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Reviews - page 59

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.

Apple Watch Series 5: Big little changes [Review]

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Apple Watch Series 5 info graph face with little alien
Apple Watch could soon help you get better sleep.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

During the past week with Apple Watch Series 5, I’ve been testing the device. Once again, I took a new watch on my family vacation to Disney World, using it whenever possible to make my life easier.

So does the Series 5, with its always-on display, live up to the hype? And is it worth the upgrade if you’re on an older version? Watch our video review, or read our full Apple Watch Series 5 review, to find out if the new watch is right for you.

iPad Pro case rocks backlit keys in a rainbow of color combos [Review]

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Inateck Stellarie KB02006 review
The Inateck Stellarie KB02006 is very useful with a touch of whimsy.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If you want to stand out in a darkened classroom, Inateck has the iPad keyboard case for you. The outside is professional-looking, and there’s an Apple Pencil slot. But the standout feature is the keyboard backlights, which can be set to more than 100 color combinations.

This affordable case believes in business on the outside and party on the inside. Is it right for you? Find out in our Inateck Stellarie KB02006 review.

The best widgets apps for iPadOS 13’s new Home screen

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Dark Mode on iPadOS
The new Home screen widget panel on iPadOS 13.
Photo: Apple

In iPadOS, the old Today View has shuffled over a little, and now lives right on the Home screen. You can pin widgets there, and they will be permanently shown on the left edge of the Home screen (in landscape, at least — in portrait they will act more like a temporary Slide Over panel).

This changes how we use widgets. Instead of being temporary, quick-info panels, or shortcuts for app functions, widgets are now always visible, and always available to tap. A weather widget can be checked with a single glance, for instance. Ditto countdown timers. And — best of all — Shortcuts can be triggered with a single tap.

Let’s take a look at some great widgets for the iPadOS Home screen.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: The best gets even better [Review]

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How gorgeous is the iPhone 11 Max Pro?
How gorgeous is the iPhone 11 Max Pro?
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

This thing is a beauty. The first thing you notice is the glass back. The frosted matte finish makes it semi-translucent, giving it a weirdly illusory depth. It looks great. Not even the controversial, compound-eye camera bump can spoil its good looks. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is the best-looking iPhone to date, and I love it.

But don’t be fooled by the familiar design. This year’s refresh makes almost everything about Apple’s most expensive handset better than ever.

It’s faster, stronger and more water-resistant. It packs the best display you’ll find in a phone, and the best camera you’ve ever used. The battery lasts forever. Is it worth its hefty price tag? Absolutely.

Find out more in our full iPhone 11 Pro Max review.

EarthNight is an endless runner set on the back of a frikkin’ dragon [Review]

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EarthNight brings all the dragons you could hope for. And it's beautifully hand-painted.
This beautifully hand-painted game delivers all the dragons you could hope for.
Image: Cleaversoft

An endless runner with gorgeous hand-painted graphics, in which you sprint on the backs of enormous flying dragons? Welcome to the world of EarthNight, one of the plentiful launch titles for Apple Arcade.

Put on your running shoes and let us race you through its features in our EarthNight review.

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.

Sail off to light hack-and-slash fun with Oceanhorn 2 [Review]

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Oceanhorn 2 from Apple Arcade
In Oceanhorn 2 it’s you and your robot buddy against the world. Actually, mostly it’s just you.
Screenshot: Cornfox & Brothers

One of the highlights of the just-launched Apple Arcade is Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm from Cornfox & Bros. It’s a familiar dungeon crawl through a bright world to solve a noble quest, and it provides hours of fun.

Buckle on your sword and run through this game with us.

Get your game on: Apple Arcade opens for business [Review]

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Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade has a surprisingly wide array of games for a service launching today.
Photo: Apple

You can write off being productive for the rest of the day because Apple Arcade just launched. This all-you-can-play gaming service brings dozens of titles in a variety of genres. The monthly cost is fairly low, and games can be played on almost every type of Apple computer.

Thanks to early access, I’ve been enjoying Apple Arcade for several days. Here’s why I think you’ll like it too.

8 great iOS 13 and iPadOS features (and 2 terrible ones)

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With iPadOS, you're one step closer to replacing your Mac with an iPad.
With iPadOS, you're one step closer to replacing your Mac with an iPad.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iPadOS 13 brings some real game-changing new features, plus a lot of excellent comfort tweaks that make using it much easier. And iOS 13 is no slouch.

Today I’ll list my favorite new features in iOS 13 and iPadOS, along with a few changes I’d be happy to live without.

Form’s AR swim goggles blow Apple Watch out of the water [Review]

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Will AR swim goggles replace Apple Watch in the pool?
Now you can check your heart rate while you are swimming
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Fitness tech startup Form launches its first product today: augmented reality swimming goggles.

You might think AR sounds like a bit of a gimmick for swimmers. I certainly did. My Apple Watch already does a pretty good job of logging my swimming workouts, so I didn’t see the need for yet another gadget.

But after testing a pair of Form Swim Goggles for the past month, I’m so impressed that I’ll never use my Apple Watch in the pool again.

Satechi makes one of Apple’s favorite USB-C multiport adapters [Review]

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Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multiport Pro Adapter review
Add plugs for many types of accessories to your Mac or iPad Pro with this Satechi adapter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple Store has just two USB-C hubs with multiple types of ports, and one of them is made by Satechi. This offers USB-A and HDMI ports, as well as dual memory card readers, but so do many other accessories. What makes the Aluminum USB-C Multiport Pro Adapter so good that Apple picked it from all the other USB-C hubs on the market?

Read our review to find out.

Belkin gives wireless charging an innovative boost [Review]

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Belkin Boost Up Charge Wireless Charging Stand review
Belkin Boost Up Charge can wirelessly power your iPhone while it’s playing a movie.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wireless charging stands hold your iPhone up so you can easily see the display while the handset is getting power. Belkin has a model that improves on the whole concept: it can charge your device when it’s propped up in either portrait or landscape mode.

Apple liked the design enough to add it to the Apple Store. See what we think in our review.

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.

All the gear and podcasting pro tips I use to make The CultCast

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I've spent seven years testing podcasting gear. Here are my current favorites, including the RodeCaster Pro. Plus, get some bonus podcasting tips.
I've spent seven years testing podcasting gear. Here are my current favorites (plus some bonus podcasting pro tips).
Photo: Erfon Elijah

Hello, my name is Erfon Elijah, and for the last seven years, I’ve hosted The CultCast, America’s favorite Apple podcast™. In that time I’ve tried a whole lot of podcasting gear, all in an effort to sound better and make the show easier to produce.

Now, I’m offering you the fruit of all that hands-on experience — the end result of years of podcasting hardware testing and tinkering. Good audio gear doesn’t come cheap, but I think I’ve found a great mix of value and quality in the products I use. If you utilize these podcasting hardware recommendations and podcasting tips, you won’t break the bank. And your podcast will sound as majestic as mine!

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.

Take wireless charging on the go with the Powerstation Hub [Review]

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Mophie Powerstation Hub review
The Mophie Powerstation Hub can charge a Mac, iPhone and iPad all at once.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Powerstation Hub is a powerbank with an extra trick: wireless charging. There’s no reason to leave the convenience of wireless power at home when you can take it with you anywhere. This accessory also sports USB-C and dual USB-A ports, plus there are built-in AC power prongs for easy recharging.

We kicked the tires on this mobile battery. Come see how it performed in our tests.

This charging cable is so tough it’s wearing chainmail [Review]

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Fuse Chicken Shield review
No hyperbole: the Fuse Chicken Shield is truly sheathed in chainmail.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Shield charging cable from Fuse Chicken is literally wearing stainless steel chainmail. It seems designed to survive battle with orcs, or at least the dangers it might run into on a job site. Amazingly enough, this company’s Titan cable is even more rugged, being wrapped in two layers of flexible steel.

There are Lighting and USB-C versions of both, and we took them into battle to test their mettle. Actually, we towed a car with one, and hit the other with a hammer. Read on to see how they survived.

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.

Apple Card is as friendly as a credit card can be [Review]

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Apple Card
Everything about the Apple Card is well designed, even the package it comes in.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A credit card is a departure from Apple’s usual computers and accessories, but the Apple Card is just as gorgeous and the associated software every bit as easy to use as an iPhone or Mac.

I’m among the first cardholders, so here’s what it’s like to carry an Apple Card.

This is the handiest travel battery you can buy [Review]

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As battery packs go, this one looks pretty good.
As battery packs go, this one looks pretty good.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The ZMI PowerPack 20000 is the most useful backup battery you can buy. It packs a huge, 20,000mAh battery that can power a MacBook and two other devices at the same time. Plus, you can quick charge it via USB. And it can even work as a USB data hub.

This 14.29-ounce (405 gram) brick might be overkill for daily juicing of your iPhone, but for everything else it’s amazing.

This is the most beautiful multi-device wireless charger we’ve ever seen [Review]

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Courant Catch:2 review
The Courant Catch:2 is simultaneously gorgeous and extremely functional.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Like the AirPower charger Apple wasn’t able to deliver, the Courant Catch:2 can wirelessly send power to multiple devices placed anywhere on its charging mat — there’s no need to carefully arrange them. Plus, this accessory truly looks like the luxury product it is, with a handsome leather exterior.

Power through my review of this just-released product, which I tested with recent and older iPhones.

IQbuds Boost wireless earbuds also help you hear better [Review]

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Nuheara IQbuds Boost
Beyond just music, IQbuds Boost make it easier to listen to friends and family.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Nuheara’s IQbuds Boost work as Bluetooth headphones, but that’s only the start. They are really for people who need just a bit of help hearing. They aren’t true hearing aids, but might actually be better.

Take a listen to my review of these high-end wireless earbuds, along with an optional Bluetooth accessory that connects them to your TV.

Inateck’s USB-C hub brings back ports you forgot you need [Review]

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Inateck 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
This 8-port hub lets you hook your Mac or iPad Pro up to almost anything.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The designers of Inateck’s latest USB-C hub obviously believe that too much is never enough. It has eight ports, including the typical USB-A and HDMI ones but also some real legacy ports, including Ethernet and even VGA. There’s also a built-in removable USB-C cable for use on the go.

There’s a lot to test here, but I put this full-featured hub through its paces. Plug into my review to see what I learned.

Smart gear case corrals cords and small accessories [Review]

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The Developer's Gear Case from WaterField Designs
The Developer's Gear Case gives you one place for cords and accessories small and bulky.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

The Developer’s Gear Case from WaterField Designs looks like a bespoke Bible case your pastor had custom made after he sent around an extra collection plate at Sunday service.

But have faith, for the inside of the case will deliver you from the hell of tangled cords. And it will end the searches for the smaller tech accessories that are constantly lost in your backpack or shoulder bag.