Posted by Daniel Feeney on May 17, 2012
Today, Marshall Headphones released its “dark horse” of the company, the Pitch Black series. Among these new “black” products lies The Major and Minor.
The Major symbolizes much of what makes up the Marshall Legacy; It is a powerful set of headphones designed with non-stop all day listening in mind. It comes equipped with an in-line microphone and remote for cell phone usage. Price-wise, its affordably priced at $120. (Link)
The Minor is an advanced, strong in-ear model. Not only does The Minor offer stunning sound, but it also feature EarClick, “a patent that ingeniously secures the earphone into position in your ear.” The Minor too comes equipped with microphone and remote for cell-phone use. It costs just $65. (Link)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on May 16, 2012
Last summer, Jawbone’s JAMBOX blew me away with its fantastic sound, beautiful design, and uncanny functionality. Now, a year after the release of the original JAMBOX, Jawbone is releasing the BIG JAMBOX, a speaker which not only delivers more sound, but also more battery (15 hours).
Like its smaller twin, the BIG JAMBOX features LIVEAUDIO technology which delivers amazing 3D sound from a single audio set. In a sense, it is surround sound without multiple specially-placed speakers. In addition, the Bluetooth speaker offers MyTALK, Jawbone’s “industry-first online platform to download apps, software upgrades, and the latest features.”
Unfortunately the JAMBOX is not AirPlay-equipped.
The BIG JAMBOX will set you back $300 –$100 more than its smaller double– from Jawbone’s store. And if you are looking to bring JAMBOX’s audio to a Mac or PC, the company offers a USB Bluetooth device (The Nerd) for an additional $50. We will have a review of the new JAMBOX soon.
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on May 16, 2012
Today, writing on TheMacFeed is just one of many pins I juggle. Not only are there unwritten posts, unedited reviews, and unattended reports for various developers, I also have to tend to various other projects I am working ever-so-vigorously on. As a result, I do my fair share of writing. A lot of it.
Normally, I find myself in TextEdit or sometimes even Notes on the iPad. And honestly, these two editors never quite handle my day-to-day writing.
A few weeks back I came across Byword through a friend’s recommendation. Needless to say, this specific individual has since been given a lot of credit for the find. Byword impressed me in nearly every way imaginable, however not for its features, but for its lack of them. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on May 1, 2012
GreenSmart is another company I had the pleasure to meet at CES and, although nothing can be said for its website, the company’s products are extremely sound. I am still one of the few Mac users to be in possession of a 17″ MacBook Pro. The truth of the matter is, companies don’t pay attention to this machine; hell, Incase appears to be staying away from it altogether. It just so happens GreenSmart is continuing to sell a 17″ protective sleeve, the Komodo.
It’s hard to make a sleeve sound interesting –it’s nothing more than fabric and a zipper. In GreenSmart’s case, there is actually a bit more to look at: the environment. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on April 23, 2012
It’s been about four months now since I visited CES. Yes, that banner is still on the site. I also noticed the number of posts since the event, no need for anyone else to point it out.
One could compare the past few months with the title of a Jay-Z album. Nevertheless, I am getting back into it.
CES was a wake-up call to the number of Apple product-related cases there are in today’s market. Perhaps its just another reason for Apple to release new product designs. Hint, hint, Apple. Still, there are some new cases which actually still have appeal –yes, there are non-sliders out there too. One case in particular has been on my phone for the past four weeks, the Boostcase Hybrid.
The Boostcase Hybrid is a snap-on iPhone 4/S case with a battery for extending the life of the phone. New concept? Does Louis CK fly coach? New implementation? Yes, and its a sexy one too. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on February 20, 2012
With today’s extremely wide offering of iPhone cases, it is a difficult, expensive task to find a great one. While I was at CES talking to the group at the BodyGuardz booth I was introduced to the Mykase, an iPhone 4/4S case with an interchangeable back plate. With its quality build and new design, the Mykase is a breath of fresh air.
The Mykase is made up of three parts: the bottom, the top, and the back-plate. This trio fit together to makeup the case. The top and bottom piece slide together very similar to the way Incase’s (among other cases) slider case does. The shell (everything but the backplate) comes in two finishes; the black case is a matte soft-touch while the white case is glossy. In regards to ports and buttons, the case has cutouts for everything (no rubber button covers unfortunately) with ample space for finger pushing and wire connections.
As is with other hard-shell cases, the Mykase offers ample protection from drops and dings. The screen is partially protected by a rim along the sides while the rear and sides are completely protected by the case. I still wouldn’t reccomend tossing it down a flight of stairs, though. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on February 8, 2012
As computer peripherals move to being wireless, one begins to wonder the best means of charging all of said devices. Using batteries works, however it can be expensive and less than earth friendly. A while back Mobee came out with the Magic Charger, a means of recharging Apple’s Magic Mouse. Months later it released the Magic Bar, an appealing charging solution for Apple’s wireless keyboard.
Mobee’s Magic Bar is a dock for Apple’s wireless keyboard to rest on allowing it to charge while remaining fully functional. It does this with a battery replacement (included) for Apple’s keyboard which allows the wireless charging to work.
The Magic Bar is made mostly of aluminum matching Apple’s devices rather closely. However, it also features a lot of plastic which all feels cheap in regards to quality. Further, the bar’s power charging light is not pleasing in terms of aesthetics; in fact, it has more of a PC look to it. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on January 7, 2012
Incase is one of, if not the most well known makers of portable electronic cases and packs. In fact, the name has been fortunate enough to be associated with legends like Andy Warhol through the creation of products decorated with artist’s work and designs. One of Incase’s most popular cases which has existed since the original iPhone is its slider case, a two-piece slim protective cover the iPhone and iPod touch.
I purchased my first Slider for my iPhone 3GS in a matte black and loved it. For my iPhone 4S, however, I purchased a glossy white Slider to match the device’s front and rear. It, unfortunately, is another story. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on January 2, 2012
modulR first appeared on my radar in 2010 when it introduced its immensely versatile –and original– iPad case. It was a bit rough, however the idea was clear: a single case with a library of compatible accessories and, ultimately, limitless possibilities.
Today, modulR’s iPad 2 case is vastly different than its case for the original iPad. Rather than being a rubbery plastic, the new case is a shiny hardshell. Unfortunately, the move in form might not have been in the right direction. (more…)
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Posted by Emilio Solorzano on December 22, 2011
Gone are the days of brick-sized phones, tiny TFT displays and external antennas. Now we live in an age were our phones are replacing our computers for the most menial tasks such as checking and replying to email. And at present, it’s even possible to take, edit and share professional looking photos all on a device that fits easily in your pocket.
Voted iPad App of the Year by Apple, the amazing team at Nik Software is proud to bring us their highly acclaimed photo editing app, Snapseed. With the ability to “make any photograph extraordinary with a fun, high-quality photo experience right at your fingertips,” it’s the only photo editing app you’ll want to use. Snapseed allows you to effortlessly adjust your photos with Auto Correct, use Selective Adjust to tweak specific objects or areas and share your masterpieces via email, Facebook, Flickr and Twitter to say the least.
With Auto Correct, Snapseed will analyze your photo and adjust color and exposure to perfection. As mentioned earlier, with Selective Adjust you have the ability to make precise enhancements to specific areas of your photos using Nik Software’s innovative U Point technology. And with Tune Image, you can adjust While Balance, Saturation, Contrast and much more. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on December 19, 2011
Joby is a company which has been made famous for Gorillapods, its line of flexable tripods –all eight of them. I’ve taken its strongest and sturdiest Gorillapod, the Focus, out into nature, the jungle of the city, rive-side, and (best of all) Disney World. The result? Pictures from the ground up.
The Gorillapod Focus is a relativly short (stands roughly 1.5 feet high) flexable tripod capable of wraping its octopus-esque legs around just about everything allowing one to take photographs on nearly any terrain. It was made to be versitile and has just that written all over it.
Regrettably, through my experiances I really did not enjoy using the Gorillapod for two main reasons: there are not places to attach it in every situation resulting in countless photos taken from roughly a foot off the ground and its less-than-sturdy design. Let me explain…
I was walking down a country road and saw a quaint farm with a beautiful sunset occouring to its side. In order to take the picture I wanted, a tripod was needed. Luckily, I had the Gorillapod Focus on me! Right? Wrong. There was not a single pole, tree stump, mailbox, or perfectly placed table within sight for me to put my camera on resulting with me taking the photo using the tripod on the ground. Every picture I took looked as if I was spying on this farmhouse in a ghillie suit. Hell, the grass was taller than the lens! (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on December 18, 2011
Bluelounge is amoung the most well known names in Apple-related accessories and, with its extremely well thought out products, one of my favourites. This year, the comapny has been busier than usual having released countless new products, including the MiniDock, a power-outlet iOS device mount.
The MiniDock takes the place of the Dock Connector to USB Cable in the event that one uses a power-outlet to charge their iPod or iPhone and acts like a floating shelf to keep the device off the floor/counter. (more…)
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Posted by Emilio Solorzano on December 17, 2011
There are very few items in the known universe that come without an instruction manual. Socks, puppies and toilets can be lumped into that category, and now we can add another, Flipboard for iPhone. When the geniuses behind Flipboard began laying the foundation, they envisioned an app that you could pick up and begin using right away, without having to refer to a manual or help file. Well, I’m happy to report that the team at Flipboard, Inc. have managed to bring media consumption to a whole new level. And by new level, I mean I can now catch up on the latest news with the grace of a simple flip, I have tiles that update automatically as new content is pushed from the servers and a specialized tile that curates the most shared content from all my feeds into one simple, intuitive tile.
If you’ve been a long-time Flipboard for iPad user, then you’ll have no problem setting up services such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. on the iPhone version. Flipboard offers many recommended sources (although TheMacFeed is still absent, *hint hint*), and numerous topics (Travel, Entertainment, etc.). You can still search for RSS feeds manually if they aren’t in Flipboard’s repertoire however. (more…)
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Posted by Daniel Feeney on December 17, 2011
Heckler Design is a firm known largely for its OneLessDesk and Office, however after a successful KickStarter campaign earlier this year, it introduced the OneLessDrop, a weighted tool to keep the power cord off the floor and on the desk. Roughly three months ago, Bluelounge, a company known for its Apple-related accessessories, released the Sumo a tool which dirrectly competes with the OnelessDrop in terms of its function. Determining the better soluction comes down to form and price.
Heckler Design’s OneLessDrop –which now serves as Heckler Design’s logo– was officially funded on KickStarter on March 2, 2011 as a very simple solution to a problem almost everyone has with cords; the second a cord is unplugged it falls behind the desk. With the OneLessDrop, the cord stays put. In addition to power cords, one can use the OneLessDrop with iOS adapters, and various other wires so long as they are not “orca fat.” It’s design is basically an “H” with slots for wires above and below the center bar as well as rubber feet for grip. (more…)
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Posted by Matt Bonney on December 14, 2011
As my fall semester comes to a close, and I look forward to having a few weeks to focus on something that doesn’t involve classwork and lectures, I felt it was an appropriate time to pay a tribute to a set of fantastic iOS and Mac applications that have been an indispensable part of my collegiate success thus far.
The app that I give so much credit to? iStudiez Pro. This wonderfully designed an executed application by the aptly-named iStudiez Group offers a powerful set of class-scheduling and assignment-tracking tools that help people like me – who are generally bad at remembering due dates or remembering exam dates – get a grasp on their scholastic career.
iStudiez Pro aims to be a digital student planner, letting you track which classes you’re taking, your Professor’s and T.A.’s contact information and office hours, your homework assignments and due dates, and even your grades. (more…)
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Posted by Matt Bonney on December 11, 2011
As a celebration of the second “birthday” of Angry Birds – the ultra-popular and wildly successful game that so many people know and love, Rovio has released Angry Birds version 2.0. While the update is mainly evolutionary, rather than a full-fledged “Angry Birds 2″, it continues Rovio’s commitment to delivering new content to players.
Angry Birds 2.0 brings 15 new levels to the game, along with modifying how the player progresses through the game. Now, all the “episodes” (sets of levels) are unlocked from the start, allowing new players to jump right into any of set of levels rather than playing them in strictly sequential order.
Angry Birds is available on a multitude of platforms, including all iOS devices (with an appropriately-scaled “HD” version for the iPad), along with Android devices and even a web app available for the Chrome web browser. Angry Birds for iPhone and iPod touch is available for $0.99, and Angry Birds HD is $4.99.
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