Author: Randy Nelson

Apple’s iWeb has long been a godsend for those wanting to design their own website but who didn’t have the coding skills to do so from scratch. So, when Apple announced that it would no longer be supporting or developing iWeb in 2012, the quest for a suitable replacement began in earnest. EverWeb, from RAGE Software, aims to be just that — and, for the most part, it’s right on target.

EverWeb’s interface, while not a carbon copy, will be immediately familiar to anyone who’s used iWeb. Additionally, most iWeb features have an equivalent in EverWeb, while some extras, such as the functionality of the iWeb SEO Tool, have been integrated into this application.

What this means is that websites can be built much in the same way that you make a graphics-rich document in Word or Pages. There’s no coding involved — simply a WYSIWYG interface and various elements from shapes and social widgets to images and video that you can drag-and-drop into place. The results approach those of what’s possible with traditional site design and coding, while more experienced users can get under the hood to work in HTML5 and CSS3 for further customization.

As already mentioned, EverWeb boasts some functionality not present in the last available version of iWeb. This includes master pages, which allow elements to be easily repeated across multiple sections of a site, and drop-down navigation menus. EverWeb also builds on the e-commerce functionality of iWeb by enabling users to implement a full shopping-cart-based sales system, in addition to PayPal integration.

The included site templates are numerous, but oddly specific (one is for a chiropractic website). Each features a mobile-optimized version, and additional templates are available. EverWeb also includes a gallery of embeddable widgets, from RSS feeds and Google maps to feedback forms and image galleries. Additional widgets are also available from the EverWeb community.

Version 1.3 of EverWeb (reviewed) allows for the publishing of your site directly to an FTP server via an intuitive interface. Those who opt for the $99.95-per-year one-click publishing version of the application that includes 2GB of web hosting can, as the name suggests, publish and configure their site right from EverWeb.

If you’re someone who’s come to depend on iWeb and would like a supported version that will continue to evolve into the foreseeable future, or are just looking to build a website without getting your hands dirty with code, EverWeb is a great option. It’s still missing some things, like built-in blogging functionality, but unlike with the original iWeb, there’s at least some hope that it may one day be included.

The bottom line. If you’ve been seeking an iWeb replacement or are simply new to the whole website design thing, EverWeb is both a worthy successor and a good first step toward building your own web presence.

A well-known presence in home audio for decades, Onkyo is aiming to make a name for itself in the world of iDevices with its specialized ES-CTI300 headphones — a set of cans that are a beautiful aesthetic complement to the likes of the iPhone 5s, but are more than just a pretty accessory. Showcasing Onkyo’s experience in audio fidelity as well as component design, they deliver a sound that will thrill all but the most diehard bass junkies, while iPhone and iPod owners will love the inline microphone and music controls.

Available in silver and black, the ES-CTI300s are built from a combination of machined aluminum — particularly attractive on the silver model—and plastic, with padded faux-leather earpieces and headband. This combination of materials makes the headphones extremely lightweight and comfortable, but despite all the plastic, they don’t feel cheap at all (a point in their favor considering the nearly $200 price tag). The fact that the earpieces contain memory foam also goes a long way toward making these headphones ideal for lengthy listening sessions.

Said sessions benefit from the full-range 40mm drivers, which despite not featuring discreet components, do an admirable job of reproducing highs, mid-range, and lows in every type of music we threw at them. Vocals in particular were extremely impressive, making it clear (no pun intended) that Onkyo definitely tuned these headphones toward the mid-range. That’s not a bad thing in the least, since the overall sound remains well balanced. Highs are distinct and lows manage to remain nice and tight, even with particularly bass-heavy tracks. We only wish that the earpieces were slightly more sealing, so that the bass was a bit more pronounced. This can be remedied by tightening up the headband or cupping the earpieces with your hands, but it would be nice to not have to take such measures.

The detachable aspect of the headphones’ design is reminiscent of that employed by industry expert Sennheiser, and is one we’ve always been particularly fond of. The cable can be removed for storage or travel, or in the unfortunate event that it’s damaged, meaning an over-eager small pet or accidental snag won’t be the end of the phones. The cord itself is extremely sturdy, however, making such things unlikely in the first place. The attached mic/remote is an obvious draw for iOS device owners and works as advertised, replicating the functionality of Apple’s pack-in earpods to the letter. The only thing we’d change about the cord is the mini-jack itself, which is overly large and high-profile for headphones designed to be used with portable devices. These minor gripes aside, the ES-CTI300s are worth every penny — and look like it, to boot.

The bottom line. Despite the stiff price tag and slightly disappointing low-end, these exquisitely designed headphones from a beloved name in audio deliver fantastic sound with some handy iOS-geared functionality.

Over the past year, if you asked iPad mini owners what one thing they’d change about the device, odds were good that they’d respond with “add a Retina display.” Well, they obviously weren’t unheard, as the second generation of Apple’s scaled-down (in size, but not usefulness) tablet does exactly that—but not only that. This year’s new iPad mini with Retina display (see, it’s right there in the name) melds the superb design and build quality of the original with that long-awaited high-res screen and the heart of an iPhone 5s for one fantastic portable computing powerhouse.

The first thing you’ll notice upon picking up the iPad mini is the design, which is, in a word, excellent. But if you’ve spent any time with last year’s model, you’ll already know that. This device is easily among the finest that Apple has ever designed, with a sturdy, quality feel and refined edges. Plus it just looks fantastic no matter if you go with the space grey or silver finish.

Switch on the device and the real magic begins. That’s when you see the real draw here: the Retina display. If you’ve previously used a Retina display-equipped iPad, you have an idea of what to expect here, but there’s still something about seeing all those pixels (3.1 million, the same as the larger iPad Air) squeezed onto the smaller 7.9-inch screen. Everything, especially text, simply pops off the screen with nary a jagged edge in sight.

We tested the iPad mini with Retina display with a diverse slate of apps, from iOS 7’s stock offerings to the likes of Flipboard and, of course, plenty of games, and the display performed exceptionally. It was easy on the eyes, bright, colorful, and sharp. It was only when we performed some A/B comparisons between the mini and the new iPad Air that we noticed the former comes up a little short in terms of color saturation when compared to its larger sibling (and even the iPhone 5s). Even noting this, however, when we returned to using the mini exclusively the decreased saturation (and slight drop in maximum brightness) wasn’t enough to harm the experience.

Speaking of experience, the mini’s new 64-bit A7 processor, borrowed from the iPhone 5s, handled everything—from iLife apps to the latest, greatest games—we threw at it with infinite finesse. This is one small yet immensely powerful device that’s more than up to the needs of casual and power users.

After putting the iPad mini with Retina display though its paces, we came away duly impressed. This is exactly what we’d been wanting, plus some. If you’ve been eagerly awaiting a high-res iPad mini, we can say without reservation that your ship has come in—and it’s a hot-looking speedboat, at that.

The bottom line. While its display isn’t quite as vibrant as the iPad Air’s, the second-generation iPad mini is still a fantastic device packing blistering processing speed and a gorgeous screen in one petite, flawlessly designed package.