Scanbot for iOS
Our sister site, The Sweet Setup, recently picked Scanbot as their favorite scanning app for iOS. We actually wrote about Scanbot a few weeks ago.
The Definitive OS X Yosemite Review
John Siracusa's OS X reviews are legendary at this point. With each new version of OS X, he does deep dive into all the changes and upgrades. Before sitting down to use the final version of any OS X update, I always block off a few hours to thoroughly read his lengthy review. His Yosemite review is now available for pre-order on Kindle and iBooks for only $4.99.
Prompt 2
The folks at Panic have delivered again with Prompt 2 for iOS. Prompt 2 is a great SSH client for iOS. It supports touch ID, Panic Sync, and has a new clipping feature to saved your most frequently used commands.
Byword for Mac
Byword for the Mac was recently picked by The Sweet Setup as their favorite Markdown writing app for the Mac.
Belkin 6-Outlet Surge Protector with Rotating Plug
We've all probably got four or five things near our TV that require power. The problem with most surge protectors is that they have a bulky plug that sticks out from the wall. This forces you to pull your TV cabinet out from the wall a few inches. This surge protector has a flat plug so you can plug everything up, but also push your furniture flush against the wall.
OmniFocus 2 for iPad
OmniFocus is arguably the gold standard when it comes to professional-grade Mac and iOS task management software. The iPad app was just overhauled with a modern design and support for all of the latest iOS 8 features.
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
The rise of Amazon is one of the more interesting stories in recent memories. How did a company that started in 1994 become one of the most dominant retailers in the world in just 20 years? The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon tells that story.
LinkSprinter Network Tester
If you have to do any network cable installation/troubleshooting, the Fluke Networks LinkSprinter is a great device to have in your toolkit. One of the great things about this device is that it actually tests internet connectivity instead of just testing the cable. Once the device makes a connection to "the cloud", you'll get an email with DHCP, gateway, switch port, and power…
VMware Fusion 7
If you need to run Windows applications on your Mac, VMware Fusion is one of the best options out there. I've been using it since it first came out and, I continue to upgrade each year. Some of the notable features of version 7 are: Yosemite support (as a host computer or inside a virtual machine) Windows 8.1 support Increased app nap support…
Mohu Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna
"Cutting the cord" is a big buzz word in the entertainment industry right now. People are cutting off their satellite and cable subscription in favor of using streaming services like Netflix and Hulu in order to save money. By adding the Mohu Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna to your TV, you can likely get 5-6 HD quality channels for free (depending on where you live). I am…
Kanex ATV PRO Adapter for Apple TV
The Apple TV is a very useful tool for classrooms and conference rooms. By using AirPlay, you can easily display presentations, spreadsheets, or other information from a Mac or iOS device. Most modern projectors have HDMI inputs, but many older ones do not. The Kanex ATV Pro adaptor allows you to plug an Apple TV up to a projector that only has a VGA…
Dogfight: How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution
Neither one of my kids were alive "pre-smartphone". They only know the world where "there's an app for that". Dogfight: How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution is about the building of that world. It was one of my favorite books of 2013. Get it on Amazon for $10.99
La Crosse Technology Atomic Clock
We've got a clock in every classroom at the school I work at. Adjusting each clock for daylight savings time would take us quite a while. To save us from the hassle, we've got a La Crosse Technology WT-3143-H 14-Inch Atomic Wall Clock in every single classroom. The clock has a built-in antenna that receives signals from the WWVB radio transmitter in Fort…
Brinno Construction Time Lapse Camera
The school I work at built a new playground over the summer. We wanted a simple way to record the process in order to build a time-lapse video after it was built. The Brinno BCC100 Construction Time Lapse Camera was the absolute perfect tool for the job. It runs off 4 AAA batteries that last 78 days. It records onto an included 4 GB SD…
Phone Clean for Mac — Free Up Space on iOS
I recently looked at my iPhone's usage statistics and noticed Spotify was using 1.1 GB. For an app that is supposed to be about streaming music—I don't download anything locally—that seemed like a lot. I've run into this situation before. Over time, Dropbox and Google Drive can grow to 800-900 MB without much effort. I used to deal with this by deleting…
Reminder: Our Guide to Backyard Cooking is Awesome
For Tools & Toys readers in the US, Labor Day is just a week away. It's the perfect time to close out the summer with a great cook out with friends and family. We've got a great guide to make sure you have the right gear for all your backyard cooking. Even if you've got a great grill already, I highly recommend you…
SF Cable Ultraflat CAT6 Ethernet Cable
For all the greatness of Wi-Fi, wired ethernet is typically faster and more stable. In my new house, I had CAT6 ran to every TV location to hardwire all of my Rokus. In one of the rooms, we decided that we wanted to swap the TV location to another part of the room. I ordered a 45-foot roll of flat CAT6 cable.…
Miccus Mini-Jack RX: Bluetooth Music Receiver For AUX Port
One of the major annoyances with my new car it is that it supports Bluetooth, but not Bluetooth audio. Thankfully, the car at least has an AUX port. I could use a 3.5mm cord, but I wanted to ditch cords altogether. The Miccus Mini-jack RX solves this problem. It plugs into the AUX port, then connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It's battery powered,…