HDMI iPad/ iPhone TV Connector

You have to give it to the Chinese. Whenever the tech giants develop a new gizmo, they will dissect it for further improvements in a heartbeat. Best of all, they will come up with an array of accompanying accessories at such OTT level that even the accessories have accessories!

This is such an unsexy product to shoot...well I tried

This week's review is a gadget that is in the market for some time. Take this as a refresher, OR a revelation if you have yet discover its convenience. The HDMI iPad/ iPhone connector allows you to watch whatever is playing on your Apple device on TV. Because it runs on HDMI, you get parallel clear crispy projection. The unit under review is an 'ahem'...'inspired' version. Although Apple came up with an original, it always comes with a huge price tag and 101 restrictions. It almost seems they are pushing consumers to buy from the 'Dark Side' (They have probably made enough from robbing us blind!)

I'm in an absolute good mood doing this review, so shall enlighten the IT clueless out there with a comparison chart that may insult your IQ.

The TV conversion cable I own is paired for the 30 pin iPad 1 (stop sniggering!)

Since Apple decides to support the filthy rich with TV convenience, what are we to do with our obsolete has beens; Nothing, but to turn to supporting the 'pirates'.

To connect, locate the HDMI slots on ur TV (note if u are plugging into HDMI 1 or 2).

• Next connect the HDMI cable (eh...this u gotta buy separately. You can find this at most electronics mart under the cables section) to the converter.
• Plug converter to iPad/ iPhone/ iPod
• Plug mini USB power plug (this gives u charging power, so your devices don't get drained off its batteries and shut down in the midst of your movie.)
• Activate the application on your device (iPad in my case)
• Turn on the TV; via source button on the controller, switch to HDMI mode (remember I ask to take note if it is HDMI 1 or 2? So it applies here)
• Sit back and enjoy it on big screen

I do have to caveat the resolution on TV via the converter. It only mirror the resolution of your Apple device. When plugged to your iPad, which displays at 1024-by-768 pix resolution, the same resolution mirrors on the TV. Do not expect a boost up even on a HD smart TV.

Also note if you are already the扣肉that blew SGD$68 on the original connector...go cry yourself a river. Because the original video out supports up to a max of 720pix only! Here's proof.

Sure the 'inspired' version has its fair share of misses. You can't expect to pay peanuts and still get a purring Porsche right? Simple math...both are imperfect, of course I go for the cheaper one!

With this gadget, I get to watch the latest episodes of 'The Big Bang Theory' & 'The Good Wife' (No, Alicia! Don't sleep with Will again!) - on BIG screen. I also have the Chinese to thank; For their relentless perseverance in flourishing ‘hijack’ R&D. Don’t be mistaken, this doesn’t change the fact that I will continue to turn my face in disgust when they spit. Or ‘tsk’ with an eye roll when they push me in the crowd. As a truce, I will quietly clap when a newly improved gizmo goes into market. I will even click my support on the ‘BUY’ button if the price is right.

好样的同志！加油！给你四克星！

Black & Decker Orb Cordless Hand Vaccum

Had a ball (pun intended!) doing this shoot. So cute with the toys:)

All my effort staring at the iPad during unGodly hours paid off! I lunged at the purchase button so fast you probably got to see the Doppler effect if you were present. I am the lucky few to get this cute vac during the Amazon (CN) flash sale. A mere CNY$294 (approx less than SGD$60) sent me howling at the moon; My canine crazed buddy is probably nodding in agreement...lol!

As usual let me share some geeky specs for easy reference.

Product Features

• Ultra compact shape
• Single button - nozzle and handle trigger
• 360 degree charging base (I'll explain)
• Easy-to-empty dirt bowl

Product Inclusion

• Orb vacuum
• Charging base
• Extendable brush head
• User manual (Its such a no-brainer you won't be needing it)

I've owned enough handheld vacs in my lifetime to know the hassle of rummaging through the storeroom just to find the cordless vac drained of all it's power...in an emergency! This baby eliminates all these problems, simply because it is pretty enough to claim a place in my living room. It's compact body takes up little space, plus it is such an eye candy it didn't look out of place with my son's lineup of toys.

The vac sits stable on the 360 degree charging base, meaning you can 'anyhow' plonk the vac back to it's base with no worries of missing the charging contact.

When duty calls, simply lift the handle (which extends the nozzle at the same time), depress the power button and you are good to go. In my opinion, it is adequately powerful and efficient for quick clean ups. My only complain would be the limitations on the angle of pickup. Because of it's portly shape and curved nozzle, it restricts vacuuming under low furniture.

Back to power; I did a stopwatch test on just how long before the batteries go kaput. It took 14 minutes to totally squeeze every ounce of battery life till it wheezed itself out of breath (not to mention the thumb cramp it gave me!).

Clean up is just as hassle free. Simply pop the side cover to empty the dirt bowl. You may occasionally need to use the extendable brush head and give the filter cup a thorough brushing.

All in all it is a pretty and handy gadget. It gets a 'no regret' rating. Two thumbs up!




Price and availability

• Amazon (US) USD$25 (excludes international shipping charges)
• HomeFix DIY stores (SG) SGD$110
• 淘宝 and Amazon (CN) CNY$550 - $590

JBL Onbeat Awake

Hear The Truth

The JBL Onbeat Awake will beat you up till you awake!

This is a piece of crap! The fact that crap has more value, insults crap to be put in parallel to this product. Ok, I shouldn't let my emotions from overpaying for this fog my opinion. Let's see...this is still a piece of crap!

Getting fleeced aside, the promoter that sold me the speaker oversold its features. The sound quality is undeniable, and the fact that it is a JBL brainchild shouldn't go too wrong. WRONG!

The initial experience was great. And the fact that the user manual is exceptionally simplified got me a little suspicious. I smugly believed it is another of those plug and play innovation. I quickly paired the devices via bluetooth. Randomly played music (albums already stored in my iPhone) through the JBL Amp Up app (U will need to download the app...trust me...). Viola! I hear quality music. Next I decided to dock the device and have it stream my favourite internet radio while charging the batts. The nightmare begins! After 10 minutes of uninterrupted play, the speaker SNOOZED. I had to restart the speaker umpteen times to conclude it is a fault in the product firmware. After ranting out a string of choice words (PG), I tried streaming and playing stored music via bluetooth. Same results!

So for the entire day I had to confine my daily activities around the speaker just to manually turn it on every 10 minutes. I didn't want to give up on the SGD$250 (sucker!) investment, so I sieved through the manual for divine answers. I drew blank. The official webite was no help either. The only useful advise came from user product review on ebay (US); Update the JBL amp-up firmware to fix the auto shut down bug (note: Amazingly you can no longer find this product on ebay. They probably took it down after the slam fest from real users!).

Sure enough, updating the firmware worked for both bluetooth and docked playing. However, it doesn't fix the shutdown problem when your device streams music from the internet. The only way around the problem is by connecting to the AUX port in speaker via a 3.5mm audio cable. While doing so, u can't charge any device on the speaker.

Nothing I say can further damage the credibility of this product. Go Google it, you will see for yourself. I lament not doing my homework before making the hot-headed purchase. Some frustrated online user deduced the product was rushed to harness the Christmas crowd, thus the shoddy firmware development.

I have to live with the unsightly wires (mess makes the veins on my temples pop and pulsate...you get the picture). Every pore in my body reject this arrangement. I will NOT recommend the product. If u are unfortunate enough to be stranded with one, like me; Let's pray for divine intervention or for a new firmware update that will fix the problem soon!

P.S: No geeky product specs nor price recommendations cos it not worth my effort!

Neoflam Midas Cookware 9 Pcs Set

Had my eye on this since last year and have tried getting the useless other half to bring it back from his 1 day business trip to Seoul (product is of Korean origin). Of course I was brutally rejected by his "Are you mad?" stare. What good is a husband if he can't run some errands for the family...anyway I digress.

Luckily, I am the proud product of the 'I love stuff' gene pool. My dearest mummy whipped the cookware set from her storage and gave it to me; Claiming she has too many sets and can afford to give it up for more storage (awww, love u Mummy!).

Before I slap u with the wordy review, here are some nerdy specs of the cookware u might be interested.

Product Features

• Aluminum cast (is that even a feature?)
• Space saving (stackable without hindrance)
• Detachable handle (eh...see space saving)
• Nonstick ceramic coating (they have a fancy name for it - Ecolon)
• Freezer, oven, cooktop to table top 
• Induction ready (this I gotta see)

Product Inclusion
4 piece cookware

• 16cm saucepan x 11cm
• 20cm casserole x 9.2cm
• 24cm low casserole x 7cm
• 28cm frying pan x 5.5cm

2 glass lids (fits 24 & 28cm cookware)
2 plastic covers (fits 20 & 24cm cookware)
1 detachable handle

The first thing that struck me are the colours. No boring black or silver stuff for me. The set stack like acrobats in a Cirque de Soile routine. Neat, efficient and exciting! It sits prettily, I just can't bear to confine them in the cupboard. If it ain't pretty; It ain't sitting in my kitchen!

Weight
The pots are reasonably light - being aluminum cast. Rest assure for the more adventurous, you can toss cook without inflicting any hand injury. You can keep your 膏藥布, no more muscle aches.

Nonstick
Now this is one important criteria that determines if the cookware sits in the league with the creme de la creme of nonstickydom. Since all pots claim to be Ecolon (ceramic coating, see above), what better way to test the claim with fried eggs (It is never easy getting them perfect). With a little oil in the 28cm frying pan (I never believe in oi-less cooking. You need oil to bring out the taste and fragrance of whatever you are cooking. If u insist, you might as well boil everything! ok ok I digress), the sunny side egg slipped around like a figure skater on steroids. The scrambled version fared a little less. While I tried scrambling the egg, the bottom stuck to the pan. The scrambling gets better as the egg solidifies. With a bit of light scraping, the egg came off and the pan unscathed.

Baking
This baby just gets better into the review. With fat from frying my asparagus wrapped in bacon (mmm yummy...), I tossed a couple of potato wedges into the pan, rolled them around before I effortlessly transfer the pan into the oven. The results left me speechless. It just went from the stove to the oven and my dining table. I repeat; EFFORTLESS!

Induction ready
I'm ready to cry...it cooks on induction! Boiled water never look so exciting to me. So here's a redundant picture to express my excitement.

Care
Wash it like any ceramic ware - soap and a soft sponge. Never, and I mean NEVER run anything rough on the surface (duh!). The pots work well with plastic, silicon or wooden spatulas.

Price and availability

• ebay (US) approx $150USD
• Isetan (Singapore) approx $139SGD
• Taobao (China) approx $850CNY

Overview
The set prepares daily meals for my family of 3 adults and 2 child sufficiently. Out of the 4 pans, I frequently rely on the 16cm sauce pan and 24cm casserole. The 24 serves well as a stir-fry 'wok', while the sauce pan makes the right amount of quick soup or stew for us.

It is a great product and I recommend it to small families/ individual that requires simple cooking. I am happy with mine. Hope you find joy in this product too:)

Stuff

Let's face it. Our lives are made up of stuff. Stuff we own; Stuff other people own; Stuff we want to own...you catch my drift. In fact in this superficial world, we are defined by the stuff in our name. You see the guy that drives past your house every morning? Yeah, the "BMW dude". What about that cute chick with the pair of monster phones literally embedded in her head?

Admit it. We love stuff. Good stuff to be correct. I particularly love well designed, functional (eh well not always...*guilt*) and interesting stuff. It can be electronics, households, fashion, gadgets...as long as they are different, and worthy of my time and attention. They get a place my little black book.

Now you may like stuff too, but something sets us apart - Time. While you slog your way through work (to buy more stuff), I have the luxury of staring at the ceiling, waiting for my next toy to arrive. I will analyze and dissect the 'worth' of my latest obsession. Lingering in the joy of its freshness until a newer and better version of something steals my heart away.

Recently I had an epiphany. I've decided to write about the stuff I so obsess. You can choose to disagree on how I rate it's worth. Then, I can always choose to ignore you. Before I receive enough nasty comments for my posts,  I am still bright eyed and bushy tailed about this blogging business. So here I go, and Carebear share on what I know:)