Latest Posts in Mobile Mac

Booq Mamba Pack

When it comes to having a laptop backpack that provides loads of room for more than just a laptop—books, accessories, peripherals, and cables—Booq’s $135 Mamba Pack has a lot to offer. This roomy and colorful backpack features a dedicated laptop compartment that can accommodate 13- to 17-inch laptops, an expandable compartment large enough to hold a four-slice toaster, various mesh pockets for discs and gewgaws, a removable accessories pouch for cables, and a couple side zipper pockets that can hold a water bottle, business cards, and a couple iPods and iPhones.

Made of water-resistant polyester, the backpack includes the expected padded back (the area that sits against your backbone) as well as padded straps. (It rides up high enough that a belt strap is unnecessary.) And that padding makes it comfortable to wear. Less expected is the padding on the outer sections of the pack. I’ve been known to place delicate items in my backpacks’ outer pockets so having this extra bit of protection is welcome.

That said, the padding gives the Mamba Pack a distinctive shape—no one will mistake this pack for something you’d use for a long stroll in the mountains. This look, of course, is purely a matter of taste. I prefer backpacks that look like the day-packs of old, but you may have a more modern outlook.

Your sensibilities may also be thrown by the pack’s bright interior. The navy blue Mamba Pack in my possession has an orange interior vibrant enough to fry eggs. At first I was put off by it, but then it dawned on me that the bright interior makes it easier for me to find items in the bag. Nearly all my other laptop backpacks have black interiors, which make it difficult to find darkly colored items in under-lit environments.

Each Mamba Pack has a unique ID number inscribed on a metal plate stuck to the inside of the bag. You use that number to register your backpack with Booq’s Terralinq service. Should you lose the bag, an honest citizen can report its whereabouts to Terralinq and help you recover it.

Booq’s Mamba Pack certainly fits the bill in regard to capacity, organization, and comfort. And the extra padding on the outside and the hope of tracking a lost pack are welcome bonuses. If you also like its look, the Mamba Pack could be a good choice.

Review: Logitech AudioHub laptop speaker

Apple’s top selling Macs are laptops, but many of those have a semi-permanent home on a desk, like a desktop Mac. Logitech’s AudioHub is a compact, desktop speaker system for your laptop that aims to enhance your movie watching and music listening.

The AudioHub's main section, which hosts a 3-inch woofer, rests behind your laptop; a pair of 2-inch tweeters extend to peek from behind the edges of your laptop. Measuring 20-by-3.75-by-5.25 inches when the speakers are fully extended (17-inches wide when the speakers are not extended).

Logitech's AudioHub

The AudioHub has only a USB connector for grabbing USB audio from your computer; there’s no line-in for plugging into your laptop’s audio out port, or to connect an iPod, iPhone, or other audio device. The AudioHub isn’t bus-powered, either; it requires the use of a power adapter. But the speaker does have a three-port powered USB hub for connecting other peripherals.

As far as sound quality, the AudioHub creates a full, warm sound, but bass sounds muddy. For movies and video the AudioHub sounds good, but if you like music with a lot of bass, the AudioHub’s lack of bass definition may disappoint.

The AudioHub provides a substantial power boost over the built-in speakers of the 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro I used for testing. The built-in speakers are ideal for when you're sitting directly in front of your laptop, while the AudioHub volume is loud enough to allow you to sit back 7 to 10 feet on a couch while a video plays. (Because the AudioHub is a USB audio device, you can't use it and the built-in speakers at the same time.)

How the AudioHub looks when placed behind a laptop.

The other major improvement over the built-in laptop speakers is with stereo separation. Because the AudioHub speakers are farther apart than the laptop speakers, stereo separation is much more noticeable, especially when watching movies.

Macworld’s buying advice

It’s too big to carry around with your on trips, but if you often use your laptop at your desk, the AudioHub can enhance your experience when watching videos or listening to music without taking up a lot of desktop space. If you’re nitpicky about sound quality, you can probably find better sounding speakers at a competitive price.

[Roman Loyola is a Macworld senior editor.]

Laptop bags for the ladies

There’s no shortage of durable laptop bags—backpacks, messenger bags, briefcases, you name it—on the market. Unfortunately they’re not always, well, pretty. As one of Macworld’s resident dames, I volunteered to take some of the more feminine bags out for a spin with the various laptops we have here at Macworld HQ. Today I cover two of these “women’s” bags; one turned out to be a real head turner and the other a much-needed back saver.

Pocket Full of ‘Puter

The unfortunately named Pocket Full of ‘Puter ($198) is a kicky and colorful take on the simple shoulder bag. By far the most stylish of those I’ve been testing, it’s a young and appropriate look for students and sales reps alike. Measuring 14 by 12 by 4 inches on the outside, the case will hold your 15-inch MacBook Pro nicely. For a MacBook or MacBook Air, there’s the Half Pocket Full of ‘Puter ($149), which is just 13.6 by 9.5 by 2.8 inches. Both bags are made from a Teflon-coated felt material available in an array of stylish colors. They keep their shape thanks to a reinforced leather bottom and rigid edges, with slightly more malleable front and back walls; all sides provide a protective layer of foam. Each bag can be carried by the sturdy leather handle on top or the detachable, lightly-padded shoulder strap.

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Tom Bihn Zephyr

Tom Bihn’s Zephyr is billed specifically as a laptop “briefcase” for good reason: This sturdy, waterproof bag has a pre-formed shape that makes it best-suited for business-minded people who have a lot of material to haul. If you require crisp, clean, organized files when you arrive for a meeting, this bag is for you.

On the other hand, the Zephyr isn’t well-suited for users demanding versatility. As someone who is used to cavernous messenger bags, I found the pocket access points difficult to manage. The most-useful utility compartment is under a flap secured by a buckle; it required some effort to dig out my Chapstick.

The bag’s most valuable asset—expandability—is also its biggest downside. By itself, the Zephyr is a solid briefcase, but offers no laptop protection. If you want to use the Zephyr as a laptop bag, you must purchase a separate laptop sleeve; for example, the hard-sided Horizontal Brain Cell ($60; can also be used separately) or the soft-sided Soft Cell ($30). And if you want more organizational features, you can add the Horizontal Freudian Slip, which offers a file organizer, zippered pockets, and spaces for a phone, pens, and the like—but that will cost you another $35. Pretty soon you’re talking real money. And these add-ons add bulk: with everything packed and loaded, the Zephyr is nearly as heavy and cumbersome as a traditional briefcase. (If you want a shoulder strap, you’ll need to pony up another $10, $20, or $30. I tested the $30 strap, which was great for single-shoulder use, but uncomfortable when used messenger-style.)

The Zephyr is attractive and well-made—Tom Bihn bags are manufactured in the U.S. and include a lifetime guarantee—but you pay quite a bit for that quality. Unless you have specific organizational needs, there are more-versatile options out there.

Transferring files securely

If you're traveling and you need a key document, such as the latest draft of your business plan or the presentation your colleagues just finished, there are many ways you can get it: e-mail, iDisks, and online file services such as SendThisFile or YouSendIt. But if the document you need is super-confidential, you may not want to trust any of those file-transferring tools, because they aren't secure; if someone really wanted to, he or she could probably intercept and open the file somewhere along the line. There are several alternatives, however, and most of them are quite simple.

Sending Securely

E-mail is the most straightforward way to transfer files or information in text form, but it has its limitations: most ISPs restrict the size of e-mail messages to 10MB or 20MB. If you have files of moderate size that you want to transfer, e-mail is the best solution, and it’s easy to do so securely. The key is to set up your mail program to encrypt the message you’re sending, and then make sure the person at the other end can decrypt it.

To work with encrypted e-mail, you first need to obtain a certificate—a way of proving who you are and providing a private key for encryption. You can get a certificate for free from Thawte’s Personal E-Mail Certificates page. Create an account there, choose the appropriate browser and level of protection, and then download the certificate and add it to your keychain. (For more information, see Keep Your Secrets with Mail. That story explains how to set up Mail to send and receive encrypted messages; the procedure is similar for Entourage, but check its help files for details.)

If you don’t want to bother with obtaining and setting up certificates, there’s another way to send encrypted files by e-mail: you can put them in an encrypted disk image and then attach it to your message. Apple’s Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities) can help you do this with just a few clicks.

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‘Checkpoint friendly’ laptop bags explained

Back in early August, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced new rules covering “checkpoint friendly” laptop bags. The goal of these regulations is to increase the speed and efficiency of airport security checkpoints by allowing passengers to keep their laptop computers in their bags during X-ray screening. However, there’s quite a bit of confusion about what, exactly, constitutes a checkpoint-friendly bag and the specific rules for using one. Today’s Mobile Mac gives you the lowdown.

What is a “checkpoint friendly” bag?

According to the TSA, these are the criteria a laptop bag must meet to be considered checkpoint-friendly:

• It must have a designated laptop-only section.
• The laptop-only section must unfold completely to lie flat on the X-ray belt.
• No metal snaps, zippers or buckles can be located inside, underneath, or on top of the laptop-only section. (In other words, metal elements must be positioned so they do not overlap the body of the laptop in an X-ray image.)
• It cannot have pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section.
• Nothing can be packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself. (This is more of a guideline for packing than for designing a bag, although a laptop compartment that fits a computer perfectly makes it more difficult to fit additional items.)

Not listed in the guidelines, but mentioned on the TSA Web site under the topic of Industry Process and Guidelines, are warnings against thick bag dividers and thick emblems or seals on the laptop-only section. These elements can prevent security-checkpoint X-rays from obtaining a clear image of your laptop.

What kinds of bags meet these guidelines?

Vendors are meeting the requirements in a couple ways. One is by designing bags that unfold so that the laptop section presents an unobstructed X-ray view. (There’s no restriction against having zippers, buckles, or other metal parts on the sides of the laptop section, as long as these parts don’t in any way obstruct the X-ray view of the laptop.) Another is by hosting the laptop in a basic sleeve or cover that detaches or can be removed from the main bag.

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Brenthaven Trek Sleeve

Back in June 2007, I covered Brenthaven’s $20 MacBook Sleeve, an impressively protective case at an impressively low price. As I explained at the time, the Sleeve was originally designed for some of Apple’s “one-student-one-laptop” initiatives:

The challenge, according to Brenthaven, was to come up with a protective bag that would hold up to the abuse of school-age kids but that was also inexpensive enough for school districts to buy in bulk. The company settled on a rigid sleeve design that could be put inside whatever bag or backpack each student preferred.

The company has since updated the MacBook Sleeve to give it a less-utilitarian appearance; the new version is called the Trek Sleeve and is priced at a still-reasonable $30. (Education customers continue to pay just $20.) I’ve been testing the Trek Sleeve for a few months, and it’s impressed me as much as the original, offering very good protection and some basic organizational features—as well as a lifetime warranty—at a price many vendors charge for a simple fabric or neoprene sleeve.

Like the MacBook Sleeve, the Trek Sleeve weighs less than a pound and is designed to fit a 13.3-inch MacBook snugly; it also fits the MacBook Air, though with a bit of wiggle room. The Trek Sleeve retains its predecessor’s rigid-panel front, back, and bottom, with thick padding on all six sides. With a MacBook inside, the Sleeve measures approximately 14 inches long, 10.5 inches wide, and 2 inches thick, so it fits easily inside a standard backpack, and will even fit in the laptop compartment of many computer bags. You can also carry the Trek Sleeve by itself using its nylon handle (the original MacBook Sleeve had a nicer rubber-over-nylon version) or by attaching a shoulder strap (not included) to the Sleeve’s two metal D-rings.

The biggest changes to the Trek Sleeve, compared to the MacBook Sleeve, are on the outside. In addition to making the new version less utilitarian-looking by smoothing out the nylon, using grey accent stitching, and adding a couple strips of reflective trim, Brenthaven has also tweaked the organizational features. On the back of the sleeve are a slip pocket for documents or a couple magazines, as well as a zippered pocket for your laptop’s AC adapter and a few cables. There’s also a small, mesh pouch on the side for an ID or name tag; this pouch isn’t quite as visible as the clear-plastic ID pocket of the original Sleeve, and it’s more difficult to fit a business card inside, but it works.

Of course, at this price point, you don’t get the niceties of a more-expensive bag. For example, the Trek Sleeve’s nylon is fairly thin and not nearly as rugged as the heavy-duty ballistic fabric Brenthaven uses on its higher-end products. And as I noted above, you’ll need to provide your own shoulder strap. But I still haven’t seen a bag or sleeve at this price that provides as much protection and utility.

Mac MagSaver protects MagSafe connectors

I’m a big fan of Apple’s MagSafe power connector, which uses a nifty magnetic design to connect the power adapter to the laptop. As we explained back when Apple announced the original MacBook Pro models, “The MagSafe power connector safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface if the power cord is inadvertently yanked.”

That said, a number of Mac laptop users have been disappointed in this connector. Not because it doesn’t work as advertised, but because the connection between the MagSafe connector and the power cable has proven to be less than reliable for some. Specifically, the cable has cracked or frayed at this connection for some users. The problem isn’t widespread, relative to the number of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops out there, but it’s common enough to have generated many posts on Apple’s Discussions forums, as well to reward you with a knowing look when you plop your damaged adapter down on the Genius Bar at an Apple Store.

Of course, where there’s a problem, there’s a market for a solution, as the folks at Southern Mac Refurbishing will tell you. According to the company, earlier this year they were contracted to repair “several thousand” MagSafe adapters for an unnamed company. While doing so, they developed a little gadget for preventing the problem in the first place: the $14 Mac MagSaver. Essentially a small, ABS-plastic collar that fits over the MagSafe connector and provides support for the cable, the Mac MagSaver dramatically reduces the strain on this connection.

To install the Mac MagSaver, you position the MagSafe connector in the bottom section of the collar and then weave the cable, S-like, around two plastic posts; these posts keep the cable from pulling at the cable/plug connection. You then fit the top section of the Mac MagSaver collar onto the bottom and press four included retainer pins into place using any small, solid object (such as a pen tip or the end of a screwdriver). A small hole on each side of the Mac MagSaver lets you monitor your MagSafe connector’s status light.

Although I can’t vouch for the long-term effectiveness of the Mac MagSaver, the theory behind it is sound, and it’s worked well over the few weeks I’ve been testing it on one of our Mac laptops. (The company includes a lifetime warranty.) There are two minor downsides worth noting. First, because the Mac MagSaver uses retaining pins instead of screws, you can’t remove it and later put it back on; it’s an install-it-and-leave-it accessory. Second, the Mac MagSaver is bulkier than the bare MagSafe connector, making it slightly more difficult to secure the end of your cable after you’ve wrapped it around your adapter. It’s also notable that the Mac MagSaver doesn’t work with the power adapter for the MacBook Air, thanks to the different shape of the Air’s MagSafe connector.

ExpressCard/34 Buyers’ Guide

With the MacBook Pro, Apple discarded the old PC Card slot in favor of ExpressCard/34, a more compact expansion slot that offers greater transfer speeds and an increasing array of uses. The ExpressCard format has a couple of advantages over the old PC Card format.

First, it’s narrower: ExpressCard/34 cards are 34mm wide, compared with the 54mm PC Cards. (ExpressCard/54 cards do exist, but they don’t fit in the MacBook Pro.) ExpressCards also require less power—1.5 volts, compared with 3.3 volts for the PC Card. But their biggest advantage is speed. An ExpressCard passes data to the system at up to 2.5 Gbps; PC Cards supported speeds of only 1.06 Gbps.

Here is just a sampling of the ExpressCards available. It’s by no means encyclopedic, but it should give you an idea of how you can expand your laptop’s powers.

Storage

After using (and frequently leaving behind) USB memory card readers and cables to transfer digital photos from my camera’s Secure Digital memory cards to my Mac, I now use an ExpressCard reader. Devices such as the SIIG Express-Card 11-in-1 Reader/Writer can read and write to plenty of card formats, such as SD or Sony Memory Stick.

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Stay-at-home mobile accessories

Most laptop gear is designed to enhance your mobile life, but what about all those hours you spend using your portable at home? Today’s Mobile Mac takes a look at a couple laptop accessories for your humble abode.

Belkin Laptop Hideaway

I don’t know about you, but in our home, laptops are often used away from a desk—for example, on the couch, sitting in bed, or at the kitchen table. Belkin’s magazine-rack-looking Laptop Hideaway offers a convenient and attractive solution for carrying your laptop and its accessories around the house—and for storing them when not in use. The rigid shell is covered in good-looking, snag-resistant fabric, with the inside lined with softer material over thick padding. One side of the Hideaway holds a 15.4-inch (or smaller) laptop; the other is split into two smaller pockets: one for your power adapter and other small accessories, the other for larger accessories or books and magazines. The handle on top makes for easy room-to-room toting.

The Hideaway is surprisingly sturdy and stays upright even when fully loaded. It also looks good, although an all-brown design, instead of brown and blue, might have been a better match for the furnishings in many homes.

Kangaroom Bamboo Laptop Stand

Unlike many of the laptop stands we’ve reviewed, Kangaroom’s Bamboo Laptop Stand isn’t designed to lift your notebook up to an ideal working height (or at least that's not its primary purpose). Instead, the ecologically-friendly platform—it’s made of sustainable bamboo—aims to keep your desk free of wires and gadgets. On the right-hand side of the stand are two “cradles,” each 3.2 inches long, 1.4 inches wide, and 1.5 inches deep, with an opening at the bottom for a charging/docking cable; you pull the cable for your iPod, iPhone, or other phone or portable player through the opening, plug it into the device, and then rest the device in the cradle. (Unfortunately, there are no clips or grooves inside the cradles to keep your cables from falling underneath the stand.)

To further reduce cable clutter, the back of the Stand is open for hiding a surge protector—not included, although Kangaroom sells an appropriately-sized model for $13—underneath. You then plug all your power adapters into this power strip to keep them, and their cables, hidden beneath the Stand. There’s also a large opening in the middle of the Stand to provide ventilation for your laptop.

The Bamboo Laptop Stand is quite solid; its wood is attractively finished; and its overall width—20 inches—isn't much wider than a 15-inch MacBook Pro sitting next to an iPod dock. (The Stand is 12 inches deep.) However, the Stand’s low height, just 3 inches in the rear, has a couple consequences. First, it doesn’t quite raise your laptop’s screen enough on an typical desk. Second, and more important, given the Stand’s advertised benefits, is that this low height doesn’t provide enough room for larger power adapters, such as Apple’s laptop adapters, to fit underneath when plugged into a power strip. I also wish the stand provided features for keeping your laptop cables—USB, power, network, and the like—organized and to prevent them from falling behind your desk when unplugged.

(Kangaroom claims you can use the Stand on your lap, but I didn’t find that to be the case, given the Stand’s open-bottom design.)