You’ve got to respect a blogger that can write up 1,500 words on how to recharge batteries and keep you riveted.

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Khoi Vinh flirted with Sonos and ultimately gave up on it deciding AirPlay was good enough for him. Since I’ve been talking about my Sonos system on the Mac Power Users, I’ve received a number of emails, tweets, and carrier pidgeons asking this same question. I’d respond that if you have a fully integrated stereo and you want to just play music from your iThingies, AirPlay is good enough and you probably don’t need a Sonos system.

In my case, I had an aging (>20 years old) set of speakers and receiver and I wanted something simple and easy to get music through the whole house. Sonos delivered. It felt like an Apple experience setting it up and it still feels like an Apple experience using it. I’ve now added the subwoofer and my total investment in this system is substantial but I absolutely love the way it improves my experience listening to music and watching movies. In short, I’d do it again.

To answer the question of how you use Sonos with AirPlay, it’s possible but you’ll need an Airport Express. The details are here. I’ve set this up in my own home and use it all the time. I also find myself using the Sonos App quite often to tweek audio settings (particularly for watching movies) and play streaming services. Sonos isn’t cheap but it sure is nice.

I recently read this article at MacStories that inspired me to buy deGeo. This simple app removes all geotag information from photos taken on your phone. With New Year’s Eve around the corner, this one may come in handy.

The end of the year is upon us and Katie and I share some of our New Year’s tech resolutions in show 170. Topics include network attached storage, less fiddly writing, and more.

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I use the heck out of my iPad and carry it back and forth to work, court, plane trips, family gatherings, and just about everywhere else I go. As a result, I like to keep it in some sort of protective case. When I upgraded to my fancy new iPad Air, I had to leave my beloved and well-worn Dodo case behind. I wasn’t sure where to go next with my new iPad when Saddleback Leather wrote and offered to loan me one of their new leather iPad cases.

I’ve actually been a Saddleback leather customer for a few years now. I love their company motto, They’ll fight over it when you’re dead. I bought one of their wallets years ago (which I still use) and recently, when my decades old briefcase finally gave up the ghost, I ordered a Saddleback Briefcase to replace it. It is the best-made briefcase I’ve ever owned and makes me happy every time I look at it.

Now I’ve been using their leather iPad Air case for a few weeks and it is working out great. The case is well constructed with thick leather and double stitching where it makes sense. The Leather is over-cut, giving a bit of  an edge with the thick leather that acts as a shock absorber when I knock it off the table. (I’ve already done that twice.)

The iPad Air fits in snugly and the whole case fits nicely in my briefcase.  The final product looks great and I’ve received several compliments on it  already. I’m really looking forward to watching the patina and texture of the case change as the leather ages a bit.

The case secures with two lether straps (no breakable buckles or zippers) that fit into small leather loops sewn into the front. You can bend the front over and reconnect those traps into the loops from the back to give the iPad an angle for lap typing or prop it on a desk to watch a movie. Overall it is a classy, simple design for a top notch leather case. 

The iPad Air version is not yet for sale but I’m told it will be soon. They already have versions for the earlier iPad and iPad mini. You can learn more at saddlebackleather.com. 

Speaking of gifting, did you know you can now send iBooks as gifts? Just tap the arrow under the book and you can send a copy as a gift to someone in your country. Want to teach a friend or relative about Email, Paperless, and Markdown? I know a few good books on the subject.