It’s a small thing, to be sure, but when Bryan Chaffin get up to work, he’s found himself immediately drawn to it, sitting all sweet and pretty in his Mac’s Notifications.
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
Apple Releases iOS 11.0.2 for Crackling Sounds on iPhone 8/Plus and Hidden Photos Problem
The update is a 280MB over-the-air download on iPhone 7 Plus and 276.4MB on an iPad Pro (10.5-inch).
Play Spotify Music On-The-Go Without a Smartphone with Mighty: $85.99
Spotify fans now have an option for playing their Spotify music on-the-go without a smartphone or computer, thanks to a gadget called Mighty. Mighty is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, supports wired and most Bluetooth headphones and speaker, and holds 1,000 songs. It’s $85.99 through us. [Update: Stack Commerce just gave us a coupon code for 10% off on Mighty. Use “MIGHTY10” at checkout.]
Apple Spotlights Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus with 'Portraits of Her' [Video]
Apple has a new spot called Portraits of Her to promote Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus. Portrait Lighting is a new software effect on iPhone 8 Plus that allows you to drastically change lighting on photos shot using Portrait Mode. In Portraits for Her, Apple uses a haunting (and beautiful) song called “This Strange Effect” by The Shacks for a soundtrack. The company also had the unnamed actress in the piece lip-syncing the lyrics as she walked through the city, something I don’t recall in another Apple spot. I like this commercial. The music, the camera shots, and the pacing are all lovely, and it’s another good example of Apple showing us a concept (Portrait Lighting) without doing an explainy spot. I’d love to know your thoughts.
Keep Track of Your Keys with KeySmart Pro: $59.99
Check out the KeySmart Pro. It’s a keychain that holds 10 keys (with a clip for a fob) and a built in tracker for finding them with an iPhone (or Android) app. It also has a bottle opener and an LED flashlight. It’s $59.99 through our deal.
Postbox 5 for Mac or Windows: $29.99
We have a deal on Postbox, an email client for Mac or Windows. It allows you to access all your accounts from one place. It’s $29.99 through us.
YoCam Versatile Waterproof HD Camera: $99.99
We have a deal for you today on the YoCam Versatile Waterproof HD Camera. This device was successfully funded through Indiegogo, where it raised more than $1 million. It’s designed for selfies, action shots, and it minimizes shakiness in images. As the name says, it’s also waterproof. It’s $99.99 through us.
Apple Quickly Moves Developer Seeds of .1 Updates for macOS High Sierra, iOS 11, tvOS 11, watchOS 4, Xcode
All of the releases come just a few days after the release of the .0 releases of those operating systems.
iOS 11 and Xcode 9: Complete Swift 4 and Objective-C Course: $15
Check out the Complete Swift 4 and Objective-C Course for learning iOS 11 and Xcode 9. It features 240 lectures and 55 hours of content you can access any time. You’ll build 25 real iOS apps, including your own Augmented Reality app using ARKit. This course is $15 through us.
Here’s How to Get Better Battery Life in iOS 11
As is the case with every new iOS release, there have been siginficiant complaints about reduced battery life, and these tips can help you make the most of your iPhone battery while Apple gets it sorted out.
Slim 4-Port Rapid USB Charger: $39.95
We have a deal on the Just Mobile AluCharge Ultra Slim 4-Port Rapid USB Charger. Each port optimizes its charge according to the needs of your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. It’s slim, too, and $39.95 through us.
Here's a Direct Link to Download macOS High Sierra
Here’s a direct link to download macOS High Sierra. If you haven’t already installed High Sierra, it won’t be showing up in Software Update in the Mac App Store, but this direct link will let you download and install macOS High Sierra. Check out John Martellaro’s Installation guide for more info on installing Apple’s newest Mac operating system.
PHOOZY Capsule Protects Your iPhone from Hot and Cold, and it Floats: $29.99
We have a deal for you today on PHOOZY, a “capsule” that protects your iPhone (or Android device, if that’s your thing) from hot and cold temperatures. It also floats. The company said it was adapted from spacesuit technology, too. There’s more information on the deal listing, and it’s $29.99 through us.
iStat Menus 6 Adds Notification Center, Notifications, and More
Bjango announced iStat Menu 6 Monday. This is a must-have Mac utility for me and other members of the TMO staff, and the new macOS High Sierra-friendly version adds several new features. First, are notifications based on CPU, network use (!!), disk, battery, weather, and other events. There’s also a new Notification Center widget that gives you a great snapshot view of your Mac’s goings on. There are new color and theme options, and you can rearrange the order in dropdown menus, too. It’s a solid upgrade. Speaking of which, upgrades from previous versions are $9.99, while new licenses are $18. There are family packs available, too.
Typinator Typing Assistant for Mac: $15.99
We have a deal on Typinator, a typing assistant utility for the Mac. You can insert commonly used phrases, images, the time, and more. It’s $15.99 through us.
HELIO, a 5,200mAh Solar-Powered Portable Battery with Built-in Lamp
It’s a solar-powered portable battery with a built in lamp and emergency beacon.
Check out this Tilt-Control Racing Game for iOS
GRID Autosport is coming to iOS (and Android, if that’s your jam). This is racing game, and the iOS trailer looks amazing. It’s being developed for mobile by Feral Interactive. We don’t have a lot of details yet, but the company noted in the comments on YouTube that it will have a career mode, just like the original console version. GRID Autosport will be a tilt-and-touch game. What do you think?
Apple Seeds 'Golden Master' Candidate for macOS High Sierra 10.13
Unless a significant issue is found, macOS High Sierra 10.13 GM candidate (17A362a) will likely be the last release before the September 25th launch.
Introducing the $1,000 Emoji Machine (NSFW iPhone X Parody Video)
Allow me to state up front that I don’t agree with the sentiment of this parody video, but it’s very well done and very funny. It’s a snarky look at the “$1,000 Emoji Machine,” aimed at the Animoji feature unique to iPhone X. Also, it’s not safe for work.
Raspberry Pi 3 Kit and Mastery Bundle: $178.99
Check out today’s deal on a Raspberry Pi 3 Kit plus the Mastery Bundle of training courses. The deal is built around the PiCar-V Kit with Raspberry Pi 3 Board. That’s right, you can build a remote car with a camera. The Mastery Bundle includes seven training courses on home automation, robotics, and more. It’s $178.99 through us.
The Steve Jobs Theater, iTunes Rant, iPhone X, and Apple Watch Series 3 - ACM 428
Apple’s new Steve Jobs Theater had its debut, and Bryan and Jeff talk about some of the amazing things we saw. They also spew some vitriol all over Apple’s decision to pull the App Store from iTunes, and discuss their favorite aspects of Apple Watch Series 3 and iPhone X.
Hey Apple, I Liked Browsing for iPhone Apps on My Mac
Taking away the ability to browse iOS apps on Macs and PCs is a step backward for users, and those backward steps are annoying as @&#%!
This Photograph Shows Why Apple Built the Steve Jobs Theater
Apple has quietly rewritten the rules for media events and presentation yet again, and this photograph demonstrates that.
PDFpen 9 All-Purpose PDF Editor for Mac: $37
We have a deal for you today on PDFpen 9 for Mac, from Smile Software. It’s an all-purpose PDF editor that allows you to edit them, mark them up, add signatures, can do OCR, and more. It’s $37 through us.