We have a deal on Fuse Chicken’s Titan Lightning cable. Titan is wrapped in two layers of steel, and Fuse Chicken pitches Titan as, “The toughest cables on Earth.” We have a deal on a 1.5-meter (just under 5-feet) Titan cable in Black, Gold, or Rose Gold, for $29.99.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
Get a Special Apple Watch Badge for Completing an Outdoor Workout on Earth Day
Apple announced a special Apple Watch badge for completing an outdoor workout on Earth Day. That’s April 22nd, 2017, and you’ll have to complete a 30 minute workout outdoors to collect it.
Slate Wrap for iPhone, a Study in Textured Black
The Slate wrap from Slickwraps crossed my desk a few days ago, and the thing is that it stuck with me. I find it compelling. Attractive. It’s a study in textured blacks, and I do like black cases and covers for my devices (YMMV). Slickwraps has been knocking it out of the part with their wraps lately, too. In any event, the company is calling this a limited edition, and say that it protects from minor scratches and small drops. They have them for iPhones, several Android devices (if that’s your thing), and even a MacBook. The ones for smartphone are priced at US$24.95.
Gamevice for iPhone plus $10 iTunes Gift Card: $99.95
Check out Gamevice for iPhone. It’s a game controller for your iPhone that fits on either end, turning it into a single gaming device. It features built-in ABXY, L1R1, L2R2, and D-pad controllers, plus dual joysticks. It’s US$99.95 through our deal, and that includes a $10 iTunes gift card.
Apple Runs Up Against State Censorship in China, Again
Apple is once again running into issues with state censorship in China. Chinese newspaper Xinhua reported Thursday that two different agencies will call Apple into their offices to demand Apple tighten up controls over streaming apps available in the App Store.
Kodak HD WiFi Pet Monitor: $72.99
We have a deal on the Kodak HD WiFi Pet Monitor, a webcam that streams video to your smartphone through a companion app. It also features a speaker so you can speak to your pet remotely. It’s $72.99 through us.
Adobe Amps Up Creative Cloud Video Professional Apps, Including Touch Bar Support
Adobe announced Wednesday new versions of video editing and effects tools in Creative Cloud. The company announced new versions of Premier, After Effects, Audition, and Character Animator, all of which are work more closely with one another. MacBook Pro owners will also get support for Apple’s new Touch Bar.
Touch Screen Macs, iPhone's Name, and Star Wars - ACM 407
Would Apple ever make a touch screen Mac? Bryan and Jeff chew over recent rumors about Apple making an iMac for creative pros that would compete with Microsoft’s Surface Studio. They also talk about iPhone’s name and Disney’s management of the Star Wars franchise.
MacX Media Management Bundle: $19.95
We have a deal for you on the MacX Media Management Bundle, a collection of Mac apps designed to help you encode and decode videos and move them to your iOS devices. It consists of MacX DVD Ripper Pro, MacX Video Converter Pro, and MacX MediaTrans, for $19.95
Apple Makes iWork and iLife Apps Free and Easier to Download by Anyone
Apple made its iWork suite—Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—free on Tuesday, as well as two of the iLife apps*—GarageBand and iMovie. While they were already free to new Mac and iOS device customers (since 2013), making the price “free” makes them easier to download by everyone.
12 Mac Apps and 3 Courses in the Supersized Creative Mac Bundle for $29
Our friends at Stack Commerce have put together a great deal on 12 Mac apps and 3 training sources. It’s called the Supersized Creative Mac Bundle, and features several photo apps, filters, writing tools, Roxio Toast Express, mind mapping software, and more. The training courses cover photography, video editing, and web design. All for $29.
Google Maps for iOS Adds Turn-by-Turn Directions to Lock Screen Widget
Google updated its Google Maps app for iOS Monday. Version 4.30’s chief new feature is turn-by-turn directions on the lock screen courtesy of a Directions widget. With that widget, users can arrow through each direction in any active route from the lock screen or the Today view (swipe left on the Home Screen). Users can also send their location via Google Maps through iMessage. Both features give Google Maps a dramatically more integrated experience in iOS, erasing some of the pain points of not being the built-in Maps service for Apple’s mobile operating system. The Directions widget will need to be added to your lock screen, while the location feature is available through iMessage. The update is free, meaning you remain the product.
A Full Screen 'iPhone X' Leak I Can Get Behind
KK Sneak Leaks has posted a leak of what’s supposed to be Apple’s full-screen iPhone, the so-called iPhone X. I don’t know if it’s real, but it’s a leak I can get behind. And for what it’s worth, KK gave it a 99% reliability. Bryan Chaffin takes us on a tour.
A Video Tribute to Carrie Fisher
The collective heartbreak when Carrie Fisher died in December was felt around the world. The Star Wars channel on YouTube has posted a wonderful “Tribute to Carrie Fisher” that is beyond delightful and amazing. It spans the decades of her involvement with Star Wars, including some outtakes, interviews, and scenes from the movies. Enjoy, and remember, if anyone asks: you were chopping onions.
CoBattery iPhone Charging Case Comes with 2 Swappable Batteries: $59
We have a deal for you on CoBattery, an iPhone charging case that comes with two swappable batteries. It’s designed to let you never have to plug your iPhone in again. Instead, your iPhone charges from the battery case while the second battery recharges. It’s $59 through us, with models for iPhone 6/6s/7 and iPhone 6/6s/7 Plus.
iTunes Podcasts Now Called Apple Podcasts
Apple changed the name of its podcast app from iTunes Podcasts to Apple Podcast. The move includes branding within iTunes, in the Podcasts app, and the Listen on Apple Podcast badge that replaces Listen on iTunes Podcasts.
Apple Celebrates the Joys of Water Balloons in New Commercial
Apple launched three commercials in the company’s Shot on iPhone series. All three spots were released for the Turkish market on the Apple Turkey YouTube channel. They were shot by 11 year old children on iPhones, and were released to celebrate National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer Is Here
The trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out! And boy, oh boy, but it’s wonderful. The next installment of the Star Wars franchise is expected in March, and this trailer has me champing at the bit. Check it out.
HoudahSpot 4 for Mac Family License: $19
We have a deal today on HoudahSpot 4, a desktop search tool that uses your Mac’s Spotlight index to mine into files and find exactly what you need. You can find files by name, text, content kind, file extension, author, recipient, pixel count, and more. You can get a family license through us for $19.
DeltaWalker 2 Pro for Mac: $29.95
We have a deal on DeltaWalker 2 for Mac (there’s a Windows version, too, if that’s your thing). This software allows you to compare, edit and merge files side-by-side. You can get it through us for $29.95, half off retail.
Making iPhones, Internet Myths, Mac Pro Wishes - ACM 406
Jeff and Bryan talk about making iPhones, factories in China, and manufacturing in the U.S. relating to a first hand report from a Pegatron factory. They also talk about internet myth and Snopes, as well as some of the cool Mac Pro mockups that are circulating.
ARMOR-X One-Lock Air Vent Car Mount: $12.99
We have a deal on the ARMOR-X One-Lock Air Vent Car Mount. This smartphone mount for your car allows you to rotate your iPhone 360 degrees. It’s $12.99 through us.
Google's AutoDraw Turns Your Ugly Scrawls Into Line Art, Here's How to Use It
Google has a new “A.I experiment” called AutoDraw that can turn even ugly scrawls into proper line art. Or, more specifically, it will look at ugly scrawls and suggest actual line art you might have been aiming for.
NY Grad Student Goes Undercover at Pegatron iPhone Factory
Every wonder what it’s really like to make iPhones in a Chinese factory? New York University student Dejian Zeng found out by working in one for 6 weeks for a summer project. BusinessInsider interviewed him about the experience, where he discussed the daily life of a worker. He shared a dorm with 7 people, worked 12 hour shifts, did repetitive tasks, and got paid more than the minimum wage. “I mean, it’s simple,” he said, “but that’s the work that you do. Over, over, over again. For whole days.” He also described being on an assembly line ramping up a new product, an experience that was punctuated by hours of boredom waiting for the next unit to work on. It’s an excellent read—I’m writing it up as a Cool Stuff Found, rather than a full article, because I want to encourage everyone to read it. Plus, these kinds of manufacturing jobs are not going to come back to the U.S., at least not for humans to do.
