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.
The Bluelounge Kii began selling in Singapore this week for S$49, and I got mine from EpiCentre at JEM. It's a compact charger-connector, in Apple Lightning or 30-pin, that clips onto your keychain. The Lightning comes in black or white.
Mark Jaquith's presentation, Confident Commits, Delightful Deploys, raised something I hadn't considered: a CDN can proxy everything, including dynamic PHP pages. He pointed to cdn.wpengine.com, cdn.page.ly, and cdn.zippykid.com, each serving the same content as their non-CDN counterparts.
MobyShop sells the Mujjo Galaxy S3 Wallet for S$48. It's an excellent, well-made, stylish pouch that fits the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and even the HTC One, with an iPhone 5 version also at S$48. Made of 100% wool felt.
The PKG Slim Sleeve is a nostalgic-looking padded sleeve for the MacBook Air 11 or 13-inch. It feels made from premium materials, with thick internal padding to protect against knocks. It fits the MacBook Air exactly, leaving no extra space.
The limb.al USB Cable was the 10th Kickstarter project I backed, and the one delayed longest. I backed it in May 2012, due to ship that September. After delays, I finally got it on 1st August 2013, and regretted it.
I'd eyed the Griffin PowerDock 5 ever since it was announced in January 2013, though it only launched in July. It retails for US$99 directly from Griffin's website, and I doubt it'll reach Singapore soon. Thankfully, Griffin ships directly there.
I picked up the Apple HDMI to HDMI Cable for my brother at Challenger in VivoCity for S$28. It's 1.8 metres long and noticeably thinner than every other HDMI cable I've seen or owned.
Protag, at S$59, is a loss-prevention device engineered in Singapore that helps you keep watch over your belongings. You pair it with an Android phone, no iOS support yet, and tuck it into a bag or wallet. It alerts you.
The Targus Crave II Convertible 3-In-1 Backpack for MacBook Air/Pro 13-inch (TSB772AP) retails for S$109. As the name suggests, it can be carried three ways, as a backpack, a messenger bag, or slipcase, with a dedicated compartment protecting both devices.
Good news for fashion-forward, tech-savvy Android users who love shopping on the go. ZALORA, Southeast Asia's fastest-growing fashion and beauty e-retailer, has expanded its mobile offering with the launch of an Android shopping app across the region.
My home doorbell lasted 28 years, since 1985, so I bought a new SoundTeoh No. 77 Wireless Doorbell from Funan's Challenger for S$28.60, or S$25.74 with member's price. Twenty-eight years on, doorbell technology has moved on, with countless types available.
I bought the Bluelounge Milo (Aluminium) from Funan's Challenger for S$39, or S$35.10 with member's price. I already own the original Milo from about two years ago, and though the aluminium is S$20 dearer, I love every aspect of it.
I got the Powerocks Stone 3, a 7800mAh dual USB power bank, from my cousin in Hong Kong. I'm unsure of the local price, but it's US$48.50 on Amazon. True to the 'stone' name, it's heavy at 500g.
Personally, I find service in Singapore merely acceptable, with retail generally better than F&B. If I had to name the worst F&B service, it would be Crystal Jade Kitchen. Having visited the US, I found service there excellent.
My family bought me the Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2m) from the Apple Store at IFC in Hong Kong while on holiday. It retails for HK$288 there and S$48 in Singapore, which works out about the same after conversion.
The Speck SeeThru is a hardshell case for the MacBook Air 11 or 13-inch. It's thinner and lighter than the STM Grip, but lacks the suede inner lining that stops the shell scratching the laptop. The material is also reflective.
The STM Grip is a hard shell case for the MacBook Air 13, with versions also for the Air 11, MacBook Pro 13, and Pro Retina 13 and 15. It retails for S$69 at DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
The BodyGuardz ScreenGuardz HD anti-glare, anti-fingerprint screen protector retails for S$59, from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers like EpiCentre, Infinite, and Challenger. It reduces glare so you can use your device under bright lights and direct sunlight.
I hadn't heard of Bootcase before, but thanks to DISTEXPRESS for seeding it, the Bootcase Hybrid Snap Case has replaced my SwitchEasy Nude as my default iPhone 5 case. It retails for S$45 from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
The Bluelounge Mika is an all-in-one stand that supports the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air or Pro. Made from a solid aluminium block with soft rubber edges to prevent scratches, it retails for S$49 from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
Google Reader has officially gone offline, following its shutdown announcement on 14th March 2013. Farewell, Google Reader, may you rest in peace. I'll be moving on to Feedly, which seems the most natural successor for managing all my RSS feeds.
As ever, I'm no audiophile, so forgive me if I don't dwell on audio quality. The Logitech UE 6000 retails for S$319 in Singapore, in black or white. It sits in the middle of the Logitech UE headphone range.