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since 2002
Good news for fashion-forward, tech-savvy Android users who love shopping on the go. ZALORA, Southeast Asia's fastest-growing fashion and beauty e-retailer, has expanded its mobile offering with the launch of an Android shopping app across the region.
My home doorbell lasted 28 years, since 1985, so I bought a new SoundTeoh No. 77 Wireless Doorbell from Funan's Challenger for S$28.60, or S$25.74 with member's price. Twenty-eight years on, doorbell technology has moved on, with countless types available.
I bought the Bluelounge Milo (Aluminium) from Funan's Challenger for S$39, or S$35.10 with member's price. I already own the original Milo from about two years ago, and though the aluminium is S$20 dearer, I love every aspect of it.
I got the Powerocks Stone 3, a 7,800mAh dual USB power bank, from my cousin in Hong Kong. I'm unsure of the local price, but it's US$48.50 on Amazon. True to the 'stone' name, it's heavy at 500g.
Personally, I find service in Singapore merely acceptable, with retail generally better than F&B. If I had to name the worst F&B service, it would be Crystal Jade Kitchen. Having visited the US, I found service there excellent.
My family bought me the Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2m) from the Apple Store at IFC in Hong Kong while on holiday. It retails for HK$288 there and S$48 in Singapore, which works out about the same after conversion.
The Speck SeeThru is a hardshell case for the MacBook Air 11 or 13-inch. It's thinner and lighter than the STM Grip, but lacks the suede inner lining that stops the shell scratching the laptop. The material is also reflective.
The STM Grip is a hard shell case for the MacBook Air 13, with versions also for the Air 11, MacBook Pro 13, and Pro Retina 13 and 15. It retails for S$69 at DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
The BodyGuardz ScreenGuardz HD anti-glare, anti-fingerprint screen protector retails for S$59, from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers like EpiCentre, Infinite, and Challenger. It reduces glare so you can use your device under bright lights and direct sunlight.
I hadn't heard of Bootcase before, but thanks to DISTEXPRESS for seeding it, the Bootcase Hybrid Snap Case has replaced my SwitchEasy Nude as my default iPhone 5 case. It retails for S$45 from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
The Bluelounge Mika is an all-in-one stand that supports the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air or Pro. Made from a solid aluminium block with soft rubber edges to prevent scratches, it retails for S$49 from DISTEXPRESS or Apple Premium Resellers.
Google Reader has officially gone offline, following its shutdown announcement on 14th March 2013. Farewell, Google Reader, may you rest in peace. I'll be moving on to Feedly, which seems the most natural successor for managing all my RSS feeds.
As ever, I'm no audiophile, so forgive me if I don't dwell on audio quality. The Logitech UE 6000 retails for S$319 in Singapore, in black or white. It sits in the middle of the Logitech UE headphone range.
The Logitech K310 Washable Keyboard retails for S$59, a reasonably priced wired keyboard. Most keyboards are filthy, a 2008 study found them carrying 150 times the recommended bacteria limit, five times worse than a toilet seat, harbouring dirt and hair.
I bought the Belkin EaseFit Plus Armband for iPhone 5 from Funan's Challenger for S$35, or S$31.50 with member's price, ahead of my 10km Straits Times Run in the Park 2013 on 25th August. A simpler Ease-Fit Armband costs S$29.
SingTel has brought Shopify to Singapore, the platform that lets you set up a full hosted e-commerce store in minutes, with an excellent iOS app for managing it. Local examples include Pocky Singapore and The Damn Good Shop.
Alienware, the pioneer of specialty high-performance PC gaming systems, has announced its latest and most powerful gaming laptops, the Alienware 14, 17, and 18. They feature all-new performance graphics, Intel 4th Generation Core processors, and components engineered for extreme performance.
I bought the 4A AC Power Adapter 6-Port USB Travel Charger from TrendsMobile at Funan for S$29.90. Its 4A output is shared across all six USB ports, and I wish it specified the maximum per port. Still, it's handy.
I sleep in an air-conditioned room almost every night, and since my LASIK I've grown wary of dryness, not wanting my vision to regress. My eyelids don't fully close in sleep, so I wake with severely dry eyes each morning.
Launched last month, the UE BOOM is a 360° Bluetooth wireless speaker that's both water-resistant and shockproof. It's in stores for S$299 in four colours, Blue, Red, Black, and White. My first impression: loud sound with decent bass.
Amazon now ships to Singapore for free on orders above US$125, through its new AmazonGlobal Saver Shipping initiative. The free shipping covers India and Singapore when your order includes at least US$125 of qualifying merchandise, excluding the Import Fees Deposit.
Western Digital announced the My Passport Ultra in May 2013, essentially a premium version of the popular My Passport. Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, it comes preloaded with WD SmartWare Pro backup software, Dropbox integration, and hardware encryption.