Founder of lesterchan.net, a Singapore tech and gadgets blog running since 2002. An engineering leader by day and a WordPress plugin developer since 2003, with a soft spot for gadgets, smart home, and a good deal.
With countless fidget spinners flooding the market, likely all from the same Chinese factories rebranded, I turned to the /r/FidgetSpinners subreddit. It pointed me to sites like Fast Tech, Fidget HQ, and Fidget LA, on roughly a US$20 budget.
During a Munich trip for the Huawei Mate 9 launch, Senatus founder Kien Lee recommended the Pacsafe Venturesafe 325 GII Anti-Theft Cross Body Pack. I wasn't bag-shopping then, using my Crumpler sling, but sling bags can get cumbersome.
The AmazonBasics USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0 Cable comes in two colours and three lengths: 15cm, 0.9m, and 1.8m. Like the USB-C to USB-C version, black and white are priced differently; the 15cm black starts around US$6.49 on Amazon.
I bought this brandless USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter from Lazada for S$12.96 with free slow shipping. It's an OEM product from 1buycart in Shenzhen, which has solid ratings averaging 4.4 stars, a cheaper alternative to Amazon's options.
The AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-C 2.0 Cable comes in two colours and four lengths: 15cm, 0.9m, 1.8m, and 2.7m. Black and white are priced differently; on Amazon the 15cm black starts around US$6.49, rising with length.
The last buy from Yodobashi Sapporo, the Elecom USB-C Memory Card Reader reads seven card types, including CF, SD, microSD, and MMC. It retails for around JP¥2,670; after a 5% VISA discount, I paid about S$29.
I tried the Singtel Smart Car for over a month, and no, this isn't sponsored. The service uses Modus, a CalAmp GPS tracker plugged into your car's OBD port, to monitor location, trips, driving habits, and vehicle health.
Amazon Prime Now has launched in Singapore, offering everyday household essentials and bestsellers. While it usually requires a membership, you can try it without one for a limited launch period, with free two-hour delivery on orders above S$40.
I bought two Elecom USB-C to USB-C Power Delivery cables from Yodobashi Sapporo, only to realise they're from different series despite looking identical. Per Benson Leung, the USB3-CC5P supports 100W (5A), while the USB3-CCP supports 60W (3A).
I bought the Leplus USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Adapter from Yodobashi Sapporo. Leplus, a brand by MSSolutions Japan, is relatively unknown, so it's cheap; I paid about S$11 after a tax-free discount.
I hadn't realised ZMI is one of Xiaomi's ecosystem companies, supplying its power banks, batteries, and chargers. I came across the ZMI QB820 20,000mAh Power Bank through a friend's comment during the Razer Power Bank launch discussion.
I bought the nonda USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Mini Adapter from Amazon for US$9.99. Billed as the world's smallest USB-C adapter, it qualifies for free AmazonGlobal shipping above US$125, which I consolidated through my US freight forwarder HopShopGo.
Hunting for a USB-C Ethernet adapter, I found Belkin's at S$49 overpriced versus Anker's at S$32. For a little more, the Anker USB-C to 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Ethernet Adapter adds extra USB ports, so I chose it.
The Klipsch Reference X12i launched in Singapore in November 2015 at S$599, succeeding the X11i and X10i before it. These in-ear earphones weigh just 15g, with a milled aluminium chassis under 6mm in diameter for a deep-fit seal.
To charge a USB-C MacBook Pro, your cable must support USB Power Delivery. The Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB-C Cable retails for US$15.99 in a 0.9m length, a cheaper alternative to Apple's 2m USB-C Charge Cable at S$48.
USB-C to DisplayPort cables and adapters are tough to find in Singapore, so you must order online from Lazada or Amazon. I bought mine from Amazon for the wider choice, settling on the Plugable cable.
The Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multi-Port Adapter retails for US$89.99 in Gold, Space Grey, and Silver. A perfect compact docking station, it adds HDMI, Ethernet, three USB ports, USB-C pass-through charging, and SD and microSD card slots.
Searching for a USB-C SD card reader, I found SanDisk's Apple Store option at S$75 expensive and SD-only. I instead settled on the Satechi Aluminum USB-C Micro/SD Card Reader from Amazon at US$14.99, though it ships only via a forwarder.
While gadget shopping in Sapporo, I picked up the Elecom iPad Pro 10.5-inch Clear Back Cover at Yodobashi for around JP¥3,110. Spending over JP¥5,000 made it tax-free, and paying by VISA added another 5% off the final price.
The iPad Pro 10.5-inch is my fourth iPad, after the original (2010), iPad 2, and iPad Air. Nearly four years on, my Air feels sluggish, and its 16GB was always too little, prompting this upgrade.
The Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch Smart Cover comes in leather at S$98 or polyurethane at S$68. The leather has four colours and the polyurethane seven. I preferred the cheaper polyurethane, choosing Charcoal Grey for my iPad Pro.
The Apple 61W USB-C Power Adapter retails for S$98, my first purchase at the new Apple Orchard Road store. It powers the 13-inch MacBook Pro, though pricey, it doesn't include a USB-C charge cable.