http://mac.iLounge.com iLounge brings you the best for your Mac. en Copyright 2011 iLounge, Inc. All rights reserved jeremy@ilounge.com (Jeremy Horwitz) jerrod@ilounge.com (Jerrod Hofferth) http://www.expressionengine.com/ Mac-31258 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/moshi-codex-macbook-case/
]]> There are plenty of neoprene sleeves for MacBooks out there, and hard plastic cases that snap on to the top and bottom of your machine. Moshi’s upcoming Codex MacBook Case ($70-$80) is something different. Available later this summer for all MacBook Airs and Retina display MacBook Pros, the case offers benefits over other styles, such as the ability to use your MacBook without removing it. It’s also truly distinctive looking, although… Cases Nick Guy 2013-05-24T15:23:47+00:00 Mac-31253 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/brother-mfc-9130cw-digital-color-all-in-one-printer-with-wireless-networkin/
]]> If there’s one peripheral category that the term “necessary evil” fits more than any other, it’s printers. Despite the digitization of pretty much everything, sometimes you just have to put ink on a sheet or ream of paper. To that end, Brother today introduced a new line of all-in-one printers, notably including its MFC-9130CW Digital Color All-in-One Printer with Wireless Networking ($400), that are worth considering if you’re… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-23T18:50:08+00:00 Mac-31245 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/cole-haan-11-reflective-tote-for-macbook-air/
]]> Coming in bright summertime colors, Cole Haan’s 11” Reflective Tote for MacBook Air ($250) is sure to appeal to fashion-conscious Apple users who are willing to drop a good chunk of change on a carrying bag. Seen here in blue, this Apple Store exclusive also comes in white and peach variations. The large purse is made to carry an 11” MacBook Air along with plenty of other stuff; at a little over a foot tall, you shouldn’t have… Cases Nick Guy 2013-05-22T20:39:22+00:00 Mac-31233 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/tgxmedia.com-wordify/
]]> tgxmedia.com’s Wordify ($4) is just plain cool. The Mac App Store title serves one specific purpose: it turns a picture of your choice into “typographic artwork,” replacing dark spots in a photo with text you supply. The result is a vectorized PDF, ready in seconds. ... Apps Nick Guy 2013-05-21T15:57:23+00:00 Mac-31216 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/mce-technologies-internal-blu-ray-player-superdrive/
]]> At this point, we just have to accept the fact that Blu-ray drives won’t be built into Macs; in fact, all optical drives are being phased out of Apple’s computers at this point. But if you have an older iMac or Mac mini, and want to be able to play Blu-ray discs, MCE Technologies is about to offer a new solution. The Internal Blu-ray Player/SuperDrive ($80) is the first internal player we’ve come across for the iMac or Mac mini.… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-20T18:17:40+00:00 Mac-31212 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/mseven-software-msecure/
]]> Not only do you have a ton of passwords, but every time you create a new one, it has to be more complex than the last. Sound about right? If so, mSeven Software’s mSecure ($20) is worth a look. The ultra-secure app manages all of your passwords, along with credit card info, bank accounts, and more. And thanks to a recent update, it now automatically syncs to the company’s iOS app using iCloud. ... Apps Nick Guy 2013-05-17T16:50:49+00:00 Mac-31201 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/western-digital-my-passport-ultra/
]]> It’s been a while since we’ve seen a totally new external hard drive from Western Digital, but lo and behold, here’s My Passport Ultra ($100-$130). Currently available in 500GB and 1TB versions—a 2TB version is slated for the third quarter of this year—this portable drive is perfect for tossing in your bag while traveling. And of course, it uses USB 3.0, so you can expect quick transfer speeds if you’re using a… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-16T16:57:34+00:00 Mac-31149 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/booq-boa-squeeze-backpack/
]]> Backpacks tend not to look all that different from one another. Most of the time you’ll find two straps, a zipper running from side to side, and a few extra pockets. Booq’s new Boa Squeeze ($130) bucks that trend, at least somewhat. It’s one of the most distinctive-looking backpacks we’ve seen in a while, although it still accomplishes the same task of lugging your stuff around. Naturally, it was designed to hold your favorite… Cases Nick Guy 2013-05-16T16:01:36+00:00 Mac-31195 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/penclic-bluetooth-b2-mouse/
]]> If you’re past the point of wanting to use a traditional mouse or trackpad, Penclic’s Bluetooth B2 Mouse ($90) may fit your needs as the next input device for your Mac. Akin to a pen, it enables your wrist and hand to move vertically, which is supposedly healthier than the classic horizontal positions required by traditional mice and pads. Of course, you’ll have to give up Multi-Touch features, but the ergonomics may well be worth… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-15T20:25:41+00:00 Mac-31178 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/chrome-welded-rucksack/
]]> Chrome’s Welded Rucksack ($110) is the first MacBook bag we’ve ever seen compared to a Coast Guard boat. The huge new bag features waterproof construction to ensure that your gear is safe, and it’s said to be the same technology the Coast Guard uses. It includes a removable, padded sleeve made to hold up to a 15” MacBook Pro.  ... Cases Nick Guy 2013-05-14T15:59:51+00:00 Mac-31172 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/thought-out-magstay-ms-01/
]]> When Steve Jobs introduced the MagSafe power adapter back in 2006, he said it was made to prevent your notebook from flying across the room if someone tripped over the cord. That was a great idea, but what are you supposed to do if you’d rather your MagSafe not pull right out—an issue that MagSafe 2 users have found particularly troubling? Thought Out has a solution: MagStay MS-01 ($20). Its one and only purpose is to hold the MagSafe… Extras Nick Guy 2013-05-13T19:00:30+00:00 Mac-31160 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/sonnet-xmac-mini-server/
]]> It’s not secret that Mac minis are powerful little machines. Whether you’re running the standard consumer version, or opted to upgrade to the server edition, it can be used for some heavy duty tasks. Sonnet’s xMac mini Server ($1,295) makes the most of that by fitting your computer into a rack mount, and adding expansion support. It’s not for everyone, but power users and businesses should take note. ... PeripheralsMounts Nick Guy 2013-05-10T16:09:02+00:00 Mac-31138 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/ultralink-ucubetrio-2.1-multimedia-speaker-system/
]]> While it’s not uncommon for USB-powered stereo speakers to resemble Macs, a subwoofer is almost never part of the equation. But that’s exactly what you get with UltraLink’s UCubeTrio 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System ($350). Along with a pair of 3” square speakers, a 5” square USub subwoofer brings the bass. The silver aluminum and black lacquer materials perfectly match your MacBook or iMac.  ... Speakers Nick Guy 2013-05-08T16:00:36+00:00 Mac-31132 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/targus-usb-3.0-superspeed-dual-video-docking-station/
]]> Although Targus’ USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Dual Video Docking Station ($170) isn’t totally new hardware, its support for Macs is fresh. Just announced this morning, a new set of drivers now allows you to connect a MacBook to the hub. While it’s not as elegant as other solutions on the market, including Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock, the rather affordable price and video output may well make it worth considering for those who use… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-07T19:51:27+00:00 Mac-31124 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/adobe-photoshop-cc/
]]> Just announced at its annual MAX event, Adobe has updated its flagship photo editing application with the introduction of Photoshop CC ($20+ per month). Alongside new features discussed below, it comes with a whole new pricing scheme that caught us off guard, and will likely be unappealing to some users. Now, instead of just buying the app, you have to subscribe to it: $20 a month gets you access to a single title within Adobe’s Creative Cloud… Apps Nick Guy 2013-05-06T19:27:43+00:00 Mac-31106 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/sandisk-cruzer-orbit-usb-flash-drive/
]]> We always appreciate innovation in flash drive designs; solid state memory can be pretty boring otherwise. That’s why Sandisk caught our attention with the Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive ($22-$40). Coming in 8, 16, and 32GB capacities, the physical design is pretty neat, and definitely different from anything we’ve seen before. ... Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-03T14:15:51+00:00 Mac-31101 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/vemedio-instacast/
]]> Podcasts are really well-suited to mobile devices; is there a better way to run than with Ira Glass discussing Argentinian basket makers? But podcasts have a place on traditional computers, too. Most people rely on iTunes to manage their audio and video subscriptions, but Vemedio thinks it has a better way. The company has ported its popular iOS app to the Mac with a public beta of Instacast (Free), which eliminates iTunes’ bloat in favor of… Apps Nick Guy 2013-05-02T16:53:11+00:00 Mac-31090 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/owc-envoy-pro-ex/
]]> OWC has brought its experience in making SSD upgrades for Macs to a new external storage device called Envoy Pro Ex ($320-$600). Available in either 240GB or 480GB capacities, this is the latest external drive to borrow heavily from Apple’s unibody aluminum design language. Although expensive, the small body, speeds, and overall reliability of SSD technology make it an interesting option. ... Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-05-01T15:53:50+00:00 Mac-31088 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/belkin-thunderbolt-express-dock-2013/
]]> It’s been over a year since we last wrote about Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock ($300), an accessory that had already delayed following its initial September 2011 (!) announcement. After plenty of changes, it has become a real product, so you can hit the order button on Belkin’s website to have one shipped your way. Just as originally promised, the finished unit adds a number of ports to your Mac, making it most attractive to users… Peripherals Nick Guy 2013-04-30T15:40:40+00:00 Mac-31082 http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mac/comments/uncover-custom-macbook-lids/
]]> Chances are you’ve seen a Snow White or Banksy decal on the back of someone’s Mac, incorporating the glowing Apple logo into a larger image. But what would you say to a design that’s actually cut into the metal lid? This is what Uncover offers with its custom MacBook lids (€199+/~$261+). Available for all aluminum MacBooks, the range of artist-designed and tailor made images means you can have a computer that is truly unique… Extras Nick Guy 2013-04-29T14:38:03+00:00