Looking Back 2017
Smart Home
Been staying at my place for almost two years now. With regards to my smart home update, I found out that MCO Touch Panel is not very lasting.
Three of my 1-gang MCO Touch Panel (MH-S411) spoiled. Spoiled in a sense, it doesn’t have power to the unit, and hence I can’t switch on or off my lights. Another of my 4-gang MCO Touch Panel (MH-S314), the Z-wave module inside it spoiled, so I can’t pair it.
Luckily, I managed to RMA all my MCO Touch Panel with Automate Asia. Kudos to their good service!
I also replaced my Fibaro Home Center Lite (HCL) with Homey as I was extremely frustrated at how slow and unreliable Fibaro HCL is.
Apple
The first official Apple Store opened in Singapore on 27th May 2017 and it is called Apple Orchard Road.
2017 is the year where I upgrade all my Apple devices.
Bought the iPhone X Space Grey (256GB) and upgraded my four years old Apple iPad Air (Silver 16GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular) to Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ (Space Grey 256GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular).
Company upgraded my three years old Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13″ (Late 2013) to Apple MacBook Pro 13″ with Touch Bar and Touch ID (Mid 2017).
Bought the Apple Watch Series 3, GPS + Cellular, 42mm, from Yodobashi-Umeda, Osaka. I chose the Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Milanese Loop. My Apple Watch Series 0 is getting slower after each watchOS update, and the battery can’t even last one full day. So I decided to upgrade it. Apple Watch is much cheaper in Japan after the tax refund and the 5% VISA discount if you pay by VISA credit card at any Yodobashi stores.
I also upgraded my Huawei Mate 9 to the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a fantastic Android phone. It is a very good alternative to Google Pixel.
I am guessing 2017 will be the year of wireless mesh Wi-Fi system with Eero, Google Wi-Fi, Luma and Orbi already on the bandwagon. We will probably see more mainstream brands like Linksys, D-Link, TP-Link, Netgear, and Asus on board. I am already using Eero (next blog post) for my house.
Indeed it has. Linksys has Velop, D-Link has Covr, TP-Link has Deco and Asus has Lyra.
Eero also has launched its second generation wireless mesh Wi-Fi system.
Google Wi-Fi came to Singapore in 2017 and I changed my parents’ house router to Google Wi-Fi.
I hope to get a Mac desktop computer in 2017, and I can’t wait for iPhone 8 (or whatever you call it).
It looks like Apple did not focus much on desktop computers for 2017. But in 2018, this will change. I am confident that we will see a Mac mini refresh. Also, iMac Pro was launched in Singapore on 19th December 2017.
There are three iPhones in 2017. iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the unexpected iPhone X which was intended as the flagship iPhone.
I probably want to travel more, especially to Japan, since I have not been to Japan before.
Went to Hokkaido in June 2017 and in December 2017, I went to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. In fact, I am publishing this blog post in Tokyo!
Also, I went to Seoul, South Korea, back in October 2017.
For 2018
Looking forward to bridging Apple Homekit with Homey so I can use my iOS devices to control my home. I might even get the Apple Homepod.
I am going to get the Apple AirPower Mat when it comes out next year.
I doubt I will be getting any desktop computer from Apple in 2018 as my Apple iMac 27″ (Late 2012) still works fine.
I will be going to Bali in March 2018 to celebrate my birthday.
Hopefully, at the end of 2018, I can travel to San Francisco (SF), so I can visit the newly open Apple Park. The last time I was in SF was back in 2012.
I would like to wish all my readers, visitors, and supporters a Happy New Year 2018!
Looking Back 2017
120 posts were posted in 2017, accumulating 316 comments, and 1,923,313 views.December 201731stLooking Back 201729thAnker PowerPort Qi 10W Wireless Charger27thKeySmart MagConnect22ndGoogle Home Mini20thSony XB950B1 Extra Bass Wireless Headphones18thAnker Micro USB to USB C Adapter11thSynology DiskStation DS918+ Review6thAmazon Launches Amazon Prime In Singapore5thAmazon No Longer Ships For Free To Singapore4thPassport – Global Travel AdapterNovember 201729thSynology DiskStation DS418play24thZero Latency Singapore Review + Giveaway20thHuawei Mate 10 Pro Review15thSamsung 960 Evo NVMe M.2 SSD11thHuawei Mate 10 Pro Review – Unboxing & Design10thSynology DDR3 RAM6thCafflano Klassic3rdBenQ EW2770QZ 27″ QHD (2560 x 1440) Monitor Review1stApple iPhone X Silicone, Leather And Folio CaseOctober 201730thNomad Universal Cable28thHuawei Mate 10 Series Availability in Singapore27thOnan Korea Lumena N9 Fan25thApple TV 4K23rdV-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless Earphones16thVornado 630 Medium Air Circulator9thHomey Review5thGoogle Pixel 2 XL Will Be Available in Singapore2ndHomey Review – Unboxing & SetupSeptember 201725thLinksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band Router Review21stKeySmart Pro With Tile Smart Location Tracking19thX-mini KAI X115thSingtel iPhone 8/8 Plus/X Price Plans14thSingapore iPhone Prices Over The Years11thGoogle Wifi Review4thAztech AIR-706P AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit Mesh Router ReviewAugust 201731stTrackR Pixel Review30thGoogle Wifi Now Available in Singapore29thSingtel Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Price Plans28thSamsung SmartThings V2 Hub (UK)25thuHoo Review24thParallels Desktop 13 For Mac23rdFibaro Z-Wave Universal Door & Window Sensor 2 Gen522ndSudio Tre Wireless Earphones21stTimbuk2 Showdown Laptop Backpack18thGoogle Home17thMonocozzi LUCID Plus Folio For iPad Pro 10.5″16thJust Mobile Mtable15thJust Mobile Xtand Pro14thCable Matters DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable11thCable Matters Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter10thAnker PowerPort 6 5V/12A 6-Port Wall Charger9thFreecam Mobile Wi-Fi Camera (C330A) Review8thApple Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad7thFidget Tri-Spinner4thPacsafe Venturesafe 325 GII Anti-Theft Cross Body Pack3rdAmazonBasics USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0 Cable2ndUSB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter1stAmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-C 2.0 CableJuly 201731stElecom USB-C Memory Card Reader28thSingtel Smart Car27thAmazon Prime Now Is Now In Singapore26thElecom USB-C to USB-C Power Delivery Cable24thLeplus USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Adapter21stXiaomi ZMI QB820 20,000mAh Power Bank19thnonda USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Mini Adapter17thAnker USB-C to 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub With Ethernet Adapter14thKlipsch Reference X12i12thAnker Powerline USB-C to USB-C Cable10thPlugable USB-C to DisplayPort Cable7thSatechi Aluminum USB-C Multi-Port Adapter5thSatechi Aluminum USB-C Micro/SD Card Reader3rdElecom iPad Pro 10.5″ Clear Back CoverJune 201730thApple iPad Pro 10.5″ (Space Grey 256GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)28thApple iPad Pro 10.5″ Smart Cover (Charcoal Grey)26thApple 61W USB-C Power Adapter23rdApple MacBook Pro 13″ With Touch Bar And Touch ID (Mid 2017)21stAdidas Originals x PORTER 2 Way Waist/Shoulder Bag19thAdidas Originals x PORTER NMD C1 Shoes16thInnergie PowerJoy 30C15thApple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter14thApple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter12thGlif – A Tripod Mount For Smartphones5thKeySmart Nano Torch2ndAmbi Climate (2nd Edition) ReviewMay 201731stKeySmart Nano Pen29thApple Orchard Road Opening Swag26thPlantronics BackBeat PRO 2 SE Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones22ndChoetech USB-C to HDMI Cable17thFirst Apple Store in Singapore will open on 27th May 2017 at 10am10thGaston Luga – Praper Backpack3rdChallenger Flagship Store at Bugis JunctionApril 201726thLinksys Velop Review18thSingtel Samsung Galaxy S8 And Galaxy S8+ Price Plans12thLimpeh Says – Singapore’s Version Of Cards Against Humanity7thHTC U Ultra Review5thLogitech MX Master Wireless Mouse3rdEnergea Travelite 34W 5V/6.8A 4-Port Wall ChargerMarch 201731stiRobot Braava Jet 24029thKeySmart – Pocket Key Organizers & Key Holders27thBose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) Acoustic Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones25thHappy 33rd Birthday To Me22ndD-Link Omna 180 Cam HD (DSH-C310) Review15thFidget Cube – A Vinyl Desk Toy8thBelkin Valet – Charge Dock For Apple Watch & iPhone1stSensibo Sky ReviewFebruary 201722ndPitaka’s Aramid iPhone 7 Plus Case15thYubico FIDO U2F Security Key10thIgloohome Smart Deadbolt Lock 02 Review3rdBeseye Pro Wi-Fi Monitoring Camera Review1stEOZ One Wireless Bluetooth EarphonesJanuary 201726thSynology Router RT2600ac Review23rdiOttie Easy One Touch 3 (v2) Car Mount Holder20thBlink Battery-Powered Wireless Home Security Camera Review18thTranscend TLC 480GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD16thCards Against Humanity13thAnova Precision Cooker (Bluetooth + Wi-Fi)11thKikkerland Bobino Folding Mobile Phone Holder9thSudio Regent Wireless Headphones6thiRobot Roomba 9803rdeero Wi-Fi System Review