Reviews by The Church of Apple

Tag: Review

  • Alpatronix iPhone 4/4S Battery Case

    The Alpatronix iPhone 4/4S Battery Case is a case for your iPhone that can provide more hours of battery to your phone. It charges your iPhone while it is in the case as long as the case has been charged. It is available from Alpatronix for $39.99. Let’s see if it is the iPhone case for you.

    Form

    There are a few things to point out about this case. First, it does feel good to hold. It feels as though you are holding the phone when it isn’t in it’s case. The same glass feel on the back on the iPhone is on this case. That does come with a downside though. It has fingerprints all over the back. The case doesn’t add any width on the front as it does not have a part to protect the front. It does, however add depth to the back. It also adds length on the bottom. That and the depth to the back is expected due to the fact that it has a battery in it. It actually has a slim profile for a battery case. The bottom has a button to turn the case on so that it will charge the phone. The case comes in black, pink or blue and all the colors look nice. On the sides are your port access. On the left side is the volume and ringer control access, on the top the lock button and headphone jack and on the bottom is not a 30 pin connector but a micro-USB connector. The holes for the speakers on the bottom seem terribly short but the sound from the speakers is unaffected. One thing I wish that you could get rid of are the blue lights that are always lit up so you can see the battery remaining on the case. While it’s a great idea to have the ability to know how much is remaining, the lights are annoying since they are on whenever the case is on. However, the form of the case is pretty solid.

    Function

    The case does a great job in keeping the phone charged. The phone will last from morning till bedtime no matter how much you use it. That little extra juice keeps the phone charged throughout the day. The case also will protect the back very well from it being dropped. All ports are easily accessible with the exception of the 30-pin port. The speakers are not hindered by the case. The case shows the amount of charge it has left but it does keep the indicator light on which can be a nuisance. The major problem I have is the lack of protection for the front of the case. The case offers zero protection for the glass front of your phone. If you drop your phone on the glass part of the phone, it will break. The case will not protect the glass screen from the evils of the solid concrete or hardwood floor. In addition, another problem I have is the fact that the case has a micro-USB port instead of a 30-pin. If I wanted to plug the iPhone into a dock, I would have to take the iPhone out of the case and plug it in that way. Fortunately, it does come with a Micro-USB cord to plug the phone in the computer should you need to. This will charge and sync the phone with your computer. The Micro-USB port eliminates support for many docks and speakers however unless the said docks and speakers have USB ports. Since not many of them do, people will have a problem with that. In short, it is a bumper case with the backing as an extra power source. This case doesn’t have front protection and it does not work with many docks.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Charging is very effective
    -Case feels good to hold
    -Battery indicator
    -All ports are accessible
    -Protects the back of the phone well

    Cons

    -Does not protect the very vulnerable glass screen
    -Micro-USB port discontinues the use of many docks and speakers
    -The battery indicator light is always on in the front and it can get annoying

    Ways to improve

    The company can improve this case in two ways. First, either make the case easy to open so you can get it in a dock faster or better yet add the 30 pin connector into the case despite the added dimensions it may cause. Second, the company should add protection for the front by adding bumpers along the front edges.

    This case does what it says it will do. It will provide you extra battery time so that you can FaceTime and Siri all you want without worrying that your phone will die within a few hours. In fact, put it on full brightness if you want to as well. The trouble starts where the concrete meets the glass screen. The trouble IS the fact that the glass and the concrete CAN meet. The lack of protection for the front is a terrible idea and while this case is great for extra battery on a whim, I can’t see it replacing my non-charging case just yet. The lack of protection and the docking limits are the line in the sand. Without these flaws, I would definitely be using this case but because of them, I must avoid it. The case, with it’s great battery but not so great protection earn it 3 stars.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Touchfire Screen

    The TouchFire Screen is a clear, silicon foldable keyboard that touch-typers can put on their iPad and use instead of using the touch-typer unfriendly keyboard on the iPad. It is available from Touchfire for $49.95. Is it the solution for you touch-typers out there? Let’s find out.

     

    Form

    When I first opened the box to get to the TouchFire, it had it’s own little case. That is a great feature. I opened the case to find the TouchFire Screen. I picked it up and then one of the magnets that is attached to it came off, not a great start. Fortunately, since it was magnetic it went right back on. However, they were glued on too. Not good workmanship on that. To me the keyboard seems flimsy. The part that the silicon folds to is plastic, cheap plastic. One thing I do appreciate however, is that once folded, it is small and it is light. With the carrying case, you can take it anywhere. Also you can keep it attached to your iPad so that it is always on your iPad. In all, the craft of this keyboard fails to impress but there a few things that help it in the Form category.

     

    Function

    The primary function of any keyboard is to type. This one is unique in that it turns your iPad’s keyboard into a touch-type one. Unfortunately, I do not think it does a whole lot in doing that. FIrst off, the keys on the keyboard are too close to each other to be able to emulate a keyboard. In addition, the feel of the keys feels cheap and not a pleasure to write on. There isn’t much of a difference between the iPad keyboard and the TouchFire in my opinion. This is due in part that the keys are not raised enough to really feel the difference. It does have indentations where the J and F buttons are but that is where the similarities between this keyboard and a real keyboard end. On a good solid keyboard, you don’t have to look down because you know where the keys are based on those indentations and based on the fact that you can feel the keys. On this keyboard, I am having trouble actually feeling the keys. I can’t see myself using this keyboard over a solid keyboard. Another thing, I have a problem with is that, when I use a keyboard I need a rest to put my wrist on and when I put my wrist down I press the keys at the bottom and it messes up my typing. In addition, I have to look down to get to the ABC/123 tab to access numbers and punctuation and to access the world tab for multiple languages. The shift key is sometimes pressed by accident since there is no recognizable key on the keyboard. The functionality of this keyboard makes me abandon it for a keyboard case which is the same or more price than a good keyboard case.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Lightweight

    -Small and portable

    Cons

    -Definitely not the best keyboard you can use

    -Cheaply made

    -You can accidentally hit different keys since they do not have keys that you can feel, such as the the shift key and the 123 tab on the bottom left and right

    -Pricey for what you get

    How to improve

    There are a lot of ways to improve this product. First, add indentations on the shift keys like the other keys. Second, improve the workmanship and improve the quality of the keyboard. Third, make the keyboard more like an actual keyboard. Of course, you could do plan B, scratch this product and sell solid bluetooth keyboards.

    This product is not one I would buy at this point. If I were the consumer, I would buy a keyboard case. As a reviewer, I can not see myself recommending this product to anyone and for the first time, I have to give this product a one star review. The portability and weight make it from a half star but considering that the product fails at it’s primary purpose, I can not give it higher than that.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

     

  • Duo Pinball Review

    The Duo Pinball is an iPad accessory that allows you to have physical pinball-like controls for the app “Pinball HD” and “Pinball HD collections”, the two best pinball apps on the App Store. The accessory, while doesn’t perfectly emulate a pinball machine as it doesn’t have the looks of one, is great for playing pinball on one of the best pinball apps available. The Duo Pinball is available from Duo Games for $48.75 at Amazon. Let’s see if it is worth the price.

    Form

    The form of this product isn’t as important as the function but there are a few things to mention otherwise. I appreciate that the Duo Pinball can be used by the best Pinball app on the App Store, personally speaking and statistically speaking. The apps themselves are great apps that are well designed and include great pinball tables. The product itself is pretty straightforward. Put your iPad into a slot, lock it into place, either put it on a table or in your hands and pull down the handle to shoot the ball and use the buttons on the sides to move the flippers. It sounds simple but the simplicity is appreciated and it works and plays well with the pinball game. It is only a few buttons but isn’t that what pinball is anyway. I see it to be no different than using a real pinball machine other than it being electronic and smaller.

    Function

    Again, as I mentioned, the Duo Pinball plays well. I like to use it in my hands only because I think it is more stable there than on the desk but it’s really the preference of the user. There is a slot for the speaker to project sound so the speaker is not blocked. The buttons and the lever feel good to use, they aren’t lagging and the app corresponds smoothly to the movements of the controls. The iPad will not fall out if you lock it in. If someone knocks into the iPad, it won’t fall off the device. This is handy when you are using it on the table. In addition, the iPad connects easily with the device via bluetooth. Also, the product doesn’t require you to shut it off via a power button, it shuts off automatically. That is useful since A you don’t have to search for an off button and B you can leave it unattended for 5 minutes and it will shut off so it won’t waste battery power. In addition. you get five free tables on the Pinball HD Collections app. There are others to be bought and downloaded and there are more on the way. The two concerns I have is that Duo is not willing to use other pinball apps for the device only those two “Pinball HD” and “Pinball HD Collections” which while they are wonderful apps, there are other pinball apps I wished it worked for. However, they couldn’t have picked a better single app to partner with since both the apps are best-sellers. The other concern I have is the cost of the product. $50 is an awful lot to pay for an accessory that works with two apps. It works well with that one app but the price and functionality don’t match Overall, the Duo Pinball is very well made and works well with the iPad to create a fluent pinball experience.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Well made, well designed

    -Comfortable to hold

    -Buttons are solid

    -App is very responsive to the movements of the shooter and the flipper controls

    -iPad is well held in place so it will not be knocked off the unit

    -Simple to use

    Cons

    -Needs more Pinball apps despite the fact that the one it works with is the best one out there, selection is best

    -Price

    Ways to improve

    The only way to improve this product is to perhaps add support for other pinball apps other than the two it uses. This isn’t something that they need to tweak to the actual product itself just the services that come with it. The price is fine if they add support for many more pinball app.

    To conclude, this product is a solid one. It is a product that stands out and one that I will keep in case I get the urge to play pinball. I can easily give this device 4 stars.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • New Potato FLPR Universal Remote for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

    The FLPR is an accessory that you can attach to your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that will allow you to remotely control anything in your living room. The product is small and it is basically a Infrared sender to your TV, DVR and other devices. I don’t know about you but I have seen far too many houses that have so many remotes in their living room, you have to ask “which remote does this go to?”. Why should it be that way? More than half the country owns at least one Apple product, so those of us that own an iOS device, you can now solve the dilemma that you face everyday with a iPhone, iPod touch or iPad that you probably already have glued to your hands. The FLPR is available for $59.99 and I can guarantee that it will be the best money you can spend on any remote.

    Form

    As the FLPR is just a small attachment, there isn’t much to say about it in terms of aesthetics. I will mention a few things however. The device is small and can fit in your pocket or even better just set it on your coffee table or somewhere near your TV. It is small so keep it out of reach of small children. In addition, the FLPR has a free app that goes with it that has a great UI. You don’t need to be told how to do things on the app, you can figure it out easily and you can customize it really well. Aesthetically, there isn’t much to say about this small device, but what I can say is all positive.

    Function

    The FLPR has to be one of the most versatile remotes I have seen. There are a few reasons it is like this. First, it’s UI is an app that can be updated on a frequent basis so that the devices you need to connect to work with the app from the get go. The remote boasts an incredible 78,000 devices it is pre-programmed for. In addition, if you it does not have your device pre-programmed, perhaps it is a lesser known device, you can teach the remote your lesser-known device. It is easy to set up too. Just make sure to have the remote for your device you want it to learn and program the different buttons, and you are good to go. The range on the FLPR is good, I can easily control my device from the couch. All the devices that I have paired with this remote have worked fluently with it. You can customize the app with macros. That is, if you need to turn on multiple things at the same time, you can put in a combination for that one combo and that combo will appear as one button right when you open the app. I have used expensive physical remotes that don’t rank up to this device due to it’s ease of use and massive, virtually limitless database. Physical remotes need to be plugged into the computer to update, with this device all you have to do is visit the App Store and hit update or let the app learn your device. I carry my iPhone with me everywhere and I use it sometimes when watching TV, fortunately I can still use the iPhone when using the remote, just go back to the remote app from my email client or safari or whatever I had up and change the channel or turn it off. It truly is a simple, intuitive remote that I can highly recommend.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Small device, can go anywhere, no case to put on
    -App is very versatile
    -Thousands of devices supported and you can add your device to it if it is not supported
    -Connects with any iOS device and you can use your iOS device while using the remote
    -No batteries required (no need to buy those itty bitty batteries you buy at the jewelry department at WalMart)
    -Best remote for the money hands down

    Cons

    -Small item such as this one can easily be misplaced, just be sure to put it somewhere where you know where it is

    Ways to improve

    At this point, there really isn’t anyway for this device to improve. Just keep updating the app and it will remain great!

    This has got to be one of the best remotes if not the best remote you can use. The versatility of an iOS device with the portability of the FLPR and the many features of the FLPR app give this combination an easy five star rating. Great job New Potato Technologies. You have a great, versatile remote!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Photos Courtesy: New Potato Technologies

  • MacCase Classic

    The is a case made for 12 or 13 inch iBooks or MacBooks of any generation from the original, colorful iBook to the 2012 MacBook Air. There is a uniqueness to this case. The MacCase Classic is shaped like an old original colorful iBook and has the same design as the original iBook does. It really does feel like an irony putting a MacBook into the bag, but it fits fine. There is a bit of history to the case itself as well. The MacCase Classic was introduced shortly after the original iBooks came out. They were, in a sense, one of the first companies to make accessories for the (more) current Apple products. Admittedly, I do not have one of the original iBooks, however I do have an iBook G4, a MacBook and a MacBook Air to test it with and they all fit fine. The MacCase Classic is available from MacCase for $29.95.

    Form

    The case definitely does well in this category. The case on the outside has a rainproof material that I can guarantee won’t allow rain in. The case has the cool, original iBook look to it. It has the same oval-like shape with the gumdrop tangerine, blueberry, key lime, indigo and graphite colors, the original colors of the original iBooks. Also, on the top half of the case is the white that the original iBooks had. On the back side is an all black material that feels pretty solid with the addition of a pocket on the back. The pocket on the back will hold your charger so that you won’t stay uncharged. The strap also feels solid and I know that it won’t break. The strap has a part that goes on your shoulder that feels padded and comfortable on your shoulder. The handle on the MacCase is a joy to hold. It feels very comfortable on the hand. Overall, it seems very nice on the outside of the bag. The inside of the bag is the same story. As you open the zipper, which by the way has the MacCase logo on it in the style that Apple put the name “iBook” on the screen, you will see a nice, padded inside. The back where the back of the computer goes is padded, the sides are padded and the front is padded. The only spot that isn’t padded is the clear part on the front where you can see the Apple logo of the iBook or MacBook through, which I think is a nice added feature. There is a small U-shaped pocket on the inside that perhaps you could fit an Apple Remote and some headphones, it really is a nice touch. Again, the MacCase logo with the classic iBook style writing is on the inside. Overall, aesthetically, it is a great case.

    Function

    It is the same story here as in the aesthetics. The case, as I mentioned, is very well padded and the computer will not break in it. The computer will not only be well-padded but it also will be strapped in. This I view as an advantage for a few reasons. One, the computer won’t move inside the bag, limiting any damage that could occur by dropping the bag. Two, the computer will not sag to the bottom to where you can’t see the Apple logo through the clear part on the case. In addition, there is a pocket on the outside of the bag where you can store the computer’s charger. You can’t store much else in the case but then again, you don’t need to. It does protect your computer and it’s power cord for a cheap price. It also provides a conversational piece as well. In addition, to the protection it provides, the addition of both a handle and strap is nice. If you prefer the handle like I do, all you have to do is take the strap off. I know most bags have this ability but it is nice that it has the ability. Like I mentioned before, the case does seem to be waterproof on the front. On the inside, there is a pocket that you could store an Apple remote in, wallet, headphones etc, just some small things that you may need to put in the bag. Lastly, the zippers on the bag seem to zip and unzip smoothly. Ultimately, this bag is as good in it’s function than in it’s form.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great protection (padding and strapping in) for your iBook or MacBook (12″ or 13″)
    -Great aesthetics (handle, strap, outside, inside etc.)
    -Two pockets to store power cord and a few other personal items
    -Clear “window” to see Apple logo

    Cons

    -None

    Ways to improve

    This suggestion is nothing wrong with the case, it is just something they may want to try. On the original iBook, there was a colored handle that matched the color of the computer. I suggest that they try this, try duplicating the color of the handle with the color of the case for that added original iBook effect.

    This 12″/13″ iBook/MacBook bag is a great bag. The protection it offers coupled with the novelty and cool factor it offers and it’s cheap price make it an ideal iBook/MacBook bag and easily earn it five stars. Great job MacCase!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: MacCase

  • Gumdrop Drop Tech Series iPhone 4/4S Case

    The Gumdrop Drop Tech Series iPhone 4/4S case is a case available for your iPhone 4/4S. It is a very rugged case durable enough to handle many falls. It is available from Gumdrop for $44.95. Let’s see if it is the case for you.

    Form

    The case definitely is one of the stronger cases I have seen in terms of material. One of the cases I received was black and the other one was light blue and pink. As I received a guy’s case with one solid color and a women’s case, I can’t evaluate the different colors available. However, from the pictures, I see yellow and blue, orange and blue, white and black, black and red, pink and white, green and black and purple and pink cases, they seem to be good colors. The first color is the primary color, the color the rubber part of the case is and the second color of the combination is the outline inside the case. The case is made of a soft but firm rubber material and is easy to hold in the hand. The case is a bit bulky and adds some weight to the phone but then again, what really protective case doesn’t. The case does end up being white after I take it out of my pocket though as the residue from my pocket, and the pocket itself, come out with the phone. This is a concern for me not only aesthetically but also in how it’s function is too. The case does have port protectors, however despite other cases I reviewed in the past, this case has the port protectors attached to the case, which is a plus for me. The case also has a screen protector. The case is durable, protective and, if you buy a colorful case, colorful but it does raise a few red flags for me such as your whole pocket in your jeans coming out with it and the hundreds of white specks that come out with it also.

    Function

    I felt that if I were to drop this case from my second story, my iPhone would still be in the same great shape it was before the fall. That said, the case is extremely durable. It definitely beats the Otterbox case despite that case being THE case that everyone says is the most protective. I think this one is more so. The screen protector is a plus for me as well as the port protectors. A note about the screen protector; you don’t have to put it on yourself, it’s built into the case. This is great since you don’t have to deal with those annoying bubbles. The camera is not blocked and the case will not cause issues with the camera. The speakers are also not hindered when using this case. All the ports but the silent switch, despite being protected, are easy to access. The silent switch on the side is a bit more difficult to access. There are a few concerns I have with this case though. It is a hindrance taking the phone with this case on out of your pocket. This I think really only applies for men and teenagers of either gender as women tend to put their phones in their purse and not their pocket. Those that put your phone in your pocket you will have some trouble. First off, the black case and a pocket don’t mix. After you pull out the case, white particles cling to your case like glue and it looks tacky. This applies to all cases but especially the black one. In addition, the rubber part of the case will require you to reset it every time you take it out of your pocket. As the case sticks to your pocket, the rubber part will unhinge off of the inner durable plastic part of the case and you will need to reset it. If you have used an Otterbox iPod touch case, you will know what I am talking about. Resetting it is not difficult at all but it definitely is a hindrance on using your phone with the case. Also, you texting teenagers out there listen up, the case does not allow easy access to the letters on the left and right extremes of the keyboard when you put it in portrait, such as q and p. However, these letters are more accessible when you turn it over to landscape mode, which is the preferred texting orientation. However, those that like to text in portrait or those that use their keyboard in portrait, you will have a tough time typing the q and the p. Despite these flaws however, the case still protects very well and I think that they did a good job with the case.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -STRONG case
    -Aesthetically in great shape, the rubber feels good to the hand
    -Port protectors; most ports are easily accessible
    -Camera not blocked
    -Built in screen protector, don’t have to mess with the put on yourself kind

    Cons

    -Rubberized case will take your pocket and it’s other contents with it when you take the phone out of your pocket
    -Texting may be hindered through the difficulty of reaching q and p on the keyboard in portrait viewing mode
    -The silent/vibrate switch is difficult to access
    -A bit heavy and thick

    Ways to improve

    I believe that there are a few ways to improve going forward. First, use a material that will not stick to your pocket. A non-stick cover is something that is needed here without losing any of the ability to protect. Second, lower the depth so people can type on the keyboard without their finger hitting the side of the case. Third, allow easy access to the silent/vibrate switch. Perhaps add a rubberized switch that goes over it and extends down to the actual switch, see a LifeProof iPhone case for more detail. Additionally, find a way to cut down on the thickness. Skinny jeans and this case don’t go well.

    The case is definitely one of the more protective case I have used. However, so was my iPod touch Otterbox case and I took that one off of my iPod touch because of some of the same reasons as the cons listed here. However, this case offers even more protection and durability than that case did. The case does have some (major) kinks to get out, however those that don’t care about the hindrances I described this is a great case. As I do care about these hindrances, I can evaluate this case at a 3 and a half star rating. The case knocks it out of the ball park in terms of protection but strikes out in some key areas.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Gumdrop

  • Akai SynthStation 49

    The Akai SynthStation49 is a 49-key keyboard that is made to go with an iPad. You can use the effects on apps on your iPad which then turns into sound after pressing keys on the keyboard. The apps you can use are not limited to Akai’s SynthStation app. You can use the keyboard with any app that has sounds for a keyboard, for instance GarageBand is an app that has it, which is a great app for this keyboard. The keyboard is available direct from Amazon for $219.99. That number seems like a high number but those who need a keyboard on the go with their iPad for recording should use the Akai SynthStation 49 as it is the most versatile keyboard for the iPad I have seen.

    Form

    As the form isn’t nearly as important as the function, I will be brief but I do want to mention a few things. First, the keyboard is very durable and I trust that it would not break if dropped. The layout of the buttons is clean and not confusing. The iPad fits right on it and it is easy to plug in. The buttons were made of a soft rubber that feels nice to the touch. The keys of the keyboard more importantly feel comfortable and play comfortably. Aesthetically, this keyboard is great!

    Function

    The keyboard itself definitely works like a champ. The keys are solid and are pleasant to play on and if you use the right app sounds great! I would avoid using the Akai SynthStation app that is free on the App Store. You get what you pay for and the free app is not good. The sounds are terrible and there isn’t even a standard piano sound which I found surprising. However, that does not deter away from the productivity of the keyboard since any music production app such as GarageBand works great on the keyboard. It isn’t a full 88-key keyboard, but it doesn’t have to be, it allows you to go up and down octaves easily, effectively and fast. Using the right app, the keyboard works great. The buttons need to work with all apps, that is something that doesn’t happen. All the buttons only work on the Akai app which you don’t want to use. However, must buttons are still usable when using third-party apps. Another thing, other production keyboard require the Camera Connection Kit but I appreciate that this one does not, it plugs right into the 30-pin. You can also plug in your computer to it via MIDI/USB which is a huge advantage considering that I use the app Synthesia when learning a new song (check it out, it’s a great app!). Also, I can use my pedal with it which is a plus. When it is plugged into the wall, it also charges the iPad. Overall, the keyboard does what it needs to do and excels at doing it.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Buttons work easily and are organized well
    -Easy set up (about 3 minutes)
    -Solid, comfortable to play on keys (important)
    -Many affordable apps on the App Store make it incredibly flexible in terms of sounds
    -Easy access to change the octave
    -Doesn’t require the Camera Connection Kit (saves you money!)
    -Plugs into MIDI/USB so you can plug it right into a computer for other uses such as Synthesia
    -Charges the iPad when plugged into the wall

    Cons

    -The lackluster app “SynthStation” iPad app is not the best app for this keyboard, some could argue it’s terrible, and I would be with those people
    -Some buttons are not usable in other third-party apps

    Ways to improve

    One way to improve is to rebuild the app. The sounds on it don’t sound right, there isn’t even a piano sound on there. GarageBand did a much better job with the keyboard than the app that specifically goes to the keyboard did. I would recommend picking up some sounds and design tips from GarageBand while adding more features than what GarageBand has. Another way is just to ask developers, such as Apple or whoever makes apps that go with a keyboard like this, to allow them to add coding that would take full advantage of the buttons on the Akai SynthStation49.

    Don’t get me wrong. This keyboard is a solid keyboard that anyone could feel comfortable doing a show with. I have played the piano for a long time and I can tell you that the action and the feel of the keys is better than a lot of other keyboards. The plethora of sounds you can get from the plethora of apps available make up for the SynthStation iPad app. This keyboard isn’t the greatest keyboard on the market but if you have an iPad, you can take advantage of the plethora of apps and for the money. It is the best deal for the money you can find in my opinion. The SynthStation49 receives a 4 and a half star review from me.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • ION JukeBox Dock Review

    The ION Jukebox Dock is a dock that makes your iPad, iPhone or iPod into a retro jukebox. There are several apps that allow you to browse through your music library as you would on a diner jukebox giving you an authentic jukebox experience, or at least as authentic it cam get on an iPad. It is available for $99.99. Allow me to explain why it is my favorite speaker dock so far.

    Form

    The looks of this dock are great. Even without it being on, it looks great! The iPad looks best on it so you can take full advantage of the space available to put a device on. When it is on, it really is bright especially in a dark room. It emits lights that slowly change as it plays and a couple lights on the head of the Jukebox are going too and the dock allows you to transfer back to the 50s with music from now. It is made out of real wood on the back and sides which helps with sound quality. The back is a light brown unpolished wood while the sides are a dark brown, nicely polished wood. The front is decals that make it look like an authentic jukebox and lights that follow the curve from bottom left, up and down to bottom right, like an arch. The lights are really cool and closely resemble that of an old jukebox. Take an old diner jukebox and add an iPad on it and that is what this is. It really is a blast from the past and a cool one at that.

    Function

    There are two things that this Jukebox is supposed to do and supposed to do well. That is A. play music at a high quality and B. charge your device efficiently. I can tell you that it does both extremely well. The music coming from the speakers sounds like the quality you would expect from speakers much more expensive than it. When I first pulled it, I thought it was just a toy and it wouldn’t have good quality. Boy was I wrong. This toyish-like dock packs a punch. It compares similarly or even favorably to some more expensive docks like some Bose and JBL docks and those not only sound really good but they are much more expensive. Another thing is that it charges the iPad at the same time of playing your tunes. It charges the iPad fast and I see an improvement over using other docks to charge it. In speaking of the iPad, there are many apps on the App Store that turn your iPad into a Jukebox control, which of course fit perfectly with the dock. A few I recommend are Diner Jukebox and StereoMatic as they make the experience very authentic, the app Diner Jukebox even has you touch the place where you put a quarter in to simulate you putting a quarter into the jukebox. This happens every time you open the app. The jukebox dock and an app combined make the closest resemblance to an actual jukebox you can get without actually buying one. The function of this dock is superb. The only negative I can say about it is that the lights are so bright, you have to turn it off at night when you want to sleep (should it be stored in your room) and turning it off also turns off the charging capabilities. This is not an issue for me since I can sleep with it on but for some with sensitive eyes, that may not work for you.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong wood
    -Looks well made and is well made
    -Looks like a mini authentic jukebox
    -Sounds similar or better to/than more expensive docks
    -Charges iPad quickly

    Cons

    -Maybe too bright to sleep with should it be in the same room that you sleep in

    Ways to improve

    The only thing that should be changed is the addition of the ability to turn off the lights but not the charging ability. I think that that would be good to add. On the same token, the brightness is also a good thing for low-lit parties as it adds a lot of color to the party while providing music at the same time and even providing a conversational piece.

    The ION Jukebox Dock is definitely one of the stronger things I have reviewed in terms of it’s abilities and it’s subsequent rating overall and it’s power in speaker capabilities and charging capabilities coupled with it’s authentic jukebox look make it the ideal dock and easily outweigh it’s only negative. The dock easily earns five stars from me. Great job ION, you have a stellar product here.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt Review

    The Buffalo MiniStation ThunderBolt is a Bus-Powered Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive available in 500 GB or in 1 TB (1000 GB) storage options. It is available for $173.99 for the 500 GB model or $196.49 from B&H. Thunderbolt is a new technology that Apple has integrated with their computers. It is Apple’s retry at FireWire (this time without the licensing fee). It is regarded as faster than USB or FireWire and will provide amazing speeds for backup and storage. Let’s check out Appl… I mean Buffalo’s hard drive.

    Form

    I made that mistake of thinking that this product was an Apple product. Yes, this drive is just that good aesthetically. The product looks like a product that Apple would make. It is clean, smooth, easy to hold, light and thin. It’s texture feels like that of a unibody laptop from Apple. On the bottom it has a light that reminds me of the light that the plastic MacBook has though this product is much more durable. I feel as though if I were to drop this product, it would not even dent. The colors on it again remind me of an Apple product. The white reminds me of the white MacBooks and the silver reminds me of the silver on a MacBook Air or Pro. If you were to remove the branding, you would think it was made by Apple, and we all know that Apple makes beautifully designed and well-made products. Therefore, in terms of aesthetics, this product is right on. It’s the most well-designed portable hard drive I have seen and Apple should stop making the Time Capsule external hard drive and sell these instead.

    Function

    Truth be told, I have not actually owned a product that used the ThunderBolt connection before so therefore I did not have a Thunderbolt cable. Luckily, Buffalo had me covered there, they supplied the cable for me. Not only did they supply a cable but they supplied a short cable, which some may say is a bad thing but I view it as a good thing. Information between computer and external hard drives transfer faster when they are connected by shorter cords. Therefore, the already fast ThunderBolt was made faster by using a short cord. I have had no problems with the speed of the drive at all. The first time I backed everything up it took about 30 minutes while a USB 2.0 drive took about an hour and a half. Therefore, the claim that it is two times as fast as USB 3.0 is misleading. While ThunderBolt can be two times faster than USB 3.0, that is at the highest point. Also, the drive inside the enclosure does not handle fullest ThunderBolt speeds. However, despite this, I did see a significant speed increase over USB 3.0 and USB 3.0 was pretty fast too. The drive, with it’s small profile went right underneath the iMac and I never really see it, so it is out of the way and always connected. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can still fit it somewhere in tight corners. It contains huge amounts of space while taking a little amount of physical space. It does not have a second ThunderBolt port to be able to daisy chain so you must make it the last thing on the chain, if you already have another product that can not be daisy chained, you will have an issue. Despite that though, the drive definitely is a great machine that can store a lot of data so if your Mac is running low on space, this is the drive for you.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Best aesthetics for a portable hard drive
    -Bus-powered
    -High capacity for storage
    -Fast USB 3.0 and ThunderBolt
    -Small and compact

    Cons

    -A bit pricy
    -Can not be daisy chained

    Ways to improve

    The only way I could see to improve is to add the ability to daisy chain as I know that some people like to chain multiple drives together to create a super drive or to be able to connect multiple devices together. It would not be a bad plan as people who wanted to create a “super hard drive” out of a daisy chain of these hard drives would buy multiple hard drives from them, the company would make 10 sales from one consumer rather than one or none.

    To conclude, this could be an Apple product. It’s sleek design and fast transfer of data make it an ideal drive, that is if you can mind the price and the lack of daisy chain ability. It is recommended most to those who have USB 2.0 and ThunderBolt since with this drive you will see a significant speed increase. This external drive earns a 4 and a half stars from me. Great job Buffalo!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Buffalo

  • Snugg iPad Headrest Mount Review

    The Snugg iPad Car Headrest Mount is exactly as the name implies. It is a mount that attaches to the back of the seat of your car that you can attach your iPad to. The Snugg iPad Headrest Mount is available from Snugg for $25.99. Let’s see if it is for you.

    Form

    The form on this product won’t be nearly as important as the function but I thought I would highlight a few things. This is not the most well-constructed product out there from Snugg. When using the product, I had a feeling that it wasn’t made as well as other Snugg cases in the past. Of course, it is not a case but it should at least be sturdy. The strap that wraps around the headrest is not very long and I could not fit it on one of my cars and it barely fit on the other. The material it is made out of is like that of a Snugg case and that’s a good thing. The little brackets the hold the iPad in place are held in pretty good; they won’t fall off. There are a few things on the mount that are positive aesthetically but overall, I felt it was made cheaper than the other Snugg products.

    Function

    Snugg has some things to work out in terms of the functionality of the product. First off, when I first received the product I took the case off of my iPad to put the iPad on the mount but it turned out that I needed the case. The case, very awkwardly, attaches to the mount. Therefore, if you are someone who doesn’t have a Snugg case already, prepare to be disappointed as you will need to spend another $30-$40 for a Snugg case if you want to use the mount. As I mentioned, it is very awkward actually putting it on the mount as the flap on the iPad case goes inside a slot and the flap bends while you are trying to put it in and it just gets frustrating. It shouldn’t be frustrating. In addition, the mount does not fit on all vehicles and putting it on the car rest, if you can fit it on your car rest, is a hassle. I tried two cars with this product with limited success. The mount would not fit on Car #1’s headrest at all and it barely fit, with some struggle, on Car #2. That is an issue. If it doesn’t fit, it’s useless. I wonder how many other cars it doesn’t fit on? Why take the chance?

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -A few aesthetic things were done correctly
    -If you can fit on the headrest, it does well with movies in the car for younger children

    Cons

    -Doesn’t fit on every car
    -Not the best in terms of aesthetics
    -A Snugg case is required
    -Difficulty in installation and deinstallation of the iPad into and out of the mount

    The days ahead

    The ways I think Snugg can improve this mount unfortunately are numerous. First, make a mount that can fit all iPads. Second, make a mount that can fit all cars, are at least make an attempt to. Third, allow for easier installation and deinstallation of the iPad into and out of the mount. Fourth, put some backbone into the mount, it feels as though it will buckle from the weight of the iPad.

    Snugg has disappointed me this time. They make some wonderful cases for the iPad, cases that are worth a lot more than they are asking. However, I just feel let down with the mount. It underperforms, doesn’t fit my car or barely fits my other car, and it just doesn’t seem built like my Snugg iPad cases. Unfortunately, I do have to give Snugg a 1 and a half star on this mount. This review is the only time that I had to pause and think about the positives. Snugg, stay in the iPad case business, it’s your best business. Readers, despite this product being lackluster, I do ask you check out their iPad cases, they are some of the best I have ever reviewed. Below are the URLs to the reviews of their cases. If you end up buying one, make sure not to add the Mount to the cart as well.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Photos Courtesy: Snugg

    URLs for Snugg Cases:

    Snugg iPad 4 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Blue PU Leather

    Snugg iPad 2 Executive Case and Stand in Black PU Leather