In the last blog post about my 2017 gear list, I mentioned that there was something strange about the gear I work with. Along with getting rid of my DSLR/Mirrorless cameras, I haven’t used any laptop at all for about two years. The iPad Pro 9.7”, at that time, was my mobile computing platform of choice. 

Of course, the only constant in my gear setup is change. I don’t like that. I prefer finding and sticking with the same gear & software as long as possible. But after using an iPad as a laptop replacement for almost two years, I am using a laptop again. It's not what you think. At least, it’s not what you think if you think the iPad was not a suitable laptop replacement for everyday business use. It can be, depending on your circumstances, of course. 

(UPDATED MARCH, 27th) - Things change. This article was live for no more than a few weeks and I dramatically changed my setup and workflow. So, let's do this. I'll leave this article up so you can see a snapshot of what I was doing at this particular point in time. However, If you want to see the most current gear and software that I'm using, head over to my Social Media Photographer's Gear page. I will update this page as needed, at least once a month. 

While I shoot photos and videos for a living I am not your typical photographer. Specializing in social media photography, I must compromise between achieving high-quality results while maintaining a small footprint. 

Ultra-portable Wireless System Brings Mobile, High Definition Sound to Your Smartphone and DSLR Camera

Samson, an industry pioneer in mobile audio solutions, today announces Go Mic Mobile, the world’s first professional wireless microphone for smartphones. This new wireless system allows mobile filmmakers and journalists to capture incredible audio anywhere, making it the ideal mobile mic for everything from filmmaking and podcasting or vlogging to live streaming and YouTube production. Samson’s Go Mic Mobile will be available in May 2017.

Stats show that Snapchat is the social network of 2016. In spite of having the youngest audience, it's experiencing faster growth than Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram.  

Many brands have already integrated it into their digital strategy. They are not just including it in an organic marketing strategy, but are coughing up big bucks to be in the Discover section, which is currently the only way to include paid advertising campaigns on the platform.

Logitech announced the CREATE Backlit Keyboard Case with Smart Connector for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The CREATE Keyboard Case is a toolkit that gives you everything you need to make the most of your iPad Pro; a protective case, backlit keyboard, and integrated holder for the Apple Pencil all in one lightweight package. Whether you are posting an update, watching a video, or drawing a sketch, CREATE empowers you to unleash your creativity and productivity wherever you go.

“CREATE is like the Swiss Army Knife of keyboard cases,” said Michele Hermann, vice president of tablet accessories at Logitech. “It puts all the tools you need at your fingertips, and the keyboard charges through the Smart Connector so you can just set your iPad Pro into a typing position and go. It brings typing on the iPad Pro to a whole new level.”

DJI and uAvionix Corporation announced Wednesday they will collaborate on an ADS-B based collision avoidance developer kit to help integrate drones into the national airspace system and help keep America’s skies safe.

“DJI and uAvionix share a passion for safety and are motivated by the improvement that real-time air traffic information will provide to our developers using our software development kit,” said DJI VP of Engineering, Darren Liccardo. “DJI developers will now be able to process ADS-B data and close the loop all within an embedded computer onboard the vehicle.”

95 million Americans are over the age of 50. And they are the first generation to grow up listening to LOUD rock music – so many suffer from minor hearing impairment. Combine those rock-impaired ears with the puny sound systems built into flat screen TVs and you get an epidemic of people who are constantly asking “What did he say?” while watching TV shows. Millions of people simply can’t understand dialogue on many shows.

The new AccuVoice TV Speaker from ZVOX is the best, smartest solution for this problem. Only 17” wide, it uses a computer processor that mimics the functionality of a hearing aid. It applies an advanced compression/equalization algorithm that lifts voices out of background sounds to create the clearest dialogue reproduction ever. This proprietary (patent-pending) technology is activated only when voices are detected in a soundtrack.

Kensington announced that its SD3600 Universal USB 3.0 Docking Station was selected as a Best Product in the Technology Products Category in the North American Office Products Awards (NAOPA) 2016. The NAOPA awards were presented at the SP Richards (SPR) ABC show in Washington D.C. on July 21.

The awards were launched in 2010 by Office Products International (OPI) in association with SPR. Now in their seventh year, these awards set the industry standard and aim to find the best business products in North America. They were judged by a panel of leading resellers and the winners were announced during a packed General Session at SPR’s ABC.

Satechi has launch another Type-C solution to its Metallic Series – the Aluminum Type-C HDD/SSD Enclosure. With transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, the device allows users to access their data faster than ever and to transfer data from a hard drive to a computer anytime, anywhere.

The Aluminum Type-C HDD/SSD Enclosure uses a USB 3.1 Type-C connection, the latest version of USB, to access data. The included tool lets users easily install their 1” or 2.5” HDD or SSD. With its slim, compact form (5″x3″x0.5″), the device makes it easy to take a hard drive with you while on the go – ideal for mobile work spaces and travel.

DEF CON (defcon.org), one of the world’s largest and oldest annual hacking conferences, and Gravitas Recordings are proud to present 2016’s DEF CON soundtrack. This is a free/pay-what-you-can donation based release, where 100% of the generated revenue will be going to straight to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF, www.eff.org/join ), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit dedicated to protecting our Internet freedoms and privacy. The featured artists this year providing cyberstatic anthems for your ears include Dirtyphonics, ill-esha, AMB, bil bless, Psymbionic, Mochipet, Richard Cheese and more! A big thanks to all the musicians involved for donating their craft to the cause.