Review

Seagate Backup Plus Fast: a good external drive for Mac users?

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As a MacBook Pro with Retina Display owner, disk space is at a premium. My MacBook features 256GB of SSD flash storage, which isn't exactly tiny in most use cases, but is downright microscopic when it comes to editing video and audio.

My video files are extra large due to the fact that I shoot in 4K the majority of the time. In fact, simply gathering the footage for this video review was somewhere in the neighborhood of 25GB, and that's not even an in-depth video like an iPad review or an Apple Watch review.

With this in mind, it became apparently clear that I was going to need an external storage solution. But I also needed something that was fast enough to adequately handle the throughput required by 4K video.

After lots of research, I ended up purchasing the Seagate Backup Plus Fast drive. It's a 4TB RAID 0 drive, so it's fairly fast. A couple of weeks into my purchase, I've accumulated several hours of hands-on experience with this drive. Does it live up to my expectations?

Noodles! review: a complex puzzle game (with absolutely no heptagons)

Lory Gil ∙ May 19, 2015

When you are relaxing with a nice, simple puzzle game, do you prefer it to be mindless and easy, or are you the type of gamer that likes things that are hard to solve?

Noodles! is a simple puzzle game with a nice, solid challenge. It isn't so hard that you give up, but it is hard enough to make you feel smart when you finally solve a puzzle. Check out our game review of Noodles! below.

Galactic Nemesis review: a retro arcade space shooter that Galaga fans will love

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

One of my earliest video game memories are of playing Galaga in my local arcade. It was the first game that I could actually play for more than five minutes without dying.

So you can imagine how happy I was to discover Galactic Nemesis, which pays loving homage to such space-themed shooters that I grew up on. We've got a game game review of Galactic Nemesis for you today.

Battle Camp review: raise a pet on Apple Watch, battle it on iPhone

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 31, 2018

Being an app reviewer, I am most interested in the type of content available to me on Apple Watch. Sure, there are dozens of great productivity apps to help keep you connected. But what about games?

Battle Camp has been a battle pet RPG game for a couple of years. But, shortly after the first run of Apple Watches were on the wrists of early adopters, the game was updated to include a mini game that allows you to raise a pet to adulthood for a special prize. We've got a game review of Battle Camp for our Apple Watch fans out there.

Cooped Up review: don’t let your expectations cage this gem

Josh Gallagher ∙ May 14, 2015

One of the first iPhone games I, and certainly many iPhone owners, ever played was Doodle Jump. It came out while the App Store was still in its relative infancy, and the iPhone was beginning its meteoric rise in earnest. Since its release in 2009, we have seen numerous games that copy its pencil and paper art style or gameplay mechanics. So many, in fact, that it has become relatively hard for any game that looks even remotely similar to stand out.

When you first look at screenshots of Cooped Up, I have no doubt that Doodle Jump, Mega Jump, or any number of other apps will be the first thing to spring into your mind. Cooped Up is more than just a cheap knock off, though. What makes this game different? Well, that’s going to take a bit of explaining.

NYT Now for iPhone goes completely free, adds 1Password support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2018

The New York Times newspaper this morning issued a sweet update to its dedicated news summarizing application, Now for iPhone. By far the biggest change in this would-be Flipboard killer involves breaking away from a $15+ per month subscription model in favor of making the app along with its content completely free.

Whether or not the move will help attract more readers remains to be seen. NYT arguably leads the charge in terms of quality newspaper content so going free is a much appreciated change in my book.

GMYLE Book Case for iPhone 6 Plus review: fake it ’til you make it

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

The original BookBook case for the iPhone 4 was a trendsetter and one of my favorite iPhone accessories ever. Unfortunately, the version for the iPhone 5 didn't hold up nearly as well for me, and started coming apart at the seams after just a few months. With the BookBook case for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Twelve South appears to be back at their winning ways with some innovative new features.

Due to the company's success, it's not surprising that several copycat cases have surfaced online. One such case, the GMYLE Book Case, is a shameless copy of Twelve South's popular case line. In fact, it's so shameless that my curiosity got the best of me, and I had to order one.

Kayos review: fly across a dangerous minimalistic landscape at the speed of sound

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

When I first came across Kayos, I was mostly interested in its visual aesthetic. I knew nothing about the gameplay, but assumed it was a puzzle game based on the simplistic look and various shapes.

It turns out the game is very much a traditional arcade style reflex game with a minimalist appeal. It just goes to show that looks aren't everything. We've got a hands-on game review of Kayos for you today. Enjoy.

Fusion – HDR Camera review: get quality shots with little effort

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

There are dozens of camera apps out there that promise SLR quality results, but I’ve realized that many of them don’t offer a whole lot more than what the iPhone’s stock camera app can do.

Fusion – HDR Camera actually provides something special that gives your pictures an additional boost of depth without you needing to do much of anything at all. Today, we’ve got an app review of Fusion – HDR Camera for your reading pleasure.

Discover O review: a minimalist game that will keep you coming back for more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Thanks to the Internet, anyone can virtually travel the globe by browsing pictures of destination spots and reading travel blogs. But, how would you like to see the world through a minimalist’s eyes?

Discover O is a simple reflex game that tests your reaction time and takes you around the world with a minimal graphic design so you can appreciate the simpler things in life. We’ve got a full game review of Discover O for you below.

Review: Logitech MX Master – a good choice for OS X users?

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

The Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse has been at the top of my must-try list ever since it came out. Debuting to glowing reviews, and statements of increased productivity, I had to try this mouse out to see if it would help my workflow on OS X. Does it live up to my high expectations? Check out our review for more details.

Burn it Down is a dark platformer. Literally

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

I like atmospheric games. I think it adds a bit of, well, atmosphere. Shadowy figures crossing dimly lit environments can help put you into the right mood. You never know what you are going to find when you make it to the next scene.

Burn It Down is an atmospheric platform game with a retro pixel art design. Players traverse the dark dangers of a mansion dungeon in search of a missing loved one. We’ve got a game review of Burn it Down for you today.