Ending the year 2015

It is a tough year for me for 2015 but I believe better stuff will come, I mean losing your wallet and having your grandma hospital and going through multiple operations--and news just came today from the hospital that her condition is now worst than before.

If her condition was bad, why would the operation still go through in the first place? That's one of the reasons I don't really trust doctors much anymore--even when my mum first amputated her leg almost 10 years ago, only to find out later that the cause wasn't cancer.

I am so sorry for the lack of updates over the past few days as I have been going through a lot. I still have some reviews on backlog right now because of what's happening and moving over to a new job, there are some delays which I will deal with shortly.

I basically wish to sum up on the year 2015 on some great tech and what I enjoyed buying the most for this year. A few of them came off Kickstarter but it still is a worthy mention. I will sign off here right now and stay tuned to my blog for some great tech of 2015!d

Rochor MRT Station opening and shopping smart in Sim Lim Square

The Rochor MRT Station is now open and it will be much easier when going to Laselle and Sim Lim Square--one of the best place to grab your electronics stuff.


Picture credits: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/

We can finally go to Sim Lim Square without having to squeeze through the always crowded Bugis Street or go under the scorching sun.

With Funan the IT mall soon to be converted into a lifestyle mall, things are going in the right direction for Sim Lim Square. However, always pay attention and ask for the final price of whichever item you are buying. There are honest shops but some shops will take advantage of people who always wants the best bargain.

Remember, when something is too good to be true--it usually is. Do not end up paying an exorbitant amount due to some underhanded methods. Another great tip is to look out for the shops blacklisted under CASE (a huge signboard) and also look for shops with the STARETAILER sticker.

Visit reputable shops, whereby most of the time the staff is being in uniform instead of plain clothes. Other than Fuwell and Bizgram, their staff wears plain clothes but have a good reputation.

Other shops worth a notice:
Bizgram
Fuwell
Newstead
Song Brothers
Tec-drome
Video Pro
X-treme Solution

Might have missed out on a few but let me know in the comments below if you know of any other reputable shops that you frequent!

What Apple have in store for us in 2016

There are a few things we can look forward to in the year 2016 from Apple:

1. Discontinued Macbook Air series
It seems like the New Macbook series is here to replace the older Air series of Macbook, I wasn't that pleased at the one-port-does-it-all Macbook 2015. You can't deny that it will be the new ultra-light, ultra-portable solution for people on-the-go.

2. Apple Watch 2
Apple is coming up with a new variant and I'm not sure what to expect yet, the main reason for me not getting a smart watch still is that a traditional watch is still offering better battery life and functions the way it should. Why would I look at a small screen on my watch when I have a huge screen on my phone to look at? This would work for people spends most of their time behind the wheel, personally for me I would have just preferred a watch to be for telling time.

It would be nice if they offered a trade-in option for people who have just gotten their current Apple watches.

3. iPad Pro 2
Bigger is better, so there they go with the iPad Pro. We have just seen it recently and it is not selling as well as Apple wants it to, so what can we expect out of the new version? 3D Touch will most likely be available on the iPad Pro 2.

4. iPad Air 3
Thinner. Lighter. Faster.

This is the one thing I am most looking forward to from Apple, however it is confirmed that 3D Touch would not be available, it is good to have but more practical on a iPhone so it is fine for me.

If you are considering getting a tablet right now, I still suggest getting the iPad Mini 4 as I do find that the perfect tablet size is 8.0 inch. Unless you want the tablet mostly for media consumption, get the iPad Mini 4. If not, waiting for the iPad Air 3 seems like the best option right now.

5. iPhone 7
I still do not know if we will be seeing a 3GB RAM beast for the iPhone and if it does it will turn the game around once again for Apple. Apple has stirred many users back to their phones after they finally decided that people needed phones with bigger screens. Next year's Apple iPhone 7 will become the game-changer in the industry

The phone is most likely to have water/dust resistance which is a plus to have and it is great to see Apple finally working on that. It would be nice to see wireless charging finally coming to Apple so fingers crossed for that!

Codistas Micro Flip USB Review

Here's wishing you guys a Merry Christmas and have a great new year ahead! This review came a little later because something bad happened yesterday, but I'll leave it as that since it is good to leave the negative behind!

This has to be my Christmas present from my personal Santa--got it via Kickstarter and its been great so far, except for some minor problems with the adapter itself. The cable works great so far and I'm enjoying using it every moment, didn't regret getting the 2m cable version. The original cables that comes with the phones are usually short, I was thinking of swapping to the iPhone but looks like this would be keeping me to team Android for a long time.!

This is a must have for Android users until they fully adopt the USB type C connection.  

It allows you to plug in the microUSB without having to find the right direction, meaning it's actually reversible--similar to Apple's Lightning connection/USB Type C. The reinforced cable feels strong but the adapter doesn't connect fully to the regular MicroUSB slot.

One problem that I've faced though after using the adapter for two days, the connection got dislodged and stuck in my phone's charging port. Refer to the pictures below, took me a bit of force to remove it.

This is a great product and I will still continue using the cable, but shortly I will contact Codistas about this and see if there is a defect with mine and ifdthere will be a remedy for this.

Even if they don't, I still like the idea of a microUSB cable where I can insert easily to charge my smartphones and powerbanks. Thanks to Codistas for making this and it has been really convenient for easy charging. The past few nights of charging my phone in the dark is so much easier now, similar to charging hidden my iPad. 

Do check out Codistas' website as well a I heard that they will be producing it for sale, not just for Kickstarter funders.  Heard that the amount is rather limited so I hope you guys who have Android phones and are jealous of your IOS counterparts--give Codistas Micro Flip USB a try! 

How to resolve lag issues/stuttering on Swiftkey

If you are facing lag issues when you are typing, like the stuttering when you actually type and got annoyed by all the typos caused by that stutter - you're here at the right place!

I just found out on my android phone on what actually causes it, its a very simple fix that can be done in seconds!

Firstly, go ahead and uninstall the updates to Google Keyboard. Some of you should know where I am going with this.

Secondly and lastly, disable the app. If you are unsure where to find the settings, I recommend using this app right here available on the Play Store.

Go to Toolbox and select the System App Uninstall settings, uninstall any updates and disable the app once at for all. And viola, a lag free Swiftkey keyboard with the awesome prediction!

Quick thoughts of the Fiio X7

Fiio is now stepping their game from what I see on the pricing of the Fiio X7. How would it fare against the current flagship DAPs?

Many people are looking forward to this because this is their first touch screen hi-res DAP. Build quality is excellent so far, but I do wish there is better buttons placement. I do find myself sometimes getting tracks skip and paused when I put it in my bag. I did highlight the issue and I hear that a fix might come soon on Fiio's software side. This will likely allow us to lock and disable buttons when screen is off. I am pretty sure as well that the amp module for hot swapping would come pretty soon in the next few months, hopefully before the lunar new year.

Sound quality is musical but it's pretty neutral too, I would say that the energy and sound staging is top notch. Excellent dynamic range but it does lose out a little on the noise control, but this is what made the Fiio X7 give out the vinyl sound signature--something clearly lacking in most hi-res DAPs nowadays. Personally, I love the raw vinyl sound signature but it would be nice to see the low-mids being more refined. I can't wait to see what sort of amp modules they will be coming out with in the future!

As of now, the firmware have been updated again and its good to know that they are working on what is wrong with their current version of the firmware. I do hope to see that they fix the Android/Music only mode soon as it is not working for me.

Vainglory update 1.12 and Kestrel's Test

I just got the update late last night after work and it was a plesant one--finally they moved out on the performance and also now Android users can rejoice and save their app on the SD card itself.

A welcoming update but sadly my connection yesterday was pretty bad while I was playing and trying out Kestrel. She's the second hero from the elite fighting force known as Stormguard--with the all popular Catherine being the first. 

I do prefer her on WP comparing to CP--CP does better late game with a ton of damage but good defensive items are pretty much needed. She does farely well even on their recommended build, but you will have to tower hug and be careful of ganks throughout the game, especially during the early game period as you cannot go stealth and escape early in the game.

My first game was not that well played due to not being familiar with her skills and play style but I got the hang of it after my first game. I won the first game by chance since it was 3v2 and the opponents were really good. They stuck together and attacked at very good moments when you are caught off guard, but the late game manages to edge the advantage towards us.

 I lost my second game against a guild but it was good experience I managed to bag 12 kills while dying 7 times.

Kestrel’s basic attacks reduce the cooldown of Active Camo. However, Active Camo cannot be triggered while Kestrel is taking damage from an enemy hero, putting it on cooldown. The length of time Active Camo is disabled is reduced by bonus weapon power. One reason why I actually prefer the WP build on Kestrel and you have good attack speed/damage as well.

Go damage build and remember to get the Reflex Block if your opponents are getting good damage early game, and do not over push the lane early game and try to stick to your towers. Kiting is decent after getting good attack speed so its possible to try kill off someone while escaping. Skill A Glimmershot can also be saved up to 4 shots, they do reload after you stop using them for a while and attack speed determines the reload time.

Skill B Active Camo will create a mist and if you hit an enemy in the mist they will be used, this can be often used to turn the game around. 

Kestrel's ulti is the "One Shot One Kill"--the game already indicates it to be a finishing move, use it to end escaping enemy, and this is more on prediction and reading movements so you must have a good sense of the game and what is going on.

And... Christmas SURPRISE!

‘GIFT-WRAPPED’ FORTRESS LIMITED-EDITION HOLIDAY SKIN
Gather around the fireplace to hear the story of Rona’s favorite present ever: ‘Gift-wrapped’ Fortress! For a limited time only, use ICE to unlock this limited-edition, super-festive hero skin in the Market. Soon, this skin will be gone… and then only those who unlocked this special skin will have access to play with the fluffiest Fortress ever. 

Do read the full update log over here as I've only mentioned what is key to me so far! There's a ton of heroes and items balance which makes the game that much more enjoyable now, I'll see you guys again on Vainglory--Zerovalk signing out!

Armaggeddon Kalashinov AK-700 review

I actually got this to replace my faulty Logitech basic keyboard which cost me about $16, this cost me slightly more at around $25--not much complains so far over here I would say. No illuminated keys, but once you get the hang of it I would say that is pretty much redundant. Not to mention that it is ugly when some of the LED lights are not working.

For the first few days, even after some extensive use I actually still find myself hitting the wrong keys and always having to look at the keys before I confirm what I type--this is not due to a weak learning curve as I got used to my new Dell laptop within the first few days. That is, other than constantly hitting the NUMLOCK key by accident.

Sadly, I only have my laptop left as my PC just died on me. Looking forward to gettnig a new DIY PC before I get a new keyboard--I have no complains for the Armaggeddon keyboard at such a low price but their mechanical keyboards cost around the price of the Razer Blackwidow ones. I will think it through to see keyboard to get my hands on next!

More rumors on the iPhone 7

More iPhone 7 rumors—and most likely confirmed!

1. There will most likely be three variants this time round, as I'm sure some of you actually miss a much smaller phone that can be easily used with one hand. It will most likely be called the iPhone 6C instead of the iPhone 7 Mini. No confirmed screen size yet and of course specs you can expect it to be less powerful than what the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would offer.
   

Apple usually don't start with new technology until they are sure what they are getting into and they are sure that they can do it right—for example, their upgrade to LTE bands and also a higher MegaPixel camera took much longer but when it happens, it is that much more effective.

2. No more headphone jack
This new approach has been spreading since a few months back but seems like its most likely confirmed this time round—I can also predict that Beats will most likely start some Apple exclusive headphones for the Lightning connector.

The audiophile definitely hates this update—but I can see how this will benefit those who mostly use their phones for music (which I don't do often) but imagine being stuck to default Apple headphones or some future Beats headphones. Beats headphones have improved but it is just not a good idea as it might stop others from wanting to swap to the new iPhone.

3. Moving on to their R&D, it seems like Apple is thinking of swapping out the Lightning connector and move towards a USB Type C similar to their newest Macbook. I feel neutral towards this but I would love to see what other variants Apple can come up with—really looking forward to a confirmed IP67 variant although some for their newer iPhones seem to have been secretly water resistant.

Let me know in the comments on what you would like to see on the new iPhone and which variant would you love to own the most!

Samsung loses to TSMC on Apple's iPhone 7 A10 chip production

As I have blogged previously, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Apple split production of the A9 processor chip between Samsung and TSMC.



Many tech bloggers also found out that the Samsung A9 chip has lower battery life and also slightly lower performance—although I would say that it does not really bother the iPhone much in real world performance.

Just recently, two separate reports have surfaced that indicate that Apple has seemingly chosen to make TSMC the sole producer of the A10 processor chips slated to be released in the iPhone 7.

The A10 processor chip is still under development, but TSMC’s integration of a fan-out wafer-level packaging technology into their manufacturing process seems to have played a key role in Apple’s decision to award TSMC sole production rights.

The InFO WLP manufacturing technology is able to deliver better electrical component integration in a singular package, and iPhone In Canada reports that it can lead to reducing power usage for mobile devices by supporting higher-width memory buses necessary for maximizing efficiency.

Taiwan’s Commercial Times, via EE Times, first reported the news and KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later released a research report that confirmed Commercial Timesassertion that Apple has awarded TSMC sole production rights for the iPhone 7’s A10 processor chip.

Regarding Chipgate, while the A9 processor chips created by Samsung and TSMC were supposed to be identical, it was later revealed that Samsung’s version of the A9 processor chip was smaller than TSMC’s version, by 96-mm2 to TSMC’s 104.5-mm2. Theoretically, Samsung’s chip was supposed to be more power efficient but in real world tests, TSMC wins by far.

Aurisonics Rockets Review

Having owned these pair of earphones of around a year or more, I really loved having this as my daily driver while commuting. This is my own personal set which I have been really pleased with.



I've broken various earphones while commuting thus making me spend more money--thus the decision to get the Aurisonics Rockets when I first saw it on Kickstarter. Nothing much to bargain about because $99 USD is a very good price because it is now retailing in Singapore for $349 SGD.

I'm also sure many of you can relate to having a softer music on one side or completely no sound on one side before although the earphones look completely fine--trust me, I've had that happened on me too many times and it costs a lot to keep buying new cables since my earphones have detachable cables but I'm sure it costs you guys more to buy new earphones or even stop considering buy good sounding earphones because they usually cost more.

Let us first look at the build quality--very well built and if you have not seen this, you really should:

Not to say that I would smash my earphones to test it out, but this really gives me the assurance that I have something lasting. Gone are the days people actually smashes my custom earphones worth over a thousand dollars to the ground thus cracking the shell and giving me tons of problems. The Aurisonics Rockets are made out of a titanium shell protecting the 5.1mm micro drivers and the cables are made out of quad-weaved Kevlar.

I would say that various careless people have actually yanked off my earphones on many accidental occasions on public transport--which I didn't concern myself anymore since I know the Rockets were built to last.

Let's move on to the sound, I would rate this as a pretty balanced pair of earphones with good details but lacking in soundstage. Despite the specifications showing this to be easy to drive, I always find myself having to crank the volume up to about 60-80% for music but for videos it usually goes close to max volume, with some videos being too soft still at max volume.

Sound quality round-up:

- Good clarity and details, lacks soundstaging

- Quality tight bass, not boomy

- Bright sounding treble without sibilance

These are the specs from the box itself:

16ohms and 105db at 1mW should be easy to drive but I'm guessing its due to the micro-drivers that could not go at higher volumes.

You can wear them over the ear or the regular style but for me I prefer wearing this the usual way--the over the ears method just sits in a weird position for me and I gave up on that. If you own a pair, let me know what you think of them! If you're planning on getting one locally in Singapore, do visit Song Brothers at both Funan and Sim Lim or ConnectIT in JEM and Tampines!

These are the only places I know that are carrying them as of now.

P.S. Just a quick personal update, I will be out for a while since I'm having an eye operation today--will be having blurry vision for a few weeks but I'll be back soon!