Griffin Technology Roundup – Review

 

Griffin Technology Roundup
Company: Griffin Technology
http://www.griffintechnology.com

Elevator
Company: Griffin Technology
Price: $39.99
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elevator

The Elevator is a desktop stand for your portable computer. Just as its name implies, it elevates your laptop screen 5.5″. Simply elevating the laptop in this manner will provide a better viewing angle, a more ergonomic working environment, better cooling, and free up valuable desktop space.

DESIGN
Simplistic and even a little minimalist (Steve would be so proud) in its design, the Elevator is both beautiful and elegant.

USABILITY
The Elevator delivered the goods. I noticed that the my MacBook Air was running much cooler than before. Enough to keep the fan, which had previously ran a great deal under load, relatively quiet.

My desktop was immediately transformed into a well organized and spacious work environment.

MyMac.com Rating:
The Elevator is a well designed and beautiful product that met and surpassed my expectations. Therefore, I am awarding this wonderful product a 5 out of 5.

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SmartTalk
Company: Griffin Technology
Price: $19.99
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/smarttalk

SmartTalk brings together a high-sensitivity microphone, control button, and a 30″ nylon braided cable in a “smart” looking package. This product was designed to allow the user to attach non-Apple headphones to the iPhone/iPod family of products.

The SmartTalk includes a high-sensitivity mic, and control button to allow iPhone users to answer calls and control the iPod functionality of the iPhone. The SmartTalk also allows you to connect your iPhone or iPod Touch to your auxiliary connector equipped car audio system.

USABILITY
The SmartTalk works well and as advertised. There are other products on the market that are similar to the SmartTalk. One thing that separates the SmartTalk from the pack is the quality cable. the nylon braided cable is pliable and easily maneuverable. This is a helpful feature when trying to fit the SmartTalk into a tight place within your car.

MyMac.com Rating:
The SmartTalk is the best iPhone headphone adapter I have used. It incorporates all the features you need in a great package. I am awarding the SmartTalk a 5 out of 5 on our MyMac.com Rating: System <https://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=1188>.

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Noise-reducing Audio Cable
Company: Griffin Technology
Price: $19.99
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/noise-reducing-audio-cable

The Noise-reducing Audio Cable, let’s just call it the NRAC, includes an in-line dual-element noise filter for eliminating the electrical interference that can occur when you connect your iPhone/iPod to your car audio system.

USABILITY
After installing the NRAC, I noticed the noise that existed when the audio system is on but the iPhone/iPod is paused, was eliminated.

I was very impressed with the build quality of the NRAC. From the fit and finish to the quality of the materials used, the NRAC is another high quality product from Griffin.

MyMac.com Rating:
The Noise-reducing Audio Cable by Griffin is a high quality product that solves a universal problem when using your iPhone/iPod with your car audio system. For its quality and performance, I am awarding the Noise-reducing Audio Cable by Griffin a 5 out of 5 on our MyMac.com Rating: System.

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Charge Converter
Company: Griffin Technology
Price: $29.99
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/firewire-to-usb-converter

If you are an iPhone 3G or 2G iPod Touch owner, you have no doubt realized that none of your older FireWire based charging systems work with your new “Precious.”

Griffin has solved this problem with a product that is extremely simple and effective. The Charge Converter reroutes the FireWire circuitry of your older charging systems so that everything converts properly with the newer iPhone 3G/iPod Touch USB circuitry.

At $29.99, the Charge Converter feels a little expensive. I would love to see this product at the $19.99 price point.

USABILITY
I plugged the male end of the Charge Converter into my iPhone 3g and then my old FireWire car charger into the female end of the Charge Converter, and done.

The iPhone immediately sprung to life revealing that the phone was indeed charging. Very easy, simple, and useful. As many more people prepare to upgrade their first generation iPhones, this will prove to be a very useful technology.

MyMac.com Rating:
As with the other products reviewed in this roundup, the Griffin Charge Converter is simple and very effective. The more complicated the product, the more that can go wrong. While it is simple and effective, I feel the price point does detract somewhat from the product overall. Therefore, I am giving the Charge Converter by Griffin a 4.5 out of 5 on our MyMac.com Rating: System..

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