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.
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
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!
Apple's 2019 iMacs Now Available on Refurb Store, Save 15%
Early Tuesday evening, Apple’s 2019 iMacs began appearing on the company’s online Refurb Store, offering savings of approximately 15% off retail pricing. For example, an 8-core, Intel Core i9, 27″ iMac with 8GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and Radeon Pro 580X graphics card runs US$2,999 at retail. On the refurb store this same iMac sells for $2,549, comes with the same as-new warranty, and is eligible for AppleCare+ (just $169). Why only 8GB RAM? Because Amazon sells a Crucial 32GB kit for just $128. Availability on the refurb store is always in flux, so keep looking for what you want. Happy shopping!
Happy U.S. Independence Day
We here at The Mac Observer are taking Thursday and Friday to spend with our friends and families while we celebrate Independence Day here in the USA.
Because I love the way perspective skews each of our individual realities, I’ll share this related anecdote: three years ago – to the day – Billy Beefeater wished me a “Happy Treason Day” while giving us a tour of the Tower Of London. I wanted to quote Game of Thrones and point out it would only be treason if we had lost, but I figured maybe that was better left unsaid… at the time.
In any event, happy Independence Day to everyone in the USA, and wishing a glorious weekend to everyone everywhere!
We’ll return on Monday, July 8th, resuming not only our news, tips, and Cool Stuff Found, but also publishing episodes of three of our podcasts: Background Mode, Daily Observations, and Mac Geek Gab. See you Monday!
macOS Catalina Moves Us From User Consent to User Intent – TMO Daily Observations 2019-06-11
John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join Dave Hamilton to talk about Apple’s march forward towards security-with-flexibility in macOS Catalina. And then it’s time to look at Apple TV’s future… by the numbers.
How to Choose the Best Mesh Wireless System For Your Home
Sorting through the mesh wireless systems available today can be tricky. Read on, and we’ll teach you how to decide which one is best for you. [Update: Anti-malware is a theme of this update, with Plume SuperPods, Orbi, and Linksys Velop all joining the club with solid offerings in this regard. eero and Plume both solved their LAN persistence problems, keeping your Wi-Fi alive even if your Internet connection goes down. AmpliFi is doing some cool things for IoT users with regards to setting up separate SSIDs for that, too. See Changelog – Dave]
How to Use Alexa to Control Apple Music on Sonos
Late last year, Alexa gained the ability to control Apple Music. At that point, only Amazon-branded devices would work. As of today, April 17th, 2019, Alexa on your Sonos One or Sonos Beam can now control Apple Music. You can also use any Echo device to control your connected Sonos system. We’ll show you how!
The TL;DR on Apple's macOS Mojave 10.14.4 Gmail/G-Suite Issue: It's Fixed
Earlier this week many folks began experiencing an issue where macOS Mojave 10.14.4 could not properly log in to some Gmail-based accounts, mostly those using G-Suite for custom domains. The good news is that, as of late last night, this problem appears to have been eradicated.
SXSW: CLEAR Expands Identity Verification from AirPort Security Lines to Point of Sale
CLEAR, the company whose members we all enviously gaze upon at the airport as they breeze past those of us in the TSA Pre-Check lines, is expanding their identity verification technology to point of sale. Testing in some Seattle sports stadiums, CLEAR’s ability to use biometrics to confirm that you are definitively you is helpful for age verification for alcohol sales, but could also just make point of sale simpler, in general. Part of their mission all along, they figured if they could get approval for their tech to be used to confirm identity at airports, it was certainly going to work to add convenience to point-of-sale while also increasing the security of the transactions. Of course, Apple’s introduction Touch ID at point of sale with Apple Pay starting in 2014 has helped the masses understand the usefulness of this technology. That rising tide lifts all boats, including CLEAR’s. Look for CLEAR to roll out more instances of this tech in the coming year.