OWC announces the new OWC Envoy Express, first-ever portable storage enclosure that is powered by bus and Thunderbolt™ 3 certified, to facilitate DIY projects in a seamless fashion. Interestingly, its length is lesser than a normal ballpoint pen, while it weighs merely 3.3 ounces. Therefore, the enclosure made up of anodised aluminium along with the novel laptop mounting system which is highly portable.

Ground-breaking DIY Storage Solution

Although the OWC Envoy Express is extremely small, its resourcefulness is unlimited. With Thunderbolt™ 3 users now have an opportunity to leverage an enclosure powered by bus and certified by Thunderbolt™, within which they can install their own any capacity drive. With this DIY kit, users can transcend beyond the limitations of pre-configured options and, thus, are free to devise a storage solution that is small and yet, is capable of fulfilling their requirements. Moreover, each time the requirements change, the system can be reconstructed. The slide mount is also a useful addition. The detachable drive holder enables users to slide the Envoy Express behind the screen of a laptop and thus facilitates the use of mobile phones without any inconvenience. With this innovation, OWC has created an array of new options, improved usability, and functionality.

The Power of Build Your Own Options

Build the Envoy Express with a brand-new drive for a fast boot drive. Retask an existing drive replaced during an upgrade for added storage and backup capacity. Or, use Envoy Express to regain access to files on a drive removed from an inoperable machine. Whatever the reason for using a bus-powered Thunderbolt™ enclosure, Envoy Express has the power to make it happen.

Quick Backup, Video Playing, and Editing.  

With Envoy Express, you can perform a host of functions such as back up your pictures and music files, share files, engage in a fun gaming session, watch movies on-the-go, create videos of up to 8K resolution and edit them. Furthermore, it can facilitate a quick, consistent transfer of data at a maximum speed of 1553MB/s, which is typically faster in comparison to the performance of a machine’s internal drive.

Uses Today’s and Tomorrow’s Drives

Designed to support any 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD, the Envoy Express gives users the freedom of flexibility to use any drive today – including OWC Aura SSDs up to 4.0TB capacity – as well as being ready for tomorrow’s 8.0TB, 16TB and future capacities without limit.

The design of the system is compatible with any 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD, and users can choose any drive from the market, such as OWC Aura SSDs up to 4.0TB capacity, while it is also prepped to support future capacities like 8.0TB, 16TB with zero restrictions.

Highlights

• Certified: first bus-powered enclosure that meets stringent Thunderbolt™ power requirements
• DIY easy: uses any 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD available today and in the future
• Super-fast: supports up to 1553MB/s real-world performance¹
• Convenient: ready to go with 10.2-inch Thunderbolt™ 3 cable
• Compact: shorter than a ballpoint pen and weighs only 3.3 ounces with drive
• Silent: runs cool and distraction-free
• Stylishly rugged: Black anodized aluminum provides “field-tough” data protection
• Gets onboard: includes back of laptop screen slide mount for safe, out-of-the-way use
• Worry-free: 2 Year OWC Limited Warranty

Gets Onboard with Macs and PCs

When working space is limited, the Envoy Express mounting system is the solution. Today, modern offices come in the form of small cubicles with a tiny desk, as people work in remote locations devoid of power outlets and space for an external drive. Apart from the fact that it is the first Thunderbolt™ 3 bus-powered enclosure, it also comes with a resourceful laptop mounting system.

As an effective yet removable adhesive gel is used with a plastic holder that is light and sturdy, the Envoy Express can easily be affixed behind a Mac or PC laptop equipped with Thunderbolt™ 3. If you wish to share the Envoy Express, it can be achieved with OWC’s MacDrive software, which allows cross-platform sharing with Macs and PCs and can be purchased separately.

“The entire team at OWC is excited about this first-to-market offering of a bus-powered Thunderbolt™ certified enclosure,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO of OWC. “We receive requests all of the time from customers as to what they need from OWC. Our development team and engineers worked closely with Intel on the Envoy Express, and we are proud to continue to bring our customers cutting-edge offerings that allow them to work to peak performance. The Envoy Express DIY kit allows OWC customers to build a certified ultra-portable storage solution that meets their exact needs. We can’t wait to see and hear how creatives use it and what they think.”

OWC’s Aura P12 SSDs provide a perfect fit for the Envoy Express, with an optimized blend of speed and reliability. With speeds up to 3400MB/s, the Aura P12s offer dependable speed and data protection for large media files including 8K video, high-res photos, and audio files. With faster data transfer, users can quickly move to the next phase of their projects, worry-free.

The Envoy Express comes complete with the tools required for easy drive installation. Macfixit Australia also offers a wide variety of toolkits users need to support servicing of Macs, PCs, and other electronics

If you’re wondering why your laptop keeps dying, hopefully,the following information will help you decide to finally get that MacBook battery replaced.

You’ve had your MacBook for years, so you should not be surprised that it’s now hardly keeping a charge like it used to do.

It’s kind of frustrating trying to see how long your charge will last before your MacBook goes completely dead. After all, no one wants to find a dead laptop when they are expecting to do some work on it. Knowing what to expect from your current battery’s performance can make life a lot easier when trying to determine how much time you have before the battery goes dead.

Checking Your MacBook’s Battery Condition

To find out about your battery’s performance, you can go to the menu bar and select the battery icon. One of four battery states will be displayed:

1. Service Battery:The battery isn’t performing properly, and your MacBook needs to be taken to an authorized Apple store or computer repair store to be serviced. However, you can still work on your MacBook until you go get it serviced because the problem should not affect other parts of your computer.
2. Replace Soon:The battery is performing at its best, but the battery is not holding a charge likeit used to when you first got it.  You can still use your computer until you get ready to get the battery replaced.
3. Replace Now:The battery is performing at its best, but the battery has a highly noticeable decrease in performance when it comes to holding a charge. However, you can still use your computer until you get ready to get the battery replaced.
4. Normal:The battery is performing at its best.

Regardless of the condition, you still have some time to use the battery before deciding on getting a new one or a new MacBook.

Determining Your Battery Cycle Count

Although battery cycles may vary for various types of MacBooks, most are able to endure at least 1,000 cycles. A cycle count is made when you fully recharge a battery after the battery has run down completely. That means, you can drain your battery over halfway (about 60%) one day and recharge it, and it won’t count as a full cycle until the battery has done a complete depletion before recharging it.

When your battery has done 1000 cycles, your battery can function at a capacity as high as 80%.  Your battery can endure more than 1000 cycles but expect your battery to work at a much-diminished capacity. If you want to check your present cycle count, you can always go to the System Report tool to find out how many cycles your battery has completed.

When you press the Alt key and select the Apple icon (in the upper-left corner), you will see the System Report option. Click on System Report and click the Power option from the left panel. You should then see the term “Cycle Count” in the Battery Information Section under the “Health Information” section.

Replacing Your MacBook’s Battery

Those needing to have their battery replaced need to take their MacBook to an authorized Apple Store or computer store with authorized personnel to have their battery replaced. If you go to an authorised Apple Store, you can expect to pay between $189 and $500 to have your battery replaced. Alternatively, you can do it yourself with a new battery from NewerTech for as low as $124.99 – as well as being cheaper, this option also allows you to replace old batteries in machines for which Apple will no longer provide service.

If you chose to purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan, then the process of replacing your battery becomes a whole lot easier if your MacBook’s warranty has not expired. If you’re still covered under warranty, you can get the whole MacBook replaced instead of buying a battery.

The OWC Aura SSDs For Mid-2013 & Later MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with Retina are available now from the Macfixit Australia store. It is the first and only PCIe-based flash storage upgrade for Mid 2013 and Later Apple MacBook Air as well as MacBook Pro with retina display computers. The new Aura SSD emanates from over two years of research and development and it is believed to offer a unique upgrade for users of the more recent MacBook Pros as well as MacBook Airs.

Highlighted below are its features;

• 480GB and 1.0TB capacity options
• Capacity is about 8 times that of Apple factory SSD
• Tier 1 PCIe-based flash having 7% over-provisioning
• Upgrade kits comprise all tools as well as an OWC Envoy Pro drive enclosure that is used for data migration and for repurposing original Apple SSD
• 24×7 support that enables users to upgrade the flash themselves
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Three years warranty

Improved Factory Capacity
The SSD has about 8 times the stock and double the factory capacity through its 480GB and 1.0TB options. This gets rid of the worry and stress of buying a new computer with higher capacity SSD flash drive.

Complete Upgrade Solution
The OWC Aura SSD also come with upgrade kits which make it easy to replace the drive in the MacBook Pro with Retina display or MacBook Air. The upgrade solution also comprise free, comprehensive install videos and top-notch customer support.

No Complicated Hacks
OWC SSDs are advantageous because there will be no need to compromise one’s data by depending on complex software hacks or TRIM enablers to enjoy the best service from the upgrade.

Top-Notch Quality Is the Priority
The Aura PCIe-based flash upgrades that come with quality, tier-1 NAND flash memory that provides about 8 times the capacity upgrade offered by the original factory drive. Since the OWC SSDs are originally meant for Mac, and have excellent technologies for enhanced performance which include error correction, cell-level refresh as well as global wear-leveling algorithms.

Repurpose the Apple Factory SSD
All Aura SSD upgrade kits include the award-winning OWC Envoy Pro, a high-performance enclosure designed to reimagine your Mac’s original drive as a lightning-fast external storage solution. 

Availability and Pricing
OWC Aura SSD for 2013 and Later Macs can be ordered at Macfixit Australia OWC SSD Page. The price for the OWC Aura Upgrade Kits as well as the tools and Envoy pro enclosure include:

• $619.99 for 480GB model – OWCSSDAB2MB05K
• $959.99 for the 1TB model. OWCSSDAB2MB10K

The drive only options are:

• $529.99 for the 480GB model – OWCSSDAB2MB05
• $869.99 for the 1TB model – OWCSSDAB2MB10

Most portable storage solutions tend to be somewhat unreliable, and also, pose performance issues. It does not have to be that way. The OWC Envoy Pro Mini can take care of all your portable storage needs without compromising on anything. And guess what? It looks cool too!

Don’t make a mistake, the Envoy Pro Mini is not just another flash drive. It uses controller electronics and solid-state memory similar to the kind seen in OWC desktop SSDs.

You may want to take a look at the complete review of the device from Examiner.com, to really understand what it has on offer for you. If an ultra-portable storage solution is what you need, and you expect performance that is no less than desktop-class, the Envoy will truly make you happy.

The Envoy Pro SSD from OWC is a true win

www.lafcpug.org/tutorials/basic_owc_aura_pro_install.html

The Mac Mini is certainly brilliant. Small, portable and yet it is able to perform at a level that is far superior to its mere size. However, in order to get the best out of it, it is important that you use the system with its display. If you use it without attaching it to the display, it may give you performance issues. That is, due to the GPU not getting activated, forcing its CPU to perform every bit of the task.

This becomes especially evident when you are accessing the Mini from a remote location. You may find that you experience a lot of interface lags, along with some choppy animations of the OS X. Sometimes, you may even witness that cursor movements are pretty slow. Plus, slow typing speed and menu navigation speed may cause you further headache.

Thankfully, OWC and Newer Technology have developed a really good solution to tackle the problem. It has unveiled its NewerTech Headless Mac Video Accelerator, which has the ability to connect with the help of the Thunderbolt port or mini-Display port of your Mac Pro, or via your Mini. Now, now you can easily make all your remote experiences awesome with the help of the HDMI port offered by your very own Mini.

Working with the NewerTech product is quite easy. You just have to plug the HDMI Headless Accelerator in order to get the GPU getting activated. You do not even need a display for the purpose. The whole thing emulates a resolution of as high as 1080p, which means that you get to work remotely exactly the way you love to. In other words, NewerTech has made it possible for you to work as smoothly as possible with your headless Mini.

But, how does the whole thing work and how can it even possibly help you?

Here is the video that gives you a very compelling first look of the device. In the video, you will find Chris S. of OWC give you a quick tour of the HDMI Video Accelerator. After you watch this video, you will understand exactly how the thing works and how it can really boost the performance of your Mac Mini! That is, of course, without you having to get into the hassle of connecting a display to it!

Sounds cool? It really is!

The wireless keyboard from Apple is one of the best keyboards available in the market, and that is evident from the fact that most Mac enthusiasts are very much fond of it. Still, the keyboard is not totally devoid of faults. To be more specific, the absence of one numeric keypad in it has been driving many Apple lovers crazy lately.

Of course, those who use their Mac only to browse the internet, or to chat via webcam, do not really need a numeric keypad. Having, or not having it, does not really make a difference for them. But, things are not so simple for those who are involved in finance professions. The same can be said about teachers, programmers, administrators and students. For them, having one numeric keypad to do their job quickly and efficiently is a must.

The good news is that the latest Wireless Aluminum Keypad released by NewerTech has the goal to fill the void for an Apple numeric keypad. It can loyally serve all MacBook users, as well as other Apple keyboard users, by fulfilling their need for a good numeric keypad.

In the video attached, OWC Erica gives you a great peek into the new Apple keyboard alternative, and explains to you how it can truly and essentially complement your Apple keyboard in times of need. After watching the video, you will realise that NewerTech has done a very good job this time. At this point, it appears that its latest offering is going to be a hit!

OWC Founder and CEO Larry O’Connor recently wrote a guest article for hardware.itbusinessnet.com to shed some additional light on OWC SSDs and TRIM.

In the article, he discusses some of the benefits and drawbacks of the command and the history of OWC SSDs and why there is no need for the TRIM command when using one.

Be sure to check out the complete article by OWC Larry at: hardware.itbusinessnet.com/article/Trim-Talk-4034718

This is a question that our customer service representatives get asked almost every week and there is a reason why. While most people know what SATA is, it get’s quite confusing to differentiate between the different revisions of the interface, here is a quick explanation :

SATA I (revision 1.x) interface, formally known as SATA 1.5Gb/s, is the first generation SATA interface running at 1.5 Gb/s. The bandwidth throughput, which is supported by the interface, is up to 150MB/s.