New Blue Apple

November 30, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

My old Apple iPhone 13 Pro, that I bought four years ago for RM 4,198, is working fine. 

That didn’t stop me from getting the new iPhone 17 Pro, which normally costs RM 5,499. By trading in my old iPhone at Apple The Exchange TRX Kuala Lumpur for RM 1,300, I ended up paying only RM 4,199 — almost the same price I originally paid for my old iPhone!

Apple iPhone 17 ProApple iPhone 17 ProRM 4,199.

Lorong Utara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

One of the main reasons for this purchase is that the old 13 Pro didn't detect my Malaysian Passport via NFC scan. I needed to get this scan done as I plan to do my Umrah early next year and the Saudi Visa Bio app requires it. I can now confirm that the 17 Pro did the NFC scan successfully and I have obtained approval for my Umrah application, Alhamdullilah.

You can view more pictures here.

 


Music to my Ears

April 26, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

A few months ago, the remote controller that I used to operate the Bose home theatre system for my TV stopped working - I cannot switch the speakers on and it is the only means to activate them. I think the problem is the contacts of the power button on the controller is defective. So, I bought an alternative replacement controller via Shopee, but unfortunately that wasn't the exact model so it didn't work. I didn't want to get an original replacement model from Bose as it was too expensive to purchase. This meant that I had to revert to using the TV's speaker instead, which sadly sounded somewhat lame. This also meant that the games I play on my PS5 Pro had to endure the audio deficiencies of the tiny TV speakers.

Today, I decided to buy the wireless headphones made for Playstation that is the Sony Pulse Elite headset, for RM699. Since Sony bought over the Audeze company that makes the incredibly awesome Maxwell gaming headset, the technology of planar magnetic drivers has been incorporated into the Pulse Elite giving it superb sound reproduction quality. You can read a review by IGN on this headset.

Sony Pulse Elite HeadphonesSony Pulse Elite HeadphonesRM 699.

Lorong Utara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

All I can say about its performance is wow! This is especially true after Sony released the latest PS5 system update just a few days ago that improved its audio features. I listened to both modes, with the audio focus deactivated and then activated, and the difference is astounding. With the audio focus enabled, the surround sound effect is much more profound, and the separation of audio elements is way more distinct. Playing PS5 games with this headset is amazingly more immersive than listening through the Bose system, what more the weaker TV's built-in speakers. Luckily, I didn't splurge out to buy a better speaker system, that would have been a huge waste of money.

Take a look at a few more pictures of the Sony Pulse Elite.

 


The Father of Camera Bags

April 07, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

Although I had recently purchased the Domke F2 camera bag, it was not suitable to carry the telezoom Tamron 150-500 lens, unless I rearranged the layout of the Domke bag. Even then, it didn't have a way to carry an external water bottle that I usually need if I went for a trip to the Zoo or to some outdoor activity.

I still can carry the Nikon Zf + Tamron telezoom if I used my Crumpler 7 Million Dollar shoulder bag, or perhaps with my Kata 3N1-30 backpack, but both didn't have a means to hold a water bottle or a tripod.

After searching for a suitable bag, I found the Think Tank Darklight 20L backpack.

Think Tank Darklight 20L Camera BagThink Tank Darklight 20L Camera BagRM 900.

Lorong Utara, Petaling jaya, Selangor.

It ticked all the necessary boxes and costs just RM 900: -

  • Feature rich backpack that can carry a water bottle or tripod externally
  • Can fit the Nikon Zf + Tamron 150-500 telezoom attached
  • Can fit my other lenses and accessories such as flashgun and microphone
  • Has a top flap that can access the camera directly
  • Can only access the internal content from a back flap - more secure than a front opening flap
  • Can access the internal content without removing bag from oneself - you do this by swiveling the bag around the waist belt and opening its back flap
  • Can easily access all the internal content - this is unlike the Kata 3N1-30 bag that somewhat obscures some of the equipment as the flap doesn't fully open flat out
  • Can store a 16" laptop inside a padded sleeve and has a separate front pocket to store an iPad Pro.

 

It's very comfortable to carry the bag even with full load, especially once you attach the chest and waist strap.

You can see more pictures of it here.


Z Tele Zoom

March 21, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

I decided to buy the Nikkor 70-180 f2.8 Z tele zoom lens that cost me RM 5,755, so now I have the entire focal length covered: -

  1. Nikkor 14-30 f4 Z
  2. Nikkor 24-70 f4 Z
  3. Nikkor 70-180 f2.8 Z
  4. Tamron 150-500 f5-6.7 Z

 

Nikon Zf with Nikkor 70-180 f2.8 ZNikon Zf with Nikkor 70-180 f2.8 ZRM 5,755.

Lorong Utara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

You can see a few test shots I took, all SOOC, over here.


Internet Speed Boost

February 09, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

Telekom Malaysia (TM) came over today to do a free upgrade to the existing modem and router and replaced them with a new single device modem-router and now my Internet speed has been improved from a download of 800Mbps to 1Gbps and an upload of 200Mbps to 500Mbps!

 

TM Unifi Speed Test after UpgradeTM Unifi Speed Test after Upgrade

Here is the new modem-router device: -

TM Unifi Modem-Router 1Gbps UpgradeTM Unifi Modem-Router 1Gbps UpgradeLorong Utara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Everything tested wonderfully. Thank you TM 😀

 

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