The newest Mac laptops are fantastic. They are fast, thin, light and get the job done. Unfortunately, in their ongoing commitment to industrial design, Apple has, as you know, dropped many of the ports that used to be standard in laptops. Thankfully, the OWC USB-C Travel Dock is here. For under $40 it gives you back what Apple took away.
Over the past four to five years I’ve been paying Dropbox and Google Drive monthly to house my confidential and personal files, and I’ve always wondered about an alternative to the monthly fees. Then I was introduced to the Apollo Cloud 2 Duo, a storage device available in 4 or 8 terabytes.
Not long ago, a “portable” backup power solution for your MacBook meant bringing a dedicated, heavy battery slab and an adapted Apple MagSafe block. Now, most laptops including MacBooks are powered by USB-C; battery technology has caught up, become more powerful, and it’s downsized. The mophie powerstation USB-C 3XL can recharge your laptop and it’s the size of a paperback.
Many people continue to make a big deal out of the fact that Apple began dropping ports from their notebooks to such a degree that one might think they were radioactive. The MacBook has a single USB-C port, and the rest of the line doesn’t fare much better. That’s where the Kingston Nucleum comes in. You see, connections matter.
It’s taken a few years, but brands are starting to fully entrench themselves with the wonderful world of fast charging, multi-use products such as USB-C, and 35-watt chargers for multiple devices. But then there’s Moshi’s ProGeo SERIES: A fleet of products that will allow you the user to travel lighter, and charge faster.
I’m always looking for a light pair of Bluetooth headphones that sound good and are comfortable to wear, so I was pleased when recently sent a pair of the Aiwa Arc-1 Bluetooth Headphones to try. They incorporate a two-piece, stiff bio-cellulose composite speaker cone with a flexible surround, and they are not only comfortable, but they also sound great!
Data has become a modern-day currency of sorts, and in some cases is valued more than money itself. This type of data must be protected but it has not always been easy (or economical) to do so for the individual. The new diskAshur2 portable solid-state drives from iStorage can provide this security easily and affordably.
Whether it’s the Nomad USB-C Cable (read the review), the 4-in1 USB C Cables, the Nomad Battery Cable (read the review) or the new Nomad Slim Wallet with Tile Tracking (read the review) we are consistently impressed by the products Nomad continues to roll out. They’re great but not inexpensive but today, you can save big!
If you need a large capacity portable SSD, and you prefer one that is small, tough as nails, and fast, then you should check out the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. With read speeds up to 550MB/S, rugged IP55 water and dust-resistance, shock and vibration resistance, capacities up to 2TB, and its small size, it’s great for on-the-go students and professionals.
Are you looking for a high-capacity battery pack that can charge your laptop, tablet, DSLR camera, phone, and almost anything else you might carry? Take a look at the redesigned Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC Power Pack. It has two USB Type-C ports, 2 USB Type-A ports, an AC outlet, wireless charging, and it includes all the cables you might need!
My 12″ MacBook is so light and thin; I always have it in my backpack. It’s probably the most convenient laptop I’ve ever had, but there is one huge drawback: it only has one USB Type-C port. No memory card slots, no extra USB ports, no nuthin’. The Satechi USB-C MultiMedia Adapter adds memory card slots, USB ports, and more.
All car chargers are alike. Right? Wrong. Just as different USB wall chargers can push out varying amps of power, so can car chargers. The Oneadaptr EVRI 45W USB-C Car Charger has a Type-C port that is powerful enough to charge your MacBook while it charges your mobile device.
Mophie has become a leader in designing truly high quality and innovative battery packs, but until now they’ve never come out with one that could charge your laptop on the go. The new Powerstation AC has been designed to fully charge a MacBook, as well as an assortment of other devices.
Printed photos have been around since 1827, and if you have boxes or albums full of them sitting in storage, you might be tempted to either pay someone to digitize them or forget them. Another option is using the Epson FastFoto FF-640; it’s a high-speed photo scanning system perfect for digitizing, and that’s just the beginning of its usefulness.
One of the saddest parts about purchasing one of Apple’s most recent MacBooks is that the company was so forward-thinking in terms of USB Type-C, they completely forgot that some of their more popular devices are still bound by Lightning and standard USB. As a result, customers have to live what’s been long considered “the dongle life”.
Dell has two new monitors on the way. The Dell 24 and 27 Ultrathin Monitors are packed with features yet surprisingly affordable. The 24” model will be just $299.99 while the 27” model will be just 27”. Both models will arrive at the end of January and look to be an integral part of Dell’s 2018 lineup.
Belkin, one of our favorite accessory companies, is showing off a host of new products at CES 2018. Among them are new wireless charging offerings, a new power bank and a power delivery wall charging collection. They all arrive this spring and summer. Here’s a quick rundown of some of what they will have on hand.
If you could choose only one battery pack for your next long haul flight, the mophie powerstation AC should probably be it. Mophie’s powerstation AC is a high-capacity external battery with AC power as well as USB-C PD fast charging for laptops, tablets, smartphones. You heard that right, this is a battery pack that’s powerful enough to charge all your devices, and your laptop too.
Readers who have read my reviews here at Gear Diary or over on my site know that I travel. A lot. The bulk of my career has seen me travel to every lower 48 state and to many other destinations around the globe.
We’ve reviewed many portable battery packs here, but the SYNAVOLT is the first I’ve ever seen that is both expandable and modular. Currently raising funds on Indiegogo, SYNAVOLT starts with a 20,000mAh base unit; it has two slotted expansion bay ends that can handle a variety of power-enabled modular attachments.
I have had a Blue Yeti of some sort for years, and while the mic comes with its own stand, it’s one designed to only work on your desk. I’ve often found there doesn’t really seem to be a good place for the mic with its stock stand. This changed when I received the OnePlus Upgraded Mic Arm Stand.