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The best lightning cable for your IOS products

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Like it or hate it, one thing we can all agree on is that Apple's in-package lightning cables are horrible. They are weak and usually become frayed and unusable within months. 

First stay away from the cheap Chinese knockoff cables. Every MFI (Made For Iphone) certified cable comes with a special (in cable) authentication chip. Chipworks has a good write up about this secret chip. This is why many of the cheaper lightning accessories and cables you buy on Amazon, eBay and AliExpress, turn out to be useless junk.

Over the years, I have found that certain higher quality cables (micro USB style) are able to transfer data more reliably or support faster charging. Not so with lightning. It turns out that all MFI certified cables I have tested have been about the same as it relates to data transfer speed and charging speed.

So the real deciding factor is the durability of the cable. So over the last several months, I have been real world testing dozens of lightning cables from name brand companies. I wanted to see how they would hold up to the rigours of rough use:

  • threw them in my work bag
  • used them to charge via battery while in the pocket of my winter jacket
  • user them to charge while in the car
  • swung them with the phone attached
  • crunched them and tightly packed them in jeans pockets
  • etc

You get the idea.

The one cable that came out on top was the Anker PowerLine lightning cable. It is competitively prices, MFI certified, it can charge all IOS devices at full speed (except the ipad pro) and it super durable. 

The tips are encased in a solid plastic housing and a nice rubbering joint between the cable and the connectors. 

Anker claims the cable is reinforces with kevlar fibers which is impossible to prove but the cables do feel solid and very sturdy (compared particularly to the Apple, Monoprice and Amazon basics ones). Now before anyone emails me, there are other more durable cables but these typically cost so much, they are not even being considered by the average consumer. Remember that this is a review for a consumer and not one for a product used in an industrial setting where $50-75 is considered acceptable.

The Anker Powerline lightning cables fit comfortable through the opening of various cases including the original Apple ones, LifeProof, Rhinoshield and any other one I threw at it. This is an important consideration and a major win for Anker.

As a sanity check, I read reviews on major online retail sites and comments were overwhelmingly positive. 

You can find these lightning cables almost everywhere so grab a couple. You'll be glad you did.

 

Native Union USB Lightning EDC & Travel Belt Cable Review

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

USB Cables are a dime a dozen. Lightning cables are more expensive but come in all shapes, sizes and quality. Most cables are perfectly acceptable sitting on your nightstand at home but if you carry it with you (EDC) or travel with it, then you need to make sure you pickup something that can withstand the torture it will endure.

Native Union is a boutique accessory maker that seems to put some thought in their designs and charges accordingly. No $2.99 cables here. The question is :

Can the Native Union Belt cable stand up to the rigors of everyday carry and travel?

A colleague was nice enough to lend me his cables for testing. He had bought them from Amazon.com for $25US a piece.

Specifications

Let's get the basic specifications out of the way. 

  • comes in 1.2M (belt) and 3M (belt XL) variants
  • It is a tangle free braided cable
  • has a leather cable tidy
  • is apple MFI certified so you won't get an accessory not supported message (on Apple products) like many cheap Amazon copies.

Cables are cables, don't expect anything revolutionary. One side connects to a USB power brick (or computer) and the other to your device. The difference between a good cable and bad one is the quality of the material and workmanship.

Native Union seems to have used to shelve high quality materials which makes the cable feel sturdy. The "belt" leather strap is functional but nothing to write home about. It works by keeping your cable organized.

Using the Native Union Belt USB & Lightning Cables

First I tested the power output of the Native Union lightning cable connected to an Anker brick capable of pushing 2.4A/5V with an iPad Air 2. The original Apple provided cables was able to transport 2.4A/5V (measured with a USB power meter.) The Native Union lightning cable performed exactly the same.

I then tested transferring files from a Moto X 2016 using the Motorola cable and then the Native Union cable and transfer times were similar. 

The cable is more stiff than the original Apple or Motorola cable so using the device while connection will need some getting use to but nothing too dramatic.

After use, wrapping the cable and tidying it with the belt is simple. The ultimate durability test was throwing it in my main laptop bad accessory pocket (a RedOxx CPA bag) and using it day in day out. While most cables break after a couple of weeks, the Native Union Belt actually looked as good on day 20 as it did on day 1. 

Conclusion

I'll be the first to admit $25 is a lot to spend on a cable but it is worth it for the business user or traveler that relied on his gadgets being charged regardless of where he/she goes. Obviously Native Union chose premium materials (except the belt felt a bit cheap) to design a cable that will last many many years soI wouldn't be gun shy to recommend buying these. Unfortunately there isn't a USB-C option yet but I have to believe one is on the way.

So my closing remark is buy it if you can find it. I know the USB version is out of stock on the Native Union website and is selling at a premium on Amazon ($30). The Lightning version seems available everywhere.

 

Infinite USB cables promise to add USB connectivity to your devices

technologyEdward Kiledjian

Regardless of how many USB ports your devices seem to have, you are always short a couple of ports. Now the creators of the Infinite USB cable believe they have solved the problem once and for all. 

The promise is that you can keep connecting their nesting USB cables (plugging one cable into another cable over and over). The idea sounds incredible at first but... Remember that most USB ports have limited power which means you will quickly make become unable to power the USB devices you are plugging into them. This means that you wouldn't be able to keep chaining cables to your hearts content. At most you would be able to plug 2 maybe 3 of them (if you are lucky).

$12 get's you a MicroUSB while $14 get's you an Apple Lightning cable. There is a USB Type C cable in the works which may be the best option.

See it on Kickstarter (link)

Telus to bring streaming TV to its customers

technologyEdward Kiledjian
Image by schmilblick used under Creative Commons License

Image by schmilblick used under Creative Commons License

Bell Media announced (Link) a new streaming service called "Project Latte" where they will deliver "the best content on television". The offering will offer both past and current shows (including HBO's library). The Bell offering will be delivered via the web, wireless and TV. Before you jump for joy thinking this is finally the next evolution of TV

“Project Latte” will therefore be made available to all TV subscribers in the country
— Bell Media

Fast forward to today and Telus has signed a distribution deal for "Project Latte" (Link). Remeber that quote I just talked about? This service will initially be available to customers of Telus Optik TV, Bell Fibe TV, Bell Aliant FireOp TV and Bell Satellite TV (ExpressVU).

This could have been a fantastic offering if it did not require a cable subscription. Like our American brothers and sisters, Canadians are dumping landline phones and traditional cable television (Link) and companies will have to modernize to stay relevant. 

25% coupon code for all Nomad products

technologyEdward Kiledjian

There is a saying in photography

The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You
— Chase Jarvis

A $5,000 super sophisticated camera doesn't help you capture that special moment if it isn't with you. This is why smartphone photography has really taken the world by storm (since our smartphones are always with us).

I have the same issue with charging cables. Over the years I have bought hundreds of cables ranging from cheap chinese knockoffs to expensive high quality manufacturer sold ones. Regardless of the cable, they never seemed to be with me when I really needed them or were a hassle when travelling.

NOMAD HAS BOTH LIGHTNING AND MICRO-USB TIPS

That is until I met the ChargeKey (pictures above). This thing is always with me ready to charge my iPhone. You should read my review of the ChargeKey (link).

Nomad also has a ChargeCard which offers the same convenience in an easily walletable card format.

nomadcard.jpg
The Nomad ChargeKey has been on my keychain getting beaten up in my pocket for 4 months now and it works perfectly and looks like new.
— Edward Kiledjian

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All Nomad Lightning cables are Apple MFI certified so they are guaranteed to perform.

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