iPhone – MacRyu – The Worst Mac Blog in Singapore, and Some Say the World

Last Minute Apple Christmas Presents for your Loved Ones (Singapore 2020 Version)

January 25, 2021December 22, 2020 by Ryu

Itâ€™s less than three days from Christmas! Have you already prepared presents for your loved ones? Or have you totally forgotten that 2020 is near its end?

If your loved one/s are big Apple or iPhones fans, and you have already made up your mind to gift them an Apple this Thursday night or Friday, you will need to act fast.

It is unlikely that deliveries will make it in time, so your best bet is buying from the three Apple Stores locally. However, due to COVID-19 you can no longer just walk into any Apple Store without an appointment, so the way to go is to purchase online and do an in-store pickup.

For your wife/girlfriend/secret girlfriends who needs a phone upgrade

The iPhone 12 mini or the iPhone 12 Pro Max

I have previously detailed why I think these two models are the ones to check out. Even as reports are coming in that initial sales of the 12 mini are lackluster, you will likely know what size of phone your loved one needs. The 12 mini is small and cute, and light on your wallet. The 12 Pro Max, the favorite for Singaporeans who can never get enough of the best things, is an investment but one that is worthy for your loved one.

Stock Status:
The iPhone 12 and 12 mini are in stock in almost every capacity in each of the three Apple Stores.

The 12 Pro, however, are mostly out of stock with the exception of the 512GB models. The 256 models are in stock only at Apple Orchard.

The 12 Pro Max is fully in stock in every color and capacity with the exception of 128GB Silver being unavailable at Apple MBS.

Girlfriend or kid with an old laptop

M1 MacBook Air

Now, if your kid or girlfriend has a old-as-hell laptop, it is likely time to get them the best laptop the computing industry has ever witnessed in three decades – the M1 MacBook Air.

Stock Status:
The space grey models are completely out of stock, with only sporadic availability for the gold and silver models. I personally prefer the gold, but you will know if the recipient is not a gold kind of person if you are spending this kind of money on time. Do act fast if you are intending to buy the MacBook Air. Like right now.

Friend, Fling or you are just broke

AirPods or Beats (selected models)

If you are buying something for someone you just met, or you are simply too broke to afford anything more, the Apple and Beatsâ€™ range of earphones are a good idea. However, you can almost always get them at a cheaper price elsewhere, so buying directly from Apple may not be the best idea. Maybe a promise that they will get their present when it arrives in Singapore will suffice for Christmas Eve.

These are the ones to go for: AirPods, AirPods Pro, Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro and the Beats Flex. The Beats Flex you can buy from Apple since they are unlikely to be cheaper elsewhere for now. For the Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro, take note that they may not fit every ear.

Loved one who does not need a new computer

iPad Air

If your loved one seldom uses the computer at home, or already has a new-ish computer, the new iPad Air may be your answer. However, due to their popularity, you are unlikely to find many models in stock locally.

Stock Status:
Only the Sky Blue 64GB wifi models are in stock at one or two of the Apple Stores (Jewel and MBS), and Rose Gold 256GB wifi at MBS. Maybe hitting up resellers is a better choice if you want an iPad Air by Friday.

For almost everyone

The Apple Watch

Finally, i think the Apple product that is best suited as a Christmas Present is the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch is one of the Apple items that may not be in every iPhone userâ€™s hands yet, maybe because they do not want to fork out the cash to test something they have no experience with, or they simply do not have the habit of wearing watches for them to fork out the extra cash. Gifting the Apple Watch, will open these peopleâ€™s minds to the idea of having an accessory that does things that they do not expect their iPhones to do, or even features that they think they needed before.

The Apple Watch spans such a huge range of prices that they literally fit everyoneâ€™s budget. You can gift a kid an affordable Series 3, or gift your wife an expensive Hermes Apple Watch. The Edition and Stainless Steel models are practically jewellery. The SE is a good gift for your parents to track their health, and the Series 6 is good for anyone who wants to be at the forefront of Apple tech. Unless the recipient is a watch snob, or someone who always have scratched watches on their wrists, I do not know any iPhone user who will be unhappy to receive one.

Stock Status:
Take note, that the Hermes are hard to find in stock, especially with the wide range of band options. The Apple Watch Edition Titanium models are much easier to find, even though not every band is available everywhere.

All the Series 6 and SE aluminium and stainless steel models are in stock at all stores (not every band is), including the Red and Blue models.

Tip 1: If you are set on buying a Space Grey or Silver Aluminum model, buy the Nike+ ones. They cost exactly the same but have Nike+ model specific watch faces that you cannot get with the normal models. The only catch is that you have to choose from the available Nike+ bands to pair with the watch.

Tip 2: Always use the Apple Watch Studio to find your favourite watch and band pairing instead of just selecting one of the default Apple pairings on their site.

Tip 3: Unless you are absolutely sure of the recipientâ€™s wrist size (even the Apple tool can get it wrong), do not order the Apple Watch with any of the Solo loops. It will be a pain in the arse to get it exchanged as many sizes and colours are in and out of stock all the time. Get the Sport Band or the Sport Loop, or any of the leather options if you want something high class.

What are you waiting for? There is no time to lose. Order on Apple.com today and collect tomorrow.

Apple introduces iPhone 12 Studio

November 9, 2020 by Ryu

Seriously?

This is created in the style of the Apple Watch Studio, where you can “build” your perfect Apple Watch case and band combination, and then purchase it straight from Apple.

What is different here is that while the Apple Watch Studio is necessary if you do not want the default case and band combos Apple provides on its Watch page, every option in the iPhone 12 Studio, with the exception of the iPhone 12 itself, is an add-on or an optional purchase. You need to choose an Apple Watch band to go along with your Watch purchase, as they are sold as a bundle. But you do not have to buy Apple’s first party cases, and definitely not Apple’s MagSafe wallet, which is widely ridiculed since its introduction.

Is the iPhone 12 Studio necessary? Definitely not. But rather than purchasing your chosen combination of iPhone 12+case+MagSafe Wallet outright, the options to export your ideal combination to someone else may be the hint they need from you to get you your early Christmas present.

Try it out on your iPhone now.

5G in Singapore with the iPhone 12 / Pro / mini / Max

October 31, 2020 by Ryu

Now that you have decided which iPhone 12 you will purchase (or have already purchased one), the next thing that you are likely concerned about is the network service, for one of the headlining features of the iPhone 12 series is after all, 5G.

Sub-6GHz 5G in Singapore

All current iPhone 12 models that are not produced for the American market do not support mmWave, only sub–6GHz. In Singapore, the three main telcos, Singtel, M1 and Starhub (M1 and Starhub bidded as a joint entity) have won the two licenses available to build the nationwide 3.6GHz 5G network, and so it is likely that anyone looking for 5G services locally right now should expect that only the Big Three will offer it, for now at least.

If your main network is a MVNO (like mine is), please forget about 5G for the time being.

5G coverage, according to M1, Starhub and Singtel (accurate on 31st Oct 2020)

Here is M1’s coverage map.

Here is Starhub’s coverage map.

It covers the following locations;

And finally, here is Singtel’s coverage map.

Areas in grey will only be live by March 2021

How much does 5G cost in Singapore?

Both Starhub and Singtel appears to only allow you access to 5G if you sign up for one of their postpaid plans that include 5G specifically, with all the shackles of traditional mobile plans.

M1 is the only telco locally that seem to allow you to purchase 5G as a “booster pack” to their SIM-only plans with pricing structures similar to those of the local MVNOs.

Will you be going 5G? Or will you wait until the technology matures?

Which iPhone 12 to Buy? Top Features to Consider and Price Differences (in Singapore Dollars)

October 30, 2020 by Ryu

Thanks to 2020 and the weird release schedules of the various iPhone 12 models this year, many potential buyers are likely still undecided on which iPhone 12 version to buy. With preorders for the two most interesting models (iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max) coming up in exactly one week’s time from the time of this posting, have you decided which iPhone 12 you want? Are you confused by the number of models this year and the difference in features between each model? Fret not, I have prepared a two-step solution to your first world problems.

1. Select the color of your iPhone 12 series

All available colors of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

All available colors of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max (Pardon the lighting).

2. Select the storage capacity of your iPhone 12 series

I have prepared two sets of data, one for the 128GB models and one for the 256GB models (512GB models are $330 more). Look at the respective charts for the features of each model and their price differences. 64GB is not listed because it is frankly speaking, too little storage. As the file sizes of iOS and apps grow in the future, you will likely regret saving that little bit of money now. Besides, if your budget can only afford you the 64GB models, you do not need the following information in the first place.

All prices are in Singapore Dollars (SGD).

The 128GB Models

Model	Top Features	Body	128GB $(SGD)
iPhone 12 mini (5.4-inch display)	Mini size Pocketable Cute	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1219
iPhone 12 (6.1-inch display)	Standard Model Same accessories as 12 Pro	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1369 (+$150)
iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Telephoto lens(2X)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1649 (+$280)
iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Biggest screen Longer Telephoto(2.5x) Better Main Sensor	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1799 (+$150)

The 256GB Models

Model	Top Features	Body	256GB $(SGD)
iPhone 12 mini (5.4-inch display)	Mini size Pocketable Cute	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1389
iPhone 12 (6.1-inch display)	Standard Model Same accessories as 12 Pro	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1539 (+$150)
iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Telephoto lens(2X) 512GB Option(+$330)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1819 (+$280)
iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Biggest screen Longer Telephoto(2.5x) Better Main Sensor 512GB Option(+$330)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1969 (+$150)

So, which iPhone 12 will you buy?

First Impressions of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and Also the iPad Air

October 26, 2020 by Ryu

I did not order one of the 6.1 inch iPhone 12s, simply because I am way more interested in either the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. So no physical phone for me to play for now.

How does one get to see the actual phones in an Apple Store in these pandemic days? Why, an Apple Shopping Session of course.

I booked one for Saturday at the nearest Apple Store to me, Apple Jewel Changi Airport.

After a good dinner, some queuing and the usual check-in process, I was accomplished by an elderly female staff member, who was friendly and tried her best to accomolate my wishes to see the various items. She was unfortunately probably the most clueless staff that I have ever met in a local Apple Store, often making mistakes about very basic terms and features and unable to answer any of my questions. I always wonder what standard makes the cut for being an Apple Staff, I guess being friendly and unthreatening is all that is required these days.

The Store was not too crowded when I arrived around 5pm (my appointment was at 7:30pm), but by the time my appointment rolled by there was a long queue just to get in. The Store was pretty crowded when I got served. The female Staff led me to a table where there were only four iPhone 12/Pros, as the table with all the current models was occupied. After some attempt by her to give me a basic sales talk, I got to some serious scrutinizing.

The first thing that struck me was the screen. The OLED screen on the 12/Pro look really crisp and nice, even though it was supposed to be on the same level as that of my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Maybe I am not just used to seeing the OLED screens without any glass screen protectors in between, but they were really nice. The new body shape definitely feels a lot nicer in the hand, and MagSafe for iPhone is COOOLLLL. Decided to go MagSafe for my eventual iPhone 12 charging right there and then.

The most important aspect of the iPhone 12/Pros is of course, the colours.

This year’s lineup of colors for the non-Pro models are pretty lame, with a mint and pale green and a salmon red colour that is closer to orange than to red. The white model also looks like it has a slight champagne tone in the Apple Store lighting. While I will have definitely preferred a more vibrant blue, there is no mistaking that the iPhone 12 Blue is the best colour in the whole line-up, both non-Pro and Pro phones. The Black is nice too. Anyone going for a non-Pro iPhone 12 should go for either the Blue or the Black, the other colours really do not cut it.

Pro-wise, all the colours are pretty dull and average, even compared to last year. Apple is pushing Pacific Blue as the colour to buy, but I have to say that it is probably even more boring than Midnight Green last year. Graphite is looking decent and safe, and Gold is for the rich Asians/wannabes. Buy Silver if you want to polish the stainless steel frame after every scratch. If you have to get a iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max, maybe buy the Pacific Blue or Graphite. But actually they are all decently average, so any colour is fine. The expensive iPhones never had the best colours anyway.

Now you know that with the Apple Store’s lighting it was next to impossible to test the capablities of the iPhone 12’s cameras, but on first looks they do not seem too different from the cameras of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pros. The biggest upgrade has to be the availablity of Night Mode in all the cameras, instead of just the wide cameras in the 11 series. Again, cannot be test in store. You just have to take Apple’s word for it that they are better this year.

Oh, and the Apple Silicon cases are totally a must-buy this year. For the first time since Apple made iPhone cases (non-battery ones) they have a range of cases that cover the bottom of the iPhone. Pair that with the MagSafe capability makes the Silicon Case a must buy this time round.

Lastly, I took a look at new iPad Air colours before leaving. Sky Blue is so nice on the Air. Why do we not have that colour on the iPhones? Apple (or Alan Dye) is an arse.

Why I no longer have much to write about Apple

August 12, 2019 by Ryu

These days Apple is hitting the news cycle for everything it dabbles in, from watches to a tv subscription service, but I largely stopped writing about Apple because I no long find much to write about.

Yes I can write rumors about the upcoming iPhones, but do you really need to hear them from me? This year’s iPhones are going to be largely the same as last year’s, with some additional feature here or there. Honestly, the whole phone market is just full of iPhones and iPhone clones, and we have reached the point where nothing new can be truly new. Yes, folding phones (with foldable screens) are not “new”, they are an evolution of the folding “productivity” phones of the early 2000s, which never really caught on. I buy iPhone and will continue to buy iPhone because the competition is both shitty and atrocious, and iOS is great, despite its flaws.

But I digress. I find nothing to write about Apple these days because Apple these days is more like Sony twenty years ago, or even Microsoft during their MSN days. There is so much going on because so many people are doing so many things separately at the company, and you can no longer tell what Apple’s “plan” because everything is so diverse. Hell I bet even Tim Cook don’t have a hold on everything that is happening at the company.

Yes I can write about flaws like the recent keyboards with butterfly switches, or highs like iPadOS, but you know, the MacBook Pros always go through one design generation of being slightly shitty, then the next generation being almost flawless, then to another generation of being slightly shitty again, eg. titanium G4 (slightly shitty), aluminum G4/MBP (almost perfect), first unibody MBPs (slightly shitty), Retina MBP (almost perfect) and now we are at the TB3 MBPs (slightly shitty) generation again. So it will likely get better.

iPadOS wise, if you are a serious follower of Apple throughout even just the last decade, it will have been easy to spot how Apple has always been slowly building up iOS on the iPad to this stage, especially since five years ago. The problem these days are people like MKBHD and other well-known youtubers without an actual history of following Apple sprouting fallacies like “Apple is finally giving us this and that..” when really, it was in the works all along. I mean, the guy makes good-looking videos, but that does not mean he is John Siracusa.

Oh you want to talk about Jony Ive leaving? The guy’s a massive asshole. After Steve died he used all his influence to get rid of Scott Forstall and his people, with the excuse of “unifying software and hardware design under the same person”. After Forstall was fired, Ive then reassigned software design and hardware design to two different men, splitting the responsibilities up again. Getting rid of Forstall and his men drove a stake into iOS’s stability that it really never recovered until iOS 12 recently. So yeah, Ive’s gone, so what. I considered him to be capable enough to be in the running to succeed Tim Cook eventually, but apparently he is not interested. So out he goes.

I have no insight on Apple Card, Apple TV+, Apple Music (I still think Eddy Cue’s a bozo) and I generally disagree with everything Apple is doing on the subscription front. But that is a story for another day. Or maybe one I will never write.

Apple’s Accessories Lineup Autumn 2017

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 by Ryu

Ever since a few years ago, Apple has been putting massive efforts into their accessories, realizing that accessories are a massive cash cow.
While their iPhone/iPad cases/covers might not offer the best protection, they are definitely some of the most well-made products on the market.

While the iPhone X stole the thunder of the September event, there is also a lot of excitement from Apple Watch owners, especially those who collect Appleâ€™s own first-party watch bands, for this seasonâ€™s watch band line up look to one of the more interesting ones in recent memory.

I paid a visit to Apple Orchard last week, hoping to check out the Ultra Violet accessories in person and my, they did not disappoint. Appleâ€™s accessories have had a tendency to be offered in muted or less exciting colors, but Ultra Violet was like, â€œWOWâ€.

The Apple Silicon cases for the iPhone 7/8 Plus were especially tempting as they offer a lot of Ultra Violet â€œWOWâ€ness for less money than the Apple Watch bands ($58 vs $78).

One thing I did not expect was how nice Blue Cobalt actually looked. The color did not look interesting at all on Appleâ€™s site, but in person (and the right lighting) it definitely looks like one of the best blues Appleâ€™s ever offered for their accessories.

Besides the Sports bands, Apple also introduced the Sports Loop into the Apple Watch band lineup. For old timers who remember the very first Casio Baby Gs decades ago, these offered probably the same style/feel. And while they are definitely not as bright or striking like some of the Sport Band colors, they are really comfortable.

The question ultimately is, how many watch bands does one need?

I also managed to check out the two new colors that the Beats X is now offered in (muted silver and muted gold), and while they looked interesting, I have to say I much preferred my blue pair. The old four colors which are now discontinued are being heavily discounted on Amazon and other online outlets from time to time, so it will be a great time to snatch a pair if you do not have one yet!

Happy Birthday iPhone

July 7, 2017 by Ryu

The iPhone.

It was the one device which the world needed.

It was the one device that changed the world.

Everything we do in our daily lives today will not have been possible without the introduction of the iPhone in 2017;

Taking uber,

Running a business from the palm of your hands,

Full scale, WIDESPREAD, portable video conferencing on the scale of everyone,

Checking the time it will take for the next bus to arrive at the bus stop,

Complaining about the next Singapore train breakdown on all of social media,

and much, much, more.

Hell, REAL social media won’t have been possible without the iPhone.

Here’s to ten great years of the iPhone. And to the next hundred.

Happy 10th Birthday, iPhone

January 9, 2017 by Ryu

I still remember the day I was sitting in my room, at my desk, watching the keynote and calculating how long would I have to save in order to afford the phone should it come to Singapore eventually (roughly 7 months, I was a student then).

Many months later when it seemed like the iPhone will not be coming to Singapore anytime soon I started exploring the possibilities of buying an iPod Touch instead, for it was running “iPhone OS” albeit with several restrictions like the inability to edit calendars on the iPod (they reversed that stupid decision very soon after the iPod keynote).

Then I finally saw it in person.

My friend Roger, had one and I remembered meeting him just to have a look at the phone. There I was, sitting outside McDonald’s at Bugis Junction, looking at this unbelievable device – supposingly a phone, but unlike any phone I knew then. It has such a bright display that it looked out of this world, for until then there was no such display in the world. The reaction to touch was instantaneous, and NOTHING with a touchscreen up till that point was as responsive as the iPhone’s display was.

It was, to put it simply, MAGIC.

I would eventually come upon a chance several months later to own one of the original US sets, thanks to a friend’s aunt who worked in an airline and flew to the US often back then.

Even though it now has a dent at one of its corner, and iOS 3.1.3 is as slow as hell on its hardware, it still sits proudly on my shelf in its dock(that came in the box!).

The original iPhone, is still my favorite iPhone.

Thank you Steve, and thank you Apple, for this wonderful gift to the world.

Sent from my iPhone

Singtel Prices for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c in Singapore!

September 18, 2013September 17, 2013 by Ryu

Click on the image to view it in full size.

This year’s prices are quite a bit higher, due to the fluctuation in exchange rates.

It is however, interesting to note that the iPhone 5c is only retailing at $318 at the lite plan (the plan most Singaporeans will pick), while the iPhone 5s is retailing at $538 at the same plan, with the 5c at a full $220 cheaper.

Looks like the subsidies are higher for the 5c, and those buying on contract should do well to consider the 5c instead.

While I am most probably buying a 5s because I am already carrying a 5, truth be told, I will much rather buy a blue 5c this Friday. It’s just a bit funny to consider the phone with the same specs when you are supposed to be upgrading.

Those without the 5 though, I cannot stress this enough – the iPhone 5c is a superb phone for the price. Don’t believe me? Just touch the real thing this Friday. You won’t be disappointed.

There are units reaching Mac retail stores (NuBox, epiCentre) TODAY, 18th September 2013. While I am not sure if there will be display units out today, if you are nearby one it makes sense to go in and ask if you can try out the 5c.