Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s the time for friends, family, parties and most importantly, giving.
Whether you take the definition to mean giving to others or yourself, it’s the time for rewarding both your loved ones and yourself for a year well spent, for accomplishments and lessons learnt, and due to its timing, in anticipation for the new year.
At Vulcan Post, we’re totally into consumer tech, and we’ve got a list of recommended gadgets for every stereotype in your life!
For The Snapchat Addict
We all know that one friend who’s snapchat-ing every single moment of their lives. From the exciting to the mundane, going through their snaps is nonetheless entertaining, albeit you feeling like a stalker watching their every move.
However, there’s also the frustration that comes with snaps which are simply too pixelated in comparison to those taken by others with better phone cameras. This is especially so with night-time snaps, or those taken in areas with dim lighting.
For that, we’ll recommend a smartphone with a camera that aces in both day and night situations.
The Apple iPhone 7 is an obvious choice, with the Plus version being the first smartphone to have dual cameras, which offers spectacular results even with a 2x zoom. The front-facing camera has also upgraded to 7 megapixels, and offers “auto image stabilisation” – perfect for front shots and selfies/wefies.
For those who aren’t Apple fans, the Google Pixel has been garnering much attention. Albeit looking pretty similar to the iPhone, the Pixel can hold its own in the battle of smartphones with an impressive camera. With a DxO Mark rating of 89, the Pixel’s camera is the best rated among its smartphone counterparts.
Samsung having one of their worst years yet, with exploding Note 7s and washing machines, so Google’s Pixel is proving to be a worthy competitor that could very well win the Android market.
That said, Snapchat is well-known to have less-than-perfect image quality due to the compression of images and videos for the sake of storage space (common practice for social media platforms), so don’t expect that future snaps are comparable to that on your camera roll.
The Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus retails from $1,048 and $1,248 at the Apple store respectively, and the Google Pixel and Pixel XL retails from $1,100 and $1,359 on Lazada.
For The Instagram Photographer
From selfies to food porn, Instagram accounts are a reflection of one’s personality, and some take that commitment to an even higher level by using dedicated cameras instead of their smartphones.
Admittedly, not everyone can afford an expensive DSLR in their bid to curate their Instagram feed to their tastes, but there are more than decent consumer-level digital cameras out there for your perfect #OOTD or travel shots.
The Sony A6000 is a great option for those who want a bang for their buck.
We’re not the camera experts here, but given that the A6000 is a new iteration of the NEX-6 which “managed to stay the course for a good four years […] given the brief shelf-life of new models nowadays” the camera is probably a force to be reckoned with. The camera also boasts a super quick auto-focus – perfect for those motion shots.
The camera also has “APS-C size sensor offers 1.6 times the area of 4/3 sensors, and 13 times that of the 1/2.3 sensors of typical compact digital cameras”. For a layman, this basically translates to even clearer, and more detailed images that you won’t feel ashamed zooming in to.
Just like many cameras these days, the A6000 also has wifi capabilities, so you can quickly upload that stunning shot you took to your Instagram account (or wherever you deem fit) immediately.
For a demonstration of its capabilities, we recommend you to read this post by a local mum blogger, who showcases how the camera fits in perfectly with her lifestyle and manages to keep up with her kids’ activeness.
The Sony A6000 is available on Lazada at $949.
For The Blogger/Workaholic On-The-Go
Most of us fall into either category these days.
Whether you identify as a blogger who has brands knocking on your metaphorical door, asking you to do a review on them, or a workaholic who finds inspiration at Starbucks, libraries and cafes, the appeal of a light, yet powerful laptop is universal.
Gone are the days that we are okay with monsters of laptops that we lug around to places where we find inspiration. These days, slim is sexy (at least, for gadgets), and when power isn’t compromised for that, we win.
While Apple does have a newly-released, much-slimmer Apple MacBook Pro, there are many who prefer the Windows operating system, and find the Mac OS waaaaay too constricting. For them, the sleek HP Spectre might just be the answer.
Described to be just as thick as “a fluffy pancake” by TechRadar, it weighs just around 1.1kg. There is also much attention paid to its appearance, and living up to its name, is hauntingly beautiful.
Not just a pretty face, the ultrabook also boasts Bang & Olufsen speakers, full HD IPS display, three USB type-c ports and 9 hours battery life – perfect for those work marathons without a power plug!
The HP Spectre is available for $2,399 on Hachi Tech.
For The Gamer
There’s a popular saying that goes “you can take the games from the gamer, but you can’t take the gamer from the games”…or something like that.
Either way, gamers come in all affiliations, ages and backgrounds, and the genres and platforms one can choose to play with, and on, is endless.
However, there is a mutual agreement that one platform tends to top wishlist charts – the PlayStation. Many grew up with the platform, and there’s a sense of nostalgia that still lingers with the name.
The PlayStation 4 Pro is an upcoming iteration of the PlayStation 4, and promises “support for 4K HDR gaming”, and to exceed the processing power and speed of the latter.
According to TrustedReviews, gamers holding recent PS4 games with “Pro” mode support would be able to enjoy “either improved resolution and/or increased texture and effects quality” (even if you don’t have a 4K TV) – which results in a more immersive experience.
For those of you interested in VR, the Pro would be a great partner to the PlayStation VR.
The PS4 Pro retails for $599, but word is that it is currently sold out. Do wait for new stock, but if you can’t, Amazon carries it for US$399.
For The Thrill-Seeker
Drones in Singapore aren’t as common as they are in other countries like the US, but there’s no doubt that they are quickly gaining popularity among enthusiasts and those who are curious about them.
There are also an increasing number of content creators – from videographers to photographers who rely on camera-mounted drones to capture shots that simply cannot be accomplished with ladders or really long arms.
Laws regarding drones in Singapore are tricky, though, and while recreational drones usually used by hobbyists do not need to register for a permit under the law, those used for photography projects, surveying, advertising, or the discharge of any substance would require a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). Flying a drone without a permit in a security-sensitive areas would also result in “either a maximum fine of $20,000, a year’s jail, or both”.
Regardless, this has not stopped many in becoming interested in the possibilities that come with drones, and for the new enthusiast, the DJI Mavic Pro is an option for those who want to start, but don’t want anything too shabby.
The drone comes with autonomous navigation features, which makes piloting extremely easy – especially for beginners. Its battery has also been tested to last an impressive 27 minutes, and gives its users super-sharp 4k shots.
The DJI Mavic Pro is available on the Apple store, starting from $1,429 with taxes.
But Wait…How Do I Afford All Of This?
It’s an understandable question, given that the average of these items are around $1,000. Well, have you ever thought about paying them off via instalments?
“No! Instalment plans are just ways that merchants con our money via sky-high interest,” I hear you cry.
Honestly, that concern is undoubtedly real, but what if there’s a way that you can pay via instalments without any interest charged?
With OCBC’s Cashflo Credit Card, Singapore’s only auto-instalment card that automatically split your payments into monthly instalments, you can get to divide that large sum to conquer it.
What’s more, you can even earn up to 1% rebate!
For payments below $1,000, the amount would be split into a 3-month instalment payment plan, while for those above that value, the amount would be split into a 6-month plan.
To make things simple, here’s a convenient infographic:
Thus, with the payments being spread into several months, the woes that come after a shopping spree are definitely alleviated.
The season of giving is upon us, so go forth and reward yourself and your loved ones!
This article was written in collaboration with OCBC. For more information on the payment programme, refer to OCBC’s Cashflo Credit Card site.