#ipad gear

Anker PowerHouse II 800 Review: Charges So Many Things When Needed!

Early on, the process of moving from one iPhone to another was fairly simple. You backed up the iPhone to iTunes, plugged the new one in, and told iTunes to do the rest. Times have changed and that isn’t always as easy as it was. First off, many of us never connect our iOS devices to iTunes anymore. Still, those of us in this camp do use iCloud for backups and the same approach that worked with iTunes can also be done with Apple’s cloud storage. That, however, leads to the second issue. The first iPhone came with either 4GB or 8GB of storage. Fast forward nine years and my current iPhone has 128GB of storage. (And most of it is used.) That not only means I would need a huge amount of iCloud storage but it also means the backup and transfer could take forever. That’s where the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive comes in.

The iXpand Flash Drive is a simple solution that lets you backup an iOS device, transfer files between iOS devices or computers and, of course, move from one device to another. As SanDisk explains:

“Millions wait in anticipation for Apple’s newest iPhone… and don’t mind standing in line for hours. Once they get their shiny new iPhone, many need help “moving into” their new device. Luckily, the SanDisk Moving Team is here to help. All you need is the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive to… –Transfer photos and videos to your new iPhone or simply move them from your old phone to store them for another time. –Free up space or backup your phone before upgrading the OS- no need for the cloud.”

The SanDisk approach may just sound like some marketing-speak but, in my case, they are spot on. As previously mentioned, my current iPhone arrived with 128GB. Fast forward and, as of this morning, I’m pretty much maxed out. Yes, without realizing it my phone has amassed over 20,000 pictures. (Hey, don’t judge me. In the last two years I got engaged, married, went on a honeymoon to Hawaii, spent two weeks in Greece, have been in Israel twice, visited the national parks, renovated a house, and got a dog. Each of those DESERVES a lot of attention!) and then there are all the videos, the music etc. To back up my phone to iCloud and then load it from the cloud would take forever. Instead, I’m using the iXpand Flash Drive to pull my pictures, music, and videos off the phone. That will leave far less on the iPhone. After that I’ll back up what remains and use that backup to set up the new phone. It’s a time-saver AND gives me a backup of my media in the process.

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The iXpand Flash Drive isn’t just for Moving Day. It’s an iOS accessory you will find yourself using regularly even after the initial excitement of the new iPhone has worn off. In addition to moving files in a flash thanks to the Lightning connector and USB 3.0 support you can store music and videos and then stream the media straight from the flash drive without having to use valuable storage on the device. It all happens thanks to the free iXpand Drive app. In fact, the first time you plug the accessory into your iOS device you will be prompted to download the app. Once loaded the app will ask for access to various media on the device. It is simple, fast, and something you will be glad to have… for Moving day or beyond.

The iXpand Flash Drive is available at BestBuy, Amazon and SanDisk.com. The 16GB version is $49.99, 32GB is $69.99, 64GB is $”89.99 and the 128GB version is $129.99. Learn more here!

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the SanDisk iXp[and Flash Drive.

What I Like: Small; Plentiful storage; Launches the app when plugged into an iOS device; USB 3.0 for speedy transfers to and from a computer; Intuitive; Moves and backs up media.

What Needs Improvement: This version is only for iOS devices and computers with a full USB 3.0 port.

Unify Your Device Docking with the Clever and Good Looking Udoq

If you have more than one mobile device, and let’s face it — these days we all do — charging them all at the same time can be a bit of a challenge. Udoq is a unique new way to charge your Kindle, iPad, Android phone, iPhone and other devices at the same time with a row of built-in chargers.

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The Amp Case for the 9.7″ iPad Pro & iPad Air Series Will Fill A Room With Sound

If you are an iPad user and looking to get a truly subversive experience when watching movies on your Air, Air 2, or your 9.7-inch iPad Pro, you’re in luck!

A company by the name of OIO has released the AMP, which is the ultimate portable theatre case for your iPad. The super sleek case for three of Apple’s more popular tablets comes with a top of the line design and stereo sound, which includes…

Both the $14.99 30W Dual USB Car Charger and the $17.99 33W USB-C Car Charger are Qualcomm 3.0 Quick Charge enabled (pay no attention to the fact that only the 30W box says it; they both are), and both are ready to charge your USB Type-C devices.

The 14.99 30W Dual USB Car Charger comes packaged with a 3 foot long USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable. Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology on the top USB port allows you to charge compatible devices up to 4 times faster than traditional chargers. The bottom port is Quick Charge 2.0 enabled, which charges devices as speeds up to 75% faster than traditional chargers.

Both USB ports are backward compatible, and the USB Quick Charge 2.0 works with iOS devices. The car charger has a built-in over-heating, over-current, and over-charging protection; there’s also a built-in automotive protective fuse to help guarantee your device’s safety.

The $17.99 33W USB-C Car Charger does not include a charging cable, but it has both USB Type-C and Type-A charging ports built in. The USB Type-C port is 5V/3A Max, and as I mentioned before, the Type-A Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Port allows you to charge compatible devices up to 4 times faster than traditional chargers.

This car charger has reversible ports, so you can insert your cable from either side — this is handy at night or when driving. And of course, this car charger also has built-in circuitry to protect your device’s from over-heating, over-current, and over-charging; there is also a built-in automatic protective fuse to protect your device.

If you haven’t got a car charger; either of these Choetech models would be a great purchase!

Ztylus Pencil Case Makes Apple Pencil More Pen and Pencily

I bought the smaller Apple iPad Pro for one primary purpose: I wanted to be able to use the Apple Pencil to create handwritten notes. But the Pencil is so long and thin that it gets uncomfortable. With this Ztylus Pencil Case that problem is solved. It’s an inexpensive iPad Pro accessory I know I’ll love. (more…)

Cove, available in three finishes, was Griffin’s first-ever Indiegogo project and it was fully funded. As the company explains:

Cove, is a home recharging station with a clean, contemporary design that’s at home in any decor. Powerful enough to charge up to five tablets and smartphones, Cove stores your devices as they charge, on built-in, easy-access shelves. A sliding door hides your devices, or doubles as a handy tablet stand.

Cove has 5 USB ports and each delivers 12W of power. At 16.8″ x 12.8″ x 7″, it isn’t small. Yup, it takes up some serious space but, considering the fact that it replaced a tangled mess of cables and emerald adapters, the tradeoff is probably worth it. And, thanks to a 6′ power cord, you should be able to use it in a place it where it will be both effective and unobtrusive.

The best way to understand Cove is to think of a large box with shelves and a door that lowers in front of it to hide what is inside.

Add a multi-device charging brick and you have a great place to charge all your devices while enjoying a sleek and unassuming cabinet. And because the multi-device charging brick is a BYOC (bring your own cable) device you can use it with pretty much any USB cables and devices. (It is worth pointing out that Cove is wide enough to hold an iPad Pro. But, if you use the large iPad Pro with it an entire shelf will be used.)

Set up is simple so there’s no real learning curve when first using Cove. There is a spot in the back of the unit to insert the included 6′ cord and plug it into a wall outlet.

Lifting the cover and pulling out the upper shelf reveals the five USB ports into which you can plug your cables. From there you can choose where you want to run the cables and where you want the charging end to sit. For me, I wanted a Lightning cable and a microUSB cable in the lowest level of the Cove, the same on the second level and a Lightning cable at the uppermost level. This step up lets me charge an assortment of different devices at the same time.

And, since each level has a soft material covering it, I can rest assured devices won’t get banged or bruised.

Finally, Cove left you feed a cable through the front, lower lip of the cover which doubles as a stand.

That means you can drop the lid, and not only have a smartphone or tablet stand on the outside but charge the device while it is in place. That’s a nice bonus.

One of the biggest downsides with Cove is finding the right place for it. I’m not yet sure where that will be, but I have little doubt I will be using Cove going forward. A second downside is the price. At $250, Cove isn’t exactly inexpensive. Then again, in a household with multiple devices the convenience, not to mention the clean lines, of Cove make it something worthy of serious consideration. Cove isn’t priced to be an impulse buy. But if you are thoughtfully trying to create a good degree of organization in your home and once of your biggest challenges is your array of electronics, Cove is a good solution. Check it out here. Get it for about $215 here. [Affiliate link.]

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Lke: Charges five devices at once; Fairly simply to set up; Available in three different finishes; Front doubles as an iPad or smartphone stand; Can work with an assortment of different USB cables

What Needs Improvement: Fairly large footprint; Pricey

That’s why the Satechi Multi-Port USB Charging Station is now a permanent part of my travel kit. With its four 2A USB Type-A ports and Two USB Type-C ports, I can charge my laptop and up to five other devices at the same time.

Measuring 4.5″ long by 2.75″ wide by 1.13 thick and weighing a half pound, the Satechi is small and light enough to keep in almost any gear bag or most cable pouches.

Composed of either black or white matte plastic, the Multi-Port USB Charging Station has a solid build.

Each of the four Type-A ports can deliver up to 2A power, but they self-regulate to make sure that they only deliver the max amount of power that your device can safely handle when charging.

If you travel a lot, then you are probably used to bringing a multitude of charging cables and chargers for each device. While you’ll still need all of those cables, using the Satechi means that you’ll only need one charger for everything; this is very handy when staying in a hotel room that has limited outlets!

As more mobile devices and laptops move to USB Type-C chargers, it’s going to be even more important to have charging devices that work with the new standard. Satechi gets you up and running with one very simple, very inexpensive, and very convenient charging station.

The Satechi Multi-Port USB Charging Station retails for $29.99 + shipping, and it is available directly from the manufacturer or from Amazon with free Prime shipping [affiliate link]. 

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Inexpensive; Four 2A USB Type-A charging ports; Two USB Type-C charging ports; Very portable; Allows you to use one outlet for all of your USB charging needs; Ports self-regulate to safely give the maximum charge your device can accept

What Needs Improvement: Nothing