Apple Sidecar - iPad and MacBook Air M1

Another Tech-Productivity Review...

Hello everyone! Ceddy here, and welcome back to another product review.

Ladies and Gentlemen.. This is Sidecar...

Today, I’m reviewing the iPad A16 for its productivity features. Among all the productivity features of the Apple ecosystem, I believe Sidecar is the underrated feature that many people don’t realize or use. In my observation, most of my friends are unaware of this feature.

Coffee and blogging session, featuring Sidecar in a cozy corner.

Sidecar- Portability and Productivity.. What else?

Excuse the smudges on the screen, but yeah, it’s a space saver.

What I like about Sidecar is its convenience. I have an 11-inch iPad, and it fits perfectly on a small table, saving space. Having a MacBook Air and multitasking can be time-consuming and frustrating. Sidecar is a handy feature in most cases.

Accessibility and convenience, all in one. What could I ask for?

You can switch the main display (your iPad) and use your MacBook as an extended screen if you prefer. Alternatively, you can mirror your MacBook screen on an iPad, which is helpful for presentations.

One thing that the MacBook doesn’t have that the iPad can do is a touchscreen. I often sketch in Procreate or a sketchbook, and this feature is useful for that. However, it won’t work if you connect it as an extended display. Removing it from the Sidecar first will solve the problem, but it seems like a lot of work. Hopefully, they’ll update Sidecar in the future.

If you’re struggling with latency issues while using Sidecar, you can use a wired connection if there’s a limited range with wireless connectivity.

If you want to learn more about the Apple ecosystem, check out this article.

Also, check out my recent reviews of Apple products like the Apple AirTag, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPhone 11.

Give Sidecar a try for creativity and productivity.

For more information about the Apple Sidecar feature, visit Apple's official website support page.

Thanks for reading my blog, and I'll see you again next time!

-Ceddy

Apple AirTag Unboxing and Quick Setup | Ceddy's Random 

Hi Everyone! Ceddy here, and I am back again for another tech review. 

Hello 2025!

2025 is a good start for me; an unexpected blessing has come. And I am looking forward to more travels as well this year.

And the best part? I switched back to Apple. Yes, after a couple of months of using Android, I decided to switch back to Apple. Call me an Apple sheep, but I've been a loyal and avid user of Apple since my college days when I had my first iPhone 3GS.

So, what do I miss? Well, definitely everything! The seamless experience of moving photos or files, regardless of the size of a file,e viAirDropop is such a breeze. And the iCloud and, of course, my photos!

I purchased an iPhone 16, not the Pro or Pro Max, but just the 16. And I am completely satisfied and happy about it. But let's set aside the iPhone 16, as I am going to review it later. And I also purchased an Apple Watch Series 10, the 46 mm version. I have drafted a review of it, and it will be released sometime this month.

Let's set aside those two devices, and let's focus on the new member of the family. 

Hello, Apple AirTag!

It's on my bucket list to have one of these, and finally,y I was able to purchase one, and I've been using it for a week now. I am traveling this year, and it's a good tracker to keep inside the luggage as well, but right now, I use it to clip on my keychain. I tend to misplace my keys, so this is helpful and beneficial for me as well, since the chip in the AirTag and the iPhone can communicate easily thanks to the ultra-wideband feature of the devices. 

Now, let's unbox the product..

As usual, Apple is minimalistic when it comes to the packaging, and I can say it is kinda giving off a kind of aesthetic vibe while unboxing it. No frills, no drama, just pure unboxing experience.

 

The back side of the packaging comes with some information on the product, serial code, model number, and all. Do you even read all of them? I don't think so. However, I am including it so that if you're curious about the details behind it, then there you go. 

I was expecting an Apple sticker; sadly, there is none. Showing you the documentation inside, where most of you won't even care what it's all about. But hey, they smell good. The scent of the packaging never fails to amaze me. It's the same packaging scent as the iPhones. 

Look! There it is. The Apple AirTag. The clever paper packaging folds into 3 ways, and when you unfold it, it displays two images of an iPhone screen and shows instructions on how to connect it through the Find My app device and by just removing and peeling the plastic tag so that the tag can activate. 

And there you go, Apple AirTag. Small but mighty!

Let me show you how to connect with the Apple AirTag. Connecting the Apple AirTag is so easy. Let me show you how I connected mine to my iPhone 16.

After removing the tag, my iPhone instantly detected the tag, and an on-screen instruction popped up after choosing the "connect" option shown on the screen above.

After connecting successfully, the agreement above explains that AirTag will link to your associated Apple ID. For privacy, I have to cover my details, but for your reference, you can see the above screenshot.

Note: I didn't take a screenshot of the part where I have to customize the name of my AirTag or edit and include any emoji as an indicator belonging to this AirTag. 

I labeled mine as Dave's AirTag, and it will initiate a connection to the iPhone as shown above.

Once completed, Apple AirTag will display your current location, highlighting its features, as shown above.

As I mentioned above, I customized the look of my AirTag, and as you can see. I labeled it as an emoji. 

So far, I am enjoying the tag after a week of using it. I am secure and worry-free when I lose my key, as I can locate it easily with the Find My app. 

Verdict:

So, should I recommend this Apple Product?

Well, it's a win-win decision for me. If you're a frequent traveller and want to make sure that you track your luggage, or you're that person like,e, who tends to misplace the keys or wallet. Then this is the best Apple accessory for you.

If you have extra cash to shell out for this product, then go for it. But it's not necessary to have this unless you really want to.

Thanks for reading my tech unboxing review. And I'll see you next time! 

--Ceddy

From Abu Dhabi to Dubai, UAE - A New Start

moving box from IKEA

my stuff

Google Wallet Review 2024

Hello! And welcome back to another tech review. Our mobile phone has been integral to our lives since the 20th century. As the years have passed, more technological advancement has been added. 

Ever since Apple Pay launched in the UAE way back in 2017. It changed my perspective when it comes to handling my expenses, whether from purchasing online or just buying a cola at the convenience store. In fact, I still have my wallet with Me as I have to carry my important IDs. 

Living in a first-world country like the UAE means it offers such convenience to its People. And one thing is the usage of wireless payment. Whenever buying any products, goods, or services, using your NFC-enabled device is pretty handy. And with this content, I am reviewing my real-world usage experience of Google Wallet. 

Google Wallet or Google Pay?

Google Wallet, formerly Google Pay, is a mobile payment service developed by Google. Its initial release date was September 19, 2011. Eventually, it spread to other countries, and one country that adopted this kind of payment technology is the UAE. 

I recently made a review of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay so if you're interested to know more, kindly check this link. Without further ado, let's start this review.

My home screen with Google Wallet

Customisability? 

One thing that I noticed using the Google Wallet (upon writing this review) - there is no customizable button to trigger the wallet app. Compared to Apple Pay where you usually press the side button to activate it, or same goes with Samsung Pay. Google Wallet doesn't have the option to do it instead you have to create a shortcut in the home screen or hover your phone directly on the merchant card machine to trigger the wallet. Though I find that it's for personal preference, in my opinion, it's better to have that trigger button rather than unlocking your phone and constantly checking where your Google Wallet is. 

Adding other passes

Additional Passes- for the win!

Additionally, Google Wallet enables you to add other digital cards such as transit passes, loyalty cards, and gift cards, and lately, they added an additional feature for photos. Where you can create a digital pass from a photo of a barcode or QR code. 

Apple Cash Alternative?

Apple Pay in the U.S. offers the ability to send money via Apple Cash. And I need help finding it working in Google Wallet (for now). Let's say you want to share the tip while eating at the restaurant. Apple Cash has this feature to send any amounts otherwise Venmo is the only alternative. Apple Pay uses tokenization and touch ID for its security while Google Wallet has PIN security. Either of them, security features are top-notch knowing that nobody is nibling throughout your transaction. 

So, Do I recommend it?

So, the verdict. Do I recommend using Google Wallet? Yes! Give it a try.  Some consumers are still worried and prefer cash payment instead of storing their hard-earned money over digital wallet apps. But picture this, We live in a society that making a leap forward for convenience. This is the future and as this technology goes on, its security layer is far advanced. But considering that at the moment, some merchants prefer the traditional cash payment. But after some time, there is no harm in trying this technology at your convenience. 

Again, that's your preferred choice. 

Once again, thanks for reading my review. And I'll see you in my next review.

-Ceddy

Real World Review - Motorola Edge 50

I told myself once not to move to any Android devices, as I am a long-time devotee of Apple, from MacBook, iPad, and Airpods, I, having one of these devices is also meant for long-term investment and if you wish to sell this in the future, the value will be much better.  Without that being said, I have tested various Android devices since purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Which I recently wrote a review of it. 

Which Android smartphone should I choose for the long term? There are a lot of mid-range Android smartphones that won't break your bank, and before purchasing one, I carefully researched and went with either Samsung or Motorola. 

We already know that Motorola has a reputation and well-known brand for its mobile devices. Founded on September 28, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Motorola started from humble beginnings by selling cellular transmissions and signal amplifiers. Later, on January 4, 2011, Motorola Mobility was formed after a split from Motorola Inc.

I started with Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, which was my first Motorola Android this year. I used it for several months and decided to send it to the Philippines. Since I was busy and had no time to write a review, I was not able to make a full review of it. But let's skip that part as I am thrilled to review my recent purchase.

Motorola Edge 50

This is Motorola Edge 50. I am very particular about battery usage and to my surprise, this phone never disappoints me at all. It comes with a 5000 Mah battery which can last up to a day and a half. And that includes my gameplay of Mobile Legends, a game that consumes a lot of power. This kind of mid-range has a lot to offer. And by the way, I am reviewing this as my personal experience and if you may expect that I will share with you the geekbench scores and all, well you may not find it here. I'm reviewing the real-world usage of this device.

The screen refresh rate makes the user experience much better as it comes with a 120hz refresh rate which is usually available on high-range devices. The sleek user interface which is almost close to Android stock operating software makes it more user-friendly. 

The case is included in the box

I love the curved design on its edge. It comes with a free case inside the box however that doesn't come with any power adapter so you may purchase it separately. A bit disappointing as some of the mid-range devices have a power brick, but this doesn't have one. Motorola, if you're reading this. At least provide a power brick.

And just so you know, I'm not sure if this is hype or even necessary but Motorola added some scent on its boxes. Literally, you will smell some scent of perfume while unboxing, I guess that adds more to the user experience of unboxing. Anyhow, I purchased the Pantone Peach Fuzz that comes with a satisfying vegan leather back and aluminum housing. 

Motorola markets it as well as this is their phone that is certified with Military International Standard (MIL) MIL-STD 810H. It is also certified IP68. I am the kind of person who always brings the phone inside the washroom, whether doing my business or taking a shower, I always bring it for listening to Spotify podcasts. (Speaking of podcasts, please visit my Ceddy's Podcast for more podcast  content 😉 )

Dazzling pOLED display

Eye catchy display

It comes with an HDR10+ screen, watching Netflix, Disney +, and Prime Video ( yes I have 3 of them) it's superb! the screen is pOLED - a type of screen primarily made by LG. P from pOled is Plastic- a substrate compared to AMOLED where A and M refer to Active Matrix- usually from Samsung display brands.

The glass that they used for this device is Corning Gorilla Glass. I'm not familiar with which type of glasses they use but in my real-world experience, I don't see any minute scratches for the first 4 days of using it without any tempered glass protection. So I can say that the glass they use is durable and resistant to scratches. 

While writing this review, I am sitting in a cozy Dunkin Donut store here in Burjuman Center Dubai. Well, the reason I shared this is that all tables of this DD branch have a wireless charging pad. A perfect way to charge my Moto Edge 50. Yes, you read it right. This device can support 15 watts of wireless charging. Very convenient and I don't have to bring my charger, as long as there is a wireless charging pad available. I can definitely put on the pad right away. And adding on it, this device supports reverse wireless charging. I charged my Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3 and it works right away. Very convenient.

Camera quality is also great and it offers a lot of available camera features. One of my favorite features is the trail effects. However, you may need to navigate it on more features to see this feature and more. I don't like the default camera for taking photos, but I prefer to use the Ultra Res 50 which is also located in the more section of the camera app. The camera lens that they are using is the Lytia 700C. The camera pro features adding the Lytia 700C lens provide optimal and sharp images that I've ever seen in a mid-range smartphone. And just so you know, Sony has been the sole iPhone camera sensor supplier for a decade and I'm not surprised that Motorola took this opportunity to integrate a Sony lens to this device. And the result is pretty amazing! See some sample pictures taken at Al Seef, Dubai UAE.

Sample Pictures

I am not going to dive into its processor. I will keep it simple. The processor of this device is powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Multitasking on this device is much faster thanks to its 12GB of RAM.

So. If you may ask me. Do I recommend this phone? 

Yes! If you're looking at a budget-budget-friendly device but packed with features with a longer battery,  coming from a reputable US company. Go with Motorola Edge 50

Please note that this is not sponsored content. Once again, thanks for reading my blog and I'll see you around next time.

-Ceddy