Apple is often lauded for their leadership in accessibility, and rightfully so. But it is not without its dark side. Over the past several years, Apple has been unbelievably sloppy with regard to their accessibility stack. When I say sloppy, I mean that major features just won’t work. Everything connected to the zoom feature has been buggy and unpredictable for the past decade. It is as if they have one person working on it and no people testing it. The reason you don’t hear about the dark side of Apple accessibility is because very few people use it that write about it for a living. They have no idea what is going on with accessibility apart from what they read in a press release. As long as they get uncritical praise from people who don’t actually rely on those systems, they have no incentive to fix anything. But enough complaining. Let’s dive in. But first…

In the battle of the iPad Pro keyboard cases, there are only a handful of contenders. At the moment, the Magic Keyboard from Apple is the clear winner over the Brydge MAX+. The last one to test is the Logitech Combo Touch. I have a feeling that there will be no real deal breakers with this one. It is going to come down to a matter of preference and features…

I have a short list of complaints about the $350 Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro to add to the long list that others have offered. But after trying to live with the Brydge 12.9 MAX+, I now have a much greater appreciation for the Apple product. My criticisms still apply. But they are tempered by the reality that no one has offered a better alternative. One of the ways we can know if a thing is a “hard computer science problem” is by observing that no one has fixed it.

I don’t have any well formed ideas about what I want from WWDC. I just know that there is something missing from the iPad. The device has a software shaped hole right where its soul should be. The thing that is missing is fundamental to the experience. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is, or even what I want it to be….

This is not a review. I have already written one of those and refused to publish it. I had some harsh things to say and I didn’t like the tone. I also found that I had very little to add to the growing chorus of reviewers who were all saying the same thing. The hardware is impressive but is held back by the software. This is exactly what people expected it to be so that is the only way in which it doesn’t disappoint…

If you have $200 for an upgrade, go for cellular. It is the best $200 I have ever spent on an upgrade. Just note that it will also cost you a little more on your phone bill every month. So the expense does not stop at the initial purchase. If you are having trouble paying your bill as it is, don’t bother with cellular. But if you can spare an extra $20 a month on Verizon, you can get unlimited 5G. If you are just wondering if it is worth the extra expense, it is. Here’s why:..

The iPad Pro has always had a problem that goes much deeper than nomenclature. There is little to distinguish it from the entry level iPad that costs hundreds less. There is little you can do with an iPad Pro that you can’t do just as well with an iPad amateur. Apple has been granted the benefit of the doubt since the pro-level iPad was launched. Sure, it’s bigger. Sure, the hardware is better. Sure, the experience is nicer. But at the end of the day, it has the same functionality as the cheapest iPad. Consider what they both share:..

Have you heard the news? Apple is removing the ability to side load legally obtained iOS apps on M1 Macs. One of my favorite things about the M1 Mac is the ability to use iOS apps on the device. Before getting cranked up, let me make an important distinction…

One would think that the #1 pick would be #1 in something. But that is not the case with my choice of over ear headphones. First, let's get one small piece of business out of the way. I returned AirPods Max…

All headphones reviews are subjective. There are very few ways they can be measured objectively. The ways in which objective measurements can be done rather miss the point for most people in most cases. The main thing anyone wants to know about headphones is how they sound. No one can tell you that because no one has your hearing. And they do not evaluate sound in the same way you do. That makes writing a headphone review feel pretty futile…

The title is also my review. Buy two of them for a stereo pair. If you want more just for the sake of entertainment, read on. But I assure you, it is not necessary. Enjoy:…

I wrote a few hundred words before taking possession of my new M1 MacBook Air. I had some things to say about my impressions of the Apple announcement. Once I had a little while to work with the computer, I selected all and deleted without a moment's thought. Nothing I heard and thought I knew prepared me for the reality of using one of these beasts. Holy bleep!. I think I am going to have to unpack that:

I wasn’t even going to buy a new iPhone this year. Even after Apple did their annual iPhone reveal, I was pretty determined to just hold onto my iPhone 11 Pro Max. There was nothing wrong with it, and nothing new that made the new one compelling. That said, there were a couple of little things that got me to jump…

There are no perfect headphones or ear buds. Technology complicates everything. It was so much easier when there were wires ending in that good old-fashioned headphone jack. The only thing that mattered was the sound, and perhaps fit and comfort. Easy. Now, there is so much more to consider. And it is all awful. Earbuds are better than ever. And yet they are just awful. I hate them all, even the ones I love…

This is a tale of three keyboards. I tried the Zagg Rugged Book. It was so bad as to almost be unreviewable. That didn’t stop me from writing a couple thousand words on it anyway. I might even publish it one day. It was bad, very bad. Then, I tried a nameless, $24 keyboard case. It is the kind of product you see on Amazon that doesn’t bother to mention a manufacturer. It was so unworthy of review, I didn’t even bother. And that is saying a lot for me…

Let me get the obligatory disclaimer out of the way: I am writing this review on the iPad mini using an external keyboard. There was a time when it was an interesting fact because people thought it impossible to use an iPad for anything other than a toy. It should be pretty well established by now that one can type on just about anything. I could have done this article while thumb-typing…

If you have an iPhone, there is a good chance you have some kind of case on it for a little extra protection. Even if your case is just a fashion statement, chances are it provides some level of scratch protection. And every little bit helps when it comes to drops…

I don’t really want to write this article. But as an Apple commentator, I don’t really have a choice. I’m not what you call “developer-friendly.” I suspect that is how it should be since I am much closer to being press than PR. I am also an Apple enthusiast doing an Apple enthusiast blog. It should come as no surprise that I mostly see things Apple’s way on most, but not all issues. There are plenty of things where I believe they are doing a terrible job. But my goal for this site is not to blast on about how terrible Apple is doing. All companies are doing a terrible job in some things. There are plenty of commentators who are happy to make a living downgrading Apple. This is not that site.

I could be accused of motivated reasoning. I try to avoid that. And what I have said on the subject and am about to say is my honest take on the matter. I do not expect it to be popular. It might even cost me a few readers. I will try not to let such pressures influence me. This will not be neither fun to write or read. I will try to keep it brief. I will not be offended if you feel like you need to skip this one. Here we go:t

I like gadgets as much as the next geek. And ever since Microsoft announced the Surface Duo last year, I have been experimenting with dual screens and side by side apps whenever possible to determine if this new device made any sense for the way I use computers. Now, the Duo is up for preorder and will be shipping in about a month from now. Here is what I learned from my various efforts:..