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Reviews - page 46

Easily attach iPhone to Xbox controller with OtterBox MagSafe clip [Review]

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OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip for MagSafe review
The OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip for MagSafe offers better gaming with the convenience of magnets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip for MagSafe uses magnets to connect your iPhone to your Xbox controller. It’s quick but secure. And you can easily rotate between landscape and portrait orientation.

I played a bunch of different games over the weekend using this accessory. Here’s why I like it.

Rise and whine! The Morning Show is back for season 2 [Apple TV+ review]

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Hasan Minhaj and Reese Witherspoon returns to The Morning Show
Ready for another season of network TV skullduggery? We are!

Mitch is gone. Hannah is dead. Alex wants out. Cory wants in! The Morning Show, Apple TV+’s flagship series about the diabolical inner workings of a network news operation, kicks off its second season Friday. And the highs and lows are just as broad as you remember them.

Stars Jennifer Anniston, Billy Crudup and Reese Witherspoon return for another go-round in the show-about-a-show. Can they keep the lights on without Steve Carell on the set? Can they ensure the future of the United Broadcast Association? Are people even still watching the morning news?!?

Things are about to get ugly on Truth Be Told [Apple TV+ review]

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Truth Be Told review: Andre Royo makes a splash in this week's episode.
Andre Royo (center) makes a splash in this week's episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

This week on Truth Be Told, true-crime podcaster Poppy Parnell uncovers some shady truths and half-truths about the object of her big investigation. Micah Keith isn’t who she’s been claiming she is — and there’s gonna be hell to pay when Poppy Parnell finds out.

Halfway through its second season, the Apple TV+ drama cranks the heat up even higher with an intense confrontation and a standout performance.

Fan of historical fantasy spun by victors? Watch 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room [Apple TV+ review]

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9/11: Inside the President's War Room
This 9/11 doc marks an anniversary people will have no trouble remembering.
Photo: Apple TV+

With the 20-year anniversary of 9/11 around the corner, Apple TV+ funded the new documentary 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room. This was unwise from all but perhaps a business standpoint — but even there it’s a gamble.

On Truth Be Told, more tantalizing clues fall into place [Apple TV+ review]

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Truth Be Told review: Things get even more strained for Micah, played by Kate Hudson, in this week's episode.
Micah (played by Kate Hudson) needs to do some serious damage control.
Photo: Apple TV+

This week on Truth Be Told, the Apple TV+ true crime fiction series turns up the heat on podcaster Poppy Parnell and lifestyle (and deathstyle?) guru Micah. The characters find fewer allies everywhere they look.

Poppy (played by Octavia Spencer) knew this case would hurt — but she was hoping the pain would take longer to start.

Pocket-size USB hub adds 4 useful ports to iPad or Mac [Review]

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Twelve South StayGo mini review
Tremendously expand the usefulness of your iPad with this tiny USB-C hub.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Plug the Twelve South StayGo mini into the USB-C port on an iPad Pro or Air and you’ll add a USB-A port, HDMI and a headset jack. All without sacrificing the USB-C port. And it can be used with a Mac thanks to a handy cable.

I put this matchbook-size adapter through its paces. Here’s how it stood up to my testing.

Harber London leather desk mat and mouse pad really class up the joint [Reviews]

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The XL Harber London desk mat adds soft, supple leather to your workspace.
The XL Harber London desk mat adds soft, supple leather to your workspace.
Photo: Harber London

You may not be into overstuffed leather sofas, leather car seats and jackets worthy of the wardrobe department of The Sopranos. But it’s hard to deny the sense of class and luxury leather accessories can add to a computer workstation. And you can really dress up your desk with Harber London’s leather desk mat and mouse pad combo.

Connect 4 USB-C accessories to your Mac with Satechi’s handy new hub [Review]

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Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub review
With the Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub, you can add USB-C ports to your computer quickly and easily.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub adds a quartet of useful USB-C ports to your Mac or iPad. The days of struggling along with too few ports are over — you can finally connect as many accessories to your computer as you need.

I put Satechi’s new hub through some real-world testing. Here’s how well it works.

Dave Bautista’s blind rage spices up See’s second season [Apple TV+ review]

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See season 2 review: Big Dave Bautista almost makes See worth seeing.
Big Dave Bautista almost makes See worth seeing.
Photo: Apple TV+

For season 2 of See, show creator Steven Knight warms up a second helping of his weird, post-apocalyptic gumbo for Apple TV+. This time, he spices things up with a key ingredient — the inimitable Dave Bautista — that almost redeems See’s crazy mix of bizarre rituals, bombastic fight scenes and bad dialogue.

The addition of Bautista proves most welcome indeed. The former pro wrestler and Guardians of the Galaxy star lends his steely gravitas to a sprawling show that wants nothing more than to make its mark as a sci-fi epic.

In season 2, which kicks off on Apple TV+ today, we learn a lot more about living in a blind society. And we come to grips with a blood feud that will haunt all concerned.

This portable Thunderbolt SSD is so tough it’s been to space [Review]

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OWC Envoy Pro FX review
OWC Envoy Pro FX
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

No matter how hard you are on your gear, you aren‘t going to destroy the OWC Envoy Pro FX. The 2 terabyte SSD is waterproof and offers military-level drop toughness. Plus the USB-C accessory supports Thunderbolt 3 so data transfers are super fast.

I put the solid state drive through testing. Here’s how it stood up.

Leather cuff for Apple Watch is crazy-comfortable, super-stylish [Review]

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Monowear-leather-cuff
Another excellent photo from Killian Bell.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Monowear’s Contemporary Leather Cuff is so good, it might just be my favorite Apple Watch band to date.

Not only is it made from a soft, luxurious leather that makes it insanely comfortable, but it looks terrific. It’s compatible with all Watch models, and it’s nowhere near as expensive as it looks.

Apple households need this powerful Linksys mesh router [Review]

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Linksys Velop AX4200 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System review
iPhone, Mac and iPad users, the Velop AX4200 might be the mesh Wi-Fi router you’ve been looking for. Especially if you also use HomeKit.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Linksys Velop AX4200 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System offers the features Apple users need. And that’s especially true for fans of HomeKit as the routers add extra security to these home automation accessories. Plus, the system offers an improved version of Wi-Fi.

To test the system out, I added Linksys mesh Wi-Fi routers to my home. Here’s how they work in real-world use.

Engrossing Truth Be Told returns to the scene of the crime [Apple TV+ review]

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Octavia Spencer as Poppy Parnell on Truth Be Told
Octavia Spencer plays true-crime podcaster Poppy Parnell.
Photo: Apple TV+

Truth Be Told, the Apple TV+ series about a true-crime podcaster, makes its triumphant return this week after winning a host of awards and setting up a new-yet-old-fashioned kind of TV heroine.

In the show’s second season, which kicks off today, star Octavia Spencer and a host of the greatest actors in America keep Truth Be Told rooted in a relatable reality.

Sundance smash CODA checks all the boxes you’d expect [Apple TV+ review]

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Emilia Jones and Eugenio Derbez in Coda
CODA delivers just what you'd expect from a "Sundance movie."
Photo: Apple TV+

CODA, this year’s Sundance Film Festival hit, is here to add some family-friendly laughs and musical feel-goodery to Apple TV+.

Will you enjoy this award-winning film about a teen with a deaf family? Very probably. Will you remember it? Very probably not. But not everything has to be Citizen Kane, right?

OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock adds 14 powerful ports to your Mac [Review]

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OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock review
Put the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock on your desk and you’re ready for high-speed connections to a wide range of accessories.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

You need a powerful dock to make your Mac the center of a highly capable office. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock has fourteen ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals. That includes multiple USB-C ports, something you won’t find on USB-C hubs. Plus there’s USB-A, Ethernet, a headset jack and more.

I added this dock to my office. Here’s how it performs in real-world use.

You can stream Mr. Corman now. Don’t. [Apple TV+ review]

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Mr. Corman review on Apple TV+: Debra Winger deserves better than what Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers.
Debra Winger deserves better than what Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers.
Photo: Apple TV+

With new Apple TV+ series Mr. Corman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt returns to our screens after a brief hiatus and well … I can’t say I was ready to have him back. A few more years in the deep freeze might have taught him no one’s interested in the foibles of a white man trying to navigate sexual politics in 2021.

4 ways Brydge 12.9 Max+ iPad Pro keyboard beats Apple Magic Keyboard

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4 ways Brydge 12.9 Max+ iPad Pro keyboard beats Apple Magic Keyboard
The Brydge 12.9 Max+ is stronger competition for the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro than many might realize.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

While the Apple Magic Keyboard is an outstanding way to transform an iPad Pro into laptop, it’s not necessarily the best option. The Brydge 12.9 Max+ is also a very capable keyboard case for Apple’s premier tablet. I use both and pitted them against each other. And I found definite advantages to Brydge’s offering.

This MagSafe-compatible desk stand keeps your iPhone ready to go [Review]

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Mophie Snap+ Wireless Charging Stand review
The Mophie Snap+ Wireless Charging Stand juices up your iPhone 12 and looks good doing it.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Just place your iPhone 12 on the Mophie Snap+ Wireless Charging Stand and the two will cling together magnetically thanks to the MagSafe system. The stand makes it easier to see the iPhone’s screen on portrait or landscape mode, and your handset is getting recharged at the same time.

I’ve used accessory on my desk for close to a week now. Here’s why I like it.

Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson is a fun dive into music production [Apple TV+ review]

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Watch The Sound with Mark Ronson review: The producer breaks down the elements of music on the hugely enjoyable new Apple TV+ docuseries.
Mark Ronson breaks down the elements of music on the hugely enjoyable new Apple TV+ docuseries.
Photo: Apple TV+

In the latest docuseries from Apple TV+, the world’s most in-demand producer takes a step out from behind the boards to lead us on a meditative quest to better understand the elements of music and music production that inspire him. Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson serves as a master class in mixing, mastering, experimenting and breaking it down.

Mophie clip-on power bank costs half what Apple’s does [Review]

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Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini review
The Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini is quite small for something that doubles the battery life of an Phone 12.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Double your iPhone 12’s battery life by attaching the Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini. The two devices connect magnetically with Apple’s MagSafe system, and power flows wirelessly. It’s really simple.

I took the 5000 mAh power bank on a recent holiday to truly put it to the test. It came though with flying colors. And it costs far, far less than Apple’s similar MagSafe Power Bank.

In season 2, Ted Lasso settles into being the world’s most positive sitcom [Apple TV+ review]

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Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt and Nick Mohammed in Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt and Nick Mohammed survey the pitch.
Photo: Apple TV+

The big American heart in the body of the United Kingdom is beating again. Ted Lasso is back for another season of relentless positivity, and fans of the hit Apple TV+ comedy can rest easy. They know exactly what they’re getting.

The title character, played by Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis, returns for more unorthodox soccer coaching with his deep bench of homespun aphorisms intact. In short, if you liked the first season — and who didn’t? — you’ll enjoy this one as well.

Handy portable iPad stand is also a 6-port hub [Review]

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Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub for iPad Pro review
The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub has what you need to make your iPad Pro or Air into a portable desktop.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub turns your iPad into a useful desktop. Not only does it prop up your tablet, it includes six useful ports. And it goes almost anywhere, from a meeting room to a coffee shop.

I’ve used the tablet stand for weeks, including on a recent vacation. Here’s why I love it… despite a limitation or two.