Mac

Incase Icon MacBook Sleeve with Tensaerlite

Image Leave a comment

Incase’s ICON Sleeve with Tensaerlite for MacBook Retina is a great case and another addition to Incase’s awesome Mac lineup. The case comes in 13’’ or 15’’ models, and is most notable for two things, it doesn’t have a zipper, and it features Incase’s Tensaerlite technology. And, the two incase traditions, neoprene and faux fur, are featured in this item as well.

In the past, Incase has made good laptop cases for Mac, but they’ve always had a vulnerability to being dropped. Tensaerlite, the multilayered shock-absorbing rim that runs around the case, solves that problem. Tensaerlite is a lightweight bumper frame that feels like a tough rubberized material.

macbook case

Incase says this gives the case “maximum impact absorption”. Tensaerlite also helps aesthetically, a thin rim around the slim case. The dimensions are 16’’ x 11 x 0.5’’, so this case is very thin. This product is not designed to go with hard shell cases, only naked Macs.

If you do use your Mac without a hard shell case, the ICON Sleeve is absolutely a great and beautiful choice, helped in no small part to the second amazing feature of the case: no zipper! The zipper, prone to breaking entirely, leaving laptops to plummet earthwards, is replaced in the ICON Tensaerlite case by a strong (and computer safe) magnetic flap. The flap is slim, so the computer fits in snug and doesn’t fall out (there’s also a tough magnetic clasp bit).

This design feature is truly beautiful. And, while the sleek magnet flap is a gorgeous feature and crucial to this design, it should be noted that laptops should not be left on top of the sleeve because that suit-like flap is held together by a magnet that may trigger your Mac to spontaneously turn off. This, however, is a minor drawback to what is undeniably a beautiful and functional case.

News

Apple Music Now on Twitter @AppleMusicHelp

Image Leave a comment

Apple’s first offering of free Apple Music trials is now over, leaving Apple needing to drive new customer to Apple Music, whilst keeping existing subscribers happy enough to retain the,m. Apple addressed this through a recent string of posts to their YouTube channel. Videos were provided detailing all the core features of Apple Music. Along with the release of these informative videos came a first for Apple Customer Services, a Twitter account dedicated to Apple Music.

@AppleMusicHelp Ready to Assist

@AppleMusicHelp provides a question and answer service between 6AM and 8PM, serving to resolve issues and answer questions directed at Apple Music. Apple appears to be working closely with the public to develop Apple Music. Apple is already asking Twitter subscribers to DM Apple with details of the devices used to access Apple Music. Apple are looking for any and all details concerning bugs encountered, problems needing attention and all general usage information. Apple Music has already encountered its fair share of bugs, including missing tracks, incorrect album art and even jumbled play-lists.

Apple Music Coming to Android

Even though bugs have cropped up, the majority of people using Apple Music have had a hassle-free experience, with most enjoying the service provided by Apple. Apple Music looks to have a firm future ahead with even an Android version on the horizon. Given the amount of attention to detail that has been placed into Apple music so far, fans are looking forward to extensive updates and error-free performance in the near future. If you want to help Apple out, give them a tweet @AppleMusicHelp

Apps

Should I buy Office 365 or Office 2016 Mac?

Image Leave a comment

Currently Microsoft offers five Office software options: two stand alone (Office 2016 Mac) and three subscription (Office 365) based suites. Office 365 Home, Office 365 Personal, Office 365 University, Office Home & Student and Office Home & Business make up the new Office for Mac product family.

Deciding what Microsoft Office for Mac to buy can be a little challenging. Office for Mac contains five main programs Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint and OneNote. Depending on which one you purchase you may not get all of them.

Additionally the stand alone versions (Office 2016 Mac) are only for one Mac, while the subscription based services are for all your devices. Confused yet?  Don’t worry, lets take a look at all five options starting from the most popular to the least.

Office 365 Home

office-365-home-2016-for-mac

  • 1-year subscription
  • For 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets including iPad, Android, or Windows, plus 5 phones
  • Fully installed versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more
  • 1TB cloud storage per user for up to 5 users
  • Ongoing access to updates

Office 365 Home is by far the most popular option because you can share the programs with your entire family. In short, if you are an Apple fanatic, you can install it on 5 Macs, 5 iPads and 5 iPhones. Additionally you have access to all the programs online, so no matter where you are you can login. For example if you are using Outlook online and on your computer all your emails stay current across all devices. In addition to the basics listed above, this bundle also includes Access, Publisher, Skype and OneDrive (Also included in Personal & University Editions). To install Office 365 requires just a simple download. This is a yearly subscription service and all updates are free. ($99/ per year)

Office 365 Personal

office-365-personal-2016-for-mac

  • 1-year subscription
  • For 1 PC or Mac, 1 tablet including iPad, Android, or Windows, plus 1 phone
  • Fully installed versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more
  • 1TB cloud storage
  • Ongoing access to updates

Office 365 Personal is the same as the Home edition however cheaper and designed for a single individual. So if you only have this in mind for yourself or maybe a gift for an Apple fan then this is for you. Again this is a yearly subscription service and all updates are free. ($69/ per year)

Office 365 University

office-365-university-2016-for-mac

  • 4-year subscription
  • For 2 PCs, Macs, or tablets including iPad, Android, or Windows, plus 2 phones
  • Fully installed versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more
  • 1TB cloud storage
  • Ongoing access to updates

Office 365 University is for students only. The 4-year subscription is designed to last through a 4-year college degree. Unlike the Personal edition, the University edition lets you add the software to 2 Macs, 2 iPads and 2 iPhones. If you are in or going to college soon this is for you. Also a great high school graduation gift for any Mac user. ($79/4 years)

Office Home & Student 2016 for Mac

office-home-student-2016-for-mac

  • For 1 Mac (Mac OS X 10.10)
  • Fully installed versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote
  • Store files in the cloud with OneDrive

Office Home & Student 2016 for Mac includes only 4 basic programs listed above and does not include Outlook, Access or Publisher. Basically this version is for someone who doesn’t want to pay a yearly subscription, has no need to access software online and most importantly does’t need Outlook for E-Mail. So if you are using another email client you could consider this, but to be honest the majority of people today are using cloud based software like the 3 most popular subscription services. Office 2016 Mac are one time purchases, you just have to do the math and figure out what option is best for you. The Office 2016 download is fast and setup is even easier. ($149 USD)

Office Home & Business 2016 for Mac

office-home-business-2016-for-mac

  • For 1 Mac (Mac OS X 10.10)
  • Fully installed versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote
  • Store files in the cloud with OneDrive

Office Home & Business 2016 for Mac is the same as the Home & Student Edition but this version includes Outlook for Mac. At this price it’s better just getting the Office 365 Personal edition, you’ll get all this and more for a fraction of the cost. We wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last stand alone edition Microsoft offers. Again, Office 2016 Mac versions are a one time purchase. ($229 USD)

Bottom Line

To recap it seems that the majority of people are realizing the benefits of the Office 365 subscriptions. To be honest, they are right, if you do the math and compare it to the Office 2016 Mac stand alone editions you get more for your money.

Maybe people purchase Office for Mac just for Outlook alone and paying $69 a year to have email you can access anywhere is cheap if you think about it, not to mention the constant access to updates, online storage and other software. When it comes down to it you really only have to make a decision on if you need the Office 365 Home or Personal edition and if you are a student the University edition is a no brainer.

Still wondering, What is Office 365? Looking for an Office for Mac preview? Need some refresher courses on all that Office 2016 Mac can do? We recommend any number of software suite help books ($20 & under), most of which are now available in digital format.

Networking

Which Apple AirPort Wi-Fi Router should I buy?

Image Leave a comment

Even if you’re a Mac fanatic you may not know that Apple offers its own networking and storage devices. Well they do and they work magically with your other Apple devices. The AirPort family of routers from Apple are designed to work with your Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.

Apple’s networking line consists of the Apple AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme and Airport Express. This product line can be confusing to some because of past models or technical differences. Lets take a look at some of those highlights and why you should think Apple AirPort before anything else.

Apple AirPort Time Capsule Review

airport-time-capsule-review

  • 2TB-3TB hard drive that works with Time Machine in OS X to create a no-hassle backup solution
  • Also a full-featured Wi-Fi base station with the latest 802.11ac technology
  • New higher design which helps disperse your Wi-Fi signal
  • 6.6-inch height; 3.85-inch square base
  • Easy Apple Time Capsule Setup for iOS and OS X

The Apple Time Capsule is similar to the AirPort Extreme Base Station except it offers 2TB or 3TB of storage. That might seem like overkill of storage but if you are a music or video enthusiast you’d be surprised how much data those files take up. Additionally if you have a family, every family member could link the the Time Capsule for storage and sharing. The Time Capsule works great with Apple Time Machine to backup your data.

Mac and PC users can enjoy the benefits of this router on steroids. You can easily connect printers as well. The Time Capsule comes with a setup assistant to make it easy for non-technical people. The Apple website lists the Time Capsule at $299-$399 but you can save significantly by buying it from Amazon which consistently lists them from $25-$50 lower based on which model you choose. ($299-399 USD)

Tip: Buy an AirPort Express and pair it with your Time Capsule to export digital audio to your T.V.

Apple AirPort Extreme Review

airport-extreme-review

  • Ultrafast 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Reach data rates of up to 1.3 Gbps
  • Simultaneous dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi support
  • New 6.6-inch height with smaller 3.85-inch base
  • 6 antennas located at the top allows for a faster and more powerful connection
  • Easy AirPort Extreme Setup with Macs and iOS devices. Please note: This product is a Router ONLY and requires a modem to operate.

The Apple AirPort Extreme is similar to the Time Capsule except it doesn’t include hard drive space. Not having the hard drive space isn’t a big deal if you already have an external drive to pair it with. This new updated Extreme is 3x faster than any of the previous versions. In short the AirPort Extreme helps you share your network connections, a hard drive or printers.

Again perfect for a family house or even a small office. If you want to connect multiple hard drives you can buy a usb hub for under $5. Like the Time Capsule the Extreme offers 3 Gigabit Ethernet Lan Ports, 1 USB Port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet WAN Port and power. The current model is a small tower where previous versions look similar to the Apple TV or Mac Mini in size. Don’t bother buying the older model as you typically only save $10. The size and upgrades of the next generation are well worth it. ($99-199 USD)

Apple AirPort Express Review

airport-express

  • Easy Wi-Fi setup using iPhone, iPad, or Mac: Connect your DSL or cable modem to AirPort Express and create your new wireless network in just a few taps from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. If you’re using OS X Lion, use the built-in AirPort Utility on your Mac. Setup is just as fast and just as easy.
  • Simultaneous dual-band 802.11n: AirPort Express lets Wi-Fi-enabled devices connect to your network on the 2.4GHzand 5GHz wireless bands. Which means every connected device automatically uses the best band available for the fastest possible performance.
  • AirPlay takes the music from the iTunes library on your computer or iOS device and sends it wirelessly to any connected stereo or speakers in your home (audio cable sold separately). Play music on one set of speakers – or if you have more than one AirPort Express connected to speakers, play your music from iTunes on all of them at the same time.
  • Print wirelessly from any room: On the back of AirPort Express is a USB port that’s made for your printer. Just plug it in and instantly, it’s like having a printer in every room. And since AirPort Express works with Mac and PC, everyone in the house can take advantage of one centrally available printer
  • Compatibility and security: AirPort Express is compatible with devices using the 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n specifications. So no matter what Wi-Fi device you’re using, it willwork with AirPort Express. AirPort Express also features a built-in firewall to protect your network from malicious Internet attacks. 100-240V AC, 50-60Hz. Input current: 0.2 amp.

The Apple AirPort Express is similar to the Extreme version only a lot smaller and with some nice bonuses. The AirPort Express is small but can fit on the top or bottom of the Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme if needed. If you are an audio lover the you’ll love being able to use AirPlay and control the music in your house with your computer or iOS device.

Secondly the AirPort Express comes with an Analog/Optical audio jack. The audio jack allows for a 3.5mm analog cable or a 3.5mm mini-toslink to toslink optical cable. Of course sharing internet connections, hard drives and printers are all possible with this small but powerful unit. The AirPort Express is a great router option because of its size, you can hide it anywhere. The Express is similarly priced to the Extreme ($79-99 USD).

Bottom Line

So there you have it three great Apple networking devices. Picking the right one is just a matter of deciding what is most important to you. Of course many people have been know to combine these units.

When looking at these units and comparing them to other similar not Apple networking devices you have to take in account the benefits of working with the AirPort line. Most if not all of those benefits always point back to the AirPort line working seamlessly with your OSX or iOS devices. In other words controlling your networking with your Mac, iPhone or iPad. Sharing music, movies and other devices is a snap with Apple easy setup and software.

News

Apple expands Homekit support for August Smart Lock

Image Leave a comment

Apple’s line of Homekit accessories for the connected household have experienced steady growth over past months. October 13th revealed the launch of the August Smart Lock, an upgraded version of their prior Blue-tooth enabled lock released last year. The Homekit platform enables you to lock or unlock your August Smart Lock using Siri. Extended voice commands are also supported, such as commands to disable the connected lighting.

Siri in conjunction with Homekit enabled devices vastly expand the voice capabilities of your device. Many Homekit compatible products are becoming readily available, allowing for voice control of your thermostat, lighting, locks and more with voice activated status reporting.

All New Smart Lock

August’s new Smart Lock has been upgraded with a modified industrial design, featuring a magnetic face-plate, new micro-patterns to facilitate a secure grip and easy rotation of the lock. A thin, chrome visual indicator is located atop the August Smart Lock, giving an indication of whether it is locked or not.

 

 

New Homekit Devices

August will be expanding it’s Homekit compatible line with a new August Doorbell Cam, as well as an August Smart Keypad. The keypad features pass-code protection, in case of your keys or phone not being present. In addition one-time automatic timed pass-code authentication is also possible. Their Smart Keypad is low-power and both Blue-tooth and Wi-Fi enabled. The new August Doorbell cam is a Blue-tooth and Wi-Fi capable, HD video quality , one-way camera with two way audio and motion detection.

Home Automation

August combined with Apple Homekit functionality is set to bring us to new levels of home automation. Homekit’s Siri-controlled automation is a perfect match to the modern home and with devices such as those in production from August we are likely to be surprised by what is coming next.