Category: Apple

I subscribed to Envato Elements

On By Rick McIn Apple, blogs, product endorsements, videoLeave a comment

Of many competing services offering online digital assets, Story Blocks is most famous. And advertises the most.

But I was convinced to join instead less expensive Envato Elements US $198 / year. Both work with Final Cut Pro, my software.

They provide licensed images, audio, videos, graphics, plugins, fonts, logos, tutorials, 3D, graphic & video templates, presentation templates, infographics and much more. I’ll be including those in my videos, websites and presentations.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

One of the main things I like about using their digital resources is the simplicity of licensing. I’m much less worried that YouTube — sometime in future — might take down my YouTube due to copyright complaint.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

related – Competitors & Alternative To Envato Elements

You CAN replace an iPhone battery

On By Rick McIn Apple, photos, video1 Comment

Like everyone, my iPhone battery life progressively died until it was nearly unusable.

A local shop wanted CAD $112 plus tax to replace the battery.

Apple Canada charged CAD $88 plus tax plus shipping.  About $100 total.

3 months warranty.

It’s a bit of work backing up and then restoring the phone.  But not confusing.  It worked well.

I’ll now be using two iPhones:

  1. 2020 SE for day-to-day
  2. iPhone X for video / photo on my OM 4 gimbal

 

 

 

 

My iPhone SE 2020

On By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, books, photos, product endorsements1 Comment

Home button. Touch ID. Lightweight and future-proofed.

Comparatively inexpensive at US $400.

This is the iPhone for the rest of us.  🙂

My iPhone X was starting to die after 2.5 years.  Of various options, I decided to carry two phones for now:

iPhone X (no service) – photos and video

iPhone SE – phone, text, internet, audio books and podcasts, etc.

Having two should solve any end-of-day battery problems.

Rene Ritchie is my Apple guru.

Click PLAY or watch his review on YouTube.

my Quad Lock phone accessories

On By Rick McIn Apple, cycling, hiking, product endorsementsLeave a comment

What’s cooler than a man wearing a HIP pack with a phone belt clip?

A man wearing a fanny pack with two phone clips!   😀

My trusty Otterbox case has served me well. And saved me many, many times. I’ve never broken a phone. The belt clip is … OK.

When I got a second phone I tried, instead, the Quad Lock belt clip.  It’s better than Otterbox, overall.  Quad Lock was rated #1 on Wirecutter.

There’s a cheaper alternative called Nite Ize Wraptor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I only tried that belt clip because I was looking for a way to mount my new phone on the handlebars of my touring bike.  The belt clip is compatible.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Details.

why I switched to the BREAKER podcasting app

On By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, music4 Comments

Apple popularized podcasting. But they’ve never been very keen. Not enough profit. Most podcasts are free, you see.

The default Apple podcast app has never been one of the best.  For years it was iTunes. Then they finally spun off a dedicated Podcasts app.

In 2015 I tried and failed to switch to better alternatives:

• Downcast
• Instacast

Sadly, I couldn’t see enough advantage over the default Apple software.

Happily, I’ve now switched to the Breaker app on IOS.  It has a more confusing interface, but it’s well worth switching.

  • improved sleep timer
  • speed up podcasts by 1.2x or 1.4x.  The apple default only offers 1.5x.
  • easier to share a specific episode in many ways

Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.

tracking SLEEP with your watch

On By Rick McIn Apple, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Everyone could and should sleep better.

Can a smart watch app help?

I tried Sleep++.

This is the kind of data you get …

That 8 hour night above seemed to me to be a perfect sleep. My average using this data is about 6 hours.

At age-62 I typically get up once during the night to pee.

Likely I’ll give up on the app soon. But keep trying strategies to sleep better and longer.

 

My Apple Watch 5 Review

On By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, books, hiking, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

I went decades without a watch ‘cuz TIME ain’t the boss of me.

When I finally got around to trying Apple Watch 3, I was instantly hooked. It’s an essential part of my life now. I can’t live without a smart watch. 

LOVE IT. 

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Having broken two Apple Watch 3 faces already, when I decided to upgrade the 5 I paid the extra for Apple Care. It covers everything for 2 years.

The normal warranty is 1 year and does not cover cracked glass, the most common way to break it.

In addition, for even more protection, I added an OtterBox Exo Edge Rugged Apple Watch Case.

Watch a video on that product.

Initially I thought the much cheaper Apple Watch 3 would do everything I need.

… Until Rene Ritchie convinced me to upgrade to the 5. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

How much does it cost?

If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

Get a Casio. 😀

Otter Box belt clip phone holster

On By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsementsLeave a comment

This (fairly expensive) protection has SAVED my phone dozens of times. It’s nearly indestructible in the Defender case.

Otter Box has not changed it much over the year. Because this design works.

Getting the phone in-and-out can be tricky.

LOVE the Apple Store

On By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Yes Apple is over-priced.

Yes, I live in the Steve Jobs reality distortion field.

But when my MacBook Pro went wonky in Stuttgart, Germany, it took a genius about 4 minutes to fix it. Free.

I appreciate that kind of support.

When my Samsung device went bad ON WARRANTY there was nothing I could do about it.

First Apple Store in Beijing

Jackery Bolt 10050 mAh Powerbank

On By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsementsLeave a comment

In the tent at night I normally want to bring my phone up to full charge before starting next day. This is small, fast and easy.

  • fully charges an iPhone 2-3 times 
  • iPhone cable is built-in (as well as a Micro USB if you need it)
  • charging for all iPhones is about twice as fast as  original charger with original cable

Amazon

Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.