get the “13.5” on the cover.

Live Green Grey was chosen because it’s a popular colour combination in sports apparel and makes for a splash of tones, yet still looks discreet when worn in the ears.

The body of the earbuds and the charging cradle are dark grey, while a lime green accent appears on the earwings.

With the internal chipset modified, the new earbuds and cradle are no longer compatible. You won’t be able to recharge the buds of the Upgrade version in your old cradle, or recharge the old buds in the new cradle.

What you can do now, though, is use the Sport Life app to customise the equaliser settings on the Elite Sport Upgrade. It’s quite easy to do. You simply go to the Headphone setting on the app and select Music Equaliser. You’ll see a circle displayed that can be dragged up and down to adjust the bass and other settings while music is actually played.

The Elite Sport Upgrade represents “true wireless” earbuds because there’s no wire connecting the buds. Instead, they’re linked wirelessly.

And they’re “sport earbuds” because you have a heart-rate sensor embedded in the right earbud and a TrackFit motion-counting sensor – a triaxis accelerometer to monitor your activity.

The Elite Sport Upgrade is also compatible with popular sports apps that utilise heart-rate sensors, such as Endomo.

The Jabra Elite Sport Upgrade is waterproof and comes with a three-year warranty against sweat damage. It conforms to IP67 rating, meaning it can be a metre underwater for up to 30 minutes. That means you can wear the buds while swimming – as long as your smartphone is waterproof (as is the Samsung Galaxy S8, among others).

Sports earbuds have to be both comfortable to wear for long periods and fit securely to the ears so they don’t fall out while exercising. With the Elite Sport package, you get earwings, silicone eargels and foam tips in three sizes (small, medium and large).

The earwings go on your earlobes and the gels and tips inside your ear canals.

When the proper gel or foam tip selected, the music quality is also enhanced, and the bass is pretty intense.

While testing the unit, I used silicone eargels and found they effectively reduced outside noise so I could better enjoy the music quality as impressively reproduced by the buds in authentic stereo, with crisp details and powerful bass.

These are “smart earbuds”, ready to connect to a smartphone right from the first use, as soon as you open the charging cradle. Another option is pressing and holding the multifunction button on the right earbud for three seconds to enter Bluetooth connection status. Then you just follow the vocalised instructions. You can also pair the buds up with another device within the Sport Life app.

The buds even know when they’ve come out of your ears – the music app automatically stops, and will resume once the buds are nestled back in your ears again.

Of course, music is only part of the function of the Elite Sport Upgrade. The sports tracking makes the earbuds very useful in keeping you fit. The Hear Through option, for example, lets you monitor surrounding sounds to keep you safe while running along a road.

When you use the Sport Life app for the first time, you need to feed it your gender, birth date, height and weight. The information is used to calculate your fitness data and calories burned during each exercise session.

During first use, the app will guide you in adjusting the right earbud until it can pick up your heart rate. Now it wants to know the rate while at rest and while active, so you’re asked to do a squat jump or static run for 15 minutes.

Now you’re ready for a run. The app keeps an eye on every activity, including cross-training exercises. At the end of each, you get a report on average and maximum heart rate and the overall zone the heart rate fell within.

The app helps you plan, monitor and analyse workouts in real time with inear guidance. It has a Race Time Predictor that estimates the time to complete a run based on your current fitness level and personal profile. And the Recovery Advisor keeps track of your physiological state and automatically suggests a recovery schedule to strike  a balance between rest and training.

In Thailand, RTB Technology sells the Jabra Elite Sport Upgrade for Bt9,900 at Jaymart, iStudio, Life, Power Buy, Power Mall, http://www.Lazada.co.th and http://www.GadGetThai.net.

KEY SPECS

– Bluetooth: 4.1

– Talk/music time: Up to 4.5 hours continuous play, charging case provides additional two full charges of up to 13.5 hours

– Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz

– Calls: Advanced calling with 4x digital MEMs microphones, advanced nose cancellation technology

– Microphone sensitivity: Minus-38dBV

– Microphone frequency range: 100Hz to 10kHz

– Sensors: Inear heart-rate monitor, TrackFit motion-counting sensor

– Durability: Waterproof rating IP67

These natural healing journeys guide guests to rejuvenate their mind and re-energise their body, enabling them to unlock a new version of themselves and share their newly discovered positive energies with family and friends.

Famous for her work with celebrities, Dr Buathon, known as Dr B, is a Thai holistic practitioner with an extensive knowledge of Tibetan and alternative medicine as well as Taoist practice. Her holistic treatments based on timeless wellness philosophies help restore balance to the body, mind and spirit by unlocking the natural positive energy from within.

Her signature ZenNaTai treatment helps guests understand how the mind influences the body’s weaknesses by rebalancing the three core tenets of thinking, feeling and awareness. The treatment is designed to improve the flow of energy – giving qithroughout the body, release physical tensions and detox the abdominal area. Guests who undergo three treatments within a week expect to get immediate positive results, including improved relaxation and a more restful night’s sleep.

Buathon’s Energy Enhancing treatment uses specially blended therapeutic oils to heal the body’s seven chakra points. A unique oil formulation is applied to each chakra point to optimise the inner flow of chakra energy and restore balance to the mind and body, while the soothing sound frequencies of seven Tibetan singing bowls enhance the aura of calmness and serenity

The 60-minute signature ZenNaTai treatment is priced at Bt5,900-plus, the 75 minute Energy Enhancing treatment at Bt6,900-plus and the 60-minute Breathing Exercise at Bt800-plus. Each class is limited to a maximum of four individuals.

For more information and reservations, call (02 ) 020 2888 or email spapbk@peninsula.com. Visit http://www.Peninsula.com/bangkok.

Founder of Miss Grand International Organization Nawat Itsaragrisil took the stage to thank the hosts and the Government for organising the reception before the emcee, Michelle Leon, fourth runner-up in last year’s contest, invited Henrique Fontes, president of the Grand Slam Beauty Ranking Organisation, to present the “Miss Grand Slam 2016” award to Ariska Putri Pertiwi Miss Grand International 2016.

The stage was then given over to the contestants for their shows, with Miss Grand Philippines, Miss Grand Thailand, Miss Grand Haiti, Miss Grand Fiji, Miss Grand Laos kicking off the proceedings to rounds of applause.

The Preliminary Show was held later at the Musical Water Fountain Stage Vinpearl Land, Amusement Park, which will also host tomorrow’s grand final.

Watch the live events via Facebook Live: MissGrandInternational or at http://www.MissGrandInternational.com.