Author Archives: Stephen Hackett

Dropbox for Teams

Dropbox is amazing. The cross-platform, free services allows users to sync files and folders across multiple computers and devices easily. At work, I have a shared Dropbox folder that members of my department use to transfer and store shared files. It works really well, and is especially with LAN sync enabled. While I use Dropbox with a group of 4, the service…

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch

I’ve often said my perfect laptop computer would be a well-equipped ThinkPad running OS X. While that won’t ever happen (and I’m quite happy with my MacBook Pro), I often look across the fence to see how green the grass is. With the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch, the Windows notebook world has never looked so vibrant. At $1899, it’s not the…

Rain Design mTower

Taking advantage of OS X’s Clamshell Mode means you can use your notebook — closed — with an external display, keyboard and mouse easily. It’s a great way to get more pixels in front of you, but can leave your desk cluttered. In the same vein as the TwelveSouth BookArc, the Rain Design mTower is designed to keep your MacBook Air (or Pro) up,…

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard mini

The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is a long-time T&T staff favorite, and now available for iPad mini users, too. The mini version uses the same sized keys as the original, but according to Macworld, Logitech used “smaller versions of keys such as Return, Shift, and particular punctuation characters, as well as by omitting keys such as Tab and Caps Lock.” My guess…

Mophie Juice Pack Helium

Mophie has announced a battery case for the iPhone 5. The Mophie Juice Pack Helium packs a 1500mAh battery in a case 13% thinner than previous models. Like the case for the iPhone 4/4S, the Helium re-directs the sound from the bottom of your phone to the front, making it easier to hear. Check out what 1500mAh means: Up to additional 6…

Syma Indoor Co-Axial R/C Helicopter

I’m a big believer in office toys, and the Syma 3 Channel S107/S107G Mini Indoor Co-Axial R/C Helicopter w/ Gyro is the funniest one I’ve ever had. With a range of about thirty feet, this mini helicopter is great for zooming in and around cubicles, past meetings and through the breakroom. The helicopter charges via USB, and is small enough to store…

OmniFocus 2

We’ve talked about OmniFocus before, and I’m excited to share the news that the OmniGroup has announced the next version of the GTD application for Mac. Due out sometime in the first half of this year, the new Mac version takes heavy cues from the iPad version, including a new Review mode, a Forecast view and a unified sidebar. OmniFocus 2 will…

1Password

Last night, Twitter announced a security breach in which hackers gained access to usernames, email addresses, session tokens and encrypted/salted versions of passwords for 250,000 users. Turns out, I was one of the lucky quarter million. I got an email prompting me to reset my password. While it’s annoying to have to do so, it wasn’t hard, thanks to 1Password. Made for…

SurfacePad for iPhone

In the spirit of yesterday’s item, TwelveSouth has announced the SurfacePad for iPhone. Made from luxury Napa leather at 1/10th an inch thick, the SurfacePad sports a built-in stand for hands-free iPhone use. The case itself gently wraps around the device, but does not interfere with the buttons, ports or camera on the iPhone. The SurfacePad for iPhone is shipping now for…

The Apogee Handmade Folded iPhone Carry

Made from stone-oiled leather that simply folds over into itself, the Apogee Handmade Folded iPhone Carry might be the classiest, simplest iPhone case we’ve seen in a while. There’s no stitching, no velcro and no buttons — just leather. These things are handmade in Vancouver, British Columbia. They can be made to fit an iPhone 4S or 5, and are $45 a pop.

Courier Prime

Fixed-width fonts are a major point of contention between nerds. While I use Consolas in my text editor and terminal, not everyone likes it. Well, there’s one more typeface entering the fray — Courier Prime. The new (free!) font comes from the guys over at Quote-Unquote apps, a firm all about screenplay software. In fact, Courier Prime is designed for use in screenplays.…

DigiTech iStomp

In the flourishing world of iOS hardware accessories, the $229 DigiTech iStomp might be the coolest. The iStomp is a guitar effects pedal lets you download new pedals right from your iPhone. The app comes with ten pedals out of the box, and additional pedals are available as in-app purchases, with a demo period so you can test the tunes before you…

‘When We Left Earth’ Documentary

27 years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight, killing all seven aboard. While the accident was caused by a faulty o-ring in the shuttle’s right solid rocket booster, a much bigger problem at NASA was found by the investigators: NASA had become complacent after decades of routine flights. Discovery’s When We Left Earth chronicles manned space flight,…

Apogee ONE for iPad & Mac

The Apogee ONE is a new outboard device for the iPad and Mac that allows capturing audio over USB easier than ever. The ONE works with GarageBand, MultiTrack, Spotify or any Core Audio-compatible app on iOS or OS X. It packs two analog inputs (XLR microphone and 1/4” instrument connector on breakout cable) with a built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone. The $349 made-in-America…

Drafts for iOS

What started as a quick text entry app has grown into a powerful tool for getting things done on the iPhone and iPad. The new version of the apps has lots of new goodies, including unlimited custom URL actions, more robust Dropbox support and more powerful URL callback support. The developer has even launched a new site for users to share actions…

The Bridge Front Pocket Wallet

Daniel Kane, the guy behind these awesome Kickstarter sunglasses is back, with a front-pocket wallet that looks just great. The Bridge is built with a slim aluminum and stainless steel exoskeleton that provides easy access to cards and cash with the push of your finger. The sides are held together with bands that allow up to 8 cards to be stored in…

Moog’s Sub Phatty Synthesizer

Moog is the name when it comes to awesome synthesizers, and the company has a new, smaller offering coming out in March. The Sub Phatty includes 31 knobs and 25 keys, less than you’ll find in more expensive models; however, it also includes a new feature called “Multidrive,” which distorts the audio for a more vivid sound. To get a feel of…

Cyclops SE Watch

The Cyclops SE is not your usual wristwatch. It has a black stainless steel case and black stainless steel mesh strap, but the real magic happens on the face. Each hour is represented by a circle and a red hoop eclipses and releases each circle in turn to indicate the time, as seen above. I’d imagine this would take a little getting…

Napkin

There is no shortage of image annotation apps on the Mac. OS X’s built-in Preview application offers some simple tools, and Evernote’s Skitch is a favorite of many, but the new Mac app Napkin is different. In addition to offering lots of editing tools, Napkin allows you to use multiple images to create one, new image. Instead of firing up Photoshop to…

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