February 5, 2012

You are here: Home / Reviews

Reviews

Fair and unbiased product reviews for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac, Apple & Third Party Software, as well as the growing accessory market.

Build a “Temple” Around Your iPad 2 — Leather Smart Case Review

June 23, 2011 by Guest Leave a Comment
IMG_0630

By Robert Henny I have to admit, I love my iPad 2, not only for its functionality but also for its aesthetic appeal.  Simply put, it’s a sexy little thing. It’s what separates Apple’s products from all the imitators.  I have always enjoyed the feeling of pride I get when typing away on my iPad, MacBook Air, MacBook or iPhone; yes, I own and use them all.  Nothing beats watching those poor souls who, for one reason or another (maybe they’re too cheap or too stupid to buy Apple), purchased a competing device and turn green with envy as I unsheathe my works of art.  Apple recognized … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: ,

OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD – Manage Your Media Part I [Tutorial/Review]

November 15, 2010 by Philipp 2 Comments
OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD

Media professionals are always looking for the latest and greatest hardware. Most consumers, however, concentrate solely on RAW CPU power when, in fact, they may be better served by looking into smarter storage solutions instead. After all, it may be that old hard drive that's holding back your digital workflow. Therefore, this three-part series will examine some of the best hardware upgrades for your media storage. We are going to use a 2006 Mac Pro to demonstrate the upgrades, but you should be able to achieve similar results on any iMac or PC. Kicking off this series is the OWC Mercury … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

MacBook Air – Ready For Primetime? [An Emotional Review]

October 29, 2010 by Philipp 16 Comments
TAP_MBAReview_Featured

As the credit card leaves the comfort of my wallet, I hesitate for one last moment. I already happen to own a Mac Pro, a MacBook Pro, as well as an iPad. All of my computing needs should be covered. Shouldn't they? Then I remember the frustrations of publishing a blog post from an iPad and the cumbersome weight of my MacBook Pro. Maybe I could squeeze one more computer into my digital routine, afterall? Finally—with the boiling sensation of pure lust overcoming every part of my body—I hand over the credit card. $1199 later and I am the somewhat surprised owner of an 11" MacBook Air. Wait, what … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

iPhoto ’11 Quick Review

October 21, 2010 by Steve 6 Comments
iphoto11

In the list of new features in iPhoto '11, "fun" is more prominent than "functional." During the keynote, special emphasis was given to the new slideshows in iPhoto '11, which do not disappoint. They are especially rewarding if you have put forth the effort to tag faces and places. With just a few clicks I was watching a slideshow of a trip, and the ease of use combined with the fun imparted by the theme made the experience a genuine delight. Faces and Places both received a usability upgrade in iPhoto '11 as well. Their function remains the same, but the interface seems much more accessible … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With:

The Mobile Mac Office — Part II: Organizing Your Time [Things for Mac/iPhone/iPad Review]

September 24, 2010 by Philipp 4 Comments
Things for Mac Icon

This is the second part of our Mobile Mac Office series. Be sure to check out 'Part I: Going Paperless' as well. Organizing time effectively can be one of the most challenging aspects of work for small business owners and freelancers alike. You've got a million things on your mind, a growing number of projects to complete, and too little time to manage them all. Trying to stay on top of every task often feels like someone is pointing a stun gun straight at your chest. You'll get less done simply because too much time is spent thinking about managing time. It's a stressful catch 22. To alleviate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Help & Tips, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Datacolor SpyderLensCal Review [Calibrate Your DSLR Autofocus]

September 23, 2010 by Philipp 3 Comments
Datacolor Spyder LensCal Lens Calibration System

I've always had a sneaking suspicion, that my Canon 5D Mark II and my Canon EF-135mm 2.0 USM lens weren't playing nicely together. Even in situations when the autofocus system should've had an easy time, I've always found myself with focus problems with this specific camera/lens combination. The focus seemed to be off by quite a bit; especially when shooting wide open. In close-up situations, for example, the tip of the nose would be in focus when I clearly focused on the eyes. "Must be a problem with my camera" I kept telling myself for months, too lazy to actually look into the problem even … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

ZAGGsparq 2.0 Review: iPhone/iPad Battery Pack On The Go

September 15, 2010 by Philipp 2 Comments
ZAGGsparq 2.0 Review

The ZAGGsparq 2.0 is a compact, black, box, similar in size and shape to a MacBook Pro charger (3.50" Height x 3.50" Width x 1" Depth). On the inside, however, it's all battery. 6,000 mAh worth of Lithium Polymer battery to be precise. That's enough juice to re-charge your iPhone 3-4 times and top of your iPad from 0% all the way back to 60%. Put in perspective, that's an additional 5 to 6 hours of video playback on your iPad. All Battery in a Simple Design Most battery packs we've come across are designed to fit snuggly around the iPhone. While that approach is obviously convenient, it also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Snap Case for iPhone 4 by Incase

August 31, 2010 by Steve Leave a Comment
IMG_50532

The Incase Snap Case is one of your choices for a free "fine, have a one" case from Apple. I picked it because it had the shortest shipping time, and now it's here. This review will be short because there isn't much you can say about a single piece of plastic. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,

WaterField Designs 10" Portable Muzetto for iPad [Review]

August 18, 2010 by Philipp 1 Comment
IMG_6347

If you've recently purchased an iPad, chances are good that you're also in the market for a suitable bag. Carrying the iPad in your hands all day isn't much fun, after all. Fortunately, the iPad accessory market is in full swing by now and there are many great options to choose from. To make the decision a little easier, we're taking a closer look at the 10" Portable Muzetto from WaterField Designs today. The Muzetto is a line of vertical, messenger bags that are available in sizes from 15.5" x 11.75" x 2.7" for a 15" Laptop down to 10.5" x 8.5" x 1.5" for personal items. The 10" Portable Muzetto … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: , ,

The Best WordPress App for iPad

May 5, 2010 by Steve 14 Comments

Here is a big hint: you already have it. The official Wordpress app is a disaster. The comments on the app will tell you that, as will anyone who has ever had the misfortune of using it. Even the esteemed Andy Ihnatko has nothing but harsh words for it. This mess of an app has lost more than one draft for me, and offers no real formatting options. It's terrible at posting pictures, even worse at plain ol' text, and generally a waste of time, space, bits, and money (it's free, still too much). Other apps have equally poor reviews, and after my experience with the Wordpress app for iPad, I had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Help & Tips, Reviews Tagged With: ,