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since 2002
Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR are my three top-of-mind NAS brands, all Taiwanese. To complete the trilogy, I review the Asustor Lockerstor 4 (AS6604T), a 4-bay NAS on par with the DS920+ and TS-453D, powered by an Intel J4125.
The HOCE MagSafe Charger Holder is a no-frills aluminium stand for Apple's MagSafe Charger, retailing on Lazada for S$17.49. Available in black or silver, it holds the charger securely with no moving parts.
The Ugreen 20W USB-C PD Charger is an Apple 20W adapter alternative, retailing for S$15.99. As a PD 3 / QC 4 unit, it delivers the 9V/2.22A MagSafe charging needs, though its UK pin doesn't fold.
My Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard doesn't support a combined headphone jack, so I needed a splitter. I got the Ugreen Headphone Splitter Cable from Lazada for S$6.99, with a cheaper non-aluminium variant available.
Martiangear is a new Singapore gaming-lifestyle brand entering the chair market alongside Secretlab, APOL, and Royale Ergonomics, with tables and peripherals also planned. This review covers their space-inspired Astronaut gaming chair in its fabric upholstery.
Unlike the QC15, the Bose QC35 ships with a single cable and no microphone. With travel gone, I'm repurposing mine for gaming, so I bought an OEM mic cable for the QC35 for S$5.99.
The LEGO Botanical Collection is a new range aimed at plant lovers. The first launch has two sets, the Flower Bouquet 10280 and Bonsai Tree 10281, each S$79.90, though I grabbed both for S$71.90.
The Sudio Nio is the brand's first product of 2021, available in four colours. It retails for S$119, or S$101.15 with the code LESTER15, and offers Bluetooth 5.0, IPX4 rating, touch controls, and 20 hours' battery.
The Sonoff Micro USB Smart Adaptor, S$13.99 on Lazada, lets you control any USB device remotely via the eWeLink app. I couldn't pair it on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, but a SIM-less Pixel 3a worked.
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.
I was holding out for Apple's rumoured headphones, but once the AirPods Max launched at a steep S$849, I bought the Sony WH-1000XM4 instead. iShopChangi had a promotion, and with a coupon I got it for S$439.
The QNAP TS-453D ships with only 4GB of RAM, too little for containers or virtual machines. I upgraded with a Crucial 8GB DDR4 2666 SODIMM, bought from Amazon.sg during a Black Friday sale for S$31.08.
Ten years ago I chose Synology over QNAP for my second NAS. QNAP wanted my take on the TS-453D against the Synology DS920+, so they sent one over. Both are 4-bay, Intel J4125-powered NAS.
Since starting my smart home in 2016, I'd relied on MCO Z-Wave switches, but my Series 4 units began failing after a year. This review covers my move to the Wi-Fi-based Sonoff T2UK smart wall switch.
The Ugreen NVMe M.2 SSD USB-C Case comes in two variants on Lazada: S$31 with both USB-C and USB-A cables, or S$28.90 with just USB-C. Its space-grey aluminium enclosure feels solid, and setup is tool-free.
The Bebird R1 is the brand's entry-level smart visual ear-cleaning rod, below the flagship X17 Pro. It retails for US$26.99, though Lazada had it for S$26.50. It packs a 3MP camera and six LEDs.
The YZXstudio USB-C Power Meter was my first solo Taobao purchase, despite my limited Mandarin. It cost about S$33 plus S$6 shipping, but as a sensitive item it only ships by sea, taking nearly a month.
The Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter retails for S$29, or S$25.68 on the EPP, and like most Apple gear includes no cable. It's a single-port 20W charger with a folding UK pin, supporting Power Delivery 3 but no GaN.
The Close Comfort Cool Focus is a personal air conditioner designed to cool people rather than a whole room, like a fan on steroids. From an Australian-Singapore startup, it retails for S$649 and draws around 300W.
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Clear Case with MagSafe retails for S$75, S$16 more than last year's iPhone 11 Pro Max case. The EPP price is S$67.41. DHL was efficient, delivering mine two days later.
PRISM+ followed its E series with the new Q Series Android TVs, becoming the first Singaporean company to earn Android TV certification, likely riding on Skyworth as OEM. This review covers the 55-inch PRISM+ Q55.
The Sudio Femtio is the only speaker in Sudio's audio lineup, available in Silver, Black, and Anthracite. It retails for S$189, though the coupon code LESTER35 takes 35% off, bringing it down to S$122.85.