Until a few years ago, I had an extensive fountain pen collection. I loved the design, the history, and the experience that came with fountain pens. Then Apple introduced the Apple Pencil, and my fountain pen days ended. The new Adonit Star Stylus brings the old and the new together in an onscreen writing tool that looks and feels like a classic fountain pen.
As gas hit prices few have ever experienced in America this past spring, I decided to start riding my bicycle to work. I quickly discovered that I needed a backpack small enough to wear on a bike comfortably but large enough to carry all of my day’s gear. Enter the WaterField Sutter Slim Laptop Backpack; it’s perfect for my needs.
Some months ago, I reviewed two travel charging hubs from Kovol. I took both on a recent trip, and they performed beautifully. The company just sent me their new Kovol Sprint 140W PD 2-Port GaN Wall Charger. It is a total win for someone like me who uses a 14” MacBook Pro as his primary computer. Here’s why.
My 11″ iPad Pro is a fantastic tablet. It’s fast, light, and powerful. I use it for reading and games, but it doubles as a powerful productivity device. And now, thanks to new accessories, including the Nomad Modern Leather Case and the Modern Leather Folio, it’s even better.
Not long ago, Apple stopped including AC adapters with their phone and tablets. As annoying as it was, that move prompted numerous companies to jump in and fill the vacuum; Kovol is one such company. The Kovol Sprint 120W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Charger and the smaller Kovol Sprint 65W 4-Port GaN Desktop Charger share a similar compact design; they also put Apple’s old chargers to shame.
WHOOSH! products make it easy to keep your devices and displays sparkling clean. Their products don’t contain harsh ingredients that can be harmful to you or your device, and their products are designed to be safe for you, your screen, and the environment. Now, they are getting even more eco-friendly with concentrated refills for their reusable bottles and cartridges.
In recent weeks, Harman‘s Infinity Lab has released several different charging solutions; these include high-performance wall adapters and a range of external battery packs. They have sent me a number of their new products to try; this review will look at their new Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W, a powerful USB-C and USB-A PD charger.
Brydge products are a key part of my productivity. Their Brydge 11 MAX+ keyboard lets me get more from my iPad than ever, and their Stone Pro Docking Station keeps my desktop computer peripherals connected. Now they’ve released two new products- the Brydge SP+ Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad for Surface Pro 8 and the Brydge Stone Pro TB4 Universal Docking Station.
I picked up an M1 11” iPad Pro a few weeks ago. It’s not vastly different than the iPad Pro it replaces, but it does have a bit more speed along with a new battery that hasn’t already had two years to degrade. When I got my iPad Pro, I immediately placed it into the Pitaka Mag EZ Folio for safekeeping; I’m a fan.
When I do serious writing on my laptop, I use a stand to raise its screen to a comfortable level so I can work more comfortably and efficiently; raising my iPad to a similar eye level has the same impact. The Pitaka MagEZ Stand for Tablets does just that, and it can wirelessly charge your phone or earbuds.
It seems that most devices I use as of late are charged via USB-C. From my phone to laptop and everything in between, one charging solution works for them all. I often find myself stranded in various places needing to charge, so having another charging option strong enough for everything, including my laptop, is a game-changer; the Eggtronic Sirius 65W Universal Charger does just that.
I’ve used an assortment of Pitaka products with my iPhone over the years but only recently had the chance to check out some of their impressive iPad accessories. In this, the first of three Pitaka iPad accessory reviews, we’ll look at the Pitaka MagEZ Case 2 for iPad Pro 2018/2020 and iPad Air 2020. Although priced at $69.99 on its own, the MagEZ Case 2 is only available as part of a bundle when sold with the MagEZ Stand, the MagEZ Folio, or with the MagEZ Stand and Folio.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing the Movo MA5L; it’s an omnidirectional condenser microphone that plugs into a Lightning port so that it will work with iPhones and older iPads. It promises to make your Zoom calls sound a bit clearer for the person listening, but there is a major caveat that you should consider before purchasing this particular model.
When Raina and I were dating, I bought her a new iPad to replace the aging one she was using. For years she used it with a keyboard case. When she got a new iPad a few months ago, she needed a new keyboard case. That case is the Brydge 10.2 MAX+ Wireless Keyboard Case with Trackpad; it’s impressive.
I used to think that if we had a winter power outage lasting a week or more, Kev and I would be adequately prepared. We’d have plenty of drinking water on hand, piles of cut wood for the fireplace, our food would be safe (because, winter), and portable battery packs would power our electronics. Earlier this year, we got to find out just how unprepared we actually were when Texas got slammed with one winter storm after another, causing a massive power crisis. What would have made a huge difference for us during this disaster? The Anker PowerHouse II 800.
When Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from their mobile devices, we saw explosive growth in the wireless headphone market. Sadly, it was also another step toward prioritizing convenience over audio quality. As we have seen, some wireless headphones deliver exceptional sound but, there are times when you want the BEST sound. That’s where the Periodic Audio Rhodium DAC comes in.
The WaterField Hip Sling Bag Collection is yet another product designed based upon input from customers. This “community-designed” collection is perfect now that the summer heat has arrived. Available in two sizes, it can be used as either a hip bag or as a sling bag. I don’t see using it as a hip bag (AKA fanny pack), but I do love a good sling.
Leave it to Apple to release a $29 tracker accessory with no native way to affix it to the item you want to track. For that, you need to spend at least $29 more on Apple’s AirTag Loop. And while the Loop holds the AirTag, it does nothing to protect it. Thankfully, there is now a line of Nomad AirTag Accessories.
For over a year, my office has been here at home. Now, though, I’m preparing to return to the office part-time in the next few weeks. Many days that means carrying MacBook and an iPad. Since each serves a different purpose, thankfully, the new WaterField Double-Take iPad + MacBook Sleeve is the perfect solution!
My 11″ iPad Pro was a fantastic tablet right out of the box. The Brydge Pro+ Wireless Keyboard with Trackpad I reviewed made it even better. Now, the new Brydge 10.2 MAX+ is ready to do the same thing for the less expensive 7th and 8th Generation iPads. Available for preorder, the $129.99 accessory arrives the week of April 12.
Greg recently posted news about the new Master & Dynamic MW08 ANC true wireless earbuds. I’ve been using a pair for the last two weeks, and I’m more than a bit impressed. In fact, I am happy to report that I have a new favorite pair of wireless earbuds. They are comfortable, offer excellent hybrid noise cancellation, and sound fantastic.