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9to5Mac Reviews

1,153 'Reviews' stories July 2010 - October 2015
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All the products that the 9to5Mac team has reviewed.

AirPods health

All the products that the 9to5Mac team has reviewed.

Solartab, the premium solar charger/battery for iPad and iPhone that actually works

Avatar for Seth Weintraub Oct 10 2015 - 1:29 pm PT
11 Comments

If you’ve ever tried to charge your iPhones/iPads/etc. directly from a small solar panel you probably know it is pretty difficult. Even with direct sunlight, you aren’t likely to be able to charge the device reliably. Most USB-charged devices require a minimum of 5W (5Vx1A) of continuous power to even register a charge. Then a cloud comes or the sun moves and you aren’t charging anymore.

Adding a battery to the mix helps, especially if the battery is big and can charge the device on its own without any sun. But most of the solar/battery combos fall into 2 categories: Either messy because they are a bulky 2 step solution or the solar panel is too small to make a meaningful charge and you are mostly using it like a regular USB battery.

SolarTab is a breath of fresh air here. It is a relatively big 5.5W solar panel built on a thin 13,000mAh battery enclosure that fits in an included Moleskine-esque case. Size-wise, think the original iPad with a nice leather case and a huge solar panel instead of a screen…


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Review: Macphun’s Creative Kit 2016 makes boring photos beautiful, for a modest price

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 10 2015 - 6:00 am PT
17 Comments

Great photographers are made, not born, and even the best photographers have plenty of unimpressive shots in their collections. But in the age of digital photography, it’s possible to create a great photograph without being a great photographer. You can even accomplish this days after snapping your photo, so long as you have the right post-processing software and a little time to play around.

Macphun’s Creative Kit 2016 ($150) provides photographers of all skill levels with six different tools that make bland or imperfect photos look great. This year’s Creative Kit includes the Pro versions of Macphun’s Focus, FX Photo Studio, Intensify, Noiseless, Snapheal, and Tonality, each renamed “CK” and expanded with extra features. All six of the apps are designed to be super easy to use, yielding great results even without diving into the manual controls, though there are rewards for tweaking their settings. Better yet, the standalone apps now work as plug-ins for OS X Photos, Aperture, Photoshop, and Lightroom, and can easily be used in combination with one another for even more powerful editing…


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Op-Ed: I watched the Steve Jobs movie 5 times and here’s why you’ll want to too

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 9 2015 - 7:30 am PT
30 Comments

[Ed. Note: This is a guest post by Lontih Khatami who [disclosure] works at the same studio, Universal, that produced the film but did not work on the film. Spoiler: it’s better than iSteve]

Interested in seeing the new Steve Jobs movie that Universal is releasing this weekend in select markets (with wide expansion set for October 23)? Well, me, too. Only I’ve already seen it five times within the past dozen days. And I eagerly await my next few viewings.

You’re probably wondering how I’ve been able to see this inevitable Oscar contender so many times prior to its initial release. The more important thing to ponder, though, is “Why would anybody WANT to see it so many times in such a short timeframe?” The answer to that question, quite simply, is because the movie is masterfully made, and it works on so many different levels. Not unlike so many of the products the title character brought into this world…
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Review: AliveCor Mobile ECG lets an iPhone monitor your heartbeat, share with doctors

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 9 2015 - 6:23 am PT
4 Comments

Health accessories for iPhones, iPads, and iPods have become more numerous and diverse over the years, evolving from Apple’s early Nike+ run sensors to heart rate monitors, increasingly complex Wi-Fi scales with body fat and ambient room sensors, blood pressure cuff docks… and even Bluetooth toothbrushes. Some health accessories are undeniably useful, but others raise the question “why?” — why pay more to see my weight on an iPhone rather than the scale’s built-in screen? Why track daily tooth brushing, body fat percentages, or the humidity of one’s bathroom? People survived for thousands of years without charting every seemingly minor blip on their personal radars.

My perspective changed last month when my wife was diagnosed with a serious cardiac condition. One of those “seemingly minor blips” that can now be constantly monitored is your heartbeat, and when something’s wrong with your heart, advance knowledge literally makes the difference between living or dying. As it turns out, a San Francisco-based company named AliveCor is now on its third-generation version of an iPhone accessory that helps people with cardiac conditions. The AliveCor Mobile ECG ($75) is an FDA-approved electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor that can record and share your heartbeat directly from your iPhone. Measuring roughly 3.2″ by 1.3″ by 0.2″, Mobile EGC can self-attach to your iPhone’s back, or integrate with a bundled custom iPhone 6/6s case for only $80 (there’s an iPhone 5/5s case, too). Given my family’s sudden need for quick access to ECG data, keeping it with an iPhone makes sense, as this is an accessory we’ll want to have on hand whenever it may be needed…


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Review: Apple’s iPhone 6s + iPhone 6s Plus are nice but definitely not mandatory upgrades [Video]

Avatar for Dom Esposito Oct 8 2015 - 10:00 am PT
23 Comments

This year’s iPhone launch week is over, so the earliest 13 million or so adopters are already playing with and forming opinions on the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Past history suggests that Apple will sell over 100 million of these phones over the next year or so, which means that there are a lot of people still deciding on which model to buy.

If you’re still on the fence about buying one of Apple’s latest and greatest smartphones, there are a few important things you need to know. On the surface, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus look nearly identical to their predecessors, as we’ve come to expect with “s” models, but there’s a lot of new tech inside that makes these models different. Will any of the changes justify this purchase for you? Or will you be better off with last year’s (now cheaper) iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Let’s find out…


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Google updates iOS search app to show map results, GIFs, allow review posts with photos

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 8 2015 - 5:34 am PT
0 Comments

Google has updated its official search app for iOS to version 9.0, adding three new features.

• Add a photo or review for your favorite local places
• Get map results right in the app when you search for an address
• Tap and play animated GIFs in image search results

The app supports Siri-like spoken search queries, speaking the answer to questions. You can also get Google Now cards through the app, which aim to proactively offer you information you might want based on your location and other clues in a similar way to iOS 9’s proactive assistant feature. The company added always-on “Ok, Google” functionality in August.

Google is a free download from iTunes.

Rock Jaw Alfa Review: Replace your EarPods with these affordable, premium earbuds

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 6 2015 - 10:15 am PT
14 Comments

The Rock Jaw Alfa Genus V2 headphones ($49.90) are not especially meant as a replacement for EarPods, but that’s how I see them. Apple’s bundled EarPods have a lot of positives. They are ‘cheap’, lightweight and small. You can chuck them in a bag or pocket without worrying too much. This is in stark contrast to Beats on-ear and over-ear headphones, for example, which are expensive, bulky and heavy. However, EarPods leave much to be desired in regard to sound quality.

It turns out the Rock Jaw Alfa’s fill this gap nicely. They have the same portability as EarPods but with a focus on also providing great sound to listen to. They aren’t perfect but they are pretty great value earbuds. Read on for our full review …


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Mini-review: Cookie Cookie, the iOS app you’ll only open once but appreciate daily

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 6 2015 - 7:30 am PT
8 Comments

Cookies have a bad rap, with assorted non-techies describing them as ‘tracking your web activities,’ as if they somehow enabled someone to sit and watch what you do. The reality, of course, is that the most they can ever do in the way of tracking is note that you saw an ad on one website and later visited the online store to buy the product. Mostly what cookies do is simply recognize who we are when we return to a website – and they are easy to block if we really want to.

But the mainstream media got carried away, politicians got involved and it became law in Europe that any website using cookies had to inform visitors with a message that had to be actively dismissed. Most U.S. sites erred on the side of caution by following suit, subjecting almost all of us to pointless and annoying notices.

Cookie Cookie is an iOS app that does one thing and one thing only: does its level best to hide all cookie notices. You’ll only ever need to interact with it once. Open the app, then go into Settings > Safari > Content Blockers to allow it to run – and you’re done.

It can’t work perfectly, as there is no 100% reliable method for detecting cookies, so the app searches for them by name. More precisely, it uses CSS queries to look for HTML elements containing the most commonly-used names: cookie-notice, cPolicy, cconsent and so on. When it finds one of these, it hides the HTML element. The result is a web largely free from annoying messages you have to dismiss to get on with your day. In a few days of using it, I’ve found it blocked almost all of them.

So long as the app is open in the background, it will sit there silently doing its job on both iPhone and iPad. Cookie Cookie costs $0.99 from iTunes, but we have a few giveaway codes you can use – when you use one, please paste the code you used into comments afterwards so people can see it’s gone.

NFMEAW37TJLX
TH34PPJTE6WA
T37R3MXYFNNA
KYYYRYNJ9PNW
HL4RJE6RN6HA
HRLW9A3LR3T4
3M4T3KE6L9FA
HPLYJPFPH69M
PH9T7TE6JLMN

Review: Belkin’s Charge Dock, the first w/ an integrated Apple Watch charger

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 6 2015 - 5:01 am PT
10 Comments

After Apple announced plans back in July to let accessory manufacturers produce Apple Watch docks that integrate its magnetic charging connector, today the first product to take advantage arrives with Belkin’s new Charge Dock for Apple Watch – which also includes an integrated lightning connector for simultaneously docking an iPhone. We’ve been testing the product ahead of its release… 
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Review: Chromecast Audio brings new life to dated speakers for just $35

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 5 2015 - 11:06 am PT
16 Comments

I’m an Apple guy. I have enough Apple hardware around my house to serve as a mini-museum and I use Apple’s software and services every single day. But when Google makes something interesting like Chromecast Audio, I can’t help but want to try out the new toy.

Sold for just $35 (Google Store, Best Buy), Chromecast Audio lets you stream audio over the Internet from services like Spotify and NPR to old speakers. This varies from Apple’s AirPlay in that audio streams directly to the Chromecast Audio rather than from device to device, using your iPhone or iPad only as the remote. In practice, Chromecast Audio is most similar to Sonos, but with Google’s accessory selling at a much lower, irresistible price as it relies on your existing speakers rather than all-in-one units.

So what exactly is Chromecast Audio and what can it do for iPhone owners? Read on for details…
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9to5Toys Last Call: Retina MacBook Pro $1,080, 13″ MacBook Air $800, Bluetooth audio adapter $8, more

Avatar for Oct 5 2015 - 9:12 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:

Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651138682674507776 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651126504156368896 align=’center’]

13″ Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB (MF839LL/A): $1,080 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

13″ MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (MJVE2LL/A): $800 shipped (Reg. $999)

Add Bluetooth/mic to any Aux speaker or headphones for $8 Prime shipped

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive with refreshed gameplay, new songs & updated hardware

More new gear from today:

Add a TiVO Roamio OTA HD DVR w/ Lifetime service to your Cord Cutter setup for a one-time $300 fee

More deals still alive:

The Executive for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)

New products & more:

The Sondors eBike is loaded with features and surprisingly affordable

 

Review: Prong’s iPhone 6 PWR Case adds folding wall blades + a 100% recharge to 4.7″ iPhones

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 5 2015 - 6:55 am PT
2 Comments

I’ve tested lots of iPhone battery cases since 2007, and quite a few great iPhone 6 battery cases over the past year. It’s extremely rare to find a battery case with integrated wall plugs that recharge both the battery and iPhone, but a company named Prong is now on its second-generation version of exactly that product. Prong’s first iPhone cases had no batteries, but included wall plugs so you could recharge wherever you found a standard wall outlet. Then it took the next logical step and added a spare battery for iPhone 5/5s users.

After a very lengthy pre-order process, Prong is about to release PWR Case for iPhone 6 ($100), a bigger and more powerful version of its earlier iPhone 5/5s case. PWR is atypical in several ways, starting with the aforementioned fold-out wall prongs, but also that it includes a detachable case, and is offered in a fully transparent version that may appeal to techies…


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Mini-review: Cloopband, the somewhat pricey but very convenient magnetic cable ties

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 2 2015 - 8:31 am PT
0 Comments

As regular readers will know, I think wires are evil. To the extent that they are unavoidable, they should be invisible. And if they can’t be invisible, they should at least be neat.

I’ve also found you can never predict when you’re going to need a cable, so I keep one of each of the main types – Lightning, MiniUSB and MicroUSB – in each of the bags I use to carry a MacBook. I’ve tried various methods of wrapping them, from rubber bands (fiddly and they break) through velcro (collect fluff and lose their stickiness) to releasable cable-ties (neat but fiddly).

But I think I’ve finally found a solution that Just Works. Cloopbands are rubberized cable wraps with magnetic ends that can be applied and removed in a second.

Cloop suggests you semi-permanently attach the bands to your cables like so:

Personally, I didn’t find that necessary, but I can see that it could be useful for some.

The company also sells a small bar magnet, the idea being that you attach this to your desk and then your Cloopband-wrapped cables stick to that. Again, that wasn’t for me, and the bar is so small it would only work for a few anyway.

The one downside of Cloopbands? The price. They’re available in two sizes, small and large, in packs of three. Small bands cost $9.99 for three – and cope with most cables – while the larger size is $11.99 for three. Fine for a single set of cables, but if, like me, you have enough cables to rewire a power station, that could soon add up. You can claim a 15% discount on orders of over $20 by following the company on social media.

If Cloopbands are not for you, there are plenty of other cable management products available on Amazon, for both desk and mobile use.

Cloopbands are available on the company’s store from $3.99 for individual bands.

The best iPhone 6s 3D Touch features [Video]

Avatar for Dom Esposito Sep 26 2015 - 5:58 pm PT
12 Comments

Apple’s iPhone 6s is finally here and it comes along with a new feature that you may not be familiar with. Today we’re checking out the best 3D Touch features. Some of you are probably thinking, how is this any different from a long press, right? Well its uses may not be very different at the moment, but the technology that makes this possible is a very different thing.

3D Touch will sense the amount of pressure your finger applies to the screen and trigger various actions. So instead of a short press or a long press, 3D Touch enables a soft press and a hard press. So you can “tap” on the display, but then you can go even further (quite literally) and press into the display at multiple levels. Once you’ve reached the amount of pressure to trigger an event, the iPhone will provide slight haptic feedback to let you know. So what can 3D Touch actually do?


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STM Drifter review: Water resistant, light cargo-pants of MacBook backpacks

Avatar for Cam Bunton Sep 26 2015 - 10:40 am PT
3 Comments

STM is a relatively well-known Australian company that makes great quality, but slightly pricey bags and cases for your gadgets. What I’ve always loved about the company is that most of its bags don’t look anything like the typical accessories you’d associate with consumer tech. They just look like regular bags, except they’re not. Nowhere is that more clear than with the STM Drifter; a well-made, lightweight, spacious and durable back pack with enough pockets and compartments to carry virtually anything…


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Review: AAXA’s iPad mini-sized P700 blasts videos at 4x the brightness of iPhone-sized projectors

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Sep 24 2015 - 6:00 am PT
0 Comments

Pico projectors — video projectors small enough to fit in pockets or bags — are handy if you need to carry a tool that can display videos on a surface much larger than your iPhone’s screen. And if you’re willing to step up from an iPhone 6 Plus-sized footprint to a projector that’s still smaller (in two dimensions) than an iPad mini, there are benefits: larger projectors can hold more powerful lightbulbs, better speakers, and bigger batteries, amongst other features.

AAXA’s P700 ($450) demonstrates what you can expect if you jump from a pocket-sized projector to one that fits in a bag or briefcase. It adds around 50% more physical volume to AAXA’s $299 ST200, which I reviewed and liked five months ago, leveraging the extra space to offer over 4 times the light output, noticeably stronger audio, and slightly longer battery life. If you’re looking for a way to display Mac, Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, or iPod content on up to a 150″ surface, you’ll want to see what P700 offers…


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iOS 9: The state of CarPlay in 2015 + what’s new

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 22 2015 - 9:30 am PT
24 Comments

Pioneer’s flagship <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVIC-8100NEX-Navigation-Capacitive-Touchscreen/dp/B00SKJHIY4/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=pioneer%2Bnex%2B8100&tag=n003f1-20&qid=1442933054" target="_blank">AVIC-NEX8100</a>

Until Project Titan develops into an actual Apple Car and hits the road, Apple will award “the best iPhone experience on four wheels” title to its CarPlay infotainment feature which it says offers “a smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car.” Available on a growing number of vehicles from select manufacturers, CarPlay lets you connect your iPhone to your car for using Siri and an on-screen interface optimized to let you safely access apps while driving.

CarPlay relies on intelligence from your iPhone, using car hardware like microphones and built-in displays for input, so annual iOS updates mean the feature can learn some new tricks just like your iPhone and iPad. So what’s new with CarPlay in iOS 9 and how has the feature changed since my initial review a year ago? Let’s take a look:
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iPhone 6s review roundup: 3D Touch is ‘fun and useful’, Live Photos hit and miss, significant camera upgrade

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 22 2015 - 5:41 am PT
32 Comments

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are launching in just four days time and right on schedule the embargo on reviews have been lifted. Apple is touting the new phones as major updates over the 6 and 6 Plus, with 12-megapixel camera and 4K video recording, ‘3D Touch’ pressure-sensitive display to enable quick actions across the OS, Live Photos and more. We’ve already seen an early hands on with the iPhone 6s thanks to an early delivery but now the official tech reviews are live.

So what’s the verdict? We’ve rounded up the highlights below from those lucky enough to get the phones early …


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9to5Toys Last Call: 15″ Retina MacBook Pro $1,700 (or less), iPad Air 2 $349, LG 49″ Smart UHDTV $550, more

Avatar for Sep 21 2015 - 9:03 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:

Infento’s Constructible Rides are a K’NEX-like bicycle system that grows with your kid

Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,700 or $1,650 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,999)

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi up to $150 off (all colors): 16GB $349, 64GB $449, 128GB $549 (Reg. up to $699)

LG 49-inch 60Hz Smart 4K UHDTV: $550 shipped (Reg. $800+)

Giveaway: This is Ground’s Mod Laptop 2 is a road warrior’s dream bag, up to $499 value

Review: Tile’s 2nd-gen Bluetooth tracker makes finding lost keys, dog, or iPhone easier than ever

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: FX Photo Studio goes free, PS4 Destiny Taken King bundle w/ MGS V $399, iOS freebies, more

More deals still alive:

The Mega Mac 2015 Bundle: 15 solid Apps including MacBooster 2, Disk Drill Pro & More $25 (Orig. $564)

MacUpdate Bundle: 10 apps including Toast 14, DevonThink, ExpanDrive, Boom, iMazing and more for $50

App Store Free App of the Week: Shadowmatic puzzle game goes free for the first time ($3 value

New products & more:

The all-in-one Bruvelo Coffeemaker hits Kickstarter with a lofty goal and slim design

Tacos are the key to scoring one of Sony’s crazy limited edition Gold PlayStation 4 bundles

The Logic Pros: Kontrol S-series keyboards give you Komplete control of NI’s world-class instrument library

Avatar for Justin Kahn Sep 20 2015 - 3:43 pm PT
3 Comments

In this week’s episode of The Logic Pros, we thought it was time to look at the Komplete Kontrol S-series controller keyboards from the folks over at Native Instruments. While NI already offers a wealth of software powered controller gear for DJs, the stellar Maschine systems and more, the Kontrol keyboards bring deep hardware integration for the company’s best-in class software instruments/effects into a more familiar form factor then ever before.

We have spent some hands on time with the Kontrol S49 model alongside Komplete Ultimate 10, the latest version of the company’s flagship software bundle. It is time to see how deep and user friendly the hardware/software integration goes, how well it gets along with Logic Pro X, and whether or not it warrants the comparably steeper price tag…
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Review: Is Huawei Watch the first eye-catching iPhone-compatible Android Wear smartwatch? [Video]

Avatar for Dom Esposito Sep 19 2015 - 7:27 am PT
11 Comments

Huawei Watch is beautiful. I know that’s a rather odd way to start out this review, but this is hands-down one of the best looking smart watches on the market. I suppose that opinion is somewhat subjective depending on your taste, but every little detail about Huawei Watch’s design is proof that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for beautiful smartwatch design…


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Apple iPad mini 4 unboxing and comparison [Video]

Avatar for Dom Esposito Sep 17 2015 - 7:26 pm PT
19 Comments

This wasn’t discussed much in the official announcement, but the iPad mini 4 is a pretty nice step above its predecessor with enhancements in a few key areas that definitely make a difference. The major things you need to know about with this iPad mostly falls in line with Apple’s upgrade patterns: thinner, lighter, faster. Though there are some performance differences at play as well…


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