Tech Articles
Apple GEAR
iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. iPhone 11 Pro
In this article, I’ll explain why I decided to upgrade from the iPhone 11 Pro to the larger iPhone 12 Pro Max, instead of going with the smaller iPhone 12…
AirPods Pro vs. AirPods
The AirPods Pro are the best wireless headphones Apple has ever made. They are so good that I decided to ditch my Gen 2 AirPods and two sets of Bose…
Apple Watch Series 5: Is it Worth the Upgrade?
Everything you need to know about Apple’s new smartwatch and my take on whether or not the Apple Watch Series 5 is worth the upgrade.
Review of The Best iPhone Cases
In-depth review of the best iPhone cases in 2019, featuring protective cases, leather cases, wallet or folio cases for the iPhone XS, iPhone 8, iPhone XR and more.
iMac Pro Review and Comparison to the 5K iMac [Upgrade Guide]
iMac Pro review and comparison with the 2017 5K iMac and Late 2014 BTO 5K iMac I own to help you decide if the new iMac Pro is worth the…
JORD Wooden Apple Watch Band Review
I have reviewed a lot of Apple Watch Bands in the past, but I never tried one made out of wood. For this article, JORD sent me a wooden Apple…
Yohann MacBook Pro Stand Review
Table of ContentsWhy use a MacBook Pro stand?Yohann MacBook Pro StandFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Who and what is Yohann?Yohann MacBook Pro Stand Review Yohann makes a versatile and beautifully crafted MacBook…
Wooden iPhone & Apple Watch Charging Stand by Yohann
Yohann, a Swiss manufacturer of premium stands and docks for Apple devices, has released a beautifully crafted wooden iPhone & Apple Watch charging stand with extra room for jewelry or…
Apple Watch Series 3 vs. Series 4 – Should You Upgrade?
Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Series 3 – Everything you need to know about how both models compare and what the better value is.
iPhone Xs vs. iPhone X – Full Comparison of All Models
Table of ContentsNew iPhone Models in a NutshellGeneral ImprovementsDisplay TechnologyCamera SystemPerformanceBatteryDurabilityFeatures Apple Didn’t AnnounceOther iPhone Xs ReviewsiPhone Xs vs. iPhone X – Upgrade Recommendation On 9/12 Apple announced its 2018…
HomeKit Light Switches & Dimmers – Review
Table of ContentsReviewed HomeKit Light SwitchesComparison of HomeKit Light SwitchesReviewed HomeKit DimmersHomeKit Dimmer ComparisonWhat You Should ConsiderReview of HomeKit Light Switches & Dimmers For this article, I have reviewed the…
Apple Watch Leather Cuff and Band Review
One of the benefits of the Apple Watch is that you can change its appearance by swapping out the watch band. Apple-branded leather bands are relatively expensive but, these days,…
Best Apple Watch Sports Bands
For this article, I have reviewed the best Apple Watch Sport bands for working out, including bands from Apple, Monowear, Nike, Nomad, Twelve South and WsC.
ZAGG Slim Book Keyboard For The iPad Pro Review
The ZAGG Slim Book is the best keyboard for the iPad Pro I have tested. In this article, I compare it to Apple’s Smart Keyboard that I had used with…
Gadget Reviews
Ember Temperature-Control Mug Review
My wife and I have used temperature control mugs from Ember for the past 1.5 years and absolutely love them. I’ve had some issues with the first-generation Ember Mug but…
Synology DS1520+ DiskStation Review
I recently decided to replace my aging data backup solution (LaCie raid) with a Synology DS1520+ NAS. In this review, I’ll tell you why I made the jump from DAS…
UniFi Dream Machine Pro Review
In this hands-on review of the UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM Pro), I share why I decided to upgrade from the UniFi Dream Machine I used to have and how…
Nomad Base Station – Apple Watch Edition Review
The Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition is an advanced wireless charging dock that can wirelessly charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (or AirPods Pro) at the same time….
AmpliFi Alien Mesh Kit Review
After reviewing the standalone AmpliFi Alien router, it was time to test the new AmpliFi Alien Mesh Kit, consisting of the router and a dedicated meshpoint that extends the router’s…
Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien Review
I’ve tested the AmpliFi Alien in the 2,700 sqft two-story home we just moved into and I was impressed by the performance of this slick Wi-Fi 6 router.
Ubiquiti UniFi Review
An in-depth review of how I use Ubiquiti UniFi networking equipment, including the UniFi Dream Machine, in my home to provide perfect Wi-Fi and LAN coverage throughout the house.
AmpliFi vs. UniFi Review And Comparison
AmpliFi vs. UniFi is a review of the leading WiFi mesh networking technologies. For this article, I have compared both brands and explain why I decided to upgrade from AmpliFi…
Amplifi Wi-Fi System Review
An in-depth review of the complete AmpliFi mesh networking lineup and comparison to Eero, Google, Nest, Linksys, Orbi and others.
Sennheiser HD1 Review – Premium Wireless Headphones with Limitations
The Sennheiser HD1 wireless noise-canceling headphones produce excellent hi-fi sound quality, feature premium materials, and boast minimalist yet aesthetically-pleasing craftsmanship.
Sony WH-1000XM2 vs. MDR1000X Headphones [Review]
This is an in-depth review of the Sony WH-1000XM2 Bluetooth noise cancelling wireless headphones in comparison to their predecessor, the Sony MDR1000X.
The Best Universal Travel Adapters
Table of ContentsWhat Is the Best Travel Adapter?Why Should You Get a Travel Adapter?Download Adapter Comparison SheetWhat to Look ForAdapters vs. Voltage ConvertersPower Adapters vs. Plug ConvertersTravel Adapters and WattsTop…
Bitdefender Box 2 Review – Smart Home Cybersecurity Hub
The Bitdefender Box 2 is a smart home cybersecurity hub that protects your local network and all connected devices from malware, identity theft, hackers, and other threats. Cyber Threats and…
Best Touchscreen Gloves for Men and Women
Review of the best touchscreen gloves for men and women that are not only functional and look good but also keep your fingers warm in cold weather.
Apple Technology
Best Productivity Apps for Mac
Here is a list of the best productivity apps for Mac users, based on my personal experience. Since I continuously stumble across new applications and services, I’ll keep adding to…
The Fastest Way To Charge An iPhone (And Android)
Table of ContentsReviewed Chargers and CablesCharging Speeds ComparedHow To Get The Fastest Charging SpeedsThe Fastest Way To Charge An iPhone Xs Despite the proliferation of wireless charging technology, you’ve probably…
How to Copy The Path of Any File in Finder
If you are working in a team that is using shared (Dropbox) folders to collaborate, it’s sometimes necessary to point team members to where they can find an individual file…
How to Change File/Folder Icons in macOS
Did you know that you can change the icon of files and folders in macOS? If you did not, in this article I will show you how it is done!…
How to Print to PDF On a Mac
macOS offers multiple options to print to PDF. In fact, you can save almost every file as PDF, regardless of if the application supports saving to PDF or not. In…
How to Install Fonts on iPhone or iPad using iFont
Have you ever noticed that “missing font” warning when you opened a document or spreadsheet on your iOS device that was created on a Mac or Windows machine? In this…
How To Take A Screenshot In macOS And Create A Dropbox Link
Table of ContentsBasic: How to take a screenshot using keyboard shortcutsWhere do my screenshots go?How do I change the image file typeBasic: Using Dropbox’s import featureIntermediate: How to take a…
How to print to PDF in iOS without a third-party app
As part of my paperless workflow, I save a lot of documents in PDF format. Some applications don’t support “save to PDF,” but fortunately, macOS has a “print to PDF”…
Portrait Mode makes the iPhone 7 Plus worth it
Is the iPhone 7 Plus worth it is a question I have been asked a lot. In my opinion, if the iPhone 7 Plus only had a new camera system…
How to Encrypt a PDF Using AppleScript and PDFpenPro
I am a productivity and automation freak, and in this article, I will show you how to encrypt a PDF and redact sensitive information using a combination of Automator, AppleScript,…
How to Create a Dropbox Link With AppleScript & Automator
Table of ContentsWhy create a Dropbox link for files outside of Dropbox?How to create a Dropbox link for any fileCreate a Dropbox AppAutomator ServiceFrequently Asked QuestionsQ: Why not leverage the…
Top Mac Productivity Tips
Table of ContentsProductivity and Getting Things Done (GTD)NotificationsMy Email WorkflowInbox ManagementFilter SpamKeyboard ShortcutsReminders and Project ManagementAutomatic File Management Through HazelAbout MacSparkyRecommended Reading/Watching I’m always working on improving my productivity, so…
Mastering the Open and Save Dialog in Finder
Much of what I do on my Mac is working with files. That includes finding, opening, saving and organizing them. If you don’t have a good workflow you can easily…
The hidden power of the Help menu in macOS
Have you ever used the Help menu in macOS? Until a few weeks ago, I did not, missing out on a powerful feature I didn’t even know existed. Pretty much…
Home Automation
UniFi Video 3 vs. UniFi Protect [Ultimate Review]
The ultimate review of both UniFi Video 3 and UniFi Protect, plus a step-by-step migration guide from UV3 to the next-gen video surveillance platform.
eufyCam – Wireless Security Camera With a 365-Day Battery Life
Review of the eufyCam and eufyCam E, featuring 365 days of battery life and on-device facial recognition. Plus, comparison to Arlo Pro 2, Arlo Ultra and Nest.
Danalock V3 Smart Lock Review
I have used the Danalock V3 for the past few months in my home, and in this review, I’ll share my experience with this integrated smart door lock. Note that…
Ecobee vs. Nest – Hands-on Review and Comparison
Hands-on review, comparing the ecobee4 with the 3rd-Gen Nest Learning Thermostat. Also included: The cheaper ecobee3 lite and Nest Thermostat E.
Arlo Ultra Review and Comparison to Nest Cam IQ
Review of the new Arlo Ultra 4K home security camera and comparison to the previous leader in this segment, Google’s Nest Cam IQ.
SENS8 Security Camera with Siren and Floodlight Review
The SENS8 Light Cam is the first wired home security camera I have reviewed that required drilling a hole into an outside wall of our house. Continue reading to find…
Eve Home Automation Platform Review
Eve Home, formerly known as Elgato Eve, is a smart home automation platform that seamlessly connects devices and appliances and makes managing them a breeze. I had a chance to…
Arlo Pro 2 Review – Top Wireless Home Security Camera
The Arlo Pro 2 is one of the best wireless home security cameras I have reviewed, featuring advanced motion detection, geo-fencing, and 1080p video.
Review of The Best Home Security Cameras
Here is a review of the best home security cameras, including such popular brands as Amazon, Arlo, Canary, D-Link, Logitech, Nest, Ring, & SENS8.
ecobee Switch+ Review – Smart Light Switch with Alexa & HomeKit
The ecobee Switch+ is one of the smartest light switches on the market, featuring advanced sensors and seamless integration with ecobee smart thermostats and home automation platforms, such as Apple…
HomeKit Light Switches & Dimmers – Review
Table of ContentsReviewed HomeKit Light SwitchesComparison of HomeKit Light SwitchesReviewed HomeKit DimmersHomeKit Dimmer ComparisonWhat You Should ConsiderReview of HomeKit Light Switches & Dimmers For this article, I have reviewed the…
LIFX Smart LED lights now work with Apple HomeKit
On September 19th, 2017, LIFX finally announced support for HomeKit, Apple’s home automation platform. Support is limited to the third generation LIFX and LIFX + lights and available via a…
LIFX vs. Hue Review
Table of ContentsReviewed Brands & ProductsUse cases for smart lightsLIFX ReviewLIFX vs. Hue BulbsWhere to go from hereTroubleshootingLIFX Review In this LIFX review, I share my experience with these smart…
Review: Onelink Environment monitor for the nursery or kids room
The Onelink Environment Monitor by First Alert monitors a room’s temperature and humidity and doubles as a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. It is ideal for nurseries or kids rooms, but…
BlogginG & SEO
Automatically Add Link Attributes in WordPress
In 2019, Google announced two new link attributes to mark sponsored and user-generated content on your webpage or blog. In this article, I’ll share with you a code snippet that…
MarketMuse Review
I’ve used MarketMuse for a year to find out if this AI-based content analysis and SEO platform can help me improve my ranking in Google.
PageLines 5 Alternative – Why I migrated to Thrive Themes
PageLines has stopped maintaining its page builder, so I had to start looking for alternatives. I found Thrive Themes and here is the story of my migration.
How to Hide Posts or Pages in WordPress
In this article, I’ll demonstrate advanced techniques to hide posts or pages in WordPress from the main blogroll, home page, archive pages, search results, and RSS feeds without a dedicated…
Top 6 Tips to improve WordPress load time and speed
Table of ContentsHostingWordPress ThemeCachingJetpack from WordPressPluginsOptimized imagesRoom for improvementTop 6 Tips to improve WordPress load time and speed How to improve the performance of your WordPress blog is an often…
Is Jetpack’s Photon bad for SEO
In this article, I’ll answer the question if Photon, the free image content delivery network (CDN) of the popular WordPress plugin Jetpack is bad for SEO. If you are reading…
Productivity
1Password Review
1Password is a password manager that I’ve used for almost a decade to keep my over 1,600 passwords and account credentials secure. In this review, I explain everything you need…
![How to Back Up Your Mac [And Avoid Data Loss]](https://cdn.michaelkummer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Blog-Feature@2x.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
How to Back Up Your Mac or PC
Permanently losing data isn’t a question or “if” but “when.” That’s why it’s important to be prepared and to have a good backup strategy in place. In this article, I’ll…
Top 10 Email Productivity Ideas You Can Implement Today
Spending too much time checking email can hamper your productivity at work and make it difficult to stay focused on your to-do list tasks. Over the years, I’ve refined my…
Best Productivity Apps for Mac
Here is a list of the best productivity apps for Mac users, based on my personal experience. Since I continuously stumble across new applications and services, I’ll keep adding to…
Calendly vs. WhenWorks – Review of scheduling apps
In this Calendly vs. WhenWorks review, I compare two of my favorite calendar scheduling apps that I have used for the past few months. Both scheduling tools offer unique features,…
Dropbox vs. iCloud – Comparison of Cloud Storage Solutions
Table of ContentsThe benefits of cloud storageDropbox reviewFeaturesiCloud Drive overviewFeaturesDropbox vs. iCloud DriveConclusion Dropbox is without a doubt the leading cloud storage service. No other solution, including Apple’s iCloud, has come…
Backblaze vs. CrashPlan – Comparison of Cloud Backup Solutions
CrashPlan recently announced that it would exit the consumer backup business. As a result, the company will discontinue its CrashPlan for Home product and is advising customers to switch to…
AT&T Fiber vs. Comcast Business Class internet service
I have been a mostly satisfied Comcast Business Class customer for many years. But recently, AT&T GigaPower, the company’s superfast, fiber optics internet service came to our neighborhood in Alpharetta….
Grammarly Review – Advanced Grammar and Spell Checker
Grammarly is an advanced grammar and spell checker for iOS and Mac. It helps me write better copy at work and in my capacity as a blogger. If you write…
2020/2021 Tax Estimate Spreadsheet
A free Excel spreadsheet that can help you to estimate and calculate your federal and state income taxes. Feel free to customize the formulas!
How to choose strong passwords that are easy to remember
Passwords are a necessary evil that we all have to deal with. Depending on your online behavior you may be dealing with a handful to dozens of accounts requiring a…
Troubleshooting
5 Simple Steps to Fix Email Problems on Mac, iPhone or PC
Here are five simple steps you can take if you’re unable to send, receive or delete emails on Mac (macOS), iPhone, iPad (iOS), Android or Windows PC.
AirPlay Mirroring Slow? None of the “Fixes” Work?
If you are having issues streaming videos via AirPlay to your Apple TV and none of the other fixes have worked, I might have a solution for you.
Mac Not Going To Sleep? This Might Fix It!
For the past few months, I have struggled with an issue that would prevent both my iMac and MacBook Pro from going to sleep or activating the screen saver. The…
Apple Two-Factor Authentication Shows Strange Location
If you use Apple’s two-factor authentication (2FA), you may have noticed that macOS and iOS sometimes show you a strange location when signing in using your Apple ID from a…
Apple Watch Authentication Error on T-Mobile
Table of ContentsHow you are supposed to activate LTE on your Apple WatchApple’s new eSim could be the culpritT-Mobile customer care was unpreparedHow to fix the authentication error and activate…
Empty Subject Line Bug in MailButler for Apple Mail
A bug in MailButler, a popular Apple Mail plugin, results in an empty subject line when replying to individual emails. The problem seems to affect only Exchange accounts, and there…
iPhone 7 Soft-reset How-to
iPhone 7 soft-reset: Hold the LOCK and VOLUME DOWN button until you see the Apple logo. Then release the two buttons and let the iPhone boot up.
iCloud Photo Library & iPhone Storage Space
Be careful when deleting photos or videos on your iPhone/iPad or Mac if you use iCloud Photo Library. Doing so may permanently remove the deleted photos for all of your…
How to Bypass the iCloud Activation Lock
Are you trying to unlock your iPhone because of the pesky iCloud activation lock? Continue reading for tips on how to quickly remove the activation lock.
How to Reinstall macOS Without Losing Data
Table of ContentsOS X is now macOSHow to Reinstall macOSiCloud DataData Stored in DropboxPost-Installation TasksSometimes, You Have to Reinstall TwiceMy Post-Install ChecklistHow to Create a Bootable USB Drive with macOSHow…
Mac Photos App: Imported Videos Have Incorrect Date
Apple’s Photo app for Mac has a problem with importing/exporting video files. More specifically, imported videos may have an incorrect date (timestamp) if those videos were previously exported from another…
Mac: Audio Issue With FaceTime Wi-Fi Calling
Since OS X 10.11 El Capitan was released to developers about a year ago, I have had intermittent problems when using my beloved Plantronics headset* with FaceTime and other VoIP…
Troubleshooting Apple TV streaming issues
Table of ContentsApple TV Buffering ProblemsApple TV Connected to Wrong Base StationCongested Internet ConnectionIPv6 ConfigurationiCloud/iTunes BackendConclusion: Apple TV Streaming Issues Streaming movies from iTunes to Apple TV should be a…
Apple Magic Trackpad issues in OS X El Capitan
A bug in OS X El Capitan causes issues with Apple’s new Magic Trackpad 2. As a result of these Magic Trackpad issues, OS X intermittently doesn’t register clicks. While…