Archive for the ‘Prices’ Category

Review: Google Pixel 6a Mid-Tier Android Smartphone with Tensor

Friday, July 22nd, 2022

The Google Pixel 6a (S$749) and Pixel Buds Pro (S$299) are now available for pre-orders in Singapore. Both will physically hit the shelves on 28 July 2022. Thanks to Google Singapore, I have been trying out the Pixel 6a for the past month. Here’s a quick 5-min review of its highlights.

The Google Pixel 6a and case freshly unboxed. I like the sage colour and glass back although none of that is visible once you slap on the phone case.

The Google Pixel 6a and case freshly unboxed. I like the sage colour and glass back although none of that is visible once you slap on the phone case.

The Google Pixel 6a ships with Android 12 and is positioned as a premium phone at a more affordable price.

It is priced higher than the previous mid-tier Pixel “a”-subseries phones (eg. the launch price for the Pixel 4a was only S$499) and sits at the top of the mid-range market in terms of price tag.

Google Pixel 6a coming to Singapore.

Google Pixel 6a coming to Singapore.

The Pixel 6a is powered by Google Tensor – the same chip behind Google’s flagship Pixel 6 phones.

Some of the features that the Pixel 6a shares with the flagship Pixel 6 Pro include Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Night Sight and live translation.

So in a sense the Pixel 6a can be also seen as Pixel 6 “Lite” ie. the starting model of a flagship model.

In reality, it straddles the gap between the flagship phone segment and the mid-range segment.

For those hesitant to purchase the Google 6 series, you can consider the Pixel 6a with slightly lower feature set, at a correspondingly lower price.

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New Arrival: Google Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro in Singapore

Thursday, July 21st, 2022

Starting TODAY, the Google Pixel 6a (S$749) and Pixel Buds Pro (S$299) are available for pre-orders in Singapore. They will physically hit the shelves on 28 July 2022.

 

The Google Pixel 6a (128GB, S$749) is available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage while the Google Pixel Buds Pro (S$299) is available in Charcoal.

The Google Pixel 6a (128GB, S$749) is available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage while the Google Pixel Buds Pro (S$299) is available in Charcoal.

First unveiled globally during Google I/O 2022 in May, online pre-orders for the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro begin today on the Google Store, Amazon SG, Courts Online, Challenger Online, and Shopee.

They will be available online and in-stores from 28 July 2022.

Pixel 6a is positioned as a premium phone at a more affordable price.

The mid-tiered phone is powered by Google Tensor – the same brain behind Google’s flagship Pixel 6 phones – and offers the same features in the flagship.

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Accessory Review: Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W

Saturday, July 16th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): For charging MacBooks and laptops that need greater power, get the BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C cable 100W will allow you to charge any laptop currently in the market, and maximise the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger (sold separately).

The Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C cable 100W will allow you to charge any laptop currently in the market, and maximise the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger (sold separately) .

For laptops with high charging ratings eg. the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a 96W charger, you’ll need a high power rated charging cable like this BoostCharge 100W USB-C to USB-C charging cable from Belkin.

It also makes the most of the maximum 96W USB-C charging port on the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger.

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Review: Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box for Immersive Surround Lighting

Wednesday, July 13th, 2022

Having jazzed up my home entertainment space with smart accented lighting by two Philips Hue Play light bars, I decided to up the ante to sync the lighting effects with the movies that I was watching on my TV, as well as my music and gaming – to achieve a more immersive experience.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is a fantastic way to liven up your entertainment space for movies, gaming and music. Before (bottom) and After (top). Note how the corresponding coloured light leaps off the TV onto the surroundings.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is a fantastic way to liven up your entertainment space for movies, gaming and music. Before (bottom) and After (top). Note how the corresponding coloured light leaps off the TV onto the surroundings.

We are all familiar with surround sound, where the sound is expanded beyond a mono or stereo speakers to encapsulate the listener for a more immersive audio experience.

Signify is offering surround lighting with its Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box (RRP: S$419) – extending the visual experience from the confines of the television (or computer monitor) to beyond the display itself to the surroundings.

What you’ll need to set up a synchronised surround lighting from scratch (sold separately): Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, Philips Hue Play light bars, Philips Hue Bridge. You’ll also need the free Philips Hue app and Philips Hue Sync apps to set up and program the lights and synchronisation.

What you’ll need to set up a synchronised surround lighting from scratch (sold separately): Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, Philips Hue Play light bars, Philips Hue Bridge. You’ll also need the free Philips Hue app and Philips Hue Sync apps to set up and program the lights and synchronisation.

You can set this up by emplacing Philips Hue smart lights around the TV and then syncing the colours and intensities of these lights to whatever is displayed on the TV screen.

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Review: Philips Hue Play Light Bars for Instant Smart Lighting

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

Want to jazz up your home or entertainment space with smart accented lighting that enhances the ambience and atmosphere? The Philips Hue Play light bars transform your living space instantly and easily provide immersive lighting to better enjoy your movies, games and music.

The Philips Hue Play light bars are an easy way to set up smart accented lighting to enhance the ambience of your entertainment space. Before (bottom) and After (top).

The Philips Hue Play light bars are an easy way to set up smart accented lighting to enhance the ambience of your entertainment space. Before (bottom) and After (top).

I’d installed a 65-inch Android TV from Prism+ in my living room a few months back and had been enjoying the big screen experience at home.

The basic box set for the Philips Hue Play light bar comes in a pack of two at an RRP of S$209. Currently selling online at S$146.

The basic box set for the Philips Hue Play light bar comes in a pack of two at an RRP of S$209. Currently selling online at S$146.

But that living space was a tad boring with the TV sitting on a plain cabinet against a blank wall – even though the yellow wall had been painted with an arty sponge effect.

To add some coloured ambient lighting, I got a pair of Philips Hue Play light bars and stood them on either side of the TV, atop the TV cabinet.

The light bars were really easy to set up and took all of five minutes: simply plug each light into the smart plug that came with the Hue Play light bar double pack, stick that plug into the power socket and switch on.

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Accessory Review: Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C Cables

Monday, July 11th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): Need rugged and durable USB-C cables with USB-A or USB-C connectors for your Android devices or PCs? Check out these two cables from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-A Cable (S$34.90) and USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90) are available at Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-A Cable (S$34.90) and USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90) are available at Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

When I got the BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger from Belkin, I also got two USB-C cables along with it, for charging my Android smartphones, tablets, PCs and other gadgets like smartwatches and earbuds.

  1. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-C Cable (S$39.90)
  2. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-A to USB-C Cable (S$34.90)

These cables are more durable and flexible compared to generic cables – they are supposedly up to 30x more durable and are more resistant to tangling, fraying and kinks.

They have been tested to survive more than 30 thousand bends.

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Accessory: Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex Lightning to USB Cables

Sunday, July 10th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): Need charging USB cables with Lightning connectors for your Apple devices? Check out these two cables from Belkin.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB to Lightning cables are available for S$39.90 each at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB to Lightning cables are available for S$39.90 each at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall and Belkin Shopee Mall.

Over the weekend, I got these two cables for my nephew who is an Apple fan.

  1. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-A Cable with Lightning Connector
  2. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C Cable with Lightning Connector

Why use these cables instead of those generic cables that came with the devices?

Because of greater durability and flexibility.

Belkin boasts that the BoostCharge Pro Flex USB cables are up to 30x more durable than ordinary cables, so that they are more resistant to tangling, fraying and kinks.

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TUCU Review: Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger

Saturday, July 9th, 2022

Tech-U-Can-Use (TUCU): This compact and fast GaN charger takes care of the charging needs of all my smartphones, tablets and laptops at home and on my travels.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger is available for S$149 at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall, Belkin Shopee Mall.

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger is available for S$149 at Challenger stores and online, Belkin LazMall, Belkin Shopee Mall.

I’ve been using this BoostCharge Pro 4-Port 108W GaN Charger from Belkin since it hit shelves in Singapore last month and it has become the charging “hub” for my electronic gadgets.

The charger includes 2x USB-C and 2x USB-A ports to power a laptop and three additional devices, using USB-C PD and GaN technologies to provide a high-powered and efficient charge.

Combinations for simultaneously charging different devices on the four ports.

Combinations for simultaneously charging different devices on the four ports.

It can charge my Asus laptop at full speed or fast charge a Samsung S22 Ultra and an iPad while charging two additional devices such as the Sony LinkBuds S earbuds and the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro smartwatch.

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New Arrival: Roborock G10 Vacuum Mop with Self-Cleaning Dock

Wednesday, July 6th, 2022

Roborock will be launching its latest robotic vacuum mop tomorrow. The G10 ships with an Auto Self-Cleaning Dock, and introduces Auto-Mop Washing, which washes the robot’s mop during and after cleanup. Introductory promotions below.

The Roborock G10 is now available for pre-order at a special launch price of S$1,399 (U.P. S$1,699) exclusively on the brand’s official store on Shopee from 7 July until 14 July.

The Roborock G10 is now available for pre-order at a special launch price of S$1,399 (U.P. S$1,699) exclusively on the brand’s official store on Shopee from 7 July until 14 July.

The Roborock G10 features the brand’s proprietary Auto Mop Washing, a unique system that washes the robot’s mop during and after cleanup.

Upon startup, the standard mop wash is enabled by default with an interval of 20 minutes. The maximum interval can be set up to 50minutes.

The slide drives the cleaning module to brush (600 rpm) the mop to remove dirty water back and forth, in order to avoid dragging a dirty cloth over the floor.

More details below from the press release.

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Review: Huawei Sound Joy Wireless BT Speaker with Devialet

Monday, July 4th, 2022

Huawei has just launched its latest wireless Bluetooth speaker in Singapore. Co-engineered with audio expert Devialet, the Sound Joy offers good punchy sound, long playback battery life and IP67 waterproofing/dustproofing rating to deploy the speaker in the fun outdoors.

The Huawei Sound Joy will be launching exclusively on Lazada at an introductory promotion of S$168 (U.P. S$188). Available from 11 July 2022.

The Huawei Sound Joy will be launching exclusively on Lazada at an introductory promotion of S$168 (U.P. S$188). Available from 11 July 2022.

The Huawei Sound Joy is targeted at the young who are active outdoors and need a portable and chic wireless speaker that produces powerful sound and which can withstand the elements.

The Sound Joy comes in two colours, the boring Obsidian Black and the lovely Spruce Green which I prefer.

 

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The coloured light circle on top of the Sound Joy jazzes up the wireless speaker and complements the vibrating passive radiators.

With a length of 202mm and diameter of 73mm, and mass of 680g — the speaker is about the size and weight of a water bottle.

Co-engineered with Devialet, it features the audiohouse’s 2-way speaker system and its Devialet SAM technology which produces good sound quality for any audio type.

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