When it comes to shopping for tech, we think of retail brands like Hachi.Tech (Challenger), Courts, Best Denki, Harvey Norman, Gain City, Audio House, or online platforms like Amazon, Lazada, Shopee. These stores usually sell more commonly known brands and products. If you are looking for specially curated tech products, the above sites might not offer any unique selections. You would have to seek out specialised retail or online shops that sells them. For instance, “We The People” specialises in retailing crowdfunded products which are not available through normal distribution channels due to their limited quantity.
In recent months, I was introduced to this Singapore company called District. Launched in 2019, District is dedicated to bring the most innovative and thoughtfully designed products from around the world. This year, they decide to focus on technology products, because tech has some of the biggest impacts on our lives. Synced by District is a modern collective of tech innovation, bringing international tech creators closer to home. The online store currently carries brands like Cotodama, Expressive E, Meural, Nanoleaf, Neo, Ojoy, Sphero, Sum, Theragun, Vincross, and more. All products can be paid by Google GPay, credit card, or 3-month 0% interest-free installments with hoolah.
As a tech enthusiast, I am rather intrigued by the products available there. For some products, I have seen them sold at other shops, while a few are pretty unique and probably exclusive. District sent me a couple of products to review and I’ll share my experience in separate posts.
Neo Smartpen M1+
https://synced.sg/collections/all/products/neo-smartpen-m1-plus
The Smartpen M1+ is for people who hates writing on tablets but understands the benefits of digitising their notes. Everything you write on the Neo notebooks magically appears on the app on your phone or computer. It even knows the page number and the exact location of the notes on the page.
The Neo Smartpen is by NeoLabs, which is a company based in South Korea and the US. The Neo Smartpen M1+ is a handy tool for students, professionals, and artists that prefer analog writing, which helps them digitalise their handwriting to save their notes, drawings, and doodles. These digitised notes can then be transcribed and translated, searched and edited digitally, and then sent out as a pdf copy. It also provides a great store of notes that will be accessible 24/7. The pen is compatible with a suite of platforms that includes iOS, Android, Microsoft, Adobe, and even Evernote. Exclusive review coming soon on this site.
S$199 with Professional Black Notepad
Sum DIAL
https://synced.sg/collections/all/products/sum-dial
Yes, this might seem like an overpriced wireless charging pad, but once I unboxed and tried it, I felt that it is worth every penny, if you are into designer stuff.
Sum is a company based in the US which seeks to redefine the way people go about their everyday lives, starting with how we power the things most important to us – our phones. They built the Sum DIAL with features to functionally charge our phones differently. Firstly, they have an Infinite Rotation System that allows you to change the way you charge your phones from a flat or angled surface. The angled surface is measured accurately at 29 degrees to allow ease in unlocking the phone with facial recognition. Next, the surfaces of the charger deploys an extremely secure and strong proprietary silicone-rubber composite to allow the charger to stay in position and to also grip onto your phone nicely. Exclusive review by Music Photo Life is published here.
S$115
COTODAMA Lyric Speaker Canvas
https://synced.sg/collections/all/products/cotodama-lyric-speaker-canvas
Fancy a speaker that displays lyrics and graphics in sync with the music? I haven’t seen it in action, but I think this would make an amazing conversation piece at your meticulously-decorated home. Let the video below do the talking:
Designed in Tokyo, the COTODAMA Lyric Speaker Canvas is a next-generation speaker that also functions as an exquisite home decor piece. As the name goes, the speaker displays lyrics as songs are being played. Jin Saito, the creator of the speaker, wanted people to enjoy music in a totally different way and sought to imbue a visual experience into everyday speakers to create a masterpiece. Works with Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Chromecast.
S$2,599
OJOY Kids Smart Watch Phone
https://synced.sg/products/ojoy-a1-kids-smart-watch-phone
Smart watch designed for kids are nothing new. In fact, I bought one in 2015 and got my child to wear to school for a good few years. This OJOY Kids model is certainly more advanced and more reliable. Supports 4G network, with GPS, WiFi, IP68 water rating, 2MP camera. If you can spend $200 on your own smartwatch, this is a small sum for a peace of mind.
S$189
Theragun PRO
https://synced.sg/collections/all/products/theragun-pro
I’ve tried this product a few months back, and it’s a really powerful massager not meant for “recreational” use like those you buy from your favourite health brand (like OSIM). This delivers the impact for deep tissue percussive therapy to relieve muscle tension, accelerate warm-up and recovery, enhance performance, provide pain relief. Designed for professionals-grade treatment, it comes with companion app to guide you in the various therapy treatment. The Theragun PRO is unique because it is easy to hold and the arm can be adjusted in various angles so that you can easily reach most places of your body.
S$899
Shop Location
District has a physical store at Plaza Singapore #03-65 (NomadX) to offer hands-on experience to some of the products sold on their website.
Comment below if you know of any online shop that sells interesting consumer lifestyle tech products in Singapore.