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Reviews - page 54

EasyPencil Plus is like Apple Pencil lite [Review]

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SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: Inexpensive iPad stylus
This isn’t an Apple Pencil, though the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus looks much like Apple’s iPad stylus.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus is an iPad stylus that does most of what Apple Pencil does for a lot less money. It even magnetically clings to the iPad Pro, and works with a broad variety of Apple tablets.

I used the stylus for taking notes, sketching and photo editing. Here’s how it stood up to my everyday life.

Palmer is here for your tears. Better just hand them over. [Apple TV+ review]

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Justin Timberlake and Ryder Allen in Palmer
Justin Timberlake is a star, but Ryder Allen steals the show in Palmer.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ makes an awards bid with the well-meaning Palmer, a drama of recovery, change and tolerance. It might not set the world on fire, but the film proves uniquely difficult to resist.

Justin Timberlake is in fine form as a hardened convict who grows soft and open to love thanks to the charms of a little boy. His accent might not last the whole movie, but his commitment to the part is nevertheless most endearing.

Handy Monochest keeps Apple Watch and spare bands safe and secure while traveling [Review]

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Monowear Monochest for Apple Watch
The ideal Apple Watch accessory for frequent travelers.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you plan to go traveling with your Apple Watch as soon as it’s safe to do so, you’ll want to take with you the handy Monowear Monochest. This book-like accessory securely carries your spare bands, and doubles as a stand that keeps your Apple Watch protected while it’s charging.

The Monochest is compatible with all generations of Apple Watch, and we think it’s a must-have for frequent travelers. What’s more, you can get yours today at 20% off the usual price.

Dickinson weighs the real world and fantasy in enervating party episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Finn Jones & Hailee Steinfeld in Dickinson
Finn Jones and Hailee Steinfeld talk about the future in this week's featherweight episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dickinson rocks the party this week on Apple TV+ as Sue hosts a salon and Emily tries to boost her confidence long enough to be proud of herself in public.

The show’s tightrope walk of purposeful frivolity keeps butting up against its desire to say and do things of real substance. It’s the rare show that can pull off such a feat. And so far, Dickinson seems too interested in strained wordplay to quite get there.

Losing Alice starts with a bang, then goes quiet [Apple TV+ review]

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Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (played by Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

New Apple TV+ miniseries Losing Alice takes a deep dive into the psychology of two sexually charged rivals. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into with this eight-episode psychological thriller, which premieres Friday on the streaming service.

Losing Alice offers a cautionary tale about the perils of collaboration — and about riding the wave of TV production to series length.

Smart Satechi stand floats your iPad over your keyboard [Review]

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Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for iPad review
The Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand securely holds a variety of tablets, in portrait or landscape orientations.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The redesigned Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand transforms your iPad into a desktop computer. And it looks great doing so, holding the tablet so it seems to float over your keyboard.

I added the accessory to my office. Here’s how it works in real life.

Everybody’s stuck, blocked and frustrated in Dickinson’s latest episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Anna Baryshnikov (left) and Hailee Steinfeld play two very different Dickinsons in Apple TV+ show
Anna Baryshnikov (left) and Hailee Steinfeld play two very different Dickinsons.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dickinson ambles closer to the edge of its hero’s fame and madness in this season’s fourth episode, which serves as a meditation on creative blockage.

Though oft charming and frequently beautiful, the postmodern Apple TV+ show about the 19th-century poet still suffers from an irreconcilable identity crisis. This week’s episode, released Friday, takes no steps to resolve the situation.

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.