Features Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Ailing Mac? Try Drive Genius 3

by Ilene Hoffman (May 24th, 2013)

When your Mac starts acting unreliably your first line of defense is Apple's Disk Utility, but that solves a small number of problems, such as permissions and disk verification and repair. A good second line of defense is Drive Genius 3 for Mac from Prosoft Engineering. Drive Genius offers repair ...

Reality Absorption Field: iPod's trail of tears, part 1

by Ross Rubin (May 24th, 2013)

The recent celebration of iTunes tenth anniversary provided an opportunity to remember that it debuted before the iPod and was initially positioned as a way to get Macs to play well with the CD burners that had come to the iMac as well as to early MP3 players from rivals. Before and (mostly) after ...

Element Case Sector 5 Black Ops Elite: The tactical case for your iPhone 5

by Steven Sande (May 23rd, 2013)

Element Case is one of the few iPhone case manufacturers we talk to on a regular basis that continues to innovate with impressive designs that are entirely different from the mainstream. Whether it's their wood, aluminum and leather Ronin or the original Sector 5 case, you can be certain that an ...

Olloclip Quick-Flip Case and Pro-Photo Adapter add protection, tripod mount

by Steven Sande (May 21st, 2013)

The team at Olloclip has taken the wraps off of their newest product, a case for the iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5 called the Quick-Flip Case (US$49.99) that works with the Olloclip 3-in-one lenses to produce a lightweight solution for all-purpose iPhoneography. Let's take a look! Design At first ...

Control-Alt-Grrrrrr: A look at Penclic's Mini Keyboard K2

by Steven Sande (May 20th, 2013)

Tired of the same old keyboard design and looking for something a bit different? The Penclic Mini Keyboard K2 (US$69.95) definitely fits the bill in terms of not being the typical keyboard, and as you'll see in this review that's not necessarily a good thing. Design and Functionality When I ...

Five apps to help you identify birds and their beautiful songs

by Kelly Hodgkins (May 20th, 2013)

Spring means migration and the return of birds to many parts of North America. It also means warmer weather and sunny days that are perfect for birding. Here is a list of apps to help you get outside and start learning about our feathered friends (all prices are USD). Field Guide for birds [iOS ...

Share between devices painlessly with Instashare

by Shawn "Doc" Boyd (May 18th, 2013)

There will come a time when you would like to simply transfer a file from one iOS device to another or to a Mac; it's inevitable. When the time arises, you will discover as most of us already have that the process is not as straightforward as one would think, considering how powerful these devices ...

Origin Stories: Victor Agreda, Jr.

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (May 17th, 2013)

I was lucky. My mom and dad had me while they were finishing up their graduate work in the 1970's at North Carolina State University. My dad was, at the time, a bit of a gadget nut. Of course, back then "gadgets" were more commonly found in the kitchen and came from companies like Ronco. My dad ...

iPhone cameras are everywhere at one of America's best scenic spots

by Mel Martin (May 16th, 2013)

My last visit to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah was in pre-iPhone days. My, how things have changed. I went to Bryce on a landscape shoot this week with my usual semi-pro equipment: Canon 5D, Manfrotto tripod and the usual gaggle of batteries, timers and other esoterica. I was especially ...

Parenting tip: Recover your lost parental control password, or not

by Kelly Hodgkins (May 16th, 2013)

Parental Controls on iOS are extremely helpful for parents of iOS-device-using kids. They allow a parent to block in-app purchases, restrict explicit content on the device and block apps that are not needed for younger children (Mail, Safari, etc.). Setting up these restrictions requires a ...

Chills and thrills for your iPad with Haunting Melissa

by Michael Rose (May 16th, 2013)

A teenage girl alone in a remote farmhouse, an absent father, a boyfriend off at college... and a locked door that conceals a tragic secret. These are the creepy, chilling tropes on display in Haunting Melissa, a serialized video horror story delivered in the form of an iOS app available today on ...

Productivity Tip: When and how to use paper vs software

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (May 14th, 2013)

One of the problems with giving people advice is that certain topics are so... personal. Our previous experiences, current technology and outside pressures inevitably corral us into a particular line of thinking or acting. So it is with the debate over paper vs. software solutions. Personally, ...

ClamCase Pro for iPad: Solid protection, amazing keyboard

by Steven Sande (May 14th, 2013)

With this review, I think that we're just about through the Spring 2013 crop of iPad Bluetooth keyboard folio cases, and it appears that I've saved the best for last. The ClamCase Pro for iPad (US$169, currently available for $20 off with coupon code SPRING20) was a pleasant surprise, providing ...

Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad: Review and giveaway

by Steven Sande (May 13th, 2013)

The next entry in our seemingly endless parade of new iPad keyboard cases is the Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad (US$129.99). This case, which works with the second- through fourth-generation iPads, has some new features that make it attractive as a full-time companion for your ...

ABC to add live streaming to iPad app this week, for a few and with a catch

by Michael Rose (May 12th, 2013)

Update: The new WATCH ABC app is live in the US store. As expected, streaming is available for NYC and Philadelphia residents only. After July 1, you'll have to verify that you subscribe to a TV provider to get live video, and "programming substitution may apply." Ahead of ABC's spring upfront ...