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Reviews - page 63

Satechi dual HomeKit plug makes your outlets smarter [Review]

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Satechi Dual Smart Outlet review
This smart plug could be the start of your home automation makeover.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Satechi’s dual-socket smart outlet lets you easily dip your toe into home automation. There’s nothing to install — you just plug it in — but the Dual Smart Outlet still allows you to control two different appliances from your iPhone, iPad, etc. It uses Apple’s HomeKit so it’s compatible with plenty of other accessories.

Find out how you can take a first step into controlling your home with Siri voice commands in our hands-on review.

Minix’s amazing USB-C hub is also a 240GB hard drive [Review]

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Minix Neo Storage review
Minix Neo Storage is both a 4-port USB hub and an external SSD drive.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Minix Neo Storage is one of those inventions so clever they make you ask, “Why didn’t someone think of this before?” It combines into one small package two accessories many people carry around: an external hard drive with up to 240GB of capacity and a 4-port USB hub.

We tested it with both a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. We’re sharing our real-world experience.

Best summer tech: Turn up the heat with these great gadgets [Reviews]

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Summer tech
Summertime and the living is easy if your iPhone has the right gear.
Photo: Pexels

Summertime means everything from hitting the pool to heading out on vacation. And, of course, your tech is coming along for the ride.

We’ve compiled a collection of accessories you might find turn up the heat on summertime fun. There are smart glasses, travel chargers, wireless speakers and headphones, and more.

PhotoGrip Qi is a camera grip and wireless charger in one [Review]

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Adonit PhotoGrip Qi
The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi is charging this iPhone XS Max while taking this picture.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adonit actually found a way to make taking vacation pictures with your iPhone easier. The PhotoGrip Qi turns your phone into an old-school point-and-shoot. Plus it includes a tripod with a remote shutter button. On top of that, its flexible iPhone clamp wirelessly charges the handset.

I still remember the days before phone cameras. Come see how well Adonit did re-creating that experience.

myCharge battery sports built-in Lightning and USB-C cables [Review]

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myCharge HubMax Universal with iPhone and iPad Pro
iPhone, iPad Pro, and myCharge HubMax Universal: you’re ready to go.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Hands up if this ever happens to you: you remembered your iPhone or iPad and an external battery but forgot the charging cable. That frustration isn’t possible with the myCharge HubMax Universal as it has both a Lightning and a USB-C cable built in. Even better, this 10050 mAh battery has a pair of wall prongs so it can plug straight into a socket.

Go on the road with me as I put the HubMax Universal through its paces.

Elevate your carry style with this roomy roll-top backpack [Review]

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backpack review
Rosen is ready to find room for himself in a well-packed Moshi Captus backpack.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Moshi passed a critical first test as I opened up the box containing a review unit of its new roll-top backpack the company calls Captus.

My wife liked the looks of it.

Over the years, she has seen me review backpacks and messenger bags and while I reach nuanced conclusions for each, her evaluations are consistently blunt – most bags skew masculine.

Uniq iPhone battery is also wireless charger and phone stand [Review]

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Uniq HydeAir
The Uniq HydeAir sports several unique features along with the expected ones.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Uniq HydeAir isn’t your standard 10,000mAh external battery. Beyond USB-A and USB-C ports, it also lets you enjoy the benefits of wireless charging when traveling. And it even has a built-in stand for your phone.

Charge into our hands-on review to discover if HydeAir is right for you.

LG’s latest UltraFine 4K monitor is two big steps forward, half a step back [Review]

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LG UltraFine 4K (2019) review
The updated LG UltraFine 4K is larger than its predecessor, and looks great.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The LG UltraFine 4K comes with a recommendation from Apple, and it’s not hard to see why: this 23.7-inch monitor was designed to work well with recent Mac models, and even the latest iPad Pro. There are several welcome enhancements in this latest version, but one change is less positive.

We went hands-on with this beautiful, $699.95 display so don’t miss our review.

Adonit Note is the affordable stylus your iPad needs [Review]

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Adonit Note review
Adonit Note costs half and much, looks twice as good as Apple Pencil.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

More than artists want to draw on their iPad, and Adonit has just introduced a stylus for the rest of us. This lightweight accessory offers most of the features of the Apple Pencil, while costing far, far less.

We fully tested the Adonit Note iPad stylus, so be sure to read our review.

Dual wireless charger takes the fuss out of juicing up [Review]

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Choetech Dual Wireless Fast Charger
Is a five-coil wireless charger bananas?
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

You wanted an AirPower, but Apple failed you. While the Choetech Dual Wireless Fast Charger does not pack all the advanced features of Apple’s infamous vaporware, this five-coil wireless charger does deliver several welcome advantages over standard Qi chargers.

And these come at a fraction of the price Cupertino probably planned to extract from your overburdened wallet. If you want to charge two devices at once, this could be the charger for you.

UAG Scout brings serious drop protection to iPad Pro with Apple keyboard [Review]

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UAG Scout for iPad Pro
The UAG Scout shields both a 2018 iPad Pro and an Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Some third-party case makers have begun treating the iPad Pro with a Smart Keyboard Folio attached as a single device. Urban Armor Gear is the latest to introduce a lightweight protective case that goes around both, adding drop protection and an Apple Pencil holder.

Don’t miss our hands-on review of the UAG Scout Series, which is available for the most recent 12.9- and 11-inch iPad Pro.

Update April 27, 2020: UAG released a version of the Scout modified for the larger camera hump in the 2020 iPad Pro.

Your summer pool party needs Urbanears’ portable Bluetooth speaker [Review]

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Urbanears Rålis review
Urbanears Rålis would be a welcome guest at your next pool party.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

No outdoor party is complete without music, and that requires a sound system that can be heard over plenty of other noise. The new Rålis from Urbanears delivers more than just the necessary volume: it sounds outstanding.

Check out our review of this high-end portable speaker.

iPad Pro case gets medieval on your tablet [Review]

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Twelve South’s BookBook vol. 2
This is an iPad Pro case, believe it or not.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Twelve South’s BookBook vol. 2 goes beyond just protecting your expensive iPad Pro; it adds old-world charm. This case transforms Apple’s tablet into an elegant leather-bound hardcover book.

We tested the updated version of the BookBook with our 2018 iPad Pro, so don’t miss our hands-on review.

Are the Powerbeats Pro better than AirPods? [Review]

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Powerbeat Pro in charging case
Order yours now!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Back in 2014 – long before the AirPods – I picked up what would become my go-to fitness earbuds – the PowerBeats2. A year and a half later, the AirPods came out, replacing my PowerBeats2 that were literally falling apart.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve been using my AirPods – both my first gen, and more recently, my second gen – in almost every situation. I use them all the time and carry them almost everywhere I go. But sometimes I hate my AirPods. No matter how simple and convenient they are, they insist on slipping just a little when I wear them while exercising. And if there’s any background noise or wind, even the loudest volume is inaudible while wearing the AirPods.

Even with those minor drawbacks, they were my favorite headphones. Then I got the new Powerbeats Pro.

Miniature six-lead ECG is more accurate than Apple Watch [Updated Review]

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AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L
The pocket-size AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L can take a six-lead ECG.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

AliveCor’s KardiaMobile 6L promises to be much more accurate than the heart monitor built into Apple Watch Series 4, and almost as easy to carry around. It’s the first personal ECG with three electrodes approved by the FDA to check the electrical activity of the heart.

We put this ultra-portable iPhone accessory to the test, as well as the more basic single-lead KardiaMobile, so don’t miss our reviews of each.

Stylish folio sleeve protects both iPad Pro and Apple’s Smart Keyboard [Review]

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Dodocase Keyboard Folio Sleeve review
Apple’s clip-on keyboard isn’t very protective. Dodocase makes a folio sleeve that fits around it for extra shielding.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple Smart Keyboard Folio turns an iPad Pro into an ultralight laptop, but it’s so slim it doesn’t do much to shield the tablet inside. We tested a sleeve from Dodocase that goes around Apple’s keyboard to protect both it and the iPad. It also improves the look of the keyboard case.

Be sure to read our hands-on review of the handy Keyboard Folio Sleeve.

Vignette adds contact photos to your faceless friends

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Vignette App icon on iPhone Screen
Vignette searches popular platforms to find pictures for your contacts
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

If you’re anything like me, you love having contact photos for people you talk to most. But, again, if you’re like me, keeping those pictures updated and accurate can be a total pain and a massive time suck.

That’s where Vignette comes in. The simple utility app for iPhone is your key to a better looking contacts list without all the hassle.

Developed by Casey Liss of “Analog(ue),” “Accidental Tech Podcast,” and “Casey on Cars” fame, the app grew from a passing notion on a podcast to a full-on utility for updating contact photos.

Charge all your Apple devices with Zens Dual+Watch, now in white

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Zens Dual + Watch wireless charging mat in white.
Zens Dual + Watch wireless charging mat in white.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Zens’ popular Dual+Watch wireless charging pad is the one-stop charging system for all your Apple gadgets. It can charge three devices simultaneously, including your Apple Watch, iPhone and the new wireless AirPods.

The Dual+Watch mat is perfect for the bedside table or desk at work, and it now comes in white to match your AirPods.

Brilliant 6-in-1 USB-C Hub makes iPad Pro even more useful [Review]

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Hyper HyperDrive iPad Pro review
Hyper’s USB-C hub clips securely to the side of an iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The USB-C port in Apple’s latest professional-grade tablet is a giant improvement, but a new accessory still manages to make it even more useful. The HyperDrive iPad Pro allows every type of wired accessory supported by this computer to be accessed. Even better, it’s designed to clip to the side of the slate for maximum ease of use.

Don’t miss our in-depth review of this USB-C hub developed especially for the latest iPad.

Sleek wireless charger looks great while powering up iPhone and AirPods [Review]

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Satechi Wireless Charger V2
A wireless charging mat should look as good as it works, and Satechi’s does.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wireless charging is so much easier than the daily hassle of plugging and unplugging your iPhone. And the new AirPods wireless charging case makes giving up Lightning cables even more logical. Satechi just introduced a Apple-compatible wireless charger that’s not only functional, it’s also great looking.

We fully tested this accessory out, so don’t miss our hands-on review.

Pro-level keyboard case nearly turns iPad Pro into a touchscreen MacBook [Review]

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Brydge Pro review
Make your iPad Pro into a tablet/laptop with the Brydge Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Since the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the tablet is serious competition for Apple’s notebooks. Its design offers many advantages over a notebook, but most people demand a physical keyboard for their primary computer. Of all the options for this, the Brydge Pro comes the closest to transforming a 2018 iPad Pro into a convertible touchscreen MacBook.

Read our hands-on review to see how well this premium keyboard case performs in the real world.

Logitech Crayon is a more affordable Apple Pencil alternative [Updated review]

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Save big by getting a Logitech Crayon for your iPad Pro instead of an Apple Pencil 2.
The Logitech Crayon costs less than the Apple Pencil, and it now works with the 2018 iPad Pro and other recent iOS tablets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad is a great educational tool, no matter the age of the student. But some children are too young for a keyboard. That’s where the Logitech Crayon comes in. It’s a digital pencil designed for students to write and draw on a variety of iPad and iPad Pro models.

We put this educational accessory to the test.