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Our thanks to MightyDeals.com for sponsoring the RSS feed this week. Sponsorship by The Syndicate.
Field Notes – ‘Night Sky’ Edition
The latest in the Field Notes ‘Colors’ lineup is the gorgeous Night Sky edition. On the back cover you’ll find a set of constellations – including Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Pegasus, Ursa Major/Minor, Draco, Boötes, Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila – with each cover featuring a different group.
These are some of the most attractive Field Notes I’ve ever seen, but maybe I’m a little biased, being somewhat of an astronomy nerd. Be sure to watch this lovely video they put together just for the Night Sky edition.
As usual, you can pick up a 3-pack of these Field Notes alone for just $10, or you can sign up for their Colors Subscription for $97/year, which gets you four quarterly shipments of two limited-edition 3-Packs. With the Night Sky edition in particular, you may also want to pick up their awesome Space Pen ($24) as a companion item.
Lumu Light Meter for iPhone
The Lumu is a light meter built for the iPhone. The small orb plugs in to the headphone hack of the iPhone, giving you detailed information about the light affecting your photograph.
The app will allow users not only to measure light, but attach all sorts of metadata to the moment: location, voice recording, notes, pictures, photo parameters more.
The Kickstarter project closes July 12, but as of this writing is already halfway to its goal. $79 will get you a Lumu, with a shipping date of October 2013.
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Our thanks to Themeco for sponsoring the RSS feed this week. Sponsorship by The Syndicate.
VSCO Cam 2.0
This won’t be the first time we’ve mentioned VSCO Cam – one of the best iPhone photography apps ever made, in my opinion – but I felt that the recent 2.0 update was worth another look.
They’ve completely overhauled the interface, adding new features such as separate focus and exposure rings while shooting, as well as a white balance “lock”. They’ve also added a ton of new presets, many of which are on par with Lightroom presets in terms of quality. Instagram filters can’t even compare.
Of course, it’s got all the usual photo-editing features you’d expect, like cropping, rotating, contrast, temperature, and exposure. I’ve hardly had to use any other photo editors since picking up this app. (Note: the photo used above is my own, edited with VSCO Cam and with a little help from Over for the text.)
The app itself is free, but if you hurry, you can head over to the in-app store and purchase their special Launch Bundle, a collection of all 16 preset packs (48 presets total). Normally this bundle is $16, but right now it’s a steal at only $6.
The Sketchnote Typeface
Longtime readers may remember Mike Rohde’s The Sketchnote Handbook, a guide to taking better notes by sketching rather than writing. If you liked the book, you’re gonna love The Sketchnote Typeface.
Mike created this typeface by scanning actual ink-spread on paper to make it more authentic. Of course, he did it to save himself a lot of work while writing the book – the way many great projects get their start – but now the typeface is available for anyone to purchase.
The Sketchnote Typeface comes in four groups, plus a bonus set:
- Sketchnote Text – The basic set.
- Sketchnote Italic – Self-explanatory.
- Sketchnote Bold – You get the idea.
- Sketchnote Square – Appears as if drawn with a dry erase marker.
- Sketchnote Square Dingbats – A bunch of fun shapes and characters.
There are a few ways to obtain these fonts, both for the web and for the desktop. Sketchnote Text and Sketchnote Square are both available for Typekit Portfolio subscribers, but you can also purchase any/all of The Sketchnote Typeface at Delve Fonts, in web or desktop editions.
If you buy from Delve Fonts, the individual fonts are $29 apiece, or you can opt for the better deal of $99 for the entire family.
Apple’s New AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Base Stations (802.11ac)
There were tons of amazing things announced during Apple’s WWDC 2013 keynote the other day, but two of those products that are already available for purchase are the new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Base Stations. These bad boys are now equipped with 802.11ac WiFi technology, which is said to be up to three times faster than the previous 802.11n.
Each one sports an oddly monolithic design (3.85″ x 3.85″ X 6.6″), with several ethernet ports and a USB slot on the back. The WiFi antennas are built into the top of the tower, and there are now six of them — three for the 2.4GHz band and three for the 5GHz band. The guys over at iFixit have also discovered that there’s a tiny fan inside, interestingly enough.
The standard AirPort Extreme goes for $199, and the Time Capsule comes in two flavors, based on storage size: 2TB for $299, and 3TB for $399.
Tunebox for iOS
Tunebox is a neat iOS app that acts as an audio player for your Dropbox account. It automatically scans your entire Dropbox folder for any MP3 or MP4/AAC audio files, then organizes them the same way the built-in Music app does: by Artist, Album, and Song. You can save any track for offline playing, or just stream whatever you want as long as you’ve got a connection.
It’s a $5 universal app that does a single thing very well. Check it out.
Lemon Wallet for iPhone
Apple’s Passbook for iOS is a great concept, but one that – in my opinion – has never really lived up to its full potential. Luckily, a third-party app called Lemon Wallet has stepped up to the plate, offering features you won’t find in Passbook.
Lemon Wallet allows you to store credit cards, insurance cards, loyalty cards, and receipts by snapping photos of each one. It will attempt to pull the important information off of each card, but if it can’t, you can enter it manually. Once you’re finished, a nicely-presented card image will appear on your list, with a QR code attached for easy scanning. From there, it can even be added to Passbook if you like.
There’s a lot more to the app than I just described, but you can read about it on their site or head over to the App Store and check it out. The app itself is free, but you can upgrade to a ‘Plus’ account for additional features, such as bank account monitoring, data export, lost wallet service, and more. There’s even a 15-day free trial for the Plus account so you can try it out before making a decision.
Apogee Duet for iPad & Mac
We’ve covered the Apogee ONE here before, but now the recording rig has a big brother: the Apogee Duet for iPad & Mac.
Check out this list of I/O:
- MIDI input/output (USB-A type connector)
- DC power supplies charge to iPod touch, iPhone or iPad
- USB 2.0 audio with 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A conversion
- 2 Analog inputs with world-class mic preamps and selectable 48v phantom power
- 2 Balanced analog line outputs
- 1 Independent 1/4” stereo headphone output
The rig works with GarageBand, Auria, MultiTrack; Any Core Audio compatible app on iOS, in addition to GarageBand, Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton; Any Core Audio compatible app on the Mac.
You can pick one up at Sweetwater for $649.
Synology DiskStation DS212j
Synology DiskStation 2-Bay (Diskless) NAS is a great way to add a lot of storage to your network.
With USB and Gigabit ports around back, this rather handsome box can support up to 8 TB of storage in a mirrored RAID for better data protection. Shipping with iOS apps, iTunes support and more, the DS212j can become the your home media server easily.
This particular example ships without drives for $199 from Amazon. If you want your NAS pre-loaded, you can pick up a 4 TB option for $599.
Sons of Trade Satellite Sling
Remember that Journey Pack bag from Sons of Trade that I posted the other day? Well, there’s another bag made by the same people that I think is also worth mentioning: the Satellite Sling.
Unlike the Journey Pack, which is made from felt, this bag sports a matte cotton canvas exterior with a water-resistant nylon lining. It’s a relatively small bag, but still manages to pack quite a few pockets throughout. It also has a headphones passthrough, which makes it the perfect bag for listening to podcasts/music while biking or walking.
The Satellite Sling goes for $89.
Mextures for iPhone
Another day, another iOS photo app.
Mextures is the newest photo app on my iPhone. Instead of straight filters, this app applies custom textures to your images. Examples include grunge and noise, color effects and light leaks.
With 70 options available and the ability combine effects, you can create a unique look far easier than in most apps in this space.
Mextures is currently half-off over on the App Store.
Tall Chess for iPhone
There have been many Chess games available for iPhone since the App Store opened up a few years ago, but most of them aren’t really designed with the iPhone’s screen in mind. Rather than taking advantage of the available screen real estate, they’re typically cluttered with ugly and unnecessary UI. Not so with Tall Chess, released only a few days ago.
All that extra cruft is nowhere to be seen here, and the board tiles have been elongated so that the game takes up the entire screen. The app has a certain flair to it throughout, from the well-designed game pieces and colorful boards to the numerous player avatars and beautiful UI. As you would expect, Tall Chess has an online component, allowing you to challenge your friends or be auto-matched with someone from Game Center.
The game itself is free, but you can buy the in-app upgrade in order to play multiple games simultaneously. For a limited time, this IAP is being priced at only $3, so get it while it’s hot.
‘The Blogger Abides’ by Chris Higgins
We live in an age when more and more people are making the attempt to become full-time independent writers on the web, myself included. Shawn Blanc, the editor of this site, has already managed to achieve this lofty goal and is quite successful as far as I know, but most of us are still figuring out how to do the same.
This is why I’ve been enjoying The Blogger Abides, an ebook about freelancing written by Chris Higgins. Chris is a guy who writes for several popular publications, and has accumulated enough experience about doing freelance writing over the years that he was able to compile it all into a book for our benefit.
The book covers quite a few topics, including what to expect in terms of paying taxes, tips on how to manage your time and work when you suddenly have the “freedom” to sit around the house all day, and advice on keeping up your writing output. This isn’t one of those lame How-to-Become-a-Pro-Blogger books; it’s actually full of useful information one would need if they ever go freelance.
The book (which is only available in Kindle format) is only $4 — a steal in my opinion. Like any Kindle book, it’s perfectly readable from the iOS Kindle app, which is where I’ve been reading it. If you’re like me and are aiming to make a career out of writing, definitely pick this one up.
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Radium is a new way to listen to internet radio. It sits in your menu bar and stays out of your way. And it just works.
With its clean user interface and album cover display, you’re always just a click away from beautiful sounds. Add your favorite tracks to the wish list and check them out later on the iTunes Store. Take the sounds with you using Radium’s built-in AirPlay streaming support. It’s all there.
With the proliferation of services like Spotify and Pandora, why choose Radium? Because with Radium, you don’t have to build up playlists, constantly answer questions about your music preferences, or navigate a cumbersome user interface. Radium is all about the sounds. And these sounds come from over 6000 free stations, maintained and curated by real people like you.
Available for $10 on the Mac App Store. Check it out.
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My thanks to Radium for sponsoring the RSS feed this week. Sponsorship by The Syndicate.
Pocket Tripod
The Pocket Tripod is a Kickstarter project that aims to make a sturdy iPhone stand that can hold your device at almost any angle.
The twist is that it folds down and can fit in your wallet.
There’s an iPhone app that explains it better than I can. Go check it out.
Just Mobile AluPocket
I don’t have a dock for my iPhone, and as I often charge it at my desk throughout the day, I find myself picking it up and setting it down a ton to more easily look at notifications.
The Just Mobile AluPocket is a new product that is designed to solve this exact problem.
Mounting to a wall or partition with 3M Glue-free tape, the AluPocket’s built-in cable management’s and from high-grade aluminum and moulded plastic allows it to hold you iPhone upright snugly.
The AluPocket is on sale now for $29.95
SETA Smartphone Stand
Today seems to be the day for somewhat unusual iPhone stands.
The SETA Smartphone Stand is an interesting Kickstarter project that proposes to hold your phone in place using a “NanoSuction” surface. You push your phone against the suction pad to hold it in place, and pull or twist to remove it — no sticky residue involved.
It doesn’t have its own docking jack, but has a T-shaped cutout that allows you to use your existing 30-pin or Lightning cable. It will hold the cable while you’re not using it, so there’s no risk of you having to scavenge around on the floor while your phone battery dies.
I’m interested to see what comes of the project, partially because it’s made in Oklahoma (just like me) but also because it seems well-designed. I really want the red one.
The Tools & Toys Guide to iPhone Travel Gear
The iPhone is a fantastic, portable computer that’s almost always connected to the Internet. As such, it makes for a fantastic travel companion. It’s a once a concierge, a storage cabinet, a camera and so much more. A few accessories can really add to its functionality.
Below I’ve collected a list of the iPhone accessories I keep on hand when traveling. Most are inexpensive, portable and ultimatley, useful.
Backup Battery
A backup battery case is almost mandatory equipment. There are several available, like the Third Rail TRIO and the Fastmac IV. My choice is the Mophie Juice Pack. I’ve found that it reliably gets my iPhone 4S’s battery from 20% to 80%. You can turn its external battery on and off with a switch, and there are LED indicators to tell you how much life the case has left. The Mophie Juice Pack is available for the iPhone 4, 4S and for the iPhone 5, ranging between $40 and $99 depending on size and color.
Wall Adapters
I’ve seen travel kits from Belkin and Brookstone, but Apple’s World Travel Adapter Kit is the nicest and most comprehensive. It ships with six AC plugs with prongs designed to accommodate electrical outlets around the world. You’ll also find a USB power adapter and cable. Unfortunately the kit does not yet come with an additional USB to Lighting cable for the iPhone 5.
Entertainment
The AirStash is a flash storage device (up to 32 GB) and media streamer. Once charged and filled with documents, it creates its own wireless network that your iPhone can access via the AirStash iOS app. Use it to stream movies or TV shows, read files, listen to music, view documents and more, all without taking up storage space on your iPhone itself. I my testing, the AirStash easily got seven hours of battery life.
Alarm Clock
Remember when you had to request a wake-up call from the hotel’s front desk? Those days are long gone, as the iPhone is a splendid little alarm clock. When you’re ready to graduate from Apple’s Clock app, consider Night Stand HD 2. It’s my go-to alarm clock app. It has several beautiful themes to choose from and it offers location-aware weather reports. Thoughtful touches let you dim the display with a double-tap and set up seriously customized alarm schedules. It’s a great little app.
Languages
There are many language apps available for the iPhone, from simple phrase translators to virtual classrooms in your pocket. My favorite by far is Languages from Sonico Mobile. Languages offers offline translation, so you needn’t depend on an Internet connection — that’s very helpful when you’re off the beaten path or trying to avoid outrageous international data charges. It also offers a unified search function, meaning you can type a word and get results right away. There’s no need to jump between modes. A very helpful and well thought-out app.
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This guide was written by Dave Caolo. Dave is the news editor at The Unofficial Apple Weblog and the writer behind 52Tiger.net where he’s written a whole series on iPhone Travel. You can reach Dave via Twitter at @davidcaolo.
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