I finally bought a mechanical keyboard - the affordable HP GK100F mechanical gaming keyboard
It cost me only RM 65.70 with a shipping fee of RM4.90 from the HP official shop on Lazada.
I have been using it for over 3 months now and despite some negative reviews I read on the net, I have no complaints whatsoever. It has performed magnificently.
This is the GK100F Blue Switch variation with 104 Keys and has backlights, which look great at night with the lights off.
It took a while to get used to the clickityclack sound of typing. I choose one with a plastic base and not the GK100F Plus which has an Alluminiunm base, which I suspect would be much noisier.
The only negative would be that the keys are not swappable (neither hot swappable) but that is not a concern for me as I am not into that.
My son recently spilt a glass of water over my old Logitech keyboard and after a few days, the keyboard started having issues. The old Logitech MK120 keyboard was really good and lasted me a long time. I bought it in 2019 and cost me just RM 38.90 and came with a mouse as well.
I needed the replacement keyboard urgently and drove down to the IT Mall in Petaling Jaya near my house. I was tempted to buy one of the mechanical keyboards. However, they were way overpriced (in my personal opinion). Also, I am not a big fan of blinking led lights which can be quite distracting.
I have been a Logitech fan for a long time and all my replacement keyboards have been Logitech but decided to try out the HP km100. One of the main reasons was that it was mentioned that the keyboard was "waterproof design". It also came with a free mouse. It cost me RM59 (about USD14).
I have been using it for a while now. Very comfortable and responsive. If you are looking for an affordable yet good quality keyboard, I recommend the HP km100.
I bought the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro phone from Malaysian online store Lazada. I didn't buy it from the official Xiaomi store but from another Malaysian seller as it was cheaper and they were giving away free gifts. It cost me RM1,086.91 (about USD260 as of 12/7/21) + a shipping fee: RM 3.80.
I am a big Xiaomi fan and this is the 6th Xiaomi phone I have bought so far, for myself and family members. In fact, we are all using Xiaomi phones in my family. They offer so much value for money.
This is one of the most feature-packed and yet affordable phones out there in the market. Check out the unbelievable specifications.
The phone has a bright 6.67" AMOLED display. Comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM. The battery is fast charging 5020mAh - which lasts me more than a whole day on normal usage. The phone chipset is the Qualcomm SM7150 Snapdragon 732G (8 nm), which is quite responsive and fast enough for most mobile phone games.
It has a glass front (Gorilla Glass 5) with a plastic frame and is dust and splash-proof (IPS53) - meaning that it will probably survive getting wet in a heavy downpour or accidental drop in a puddle.
I guess the most impressive thing about the phone is the rear quad camera setup with:
Take a look at a close-up shot of a Mooncake. What do you think?
One of the common complaints about Redmi phones are the poor quality of their night or low light conditions but looks like Xiaomi has looked into the complaints as the night shots came out really well.
It has LED flash and HDR capability. The videos came out very good, either 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 30/60fps.
The front camera is not that impressive but it is good enough for selfies: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Other extras that you will not find in other more expensive phones are: Infrared port, FM radio and wait for it - a headphone port. That was the reason I bought the Redmi rather than the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.
Sensors include fingerprint (side-mounted as opposed to the rear in older models), accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass.
The phone comes in three colours Onyx Gray, Glacier Blue and Gradient Bronze. I choose Gradient Bronze because it is quite unique.
I have not updated this blog for a while. I will be updating it more often in the future.
As most of my friends are aware, I am a huge fan of Xiaomi because they offer excellent value for money. In fact, this is my 6th Xiaomi phone. My last one was the Redmi Note 6 pro. I also bought a Redmi Note 7 pro for my mum.
I will never buy a phone costing over RM 1000. (Approx. USD243 at the current exchange rate) and this phone is way below that budget on Lazada
My priority was battery life and this one is powered by a 4000mAh Li-Po battery.
A few days back, my wife's family had a family get-together. We stayed at Sarang by the Brook at Kuala Kubu Bahru - all 40 of us. To feed the whole lot, all the cooking was done on Thermomix. I was so impressed, that I invited Aunty Adrina to write a post on this amazing hi-tech cooking tool
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Guest post by Adrina Awaludin.
Thermomix is what the future of cooking looks like. If you can imagine how a smart phone has changed our lives in the past 10 years... that’s what Thermomix is.
My name is Adrina Awaludin. I am a Thermomix Advisor. I was introduced to this wonderful machine in 2014. I have a full-time job, 3 growing up children, a busy working husband. I didn’t cook. I have a lived in maid to assist me at home with cooking and cleaning. Since I was introduced to Thermomix, I not only cook but I bake my own bread and cookies. I even make my own jams and mayonnaise, as well as chicken, meat and vegetable stocks... and people ask me why I bother when it is readily available at the grocery? Well, those items in the shops have a shelf-life, which means that chemicals are added to ensure that they can last longer on the shelves. The other reason why I make them is because it is so easy and convenient now.
One gadget in your kitchen to replace 12 functions! So, imagine going on holiday with just your smart phone without having to bring your camera, video recorder, and laptop as we would have probably done over 10 years ago. Well, this gadget replaces all your other standalone kitchen appliances that does your chopping, grinding, kneading, whisking, controlled heating, steaming, stirring, cooking, weighing, blending, mixing and emulsifying and also replaces your saucepan.
What else can you expect from a German product with probably the best technology in the market? There are no other similar products in the world today, I believe, that can match its superiority and functions. And when we say it’s the future of cooking.... there’s a reason for it. It considers all the expectations we want from our food - home-cooking is healthier and safer (no added preservatives and unknown contents), faster meals as one can manage entire meals under an hour with time-saving multi-layer cooking. It is also your Reliable Cooking Assistant - no need to take a day off. This “German maid” helps with auto cooking, stirring and even self-washing. Thermomix keeps your kitchen grease-free, taking over the cooking to free you up to do other things. It is hassle-free to cook at home.
Other than its superior safety features, it also has a Recipe chip attached to it for step-by-step guided cooking instruction.... Now, this I don’t think you will understand just by reading this article, so that is a real good reason for a person to experience the Thermomix Cooking first hand. With thousands of recipes and the guided cooking feature, enjoy endless fun cooking with your loves ones together.
Now everyone can cook!
And on the question "who would want a Thermomix?". Well the answer - literally anyone who can manage a smartphone. And why not, did you check the Master Chef Jr contestants cooking with their Thermomix? A 7 year old who can read, would be able to cook with the Thermomix.
Imagine those people who are on special diets: gluten free, paleo, vegan, etc. Home cooked food, managed and monitored easily from ingredients to the process. In our group, we have cancer survivors, including those who are still undergoing chemo and other treatments, those who need special diets and Thermomix helps these people everyday.
Actually, anyone would love this gadget and how it can save them time and money. All it takes, is a Thermomix cooking experience.
Recently I had the opportunity to review the new PaMu Scroll wireless earphones which recently . This is the second generation bluetooth earphones from Xiamen Padmate Technology following on the footsteps of their successful Waterproof Wireless Earbuds. The new earphones has already secured more than $600,043 on Indegogo when I last checked - 3000% more than their target of $20,000.
Unboxing and First impressions
I was quite impressed with the design and quality of the box considering that it was a review sample. Most of the time, I often receive these samples wrapped in brown boxes and bubble wrap without a box and sometimes without even any instruction booklet.
In the box were the earphones, the really nice scroll design leather charging/ carry case with magnetic clasp, a wireless charging receiver, a USB cable and as I mentioned before, a user manual.
Using the earphones
There are so many bluetooth earphones in the market and you might be wondering what makes the PaMu Scroll different from the competition. Well, it has several features which makes it stand out from the crowd.
First of all, it is Bluetooth 5.0 with auto pairing, and as mentioned before, with wireless charging, which you can use with a standard Qi wireless charge pad to charge.
Easy pairing - blue lights on the phones indicate that they are paired with your mobile device.
My son loving the earphones. He has got them on wrong - the led lights should be on the top with the mic down but it does not really affect the performance in any way.
Well, you might argue that these features are now common in so many others as well. Well, other special features include call audio in both ears, as opposed to only one in most bluetooth earphones, touch control and my favourite - it is water resistant (IPX6). Which means that you do not have to worry if you get caught in the rain with the earphones on. I am a bit sceptical about claims manufacturers make and this was one of the first things I tested - to see if the earphones were indeed water resistant. So I put it under my shower for about a minute - put it in my ear and it works.
Also most bluetooth earphones will have an extended arm with the mic near your mouth and I was a bit concerned about the quality of communication. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the person on the other line could hear me perfectly. Their manual reminds you to wear the earphones with the mic downwards but I did not make any difference in the performance or sound quality if the mics are up as well.
The review earphones came charged and again as I wanted to test out the claims that had a playtime of 3.5 hours. I was quite surprised that the playtime actually lasted slightly more than 3.5 hours on a full charge. Not as much as the 5 hours on the Apple Airpods but much better than other bluetooth earphones in the market.
However, all these features mean nothing if the sound quality is not good, and again I was pleasantly surprised as it was in fact amazing. The bass was really good without any distortion, even when playing Led Zepplin's Kashmir.
I am not too found of my bluetooth earphones because they are quite heavy and uncomfortable and only on one ear. I only put them on when I need to take a call while driving and I often forget to bring them along. However, the PaMu scroll is really comfortable and fits perfectly in my ear. It is quite light as well at just 5gms, 1.5gms lighter than the PaMu 0.1 earbuds.
About the touch control, which is again one of the unique features of the Pamu Scroll each phone has specific controls. The user manual mentions 'Click' and I was expecting a button but actually all you have to do is tap. While listening to music, you just tap it once to play or pause (on either ear) and tap twice to go forward to the next track (on left ear). To answer calls, you tap once and tap twice to reject a call (on both ear). Also double tap to activate Siri or Google assistant (on Android phones). Had to practise a bit to get used to the tapping controls.
Another thing that sets the phones apart is of course the fantastic looking leather scroll charging/ carry case (and hence I guess the name) which can be a great conversation starter. I have had so many people admiring the case more than the earphones. They have four colours/ designs, namely, Rock 'n' Roll, Graphene, Glory Edition and Sakura (Pink) and I received the Rock 'n' Roll, design which has a dark brown shade. I think they got it wrong on their box as it says Graphene.
After using the earphones for about two weeks now, I would definitely recommend these earphones - they look great, are comfortable with fantastic sound quality and several unique features as highlighted above.
When we talk about technology, the first thing that comes to mind are the gadgets and ICT related stuff. However, technology is improving our lives in so many different way and that includes innovation in the clothes we wear.
I recently received 2 pairs of socks - called MP Magic socks to try out. One was the short ankle type (ankle grey) and the other one was a regular length sock (crew black).
So what is so special about these shocks?
Well, the people who make them, claim that these socks are odourless. These are made from unique fabric material which are infused with three different types of metals, namely, Silver, Copper and Zinc. The metal are supposed to kill the bacteria which cause odour.
To be honest, I was a bit sceptical. The material was soft and the socks they sent me were the exact fit for me.
To test them out, I wore them to work - for almost 9 hours. Malaysia is a hot country and I was walking a lot the first time I wore the socks.
Got home and my feet were really hot and sweaty. I do not have any sophisticated odour measuring equipment so I had to rely on my own nose and I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it did not smell as fresh as it did in the morning before I put them on but - there was definitely no odour. I have worn them on a couple of occasions since then and seem quite durable.
If you are interested to find out more about the MP magic socks, visit their Indiegogo funding page. They have already exceeded their target with 11 days left.
This is a long overdue review. I received another fabulous product to review - the GOGO Lantern.
Well if you are the outdoorsy type and love camping, among the essentials you have to carry include a lamp, a torch and buckets - well, now you can have all of that in one cool package with the GOGO lantern. It is not yet available in the market and I received a review sample.
The bucket is collapsible and made from plastic thus making it highly portable. Attached to the bucket is the lamp with the LED lights.
Fully charge it up and it will last between 6-8 hours. You can charge the lantern via the built in solar panel or via USB cable. The indicator turns green when it is charged above 80% and turns red when the charge is below. The red indicator starts blinking when the power is low.
The review piece I received did not come with any instructions so I had to figure out some of the features myself. The lights detaches from the bucket by turning it slightly counterclockwise at the bottom. It is completely waterproof (IP67 certified).
The amazing thing about the lantern is that it comes with capacitative sensors and automatically turns on when you put in in water or attach it via the built-in magnet, to a metallic surface. You can also turn it on manually by pressing the button in the centre. It has three modes. First press: normal mode; Second press: bright mode and Third press: blinking lights. You then press it again to shut it off.
The lantern also came with a lanyard which you can use to attach the lamp and hang it around your neck converting it to a great hands free lantern.
It come in three colours, namely orange, light blue and light green. You can further customise the lantern by painting the bucket with a design of your choice.
Though ideal for a camping trip, the lantern would be perfect for a hiking trip, BBQ party or a trip to the beach.
Their Indiegogo page should be up soon and I am sure that they would be able to reach their funding target really fast.
There is nothing more I love then reviewing gadgets which are not even out in the market yet. I was recently sent a review sample of the Helio - a multifunctional outdoor lantern. It is so new that it came without even any "How to" guides or even a proper cover.
As compared to other typical camping lanterns, the Helio is much more compact and efficient and really bright as well.
Flextail is a Chinese startup company based in Dalian, China and founded two years ago by Li Tao with his classmates, all students of mechanical engineering at Dalian Maritime University.
Helio is their second product and this amazing lantern reached it's funding goals on Kickstarter in just 20 hours.It is not hard to see why. The lantern is just 45 gms and outputs 200 lumens with a lighting distance of up to a distance of 20 meters. It takes only 20 minutes to charge and on a full charge, the lantern will last 10 hours - yes, that's right 10 freaking hours. It also has an water resistance rating of IP34 (which means water resistant to water spray from any direction).
And according to the company, the lantern will last for 400 hours of uninterrupted light if you use a 10000mAh powerbank - that's slightly more than 16 days.
The Lantern comes with a hook and a magnet which makes it really easy to attach it / hook it up.
Go and check the Helio out on their Kickstarter page. It is just $29 for one lamp (retail price of $34).
Received a fantastic pair of gloves a couple of weeks ago and is here is my review after testing them out. The gloves I got were the Glovax pro gloves - which are bright orange. I tried them out while preparing food, repairing my car and also when gardening and it was perfect.
The Glovax pro gloves are meant for outdoors and daily use and though they look like the rubberized gloves you can get in your local DIY store, they are very different. According to Owen Zhang, the guy behind the gloves, the gloves are made from special yarn materials developed by their partner factory in Zhejiang China - really amazing tech as I found out.
The gloves are abrasion, cut resistant and tear resistant (watch the video). The micro pattern of the coating on the gloves makes them water proof (at least where the coating is present), oil proof and very grippy, making them a perfect glove for various activities including fishing, car repair work, gardening, etc.
The gloves are very soft and comfortable ( I got the XL size) and quite light weight (about 40 gms). Moreover, I found the glove doesn't become uncomfortable when I sweat as the fabric absorbs the sweat.
They have recently launched their campaign on Indiegogo.
The MSRP of the Glovax pro will be US$49 but you can now get them for just US$29 (+ shipping). Watch me trying to cut the gloves while I was wearing them, with a really sharp kitchen knife.
This is the latest addition to my watch collection - the Casio G-Shock DW-5600EG-9. What I really like about this watch is the fact that it not very different from the first G-Shock - the Casio DW-5000C which was first launched in 1983. No Tough Solar, No Wavecaptor nor Multi-Band.
What makes this model different from other DW5600s are the gold buttons, clasp and the screen with a slight golden hue with a blue green light.
It has 200-meter water resistance and of course like other G-Shocks, very tough and take almost anything thrown at it. It is not that big (dimensions: Size of case: 48.9 × 42.8 × 13.4 mm) and fits my wrist perfectly.
I noticed this watch for sale on the Lazada site at a very discounted price of RM 213.85 (Approx £40) with free shipping. It is made in China and was posted to me from Hong Kong. It did not come with the original box but I have confirmed that it is an original watch.
Of course, the G-Shock I really want is the MTGS-1000D-1ACR Limited Edition metal watch. Totally different from this watch and feature packed.
In case you did not know, Converse the show company better known for its basket ball shoes also makes watches. Bought this watch from TK Maxx today. It is the Converse Scoreboard watch. They come in a variety of colours but it is the first time I have seen one with a camouflage design and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the price which was well below its retail price of £65. So I just grabbed the watch.
It has a rectangular black LCD screen which is around 43 mm across and about 12 mm thick. The strap is made of silicone and really comfortable. The watch is water resistant to 50m. The watch is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and is made in China.
It has a chronograph and you can set two different time zones - I have set mine to GMT and Malaysian time.
As for the negatives, the chronograph only times for 30 minutes and the light only lasts for about 3 seconds once you press the light button but looking at the bright side, I guess that it will not drain the battery much.
I had a similar Nike watch some time back which lasted for slightly more than a year before the battery ran out. I would be happy if this watch last for around a year.
Update: 9 Jan 2014.
I have had this watch for a while now. It does stand out and I have had a few people curious about the brand and compliment me on the design. However, I noticed a few design issues. The mode button (right bottom) is quite sensitive and I often find that the display has changed to the chronograph or to the other time and have to change it back.
Delighted with my early x-mas gift - the HP Car Camcorder f200. Will be reviewing it in detail later but here are the unboxing pics.
Clockwise from left bottom corner: Camera, car mount, USB connector, audio/ video connector cables and car adaptor.
Full HD Camera (1920 x 1080 @30fps)with 128° wide angle lens.
2.4" LCD colour screen
Micro SDHC card slot
Comes with motion detection and built in G-sensor. Will automatically record in case collision is detected. The camera supports micro SDHC cards up to 32GB.
Like a lot of other people, I am a convert from old fashioned SLRs to digital cameras - have been for about a decade now, however, I have always wanted to own one simple instant camera just for fun. Luckily for me, my friends had generously given me one as a gift this year, which was lost and found again during a house spring cleaning.
The instant camera which is my latest addition to my collection of cameras, is a Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s Camera. I think it is quite a cool looking gadget and gives some very artistic shots (the ones you see on Instgram).
A front view of Fujifilm Instax mini 7s
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 7 Camera is not new and has been in the market for some time. As all instant cameras, the specs are pretty simple. There are four main settings to use, indoor – dark, cloudy – shady, fine and clear for sunny days. To switch on, the lenses are pulled outwards and switched off by just pushing the lens in. The Photographing distance for the lens is 60 cm to infinity (about 2 feet to infinity). The best distance to cover for about three to four people would be about 2 meters/ 6 feet away and by positioning it horizontally although a meter is quite sufficient for taking a self-portrait or just another subject. The longer you have used the camera the better it gets, so say about 2-3 entire instant films later. The camera is quite affordable and is about AUD$80-90, which is quite reasonable. The instant film for the camera was bought separately and contains 10 sheets so after the first few practice shots I had to get another extra films. This camera uses only Fuji Film Instax mini instant films and it cost about AUD $10-15 which is better than developing a whole lot of pictures for AUD$20 or even higher from a shop.
The camera is customised to use only colour Fuji film instax films and the picture size is just 62 x 46 mm (Picture Above). At the back of the camera, there is a small indicator of how many sheets are left. The camera is powered by 4 x AA size 1.5V alkaline batteries and this adds to the weight of the camera. I have to say the camera looks quite bulky with a dimension of 119.5x121.5x70.5mm and weighs just about 320g but the weight is quite negligible. The shutter button is quite wide and surprisingly at the front of the camera. As being a creature of habit, I always try to click it from the top.
I had tried out several shots outside with some friends and a flash is fired at every shot, even in broad sunny daylight and as long as there are no reflective backgrounds it was fine. The results were a bit blurry at both daytime and night however the night shots with the blurry effect gave a very different look to the picture. When there are two or more people in the shot, it is advisable that they stand or sit very close to each other and leave some space on both sides of the frame. In one of my earlier experience, there were some people missing on either side even though I could see them in the peep hole. I did like the results at night. I have posted a shot with a wall paper decal chandelier below. The picture was taken inside my house with poor lighting at night and it does lack some of the colours but I love the effect.
Dislikes:
Bulky - It only takes 10 instant photos at one time, the peep hole is pretty small, Shutter button in the front and not at the top which is not ergonomic (well the whole design of the camera should be changed then!), 4 x AA batteries used compared to the one rechargeable battery for my DSLR that lasts for couple of weeks if 100 pictures are taken on a day. The instant films are a tad small and would have loved it in a bigger size.
Likes:
The photos taken are refreshing and bring me back to my childhood. It does take some surprisingly artistic pictures, sometime not intentionally. It is a walking fun photo booth that I can just magnetise the physical picture and stick it to my Fridge. It is also a fun conversation starter with a stranger! (Not that it is for everyone).
The cons outweighs the pros and the pros are subjective, however just my two cents worth. Personally, I love this camera because I can get physical pictures and pass it on as a memento without visiting a photo shop. For some who have been using digital cameras, it can be quite annoying when the film ends at 10 shots. Phone apps like Instagram and Twitter does the trick of sharing photos and comments almost instantly as well. I guess it is definitely not for everyone but what I can say is that I have a soft spot for ogling at new but old gadgets! For those serious photographers, a word of caution, this is a camera just for fun! If anyone has come across or has owned one, do share the experience.
NB: All photos except for the chandelier photo have been taken by an iPhone 5 camera.
About Diana:
Diana has recently joined Adamok.net as a contributor and co-editor. Until recently, she was working as the tech business analyst with one of the biggest telecommunications companies in Australia. This is her first post here.
Diana also blogs at Pegasus2u
You know Christmas is near when you start receiving Christmas Secret Santa emails in your inbox. For those who are not familiar with this western tradition, you are randomly assigned a person -whom you are supposed to give an anonymous gift. This usually comes with an affordable price range and gives you the flexibility to give and receive gifts without spending much. However, I often have difficulty choosing a gift, especially if it is for a lady.
Fortunately there are several online stores which help you with greats ideas and tips for Secret Santa gifts. The "Find me a gift" site has gifts suited for different personalities. Not surprisingly, I ended up on their Gadget page and were delighted that there were so many affordable yet fantastic gifts and novelties ranging from voice recording novelty mugs (£9.99) to the Flip Mino HD Camcorder (£19.99).
Check out the site, I am sure you will find something you like. I do need a camcorder (Hint Hint!)
Update (20/12/2011): Apparently the camcorder was very popular. It is no longer listed on the site.
Like a lot of girls her age, my daughter used to love Barbie dolls. However, she seems to have lost interest in playing with them and I can think of a possible reason - Barbie branded electronic toys.
The first Brabie branded electronic toy I bought her were a pair of pink Barbie Walkie talkies. She was really excited and she enjoyed playing with it You had to imagine what the other person was saying as you could hardly hear them over the static and I guess the novelty wore off and it ened up among the old pile of toys.
However, what really made her angry was a Barbie camera which I bought for her last birthday. She choose it from the Argos catalogue and it was not cheap - it cost around £30 and was bright pink (what else). She was happily taking pictures of everybody, her cake and presents.
Imagine her disgust when we downloaded the images next day and found out that the pictures were really awful. The resolution of the camera was really bad and pictures were dark and grainy. She was really disappointed and told me that she didn't want to buy any Barbie products ever again.
One of the better images taken - a close up of my face by my daughter.
I know it's a toy and I was not expecting HD quality images but at that price, I was expecting something better. In fact you can buy 7MP digital cameras for less than £25 and older digital cameras for less than a tenner on eBay if you are lucky.
My advice: stay away from Barbie branded electronic toys - just a waste of money. And I have nothing to say to toy makers who think kids are stupid.
Check out the latest smartphone from Sony Ericsson - the Xperia ray. It is just 9.4mm thin and comes in four different colours.
The Aluminium framed phone has a 3.3-inch touchscreen and a Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine delivers really clear images.
The 8.1mp camera allows users to take seriously sharp photos day or night and HD videos as well.
The phone runs on the Android 2.3 OS and comes with internal phone storage of 300MB with 512MB RAM. It can take an external memory - microSD™ card up to 32GB.
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