MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

MaxUpgrades MaxConnect for 2006-2008 Mac Pro

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 GMT

Nobody outside of Cupertino's privileged bunch knows the future of the Mac Pro line for sure. Despite Apple's reluctance to tell us what the line holds, there are a large number of machines in service all getting a bit long in the tooth, relatively speaking. As production Mac Pros have been replaced with new iMacs and even the Mac mini, IT departments are looking for creative ways to repurpose som ......

Brother HL-3170CDW LED Printer

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

We've mentioned before that we are far from a paperless society. For now, at least, there are tasks that require a piece of paper for confirmation, proof of purchase, or a litany of other needs. Laser printers have existed since the first practical commercial model in 1984 and have been known for excellent text quality. One name present in printing for years at this point is Brother -- the lineage ......

Sony Xperia ZL

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Described by Sony as a culmination of its greatest technologies, the Xperia ZL is an attempt to bring the company's best offerings together in a single device. In many ways the ZL makes good on this goal, offering a superb display, solid camera, and sleek design. What's even more impressive is the compact frame that Sony was able to pack all of this into. Despite the inclusion of a five-inch full ......

HTC One

Sun, 12 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

It is hard to overstate just how critically important the HTC One is to the Taiwanese company's fortunes. Despite its alarming decline in market share, HTC has taken a gamble with the One. It has opted for high-quality materials, which eat into its profit margin, while it has made ......

Samsung Galaxy S 4

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Samsung's new flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S 4, faces even stiffer competition than its popular predecessor. With a five-inch, 1920x1080 display, it is also one of the largest phones on the market. Will the fresh hardware and slew of new software features enable Samsung extend its lead in the smartphone market? In our full review, we'll determine if the S 4 succeeds in outpacing the com ......

HighPoint RocketU 1144CM USB 3.0 PCI-E card

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Apple was one of the first -- if not the first -- major computer manufacturers to provide then-fledgling USB support at the expense of legacy ports on its iMac line some 15 ago. Since then, the Mac maker hasn't always been the fastest at adding new USB protocols to machines, generally lagging six months or more behind, depending on the product line. The Mac Pro is languishing these days, awaiting ......

Nikon WU-1b wireless adapter, PicturePro app

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

We're talking George Jetson here. Nikon's recent introduction of the D600 full-frameDSLR brought a raft of accessories, one of the most interesting being the WU-1bWireless Mobile Adapter. Couple that with David Shield's PicturePro app, (motto:Leave Your Laptop Behind) and an iPad, and you have a new, lightweight solution toshooting and sending photos from wherever you can score a W ......

Digital Treasures Props Power Case for iPad

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:00:00 GMT

It's not often an iPad case comes with a manual, even a short one, but it seems like an increasing number of models include some form of electronics. The Props Power Case needs a manual for its integrated lithium ion battery -- we received an 8,000mAh unit, although a 12,000mAh model is also available. In our review, we'll test how well the case works as both protection and a power supply. ......

Acer Aspire S7 11.6-inch Ultrabook

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ultrabooks abound. Just about every major manufacturer makes them, and too many look like the MacBook Air. The 2011 Intel spec for ultrabooks is very detailed, and gives guidelines for performance, enhancements, and even battery life. As defined by Intel, ultrabooks are designed for reduced bulk without a corresponding hit on performance and battery life. Nearly all of them are "inspired" by Apple ......

Samsung Ativ Odyssey

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Verizon has offered only a few choices for Windows Phone devices, recently adding Samsung's Ativ Odyssey as the fourth option. With a $50 subsidized price tag, the handset sits between HTC's Windows Phone 8X and Nokia's Lumia 822. In our full review, we try to determine if the Odyssey represents a viable competitor among its close peers and in the broader smartphone market.Design ......

Full review: Apple 27-inch iMac (Late 2012)

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:00:00 GMT

The new iMac was introduced in late October, however trying to get your hands on one is not easy. Even now, if you choose a customized option as we did, you will need to wait for up to four weeks before you can get yours. Even ahead of its launch, rumors were circulating that Apple's manufacturing partners were having problems using the new 'friction welding' technique that Apple has employed in i ......

Iomega PX2-300d NAS

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are similar in one respect to the iPod on release -- until one used it, the utility wasn't immediately apparent, and then, upon acquisition it becomes nearly vital to day to day operations. The Iomega PX2-300d is the Cadillac of NAS boxes. Driven by a ......

Killer Concepts RocksteadyXS

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Headphones and portable speakers are, for my money, still the best uses of Bluetooth, at least when it comes to audio. There are other options, like connecting to a full-sized stereo or car system, but in those cases there are often equally convenient alternatives with better fidelity. It's when you're traveling somewhere that fidelity takes a back seat to qualities like compact size, or minimiz ......

HP EliteBook 2570p

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:00:00 GMT

HP's EliteBook 2570p is the latest notebook in what the company describes as its "business rugged" category. The 12.5-inch model is designed to hold up to the moderate abuse while on the go, taking advantage of aluminum and magnesium to protect against bumps and the rigors of daily use as a tool. Check out our full review to see how the 2570p stacks up against the competition.Design ......

House of Marley Riddim On-Ear Headphones

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:00:00 GMT

House of Marley is a fairly new entrant in the headphone market, arriving in late 2011 among a host of other celebrity branded headphones. In order to standout in the crowded market, House of Marley decide to make it their goal to not only offer top audio-quality products, but to do it in a way that is as environmentally friendly as possible. All of its products use earth-friendly materials wherev ......

HighPoint RocketStor 5322 Dual-Channel Dock

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Modern drive docks are awfully convenient. Without taking the time or expense to case a hard drive, contents are readily accessible to the user, and with the advent of eSATA drives docks, most are hot swappable, assuming the OS allows it. Storage solution provider HighPoint has an excellent paired solution for PCI-E equipped machines -- the HighPoint ......

HighPoint RocketRaid 642L SATA/eSATA card

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

While a small handful of drives is adequate for most, there are sometimes situations calling for a truly epic amount of storage either internal, or in external RAID cases. Or, perhaps, a specific computer has an older SATA protocol on its motherboard, and the need for speed is beckoning -- on a budget. Either situation is addressed by the new ......

Gomadic SunVolt solar charger

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Solar energy still has a ways to go for widespread adoption, despite its 'green' nature. It doesn't have a high power density, meaning that a large area of solar panels, intense sunlight, or both, is required for optimal energy generation. Plus, the panels are expensive. Reston, VA-based Gomadic Corp supplies the ......

MacBook Air OWC 240 GB Aura Pro SSD

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Solid state drives (SSD) are fantastic. They are power-sippers as compared to a spinning platter, more resistant to shock, and other elemental damage. Even if you just count the performance increases, it comes as no surprise that Apple has shifted most of its desktop and portable line to SSD storage. Tragically, the price per gigabyte is dramatically higher than that of platter-based hard ......

Matrox DS1 Thunderbolt dock

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

The Thunderbolt interface has opened the door for a variety of new accessories, and Matrox' DS1 docking station exemplifies the standard's versatility. The DS1 is geared for Apple's notebook computers, pairing either HDMI or DVI output with additional ports for USB 3.0/2.0, Gigabit Ethernet and audio input/output. In our full review, we try out the HDMI dock's full range of connection options. ......

Sony MDR-1R Bluetooth headphones

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Sony has a long and distinguished history when it comes to making quality headphones to suit the majority of listeners. In recent years, however, their headphone business has shown signs of becoming commoditized, targeting mainstream users at the expense of audiophiles. Over the past twelve months, though, this has started to change for the better. The Beats range of headphones, among others, has ......

JLab Bouncer Bluetooth speaker

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:00:00 GMT

It can be pretty difficult to distinguish new Bluetooth speakers these days. After all, by design they're compatible with just about every wireless device, which means that makers can't count on a captive audience. JLab's Bouncer seems unremarkable on the surface, since there aren't any revolutionary technologies here. In our review, though, we'll test whether it holds out as a good speaker nev ......

HTC 8X (Rogers)

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

After getting a chance to briefly handle HTC's flagship Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone, the 8X, earlier this year, we now got one in for a more thorough test. The test subject was a 16GB model (an 8GB version is also available) in California Blue and is a Canadian-spec model running ......

OWC Helios Thunderbolt PCIe chassis with SSD

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

As notebook computers become more powerful, and most all-in-ones now prioritize aesthetics over customizability, it is not uncommon to encounter difficulty when attempting to accomodate additional professional-level or out-of-the-ordinary hardware. Mac specialist Other World Computing is one of several companies that has come to the rescue, offering the Mercury Helios expansion chassis that connec ......

Logitech Ultimate Ears Boombox

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Early attempts at streaming music to a speaker set from a portable device were a bit clumsy. A rudimentary, and low powered, FM transmitter plugged into the audio port of any given device and if the user lived in an area with an uncluttered radio dial, it was easy to listen to iPod-contained music on a home stereo, or other such receiver. It's ten years later now, and Bluetooth speakers dot the la ......

Sony Action Cam

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Sony is a relative latecomer to the burgeoning action camera segment, which is something of a surprise given its heritage as a camera maker and AV in general. The segment leader is undoubtedly GoPro who were inspired by people using standard (but bulky for the purpose) Sony Handycams for action footage. There are also a few other players including Muvi and JVC. Like all things in technology, howev ......

Netgear ReadyNAS Duo V2

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Without a doubt, home and professional computing storage needs are escalating. With the advent of so-called "Retina" displays for Apple products, and similar resolutions becoming available for Windows and other devices, the need will only grow as time goes on. Today's solution is just that- today's. Couple the need for storage with the trend towards portable computing, and the issues compound -- f ......

Monoprice 7.1 Wired Gaming Headset

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Monoprice is the place some of the Electronista crew goes when we need a funky cable. Four-pin FireWire to FireWire 800? No problem. Funky USB gender cables? Also carried. While various audio accessories have graced the shelves of the e-retailer, a brand new addition is a pair of gaming-oriented headsets, at a very low price point for the feature set. As with most audio features, build qu ......

iPod touch (5th generation)

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The iPod touch now takes a back seat behind the iPhone, but Apple has continued to improve and refine its flagship media player. Arriving two years after its predecessor, the fifth-generation model boasts a thinner build, larger display, faster processor and better cameras. In our full review, we try to determine if the new Touch still has a place among stiff competition from smartphones and table ......

Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Logitech is better known for its computer peripherals, but the company has also been in the home-security business for several years. Logitech Alert security systems offer a wide range of surveillance and remote-monitoring features, and the company has finally introduced a desktop management utility for Macs. In our full review, we try out the indoor master system and Alert Commander for OS X. ......

Monoprice Cherry MX Red Gaming Keyboard

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Input devices are critical to the computing experience. As we mentioned in our review of the Logitech G-710 gaming keyboard, they are frequently given short shrift. Devices with features tailored towards a specific market typically have a higher price tag associated with them. Monoprice sells more than just inexp ......

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT

The Microsoft Surface with Windows RT arrives a full two years after Apple reinvented the tablet market. Microsoft and its partners had struggled along valiantly with convertible notebooks that could work in a tablet mode, but they were just too heavy and impractical. Within the first several months of the iPad launching, it quickly outsold the sum total of all Windows tablet PCs ever sold, even t ......

Full Review: MS Surface with Windows RT

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:56:50 GMT

Apple iPad mini

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:00:00 GMT

It's hard to believe that Apple released the original iPad in January of 2010 with many at the time mocking it for its name as well as wondering whether anyone would find a use for it. Approaching two years later, we are already on to the fourth generation iPad with over 100 million iPads sold, while the iPad has created an entire multibillion dollar market segment at the expense of netbooks in pa ......

Samsung Galaxy Note II (T-Mobile)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:00:00 GMT

When the Galaxy Note debuted last year, it did so largely to confused reviews from the tech press. Was this a phone? A tablet? Some misbegotten amalgamation of the two? Soon enough, a portmanteau emerged to describe Samsung's creation: phablet. The phablet quickly went on to solid sales, and ......

Review: Samsung's Galaxy Note II (T-Mobile)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The market for video game recording is somewhat limited, and demanding at the same time. Machinima directors and actors could use a recording tool, as well as professional gamers, or even just a journeyman gamer wanting to display his against-the-odds victory against the Xbox Live hordes. Not all games feature a clip-recording feature like more recent games in the Halo does, making delay- ......

Razer BlackShark gaming headset

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:00:00 GMT

When gamers want more from their experience, they typically go one of two directions. Those wanting to improve their chances will go for high-end equipment in the hope that it will help them react faster than their opponents, usually through gaming keyboards and mice or other high-specification computer parts. Others will want to immerse themselves in the game further, typically through using them ......

Logitech G710+ Gaming Keyboard

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Input peripherals can be taken for granted by the general computing populace. As long as a slab of plastic machined into a keyboard or mouse gets the job done, it can often be disregarded as "performing as intended." Considering the primary interface for most of us is a keyboard and mouse, it probably needs to be given more attention than it gets. Gamers have a different set of criteria on what ma ......

Good Call iG1 Bluetooth Handset

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Alternative handsets for the iPhone make a lot of claims. Some boast lower cell phone emissions close to the user's skull, conveniently forgetting that Bluetooth broadcasts are on the RF spectrum as well, albeit lower power. Others have style, hoping to grab the design-conscious with sleek lines. Yet more say that freed from the tight confines of a cellphone interior, that larger speakers and more ......

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7''

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:00:00 GMT

After dominating the e-book reader market and making a successful foray into the Android tablet arena, Amazon recently expanded its mobile device lineup. Price was arguably the most significant factor driving Kindle Fire sales, however the budget tablet has since been overshadowed by competing devices with superior specs for the same price. Is the new seven-inch Kindle Fire HD "the best tablet at ......

Akitio Neutrino U3+

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:09:22 GMT

As notebook computers continue to grow in popularity, 2.5-inch hard drives have become one of the most popular upgrades. Most of the drives that are pulled out of a computer end up collecting dust, but Akitio's Neutrino U3+ enclosure promises to give life back to unused drives, or serve as a basis for custom external storage. In our full review, we take a closer look at the USB 3.0-equipped enclos ......

iPhone 5

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

After months of persistent rumors and Apple's high-profile unveiling, the iPhone 5 has finally arrived on the market. The sixth-generation device is billed as "the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone," and its transition to a four-inch display arguably represents the most significant change to the overall design. In our full review, we attempt to determine if the new iPhone deserves to ......

VMware Fusion 5

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:00:00 GMT

VMware has quickly updated its popular Fusion virtualization software to support OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and Microsoft's Windows 8 preview. Fusion 5 aims to merge the best features of both platforms, while continuing to improve performance over its predecessor. In our full review, we take a closer look at the new features and compare Fusion's performance with rival Parallels 8.We encounter ......

Fanny Wang WangBuds

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Earbud manufacturers have it rough. Just about every portable device has a pair, generally of iffy quality, but included sets have the advantage of being free. Space considerations prohibit large drivers, and the biology and uniqueness of people's ears present their own issues. Fanny Wang says their product, the ......

Disk Drill Pro file recovery software

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Cleverfiles offers its Disk Drill utility in four configurations, but most importantly including a free edition that users can download at any time to scan for lost files and backup partitions or drives that are starting to fail (but haven't failed completely yet) to a DMG image. This "try before you buy" practice, mirrored by some of its ......

Parallels Desktop 8 virtualization software

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Parallels has quickly updated its popular Desktop virtualization utility for Mac, bringing support for the latest software and hardware: OS X Mountain Lion, Windows 8 and Retina display-equipped MacBook Pros. In our full review, we take a closer look at Parallels' latest attempt to provide a common experience across competing platforms. ......

Geneva Model M Audio System

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Almost every audio system on the market these days has room for an iOS device dock, a testament to the iPod and iPhone's massive mainstream popularity. That said, not everyone is going to be willing to spend hundreds of dollars as a supporting audio system for their iPod Touch. For those that value most the built-in music player that marks their mobile device, however, a quality system is a must. ......

Adonit Jot Touch pressure-sensitive stylus

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the last year or so styluses seem to have gone from an afterthought for iPad owners to highly desirable, if still not quite essential. Some of it probably has to do with the growing number of illustration and notetaking apps, but I'll bet that the third-gen iPad's Retina display is a factor as well -- suddenly, art and writing looks good enough that precision matters. Whatever the cause, prec ......

Geneva Sound Systems Model XS

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:00:00 GMT

It's been said that if you're old enough to have been around the first time a product is released, then you're probably too old to revisit it. How does this change if the product has been modernized? The Switzerland and Boston based Geneva Lab is a boutique speaker manufacturer, specializing in high quality and stylish Bluetooth and iOS device dock speaker sets. In the case of the Geneva Model XS, ......