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Reviews - page 51

This tiny charger juices up your iPhone and MacBook [Review]

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Aukey Omnia Mix review
Don’t let the small size of the Aukey Omnia Mix fool you.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey Omnia Mix wall charger offers a USB-C port that can handle anything from an iPhone to a MacBook. It’s palm-size but the 65W portable power adapter also includes a USB-A port for other electronics, like an Apple Watch.

My real-world testing included using the affordable charger with multiple Apple devices. Here’s how it stood up.

Servant serves up second helping of high-key lunacy [Apple TV+ review]

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Apple TV+ show Servant returns Jan. 15 for a wonderfully mean second season.
Servant returns this Friday for a wonderfully mean second season.
Photo: Apple TV+

Servant, the brainchild of producer/director M. Night Shyamalan and writer Tony Basgallop, is back for more perversity, more cultish derangement, and more exquisitely photographed food.

The sleeper Apple TV+ hit comes roaring back for a well-deserved victory lap this Friday. And in this second season, everyone from the characters to the directors seems to know it’s time to take off the gloves.

Minix 4-port portable charger can power all your gear [Review]

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Minix Neo P2 review
The Minix Neo P2 can charge any MacBook at full speed. Or power up four devices at once.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There are so many electronic devices scattered around our homes and offices that a multi-port charger makes sense. The Minix Neo P2 can share up to 100 watts of power with a MacBook, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch all at the same time. Or it can charge your Mac at full power. Plus, the wall adapter is portable and can be used in power sockets around the world.

I used the accessory as my primacy charger for weeks to keep almost all my devices going. Here’s how it stood up in the real world.

5 ways AirPods Max let me down

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AirPods Max playing music on Spotify
AirPods Max are great for lots of genres of music, or for watching video content, but...
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

I love the idea of good-sounding, comfortable, high-quality headphones. And Apple’s new AirPods Max definitely check those boxes.

They offer great sound and they’re super-comfortable to wear, even for longer periods of time. On top of that, they pack all the things that make AirPods magical in a very premium package.

But even with those awesome features, AirPods Max aren’t for everyone, and that includes me. As much as I’ve loved my AirPods and AirPods Pro, these kind of let me down.

Ugreen X-Kit cleverly combines MacBook stand with USB-C multiport hub [Review]

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Ugreen X-Kit review
The Ugreen X-Kit looks like an ordinary laptop standing, but it does much more.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Laptop stands make it easier to type as well as see what’s on your MacBook display. USB-C hubs make adding peripherals to your laptop a snap. The Ugreen X-Kit is both a display and a hub. Plus, it’s designed to be used on the go.

I tried out this combination stand/hub to see how well it works with Apple gear. Read on to see what I found out.

Innovative Apple Watch band lets runners monitor speed and heart rate at a glance [Review]

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EdgeGear Shift review: Seeing your Apple Watch while jogging is far easier with this Apple Watch band for runners.
Seeing your Apple Watch while running is far easier with the EdgeGear Shift.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The design of the wristwatch hasn’t changed in over 100 years, but EdgeGear has an alternative that makes it easier for runners to see their Apple Watch while on the go. The Shift is not like any band you’ve worn before, as the Watch is held near the base of your thumb, not in the middle of your wrist.

I took the EdgeGear Shift on a few runs, and can report on how it performed in the real world.

This mobile charger quickly juices up MacBook and iPhone simultaneously [Review]

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Aukey Omnia Mix3 Charger review
The Aukey Omnia Mix3 Charger is smaller than Apple’s MacBook one, but boasts 3x as many ports.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey Omnia Mix3 90W 3-Port PD Charger can juice up your MacBook Pro at nearly full speed. Or it can power your iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch all at the same time.

Since Apple stopped bundling chargers with its iPhones, but they do come with a Lightning to USB-C cable, now is a good time to consider a multi-port USB-C solution like this one.

I put the Aukey wall charger to the test powering up my devices. Read on to see how well it did.

Monowear’s new leather band for Apple Watch is its best yet [Review]

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Monowear Deployant Leather band for Apple Watch
A great leather band that does away with fiddly buckles.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Thanks to a wonderfully simple quick-release clasp, Monowear’s new Deployant Reserve band for Apple Watch is ideal for anyone who despises traditional buckles. It’s made from genuine leather that’s wonderfully soft, and like all Monowear products, it’s also nicely priced.

Here’s our full review.

Connect AirPods to almost anything with AirFly Pro [Review]

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Twelve South AirFly Pro with AirPods Pro
Twelve South AirFly Pro is the perfect companion for AirPods Pro.
Photo: Twelve South

AirFly Pro can wirelessly connect your AirPods to a plane’s entertainment system. Or the machines at your gym. If it has a 3.5 mm audio jack, this Bluetooth adapter lets it communicate with your AirPods. Even two pairs at once.

And the same easily pocketable gizmo can connect your iPhone to a car stereo’s AUX port to play music off your iPhone.

I tested both these features — find out how well they work in this AirFly Pro review.

Facebook to Bauhaus: 2020’s best tech books

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Best books
Here are some more books to join your already creaking bookshelves.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Looking for a great book to bury yourself in as we escape the closing days of a pretty terrible year? Whether you’re looking for one for yourself or a gift for a fellow tech lover, 2020 had no shortage of great titles.

Here are our choices for the best tech books of 2020.

Mophie clip-on power bank charges your iPhone on the go [Review]

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Mophie Juice Pack Connect review
The Mophie Juice Pack Connect is bulky, but the clip-on battery is easily removable.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Attach the Mophie Juice Pack Connect to your iPhone to significantly increase the battery life. And replace it with a ring holder/stand when you want a slim handset again.

I put this clip-on battery system to the test. Here’s how it stood up.

AirPods Max will excite your ears, dazzle your eyes and empty your wallet [Review]

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AirPods Max review: Apple's new noise-canceling headphones truly put the
Apple's new noise-canceling headphones truly put the "pod" in AirPods.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

With a sleek design and some sweet Apple magic, AirPods Pro Max headphones look great, sound exciting and reward those in the Apple ecosystem.

However, the hefty $549 price tag, some quirky design decisions and some very real limitations mean they’re not right for absolutely everyone.

Elago 3-in-1 charging hub is virtually unbreakable, a steal at $30 [Review]

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Elago-charging-hub-1
Strong, practical, and nicely priced.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

A decent all-in-one charging hub that can top-up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously doesn’t have to break the bank. Elago’s is insanely practical, virtually unbreakable, and a steal at just $30.

It’s ideal not only for desks and bedside tables, but also those who frequently travel. It supports all iPhone and Apple Watch models, and it’s available in a number of smart and subtle color options.

Float your iPad Pro above your keyboard with the amazing Moft Float [Review]

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Moft Float review
Moft Float adds a dual-hinge stand to an iPad, giving it a huge range of viewing options.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Moft Float adds a two-level kickstand to your iPad Pro or iPad Air, and can even lift the tablet so it seems to float over the keyboard. This combination case and stand is a truly brilliant piece of kit.

I’ve been testing this not-yet-released product, and here’s what it’s like to use every day.

Apple Fitness+ review: First impressions from a fitness fanatic

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Apple Fitness+ review: With 10 types of workouts, there's something for nearly everyone.
I let Apple Fitness+ test me to the limit, so I could test it to the limit.
Photo: Apple

Apple Fitness+ only came online yesterday, but I’ve already logged 10 workouts with it. I let Cupertino’s new subscription service put me through my paces, so I could put it through its paces to bring you this review.

I’m a qualified personal trainer and a fitness fanatic who trains hard every day. So I was curious to find out if Apple Fitness+ could give me a challenging workout.

Wolfwalkers is the best animated film of the year [Apple TV+ review]

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Apple TV+ enters the world of auteur animation with new animated film Wolfwalkers.
Apple TV+ enters the world of auteur animation with new animated film Wolfwalkers.
Image: Apple TV+

Wolfwalkers, the animated movie that arrives on Apple TV+ today, is the best animated film of 2020. A fiery mix of folklore and feminism, it’s one of the most astonishing works of visual art you’re likely to see this year.

It comes from the makers of gorgeous animated features The Secret of Kells and The Breadwinner — and it marks their strongest work to date.

This tiny charger powers Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch at once [Review]

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Minix Neo P1 review
A pair of USB-C ports and a USB-A one provide up to 66W of power for your electronics.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Minix Neo P1 uses gallium nitride to pack three powerful USB ports into a tiny wall charger. It can provide up to 66W to an iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or other gear. And the power adapter is made for travel, with fold-down prongs and adapters for a wide variety of countries.

I tested the Neo P1 with a variety of devices. Here’s how it stood up.

Glass top lets you see all 16 coils inside this insane wireless charger [Review]

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Zens-Liberty-1
The Zens Liberty charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Wireless chargers don’t get much cooler than the new Liberty from Zens. Available with a tempered glass surface that lets you see all 16 of its copper charging coils, it tops up iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously.

It’s probably the only wireless charger you’ll ever need, and it does its job brilliantly. It’s like an AirPower you can actually buy.

10 amazing Apple Watch accessories for less than $35

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10-amazing-Apple-Watch-accessories
Get the upgrades your Apple Watch deserves at prices you can afford.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Right from the start, the Apple Watch was all about personalization, thanks to interchangeable bands and watch faces. Now, Apple Watch owners enjoy even more options for making their wearables their own. To aid that quest for customization, we rounded up a bunch of brilliant Apple Watch accessories you can get right now, all for $35 or less.

You’ll find beautiful bands, brilliant bumpers and the coolest charging docks — all reviewed or approved by a member of the Cult of Mac team.

Feast your eyes on Earth at Night in Color [Apple TV+ review]

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The Earth At Night in Color
Brace yourself for an unequaled eyeful of nature.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ steps up its nature doc game again with Earth at Night in Color. Exciting, beautiful and cute, the show is as easy to watch as it is cumbersome to say.

Narrated by Tom Hiddleston, the series looks at parts of the natural world previously only revealed in grainy and intense night vision. It’s as exciting and revealing as anyone could hope for.

Stillwater will teach kids how to avoid meltdowns [Apple TV+ review]

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Apple TV+'s newest animated series Stillwater
A talking bear teaches kids life lessons in this new Apple TV+ show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ continues its inspired streak of children’s fare with an adaptation of Jon J Muth’s Zen storytelling book series. Stillwater takes the central character from those books, a stoic and wise panda, and pits him against the foibles of three young kids.

Stillwater, which lands on Apple TV+ today, feels like a kind of classic PBS kids cartoon. It’s all about trying to prepare pipsqueaks for life’s disappointments by teaching them how to shift their perspective — and understand that some of life is beyond our control. There’s an awful lot to enjoy in this one.

All I want for Christmas is Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+ [Review]

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Apple TV+
Festive fierceness incoming.
Photo: Apple

Let’s be honest, you already know whether you’re going to watch Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+.

This isn’t an early Apple Silicon Mac where you need to read up on whether the transition to a new chip architecture has worked before making your purchasing decision. You either heard the words “Mariah” and “Christmas special” and thought “that’s an easy skip,” or immediately set about making space on your calendar to enjoy it in all its festive fierceness.

Nothing I write here is going to change your mind on either of these polarized takes. But, for the record, I enjoyed the show, which premiered today on Apple TV+.

Bucardo Sport Apple Watch band plays as hard as you do [Review]

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Bucardo Sport Apple Watch band review
The Bucardo Sport is a Apple Watch band ready to hit the court when you are.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch is meant to be worn while exercising, and the Bucardo Sport is a Watch band created with athletes in mind. But it also looks great for everyday use.

The sporty Apple Watch band comes in a range of colors, and it’s made of performance fabric. Find out what it’s like to wear.