Sound the horn! As noted on Instagram Friday, Mythic Quest: Quarantine will drop on Apple TV+ on May 22. The trailer tells you all you need to know. You’ve got time to binge the Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet series (again, obviously). See you on the other side!
Dave Hamilton
Dave Hamilton co-founded both The Mac Observer and <a href="https://www.backbeatmedia.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank">BackBeat Media</a>, and he is producer and co-host of the <a href="https://www.macgeekgab.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank">Mac Geek Gab Podcast</a>. He has worked in the computer industry since the early 1990s, doing time as a consultant, trainer, network engineer, webmaster, and programmer. He has worked on the Mac, all the various Windows flavors, BeOS, a few brands of Unix, and it is rumored he once saw an OS/2 machine in action. Before that he ran some of the earliest Bulletin Board Systems, but most of the charges have since been dropped, and not even the FBI requests that he check in more than twice a year. Dave's reachable for paid consulting at <a href="https://www.davethenerd.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">DaveTheNerd.com</a> and you can find links to him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ here, too.
Articles by Dave Hamilton
Sonos S2 Arrives June 8th With Room Groups, Increased Audio Bandwidth, More
Sonos’s next-generation software platform, Sonos S2, will be available for everyone on June 8, 2020. Announced in March, this platform will allow Sonos to bring new features like room groups and increased audio bandwidth, allowing for a richer Sonos experience going forward. What it won’t bring with it are older Sonos units like the original Play:5 (Gen 1), Bridge, and others. No worries, though – there’s a path to keeping those online, too.
Sonos Arc Premium Soundbar Brings Dolby Atmos, Immersive Sound
On Wednesday, Sonos announced their latest hardware additions, featuring the Sonos Arc, a premium soundbar with support for Dolby Atmos. This marks the first Sonos product to support Dolby Atmos, and there are hints at support for higher resolution audio formats coming in the future. Two other pieces of hardware, Sonos Five (a PLAY:5 with revamped guts) and their 3rd-generation Sonos Sub, were also announced today.
Sonos Radio, Free and Ad-Supported Streaming Service, Launches on All Sonos Devices Today
On Tuesday, wireless speaker company Sonos announced the rollout of Sonos Radio, a free and ad-supported streaming service that runs on all Sonos devices. The new Sonos Radio service will arrive by way of a software update and will include Artist Stations, Sonos Sound System, Genre Stations, as well as music, news, and sports from a growing list of over 60,000 world-wide radio stations.
Dr. Mac's Advice for Better Battery Life – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-24
Dr. Mac (aka Bob LeVitus) joins Dave Hamilton for a geeky-yet-understandable tour through some quick things you can do to extend your MacBook’s battery life. But it’s Bob and Dave, of course, so there’s a tangent thrown in, this time about the benefits clipboard history switchers. You’ll love it!
New MacBook Air, Mac mini Updates – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-19
Apple’s updates to the processors (and more) in the MacBook Air and pricing and RAM for the Mac mini leave Charlotte Henry and guest host, Dave Hamilton, with a ton to talk through, and a ton for you to hear. Listen and enjoy!
iPads, Trackpads, China, and Censorship – TMO Daily Observations 2020-02-28
This week we saw rumors of Apple releasing an iPad keyboard with a trackpad, and news that Apple will be requiring paid game developers to comply with Chinese censorship laws. Charlotte Henry and Bryan Chaffin join Dave Hamilton to sift through it all for you before the weekend. Press play and enjoy!
CES – Solo New York Recycled Hybrid Backpack
LAS VEGAS – Solo New York was showing off their Re:cycled backpack series at CES 2020, all of which are made from recycled water bottles and other biodegradable materials. The Hybrid backpack here easily converts between being a briefcase and a backpack, perfect for that on-the-go lifestyle where you’re not sure what mode you’ll need to be in throughout the day.
CES – Elliptic Labs Virtual Smart Sensors
LAS VEGAS – Elliptic Labs has developed software that uses a smartphone’s speakers and microphones to do motion sensing – and a lot more – without adding any hardware to the phone. I happened to meet CEO Laila Danielsen on a bus where she showed us just one demo application of their tech.
CES – OWC Mercury Elite Pro Thunderbolt 3 Dock adds RAID, Ports, and Power
OWC Founder and CEO, Larry O’Connor, takes us through the details of their Mercury Elite Pro Dock. This is a Thunderbolt 3 Dock and Dual-Drive RAID all-in-one. RAID 0 or 1 is done in hardware, or you can configure it as a JBOD and manage it yourself. With seven ports, including Ethernet, two USB 3.1 Gen 1, DisplayPort 1.2, SD Card, and Gigabit Ethernet, this US$299.99 device might be exactly what you need to complete your setup.
CES – Brydge Pro+ Adds a Trackpad and Keyboard to iPad Pro
LAS VEGAS – At CES this week, Brydge was showing off their new Brydge Pro+ Keyboard with Trackpad for iPad Pro. Leveraging iPadOS’s AssistiveTouch to add a cursor-like dot to the screen, using the trackpad feels smooth and natural throughout. Available for pre-order now, Brydge Pro+ is $229.99 for the 12.9” iPad Pro, and $199.99 for the 11” model.
CES – LifeProof FLiP iPhone Case Tucks the Wallet Inside
LAS VEGAS – LifeProof’s FLiP wallet case puts your cards and cash inside so that, when closed, the back of the iPhone remains flush. The FLiP case can even open up and act as a stand and, when open, Qi charging is possible, too. Available now from LifeProof for US$60.99.
CES – Speck's Presidio2 Cases Use Air Capsules to Suspend and Protect your iPhone
LAS VEGAS – At Pepcom here at CES on Monday, Speck was showing off their latest Presidio2 line of cases that use Presidio2 Armor Cloud technology. Like an air bag for your iPhone, Presidio2 incorporates air capsules around edge to resist damage upon impact, cushioning your iPhone when it falls and keeping things safe. Expect to see these available in the spring.
JBL, SanDisk, Legrand, LE Audio, and More from CES 2020 – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-07
LAS VEGAS – Live from CES 2020, Dave Hamilton and John F. Braun share their thoughts on the new stuff they’ve found. Cool Stuff Found includes JBL’s new Quantum gaming headsets, Legrand’s smart electrical panel, ChronoLife’s smart Nexkin shirt, SanDisk’s latest (r)evolution of the thumb drive (it’s got a lot of storage and it’s fast!), Bluetooth’s first audio evolution in decades, and even more. Listen, enjoy, and let us know what you think at [email protected].
CES – SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe With Both USB-C and USB-A ports
LAS VEGAS – As USB speeds and capabilities increase, so expands the concept of the thumb drive. At CES Monday, SanDisk was showing off their new Dual Drive Luxe USB-C, a thumb drive supporting USB 3 speeds over both USB-C and USB-A. Capable of delivering up to 150MB/s, the 1TB model will be $249.99 and 500GB will be $89.99, both due to be released in Q1 this year.
CES – JBL Quantum Gaming Headphones Bring Surround Sound, Customization and More to all Platforms, including the Mac
LAS VEGAS – At CES Monday, audio, headphone and audio maker JBL announced their Quantum gaming headphone line, built to enhance the experience for all gamers on all platforms. Yes, that includes the Mac.
CES – Targus Adds Qi Charging to Cypress+ and Mobile ViP+ Bags
Targus adds both a 5,000mAh battery pack and a side holster with a Qi coil in the new Cypress+ and Mobile ViP+ bags, unveiled at CES 2020.
Cool Stuff Found from CES Unveiled – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-06
LAS VEGAS – John F. Braun and Dave Hamilton attended CES Unveiled 2020 on Sunday night, sifting through hundreds of products and companies to bring you this gadget-focused collection of Cool Stuff Found. Listen and enjoy!
CES – Igloohome Shows Remotely-Programmable Locks that Don't Require Wi-Fi at CES Unveiled 2020
LAS VEGAS – Igloohome’s smart locks shown here at CES Unveiled 2020 have a special feature: they don’t use Wi-Fi and yet they’re remotely programmable. This is accomplished by first pairing your phone with the lock, a process that also creates a rotating token like you might use with your bank. When you want to create a new code, everything is already set and the code is already active because of the pre-negotiated token, all happening behind the scenes. The deadbolt is US$299, the keybox is $189, and the padlock is $109. The other two dual locks will be available later this year.
Geeky Cyber Monday Savings: Sonos, Default Folder, MailSuite, and More
We geeks love both our gadgets and our apps that help us use them. And for this particular geek, well, I have some favorites. Lucky for us all, some of those favorites are offering sales for Cyber Monday 2019, and I wanted to make sure you were aware.
Save 20% on Sonos Home Theater for Black Friday
Sonos‘s speakers have been long-time favorite for us here at TMO and Mac Geek Gab, both for listening to music and enjoying the sound from our home theaters. This weekend Sonos is running a rare sale on their popular Home Theater products.
Sonos Move: Portable, Weatherproof, Water Resistant, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Voice-Assistant Speaker
In a move that simultaneously felt like a very natural evolution of their product line as well as (finally?) answering every unrequited request ever made of the company, Sonos today announced Sonos Move, a portable, battery-powered, water resistant, weatherproof, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker.
SONOS and IKEA Blend Sound with Furniture for SYMFONISK Table Lamp and Bookshelf Speakers, Starting Under $100
Keep on the lookout for these IKEA-designed Sonos speakers, coming August 1, 2019. If you’ve got Sonos in your home already, this is a great way to add more. If you haven’t yet opened your doors to Sonos, here’s a very affordable way to do exactly that, while adding some style in the process!
Get eero Mesh Wi-Fi for up-to-50% Off for Amazon Prime Day
eero, one of our favorite consumer mesh Wi-Fi systems, is available for up-to-50% off Monday and Tuesday as part of Amazon Prime day. Deals include:
- eero Pro – $99. Normally US$199, this is the tri-band, flagship model in the eero lineup.
- eero Pro and 2 Beacons – $199. Normally $399, and is probably what most homes need.
- eero Pro and 1 Beacon – $149. Just spend the extra $50 and get the 2 Beacon bundle.
- eero Pro 3-Pack – $299. Normally $499, this is a great deal. But you can save $2 if you buy three standalone units.
All of these deals are only available for Amazon Prime members, and only while supplies last, of course. Go now!
