Hardware Reviews — GigaOM

Hardware Reviews

Denon has finally introduced AirPlay support to some of its receivers. So how does it stack up to the other ways of getting your iTunes media to your receiver? I compare all the options (complete with a handy chart) to find out. Read More »

2010 has been the year of gadgets and gizmos. iPad, Microsoft Kinect, Roku and Boxee — each week had a new surprise. I decided to pick the one that was part of my daily life had the most impact on both my life and work. Read More »

 
 

The iPhone 4 is arguably the first one anyone would be interested on putting on a tripod, and that’s exactly what Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost were counting on when they designed the Glif, a dead simple iPhone 4 universal tripod mount. Read More »

Mophie recently introduced a high capacity version of its battery case for the iPhone 4 dubbed the Juice Pack Plus. I’ve been using it for couple weeks, putting on a lot of mileage considering how often I exhaust my iPhone’s battery. Here’s what I found. Read More »

For the first time since its introduction, the iPad finally has a serious competitor in the market for that magical third device that’s more than a phone, but not quite a laptop or netbook: the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab. So how do the two compare? Read More »

Accessory-maker ZAGG recently introduced its ZAGGmate iPad case, which comes in two flavors: with and without integrated Bluetooth keyboard. I had a chance to test out the keyboard variety. Read on to find out how it stacks up against the Kensington KeyFolio and other similar offerings. Read More »

No sooner do I decry the lack of an iPhone 4 solution from Joby than lo and behold, it arrives. The new Gorillamobile for iPhone 4 brings compatibility to Apple’s latest smartphone, and does so with a new design intent on keeping things simple. Read More »

I love the iPad, but I miss having a hardware keyboard at hand. You could carry around Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard, but additional devices sort of defeats the purpose. The keyboard case seems like a good alternative. Does Kensington’s KeyFolio live up to the hype? Read More »

I’ve long been looking for a decent iPad case that can double as a stand. Enter the Griffin Standle: It’s a stand; it’s a handle; it’s a case. But aside from clever naming, how does it stack up? Check out the video for my full review. Read More »

The Apple TV is here; one just arrived at my door this morning. I spent the day setting it up and putting the minimalist device through its paces, and here’s what I think of Apple’s latest foray into the living room. Read More »

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If you need ideas for tech gifts, here is a handpicked selection of some of the most luxurious and desirable Apple-related items from across the globe. Read More »

As an iPhone user held hostage in AT&T’s network by the exclusivity agreement with Apple, the arrival of the AT&T 3G MicroCell felt like being rescued. Four weeks later, I now realize only Verizon can do that, but my updated assessment of the 3G MicroCell … Read More »

More Must Reads

Sometimes, owning a Mac isn’t just an option in computing…it’s a way of life. The Apple design philosophy with which we are so enamored — industrial design and elegant, beautiful minimalism — is part of every icon, every pulsing progress bar, every click of the serene … Read More »

Does your iPhone crave power like a mad dictator? Even after trying some of Clayton’s excellent tips on power conservation, you might find that by dinner your iPhone gives out like a puppet government. The Read More »

Like many of you, most recorded footage of my youth was on those archaic black plastic things called VHS tapes. As the rest of society moves into the digital age, I’m facing a battle of preserving my childhood memories on something a little more robust and … Read More »

The Zefyr Pro from Moshi is one of the prettiest laptop coolers on the market. Designed for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 15 and 17-inch models, it’s one of the more expensive laptop coolers, too, at a staggering $80. I bought it because my … Read More »

I’m a huge fan of Moshi’s Apple-centric line of products and accessories. In fact, my entire collection of Apple products has now been complimented by Moshi. For example, I use the iLynx USB/Firewire hub and Celesta keyboard with my … Read More »

While many don’t see the Mac as the ideal game platform, it still holds its own against Windows PCs and console systems. Many hardcore gamers love to trick out their systems with beefier graphics cards, extra controllers and special, high-performance input devices, and Mac users are … Read More »

Like some of you, I’m quite the “Apple purist.” I’m not a fan of fancy cases that junk up my Macs. I don’t like skins for my iPods and those plastic snap cases for my laptop. We all know that Apple designs beautiful products, so we … Read More »

Laptop stands are widely heralded as a great solution for a more ergonomic workstation and better positioning of your computer. They come in all manner of shapes and sizes, from the downright awful to very slick and stylish. I recently took the plunge and purchased the … Read More »

With the help of a friend who already successfully completed the process, I managed to install OS X on my new Dell Mini 9. This was my first and, hopefully, my last Dell purchase. Sorry, Apple. I became too curious. Everyone appeared … Read More »

Much has been said about the new iPod shuffle. Its size has been praised, lack of buttons grumbled about, and — as with most new Apple products — has caused a little controversy. I wanted … Read More »

I was recently introduced to the Drobo box. If you’re not familiar with it, simply put, it’s the ultimate home backup server. For $400, you get a BeyondRAID array that can support up to 4 simultaneous drives, and caps at 16TB. Even cooler is the … Read More »

Unlike most hard protective cases that typically consist of separate front and back parts, the Power Support Air Jacket for iPhone 3G is a single plastic case for only the back of an iPhone 3G. Available in either black or clear, the black version is … Read More »

Mouse technology has advanced a lot over the past two decades. The Apple Lisa-derived mouse with its DE-9 connector and thumb screws that attached it securely to my first Mac, a 1988 Mac Plus, was a pretty crude piece of engineering, with an analog ball of … Read More »

Do you have small office/home office (SoHo)? Is managing your peripherals (printers, scanners, fax machines) a hassle? Well, if you are looking for a new all-in-one (AIO) printer that consolidates these peripherals into one for your SoHo, thankfully, there are many choices available for you today. … Read More »

At the $300 price point, the Epson Artisan 800 is a very nice all-in-one (AIO) printer. For most small office/home office users (SoHo’s), it could easily meet their needs. It is very small (18.4″ x 23.0″ x 7.8″) compared to most … Read More »

At the $400 price point, the Canon Pixma MX7600 is a beautiful all-in-one (AIO) printer. For most small office/home office users (SoHo’s), it could easily meet their needs. It is moderate in size (21.0″ x 19.7″ x 10.1″) and includes wired … Read More »

Targus, a company more popularly associated with its extensive line of laptop cases, also markets computer accessories. One of their newer introductions is the Targus USB 2.0 4-Port Bend-A-Hub, a modestly-priced, useful add-on and an excellent gift suggestion or stocking stuffer for computer users on … Read More »

In recent years, the Mac has become a device capable of acting as a very powerful media center. iTunes, Front Row, and OS X in general, provide a plethora of features which justify the Mac as a living room device. That said, one vital piece is missing … Read More »

Whatever system hardware you’re using, including the port-impoverished new 13″ MacBooks, SimpleTech’s new Duo Pro Drive should have you covered. The Duo Pro supports a variety of different backup options, including Apple’s OS X 10.5 Time Machine as well as SimpleTech’s own Fabrik Ultimate Backup, … Read More »

Am I the only one who gets more misses than hits with the on-screen keyboard of the iPhone and iPod touch? Typing accuracy is OK when my iPod touch is resting on a flat surface, but it is another story altogether when I’m walking or while … Read More »

For the first time in Apple’s history, the recent incarnation of consumer and professional laptops are starting to show signs of being part of the same family. While the MacBook has seen arguably the most impressive bump in terms of comparison to its original feature set, … Read More »

The Logitech V550 Nano wireless mouse is marketed as a notebook mouse, but the real story is that this is just a really superb mouse, whatever sort of computer you use it with — notebook or desktop. I never thought I would say that about a … Read More »

The simplest way to get extended runtime with a laptop computer is to have a second battery charged and ready. For example, with two fully-charged extended life batteries I can get more than 10 hours computing time with my old G4-upgraded Pismo PowerBook running OS X … Read More »

I received the Logitech Premium Notebook headset at a very good time; I was doing some podcasting at the moment and my setup was a bit complicated. Also, I had several Skype chats on a pretty regular basis. This gave me a great opportunity to … Read More »

I recently got my hands on an interesting device, the Replug. The design of the Replug is meant to work much like a MagSafe connector does – give it a pull, and it pops out safely. But this is a headphone adapter. If you’ve … Read More »

I have been looking for some decent headphones for my iPhone for a while (I’m not a big fan of the white earbuds). I finally found the Rivet Stereo Headset made specially for iPhone and couldn’t resist. First Impressions My first impression after taking the … Read More »

I recently got the red leather sleeve for the 13″ MacBook from Toffee. Toffee is an Australian company whom I hadn’t heard of until I saw this product. They make a whole array of sleeves like this one, even for the larger MacBook Pro. Material/Build … Read More »

One of the issues I’ve had with with Apple’s iPods is the inclusion of those annoying ear-bud headphones. From sound quality to comfort, they are without a doubt the worst part of the package. When Apple released the iPhone they did manage to enhance the wretched, … Read More »

I have two older Macs at home, a Powerbook G4-1.5Ghz and an iMac G5-1.8Ghz (both purchased in 2004 and now out of AppleCare). When I was given the opportunity to upgrade the DVD-burner in ether of those machines with the FastMac Optical Drive Upgrade Kit … Read More »

This so called “iPhone killer” is probably going to kill itself. The Good Based on the LG Viewty’s microsite alone, the most touted feature is clearly the 5 megapixel camera on its back. It has flash, a manual focus, and an image stabilizer as well. … Read More »

I had the first chance to use my new Samson C01U USB Studio Condenser microphone in anger for the first time the other day when recording piano and voice for a short film proposal. Appearances matter, and the rigid shrink wrap style of blister packaging … Read More »

I’ve never really liked the Apple mice that I’ve gotten with my machines, and I usually try to get something a bit nicer, like a Logitech or even – *cough* – a Microsoft mouse. These 3rd-party devices feature more buttons with more customization, and better … Read More »

A couple of months ago, while burning calories on an elliptical machine, I noticed that my trusty Apple earbuds were increasingly sounding horrible. It eventually got to the point where any sound that was even remotely loud was just crackling to the point where it was … Read More »

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