3,439 posts
since 2002
I backed the PINE A64 on Kickstarter in January 2016, a project that raised US$1,731,466 from 36,781 backers. I chose the US$29 reward, paying about US$41 with shipping for the PINE A64+ with 2GB RAM, a cheap single-board computer.
GP Batteries has expanded its Smart On-The-Go accessory and power bank range to include USB car and wall chargers, charge-and-sync cables, and power banks. The USB car chargers come in three models, from single-port 2.4A to triple-port 6.3A.
The SanDisk Ultra 200GB MicroSDXC Card was an Amazon Gold Box deal in March 2016 at US$59.99. That's a remarkable drop from its US$399.99 launch price just a year earlier, making this high-capacity card finally affordable.
Singtel's price plans for the iPhone SE. Pre-orders opened on 24th March 2016, with the phone launching on the 31st. Singapore gets the A1723 model, supporting the local LTE, UMTS, and GSM bands across Singtel's plans.
The Pringles Party Speaker sits atop a Pringles can to amplify its acoustics. Powered by three AAA batteries (not included), several can be daisy-chained into a long chain of speakers. It comes in several quirky designs made for Pringles.
I took leave for my 32nd birthday, which turned into an errand day. I started at the Singtel Shop to move Li Xiang's plan to SIM-only, then to OCBC to open her an OCBC 360 account for higher interest rates.
Daniel Wellington is the hipster watch brand of the moment, increasingly popular and not cheap in Singapore. I was seeded two, but since I already wear an Apple Watch and Moto 360, I passed them to Li Xiang.
Since December 2013, Mediacorp has broadcast free-to-air channels digitally over DVB-T2, with analogue signals set to end by 2017. To receive these channels, you need a compatible antenna, so I picked up the AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor TV Antenna.
After my Slack Bot tutorial using AWS API Gateway and Lambda, I ported it to work for a Telegram Bot. The main differences: Telegram requires an API token to post responses back, and I trigger it with /commands.
At Tech in Asia, and between Li Xiang and me, we communicate on Slack, so I built a Slack Bot to run tasks on command. I'd hosted it on my own VPS but moved it to AWS for better uptime.
I bought the Samsung Series 5 55-inch SUHD Smart LED TV (UA55JS7200) from Best Denki VivoCity during a CNY Fortune Sale, for my new house. Launched at S$3,699 in April 2015, it had dropped to S$2,949.
Singtel's price plans for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge 4G+, available in Singapore from 12th March 2016. Both come in a single 32GB, now with expandable microSD up to 200GB, in Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, and Silver Titanium.
I backed the Dash microSD and SD Card Reader on Kickstarter in November 2015, a project that raised US$11,492 from 717 backers. I chose the US$22 reward, paying about US$25 with shipping, for a compact build-your-own card reader.
In a press release on its 2016 global momentum, Samsung announced that Samsung Pay would come to Singapore later in the year. Its 2016 expansion starts with China in March, followed by Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain, and the UK.
Dell's UltraSharp InfinityEdge monitors, known for their ultra-thin borders on all sides, are finally available in Singapore. Two models launched: a 27-inch Quad HD and a 23.8-inch Full HD. The 24-inch U2417H retails for S$429.
With Li Xiang drawing constantly in FiftyThree's Paper app to design our new house, I picked up the FiftyThree Pencil stylus. Launched in November 2013, the Pencil is built to pair with Paper, working far better than an ordinary stylus.
Lenovo has opened a new customer service centre at Paya Lebar, adding to its existing Kaki Bukit hub. Both offer customer care, technical support, and post-sale services, working independently on cases to ensure each is resolved.
The Bluelounge Soba is a cable routing kit that bundles multiple cables into a single tube for a neater look. I bought mine at Paragon in Bangkok for about S$36. It comes in black or white.
The Just Mobile Alupad is a mouse pad crafted from anodised aluminium wrapped in smooth white plastic. The plastic wrap, which sets it apart from the MacPadd, makes the mouse glide more smoothly. I got mine in Bangkok.
The Bluelounge Posto is the brand's take on a headphone stand, shipping in three pieces for one-time assembly. Available in black or white, it has a flexible silicone-rubber headphone rest. I bought mine at Paragon in Bangkok for about S$30.
The Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock retails for S$118 in Singapore, but I bought mine in Bangkok at iStudio Paragon for about S$131, S$13 more even after the VAT refund. It's surprisingly small, at 10.4cm wide, yet much heavier.
The Bluelounge Pixi is a multi-purpose cable tie in Small, Medium, and Large. Each size includes two cable lengths in differing quantities, yet all cost the same, about S$16. I picked mine up at Paragon in Bangkok.