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Test driving Belkin's Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD
A number of other Apple-related websites have announced the release of Elgato's Thunderbolt 2 dock today; here at TUAW, we'll be doing a full hands-on review of the Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD (US$299.99) as well as a giveaway of our review unit. If you use a Thunderbolt 2-equipped MacBook Pro with Retina Display, Mac Pro, or Mac mini, or you're planning for a future with Thunderbolt 2, check out Belkin's latest expansion dock. Specifications Ports: Gigabit Ethernet, headphone, headphone/microphone, 3x USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports, 2x Thunderbolt 2 ports, HDMI port. Display support: Supports dual displays and 4K cinema resolution Design Like its predecessor the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock, the Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is made out of a shiny piece of aluminum designed to match the finish of your Mac and Thunderbolt Display. On the back of the device you'll find most of the ports - Ethernet, headphone, two USB 3.0 ports, the two Thunderbolt 2 ports, the HDMI port and a power connection. On the front are two ports - USB 3.0 and a microphone/headphone port. I found the placement of the USB 3.0 port on the front to be quite odd - why not make that a Thunderbolt 2 port, since many users would want to use the shortest possible cable connection between the side of a MacBook Pro with Retina display and the Express Dock. While the dock does support dual displays and 4K displays, it can only handle a single 4K display at one time. If you're running two displays, at least one of them has to be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 compatible, while the other can connect via HDMI. If you have a Mini DisplayPort-compatible monitor, it can be plugged into a Thunderbolt 2 port ... but you can only have one Mini DisplayPort monitor or an HDMI display, not both at the same time. And one nice little feature to end of the design portion of this review - Belkin includes a 1M (3 foot) Thunderbolt cable with the dock. Functionality I tested the Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD with a MacBook Pro with Retina Display, the CalDigit T4 RAID I reviewed yesterday, an external HDMI monitor, and a USB 3.0 hard disk drive. The device is very much plug-and-play; you just plug things into the proper ports, and everything is taken care of. Some simple testing of file transfer speeds both to the CalDigit T4 and my external USB 3.0 drive showed absolutely no drop in throughput as the result of having the Express Dock HD "in the middle". Likewise, the external monitor came up immediately when connected to the HDMI port. There were no issues, even when unplugging the HDMI cable and plugging it back in shortly thereafter. It was just like plugging an HDMI cable right into the MacBook Pro. The Ethernet port also worked with no extra driver required. When plugged into the Express Dock HD, the Ethernet port immediately showed up as another network adapter. If you're going to use the Express Dock HD Ethernet adapter as your primary method of connectivity, it's useful to move it to the top of the "service order" by going to System Preferences > Network and selecting "Set Service Order" from the pop-up menu found below the list of network services. The testing was done with the MacBook Pro running OS X 10.10 Yosemite; the device will also work with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, but 4K resolution monitors aren't supported with the older OS. Conclusion The Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is a well-designed unit that's perfect for anyone who needs to connect a Mac with a variety of peripherals with a single Thunderbolt cable. However, the price of the Belkin unit is $70 higher than the almost-identical Elgato dock introduced today, which makes the Elgato product immediately more attractive to potential buyers. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Now, let's give a TUAW reader the opportunity for connectivity! Belkin and TUAW are giving away a Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before December 6, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD valued at $299.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
CalDigit T4 RAID: Big, fast storage in a compact enclosure
Speed and storage capacity are the qualities that creative professionals look for in a RAID array, and they're willing to pay a lot for the ability to store huge amounts of video or photographs on a fast and redundant unit. CalDigit is now shipping a very affordable 4-bay storage solution called the T4 RAID that comes in a variety of capacities: 4 TB (US$899), 8 TB ($1,199), 12 TB ($1,399), 16 TB ($1,699), 20 TB ($1,999) or 4 TB SSD ($3,299). I had a chance to put a T4 through our standard benchmarks and found it to be a speedy, quiet and sturdy high-capacity RAID array. Specifications Weight: 7.2 lb. (3.3 Kg) with 4 SSD installed, 12.5 lb. (5.65 Kg) with 4 HDD installed Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.3 x 9.5 inches (148 x 135 x 242 mm) Interface: Two Thunderbolt 2 ports with transfer rates up to 20 GB/s RAID: Supports RAID 0,1,5 and JBOD, auto disk failure detection, hot swappable disks Design The T4 is surprisingly small for a 4-disk RAID array. The entire case is machined out of aluminum, with an appearance similar to that of the T3 3-drive array that I reviewed earlier this year. As with the T3, the drives (either SSDs or HDDs) come in proprietary drive modules. Those drive modules come in a variety of sizes: hard disk drives in capacities of 1 TB ($129), 2 TB ($179), 3 TB ($229), 4 TB ($299), 5 TB ($399), and a 1 TB SSD ($799). These drive modules are also compatible with the CalDigit T3 and the AVPro. There are some tiny keys that are included to lock the drive modules into place for extra security, and there's a Kensington lock slot on the back of the case. Both are nice physical security features that aren't commonly found on other RAID arrays. The small size comes at the cost of a good-sized external power supply; usually, that's going to sit under your desk with all of the other power supplies. Although the T4 has a built-in fan to keep those drives cool, it's surprisingly quiet. During testing the drive was about two feet away from me at ear level and all I could hear was a faint white noise. This was an 12 TB HDD configuration that was tested, and there was absolutely no drive noise that I could discern. With a quiet drive like this, you'll want to have some indication that it's actually working and a set of tiny blue LEDs on the front of the array perform that task without being too bright or distracting. CalDigit includes a monitoring app that's also useful for setting up your array. That app includes some useful tools for benchmarking video throughput to the drive. Functionality/Benchmarks Like the T3, the CalDigit T4 is easy to set up. You simply plug a Thunderbolt cable into your Mac and into one of the two Thunderbolt 2 ports on the back of the T4. Plug in the AC adapter, then plug the cable from the power supply into the T4. Turn on the T4 with the front-mounted power button and it spins right up. The array can be set up as RAID 0 (stripe set), RAID 1 (mirror set), RAID 5 (block-level striping with distributed parity) or in a JBOD ("just a bunch of disk") array with no RAID functionality. Our benchmarking was done with the array set up in RAID 0 with a total volume size of 10.914 TB (four 3 TB drives installed). For the purposes of testing external drives and RAID arrays, we traditionally use the Intech SpeedTools QuickBench 4.0.6 app to run multiple cycles of read/write tests. The T4 was directly connected to a MacBook Pro with Retina display using an Apple Thunderbolt cable. This MacBook Pro was equipped with Thunderbolt 2 ports. To ensure accuracy in testing, I performed a 100-cycle complete test. This subjects the drive to sequential and random read and write tests with file sizes from 4K to 100 MB, then graphically or textually displays that information to show the "sweet spots" for a specific drive or array. For example, if your work involves shuffling around a lot of very large files, you'll probably want a drive that has peak read/write speeds for files around your average file size. Here are the test results for a RAID 0 stripe set, compared with the T3 using a Thunderbolt connection: Sequential Read: 324.063 MB/Sec (313.917 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Sequential Write: 303.615 MB/Sec (279.731 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Random Read: 92.613 MB/Sec (69.402 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Random Write: 74.876 MB/Sec (62.263 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Large Read: 906.819 MB/Sec (538.599 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Large Write: 1045.913 MB/Sec (763.516 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Extended Read: 739.724 MB/Sec (552.096 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Extended Write: 671.629 MB/Sec (553.392 MB/Sec for CalDigit T3 connected via Thunderbolt) Now the CalDigit T3 was our previous speed demon for RAID arrays tested by TUAW, and the T4 blows right past it. The first four results - done with extremely small files - show an improvement over the T3 of up to about 33 percent in the case of random file reads. But it's with the large (2 - 10 MB) and extended (20 - 100 MB) file sizes that we really see the T4 take off. The large read test was 68 percent faster than the T3, large writes were 36 percent faster. The average large write test result was 1045.913 MB/sec, the first time we've seen a RAID array result in this range. Extended file reads and writes were also improved over the T3, with a 34 percent improvement in read speeds and 21 percent faster writes. What does this mean? Well, the T4 is perfect in those situations where you're going to be reading and writing large files a lot; not so much with those smaller files. For professionals who do a lot of video or photographic work, connecting the CalDigit T4 up to a Mac Pro or MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 2 makes a lot of sense and can speed up almost any workflow. CalDigit is targeting the T4 for those who are working on 4K video production, and I can see where it would be perfect for those large files and big data streams. Conclusion CalDigit has outdone itself with the T4 RAID, creating a fast RAID array at a price point that isn't out of the realm of any creative professional who needs big storage. The addition of Thunderbolt 2 to the new array improves throughput for those who have Macs with the new interface built in. I was impressed by the CalDigit T3 earlier this year, but the T4 surpasses its smaller sibling in every way. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Cyber Monday 2014: Accessorize your Mac, iPad or iPhone for less
The holiday deals continue with discounts on popular iPhone, iPad and Mac accessories. Here are some of the best discounts that'll allow you to outfit your Apple gear for less. Save 25% off Booq bags with coupon code TURKEY14 Use coupon come NOMAD40 to save 40% off Nomad's portable smartphone cables. Mophie is taking 40% off its lineup of iPhone battery cases, portable batteries, and more. Enter promo code POWER to receive discount. Save on the Pencil by FiftyThree stylus for the iPad. Starting at $39, down from $75. iStabilizer is discounting select iPhone accessories, including the iStabilizer Flex for $9.95 (MSRP $29), the iStabilizer Mount for $4.95 (MSRP $19), the Dot - 360 Video fort $9.95 (MSRP $49) and more. Deals end at midnight on Cyber Monday. LifeProof is discounting its iPhone/iPad cases and other accessories by 25% and throwing in free shipping to sweeten the deal. OtterBox is taking 25% off its rugged cases for the iPhone, iPad, and more Speck Products is taking 25% off select cases for Cyber Monday. Following Cyber Monday, the case maker will offer a daily deal every day until Christmas. Take up to 75% off select iPhone and iPad accessories during BodyGuardz's big Blackout Sale. Anki dropped the price on its popular Drive Starter Kit. The iOS remote controlled racing game is now $99, down from $150. Save 20% sitewide at ProClip. Sale includes the company's range of custom car mounts and other holders for the iPhone, iPad and more. Use promo code: 20THANKS. Sale ends midnight eastern time, 12/01/2014. iBallz is offering up to 40% off various iPad and iPhone accessories. Use coupon code HOLIDAY2014 at checkout to apply the holiday discount. Sale lasts until December 2nd. Griffin Save 30% on all products using promo code CYBERMONDAY during checkout. Griffin also is offering an additional 10% off for new customers who sign up for the company's newsletter. Twelve South Twelve South is offering 25% off its lineup of BookBooks for the MacBook, iPad and iPhone. Use coupon code BBMONDAY2014 at checkout. There is a limit of 4 BookBooks per person. Touchfire is offering a holiday sale that allows you to buy one Touchfire case and receive 50% off the second one. Need more? You also can buy two TouchFire cases and get a third for free. Free shipping on all orders. Pad & Quill is participating in Cyber Monday with a $10 discount on all its iPhone cases, 20% off all iPad cases and $10 off all its MacBook products. TYLT is taking 50% all accesories in stock on Cyber Monday. Enter promo code 'CYBER2014' at checkout to receive the discount and bonus free shipping. Zagg is offering a site-wide discount of 30 to 50%. Audio maker Soundfreaq is offering shoppers a buy 2 get one free discount on the $99 Pocket Kick portable speaker. Use coupon code CMPK2014 to receive your free Pocket Kick during checkout. Pebble dropped the price on its $99 Pebble and $199 Pebble Steel smartwatch to $79 and $149, respectively. The one-day discount also includes free shipping.
[Fuse]Chicken goes natural with the LEDGE iPhone charging dock
You'd expect a company named [Fuse]Chicken to be different, and they certainly have come up with some different products over the years. They started with the Bobine, then moved on to the togoDock and PLUGdock with a successful Indiegogo campaign. Now the design house is going natural with the wood LEDGE, a Kickstarter campaign that is funded with a little over a week to go. The company sent a prototype LEDGE for us to test, and we'll be giving that away along with a production PLUGdock. Design The LEDGE is made of two pieces of hardwood; one is machined to hold an iPhone (5/5s, 6 or 6 Plus) with a small case comfortably, while the other is a prop to hold up the LEDGE at an angle. The main piece has a couple of channels machined into it as well - there's one for the charging cable (you need to supply your own Apple-approved Lightning to USB cable) that snakes out of the back of the LEDGE, while another provides an open area where a headphone cable can comfortably plug in. The bottom of that main piece has a piece of non-slip foam on it, while the prop has two foam bands wrapped around it to keep it from slipping on a desktop. The LEDGE is given a natural hand finish, with each one being produced from a piece of African Bubinga, African Padauk, or North American Cherry wood. If there's one thing about the LEDGE that I'd like to see is for the foam bands to be installed a bit more carefully. The band on the bottom of the pre-production LEDGE I have was installed a bit unevenly, and even though it can't be seen when the LEDGE Is in use, it made my OCD kick in. Functionality LEDGE is an amazingly simple design and provides a desk or table top home for your iPhone. I've already run into issues with some competing charging stands, as they don't work well with iPhones in cases. Not so with the LEDGE - I have a rather thin case on my iPhone 6 Plus, yet it fits comfortably in the phone pocket with a bit of space to spare on each side. [Fuse]Chicken made sure to take cases into account when designing the LEDGE, a feature I really appreciate. You can determine if your iPhone and case will fit in the LEDGE phone pocket quote easily: the standard LEDGE pocket (for iPhone 5/5s/6) is 3 inches (75mm) wide, while the large version is 3.5 inches (89mm) wide. Conclusion Pledge US$35 on the LEDGE Kickstarter page in the next week and you can get your own LEDGE shipped to you next month. Pledge $60 or more, and you'll get two! LEDGE is a nice, natural looking charging dock for your iPhone, case-friendly, and affordably priced. Note that we don't usually provide a TUAW "star rating" for items that are pre-production, crowdfunded projects. However, [Fuse]Chicken has a good track record of bringing projects to market and the LEDGE project has reached its funding goal, so the charging stand is getting a rating. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to win not only a large (iPhone 6 Plus) LEDGE, but also a [Fuse]Chicken PLUGdock. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 29, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a FuseChicken LEDGE charging stand (large size for iPhone 6 Plus) valued at $30 and a FuseChicken PLUGdock wall-mounted dock valued at $10. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
XVIDA iPhone/iPad accessories have a magnetic personality
A little over a year ago I did a review of the XVIDA Boomerang, an iPad stand/mount project that graduated from Kickstarter and went into full production. Now the company that spawned the Boomerang has an entire family of accessories, all of which use strong magnets to mount your iPhone, iPad or just about anything else in your life wherever you need them. Today I'm looking at three of the XVIDA accessories: the iPad Air/iPad Air 2 version of the Boomerang (US$79.99, currently on sale for $59.99), the iPhone 5/5s version of the StickyCase ($24.99), and the accessory Air Vent Mount ($19.99). Boomerang for iPad Air/iPad Air 2 While the Boomerang kit I tested for this review was designed for the iPad Air, XVIDA now includes a small converter that makes it fully compatible with the iPad Air 2. Note that the converter is not included in our giveaway prize kit. Like the original Boomerang, the new model is an X-shaped device that can be used to prop your iPad up at a 22°, 45° or 66° inclination. Lay that X-shape out flat and snap the two free ends around the corners of your iPad Air, and you'll notice a metal plate in the center - right over the Apple logo on the back of your device. That metal plate attaches magnetically to the included Multi-Mount. The Multi-Mount itself can be mounted on metallic surfaces via magnetism, things like refrigerators and many whiteboards. It can also be attached to walls, glass, or ceramic with the included 3M VHB adhesive sticker. Or if you're looking for a more permanent installation, just use a screw to attach the Multi-Mount to a wall stud or furniture. That same plate also works with the other available mounting accessories, including the Air Vent Mount, a Suction Cup Mount, a Headrest Mount, and even the iMac-like Desk Stand. Installing the Boomerang is fast and easy. The iPad Air slides into a set of clips that is marked with a "1" sticker. To use the Boomerang with the magnetic mounts, you put the other corners of the iPad AIr into the two other clips marked "2". To use the Boomerang as a standalone stand, you pop the "2" corners out and then flip the free legs out to the pre-set angles. Use the Boomerang with the Air Vent or Suction Cup mounts, and you have a way of using an iPad Air as a really big navigation aid. I'm not sure I'd recommend putting a full-sized iPad into the windshield area of a car, though - that's an awfully large space to block in your field of view. Conclusion The Boomerang for iPad Air/iPad Air 2 looks good, is incredibly thin, very lightweight, and installs/removes quickly. It's easily adjustable, works with a number of mounts, and has a fairly decent price point (especially when on sale). On the negative side, the Boomerang doesn't offer any protection for your iPad. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s The StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s ($24.99) is what brings your iPhone into the XVIDA ecosystem. Before I go any further, please note that you can pre-order this case for the iPhone 6 for delivery next month. However, there's no word about one for the iPhone 6 Plus. That's really not an issue, since if you already have a case for your Plus, all you need to do is buy a $17.99 StickyPad for Smartphones and you're ready to rock and roll. This case really isn't all that special in terms of looks. It's a matte black (or white) case with one very special feature - a covered metal plate in the back that serves to stick it to any of the magnetic mounts. If you have a Multi-Mount, the windshield-mounted Suction Mount for Smartphones ($19.99), or that ever-popular Air Vent mount I'll review next, you just slap the encased iPhone 5 or 5s up against the magnet and it sticks. Conclusion The StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s gets bonus points for mounting flexibility, but it's really kind of drab. If you already have a more colorful or more protective case that you've installed on your iPhone, just get one of those StickyPads and stick it to the back of the case. That way you get the best of both worlds. Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Air Vent Mount I've talked about this accessory several times already. For $20, you're getting a mount that installs into an air vent in your car, has a pivoting head, and features the XVIDA magnetic mount. Take any of the cases or stands - the StickyCase, the Boomerang, or even a regular case with a StickyPad on the back - and you have a way of mounting your iPhone or iPad so that it's clearly visible from the front seat of the car (don't look at it while driving!). The Air Vent Mount features a spring-loaded arm that goes through one of the vents and has a metal hook that grabs the back of the vent slat. On the front is a rounded piece that fits into a slot on the back of a piece that includes the mount, a lockable ball joint, and a few stabilizer arms. It's quite easy to install and feels sturdy. Of course, when you want to use either a StickyCase or a Boomerang with it, you just take their built-in metal plate and bring it near the mag mount, and magnetism takes care of the rest. The Air Vent Mount holds even a full-sized iPad Air in place with very little movement, and it works really well with an iPhone. Conclusion For mounting an iOS device in your car, the Air Vent Mount is an adjustable and versatile piece of equipment. The price is right, and it feels like it will last. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We at TUAW love our giveaways, which give our readers a chance to get some really great gear at no cost. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 24, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a kit containing a Boomerang for iPad Air, a StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s, and an Air Vent Mount, valued altogether at $124.97 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Motrr Galileo robotic mount goes GoPro, uses iPhone app for control
We've written about the Motrr Galileo robotic mount before -- it was first a Kickstarter project that received tons of funding, and came to market as a robotic iPhone mount. It shipped a bit late - the Kickstarter campaign ran in early 2012, backers didn't get their devices until late 2013, and the TUAW review actually ran in December of 2013. Since then, the Motrr Galileo mount has found a niche for those who want to take precisely controlled spherical photos and can even work with apps like FaceSnap to have the mount search until a face is in a frame before shooting photos. Now there's a new version of the mount available for owners of the GoPro Hero3, Hero3+ and Hero4 HD action cameras. Set up is quite easy: What does this have to do with Apple or iOS devices? Well, the mount can be remotely controlled from your iPhone by the free Motrr app, and there are some amazing things you can do with the combo of GoPro and Motrr Galileo: Already own a Galileo? The adapter to turn the Bluetooth mount into your GoPro's best friend is just $29.95. If you don't own Motrr's little robot, it's available for $149.95 - but you can get 20 percent off the price of anything in the Galileo store through the end of 2014 by using the code GiftaGalileo.
Win an Ollie, Sphero 2.0 or Darkside Ollie from TUAW and Orbotix
Sphero and Ollie from Orbotix have been TUAW favorites for quite a while -- I mean, how can you not love fun and educational robots that are controlled and programmed from your favorite iOS device? Well, the good folks at Orbotix are making it easy for three lucky readers to pick up one of their products through a giveaway that will be running through 11 PM MST (10 PM PST) on November 30, 2014. How do you enter? Just click here, read the terms and conditions of the giveaway, fill out the simple form and click or tap that Submit button. One winner is going to get a Sphero 2.0 (above), the latest iteration of the app-controlled ball that does it all! Valued at US$149.99, Sphero zips around at up to 4.5 mph, glows in a rainbow of colors, can be controlled via a huge and growing variety of apps, and even programmed through SPRK. Want something with a bit more speed? One winner is going to get an Ollie (above) valued at $119.99. Ollie is the app-controlled robot driven by adrenaline and can speed around at up to 14 miles per hour! Built-in LEDs let you drive at night, and the Ollie app can give you the power to do insane tricks. The last prize is a Darkside Ollie (that's it in the photo above) valued at $149.99. Using Bluetooth LE for control up to 100 feet away, Darkside Ollie not only looks really cool, but comes with 2 nubby tires, 2 turbo tires, 2 prime hubs and 2 flux hubs. Like its sibling Ollie, Darkside Ollie can drive for over an hour on a full charge and can be programmed with MacroLab or OrbBasic on either your iPhone or iPad. Do we have you excited yet? Here's the link to the giveaway page again. Go and enter, and in the meantime, enjoy a few videos.
Logitech's AnyAngle case: Just the angle you want for iPad Air 2, iPad mini
Logitech continues to outpace most accessory manufacturers in coming out with a variety of very useful products for the iPad. Today's announcement is for a very adjustable iPad case for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini called the AnyAngle (US$59.99). As you can see in the video below, AnyAngle uses a unique hinge mechanism to adjust to, well, just about any angle. I can see the AnyAngle being a good companion to Logitech's recently-released Keys-To-Go Bluetooth Keyboard, a standalone keyboard equipped with Logitech's splashproof FabricSkin. It's the perfect combo for people who want to use a keyboard with their iPads, but don't necessarily want that keyboard to be attached to the tablet. AnyAngle comes in a variety of colors - Black, Red/Blue, Violet, Grey, Teal, and Yellow. We hope to have a review item in hand soon.
Flic is a 'smart button' that tells your iPhone to STFU
As far as smart gadgets go, Flic is about as simple as it gets. It's a tiny magnetic button that can be programmed to control various functions of your phone, from silencing an alarm to snapping a photo. Each button can be programmed with three different functions -- initiated by either a single tap, double tap, or push and hold -- and at US$27 they're relatively cheap. If this sounds like something you'd love to get your hands on, you're not alone, and the Flic campaign on Indiegogo has raised over $117,000 in just the first two day, with 46 more to go. Flic's original goal was $80,000. The potential uses for a Flic button seem to be pretty much endless, and the promo video shows it being used as a one-button activator for phone-based smart home automation features, an emergency alert button that sends a text or GPS coordinates if danger strikes, and a pre-programmed phone shortcut that can call someone with a tap. Perhaps its most astounding feature is that it has a battery life of up to five years. You can pre-order a single Flic button for the $27 standard price ($23 if you manage to snag one before the 500 discounted units run out), and you can save cash if you order more than one. Personally, I'd order one just to use as a snooze button, but that's probably just me.
Twelve South HiRise Deluxe: The only charging stand you need
The good folks at Twelve South today announced their latest adjustable charging stand for iPad and iPhone. The HiRise Deluxe (US$59.99) works with everything from the iPhone 5/5s to the iPad Air, and now comes in colors to match your favorite Apple device - silver, gold, and black (well, it's kinda close to Space Gray). Take a look at our review, then have a chance to win a gold HiRise Deluxe courtesy of Twelve South and TUAW. Specifications Height of front support: 1.65 inches (4.2 cm) Total height: 3.38 inches (8.6 cm) Width: 3.9 inches (10 cm) Depth: 4.8 inches (12.2 cm) Weight: 0.5 pounds (.22 kg) Design Like the original HiRise before it, the new HiRise Deluxe uses a large, stable base with two adjustable risers. One contains the Lightning or micro-USB adapter for charging your device, while the other is a "backstop" that holds the iPad or iPhone in place. Everything as usual comes in a well-designed box that Steve Jobs would have been proud of. Inside a smaller box in the big box are the rear support, cable clips, a Lightning cable and a micro-USB cable. Functionality Assembly is required, but it's quite simple and there are good instructions. First, you remove a support screw with a knurled knob and then attach the rear support with that same screw. Next, you remove the base cap by pulling a tab. Now you select your cable (I chose Lightning, but if you use a Mophie case you'll probably select the micro-USB cable) and thread it through the front support. Next comes the selection of one of three different cable clips, which are selected based on whether your device is in a case or not. The clip holds the cable at just the right distance to give your device clearance for the case if needed. The clip now slides into the front support and clicks into place, and all that's left to do is to route the cable through a channel in that base, then reattach the base cap. If you are carrying your iPhone "naked" and later decide to add a case, just be sure to keep all of the extra cable clips and also be sure to adjust the rear support with a twist of the screw. It's that easy, and took me only about a minute to set up. What you end up with is something that will hold your device solidly while it's charging, and look good in the process. Conclusion Twelve South has improved on a classic and now made it compatible with the most recent iPhones, iPads, and iPad minis. They've made the HiRise Deluxe coordinate beautifully with whatever finish you have on your Apple device, and by including a cable you no longer need to use your Apple-supplied cable. The HiRise Deluxe is a stable and attractive charging stand that should last you for years to come. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to have an early Christmas and win a HiRise Deluxe in gold! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 22, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Twelve South HiRise Deluxe valued at $59.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Blossom ups the ante in the smart sprinkler controller market
Early in 2014, an app-connected "smart sprinkler controller" called the Rachio Iro made a splash when it arrived online and in Home Depot stores. By the end of the summer, a lot of people -- myself included -- were raving about the device and how much water and money we'd saved. Well, there's a new kid in town on Kickstarter by the name of Blossom that hopes to take the savings even further. One of the few shortcomings of Rachio is that it uses Wi-Fi for connectivity. While this isn't an issue in most situations, sometimes sprinkler controllers are found in places where Wi-Fi doesn't reach or even outside the home or business. Blossom is using two different ways to communicate with the world; Wi-Fi and Powerline networking. By adding the ability to communicate over IP through your home's AC power, Blossom can be installed in places that are not amenable to Wi-Fi. It's even designed for installation outside. Like Rachio's product, Blossom uses real-time local weather data to make continuous changes to your watering schedule. The Blossom team notes that if you share your different plant types and yard layouts with Blossom, you'll receive a specific watering plan for each sprinkler zone based on the vegetation planted in the area. A simple front mounted LED display tells you when the device is in a ready mode, when it's watering, and if there's an error in communications. The Blossom team, which consists of executives and engineers with previous experience at Skype, Nest, Microsoft, Spring, Boost Mobile, Vizio, Cisco and Linksys, has already achieved over a third of its $30,000 funding goal with 29 days to go. Regardless of the company bringing the product to market, smart irrigation controllers like Iro and Blossom make a lot of sense, especially in the Western part of the United States where drought is a way of life.
Moment announces 18mm wide-angle and 60mm 2X telephoto lens for iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 already has an incredibly powerful camera but, as we learned with previous generations, that doesn't mean it can't be made better with a little help. Moment has announced two brand new add-on lenses for the iPhone 6 to enhance your shooting experience; a 18mm wide-angle lens and a 60mm 2X telephoto lens. Each retails for $99.99 and comes with a phone mount for easy installation. The phone mount is designed to work with or without a case. If you're worried about the mount adding extra thickness to your iPhone, rest easy knowing it only adds an extra millimeter to the top of the device. You can find both lenses for sale right now in Moment's online store.
Acme Made Charge iPhone case hides a Lightning cable inside kickstand
The last time we heard from Acme Made, the company was in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign for its Ergo Book iPad case. That project was successfully funded, and now the San Francisco-based designers are working on a new campaign. This one is for the Charge iPhone case, and it's already reached its modest funding goal with 23 days to go. What makes Charge so different from the ten bazillion other iPhone 6/6 Plus cases already on the market? Well, it not only has a built-in kickstand, but that kickstand just happens to have a built-in Lightning to USB cable for charging on the go. You can pre-order a Charge case by backing the project for US$35 or more. I'm probably going to hold out for the grey one with the red stripe, because that's the way I rock. If you're looking for a unique iPhone 6/6 Plus case that actually provides more than just looking good, get over to Kickstarter and give this proven team your backing.
Drop Kitchen Connected Scale drops just in time for your holiday baking
So, you've got to bake a few dozen Christmas cookies for your little girl's robotics club, but you have absolutely no idea how to cook ... or even how to measure ingredients. Never fear -- the Drop Kitchen Connected Scale (US$99.99) and its associated free recipe app are going to turn you into a baking pro. As you can see from the snappy video above, the idea behind Drop is to turn anyone -- with an iPad running iOS 8.0 or later and some common kitchen tools -- into an expert baker. Drop can weigh anything from 6 kg down to less than a single gram, and uses interactive recipes to help you have success in the kitchen. You just pour ingredients into a bowl on the scale until you reach the correct amount, stir or blend, pour into a cake or loaf pan, then let the app tell you when to take the masterpiece out of the oven. What if you don't have enough flour or you've run out of milk? Not a problem, as the app can help you find substitutions that will work and can also scale the other ingredients so that you can still make at least part of a batch of cookies out of that remaining flour. The recipes are designed to be mixed in a single bowl for less cleanup, and there's even a social sharing aspect to the app for bragging about your latest kitchen success. Drop uses Bluetooth LE to talk to your iPad or iPad mini, and the battery should last up to a year of normal use. Drop is available for ordering online today, but the device will be available soon at Apple Stores in the US, Canada, and the UK. You can also purchase Drop online from Apple.com, Brit+Co, Food52, and Harvey Norman stores in Ireland.
Kenu Stance compact tripod holds your iPhone, opens beers
What's better than a little tripod for your iPhone? A little tripod for your iPhone that doubles as a bottle opener! That's the idea behind the innovative Kenu Stance ($29.95), a new product from the accessory manufacturer that also produces the Highline case and Airframe car mount. Specifications Dimensions: 3.11 x 0.87 x 0.39 inches (79mm x 22mm x 10mm) Weight: 1.2 oz (34 grams) Design I've tested a number of iPhone and iPad tripods over the years. Most of them work on the idea that you have either a special case or a spring-loaded jaws to hold the device in place, then a set of legs down below to prop up the device. The problem with that is that most of those tripods require that you remove your existing iPhone case, and the spring-loaded grips weren't designed with the monster iPhone 6 Plus in mind. Kenu neatly sidesteps both of those limitations with a nifty little plastic Lightning connector surrogate that just plugs into the iPhone's Lightning port. Note that you may still have to remove your iPhone case to plug the Stance all the way into the port depending on the configuration of the bottom of the case. The Stance isn't bulky at all - in fact, you can pop it into a pocket and you'll barely notice it. My only concern is that it's so small that it could be easy to lose, so a way of connecting it to a keychain would have been a nice addition. Kenu calls the patent-pending plastic Lightning mount a MicroMount, and it's attached to a plastic ball-and-pivot joint. That, in turn, is connected to three little zinc alloy legs with plastic non-slip feet. Some brilliant designer at Kenu made the right call and added a bottle opener to one of the legs. Functionality Does the Stance work with the monstrous iPhone 6 Plus? Inquiring minds want to know. The answer is yes, absolutely! It works both in portrait and landscape modes. You'll want to make sure that the short legs are fully rotated so that the tripod has the widest footprint possible. The iPhone 6 Plus works great in portrait mode on the Stance, but will need to be oriented as close to vertically as possible. If you tilt the 6 Plus more than about 15 degrees from vertical, the entire assemblage wants to tip over. In landscape orientation, you collapse the legs and use them as a prop for the phone. It's possible to have the iPhone perpendicular to the surface it's sitting on, or you can tilt it for easy viewing. I found the perpendicular setting to be great when shooting landscape time-lapse photos with the camera in the 6 Plus. Conclusion The Kenu Stance tripod is incredibly small, very stable tripod for all Lightning-equipped iPhones, and the addition of a bottle opener to the device should make it the choice of every beer-drinking iPhone owner. My only complaints are the rather high price and the fact that the Stance could be easy to lose. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
A hands-on look at Logitech's Keys-To-Go keyboard for iPad
So you want a keyboard to use occasionally with your iPad, but you don't want a keyboard case. Up to this point, that meant that you usually had to buy an Apple Wireless Keyboard (US$69) or something similar to drop into your iPad bag. Logitech, which just happens to make some of the best iPad keyboard cases on the market, has just released the new Keys-To-Go ultra-portable keyboard for iPad ($69.99). Specifications Dimensions: 9.53 x 5.39 x 0.24 inches (242 x 137 x 6 mm) Weight: 6.35 ounces (180 grams) Rechargeable battery with life of three months Design The Keys-To-Go keyboard follows the tried-and-true design cues of Logitech's popular FabricSkin keyboard case. In that respect, it means that the keyboard is covered with the spill-resistant FabricSkin material and that it comes in three different colors - red, teal and basic black. Logitech points out that Keys-To-Go works with any iOS device, including iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. If you use another favorite iPad case that doesn't already have a built-in keyboard, or if you like using your iPhone 6 Plus as a "phablet", Keys-To-Go is designed for you. The keyboard is very complete and uses a standard layout for iOS devices. There are separate rows for numbers and functions - the functions include a home screen key, a home key double-click, Spotlight, keys for switching between keyboards, opening the virtual keyboard when the Keys-To-Go is in use, and various play/pause/rewind and volume keys. There's also a key for putting Bluetooth into discoverable mode (useful if you're switching devices that are using the keyboard) and another to test the battery level. Lastly, there are arrow keys, perfect for navigating around spreadsheets or word processing documents quickly. Functionality My first thought when I saw the bright teal FabricSkin covering on the Keys-To-Go was that this was probably the best keyboard I could personally use. My Twitter followers know just how many iPad keyboard cases I've inadvertently ruined by spilling liquids on them... It's hard to believe just how thin the Keys-To-Go is (see edge-on view below), but it's even harder to believe how good the keyboard feel is. There's a surprising amount of throw to the mechanical keys that gives just the right amount of feedback for fast touch typers. FabricSkin has a slightly rubbery feel to it, which is great because when you're typing on the keyboard on a slick surface, the keyboard stays in one place. At 6.4 ounces, Keys-To-Go is just slightly heavier than a naked iPhone 6 Plus (6.07 ounces). The two devices together weigh just 12.47 ounces, which is a really lightweight pocketable (if you have a SCOTTeVEST) laptop! Pairing is very quick and easy. The device is obviously made for primary use with iOS devices, as it shows up immediately in Bluetooth settings when turned on. When pairing with a Mac, the keyboard shows up with a hexadecimal identifier instead of a name, but still works perfectly. Conclusion Logitech has been making iPad keyboards for years now, and with the introduction of the Keys-To-Go keyboard, they now have a keyboard that works with any iOS device or Mac -- in fact, the majority of this review was written using Keys-To-Go paired with my iMac. Keys-To-Go is a transportable, lightweight, and rugged keyboard that has a good feel and makes an excellent all-around primary or spare keyboard. I would like to see Logitech put the pricing of the Keys-To-Go keyboard more in line with the K480 Multi-Device Keyboard that sells for just $49.99. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Beats announces new wireless Solo2 Bluetooth headphones
Beats today announced the release of new Solo2 Wireless on-ear headphones, the first major new product the company has released since joining the team at Apple last May. "We're taking the most popular headphone in the world and adding wireless Bluetooth functionality to it," Beats President Luke Wood said in a press release. "The Solo2 is already a world-class headphone much lauded for its acoustics, and now it joins our growing family of successful wireless products." The Solo2 is functional within a 30 feet radius of its paired audio device and can be used to take calls, change the volume on songs, and skip songs. Additionally, the new headphones feature 12 hours of wireless playback. With fine-tuned acoustics for clarity, breath and balance, Solo2 Wireless delivers a complete listening experience. Regardless of the kind of music you're into, its dynamic and wide range of sound will bring you closer to what the artist intended you to hear. The headphones will be available later this month for $299.95 in the following colors: black, white, red, and blue. Interestingly, the press release notes that the red model will only be available via Verizon Wireless through 2014. Beats today also announced an update in colors to the wired version of its Solo2 headphones, including Stone Grey, Hunter Green, Imperial Violet, Blush Rose, and Sapphire Blue. Photos of the new color options, a family which Beats calls the "Royal Edition", can be seen here at Engadget.
CES preview: Expect HomeKit products to be the star
We haven't heard much about Apple's HomeKit framework since WWDC 2014, but things are about to change. HomeKit is Apple's framework for allowing connected devices to work with iPhone and iPads, and all we're really known about it was contained in a couple of slides during the WWDC 2014 keynote. Now things are starting to heat up in preparation for the January Consumer Electronics Show. According to GigaOM's Stacey Higginbotham, at least one existing connected device manufacturer -- iDevices -- will launch new HomeKit products at the huge show in Las Vegas. iDevices is known for its iGrill meat thermometer (first reviewed on TUAW way back in 2010 by our very own Mike Rose), and the company has invested $10 million in preparing for the HomeKit program. That money wasn't spent to just add HomeKit compatibility to the iGrill, but to allow the company to launch partnerships with other companies that can use its HomeKit platform. So the company's investment was spent on building an in-house team of professionals in hardware, embedded software, design, sales and marketing to help assist other companies in the burgeoning HomeKit market. CEO and co-founder of Litehouse.io Nahid Alam told Higginbotham that her startup, founded in January by former Intel and Amazon executives, is selling a module providing Wi-Fi and voice recognition that is also MFi-certified. Both iDevices and Litehouse.io are making it possible for other startups to get into the HomeKit connected devices world without the expense of re-inventing the wheel. The result will be a world of products, all HomeKit-compatible, that should be ready to show off to the public this coming January.
Nodus Access Cases for iPhone and iPad are stylish and useful
Back in late 2013, one of our former UK bloggers (Richard Gaywood) wrote a review of an iPhone case from The Nodus Collection. At that time, the Access Case was part of a Kickstarter campaign; now the company is selling the cases through its website. Recently I received both an iPhone 6 Plus Access Case (pre-order for £49.99, price includes international shipping) and an iPad Air Access Case (£99.99, price includes international shipping) for review, so I thought it was a perfect time to take a look at these thin, light and stylish cases again. Check out the review, and then take a chance at winning one of these cases for yourself. Design As Richard pointed out in his earlier review, the Access Case uses micro-suction technology to both attach the device to the case and to keep the cover closed. The material used holds onto your iPhone or iPad tightly, but releases with a sharp pull if you need to take the case off. Both cases are made of a nicely-finished leather in either ebony (black) or chestnut (brown). The two samples we received were both chestnut and really looked good with very fine stitching around the edges. As with most folio/wallet cases of this type, the Access Case can be used as a stand to hold your device in landscape orientation, as a wallet (it has a full-length pocket for cards or bills), and of course as a protective cover for your device. The top, bottom, and right side of the iPhone and iPad are left open, making it easy to plug the devices in for recharging. There's also the requisite opening for the iPhone camera and flash on the iPhone case, and the smaller hole for the iPad camera on that case. Functionality The cases look great, but do they do their job? From my limited testing, the answer is an unqualified "yes". Both cases hold their respective devices in place firmly with the micro-suction material. Both protect the screen and back of the iPhone or iPad. Both work well as wallets. All in all, they do what they're supposed to do. Removing the devices from the micro-suction material was easy, and the material is easily cleanable if it collects dust or other debris. Conclusion The Access Cases for iPad Air and iPhone 6 Plus look good, although they're rather plain. If you want a nice leather case without frills, this is probably going to make you happy. However, both cases come with a price tag that seems unreasonably high considering that there are similar micro-suction leather cases for much less that the £49.99 (US$79.35 at current exchange rates) price for the iPhone 6 Plus case or the £99.99 ($158.71) iPad Air case. A good example is the recently-reviewed Twelve South SurfacePad, which sells for $49.99 for the iPhone 6 Plus version and $79.99 for the iPad Air edition. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway If the price tag on the Nodus Access Cases depresses you, cheer up -- you might win one in our giveaway. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 11, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing. One will receive a Nodus Access Case for iPad Air valued at US$158.71, while another winner will take home a Nodus Access Case for iPhone 6 Plus valued at US$79.35. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 6 / 6 Plus: Review and giveaway
Twelve South produces a lot of really impressive accessories that are designed for Apple products alone. A while back, the company developed the sleek SurfacePad for iPhone, a leather folio case with a difference - it's incredibly thin and light. Now the company has started shipping the SurfacePad for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (US$39.99 and $49.99 respectively), and TUAW's not only going to review the new model, but give away two of the cases each for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Specifications iPhone 6: Thickness - .07 inches (2 mm), Weight - 1.02 ounces (29 gm) iPhone 6 Plus: Thickness - .07 inches (2 mm), Weight - 1.48 ounces (42 gm) Material: Napa leather Colors: Black, Red, White, Camel Design The design of the SurfacePad hasn't changed from our first review in early 2013, but the size has of course increased to match Apple's new, larger iPhones. The folio is one piece of luscious leather, with a pad of what's called SurfaceGrip on the back inside. It's an amazingly sticky material that holds the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus securely in place, but you can remove your phone in seconds with a firm pull and then reattach the case again later. The leather comes in four different colors. The black is rich and deep, the red is bright, white is very ... white, and the new camel is a nice tan leather finish. All are professionally stitched with coordinated thread. The cover of the folio folds over to protect the screen of your device, and it's also equipped with two slots for ID or credit cards that aren't yet compatible with Apple Pay. The folio also folds into a nice landscape-mode stand for your device, perfect for shooting images or watching your favorite movie. Functionality Twelve South has been making the SurfacePad for quite a few years now, both for iPad and iPhone. The design makes for one of the most functional cases for an iPhone, basically doing it all - protecting the front and back of the phone, acting as a mini wallet, and providing a stand when you really need it. The SurfaceGrip technology works very well; I've had one of the iPad cases for a few years and have removed and reapplied it many times in order to try out other cases. While I've seen issues with some of the other "sticky back" materials wearing out, SurfaceGrip seems to keep on going without fail. Conclusion A lot of companies have basically hijacked Twelve South's design for the SurfacePad, but the original is still the best lightweight folio case out there. It's thin, light, and very well made, and sold at a price won't break the bank. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We have four of these lovely cases to give away to TUAW readers. For the iPhone 6 owners, there is the choice of camel or black leather, while iPhone 6 Plus owners get the choice of white or red. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 10, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected in a random drawing. Two will win the SurfacePad for iPhone 6 valued at $39.99, while two will win the SurfacePad for iPhone 6 Plus valued at $49.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
