Looking Back 2025
Looking back at 2025, the year AI went mainstream and triggered two big shifts: widespread layoffs and a global memory chip shortage. RAM, graphics cards, and NVMe storage all saw price hikes, with 2026 expected to be no better.
looking back
The annual Looking Back posts reflecting on each year, from 2018 onward.
Looking Back 2024
Looking back at 2024, the year I turned 40 and inflation bit hard as Singapore's GST rose from 8% to 9%. My standout gadgets were the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer and Anker's Prime 250W charger, plus a new iPad Pro 11-inch.
Looking Back 2023
Looking back at 2023, the 'back to normal' year as most countries ended COVID restrictions. It was also the year I tumbled into the coffee-making rabbit hole and built a full setup.
Looking Back 2022
Looking back at 2022, the year Singapore reopened and masks became optional, finally feeling almost normal again. It was also when I joined Roborock's PR list and received the Q7 Max and G10 for review.
Looking Back 2021
Looking back at 2021, another COVID-shadowed year but one packed with more gadgets than 2020. On the smart-home front I added an ILife Shinebot W450 mopping robot and a Roborock S7, replacing my ageing Roomba 980.
Looking Back 2020
Looking back at 2020, the year I revamped this site to version 5. On the smart-home front I swapped failing MCO Z-Wave switches for Sonoff Wi-Fi ones, and built an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X gaming PC.
Looking Back 2019
Looking back at 2019, I expanded my smart home with an Amazon Echo Wall Clock, and bought a PS4 Pro bundle on 11/11 for Final Fantasy VII Remake, plus a GoPro HERO7 and my first eGPU.
Looking Back 2018
Looking back at 2018, I left my smart home mostly alone, adding three voice-assistant devices: an Echo Spot bedside alarm, an Echo Show photo frame, and a Google Home Hub. I also upgraded to the iPhone XS Max.
Looking Back 2017
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.
Looking Back 2016
Looking back at 2016, my biggest change was moving into my new house on 14th May, which I made smart with Fibaro, SmartThings, and Amazon Echo. I travelled three times, to Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Munich.
Looking Back 2015
Looking back at 2015, I travelled to the UK and Paris in June and Hong Kong in September. For 2016, I'm off to Thailand for Chinese New Year, hoping for Taiwan or Japan, and I collect my house keys soon.
Looking Back 2014
In Looking Back 2013, I'd hoped to travel to Japan, but that never happened. Even so, I'm wrapping up a 13-day holiday in Hong Kong. My resolution for 2014: time to save money after all this travelling.
Looking Back 2013
In Looking Back 2012, I'd hoped to travel to several countries, which I sort of managed. My 2013 wish is to travel even more, to places like Australia, Japan, Korea, London, or New York. I'm posting this from New York.
Looking Back 2012
In my Looking Back 2011 post, I'd hoped for a new iMac and MacBook Air to replace my ageing desktop and MacBook Pro, and I managed it. My 2012 wish is simpler and cheaper: just those same two replacements.
Looking Back 2011
In my Looking Back 2010 post, I wished to visit the US and see snow in 2011, and I did, posting this from my uncle's house in LA. Having never seen real snow in 26 years, Snow City excepted.
Looking Back 2010
Last year in Looking Back 2009 I said I wanted a job, and I got one as a Web Engineer at mig33, starting 1st February 2010, nearly a year now. I'll spend this New Year's Eve in the cinema again.
Looking Back 2009
Today is the last day of 2009; ten years ago everyone fretted over the Y2K bug. I'll spend it inside GV VivoCity watching Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel at 10:50pm. Last year I counted down in Taiwan.