iOS 12.1.1 includes expanded eSIM support, faster camera switching during FaceTime calls, and the ability to capture Live Photos during FaceTime calls.
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
uBar 4 Toolbar, a Dock Replacement for Mac: $15
We have a deal for you today on uBar 4, a Dock replacement for Mac. uBar 4 is customizable, expandable, can be displayed on one or all of your monitors, and it has a variety of built-in functions. Check out the deal listing for more. It’s $15 through our deal.
PDF Expert for Mac: $19.99
We have a deal on PDF Expert for Mac from Readdle. This PDF editor has a nice list of distinctions, including being The 2015 App of the Year in the Mac App Store, Top Paid App in the Mac App Store, Editors’ Choice by Apple, and 4.6 out of 5 stars from 1,1000 ratings on the Mac App Store. The deal is for PDF Expert 2.4.2, the version on Readdle’s website. It’s $19.99 through our deal, 75% off retail.
Apple Launches Online Store for U.S. Military and Veterans with 10% Discount
Similar to the company’s long-running education store, “current and Veteran members of the U.S. Military, National Guard and Reserve,” and their families, will be able to buy Apple products with a 10% discount.
CloudMounter For Mac Lifetime License: $19
We have a deal on an app called CloudMounter that takes your various cloud storage services and mounts them on your Mac’s desktop for quick access. Supported services include Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, and Microsoft OneDrive. Our deal is for a lifetime license for $19.
Using iPad, Apple Original TV Shows, and Macs with Jim Dalrymple: ACM 490
Bryan Chaffin and guest-host Jim Dalrymple talk about how they use their iPads, and it turns out they’re pretty different use cases. They try to talk about where Apple TV might go but venture into a much deeper conversation about Apple’s original TV shows and videos. Spoiler: one of them is a pessimist. They close the show by examining the state of the Mac. Another spoiler: one of them is a pessimist!
2-in-1 Smart Plug with Alexa, Google, and IFTTT Support: $19.99
We have a deal on a 2-in-1 Smart Plug with Alexa, Google, and IFTTT support. Firstly, it has two outlets, but plugs into just one. Secondly, those outlets are smart outlets that can be controlled via Alexa, Google Home, or IFTTT, and are controllable from the SmartLife app, too. Our deal is for one of these devices for $19.99. But the deal listing also has a 2-pack for $37.99.
Star Wars Propel Drone - Collector's Edition: $40
Oh, come on. Star Wars drones where you can have mock battles? I don’t know whether to lament how lame my childhood was or revel in the fact that an adult child I can get such things all day long! Here’s the deal: there are three models of these drones, X-Wing, Tie Fighter, and a 74Z Speeder Bike, and we’ll suspend our disbelief enough to imagine how the speeder bike could fight with the spaceships. There’s a companion app with training missions, and the come with their own controller. AND THEY CAN FIGHT! With infrared lasers. COME ON! These things are $49.99 (each) through our deal, but coupon code CMSAVE20 brings it down to $40 at checkout. Choose your model on the deal page.
Tim Cook's Expected Privacy Bill May See Light of Day in 2019
You might remember Tim Cook expecting tech giants to be subjected to regulation through some sort of privacy bill. Reuters reported that a privacy bill is indeed in the works, and that it might see daylight in early 2019, while AppleInsider noted this might be what Mr. Cook was expecting. Of course, this is the world of politics, so who knows what final shape this bill will take, but here’s a glimpse at where it is now:
A subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee discussed elements of the bill on Tuesday, including the possibility that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could be given the authority as enforcer to oversee telecommunications companies and non-profits, exact civil penalties and create regulations.
Why not having an offsite backup is not an option…
Our own Dr. Mac created a public service announcement he calls, “Why not having an offsite backup is not an option…” It’s 90 seconds long and makes an excellent point, so ignore it at your own peril…
Get 1 Year of Setapp for $69
Our deal on a 1 year subscription for Setapp at $69 is back. That’s 42% off retail on a service that was already one of the best in the Mac world, and it’s one of our most popular deals. Setapp offers you more than 100 high quality Mac apps for a monthly or yearly subscription. That includes several apps I use all the time, and I strongly recommend this service.
Oco HD Security Camera: $63.20
We have a deal on the Oco HD Security Camera. This device can capture HD footage and beam it straight to your phone. You can also store your video via microSD card, or use the company’s cloud service and view it any time via the mobile app. It’s $79 through our deal, but promo code CMSAVE20 at checkout brings it down to $63.20.
Power All of Your Devices with Pass-Through Charging and Built-In AC Outlet: $214.99
We have a deal on the LifePowr A3 Portable Outlet, a portable battery with USB charging ports and a standards AC plug, too. All told, it has a USB-C port, a QC3.0 USB-A port, a 2.4A USB-A port, and that AC plug. It also does passthrough charging, and the battery has a capacity of 27,000mAh. This device is $214.99 through our deal.
iPad Pro and a Proper Keyboard, Your iPad as a 2nd Mac Screen - ACM 489
Bryan Chaffin is joined by Bob LeVitus to discuss the iPad Pro, whether it can replace a Mac, and the importance of having a quality keyboard. They also talk about two ways Bob has been testing for using your iPad as a second Mac display, which is way cool.
BentoStack Charge Holds Apple Accessories, with Qi Charger on Top: $72
Check out our deal on the BentoStack Charge. It’s a compartmentalized case for Apple accessories, and it has a Qi wireless charger on top. Cool, yeah? The video gives you a nice overview of this device, and you can get it through us for $89.99. [Update: Stack Commerce gave us a coupon code—CMSAVE20—that brings the price down to $72!]
Oco Motion HD Pan/Tilt Wireless Security Camera: $103.20
We have a deal on the Oco Motion HD Pan/Tilt Wireless Security Camera. This device i controllable from your iPhone or Android device. You can save video locally or to the cloud, and it has pan and tilt, a built-in microphone, and more. It’s $129 through our deal, but promo code BFSAVE20 at checkout brings it down to $103.20.
Apple's Black Friday Is Here and Mostly Ho-Hum
Apple has never been big on sales, but there’s something about making everything but the newest models eligible for gift cards extra insulting.
Happy Thanksgiving, from TMO!
The Mac Observer is taking Thursday and Friday off to celebrate Thanksgiving. though we will sneak some Black Friday news in. We’ll be back with our regular news, analysis, tips and podcasts on Monday, November 26th. We hope everyone has a great weekend even if Thanksgiving isn’t part of your annual holiday schedule.
Cowin E7 Active Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones: $51.19 with Promo Code
We have a deal on a pair of Cowin E7 active noise cancelling, over-the-ear wireless headphones. These Bluetooth headphones have up to 30 hours of battery life, and 40mm large-aperture drivers. They’re $63.99 through our deal, but promo code BFSAVE20 gets you 20% off, for a checkout price of $51.19.
Disk Drill PRO Lifetime License: $18 with Promo Code
We have a deal on a lifetime license for Disk Drill PRO for Mac. This software is designed to make it easy to recover documents, music, photos, videos, or even whole partitions that have gone missing from your computer. Our deal is for $29.99, but promo code BFSAVE40 will save you another 40%, for a checkout price of $18.
2Do Task Manager for Mac Lifetime License: $29.99
We have a deal on a lifetime license for 2Do, a task manager for the Mac. 2Do features color coded lists, the ability to add URLs, addresses, or Google searches to your tasks, and the ability to sync over Dropbox, Reminders (CalDAV), or Toodledo. The lifetime license is $29.99 through our deal.
Turn Your iPhone Into a 360 Degree 4K Camera: $199
Check out the Insta360, a device that turns your iPhone into a 360-degree video camera. With a single shot, you can capture everything around you. It’s designed for live streaming, making VR content, all from your iPhone. It works with iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR,iPhone8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6s/6s Plus, and iPhone 6/6 Plus. The Insta360 is $199 through our deal, 16% off retail.
SolarJuice 26,800mAh External Battery - with Solar Panels: $46.99
We have a deal on the SolarJuice 26,800mAh external battery from Zero Lemon. This large capacity battery has built-in solar panels, built-in emergency lights, and three charging ports. It also has a microUSB port for charging the SolarJuice directly. It’s $46.99 through our deal.
Make Any Headphones Wireless with this Bluetooth Receiver: $19.99
Check out the Atech Micro Bluetooth Receiver, a device that turns your wired headphones into wireless headphones. As you can see in the image, it’s quite small, making it easy to carry around, and it’s $19.99 through us.