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Reviews - page 60

Best wireless chargers for your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch too

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Best wireless chargers for iPhone
There are plenty of good wireless chargers, but here are Cult of Mac’s favorites.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Wireless charging can really help keep your iPhone topped off and ready to go. Every model since the iPhone 8 supports it, and Cult of Mac brings you our list of the best wireless chargers available today.

This includes multi-device models too, for everyone who needs power up an Apple Watch or AirPods too.

This beautiful leather iPad sleeve doubles as a stand [Review]

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Picaso Lab iPad Pro leather sleeve review
The Picaso Lab iPad Pro leather sleeve is both a case and a stand.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Picaso Lab’s new iPad Pro leather sleeve does more than protect your valuable tablet. Its designers built in an innovative stand, while the leather exterior gives a very stylish look.

I tested this hand-made case for the iPad Pro to see how it stood up to real-world use.

This charging system works better than AirPower would have [Review]

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Scosche BaseLynx Modular Charging System review
Scosche BaseLynx is one system, but it lets you mix and match the types of chargers you need: iPhone, Apple Watch, etc.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Scosche BaseLynx can quickly charge every Apple device you have — AirPods to MacBook Pro — either wirelessly or via cable. And this system is modular so you can get just the components you need and not the ones you don’t.

I’ve used it to power my Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad. Here’s how it survived real-world use.

Mythic Quest brings the first real belly laughs to Apple TV+ [Review]

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Mythic Quest is the best show on Apple TV+
The characters in Mythic Quest are narcissistic, neurotic, obsessive or sociopathic. You’ll love them.
Photo: Apple

The breakout show for Apple TV+ has arrived: Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. It’s hilarious, but also has heart.

This isn’t a typical office comedy. It’s set at a video game development company, so episodes are a struggle between employees trying to be creative, others trying maximize profitability, and people caught in the middle just hoping to get the code shipped on time.

Uniq packs 8000mAh into tiny powerbank [Review]

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Uniq Fuele Mini review
Uniq Fuele Mini is easily portable but can keep your iPhone 11 going for days.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Uniq Fuele Mini offers enough power to more than fully recharge an iPhone 11 in a package just a bit bigger than a credit card. It beats bulkier rivals that are convenient when your iPhone needs a recharge, but the rest of the time they’re a hassle to carry around.

I tested this affordable, multi-port powerbank for several days. Read on to see how well it performed.

Nvidia GeForce Now magically makes your Mac a beefy gaming PC [Review]

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Nvidia-GeForce-Now-MacBook-Pro
BioShock Infinite looks gorgeous on a MacBook Pro.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Nvidia GeForce Now is ready to stream the latest PC games to your Mac. It sells us a dream that sounds too good to be true, a future that macOS fans gave up wishing for a long time ago. And most importantly, it actually delivers it.

I’ve been playing games on GeForce Now for several days (I love my job!) so that I can tell you whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash. And although I’ve run into a few teething troubles that I can’t ignore, I’ve been blown away by what it can do.

Peek-a-View lets you safely limit the photos someone can see [Review]

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Peek-a-View lets you limit a photo album to be view-only.
Peek-a-View lets you limit a photo album to be view-only.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever found yourself showing other people pictures on your phone, you’ve probably also been trying to micromanage what they can and can’t see. And, if you’re a parent of a young kid, it’s likely that you’ve let your child look through a photo album on your device. In that case, you’ve certainly been worried about their ability to delete or accidentally modify an image.

There are ways to limit what a person — or child — can or can’t get to on your device through the Guided Access settings in iOS. But nothing is as simple as using a new iOS app called Peek-a-View to lock down your photos.

IOGear Share Pro sheds the HDMI cable for wireless video [Review]

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IOGear Share Pro is a wireless video adapter
The IOGear Share Pro takes the place of a huge HDMI cable, and plugs right into your MacBook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wirelessly connecting a MacBook to a TV is a snap with the IOGear Share Pro. It uses the computer’s USB-C port to stream video to a screen up to 60 feet away, no wires needed.

I fully tested this accessory. Dive in to see how it preforms in regular use.

I hated the iPad Pro Smart Folio Keyboard, but now I love it

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Smart Keyboard Folio
As a keyboard, the Smart Keyboard Folio makes a great stand.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

I picked up the Smart Folio Keyboard for my iPad Pro a few weeks back, because I was traveling and needed to do some work on the go. I’ve avoided the expensive accessory in the past, because a regular Bluetooth keyboard is so much better — on paper anyway. Even the most basic Bluetooth keyboard offers far more essential features than Apple’s own keyboard case. But after trying the Apple keyboard, I like it a lot. The keys themselves are still awful, but the convenience factor is off the charts.

Secret Oops! brings silly spy-themed AR fun to Apple Arcade [Review]

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Secret Oops! is AR fun on Apple Arcade
Secret Oops! puts its virtual 3D game board in your living room.
Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Mix a bumbling spy, a secret base, and a lot of augmented reality and you’ll get Secret Oops!, the latest addition to Apple Arcade. This innovative children’s game from MixedBag shows a virtual 3D game board in the real world through the magic of AR.

I explored the possibilities of Secret Oops!; read on to see what I found.

Why the iConnectAudio4+ is the best audio interface for iPad and Mac

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iConnectAudio4+ is the best gift you can buy for your iPad. And your Mac.
This is the best gift you can buy for your iPad. And your Mac.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The iConnectAudio4+ isn’t a new product. It’s been around for a few years. And this isn’t really a review. This article will be more of a PSA, telling you about a unique input device can change how you use your iPad for audio.

The feature that sets the iConnectAudio4+ apart from other USB audio interfaces is that it can connect to two computers at once, and send audio to both. It can even route audio — digitally — between your Mac and your iPad.

Doqo turns iPad Pro into MacBook with 7 ports [Review]

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Doqo keyboard with 12.9-inch iPad Pro
The Doqo keyboard with 12.9-inch iPad Pro has advantages even over a MacBook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone who longs for the days when MacBooks came with tons of ports can look to the Doqo, an iPad Pro keyboard case that includes a pair of USB-A ports, HDMI, memory card readers, and more. There’s also a trackpad and full-size keyboard. This could be the touchscreen laptop you’ve been hoping for.

I’ve extensively used the Doqo keyboard with a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and explore its advantages and problems in this review.

Lepow portable display is a perfect companion for your MacBook [Review]

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Lepow 15.6-Inch USB-C Portable Monitor
Photographing a display is difficult, so the Lepow 15.6-Inch USB-C Portable Monitor looks better than this.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

MacBooks are wonderfully portable but a laptop display can be cramped for getting serious work done. The Lepow 15.6-Inch USB-C Portable Monitor is so slim and light it can easily go with you and double your available screen space.

I fully tested this surprisingly affordable USB-C monitor. Read my review to see how well it performs in the real world.

The best USB-C hubs for Mac and iPad 2019

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Best-USB-C-hubs-2019
There are plenty of good USB-C hubs, but here are Cult of Mac’s favorites.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Nothing expands the capabilities of your Mac or iPad Pro more than a good USB-C hub. Plug one in and you can connect to TVs and tons of other peripherals, including external storage.

There’s an immense variety of these, depending on whether you want portability or a huge number of ports. There are even hubs designed specifically to clip to the side of an iPad.

To help you find the best USB-C hubs, Cult of Mac compiled this list of our favorites.

Sleek wireless charger has your iPhone covered in 3 ways [Review]

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Review of RapidX MyPort wireless charger
It's a wireless charging stand as well as a stand-in for on-the-go charging.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Many wireless chargers are designed to serve three mobile devices. The RapidX MyPort is made to selflessly serve one device in three different ways.

MyPort is first a smartphone stand to wirelessly charge your iPhone. But the vertical charging element has a restless side. It begs to be detached from the base to travel as a companion to your iPhone. It works as a portable wireless charger. And, with its two USB ports (one USB-A, one USB-C), it becomes a quick-charging wired power bank.

Keychron K2 is the only mechanical keyboard you should get for iPad [Review]

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keychron k2
Clickety-clacky, there's no going back
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You probably need a keyboard. If you have an iMac, then you already have the one Apple included the box. If you have an iPad or a MacBook, then you should have that thing up on a stand at eye level, with a keyboard and mouse/trackpad attached so you don’t kill your neck/back/wrists. And if you want a clicky keyboard that works great with all three, then pretty much your best (and only) option is the Keychron K2, a beautiful, solid little device that can work with just about any device you have.

These stocking stuffers are the perfect gift for tech lovers

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stocking stuffers 2019
You don't have to give a big gift to make someone's holiday memorable with these great stocking stuffers.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

The holidays are near, and the season of gift-giving is here. Finding that perfect something for your loved ones can be tricky, but sometimes it’s the little things that really make the difference.

Whether it’s a stocking stuffer, a secret Santa gift or you just need something quick and easy, these are five excellent gift ideas to point you in the right direction.

Space-saving USB-C docking stand sports a whopping 11 ports [Review]

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Brando 11-In-1 Hub Type-C Docking Stand adds all the ports you could want
Brando’s Docking Stand adds nearly a dozen ports, both common and obscure.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Forget your frustrations with the minimal number of ports on your MacBook or iPad Pro. The Brando 11-In-1 Hub Type-C Docking Stand lets you connect virtually any peripheral to your computer. There’s a trio of USB-A ports, Ethernet, HDMI and an SD card reader. And that’s only the start.

Get the full list, and see how well this multi-port stands up to real world use, in this review.

Rotor Riot iPhone game controller lets you kick more ass in Apple Arcade [Review]

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Rotor Riot Wired Game Controller plays well with Apple Arcade.
Rotor Riot Wired Game Controller is like plugging an Xbox controller into your iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

While the 100+ games on Apple Arcade are designed for touchscreens, many of them are more fun with a physical controller. That can be one from an Xbox or Playstation, but the Rotor Riot Wired Game Controller is a better option for iPhones because of its built-on phone stand and Lightning connector.

I tested this surprisingly-affordable MFi controller with some of the best titles on Apple’s gaming service. Read on to see why I’m so impressed by it.

Wonderful gifts for any Mac fan [Gift Guide 2019]

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Mac-Gift-Guide-2019
Shopping for a Mac fan? Start here!
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’re buying for an Apple fan who loves their Mac, there are loads of awesome gifts you should consider. We’ve rounded up the best to make your holiday shopping a little easier.

Gift-Guide-2019-bugWe’ve picked out the best headphones, mice, keyboards, and more so that you don’t have to spend hours hunting down the perfect purchase. And many of them are on sale today for Cyber Monday.

Now all you have to do is break out your wallet.

RAVpower travel router also connects iPhones to hard drives and SD cards [Review]

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RAVpower FileHub Travel Router is also a hub.
RAVpower FileHub Travel Router does far more than its name indicates.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Life on the road can be a hassle, even with an iPhone, but there’s a lot the RAVpower FileHub Travel Router can do to make it easier. It’s a battery, a hub with a USB port and SD card reader, and (naturally) a travel router.

I road tested every feature of this accessory. Read on to see if it deserves a place in your travel kit.

Awesome gifts for any Apple Watch fan [Gift Guide 2019]

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Apple-Watch-Gift-Guide-2019
Shopping for an Apple Watch fan? Start here!
Image: Killian Bell

It couldn’t be easier to buy holiday gifts for loved ones who own an Apple Watch. There are so many wonderful accessories out there for the best-selling smartwatch on the planet.

Gift-Guide-2019-bugAnd Cult of Mac can help you find the best. Our Apple Watch gift guide includes our favorite bands, charging stands, wireless headphones, and more. Any many of them are now on sale for Black Friday.

Now you have no excuse to leave your holiday shopping until the last minute.

M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant is unsettlingly good fun [Review]

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Apple TV+ series Servant accused of ripping off Sundance movie
There's nothing creepy about a nanny cradling a fake baby, right?
Photo: Apple

A spooky nanny. A creepy baby. And a whole bunch of crazy plot twists. It can only be Servant, M. Night Shyamalan and Tony Basgallop’s psychological horror series for Apple TV+.

The series debuted on Thanksgiving, and I’ve already hungrily snarfed down the first 30-minute episode. While I’m not yet sure if it’s enjoyable junk food or a balanced, healthy meal, I liked it a whole lot. Check out my episode one Servant review.