2018

Smart Home
Didn’t do much to my smart home this year. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Added three new voice assistant devices to my home:

Bought the Google Home Hub during Black Friday as Google is having US$50 off the retail price of US$149.

I did not get the Google Home Hub from Google US Store as the chances of my order going through is close to zero. Similar to the Google Home Mini that I got for Black Friday last year, I got it directly from B&H Photo Video. They have the same promotion as Google US Store.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign where the Innergie 60C USB-C raised a total of US$312,227 from 2,566 backers, it is now ready for sale on Amazon.

I received my Innergie 60C USB-C seven months ago as I have backed the Kickstarter project, but Innergie is kind enough to send me another one which is the retail packaging being sold on Amazon.

The Synology Mesh Router MR2200ac was launched in Singapore this week at a recommended retail price of S$199.

You can get it from Storage Studio on Lazada at a slightly higher price of S$220. Stocks are a little constrained right now but expect more stocks to arrive in January 2019.

Yubico’s Yubikeys are now officially available in Singapore. It expanded its presence in Singapore by recruiting a regional manager, Tim Murphy, to boost sales efforts and to establish distribution channels across the region.

Today I learned (TIL), that Yubico is a Swedish and American company.

Before 2017, it has always been cheaper to get a Sonos PLAY:1 or Sonos One from Amazon, ship it to Singapore, and it is still cheaper than getting it in Singapore. That is how I got my Sonos PLAY:1.

Things have changed after that, and the prices for Sonos products in Singapore is almost the same as Amazon (sometimes even cheaper). And it comes with a warranty.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones retails for S$589 in Singapore and is available in two colors, Space Grey and Soft Gold.

Similar to Bose QC35, KEF & Porsche Design Space One, and Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 SE headpones, it features active noise cancellation.

Its Black Friday and I wanted to get an Ultra Boost to replace my old Adidas Revenge Boost 2 running shoes which I got from Hong Kong back in 2014.

My budget was about S$200, and my first choice was the all black Ultra Boost running shoes, but sadly, it was not on sale.

During this Chrismas season, from 27th November 2018 till 1st January 2019, Xiaomi is having Christmas promotions for some of their products.

I have been wanting to get the Xiaomi Mi Selfie Stick Tripod. But the retail price of S$28.90 makes me put that thought on hold as I don’t think it is worth so much.