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When I first got my Cocoon Grid-It last July, it was from Amazon. That was before ESA Distribution Pte Ltd brought it to Singapore. Now you can find it in Singapore pretty easily. I saw it selling at Kinokuniya, NBC Stationary, Takashimaya (level 3), Cumulus, etc.

This time round, I got the Cocoon Grid-It – 7.25 x 9.25 from Takashimaya for SGD$19.95. I compared the price in Singapore and it is about the same as Amazon when you factor in the shipping cost. For the Cocoon Grid-It – 7.25 x 9.25, Amazon is selling it for USD$14.29 and the shipping to Singapore alone cost more than the item (USD$14.86).

Cocoon Grid-It – 7.25 x 9.25 – Front View

Cocoon Grid-It – 7.25 x 9.25 – Back View

Cocoon Grid-It – 7.25 x 9.25 – With Things

I Have 3 Cocoon Grid-It

Got the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter for SGD$35.51 (normal price is SGD$38) from iStudio located in Changi Airport Terminal 3 while I went to Malaysia for my birthday celebration.

As you are aware by now the MacBook Air does not come with an ethernet port because of its slim design, so if you need to use a LAN cable for MacBook Air, this adapter is your best and only bet. Call me old fashion but I still prefer to transfer files over LAN as it is the speed is much faster and more stable.

This adapter is only capable of 10/100Mbps speed since theoretically USB2 speed max out at 480Mbps which is much less than the speed of a gigabit network so if this were to be made for 10/100/1000Mbps, it wouldn’t be accurate and that is the reason why Apple supports 10/100Mbps only. Perhaps when USB3 comes out, this will be refreshed to support 10/100/1000Mbps as USB3 is capable of supporting up to 5,000Mbps.

I love how Apple design the cover for this, it holds the RJ45 port and the USB port side by side.

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter – Packaging Front View

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter – Packaging Back View

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter – Cover

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter – Connected To MacBook Air

Thanks to Dell Singapore, I have a chance to play with the Dell UltraSharp U3011 30″ Monitor for 2 weeks. The Dell UltraSharp U3011 30″ Monitor is retailing for SGD$1,509.

Monitor is like a computer, once you upgrade, you will never look back. Few years ago, 17″ monitor is the norm, now is 24″ and in a few years time 27″/30″ will be the norm.

I am currently using the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP 24″ monitor which I bought back in April 2008 for about SGD$920, now the successor to the monitor, Dell UltraSharp U2410 is only retailing for SGD$699.

When it comes to monitors, I prefer Dell, Samsung or Apple. But right now only Dell is offering the 30″ monitor with 16:10 aspect ratio (2560 x 1600) while Apple and Samsung are offering the 27″ with 16:9 aspect ratio (2560 x 1440).

Dell UltraSharp U3011 uses an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel which supports up to an impressive 1.07 billion displayable colors and a maximum of 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It has an average of 7ms (gray-to-gray) response time.

It does not come with in-built speakers but it has support for Dell Soundbar, which is retailing for SGD$69.

All Dell’s UltraSharp monitor comes with Dell’s Premium Panel Guarantee, which means you will receive a panel exchange even if there is only one bright defective pixel on your monitor during the limited hardware warranty period which is 3 years. I have been using the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP for 4 years and counting and have zero defective pixels, so you have nothing to worry about.

Dell U3011

Specifications

• Diagonal Viewable Size: 30″ (75.6cm)
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (16:10)
• Panel Type, Surface: IPS (In-Plane Switching), anti glare with hard coat 3H
• Optimal Resolution: 2560 x 1600 at 60 Hz
• Contrast Ratio: 1000: 1 (typical), Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 100,000:1 (Max)
• Brightness: 370 cd/m2 (typical)
• Response Time: 7ms (gray to gray)
• Viewing Angle: (178° vertical / 178° horizontal)
• Color Support: 1.07 billion colors
• Pixel Pitch: 0.2505mm
• Display Type: Widescreen Flat Panel Display
• Connectivity:
  • 2 High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
  • 2 Digital Visual Interface connectors (DVI-D) with HDCP
  • 1 DisplayPort (DP)
  • 1 Video Graphics Array (VGA)
  • 1 Component Connectors
  • 1 USB 2.0 upstream port
  • 4 USB 2.0 downstream ports
  • 7 in 1 Media reader
  • DC power connector for Dell Soundbar
• Color, Size & Weight:
  • 481.3 mm (compressed) ~ 571.3 mm (extended) x 694.5 mm x 211.3mm
  • 18.95 inches (compressed) ~ 22.50 inches (extended) x 27.34 inches x 8.32 inches
  • Dimensions without stand (H x W x D): 453.3 mm x 694.5 mm x 94.4 mm (17.85 inches x 27.34 inches 3.72 inches)
  • Preset Display Area (H X V): 641.28 mm (25.25 inches) x 400.8 mm (15.78 inches)
  • Weight (panel only – for VESA mount): 9.3 kg (20.40 lbs)
  • Weight (with packaging): 14.46 kg (31.88 lbs)

Read More (357 More Words, 9 More Images, 1 More Video)

When I first saw the Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable (Amazon.com link), it was at Challenger in VivoCity last year, but when I wanted to get it, it was out of stock and hence I settled for the 3-in-1 Retractable Charging Cable from Deal Extreme.

During my vacation in Thailand, I spotted it again in Power Buy, a shop located in CentralPlaza Bangna shopping center. It cost 390 Baht (SGD$16) and of course, it goes without saying, I bought it. In fact, it is the only thing that I bought in Thailand during my 4 days vacation over there.

When I did the unboxing, I realized that it is the exact same retractable cable inside the Innergie Magic Cable – Multi-Tip USB Cable (SGD$16) except that it comes with an additional Apple’s 30-pin adapter to charge the iPhone/iPad.

Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable – Box Front

Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable – Box Contents

Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable – Extra Apple 30-pin Adapter

Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable – Attached

Innergie Magic Cable – 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cable – With iPhone

I have problems finding MHL cables in Singapore for my Galaxy Nexus. MHL stands for Mobile High-Definition Link and here is the definition from Wikipedia:

Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) is a proposed industry standard for a mobile audio/video interface for directly connecting mobile phones and other portable consumer electronics (CE) devices to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and displays. The MHL standard features a single cable with a low pin-count interface able to support up to 1080p high-definition (HD) video and digital audio while simultaneously charging the connected device.

It is essentially a Micro USB to HDMI cable. Since I could not find it in Singapore, I tried sites like Deal Extreme and Amazon. The MHL cables being sold at Deal Extreme cost about USD$15 with free shipping which is not exactly that cheap. I saw one from Amazon (Samsung MHL to HDMI Adapter – Data Cable – Retail Packaging for AT&T SGH-i77 & T-Mobile SGH-T989) which apparently is made by Samsung and it cost only USD$17.58 (at that time I bought it) and shipping cost an additional USD$11.99. Ended up paying USD$29.57 (SGD$37.20) for it.

Placed my order on the 17th March 2012 and I received it on the 29th March 2012.

Samsung has a huge presence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, much more than Apple. While I was in Kuala Lumpur for my birthday weekend, I went to the Samsung store in Plaza Low Yat and they are apparently selling it for about SGD$44.

The MHL cable comes with two ports, one for the HDMI cable and the other is a micro USB port for external power. For some reasons, the cable only works when I used the charger provided by my Galaxy Nexus package.

Once connected, your Galaxy Nexus will automatically be switched to landscape mode and your television will be mirroring the screen on your phone. Do note that the mirroring of your phone forces your television to use the resolution of your phone.

Samsung MHL Cable – Package

Samsung MHL Cable

Samsung MHL Cable – HDMI Port

Samsung MHL Cable – Micro USB Port

Samsung MHL Cable – Connected

Samsung MHL Cable – Connected To TV