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In partnership with The Magic Brand. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
Where are my 90’s kids at?! Does anyone else remember their parents jerry-rigging a TV and VHS in the backseat of the minivan? It’s such a sweet memory of my childhood, but looking back at it, that seems like a ton of work to set up. Today, with the world of streaming, there’s almost nowhere in the world you can go without the ability to stream your favorite movies and TV shows on a nice, big screen… that is, except for your car. Luckily, there’s a brand that’s enabled people to stream their favorite content with ease – even in their cars: enter The Magic Brand.
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Meet The Magic Box 2.0
The Magic Brand’s hottest item is The Magic Box 2.0 (on sale for $329), a device that allows you to wirelessly utilize your car’s Apple CarPlay and stream to your car’s screen. Think of it like a “booster” for your car’s existing Apple CarPlay; you get all the same functionality you know and love, as well as the ability to stream on your car’s screen like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. Beyond the ability to stream more, it also allows you to wirelessly connect to your car’s CarPlay, which traditionally requires you to plug your phone into the car.
The setup is simple, too. Simply connect the device to your car via USB cable, scan the QR code that comes in the box, and the form walks you through the setup steps. These typically take less than 10 minutes – and their support team is ready to help you out, should you need any help. For those of you concerned about compatibility, The Magic Box supports any iPhone from 5 or higher, as well as any Android 6.0 or higher. In terms of cars, you must have Apple CarPlay for this to work with your car. For a full list of compatible vehicles, be sure to check out the brand’s website. If you don’t see your car, you can request it to be added!
Built on the success of its predecessor, the OG Magic Box, the Magic Box 2.0 has all the great features of the original product – and then some. We’ll chat about the new features below, but it’s also important to note the brand addressed even the littlest, most seemingly insignificant performance issues in the upgrade. For example, they took seriously the connectivity of the device to the car, knowing that once you connect, you don’t want to have to do it again – and you certainly don’t want the connection to drop in and out. The product boasts one-time set-up for the connection, as well as no interruptions or drops while using it.
Stream Here, There, Anywhere
When I first heard of The Magic Box 2.0, admittedly, I wasn’t super sure what to make of it – more importantly, when people would use it. My momma bear personality got really concerned that this was intended to be used while driving. The Magic Brand has anticipated that and specifically states that this is not intended for use while driving. As we all know, distracted driving causes all kinds of accidents, so please, friends, stay focused on the road while driving!
I then realized that this is really the modern-day VHS-in-the-backseat setup. When I have kids and am still rocking the SUV without a screen in the backseat, you’d bet I’ll shamelessly throw Bluey on the front screen for them to watch. Besides entertaining kiddos on trips, The Magic Box can be used for moments where you’re inevitably waiting in the car – think airport cell phone lot, picking the kids up, waiting for your significant other to get in the car, etcetera. There are tons of times we’re waiting around in the car where having a nice, big screen to keep streaming might come in handy.
Magical Features
The creators of The Magic Box thought of way more than just easy streaming when they created it – and even more when they released the 2nd generation of the device. Beyond easy streaming, the device has a lightning-fast CPU, AKA almost no lag time at all when streaming. It also allows you to customize your home screen and toolbar to include only your favorite apps. From a safety perspective, it has a heat dispersion plate built in, which for you means hours of usage, without the risk of overheating. Finally, when the brand continues to iterate, you won’t always have to buy a new device to get the latest and greatest software; they have wireless software updates that’ll seamlessly push to your device as the product continues to improve.
If you just can’t get enough storage, the brand also has a solution for that. While it comes with 64 GB of storage already, you have the easy option to expand your storage with the MicroSD card slot – no nasty subscription for storage increases required.
For folks that want all the benefits of wireless Carplay, but don’t care about the streaming aspect, the brand offers The Magic Link. For a fraction of the price ($99), you can get all the benefits of wireless connectivity to your Apple Car Play. This would make a great (and much more budget-friendly) gift for the techie on your shopping list.
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I’ve Got the Magic in Me
For folks looking to stay connected, The Magic Box 2.0 allows you to keep your streaming going, no matter where life takes you. With innovative features and high performance, The Magic Box 2.0 is sure to bring the magic touch to your car. Happy streaming, friends!
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