appleJAC Users Group

President's Corner-April 2019

From the President

 

UNIREX: USB-C+A Super SD Reader

a review by Tom Piper

Flash drive or thumb drive or U disk or pan drive . . . whatever you call portable solid-state storage that we have used for years . . . the newest computers and tablets now go beyond the traditional USB-A connector to embrace the new USB-C standard — faster and more robust, for better data transmission. The latest iPad Pros use this new port to great advantage, but most flash drives don’t work correctly with them, until now!

The UNIREX MicroSD U1 is a 5-in-1 reader and SD adapter that can be successfully used with all of Apple’s MacBooks and iPads released the past two years. It features connections to USB-A, USB-C and USBmicro at USB 3.0 speeds from regular SD and microSD cards from 32GB to 256GB. It has removable cap covers on both ends.

This unit can efficiently transfer data from SDXC, SDHC, SD, MicroSDXC, MicroSDHC and MicroSD cards, which makes it perfect for USB-C and microUSB supported smartphones, tablets, laptops & other devices. As a result, I get smooth full HD or 4K video recording and playback with the latest high-resolution standards at ultra-fast data transfer and retrieval speeds. 

Not only that, but it is also waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof and shockproof in a small lightweight device (0.4” x 0.8” x 3.2”). It is compliant with SD Card Association specifications and USB backward compatible with earlier USB devices. The package includes an SD adapter that converts a microSD card to traditional-sized SD card.

I acquired my reader at CES 2019, and have used it for several months with impressive results. It works very well and quickly with my new 13” MacBook Air, 15” MacBook Pro, 27” iMac, and other computers, for moving any and all data. But, without any special apps, only photos and videos can be transferred to my new 12.9” iPad Pro (this is an Apple restriction which we hope will be removed soon). My only issue with this unit is that the removable caps are not attached to the reader, so they can be mislaid mistakenly.

This UNIREX Reader can be bought at http://unirex.com/product/microsd-u1-with-5-in-1-reader-sd-adapter/ for $34.99 or $54.99 USD (includes either 64GB or 128GB microSD card). I highly recommend this versatile and fast storage solution.

 

Discover Preview's hidden features in "Take Control of Preview"

by Joe Kissell, Publisher, Take Control Books

Most Mac users know Preview as a simple app (included free with macOS) that’s used to display PDFs and graphics. Sure enough, it does do those things. But did you know that it’s also a powerful image editor, that it can annotate and manipulate PDFs in numerous ways, and that it can capture images right from your camera or iOS device? In fact, Preview has dozens of amazing features, making it one of the most underappreciated built-in apps on the Mac.

You know where this is going…we have an updated book about it! Take Control of Preview by Josh Centers and Adam Engst is now at version 1.1, adding complete coverage of the Mojave version of Preview. (It still covers earlier versions, too.) Even if you’ve occasionally rearranged pages of a PDF or rotated images in Preview, you’ll be stunned at the depth of features this 178-page book covers. (I was!) You can:

● Buy the book now for $10.49 (cover price: $14.99) with your 30% MUG discount ● Get more info, including a huge list of hidden features

As Josh and Adam detail in their book, the most surprising things in recent versions of Preview are bugs, missing or broken features, and unwelcome interface changes. All these things are frustrating, but you’ll have a better experience using Preview if you know what to expect—and how to avoid or work around certain issues. (You might also feel comforted that if something doesn’t seem to be working quite right, the problem is most likely Apple, not you!)

With the help of Take Control of Preview, you’ll master this powerful yet unassuming app to make the most of your images and documents. You may even realize you no longer need more-expensive tools for those kinds of tasks!

I hope you find this updated book as useful as I did.

Shuttercase: Ingenious Battery Case & Photo Tool

a review by Tom Piper

The visual quality and clarity of smart phone images has now become so good that they are frequently used more as cameras, than as communication devices. I have used many different iPhone holders, grips, selfie-sticks, and handles over the years, but have now found a battery case that truly improves my photography skills.

The new Shuttercase is a slender black easy-to-mount case with a 3000mAH battery inside a detachable leather-surface Camera Handle articulated with a special shutter button and thumb rest. It almost feels like my Sony DSLR mirrorless camera with this handy grip. It  also provides a convenient way to sit my iPhone on my desk for easy viewing, or to take a picture remotely using my Apple Watch as the shutter button.

As the creators of the Shuttercase say, it is “. . . made out of love by photo-hobbyists who are engineers, for photo-hobbyists who shoot smartphones. It takes us 20 months of research and design, 8 versions of making and remaking prototypes, days and nights of discussions and brain-storms, to finally bring a faint sparkle in the mind to a solid tool now in your hand. We care what we create.” 

Since they designed it to mimic the shape and feel of classic dedicated cameras, they added a camera handle with a battery inside which doubles the camera’s power while shooting. Thus, taking photos with the iPhone becomes like an old-style camera, but more convenient, more comfortable to control, and free to create. It has a solid feel with durable and reliable design that can be used with any camera app on the last four generations of iPhones. If I were to suggest adding anything, it would be a 1/4” mount for a tripod (but I have brackets with this mount that fit the case just fine).

Installing the iPhone into the case is simple and straight-forward, as is its extraction, when not needed. The battery requires separate insertion of the battery cable (which is securely nested in the handle), but it can be easily replaced with the included flat cover when the battery is not needed. The case has an embedded mechanical button on the top (when in horizontal position) for very convenient shutter use. The unit is designed for right-handed use, so lefties must adapt.

A rubber thumb-rest is quick to install which provides an excellent way to grip the case for one-handed shooting (a second is also thoughtfully included, should the first be damaged or lost). I was pleased that an 8” tether was included that attaches to the case corner below the battery to protect against accidental drops. A detachable mount for add-on lenses (available in black or white) is also included, compatible with the SiRui and Moment V2 lens for the first iPhone lens (Shuttercase plans to release its own lens soon). A video about this lens can be seen at https://vimeo.com/283858341. 

The unit ships in a very attractive box and includes one Shuttercase, a 3000mAH battery camera handle, one micro USB-USB charging cable, one grey pouch for camera handle, one black nylon tether rope, one leather-surface effect hand grip to replace the camera handle, and two thumb buttons (no add-on lens or leather strap is included). It measures 3” x 5.8” x 0.2” (0.9” at the camera handle), and weighs in at 2.3 oz for the case plus 2.4 oz for the battery grip, together less than 0.3 lb. This is lighter than the iPhone XS Max (7.4 oz) or the iPhone X (6.2 oz) . . . when the full unit is added, the total weight is still about 2/3 of a pound, which is considerably lighter and more manageable than most cameras I’ve ever had.

Shuttercase for iPhone Xs/X and XS Max (I have tested both) are regularly priced at $79.99 (USD), but has been sale priced at $59.00 (USD) for a limited time (go to https://www.shuttercase.com/collections/iphone). Shipping is free worldwide by USPS, and it includes a one-year warranty and 30-day free return if not satisfied. The iPhone 8Plus/7Plus version is available for $49.00 (USD), an additional camera handle battery grip is available for $28.00 (USD), and a separate lens mount is $1.50 (USD). More information is available at https://www.shuttercase.com/products/shuttercase-xs-for-iphone-xs.

 

March 2019 Presentations

Genius Scan links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0JUKbHp4qE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywiRAj14f2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zLP2iOPmMk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MopaBFfXQ04