Where is your first iPod? Mine still rocking 16 years later

I just wanted to give a shout out to my first iPod. This mini guy was my first iPod and the one that brought me back to the Apple ecosystem.

I purchased the Mini on August 28, 2005, so it will be 16 years this August. I still remember the day I got it. I went everywhere looking for it and couldn't find it in stock anywhere.

My last stop and the place where I least expected to find it was Sears (remember them?) They had two left in stock and I zeroed on the Silver one immediately.

I opened on the parking lot and immediately fell in love with it. Build quality and build was amazing. I immediately returned home and created an iTunes account downloaded a couple of albums and was immediately hooked.

I had many iPods after this one and most of them still work and are here except for the ones that were sold or handed down to relatives. My first Classic still here, my wife last Nano still here, and this Mini 16 years later still my favorite iPod ever.

I like most people these days heard my music mostly from streaming services on my iPhone but I also like to disconnect from the world a couple of times a month and like to take one of my iPods or my Walkman (post coming soon) with me.

So do you remember your first iPod? Do you still have it? Does it work? let me know on Twitter @oomarcast

Best Apple MFi Certified Lightning Cables For 2016 #iphone #ipad #ipod

If you are an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch owner their is something for certain. You will eventually need more lightning cables.

The question then becomes.

What are the best Lightning Cables?

Well there are a couple of things to look for on good Lightning cables.

They need to be Apple MFi certified. This mean the cables are made and certified by Apple to meet it’s operational requirements and prevent any damage to your device. A non MFi cable are not made to speck and can damage your iPhone or iPad.

They need to be sturdy specially near the connectors so that they will fare well against the stress.

They have to offer a good value. There is no point in getting the ultimate cable if the value isn’t there.

And they need to offer a warranty.

Having the option of colors, materials and length are also good extras.

Here are the five best iPhone, iPad and iPod Lightning Cable for the money.

1: Anker PowerLine+ Lightning Cable (10ft) Durable and Fast Charging Cable [Kevlar Fiber & Double Braided Nylon] for iPhone, iPad and More

Buy on Amazon

This is my favorite cable. It;s long enough to allow me to move around while charging. The Kevlar and Nylon Braided material prevent entanglements while been sturdy. And since is made by Anker and is MFi certified you know it will performance above specs. Plus it comes with an 18 months warranty.

And it has a perfect 5 stars review rating on Amazon.

It comes in Red, Gold, White and Gray.

Key Selling Points:

    •    Lasts 6X Longer: Reinforced stress points with a 6000+ bend lifespan make PowerLine+ many times more durable than other Lightning cables.
    •    Incredibly Strong: Double-braided nylon exterior, toughened Kevlar fiber core and laser-welded connectors equip PowerLine+ with superior toughness from end-to-end.
    •    Adjustable Strap: A Velcro band allows easy transport and length adjustment when on the go.
    •    What You Get: Anker PowerLine+ Lightning, Velcro strap, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

2: iXCC Ascend / iXCC Element II MFi Certified Lightning 8pin to USB Charge and Sync Cable for iPhone

Buy on Amazon

iXCC Ascend and Element series of MFi Lightning cables are the most reviewed cable on Amazon. It has almost 27,000 reviews and a 4.5 stars rating. It’s also Amazon top selling Lightning cables.

The cables come in a variety of colors, materials and lengths to fit any use case.

iXCC cables are so reliable that the come with an above average two years warranty.

Key Selling Points:

    •    Apple certified, MFi ( made for iPhone/iPod/iPad ) lightning cable. 100% Compatible with ios 9, no warning message
    •    Assorted length is ideal for usage while charging in home, cars, office, and more. This combo package includes 1x 12cm, 3x 1meter, 1x 2meters cables.
    •    Compatible with iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, SE, iPhone6, iphone6 Plus, iPhone6s, iphone6s Plus, iPod Nano 7, iPod Touch 5, iPad 4, iPad5, iPad Air, iPad Air2, iPad Pro, iPad Mini4, iPad mini3, iPad Mini2, iPad Mini Retina
    •    NOT compatible with iPhone 4, iPad2, iPad 3, iPod Nano 6, iPod Touch 4 or earlier versions.
    •    iXCC industry leading 2-year warranty ensures long-lasting enjoyment of your purchase. Please be aware of Counterfeit product from NON-iXCC sellers ! Please make sure the item Sold by iXCC to receive GENUINE Product

3: Anker PowerLine 6ft Apple MFi Certified Lightning to USB Cable Sturdy Charging Cord for iPhone 5/5s/5c 6/6s Plus, iPad mini/Air/Pro iPod touch

Buy on Amazon

Here is another great cable from Anker. The PowerLine offer a 6ft length and comes in black, red, blue, gray or white. It’s offer Kevlar construction and a wider surface to offer a faster charge. It also has a perfect 5 stars rating and Ankers 18 months warranty.

Key Selling Points:

    •    The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
    •    Ultra-Durable: Kevlar fiber makes it thoroughly resistant to fraying and wear-related damage.
    •    Charge Faster: Wide-diameter wires and reduced cord resistance maximize charge speed.
    •    Flexibility: Six feet of cable give you the flexibility you need.
    •    What You Get: 1 Anker PowerLine Lightning, Velcro cable tie, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

4: AmazonBasics Apple MFi Certified Lightning to USB Cable For iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Buy on Amazon

Amazon has it’s own line of MFi certified cables and is one of the best around.

The cables have almost 10,000 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.5 stars rating. Come in white & black and on three different length. 4 inches, 3 feet or 6 feet.

It also comes with a 12 months warranty and Amazon’s legendary customer service.

Key Selling Points:

    •    Apple MFi certified charging and syncing cable for your Apple devices
    •    Apple MFi certification ensures complete charge and sync compatibility with iPhone 6s Plus / 6s / 6 Plus / 6 / 5s / 5c / 5 / iPad Pro / iPad Air / Air 2 / iPad mini / mini 2 / mini 4 / iPad 4th gen / iPod Touch 5th gen / iPod nano 7th gen and Beats Pill+
    •    Connects to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning Connector and charges/syncs by connecting the USB connector into your wall charger or computer
    •    Compact Lightning Connector head works with nearly all cases
    •    An additional layer of protection has been added to the Lightning and USB ends to improve durability and reduce fraying; Cables have been tested to bend 95-degrees 4,000 times
    •    Backed by an AmazonBasics 1-Year Limited Warranty

5: Apple MFi Certified Anker 3ft / 0.9m Premium Lightning to USB Cable with Ultra Compact Connector Head for iPhone, iPod and iPad (White and Black)

Buy on Amazon

And finally we have another Anker. This standard 3ft Anker cable has almost 12,000 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.5 stars rating. It’s the most affordable cable on the list and offers an excellent value.

It comes in eight colors and comes with Anker’s 18 months warranty.

You can go wrong with this one plus the price makes it a great deal.

Key Selling Points:

    •    The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by Amazon's #1 charging brand.
    •    Apple MFi Certified: Complete charge and sync compatibility with iPhone 6s Plus / 6 Plus / 5s / 5c / 5, iPad Air / Air 2 / Pro, iPad mini / mini 2 / mini 3 /mini 4, iPad (4th generation), iPod nano (7th generation), and iPod touch (5th generation).
    •    Extra Cable, Extra Durable: Replace your 3ft / 0.9m cable or add another for home, work or travel, with a 4000+ bend lifespan several times longer than standard cables.
    •    Perfect Fit: Compact (0.34in × 0.22in) heat-resistant Lightning connector fits into virtually all case cutouts, big or small (Note: Does NOT fit the Lifeproof iPhone 6 Case).
    •    What You Get: Anker USB Cable with Lightning Connector, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

Any of this Lightning cables will make a great choice. Don’t put your device at risk by purchasing low quality non-certified cables. Don’t overspend by purchasing Apple’s own cable that aren’t as tough as any of this and can cost up to 3 times more.

My Apple Upgrade Cycle

Upgrade Cycle

During the past year I have been upgrading my Apple gear and after 12 moths I am almost done. I am really happy with all the upgrades and I am pretty sure I won’t need to worry about an upgrade for a couple of years. I only need two more items to complete de full cycle but those are minor ones.

The Upgrades

iMac - June 24th, 2014

I started this upgrade cycle upgrading my super aging 2007 20“ iMac. I decided to start with the iMac since it was my main computer and after 7 years of 24/7 use it was having a hard time keeping up with Photoshop and Final Cut.

Still that 20” iMac from 2007 is one of the best pieces of technology I have ever bought.

Brand new 27” iMac.

I decided to upgrade the iMac with another iMac this time a fully loaded 27” one.

This new 27" is now a year old but still performs as the first day.

And if it keep up as well as the one it replaces I wont need to upgrade for another of 4–5 more years. So no iMac upgrade is planned until 2019 at the earliest.

Ohh and the aging 2007 it still running 24/7 as a home security/server station.

iPhone Upgrade - September 19, 2014

I upgraded my aging 2010 iPhone 4 after four full years of heavy use. Yes 4 full years thats how good iPhones are. So I do not expect to upgrade until at least 2017 or even 2018. I went for the 64gb version and that should also help with the future proofing.

iPad Air 2 - February 20, 2015

This is my 3rd iPad the first one been the original 2010 first gen iPad. That one was replaced by my iPad2 after just a year but the iPad2 originally released on 2011 have hold remarkably well for the last 4 years and is now my son best friend.

I got an LTE cellular version and I am glad I did as I use it extensively in the road.

But I mad a critical mistake that may push me to an early upgrade.

I when with a 16gb version and that storage amount is just not enough anymore. I find my self micromanaging the storage all the time and it really pisses me off some times. I will never get another iDevice with less than 64gb.

I may need at least a 64gb but I do not intend to upgrade at least until 2017 unless the mythical iPad Pro shows up and convinces me.

Apple Watch - May 16th, 2015

Ok this is not an upgrade but a new addition but since it will be upgraded eventually I am adding it here for future reference.

I when with the 42mm Space Grey Sport Edition with the Sport bands for the following reasons:

• First Gen. so I did’t want to spend a lot like I did with the first iPad.
• Space Grey looks awesome.
• The Sport bands that I thought I will hate are actually super nice specially for day to day use. I may get a leather bad later on but for now I am happy with just the black Sport band.
• Price. The Sport Edition is the most affordable one at just $399.

Macbook Pro - Today July 20th 2015 Yay!

Today is a special day on the upgrade cycle and the inspiration for this post. As I just placed an order online to be picked up later today for a brand new 13” Macbook Pro Retina. This was the last major remaining upgrade for this cycle.

This new Macbook is replacing my recently sold 2010 also 13” Macbook Pro. That machine was holding very well with the only issue been a dying battery.

The battery will had cost me just $179 to fix but I decided to sell the 5 year old machine for $600 (got $550). Not bad for a five year machine.

This new Macbook Pro is the base model just like the outgoing one and thats fine for me as my power intensive work is done on the iMac.

But still this base models have a lot of power. I debated between upgrading the ram and sad drive but eventually when with the base configuration.

Remaining Upgrades

So whats left to complete the upgrade cycle?

Apple TV

I am waiting for Apple to release a new Apple TV. I have a 2nd Generation at the moment that i got in 2011 and still works fine with the exception of Youtube support that was recently dump by Google.

Why I am so eager for a new Apple TV if my current one works fine?

Well for one the current one only support 720p and while the current for sale $69 3rd gen can do 1080p I rather way a bit longer for the 4th Gen.

I hope the 4th gen will have:

• HomeKit support. This is the main reason I am looking forward to upgrade.
• Apps support. This is long overdue.
• New media deals.
• 4K. Not holding my breath on this one but it will be nice.

Airport Extreme

Another half decade device.

My current Airport Extreme was purchased in 2010 and it still running fine after more than five years of 24/7 use.

Only reason I want to upgrade it’s for the new radios and faster speeds.

Whats not been upgraded?

iPods

The last time I purchased an iPod was back in 2011 and that iPod touch along with a Nano purchased in 2009 and a Classic purchased in 2007 are collecting dust in drawers somewhere in the house.

I don’t see a reason to get one anymore but I have an affection for them as the iPod as the device that brought me back to Apple.

I remember that summer night in 2005 when I wen’t all over town with my now wife trying to find an iPod Mini. We eventually found one at a Sears store after driving 40 miles. That iPod was lost during a car break in but I will never forget the device that started the Apple halo.

Conclusion

While some people say that Apple devices are overpriced I have to disagree.

Yes I pay more upfront for this devices but they offer an enormous value.

They are not only of the highest quality and beautifully designed but they also come with first class support and a long long useful lifespan (in tech)