AAUG Reviews

by Martin Nance ,AAUG Member

I was able to use this book even though I have already used trial and error to complete my set up. I purchased a 500GB Time Machine that is also a complete Airport Extreme. The set up would have been much faster had I used this eBook. I had several goals for the Airport, more speed, a network printer and a network drive. I was able to get the network working and used this eBook for setting up the network printer and drive. I hope to continue deeper reading to improve access to the drive.
The book does a great job of defining and explaining the network terms needed to successfully bring the airport on line. Details concerning all phases of set up were clearly detailed.
Wireless Basics
Setting up the Base Station
Setting up the Local Network
Connecting to the Internet
Configuring the Extras, (Printers and Drives)
Connecting your computers to the Network
How to get the best Coverage and Range

There is much more and I hope I will be able to spend some time learning as much as I can from this excellent resource.

by Guy Okada ,AAUG Member

Having just acquired a MacBook Air it was imperative that I find a mini USB hub as the MBA has just one USB port. Belkin has the perfect answer to those seeking a compact, fast and affordable mini-hub.

The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Ultra-Mini Hub from Belkin is just 2″x2″x.5″ with a 6″ cable that connects to the MBA USB hub. A small red light on the top of the hub signals when it is plugged in. The Ultra-Mini hub requires no other power source or any software to operate; just plug it in and you’re ready to go. There are four ports for connectivity to USB 1.1 and USB 2.o devices and the data transfer rate is up 480Mpbs. As a test I connected a mouse, keyboard, a DLSR camera and an superdrive to my MacBook Air and they all worked flawlessly. The cable connection to the hub is reinforced which allows the cable to be bent when storing in a small pocket without damage to the product. The 6″ cable is long enough to make connecting devices convenient and short enough not to get tangled. This is clearly a well designed product and features Belkin’s confident Lifetime warranty. (more…)

by Guy Okada ,AAUG Member

Our lives are so inextricably wrapped around electronic devices like iPhones and iPods that a dead battery can turn things upside down in an instant. I’ve had an iPhone for a couple of months now and I am still conditioning myself to charge it every evening before bed. And on those days when I forget, I have to pack the charger in my briefcase to charge my iPhone during work. And I’ve recently had my trusty iPod battery run out during a long flight. Well, those days of feeling helpless with a dead iPod and iPhone are past. The answer is the Mini Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod from Kensington.

This small (2.38″L x 1.68″W x 0.38″H) and lightweight (.10 lbs.) device is a lifesaver for those anxious moments when you need more juice for your iPhone or iPod. The concept is simple: charge the battery pack and plug it into the dock of your iPhone or iPod whenever you need it. Kensington claims that it will extend your play time up to 30 hours of music, 6 hours of video or 3 hour of talk. the lithium-ion polymer battery retains its charge until you need it. It is small enough to keep with you as a backup–especially when you’re traveling. I only tested the battery pack once when my iPhone battery was totally drained and it worked without a problem until I charged it again.

Charging the Mini Battery Pack is a snap. A retractable USB charging cable is included that fits into your iPhone or iPod charger or your laptop. Plug it in and the battery pack will charge in a couple of hours. An LED battery meter displays the remaining power level. I would like to have seen a button that could be pressed to see the power level of the Battery Pack; unless it’s plugged into a device you can’t tell how much juice it has.

There are a couple of downsides to the Mini Battery Pack. On iPods and iTouch where the headphone jack is next to the dock, using the battery pack prevents use of headphones as it covers the jack. Another issue could arise if your iPhone or iPod is in a case that does have enough space for the battery pack to connect to the dock; in that case you will need to remove it from the case before connecting the battery pack.

This is handy backup to have on hand if you use your iPhone or iPod frequently and risk running down the battery. I keep it in my briefcase so I have it around me all the time. I also plan to take it on future trips as invariably I run down the battery on my iPod watching videos and listening to music. Kensington includes a 1-Year warranty with the Mini Battery Pack. It is a handy product to keep our digital lifestyle running without any drained battery burps.

by Ron Schoedel ,AAUG Member

Griffin’s NuForm case for 3G iPhones is a winner. The stylish hard shell in its innovative two-piece design is both attractive and functional, a combination many cases don’t have.

Installation is literally a snap. Place the top of the case over the top of your iPhone, firmly, and snugly. Then slide in the plastic screen protector over the face of your phone. Next, slide the bottom up and into the top shell. Instant protection is now engaged, just like that.

One thing that really impressed me is how little bulk the NuForm adds to the slim, svelte iPhone 3G. I dislike bulky cases. I have an iPod and an iPhone because I like their slim size, not because I want to double their size with cases. NuForm meets my needs for a hard case with shock protection. Several times my phone fell, and the case was just as firmly attached as when I installed it.

Docking the iPhone is a real breeze. The Griffin literature touts how easily the bottom of the case slides off, to dock the iPhone. But I found that in the docking accessories I use (a couple different speakers and clock radios) it was not even necessary to make my iPhone go bottomless. The NuForm-clad iPhone docked just fine, and was solidly in place in my Universal-Dock compatible accessories. (Accessories that use custom sized dock basins might require removal of the bottom of the NuForm, though.) (more…)

by Gary Miller ,AAUG Member

The BT 550 Bluetooth Mouse by RadTech is a beauty, it’s black, and ergonomically shaped for your hand, comes with a USB cable to charge while you work (you can buy a USB to Bluetooth adapter if you don’t have Bluetooth capability on your computer directly from RadTech). It’s a 1200 dpi laser tracking, will work on any surface( I tried slippery, glass, and wood desk - worked great), even comes with rechargeable AAA NiMH batteries ( I had to go to their website to see how they were installed into the nicely shaped mouse…), 3 programmable buttons.

I downloaded and installed the configuration driver from their site, so I could assign the buttons to applications. The scroll wheel is also a meter to show power level of the rechargeable batteries. I liked leaving it plugged in to my USB on my iMac. I wanted to find a better quality mouse than the Apple Bluetooth mouse I’ve been using, and that has been replaced many times by Apple thru Applecare, but in the end, I’m tired of it not working… (more…)

by Gary Miller ,AAUG Member

EarthBrowser is an amazing piece of software that makes our planet Earth more down to earth, if you like a pun. It easily, shows it’s user weather in cities, and larger areas; updating moment by moment. It also will show volcanic eruptions, storms are coming, it’s a virtual real time 3D model. It’s shareware, and a free trial is offered from the website. I have reviewed EarthBrowser a couple of years ago, so I was curious how it had evolved.

The new version offers many more features, ones that you’ll use, and enjoy. I wanted to see cities I know people in around the globe, so I opened the Find window, and searched for Anchorage, AK, it opeened to show the weather forecast, and the huge earth swiveled to reveal Anchorage front and center, I could zoom in closer, open a google map too, or see webcams in the area.

I like the Map’s window that opens a new browser window to search Google Maps.

It’s fun to play with, clicking the window for Tectonic Plates, or US state borders, or to see how clouds move across the planet.

I’d like to see in the manual a more descriptive tour of features that guides the basic user through the many features versus (more…)

by Dave Enders ,AAUG Member

I have been growing frustrated with my Apple Bluetooth mouse. When I perform a primary click the mouse thinks it is a secondary click. And it sticks. Also the tracking is not very high and in the end is just not that useful. Both Logitech and Microsoft implement a version of Bluetooth in some of their devices that need a transceiver. If I wanted another piece of equipment connected to my USB port I would buy a USB Mouse.

Enter the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse. My requirements for a new mouse are: Bluetooth, good feel, improved dpi tracking and affordable price.

I have been using the new mouse for the last two weeks. I am happy to report that the SlimBlade Trackball Mouse does all of these very well. It was easy to setup on a 10.5 machine. The Quickstart Guide included provided enough information to get me up and running. For the complete manual you need to visit the Kensington website. Which brings me to one of two knocks that I have against the trackball mouse. The trackball mouse includes a cd with drivers on it. However this disk is only needed if you are using Windows XP. Windows Vista, Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 users do not require the driver disk. In an effort to be a Green company , I would like Kensington to remove the disk from the product and make the XP driver available for download. It may even save them some money across their product lines. It’s a small gripe (more…)

by Guy Okada ,AAUG Member

BodyGuardz is one of several clear film products for covering electronic devices. It is made from the same material used to protect the front of automobiles from being scratched by the elements. BodyGuardz includes two fronts and two backs in each package. It is also available in just the front covering or the back covering.

I recently got an 3G iPhone and was anxious to protect its highly polished and reflective surfaces so when I received my BodyGuardz package, I got to work immediately. The directions are written on the inside cover and is easy to follow. There are instruction videos of the installation process at bodyguardz.com.

It is critical to work on a clean surface with clean hands and to have a lot of patience. Application of the film is as easy as peeling it off the backing, spraying it with the solution that is in a small spray bottle and applying it to the iPhone. Now comes the test of patience and determination. Getting the film on perfectly takes a keen eye and lots of adjustments. A small squeegee card like a credit card is included to press out air bubbles. (more…)

by Chris Tofteberg ,AAUG Member

I’m on a quest. A quest for the ultimate iPhone case. One that clips and stays clipped to the belt. One that is attractive. One that makes access to the iPhone simple. The Belkin Slim-Fit case for the iPhone scores pretty well in all of these categories.

I’m a sucker for cool packaging and Belkin did not disappoint, with an Apple-ishly simple package that showed off the product. The product is just one item, the case. The Slim-Fit is a leather case that clips to the belt and orients the phone vertically. This feels more ergonomic to me than my previous holster that held the phone horizontally.

The Slim-Fit is a beautiful case in leather with an aluminum accent strip on the front. The iPhone slips into the case from the top; perhaps it is better described as an iPhone holster. The sides are elastic so it holds the phone nice and tight in the case. The bottom of the case is a mesh material, so it doesn’t obstruct the speakers on the bottom of the phone. Function and form are exemplary. And the case has a lifetime warranty, a nice touch.

Now for my gripe: It’s almost impossible to get the iPhone out of the case with one hand. (more…)

by Chris Tofteberg ,AAUG Member

When you invest hundreds of dollars on something, you want to take care of it. You want to keep it looking pristine. If you’ve purchased an iPhone, you know what I’m talking about. I’d hate to see my iPhone all scratched up because I didn’t take care of it.

Zagg’s Invisible Shield puts these concerns to rest. The principle of the Invisible Shield is simple: A thin stick-on plastic coating that covers the entire phone. Zagg included everything in the box that you need to install the Invisible Shield: Shield spray, to clean the iPhone and help with placement of the Shield, a squeegee, the Invisible Shield plastic coating for the entire case, and even an extra shield for the screen. Zagg also offers a free lifetime warranty for the Invisible Shield.

Despite the provided equipment, installation was difficult to say the least. This is more a function of the shape and design of the iPhone than a fault on Zagg’s part; you’re basically tasked with installing a flat sheet of plastic on an object with rounded corners and small buttons. You install by spraying the included liquid onto the Shield (and your fingers to prevent fingerprints and help with handling the sticky side (more…)