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.
It's World Cup season, and minifiglabs.com has created custom LEGOfied minifigure sets for eight qualifying countries: Brazil, Spain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Argentina, England, and the Netherlands. Each poseable figure comes with a metallic gold trophy.
Realtek, the Taiwanese semiconductor firm making everything from audio to Wi-Fi chips, has opened an office in Singapore. Founded in 1987, it's now the sixth-largest fabless semiconductor company in Asia and 16th worldwide, with 2013 revenue of nearly US$1 billion.
The Mactrix Dual 9000 is the larger sibling of the Mactrix Dual 5200, retailing for S$99 in red, black, and champagne gold. Like the 5200, you'll find it at Apple resellers EpiCentre, Nubox, and iStudio, plus Robinsons and Isetan.
Parallels Access was once iPad-only, but with last week's Parallels Access 2.0 it now runs on Android and iPhone as a universal app. It's a remote desktop for Android and iOS that lets you run any Mac or PC application.
After getting my Nexus 5, I needed a clear case and screen protector, so I chose the Spigen Ultra Thin Air Case, which bundles a Clear Case and an Ultra Crystal Screen Protector. Its hard polycarbonate shell encases it completely.
My company, migme, formerly mig33, surprised us each with a 16GB Nexus 5 to reward our hard work on the mig33-to-migme rebranding. I'd always wanted one, the best Android phone I've used, its stock Android fast and bloat-free.
Announced last month, the Logitech Big Bang is a rugged case for the iPad Air and iPad mini. It comes in three colours, Super Fluro, Magma Red, and Forged Graphite. The Air retails for S$139 and the mini for S$119.
Mactrix is a lesser-known portable battery brand made in Singapore by Mactrix Creations, a young, innovative company focused on power solutions for the tech-savvy. They offer a variety of mobile power suited to most devices, all wrapped in trendy designs.
SingTel has launched Easy Mobile, the first postpaid mobile service in Asia to let users customise their tariff plan each month. I've long wanted this, as I use little voice or SMS and would trade it for more data.
The newly launched Klipsch Reference R6 and R6i replace the much-loved Klipsch Image S4 II and S4i II respectively, at the same prices. The Reference R6 retails for S$129 and the R6i for S$169, both with a one-year warranty.
I bought the Creative Sound Blaster E1, a portable headphone amplifier, for S$29, down from S$69, in the online Creative Store sale tied to PC Show 2014. Shipping adds S$6, but it's free on orders above S$60.
I'd been using the Power Support Air Jacket Set (Clear) for my iPhone 5s, skeptical I'd find another clear case as good. The Snugg iPhone 5s Ultra Thin Clear Case surprised me, feeling well built for just US$14.99.
The Nokia XL, one of the first Nokia Android phones, arrives in Singapore from 13th June 2014 at noon. Initially it's online-exclusive at handphoneshop.com/NokiaXL until 27th June, then available nationwide at Nokia stores and solution partners from the 28th.
The much-anticipated Xbox One finally reaches Singapore from 23rd September 2014, over six months after its November 2013 North American launch. The console retails for S$639, or S$739 with Kinect. Every system includes the console and a 500GB hard drive.
Newegg is expanding to Singapore, alongside India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Poland, by the end of June 2014. Currently in four countries, US, Canada, UK, and Australia, Newegg is one of the largest online retailers of computer hardware.
Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and founder of Automattic, stopped by Singapore on 4th June 2014 as part of his Summer Tour spanning cities like Seoul, Jakarta, Tokyo, and Sydney. I'd known Matt since b2 days but finally met him.
Amazon offers free shipping to Singapore through its AmazonGlobal Saver programme, provided your order tops US$125 and every item qualifies. If even one item doesn't qualify, the whole order misses out, so here I round up LEGO sets that qualify.
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III arrives in Singapore from June 2014 for S$1,199. It isn't a successor to the RX100 II, which stays on sale at S$899 for a different audience. The III updates the lens to a ZEISS 24-70mm.
The LG G3 arrives in Singapore at selected telcos from 14th to 21st June 2014, and authorised retailers from the 28th. The 16GB model retails for S$868 and the 32GB for S$928. Pre-orders bundle a Quick Circle case.
More than a year after I got my Pebble, the Pebble Smartwatch is now officially available in Singapore, brought in by Leader Radio Technologies as the sole distributor. It's been on sale since 26th May 2014 for S$249.
The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive is a pocket-sized drive with either 32GB or 64GB of built-in flash plus an SD card slot. Measuring 65mm square and weighing 77g, it's encased in solid aluminium. The 32GB retails for S$139.
The Linksys WRT1900AC came in the biggest router box I've ever received. Inside, everything sits in protective foam rather than cardboard, with a sponge fixed to the lid to cushion the router. It retails for S$399.