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While gadget shopping in Sapporo, I picked up the Elecom iPad Pro 10.5-inch Clear Back Cover at Yodobashi for around JP¥3,110. Spending over JP¥5,000 made it tax-free, and paying by VISA added another 5% off the final price.
The iPad Pro 10.5-inch is my fourth iPad, after the original (2010), iPad 2, and iPad Air. Nearly four years on, my Air feels sluggish, and its 16GB was always too little, prompting this upgrade.
The Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch Smart Cover comes in leather at S$98 or polyurethane at S$68. The leather has four colours and the polyurethane seven. I preferred the cheaper polyurethane, choosing Charcoal Grey for my iPad Pro.
The Apple 61W USB-C Power Adapter retails for S$98, my first purchase at the new Apple Orchard Road store. It powers the 13-inch MacBook Pro, though pricey, it doesn't include a USB-C charge cable.
I'd been stocking up on USB-C devices to prepare for this: my company MacBook Pro 13-inch (Mid 2014) was due for a refresh after three years at Tech in Asia. Its replacement is the MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar.
The Adidas Originals x PORTER 2 Way Waist/Shoulder Bag retails for S$259 at Dover Street Market Singapore, S$10 more than the matching NMD C1 shoes. My brother bought me both, and this is my second waist bag.
I already own two pairs of Adidas NMD shoes, from Hong Kong and Munich, and have used Head Porter bags since 2009. So when Adidas NMD crossed over with Porter (Yoshida), I had to get the NMD C1 shoes.
The Innergie PowerJoy 30C, unveiled at Computex 2017, is Innergie's first USB-C wall charger, retailing for US$44. It features SmartBoost for up to 35% faster charging and InnerShield power protection, and ships with three interchangeable travel plugs.
The Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter retails for S$98. It extends a single USB-C port into three: HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C. The HDMI supports full HD at 60Hz or 4K at 30Hz, though Apple notes some incompatibilities.
I found an unopened Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter in my drawer and decided to write it up. It retails for S$38, a price unchanged after all these years; the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter costs the same.
Glif is a smartphone tripod mount from Studio Neat. The original launched on Kickstarter in 2010, raising US$137,417, though I missed it. The second generation followed in July 2016, raising over US$208,000, and this review covers that version.
Like the KeySmart Nano Pen, the KeySmart Nano Torch is a KeySmart accessory, a small stainless steel LED torch. Its NICHIA LED puts out 25 lumens, powered by four included LR521 button cells, and it retails for US$19.99.
Three years after the original launched on Kickstarter in 2014, Ambi Climate returns with the 2nd Edition, again crowdfunded. The smart AI device learns your comfort preferences to control your air conditioner. This reviews the new version.
The KeySmart Nano Pen is a compact accessory for your KeySmart, a small stainless steel pen with a magnetic cap for easy closure. It ships with two refills and retails for US$13.99, slipping neatly alongside your keys.
Apple's first store in Singapore and Southeast Asia, Apple Orchard Road, opened on Saturday, 27th May 2017. The first few in the queue received a door gift: a US-made Apple t-shirt and a sticker celebrating the opening.
The Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 and PRO 2 SE launched in Singapore in December 2016 at S$319 and S$379. The SE, or Special Edition, adds NFC pairing, a more premium finish, and a hard carrying case for extra S$60.
The Choetech USB-C to HDMI Cable retails for S$23.80 on Qoo10 with free shipping. This 3m cable supports up to 4K at 60Hz and works with Thunderbolt 3 laptops that support DisplayPort Alternate Mode, like the 2016 MacBook Pro.
Singapore's first Apple Store, located along Orchard Road, opens on Saturday, 27th May 2017 at 10am. Found at 270 Orchard Road, it operates daily from 10am to 10pm, marking Apple's retail debut in the country.
Gaston Luga is a Swedish backpack maker from Stockholm, founded by Carl Sundqvist on a vision of Scandinavian minimalism with elegance. It offers two men's lines, Classic at S$319 and Praper at S$349. This review covers the Praper backpack.
After losing its 50,000 sq ft Funan flagship to the mall's 2016 redevelopment, Challenger opened a new flagship at Bugis Junction. The 14,000 sq ft store sits in Basement 1, where the old Virtualand arcade used to be.
The Linksys Velop is Linksys's first Wi-Fi mesh system, launched in Singapore on 12th April 2017, the second after Netgear Orbi. Like the eero I've used since January, mesh lets your whole home share a single SSID.
Singtel's price plans for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, available in Singapore from 29th April 2017. The S8 retails for S$1,148 and the S8+ for S$1,298, in Maple Gold, Midnight Black, and Orchid Grey.