AppFigures now lets developers easily share favorite App Store reviews, Parse SDK adds tvOS and watchOS 2 support

appfigures reviews

There are a few new goodies for iOS developers shipping during the holiday season. Over the weekend, app analytics firm AppFigures released a cool new feature called ‘Sharable Review Cards’. Essentially, developers can curate their App Store reviews for some of their best feedback and quickly share a link to that comment for others to admire.

The cards take on the theme from the app icon, so each review card appearance matches the app it is about. In the example above, my app Bingo Machine uses a dark blue background tint, so the AppFigures Card uses the same blue for the review title. It’s a pretty cool feature for devs who want to positively promote their app on social media with actual customer testimonials.

There are also some new releases from Facebook’s Parse, the third-party cloud sync framework that Apple later aped with its own CloudKit service, with complete support for the newest Apple platforms, namely watchOS and tvOS.

Today, Parse has officially released SDKs suitable for Apple Watch and Apple TV with relevant forks for watchOS and tvOS, respectively. Although Parse could run tvOS and watchOS apps previously (thanks to the underlying shared Foundation core that underpins all of Apple’s platforms), there are some optimizations that really make the SDK easy to use and intuitive for each platform.

For example, with the Parse tvOS release, the company has removed any references to saving state to disk as Apple TV apps are not allowed to use local storage at all. In particular, the Parse watch SDK now fully supports watchOS 2 so you can write Parse-powered apps that run natively on the device itself for maximum performance.

Alongside tvOS and watchOS integration, the 1.11.0 release also adds the ability to schedule push notifications for a particular time which benefits apps like calendars and event trackers. You can download the new release from the Parse GitHub repository. Check the Parse blog for more details on the new version.

Filed under: Apps, Developers, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: App Review, Apple TV, Apple watch, Facebook, Parse, shareable app cards, tvOS, watchOS

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How-To: Find and create Christmas stations + playlists with Apple Music

Apple Music Christmas

While it undoubtedly drives the rest of my family crazy, I sure love Christmas music and don’t mind one bit that it takes over radio stations on November 1st. FM radio is okay in the car and I’ve used Pandora and iHeartRadio the last few years to find a variety of Christmas music, but ads and skip limits are no good when you’ve got access to a streaming music catalog everywhere you go. This year I’m all in with Apple Music and finding it terrific as my own personal Christmas music station.

Apple Music does a pretty good job of serving up a variety of ad-free Christmas music through stations and playlists … if you know where to look. Here are a few tips to set you in the right direction if you want to feel festive and spread the Christmas mood:

The easiest way to just press play and start enjoying some Christmas tunes is through the Radio tab within iTunes on Macs or PCs or the Music app on iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and new Apple TVs. Radio with unlimited skips is included for Apple Music members, and without a membership you can still listen for free but with limited skips.

Apple has made a Christmas Classics station that it’s currently promoting under the Featured Stations section under Radio. Look for the vintage phonograph and candy cane record. This station is probably most like what you expect to hear on FM radio, but without the ad breaks and station promotion. You can also heart or favorite songs you like to improve For You recommendations or add them to your library or playlist if you subscribe to Apple Music. Here’s a Christmas Classics station link that should open on your device.

Christmas Classics radio

Apple also has created a collection of other Christmas stations found under the Radio tab that you may enjoy. These include Holiday Hits, Soulful Holiday, Latin Holiday, The Sounds of Christmas, Classical Holiday, Rockin’ Holiday, Country Holiday, and Swingin’ Holiday. Each station has its own festive cover art, too, which I really like.

Holiday Radio

Radio is easy to start and doesn’t take much managing, but playlists let you know which songs are playing next and you can download the tracks for offline listening if streaming isn’t an option. Offline playlists are best for playback away from Wi-Fi for anyone with cellular data caps.

For Apple Music members, the curators at Apple have created several Christmas music playlists that I’ve enjoyed this year. These can be found under the New tab on iTunes or Music for Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and 4th-generaion Apple TVs. There are a few places to look from here to find the right Christmas playlist.

Apple Music New

The front page of New will list everything that Apple Music is currently promoting across various genres. Swipe or scroll down to Hot Playlists and you’ll likely find a few holiday playlists to get started, but there’s also one place to find all of Apple’s curated Christmas playlists.

Apple Music

From the New tab, look for Apple Editors Playlists then the Holiday section. The Featured section promotes albums, radio stations, playlists, tracks, and music videos while the Playlists section includes 16 different playlists with music from the ’50s to ’00s, a jazz collection, folk and indie playlists, and more.

IMG_0547

For even more Christmas music recommendations in Apple Music, head back to the front page of the New tab and change All Genres to Holiday. This changes the promoted albums, singles, stations, and playlists to focus on everything Christmas including an Essential Albums section with must-listen picks like A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio. (I started playing this one a week before Thanksgiving which did not thrill my wife.)

If you want to create your own giant Christmas music radio station with lots of variety, my personal tip is to create a single playlist called Christmas Music then add a few of your favorite Apple curated playlists plus albums and singles to it, then hit play with shuffle turned on.

This year I’ve got a Jawbone Big Jambox connected to an AirPort Express placed behind my Christmas tree and hidden by the presents around it with my Christmas music playlist wirelessly AirPlaying to it from my Mac. (Starting tomorrow December 15th, Sonos will start rolling out Apple Music playback in beta, which will similarly let you create an out-of-sight setup with wireless speakers.) I’m looking forward to impressing my family with this setup (which includes Siri-controlled lights) when they visit, and it’s made my own living room feel more festive even if it’s 75º outside.

Not an Apple Music subscriber or just want some cheap Christmas music to own? Check out 99 Must-Have Christmas Classics ($2.19), 99 Must-Have Christmas Chillout ($1.09), and Amazon’s other digital holiday music collections with popular albums and bundles with loads of MP3s that you can play anywhere or upload to Apple Music.

You’ll be dad-dancing like Eddy Cue in no time:


Have any of tips for using Apple Music to discover and playback Christmas music or want to share your playlist with others? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget: Apple Music includes a free, three-month trial for first-time subscribers, plus for the next few weeks select Beats products include a $60 credit (and pro tip: follow 9to5Toys for iTunes gift card deals all year long).

Filed under:
How-To
, Apple Music Tagged: Apple Music, Apple Music radio, Christmas, Christmas music, Christmas stations, holiday music, itunes radio, Music, playlists, radio stations, stations

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Bose SoundLink Color $99, Nest Thermostat (2nd gen) $160, 13″ MacBook Air $800, more

9to5toys-header

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

soundlink-color-bluetooth-speaker1

Bose Holiday Savings: SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker $99 (Reg. $129), QC25 Headphones $269 (Reg. $299)

nest-learning-thermostat-2nd-gen

Smarten up your home w/ the Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd Gen) for $160 shipped (Reg. $200)

mjve2lla-macbook-air-sale-01

Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $800 shipped (Reg. $999), more

apple-ipad-air-2

Best Buy’s latest Apple sale is your best chance to score iPad, Mac, & Watch deals before Christmas: iPad Air 2 $125 off, iPad Air $100 off, iPad mini 4 $100 off, much more!

Best Buy makes a splash with the lowest Apple Watch prices ever, deals start at just $249

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

chromecast-yellow-black-red

Buy a new Chromecast, receive a $20 Google Play credit plus more offers

Grab a $100 Nordstrom gift card for family member, get free $20 Amazon gift card for #SomeoneElse 😉

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

samsung-48-inch-4k-uhdtv

Smart 4K 60Hz UHDTVs: Samsung 55-inch $700 (Reg. $900+), more

humans-of-new-york

Save 25% on any book from Amazon — Humans of New York: Stories $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $16)

affinity-photo-mac

Affinity Photo is Apple’s Mac App of the Year, download it now for $40 (Reg. $50)

App Store Free App of the Week: Cut the Rope 2 goes free for the first time ($1 value)

The Room puzzle-mystery game for iOS goes free for the first time in two years (Reg. $1), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

lego-new-york-city2

LEGO Architecture teases upcoming Skyline series featuring the world’s most famous cities

delonghi-primadonna-elite

De’Longhi launches new PrimaDonna Elite coffeemaker w/ iOS connectivity

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Justin’s Holiday Gift Guide: speakers, Lightning mics, storage, pocket synths & more to up your home recording set-up

Trevor’s Holiday Gift Guide: The perfect accessories for travel – backpacks, cord management, more

Dan’s Holiday Gift Guide: rare Apple collectibles & swag for the techie who has everything

Skip the holiday blues with these practical stocking stuffers

Top 10 holiday movies you can stream right now on Netflix

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, 9to5Toys Lunch Break, Amazon Gold Box, Amazon Prime, Apple, Apple watch, Blu-ray, Bose, coupon codes, Daily Deals, Deals, DVD, free shipping, gift guide, Green Monday, iPad Air 2, itunes deals, MacBook Air, Media, Nest Learning Thermostat, New Toy of the Day, SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker

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European investigation into legality of Apple’s tax arrangements in Ireland expanded & extended

the-eu-says-apple-may-have-avoided-billions-in-taxes-over-10-years

The long-running investigation into the legality of Apple’s tax arrangements in Ireland has been expanded, with the European Commission now seeking additional information from the Irish government, reports the FT. This means that the investigation is likely to be extended well into next year. A ruling had originally been expected before the end of the year.

While Irish authorities had expected the case to be concluded soon, they have instead been sent bulky sets of supplementary questions, meaning it will be difficult to reach a final verdict until after the 2016 election, which is expected as early as February […]

The Irish finance ministry confirmed that the government was supplying the requested additional information to the commission. “We do not expect any decision until after the new year,” said a spokesman.

If the ruling goes against Apple, it could face a bill for billions of Euros in underpaid tax …

Ireland was keen to encourage Apple to base its European operations in the country, and offered a special deal to the company. Instead of paying the normal 12.5% corporation tax, Apple would pay just 2.5%.

It should be noted that if the arrangements were found to be illegal, it would be the Irish government, and not Apple, found to have broken the law – by offering illegal state support to a business. Apple would, however, have to pay the back taxes accrued over up to ten years. The company warned shareholders of this fact back in April.

Similar arrangements with Starbucks and Fiat in Luxembourg and the Netherlands have already been ruled illegal.

Some had wondered whether Apple would maintain its presence in Ireland if the ruling went against it, but it was announced during a recent visit by Tim Cook (where a slip of the tongue caused some controversy) that Apple would be adding a further 1,000 jobs by mid-2017.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: AAPL, Apple, Apple Ireland, Apple tax investigation, European Commission, European Union, Inc, Ireland, Law, Tax, tax investigation

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Google Maps for iOS gains up-to-date gas prices, popular business hours

google-maps-lead

Google’s Maps app for iPhone and iPad got a small but useful update on the App Store today. The latest version of the Google Maps iOS app now includes a couple of handy features.

First up, and undoubtedly the most useful for drivers is the up-to-date gas prices in the US and Canada. The feature was included in the Android version of Google’s app a couple of months ago and lets users check nearby gas stations to see which has the most affordable prices. You can find prices simply be searching for ‘gas’ or ‘gas stations’ in the search field and Google Maps will automatically bring up the nearest options and list pricing for those locations.

gmaps-gas-prices
google-maps-gas-lead
google-maps-gas-2

Business hours have been included in the app for some time, but today’s update also lets you check when is best to avoid/visit particular businesses. Like its online search and maps tools, the updated iPhone app brings the ability check popular visiting hours for local stores and outlets. Now you can see what you always knew about any business or retail location: It starts getting busy after lunch.

verizon-google-maps-popular-times

Google Maps version 4.13.0 is available to download from the App Store for free and requires users to be running iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Filed under: Apps, iOS Devices Tagged: Apps, Google Maps, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Updates

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Morgan Stanley predicts AAPL will see its first ever drop in iPhone sales next year

iphone-sales

An investment note by Morgan Stanley Katy Huberty predicts that Apple will see its iPhone sales fall by 5.7% in Apple’s 2016 financial year, reports Business Insider. The prediction is significant for two reasons: if realised, it would be the first time since the launch of the iPhone that sales have fallen year-on-year – and the forecast is made by a noted Apple bull.

Morgan Stanley thinks that Financial Year 2016 iPhones sales will be 218 million – a 5.7% drop — while Calendar Year 2016 sales will be 224,000 — a 2.9% drop. These predictions are significantly below Huberty’s previous estimates, of 247 million for FY2016 and 252 CY2016.

One of the reasons given isn’t new – high smartphone penetration in developed markets – but Huberty says there is a second reason …

Huberty notes “higher prices in international markets,” citing China as a specific example.

KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted that Apple could see slowing iPhone sales early in 2016, but said that this was due to the usual seasonal effect following the holidays, and that the expected 4-inch model could reduce the scale of the slowdown.

Huberty does, though, expect Apple’s total revenue to grow by 2% next year thanks to the Apple Watch and other new services.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Inc, iPhone, iPhone sales, Katy Huberty, Morgan Stanley

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Say goodbye to food poisoning: the $250 iPhone-based ‘chemistry lab in your pocket’ is on the way

chemlab

iPhones have already been used for an impressive number of medical applications. We’ve seen them used to screen for skin cancer, manage diabetes, prevent blindness, provide eye examinations and diagnose everything from sleep apnea to bipolar episodes. But the next step could be a $250 organic chemistry lab we can carry in our pocket.

The WSJ has been talking to a couple of startups working in this field, including 6SensorLabs which has a device that can – with the help of a smartphone – detect whether a food really is gluten-free.

The Nima from 6SensorLabs is an organic-chemistry lab small enough to carry in your pocket. Right now it is only good for one thing: detecting gluten in foods at minuscule concentrations, as little as 20 parts per million, the FDA’s threshold for declaring a food “gluten-free.”

The company says that this could be just the start, with future versions able to detect the bacteria that cause food poisoning …

In the future, says 6SensorLabs co-founder and Chief Executive Shireen Yates, it could be adapted to recognize all manner of proteins—including ones that would allow it to recognize bacterial contaminants such as E. coli and salmonella.

By accomplishing in two minutes an analysis that would normally require days to obtain from a lab, it’s hoped that suppliers and restaurants will conduct regular testing. Even individual consumers could do so, though you’ll need to lay out around $5 for each of the disposable ‘reaction chambers’ needed.

SCiO from Consumer Physics of Israel says that it’s possible that its camera-based technology – used to identify substances by measuring the spectrum of light they reflect – could even be built into future smartphones.

Apple has more interest in health than most, with its ResearchKit platform opening up the possibility of open-source research along with use by big pharma.

Filed under: Tech Industry Tagged: Health, HealthKit, medical, organic chemistry, pocket chemistry lab, researchkit

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Security researcher claims to have downloaded sensitive data from 13M accounts of scamware app MacKeeper

Server-Rack

As if conning people out of money for a piece of scamware that does nothing useful weren’t bad enough, a security researcher claims that extremely poor security has allowed him to access sensitive data for more than 13M MacKeeper accounts.

I have recently downloaded over 13 million sensitive account details related to MacKeeper, Zeobit, and/or Kromtech […] stuff like names, email addresses, usernames, password hashes, computer name, ip address, software license and activation codes, type of hardware (ex: “macbook pro”), type of subscriptions, phone numbers and computer serial numbers.

The data was accessed by white-hat researcher Chris Vickery, who previously exposed data breaches at MLB, ATP, Slipknot and a network of charter K-12 schools in California …

Vickery, who posted a screenshot of the folder structure (below), said on Reddit that the server was completely unprotected.

Six hours after making this post (and it being at the top of the Apple subreddit), the database is still completely unprotected […] No log in required at all.

The researcher also noted that while passwords were encrypted, the system used was extremely weak.

MD5 with no salt… so very weak hashing

Vickery says that he will reveal more details about how he was able to access the data after the company has secured it.

If you’re looking for genuine software to clean and speed up your Mac, check out our roundup.

screenshot

Filed under: iOS Devices

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Apple almost halves price of iPhone 5s in India as it seeks to accelerate growth

IPhone_5S_main_camera

With Apple’s ambitious expansion program in China well underway, the company now appears to be seeking to boost its market share in the next growth market, India. CNET reports that Apple has almost halved the price of the iPhone 5s from 44,500 Rupees ($665) to 25,000 Rupees ($370).

The price cut appears to be a move by the Californian company to increase its penetration in India, the world’s third largest smartphone market after China and the USA, where the bulk of phones sold are sub-$300. As of quarter 3 of 2015, Apple is not even among the top 5 smartphone vendors in India, a market that IDC Research predicts will overtake the US by 2017.

Although India is a huge market for smartphones, it is currently quite a different market to China, suggesting that Apple needs a significantly different approach …

China has a large and growing middle-class in urban areas, who can afford premium products. India, in contrast, has a much smaller market for premium products as yet, with the greatest opportunity in the mid-range.

“To drive volume, Apple will need to keep focus on older iPhone generations,” IDC’s Kiranjeet Kaur said

Apple is also hampered by the high import taxes India applies to products not manufactured in the country. Samsung is able to sell its products at more competitive prices thanks to local manufacturing.

It was announced in the summer that Foxconn planned to build 10-12 factories in India by 2020, though it was not known whether production would include iPhones. Tim Cook discussed the possibility of local manufacturing with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September.

Apple has been working hard to grow sales in India with a large boost to its reseller network, financing plans and cheaper hardware. The company has also been in discussion with the Indian government about relaxing laws which prevent it opening its own retail stores in the country.

The move may also be an attempt to move iPhone 5s inventory ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6c which is rumored for release in Spring.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple Inc, India, iPhone, iPhone 5s

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The Logic Pros: Gift Guide for musicians holiday edition

This week’s episode of The Logic Pros is the Holiday Gift Guide Edition. We will be looking at some of our favorite recording gear for Logic Pro X on the Mac and all your favorite iOS synth and sequencer apps. While some of the favorites remain, you’ll find some new and interesting gadgets in each of the main categories from mini MIDI controllers and repurposed U.S. coin picks to pocket synthesizers, Lightning mics, wireless interfaces and more:

Audio/MIDI Interfaces

puc+ wireless Bluetooth MIDI interface for iPhone, iPad and Mac $90

We had a ton of fun testing out the new palm-sized puc+, a super easy and inexpensive interface that lets you connect MIDI controllers wirelessly over Bluetooth to your Mac for Logic (or to an iOS device). It’s available for $90 shipped right now via Amazon using the on-page coupon.

IK Multimedia iRig Pro

More Great Interface Options:

  • IK Multimedia iRig Pro audio/MIDI interface for iOS/Mac $105
  • Apogee ONE Audio Interface for iPad & Mac $349
  • Apogee Quartet Audio Interface for iPad & Mac with Waves Gold Plugin Bundle $1,500

MIDI Keyboard/Grid Controllers

iRig Keys MINI portable 25-key MIDI controller for iOS and Mac

iRig Keys MINI portable 25-key MIDI controller for iOS and Mac $80

Well, you know how much we love Akai’s best selling line of MPK MIDI keyboards, but we though we would gear this year’s pick towards a more versatile setup that works both on Mac and iOS, as well in the home studio and on the road. IK Multimedia has become known for its highly rated and affordable production gear for beginners and more experienced producers alike, so this year we will be highlighting the iRig Keys MINI portable 25-key MIDI controller for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. This little, bus-powered keyboard packs in a lot of value for $79.99. Not only does it works with Logic Pro X and all your iOS apps, it includes Lightning, USB and MicroUSB cables to get you going right out of the box. It also comes with a host of iOS instrument apps, as well as some software and sample packs for Mac.

Akai MPK Mini MKII 25-Key MIDI Drum Pad and Keyboard

More Keyboards/Controllers:

  • Akai MPK Mini MKII 25-Key MIDI Drum Pad and Keyboard $100
  • Korg 37-Key microKEY2 Keyboard Controller $90
  • Novation Launchpad MK2 Mini Grid Controller $100

Gear/Accessories for Guitar Players

jamstik+ wireless smart guitar controller for iOS and Mac

jamstik+ wireless smart guitar controller for iOS and Mac $300

You may remember us reviewing the original jamstik guitar controller for iOS and Mac, but since that time the folks over at Zivix have released an updated model and a series of notable upgrades. Along with its genuine fretboard and real strings, jamstik+ allows guitar players to control instruments just like MIDI keyboards do on Logic Pro X and other DAWs, along with the plethora of interesting iOS synth and recording apps out there. This time around we are getting updated wireless connectivity, beta hammer-on tech, an interesting tap mode for soloing and more.

Guitar Pick Punch
iRig Acoustic

More Gifts for Guitar Players:

  • Guitar Pick Punch $26
    • Punches standard 351 shape guitar picks out of just about anything
  • IK Multimedia iRig Acoustic guitar mic/pickup for iOS/Mac $44

Coin Picks

  • 2-Pack Repurposed Coin Guitar Picks from $29
  • Snark’s Best Selling SN-5 Clip-On Guitar/Bass Tuner $7
  • Korg PitchHawk G2 Clip-On Guitar Tuner $21
  • IK Multimedia iRig 2 guitar interface iOS/Mac $30
  • JAM Studio Quality Guitar input for iPad, iPhone and Mac $100
  • Intellitouch CT1 Capo Tuner $24

Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones $160
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones $150

Headphones are always a tough suggestion to make with so many solid options out there from companies like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Sony, Audio-Technica and AKG. The Sony MDR-series and the AKG K-series options are always a good pick, but this year we are going with ATs and Beyers. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones are among the best selling and most popular out there. Not only will they work great for tracking and mixing, but they are much less bulky than some of the comparable options in the price and quality range. In our opinion, they also provide a nice balance between flat recording/mixing reference cans and a slightly more excitable, and “fun” consumer level sound.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the bulky and rugged Beyerdynamic DT 770 PROs may not be as fashionable, but they sound fantastic and can be worn for hours on end. Don’t be fooled by the slightly lower price tag compared to the M50x, these are my personal favorite option in the price range and feel much more durable/expensive than the listing value. 

More Recording/Mixing Headphones:

  • Sony MDR7506 Pro Headphones $78
  • Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones $100
  • AKG Pro Audio K702 Channel Studio Headphones $235

More

Logic Pro X Apple Keyboards & Cover

Logic Pro X Apple Keyboards & Cover from $30

One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the massive list of keyboard shortcuts in Logic is to get a keyboard with shortcut decals. We reviewed products from EditorsKeys that use real Apple keyboards with pre-applied, high-quality decals. The company also has wired versions for $149 and DIY keyboard covers for your existing Apple keyboards. However, there are also a few other cheaper keyboard cover options for your MacBook or desktop keyboard starting at around $30 Prime shipped.

Gear Dust cover

On-Stage/Studio Keyboard & Gear Dust Covers $8 to $16

An inexpensive way to keep your keys looking fresh and clean, these On Stage dust covers range from $8 to $16. A must have to go with your MIDI keyboard, synths, or other gear, especially if some of it goes out of rotation from time-to-time.

teenage-engineering-po-16-pocket-synthsizer-mac-ios-07

Here are a few more honorable mentions:

  • Teenage Engineering PO-12/4/6 Pocket Synthesizers from $63
  • Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone $105
  • Blue Microphones Spark Digital Lightning Microphone $15

The Logic Pros is a regular series exploring all of the most interesting gadgets and software for making music on your Mac/iOS devices. If there is any gear you would like us to take a closer hands-on look at, let us know in the comments section below or shoot us an email.

More The Logic Pros:

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apogee, ATH-M50x, Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, blue microphones, Capo Tuner, jamstik+, MIDI keyboard, Pick Punch, Pocket Operators, puc+, Sony MDR7506, Teenage Engineering

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