Reviews by The Church of Apple

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  • OS X Pad iPad Theme Review

    We at The Church of Apple love Apple but even we have gotten a little tired of Apple’s restrictions, at least I have anyway. That is why I have jailbroken my devices. No, not to pirate apps or music but to be able to more with our devices in our everyday use. You can use different settings and tweaks and employ many themes. There are some OK themes, there are good themes and there are some that are fantastic and fantastic is what we have here. This theme, called OS X Pad, is available through the Theme Outlet (source: http://fnetdesigns.com/cydia/repo/) for $3.50 via PayPal. To me, this is the only Mac OS X theme worth the time. So, if you are a Mac user, or want a taste of the Mac OS on the iPad, then I will tell you why this theme is the only Mac theme to buy, perhaps the only theme to buy.

    Form

    The one thing that struck me about this theme was it’s ease of use and it’s beauty. First off, the theme comes with a slide to unlock screen that looks almost like a start-up screen on a Mac. Just a warm welcome to your new theme. Right after you leave the home screen, the first thing you’ll notice is the articulately detailed wallpaper, the same one that is used on the Mac. You can also change the wallpaper in the settings. As your eyes look down, you’ll see a dock that looks exactly like the one on the Mac. In the top left-hand corner you’ll see the Apple logo on a light gray bar and see the words “Finder”, “File”, “Edit”, “View” “Go”, “Window” and “Help”. Yup, you guessed it, this theme has a full fledged Finder Bar, just like the Mac. It even has the name of the user (you will set this up in the very beginning of receiving this theme) on the top right along with bluetooth, wifi, volume, date and time and the magnifying glass. You will see the overall “Mac-ness” of this theme. It absolutely is incredible. Going inside the theme, you will find that the Finder button on top left will prompt a window that looks almost exact to the Finder window on the Mac. In it you will find folders that you can store apps in (just like Mac Finder) and a feature called quick links that allow you to go to that application that it says. There is an Applications folder that has all your applications in it and the other folders you have to add the apps themselves but is awesome once you do. Every app icon is enwrapped in a blue border and an tiny Apple logo on the bottom right. Also, the Finder window is draggable just like the window on a Mac. Also, when the Finder window is open, the Finder icon on the dock has a blue dot under it, signifying it’s open, just like a Mac. Moving on to the dock, you have exact Mac icons, such as Finder and Safari icons. When there are notifications for a particular app, it will show the same red dot with a white number in it. Moving on to the settings app, when you click on the Settings icon, it will pop up with a prompt box very similar to the one you get when you double click the settings application on the Mac. You are greeted with a series of options, including iPad settings and Theme Settings, clicking on iPad settings will bring up the Settings app but clicking on the Theme settings will bring up a window that looks very similar to the settings app on the Mac. Going up to the Finder Bar, you will find that it acts just as the Finder Bar on the Mac would. It looks and feels like a Mac Finder Bar and is just awesome. The design of this theme is very articulate and very complex, the best I have ever seen.

    Function

    One thing that this theme does that almost every other theme I’ve ever used can not, is preserve the functionality of the iPad. A lot of themes take away from the functionality of the iPad while quite the contrary, I think this theme adds to the functionality of the iPad.

    Now as we look at the function of the theme we will start where we left off in the Form section. In the finder bar, under the Apple menu, you have the option to restart, shut down, and log out (and yes these functions will actually do what they say but you have to download a tweak from Cydia called MultiBoot). In addition, from within the Apple menu, you can select “About this iPad” (instead of About this Mac) and will open a window telling you the basics of the iPad. Also, Software Update will open a Settings screen that will allow you to update the theme right from the theme, without having to leave it, which is really nice and adds to the functionality of the theme. There is also a button to open the App Store and a button to open System Preferences which will open Theme Settings.

    Now, the Finder menu has the ability to give you an “About Finder” window, Edit Finder Folders, which I will discuss in a minute, and Finderbar Preferences which allow you to customize the Finderbar as to whether you want it translucent, if you want a 24 hour clock, and if you want to use the Weather in the clock.

    The Edit menu allows you to go into desktop edit mode, which is the mode required in order to customize where apps/folders go, it allows you to change your wallpaper and it pulls up SB Settings. The “Go” menu will allow you to open The Theme Outlet, Cydia, Messages, Safari, Music, Videos and Contacts.

    The Help menu pulls down “OS X Pad Help” which, if opened, will give you information about how to use the theme and another with an option to contact the developer for support.

    Going to the right, you will see your username. Clicking on that will pull up the Accounts Settings window and from there you can change the Username. Also, clicking the Bluetooth button will evoke settings. The date and time button will prompt a pull down that will tell you the date and time and also give you the weather if you should so desire. One cool feature of the theme is that you can click on the magnifying glass on the top right and will pull up all of your applications. Unfortunately at this time, it does not have Launchpad but it will have it once the developer updates the theme. Once he does so, I will update this review to show so.

    Wow, that was a lot to take in. As you can see the FinderBar does many things and retains some of the same functionalities as the Mac FinderBar.

    Now, on to the Finder itself. As I mentioned earlier, the Finder menu is very clean and nice. On the left, there is a drop down menu called Places that lists seven folders. Applications being one them has all of your applications in one folder. The other six are completely customizable as to the names of the folders to the apps in it. All you have to do to add apps in is click on Customize from within the Finder window and then click on an empty space and fill it with an app. It’s that simple.

    Going on to the Desktop Edit Mode, you have the option of putting 7 customizable folders which can each store 80 apps. That is more than plenty enough space to put apps into folders. Unfortunately, folders you make in Finder cannot be transferred over to folders on the desktop, which is a pain but may be a new feature in the future. You can also put up to 30 apps on the desktop (note that 6 of these 30 are folder spaces, so that would be 24 apps in addition to 6 folders).

    In the settings you can see that the theme is very customizable. First, you are able to customize your OS X Pad with 70+ wallpapers that are wallpapers that Apple uses (including the stock Mountain Lion Space wallpaper). As for the Finder Bar, as I mentioned earlier, you are able to make it translucent, you can make the clock 24 hours and you can make it show the weather in the clock’s drop down menu. As for the dock, you can customize it with 10 icons. You can choose from some of the stock icons or even add your own custom icons. In addition to being able to add your own icons, you can make the customize the dock style from 25 different colors. As aforementioned, you can change the name of the folder in Finder. Here is where you can do that. Software Update is a feature that allows you to update the theme in-theme, just enter your PayPal email address and you are set. As for accounts, you can change the name of the User, the Username or whether or not you want the username displayed on the finderbar.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Fully working Finderbar
    -Finder and Settings work like on the Mac
    -Very customizable, in some cases, more customizable than the Mac itself! (Dock style)
    -Folders and apps on the desktop
    -Help menu and it’s contact of the developer is Apple-style customer service
    -The most detailed theme I have ever used
    -It is my new operating system
    -Theme is worth a lot more than the cost, I feel like the developer could fairly charge $10-$15 maybe $20 for this theme

    Cons

    Despite all the pros of this theme, there are a few peculiarities

    -No Launch Pad (granted, there is one coming, once it comes, I’ll take this con off)
    -Can not take folder made in Finder and transfer the work you did to the desktop
    -No Dashboard, other Mac themes have this (probably coming, we’ll see what 2.1 brings)

    As I mentioned earlier, this theme has become my primary OS. I only boot into iOS now to download an app or Cydia tweak or what not. It truly is Mac OS X on your iPad and I do not believe that any theme can match this theme, even non-Mac themes and there are a few reasons. But I won’t tell you those reasons. Instead, buy the theme and you WILL find those reasons on your own. It is for the reason that the theme delivers in form and function that it earns a easy 5 star rating. Great Job Fnet Designs, I look forward to update 2.1 and I hope to remove. the few cons listed above.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Switcheasy CoverBuddy

    The Switcheasy CoverBuddy is a backing for the iPad that has an Apple Smart Cover attached to it. It literally is a “buddy” for an Smart Cover equipped iPad. It is available from Switcheasy for $24.99 and I will tell you why that would be $24.99 well spent for anyone with a Smart Cover equipped iPad.

    Form

    The product is simple. It’s a backing for a Smart Covered iPad. Despite this over-simplisity, the case can still be reviewed very positively. The CoverBuddy is made out of tough polycarbonate material. The case’s material is very smooth to the touch and almost a gift to hold. The protection of the ports, aside from the port protectors, is excellent and I feel that nothing will end up hitting the port while still leaving enough room to actually put the cable into it. The CoverBuddy has a very light and thin profile and adds virtually no weight or thickness to the iPad. Despite this profile, the SmartCover protects the iPad pretty well. Despite the fact that, by itself, it doesn’t provide enough protection, I would rather use it by itself than some full-fledged cases I have seen in the past.

    Function

    The function of the cover is simple. The CoverBuddy provides protection for the back of an iPad that has a Smart Cover attached to it. The case has polycarbonate material which is known to be pretty protective. The backing provides protection for the speaker grill and ports. It lacks a stand but that is taken care of by the Smart Cover so it doesn’t matter. Again, like the other Switcheasy cases I reviewed, it has it’s disadvantages. Like the others, it has the annoying port protectors that are not attached to the case through physical attachment or a pouch. It is my (strong) recommendation to Switcheasy to either attach the port protectors to the case, whether it be physically attached or in a pouch, or abandon the idea altogether. However, despite this disadvantage, the CoverBuddy is still very protective and practical for someone who has an iPad with a Smart Cover.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Very protective of the back
    -Protects ports well without the port protectors
    -Very smooth and easy to the skin
    -Comes in many colors so you can personalize to your favorite color

    Cons

    -Port protectors

    The Switcheasy CoverBuddy is easily one of the best back covers for the iPad. I fear that the need for this product will diminish with the Smart Case bound to take over the Smart Cover completely. But until then, if you have a Smart Cover or buy one before they are pulled from the shelves, make sure to remember the 5 star reviewed CoverBuddy because it will compliment your Smart Cover well.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • 2do for iOS review

    This is one of my most favorite apps for keeping up with the daily tasks. Imagine you find out that you have an appointment in a month from now. I don’t know about you, but for me personally it would be pretty much impossible to remember it without some kind of a memory aid and this is where 2do apps come to play.

    Using the app is a piece of cake. Open it up> Create new task> Set reminder> Go on with your life. Once the task’s date and time is reached the app will cause your phone to vibrate and push a notification to the screen. From there you can either select “Complete” or “Snooze” which will snooze the reminder like an alarm clock.

    The main page of the app displays all of the planned tasks. You can put them in different categories and set recurring events (if you take daily medication for example).

    2do is able to juggle mutliple overlapping tasks quite well. For example, if you set multiple tasks with reminders on the same date and time it will still do a push notification for each of the tasks that way you don’t lose track of them.

    In this regard, the app is ideal for managing many small daily tasks as well as long term reminders such as those that are multiple months ahead. The design is very intuitive and setting up a task can be done within seconds as opposed to perhaps a minute it takes for other apps to do this.

    The few reasons why I don’t give this app a 5 star rating is because I dislike their support approach. Joining the forum and asking questions is a headache and it seems like they’ve never heard of human verification questions and prefer to manually approve each new member which may take a while. The person in charge of answering messages always appears to be a in a bad mood. Also, if you’re an Android user, the device has a lot of limitations since it has only recently became available for Android devices, so consider yourself lucky if you’re using iPhone.

    The App is not free, it costs $9.99, but it is definitely worth the small investment. So throw the tiny ribbons you used to tie around your fingers and get yourself the 2do app instead!

    Thanks for reading.

  • Switcheasy Pelle case

       The Switcheasy Pelle case is an iPad 2/3 case that is available directly from Switcheasy for $59.99 direct from the manufacturer. The case is made out of very durable material and has a slide lock for the stand, which in myopinion is a good idea and I’ll explain in a bit. Again, switch easy made the same color error they made with the exec case. As you all know, my name is Joe and I am a guy. They sent me a blueish green case with little “diamonds” on it. Unless I want to have “bling” on my iPad case, this isn’t exactly my choice but I’ll tell you why it might be your choice, that is if they send you a color you like.

    Form:

    The design of the case is simplistic yet elegant. The case features a bifold Polyurethane Faux Leather front cover and a tough polycarbonate backing. The front cover of the case comes in five colors, two with the “bling”, three without. It has pink and blue-green with sparkles, and red, blue and black without them. The backing is set to whatever front color you get. There is a light brown that goes with the pink, blue-green and red cases. There is a light blue backing for the blue case and a black backing for the black case. The little diamonds are located on a metal “lock” that locks and unlocks the bifold. The lock is used so that if you want to use the stand, you can pull out the bifold and use the stand and if not, you can lock it in so it isn’t slinging about, which is a really nice form and function of the case.  The material of the case is very soft to the hand and is not sharp. Despite it’s slim and lightweight form factor, the case provides very good protection from wear and tear and three story falls alike. All the ports are adequately protected and I like the quilt-like hole pattern they use to cover the speaker. I have found that the quality of the speaker is not reduced by the protection so that is nice (the iPad speaker is already not good as it is, we don’t need something completely blocking out the sound).  The stitching that went into the case is solid and there are no loose strings. I think the case definitely aces the “form” section of the review, but of course the real question is “Is it sufficient?”

    Function:

    In short, the answer to that question is mostly yes. The case does very well at doing what it is made to do. It protects the iPad should it fall out of your hands. It has the auto lock/unlock feature that just about every iPad 2/3 case has and while in itself isn’t a thing that will give it a higher prestige than other cases, it is one of those things that if it didn’t have it, it would be a big negative. I am a fan of the lock and unlock of the bifold since when I am not using the stand on the case, I don’t want something dangling down and annoying my hand or flopping around, so it is an appreciated feature. Again, as I mentioned the case does have good protection of the ports. There are a few things I am not pleased with, however. The case lacks protection for the screen when it is open. Therefore, should you drop the iPad while the front cover is open and it lands on the screen face down, the case will provide no protection should it fall face down. Another thing, as with the previous Switcheasy case I reviewed, the exec, the case has the annoying port protectors that aren’t attached nor can be stored in a pouch. The protectors would have worked if they pulled a Ottorbox case idea where the protectors are part of the case. They do provide purpose in everyday use but they are weakly implemented and need to be improved. On a brighter note, the stand on the Pelle is better than the one on the exec case. It was a bit difficult to figure out but once I did, it provided a much better stand than the exec did, the entire iPad is still protected and it provides a better, more ergonomically correct angle. This one isn’t too high and isn’t too low. It also provides an adequate upright stand which the exec didn’t provide as well as the Pelle did. In all, the case does what it’s supposed to do, protect.

    Conclusion:

    Pros:

    -Provides adequate protection

    -Made out of strong material

    -Auto lock/unlock feature

    -Lock and unlock bifold minimize “dangling”

    -Adequate stand both landscaper and portrait

    Cons:

    -When the front cover is open, the screen of the iPad is completely unprotected. This is my biggest issue.

    -Port protectors not integrated with the case and can easily be lost

     

    As you can see there are a lot more Pros in this case than Cons. The one thing this case does best is provide protection but one thing it does worst at is provide protection (when the front cover is open). The case is very protective and grips the iPad in a death grip, so there is no possibility of it falling out. As a lot of iOS screens are getting damaged these days, it is important for cases to provide protection on the front of it and this case does not do so. However, I will say this. I have not seen a lot of iPads with broken screens but a lot of iPhones and iPods with broken screens. iPads tend not to get screens broken but it is possible. Despite the fact that the front isn’t covered at all when the front cover is open, it is still a really good case. It provides adequate protection when closed (when most falls happen) and provides an adequate stand, something the exec case lacked. The areas around the ports are protected by the case efficiently and that is part of the reason why I see no point in the port protectors. The case has its pros and cons and despite one major con, the major pros block it out mostly and give the case a 4 star rating.

     

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Switcheasy exec iPad case

    The Switcheasy exec case is an iPad case that is available from Switcheasy for $59.99 directly from the store. The case is available in 5 colors, black, orange, blue, green or pink. The case is made out of very durable materialand offers a stand and protectors for the different ports (we will discuss these in a minute). The case they sent me was pink (not entirely sure why, my name is Joe, how much more obvious could it get?) so I won’t be using it but I’m going to explain why it might be for you, just make sure you get it in the right color.

     

    Form:

    The exec case is made out of very durable polycarbonate and PU material. It is some of the strongest case material on the market making this one very protective case. The case comes in 5 stunning colors (even the pink looks good), black, orange, blue, green, or pink, my favorite being the black one since it matches well with a white iPad. Speaking of iPad, it fits the iPad 2 and the new iPad perfectly, using a very durable snap frame to lock into place. In fact, it grips it so tight, there is a certain way you have to put it on or it won’t even go on. The way to put it on is simple but it definitely is comforting to know this case is as attached to the iPad as an alcoholic is to his bottle. The stand is set up to where the front cover have groves in it, the one side of the iPad comes out and goes into the groves as a stand. It works well as a stand to make the iPad tall, but isn’t very ergonomically correct to type on. The texture on the case is very smooth and is “kind” to the touch. Again, it is very durable and does not bend but yet the case adds little weight. It does add a bit of thickness to it but that’s a tradeoff for one really protective case, perhaps one of the most protective on the market. The form of this case is perfect and should not be changed one bit (with the exception of the stand, I’ll discuss this in a moment). The case is attractive and appeals to the eye while still being made out of the materials to protect it from the worst of falls.

    Function:

    As made apparent in the previous paragraph, this case is very protective. It will protect it against falls that most cases would give little protection to. This is the main purpose of the case and it it exceeds it well. Also, as with most iPad cases these days, the case has the auto wake feature which in itself doesn’t make a case better than others but a lack of it certainly makes it worse, so I’m glad this case has it. All the ports and buttons are easily accessible, something that is a little harder to find in cases. However, despite it serving it’s main purposes, the case does has it’s flaws. For one, the port protectors are useful, but only if the iPad will sit and collect dust. The protectors are not attached to the case and that’s a huge flaw because you only have two sets of these things, once you lose them (which is very easy to do since there is no pouch or anywhere to put it), they’re gone and if you want them back you need to buy more. This, in my opinion, was a big flaw. The protectors, in order to prove useful, should have been attached to the case, just are the protectors are for the Otterbox cases. The protectors on those is probably what the company was striving for but missed it. In fact, I’d rather them not give them to you at all. Also, another thing was the stand. While it was a positive in my view that it had one, the case has a flawed stand. To put the iPad in a typing position, it could be done, very easily too,  but it was a little low for me. I would have preferred it a bit higher, and this isn’t such a big deal as compared to the “stand tall” stand. In order to have a tall iPad, you will need to take out half the iPad to put into a grove on the front cover of the case. There are a few issues with this. One, you need a flat surface because the front cover needs to be flat. Two, half the iPad is uncovered, should it fall while “standing” you might be in trouble, especially on high surfaces. Three, I found it a bit difficult to get the iPad out of the side to put it into a grove. While this isn’t necessarily a problem with me, people with weak hands won’t be able to get it out to make a stand. I feel that the stand is poorly implemented and needs improvement. I feel that if I were Switcheasy, I would make the front cover go into a slit in the back and make a stand out of that. Of course, I am not reviewing a stand, I’m reviewing a case, and as a case it does very well. However, because the case comes with a stand, it would not be fair not to include it.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Very protective

    -Auto-on function

    -Comes in great colors

    -Made out of smooth-to-the-touch, protective material

    Cons

    -Doesn’t need the I/O protectors

    -Poor stand

     

    As you can see the pros outweigh the cons and the case performs its main function of protecting the case but unfortunately doesn’t provide a sufficient stand. Therefore, if you don’t mind it having a not-so-good stand, then this case is perfect for you. If you want a stand, I would look somewhere else but I wouldn’t look far, this company has other great cases that may be for you, I have a few other cases from this company I think you’d really enjoy. As a stand-alone stand, it clearly earns a 5/5 but as a case with a stand I would give it a 4/5 with the power of the protection of the case saving it from a 3.5. I feel I should rate everything that it comes with so, with that,  the score is a 4/5.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Macally EcoFan XL Review

    The Macally EcoFan XL Bamboo Cooling Stand  is a stand for your laptop that you can put on your desk or lap that will prop your computer up in an ergonomically correct and comfortable position and cool your computer. It is a unique stand indeed, it is made up of bamboo, a very strong replenishing grass that is the fastest growing plant in the world and the most efficient plant on Earth. It is the most economical laptop stand I’ve ever seen but does it do it’s job of keeping an ergonomically comfortable position and keeping the laptop cool (because after all it is a fan)? Let’s find out.

    Form

    The stand in terms of aesthetics is mostly outstanding (pun intended). The stand looks incredible. The bamboo gives it a good woody color and texture. The bamboo is very well cut and smoothed out, I have come across a few splintered pieces of bamboo but that is understandable so I isn’t a big deal. The fan is clear and the even aesthetics of the fan looks nice. The fan isn’t all too large and it isn’t clunky looking, it seems as though they paid attention to detail here. Even the rubber pieces that makes sure the computer doesn’t slide off are decent. Another thing is that the stand is practically weightless. This stand is made out of very strong and durable bamboo, but it is very light, not necessarily thin, but it’s very light. It is very airy and it’s just a wonder how they pulled off such a strong stand without being heavy, but they did it.  Everything aesthetically about this case is near perfect, it looks nice, feels nice and polished, the rubber grips are solid pieces (although there is something I don’t like about them that I will mention in a bit), the bamboo protects itself.

    Now notice I said “almost perfect”, there is one thing aesthetically I’m not a fan of, the USB cable. It isn’t the concept behind the cable (it even has a USB port in it so technically it doesn’t take up a USB port) but it’s the aesthetics of the cable. However as insignificant as it may sound, the way the cable looks is a bit of a drawback. It looks overly tacky and makes the nice MacBook Air tacky. Typically, cables are never a deal for me aesthetically, but I had to point this cable out. It is a bit big and bulky and a weird tint of black, not matching the stand or the MacBook. It is not a cheap cable but it looks it since it doesn’t have an simplistic feel, and that is what the computer and the stand have, so to me it is kind of awkward. Of course, it is a minor thing that I wouldn’t normally mention but the awkwardness of the cable told me to. This won’t count against the final score of the stand since it’s so minimal.

    All in all, the aesthetics, the “form” of the stand is outstanding and it screams simplicity (minus the cable). This stand is a piece of art. I think I’ll head my way to the modern art museum now..

    Function

    Well, I’m back from the museum, they already had one on display! Can you believe that? Someone beat me to it! Anyways, now to the function of the stand. When on a desk or the lap, the stand does well to provide an ergonomically comfortable environment so now you won’t catch that new string of carpal tunnel thats going around. The stand doesn’t put it at a degree to high nor too low, it’s just the perfect angle. I appreciate the fact that the stand is collapsable and can be stored away easier because of that. Also, because the stand is collapsible, you can choose to have it more elevated or less elevated, giving you control in the degree of the stand, both degrees are very ergonomically comfortable. I prefer to have the stand collapsed when I am sitting n the couch or a chair and have the stand up when it is on a desk, but ultimately the choice is yours.  The fan is also huge plus as not every stand as that. Not only does have a fan, it has a good one so now my Air uses it’s fan less and less and is cooler more and more. Running the same programs, I noticed a huge difference in the heat on top of the MacBook between when it’s on and off the stand. It is a very effective fan. The fan is also virtually silent, which I appreciate because I didn’t trade off hearing my MacBook’s fan to hear this fan so for me, it’s a plus. I did complain about the cable in the last paragraph, but one thing I’m not complaining about is that it doesn’t take up a slot. The cable has a USB slot built in. I believe the USB port is USB 2.0 and my computer is 3.0 but I’m not complaining, I just appreciate the fact that they did that, for me it’s a big plus.

    There are also a few things that didn’t work for me. The rubber pieces (in the back) slip off easily and, if left on the stand during transport, can easily fall off. The back of the stand does not cover the fan very well and if something presses hard enough against it, that something will stop the fan. Fortunately that something is not your legs when the stand is collapsed, the plastic covering  that surrounds the fan is protected by a piece of bamboo when the back legs are collapsed in. Another thing, I am not sure if this stand would be ideal for owners of 17 inch laptops, I question whether it is big enough to hold them. To me, it seems like it does, but I have doubts. Overall, the positives way out weigh the negatives and Macally did a great job with it.

    Conclusion

    Pros:

    -Stand is very ergonomic

    -Fan works as it should and cools down the computer a good amount

    -Aesthetics of the stand look great and would work on any desk, wood or glass (doesn’t scratch glass)

    -Rubber stoppers stop the computer from falling off

    -Highly portable, maybe even fit in some large laptop bags, with the laptop as well!

    -Helps the environment by using as many economical materials as possible

     

    Cons:

    -Rubber stoppers in the back can fall off easily, especially during transport

    -Fan can be stopped by something putting just a bit of pressure in it, almost always when the back legs are open

    -Aesthetics of the wire could be better (this really shouldn’t be here, but for some reason, it just bugs me)

     

    As you can see, not only are there more pros, they are more important than the cons. The cons of the stand are nitpick stuff. It took me a lot longer to find the cons than the pros, even though there are more pros. It is always important to find something a company can improve on since this is what reviews are about, informing the public but also informing the company of how their product performs and Macally’s Bamboo Stand performs very well and I’m sure you and the company would like to know that this stand has rightfully earned 5/5 stars. If a product makes me have to look for problems hard enough, it’s an automatic 5/5 because nothing is perfect but something has to get a 5/5 anyways and since this product was so close to perfect that is possible, it was easily earned a 5/5. I can’t imagine using my MacBook without it and I use it and will continue to use it for a long time. That, is the highest commendation I can give. When I can say that I genuinely use it everyday and will continue to use it everyday, that says something. Great job Macally for a great stand.

     

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

     

     

     

  • Lioncase NYHK Folio Shield Case

    The NYHK Shield case by lioncase is a Smart Case-like case that is thin and light. Direct from lioncase, the case is $42.95. The company is based in China and will also ship it’s product to you from China so it may take a little whileto get it. I actually didn’t wait long at all, not even a week, but it is my belief that it was an expedited shipping. Let’s dive right into the details and see if this case is for you.

     

     

    Form:

     

    The cool NYHK branding-one of the only good things about this case

    I have mixed reactions when it comes to the design of this case. For one, I do like the branding that goes with the case. I think putting the New York/Hong Kong city streets on the case was an excellent branding idea. The case is also light and thin, adding almost no weight and thickness to the iPad’s already thin profile.  I like the branding on it and I would have liked it better if the rest of the form of the case was as good as the branding. I have a few problems with the design. First, the edges of the case are sharp. I felt like that if the case slipped off my hand, I would get a paper cut (or in this case, a case cut). I felt like the edges would scratch the iPad when putting it in. The part of the case that holds the iPad is made out of cheap plastic. If you try to bend it without the iPad in it, it will bend. In fact, it will bend to what looks like a 45 degree angle, especially the corners. How do you think this case will hold up and protect the iPad during a fall for which we buy cases in the first place? My guess is not very well. The shock of the fall will go right through to the iPad and damage the iPad.

    Function:

    In terms of the function of the case, I am very disappointed. As I stated before, the case would do nothing to protect the iPad. I know that it is a folio case and folio cases generally aren’t very protective, however at least other similar cases provide some protection (in fact, I’ve come across some that can protect it very well). This case doesn’t provide no protection because it’s a folio case, it doesn’t provide protection because the material is cheap and not made well. As well as providing little protection for the iPad in places it does cover, there is too much space not being covered at all! The speaker grill is out in the open, which by the way is on the corner and corners are usually very easy to clip on something (like hitting the side accidentally on the table). Also, going along the same idea, the dock connector, while more protected than the speaker grill, is still out in the open. The dock connector is not a part you want to mess with. In addition with the same idea, whenever I close the lid, it doesn’t quite reach the other side, so the whole right side edge of the iPad is exposed a little bit. This part of the problem could be in the Form part instead of the Function part, but I decided to include it here since the function of the top part of the case is to cover the top and it doesn’t quite do that. The cover also opens with just a little shaking so it doesn’t stay closed very easily. However, despite the fact that the case doesn’t serve it’s main purpose (to protect the iPad), if one wants a case that, while provides little protection, is light and thin, this may work for you.  However, there is one thing. There are other cases that can be lightweight and thin and still provide the protection you need.

     

    To conclude

    Pros

    -Great looking brand

    -Light and thin

    -Protects against everyday wear and tear

    Cons

    -Doesn’t protect the iPad from a fall

    -Some areas left unprotected

    -Could scratch the iPad since edges are sharp (or it could cut you, even when the iPad is in the case)

    -Cover opens very easily, so should you unknowingly bump into it, or should it open without you knowing, the battery will drain

    The Lioncase NYHK case, while delivers in providing you with a light and thin case with a good looking brand,  doesn’t deliver on a case’s primary purpose, to protect your device in a fall. The case lacks good enough materials to protect the iPad from anything more than scratches and everyday wear and tear. The front part doesn’t cover the entire front and parts of the iPad are left unprotected. The cover can easily open, allowing for the battery to drain. I am not sure if I just received a sharp case, or if all of them are like that, but I won’t be using the case anymore out of fear I might give myself a “case cut”. Who knows? It might be worse than being cut by office paper. I hope that lioncase can take something from their lackluster of a case and turn it into a great case because, as it is now, that is not what it is. They told me that they are trying to open their business to overseas (which would be us). I say to them, improve your case, then expand. Of course, this isn’t their only case so they may have others that will protect the iPad better. Unfortunately, this lackluster case receives 2 stars. It’s thin, lightweight profile along with the cool brand saved it from a 1 star but there are certainly other cases with the same lightweight profile that can protect it a lot better. Again, I hope lioncase can learn something from this and improve, because improvement is what this case needs.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Bamboo Stylus Duo Review

    The Wacom Bamboo Stylus Duo ($39.95) is a stylus available for any touch screen device. It features a stylus on one end for writing on an electronic device and it features a pen at the other end. Itis $39.95 direct from Wacom so it is a bit of an investment but if you’re looking for a stylus, this may be your winner. It has a nice silver and black finish that makes it look and feel like an Apple product. That is hard to do but they did accomplish the sleekness of Apple’s devices.  The stylus is favored over the use of a finger when looking for more detailed, fine touches on the screen rather than your digits. It does its job very well and the iPad picks it up every time, so it is very responsive. Many students, artists and designers use styli every day.

     

    Steve Jobs was right. Everyday people do not need a stylus to operate their devices. I have gone days using the stylus with everyday things on my iPad and I always find myself going back to my finger since it’s just better. Unless you are someone who takes notes on their iPad (no stylus should be used on phones), drawing, sketching, designing, or anything that requires a fine point, you do not need a stylus of any brand.

     

    With the previous paragraph in effect, it is not fair to review the specific stylus based on personal preference of stylus vs. finger. Therefore, I will review the stylus as if I were one of the aforementioned persons.

     

    Structure and Design

     

    While styli have a reputation for being cheap and made of plastic, the Bamboo Stylus Duo has a great Apple-like design. With a heavy frame, it doesn’t exactly fit Apple’s lighter is better philosophy but the weight is not wasted. The weight of the stylus puts weight on what your writing, which I have found is better to use than a pen for say. The weight provides a sturdiness that I have not seen of any other stylus. The weight also provides protection from drops. The finish on the stylus does not easily scratch, protecting its value for a long time. The ink part of the stylus, as with all pens, is covered with a heavy frame cap that will not easily break nor bend. You don’t have to set the cap aside either as you can put it on the top where the stylus tip is. One great feature of the stylus, as simple as it is, is it’s ability to clip onto something like some pens. Whether it be your shirt pocket or your iPad case (where I have it now), you can clip it on to something so you always know where it is. In terms of holding the stylus, it has a smooth texture that is easy on the hand and more comfortable than most styli, if not all of them. The stylus has little caps that hold either the pen or the stylus tip in and they are can easily twist off so you can replace the stylus tip or the pen’s ink, which is a great thing because, when I first started using it I didn’t think you could replace it and a question on my mind was “What if the pen runs out of ink?”. Problem solved. They are easy to replace, adding to the Apple-like simplicity to the product. The structure and design of the stylus deserve a lot kudos, they did a really great job with it.

     

    Practicality

     

    The stylus is useless if it isn’t practical or if it doesn’t work on the screen. As aforementioned, it works very well on the screen. It has smooth movement on the screen and glides seamlessly on it. So it does fit number two. Number one is kind of a different story. It really depends on what you use it for. It is not for the common man, however for it’s intended audience, it is absolutely great. Using several applications for which the stylus should be used, I come to realize that there is a market for these things whether Jobs saw it or not. Unfortunately for Wacom, it’s not a huge one, but they are still here and making money. Anyways, I used the stylus first for taking notes. Personally, it was an okay experience, I felt that writing on a paper with a pencil was a better experience and faster too. I also noticed my handwriting was sloppy using the stylus while taking notes. That may just be due to the fact that the iPad is not paper and it is smaller than paper. However, I have met people with better handwriting than me on the iPad so I have reason to believe it’s just me. There are some apps that will take your handwriting and convert it into text however and that is what the stylus is for! Taking notes that way is great! The popularity of apps like Notes Plus really drive the market for styli. Teachers can use the Apple TV and a projector and you have a smart board right there! The right app will make it great! Drawing and sketching with the stylus is an even better story. I absolutely loved drawing with the stylus on the iPad. I felt like a master artist at his easel, even though probably more than 95% of people are better artists than me. Using Sketchbook with the stylus was a great experience and my more-than-an-artist-than-me relative absolutely loved it. There are many apps that take advantage of the iPad’s large display and artists will love it. Interestingly enough, it is easier to use the iPad for art than it is to handwrite something due to the iPad’s size but if you find the right apps, handwriting is great too. Apps that don’t convert handwrite to text aren’t worth it, those apps get me agitated but the apps that work, work.

     

    Pros

    -Offers a seamless experience with the apps it should be used for

    -Smooth to the touch, and smooth to use

    -Replaceable pen ink and stylus tip

    -Clip to clip it to your shirt or case

    -Provides a great handwriting experience (if you can convert the text) and provides the most seamless sketching and drawing experience

    Cons

    -Not seamless with the entire device, I may use it for some games like Draw Something but I wouldn’t use it for all apps and throughout the OS

    -Don’t write on the iPad with the wrong end, iPad screen and ink don’t mix

    -If dropped from a high enough distance by accident, it could damage your iPad’s screen due to it’s weight

    The first con I think could be the deal-breaker with most people, since it will dampen the user-interface FOR MOST PEOPLE-especially with a price of $40. However, it is a con of ALL styli.  It is my belief that you get what you pay for and for $40 you get the best stylus money can buy. Would I, the average Joe (no pun intended), spend $40 for it? Nope. But would a teacher who desires a smart board, an artists with ambitions or a student with millions of notes to write buy it? Absolutely. And of course, you might just be one of those people who prefer styli and if you are any of these people this is THE Stylus. It’s sleekness, smoothness, ease of use and the cleverness of an added pen to it make it the ideal stylus. For me, despite the fact that I would not buy it nor use it everyday, those who will will appreciate the fact that I give it 5 stars. Excellent job Wacom for an outstanding stylus!

     

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

     

     

  • App Review: iProcrastinate by Craig Otis

    iProcrastinate (4.5/5) is an app that is available for iPhone/iPod touch and Mac with an iPad version coming soon. The app is advertised as “the ideal task manager for anyone who doesn’t want their todo list to get in the wayof actually getting things done… [it is] great for anyone who is looking for a mobile, easy-to-use task manager (not just for students)”. The app allows you to add anything into it whether it be school related or not. The app allows you to make high priority tasks, such as an assignment that is due the next day or low priority tasks for a workout that repeats every Monday and Thursday. You can use preset groups such as “Due Today”, “Overdue” or “Upcoming” to manage tasks. You can star items for quick access to certain tasks. If you are a Mac user, you can download the free iProcrastinate app to accompany your iOS devices.

     

    School-Related or not:

    Non-School Related stuff

    While people that are not in school can use iProcrastinate, I feel that the app is very centered around students. The tabs that you can put tasks under are labeled as “Subjects”. It is advertised that you can add just about anything to the app, and while that is true, I feel a student will get a thousand times more benefit than one that is not a student. That is not to say that it won’t help you. For example, let’s say you are a parent and you have a busy, hectic schedule ahead of you. You can make a subject titled “Work Stuff” and you can put meetings, things to remember to do etc. Then once you get out of work, you have kids to take to places. You can put in other subjects such as a subject for each of your kids. Therefore, a example of that would be Lizzie’s stuff, Jake’s stuff etc. You can add events to each subject with a few touches of the screen. Say Lizzie has a piano recital you must attend in a few days, just a few touches and it’s added to your calendar. If it’s high priority, you can add it to the starred section and you also can give it the rating of “high priority” which will color code it to red, signaling you should work on that first, then work on yellow coded (medium) or green coded (not urgent). Let’s say that the teacher is sick that day and reschedules it in a week, it is even simpler to change it than it was to create it. Of course, as I mentioned before, the app is even more useful if you are a student, no matter the grade (though as you move along through school, high school and college students will use it the most, however I can easily see elementary and middle school students using it as well).

    School-Related Stuff

    As I said before the app is very centered around students and allow me to explain why. Students can lose track very easily as to what homework they have. Most students have iPhones or iPod touches they bring to school everyday and now if you are using it for school purposes you can use them in class. From experience, I know students don’t like the book planners and paper planners that schools give them or that parents buy for them. They much rather use something intuitive and readable (sometimes I’ve written things on a calendar and I had no idea what I put). They would much rather have one that is electronic and is on something they carry around everyday. One on their phone would be best. An app that would allow them to keep track, class by class, what assignments they are working on, what and when homework is due, keep track of projects and be able to record the steps they need to complete that assignment or homework. That’s right. You can add steps to the different tasks you add, probably the easiest thing to do in the app. The app also has the tab “Due Today”  which allows you to see the assignments or things you have to do “today”. You can add other tabs too, such as “Due Tomorrow” (my favorite) and Upcoming (tasks happening/due within a few weeks). Again, it also has the starred tab which allow you to quickly view assignments you starred. You can mark assignments and homework by priority making it easier for you to decide which homework you should do first. As you can see, this app is centric to students more so than everybody else, however both students and non-students will enjoy this app.

    Features

     

    Students and non-students aside, the app has very distinctive features about it. First, it is simple to use. While I am not saying that other apps are not as simple as this one, this app has the features people would want out of apps such as these without being complicated, which they did an excellent job of combining those elements. Second, Mac users you’re going to love this,  iProcrastinate has a Mac version available for free that accompanies the two sister apps. You can sync your tasks between iOS and Mac. It has all the same features as the iOS version AND you can add files to your tasks, so lets say you need to save some pictures for your history project, you can add photos that you may use later for the project. How cool is that?! No more looking for files on your computer for the picture you need for a project. Third, it warns you when it is past due or due that day. Fourth, it allows you to organize tasks by priority, due date or name. Fifth, the app allows you to email yourself a list of tasks and you can even print the task list right from the app. Sixth, you can add subjects, tasks or steps with a breeze and you can mark things as Starred or Complete just as easily. Last, I appreciate the fact that I can repeat tasks certain days of the week, like if I need to go to the gym every other day, it will automatically put it in for me after I set it to do that. You can stop the repeat anytime you like.

     

    More features I would like to see

    Everything has room for improvement. I would like to see a Windows and Android app developed for them only because Apple is not the only platform out there and this developer would get a whole lot more buyers. I would also like to see the Mac sync with the iOS devices with me having to tell it to sync. I have an iPod touch, an iMac and a MacBook Air. I would like it if these devices were synced with each other without me having to tell the MBA to sync with the iPod and then the iMac, perhaps an iCloud-like feature is what I am going for here. I would like it to be able to change the color code as time moves on. For example, I like to set things that I need to do in a week or so, as orange, so it’s something that’s not urgent but something I shouldn’t forget. Let’s say it is now 2-3 days before that event or assignment is due, I would like the app to automatically color code it to red. I would also like Notification Center support so it can send me a notification when something is due or close to being due (the Calendar app does this, you can set it to give you warnings about upcoming things). Other than that I can’t think of anything else I would want to add to it, the developer has done an excellent job with the app.

     

    This app is a great app for anyone who wants to keep their busy life in check whether you’re a student or not. While I would more strongly recommend the app to students, I believe it is a great addition to anyone with a busy schedule. If you have a Mac and an iPod touch or iPhone, you have it made when it comes to this app and with Lion’s/Mountain Lion’s full screen feature, you can keep the app full screen so you have a distraction-free, get-your-work-done kind of environment. I have tried other apps similar to this one and I have yet to find a better one. This app fulfills my needs and will fulfill your needs and any students needs. And for 99 cents, you definitely can not go wrong. This app deserves a 9/10. Great job Craig Otis, you did great! See down below for more pictures of the app.

    Thanks for reading the first app review of the CoA,

     

    Joe

     

    The screen you see when you go to a specific subject. Red next to the task is color coded for a high priority.
    The screen you get when adding a task to the page. You can Name it, put a note to go along with it, star it, mark it as complete, put level of urgency, due date, and whether or not you want to to repeat or not. Down below at the bottom you can see that you can add steps to the task. You will get this screen in two situations, one, when you add a new task, and two when you touch a task you have already added so you can update it.

     

    This is the screen you get when you want to sync with other devices with the app (i.e Mac). If you rare on the same network as the device you’re syncing with, I would prefer to use Local Device, but if not, you can also try syncing it with DropBox

     

     

  • Welcome to The Church of Apple’s Review Page

    Welcome to the Church of Apple’s Review Page. In addition to our regular articles at the main page, we will also have reviews of apps and products here. If you would like to get involved and write reviews and/or articles for us, please visit the main page and click the Get Involved tab. Also, please like us on Facebook, especially since, through November 11th, you will be entered for a chance to win a $250 gift card! All you have to do is click the “like”button on the right. Thank you for visiting The Church of Apple and I hope you like the reviews!

     

    Thanks for reading The Church of Apple,

     

    Joe Giuliani

    Editor-In-Chief of The Church of Apple