Life and tech in Singapore, from local launches and pricing to events and everyday finds.
Singapore has over ten EV charging operators, with prices from S$0.40 to S$0.80 per kWh. I favour cheaper AC charging without idling fees, planning trips around it and using PlugShare to find operators wherever I park.
Seven years after I imported my first eero from the US, the mesh system is finally official in Singapore via eerostore.sg and Amazon.sg. Two models are offered, the eero Pro 6E and eero Max 7, each in 1, 2, and 3-packs.
After seven years with my iPad Pro 10.5-inch, I upgraded to the iPad Pro 11-inch M4. My brother, a frequent flyer, bought it for me at Changi Airport's iStudio to save the 9% GST, with a guide to terminal prices.
Yubico offers two NFC security keys in its Series 5: the YubiKey 5C NFC for USB-C at US$55 and the 5 NFC for USB-A at US$50. NFC support on iOS has matured with Safari and Chrome.
During my renovation I wanted Legrand Galion switches over the default MK Electric, since they look nicer despite costing more. My interior designer pointed me to Choo Chiang, the cheapest place in Singapore for Legrand products.
The Roborock S8 is the successor to the popular S7 I bought two years ago. It retails for S$799.90, with a 4/4 flash sale dropping it to S$749.90, adding DuoRoller brushes and 6,000Pa suction.
More than five years after their US debut, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) and HomePod Mini finally arrived officially in Singapore, with orders from 30th March 2023. The HomePod retails for S$429 and the Mini for S$139.
LEGO Architecture Singapore 21057 is the line's biggest skyline at 827 pieces, featuring landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands, Lau Pa Sat, The Fullerton, and Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove. I ordered it from Shopee for S$89.90.
The KAWS:HOLIDAY exhibition ran in Singapore in November 2021 at The Float @ Marina Bay, featuring a giant 42-metre inflatable of KAWS' Companion figure. Alongside it, the collectible KAWS:HOLIDAY Singapore Figure was sold.
Amazon.sg now stocks the Amazon Echo (4th Generation) and Echo Dot (4th Generation) in international versions with the correct plug. The Echo retails for S$141 plus shipping, though some Alexa skills remain unavailable in certain countries.
Hydragun is a massage gun for sports recovery, pounding muscles to ease tension and soreness, much like a power drill in shape. With massage guns now trendy, even my wife wanted one. It retails for S$399 with free shipping.
Singapore's third Apple Store, Apple Marina Bay Sands, opens at 10am on Thursday, 10th September 2020. It arrives a year after Apple Jewel Changi Airport and three years after the first store, Apple Orchard Road.
Lumos is a home-grown Singaporean company making affordable home-cinema projectors. Its first product, the LUMOS Auro, comes in regular and smart variants, the regular lacking Android, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, so it needs an external media player.
ShieldMask+ is a reusable, washable mask made in Singapore with four layers, from a moisture-repellent outer to an antibacterial bamboo-fabric inner. It retails for S$18 on Lazada, where it's a top-trending mask rated 4.8/5.
As of 6th November 2019, Google Assistant is officially available to all Sonos users in Singapore, including Sonos One and Beam. Previously, accessing Alexa or Google Assistant meant switching your Sonos profile's country to the US.
YouTube Premium and YouTube Music have finally launched in Singapore. Note the price gap: in-app purchases via the iOS App Store cost more, since Apple takes a 30% commission Google passes on.
Amazon has officially launched in Singapore at amazon.sg, distinct from the Amazon Prime Now service that launched two years ago. Prime Now focuses on fresh, frozen, and daily essentials with 2-hour delivery, while amazon.sg offers far wider selection.
Singapore's second Apple Store, Apple Jewel Changi Airport, opens at Jewel on 13th July 2019, two years after Apple Orchard Road. Jewel is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex on the landside of Changi Airport.
The Sonos Amp is now available in Singapore for S$1,099, via TC Acoustic or Musica Boutique. An upgrade to the Connect:Amp, it boosts power from 55 to 125 watts per channel and adds HDMI ARC and optical inputs.
After nearly five years, it's time to update my Singapore Future MRT/LRT Map. The 2014 version drew strong SEO and views. This April 2019 edition covers the Cross Island Line, Jurong Region Line, and Circle Line Stage 6.
Sandbox VR is the latest immersive VR gaming experience in town, arriving after Zero Latency and making Singapore its sixth city, alongside San Francisco, Hong Kong, and others. The Singapore branch sits on level 5 of Orchard Central.
Yubico's YubiKeys are now officially available in Singapore, with the company hiring a regional manager and setting up distribution via DT Asia. A YubiKey is a hardware security key offering two-factor and passwordless authentication; Yubico itself is Swedish-American.