Singapore’s 10 biggest tech stories in 2015

Tiny Singapore has its fair share of big tech stories. This shouldn’t be surprising as the country is fashioning itself as a tech oasis. Here’s a rundown of the most read and discussed Tech in Asia articles about the country in 2015.

1. GrabTaxi launches GrabCar in Singapore to compete head-on with Uber

Uber became famous for turning anyone into a taxi driver. Meanwhile, GrabTaxi gave cab companies fits by building a taxi booking app Uber could only dream of.

The two worlds collided when GrabTaxi launched GrabCar, a direct competitor to UberX, in Singapore. UberX is Uber’s most affordable option in the country, offering rates that are on par with cabs.

So far, the two worlds aren’t seeing much overlap. GrabTaxi is still dominant with cabs, and Uber is the best option if you’d like a private ride in Singapore.

Read the full story.

2. Economist destroys arguments for regulating Uber

Still in the realm of transportation tech, governments the world over are crossing swords with Uber, a swashbuckling pirate who has snubbed local laws until it realized that’s not a sustainable way forward.

Then, a Singapore minister publicly mulled tighter regulations on Uber and its ilk after hearing complaints from taxi drivers.

This drew a response from Donald Low, an economist and public intellectual who opines frequently on Facebook. He wrote a sharply argued piece demolishing arguments for regulating Uber in the country.

Here’s the TL;DR version.

3. Singapore restaurant shows off autonomous drone waiters

4. The dark side of tech development in Singapore

5. Facebook co-founder and Sequoia invest in Singapore property site 99.co

6. Cosmetics startup Luxola acquired by Sephora parent company LVMH

7. Pirate3D hits major cashflow issue, delivered just 40% of orders

8. IDA wants to make Singapore a Smart Nation. Here’s what you need to know

9. Apple’s location for its official Singapore store confirmed?

10. Here’s what to expect when Netflix arrives in Singapore