27 Years Watching Movies and Listening to Music

27 Years Watching Movies and Listening to Music

A new survey by the leading virtual private network provider NordVPN revealed that Singaporeans spend 27 years and 1 day of their lifetime online. Compared to the average life expectancy, which in Singapore is 83.5 years, that is almost a third of their lives.

During a typical week, Singaporeans spend a bit more than 54 hours using the internet, which is the equivalent of more than two days. Out of those 54 hours per week, more than 18 hours are spent working.

The average time Singaporeans start browsing the internet each day is 9:17 – and they don't log off until 21:47.

The biggest amount of Singaporeans' time per week – 7 hours and 17 minutes – is spent watching videos on platforms like YouTube. Just an hour less – 6 hours and 16 minutes – is spent streaming TV shows and films on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Video, or Hulu.

A further 5 hours and 32 minutes a week are dedicated to scrolling through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, while 3 hours and 34 minutes are spent listening to music on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and similar platforms.

In addition, 2 hours and 32 minutes/week are used for online shopping, 2 hours and 23 minutes are used for making video calls, while another 1 hour and 46 minutes are spent playing games such as Fortnite or Minecraft.

"Most of us seek to ease and enrich our daily lives with various online platforms and services. However, barely anyone thinks about their online security or the privacy of the data they provide to apps and websites.

"Long hours spent on the internet increase the risk of becoming another cybercriminals' victim – current global circumstances have made them even more active," says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN.

The survey was commissioned by NordVPN and conducted by the external company Cint between January 11-18, 2022. The survey's target group was residents of Singapore aged 18+, and the sample was taken from national internet users. Quotas were placed on age, gender, and place of residence.

Trending Cinema Houses

Trending Cinema Houses

Singapore's cinema culture is growing and expanding at an astonishing rate. Several hidden gems around Singapore offer the perfect setting for a great night out with friends or your other half. These film houses boast luxurious interiors and are packed with state-of-the-art technology to create an unforgettable movie experience. Here is a selection of Singapore's trending cinema houses you should know about; Consider the following:

Merit Mandarin Cinema: Merit Mandarin Cinema is a well-established cinema house in Singapore. The establishment is located between the Orchard Road shopping belt and the Central Business District. Iconic architecture and interiors that mimic a luxury hotel make this cinema a favourite for moviegoers and general film lovers. An on-site restaurant allows you to dine in or take away, and the multiplex houses three well-equipped cinemas.

Shaw Singapore Cinema: Shaw Singapore Cinema is part of Singapore's most popular home-grown company, Shaw Brothers. This 10-screen cinema is located in the heart of Singapore's shopping belt near Orchard Road. The cinema's architecture, interiors, and decor are inspired by the 'Golden Age of cinema, bringing a touch of Hollywood glamour to Singapore's heartland. The cinema boasts a luxurious VIP lounge and the latest digital projection systems and sound technology. For an authentic cinema experience, the Shaw Singapore Cinema's lounge seats are imported from the United States and boast full reclining functionality. The cinema also hosts special events and competitions, making it a must-visit destination.

MBO Cinemas: MBO Cinemas has become a household name in Singapore's thriving cinema culture. The Adidas Originals cine-store is the latest concept store from MBO Cinemas, bringing a unique retail experience combining the love for movies and fashion. Located in the heart of Singapore's fashion district on Orchard Road, this cinema features an upholstered seating area, a fully kitted-out sneaker repair shop, and a vintage-inspired popcorn bar. What makes this cinema experience unique is the ability to order food and drinks from your seat and skip the long lines at the concession stand. In addition to the fully kitted-out cinema, the Adidas Originals cine-store houses a special exhibition area displaying vintage Adidas apparel and footwear. The Adidas Originals cine-store is a must-visit destination for all sneakerheads and fashion lovers visiting Singapore.

Nu Movie Restaurant & Café: Nu Movie was Singapore's first boutique cinema and restaurant, combining the best elements of traditional and modern cinemas; it perfectly creates a unique experience. Nu Movie's boutique cinema houses just 12 seats, offering a truly luxurious and intimate cinema experience. The 11-course gourmet meal, made with the help of a Michelin-starred chef, is served directly to your seat, allowing you to enjoy the full cinematic experience uninterrupted. Nu Movie also provides a unique and modern way to book cinema tickets, allowing moviegoers to purchase tickets online and choose their exact seats. This is an excellent option for families and groups of friends who would like to select seats together and make the most of their movie experience.

Golden Village Cinema: Golden Village is a 10-screen cinema located in the heart of Singapore's Orchard Road shopping belt. The cinema's stylish and modern décor is reminiscent of the 1920s when the Golden Village name was first forged. The cinema houses a well-equipped and spacious V-Lounge and features a fully stocked bar and snacks menu. For the ultimate luxury cinema experience, Golden Village's VIP seats come with comfortable couches, a fully stocked bar, and a menu with snacks and nibbles. The cinema also boasts a unique 'encore' feature, which allows you to re-watch your favourite scenes in crystal clear picture quality.

Carest: Carest is a luxurious cinema in Singapore's Central Business District, offering the best in cinema technology and comfort. The cinema features a wide range of film screenings, including the latest releases and a selection of classic films. The cinema houses five state-of-the-art auditoriums equipped with Dolby Atmos technology and an on-site cinema store. The cinema store is stocked with a wide range of gifts and collectibles, making it a fantastic place to visit; it's especially suitable before or after your film screening. For the ultimate cinema experience, the VIP Gold seating area boasts a fully stocked bar and gourmet snacks menu. The cinema also offers a unique dining experience, allowing you to enjoy a gourmet meal at the cinema before your film screening.

As shown, several hidden gems around Singapore offer the perfect setting for a night out with friends. These film houses boast luxurious interiors and are packed with state-of-the-art technology to create an unforgettable movie experience. These trends will possibly continue to grow and develop over the coming years and become more popular amongst locals and tourists alike. For lovers of the art of cinema, these are places you must visit whenever you tour Singapore.

Singapore-based HyperLive Entertainment

Singapore-based HyperLive Entertainment

HyperLive Entertainment, a Singapore-based tech-enabled creative media company today announced a landmark strategic cooperation with Nova Esports, a Hong Kong-based professional esports organisation managing various esports teams which have won multiple world championship titles, to pilot Nova's esports program in the region. HyperLive.tv is a niche TV platform that combines music, entertainment and lifestyle events.

The strategic cooperation with Nova will see HyperLive establish a Nova Southeast Asian headquarters in Singapore, which includes plans to build an esports academy in the island nation, produce captivating esports content on its OTT-licensed media platform, HyperLive.tv, as well as to start an esports team that will compete with the best teams globally in esports tournaments. The intended team name is Nova SG, and Nova SG will be based in Singapore. Further, Nova Esports will offer its experience and expertise as well as provide coaches and training regimes for the academy and its players.

Dr. Sean Wong, CEO of HyperLive, said: "We are truly excited about the synergistic partnership with Nova Esports. We have identified esports as a key market that has massive potential for growth in the upcoming years, thus with Nova on board, we are extremely confident that we can achieve incredible breakthroughs in esports."

Nova Esports, founded in 2016, has been the dominant force in the mobile esports scene in recent years, being the first team to win back-to-back world titles in the PUBG Mobile Global Championship for 2020 and 2021 and clinching titles for other games such as Brawl Stars, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale and Arena of Valor. Its line-up boasts some of the top names in esports, including poster boy Zhu "paraboy" Bocheng (PUBG Mobile World Champion), Ceng "Order" Zehai (PUBG Mobile World Champion and MVP) and Huang "Lciop" Chenghui (Clash Royale World Champion).

Singapore has been a thriving hub for esports events recently and with the support of Nova, more opportunities will arise, creating greater positive impact in the industry. The stage is set for professional esports players with tournaments sprouting both locally and regionally, with prize pools snowballing to over a million dollars at times. Clubs in Singapore have been collaborating with Esports venues to host local tournaments for local players to participate in.

One such collaboration is ECHAMP 2021, a partnership between NTUC Club and The Gym to host what was termed "the most lucrative Mobile Legend: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament" in Singapore. Given the level of interest in MLBB, it comes as no surprise then, when Wong mused about Nova SG's venture into the game, "Nova is predominantly strong in titles such as PUBG Mobile and Clash Royale. With MLBB currently being one of the most popular mobile esports games in Southeast Asia, Nova Sg is certainly keen to explore this opportunity."

There are also further plans in place to expand Nova's operations regionally to countries such as Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, where the gaming communities are growing exponentially. There is enormous potential for talent recruitment while at the same time, establishing Nova's brand equity and market presence.

HyperLive is a tech-enabled creative media company specializing in the production and distribution of interactive, entertaining media content to create brand value and digital intellectual properties. HyperLive.tv is a licensed niche television platform that combines music, entertainment and lifestyle events with highly interactive features that make for an exclusive and engaging viewing experience.

Nova is a mobile-focused esports organization committed to empowering individuals through a supportive team environment. We pride ourselves on bringing together a team of individuals with a passion for gaming, each with unique strengths and expertise. From winning major live events and organizing significant online leagues, to dominating in game rankings. Nova consistently excels in the mobile esports arena and believes in catering to a diversity of regions and cultures. With numerous top 10 in game global teams and a multitude of top ranked regional clans. Nova has representation in every major esports market in the world.

Jazz Legends to Remember

Jazz Legends to Remember

Popular culture identifies jazz with particular sounds, such as velvety saxophone solos, Frank Sinatra's soft vocals, and strolling basslines, to mention a few. However, the genre's reach has expanded significantly since its peak in the mid-20th century, with numerous artists discovering new ways to create the aural characteristic of jazz by employing various instruments, combining it with other genres, or even expanding and rewriting the genre's terminology.

Jazz is more popular than ever in modern-day Singapore. Here are some of Singapore's most influential jazz musicians, both in terms of sound and spirit. Jeremy Monteiro- Jeremy Monteiro is the man who may be described as the face of Singaporean jazz. Starting out as a pianist at Club 392 on Orchard Road in the late 1970s, Jeremy's name progressively developed until his big break came with an international appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival with his quartet Monteiro, Young & Holt, garnering a three-minute standing ovation. Jeremy is still performing regularly at the age of 58, including an annual Christmas concert, collaborations with visiting international musicians, and genre-fusing shows such as his tenure with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Rani Singam- When Jeremy Monteiro heard Rani Singnam's demo CD, he confused her voice for Sarah Vaughan's. Rani has only become better since that time in the early 2000s. The child singing sensation-turned vocal powerhouse sensation exploded onto the scene with her debut CD With a Song In My Heart, and has since earned accolades for her effortlessly soulful, delicate singing, including a spot in The Jazz Singers encyclopedia alongside jazz giants such as Ella Fitzgerald. If you hadn't heard of her before, you could have heard her perform 'Majulah Singapura' at the 2013 National Day Parade. Rani Singam still performs and works with some of the top musicians in the world and in Singapore, including Chok Kerong and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Alemay Fernandez: Alemay Fernandez is one of Singapore's most popular jazz singers, known for her robust, dramatic, but exquisite voice. Fernandez, a 20-year veteran of the scene, routinely plays in Singapore's pubs and bars, collaborating with some of the genre's biggest stars, including the Basie Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Esplanade. And she's in high demand all over the world, with appearances ranging from Hong Kong to Perth to Moscow – and that's only in the first four months of 2019.

Chok Kerong: Kerong, a talented pianist and hammond organist, is best recognized as a composer and arranger. Strings and brasses join his piano and jazz staples such as saxophone and bass in his chamber jazz group concerts in 2015 and 2019. He's created a reputation for himself by blending classical inspirations with jazz and soul, and he's pushed the sound palette to new and exciting areas. His organ trio continues in this spirit, introducing an unconventional instrument to straight-ahead jazz. Kerong worked as an arranger for pop sensation Charlie Lim and has been commissioned to produce a composition for pipe organ and strings for the classical-focused Singapore Symphony Group. Chok Kerong is the personification of musical versatility and experimentation on a big scale in Singapore.

Felix Phang: In Felix Phang's music, worlds merge. Originally educated as a classical violinist and trombonist, Phang went down the rabbit hole of jazz while learning at Berklee College of Music, and now mixes the previous two genres with ethnic music from Singapore's primary races. Phang has formed a number of bands, including The Straits Ensemble, which performs ethnic-jazz-classical fusion, Imaginary Forces, which performs modern jazz, and Ark Royal, which performs Mandarin Jazz with his regular partner Dawn Wong. Phang's music is especially important this bicentennial as we evaluate our past and look to the future, guided by his ambition to investigate our traditions and establish a 'Singaporean sound.'

The Steve McQueens: The Steve Mcqueens, who perform a type of jazz fusion that ranges from sensuous and peaceful to pounding and loud, are one of the most prominent performers to arise from the industry in recent times. Formed in 2013, the band immediately established itself as a major act, winning a position on the 2014 program of the Sing Jazz Festival, where it gained international notice. The band, which consists of singer Eugenia Yip (or Ginny Bloop), keyboardist Joshua Wan, bassist Jase Sng, and drummer Aaron James Lee, has released two albums and toured extensively, with highlights including the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan and opening for the legendary Incognito at the O2 in London.