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Growth Secrets From Canva: How the Design Startup Acquires 30,000 New Users a Day [Podcast]
Visual content: We all know we need it … but many of us don’t have the skills, tools, or knowledge of how to do it well.
Since 2013, Canva’s been on a mission to change that. Turns out, it’s working. Two years after launching, the company has nearly seven million users, and it’s growing by 30K users each week day.
And the marketing world isn’t the only one that’s noticed this company’s incredible growth. Recently, Canva’s landed investments from two Hollywood stars: Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson.
On this episode of The Growth Show, Canva’s co-founder, Cliff Obrecht, and its head of growth, Andre Pinantoan, join us to talk about some of Canva’s growth secrets. Some episode highlights include:
- Why Canva didn’t launch an MVP at first
- How Canva’s organizational structure is set up for growth
- The story of how they landed Woody Harrelson as an investor
- Andre and Cliff’s tips for being more productive
Click the play button below to listen to this episode in your browser, or subscribe on iTunes to download episodes directly to your phone:
Check out the latest recaps of The Growth Show episodes by clicking here.
A bundle of Mac App Bundles, more than 50 total apps over 90% off
From 9to5toys.com:
As we approach Black Friday we are at the Nexus of the Mac application bundle universe with not 1, not 2, but 3 impressive Mac Bundles happening at the same time.
First up is MacHeist’s “Hall of Fame Bundle” which includes greats such as TechTool Pro, Graphic Converter, Stuffit Deluxe, Nisus Writer Pro, Poser, Fetch FTP and more for $15 (or choose the bottom row for “Name your own price”. This one has sold over 10,000 copies but ends in a day so you might want to get hopping.
Next up is Bundlehunt which costs a little more but they let you pick out any 10 of a selection of 30 apps which I love as a concept. This includes ForkLift, Pixa, Flux V, RapidWeaver, Boom 2, Secret Folders Pro, Jump Desktop + 23 great Mac apps. Even if you only need a few of these, the $19.99 price tag means you are getting a steal.
And finally probably the most impressive array of apps is from our own specials.9to5toys.com which using $5 code 9TO5BFMB at checkout drops the bundle price down to $34.99. A great price for most of these Mac Apps on their own. PDF Pen, Aftershot Pro 2, Drive Genius, Mixtape Pro, MacXDVD Ripper, Busy Contacts, Prizmo 3, Motion Composer and more.
| 1 | Drive Genius 4 | $99 Value |
| 2 | AfterShot Pro 2 | $79.99 Value |
| 3 | PDFpen 7 | $74.95 Value |
| 4 | Mixtape Pro | $69.99 Value |
| 5 | MacX DVD Ripper Pro | $59.95 Value |
| 6 | BusyContacts | $49.99 Value |
| 7 | Prizmo 3 | $49.95 Value |
| 8 | MotionComposer | $29 Value |
| 9 | Dropzone 3 | $10 Value |
| 10 | DaisyDisk | $9.99 Value |
Filed under: Apps, iOS Devices, Mac, Tips and Tricks Tagged: app, bundles, Mac, Mac App Store
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Apple shares new video highlighting Watch ABC on new Apple TV
Yesterday, Apple uploaded a handful of new 15 second videos to its YouTube channel highlighting the various apps that its new tvOS-powered Apple TV supports. Apple shared videos showcasing apps Netflix, HBO NOW, Asphalt 8, Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition: Star Wars, and Crossy Road. Now, the company has shared one more video to YouTube highlighting Watch ABC on the new Apple TV.
The video features characters from popular ABC show The Muppets. The video ends with Apple briefly showing the Watch ABC app in the tvOS interface, followed by the same multicolor graphic that opens the video.
In the description of the video, Apple again touts that the future of TV is apps:
Watch ABC and your favorite shows and movies on Apple TV. The future of television is apps.
Filed under: Apple TV Tagged: Apple TV, Apps, tvOS, video
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Official Google iOS app updated w/ interface tweaks, better organization of Google Now cards
Google today is rolling out an update to its iOS app that brings the app to version 10.0 and includes a handful of visual changes. With today’s update, the voice search feature has been redesigned to be more inline with Google’s Material Design aesthetic, while the Google Now cards in the app are now organized in a much more straightforward way.
The voice search interface has been update right from the start. As soon as you “Ok Google” or tap the microphone in the app, you’ll see a more colorful wavelength indicator along the bottom of the design. When the actual search is performed, you’ll notice the bottom navigation bar has been slightly redesigned, as well. The new colorful wave design is very similar to the design introduced to Siri when iOS 9 launched back in September.
Perhaps most notably, however, Google Now in the iOS Google app has seen a major restructuring. In previous versions of the app, cards were ungrouped and therefore a bit hard to navigate when you had a lot of them. Now, cards are grouped by the topic on which they relate. For instance, cards relating to the Indiana Pacers are separated into a section devoted purely to scores and news about that team, while scores and news the San Antonio Spurs are broken off into their own section, as well. Likewise, news stories are now separated into a “Stories to read” subheading, while information like weather and birthdays are shown in an “Updates for you” group.
Google earlier this week announced a new feature for its Google Photos app that will significantly help users who have a 16GB device. A new “Free up space” button is being added to the settings menu in a forthcoming update that deletes already backed up photos.
Google has always been more than willing to release quality apps on iOS, despite many thinking that Android should be its primary focus. If its update to the main Google app today is any indication, Google has no plans on slowing its iOS releases down.
You can download the latest version of the Google app from the App Store now.
What’s New in Version 10.0
- New look and feel for voice search—try it out by asking “Ok Google, where can I find coffee?”
- Updated Google Now stream designed to better organize and surface content for you
Filed under: Apps Tagged: Apple, Google, Google Now, iOS, update
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Top 5 Reasons Why Email is Not a Project Management Tool
It’s no mystery why people can’t seem to get away from using their inboxes as their personal project & task management tool; and why companies still attempt to collaborate via long over-drawn email chains. Email is well engrained into our personal and work lives, and many of our “to-dos” arrive in the form of email – it’s a popular (and effective) way of communicating. But that’s where the line should be drawn – at communication.
Using a more sophisticated task management tool can save you a lot of time sifting through your inbox, an ultimately, leaving a lot more time to get important work done.
Email is definitely not going anywhere, and that’s probably a good thing. But we must draw the line somewhere by learning how to manage it effectively – and that doesn’t include managing tasks or projects. Here’s why:
1. It’s a constant challenge
I have no doubt anyone reading this is familiar with the struggle of trying to keep their inboxes at zero, or at least something close to it. But the hard truth is that emails are constantly flowing in and no matter how many emails you deal worth or erase, you’re bound to get just as many back in your inbox.
2. Endless distractions
Most would agree that they check their emails WAY too often. Imagine the time it takes to check an email, process it, respond to it and then attempt to get back to what you were doing before. Ultimately, emails take people out of the zone and prevent them from getting into a flow.
3. Hard to find
It can take a lot of time to sift through emails to find that certain piece of information that now seems to elude you. Keeping track of documents and tasks in your email is a pretty good way to get mixed up and lose information. Much of what is sent out in emails gets lost into a seemingly black hole. The great thing about taking these kinds of communications to a project management tool, is that exchanges are documented and can easily be found.
4. Stakeholders in the dark
Sending documents and updates over email results in leaving most project stakeholders in the dark on status updates. All those who weren’t included in the email thread won’t be kept in the loop on pertinent matters. On the contrary, updating the project details in a proper system makes it easy and time effective for keeping stakeholders up to speed.
5. Pertinent background info
Emails don’t contain all the history and background information to set the context of what you’re trying to communicate. In a PM tool, the trails of information are all there and the system does all that “background” work for you.
Conclusion: What tool should I use?
Genius Project is an ideal project management solution to get employees out of their inboxes and into an organized and easy-to-use system. Check out Project-Management.com’s review of Genius Project.
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Review: Pad & Quill’s new Apple Watch band takes on the Hermès cuff at a fraction of the price
It’s immediately noticeable that the new Lowry Cuff strap from Pad & Quill has been put through the company’s usual quality standards. You’ll first likely notice the strap is handcrafted by the rugged look of the stitching that clearly wasn’t done with machine. And the leather, which the company notes is full-grain vegetable-tanned leather from Horween Tannery (a favorite source of leather for a lot of high-end goods), is extremely soft to the touch. Some leather bands are stiff and a result a bit cheap feeling, especially before breaking them in a bit, but the Lowry Cuff doesn’t suffer from any of those issues.
The Lowry Cuff is available in the tan color pictured throughout this review, and also darker Chestnut and Galloper Black options pictured in the image below:
The leather on the inside of the strap is unfinished for a super soft suede lining that feels great on the wrist:
You’ll find the usual Pad & Quill touches and more evidence of the personal craftsmanship with an embossed company logo and “crafted in USA by” with a handwritten signature from the craftsman at Pad & Quill that put the strap together. Both of those markings are on the flip side of the watch out of sight when in use:
Otherwise the band is free of branding with no Pad & Quill logos or any other markings visible when on the wrist.
The buckle looks great (although more of a high-polish stainless steel look than the “durable nickel finish” description would have you believe), but it’s the only thing that feels a bit cheap when compared to the stainless steel lugs and the Apple Watch itself.
It fit my wrist just barely on the last hole (it’s made to fit 125-215mm wrists), but there is room to add a couple more holes if necessary. That’s pretty standard for leather straps, but Pad & Quill doesn’t currently offer an option to add some extra length when ordering on its website.
The cuff design immediately reminds of the new Apple Watch special edition with Hermès (pictured above, right). It’s a similar design to the Hermès cuff, but the cuff itself isn’t as dominant with the main standard strap sitting on top of the wider cuff rather than hiding behind like the Hermès strap. The cuff itself is about as wide as the Hermès version with just a small piece of the leather protruding from either side of the Apple Watch, but it generally doesn’t look as wide on the wrist due to the difference in how the standard strap sits on top, as mentioned above.
Should you buy it?
There isn’t much bad to say about the Pad & Quill Lowry Cuff band, although it isn’t available for the 38mm Apple Watch, only the 42mm. There are a lot of Hermès knockoffs available, but the Lowry Band actually manages to step out of clone territory and offer its own take on the style. It also accomplishes the look at $129, a lot less than Hermès will run you (even when factoring in the cost of the Watch) and without sacrificing much in the way of quality or design. And as a bonus, you get Pad & Quill’s 30-day money back promise and a 25-year leather warranty.
The Pad & Quill Lowry Cuff band is available for $129 from the company’ website. It also sells a standard version of the Lowry band ($109) minus the cuff design.
Filed under: Apple Watch, Reviews Tagged: Apple watch, band, hermes, leather cuff, lowry cuff, Pad & Quill, the best apple watch band
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Apple Pay goes live in Australia with American Express, loyalty card support coming ‘soon’
As expected, the Apple Pay mobile payments service for the latest iPhone and Apple Watch models has gone live in Australia, where it is already Thursday. Apple Pay for apps is also available for devices without NFC, such as recent iPad models.
The service debuted earlier this week in Canada, following the late 2014 launch in the United States. Currently, the service is limited solely to American Express card users in both Australia and Canada. Apple is in talks to expand the service to more banks and cardholders in the future.
Apple’s website for Australia also notes that support for store cards and loyalty reward card for individual retailers is coming soon to the Australian version of Apple Pay. In addition to this week’s Canada and Australia launches, Apple has expanded support in the United Kingdom. Apple has said that, in partnership with American Express, Apple Pay will expand to Asia and more European regions in 2016.
Apple has also said that Apple Pay will soon expand to apps such as Kickstarter and The Fancy, while also coming to retail shops like Dominos and Cinnabon next year.
Filed under: iOS Devices
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Implementing the Technicalities of Project Management
As the world rapidly globalizes around us, there is no dearth of projects that require the assistance of skilled minds from different domains. To get the business towards the pinnacle of success, there is often a need for cumulative inculcation of elements that can make the managerial process more efficient. Building upon this trend, people are now opting for Project Management courses in and around Manchester, like the PRINCE2 Training course in Manchester, as it helps their aspirations of creating a strong name in the corporate sector.
However, there is a need of a basic understanding to realize the importance of Project Management for companies all around the world. Yes, one can easily follow the curriculum that is taught across the globe through various business and management programs, but there is still quite a lot left to be desired. To start with, one must focus their understanding of Project Management towards the development and planning of a process that can create room for an effective methodology for the management of your project.
Often, people mistake the first stage of the project to be the most difficult one. For many, the priority lies in getting the project started, and this leads to errors of gigantic proportions. As you initiate a project, there is a need to monitor the progress at every stage. Taking the example of Manchester, where one can find quite a few projects initiated, there is a need of skilled minds that can burden the pressure and apprehensions that come along any project.
Coming down to the recruiters who are often seeking managerial qualities in aspiring candidates; educational ventures are now diverting their attention towards creating a systematic learning curve for students interested in Project Management, therefore helping recruiters with the employing process, and forming a bridge between employment and opportunities.
What separates the PRINCE2 Training Course in Manchester from its contemporaries is its objective of focusing student attention towards the technicalities of Project Management. Generally, people find it difficult to shift focus from theory to practical application, and thus, leaving a flaw in this learning process. However, with PRINCE2 Training Course in Manchester, aspirants can be assured of a flexible and unique curriculum, designed to cater to the best minds in the industry. We don’t dwell only around the theoretical concepts, but also help students and learners in implementing the technicalities of Project Management in their Corporate Culture.
The post Implementing the Technicalities of Project Management appeared first on Project-Management.com.
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Ways Project Management Can Help Your Business Grow
When you own a small shop or a company with not a big size in terms of workforce or revenue, it doesn’t require much effort when it comes to management. As the sole runner of the organization, you can do a lot of things on your own and ensure that the operations of the company are going smoothly without any problems. You also must keep your focus on ensuring the efficiency deliveries and keeping out all the threats that can hurt your growth of the business or the organization you are working tirelessly for.
Fast forward to the future, assuming that everything worked out great for you and your business has now become a sizeable entity with significant revenue as well as operations. You also have a good sizeable workforce who is there for you, trying to achieve the same objectives as you are and giving their blood to the growth of the business. At this point in time, things will be a bit more complicated and management tougher, with difficult challenges. Project management is one way you can keep things under check and put your business back on track towards growth. Project management means applying the rules of strict supervision, efficiency and control through various strategies to help keep things under the caution. Today’s guest post blog is going to talk about ways project management can really help your business grow.
Improves budgeting vs. the actual costs
The biggest challenge most businesses and organizations fail to address completely with the right efficiency is to ensure they stick to the planned budget and fight all the budget constraints. Most of the times we will hear the word “over-spending” when it comes to the budget vs. the actual cost.This is largely because the project estimation cycle or process is not correctly executed in your organization and hence you fail to counter all the possibilities when budgeting for the project. Project management can help you improve your project estimation process and close the gap between your budgeted and actual costs.
Resource Capability Analysis
One part of project management is the resource capability analysis. When you work on resource capability analysis, you actually take into the calculations the capacity of your business to fulfill certain jobs, milestones and projects. Without this analysis, you will not be able to judge how prepared your organization is to fight the challenges that can come in different projects and the strength of fighting problems or threats within and outside the organization or your business.
Prioritizing
A part of project management helps you learn the art of prioritizing different projects and schedule the right timelines for them. You cannot possibly take on all the projects in a given time, so project management helps you analyze the opportunity cost and then prioritize the projects.
Planning
Planning is one of the most important tools for any organization and business. Right project management strategies can help you plan your work and projects with complete perfection. This can help you achieve your goals without any problems and also prepare you for the struggles and challenges in the way.
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Happy Hour Podcast 041 | iPad Pro Impressions
Apple’s iPad Pro is finally here, but what makes it so special? Today we’re getting into our first impressions with the iPad Pro and figuring out if it’s worth the hype. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed.
New episodes of Happy Hour are available every Wednesday. As mentioned, you can download this podcast via iTunes or plug in our RSS feed link into your favorite podcasting app. Send an email to listenermail@9to5mac.com (or click here) and your question/comment may be featured in an upcoming episode of Happy Hour.
Note: iTunes (web interface and app) may still be propagating the new episode which could take up to 24 hours. Subscribing to the podcast feed will guarantee the latest episode is downloaded.
Hosts:
Here’s what we discussed in this episode:
- Opinion: Blame early software for iPad Pro’s weak work ethic, size for its awkwardness at play
- iPad Pro diary: It’s day seven, and decision time …
- iPad Pro’s keyboard has an annoying shift key bug, here’s how to fix it
- Review: Logitech’s Create for iPad Pro gets the backlit keyboard part right, but not the case
- Review: Zagg’s Messenger Universal is a smarter, cheaper iPad Pro keyboard and stand
- iPad Pro unboxing and impressions
Also, check out our iPad Pro unboxing and impressions video:
If you missed our 40th episode last week, you can subscribe and find every episode or start off from the previous episode here.
Remember: Subscribe on iTunes to catch all of the episodes as they go live and send in your questions/comments to listenermail@9to5mac.com.
Filed under: Happy Hour Tagged: Apple, Happy Hour, iPad, iPad Pro, Podcast
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tvOS 9.1 beta 3 is now available on Apple TV for developers
There’s a new software update awaiting Apple TV developers today. tvOS 9.1 beta 3 is now available for registered developers testing apps against the upcoming software update to Apple TV. The initial iOS 9.1 beta for developers was released a couple weeks ago, but no visual changes have surfaced yet aside from Siri support for Apple Music, which Apple promises will be available early next year for all Apple Tv 4th-gen owners.
While the new Apple TV runs the modern tvOS platform and has an App Store for games and many other types of apps, customers have highlighted incompatibility with Apple’s Remote apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch (where it’s built in). Bluetooth keyboards that are supported by Apple TV 3rd-gen and prior boxes aren’t yet supported by the new Apple TV either. Apple’s Podcasts app on earlier Apple TV models has also not yet made its way to the new box.
When it launches to the public, tvOS 9.1 will be the first big point update for the new Apple TV since it launched at the end of October. The very first software update for the new Apple TV, tvOS 9.0.1, was released with no visible changes in early November. That update likely includes bug fixes and performance improvements, although release notes for Apple TV updates weren’t presented during the update.
Thanks to the new Apple TV App Store, the biggest changes to the entertainment box comes in the form of new apps and services like Plex and other popular services and games.
Filed under: Apple TV, Developers Tagged: Apple TV, betas, Bluetooth, Bluetooth keyboards, Podcasts, remote, Siri, tvOS, tvOS 9.1
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Review: Nomad’s Pod Pro, PowerPlant, Roadtrip + Wallet wrap iPhone/iPad batteries in luxury materials
Nomad is ending 2015 with a bang. Having moved from small plastic accessories into using luxury materials including metal, leather, and wood, Nomad is flexing its design muscles with four new Apple device chargers that are equally attractive and creative. There’s a deluxe metal Apple Watch/iPhone travel charger called Pod Pro, the wood-encased iPad battery pack PowerPlant, a hybrid iPhone battery and car charger named Roadtrip, and a Lightning battery-equipped leather Wallet. Three of the accessories look as if they were expressly designed to be holiday gifts, while the fourth is less exotic, but practical.
The common thread here is “portable power.” Pod Pro steps up from Nomad’s Apple Watch-only Pod (reviewed here) by more than tripling the power to 6,000mAh, and adding iPhone charging. PowerPlant packs an iPad-ready 12,000mAh cell inside a solid American Walnut wood block. Roadtrip serves as a car charger in your car, doubling as a portable iPhone battery pack for on-the-go use. And Wallet guarantees you’ll have a 2,400mAh battery and Lightning cable anywhere you go. Below, I’ll quickly walk through all of these new accessories so you can get a sense of whether any or all of them is right for you, or your favorite gift recipient…
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Pod Pro
Out of all four of these accessories, the one that initially interested me the most was Pod Pro, Nomad’s bigger and better sequel to the early Apple Watch charging dock Pod. Featuring a clean circular design that resembles Apple’s just-released plastic Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, both Pod models wrap a self-supplied Magnetic Charging Cable around a circular battery core. While Pod has an 1,800mAh battery that can recharge an Apple Watch around 3 times, Pod Pro’s 6,000mAh battery — and integrated Lightning cable — can be used either to keep your Apple Watch running for 9 days, or to refuel both your iPhone and Apple Watch on the road. It charges the iPhone at 1 Amp and the Apple Watch at 500mA.
In my testing, Pod Pro was able to deliver a 134% recharge to a power-hungry iPhone 6s Plus, as well as a 100% recharge to a 42mm Apple Watch — both notably Apple’s largest devices of their kinds. Nomad suggests that Pod Pro can recharge both an Apple Watch and an iPhone twice, and that’s true if you’re using a smaller iPhone and/or Apple Watch. You’ll come closer to a 2x charge with an iPhone 6 or 6s, and do even better with any iPhone 5-series phone. A small four-light indicator on the base is triggered with an adjacent button to let you know how much energy is remaining, and a micro-USB cable can be used to refuel Pod Pro’s battery.
Like Pod, Pod Pro looks and feels great. The gunmetal cap is solid, magnetically attaching to the plastic cable-wrapping and battery core, which has a large anti-slip rubber pad on the bottom. To hold the bigger battery, it’s larger — a 3.9″ diameter versus Pod’s 3.1″ — but the added size of the still puck-like shape doesn’t radically change its Apple Watch compatibility. You can place open-band Watches on its top, and either loop closed-band Watches (like the Milanese, shown above) around its bottom if you’re willing to risk scuffing. Tighter bands (including the Link Bracelet) may not fit that way.
The alternative is to follow the example set by Apple’s new dock, and pop the inductive charger puck out of Pod Pro’s top hole. To do this, you just need to feed your charging cable’s USB plug through Pod Pro’s gunmetal cap. I wouldn’t for a moment call this ideal, but it works if you’re using a closed band.
While Pod Pro isn’t cheap, it delivers much better value for the dollar than Apple’s Magnetic Charging Dock, as the materials, integrated battery, and Lightning charging option make it worth actually carrying around as a travel recharger for your Apple Watch and iPhone. Due to its capacity, I would personally pick it over the original Pod even if I was just looking to keep an Apple Watch running on the road, but go with the version that suits your budget and needs.
| Manufacturer: Nomad |
Price: $100 |
Compatibility: Apple Watch, All Lightning iPhones, iPads, iPods |
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PowerPlant
Of all four accessories here, I have the least to say about PowerPlant, which is the simplest concept — albeit with the best name. Measuring roughly 5.9″ by 2.9″ by 0.6″, it’s a genuine wood box made from American Walnut, a design you’d be hard-pressed to find in other Apple device batteries. Decidedly rectangular but smooth, it houses a 12,000mAh battery with a 2.1A micro-USB input, twin 2.1A USB outputs, and a button to trigger a four-LED light panel on the top. The color of the box is a rich, attractive brown, accented by black and gunmetal plastics, with silver ink on the bottom for specifications and branding. A micro-USB cable is included to refuel the battery, which given the high capacity requires an overnight charging session.
During my testing, PowerPlant was able to deliver a 103% recharge to an iPad Air 2, which is 13% lower than the similarly 12,000mAh myCharge HubUltra I tested earlier this year. While that isn’t bad given that HubUltra sells for 10% more, it’s fair to say that 12,000mAh batteries are becoming much more common and affordable. The Aukey PB-N28 I reviewed is now selling for under $20, though it’s seriously low on frills; you’ll have to compromise on everything from power indicator lights to charging and recharging performance to use it. PowerPlant has the same capacity, but a much nicer presentation at a premium price. Speaking for myself, I’d sooner go with a metal-clad, more powerful, and less expensive option such as Anker’s PowerCore+ 20100, but if you love wood enough to wrap your external iPad battery in it, PowerPlant is a reasonable option.
| Manufacturer: Nomad |
Price: $100 |
Compatibility: All USB iPhones, iPods, iPads, Apple Watches |
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Roadtrip
Like batteries, there are hundreds of car chargers out there, and very little innovation to distinguish them from one another. Built with an anodized aluminum face and soft touch rubber body, Roadtrip breaks from the pack in several ways. First, it’s the very rare car charger with both USB and USB-C ports; you supply the charging cable of your choice. Second, both ports can be used simultaneously, and though the packaging and web site differ on this point, Roadtrip delivers 3.0-Amps of total power, with 1.5A out per port. Third and finally, there’s actually a 3,000mAh battery inside, so when you’re done driving somewhere, you can pull it out of your car’s power outlet and carry it around for power. In my testing, the battery delivered a 75% recharge to my large iPhone 6s Plus; smaller iPhones will get a full recharge.
Depending on how much you drive — and how much you alternate between driving and walking — Roadtrip could either be extremely convenient or somewhat confounding. It strikes me as more practical than the only other dual-purpose car charger I can recall, Incase’s Car/Wall Charger, which awkwardly grafted wall blades onto a car charger years ago. If you drive to work — or drive then transfer to a train or subway to get to work — you can have a battery that’s ready to use anywhere throughout the day, then recharged by plugging it back into your car before you drive home.
The only question is whether you drive enough for your car’s power outlet to fully recharge Roadtrip between uses; Nomad notes that “it’s almost always 100% full and ready to use,” which will be accurate if it has two hours of collective time to recharge in your car, without an iPhone attached. When your iPhone’s attached, it will recharge the iPhone first, then itself, extending the spare battery’s charging time. Roadtrip is therefore best suited to commuters with long travel times, and other people who — as the name suggests — have long road trips ahead. It’s not for everyone, but those who need it will appreciate what it offers in a single, reasonably-priced enclosure.
| Manufacturer: Nomad |
Price: $60 |
Compatibility: iPhones, USB iPods |
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Wallet
Last but certainly not least is Nomad’s new Wallet, which is the most distinctive item in this collection — and the one that has the most potential to become a breakout hit. Made from black Saffiano leather, Wallet was “tirelessly prototyped” until it could fit a 2,400mAh battery into a design that’s “true to the size of a standard wallet.” In person, Wallet looks bigger than the deliberately compact and awesomely minimalist Flipside Wallet I carry, but it’s around 2/3 the size of my iPhone 6s Plus, and not much larger than the leather wallets I used to carry around.
Nomad made some pretty smart choices when designing Wallet. The cash compartment is large enough to hold bills of any currency, and six visible card slots are augmented by two hidden compartments for business cards or other items. By placing the battery and pop-out Lightning cable in Wallet’s spine, Nomad manages to make its charging solution basically undetectable in a front pocket; the core is also fortified with aluminum to preserve the battery’s integrity, which could be an issue for people who sit on their back-pocketed wallets.
During testing, the compromises I noted were in power controls and capacity. In the name of streamlining, Wallet offers no button to trigger the four white LED remaining power indicators, or turn power on and off; it starts working when you plug it into your iPhone, and stops when you unplug it or run out of power, providing no way to check the power level without interrupting charging. You use a separate included micro-USB cable to recharge it, which would ideally take place on your nightstand while you sleep — keeping your wallet connected to your computer’s USB port mid-day is quite an unusual sight.
While I found Wallet’s look and feel to be pretty nice, its battery is the smallest in this group. During my testing, the 2,400mAh capacity was just able to completely fill an iPhone 5c — basically identical to the iPhone 5 — before becoming unable to charge further. So while Nomad promises a “full charge for your iPhone 6s,” that’s probably optimistic. In a separate test refueling the slightly larger-capacity iPhone 6, Wallet fell well short of a 100% charge, and Apple’s Plus models obviously demand even more energy. From my perspective, Wallet is best understood as a highly compact way to carry around at least a partial backup charge for any iPhone on the go, and so long as you don’t expect a complete recharge from the latest models, you’ll be satisfied with its performance.
| Manufacturer: Nomad |
Price: $100 |
Compatibility: Lightning iPhones, iPods |
|---|
More From This Author
Check out more of my editorials, How-To guides and reviews for 9to5Mac here! In recent months, I published a holiday gift guide for Apple photographers, and a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users.
Filed under: General, iOS Devices, Reviews Tagged: Apple watch, Batteries, chargers, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Nomad, Pod Pro, PowerPlant, Roadtrip, wallet
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How to Remove Rending Blocking JavaScript From Your Website
Have you ever finished creating a website and loved everything about it? And then promptly began to hate it after attempting to actually view it online and it is painfully slow to load? Everyone is used to the common culprits, but there is one often overlooked perpetrator: render-blocking JavaScript.
So now you are asking, what is render-blocking JavaScript? If we breakdown the phrase “render-blocking” into its parts we get render (to load) and blocking (to prevent); so we can deduce that this refers to JavaScript that is preventing a page from loading. JavaScript is awesome; it helps to add visually appealing elements to improve on the user experience on your website but it can also be a huge time hog.
Time hogging is not only a nuisance for your visitors; it can also cost you significantly when it comes time for Google to show your site organically. Since 2010, Google algorithms account for loading speed in ranking decisions. And since most other culprits are already discussed extensively today we will be focusing on how to remove render-blocking JavaScript from your website.
1) Identify
The first step in the process is to identify the offending JavaScript. One of the simplest ways to do this is to use PageSpeed Insights; this Google tool quickly displays a list of the precise files that are currently render-blocking a particular page and which are located above-the-fold. Above the fold is everything that will show up first on a visitor’s screen. This means that if a JavaScript feature does not occur as soon as the visitor loads the page then it should not be included in the header of the webpage. (More details about this in Step 2.)
Clicking on the “Show how to fix” link will expand the view and show you the list of script resources that should be evaluated.
The most commonly used JavaScript is JQuery, so you will likely see this one show up most often.
2) Choose Best Method
Once you’ve identified which scripts need to be moved it is time to decide “how” to fix them. There are two main methods to choose from. The first is to make the scripts inlined; in this method the contents of the script are added directly into the HTML of the page and are only loaded once they are needed. This is the best option if the script is small and applies to a single page.
Another option is to defer the script. When you defer JavaScript you are delaying any non-essential scripts from loading until after the first render or until after the more essential portions have loaded. This method is best when the script is not crucial and can wait to load.
3) Decide Where to Move It
We are now ready to apply your newly chosen technique within the site. With either option we will be removing the JavaScript from the head and adding it into individual sections of the HTML. Finding your website’s header will depend on which CMS you are using. Often you will be able to find it in the overall page settings, or in cases like WordPress you might have to look in the “Theme Options” page or a header.php file in the editor (see images below.) It is important note that you should NOT make changes in the header.php file unless you are an advanced user, otherwise you risk creating unnecessary errors to your site!
In HubSpot we can find the head HTML in both the template view and in the page editing “options” tab.
From the template view you can find the “Edit Head” option in the Edit dropdown:
We will go from something like the example below to moving the entire script into your body html, relevant php file (WordPress,) a Custom HTML module (HubSpot) or into the footer to delay the rendering.
Body HTML
The body HTML is where you have all of the content for your pages. The best way to find it is to find where you have all of the copy for your content. If you are using WordPress, the script can be added directly to the page by typing it alongside your content via the “Text” view.
Custom HTML Module
To add the script to a page in HubSpot, we need to use a Custom HTML module. The Custom HTML module is accessed via the template view.
Footer
(same note applies here, do not make changes unless you are an advanced user!)
it
is found in the edit page view “Options” tab
Where you move the script will depend on if the script needs to occur at a certain point of the page or if it can wait until the end of the page rendering. The first should go in the body HTML or Custom HTML module while the latter can go into the Footer section.
4) Move the Script
This next step is pretty simple; add the script to your desired location.
5) Test
This is one of the most important steps in this process.
After making all the changes check the previews to make sure that the site still works. Does the page load correctly? Are all elements showing properly? If there is something broken, or not loading properly, then you should troubleshoot the problem. This can be done with the help of many differentdeveloper tools; try a few out and then choose your favorites. Once you find the errors, double check your code and verify that you are not missing any important components such as semicolons or curly braces.
6) Publish
Once you have confirmed there are no issues with the page after the changes are applied, you are then ready to publish.
Conclusion
Now that you have removed the render-blocking JavaScript you should continue to optimize your website’s speed by analyzing other features that are known to slowdown performance.
To take this premise even further, regularly testing the speed of client websites is something which should be a common occurrence in any web development schedule. With the ever evolving world of online marketing staying ahead of any potential issues is critical to success.
Apple releases iOS 9.2 beta 4 with NumberSync, Arabic Siri support, & more
Just a week after the last version, Apple has released iOS 9.2 beta 4 to testers for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The first iOS 9.2 beta appeared alongside Xcode 7.2 beta in late October. We’ll dive into the latest beta and update with any changes we discover.
Included in the release up to this point has been an improved Safari View Controller for web links you open within other apps, support for AT&T’s new NumberSync feature for using your iPhone number on other connected devices, and Arabic language support with Siri for the first time.
For non-developers and users not using public beta versions, iOS 9.1 is the latest version of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software. Released last month, that update included more than 150 new emoji characters, improvements to Live Photos on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, tweaked wallpapers, and more.
Public beta testers can also access the latest iOS 9.2 beta 4. The corresponding OS X 10.11.2 beta 4 hit the Mac App Store for developers and public beta testers yesterday.
Filed under: Developers, iOS Tagged: Arabic, betas, developers, iOS, ios 9.2, NumberSync, Safari View Controller, Siri, Xcode
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: SOL REPUBLIC Bluetooth headphones $70, Gold MacBook $1,149, Black Friday guides, more
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.
Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Bluetooth On-ear Headphones: SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Air $70 shipped (Reg. $100), more
Apple’s 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB (Gold): $1,149 shipped (Reg. $1,299)
Amazon’s Black Friday deals go live later this week w/ mobile shoppers getting extra perks
Top 5 ways to score the year’s best online Black Friday deals
10 can’t-miss deals for the holiday season: HDTVs, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6s, more
Apple Watch sale at Best Buy, $50 off across the board, starting at $299 shipped (Open box $278)
20% off iTunes Gift Cards: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20
Giveaway: mophie juice pack reserve battery case for iPhone 6/s (multiple winners)
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Black Friday Magazine Deals start now from under $4/yr: Wired, Popular Science, Dwell, Rolling Stone, GQ, ESPN, more
- Games/Apps: Nintendo 3DS XL Retro NES Edition $160, iOS freebies, more
- MacBook felt portfolio style sleeve: $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $17)
- Media: Holiday classics on Blu-ray/DVD from $4, more
- Daily Deals: Panasonic LUMIX Camera (DMC-ZS45) $90, 6700mAh Power bank $12,
- Beauty & Grooming Essentials up to 40% off: Braun Wet & Dry Electric Shaver $40
LG 34UC87C 34-inch Curved Monitor: $690 shipped (all-time low, Reg. $750+) wp.me/p1xTlR-JZ0 https://t.co/eeTstlUOGH
—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 18, 2015
BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:
Best of Black Friday – Streaming Media Players: Apple TV 64GB $180, Roku SE $20, 2-Pack Chromecast (2nd gen) $50, more
Best of Black Friday – Smart Home: Nest Thermostat $250 + $50 GC, Philips Hue kit $130
Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, Samsung 55-inch Smart $580 (Reg. $1,200), more
Best of Black Friday – iPads, Tablets and e-readers: iPad Air 2 from $360, Amazon Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more
Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more
Best of Black Friday – wearables: Fitbit Flex $59/Charge $90/more, $100 off Apple Watch, Android smartwatches, more
Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!
- Walmart’s Black Friday ad leak hits with 4K UHDTV deals, iPad Air 2 $100 off, more
- Target previews its top Black Friday deals, launches surprise one-day sale
- Staples Black Friday Ad Revealed: iPad Air 2 from $374, mini 4 $300, more
- Amazon plans dramatic Black Friday discounts for its Kindle, Fire TV Stick & Fire tablet
- Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business
- eBay’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday will deliver deals on MacBooks, iPhone, iPad Air 2
- GameStop Black Friday ad leak: PS4/Xbox One bundles $300, new Nintendo 3DS XL $180
- Costco’s Black Friday ad includes deals on Chromecast (2nd gen), Fitbit Flex, more
- Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak: Xbox One/PS4 bundles $300, more
- Sam’s Club Black Friday ad leak: iPad Air 2 Cellular $175 off, Google Play $100 GC $80
- Kohl’s Black Friday ad leak: more PS4/Xbox One $300 bundles, home goods, clothing
- Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off
- HHGregg Black Friday: Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones $100, more
- Sports Authority Black Friday Ad: Free gift cards w/ footwear, FitBit Charge HR $120
- eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year
- BJ’s Warehouse Black Friday ad hits with Samsung 4K UHDTV deals, fitness trackers
- Sears Black Friday Ad: deals on Samsung 4K UHDTV’s, more
- Black Friday ad leaks drop for Lowe’s, Menards, Cabela’s, and more
- Grab 2 free ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ tickets during Black Friday at Kohl’s
- The Office Depot & OfficeMax Black Friday ad doesn’t bring much to the table
Old Navy’s Black Friday ad is here! Massive storewide savings, men’s wool jacket $40, more wp.me/p1xTlR-JWS https://t.co/Nf10e86CjQ
—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 18, 2015
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
SanDisk Connect 32GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS/Android: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)
App Store Free App of the Week: PDF Expert 5 goes free for the first time ($10 value)
Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($10 value)
Hitman Sniper for iOS hits its lowest price yet: $2 (Reg. $5)
- Monitors: Dell 24-inch $240 (Reg. $275+), LG 34-inch UltraWide $400 (Reg. $460)
- 2-Pack SONOS PLAY:1 Starter Set for $349 shipped ($400 value)
- Apple MFi Certified 3.1A 4ft Coiled Lightning Car Charger $12 (Reg. $20)
- LG 43-inch HDTVs: Smart 4K + $150 Dell Gift Card $600 (Reg. $800+), more
- Jabra MOVE Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: $60 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Adobe Elements 14 w/ download: Photoshop as low as $40, Premiere $60
- Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth: $298 shipped (Reg. $400)
- Mackie CR4 4-inch Multimedia Monitor Speakers (Pair) $120 shipped (Reg. $150)
- GoPro HERO4: Silver (Prime only): $329 (Reg. $400), Black $395 (Reg. $500)
- Bluetooth: Venstart 10W Speaker $20 (Reg. $33), SoundPEATS In-ears $25 (Reg. $50)
- Shoe-up with with casual shoes and Boots 85%+ off at Amazon’s MyHabit
- iPhone 6/s 3100mAh MFi Apple-certified battery case: $21 Prime shipped (Reg. $43)
- Apple MagSafe 2 Power Adapters from $34 shipped (Reg. $79)
- 12-month EA Access subscription: $25 (Reg. $30)
- USB Deals w/ Prime shipping: Lumsing 10,400mAh Power Bank $13, more
- Nest Cam 3-pack bundle launching this week for $497 ($100 savings)
- Incase’s ‘Mystery Box’ gets you a $150 grab bag of Apple accessories worth $320
- LEGO locations to offer free build sets in-store with registration
- 44 comic issues for free: Batman, Star Wars, Spawn, The Walking Dead, and more
T-Mobile is discounting iPhone 6s/Plus by $100 when bought on an installment plan or outright
Huge savings on pre-owned Apple Watches, deals from as low as $261 shipped
Apple iPod Touch 5th gen 16-64GB sizes, multiple colors: $149-$199 shipped
Apple Magic Mouse 2 (open-box): $68 shipped (Reg. $80)
Apple iPad Mini 2, space gray or silver: $199 shipped ($70 off)
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
Pryme Vessyl skips the 8-cup rule for a user specific iPhone-connected recommendation
Mass Fidelity tries to solve virtual stereo sound with its new Core wireless speaker
- What Watch uses Bluetooth connectivity to tab the memorable moments of your life
- Pulse brings Bluetooth LE + iOS connectivity to a slew of Canon and Nikon DSLRs
- Roku surprises with a new “special edition” streaming media player
- Nintendo announces Zelda Twilight Princess HD remaster, more
- Mophie introduces new power banks with a sleek aluminum design
- Yuneec introduces its own stabilized 4K action camera
Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 12-inch MacBook, Amazon Black friday, Amazon Prime, Apple watch, Best of Black Friday, Black Friday, Black Friday deals, Black Friday HDTV deals, bluetooth headphones, coupon codes, Cyber Monday, Daily Deals, eBay Daily Deals, free, free apps, free shipping, gold macbook, HDTVs, itunes deals, Retina MacBook, sol republic
Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of Tips and Tricks, Apple watch, and Daily Deals.
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Microsoft’s Android emulator coming soon to Mac as it open-sources Visual Studio Code
During Microsoft’s Connect 2015 event today live from New York, the company announced it is open-sourcing its Visual Studio Code program for developers and in the process bringing its Visual Studio Emulator for Android to Mac users.
Microsoft first released the Visual Studio Emulator for Android for Windows users last year, but during its event today promised that Mac users will also soon gain access. The Visual Studio Emulator for Android is a tool within the full Visual Studio 2015 suite, which Microsoft brought to Mac users for the first time back in April. It offers Android devs an easy and free way to test and debug apps.
Microsoft has a sign-up form on its website that will notify Mac users when more info on the upcoming release becomes available. You can tune into Microsoft’s Connect 2015 event live here. The company is also announcing Visual Studio Dev Essentials, a program giving devs access to everything they need for building and delaying apps for free, and updates to Visual Studio cloud subscriptions.
And the new open-source version of Visual Studio Code is on GitHub here.
Filed under: Apps, Developers, Mac Tagged: android emulator, coming soon, Connect 2015, GitHub, Mac, Microsoft, Open source, Visual Studio Code
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Tweetbot for Mac now works in full screen and split view on OS X El Capitan
Tweetbot for Mac has learned a handy new feature with the latest update just released. Tweetbot for Mac now supports OS X’s full screen mode, including El Capitan’s new Split View feature that lets you run two full screen apps side-by-side. This works a lot like the split view multitasking features on the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 4. Tweetbot 2.2 also brings a few other changes to the Mac…
To access the new full screen and split view features, look for the green circle icon in the top left corner of the Tweetbot window. Like with other supported Mac apps, clicking the green circle once will put Tweetbot in full screen mode, taking up your entire display. If you use Tweetbot as a single column of your timeline, the window will stretch out and fill your whole screen. Full screen is especially useful when used with columns displaying lists and other timelines.
For me personally, split view is much more useful. When used on OS X El Capitan, holding the green circle on supported apps like Tweetbot and Safari will put the apps in a mode that takes up half your display, then lets you choose a compatible secondary app to run alongside it. By default, this puts each app in a 50:50 split unless one of the apps doesn’t support the minimum width. On smaller displays like the 12-inch Retina MacBook, running Safari with Tweetbot next to it as about 1/5th the display offers up extra screen real estate as the dock, menu bar, and other tool bars hide away.
In either full screen or split view, press escape or mouse over to the top right of either window to click the green maximize button again to exit the mode and return to the traditional view.
Here’s the full changelog, including a tweak that makes conversations read more like the updated iPhone and iPad versions:
What’s New in Version 2.2
– Fullscreen support and split screen support in 10.11
– Tweet details now show conversation and replies in the same order as Tweetbot 4 for iOS.
– Control-click on the fav button and fav from any of your accounts.
– Muted keywords can now optionally mute lists and searches.
– Various color changes to match Tweetbot 4 for iOS.
– Fixed an issue where “Find Users” when composing a tweet could end up with no results.
– Main menu: added Tweet > Share > Message Tweet and Open in Browser.
– Various bug fixes.
Tweetbot for Mac is available for $9.99 on the Mac App Store and requires OS X 10.10 or later. If you’re looking for a full-featured alternative to Twitter’s own Mac app before it’s promised refresh, Tweetbot is an easy recommendation for frequent Twitter users.
Filed under: Apps Tagged: full-screen, Mac, multitasking, social, Split View, Tweetbot, Twitter
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Where to buy iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular discounted on contract or monthly installment plans
Apple’s massive new iPad Pro is only available with built-in cellular connectivity in the pricey 128GB configuration, but all four of the major carriers in the US are offering the $1,079 tablet at discounts on contract or through installment plans. Here’s where you can find the iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular and how much you should expect to pay:
AT&T — Whether you’re picking silver, gold, space gray or you’re hoping to stumble upon another rare silver-gold hybrid, AT&T has you covered with iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular.
If you plan on using your iPad Pro with continuous cellular service for a full two years, you can commit to a 2-year contract and save $100, bringing the $1,079 tablet down to $979. If a $0 down monthly installment plan sounds better to you, AT&T is offering the cellular iPad Pro for that plus $54/month for 20 months.
Shipping may be a slight hiccup, though, as online orders are currently promising shipments between December 3 and December 17 depending on the color. Apple’s own shipments, however, range from December 1 to December 7 for cellular models.
Verizon — Similarly, you can choose between either a 2-year contract discount or a monthly installment plan on any color of iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular through Verizon.
A 2-year service commitment gets you a $100 discount again bringing the $1,079 iPad Pro down to $979. Prefer a monthly installment plan? Verizon is offering the iPad Pro to qualified customers for $0 down and $44.99/month for 24 months.
Verizon currently lists silver and gold iPad Pro models as shipping by Friday, November 20, while space gray models show shipping by December 4.
T-Mobile — iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular in space gray, silver, and gold is also available through T-Mobile now. T-Mobile customers can pick up the $1,079 tablet for $199 upfront and $36.67/month for 24 months with wireless service. You’ll also need a $15 SIM Starter Kit, but this is comparable to other carriers’ similarly priced activation fee.
T-Mobile doesn’t offer a $0 down installment plan or a 2-year contract like AT&T and Verizon, but T-Mo’s $199 down offer goes through Jump On Demand, which potentially lets you trade-in and upgrade your iPad Pro with flexibility if you plan on switching to different devices in the future.
T-Mobile’s website doesn’t list ship dates on iPad Pros before purchase, only breaking out iPhone delivery dates, but it does list the new larger tablets as backordered at checkout.
Sprint — Sprint customers can also get in on the iPad Pro action with all three colors offered. Like Verizon and AT&T, Sprint is offering both 2-year contracts and monthly installment plans for iPad Pro shoppers.
Sprint’s iPad Pro 128GB + Cellular on a 2-year contract goes for $979, $100 off the full $1,079 retail price. Using Sprint’s 24 month Easy Pay plan, qualified customers can pick up the iPad Pro for $200 down and $36.67/month for 2 years.
Sprint notes that leasing options aren’t available for the iPad Pro at this time, and doesn’t list shipping availability for any iPad Pros before checkout.
If you’re planning to keep cellular service with your iPad Pro, the 2-year contracts from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint offer $100 off upfront, although the installment plans may make the pricey tablet purchase more flexible. Verizon seems to have the best ship dates for now with AT&T promising similar dates to Apple.
Not interested in a cellular iPad Pro or just want a discount without the carriers involved? 9to5Toys.com has also seen modest discounts through MacMall on all iPad Pro models. You’ll also want to bookmark our Black Friday ad coverage which includes iPad Air 2 from $360 and iPad mini 2 from $199.
Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: AT&T, iPad, iPad Pro, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon
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