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iMacompanion: Kickstarted accessory puts a USB 3.0 port at the front of your iMac
It's always a pleasure to see projects graduate from Kickstarter or Indiegogo and actually become available for sale. One project that was intriguing a few months ago, the Wiplabs iMacompanion (US$39.99), is now in the BiteMyApple.co and Amazon.com stores. iMacompanion is a USB 3.0 extension port that matches the sleek design of the iMac and adds that port to the front of your iMac where it's easy to get to. Here's our review. Design The brilliant design of the iMacompanion was what drew me - and a number of backers - to the product on Kickstarter. Rather than clip some sort of USB extension to the front of the iMac like the BlueLounge Jimi ($14.95) where it really doesn't look too much like a part of your computer, the designers at Wiplabs made the iMacompanion match the aluminum base of the iMac where it sits. A completely flat USB 3.0 cable then runs under the iMac base and around to the back of your computer where it plugs in. The result? You have a good looking USB port that looks like it actually belongs on the iMac base and is always available should you need to plug something in - without reaching around to the back of the iMac. It's possible to plug a pair of iMacompanions into the ports on the back of the iMac and to place them side by side on the base. The little device comes with a good sticky material on the bottom so that it stays in place on the base when you plug cables or flash drives into it. I had issues with the Jimi occasionally popping out of its USB port if I didn't hold that clip with my hand while plugging something into it. That doesn't seem to be a problem with iMacompanion. Function Installing iMacompanion is simple enough - just peel off the paper backing on the adhesive pad, then stick the little extension onto the base of the iMac. I put it in the center for aesthetic purposes, but you could put it anywhere you desire as long as it's on the front edge of the base. You'll need to tip your iMac to one side to run the flat cable under the base of the computer, but once you've done that you can get back to a normal posture for your iMac. Unsurprisingly, the iMacompanion works just like any USB port. I find it to be extremely useful for using my iPhone 6 Plus with my iMac through the Duet Display app and TenOne Design Mountie, since I no longer have to fish around the back of the iMac to plug in a USB cable. Conclusion iMacompanion is a well-made and good-looking accessory for any iMac made since 2004. It adds a much-needed front USB port without detracting the overall design concept of the iMac. My only complaint? The price. $40 is a bit much for an accessory of this type, and I hope that Wiplabs can work on bringing the price down soon. Unsolicited personal pitch If you're a fan of crowd-funded projects like iMacompanion, join Backerjack's Ross Rubin and me for a half hour of talk each week about a handful of unique and sometimes useful campaigns on The Backerjack Podcast. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible
Twelve South ParcSlope stand for MacBook provides style and comfort
One of our favorite accessory design shops here at TUAW is Twelve South, and they're our heroes for a couple of reasons. First, they design and manufacture useful and stylish accessories for Apple products only. The second reason? Everything they make is top quality. The latest product to emerge from Charleston, SC is the ParcSlope desktop stand for MacBook (US$49.99). Check out our review, then enter for an opportunity to win a ParcSlope from TUAW and Twelve South. Specifications Dimensions: 2.8" high x 8.3" wide x 9.6" deep (7.1 x 21.1 x 24.3 cm) Weight: 2 pounds (.91 kg) Angle: 18 degrees Design ParcSlope was designed as a hybrid laptop stand instead of the traditional stand that lifts the MacBook off of your desk, requiring you to acquire and use a totally separate keyboard and pointing device. Instead, ParcSlope lifts the back of your MacBook up off of the table, bringing the screen up a bit higher for more comfortable viewing and typing. Made of solid aluminum, ParcSlope works with any MacBook. It doesn't matter if you have a current 11-inch MacBook Air or one of the discontinued 17-inch MacBook Pro monsters, it's going to work for you. As with all other Twelve South accessories, ParcSlope is designed specifically with Apple products in mind. There are some ridges on the top of the unit that allow for screen clearance when the screen is opened on an 11, 13, or 15-inch MacBook (the 17-incher will be off the top of the ParcSlope, so it doesn't need a ridge). There's a silicone lip holding the MacBook in place, and rubber feet on the bottom to keep your desk or table from being scratched. In case you're wondering about the "ParcSlope" name, well - Park Slope is a trendy neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, and the "Parc" pays respect to Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where Steve Jobs and other Apple employees had their first look at a graphical user interface for a computer. Function My test of the ParcSlope was done with a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. Setup of the stand is drop-dead simple; you just put it on the table. You're done. Plop the MacBook Pro on top, open the screen, and get to work. There's some cable management built into ParcSlope as well - there's a hole in the back of the aluminum through which you can weave your power cable, USB cables, Thunderbolt cables (this is perfect with a second display, by the way), you name it. The cables are held in place by the stand when disconnected from the MacBook. Since I usually type on a gently angled Apple Wireless Keyboard that's placed flat onto a desktop, I wasn't sure how I was going to like the steeper angle provided by the ParcSlope. As it was, the higher placement of both the MacBook's screen and having my arms and hands a bit higher up actually felt better than typing on a flat MacBook keyboard. Your mileage may vary; you can get a feel for how the ParcSlope holds the MacBook by grabbing something just under 3 inches in height and sticking it under the back edge of the computer. Conclusion As usual, Twelve South has knocked another one out of the park (or should I say "parc"?) with the ParcSlope. It's solid and should last you through the next ten generations of MacBook, and it makes any MacBook a more comfortable and usable member of the Mac family. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway C'mon, you know you want a ParcSlope of your very own. All you have to do to have a chance at winning one is to fill out the form below. 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 January 30, 2015 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 ParcSlope valued at $49.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Crazy good Loop Attachment Straitjacket case now available for iPhone 6
Chicago-based Loop Attachment is back on our radar again, now that the company has released its unique Straitjacket Case for iPhone 6 ($US34.95). While nothing has changed in this TUAW 3.5-star rated iPhone case in terms of design, materials, or just plain usefulness, it's now available in the larger iPhone 6 size in some eyecatching colors - blue/black, red/black, white/gray, white/mint, and black/gray. I'm not currently using the Straitjacket since I have an iPhone 6 Plus, but I can vouch for just how useful the case is in providing protection for your iPhone while also giving you a place to slide an ID and credit card or two. It has a great grippy feel and really adds a splash of color to your favorite iPhone. And now, one lucky TUAW reader's going to get a blue/black Straitjacket case for iPhone 6 in a 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 January 30, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Loop Attachment Straitjacket for iPhone 6 valued at $34.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
The iPhone case that might get you killed
You've already seen an iPhone case that could get you arrested -- and if not, feel free to check it out -- but there's an even more potentially hazardous smartphone cover out there. This "Gun Grip Case" is about as extreme as it gets if you're looking to cause a stir by chatting on your iPhone in public, and aside from the novelty value there's really no other reason anyone would want to carry this thing around. When in full view there's really nothing about this case that is intimidating, but the danger comes in sliding it into your pocket, where the hand grip and trigger would likely remain exposed. Oh, and when you're gripping the case to chat on your phone it also looks like you're trying to hide a handgun on the side of your head, which is probably not the best idea either. Whatever you do, don't attempt to take your phone out of your pocket if law enforcement calls you out, or things might end very badly for you.
RAVPower 15W Solar Charger, Savior battery pack keep your gadgets going
We're in the midst of winter in the Northern Hemisphere right now, but that doesn't mean that you can't start making plans for summer fun in the great outdoors. Today I'm reviewing two products that will keep your gizmos going. The first is designed to let you charge up anywhere, as long as the sun's out: the RAVPower 15W Dual-Port Solar Charger (List price US$99.99, available for $56.99). The second is targeted more for day-to-day use: the RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior External Battery Pack ($99.99, available for $49.99). RAVPower 15W Dual-Port Solar Charger I'm a fan of photovoltaic solar energy, so much so that my house here in sunny Colorado has a 9 kilowatt array on the roof. The RAVPower 15W Dual-Port Solar Charger is a lot smaller, both in size and capacity, but you don't need all that much power to charge your devices. The design is wonderful. You have a 24 ounce fabric folio covered with polyester canvas on the exterior that folds out revealing three separate panels. Located at four locations around the folio are metal-line eyeholes; these are used with carabiners (four are included) to attach the array to your backpack or a tent, or hang it from tree branches. There are two USB ports available, one with a 2A output, the other with a 1A output. Both, of course, send out that current at the USB standard 5 volts. RAVPower uses what they call "iSmart Technology" to match the maximum charging current with the device so that it is charged in the least amount of time. To test the review device, I unfolded the Solar Charger and put it on an outside table next to my iPhone 6 Plus to see how much of a charge it would pick up in just ten minutes. Of course, the charging time is going to depend on a variety of factors - cloud cover, angle of the sun, time of day, and so on. The when I plugged the iPhone 6 Plus into the Solar Charger, it immediately responded with notification that it was charging. I shut the iPhone's display off, waited ten minutes, and then turned the display back on. During that time, it grabbed 4 percent more power, climbing from 89 percent charged to 93 percent charged. It's not a scientific estimate, but based on that information, that the Solar Charger could fully charge an iPhone 6 Plus from 0 to 100 percent in a little over four hours. Remember, this was with late afternoon sun in the winter... so it could be faster under other conditions. Chances are good that you will want to use the Solar Charger with some sort of external battery pack so that you can still use your device during daylight hours, which is why the next portion of this review is about the RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior External Battery Pack. Conclusion The well-built RAVPower 15W Dual-Port Solar Charger has a surprisingly low price point compared to competing portable solar arrays, and is a perfect accessory for camping, hiking, picnics and bicycling. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior External Battery Pack The Savior series external battery pack is a perfect all-in-one travel companion, featuring a wall plug, a 9000 mAh battery, and a built-in Lightning Connector. It comes in black or white, and there's a USB output port as well for charging those older Apple devices or other gadgets that take power from mini or micro USB. Unlike most of these products, RAVPower throws in some nice goodies; a carrying bag to protect the exterior of the battery pack, a USB to micro-USB cable, a micro-USB to mini-USB adapter, and a micro-USB to 30-pin Dock connector adapter. RAVPower received Apple MFi (Made for iPad/iPhone/iPod) certification for the device, so you can rest assured that it will work properly with any of your Apple mobile devices. The Lightning cable provides power to your iPhone or iPad at a maximum current of 2.4A for fast charging, while the USB port has a maximum current of 1 A. The entire package weighs about 8.63 ounces (237 grams) and is compact at 1.1 inch thick x 2.76 inches wide by 4.49 inches tall (28 x 70 x 113 mm). One feature that you won't find on many of RAVPower's competitor's external battery packs is the Grade A+ cell that's inside the pack. It has no charging memory effect, and can be used through up to 1,000 charging cycles. Conclusion With a built-in AC plug, Lightning cable, USB port, a 9,000 mAh long-life battery, a variety of USB plug adapters, and a carrying bag, the RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior is a perfect traveling companion at a very reasonable price (the $50 price tag). Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway TUAW and RAVPower are giving away the RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior External Battery Pack. 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 January 27, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a RAVPower RP-PB18 Savior External Battery Pack valued at $99.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Seidio OBEX Combo rugged case for iPhone 6: Review and giveaway
It's so nice to see the flood of new cases for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, especially in the special genre of rugged cases. While some manufacturers are still trying to figure out how they're going to keep the big iPhones dry and protected, Seidio has jumped out with the OBEX Combo for iPhone 6 (US$89.95, on sale for $64.95) and iPhone 6 Plus ($99.95, on sale for $74.95). Specifications Dimensions (iPhone 6): 6.02 x 0.49 x 3.16 inches (152.84 x 12.36 x 80.25 mm) Weight (iPhone 6): 1.9 ounces (53.87 grams) Dimensions (iPhone 6 Plus): 6.80 x 0.50 x 3.59 inches (172.77 x 12.61 x 91.07 mm) Weight (iPhone 6 Plus): 1.9 ounces (53.87 grams) Meets IP68 rating for dust- and water-proofness. Exceeds MIL-STD-810F drop protection standard Design As with most rugged cases, the OBEX Combo (the combo refers to a combination of colors) is built like a tank. That doesn't keep the design from being Touch ID compatible, which is a plus. The case can be submerged in water up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) deep indefinitely, or up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) for 30 minutes. Rubber plugs keep the ports sealed against water and dust. The iPhone's touchscreen is a little bit less sensitive due to a second screen protector that's provided, but it worked well after I got used to pressing just a bit harder on the screen. The case comes with a holster clip for belt mounting, just what you'd want when driving heavy machinery around a construction site or walking around a factory. The case comes in four color combos, hence the name - black and gray, white and gray, ping and gray, and yellow and gray. Functionality As with most of these rugged cases, the case needs to be properly installed in order to maintain waterproofness. You'll want to watch the company's installation video for details: Still, the OBEX Combo was much easier to install than some competing cases I've reviewed. I liked the fact that the belt clip swivels and that the holster locks onto the case. I don't know how many times I've had phones that have just "jumped out of" holsters, so this is a nice design feature. I didn't try dunking the phone in the case, but it seems extremely solid and the rubber stoppers for the headphone and Lightning ports feel very secure. The case also features raised edges that should help protect the screen, and the screen protector itself has a 4H hardness rating. If there's one negative about the OBEX Combo, it's that it did seem a bit "slick" to me. The TPSIV (Thermoplastic Silicone Vulcanizate) rubber strip around the sides of the case is ridged on the corners, but not on the sides where it would provide a more secure grip. Conclusion Seidio has created a rather slim, but very protective case in the OBEX Combo. While it's not inexpensive, the level of protection afforded by this case can keep your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus from a variety of damage if you spend a lot of time outside or in hazardous conditions. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Have an iPhone 6? Want some real protection for that phone? We're giving away a Seidio OBEX Combo in the black/gray color combination. 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 January 26, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Seidio OBEX Combo for iPhone 6 valued at $89.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Pencil by FiftyThree stylus shows up in Apple online and retail stores
FiftyThree, the company that developed the wonderful Paper drawing/painting app (free with in-app purchases), also created a companion stylus that they naturally gave the name Pencil to. The stylus, which looks like a carpenter's pencil but has some amazing technology built into it, sells for US$49.95 for a graphite version and $59.95 in a beautiful walnut version. Up until now, Pencil was only available through the FiftyThree website and on Amazon, but the company has announced that the stylish and versatile Pencil is now available at the brick-and-mortar and online Apple Stores. TUAW will be reviewing Pencil by FiftyThree in the near future; in the meanwhile you can check out the details of the cool piece of hardware here. What I want to try the most is the adaptive palm rejection, which allows your palm or other bits of your hand to be resting on the screen while drawing or writing. Other stylus manufacturers have tried -- and most have failed -- to produce workable palm rejection, so we'll be sure to put it to the test.
KeyMouse: A new take on the traditional keyboard and mouse
Since 1984, not a lot has changed in terms of the two things that we use to converse with our desktop and laptop computers - keyboards and mice/trackpads. That's why when fellow TUAW editor Dave Caolo pointed me towards a fascinating Kickstarter project named KeyMouse, I thought I'd better pass along the news to TUAW readers. KeyMouse is a Bluetooth keyboard with a big difference; it splits the traditional QWERTY keyboard into two halves, one for each hand. Your hand sits comfortable atop a central "bulge" that keeps your fingers in the proper position for ergonomic typing, and the entire KeyMouse moves as an optical mouse. There are a ton of buttons that you can customize to your needs, whether you're a gamer or using the keyboard and mouse combo for design work. The prototypes were shown at CES 2015 in early January, and the team is now about 41 percent funded with 11 days to go in the campaign. Anyone who's looking for a much more comfortable and natural way to type and mouse around the screen might want to back the project for US$249 or more.
Withings Home brings HD webcam, air quality monitor to the connected home
Withings is a fascinating company. They started out quietly a few years back, selling one of the first Wi-Fi connected bathroom scales and then added a growing family of "connected self" devices including the Withings Pulse Ox activity monitor, the Aura Smart Sleep System, a wireless blood pressure cuff, and more. Now the company is beginning to ship items for the connected home with the arrival of Withings Home (US$199.95), a home monitoring camera with the added benefit of air quality monitoring. We hope to review Withings Home soon, but here's a taste of what the device provides. First, it packs a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor that can capture up to 30 frame per second 1080p video. Next, it shoots that video with a 135° wide angle lens for a super wide field of view, and offers automatic de-warping so your views of home don't look like a bad special effect. Like my current favorite webcam, the Dropcam Pro, Withings Home offers an electronic PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) function. Rather than having a rotating and tilting robotic base, a tap on the Withings Home app screen lets you zoom in and receive an enhanced image showing details. The Withings Home app (free) for iPhone and iPad displays still images that are snapped based on noise or movement triggers. A Home Diary feature provides a continuous timeline of what's gone on at home, and you can get a time-lapse rerun of the past 12 hours of action in your home. Withings also plans to offer a cloud recording service in the near future. The extra added Withings Home feature that's really quite impressive is its built-in ability to track past and current levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds) in your home. VOCs are emitted by cleaning products and pressed-wood furniture, to name a few sources, and can be quite harmful. The base of Withings Home will glow red if VOC levels reach unhealthy levels so that you can open a window or door to get some fresh air. We're looking forward to giving the Withings Home webcam/air monitor a full workout soon, so be sure to stay tuned to TUAW for all of your connected home news.
Look at this tiny iOS keyboard, just look at it
iOS-compatible Bluetooth keyboards are a dime a dozen these days, and it's hard to get excited about any kind of new typing accessory when so many of them look like direct clones of each other. The TextBlade is -- as its creator WayTools describes -- "an entirely new class of touch-typing device." It's hard to argue with that. The TextBlade is a tiny, fold-out, full-sized set of QWERTY keys that have full travel and mimic the mechanical feel of a desktop keyboard. The keys themselves are arranged on a pair of bars that magnetically connect to each other and the space bar section that doubles as the battery. WayTools claims a one-month battery life on a full charge and a quick-charge feature that offers three days of battery life with a charge of less than 10 minutes. The TextBlade is so far removed from anything I've seen before that at first I assumed it had to be a concept that was nowhere near a retail debut, but it's apparently available for order right now for delivery by March. We'll be attempting to get our hands on one ASAP for a review, so stay tuned.
Booqpad gains iPad Air 2 compatibility, still has a magnetic personality
Last April, TUAW reviews a very unique iPad Air case - the Booq Booqpad - that melded a magnetically-attached agenda case with a paper notepad. At the time it garnered a 4-star rating thanks to its flexibility and that paper notepad. Today I'm looking at the BooqPad for iPad Air 2 (US$60.00) and we'll see if that changed. Specifications Exterior dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm) Weight: 0.88 lbs (0.4 kg) Compatible with: iPad Air 2 only Color: Gray only Comes with removable/replaceable 50-sheet paper notepad Design Like the previous iteration of the Booqpad, the new version consists of a slim folio that, when opened, features a paper notepad on the left side and a magnetically-attached tray for the iPad on the right side. A slender magnetic catch keeps the cover closed while you're in transit. Around the outside of the paper notepad side are slots for business cards, and you can get refills for your notepad in blank, lined, or graph paper formats ($10 for 3 pads). That catch is different from the one on original iPad Air version of the Booqpad, which was rather wide and could actually hold a Pencil by FiftyThree stylus. The case also acts as a stand, with the section of the folio that the polycarbonate iPad tray attaches to folding to accommodate a variety of angles. Should you decide that you'd like to use the iPad Air 2 on its own without the folio, just give it a pull and the tray/iPad combo comes out. Just bring that tray back to the folio and hold it near, and it snaps right back into place. Functionality While I still like the idea of the Booqpad, I'm not sure that I'm quite as enthusiastic about it as I was last year after seeing dozens of other iPad case/stands. It definitely fills a specific niche, but it doesn't have the adjustability of some competing folio-type cases. In addition, Booq used to include a screen protector with each Booqpad. That's no longer the case, which is a little odd - perhaps the company found that nobody was using the screen protectors? Maybe the idea of having a paper notepad alongside your iPad excites you, and if it does, then the Booqpad is just the case for you. Otherwise, it might be worth your while to just grab any old folio type case and slap in a Post-it® 5 x 8 inch notebook pad. Conclusion About a year after the first Booqpad arrived on the scene, we're seeing the new model for iPad Air 2. Booqpad is still unique, but we're wondering if that's because no other manufacturer really thinks a combo paper notepad/iPad case is worthwhile. It's a well-done case; it's just that the idea seems a bit less exciting than it did a year ago. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway OK, if you're just dying for a Booqpad, hold onto your hats because we're giving one away. 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 January 16, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Booqpad for iPad Air 2 valued at $60. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
EyePatch Case covers and cleans your iPhone camera lenses
Most iPhone owners love using the cameras - both front and back - for photography, since they are of surprisingly good quality and resolution. On occasion, though, fingerprints can turn your images into blurry messes. EyePatch Cases (US$19.99 for iPhone 5/5s/6) from Sorrentino Designs come with a unique feature; a lens cap that covers your iPhone cameras when not in use and wipes away smudges with a built-in microfiber cloth. The lens cap, known as the EyePatch Switch, is molded from polycarbonate and is placed over the top of your iPhone. It slides away when you're ready to take a photo, then slides back into place to protect your lenses. There's a small gap in the front iPatch cover that exposes the proximity and light sensors when the EyePatch Switch is in the closed position so that the your iPhone still functions properly. Other than the obvious benefit of keeping your camera lenses from being scratched or smudged, there's also a benefit for those who are concerned about smartphone security. EyePatch Case inventor Michael Sorrentino notes that in an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams last year, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden claimed that the NSA has the ability to remotely access smartphone cameras. By blocking the cameras, this fear can be vanquished. The EyePatch Case came out of a successful crowdfunding project on HeadFunder, where it raised just enough money to launch. The product now comes in black, white and purple colors, and there are extra EyePatch Switches available in Yellow, Pink, Black and White. The iPhone 6 EyePatch Case is available for pre-order at this time. The case itself is a rather generic silicone stretch case and if it was not for the EyePatch Switch, the case would be totally unremarkable. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Want to win an EyePatch case of your own? We're giving away two - one for the iPhone 5/5s, and another for the iPhone 6. 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 January 13, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing. One will receive an EyePatch Case for iPhone 5/5s valued at $19.99, while the other will receive the iPhone 6 EyePatch Case also valued at $19.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Test driving the ClamCase Pro keyboard case for iPad Air 2 (Updated)
With the arrival of the iPad Air 2 last fall, many case manufacturers went back to the drawing board to produce new products that would accommodate the slightly thinner tablet. One of the favorite keyboard cases for those of us here at TUAW has always been the ClamCase Pro (US$169.00), and that case has recently been updated for the latest member of the iPad family. Specifications Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.30 x 0.74 inches (247.4 x 185.4 x 18.8 mm) Weight: 1.2 lbs (.544 kg) Battery life: 100 hours uninterrupted use time, 6 months standby time, recharges in 120 minutes Previous Reviews ClamCase Pro for iPad (May 14, 2013) ClamCase Pro for iPad Air (August 6, 2014) Design When it comes to iPad keyboard cases that stand up to a lot of abuse, the ClamCase Pro is the hands-down winner. The case features an aluminum body to hold the keyboard and battery, while the iPad Air is securely surrounded with tough polycarbonate. While it may not be the lightest or thinnest keyboard case on the market, the ClamCase Pro is certainly one of the most versatile. The case features a special hinge that lets the iPad be used in landscape orientation just like a laptop similar to other keyboard cases. But the amazing part of this design is in how the iPad can be flipped a full 360° for tablet use. The keyboard has a great feel with good feedback, and there are separate rows for the number keys and iOS function keys. Those keys include a "home" key, Spotlight search, cut, copy and paste, Siri, switch to alternative keyboards, and music and volume controls. There's also a lock key, a full arrow pad, and one special key to tell you how much of a charge is remaining in the ClamCase Pro battery. A single LED is used to provide users with initial Bluetooth pairing status, caps lock, and the battery level. There's an external power switch on the left side of the keyboard to turn the power on and off. Functionality As with previous models of the ClamCase Pro, the iPad Air 2 version pairs quickly with your tablet, requiring no 4-digit code to be entered. As much as I love the classic ClamCase Pro design, there are several things about the case that are beginning to seem dated in comparison with newer keyboard cases. For example, many of the new cases automatically power on and off and don't even have a power switch. That feature is quite useful, as I often found myself closing the ClamCase Pro "cover" -- which turns off the iPad Air 2 -- but forgetting to power down the keyboard. That's not all bad, as the ClamCase Pro does shut off your iPad Air 2 when the lid is down. However, if you're planning on watching a movie in the configuration shown below or you're holding the case in the "flipped" configuration seen above, you should probably use the power switch to turn the keyboard off or you may find you're inadvertently pushing buttons. Update: the ClamCase Pro does shut off the keyboard power automatically when it is in tablet mode. The design of the keyboard case also provides a nice palm rest below the keyboard, which is not only helpful when typing with the iPad Air 2 and ClamCase Pro in your lap, but almost necessary at any time. As light as the iPad Air 2 is, pushing the "screen" back out of the default position or typing on an angled surface can result in the keyboard lifting up. That makes it important for users to keep their palms on the keyboard in those conditions to ensure that the case and iPad don't take a tumble. After using some other keyboard cases for a while, there's one other thing I noticed about the ClamCase Pro -- the space bar is a bit noisy. I've really become accustomed to typing in complete silence on some competing keyboards. This, however, may be specific to the particular test case I was trying. Conclusion All things considered, the ClamCase Pro for iPad Air 2 is probably the most robust keyboard case I've had the pleasure to test. In my opinion, it really protects the iPad better than any other keyboard case on the market. On the negative side, it's still one of the more expensive keyboard cases available, and is also quite heavy in comparison to many competing cases. It's up to the buyer to determine if the protection and flexibility of the design outweigh the premium price and added weight. For anyone who wants to use their iPad to do laptop-type work, there's no better keyboard case to use. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible.
These USB to Lightning charging cables are AWESOME
No, I'm not being overly effusive about a USB to Lightning charging cable; I'm just referring to the brand name for a line of accessories. Awesome Cables used crowdfunding and some design smarts to create charging cables that are a bit different from what you'll get from most other manufacturers. Today we're looking at a pair of these cables, both of which use a braided, non-tangle covering on the exterior. The Mamba Cable (US$30) is Apple MFi-certified, and what you're going to love about this cable is its length - it's 10 feet (3 meters) long! No more sitting next to a wall outlet while charging; you'll be able to hang out at a distance. The Lightning connector and USB plug both have aerospace aluminum shells, and there are good-sized stress relievers on both ends as well. Unlike the stock Apple cables, you're not going to eventually see cracking where the cable meets the connectors, and that's a good thing. The Mamba Cables are expected to ship this month, and you can pre-order them now in either Lightning or micro-USB styles ($20) in black or glow-in-the-dark. The other cable I tested was the 6-foot Braided Awesome Cable 2.0 ($22) in a fun Camo finish (note: the Camo finish was apparently still visible to my cats, who like to play with it). Only the black cables are showing as shipping at this time, but you'll be able to get them in gold, silver and blue finishes soon as well as the Camo pattern. There's usually not a lot to say about charging cables - you plug 'em in and they work. But if you're the type of person who is constantly plugging and unplugging charging cables and has had to replace short, cheap plastic cables frequently, spend a few bucks more and consider getting one of the Awesome Cables. I have to admit, they live up to their name. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
CES 2015: LifeProof and Scosche say it's OK to play in the water
A couple of announcements out of Las Vegas seem to be telling those of us with iOS devices that it's going to be OK to play in the water this year. Both LifeProof and Scosche have announced new waterproof goodies at CES 2015 that promise to provide power to your iOS toys while keeping them safe from H2O. First, LifeProof announced the frē Power, a waterproof battery case for the iPhone 6 that will not only supply 2600 mAh of power, but keep your pride and joy from drowning if you happen to dunk it. The frē Power case is not only waterproof at depths up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) for up to an hour, but it meets Milspec standards for shock and impact as well. No price or delivery date has been announced, but you can sign up to be notified when the frē Power ships later this year. Scosche is saying "go big or go home" with the new goBAT 6000 and goBAT 12000 rugged and waterproof external battery packs. The goBAT 6000 features a 6000 mAh lithium-ion battery and a single 2.4A USB port, while the goBAT 12000 boasts a 12000 mAh battery and two 2.4 USB ports. Both goBATs are IP67 rated and meet or exceed military shockproofing standards. Expected later in Q1 2015, the goBAT 6000 will retail for US$44.99 while its big brother will be priced at $79.99.
CES 2015: OWC's Envoy Pro mini brings SSD performance to a thumb drive form factor
While flash "thumb drives" are convenient, cheap and come in a variety of capacities, they don't exactly thrill users with their speed. Other World Computing yesterday announced the Envoy Pro mini, a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed SSD drive in the form factor of one of the ubiquitous flash drives. The drive, which won the Storage Visions 2015 Visionary Product Award for Mobile Consumer Storage, is packed in a sturdy aluminum enclosure and can be used for storing and transferring data or backing up your Mac. Unlike a traditional USB 3.0 flash drive, you could also probably get away with installing an OS X beta onto the Envoy Pro mini for test purposes since it should be much faster. OWC says that the drive "achieves sustained transfer speeds up to 433 MB/s". The Envoy Pro mini will be shipping in January in two sizes: 120GB (US$119) and 240GB ($199). OWC also announced that the drive will be available soon in a 480GB capacity with price to be determined.
Mophie announces Juice Pack battery case for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
Mophie is finally bringing its Juice Pack battery cases to iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users. Today the company launched pre-orders for the latest editions of the popular cases with prices starting at US$99.95. That price is good for either the Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 6 or the Juice Pack for the iPhone 6. iPhone 6 users can also splurge on the $119.95 Juice Pack Plus, which offers 20 percent more battery life than the Juice Pack Air, along with a shock absorbing shell. Of the three cases, the Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus offers the least amount of extra charge, promising an extra 14.5 hours of talk time. Given that the iPhone 6 Plus' battery already provides 24 hours of talk time, that's roughly only 60 percent more battery life. Still, the iPhone 6 Plus has a considerably more powerful battery than the iPhone 6, so another 14.5 hours may be all the extra juice you need. Take a look at their offerings for yourself right here on Mophie's website. No hard release date has been announced, but hopefully pre-orders will be shipping soon.
CES 2015: Energous WattUp wireless charging
"Wireless charging" for Apple devices at this point usually consists of wrapping your iPhone or iPad in a special case or attaching a special dongle to the Lightning port and then placing the device on some sort of inductive charging pad (the Qi charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium is a perfect example of this). How would you like to be able to have your devices charge up automatically whenever you're within range of a special wireless transmitter? That's the premise behind the Energous Corporation WattUp product demoed at CES this year. WattUp is a Bluetooth and RF-enabled transmitter (that black device in the image at the top of this post) that uses Wi-Fi bands to deliver what the company calls "intelligent, scalable power" to devices that require 10 watts or less of power. Up to 12 receiving devices can be charged by one WattUp transmitter at any time, and the company has an app for controlling the order and preference of charges. For example, smartphones or tablets could start charging whenever you walk into your home, while keyboards and remotes might charge at night. Energous wants to license WattUp to manufacturers of wearables, smartphones, and tablets, so we can only hope that the company has approached Apple. I, for one, would love to use a system like this for constant trickle charging of an Apple Watch.
CES 2015: AT&T announces 4G LTE Modio Smartcase for Wi-Fi iPads
So, you bought a Wi-Fi-only iPad or iPad mini, and now you're regretting the fact that you can't work or play while away from Wi-Fi networks. Regrets, begone! At CES 2015, AT&T today announced the new Modio Smartcase, which is essentially an iPad case with a built-in 4G LTE hotspot. The case will eventually be available for all models of the iPad Air and iPad mini, and has some other perks in addition to the 4G LTE connection. There's a built-in 4,600 mAh battery pack to keep the device going for up to 10 hours, and a microSD card slot that can be used to offload up to 32 GB of files off of your iPad. The AT&T Modio Data application will work to let you do the file transfers, as well as monitor your data usage and connection. AT&T customers with a Mobile Share plan can add the Modio Smartcase-equipped iPad to their plan. Currently, the AT&T website shows the Modio Smartcase for iPad mini as "coming soon," but no availability dates or pricing have been set for the other models.
CES 2015: Braven rolls out new 805, Balance, and BRV-PRO Bluetooth Speakers
And now, let's take a break from the connected devices news from CES 2015 with an announcement of three new Bluetooth speakers from Braven. The company, which is known for some pretty decent Bluetooth speakers, announced three models - the 805, Balance, and BRV-PRO. The Braven 805 (image at top of post) will remind many readers of many eariler Braven speakers designed for use in the home. It comes in a variety of colors - orange, teal, magenta, red, green, yellow, white, gray and black. Priced at US$199.99 and expected to ship this month, the Braven 805 can be paired with a second 805, 850, 855s, 1100, or BRV-HD speaker for true left-right channel stereo sound. The 805 also provides speakerphone capability with an integrated noise-canceling microphone, and packs a 4400 mAh battery for charging your other portable devices. Next on the list is the Braven Balance, an indoor/outdoor speaker with a thin profile, anti-slip exterior, and IPX5 waterproof rating. Priced at $149.99, Braven expects to ship the Balance in the second quarter of 2015. Like the Braven 805, the Balance has a 4400 mAh internal battery for powering other devices, and can be used as a speakerphone. Expect the Balance to be colorful, as it will ship in Raven, Alpine, Raspberry, Electric, Sunset and Periwinkle. Finally, outdoor enthusiasts are going to lve the BRV-PRO, a $149.99 ruggedized modular speaker that will come with a range of accessories. The accessories include a 2800 mAh extended battery pack to give the built-in 2200 mAh battery some help, an LED Glow Deck that turns the BRV-PRO into a mini-lantern for camping, a Folding Solar Panel for sun-powered charging, a GoPro compatible camera mount, a Qi Wireless charging pad, and a Stack Plate Multiplier for stacking multiple BRV-PRO speakers. The accessories will be priced anywhere from $29.99 to $49.99 each. Expect to see some reviews of some of the new Braven speakers on TUAW in the future.