Mia's Review: LG Pocket Photo 2 (LG POPO PD239)

Just like countless of people (girls, especially?) out there, I've always have this obssession with instant camera but never ever get my hands on one because.... oh well, just because! 

Recently after Airmeli asked for people to join her in getting Fujifilm Instax Share, I've decided to do some mini research on such instant photo printer that can be connected and printed via smartphone using bluetooth or NFC connection.

And viola! Here's what I've laid my hands on.

LG Pocket Photo 2, in pink! They do carry this Hello Kitty limited edition, but I'm not a fan... So, yup. Pink is great. 

Although much pricer as compared to a basic instax camera, these instant photo printer allows you to choose which photo to print, and also allows you to edit your photos however you like them to turn out, before you print them out in hardcopy. Awesome, isn't it? 

Want to know how much of an upgrade this 2014 version of LG Pocket Photo 2 is compared to its predecessor? 

First up, the zink photo paper capacity in the printer is upgraded from 15 pieces to 30 pieces per load. It also has faster charging time of just 1 hour to a full charge. Most important of all, the photo quality is now of dpi 313 x 600, instead of just 313 x 400 in the older version. This version is also smaller at 76 x 126 x 20mm and weighing just 221g! It's smaller (but heavier) than my Samsung Note 2! Lastly, the latest version supports both Android and iPhone unlike the older version(s), which has separated machine model for different operating systems. 

Just showing how small the printer is. It's really just palm sized, very handy. You can easily just pop this into your bag and print pretty selfies and other photos on the go. 

The package came along with the charger (if you actually own a Samsung Note 2, you can use back the same charger), a technical manual in Korean, and a packet of 5 pcs Zink Photo Paper. No worries if you don't understand the manual, getting this printer to work is totally idiot-proof you do not need a manual in the first place. :)

Here's the only English instruction I've found in the entire box, teaching me which side up the zink paper should be placed in the printer. 

 After that, head over to the playstore (or apple store for iPhone users) and download the LG Pocket Photo app. From here, we can edit the photos by adding frames & memo, choosing filters and doing basic photo editing like tweaking the brightness and contrast. 

 

Showcasing some of the frames you can find in the app itself. :) 

After you're done with all the editing, just tap the printer icon and you will be prompted to complete the transmission and then simply wait for the photo to be printed! I didn't time the printing, but it took a couple seconds. 

Giving you an idea of how the photo will look like. Do not expect the colour pay off to be as fabulous like the photo you develop from your dslr camera. Like other inkless, instant photo printer, the colour of your photo will be dimmer and slightly faded. 

I've also noticed the same problem of the diagonally opposite corners of the printed photos curling upwards to give the piece of photo an unwanted (imo) curvature, which is pretty frustrating for me. I'm pretty sure the paper was loaded perfectly flat and straight. It came out perfectly flat and straight in printing as well. But after a few minutes, both the photos I've printed curled up in the same manner at the diagonally opposite corners.

It's pretty much an eyesore to me, for I will prefer to pin these photos up on my photo cork board, and these curvature will just make the entire board looks.... unsightly. :( 

I can't be sure if it's a 'common defect' of all zink paper, or is it really just a defect with this particular pack of paper I've loaded in. Fellow LG POPO users, do share your comments down below if you're facing the same issue of the curvature, or not. :)

LG Pocket Photo 2 is available on qoo10.com.sg

Till then,

Mia

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Mia's Review: Batter Fluffy Flaps (BFF)

A few weeks ago, I was totally attracted by this (weather-hit dirty) cute little thing here.

This round 'fluffy' lamb standing right outside an equally cute and cozy looking cafe must have been pearly white when it first got to where it's now.

Even their menu is oozing cuteness! And yes, the 'flaps' here are actually pancakes! 

 The interior is done up in a cute and cozy style, with their mascot lamb on the wall whereby you can actually take snapshots with your friends.

Erm, no the green giraffe is not their table decor. HA HA HA! 

My drink of the day was (one of) my usual favourites named BFF style- BFF signature Caramel Date (Caramel Machiato) - $5.20
Erm, was really disappointed with the caramel sauce 'latte art' they did, even mc cafe did it better. Taste wise, is decent. Not bad, but nothing worth talking much about. For a coffee addict like me, I'll very much prefer the coffee to be even stronger.

Their pancakes comes in 4 main categories.
1. Simple & Make your own
2. Savoury
3. Sweet
4. Kid's Menu

 My mains for the day: Chicken Kebab Blab (Savoury) - $12.90

The chicken kebab wasn't too bad. The chicken was well marinated and still relatively tender, though not juicy, was rather pleasing on my taste buds. The pancakes were light and fluffy, but a bit on the dry side. However, I wasn't too impressed with the dish, for the kebab and pancakes does not mix well nor compliment each other at all. If you've read my review on Wafflelicious, you'll know that they've done savoury waffles pretty well. But not for BFF's case with this Chicken Kebab Blab. 

Tasty kebab and decent pancakes, served with greens topped up with mini eggs (how cute is that). But sadly, they do not compliment each other at all. I felt like I was eating 2 separate dishes, pancakes and chicken kebabs. Not Chicken Kebab Blab. 

Strawberry Cheesecake Flakes - $12.90

These 2 pancakes were served with their house-made cream cheese, digestive biscuit crumbs, strawberries, strawberry ice cream and sauce. 

If you're a cream cheese and strawberry fan, this will be a much better choice as compared to the savoury pancakes. I probably won't say it's fantastically good, but it is an enjoyable serving of sweet pancakes. However, the generosity of digestive crumbs deemed this dish a messy eat.

Teddy Beary - $6.50

One look and you'll know this is off their kid's menu. It's really just a basic pancake, served in cuteness with butter and a few berries, for little kiddos.

BFF is located at 89 East Coast Road. 

For more information, visit their website HERE

Till then,

Mia

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Chic Cottage Scam

Really really REALLY got to rant here, and it's regarding this $30 grab bag with Chic Cottage I've bought in August last year. A very backdated complaint? Nope, in fact I've just received their replacement package last night! 

First up, let's start with my initial order with my options listed very clearly to them.

Top UK 8

Bottom UK 10/12

Request for Skorts, long tees, suitable for office wear.

NO TOPS BEARING MIDRIFF

 When my parcel first arrived in the smartpac, I was so excited. But imagine my horror when I pulled out the clothes sent to me.

The first 4 are all short tops that ends way above my belly button. And really, Mickey Mouse? They still dare to send these together with the invoice stating: NO TOPS BEARING MIDRIFF, suitable for office?

And here goes the email story.... 

 I first decided to order the grab bag not only because there's so many reviews saying they got exactly what they stated for, but also because of CC's promise to refund if it's not up to my liking.

Somehow the refund became an exchange. And here's how the nightmare started.

Never even inform me of her self shop event (she doesn't own any physical store), expect me to drop by. Drop by where? 

Eventually she promised to resend me a parcel (without even asking me to send back the 'wrong' one, which was still with me at that time)... which obviously didn't happen. Invalid tracking number given, need I elaborate?

Then she just went MIA on my email chains for 1 month, and conveniently claim she didn't receive any emails before the 'follow up' email I sent, and she has no idea what is happening. Wow!

And she even more conveniently told me no exchange/refund allowed for grab bags, and only relented when I reminded her that she has agreed to it before.

 

And so yet another self shop was arranged, half arranged actually. Location given, but NO TIME. Never bothered to reply even when I asked, and only replied to ask if I had turned up after the blardie event was over. 

And then she conveniently just ignored my email reply until I 'poked' her again. However, all plans for a meet up fell through because our timing hardly matched and her level of responsiveness on both emails and text messages were friggin slow.

Texted her and waited for 1 month, no reply. Emailed her again and claimed to lost her phone and just so nicely she got a new phone hours before I emailed her. 

But then, her phone got no sim card why she never say?????

Just to prove that my complaints of her serious lack of responsiveness is not me being difficult....

She never ever bothered to check what's truly happening, just randomly replying just to shut her customers up. When I asked for the refund, she obviously haven't sent out any exchange parcel at all. She was trying to get my address to send out the parcel then, so she need not refund me. 

(For the record, I once again asked her for a refund instead of resending me another parcel while I gave her my address. She obviously didn't want to return me the $30 and want to give me more junks.)

Why I say so? Because she only checked back on me (for once) on the 17th, asking if I've received my items. Obviously not, because she could only mail them out after I gave her my address on the 10th. 

Texted her once again on the 25th, asking for refund. Ignored.

And on the 26th, the nightmare finally turned into this ridiculously huge joke as I received her exchange parcel. 

Remember why I asked for exchange/refund?

Top UK 8

Bottom UK 10/12

Request for Skorts, long tees, suitable for office wear.

NO TOPS BEARING MIDRIFF

And see what she resent me...

Yes, this lacy nude shorts is pretty...

But WTF, SIZE S! How is a UK10/12 equivalent to a local size S?

This look pretty decent (though really terrible quality) on photo, but come on. It's a friggin short top.

And erm, Minnie Mouse kid's apparel, a bad quality bra top, a fake nike crop hoodie.... suitable as office wear? No tops bearing midriff?
ARE YOU F*CKING SERIOUS?

With that I gave up, treat it as I've donated $30 to charity. My mum was saying it's obvious this blogshop seller is out to con me, making me give her $30 for her to clear her junk. That horrible bra top and minnie mouse top, even if they're FOC, I also wouldn't want them.

With all these said (and ranted), go get a grab bag from Chic Cottage at your own risk.
And if anyone of you are interested in any pieces of my 2nd parcel, do drop me a note and QYOP for it.

Till then,
Mia

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