--- title: Looking Back 2017 date: 2017-12-31 12:00:06 permalink: https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/12/31/looking-back-2017/ author: Lester Chan excerpt: "Looking back at 2017, almost two years into my home, my MCO Touch Panel smart switches proved unreliable. Three 1-gang units lost power entirely, and the Z-Wave module in a 4-gang panel failed." categories: - Blog tags: - "2017" - "2018" - looking back --- ## 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](https://www.automate.asia/). Kudos to their good service! I also replaced my [Fibaro Home Center Lite (HCL)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2016/06/21/the-start-of-my-smart-home-journey/) with [Homey](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/10/09/homey-review/) 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](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/05/17/first-apple-store-in-singapore-will-open-on-27th-may-2017-at-10am/) and it is called [Apple Orchard Road](https://www.apple.com/sg/retail/orchardroad/). 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)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2013/12/16/apple-ipad-air-silver-16gb-wi-fi-cellular/) to [Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ (Space Grey 256GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/06/30/apple-ipad-pro-10-5-space-grey-256gb-wi-fi-cellular/). Company upgraded my three years old [Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13″ (Late 2013)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2014/07/02/apple-macbook-pro-retina-13-late-2013/) to [Apple MacBook Pro 13″ with Touch Bar and Touch ID (Mid 2017)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/06/23/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](https://www.yodobashi.com/ec/store/en/0081/). I chose the Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Milanese Loop. My [Apple Watch Series 0](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2015/06/29/apple-watch-42mm-stainless-steel-case-with-link-bracelet/) 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](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2016/11/21/huawei-mate-9-review/) to the [Huawei Mate 10 Pro](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/11/20/huawei-mate-10-pro-review/). Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a fantastic Android phone. It is a very good alternative to Google Pixel. **[What I Said In 2016](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2016/12/31/looking-back-2016/)** > 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](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/04/26/linksys-velop-review/), D-Link has Covr, [TP-Link has Deco](https://www.tp-link.com/us/whole-home-mesh/?extraFolder=us) 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](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2017/09/11/google-wifi-review/). > 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](https://www.apple.com/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)](https://lesterchan.net/blog/2012/12/28/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](https://www.apple.com/retail/appleparkvisitorcenter/). 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** >