appleJAC Users Group

Omni-Electronics Power Chargers: Fast & Durable

a review by Tom Piper

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard established in 1996 for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply for many electronic devices. New technology has produced devices that are super-fast speed, small size and very sturdy construction with USB-C 3.1 units leading the field. 

At CES 2022, I acquired the OMNI CHARGER MINI for cell phone and tablet. It is very small (W 1.2” x H 1.2” x D 1.5”, about a 1/4” larger than Apple’s iPhone charger) with high power density and low heat (due to Gallium nitride (GaN) application). Its Fast Charge Mode (30W max) supports my latest iPhone 12 and 13 models, as well as my new iPad mini, and other Android models. Input supports the Largest Global Voltage Range (90V~264Vac) with Output of USB-C of 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A at Level VI efficiency.

For more power, I also acquired the OMNI CHARGER MAX for phone, tablet, notebooks and big gaming laptops. It too is small (W 1.1” x H 2.1” x D 2.1”, about a 1/4” larger than Apple’s iPad charger), also with even higher power density and low heat (due to Gallium nitride (GaN) application). Its Fast Charge Mode (65W max) supports everything the MINI does with both a USB-A (18W) and a USB-C (45-65W) port to charge two devices at once. The 65W adaptor has a surge protector that automatically resets itself once a power surge is detected, protecting my Mac. iPhone and iPad. This internal reset makes the adaptor usable again, while other 65W chargers do not reset and are rendered useless. Supported protocols for both chargers include Apple Mode, macOS, iOS, PPS (Omni Operating System Compatibility), Windows, Android, and Chrome OS.

In order to charge my iPhone 13 Pro Max, the OMNI USB-C TO 90° LIGHTNING CABLE completed my acquisitions. At 48” long, this white and silver braided micro-chipped cable will handle fast charging and connectivity speed of 480Mbps. I also really like the 90° reinforced jack which is great for gaming and movies while charging and transferring data. It is the perfect compliment to the Omni chargers.

These combination of devices are wonderful for home, work and travel, not only because of their small size and cool operation, but also due to their extra power and duality of charging. This can shorten the time to recharge our valuable devices, and lengthen our productivity and enjoyment time!

To learn more about these devices, go to https://omni-electronics.com where the chargers are available in black or white, and the cable in tiffany green, rose gold, pacific blue, white and black. These products will be available for consumer purchase at the end of April with the adaptors starting at USD30 and cables from USD15 for respective specifications. Visit their website for pre-orders or ask your local stores to carry Omni products. This is a wonderful solution for charging our iPhones, iPads and Macs from a company with a long and dependable history of quality and effective digital products.

 

AirPoint Ring: Innovative 3D Mousing

a review by Tom Piper

Since its introduction in 1968, the computer mouse has taken many shapes, sizes and forms, usually a two-dimensional device controlling a cursor on a screen. The evolution from joystick to wheels to balls, plus the addition of buttons and pads, led to the use of ultrasound, optical, inertia and gyroscopic sensors to enable three-dimensional interaction. The latest wireless devices have produced futuristic mice of advanced functionality.

At CES 2022, I first met the AirPoint Ring which is an invention that combines a ring-shaped finger wearable unit with advanced technology. This new device offers 3D navigation on top of the functionalities of a typical mouse, all controlled with my fingertips and hand motion. Thus, it makes for a versatile solution for presentations, gaming, 3D modeling while reducing the fatigue that many devices cause. 

The AirPoint Ring includes a rechargeable AirPoint charger (with a 42” USB-A to USB-C cable) that allows me to charge my Ring by magnetically docking it in its own case (a full charge will operate the Ring for about 8 hours). It also includes three “shims” which can be inserted into the Ring to match fingers of many sizes. The Ring is small at 1.4” x 1.3” x 1.5” (1.7 oz), while the charger case is 2.5” x 2.6” x 2.7” (5.3 oz) in size. It will work on either the right or left hand (usually worn on the index finger).

For traditional 2D control, there is an LED optical sensor on the bottom, with two capacitive touchpads on both sides (for right and left click) plus a tactile button (switch) inside the bottom of the Ring (for dragging and scrolling). For 3D control, motion is detected by an integrated gyroscope and 3D accelerometer, and the back switches change modes allowing for deactivation on the fly (the mechanical on/off switch is underneath the Ring). A presentation mode also enables advancement (or reversing) of slides by rotation of the wrist up to 100 feet away the computer.

The unit is paired to my computer via Bluetooth 5.0. Once the free Magnima AirPoint app is downloaded, I can change setting tools that let me highlight the cursor with spotlight, magnifier and laser pointer. This application connects with the AirPoint Ring to bring out the additional device modes, adjusts the 3D motion sensitivity, shift right hand to left hand use, and updates the device when new features are introduced. The Ring and app work with macOS 10.10 or later, as well as Windows 10 or later.

Being a new concept in cursor control, I felt a little clumsy when the Ring was mounted on my finger, until I reread the detailed (but simple) instruction about setup, initial use and advanced features. It is important to relax the hand and keep it in a comfortable position. Typing while wearing the Ring was also a little unnerving until I realized how easy it is to temporarily “disconnect” cursor movement until needed. It was also fun to be able to magnify selectively, and to use spotlight to emphasis areas that I wanted to focus on.

To learn more about the AirPoint Ring, go to https://magnima.com/product/airpoint-ring/ where this device can be purchased for $149.99 (or $129.99 until 01/31/22). This is a wonderful alternative for controlling your cursor and presentations. Established in 2017, Magnima is a subsidiary of the Brothers of St. Patrick, an international Roman Catholic religious congregation engaged in providing quality education for underprivileged communities worldwide.

 

Rolling Square inCharge X: Versatile & Durable

a review by Tom Piper

Universal Serial Bus (USB) was an industry standard established in 1996 for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply for many electronic devices. Lightning connectors were introduced by Apple in 2012. New technology has produced connection cables that are small, sturdy and multi-faceted.

Known as the “100W Swiss Army Knife of Cables”, the inCharge X is an ultra-fast keyring connection cable that appears to be the best on the market. It allows USB-C to USB-C ultra fast charging up to 100W and Apple’s fast charging up to 18W. Thanks to its proprietary chip, this little cable can even charge laptops and tablets. 

If you have a phone with a USB-C port (Android, not yet Apple), inCharge X allows a phone or tablet to become a power source when standard charging ports are not nearby. Regardless of the devices, it supports both charging and data transfer, allowing quick transfer of data, with a speed of 480Mbit.

This combo cable is small at only 0.9 oz and 2.8” x 0.5” x 0.2” in a metal housing with 200 Braided copper wires, N52 Magnets, nylon reinforcement, and aramid fiber construction. On one end is either a USB-A or USB-C connector, and on the other end a USB-C or Lightning connector (which is also micro USB compatible), allowing any of six different combinations. This makes it compatible with a wide range of iPhone, iPad, iPod and other devices.

Its small size and magnetic closure make this cable an easy item to carry on a keychain, gadget bag or other convenient location. Its durable construction ensures long and useful life for years and miles to come.

To learn more about this and other devices, go to https://rollingsquare.com where this cable can be purchased for $29.00 in either Lava Black, Sapphire Blue or Marble Beige. This is a wonderful solution for charging our iPhones, iPads and other devices from a company with a long and dependable history of quality and effective digital products.

 

February 2022 Agenda

January 2022 appleJAC Meeting

This January 4 gathering of 20 appleJAC members (see agenda below) was particularly interesting with tips by Joe (T&T), hardware manuals presented by George (HardManuals.pdf) and software manuals presented by Jason (SoftwareManuals) . . . click on the link after each name to download their information for further viewing.

In order to view the video from the first half of the meeting, just click on AppleManuals—Part1, and for the second half click on AppleManuals—Part2. If weren't there, this is a great way to review this excellent information.

December 2021 Meeting Agenda

November 2021 Meeting Resources

The November 2, 2021, 7:00pm CDST, monthly meeting of appleJAC User Group about 30 Gadgets in 60 Minutes and macOS 12.01 Monterey had 25 people in attendance. The videos of this meeting before and after the break can be viewed by clicking on facebook.com/appleJAC.part1 and facebook.com/appleJAC.part2.

In order to view the PDF slideshow of George's macOS Monterey, Joe's Tips and Tricks, Jason's Apple announcement and all the gadgets at this meeting, just click on this link: applejac-november-2021-topics.

 

November 2021 Meeting Agenda

October 2021 Meeting Resources

George Kopp''s presentation

Download Apple September 2021 New Products

 

Jason Piper's presentation

Download AppleJAC-2021-10-iOS

 

Meeting on Facebook

no video available

Agenda-October 2021

OWC Envoy Pro SX: Rugged T3 Power

a review by Tom Piper

Solid state drives (SSDs) have made huge advancements in SSD and Thunderbolt technology over the past 40 years which have produced devices of super-fast speed, small size and very sturdy construction.

OWC Envoy Pro SX is a USB4 and Thunderbolt 3-certified bus-powered small, storage solution. It has incredible speed up to 2847MB/s real-world performance. At 0.6” x 2.8” x 4.5” and 10.4 ounces in size, with a detachable 27” Thunderbolt 3 cable, this unit runs cool and soundless enclosed in a black aluminum case (IP67 rated) that provides great data protection. It is so rugged that my data is protected by military-level drop toughness, plus being dust and water-proof.

As OWC states online, this new unit is: “Super-fast. Super-versatile. Super-portable. And rugged enough to endure the most perilous work and play settings.” This SSD handles all data storage and backup challenges with the following benefits:

• Advanced OWC Aura Pro SSD storage technology with TRIM support works with Thunderbolt 3
• Perfect for audio, video, photography, graphics, gaming, and general data storage and backup uses
• Bus-powered and smaller than most compact smartphones
• Fan-less, heat-dissipating aluminum housing 
• Compatible with macOS and Windows built-in encryption
• LED for at-a-glance confirmation of power and activity status
• 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty

I can now use my 240 gigabyte Envoy Pro SX as a super-fast data-transfer drive for my 16” MacBook Pro, plus a convenient volume for more storage, movies and a variety of other handy uses. I also use it with my 12.9” iPad Pro, and 15” Asus Chromebook. Most importantly, data transfer runs faster than any other storage device that I use.

In real life use, a 5.52 GB folder of 16,369 files copied over in less than 3 minutes! Single files transfer even faster, such as a 1.31 GB movie that copied from my computer in only 4 seconds!!!

Obviously, this device is meant to be used for situations where spinning hard drives would be slow and cumbersome. Whether its large video files being transferred in extreme conditions, music productions being frequently edited, frequent relay of data from one technology to another, or cloning backups for Apple’s latest M1 computers, the Envoy Pro SX is the best choice for raw speed, functionality, convenient-size and durability. This is an incredible tool to support my technology needs.

To learn more about this enclosure, go to https://www.owcdigital.com/products/envoy-pro-sx where it can be purchased for $179 - $479 (240GB - 2.0TB) with a 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty. This is a wonderful solution for storing and transmitting our precious data, video and power from a company with a long and dependable history of quality and effective digital products.

 

Meeting Agenda-September 2021

August 2021 -- Mac Backup and Storage

George Kopp and Jason Piper's meeting presentation:

Download IOS and Mac Backup

 

Meeting Agenda - August, 2021

Meeting Agenda-July 2021

May 2021 appleJAC meeting information

As announced at the May 4 member meeting, this year's Annual appleJAC Picnic will be held "in-person" on June 1, 2021, at 6:00 pm. The location of the picnic will be at the Cole County Park Pavilion, 4301 County Park Rd, behind the Cole County fairgrounds in Jefferson City.

To celebrate our return to in-person meetings, the appleJAC Board of Directors has decided that appleJAC will pay for a catered meal from Lutz Famous BBQ for each attending member.

Each meal will consist of a Sandwich or Salad. Water and cookies for desert will be provided, but feel free to also bring your favorite beverage.

Guests will be charged $12.50 for their meal, and members will be responsible for this fee the night of the picnic. 

Please complete the appropriate Registration Forms before May 15 in order to ensure your orders and attendance. For each member, click the link below, then enter a separate form for guest choices for their meal:

https://forms.gle/maCcGg1aES8dUw5h8

To download Apple Announcements from Jason Piper, click on this link: appleJAC-2021-05-announcements.TAnd, to download the slideshows on "The Future of the Mac" from Jason and George Kopp, click on these links: App Compatibility and Apple M1.

To view the video from tonight's meeting, click on this link: https://youtu.be/sOYGxAW0jpc.

 

OWC Envoy Pro Elektron: Stunning Pocket Power

a review by Tom Piper

Over 40 years ago, solid state drives (SSDs) were implemented in semiconductor memory for early supercomputers. Since then, there have been huge advancements in SSD and Thunderbolt technology which have produced devices of incredible speed, size and sturdiness.

OWC Envoy Pro Elektron is a universal Thunderbolt3-certified bus-powered tiny-sized storage solution. Powered by a OWC Aura SSD advanced storage technology, it has incredible speed up to 1011MB/s real-world performance. At 0.5” x 2” x 3” and 3 ounces in size, with a detachable 27” Thunderbolt 3 cable (plus USB 3.2 Type-A adapter), this unit runs cool and quiet enclosed in a silver aluminum case (IP67 rated) that provides great data protection. It is so rugged that my data is protected by military-level drop toughness, plus being dust and water-proof.

As their website says, since the earliest days of mobile computing, there’s been a frequent user desire: “make it smaller, faster, lighter, and rugged.” This unit does all of this and handles my audio, video, photo, graphics, and gaming tasks in an incredibly small package. Because it is universally compatible, it can access and save files from my older machines, backup personal and business files, and do large format video editing. This powerful drive is built to deliver.

I can now use my one terabyte Envoy Pro Elektron as a super-fast boot and backup drive for my MacBook Air, plus a convenient volume for more storage, movies and a variety of other handy uses. I now use it with all 5 of my Macs, 4 iPad Pros, and a Chromebook. Most importantly, when plugged into my 16” MacBook Pro, data transfer runs faster than any other storage device that I use.

Since the earliest days of mobile computing, there’s been a common user desire mantra: “make it smaller, faster, lighter, and rugged.” Pocket-sized tiny and crushproof, the Envoy Pro Elektron puts massive-sized personal and work files in the palm of my hand while pushing USB-C’s bandwidth to the max (while still backwards compatible with USB-A connections) so I can edit and save wherever, whenever with virtually any of my devices.

In real-world terms, this unit already stores over 700 of my movies, but it could otherwise hold 200,000 photos, or 50,000 songs, or 4.3 million Pages documents, just to name a few examples of its capacity. And transfer speeds are done in minutes, not hours!

Obviously, this device is meant to be used for situations where spinning hard drives would quickly fail. Whether its large video files being transferred in extreme conditions, music productions being frequently edited, frequent relay of data from one technology to another, or cloning backups for Apple’s latest M1 computers, the Envoy Pro Elektron is the best choice for raw speed, functionality, compact-size and durability. This is a marvelous tool to support my technology needs.

To learn more about this enclosure, go to https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-envoy-pro-elektron where it can be purchased for $99 - $369 (240GB - 2.0TB) with a 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty. This is a powerful solution for storing and transmitting our precious data, video and power from a company with a history of quality and effective digital products.

 

Agenda--May 2021

Mac Security

A wonderful blog post that many Apple users will positively love about Mac Security:

https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/keep-mac-computer-secure/

 

Suggested by Benjamin Brown <BenjaminBrown@onlinefreedomsafety.com>

 

 

April 2021 appleJAC Meeting Information

In order to view George Kopp's presentation, click on: Apple Homekit 2021.

To watch the 67-minute video of this meeting, click on: https://youtu.be/F-x1n4Pslh0.