B-Mag / Yoshida & Company

Read B-Mag today. Will do a review soon.

Happy CNY

Happy chinese new year! It is the Year of the Horse!

Been a while but i will keep up the tempo.

Today I am going to discuss about 3D printer.
I am thinking of buying one and putting in my home to print little things that is useful.
2 that I think is ideal are

1) Prusa i3 (Aluminium Model)

We use the Prusa Mendel i2 at work, and i am getting the hang of it.  Therefore I am more familiar with the Prusa line of open source 3D printer. If I were to get this, I will built it myself from scratch with reference from BOM and instruction manual found online. Building it myself will let me understand every aspects, the bolts and nuts, and inside out of this machine. Only thing that it is troublesome to source the parts all over website.

2) Buccaneer 3D Printer

I really like the smooth integration and package to it. Probably one of the most affordable printer, it feels like an AIO in the 3D printing arena now. Apart from the convenience, the design is pretty sleek to be put into home. It will come package ready and to be use out of the box. Downside is, i will not understand all aspects of parts in compare to building it myself.

Overall, I think the Prusa is like the Desktop PC and the Buccaneer is like an AIO. Seems like i know which one to go for. 

Tech Trends in 2014

Above: my new personal portfolio work(coming soon..)

Okay, so today I have a little bit time to blog about things. I thought for awhile and decided the road map for my blog would be focusing on anything relating to Industrial design / Product Design, especially in Singapore design scene. Do not know how long I can sustain but well, see how it goes.

Would like to talk about more about tech trends, as we all know, being in this industry need us to be always keep up to news. As you go deeper, you will soon start to observe. So here're what I think will be trending this year, 2014.

1. 3D Printing is exploding.

Above: Pirate3D buccaneer
Pirate 3D, this Singapore-based start up begin its global awareness when they pitch through kickstarter. I think they have an extremely great potential, and the ID is definitely well-done, in a package.  I think 3D printing will be expanding and spreading to every homes and offices this year. Right now, majority haven't discover the true power of it. It feels something like back in 1985 when the home PC is just beginning to gather the consumer attention.


2. Wearables is still at its early stage but coming.

Above: Razer Nabu

In just this CES 2014, almost every big player in the tech market push out their Smart band. One wearable i think stand out is the Razer Nabu, which I respect Razer to be daring and try out in this new market. Their brand identity is so strong, it will be remembered by any boys that touch the PC. I think this year is a year of try and error and see which wearables will be the best suited for consumer. I think wearable is just at the fore front but what will happen in the next 5-10years? We will all be wearing some kind of tech on us. Intel just annouce Intel Edison at CES, and i definitely feel that it will be a game-changer. Gonna keep an eye on them.

3. Drones to begin consideration entering our airspace.

Above: Amazon Drone
Absolutely one of my most lovable retail go-to, been reading up the everything Store and I think Jeff Bezos truly a Sir. Always thinking about better solution and new ideas. I don't think it will be major this year but will sure create a buzz. I think this is truly the beginning of the dream futuristic future of air travel like 'Back to the Future II'. Amazon is spearheading Drone delivery and the big fish are going to follow. Although there is still a lot to overcome, this is just the first step. I think Drone will be super big in the future.


4. Its all about UX 

Above: Pebble Smartwatch
User Experience is, now, and it will get bigger and bigger. I wonder what do we design in the future. I think it is more than just industrial design now. We got to go above and beyond and enhance the whole user interaction and experience of a user, with software and hardware working as one. More smart products hence derived out of UX. Smart become Smarter. Pebble is one of the greatest example that it is so successful.


So that my thoughts. It is going to be an exciting year!

YEAR OF SELF CONDITION

So I have created a new blog for the new year as always.

Stumble upon all my old blogs and had a good read. I wonder how long can i maintain this year. Haha
Anyway, I always set a number of resolutions to complete and as for this year, they are:

1) To create my own product / brand
well, it hanging in my mind for quite a while now, I need to really push it through.

2) Focus Design / Portfolio building / Red-Dot
As a basic designer, I need to always come out new stuffs. I'm definitely going for red dot again this year.

3) Workout and aim: 68kg / IPPT Gold
I am at my heavyweight now, 75kg. Damn it. And yes, ippt gold and $400

4) Attain Class 2A License
400CC here i comes. But then I am looking at cheap vintage cafe racer.

5) Do something I've always wanted to.
Well, YOLO, i haven't thought about it but I want to do something thrilling.

6) To go Japan. 
Land of the rising sun. Creativity and ! . Wanted to step into and explore Japan.


That about it. I am trying to maintain the top3 and focus on it.
Blogger landscape had changed alot over the past few years and now, definitely better and integrated.

Overhual

I've been neglecting my blog space since a few months ago, but I assured you that I'm slowly back on tracks and will come back with better and awesome personal contents. Due to my NS commitment which I'm proud of and being able to fulfill my commitment, I'm going to embark to my next phrase of life.

I have a few backlogs of reviews and photos that have not been posted, but I will do it soon, before embarking on 2013. Thank you for looking out.

HK Golden Computer Arcade Walk Around 070812

PICS HEAVY! 

Just went HK last week and walk around their 'SLS' and snapped some photos! All photos was snapped on 07/08/12. Supposedly want to upload when i'm back but only do so this weekend. Well, have a great time looking at their goodies! 

For those people going in the near future, here's a small guide on how to reach there. 

By MTR, alight at Shim shuai Po Station and exit via D2. When you walk up, you will notice a giant 'harddisk' looking structure.

Walk past the structure and continue walking to a T-Junction, look across the street and you'll finally see this! Very weird is, we found that the entrance is the same like SLS, at all four corners of the building, is it an icon or fengshui? lol 

Let's move in, first thing i encounter.. SSD! Can't get any price list but got prices. You guys want to calculate, the rates now is about 1:6, so you divide by 6, you know the price in SGD.

People buying ssd! Can ship the whole cabinet to sls sell?

Beside the ssd is a cabinet of thumbdrive. Hola, i want that kingston hyperX usb3.0 thumbdrive!

The basement level. Early morning(ok, actually they opens at about 11am) so happening already!

Any Cables for you Sir? We got everything. 

Who want ducky kb? Price differences not alot here though.. 

Now, a cabinet of NAS! Cheaper in hk! 

Now, some very shimmering PSU which I had to snap. Looking at the connectors, all in lime green. Er, do you want it? 

CASING Galore! Stacko like a pro. Can see they got all sorts of Casing. Can see Lian Li, Corsair, Sliverstone, coolermaster, and even their own local brands. SliverStone is cheaper, cause i compare to SG prices, the prices there is a steal! Too bad luggage too small, if not will buy 1 back!

Now, it's Monitor Galore! Crazy layout. lol You name it, they got it. 23", 24" 27" 30" LCD, LED,IPS. Even got korea ips panels there, if i not wrong. 

SSD and Rams Kit. Look carefully. It's not about all the rams we see, it about Cosair DOMINATOR PLATINUM! 1600, 1866, 2133 all in. They're fast in getting new hardware. Nearly drop the bomb cause I got poisoned by it, but I quickly run away from it. 

Now for Mobo, Who want this Golden Armour! 

Who say make apple components cannot make motherboard! First time i encounter it, i bet some of you guys also seeing it for the first time!

Now, you wonder where is all the stuffs i want to see badly, well, save the best for the last, here's all the GPU Galore!

This is GPU Madness~! 

This is GPU sprata! They just love to put in cabinets for display don't they?

Inno3D GTX 690! good to see a different brands other than Asus and Evga 690.

Zotac GTX 670! It's time to play!

Okay, that'all for my trip walking around in the Golden Computer Arcade in HK.  I think all the photos only covered about 20-30% of the mall. It's not big but not small. 2 floors and 1 basement level. Those going in the future, just note, if you want to go to level 2, need to exit out, and take escalators from outside. Weird layout they have. 

Pricelist-wise, from what I saw, they got those bundles pricelists. Maybe they got but I never go ask for it. 

What i feel is that, HK got a different style of promoting their hardware. For example like displaying their hardware in cabinets. That's something fresh I never seen it before. Overall, a very nice experience for me! 

2 Weekends, 2 PSUs.

A first look at 2 different Power supply unit (PSU) side by side. FSP Aurum 400W GOLD and Andyson 550W MODULAR PLATINUM .*This is not really a fair comparison, but it would be interesting to see two different brands package their products.* 

A very attractive box and a well edited 'engine' PSU in the middle. The Andyson 550W.

Finally, a jump from Bronze(previously), to Gold, and now, owned a Platinum rated PSU.

First face when you will see when you unbox from it. FSP's packaging won here cause it gives you a grand experience when you slide it out and then open it up, whereas, Andyson, is just bare opening up. However the box comes with a handle, but who would actually need it?

Reviewing the PSU! Love the 'Enjoy your Device' by FSP. Andyson is not too bad as they took the effort to wrap up the psu. Of course, FSP got more foam protection.

All the accessories in the box. Andyson is a modular PSU, so therefore the cables. Over here, FSP won because they got a manual, a fsp badge and toolless secure nuts.

The specifications. one at the side, while another one on the top side.

The underneath grills, which absorbs air into it to cool the coil and components. Andyson comes with a 140mm white fan bladeswhile FSP comes with 120mm black fan blades. Notice the length differences.

Front face. Very clear indicators by Andyson. Too bad, the FSP unit I have is not modular.

Top Side. Plain for andyson. If you install it into a caasing with window. You are not going to see anything.

The interesting part. Andyson took the effort to 'beautify' the side. FSP goes with a exclude cut.

Andyson on the left, with honeycomb grills, while FSP with arrow grills for air outlet ventilation.

Lastly, my favorite side of both the PSUs.

My thoughts:
TBC.

My New Budget Rig Set-up (finally)

One month ago, I sold off my Macbook pro. I've fufilled my apple experience and ready to embark on a Window 7 platform. The Question is, a Rig or a laptop?

I've decided to go into the world of desktop PC, as every single parts is customizable to my needs. Well, it is now a Post-PC era as they said but this industry is still growing strong and there is potential(in terms of performance/quality and design).
I spend the last few weekends salvaging parts from the local garage sales forum. I want the most of what within my budget.

Finally. Here's my Casing with my Rig fully set up.

 My Rig Set up Specifications are as follows:

Processor: Intel i5 3450 Ivy Bridge 3rd Gen processor w/ Intel stock HSF
Mainboard: Asrock Z77 Pro 3
Graphics card: MSI Nvidia GTX 560Ti Twin Frozr II O/C
Mermory: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB 1600mhz CL9 kit
Storage: OCZ Vertex3 60GB SataIII SSD and Seagate Barrucuda 250GB HDD
Casing: Xigmatek Asgard Pro w/ 140mm and 120mm XLF fans
Power supply unit: Seasonic M12II 620W Modular 
Wifi: TP -Link 150mbps PCI express adaptor
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit

My virgin cable management at its best. Can be improve though.

One thing I learn while building my rig, was learn how to sleeve those ugly color combi cables.

Last but not least, night mode on!
 Customize a LED strip to place it into my rig set-up. My initial overall theme was black w/ orange, but changed to full black because I can't get my hands on the G Skill Ares orange heat spreader ram. Well still, I love it alot and I keep staring into it.

Okay lastly, have to give credits to this our JY and (mother of god) LH, for guiding as well as answering my qns. thanks JY for fixing up and setting up my PC!

Well, my next plan will be upgrading of the HSF, PSU,SSD and GPU, by end of this year. Adding of 2 1TB HDD in Raid1 would be ideal but expensive. I have my eyes on which exact parts already but all I need is funds. This is one of the rig disadvantages, you get 'poisoned' all the time.

For now, it is time for D3!