It's hard to believe that after all these years, someone could reinvent a USB cable and leave me impressed. But that's exactly what Lander did with its Neve Lightning Cable ($29.99). Lander paid a lot of attention to the pet peeves of most users. The cable is remarkably thin and while I've seen flat cables before and I've seen fabric braided cables before, I've never seen one cable that is both flat and covered with braided fabric. The result is a tangle-free, comfortable cable with an attractive design. It's one of the best lightning cables out there.
Accessories
4 Beautiful Leather Apple Watch Bands
By Conner Carey
I recently bought myself an Apple Watch. Now it’s time to find the perfect band for my wrist and I’m a sucker for a good leather cuff. For those of us who have expensive taste (I’m looking at your Hermes) but want to stay in a reasonable budget, this is the list for you. Just make sure to keep these out of water; your Apple Watch may be waterproof, but leather bands are not!
Review: Epson Projector + Apple TV Make a Great Home Theater
By Todd Bernhard
Before the recently enhanced Apple TV was introduced, rumor sites speculated that Apple might actually make large-screen television sets and embed its Apple TV intelligence into them. I was never a fan of that strategy. TV sets are fragile and bulky, and Apple doesn't need to get into that business. For several years, I have relied on an Epson projector connected to an Apple TV for my home entertainment. I've never looked back since I set up the home theater system. My screen is as large as my wall, which is far bigger than any TV set at Best Buy. I mounted the Epson projector to my wall and painted the screen-side of the wall with a special paint to make the image even better.
If you trust a folio to keep your iPad safe and secure, you want it to be high quality. NewerTech provides peace of mind in various colors with its Original iFolio ($29.99). Made with Brazilian leather, I had a chance to carry one around for awhile to see how I liked it. With built in handle and detachable strap, plus extra cushioned padding, my iPad has been happily snug in its new home.
Review: Runnur's Over-Shoulder iPad Carrying Case
By Todd Bernhard
I've always admired the RUNNUR bandolier-style messenger bags when I've seen them at various tradeshows. At the recent New York City Comicon, I saw RUNNUR's exhibit and noticed an iPad-specific offering, which I was fortunate enough to try. The Shoulder Sling Case ($60) is a nylon case for an iPad or iPad mini, with the screen exposed for easy access. There are four different D-ring metal loops to connect the included padded strap. There's a handy hand grip that also doubles as a stand.
Review: Twelve South’s HiRise Deluxe Charges Everything
By Conner Carey
Twelve South has easily become one of my go-to places for fantastic and gorgeous iPhone and iPad accessories. This time, the company is pushing innovation with a sleek charging stand that can charge any lightning device you have for it: the HiRise Deluxe ($34.99). From charging your iPhone (in its case) to the new Apple Pencil, this may be Twelve South’s most useful accessory yet.
Review: Timbrefone Passive Wood Speaker
By Becca Ludlum
The Timbrefone is a beautiful handmade wooden passive speaker. It requires no charging, Bluetooth pairing, or other power and can be used for listening to music, talking on the phone, or FaceTime.
Review: Moshi iGlaze Ion Battery Case
By Becca Ludlum
I'm always on the lookout for the best iPhone 6 battery cases and I've always been happy with Moshi phone cases in general, so I was happy to try the new Moshi iGlaze Ion Battery Case for iPhone 6 and 6s ($99.95). It's quick to charge up and quick to power up your phone. The outer charging case can be removed when you don't need it, leaving the slim and beautiful inner shell to protect your iPhone 6 or 6s.
This Mobile PC Lets You Use Your iPad as a Monitor
By Todd Bernhard
Review: The TravelCard Charger Fits in Your Wallet
By Todd Bernhard
I've reviewed the previous generation of the TravelCard Charger ($34) and I'm happy to report that, as good as it was, it's now even better. As the name implies, it's a compact charger in the shape and size of a credit card. What sets the TravelCard apart is that it's so small, yet still has a Lightning cable built-in (or there's a microUSB version for Android users.) The new version has a USB cable included so the TravelCard can be charged easily from any USB port.
Hans: Screen Deodorant for Your iPhone
By Conner Carey
“Hello, My Name is Hans,” says the packaging for what appears to be a small stick of deodorant. Made to clean your iPhone screen, when I first got Hans ($14.99) in the mail, I laughed. Yet, after using it, I got really happy. If you’re the type of person that hates dirt and fingerprints on your screen, Hans is about to be your new best friend.
Review: Withings Activité Pop Tracks Sleep, Is Waterproof
By Todd Bernhard
It's a reality today that all wearables will be compared to the Apple Watch, but the Activité Pop ($149.95) from Withings compares favorably. For starters, it's a lot more affordable, at about $150. It's also waterproof, which Apple doesn't claim. The first thing you'll notice is that it's analog. That means the battery life can be measured in months (up to eight), not hours. It's still smart, just don't expect to read your text messages on it. What you can do, though, is track your activity, steps, and sleep, and receive vibration alarms.