Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.
iOS Decoded is Jeff’s flagship video series that breaks down what’s new in iOS betas, including behind-the-scenes deep dives into undiscovered features and exclusive details on the iOS roadmap.
Jeff also produces a weekly podcast, alongside co-host Fernando Silva, entitled 9to5Mac Overtime. A video-first podcast, 9to5Mac Overtime airs weekly on our YouTube channel, but can also be enjoyed in audio form via Apple Podcasts, or your podcast app of choice.
Have a tip or exclusive? Connect with Jeff!
Today I got my hands on Samsung’s Galaxy S10+ for the first time. It being a direct competitor to Apple’s iPhone XS Max, I wanted to see how the two devices compared. In this initial hands-on video, I talk about my initial impressions about the Galaxy S10 from an iPhone user’s perspective.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Satechi’s Aluminum Monitor Stand Hub is designed to elevate Apple’s all-in-one iMac while providing the added functionality of a hub with front-facing ports. Should you consider it over other iMac stands? Watch our hands-on video review for the details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Earlier today Apple released the fourth developer beta for iOS 12.2. Like previous betas, the update brings several user-discernible changes to the mix. Watch our brief hands-on video walkthrough for a look at some of the most significant new changes and features in iOS 12.2 beta 4.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Last Friday, Philips expanded on its lineup of outdoor smart lighting products that it began introducing last year. At CES 2019, Philips revealed the Hue Outdoor sensor, a $49.95 product that we were able to go hands-on with while in Vegas. Like the company’s existing indoor sensor, the outdoor sensor allows users to automate smart lighting via motion sensing.
Last week we discussed how to create one-off title cards for FCP X on a per-project basis. This week, we’ll show you how to create title cards that can be reused and customized — handy if you often use title cards in your projects.
By enlisting Motion 5, Apple’s $50 motion graphics application, you can shave off precious time from your editing sessions. Watch our brief hands-on video for more details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
There are external SSDs, and then there is the ThunderBlade. This is the crème de la crème of fast external storage, and it’s produced by OWC, a company at the forefront of storage and Thunderbolt 3 accessories for Mac.
The ThunderBlade is OWC’s fastest offering — a single drive provides storage up to 8TB and speeds up to 2800 MB/s read — and they can be daisy chained, set up in a RAID configuration, and they are silent.
It’s admittedly overkill for some users, but if you’re a creative professional who needs the best of the best, then the OWC ThunderBlade is one of the most impressive external storage offerings available today. Watch our hands-on video review for more details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
In some of my videos I like to use title cards to separate subjects being discussed. I find that title cards are especially useful when creating videos that are based around a topical list of features. One such example being a recent video where I discussed some of the top iPhone tips that everyone should know.
Although it’s possible to quickly create these title cards in a third-party app like Affinity Designer, making them directly within Final Cut Pro X presents several key benefits. Watch this week’s Final Cut Friday video tutorial for the details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Last week we highlighted 10 general iPhone tips that everyone should know. This week, we’re back at it again, this time with a dozen Safari for iPhone tips that should be every iOS user’s repertoire.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Yesterday, I posted a video outlining my thoughts on Apple’s upcoming 6K display. After thinking about it, I’m changing my mind about what I think this display will look like. On second thought, I don’t think it will be a 16×9 display at all, instead I think it will be an ultra-wide display.
The reason for my change in thought is owed partly to an insightful message left in the comments of my original post, and partly due to having a day to really marinate on the idea, run figures, and most importantly, ponder over more than just raw numbers.
In the end, I think that Apple’s upcoming professional display will basically be a true ultra-wide 5K display, a 5.5K display, if you will. Apple may market this as a 6K display, which is not out of the realm of possibilities given its 6K3K dimensions.
Watch our video as I present an updated discussion about the Apple 6K Display.
Expand
Expanding
Close
The third developer beta for iOS 12.2 was released earlier today, and includes new changes like and updated Apple TV remote, rearranged About page in the Settings app, minor Apple News tweaks, and more. Watch our hands-on video as we step through what’s new in iOS 12.2 beta 3.
Expand
Expanding
Close
According to a report from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will launch its first 6K display for the Mac Pro this year. This report lines up with Apple’s own statement about its plans for this year, but adds some much-needed meat to the story.
If you’re a creative professional, then you should be downright excited about Apple’s upcoming plans for the Mac in 2019. This year is when Apple is scheduled launch its new Mac Pro, along with its new 6K display. Watch our latest episode of Back to the Mac as we consider what we know and some of the possibilities related to its new monitor.
Transitions are key building blocks for putting together cohesive videos in your NLE of choice. In Final Cut Pro X, there are many shortcuts, tips, and tricks that can be used while inserting or editing transitions. In this week’s episode of Final Cut Friday, I share 10 transition tips to help you master this vital part of the editing process.
Expand
Expanding
Close
There are certain iOS tips that I feel everyone should be aware of and use on a regular basis. In this hands-on video, we take a brief look at 10 iPhone tips and tricks.
Expand
Expanding
Close
PowerColor, a Taiwanese-based graphics card manufacturer, launched a brand new eGPU at CES 2019: The PowerColor Mini Pro — a pint-sized eGFX chassis powered by an included small-form-factor Radeon RX 570 graphics card.
Aimed specifically at Thunderbolt 3-enabled machines, the PowerColor Mini Pro provides a healthy graphics lift for GPU-starved Macs like the 2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini.
Should the PowerColor Mini Pro be on your radar if you’re looking for a smaller external graphics solution for the Mac? Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
If you’re a fan of Animoji, the latest iOS beta has a nice surprise in store for you: four additional animated characters. iOS 12.2 developer beta 2 comes with four brand new Animoji to choose from, adding a giraffe, shark, owl, and warthog to the ever-growing list of characters…
Expand
Expanding
Close
The second-generation AirPods and corresponding wireless charging case are still missing in action, but when they do finally launch, a certain Santa Barbara, CA-based company will be ready. Nomad, maker of mobile accessories for the iPhone, released its all-in-one Apple Watch + iPhone + AirPods charger a few months ago, obviously anticipating an update to Apple’s popular wireless earbuds.
The Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition is currently sold out, but a source close to the company informed me that it expects units to be back in stock soon. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough inside as we explore the ins and outs of Nomad’s three-coil wireless charger.
Have you ever wanted to fix problems in a video similarly to how you fix problems in typical photo editing apps? Things like dust, blemishes, or other unwanted items are easy to remove in static photos, but prove to be more challenging in moving pictures.
Enter CoreMelt’s PaintX, an easy-to-use tool that allows you to quickly paint on video with nondestructive edits. Powered by the excellent mocha tracker, it makes fixing up small problems, like removing dust from an iPhone’s display, a simple affair. Watch our brief hands-on video as I demonstrate PaintX in action.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Back in the summer we went hands-on with Pioneer’s budget-minded MVH-1400NEX CarPlay head unit (review). What we found was an excellent no-frills aftermarket head unit with a clean design.
The MVH-1400NEX with its ~$300 entry-level price point was nice, but it lacked wireless CarPlay capability, which made it a non-starter for users desiring a wire-free experience. Enter Pioneer’s ~$800 AVIC-W8400NEX, a truly wireless CarPlay aftermarket head unit. Is it worth paying more for wireless connectivity?
Expand
Expanding
Close
The iPhone SE (hands-on), which is quickly approaching its third anniversary, was an amazing phone when it was released. It gave us a device with the timeless design of the iPhone 5s, with modern specs borrowed from the iPhone 6s.
With the news that Apple recently sold out of a clearance allotment of the iPhone SE, it got me really thinking about the device again. Are people crazy for buying a nearly three-year-old budget-minded iPhone in 2019? Watch our hands-on video as I revisit the iPhone SE, breaking down its current strengths and weaknesses.
Apple today released the first developer beta for iOS 12.2. The update is loaded with several new features and changes that are worthy of discussion. Watch our brief hands-on video walkthrough for a look at what’s new in this exciting iOS 12.2 beta update.
Expand
Expanding
Close
After several delays, the Blackmagic eGPU Pro is now available for purchase at Apple’s online and retail store locations. The Pro version of Blackmagic’s external graphics chassis is an upgraded version of 2018’s initial release.
The original Blackmagic eGPU was a limited device for several key reasons: it was expensive at $699; it couldn’t be upgraded; and with Radeon Pro 580 graphics, it lacked the punch of higher powered cards. Some of those problems carry over with the release of the new Blackmagic eGPU Pro, but it’s unquestionably a better device than its predecessor. Watch our hands-on video review for the full lowdown.
Yesterday Apple quietly pushed an update to Final Cut Pro X, the first update since its big 10.4.4 update back in November. Final Cut Pro X 10.4.5 doesn’t add any new features, but includes several stability improvements.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Does your iPhone have trouble making it through a full working day without dying? If so, then Apple’s just-released Smart Battery Case for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR may be the answer to your problem.
But with a better, yet still polarizing design, and a $129 price tag, the Smart Battery Case isn’t exactly an impulse buy. Do its smarts and new features like Qi wireless charging make it compelling enough to consider? Watch our new iPhone Smart Battery Case review video for the details.
The long-anticipated Blackmagic eGPU Pro, which became available to order last month, should finally be arriving soon to customers. Those placing orders for the RX Vega 56-powered external graphics chassis should receive the Blackmagic eGPU Pro this week.
Expand
Expanding
Close