9to5Mac Reviews

1,158 'Reviews' stories July 2010 - August 2015

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All the products that the 9to5Mac team has reviewed.

All the products that the 9to5Mac team has reviewed.

The Logic Pros: iPad/Mac synths still can’t quite capture the experience of this $1,000 Moog

Justin Kahn Aug 16 2015 - 5:04 pm PT

6 Comments

In this week’s episode of The Logic Pros, we are taking a hands-on look at Moog’s Sub Phatty synthesizer to see how it stacks up against some of its much more affordable virtual counterparts.

Moog instruments have been used on many of the most popular and historic records over the years, having become as legendary in their own right in the process. The company is widely considered to be one of, if not the premiere synth makers on the planet. Producing the fattest sounding oscillators and filters around since the late 60’s, Moog’s instruments certainly come at a premium, and there’s a good reason for it. In the past few years the company introduced a couple new synthesizers in its Phatty line, that brought Moog’s flagship features and famous ladder-style filter down to a fairly affordable price point. At just under $1,000, cheap certainly isn’t the word to use to describe Moog’s monophonic, all-analog Sub Phatty synthesizer. But it might be the closet thing to a Voyager you’ll get without seriously breaking the bank.
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Review: Spigen’s Apple Watch Night Stand is easy on the wallet, plays nice with watchOS 2

Zac Hall Aug 12 2015 - 12:29 pm PT

14 Comments

Spigen already created one of the most minimal and affordable Apple Watch charging stands with the Apple Watch Stand S330 — a design that fits right in next to an iMac, and works with both open and closed bands. But then Apple announced watchOS 2 and Nightstand Mode, which will will turn the Apple Watch into a proper alarm clock during charging, but only when it’s positioned on its side with the Digital Crown and side button facing up. Spigen’s new Apple Watch Night Stand S350 ($20) offers an even more minimal design with Nightstand Mode support, and an especially budget-friendly price. Check out my impressions below…

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Review: Just Mobile’s Lounge Dock adds Apple Watch screen angle adjustment to a classic iPhone stand

Jeremy Horwitz Aug 8 2015 - 6:28 am PT

1 Comment

Early in the life of the Apple Watch, offering a single, nicely-designed stand was enough for most developers; our guide to the best Apple Watch Stands compiles many such options. Just Mobile’s first entry was the aluminum, tube-shaped TimeStand, which I reviewed last month, and now the company’s back with a second and entirely different stand called the Lounge Dock ($40). Lounge Dock addresses TimeStand’s most conspicuous omission, adding support for watchOS 2.0’s upcoming Nightstand Mode, while adapting Just Mobile’s classic iPhone and iPod stand Lounge for a smaller Apple device.

Unlike TimeStand, which machined a single piece of aluminum into a tube-like stand, Lounge Dock is a multi-piece design connecting a silver metal base to a silver metal arm and a black plastic Apple Watch holder. Just Mobile’s primary pitch is that the plastic holder pivots, letting you adjust the Apple Watch’s screen angle for easier viewing while charging. If that’s appealing to you, or you want to use your Apple Watch as a small bedside clock with Nightstand Mode, you might like this new design…

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Review: Speck’s CandyShell Fit Apple Watch case protects when you need it, then removes easily

Zac Hall Aug 7 2015 - 2:02 pm PT

16 Comments

While I wasn’t immediately convinced of the need to ever hide a beautiful Apple Watch under an arguably unattractive protective case, seeing my wife’s experience accidentally damaging the sapphire display solidified my spot in Apple Watch Case Camp in some contexts.

Because Apple Watch materials — aluminum, stainless steel, gold, Ion-X glass, and sapphire glass — are strong but not entirely resistant to scuffs, scratches, shatters, and all the same ailments that strike our iPhones in normal use, it makes sense that accessory makers want to apply the same formula used to produce iPhone cases when making protective solutions for Apple Watch.

But Apple Watch has to look good, so does porting that same formula actually work? That’s the question I’ll tackle with my hands-on experience with Speck’s $29 CandyShell Fit hard shell case for Apple Watch.

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Review: Enblue’s Premium One W3 is an outstanding all-in-one dock for Apple Watch, iPhone + iPad

Jeremy Horwitz Aug 5 2015 - 11:36 am PT

12 Comments

I’m not a fan of hyperbole, nor am I the type of reviewer who long ago ran out of new synonyms for the word “great.” In fact, I could count the number of truly stellar products I’ve tested in the past year on one or two hands. So when I say that Enblue Technology’s new Premium One W3 ($135, also sold in $65 W1 and $115 W2 forms) is the best stand I’ve yet seen for the Apple Watch, and quite possibly the best multi-Apple device stand I’ve ever tested, that isn’t idle gushing. Yes, the Premium One stands are expensive. No, they are not perfect. But having seen a lot of companies try and fail to do what this German developer has accomplished, I’m certainly very impressed.

Each Premium One stand uses nicely machined aluminum dotted with small plastic pads to hold and charge your Apple Watch. The entry-level W1 model is Watch-only, while the mid-range W2 holds a Watch and iPhone, and the top-of-line W3 is a Watch, iPhone, and iPad charging station — the most elegant multi-device charger I’ve seen since Apple introduced Lightning connectors. It’s ideal for minimalists, and amazingly, completely case-compatible. If the price doesn’t bother you, and you want to charge your Apple Watch along with other devices, this should be at or near the top of your shopping list…

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How-To: Bring Marie Kondo’s “life-changing” tidying up magic to your Apple products

Jeremy Horwitz Aug 4 2015 - 9:32 am PT

7 Comments

Like many other people right now, I’m in the midst of watching my house transform as a direct result of Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. As the title suggests, the book powerfully explains how to properly keep any room tidy, in the process helping you resolve lingering issues in your life. Thanks to positive press, strong word of mouth, and surprisingly tangible results, Tidying Up is rapidly taking minimalism mainstream, bucking an age-old trend towards hoarding untold quantities of stuff and leaving it scattered around one’s living and working spaces.

As a long-time minimalist, it’s refreshing to see decluttering catching on. But Kondo’s KonMari system — keep only those items that “spark joy” and are actually being used, discarding everything else — has created a problem for tech-savvy readers. No matter how necessary they’ve become in our lives, Apple device chargers don’t “spark joy.” In Kondo terminology, their cables are untidy; particularly if you’ve purchased inexpensive third-party options, they’re not particularly nice to look at.

I knew this was a problem when my wife, inspired by Tidying Up, nearly tossed out the multi-iPad charger our family has used for years. Yes, the charger was creating visual clutter, but we needed it — or something better — to keep everyone’s iPads working. My hunt to find minimalist solutions to our daily charging needs inspired this article. Below, I’ll run through a few options that will help you tidy up your iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch, and Mac spaces, so you (and/or your significant other) can achieve minimalism without giving up your favorite devices…

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Pixelmator keyboard by Editors Keys review: A no-brainer for Pixelmator users

Cam Bunton Aug 1 2015 - 7:15 am PT

15 Comments

Pixelmator is one of the best Photoshop alternatives available on the Mac App Store. I’ve been using it for quite some time now, but mostly just using a trackpad or mouse to manipulate layers, access tools and edit functions. There are tons of keyboard shortcuts. And if I had the time or patience to learn them all, I would have. Needless to say, I didn’t. So when I got the chance to check out EditorsKeys keyboard specifically designed for Pixelmator, I jumped at it.

To cut it down to the very basics – This is essentially a wired Apple keyboard with numeric keypad. Except it has custom keys to clearly label the Pixelmator keyboard shortcuts, making photo and image editing much quicker and easier. Simply put: If you use Pixelmator on Mac and you don’t already have a grasp of all the shortcuts, you should get this keyboard.

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Review: Zipbuds Slide, average-sounding but super-convenient tangle free earbuds

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2015 - 7:06 am PT

3 Comments

I love music, so most of the time when I’m out and about I have headphones round my neck or in my bag. But there are times when I’m music’d out, and leave them at home – and I can then pretty much guarantee I’ll end up wishing I’d taken them with me.

Whether it’s to have a lengthy phone conversation while walking down the street, or watching the funny video a friend just posted on Facebook on the train (without subjecting everyone else to the audio), headphones aren’t just about music. For that reason, I’ve taken to chucking a few pairs of cheap-ish in-ear headphones in various bags and jacket pockets so that I always have some with me. In-ear ones can be squished into a small space so they take up almost no room.

The problem with that squishing, of course, is that whenever I do dig them out, I spend several minutes untangling them. This is the problem Zipbuds Slide sets out to solve …
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Review: Nomad’s battery-powered Pod keeps your Apple Watch ticking all weekend long

Jeremy Horwitz Jul 30 2015 - 6:11 am PT

13 Comments

The first round of Apple Watch stands were just that, accessories designed to keep your Apple Watch from rubbing against your nightstand or desk. This month, we officially moved into the second wave — powered Apple Watch docks — with the release of Boostcase’s Bloc and Nomad’s Pod ($60). Boxy, flat, and long, Bloc was a clean design with questionable practicality, but Pod makes a lot more sense: like the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable it holds inside, it’s a partially metal and partially plastic puck you can easily take anywhere and use to charge any Apple Watch. Having previously designed the beautiful Stand for Apple Watch, Nomad promises that the rechargeable 1800mAh battery inside Pod “keeps your watch powered all weekend.”

From my perspective, the Apple Watch’s single biggest issue is its one-day battery life, which has meant risking a dead watch while traveling or otherwise away from a power outlet. Although you could just carry around a device-agnostic USB battery, Pod solves the power problem at a more aggressive price point than Bloc, and in a convenient form factor that will appeal to a lot of people. You can choose from a silver and black version, as shown in the photos here, or a space gray and black version made to match darker Apple Watches. Read on for the details…

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Review: SwitchEasy’s Blocks + Colors are toy-like docks and cases for the serious Apple Watch

Jeremy Horwitz Jul 28 2015 - 10:59 am PT

6 Comments

Earlier in my reviewing career, I always tried to estimate the likely audience for products I tested: was an accessory likely to be universally appealing, somewhat popular, niche, or poorly received by virtually everyone? Many reviews (and reader comments) later, I learned there was at least a small audience for virtually anything, and conversely, that some people found reasons to dislike even the best-designed and best-reviewed products. I eventually concluded that there is no such thing as “universally appealing” or “universally bad” — just products for different audiences of different sizes.

SwitchEasy’s Blocks ($20) and Colors ($15) are as close to a test of my conclusion as anything I’ve covered so far for Apple’s $350-$17,000 Watches. Blocks lets you build your own Apple Watch dock from 92 plastic pieces that just so happen to be “compatible with Leading Manufacturer building blocks,” code for “works with Legos.” Colors is an inexpensive Apple Watch case designed to match three Apple Watch Sport bands. Toy-like in appearance, the designs are clearly not “universally appealing,” particularly for owners of expensive Apple Watches and Editions. But it’s possible that one or both of them may appeal to you, anyway…

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Review: Boostcase’s Bloc is a boxy, portable Apple Watch dock with a hidden 2000mAh battery

Jeremy Horwitz Jul 27 2015 - 7:00 am PT

9 Comments

Most of the accessories I’ve reviewed for 9to5Mac require little explanation — they’re the second, third, or tenth iteration of a concept we’ve seen many times before. Marked with “Carte Blanche” branding, Boostcase’s new Bloc ($60-$100) is something new… and as such, it mightn’t completely make sense at first blush. It’s not just an Apple Watch stand like the many others I’ve covered: it’s actually a standalone charging dock. With its own built-in power source. Made from your choice of wood ($60 preorder/$80 regular), aluminum ($80), steel or gold-colored aluminum (each $80 preorder/$100 regular).

It’s as minimalist of a design as docks can get: a big, solid-feeling box hiding your Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable and a 2000mAh battery inside. And it’s available in colors matching nearly every Apple Watch, even including gold and rose gold. You’ll have to decide whether or not it makes sense for your personal needs, but one thing’s for sure — there’s nothing else quite like it on the market, or likely to appear any time soon…

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The Best Bluetooth Speakers 2015: JBL Charge 2+, Bose Soundlink Mini II and UE Roll/Megaboom

Seth Weintraub Jul 24 2015 - 3:04 pm PT

38 Comments

L to R: UE Mini (review), Roll (review), Boom (review) and Megaboom (review), JBL Charge 2+(review) and Charge 2 (review), Bose Soundlink III (review) and Soundlink Mini 2 (prev review)

There’s nothing like having a summer moment free to listen to your favorite music with your friends. The combination of portable Bluetooth speakers and great music apps like Apple Music with Beats 1 radio can make this an instant spontaneous event as long as you’ve got the right gear. There are tons of Bluetooth speakers around but we’re cutting through the noise and signaling the best from three top brands today: Bose, UE and JBL.

In last year’s exhaustive holiday season Best Bluetooth Speaker Review, I gave the title of best speaker to the JBL Charge 2 for having nearly the best sound, cylindrical portability, great looks, long battery life and the ability to charge your phone for around $120. JBL has updated their game with the Charge 2+ but both Bose and UE have really doubled down on their product functionality this year. It is going to be a tough call…
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Review: Manfrotto KLYP+, the fun iPhonography kit at perhaps a slightly too serious price

Ben Lovejoy Jul 24 2015 - 7:54 am PT

0 Comments

As Apple’s Shot on iPhone ad campaign illustrates, the iPhone is a capable camera in the right hands. Many people find that it’s the only camera they ever need.

But if you’ve ever wished it could do just a little more without carrying around too much extra bulk, the Manfrotto KLYP+ kit may be worth a look. It’s an iPhone case (available for a range of models) that comes with two screw-on lenses and a combination light and tripod mount. The whole kit comes in at $125 …
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Review: Trinity Delta, the first in-ear headphones to really impress me

Ben Lovejoy Jul 23 2015 - 8:27 am PT

7 Comments

I’m an on-ear/over-ear headphone guy. To me, the size and weight has always been a price worth paying for the far higher quality and sound isolation they deliver when compared to consumer-grade in-ear headphones.

I’ve tried numerous in-ear headphones, and none have ever felt remotely comparable to me – until now. Trinity is a brand new British company founded by former lead designer at Rockjaw, specifically to create high-quality in-ear monitors (IEMs) at an affordable price. The Delta is the high-end model, at $135/£90, and it takes rather an unusual approach …
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Review: SchuttenWorks’ wooden Ripple for Apple Watch supports Nightstand Mode for only $50

Jeremy Horwitz Jul 23 2015 - 7:23 am PT

1 Comment

Apple’s June announcement of watchOS 2.0 created a new challenge for top Apple Watch stand and dock makers: an upcoming software feature called Nightstand Mode turns the Watch into a small-screened alarm clock when it’s taken off for charging, but only if the Watch is laying on its long edge. If the Watch is in any other position, Nightstand Mode won’t work, a limitation that many people won’t care about, but some people might accessorize to accommodate.

Like most other Apple Watch stand makers, Portland-based SchuttenWorks designed its earlier Wave Apple Watch Charging Stand before anyone had heard about Nightstand Mode, and Wave’s mounting position doesn’t support the new software feature. So SchuttenWorks has developed a smaller and more affordable option called Ripple ($50) that’s built specifically for Nightstand Mode (and any future watchOS features that may require the same charging orientation). Offered in mahogany, walnut, and cherry, it preserves Wave’s genuine wood construction and novel magnetic assembly, but requires a little less space and lets you see the Apple Watch’s screen…

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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB $590, Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard $15, Seagate 5TB USB 3.0 HDD $110, more

Jul 22 2015 - 9:05 am PT

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB in Gold, Silver, or Space Gray for $590 shipped (Reg. $699)

Sharkk Ultra-Slim Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard $15 Prime shipped, more
Stary Board cuts the weight to become the “world’s lightest” electric vehicle
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid State Drive: $85 shipped (Orig. $140), more
Home: Culina salad spinners from $16 (40% off), Yukon Outfitters hammocks from $30, more

Seagate Expansion 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive: $110 shipped (Reg. $130), more http://t.co/MX0Sx068Qb pic.twitter.com/iI1LeOQUPW

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 22, 2015

Amazon Gold Box – MEElectronics Air Fi Runaway Bluetooth Headphones in multiple colors: $35 Prime shipped (Reg. $60)

Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Titanium: $209 shipped (Orig. $380)

VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $500 shipped (Reg. $600)

Jabra SOLEMATE Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker in black $60 shipped (Reg. $90+), more

Bluetooth speakers: Urge Basics Soundbrick $18 shipped, Liger waterproof shower speaker $10 shipped, more

Tweetbot for Mac hits its lowest price ever: $10 (Reg. $13)

iPhone 6/Plus $100 off w/ VZW or Sprint 2-yr contract: 16GB $100, 64GB $200, 128GB $300

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 128GB in Silver or Space Gray for $450 shipped (Reg. $599)

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick

Giveaway: Grain Audio OEHP.01 Over-Ear Headphones are an ideal daily set of cans, $199 value

More new gear from today:

ZAGG iPhone 6 Speaker Case w/ built-in Bluetooth speaker, battery and mic $60 shipped (Reg. $100)

Daily Deals: Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat $90, Griffin Retractable MFi Lightning Cable $8
Games/Apps: DmC Devil May Cry $30, Game of Thrones for iOS goes free, more
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is now available for Mac: $7 (Reg. $10)
Monoprice Power Bank + Two MFi Lightning Cables: $15 shipped (~$40 value)
Save 30% on fashion at Amazon: Herschel Supply Co., Lacoste, PUMA, more
Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)

More deals still alive:

Spigen’s latest Apple Watch dock is made for watchOS 2 Nightstand mode, pre-order now for $12

App Store Amazing Apps/Games for $1: Blek, Spider Man, Goat Sim, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Angry Birds Space ($1 value)

Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)

Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
Sennheiser HD650 + Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp $550 shipped ($755 value)
Bose SoundTouch Portable Series II Wireless Music System from $269 (Reg. $325)
Media: Blu-ray/DVD combos from $8 including Interstellar & Lucy, $1 HD Rentals, more
Router Roundup: Linksys dual-band Smart Wi-Fi Router (refurb) $28 (Orig. $50), more
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Headphones in black $65 shipped (Reg. $80)
Aukey USB Chargers: 5-Port USB Desktop Charging Station $22, more
JBL Control One 4″ Indoor/Outdoor Speakers: $80 or 2-pairs for $150 shipped (Orig. $180)
Kmashi 10,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $9.39 Prime shipped (Orig. $50)
Seagate 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop HDD $125, WD Elements 2TB Portable HDD $70, more
Discounted gift cards up to 20% off: Staples, Gamestop, Toys R Us, iTunes, and more
TRENDnet Powerline 500AV Nano Adapter Kit: $20 Prime shipped (Orig. $65)
4K A/V Receivers: Denon w/ AirPlay $499 (Orig. $999), Onkyo 5.2-ch $200 (Reg. $250)
Fremo 3200mAh Battery/Flashlight with MFi Lightning cable: $10 shipped
SoundPEATS Qy7 Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless In-Ears: $20 (Reg. $30)
Jabra MOVE wireless on-ears $70 shipped (Reg. $100), more
Spigen iPhone 6/Plus Cases in a variety of styles and colors from $7 shipped
Nordstrom’s massive Anniversary Sale: Michael Kors non-iron dress shirt $39, more
RAVPower 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: $70 shipped (Reg. $100), more http://t.co/MX0Sx068Qb pic.twitter.com/XppZTF5hGu

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 21, 2015

New products & more:

Cusby adapters work like LEGO to let you build a custom USB-C hub

ZNAPS gives any Lightning or microUSB charging cable a MagSafe-like connector

Jet.com is ready to battle Amazon and Walmart for your online shopping needs
A-Bike Electric has powered assistance in the “lightest” package in the world
Hot Toys is partnering with Disney to create an 18-foot long Millennium Falcon model
Acer’s $100 Liquid Leap+ Fitness Watch for iOS/Android with a 20% discount
The Remix Mini is a low-cost Android-based PC alternative
The new slimmer MOOV NOW fitness tracker coaches you through your workouts
Grado’s new Heritage Series headphones are made from native Brooklyn trees
Sling Media introduces the new Slingbox M2 bundled w/ free downloads of the app
SONOS announces new limited edition solid color PLAY:1 speakers

Apple blocks users on beta versions of iOS from writing App Store reviews

Mike Beasley Jul 21 2015 - 11:20 pm PT

35 Comments

via Ryan Orbuch

In a move that will certainly please iOS developers, Apple has finally disabled the ability to write app reviews on the latest beta version of iOS 9. When attempting to review applications in the store, beta users will now be met with a message informing them that the feature is unavailable. The change was spotted by several Twitter users earlier this evening.

App makers have long been put off by low reviews from users experiencing problems related to unsupported versions of the mobile operating system, which often hurt an app’s overall ratings and possibly affected their downloads as potential buyers took note of the negative feedback without knowing the full context.

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Review: Should you buy Apple’s 6th Generation iPod touch? (Video)

Dom Esposito Jul 19 2015 - 10:35 am PT

56 Comments

Today we’re taking a look at Apple’s 6th generation iPod touch for 2015 and determining whether or not it’s worth the money. It’s been a while since the iPod touch has been refreshed and even though it’s a minor one, this time around it brings along some important changes. If you’ve had Apple’s iPod touch on your must-have gadget list, there are a few things you need to know…

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Review: The Briefcase from Pad and Quill is a beautiful gear bag that’s built to last a lifetime (+giveaway)

Dom Esposito Jul 18 2015 - 9:14 am PT

27 Comments

Being a writer and video creator, my bags are easily some of the most important possessions I have. The reason is obvious: they protect my essential tech and gear. I’m always super picky about which bags or backpacks I choose for this hefty task, and most of them come at a steep price. They hardly every look what you may call “good” though. I’m usually all about function over form when it comes to my bag decision. Choosing durability and features like pocket space usually means you’ll need to compromise on design.

With that said, I don’t consider myself a “briefcase” kind of guy. The style has just never been my thing because briefcases tend to be rather conservative on space and stiff in shape. So what’s with all of this talk over bags and briefcases? It just so happens that I’ve found a briefcase that’s actually kind of a bag, and it delivers both form and function. If this is what you’d call a briefcase these days, I’m all in. Meet The Briefcase from Pad & Quill…
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9to5Toys Last Call: Bluetooth 4.1 in-ear headphones $20, Brother Wireless Printer $80, Apple TV $60, more

Jul 16 2015 - 9:03 am PT

2 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

This USB-C hub adds four USB-A ports to your 12-inch MacBook: $14 Prime shipped
App Store Free App of the Week: Angry Birds Space ($1 value)
App Store Amazing Apps/Games for $1: Blek, Spider Man, Goat Sim, more
Griffin WatchStand Dual Charging Dock for Apple Watch & iPhone $25 shipped (Reg. $30)
Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones in multiple colors: $80 shipped (Reg. $140)
The new slimmer MOOV NOW fitness tracker coaches you through your workouts
Consoles w/ $100 Dell gift card: PlayStation 4 Last of Us $400 or Xbox One $350
Sling Media introduces the new Slingbox M2 bundled w/ free downloads of the app
Google’s Family Friendly Free App of the Week: Sago Mini Space Explorer ($3 value)
Home: Hamilton Beach dual toaster/oven $30 (Reg. $50+), more

SoundPEATS Qy7 Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless In-Ear Headphones: $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

Daily Deals: Brother color inkjet wireless printer $80, D-Link pan/tilt day/night IP camera $60, more

Apple TV 1080p Streaming Media Player (newest version): $60 shipped (Reg. $69)

Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)

SONOS announces new limited edition solid color PLAY:1 speakers

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

Charge a 12-inch MacBook on the road w/ this Anker 25600mAh 3-port Battery: $50 shipped (Reg. $80), more

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: $70 shipped (Orig. $130)
Games/Apps: The Room Two $1 (Reg. $3), Toy Defense HD $2 (Reg. $5), iOS freebies
PayPal email gift cards $15 off $100: PlayStation Store, Xbox, Cabela’s, more
Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac $16 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
Acer 11-inch Chromebook 2.16GHz/2GB/16GB (refurb): $110 shipped (Orig. $200)

More deals still alive:

Pixelmator image editor and painting app for iOS: $1 (Reg. $5)

Games/Apps: Rayman, Tetris, Blek, BADLAND, Mass Effect, $1 each, more

Rovio iOS sale: Angry Birds Space for iPhone goes free for the first time, more

R.B.I. Baseball 15 for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5), more

$75 iTunes gift card for $65 shipped: save 13% on apps, music, movies and more

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in all colors $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB: $300 shipped (Reg. $399)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Silver: $449 shipped (Orig. $929)

iPhone 6/Plus, 5/s/c cases from $2 shipped in multiple styles and colors
Aukey 40W/8A 5-Port USB Desktop Charger $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
LifeProof iPad Mini Frē Case in white/gray $30 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband $118 shipped (Reg. $150)
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)
RAVPower 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
Belkin’s MFi Lightning Keyboard for iPad is on sale for $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Aukey deals w/ Prime shipping: 12,000mAh power bank $15 (Orig. $25), more
Boost Mobile launches its first Wi-Fi Hotspot No-Contract plans as low as $25 a month
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

Grado’s new Heritage Series headphones are made from native Brooklyn trees

The Lumos Helmet provides the technology needed to bike safely
This transforming Optimus Prime LEGO build might be one of the most impressive yet
Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder
This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs
Limited edition Street Fighter II Arcade Soundtrack comes to vinyl
Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition is sold out, you can still show your love w/ this quirky Fallout gear
Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighte
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package

9to5Toys Last Call: the best Prime Day deals, Pixelmator for iOS $1, iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular $265, more

Jul 15 2015 - 9:04 am PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Grado’s new Heritage Series headphones are made from native Brooklyn trees

Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband (multiple sizes/colors) $118 shipped (Reg. $150)
Pantum P2502W Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer $25 shipped (Reg. $46 )
SONOS announces new limited edition solid color PLAY:1 speakers
Home: T-fal Stainless Steel Deep Fryer $95 (Orig. $138), more

Amazon Prime Day hub: all of the best deals from Amazon’s huge 20th Birthday sale

Pixelmator image editor and painting app for iOS: $1 (Reg. $5)

Games/Apps: Rayman, Tetris, Blek, BADLAND, Mass Effect, $1 each, more

Rovio iOS sale: Angry Birds Space for iPhone goes free for the first time, more

R.B.I. Baseball 15 for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5), more

$75 iTunes gift card for $65 shipped: save 13% on apps, music, movies and more

iPad mini 2 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $265 shipped (Reg. $429)

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in all colors $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB: $300 shipped (Reg. $399)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Silver: $449 shipped (Orig. $929)

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

Belkin Black Friday in July: Save 30% on $50+ w/ free shipping, new WeMo LIGHTIFY Starter Set $70 (Reg. $100)

iPhone 6/Plus, 5/s/c cases from $2 shipped in multiple styles and colors

Apple TV 1080p Streaming Media Player (newest version): $60 shipped (Reg. $69)
Aukey 40W/8A 5-Port USB Desktop Charger $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
LifeProof iPad Mini Frē Case in white/gray $30 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)
Daily Deals: XYZprinting daVinci 1.0 3D Printer $300, D-Link 802.11ac Gaming Router (refurb) $30, more

More deals still alive:

Belkin’s MFi Lightning Keyboard for iPad is on sale for $40 shipped (Reg. $60)

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)
RAVPower 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Aukey deals w/ Prime shipping: 12,000mAh power bank $15 (Orig. $25), more
Boost Mobile launches its first Wi-Fi Hotspot No-Contract plans as low as $25 a month
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
3rd party Apple Watch bands prices are dropping
NEwhere Elite Vaporizer kit w/ USB wall charger $20 shipped (Reg. $30) + 35% off e-liquids
App Store Free App of the Week: Card Wars – Adventure Time goes free ($4 value)
Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (refurb): $128 shipped (Orig. $300)
Urge Basics Cuatro Bluetooth Speaker $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30+)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

The Lumos Helmet provides the technology needed to bike safely

This transforming Optimus Prime LEGO build might be one of the most impressive yet

Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder
This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs
Limited edition Street Fighter II Arcade Soundtrack comes to vinyl
Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition is sold out, you can still show your love w/ this quirky Fallout gear
Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted
Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger
Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game
GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad mini 2 $230, SanDisk 128GB microSD $60, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB $500, more

Jul 14 2015 - 9:02 am PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in all colors $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

The Lumos Helmet provides the technology needed to bike safely
Aukey deals w/ Prime shipping: 12,000mAh power bank $15 (Orig. $25), more
Boost Mobile launches its first Wi-Fi Hotspot No-Contract plans as low as $25 a month
Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition is sold out, you can still show your love w/ this quirky Fallout gear
This transforming Optimus Prime LEGO build might be one of the most impressive yet
Limited edition Street Fighter II Arcade Soundtrack comes to vinyl
Home: Dyson upright vac (refurb) $225 (Orig. $500), more

Amazon Gold Box – SanDisk Flash Storage up to 50% off: 128GB microSD $60, 32GB Ultra Fit Flash Drive $11, more

iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi 16GB: $230 2-day shipped (Reg. $299)

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB: $300 shipped (Reg. $399)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Silver: $449 shipped (Orig. $929)

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro: 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB $1,100 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

15-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch $1,819 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

Amazon Prime Day Hub, monster sales announced: Fire Stick $24, 32-inch TV $75, and 40-inch TV $115, more

Walmart CEO blasts Amazon’s Prime Day, promises a week-long sales event with “some special atomic deals”

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

Beats by Dre 1-Day Sale: Powerbeats2 Bluetooth Headphones, Pill 2.0 Portable Speaker $130 ea (Reg. $200)

RAVPower Portable 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

Games/Apps: Shadow of Mordor $15, Dragon Age Inquisition $20, more
R.B.I. Baseball 15 for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5), more
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
Amazon Fire TV Stick + Mohu Leaf 30 OTA Antenna $50 shipped ($74 value)
PNY Turbo Plus 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $10 shipped (Orig. $35)
Microsoft’s $99 Universal Foldable Keyboard is now available
Daily Deals: Fitbit Flex activity tracker $75, more

More deals still alive:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)

Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Belkin’s MFi Lightning Keyboard for iPad is on sale for $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
3rd party Apple Watch bands prices are dropping
NEwhere Elite Vaporizer kit w/ USB wall charger $20 shipped (Reg. $30) + 35% off e-liquids
App Store Free App of the Week: Card Wars – Adventure Time goes free ($4 value)
Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (refurb): $128 shipped (Orig. $300)
Urge Basics Cuatro Bluetooth Speaker $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30+)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

The Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder for an “upgraded” filming experience

This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs

Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted
Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger
Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game
GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more

Quick look: Gekkopod, a compact Gorillapod-style mini-tripod mount for the iPhone

Ben Lovejoy Jul 10 2015 - 5:59 am PT

3 Comments

I have a Gorillapod which comes in handy for my compact camera, but it’s a little chunky to carry around for use with an iPhone. The Gekkopod is a similar idea, but in a much smaller format, making it a lot easier to tuck away into a bag for those times when you find you need a stable platform for a photo – whether for a selfie or a low-light shot where you want to avoid camera shake.

I’ve been trying out a prototype for a couple of weeks, and the grippy plastic legs wrap around most things very securely. With the sun going down, the Gekkopod held the camera steady for a low-ish light shot while using my Apple Watch as a remote shutter release. I didn’t even need to fully wrap the legs around the railing to hold it securely in place. The legs can then be folded or flattened to carry in your bag, whatever works best to fit the available space.

The one issue is that the arm that holds the camera isn’t quite stiff enough. It works fine with the phone held level, but starts to droop if you have the camera pointed down.

The Gekkopod started life as a Kickstarter project with a modest $15k goal, and raised almost $100k. It’s available now for pre-order for $19.90, but it’ll be October before it ships.

Review: LAUT’s Nomad series for iPhone 6/Plus are simple, but beautifully designed cases (Video)

Dom Esposito Jul 8 2015 - 11:47 am PT

1 Comment

If you’re looking for a “hip” iPhone case or a nice way to represent your city, you’ll love the Nomad series from LAUT. The Nomad series features unique abstract map designs on the backside of a case that showcase different cities. I’m not usually a fan of cases, but the artwork here is what lured me in…

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