Yubico has two models of their NFC security keys. Yubikey 5C NFC for USB-C devices and Yubikey 5 NFC for USB-A devices. Yubico NFC Security Keys – FrontYubico NFC Security Keys – Back They are part of Yubico’s YubiKeys Series 5 which started in 2018. Yubikey 5C NFC is the newest member of Series 5, which was launched in 2020. Yubikey 5C NFC – FrontYubikey 5C NFC – Back Yubikey 5C NFC retails for US$55, while Yubikey 5 NFC retails for US$50. In Singapore, Yubikeys are being distributed by DT Asia. Yubikey 5C NFC The support of NFC security keys has matured in iOS and works well with Safari and ..read more

The battery of my APC BACK-UPS BK650-AS USB 650VA only lasted me about three years. A new APC Replacement Battery, RBC #17, costs S$113, 56% of the cost of a new APC BACK-UPS BK650-AS (~S$200). It doesn’t make financial sense to replace the battery. After my APC BACK-UPS BK650-AS battery spoiled, I decided to use both of my Network-Attached Storage (NAS) as it is at my new house. However, my house’s electricity keeps tripping randomly at least once a month for various reasons. The first time was due to most of my 13A sockets being connected to a 20A Single Pole MCB. The electrician replaced it ..read more

Four years have passed since my last Our Play & Work From Home Setup 2020. COVID-19 came and passed. I have moved to a more central location in Singapore as commuting from my previous home is horrendous. So, I wanted a post to update our play and work setup at our new home. Computer Room One of the mistakes from our previous home planning was to have a Computer Room where both of us could work inside the same room. COVID-19 came and tested our planning, and it didn’t work. Having two people working in the same room taking two different calls is virtually impossible due to the noise levels ..read more

In my previous post on Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger, I mentioned that it would be good if I can swap out the UK plug for other countries plugs so that it could be used for travel. I think Belkin has gotten lots of feedback about this and has launched another version with interchangeable tips included. I don’t know why Belklin called it tips instead of plugs, but I shall refer it to tips for consistency. They mean the same thing. The recommended retail price (RRP) for the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger without the interchangeable tips drops by S$10 to ..read more

I celebrated my 40th birthday yesterday with my family as I reached the mid-point of my life. The average life expectancy for males in Singapore is 80.7 in 2022. So, in gaming terms, if you started the game with 100% health, you are now down to 50% health remaining. This phase of my life is to enjoy life as much as possible. Travel when I can walk, eat while I have teeth, and buy things I like while still working. Quality of life going forward should be my number one priority. One of the best quality-of-life improvements I made last year was moving from my HDB BTO at Choa Chu Kang to an HDB Re ..read more

Divoom Times GateDivoom Times Gate reminded me of LaMetric Time which I backed on Kickstarter 9 years ago. Sadly, I had to throw it away as the battery expanded. I bought the Divoom Times Gate from Divoom’s Official Store on Shopee. It retails for S$189 and is available in Gray and Pink. At that time, some sales were going on, and the price dropped to S$158. After deducting all the vouchers, I paid about S$137 for it. Of course, I chose Gray as it comes with an Orange accent. Orange is my favorite color. Divoom put a lot of effort into the packaging. It came with a paper bag, and the Divoom Ti ..read more

ULTIDESK Xtreme Standing Desk is Ulti’s high-end standing desk. Ulti entered the standing desk market with its first desk, the ULTIDESK Evolution Standing Desk, in January 2024. Two months later, they introduced their second standing desk, ULTIDESK Xtreme Standing Desk, which boosts dual motors, rear-hinged cover, RGB light strip, 15° front slope, and OLED handset controller with RGB Backlight. The desk comes in two lengths (1.4 m and 1.6 m), each in two finishes (Black and Walnut MDF). MDF stands for Medium-Density Fibreboard. 1.4 m retails for S$799, while the 1.6 m retails for S$849. There ..read more

Verbatim Tough Max cables utilize DuPont Kevlar Aramid fiber to encase the pure copper core, providing exceptional strength. This is further reinforced by a double-layered nylon braided outer sheath, ensuring durability and resilience. The copper core, constructed with 21AWG (American Wire Gauge), optimizes performance, enabling quicker charging and ensuring more stable data transmission. Typically, the most vulnerable point in a cable is the connection between the connector and the cable itself. However, with Verbatim Tough Max, this critical area has been strengthened and has successfully en ..read more

Verbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger is a travel charger that comes with four interchangeable plugs and has three USB-C Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 ports and one USB-A Quick Charge (QC) 3.0 port. It retails for S$114 on Shopee and Lazada before any discounts. Verbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger – Box FrontVerbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger – Box BackVerbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger – Box OpenVerbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger – Box There is a carrying pouch that allows you to hold all the plugs and the charger. Verbatim 4-Port 100W PD Travel Charger – Box Contents The Verbatim 4 ..read more

Aqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro is the latest smart wall switch from Aqara that is available in Singapore after Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 and Aqara Smart Wall Switch D1. The price of Aqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro starts from S$77 on Souky’s store in Lazada and Shopee. Aqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro – Box FrontAqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro – Box BackAqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro – BoxAqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro – Box Contents There are two colors available, white and black. Each color is available in 1-gang to 4-gang configurations. Aqara Smart Wall Switch Z1 Pro – Front Although availabl ..read more