iPad Pro is fast, powerful, but no laptop replacement

The iPad Pro is out today and, like clockwork, the first batch of reviews have started to circulate.

The consensus? That the iPad Pro is gorgeous, powerful, and its (added extra) Apple Pencil stylus is great — but the add-on keyboard is disappointing, multitasking can be problematic, and it’s not quite ready to take over from the Mac in every situation as Tim Cook has suggested.

Out of that mixed bag of pros and cons, we’ve picked out a few of the most interesting comments for our big meta-review below.

The Verge

“The display on the iPad Pro is stunning. With a resolution of 2732 x 2048 at 264 pixels per inch, it’s actually the highest-resolution display on any iOS device, but all that means nothing until you see it. Photos, videos, even text look big and crisp and real. The only knock you could make on the display is that it doesn’t include the new 3D Touch technology Apple introduced with the iPhone 6S, something that arguably could have been more useful on a tablet meant for multitasking than it is on a smaller-screened phone.

The tablet’s processing power is even more notable than the display. Apple has rigged the iPad Pro with its latest chip, the A9X, which it claims has twice the CPU and twice the graphics performance of the previous processor. (Apple points out it also “rivals most portable PCs” in terms of power.) And it has four strategically placed, self-adjusting speakers that wowed me with their sound when I watched videos on it.”

Wired

“Nobody’s going to toss their iMacs and ThinkPads into the garbage tomorrow and instead lay a 12.9-inch tablet on everyone’s desk. If there’s a touchscreen revolution underway, it’s going to happen slowly, an app and an accessory at a time. That’s OK. The iPad Pro is a fantastic tablet, not to mention the first iPad in ages that has an obvious value next to our giant smartphones. It starts as a big, powerful, beautiful screen, and with the right accessories and apps can be almost any kind of device you want. So, yeah: size matters.”

Mashable

“The responsiveness [of the Apple Pencil] is exquisite and the Pencil tip material offers just the right balance between friction and smoothness on the iPad Pro’s touch screen. Pressure sensitivity is about as close as you’re going to get to actually drawing on real paper. It even supports shading, letting me hold the Pencil at an extreme angle to access a the virtual long-edge of a graphite pencil or wide magic marker.

What’s more, there is almost no perceptible visual space between the Pencil tip and the digital line that appears on screen. All that combined with the iPad Pro’s impressively large canvas (I have room for a full drawing and reference material) make this a fantastic drawing experience.”

Telegraph

“The iPad Pro’s true strength lies in its beautiful display and slick ease of use: slim and light enough to carry with you for all your web browsing and Netflix needs, but also capable of facilitating detailed sketching in a way that was impossible in the past.

In naming it the Pro, Apple has indicated a desire to slot it into the heavyweight MacBook and Mac Pro divisions, and that’s a plucky move. Limitations to multitasking and a lack of USB ports mean Surface die-hards will hate it, but I’m willing to bet that millions will disagree. After too many years in the shadows of the iPhone, the Pro is the iPad’s time to shine.”

Walt Mossberg

“You can get a lot more done with iPad apps than with the paltry selection of tablet / touch-first apps available for the Surface. But, because Apple hasn’t made a great keyboard, the iPad Pro isn’t a complete replacement for a great laptop like the MacBook Air — even for a tablet guy like me.

The iPad Pro will no doubt make a lot of Apple users happy, especially if they use it for graphics. But I won’t be buying one, and I don’t recommend that average users do so either.”

Ars Technica

“Even with a bigger screen and new accessories, the iPad still feels like a ‘sometimes computer.’ I can take it with me on vacation instead of a MacBook and do pretty much everything I want, and I can even get quite a bit of work done on one (the majority of this review was written on an iPad Pro, usually while also chatting in Slack or Messages or firing off e-mails). But what really does it in for me are the many small ways in which the iPad Pro is not quite a traditional computer and iOS is not quite OS X.”

In all, perhaps not the effusive reviews Apple was hoping for — but rather a collection which say that, if you enjoy what the iPad already does, you’ll appreciate the abilities of the iPad Pro. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that’ll help ramp up productivity, make the iPad a serious business machine, or even mean that you can cross off that next MacBook as a necessary upgrade, you’re likely to be disappointed.

Have these reviews swayed your decision to an iPad Pro in one direction or the other? Leave your comments below.

iPhone 6s Reviews: ‘Performance Beast’ with a ‘Truly Great’ Camera Gives Enough Reasons to Upgrade.

This is one of those potentially huge user behaviors — like swiping, or pinching and zooming — that seem odd or minor at first, but which Apple historically is able to make deeply important and useful. And it’s not just a software tweak. It involved serious re-engineering of the display. It’s the kind of thing that’s Apple’s specialty: the company manages to do new things better, apply them broadly, and make them seem natural, because it has control over both the software and hardware platforms on which its products rest. No other big player does.

The iPhone 6S is the best smartphone out there, period.

Mashable got its hands on an iPhone 6s Plus and noted that its specs and new 7000 series aluminum have crafted a “performance beast” of a smartphone. They also were fans of the improved 12 megapixel camera, saying the 6s Plus easily “wins the battle in full-light images” when compared to last year’s iPhone 6 Plus and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. In the end, the site noted that the biggest feature additions include 4K video and 3D Touch, and that just may not be enough of a justification for some users.

Is it a must-have upgrade? No, unless you must have gorgeous 4K video and can’t live without the innovative 3D Touch. By sheer volume, iOS 9 probably adds more feature enhancements than the iPhone 6S Plus, and you can get it for free.

This doesn’t diminish Apple’s accomplishment. Take me, for instance: Now that I’ve had a taste of 4K and Peek and Pop, I don’t know if I can go back.

TechCrunch fell in line with most other opinions as well, calling the camera “truly great” and noting the snappiness of the A9 processor in attempting to zoom in on 4K video footage or generally navigating the device. Another fan of 3D Touch, the site also noted that the comparison of the feature to right-clicking on a desktop computer is perhaps shortsighted, stating that right-clicking is for introducing more actions and complexities and 3D Touch is essentially the opposite. TechCrunch also noted the lightning-fast upgrade that Touch ID has received.

Apple says its new Touch ID sensor is twice the speed of the one in the iPhone 6/6 Plus. I’m sure someone will try to measure it, but I think this one metric is enough: the new fingerprint sensor is so fast that you can no longer tap the home button to wake your screen, because it will unlock instantly.

I pull my iPhone out of my pocket with my finger on the home button to tap it and check my notifications. That behavior is out the window now, because by the time it’s out of my pocket, it’s unlocked. It’s incredibly quick. So quick that I think some people will have issues adjusting. Eventually I had to switch to tapping the power button to wake it so I wouldn’t miss my notifications.

Soon everyone will be able to experience the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus for themselves, as we get closer and closer to the September 25 launch date. Recently, in fact, one lucky woman got her iPhone 6s order in ahead of time and began posting benchmark scores and photos of the device online. Those customers with tracking numbers already distributed for their order can also begin to see exactly which flight is carrying their brand-new iPhone thanks to FlightAware.

Grovemade’s Walnut Monitor Stand is an iMac accessory that will last you a lifetime.

Most of my work day is spent at a 27-inch iMac, circa 2009. It’s admittedly getting a bit long in the tooth, but buffed up with as much RAM as it can take and a homemade Fusion Drive, it still gets the job done.

One complaint I have about the iMac, though, is that the screen is actually a little too low by default. Resting on my desk, the center of the iMac’s screen doesn’t exactly line up with my line of sight. Over an entire day, that can result in neck pain and bad posture.

And so, over the past few years, I’ve experimented with a lot of stands to lift the iMac up a couple inches to more naturally line up with my line-of-sight. Of all the ones I have ever tried, though, the Walnut Monitor Stand by Portland’s Grovemade is my favorite. After using it for the last few months, I can comfortably say it’s a perfect fusion of design and functionality.

The Walnut Monitor Stand is part of Grovemade’s Desktop Collection, an assortment of accessories for the wood lover’s desktop that includes a gorgeous iMac keyboard holder (review coming soon!), an iPhone dock, a paper clip holder, a mouse pad and a keyboard wrist pad. It’s an attractive assortment of beautiful and useful objects, hewn out of walnut by hand.

The Monitor Stand is definitely the centerpiece of the collection, though. A beautiful, beveled arch of walnut, it hikes an iMac (or, for that matter, any computer monitor or all-in-one weighing less than 200 pounds) up about 6 inches off the surface of your desk.

This has a couple of benefits. For one, it lifts your monitor up to something closer to eye level, which prevents you from slouching and can decrease issues like neck pain and bad posture. In fact, using a stand, I find that I sit up a lot straighter throughout the workday than I do without one.

But just as importantly, a stand can, at least in theory, make your desk tidier. This is certainly true of Grovemade’s Walnut Monitor Stand: Not only does it elevate my iMac by about half a foot, but it gives me a little cubbyhole underneath my Mac where I can squirrel away a USB hard drive and snake through my Lightning and USB keyboard cable. It also allows you to treat the top of the stand as a shelf: Since I often switch between an Apple USB keyboard and the Apple wireless keyboard throughout the day (depending on whether I need the number pad), I’ll neatly stash whatever one I’m not using on top.

One of the things I love most about the Walnut Monitor Stand is that it’s very straightforward. Before the Walnut Monitor Stand, I used Twelve South’s HiRise for iMac, and while it was, perhaps, a more natural extension of the iMac’s all-aluminum design language, in practice, I found it very fiddly: The magnetic front panel would fall off, and it was hard to adjust the height exactly. By comparison, all you need to do to install the Walnut Monitor Stand is slap your iMac down on top of it.

Perhaps more importantly, though, I dig the Walnut Monitor Stand’s aesthetic a lot more than the HiRise. I could go on until I’m blue in the face about how much I love the feel and texture of wood, especially in juxtaposition with gadgets. The truth is, though, that the Walnut Monitor Stand is just as much a beautifully designed piece of furniture and a finely crafted example of woodworking as it is a useful Mac accessory.

Is it expensive? At $119, the Grovemade Walnut Monitor Stand costs more than, say, the $80 Twelve South wants for the HiRise. But I can reasonably say that if you buy the Walnut Monitor Stand, it’s something you will in all likelihood keep on your desk as long as you have a Mac. It’s not just a Mac accessory; it’s a piece of furniture meant to last a lifetime.

You can purchase one here. I highly recommend it.

Soen Transit portable Bluetooth speaker review | AppleTell

There’s something about Soen’s Transit speaker that demands an analogy to a car. It doesn’t have windows or an engine, but the level of engineering and design prowess it attains just makes you think of a premium luxury car. It’s not the cheapest Bluetooth speaker on the market, but it is definitely one of the best, and it’s easily worth the price.

I used my Transit review unit for everything from computer audio playback to conference calls to outdoor entertainment, and it performed flawlessly. The Transit really feels like a completely thought-out speaker, rather than just another set of speakers bolted on to a battery and Bluetooth receiver.

Elegant Design

Taking a cue from the iPhone 4/4S, the Transit is a simple expanse of black bisected by brushed aluminum. There are only three materials on the entire surface: black rubberized plastic for the top, back, and bottom, a black metal grille, and brushed aluminum for the sides and bisecting strip/integrated kickstand. All the surfaces are precisely machined and fit together as elegantly as a luxury car’s, with no discernible gaps. All the important information like FCC labels and model numbers are actually hidden underneath the kickstand, so the Transit’s posterior is even more minimalist than Apple’s products!

More importantly than how the Transit looks is how it functions even before you turn it on. The Magpro cover attaches to the sides and provides a matching rubberized surface to protect the speakers; when covered, the whole thing vaguely recalls the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The bisecting aluminum strip breaks on the back into two parts; one is a simple button, and the other is a flip-out kickstand that opens and shuts with the same satisfying whump as a precision German car door (I dare you to not open and close it repeatedly just to hear that sound).

Powerful Performance

Once you remove the speaker cover, the Transit’s trapezoidal shape and kickstand prop it at a perfect angle to sit on a desk in front of you. That rubberized surface is actually an integral part of the speaker’s performance, as it helps to provide a solid footing and to prevent the speaker from vibrating or rattling against the surface it’s on. The kickstand design integrates perfectly with the bottom’s angled edge, allowing the speaker to fold up for easy transport while providing an optimal listening experience when set up.

To test the Transit, I threw a variety of audio tasks at it, including a standard selection of music genres, YouTube audio, and a web conference audio link (there’s a mic built in for use as a speakerphone). Nothing seemed to challenge the Transit’s sonic capabilities, as music/conversations sounded great and my fellow call participants could hear me without any echoes or distortion. The small size meant I could locate the Transit close enough to hear and speak comfortably, while Soen’s Precise Talk helped supress background noise from my end of the call.

When I test the highly unscientific attribute of “room-filling” sound, I crank a speaker up to its highest setting in a medium-sized room and then retreat to a distant corner to see if it’s really all that loud. While the Transit provided plenty of sound no matter where I went in the room, it really surprised me with its expansiveness. As I moved around the room, the sound never seemed to be coming from just one place, which is surprising coming from a speaker this small.

Apart from its projective capabilities, the Transit just delivers all around first-class sound. Bass is super clean thanks to a custom-designed Momentum Port that minimizes the vibration of the speaker housing so 1.) your speaker doesn’t vibrate across the table, but more importantly 2.) you get exceptionally realistic bass. Like a good pair of headphones, the bass is presented as a clean, distinct line under the music, but you won’t  be recreating the Jurassic Park water shaking scene any time soon. On top of that solid bass foundation, mids and highs are tight, clean, and superbly articulated. I don’t think the Soen engineers even have the word muddy in their vocabulary.

Transit Logistics

Turning the Tranist on and pairing it is easy, though the pairing button is labeled with an infinity symbol (∞) which isn’t immediately obvious. The Transit supports battery status reporting, so you see the battery level in your iPhone or iPad’s menu bar. Soen quotes 8 hours, which I was able to achieve a few times, and the built-in battery charges quickly. The speaker was also quite happy to remember multiple paired devices, so switching between my iPhone, Mac, and iPad was easy.

Although Soen quotes the standard Bluetooth range of 33 feet for wireless connectivity, I found a more realistic range was 15 feet before static became an issue. This is in line with other Bluetooth devices, and of course your mileage will vary depending on a variety of factors. You can take your Transit just about anywhere, but it is not water resistant.

Listening to music on a Transit isn’t quite the same as having a room full of high fidelity audio gear, but it’s the next best thing in a portable package. Weighing in at just over a pound and only 1.3″ thick, Soen’s managed to pack some incredible audio gear into a very tiny space. The speaker just launched on August 30 at Soen’s website, SoenAudio.com, and during the initial launch you can grab your own Transit with a 10% discount using the code Transit10, but only for a limited time.

Provides: Portable Bluetooth audio with 1/8″ audio in
Developer: Soen
Minimum Requirements: Bluetooth-compatible smartphone, tablet or computer, or any device with a 1/8″ audio-out jack
Price: $249
Availability: Now

The Kii Is Sync-And-Charge Piece Of Mind On A Keychain.

Kii by Bluelounge
Category: iPhone Cables
Works With: Any iPhone or iPad
Price: $19.95-39.95

We’ve all been there: out of juice on the road and with no charging cable on hand. You can, of course, carry around a 30-pin or Lightning charging cable with you, but that takes up space. There’s something to be said for a small footprint and peace-of-mind.

Enter the Kii by Bluelounge. It’s sync-and-charge piece of mind on a keychain, in a very convenient form factor.

The Good

As the name implies, the Kii is a key-sized and key-shaped charger for iPhone and iPad that ships in two configurations: 30-pin and Lightning. In each configuration, a sturdy, rigid, two-inch-long charging cable snaps into a keyhead, charger side first, with the tip of the ‘key’ functioning as a USB disk drive. So if you need a charger on the road, all you have to do is snap your Kii off the head on your keychain and plug it into your USB port.

It’s a solid, attractive design that makes carrying an iPhone cable around with you at all times as simple as walking out the door with your keys in the morning. It charges quickly and thanks to clever engineering that makes it hard to accidentally dislodge the cable from the key head by accident, it’s difficult to lose. But there are a few design limitations.

The Not-So-Good

The construction of the Kii, while strong in the keyhead, leaves something to be desired. The USB port is open, making it susceptible to anything and everything that falls into a pocket or purse. A surprising amount of my time with the Kii was spent in fear of sand or grit getting inside the mechanism, and subsequently inside my computer. While a cap would add bulk, it would curb the impulse to treat the Kii so gingerly.

Similarly, the joint between the lightning connector and the USB is slightly flexible, demanding a concerted pull from the Lightning side—not the USB!—to separate from the keyhead. It seemed from use that repeated pulls from the USB side could result in the USB head separating from the Kii.

Using the Kii with Lightning Connector, I was able to charge an iPhone 5 and an iPad mini from my Macbook Air. But understand the Kii is best used on a flat, rigid surface. It’s unpleasant using the Kii while typing on your lap, and downright impossible while charging an iPad. Also, because of its short length, the Kii isn’t an ideal way to charge an iPhone or iPad from any computer with harder-to-reach USB ports, like an iMac.

The Verdict

Though the Kii is convenient to carry around with you, it has build issues which would make those of us prone to neuroses just a little more batty. The 30-pin and Lightning versions also differ in price, at $20 and $40 respectively. There’s a reason for that—it’s more expensive for a company to get a Lightning accessory through Apple’s licensing program than a 30-pin connector—but the difference is hard to swallow. It would be nice to see less disparity between the two in price.

The Kii is a quick solution to those needing a charge, and one which will mitigate the need to carry extra equipment. It will not, however, keep you from having to do a purse-dump every time you need your keys to charge your phone.

Product Name: : Kii The Good: Solid engineering, clever design, extremely convenient. The Bad: Twice as expensive for Lightning as the 30-Pin version. USB end seems a little flimsy, and could use a cap. The Verdict: A useful tool to have on the keychain of any iPhone or iPad owner. Buy from: Bluelounge

Source: Cult of Mac.

Griffin’s Waterproof Survivor+Catalyst Is The Perfect iPhone 5 Beach Buddy.

Survivor+Catalyst by Griffin
Category: Cases
Works With:iPhone 5
Price: $70

Just in time for beach season, Griffin’s ruggedized, waterproof iPhone case – the Survivor+Catalyst – arrived at CoM’s Spanish HQ (aka my apartment). And after a month or so of using it and abusing it, I can say its the best rugged case I have used. For the iPhone anyway.

Let’s see why.

What It Is

The Survivor+Catalyst is an ultra-slim, form-fitting plastic case which seals the iPhone 5 inside and protects it from water at depths of up to (down to?) three meters or ten feet. It comes in two parts; the front section which is like a reverse shell-style case, covering the screen and the sides; and the rear panel which is flat and includes the two clamps that keep the pieces together.

In short, if you put your iPhone inside, it’ll survive whatever your day throws at it.

The font section is rimmed with an o-ring in a channel, and the read section pushes on and then compresses this ring when clamped into place. It works great, and its nice to be able to inspect the ring to see that it’s seated properly, thanks to the clear plastic of the shell.

The two halves clamp tightly together.

Once fitted, the phone works as normal. There’s a lens for photos, a pusher to press the home button, a hatch that can be opened to plug in a Lightning cable and a screw-closed hole over the headphone jack. The case even comes with a sealed pass-through adapter which will screw into the jack-hole and let you use waterproof headphones (or regular headphones if you’re using them on a boat, say, and only care about keeping the iPhone safe).

You can even use the touch screen if you follow the instructions and make sure that the front panel is squeezed down to eliminate the air-gap between it and the iPhone’s screen.

The Good

I have showered and dunked my iPhone enough to trust the case completely.

It works great. The case is light and slim, so you can even carry it on your pocket, and even though I haven’t actually taken it swimming, I have showered and dunked the phone enough to trust the case completely. I use it when out running (the included wrist strap is great for this) and when I go to the beach, and now instead of worrying about my iPhone all the time, I can use it (in conjunction with a ruggedized Bluetooth speaker) to annoy all other beach goers without fear of them grabbing my iPhone and tossing it into the sea in a futile attempt to get some peace and quiet.

The fact that everything is accessible makes the case genuinely useful. You can go on a month-long expedition and never take it out, just opening up a flap to charge it or sync it every once in a while. There’s even a clever knob which moves the mute button up and down when you turn it.

Handsome.

The case also has a couple of special membranes for transmitting sound. If you seat the iPhone properly, with its speaker up agains the little interior pad, you can listen to music and even have a normal phone conversation. It might even be a little louder than the naked iPhone, although its also little tinnier.

The Bad

Nothing. If you were to push me, I’d say that the instruction manual goes on a bit, and that you should actually read it before using the case. The first time I tried to use my iPhone in the shower the touch-screen wouldn’t respond. The manual says that you need to open the Lightning hole and rub the case’s screen to expel the layer of air.

The manual also tells you that you should insert the iPhone bottom-first in order not to damage the speaker membrane. I messed this up too, but no harm came of it. I get the feeling the manual is complicated because the case is also quite complex. If fitted properly it works really well. If not, I can imagine that it would leak (a slipped o-ring, for example). And so the manual also functions as a legal prophylactic for Griffin.

The Verdict

The case is excellent. It keeps out dirt, dust and water, and protects agains shocks and vibration. It’s also cool-looking, and very slim and light. In short, if you put your iPhone inside, it will survive whatever your day throws at it. And for just $70 it really is a bargain.

Highly recommended.

X-Doria STIR Case for iPhone 5.

The market is saturated with iPhone accessories, especially when it comes to cases. Everyone has their own specifications and standards when it comes to protecting and styling their devices. For me, I love a pop of color and a case that covers all edges of my phone, which isn’t always easy to find, I am quite possibly the most picky person on the planet when it comes to choosing a case for my iPhone. I think I may have just found the perfect iPhone 5 case, the X-Doria STIR.

Overview

X-Doria is a company that manufactures cases for iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and most recently, the Samsung Galaxy S4. While browsing the X-Doria site, I was impressed with the variety of cases that they had to offer, along with the varying colors and styles. The STIR case immediately caught my attention, based on photographs it seemed like the perfect case, but we’ve all been there, a case that seems to be perfect, only to receive it in the mail and have it look completely different.

Upon receiving my STIR case in the mail, I was riddled with anticipation when I picked up the parcel. I excitedly ran inside and tore the packaging open, slipped my old case off and slid the X-Doria STIR case on, placed my phone on the table, and stepped back to marvel at its beauty. Typically I purchase designer cases from the likes of Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc. mainly because they have fun colors, good fit, and no one else has anything like them. While the X-Doria case is not “designer” its craftsmanship and general aesthetic rivals any designer case.

 Out of the box, the case is flexible, has a soft plastic feel and is quite lightweight. The case fits easily onto the iPhone 5, covering the edges, without interfering with the screen protector, which can be a huge deal breaker for some people. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the case doesn’t add a lot of bulk at all, again, something that is relatively important to some. It was extremely easy to put on, and also easy to remove, the case does not shift or move when it is on the phone, which can be an issue with lightweight, flexible cases. The case covers the volume controls and lock button but allows for easy control of these items, not inhibiting the user from accessing or operating these buttons. The headphone jack is also easily accessible and the speakers have perfect cutouts.

The overall style of the case is quite appealing, with the geometric-like shapes on the back, the texture of the case is ideal, made of a durable, tear-resistant material that is almost brushed feeling, rather than glossy. The X-Doria STIR case comes in 6 different colors: electric blue, limon, pink, white, black, and aqua. I received the aqua color, which I absolutely love, it is bright and fun, and I have received numerous compliments on both the color and overall look of the case. The only issue that I have encountered with the case is the transfer of color to the edge of the case, presumably from dust, and constantly placing and removing it from my pocket, which is pretty typical for any case I use. The good news? A simple wipe down with a cleansing wipe takes the grime right off!

Verdict

Rating: 5/5

The X-Doria STIR case completely encases the iPhone 5, while allowing easy operation of volume and lock controls. The case comes in 6 great colors, has a fun geometric pattern, is shock-resistant, and lightweight. Not only does the X-Doria protect the iPhone 5, but it adds a certain degree of flair and style.

Price: $24.99 MSRP – The STIR case is available on the X-Doria website!

Pros:

• Completely encases iPhone 5
• Offers great color variety
• Easy operation of volume and lock controls
• Extremely lightweight
• Headphone jack access is large enough for accessories

Cons:

• Users who like extremely protective cases may not like it

Source: MacTrast.

New York Coffee Guide for iPhone.

Just like Buddy the elf stumbling upon the worlds’ best cup of coffee, you too can expertly find an excellent cup of Joe around New York from the ease of your iPhone. The crowded streets of the Big Apple are full of coffee shops, large and small, and finding a good one may be a challenge. Thanks to New York: Coffee Guide, the stress of locating that holiday spiced latte may be a little easier.

User Interface and Function

The Coffee Guide for iPhone is full of Beautiful Pixels, in the truest sense of the expression. It is rare to come across apps that are well-built and shine in the beauty category. However, apps cannot live-and-die on looks alone. While this app looks great, the function is very helpful as well.

Utilizing a mapping interface as the launch screen, the app drops pins across Manhattan, marking the known shops. The pins are either green or red, indicating open or closed, respectively. To declutter the selection, tap the clock in the top left hand corner to eliminate any shops that are not open.

Tapping multiple pins compiles a stack of info cards, complete with a picture, at the bottom of the map. Collect as many cards as you wish and compare them in list form with their name, open/closed status, 5-star rating, and top 25 ranking.

Opening a venue card will display an image gallery, address, actionable phone number, hours of operation, user rankings, and an expert opinion, typically reserved for top 25 shops. Personally, I’m a big fan of the image gallery that is located at the top of each venue card. Get a full image by pulling down the card info to review the image gallery. I did encounter a little trouble here, however. If the gallery has more than three images, it will not allow the user to swipe past the third image, without tapping the thumbnail to switch images. Additionally, there were a couple instances where the image gallery completely disappeared, which happened on cards with Expert Roundups.

Once you find the shop you want to share, use the sharing feature to post to Facebook, text your friends, or email the information to your friends. Finally, leave your own feedback with the comment system.

Conclusion

Rating: 4/5

Overall, New York: Coffee Guide is a great free app (download link) for the java fiend. If you find yourself running around the city streets looking for a great new shop, this is a fun discovery app. Most importantly, the search feature will search based on shop name, address, districts, or even nearby subway stops. There are a few bugs that need to get worked out with the image gallery, but other than that, it seems to be a solid app.

Pros:

• See all coffee shops on one map
• Open/closed times
• Searchable map, even with subway station proximity
• Looks great!

Cons:

• Image gallery has a few malfunctions

Source: MacTrast.

IK Multimedia iRig KEYS.

Provides: Portable keyboard input for Mac/PC and iOS devices
Developer: IK Multimedia
Minimum Requirements: iOS device or computer
Price: $99.99
Availability: Now

The latest gadget from IK Multimedia isn’t designed to interface your instrument with your iOS device, it is the instrument. The iRig KEYS is a very portable keyboard with 37 keys and options to connect directly to your iOS device via 30 pin dock connector or to your computer over USB. It’s an affordable and portable option to keep a keyboard at your fingertips wherever you are.

The iRig KEYS is a deceptively small keyboard that still has a decent amount of keys. With 37 keys, you’d assume this keyboard was too big to carry around, but it’s actually scaled down a bit. Unlike a scaled down keyboard for typing, however, this doesn’t seem to pose any huge problems. Actually, I think it’s a great compromise for the enhanced portability.

You might also think it scrimps on features to be so small, but that’s not true either. The iRig KEYS has all the usual functions, like a pitch wheel, mod wheel, and several buttons (octave and program). You can even store four separate keyboard models for instant access to specific settings. There’s also a nice big volume knob. Inside of Garageband, it actually controls the track volume directly, which is a welcome surprise. You can even connect a single pedal to this guy if you have one.

The iRig KEYS has two options for connecting to your computing device of choice. You can connect directly to your iOS device via a special cable, which has a 30 pin dock connector at the other end. I’m sure they’d like to put a Lightning connector on there too, but it’s not yet an option. Thankfully, a 30 pin to Lightning adapter does the trick just fine. So if you have one already, great. If not, that’s another $30 to $40 expense you might need to consider if you’re an early adopter.

The other option allows you to connect to your computer with the included USB cable. Honestly, the only gripe I have about connection options is that the iOS cable is a special cable you can’t get anywhere else.

While the iRig KEYS keyboard is a very nice compromise between having enough features, being portable and not costing a ton, it’s not perfect. This keyboard reminds me of something I might use to play the game Rock Band. What I mean is that it feels a little plasticky and light. It doesn’t give the feel of a well-built machine that could really take a beating. Then again, it’s highly portable and won’t weigh you down.

Ultimately, this keyboard really aims to be portable without sacrificing the necessary features. It definitely succeeds in this regard. While it does feel a little like a music game controller, it has enough features to really be useful. It might be nice to have this keyboard be a bit more solid, but that’s a bit beside the point. The iRig KEYS is a great keyboard for anyone who wants to be able to throw 37 keys in their backpack and go. It’s also great if you want to try your hand at learning keyboard or even just messing around with Garageband for fun.

But if you really want the full IK Multimedia experience, check out their iGrand Piano app. The two make a great combo.

Source:AppleTell.