Smart Home
Been staying at my place for almost two years now. With regards to my smart home update, I found out that MCO Touch Panel is not very lasting.

Three of my 1-gang MCO Touch Panel (MH-S411) spoiled. Spoiled in a sense, it doesn’t have power to the unit, and hence I can’t switch on or off my lights. Another of my 4-gang MCO Touch Panel (MH-S314), the Z-wave module inside it spoiled, so I can’t pair it.

Luckily, I managed to RMA all my MCO Touch Panel with Automate Asia. Kudos to their good service!

I also replaced my Fibaro Home Center Lite (HCL) with Homey as I was extremely frustrated at how slow and unreliable Fibaro HCL is.

Apple
The first official Apple Store opened in Singapore on 27th May 2017 and it is called Apple Orchard Road.

2017 is the year where I upgrade all my Apple devices.

Bought the iPhone X Space Grey (256GB) and upgraded my four years old Apple iPad Air (Silver 16GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular) to Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ (Space Grey 256GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular).

Company upgraded my three years old Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13″ (Late 2013) to Apple MacBook Pro 13″ with Touch Bar and Touch ID (Mid 2017).

Bought the Apple Watch Series 3, GPS + Cellular, 42mm, from Yodobashi-Umeda, Osaka. I chose the Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Milanese Loop. My Apple Watch Series 0 is getting slower after each watchOS update, and the battery can’t even last one full day. So I decided to upgrade it. Apple Watch is much cheaper in Japan after the tax refund and the 5% VISA discount if you pay by VISA credit card at any Yodobashi stores.

I also upgraded my Huawei Mate 9 to the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a fantastic Android phone. It is a very good alternative to Google Pixel.

What I Said In 2016

I am guessing 2017 will be the year of wireless mesh Wi-Fi system with Eero, Google Wi-Fi, Luma and Orbi already on the bandwagon. We will probably see more mainstream brands like Linksys, D-Link, TP-Link, Netgear, and Asus on board. I am already using Eero (next blog post) for my house.

Indeed it has. Linksys has Velop, D-Link has Covr, TP-Link has Deco and Asus has Lyra.

Eero also has launched its second generation wireless mesh Wi-Fi system.

Google Wi-Fi came to Singapore in 2017 and I changed my parents’ house router to Google Wi-Fi.

I hope to get a Mac desktop computer in 2017, and I can’t wait for iPhone 8 (or whatever you call it).

It looks like Apple did not focus much on desktop computers for 2017. But in 2018, this will change. I am confident that we will see a Mac mini refresh. Also, iMac Pro was launched in Singapore on 19th December 2017.

There are three iPhones in 2017. iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the unexpected iPhone X which was intended as the flagship iPhone.

I probably want to travel more, especially to Japan, since I have not been to Japan before.

Went to Hokkaido in June 2017 and in December 2017, I went to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. In fact, I am publishing this blog post in Tokyo!

Also, I went to Seoul, South Korea, back in October 2017.

For 2018
Looking forward to bridging Apple Homekit with Homey so I can use my iOS devices to control my home. I might even get the Apple Homepod.

I am going to get the Apple AirPower Mat when it comes out next year.

I doubt I will be getting any desktop computer from Apple in 2018 as my Apple iMac 27″ (Late 2012) still works fine.

I will be going to Bali in March 2018 to celebrate my birthday.

Hopefully, at the end of 2018, I can travel to San Francisco (SF), so I can visit the newly open Apple Park. The last time I was in SF was back in 2012.

I would like to wish all my readers, visitors, and supporters a Happy New Year 2018!

Looking Back 2017

120 posts were posted in 2017, accumulating 315 comments, and 1,858,474 views.
December 2017
31st
Looking Back 2017
29th
Anker PowerPort Qi 10W Wireless Charger
27th
KeySmart MagConnect
22nd
Google Home Mini
20th
Sony XB950B1 Extra Bass Wireless Headphones
18th
Anker Micro USB to USB C Adapter
11th
Synology DiskStation DS918+ Review
6th
Amazon Launches Amazon Prime In Singapore
5th
Amazon No Longer Ships For Free To Singapore
4th
Passport – Global Travel Adapter
November 2017
29th
Synology DiskStation DS418play
24th
Zero Latency Singapore Review + Giveaway
20th
Huawei Mate 10 Pro Review
15th
Samsung 960 Evo NVMe M.2 SSD
11th
Huawei Mate 10 Pro Review – Unboxing & Design
10th
Synology DDR3 RAM
6th
Cafflano Klassic
3rd
BenQ EW2770QZ 27″ QHD (2560 x 1440) Monitor Review
1st
Apple iPhone X Silicone, Leather And Folio Case
October 2017
30th
Nomad Universal Cable
28th
Huawei Mate 10 Series Availability in Singapore
27th
Onan Korea Lumena N9 Fan
25th
Apple TV 4K
23rd
V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless Earphones
16th
Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator
9th
Homey Review
5th
Google Pixel 2 XL Will Be Available in Singapore
2nd
Homey Review – Unboxing & Setup
September 2017
25th
Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band Router Review
21st
KeySmart Pro With Tile Smart Location Tracking
19th
X-mini KAI X1
15th
Singtel iPhone 8/8 Plus/X Price Plans
14th
Singapore iPhone Prices Over The Years
11th
Google Wifi Review
4th
Aztech AIR-706P AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit Mesh Router Review
August 2017
31st
TrackR Pixel Review
30th
Google Wifi Now Available in Singapore
29th
Singtel Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Price Plans
28th
Samsung SmartThings V2 Hub (UK)
25th
uHoo Review
24th
Parallels Desktop 13 For Mac
23rd
Fibaro Z-Wave Universal Door & Window Sensor 2 Gen5
22nd
Sudio Tre Wireless Earphones
21st
Timbuk2 Showdown Laptop Backpack
18th
Google Home
17th
Monocozzi LUCID Plus Folio For iPad Pro 10.5″
16th
Just Mobile Mtable
15th
Just Mobile Xtand Pro
14th
Cable Matters DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable
11th
Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter
10th
Anker PowerPort 6 5V/12A 6-Port Wall Charger
9th
Freecam Mobile Wi-Fi Camera (C330A) Review
8th
Apple Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad
7th
Fidget Tri-Spinner
4th
Pacsafe Venturesafe 325 GII Anti-Theft Cross Body Pack
3rd
AmazonBasics USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0 Cable
2nd
USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter
1st
AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-C 2.0 Cable
July 2017
31st
Elecom USB-C Memory Card Reader
28th
Singtel Smart Car
27th
Amazon Prime Now Is Now In Singapore
26th
Elecom USB-C to USB-C Power Delivery Cable
24th
Leplus USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Adapter
21st
Xiaomi ZMI QB820 20,000mAh Power Bank
19th
nonda USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Mini Adapter
17th
Anker USB-C to 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub With Ethernet Adapter
14th
Klipsch Reference X12i
12th
Anker Powerline USB-C to USB-C Cable
10th
Plugable USB-C to DisplayPort Cable
7th
Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multi-Port Adapter
5th
Satechi Aluminum USB-C Micro/SD Card Reader
3rd
Elecom iPad Pro 10.5″ Clear Back Cover
June 2017
30th
Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ (Space Grey 256GB) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
28th
Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ Smart Cover (Charcoal Grey)
26th
Apple 61W USB-C Power Adapter
23rd
Apple MacBook Pro 13″ With Touch Bar And Touch ID (Mid 2017)
21st
Adidas Originals x PORTER 2 Way Waist/Shoulder Bag
19th
Adidas Originals x PORTER NMD C1 Shoes
16th
Innergie PowerJoy 30C
15th
Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
14th
Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
12th
Glif – A Tripod Mount For Smartphones
5th
KeySmart Nano Torch
2nd
Ambi Climate (2nd Edition) Review
May 2017
31st
KeySmart Nano Pen
29th
Apple Orchard Road Opening Swag
26th
Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 SE Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
22nd
Choetech USB-C to HDMI Cable
17th
First Apple Store in Singapore will open on 27th May 2017 at 10am
10th
Gaston Luga – Praper Backpack
3rd
Challenger Flagship Store at Bugis Junction
April 2017
26th
Linksys Velop Review
18th
Singtel Samsung Galaxy S8 And Galaxy S8+ Price Plans
12th
Limpeh Says – Singapore’s Version Of Cards Against Humanity
7th
HTC U Ultra Review
5th
Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse
3rd
Energea Travelite 34W 5V/6.8A 4-Port Wall Charger
March 2017
31st
iRobot Braava Jet 240
29th
KeySmart – Pocket Key Organizers & Key Holders
27th
Bose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) Acoustic Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
25th
Happy 33rd Birthday To Me
22nd
D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD (DSH-C310) Review
15th
Fidget Cube – A Vinyl Desk Toy
8th
Belkin Valet – Charge Dock For Apple Watch & iPhone
1st
Sensibo Sky Review
February 2017
22nd
Pitaka’s Aramid iPhone 7 Plus Case
15th
Yubico FIDO U2F Security Key
10th
Igloohome Smart Deadbolt Lock 02 Review
3rd
Beseye Pro Wi-Fi Monitoring Camera Review
1st
EOZ One Wireless Bluetooth Earphones
January 2017
26th
Synology Router RT2600ac Review
23rd
iOttie Easy One Touch 3 (v2) Car Mount Holder
20th
Blink Battery-Powered Wireless Home Security Camera Review
18th
Transcend TLC 480GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD
16th
Cards Against Humanity
13th
Anova Precision Cooker (Bluetooth + Wi-Fi)
11th
Kikkerland Bobino Folding Mobile Phone Holder
9th
Sudio Regent Wireless Headphones
6th
iRobot Roomba 980
3rd
eero Wi-Fi System Review