Missing the MagSafe on your USB-C MacBook Pro?

If you used a MacBook in the last 10 years, it likely had a MagSafe power adapter which magnetically connected to the laptop. Apple has since updated its MacBook line to use USB-C ports for both power and data/accessory connections. While great for standardization, it almost feels like something is missing.

Power Trend has created a solution that returns a little bit of magic to powering your MacBook. It’s a 6.6ft USB-C cable with a braided nylon jacket for durability. The magic resides on the end with the 90º connector with the magnetic breakaway USB-C adapter. Pop that adapter in your laptop, use this cable with the USB-C wall adapter that came with your machine and it’s like MagSafe never left.

Power Trend inexplicably has not updated their site with this product, but it can be yours for $24.99 on Amazon.com.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Missing the MagSafe on your USB-C MacBook Pro? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 3, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The Loupedeck Photo Editing Console makes editing easy

Whenever I go on a photo shoot whether it is a professional event, a “people” shoot or my own getaway seeking amazing nature shots, I always come back home with hundreds if not thousands of photos. Many of them are multiple shots of the same subject with maybe some difference in the lighting, or movement or angle. Once I get back to my home studio, I am usually faced with the daunting task of going through the pictures in Adobe Lightroom one by one, to rate the shots, and to find the best ones to edit to ultimately produce the best final photographs. The actual task of editing the photos with precision and accuracy using a mouse is even more daunting.

For many years, I have experimented with reprogramming midi audio boards to create an effective and efficient electronic hardware control board, to manipulate the software sliders, knobs, and controls in Lightroom. While I have been somewhat successful, I was never adequately satisfied with the result.

A few months ago, I was able to buy the Loupedeck Photo Editing Console for Lightroom, which was designed specifically to do what I was trying to with my reprogrammed midi boards. The Loupedeck works amazingly well with Lightroom, and rating and editing of photos are done with ease and accuracy. It has dedicated dials, wheels and keys, programmable preset buttons, and specifically assigned buttons, for the most common editing tasks. It allows me to adjust each characteristic with great precision, and to ultimately produce simply amazing pictures. And, since it connects and is powered via its USB cable, it is very portable.

Once you download the installation software form the Loupedeck website, installation is a breeze, and overall is it a very professional, fun, and reliable photo editing solution.

You can purchase the Loupedeck at B&H Photo Video for $259.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

The Loupedeck Photo Editing Console makes editing easy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 3, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Old world craftsmanship meets today’s marvels of technology with Pad & Quill’s 60 year leather Apple Watch band

With so many Apple Watch bands available today it’s becoming harder to find one that’s truly unique. Pad & Quill’s newest Apple strap is not only unique it’s vintage. The 60 Year Leather Lowry Cuff for Apple Watch is a “very” Limited Edition band made from vintage European leather that is over 60 years old. So the strap will look stunning from day one, but will age and patina gorgeously with use. Now that’s vintage.

Made especially for the 42mm Apple Watch series 1, 2, and 3 the band has a contouring cuff construction, hand-finished uniform stitching (available in 2 colors), an unobstructed Apple Watch Optical Pulse Sensor opening, and your choice of Polished Nickel or Matte Black finished tang-buckle closure and Apple hardware. The inside of the strap is raw leather with an ultra-soft comfortable suede finish. As with every strap P&Q makes, the artists signature is discreetly placed on the straps interior along with a “Circa 1950” inscription.

 

If you’re concerned about the durability of 60-year-old leather P&Q points out that one of the oldest books in the world, The Cuthbert Gospel, is bound using a cherry red leather dating from 698 A.D. If you’re still not sold there’s always Pad & Quill’s 25 year leather warranty to put your mind at ease.

Pad and Quill’s Limited Edition Vintage leather Apple Watch band is available right now exclusively on their website for $229.00. But you better hurry because P&Q states that it’s a Very Limited Edition, with only limited quantities available.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Old world craftsmanship meets today’s marvels of technology with Pad & Quill’s 60 year leather Apple Watch band originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 3, 2018 at 7:59 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Sinemia, a less restrictive, tech-savvy monthly movie ticket subscription service, has officially launched in the U.S.

If you watch a lot of movies in theaters, you know how expensive tickets are.  Sinemia is a subscription service that can help you save money while still enjoying trips to the theater.  You won’t be restricted to only certain theaters,  date/times, or movie.  You can watch any format – from 2D  to 3D, IMAX, 4DX, DBOX, or ScreenX – at any major theater in the US.  And you’ll save money for popcorn, because you can watch 3 movies per month for about the price of a single ticket.

With Sinemia, you’ll purchase a membership plan that you pay for monthly (with no obligation) or yearly.  Once you receive your Sinemia card in the mail, you’ll use it like a debit card to purchase tickets for any movie you’d like, and you can use the card to purchase tickets online or at the theater.  You can purchase a 3 movies per month plan ($15.99 paid monthly or $13.99/month in a yearly payment) or 2 movies per month plan ($10.99 paid monthly or $8.99/month paid yearly) membership.  There’s also a Sinemia for Two plan so you can get two tickets in one transaction.

You’ll use the Sinemia app to look for and select the movie you want to see, and then purchase the movie tickets your normal way, using the Sinemia card instead of a debit card.  Sinemia says:  “The free Sinema app is designed to cater to a movie-goer’s every whim, from Uber transportation integration to local dining discounts (so. many. features.)”

Learn more and purchase your plans at Sinemia.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Sinemia, a less restrictive, tech-savvy monthly movie ticket subscription service, has officially launched in the U.S. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works!

For many years, since HDMI first became one of the standard ports included with audio/video devices, I have been in search of a HDMI switch that will allow me to connect more than one device to my TV or one of my monitors. In some cases, I needed it to work vice versa to connect one device to 2 separate displays, and switch between the two.

Over the years I have purchased numerous HDMI switches ranging in price from $80 to $400 and all have failed over a relatively short period of time, with a bit longer than a year being the greatest longevity. Most of the switches, especially the more expensive ones with multiple outputs and in some cases multiple inputs and outputs, required external power and seemed to eventually suffer their demise from the heat their circuits generated. I do suspect that the eventual failure had to do with burned out components or “cold” solder joints.

About a year ago, I once again found myself in a similar situation with a need to connect a Roku box and a Fire Stick to a monitor. Because of my failed history with HDMI switches, I was very apprehensive to try another one, but it seemed like the only sensible option. After extensive online research, I came across the DotStone bi-directional 2 x 1/1 x 2 Manual HDMI Switcher that was quite cheap, and therefore could not inflict the financial damage of its predecessors. Since it also had a relatively large number of positive reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

After using the very small but well-built switcher for almost a year, I am very pleased with its reliable and consistently perfect performance. I honestly was not expecting much, but I have been so impressed by it that I have now purchased a second one. Since I do not care about the convenience of having a wireless remote, this manual switcher is a win!! I have additional praise for its included feature of bi-directional switching, which I have tried it in both directions with multiple devices. I am happy to report that it has performed flawlessly.

You can purchase the DotStone 2 port Bi-direction Switch on Amazon for the amazing price of $10.18

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.