Bestar Star-5 58" 5 Blades Smart Fan

I recently bought this. Installation was a breeze as everything that I need came with the box. 

Unboxing

Everything came supplied. All you need is a drill with and 8 MM drill bit and a screwdriver. 

Installation.

Fan came with the main body fully assembled so all you need to do is to fix the mounting bracket to the ceiling, then mount the fan and you are left to fix the blades and the light kit and connect the remote controller.

Some fans are easier if you fix the blades first as the screws are fix from the top of the blade. For the Star-5, the screws are at the bottom of the blade so it will be easier to fix it when the fan is already mounted. You might be cringing at the thought of how ugly it will be with the fan blade screws visible. Fret not, the screws will be hidden by the light kit. You can also opt without a light kit and they provide cover plate instead.

The wires clearly labelled and with distinct connectors. Practically impossible to connect it wrongly.

So here's a simplified step to installing the fan.

1. Drill the holes for the mounting bracket. Minimum 2, best 4.

2. Punch the M8 screws in

3. Install the mounting bracket securely

4. Mount the fan motor by slotting the hanging rod into the mounting bracket.

5. Install the safety cord

6. Connect the remote control receiver to the fan and to the mains.

7. Hide all the wires under the cover and fasit up.

Initial Thoughts

The fan itself is silent and it does generate good amount of wind to circulate the air around the room quickly. Though not the best looking, it is not that bad looking either. I prefer those without the hanging rod visible.

Features

Fan comes with 6 speed motor and you can set it to spin forward or in reverse. Reverse function is practically useless here in SG as we are warm almost all the time.

As it comes with a DC motor, it is supposedly more energy saving than your AC fans.

It also has 4 fan modes - Nature, Sleep, Fresh and Smart. The manual wasn't clear on what those modes are but I guess Nature is similar to 1/f Yuragi function found on most KDK fans although what does is Fresh mode then? This is something Bestar need to work on.

Sleep mode supposedly will reduce the fan speed as it operates while the smart mode will speed up if the thermal sensors detect the temperature is high. I do not know where the thermal sensors are and I am not sure if it does really work but from 1st test, the fan did change its speed  during operation.

The light kit  24W 3 Tone LED  - daylight, white and warm white but not dimmable.

The remote control is seriously ugly. I prefer those flat ones but with the smart feature, I can keep it only when needed.

Smart Wifi Control

This warrants a more detailed review. Ok, so the app in Smart Life works (or Tuya if you prefer). Although, there are functions on the app which is not removed / greyed out that the fan do not support. Eg, light dimming. So that shows poor coding if you ask me.

But all that pales in comparison to what is natively supported in Alexa / Google Home which is just the ability to turn the fan ON or OFF and nothing else! You cannot change fan speed or mode and you do not have control of any of the light function whatsoever. This is such a letdown.

Although you can create scenes in Smart Life and then create routines in Alexa / Google to trigger those scenes, it still does not provide you with real time status of those function. Not to mention that extra work you need to do just to have some voice control or routines.

Technical Specifications

The light kit  24W 3 Tone LED  - daylight, white and warm white (non dimmable)

Blades are made of anti-rust ABS

Support Timer Control of 1hr / 4hr / 8hr

Motor RPM: 80 – 298, 

Wattage: 35-55 so it is safe to use smart switches which supports way higher wattage than this although I don't see the need since it does have smart functions.

Fan height is 310mm. Take note of the height if you have a low ceiling .Below are the full dimensions.

Warranty

It comes with a 2 years on-site warranty but a lifetime warranty on the motor. The 2 year on-site is great but the lifetime warranty is only good as long as the company is still operating.

Options

You can choose between  Matt Black, Matt White or Mocha colours and 38 inch / 48 inch / 58 inch sizes.

Price

Retailing at SGD $288, it is pricier than many affordable fans out there. But you can get it for cheaper with discounts and coupons from the 3 main online shopping sites - Qoo10, Shopee and Lazada.

Last Words

So, do I recommend this fan? If you like how it looks, then go for it. It is strong and very silent. But if you want a really smart fan that integrates well with Alexa or Google, then you may need to look elsewhere. There are other non-'smart' fan that is going for cheaper and just as good.

Xiaomi Q1 75" QLED TV manufactured by TCL

As shown below

Rii i25 vs Rikomagic RKM MK 705 wireless air mouse

The Rii i25 and RKM MK705 are both wireless air mouse with IR learning functions and a mini QWERTY keyboard on the back.

If you look at the specs and design, they look exactly the same

Rii i25

RKM MK705

My guess would be that both are manufactured by the same OEM company and simply re-branded accordingly.

Rii however has another model which is the i25A and this model includes a microphone which you can use for voice control and voice chat. So if you do not need a microphone, either Rii i25 or RKM MK705 will do. Just choose one that is cheaper.

Physical Aspects

The controller is slim and considerably light and that makes it nice when hold. This is the main reason why I chose this over MeLe F10 which is too thick for my liking.

On the main side are all the basic buttons to control your devices like the page up/down, volume, and music/video playback control buttons.

All orange buttons on the controller can be IR 'learned' and the process is very easy. This allows you to replace your TV remote controller by making it learn basic common functions like power on/off, source and volume up/down.

On the left side is the on/off toggle and also a micro USB charging port, so do remember to turn it on before use else you might think that it is malfunctioning like I did!

Left side

The built-in battery do last quite a while before it needs recharging and it can be charged with any USB powered source.

The keyboard on the other side is handy when browsing or chatting and way easier to use as compared to the Android on screen keyboard.

Mini QWERTY keyboard

The only problem is that the transceiver is located at the top of the controller therefore when used as a keyboard, depending on how you hold it, your left hand may block the transceiver and this can cause some inaccurate commands to be sent.

The buttons tactile feel is OK for me though may be a little too hard for some people.

Overall I am satisfied with the controller though the transceiver location issue do bug me at times but I guess it applies to any air mouse.

Pros

Slim and light; nice to hold
Beautiful design and good built quality
Lasting battery
Easy IR learning process

Cons

Up/down button needs to be IR 'learned' for use with Android devices.
Transceiver don't work well when used as keyboard due to design

Specifications:

Receiver: USB Nano Dongle
RF mode: 2.4Ghz GFSK
Transmission distance: Up to 10 meters
Transmission Power: Less than +4db
Power supply: Rechargeable 450mAh polymer Lithium-ion battery
Charging voltage: 4.4V ~ 5.25V
Charging current: 300mA
Sleeping Current class1: 86uA
Operation Voltage: 3.7V
Operating Current: 22mA
Product weight: 100g
Product Size: 170mm x 49mm x 16mm

Tecno TSH5030R Electric Water Heater

This is the smallest capacity model from Tecno's range of horizontal storage water heater even though the manual states that there is an even smaller capacity model (25 L) as well as various other capacities. Tecno however only sells the 30 L, 50 L and 90 L models.

Although I posted about how a vertical storage heater is better than a horizontal one, this being almost similar in vertical and horizontal dimensions (540 cm x 380 cm) will not make much of a difference

It comes complete with all the necessary accessories including the installation brackets and mounting screws. The tank can be mounted on the left or right and on the floor or ceiling therefore placement shouldn't be a problem.

According to the manual, it is energy saving as the temperature of the heated water will be maintained up to 2 days after the heater is powered off.

I recently purchased the heater from Lazada for $178 nett after using a promo code that knocks some bucks off the actual price together with their free delivery promo on their app.

Warranty is only for 1 year for heating element but 5 years for the tank itself.

Unboxing

 The box it came with

The box includes all the necessary accessories to have it installed, including brackets, wall mounting screws etc.

The technical ratings on the control panel which is configured for right side mount. If you plan to mount on the left side, you have to rotate the control panel face plate.

The simple control panel consists of a dial for temperature settings and light indicators for heating and power.

After installation (before cleanup)

DIY

If you plan to perform a DIY installation, then the following are some tips

1. Get a 16mm drill to mount the wall mounting hooks

2. You will need a torx screwdriver if you need to rotate the control panel

3. A ratchet set will help to screw the mounting bracket to the heater

4. You may need the help of someone else to mount the heater to the wall hooks but I was able to do it on my own as it was not that heavy. Just be careful

Features

Blue Diamond enamel-coated inner tank and heavy duty anode rod protects tank against rust and corrosion;
High quality Incoloy heating element;
Thermal cutout to prevent overheating;
Glasslined coating on water inlet/outlet for better water quality;
Polyurethane insulation reduces energy loss (Energy Saving);
Multi-function safety valve;
Temperature control knob;
Water tubes whirl flow technology;
Multi-angle installation bracket.

Technical specs

Capacity - 30 Litre;
Rated voltage - 230V/50Hz;
Rated power input - 1500W;
Rated max temp - 75 Degrees Celsius
Rated pressure - 0.8 Mpa;
Water proof degree - IPX1;
Dimensions - 540 x 380 x 380 cm
Weight - 12.5 kg / 42.5 (empty / filled)

Note:

The IPX1 water proof degree means the heater can have water dripping (vertically) on it with no harmful effect when tested for 10 minutes with water equivalent to 1 mm rainfall per minute.

Incoloy is a superalloy designed for excellent corrosion resistance as well as strength at high temperatures.

Latest fiber broadband promotion by Singapore ISPs

StarHub's current 1Gbps fiber broadband promotion at $49.90 per month for 24 months comes with

- Free Wireless AC Dual-band Router DIR-850L (Upgrade to DIR-868L at $120.)

- Free Fibre Termination Point installation

- Free Service installation

- Free Unlimited streaming entertainment with StarHub Go Basic and Go Premium Packs

- Free $150 Shopping Voucher.

Home phone line at $2.10 per month.

http://www.starhub.com/personal/promotions/broadband/unbeatable-home-broadband-deals.html

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M1's current 1Gbps fiber broadband promotion at $39.90 per month for 24 months comes with

- FREE 24 mths 300Mbps Mobile Broadband (1GB)

- FREE Home Fixed Voice Service

- FREE ONT Activation

- FREE Sentosa Islander Family Membership (worth $50. Valid for up to five (5) immediate family members)

There will be, however, a one-time registration charge of $48.15 (inclusive of GST).
Top up $5/month for a Asus RT-AC56S

https://www.m1.com.sg/Personal/BUNDLES%20AND%20PROMOTIONS/Promotions/Bundle%20Promotion/PKG100391

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SingTel's 1Gbps fiber broadband promotion is currently at $50 per month for 24 months and comes with

- Free Fibre Termination Point installation

- Free Optical Network Terminal installation

- Home Digital Line with free unlimited local calls

- 10% off Mobile subscription
- Online Exclusive waiver of registration fee worth $53.50

https://www.singtelshop.com/shop/fibre-broadband/plan-details.jsf

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MyRepublic current fiber broadband promotion is currently at $49.90 per month for 24 months and comes with

- Free ASUS N56 Router or ASUS AC56U (or ASUS AC87U with $99 Top-Up)

- FREE Home Voice with Unlimited Local Calls

There will be. however. a $58 Service Installation Fee

https://myrepublic.com.sg/pricing/#300-discount

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ViewQuest current 1Gbps fiber broadband promo is currently at $65 per month with free

- ViewQuest TV

Residential Voice is at $3.95 per month

Setup Fee is $79.25.

http://www.viewqwest.com/vqlp/cny2016/index.html

Novotel Melaka

We stayed for a night in a two connecting superior rooms in late October 2015.

The hotel is owned by the same owner of Straits Suites and Hotel which is just next door but managed by a different management team hence the reason why both hotels shares the same car park.

The hotel is very new. It was opened in September, barely a month ago .Located very near to malls and major attractions, you can practically venture by foot if you are adventurous enough.

Lobby is really huge and unique with interesting structures and funky sofas where we were served by very helpful and pleasant service staff while the kids spent their time in a kids room where they have game consoles, books etc to keep the kids entertained.

Rooms size are pretty much standard. There are study table with the TV on the wall, closet, fridge and water heater. 

The location of the fridge is a little weird, which is at the end of the closet/storage cabinet with the door opening to the side and not along it. No issues if you are just staying in a room but for us who requested connecting rooms, it does pose a problem when the connecting room door is opened.

The bathroom are surrounded by glass walls and comes with a motorised screen that goes up and down with a touch of a button. The bathroom doors are unique in that is mirrors the closet opposite therefore if you were to close the bathroom doors, you may not be able to guess there the bathroom is there first time you step in.

Rooms either faces the sea or the town so do not forget to request for one facing the sea.

There's a pretty long pool with a kids pool and a playground at the end where kids can slide into the pool. To get to the pool, you have to stop at the gym level and then go down a step of stairs. This could be a problem for those who cannot go up and down stairs. I am not sure if there is a way to go to the pool straight at lift level.

Other facilities includes a sauna and a gym which we didn't manage to use due to time constraints. The official site states that there's BBQ and Kids zone area but I am pretty sure those are not yet ready when we were there hence no pictures as well on the site.

Overall the hotel is OK. It is new, so it feels great. If not for the pool, I would prefer staying in Straits Hotel and Suites.

Pros

Near to shopping malls and attractions
Plenty of eatery around
Some rooms has the view of the sea
Kids pool and kids zone

Cons

Poor TV channels and signal quality

URL - http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-8155-novotel-melaka/index.shtml

Masbro Village Malacca

We stayed at one of the units in late October 2015.

Located at Taman Paya Rumput Indah, Malacca, Masbro Village boasts some A Frame houses within a gated area.

Direction to the location is easy as it is very near a highway exit though you may miss it like I did due to it being assimilated to its surrounding which is absolutely not touristy at all. Google Maps does the job so once you exit the highway and turned right, go slow and look out for colourful houses with sharp pointy roofs on your left.

Parking is limited so should there be no parking lots available, you may have to park outside.

There are 8 units in total but only 6 for rent while the other two are used by the owners as their own residence as well as their office.

Each unit looks nice from the outside with its pebble roads and landscaping.

The lower floor consists of a living area with a small TV, a dining set, a kitchen and a bathroom. There was a good selection of TV channels and of HD quality too.

Some houses are connected with a small additional area in the middle for families to mingle, else it will just be left unused which is kind of a waste.

It is not elderly friendly as the stairs are too steep making the huge sleeping area upstairs inaccessible to the elderly and even small children. As I have two young kids, we have to keep an eye on them almost all the time.

There are two queen size bed upstairs but only a sofa bed for the lower floor. Maximum occupancy is 6 pax but only 4 pillows are provided. We didn't ask for additional pillows so we are not sure if it can be requested.

There is another bathroom on the upper floor with a water heater unlike the one below.  Both are cramped due to its design.

There are no food stalls let alone restaurants in the village but there is one just a short walk outside. I didn't know there's one so did not get the chance to try the food. I drove instead a few kilometers away and had take away. Apart from that the only nearby shopping mall is Tesco.

So, will I visit again? Maybe as a stopover but there is nothing much to warrant a repeated visit so it will be a one off for me.

Pros

Unique
Good TV channels
Nice host.

Cons

Not anywhere near tourist attraction.
Need to drive to have access to food and rations etc.
Not elderly or small kids friendly

Straits Hotel and Suites Melaka

We stayed for a night in a suite and a connecting deluxe room in late October 2015.

The hotel is owned by the same owner of Novotel Hotel which is just next door but managed by a different management team hence the reason why both hotels shares the same car park.

The hotel is very new. Located very near to malls and major attractions, you can practically venture by foot if you are adventurous enough.

Lobby is really small, if that matters to you but service staff was awesome.

The suite is huge. Easily the size of deluxe 2 rooms. The bathroom comes with a huge tub and a separate shower area as well.

There's a comfortable sofa and an armchair in the living area but a small TV with limited channels available and poor signal quality. I didn't bother watching anything.

In the suite's bedroom there was also a long study table and a huge closet space.

The deluxe room is bigger than normal hotel rooms and comes with a kitchen as well.

Both rooms comes with a balcony but it is locked for safety reasons which is a shame but as a parent I kind of understand the need for it.

WiFi is provided and it is really fast with good coverage throughout the whole hotel.

I find it strange that a normal aircon indoor unit is installed instead of the normal vent type but that's hardly a deal breaker.

Rooms either faces the sea or the town so do not forget to request for one facing the sea.

There is an infinity pool on the 23rd floor which we were not able to use as it was drizzling then for safety reasons. There is no other pool for kids etc though.

Other facilities includes a sauna and a gym which we didn't manage to use due to time constraints. The official site states that there's BBQ and Kids zone area but I am pretty sure those are not yet ready when we were there hence no pictures as well on the site.

The breakfast is something you can forget about. As the occupancy is low, the variety follows suit. There are plenty of good food just around the hotel.

Currently on promotion, RM242 for a suite and RM188 for a deluxe room, the price is worth it.

Pros

Bigger than normal rooms
Fast free WiFi
Deluxe room comes with a kitchen
Near to shopping malls and attractions
Plenty of eatery around
Some rooms has the view of the sea

Cons

No pool for kids hence not for families with kids
Abysmal breakfast buffet
Small lobby
Poor TV channels and signal quality

URL - http://www.straitshotelsuites.com/melaka/

Online shopping at Lazada

I bought an item at Lazada recently which was my first there as there was a pretty good discount for an item I was looking for. The purchase process was a breeze and I received all the necessary notification right after the purchase was completed.

It was only after I browse around the site that I realised I could actually get the item for less if I applied a different discount code. So I emailed the customer support and I received a call from them the next day, which was a Sunday. The CSO offered to cancel the order (as the item was not shipped out yet) so that I can make a new order with the preferred discount code and I gladly accepted.

I received the item within a week and this was an overseas item. I am not sure if different vendors make any difference or not but so far, I am very pleased.

I have always shopped at eBay and it looks like I may just switch to Lazada should the same item I am looking for is available there. Just as eBay, there are various payment mode available and there's buyer's protection as well.

Below are the plus points

1. Items are all in local currency and generally cheaper with discount applied, especially now when USD exchange rate is higher.

2. Lazada's 100% Buyer Protection and Satisfaction Guaranteed policy covers the return shipment cost.

3. All items are trackable through Lazada or through the couriers. Shipping fees range $0.50 to $10 which is way lower than many shipping options in eBay.

4. COD is available as an option

Midea System 3 Multi Split Aircon

This is a review of the Midea Oasis aircon range which is one generation before the latest Opal range by Midea.

Package

Indoor unit

3 x Oasis 9K BTU MS11MI-09

Outdoor unit

21K BTU M3OA-21CDN1-QC4 (2 ticks from NEA)

Warranty 

Midea provides 2 years warranty on parts including labour and 6 years on compressor which means it covers only the compressor from the 3rd year onward.

As I purchased this unit from Gain City during a promotional period, it comes with an extended 5 years installation warranty which effectively means an extra 4 years on top of Midea’s 1 year installation warranty.

Warranty however do not cover the remote and filters

Features

WiFi Control

The system can be connected to an existing wireless network or set up as a separate wireless network (WiFi Direct) and can be controlled through a mobile phone app. It can also be remotely controlled on mobile networks (3G/LTE) through Midea servers.

Note: Midea has stop producing Oasis range with WiFi support so if the dealer says the unit they are selling are WiFi enabled/ready, get that written in black and white.

High Density Filter

A piece of additional high density filter that is placed on the wire mesh filter. It can be removed and cleaned just as a normal filter.

Self Cleaning

A hydrophilic fin evaporator that washes away dust and grease on the evaporator through condensed water.

The louver will remain open with fan mode to dry out the coil and pipes up to 15 minutes to prevent mould formation for better unit life span after the unit is turned off. It is activated by default.

It can be overridden by pressing the power off button twice. However, take note of the following statement by Midea

Manual overriding (by pressing “power off” twice) of the self-cleaning function may have unfavorable consequences and promote mould formation that requires maintenance servicing not covered under the original product warranty.

Plasma Electron+

Ionizer than removes airborne germs, bacteria, dust, haze particle, pollen, smoke viruses from indoor air. To activate, press and hold the 'Sleep/Fresh' button on the remote each time you turn the unit on.

Will only be able to confirm if this actually works after using it for a while.

3D Air Flow

Both the vertical and horizontal louvers can swing automatically.

Follow Me

When activated the temperature sensor on the remote controller will replace the blower’s. Hence it is important where the remote is placed to provide a more accurate reading for the system to match the set temperature 

This is another function that needs to manually activated each time you turn the unit on.

Blower / Fan Coil / Indoor Unit

In terms of quality, the units are very much on par with any branded aircon that I have purchased before. Although the previous Luna range from Midea do have quality issues this Oasis range is of a much better quality.

Lifting up the cover to change the filter don’t feel as flimsy as the Luna and so do the filters itself.

It has a white LED indicator which shows the set temperature as well as the indicator for the following functions - Fresh, Defrost, Run, Timer

I find the ‘Defrost’ status on the blower pointless as it will hardly ever lit up in Singapore. I also find the ‘Run’ indicator to be redundant as the temperature indicator is already sufficient to show that the unit is running.

It is also disappointing that position of the horizontal louvers are not 'remembered' and will swing to its default position each time the unit is turned on.

Remote Controller

The remote however do feels cheap. It looks different from the conventional squarish design that most aircon comes with.

It is light and very plasticy. Although the display screen is LED back lit, the buttons however are not and are flushed with the bezel so it makes it harder to fiddle in the dark.

The remote has a built in temperature sensor which will be activated when the 'Follow Me' feature is activated therefore where the remote is placed matters as the system depends on the reading on the remote in regards to the set temperature. This is a very useful feature. However, do take note that the remote needs to be within range else it will not be able to send the info required by the blower so you could end up with a room too cold or too warm. How you place the remote matters too as the remote IR transmitter is design in such a way that it was meant to work with you holding the remote up pointing to the blower. Therefore placing it flat down facing up may cause it not be able to transmit the signal over to the blower. To overcome this, place the remote facing down instead.

The on/off timer on the remote can be set up to 24 hrs in an increment of 1/2 hr. There is no cancel button though, so if you have already set the timer, you have to either take a pin to press the 'Reset' button or pressing the timer button repeatedly until it reverts back to '0'. Good thing is, you can simply press and hold the button will increment automatically.

Some button has dual role in where pressing and holding the button for 2 seconds will activate the other function. 

One thing I find the remote is lacking in remembering some of the common features that I believe many would use like 'Fresh'.

It also comes with a sleep mode where the temperature will be increased by 2 degrees after each hour and then turned off after 7 hours. Take note that pressing other button will cancel this off even though the remote is still showing that it is active. This to me is a defect.

Compressor / Outdoor Unit

With a rating of 2 ELS ticks, when used for 8 hours a day, it will cost approximately $859 annually.

I turned them on daily for 8 hours minimum and mostly 2 blowers at the same time and my whole electricity bill comes up to about $80/per month. This is inclusive of all other electrical devices including fridge, TV. washer and dryer etc.

Conclusions

I have been using the aircon close to a year and so far, no service calls needed.

In terms of cooling power, it does so very well even with 3 blowers turned on at the same time. Even with a set temperature of 26-C, the room still feels very cool. 

Both the blowers and compressor are very silent, even before the 'Silent' feature on the remote is turned on.

Pros

Cost. Easily 1/4 cheaper than competitors.
Quality is good for a China made product
Looks good.
As silent as it gets.

Cons

Some settings on the remote is not stored
Remote feels cheap.
Not enough information on the manual.
WiFi no longer supported.

Hitachi R-SG37BPS Refrigerator

I decided to get a new fridge when I moved to the new place as the old fridge needs to be replaced with the following must-haves

-         automatic ice-maker
-         a separate vegetable compartment
-         bottom freezer.
-         cost less that $1K.

I ended up with the Hitachi R-SG37BPS. (R-SG37BPH - Hong Kong, R-SG37BPTH - Thailand, R-SG37BPU - Russia)

Introduction

The reason why the R-SG37BPS is so affordable is because it is made in Malaysia, as far as I know. It is also not exactly a new model and has been around for a couple of years. Even the brochure available from Hitachi Singapore's website is printed in April 2012.

The official Hitachi website states a net capacity of 365 litres based on JIS. The ISO capacity is actually 296 litres.


Features

This fridge comes with small water tank that is used by the automatic ice maker instead of a direct water inlet (tap). This makes the fridge portable although it is rarely a need to move your fridge unlike furniture. However, it saves the hassle and cost of plumbing works.

I was advised by almost all sales personnel to avoid fridge with a water tank because the internal hose may get contaminated and affects how the ice quality (or water, for those with water dispensing as well) in the long run. It was a concern, especially when you are being advised by 'experts' but the concern was unfounded because regardless of water tank or not, they all comes with hoses and it can be replaced so I decide to trust my gut and went ahead anyway

It is also equipped with Nano Titanium filters that is supposedly able to eliminate bacteria and odors. From my use so far, placing a used tea bag in the fridge gets rid of the odors better.

It is powered by a inverter compressor which will consume approximately 423 kWh annually. It obtained 4 Green Ticks under the old Energy Labeling Scheme. However with the new rating scheme, it obtained only 1 Green Tick.

The fridge will sound a soft alarm, which can be deactivated, if any of the doors are left opened for  a minute or more. I wish it is louder so you can't miss it especially when you have an occasion where your place is typically noisier than normal.

By the way the door grip is recessed so there are no handles sticking out which I prefer for so many reason including safety and aesthetics as it flushes with your cabinets.

Control Panel

The fridge operation can be managed from the control panel located at the top left of the refrigerator door which is convenient.

The temperature for the freezer and refrigerator can be set independently. By default it is set at the 3rd mark which is basically halfway from the coldest setting.

The Child Lock function only works for the control panel and not the fridge doors. Since this panel is high up on the door for any child to reach (unless they climb onto something), I find this option redundant.

You can turn on the Energy Saving function when storage volume is low or when you are away on a long vacation where the doors will not be opened for long time. It will automatically turn off temporarily when it detects that the temperature in the fridge has rises and because of this I turn it on during normal use. However, if fatty ice cream, etc, becomes soft or if dew appears, you should turn it off.

If you are away for a long vacation, you should turn off the Ice Maker function as well and when you are back and need ice quickly, turn on Quick Freezing.


Refrigerator Compartment

The first thing that I noticed when I open up the fridge compartment is that it is pretty big. Not surprising since it is made up of 3/5 of the total capacity, which is enough for my family of 5.

The white LED lighting is bright too which makes it easier to view the food being stored.

There are a lot of pockets on the door for drinks, jam, eggs etc. If you are wondering why the bottom compartment of the refrigerator door can accommodate two rows of bottles/cartons, that is because the back of the refrigerator compartment slopes inwards around the 2nd shelf and below. 

It comes with a 3-way flexible shelf, which is great actually as you can fold it away to fit in tall jugs and the like. However, take note that there is only one of such shelf while the rest are fixed tempered glass shelves.

At the bottom left of the fridge is where the water tank is stored and on the right is the Fresh Room sliding case for fresh meat, fish, prawn and process foodstuff that you do not want to freeze. 

Vegetables/Fruits Compartment

The vegetable compartment is roomy enough and so far managed to keep my fruits and vegetable stay fresh longer as compared to my old fridge. I can't say for sure how effective it is as I have not made any actual comparison.

The compartment is separated by a sliding case on top for fruits while the rest is for vegetables. You can also store your bottled drinks as shown if the refrigerator compartment is full.

Freezer Compartment

The freezer compartment, about 1/5 of the total capacity, could be bigger. We store loads of frozen stuff so the freezer was a tad too small.

As with the vegetable compartment, it is separated by a sliding case for ice cubes on one side and for ice creams etc on the other. The case itself is for the other frozen stuff. You really need to pack in the frozen food nicely or you will not be able to make full use of the limited space. Always pull the top tray to the drawer door before closing the drawer door to ensure it will close properly.

The ice compartment is big enough to store ice for a jug of cold drinks. Ice will be ready is an interval of about a few hours. So if you plan to make ice for a couple of jugs, you may have to store the ice out of the compartment so that new ice can be made or you can turn on the Quick Freezing function.

A note of advice, change the water in the water tank when it runs low. Do not top it up. This will avoid the water that has absorbed the odors from the fridge ending up effecting the taste quality of the ice to be made.

Conclusion

Overall I am very pleased with the fridge. There are ample space and I love that it makes ice automatically. 

If you are looking for a fridge with same criteria as mine, you cannot go wrong with the R-SG37BPS. Do take note of the cons though.

If you are interested, you can get it online from SPARKnet

You can download the brochure here

Quick Specs

Dimensions	590 (W) x 1,816 (H) x 630 (D) mm
Max Load	Fresh Room - 3kg
	Vegetable slide case - 4.3kg
	Vegetable case - 12kg
	Freezer slide case - 4.6kg
	Freezer case - 11kg

Hauck Freerider

The Hauck Freerider is a 3 wheeler tandem stroller with the second seat at the back and lower than the main seat, similar to the likes of Phil & Teds.

It comes with the second seat, instead of it being an option. You can opt for the Shop 'n Drive model which is essentially a package of same stroller bundled with an infant car seat.

As with any Hauck user manual, it comes with pictures only. However, fixing up the stroller is not an uphill task. You are only required to fix the 3 wheels and sun shade. The 2nd seat can just be easily slipped on and off with a catch.


Features

The front seat reclines by pulling a metal lever at the back of the seat and it can recline till it's fully flat. To lift it up, you simply push the seat up until it locks to any of the 4 positions available. This is a pretty good mechanism if your ask me as you can operate it with one hand.

When fully up, the main seat is almost 90° so it is good for kids who likes to sit up straight. However, when straight up, the space between the backrest and the bar strap is pretty small, so if you have a big baby, it might be uncomfortable for your kid.

The main seat can accommodate an infant car seat without having to remove it although you will have to raise the incline by one step from flat to allow enough space for the child in the rear seat. The main seat can also be removed totally if you plan to use the infant car seat exclusively, as shown below, though it is not advisable to sit a infant in the car seat for more than an hour at any one time.

The rear seat can on the other hand can only recline further by one step by means of a zip. This limitation is expected.

The calf support and handle is adjustable to a few heights.

The front wheel is lockable while the the rear wheel lock is pretty smooth


Quality

The Good

The thickly padded seats are very comfortable and of good quality.

The Bad

The handle construction disappoints me as it has too much play, making it feels like the stroller is a few years old. This however do not affect the function of the stroller that much except when you place a bigger child in the main seat and the back seat unoccupied. Due to the weight being concentrated at the front, it can be a a challenge when you need to lift the stroller up a kerb.

The wheels are made of plastic. Although most will say that inflatable wheels are much better, not having to pump air can be a plus at times, especially if you keep the stroller in your car most of the time.

The calf support is pretty much hollow with nothing much in between.

The stroller folds up not too bad but the front wheel is not able to be aligned flat and it is the main part that is causing problems when loading up to the boot trunk of the car.

The Ugly

As the sun shade attaches by simply slotting it into a groove on the chassis but without any form of locking mechanism, it always detaches itself each time the stroller is folded.

The extendable sun shade for the rear seat looks good as it covers the rear seat sufficiently but it has no where to be stored. You either use it or remove it as shown below

A similar poor design applies to the main seat backrest mounting. As it do not have a locking mechanism, it always detaches itself on either/both sides each time you fold your stroller.

Again, another poor design is the rear seat rod end cover. It always slips off when you remove the seat. You have to slot it back in place each time you want to attach the rear seat. A velcro should solve this problem so I don't understand why it was not thought off by Hauck designers.

Summary

Overall the stroller is alright except for a few annoying setback. For the price you pay, it is forgivable though if you can fork out more, do it.

Pros
Affordable
Good quality seats
5 point harness on both seats
Main seat suitable for infant from birth onward
Adjustable handle height
Can adapt an infant car seat
Comes with a rain cover

Cons
Poor design for certain parts
Too much play in handle
Sun shade is flimsy. Easily detached itself especially when you fold the stroller.
Main seat backrest mount dislodge each time you fold the stroller
Extendable shade has no place to store into. Either you cover the rear seat or you remove it.
Rear seat rod end cover always slips off when you remove the seat. You have to slot it back in place each time you want to attach the rear seat.

Heng Clinic for Women

We were recommended the services of Dr Heng Tung Lan by a close friend of ours as my wife is no longer comfortable with a male gynae, unlike our first pregnancy.

There is nothing much to say actually because if your pregnancy is normal, all they do at every check up is

- take your urine sample
- check your blood pressure
- check your weight
- perform a scan to keep track of the progress of the baby.

Personally, she is very motherly and that is comforting and probably the reason why we might consider her again in the future.

However, she is not really pro natural birth, as she did ask us a few times if we would like to delivery our baby earlier, hinting on an inducement. Nevertheless, she do accommodate if you plan for a natural birth, like we did, when you inform her beforehand. So she was pretty much off hand during delivery until it was time for the baby to pop.

She has a lot of clients so her clinic is always jammed pack all the time, especially on Saturdays. Be prepared to spend sometime there before it is your turn. You can see the contrast with other clinics on the same floor.

We also missed our full scan because the staff there forgot to arrange for us. Maybe because they had too many clients.

Anyway, first visit will cost you about $180. You should sign up for the $700 package which is more cost effective.

Heng Clinic for Women Pte Ltd
Parkway East Medical Centre, 319 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427989 #02-08
Contact No: +65 6377 3737

Hauck Shopper 11

As usual, all Hauck strollers come with pictures only instruction manuals. So while it may take you longer to get up and running, it is not that difficult either.

The Hauck Shopper is considered lightweight at 7.6 kg and a travel system when combined with a Hauck Zero Plus car seat or a carry cot.

Attaching the car seat is simple - lay the backrest flat - which makes it suitable for infants by the way, lift up both the catch on the side of the stroller and the car seat be 'dropped' in until it locks. The front bar needs to be fixed on when attaching the car seat. The seat can also be removed if you only use the car seat. Both the front bar and seat need to be removed when attaching the carry cot though.

The stroller feels very light and is effortless when pushed, thanks the big wheels at 18/19 cm. Lifting it up kerbs is pretty effortless too.

The seat at the most upright position is pretty reclined, so you many not be able to use the shoulder harness if your kids love to sit up straight. Adjusting the seat recline angle is through the strap mechanism which is not that difficult to use though I prefer those with step recline instead.

Canopy is big but too short and high to provide much cover. While you can protect your child from the rain with a rain cover, you cannot do much to protect from the harsh sun. There is no window for you to view the child while pushing too.

The cup holder and tray is useful when out for a long time for those occasional drinks and snacks, so does the back pocket.

Folding up the stroller can be tricky for those with short hands. Getting it right sure does take a lot of practice even for someone who is 1.7 m tall like me. It could be made easier with a handle lever, just like the Mothercare Mino as the folding concept is pretty similar.

To make folding easier, the brakes, which are very easy to operate by the way, needs to be engaged. One thing to take note when folding up the Shopper is to lay the backrest flat. This is illustrated in the instruction manual but is not specifically mentioned that it needs to be done. If this is not done, the two seats catch at the side of the frame will dislodge.

The stroller is still considered bulky when folded as it can only fold flat downwards. As the front bar touches the ground each time the stroller is folded, it is best to remove it or hold on to it while folding, to avoid it getting stained.

Overall this is a good stroller minus the few setbacks.

You can view the video here

Pros
Light when pushed and easy to manourver
Width is suitable for big children
Easy to engage and release brake
Big basket, with pocket for easy access.
5-point harness.
Suitable for infants.

Cons
Front bar touches the ground when folded
Folding can be tricky
Size when folded is still bulky
Seat and basket can only be hand wash

Specifications

Weight - 7.6 kg
Suspensions
Measurements folded (max.) - 90 x 49 x 35 cm
Measurements built- up (max.) - 94 x 49 x 103 cm
Handlebar height - 103 cm
Length of seat and back rest - 15 x 44 x 71 cm
Seat height - 47 cm
Seat width - 32 cm
Removable plastic wheels
Wheel diameter (Front) - 18 cm
Wheel diameter (Rear) - 19 cm
Swivel and lockable front wheels
Adjustable backrest - (104° to 156°)
4 step adjustable footrest
Detachable front bar
Detachable canopy
Big shopping basket with access pocket
Combinable with car seat and carry cot
Detachable and washable fabric
Soft-fix brake
5-point harness system
From 0 month to 15 kg