cult of mac review

Tapplock One+ biometric padlock easily secures your valuables [Review]

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Tapplock One+ review
Open a gate or unlock your bike at just the press of a finger with Tapplock One+.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The combination lock you used in school is a dinosaur now. It’s been replaced with much smarter versions like Tapplock One+. This has a fingerprint scanner, and a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone. It’s a padlock with no key to lose or combination to memorize.

Unlock the details in our in-depth review.

New Tile Sticker will help you find anything [Review]

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Tile Pro, Tile Sticker, Tile Mate and Tile Slim
The round Tile Sticker is the new model, but there are also updates to Tile Pro, Tile Mate and Tile Slim.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone who’s ever spent a half hour searching for the TV remote can understand the appeal of the Tile Sticker. Glue it to anything relatively flat and you’ll never misplace that item again, as your iPhone can have this tiny tag play a loud alarm. Or put one on the headphones you can never find, or maybe the back of your ID badge.

There are also improved versions of the Tile Pro, Tile Mate and Tile Slim out today to help with finding your keys or wallet. Just don’t get lost in our reviews of all four new item trackers.

OWC’s USB-C multiport hub is built like a tank [Review]

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OWC USB-C Travel Dock with iPad Pro
The OWC USB-C Travel Dock adds multiple ports to an iPad Pro or MacBook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The OWC USB-C Travel Dock has five ports to extend the capabilities of your MacBook or iPad Pro, including HDMI and dual USB-A. Wrapped around these is a casing of aluminum and plastic thick enough to stand up to the kind of punishment many of us subject our gear to. Yet it still looks professional.

We used this multiport hub on several business trips. Here’s how it came through.

Get free power anywhere with myCharge’s solar battery [Review]

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myCharge Solar PowerFold review
Put the Solar PowerFold in the Sun for a few hours to bring a useful charge to your iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A solar-powered battery should be part of any disaster-preparedness kit, and the myCharge Solar PowerFold can keep an iPhone up and running just by sitting in the sun for a few hours.

We tested the ability of this very portable device to capture the thermonuclear power of our nearest star. Here’s how it went.

6 reasons the 6.1-inch iPhone 11 is Apple’s best new smartphone [Review]

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Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Everyone shopping for a 2019 iPhone faces a conundrum. The new Pro models come loaded with top-of-line features, but they cost much, much more than the 6.1-inch iPhone 11. Is it really necessary to pay $1,000 or more to get a great iPhone?

No, no it isn’t. In our iPhone 11 review, we’ll tell you why it’s Apple’s best new smartphone for most people.

Anker’s ultra-slim charger is just right for your iPad [Review]

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Anker PowerPort Atom III
The Anker PowerPort Atom III is minuscule for a 30W charger.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wall chargers made with gallium nitride (GaN) transistors can be considerably smaller than ones that use silicon instead. An outstanding case in point is the Anker PowerPort Atom III Slim, which is tiny but can still put out 30W to quickly power up an iPad Pro or even a MacBook.

We tested this svelte USB-C battery charger in the field. Read on to see how well it lives up to its promise.

Tivoli Bluetooth speaker looks as good as it sounds [Review]

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Tivoli Audio Andiamo review
If a speaker can be beautiful, then the Tivoli Audio Andiamo is beautiful.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Andiamo means “Let’s go” in Italian, and Tivoli Audio’s Andiamo is a very stylish speaker to take on the go. It has a cylindrical design wrapped in a leather carrying strap, and provides satisfactory sound.

Lend us an ear for a review of this Bluetooth speaker designed for listening wherever.

HyperDrive 9-in-1 multi-port hub is surprisingly slender [Review]

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Sanho HyperDrive Power 9-in-1 USB-C Hub
The HyperDrive Power has an extra-long USB-C cable so iPad Pro users can take advantage of its many ports.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

USB-C hubs with a profusion of ports are hot now, but Sanho’s HyperDrive Power is far sleeker than any of its rivals. And it doesn’t sacrifice connectivity options for its svelte profile, offering a trio of USB-A ports, dual memory card readers, HDMI, a headphone jack and even Ethernet.

Our review involved testing all nine ports, which took a while. Read on to see if the HyperDrive Power deserves a place in your gear bag.

Dump the HDMI cable with IOGear’s SharePro Mini [Review]

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IOGear SharePro Mini
The SharePro Mini can really cut down on the clutter around your TV.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

IOGear has a simple, wireless replacement for HDMI cables. The SharePro Mini creates its own little Wi-Fi network to stream video between a small transmitter and receiver, connecting your MacBook and TV without a wire. There are some limitations, of course.

We’re been testing this gadget for weeks. Tune in to see if it’s something you need for your living room, or for your next presentation.

Brilliant 6-in-1 USB-C Hub makes iPad Pro even more useful [Review]

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Hyper HyperDrive iPad Pro review
Hyper’s USB-C hub clips securely to the side of an iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The USB-C port in Apple’s latest professional-grade tablet is a giant improvement, but a new accessory still manages to make it even more useful. The HyperDrive iPad Pro allows every type of wired accessory supported by this computer to be accessed. Even better, it’s designed to clip to the side of the slate for maximum ease of use.

Don’t miss our in-depth review of this USB-C hub developed especially for the latest iPad.

Sleek wireless charger looks great while powering up iPhone and AirPods [Review]

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Satechi Wireless Charger V2
A wireless charging mat should look as good as it works, and Satechi’s does.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wireless charging is so much easier than the daily hassle of plugging and unplugging your iPhone. And the new AirPods wireless charging case makes giving up Lightning cables even more logical. Satechi just introduced a Apple-compatible wireless charger that’s not only functional, it’s also great looking.

We fully tested this accessory out, so don’t miss our hands-on review.

Logitech Crayon is a more affordable Apple Pencil alternative [Updated review]

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Save big by getting a Logitech Crayon for your iPad Pro instead of an Apple Pencil 2.
The Logitech Crayon costs less than the Apple Pencil, and it now works with the 2018 iPad Pro and other recent iOS tablets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad is a great educational tool, no matter the age of the student. But some children are too young for a keyboard. That’s where the Logitech Crayon comes in. It’s a digital pencil designed for students to write and draw on a variety of iPad and iPad Pro models.

We put this educational accessory to the test.

Every audiophile’s iPad Pro needs this headphone adapter [Review]

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Satechi Type-C to 3.5mm Audio Headphone Jack Adapter review
Plug headphones or speakers into an 2018 iPad Pro, while also charging the tablet, with Satechi’s latest adapter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s no headphone jack in the 2018 iPad Pro, which is darn inconvenient for anyone who wants to hook their tablet up to a non-Bluetooth pair of headphones or speakers. Fortunately, Satechi makes a small and simple USB-C adapter with a 3.5mm jack. There’s also a second USB-C port so the tablet can charge at the same time.

In addition, Satechi just released a USB-C cable that can handle 100W of power. Be sure to read our reviews of both.

iPhone battery pack doubles as a wireless charger [Review]

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Mipow Power Cube XS review
The Mipow Power Cube XS is a desktop wireless charger and a portable wireless charger in one.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Mipow Power Cube XS combines a wireless iPhone charger with a portable battery. Put another way, it’s a wireless charger that works wherever you take it, with no power sockets or cables needed.

Be sure to check out our reviews of this innovative but affordable accessory, which launches this week.

These bone-conduction smart glasses make headphones unnecessary [Review]

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Lucyd Loud review
For some people, Lucyd Loud smart glasses are a better option than AirPods.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Headphones are so ubiquitous we often don’t think about their disadvantages. Lucyd created a pair of smart glasses that let you listen to music or podcasts while still allowing you to hear what’s going on around you. This Bluetooth accessory also lets you access Siri from your iPhone, as well as make and receive calls.

Don’t miss our hands-on review of the Lucyd Loud tech frames.

Braven’s rugged portable speaker can take whatever you dish out [Review]

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Braven BRV-105 review: This Bluetooth speaker is as active as you are. It’s up for biking, sailing ... you name it.
The Braven BRV-105 is as active as you are. It’s up for biking, sailing... you name it.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Braven BRV-105 can go anywhere and survive whatever you can. This palm-size speaker is waterproof and rugged without being too bulky. Attach it to your bike or belt and listen to music wherever you go without headphones.

We fully tested this Bluetooth accessory, so don’t miss our review.

All the ways Mophie’s iPhone battery pack beats Apple’s [Review]

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Mophie Juice Pack Access review
The Mophie Juice Pack Access helps the most recent iPhone models spend longer away from electrical sockets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Mophie Juice Pack Access is designed to extend the already long battery lives of the 2018 iPhone models. And charging can be done wirelessly, so the handset’s Lightning port is always available.

We put this new battery pack to the test. And we also compare it to the features of Apple’s similar Smart Battery Case.

These handsome leather iPhone cases replace your wallet [Review]

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Any of these Dodocases can hold your iPhone and your credit cards, driver license, etc.
Any of these Dodocases can hold your iPhone and your credit cards, driver license, etc.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay and electronic IDs are removing the need for a wallet, but why wait? Try a Dodocase that holds your phone as well as your drivers license, credit cards, etc.

We went hands on with three of this company’s leather iPhone wallet cases so we can report how they stand up to real-world use.

Tiny adapter makes your iPad into a MacBook’s second screen [Review]

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Luna Display easily converts an iPad into a second screen for your MacBook Pro.
Luna Display easily makes your iOS tablet into a screen for your Mac.
Photo: Astro HQ

Even a 15-inch MacBook Pro screen feels cramped when compared to a big desktop display. Too bad toting around a second screen for your laptop isn’t practical.

But maybe it is. Luna Display is a tiny wireless adapter that lets an iPad act as an external display for a Mac. We tested this accessory to see how well it lives up to its promise of a hassle-free way of extending our MacBook screen when on the go. Read on to find out how it did.

Apple’s new iPad Pro keyboard case is slim but pricey [Review]

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The Smart Keyboard Folio turns the iPad into a laptop, but there are better options.
The Smart Keyboard Folio turns the 2018 iPad Pro into a notebook.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

Anyone planning to use a 2018 iPad Pro for business probably needs an add-on keyboard. Apple’s own offering in this category is the Smart Keyboard Folio, which wraps tightly around this new tablet, both protecting it and providing the text input method so many of us depend on.

Because it’s made by Apple, nearly everyone who buys an iPad Pro considers getting this accessory, but the price will give you reason to pause.

We put one through extensive testing to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Slice everything (and the price) for high scores in Apple’s free app of the week

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While many are sure to remember the old hit-game Fruit Ninja, not many are still playing it. Though the slicing mania may be on halt in one app, Apple’s current app of the week KingHunt aims to keep you going at it. Claiming to be the next generation of the slicing game genre, slice your way through crazy objects and plenty of fun-filled levels. Do you think you can become the ultimate hunter?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Recycle your way to world domination in Scrap Squad

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Recycling is generally perceived as a good practice to help save the Earth. In the new game Scrap Squad, it’s quite the opposite: You sort and recycle to dominate the world.

Tap and drag bottles, cans, paper and other refuse down a conveyor belt and into corresponding colored robots as fast as you can. Do you think you’re a good enough evil genius to top the high-score charts?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Whirl away your free time with unique match-three game Spin It

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It’s not uncommon to find yourself in a situation throughout the day when you’re just bored and looking for something to do. New iOS game Spin It will bring a fresh type of gameplay to your device to keep you entertained. Spin colored circles around the screen to match them in sets of three and four. Can you spin your way to the top of the high-score charts?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Jumping Jaxx Reinvents Endless-Jumper Gameplay [Video Review]

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The app store is notoriously known for having tons of endless runner games. While some developers are sticking to the running genre, others have taken to jumping. The new app Jumping Jaxx is an endless jumper where players must swipe platforms on the screen to keep the character from falling into a giant wave. Dodge piranhas, catch powerful boosts and collect as many flowers as possible to reach a new high-score and purchase upgrades. How high do you think you can help Jumping Jaxx reach?

Take a look at the video to see what you think.