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Landscape Pro Studio Max 3 photo editing software review

REVIEW – When taking outdoor pictures, you are generally limited to several conditions such as the weather, the lighting, and even the environment itself. You might have your camera and tripod ready but the conditions can become unfavorable. Sometimes, it’s like mother nature just isn’t co-operating when you want to take those landscape pictures. With Landscape Pro Studio Max 3, now you can tweak your landscape photos to compliment or help fix your image to really make them stand out.

What is it?

Landscape Pro Studio Max 3 is a creative editing software for photographers of any level to help enhance and process their landscape photos.

Installation Requirements

  • 1GHz processor or faster recommended.
  • 2GB RAM minimum recommended.
  • Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista or macOS (10.7 or later)

Design and features

What Landscape Pro from Antropics Technology can do for you is help spice up the landscape pictures you take and make them more dramatic by adjusting specific areas in your pictures such as the sky, grass, ground, mountain, water, and more. This software allows you to individually manipulate and fix the selected areas and helps give them a little punch to brighten, sharpen, or add color. Landscape Pro can also straighten images as well as add watermarks and it can also add realistic atmosphere like fog or rain. There is also a feature to remove unwanted objects in your photo, as well. I am very impressed with what this software can do.

If you are not familiar with Anthropics Technology, they are the makers of Portrait Pro which is a powerful editing software for portrait photography. I had a trial of an earlier version of Portrait Pro a few years ago and although it had a few small bugs,  it is very impressive, to say the least. So, it is only natural that Landscape Pro is just as intuitive as Portrait Pro and just as impressive.

Landscape Pro uses advanced image recognition technology to target certain areas that you select on your image. In conjunction with the image recognition, Landscape Pro has many included Presets for the selected areas along with a slider interface to make adjustments and fine tune the areas. It’s all very responsive when making the adjustments and the results are instant. One of the popular features is the Sky replacement with 150 built-in Preset skies to choose from. Believe me when I tell you that there are plenty of skies to select such as clear and cool cloudless skies to dark and dramatic cloud-filled skies. You even have the option to import your own sky picture, too.

To begin editing, you just drag Labels onto specific areas of your image. For example, if you want to change the look of the sky in your image, then you would drag the Sky Label onto an area of the sky in your picture. If you want to adjust the water in your image, then you would drag the Water Label onto the water area in your picture. Want to edit the trees in your picture? Just drag the Tree Label to a tree. Drag the Mountain Label to a mountain in your picture, and so-on and so-forth. There are plenty of Labels for areas in your picture that you can use.

As soon as you are finished labeling the selected areas that you want to edit, then the real fun beings. Whether you choose the Presets or just go straight to manually adjusting your image using the Sliders in the Side Panel. Keep in mind that you will eventually be using the Sliders in the bulk of your edits to fine tune your image. The Side Panel is where all the options to edit your image are grouped. The one-click Presets get you started with a certain look in the areas you selected and then you can go in with the Sliders to tweak the Presets you selected.

Landscape Pro does a great job of reading the elements in your photo like the sky, water, sand, trees, people, etc. to help analyze the scene. And not only can Landscape Pro adjust isolated areas in your photo but it can change the overall mood and feel of the entire image. One of the main features that Landscape Pro has is its Lighting feature. What it does is analyze your picture’s scene and the elements within your photo so that it can make the proper natural 3D adjustments to the lighting as it would be in real life. So, as you move the light source in the picture, the corresponding highlights and shadows move when you adjust the light source. This can add some really nice dynamics to the overall look, mood, and feel of your photo.

Depending on how much editing you want to do to your picture is up to you. You can use Landscape Pro to just tweak a little bit to enhance your photo or you can go overboard and totally change your entire image to make it look like a fantasy dream world. It’s all up to you and what you want to create.

Landscape Pro can be either used as a stand-alone program or as a plug-in filter in Photoshop or Lightroom. I prefer using Landscape Pro as a standalone program because when I used it as a Photoshop plug-in filter the export seems to take a fairly long time for the edits to render out. Whereas, when I use it as a standalone, the export was significantly faster. However, keep in mind that unlike some third party plugin exports, Landscape Pro’s edits don’t show up in a separate layer. The edits were applied directly to my original image. If you are like me and prefer to do non-destructive editing in Photoshop, then it’s probably best to make a copy of the original image and use that one to edit with Landscape Pro. It’s just good practice to never edit the original image.

I noticed that when I used Landscape Pro as a plug-in that the rendering from the Save and Close option is super slow versus if I just did the editing inside Landscape Pro as a standalone program.  When I used Landscape Pro as a standalone program, there was virtually no render time like there was when I use it inside Photoshop. Now, keep in mind that there may be factors on your computer such as RAM, processor, graphics card, etc that may affect the render speed. However, as far as I know, it just may be something in Photoshop that may be the culprit because everything was working just fine except the render speed after I clicked “Save and Close” in Landscape Pro. It literally takes two to three minutes to see the filter applied to my image. Now, the processor on my computer is an Intel i5 2.70 GHz with 8 gigs of RAM and my Dell All-In-One computer may not be the fastest out there but in no way is it slow.  I normally can edit all day with Photoshop and Capture One and never experience any lag.

There are two other versions of Landscape Pro: the Standard and the Studio. Below is a chart that compares the two versions to the Studio Max.

Installation

Installation was very easy. I just downloaded the software from the Landscape Pro website, installed the software and then input the token (activation code/license) that I received. Software installed without any problems. Landscape Pro Studios max 3 is available for both Mac and PC.

What I like

  • Very responsive and fast edits.
  • Numerous Presets to incorporate into your photos.
  • Instant preview inside the Sections of the Side Panels.
  • High Resolution Output Images
  • Works with RAW and DNG formats.
  • Can be used as stand-alone or a plug-in.
  • Video tutorials available on the Home page.

What needs to be improved

  • Couldn’t find a setting to turn off the Help dialog box which pops up when you are in the Side Panel area.
  • Smaller detailed areas are difficult to select and edit.
  • Filter rendering in Photoshop was very slow.

Final thoughts

As someone who takes plenty of landscape photos, whether traveling on vacations, road trips, and even in my hometown, I always want to take the best photos I can right out of the camera. But sometimes I can look at an image I took and decide that I wish it had a little more to it; maybe a little more pop to the picture. Whether I want the image to somehow jump right out into the viewers face or if I just feel like the image needs some tweaking, I found that using Landscape Pro Studio Max 3 is a great tool for enhancing my landscape photos. Using this software was fairly quick and easy. Plus, I really liked seeing the different modifications of my images inside the program so I can make choices right on the fly. I know I will be using this software now and in the future for many of my photos.  Not only will I be editing some of my older landscape photos but I can’t wait to get out there and take more landscape photos. I definitely know that I will have more landscape photos to print and hang on my walls after a little tweaking from Landscape Pro.

Price: $119.95
Where to buy: Landscape Pro Website
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Anthropics Technology.

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Landscape Pro Studio Max 3 photo editing software review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 21, 2019 at 8:20 am.

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Aroundsquare skill toys review

REVIEW – If you thought the fidget spinner craze was over and done with, you would be wrong. There’s a whole world of fidget toys out there and Aroundsquare is a company offering a variety of them. Let’s check them out.

What is it?

Fidget toys are usually small items that you can hold in your hand to twirl, spin, flick, and click. What’s the point? Does there have to be one? Seriously though, fidget toys can be stress relievers, focus enhancers, and even dexterity improvers. But above all, fidget toys are fun.

Fidget toys from Aroundsquare include begleri, knucklebones, deadeye contact coins, monkey knuckles, cardistry cards, and more. Aroundsquare sent me a Begleri, knucklebones, and deadeyes.

Deadeye Contact Coins

Deadeyes are specially designed disks that are made of Delrin or a variety of metals that include stainless steel, copper, brass, and titanium. They come in two sizes and different finish styles and are concave on both sides which creates a ridge around the edge that lends itself to really cool manipulation.

Check out the video below for just a small taste of what you can accomplish with Deadeyes if you put the time into learning how to work with them.

I love the feel of the Deadeyes coins between my fingers. They are heavy and smooth. Of the three toys sent to me, I think this is the one that I can learn to “juggle” first. I can almost do the coin spinning on the fingertip trick shown in the video above, but I’m nowhere near as smooth as the performer. Of course, that’s what practice is for right?

Price: $9.00 – $55.00 depending on material and finish

Knucklebones

Knucklebones are dumbbell shaped toys that you can roll and weave between your fingers. Like Deadeyes, Aroundsquare’s Knucklebones are available in a lot of different materials that include wood, titanium, steel, Delrin, brass, aluminum, and acrylic. They even make a modular version like the one shown above that has removal/replaceable ends and center sections.

I like playing with the Knucklebones because it’s something you can do without really paying attention to what you’re doing. You don’t have to look at your hand as you’re twirling it between your fingers. It’s a soothing kind of feeling playing with them.

I will say that although I love the look of the metal one shown in my hand in the picture above, it’s heavy and if you drop it, it makes a LOUD sound on a hardwood floor. So I prefer actually playing with the wooden one they sent me which is much lighter weight.

Price: $20 – $300 depending on the material and finish

Begleri

This is the one toy you’ve probably already seen before. It’s a Begleri and is basically two beads attached with a cord. This is a Greek skill toy that you can twirl, sling, and fling between your fingers almost like a tiny yoyo. And like the other toys, Aroundsquare offers a crazy cool variety of beads to choose from that are made of the same materials as their other toys including Delrin, steel, titanium, steel, acrylic, and more.

Of all the toys they sent, I would say that this one has been the hardest for me to get the hang of to do any trick so far. I really want to get decent at it though because just watching Aroundsquare’s video tutorials is mesmerizing.

Price: $10 – up

What I like

  • Stress reliever
  • Fun and addictive
  • Good for your brain and your fingers

What needs to be improved

  • Get more in stock

Final thoughts

Fidget toys are fun, but these toys from Aroundsquare are a cut above fidget spinners because they are actual skill toys. You can’t just pick them up and expect to be awesome with them from day one. It takes a lot of practice and that’s what makes them fun and frustrating and fun and maddening and fun. They will help with finger dexterity and will even exercise your brain in order to learn new moves.

If you’ve been looking for a new hobby or skill, the toys from Aroundsquare are awesome both in the way they are made, look and feel, and what you can do with them.

Price: Varies, see above
Where to buy: Aroundsquare and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Aroundsquare.

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Aroundsquare skill toys review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat review


REVIEW – Living and working in NYC can be rewarding and exciting, but that benefit is usually overwhelmed by the level of stress that is an inherent part of life in this city. My life in NY is no exception, and many nights I usually have to ask my already tired wife to massage my tense and aching shoulders. The Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat sounds like the perfect answer to my aching shoulders and to me bothering my already tired wife.

What is it?

The Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat is a personal and portable massager that includes the versatility for it to be used to massage various parts of your body.

What’s in the box


1 x Naipo Massager
1 x User manual
1 x Car Power Adapter
1 x AC Power Adapter

Design and features

Features

● Professional Shiatsu Massage: This Shiatsu neck and shoulder massager comes with 4 big nodes and 4 small ones, which apply deep tissue massage on your neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, waist, thigh, calve, leg, feet, and arm areas helping release stress, relieve sore muscles for full body parts

● Advanced Heating Function: The electric kneading massager has an infrared heating massaging feature; Together with the 8 massage nodes with soothing heat, the massager can be used to relieve muscle pain and tension after an exhausting day

● Adjustable Massaging Intensity: This massager machine also features 3 variable speeds to customize your own massaging style: Low Intensity for normal muscle pain relief and relaxation; Middle and High Intensity for tight knots and tense muscles and acupuncture points

● Suitable for the Whole Family: Made of skin-care premium breathable mesh and PU leather, this versatile massager works well both for the elderly and young; Relax with it regularly for 15-30 minutes per day

The massager is covered in a  very soft and smooth material that feels like leather, but I am not sure that it is in fact leather. It is well made and seems like it would last a long time while enduring the abuse associated with frequent use.
On the inside of the massager where the device touches your body to perform the massaging function, there is a soft cloth type material that covers the contoured surface and the massaging mechanism that includes massaging beads/balls. The surface is designed to contour around the shape of parts of your body. There is also a connection cable with a jack on the end for you to plug in either of the 2 included power adapters.
On one of the massager “arms” there is a control pad that allows you to manipulate the functions and settings of the device.

Performance

The massager arrives in a brown box as shown below with no additional packaging other than a clear plastic bag covering the actual device. Despite the minimal protection, it arrived in perfect condition, and set up is plug and play.



It provides great massages with the ability to vary the speed of the movement of the massage and the direction. The heat option works well and adds to the experience in a positive way.

Caution: This device provides a deep and timed massage using the built-in massaging beads/balls. I have found that restarting the massage cycle once it is completed just because you are enjoying it, will result in aches and soreness the next day that will last for a few days. In other words, one massage cycle per body area is good enough. Do not overdo it.

Here are some pics of how it can be placed and used:



What I like

  • The build quality
  • The feel and the effectiveness of the massage
  • The versatility of applying the device in several ways

What can be improved

  • Safer and more protective packaging

Final thoughts

Whenever I go to the mall near my home, I often try to take a few moments to sit and relax in the public massage chairs. For $1, they provide a 3-minute massage that actually works well as a deep massage. It feels like my back is being kneaded by small fists and the result is really relaxing. This Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager does the same but with the added benefit of heat as desired. I am loving this massager, and for the price, in my opinion, it is a good value. I have no issue giving it two thumbs and a well done!!

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: The Naipo website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Naipo.

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Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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Wacom Intuos Pro graphics drawing tablet (PTH660) review

REVIEW – Let me state up front that I have used a Wacom graphics tablet of some form for more than 25 years. Since I do a lot of Photoshop work, the Wacom Intuos Pro tablet is not an option, it’s a necessity. Over the years, Wacom tablets have only gotten better and better with features being added year after year. Yes, the Intuos Pro is expensive, but the prices haven’t increased that much over the years, so essentially, a current Wacom tablet is a better buy than previous models. Note: My home/freelance setup was the older Intuos 3 tablet and my office version is the previous Intuos Pro model (without the Bluetooth option).

What is it?

The Wacom Intuos Pro creative pen tablet is the latest in a long line of Wacom Intuos tablets. It comes in two sizes—medium and large—a  smaller size is only available as the previous version. The medium-sized tablet’s 8.7 x 5.8 in. drawing area is housed in a thinner and smaller body than previous Intuos Pro tablets. It comes with the new Wacom Pro Pen 2—a more sensitive update to the venerable and dependable Pro Pen. It’s battery free, has 8,192 levels (up from 2048) of pressure sensitivity, tilt-response and lag-free tracking. There are two switches for access to customizable shortcuts. 

Also included is a redesigned Desktop Pen Stand that holds 10 extra pen nibs (6 standard and 4 felt nibs). The extra cost Bluetooth option from previous Intuos Pro tablets now comes standard along with a wired USB connection. 

Specs

  • Model Number PTH660
  • Tablet Size 13.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 in
  • Active Area 8.7 x 5.8 in
  • Weight 1.54lbs
  • Black color
  • Multi-Touch
  • Pen: Wacom Pro Pen 2
    Pressure-sensitive, cordless, battery-free
    Pressure Levels 8192, both pen tip and eraser
    Tilt Recognition ±60 levels
    2 side switches on pen, Touch on/off switch on tablet
    Replacement Nibs 10 Pro Pen 2 nibs (6 standard and 4 felt nibs in pen stand)
    Latex-free silicone rubber pen grip
  • Desktop pen stand
  • Tablet resolution 5080 lpi
  • 8 customizable, application-specific express keys
  • Touch ring with 4 customizable functions
  • 6.6 ft cable
  • PC And Mac USB or wireless Bluetooth
  • System requirements: USB port, Windows 7 or later, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Bluetooth for wireless connection, internet connection for software downloads

What’s in the box

  • Wacom Intuos Pro Pen Tablet
  • Wacom Pro Pen 2 (battery free)
  • Pen stand (includes 6 standard nibs, 4 Felt nibs)
  • 4 extra pen color rings
  • Texture sheet sample card
  • 6.6 ft. USB cable
  • Quick start guide

Design and features

Let’s look at the construction of the tablet. The Intuos Pro looks a lot like the previous model except that it takes up less desk space and is a bit thinner. It feels just as sturdy as before, if not sturdier. Wacom’s build quality has always been stellar and the current Intuos Pro is no exception. One caveat I have is the new USB-C connector wire. It’s a right angle wire that helps keep it flush with the tablet, but it’s always felt a bit out of place in my desk setup. However, the addition of standard Bluetooth helps that quite a bit and it allows me to move the tablet pretty much wherever I want. Plus USB-C allows for faster charging for wireless operation. If there’s any lag between wired and wireless Bluetooth, I didn’t notice it.

As much as I like my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, I’ve never liked writing/drawing on the iPad’s super-slick glass surface. The Intuos’ replaceable Texture Sheet drawing surface has a slightly rough surface that mimics the feel of paper. This is a far better solution. Optional Texture Sheets come in three degrees of roughness. Note that with a Wacom Intuos line of tablets, you look at a monitor while your hand is drawing on a flat surface out of your sight. While this can be weird at first, it quickly becomes second nature as you acclimate to this new way of working. The much more expensive Cintiq tablets have built-in monitors, so you can draw right on the screen while looking at it—think iPad.

For more money, Wacom does offer what they call the Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition. This tablet actually uses real paper with real ink pens.

This is going to be a bit strange writing about the features of the Intuos tablet. As I said, I’ve been using a form of Wacom tablet for years. When I began, there were no rotary dials or shortcut/function buttons. There was only the tablet and a pen—and that’s how I learned using them. When Wacom introduced the buttons and other extras, I ignored them because I wasn’t comfortable adapting to them, so I disabled all buttons and continued using the Intuos same as before—sans extras. 

That was then and … well, it’s still then. To this day, I don’t use any of the extra’s that Wacom includes on the tablet. To back up my point, I talked with many artists I know that use and depend on the Intuos or Wacom Cintiq tablets. I found that the older that the artist is, the less likely they use these extra features. The younger artists tend to utilize the buttons and dial because their first tablet already had these features. Reviewing the latest Intuos Pro tablet has required me to try these features. 

Wacom has included a row of what they call ExpressKeys. There are eight buttons set vertically that can be made to do almost anything you want to program them to do. A Touch Ring with a center Toggle button divides the ExpressKeys into two sets of four each. In paint programs like Photoshop, the ring can be used to rotate, increase/decrease brush sizes and other functions with variable settings. Pressing the center Toggle button switches between the outer ring functions. If you’re right or left handed, the ExpressKeys can be set to be on the right or left side of the tablet. Once you get the settings done, they’re locked in until you decide to change them. All this sounds more complicated than it really is.

After using the ExpressKeys and Ring for this review, did I overcome my stubborn ways and plan to keep using them? Nope. Sorry, Wacom. (Warning, Photoshop nerd talk ahead) Here’s an example: If I want to resize the brush in Photoshop, I can easily use the Intuos’ outer ring. However, as my left finger is using the Ring while still holding the pen, I can’t see the brush size on the screen. It is much easier for me to have my right hand on the keyboard while I am drawing or retouching with my left on the Intuos tablet. Through the years, I have learned and customized keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop. It’s just easier for me to stick to what I know. (Nerd talk done)

Another feature of the Intuos Pro tablet I usually ignore is Multi-Touch. This basically turns the Intuos tablet into a trackpad. I cannot stand trackpads. It’s probably the main reason I don’t use a laptop. My fingers get all contorted. Ugh. But that’s me. The good news is that it can be turned off. I am aware that for some, Multi-Touch is wonderful and I applaud Wacom for including it. 

Moving on from the ExpressKeys, how does the tablet work in day-to-day work? In a word; great! It’s a Wacom, so that’s not surprising—they are the gold standard among tablets. The increased sensitivity of the pen is a welcome improvement. Drawing or retouching with the pen is almost effortless. Plus, as the pen is turned and tilted, the on-screen brush mimics the moves perfectly by alternating between thin and wide strokes. The Wacom pen has been able to do this for years, but the new Pro Pen 2 is better and even more responsive than before. The Pro Pen 2 is uber-comfortable in the hand. It’s balanced perfectly and the tips are replaceable—yes, they do wear out with age. Also, the pen is light and battery-free. Wacom tablets use electromagnetic resonance technology, which provides power to the pen through inductive coupling. Whatever, it’s magic to me.

What I like

  • Build quality
  • The wonderful Pro Pen 2
  • Smaller size without reducing drawing area
  • Wireless Bluetooth included!

What needs to be improved

  • I wish there was a Pro version available with no ExpressKeys for purists like me
  • Still expensive, although less expensive Wacom tablets are available

Final Thoughts

Although this review is about the new Intuos Pro tablet, it’s also about the many Wacom tablets I’ve used through the years. As the tablets aged, I have replaced them for newer models that were more compatible with the model Mac and Apple system software I had upgraded to. Not once, have I ever replaced a Wacom tablet because it stopped working. Not once. That says a lot about a company and its products.

Price: $329.95 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Wacom.

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Wacom Intuos Pro graphics drawing tablet (PTH660) review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2019 at 8:46 am.

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Zagg Slim Book Go iPad Pro 12.9in keyboard case review


REVIEW – I have owned the previous 3 or 4 versions of the iPad and the last 2 versions of the iPad Pro 12.9″. I now use it so often that it is a daily part of my workflow. The ability to have a good case with a sturdy kickstand and an integrated keyboard is a must for me. I have a tried a few combinations of a case and a separate Bluetooth keyboard, but that solution is clumsy. I now get the opportunity to try the Zagg Slim Book Go iPad Pro 12.9″ case/keyboard combination. I am excited about it, so let’s get going!!

What is it?

The Zagg Slim Book Go iPad Pro 12.9″ keyboard case is slim, sleek and lightweight and connects to your iPad via Bluetooth. It can also simultaneously connect your smartphone. (2 devices at once)

What’s in the box


1 x Zagg Slim Book Go iPad Pro 12.9″ Keyboard Case
1 x Instruction Manual

Design and features

Specifications:

Device Compatibility: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)
InvisibleShield® Friendly: Yes
Battery Life: 1 year
Backlighting: Yes (7 colors)
Dimensions: 11.5” x 9.6” x .8”
Tablet Function Keys: Yes
Multi Pairing: Yes
Language Options Available: Yes
Multi-Angle Viewing: Yes
Laptop-Style Keys: Yes
Detachable Case: Yes

Features:

Lightweight, Portable Design:
The sleek, streamlined design fits easily in your bag so you can take the lightweight Slim Book Go keyboard and case with you wherever you go.

Holder for Apple Pencil:
Built-in holders for the Apple Pencil are located at the top of the keyboard and at the base of the cover. So your Apple Pencil is stored safely when it’s not in use and is right where you need it.

Laptop-style Keys:
The laptop-style keys have optimal key travel so that you get clean, precise, even pressure with each keystroke which facilitates fast and accurate touch typing. Backlighting is available in seven different colors, so it’s easy to type in lowlight conditions.

Detachable Keyboard for Multiple Uses:
The Slim Book Go keyboard and case can be easily detached to accommodate different uses and work environments. The cover of the Slim Book Go, with its reverse kickstand, can support your tablet on one surface while you type with the keyboard on another.

Multi-device Pairing:
The Slim Book Go keyboard and case can pair with two devices at once, so you can sync with both your iPad and your smartphone and toggle between them.

Long-lasting Battery:
The Slim Book Go keyboard’s long-lasting battery lets you type up to one year between charges, so you don’t have to drag along extra cords for charging.*
*based on regular use of one hour per day without backlight.

The keyboard has a built-in magnetic pencil holder and a rubber hinge that connects magnetically to the tablet case.

At the bottom of the tablet part of the case, is the second half of the magnetic rubber hinge that connects with the keyboard portion of the case. There are 2 small rectangle notches that match up with the other half of the hinge.

When not in use, the kickstand folds flat against the case.

The built-in hinged kickstand allows you to place the tablet in a standing position and can be adjusted as needed at increments of your choice.

Performance

This Zagg case is just easy to use right out of the box. The iPad fits snugly in the case and the keyboard half of the case attaches magnetically to the tablet half of the case via a rubber hinge that folds easily to allow the two halves to fold and close together into one flat case.

The keyboard charges via its USB-C port and once charged, you are ready to go. Press the #1 Bluetooth key and the case immediately shows up in the Bluetooth device list on the tablet.

The keys offer just enough resistance to provide a very nice typing experience and other than a small delay if the keyboard has not been used for a while, it is very responsive.

The keyboard is backlit and offers the choice of 7 different colors of lighting. There is also the ability to use the function and backlight key to change the level of brightness of the LEDs.


On the bottom front of the tablet half of the case, there is a magnetic cutout for the pencil which matches a similar cutout in the keyboard portion of the case to provide a perfect enclosure when the case and keyboard are folded together in the closed position.


The case has the perfectly placed cutout for the Apple Pencil which allows you to connect and charge the pencil.

What I like

  • Build quality
  • Keyboard functionality
  • Apple Pencil accommodation

What can be improved

    • There does not seem to be an auto shutoff for the keyboard. I forget to press the power key so it stays on and the battery drains in a few days
    • The depth of the cutout in the case around the iPad’s USB-C port will not likely accommodate some of the currently available USB-C hubs that have a built-in USB-C jack. (See pics below)



Final thoughts

After trying a few cases for my 2018 12.9″ iPad Pro, I can easily say that I think that I have found the winning case for me. I like the feel and build quality of this case, and the stiff hinged kickstand that allows me to place the iPad on my desktop at any angle. The tablet is always secure and even with the keyboard attached the package is slim enough to easily fit in my backpack along with my laptop. The keyboard functionality is great and the dual Bluetooth connectivity comes in handy. I also love the fact that the keyboard is backlit. As long as the hinged kickstand does not become loose from constant movement, this case is good to go. I give Zagg two thumbs up and well done!!

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: The Zagg website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zagg

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Zagg Slim Book Go iPad Pro 12.9in keyboard case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 19, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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