Tag Archives: iPad

Review: Apple iPhone 5S

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Every year since 2007, Apple has announced a new iPhone model, and 2013 is no different. However, this year, the Silicon Valley-based company threw the technology world for a twist with the announcement of two new iPhones: the 5S & 5C.

The iPhone 5C; Apple’s new, less-expensive iPhone line, includes 5 different color choices, as well as an all-plastic back-end of the smartphone, which is terrific compared to the iPhone 4’s all-glass back which was prone to frequent scratches & shatters.

Apple introduced the newest member to the iPhone family, the iPhone 5S, on September 10th, 2013, showcasing the new gold/white color option, the new “Touch ID” fingerprint scanner, and the A7 64-bit chip, the redesigned iOS 7, as well as an improved iSight camera.

With all of appthese new features added to the iPhone, is it enough for Apple to keep up it’s domination over the global consumer smartphone market? How does the new iPhone 5S compare to Samsung’s line of Galaxy devices? What about iOS 7? Will it be the downfall of the iPhone?

All of the above questions and more will be answered in my review of Apple’s new iPhone 5S.

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Hardware & Design

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The iPhone 5s has kept to it’s minimalistic iPhone 5 routes, with it’s sleek aluminum-wrapped body, which showcases the beautiful tones of Apple’s three new color finishes: Champagne, Space Grey, or Silver. The unibody back plate of the iPhone 5S is my favorite part of the phone as it is very aesthetically pleasing, sleek, and very, very attractive.

Currently, it is very difficult for consumers to purchase a gold-colored iPhone 5S as it seems that Apple didn’t make enough to meet demand, and some Champagne 5S orders were pushed back up to a month online. (I reviewed a Space Grey iPhone 5S.)

Display

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The 4-inch display on the iPhone 5S sure is a beauty. Compared to other smartphones on the market, personally I still do not think that any other phone come’s close to the iPhone’s vivid, bright, & color-filled Retina Display screen. The only real competitor to the 5S is the Samsung Galaxy S line of smartphones, however holding both side-by-side, the iPhone is more appealing to look at, whether it be because of the sleek hardware & design, or just the Retina Display itself.

 iSight Camera

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The new camera sensor on the iPhone 5S is now 15% bigger, as well as coming with a f /2.2 aperture, which allows more light to come into the 5S sensor to allow for sharper-detailed pictures in lowlight situations. Apple also added a True Tone flash to the 5S’ camera which allows for more accurate color temperature readings.

In iOS 7, Apple announced the “Burst Mode” feature which allows users to take up to 10 frames-per-second, which is truly incredible. I find Burst Mode incredibly useful as you can take as many photos as you want, and the iPhone 5S automatically chooses the shots that it recognizes as “the best” and highlights them on your display (the 5S also allows you to choose your favorite pictures, and groups them all together in one collection as to not clog up your camera roll).

Touch ID

The major selling-point that Apple is pushing for the iPhone 5S is the new fingerprint-security sensor technology that is inside of the home button, named “Touch ID”.

I found Touch ID incredibly easy to set up and start using, and 95% of the times I’ve used it, it works!

The best thing about Touch ID for me was that it forced me to create a passcode lock on my phone; whereas before, on my iPhone 5, I did not have a password simply because it became annoying and troublesome to constantly keep locking/unlocking my phone and entering the passcode over and over again. Now, with Touch ID, it facilitates additional protection to my iPhone against accidental loss or theft.

Another great feature of Touch ID is that instead of typing out your Apple ID password out every time you buy an app, movie, or music, you simply scan your fingerprint on Touch ID and it associate’s your fingerprint to your Apple ID, which is like creating your own password based on your fingerprint – pretty cool!

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 Apple announced iOS 7 on June 10th, 2013 at Apple’s Developer Conference, WWDC. When announced, many were anxious about the new all-white design, and the flatter-based look & feel of the UI.

After using iOS 7 for 3 months, I can definitely say that it is miles ahead of iOS 6 and I cannot imagine going back for any reason. I love the new UI & flat-icon based look as I think it is simpler and cleaner than before. Also coming in iOS 7 are some different and new features, such as Control Center, which allows for easy toggling on and off of Wifi, Bluetooth, Flashlights, etc., as well as Airdrop, and iTunes Radio, which is insanely easy to use and it’s excellent for finding new music and artists.

Overall

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Is this the “Phone of 2013”? Absolutely yes. It blows any Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone out of the water on all levels, from camera, all the way to battery life. Touch ID and the additions to the iSight camera have pushed the iPhone 5S past it’s competitors in deeper in the world consumer smartphone market. I recommend the iPhone 5S to business professionals, students of all ages, and anyone who is looking for a top quality smartphone. Before you buy, I recommend going to an Apple Store and playing around with the 5S as well, just to see how incredible this device actually is for yourself.

The iPhone 5S comes in three different color options: Champagne Gold, Space Grey, and Silver/White. The 5S also comes in 16 GB, 32 GB, & 64 GB storage sizes. It is available on Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint carriers for the US.

You can read more about and purchase the iPhone 5S on Apple’s website.

Review: CalypsoCrystal Dune CrystalDock

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Calypso Crystal is a company that is all about luxury, style, and cutting edge. The CrystalDock definitely shows all of the above mentioned qualities and much, much more. However, can it compete with the technology powered iHome docks? Is it really worth the extra money?

All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the Dune CrystalDock by Calypso Crystal.

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The Dune CrystalDock is all about elegance, luxury, and simplicity, from how the dock is made precisely hand-cut to create asymmetric waves, and then polished to achieve a crystalline shine that sparkles in the sunlight, to the way the dock can be used, as a charging station for your iPhone 4, 4S, 3GS, or 3G.

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The Dune CrystalDock does not yet support the iPhone 5 and it’s new Lightning charger design, but CalypsoCrystal has announced that they are working on a iPhone 5/Lightning version that will be coming out soon.

The lines carved into the Dune CrystalDock are incredibly detailed and very alluring to the eye. The crystal used in the Dune is of very high quality, and is sleek and luxurious enough to be found in a office or library, yet simple enough to be used on a kitchen counter to charge your iPhone. The dock is extremely sophisticated and would complement any executive’s desk or bedside table.

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I appreciate how sleek and functional the dock is as well, with a well-thought-out slot in the back of the Dune for your charging Apple iPhone charging cable, as well as it only weighing in at just 350 grams, it is light, yet portable enough to carry with you wherever you go.

I highly recommend purchasing the Calypso Crystal Dune CrystalDock for the iPhone 4/3 models as it is luxurious, yet sophisticated. You can read more about and purchase the CrystalDock or any other of Calypso Crystal’s incredible products on their ****website. The CrystalDock starts at $119 and the most expensive is $349.

Make sure to check out my gallery below for more awesome HD shots of the Dune CrystalDock.

Review: LifeProof frē for iPhone 5

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When I reviewed the iPhone 5, I couldn’t stop talking about the new innovative design and larger screen size. That said, the iPhone 5 (like any other iPhone) is very easy to break or smash, so you need to invest in researching and buying for a good case. Enter, the new LifeProof frē case for iPhone 5.

Like the original LifeProof case for the iPhone 4/4S (my review here), the new LifeProof frē protects your precious iPhone from all sorts of weather/danger hazards like water,dirt,snow,dust, and shock. The frë also boasts a brand new thinner design, coming in at 0.5” thin & 5.4” long, as well as a much-needed audio sound enhancement for the speakers.

Can the frē live up to its predecessor and still be used on your iPhone? How does it compare to Otterbox’s Armor series of cases? Is it really worth $79.99 for an iPhone case? All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the LifeProof frē iPhone 5 case.

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As soon as you take a look at the new LifeProof frē, the first thing that will catch your eye is the new contemporary design. LifeProof totally went back to the drawing board and thought up a slew of fresh new takes on the frē case, starting with the back of the iPhone accessory with a clear back window that allows the Apple logo to be displayed in all of its glory.

The frē for iPhone 5 has completely re-engineered speakers to deliver maximum acoustic output and sound quality. From booming, deep bass to pin-dropping whispers, the new Sound Enhancement System on the frē works and sounds a million times better than its precursor case for iPhone 4/4S.

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As for protecting your iPhone, you can’t get any better than the frē. LifeProof tests all of their LifeProof line accessories to be up to standard with all military specifications (Military Standard 810F-516), which keeps the case strong and durable under any stressful conditions.

I have fervently tested the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 Case with multitude of different trials and experiments, from dropping the frē from varying heights, to going for a swim with my iPhone, the frē case has passed all of my testings with flying colors (something that is not easy to do).

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Overall, I would highly recommend the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 case to anyone that uses their iPhone in places where it can become easily broken or damaged, like working in construction or fishermen. The LifeProof frē can also be used for people like me, who want to have the best protection for their precious investment of an iPhone 5.

Compared to Otterbox’s $100 Armor Series, the $79.99 LifeProof frē completely outshines the Armor Series cases in design, functionality, as well as customer support. Plus, who doesn’t love saving money?!

The LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 is the perfect case for protecting your fifth-generation iPhone from all sorts of possible danger, while still maintaining the phone’s sleek design and form factor. You can read more about the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 on LifeProof’s website and purchase the accessory here.

Review: Apple iPad Mini

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The iPad Mini – a device that has been rumored since the original iPad was announced in 2010 – is finally here. With it, comes some new features and tricks like the newly updated 7.9 inch display, Apple’s A5 chip, and the 5 megapixel back camera, to name a few.

Can this new iPad beat out the Kindle Fire HD or the Google Nexus 7?

How is the new iPad Mini compared to the iPad?

Which iPad should I get?

All of these questions will be answered and more in my review of the Apple iPad Mini.

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Hardware

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The iPad Mini is available in 2 color options, White & Silver or Black & Slate and it comes in 3 storage options: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. I reviewed the Black & Slate 64GB model.

The iPad Mini screams through web-browsing, playing games, & checking your emails. I experienced no lag at all, which is very impressive, especially with the new, smaller form-factor. The Apple-made A5 chip is the same processor that’s used in the iPhone 4S & iPad 2, which allows the Mini to cruise through everyday tasks, but for hard-core gamers, I would recommend checking out Apple’s new iPad with Retina Display.

The cameras on the iPad Mini are perfect for FaceTiming with friends and family, with the front-facing camera having a 1.2 MP sensor with HD video recording capabilities and the back camera having 5 MP and 1080p HD video recording. If your into taking and sharing pictures for Instagram or Facebook, it might be better to use your iPhone or smartphone as the iPad Mini’s back camera is considerably weaker than the iPhone 5’s 8 MP camera.

Apple created the iPad Mini mainly for people who are constantly on the go, plus the younger set too! The new display size is definitely more portable coming in at 7.9 inches compared to the iPad’s 9.7 inch Retina display. The iPad Mini’s display may not be “Retina” like it’s sister, the iPad, but because of the smaller display size, text & pictures look very sharp and crisp on the Mini’s display.

Software

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Apple’s iOS software has kept getting better and better each year. Now with the release of iOS 6 this past fall, it is even better. iOS is all based on simplicity and functionality, while still keeping a beautiful user interface.

The iPad Mini comes with Siri, Apple’s new personal assistant, which allows you to ask anything from where to go for dinner or what the score was of the New York Jets latest game, all by talker to “her”. Sometimes Siri isn’t always on par though, and every so often she misunderstands a word or statement, but it’s easy to correct by tapping on the text that you entered and editing using the on-screen keyboard. In most of my testing however, Siri always handled my requests readily with few mistakes.

Also coming pre-loaded on the iPad Mini is FaceTime capabilities, Apple Maps, and iMessage, which adds more great features to the iPad Mini.

FaceTime is a great way to connect with friends and family using the front-facing camera. FaceTime works wherever there’s Wifi available and it uses the front and back facing cameras. Using the app is very simple, and after a few clicks, you’ll be talking with friends and loved ones in no time.

Apple Maps has received a lot of bad coverage in the media over leading users to the wrong addresses or places, but Apple has released a PR announcement saying that they know this is something to work on, and they are putting a lot of effort into making this a better feature in iOS 6. In my testing, all of my Maps navigations correctly led me to the right locations.

iMessage is another way to connect with friends and family over Wifi. You can iMessage anyone that has an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, once you set up your Apple ID your good to go!

Overall

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Overall, the iPad Mini is great for people on the go, or for students who need to write notes and read textbooks. The iPad Mini is super-fast, crystal-clear, and has over 275,000 iPad apps on the App Store at your fingertips. If you are a hard-core gamer or are a professional photographer who might need better graphics or the Retina Display, then I suggest looking at a regular iPad.

The iPad Mini is available from Apple.com starting at $329 USD.

Review: Dock Artisan Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker & Redwood iPhone 4/4S Dock

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I’ve always been intrigued by combining old & new products together, so when I stumbled upon Dock Artisan’s website, I was very interested!

Dock Artisan is a small audio company based out of Murphys, California that creates beautiful iPhone and iPad docks out of re-claimed wood. All of their docks and speaker systems are truly a work of art.

The Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System

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Dock Artisan’s Bamboo Bluetooth speaker is an incredible piece of technology merging together bamboo with high-tech Bluetooth technology to allow audio streaming on your Bluetooth-compatible tablet or phone anywhere, anytime.

The construction and materials used in the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker are of very high quality and in my week of rigorous testing, I hadn’t noticed any scratches or dents, which is pretty impressive considering all of my tests.

The bamboo wood used in the Bluetooth Speaker is California locally grown bamboo, which adds a unique touch to each speaker system, meaning no two speakers are alike.

Pairing the dock with Bluetooth was very simple, just turn on your speaker and Bluetooth on your phone or tablet, and you’ll be connected in no time! The Bamboo Speaker System can stream audio wirelessly up to 30-feet, which isn’t bad for a Bluetooth speaker system.

The quality of the music being streamed from my phone was on and off. It works great if you leave the iPhone very close to the speaker unit, but as you begin to your phone away, the quality of the audio noticeably decreases.

Overall, the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System from Dock Artisan is a very solid product and it truly is a work of art. That said, the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker doesn’t compare to the newer, cheaper Bluetooth speakers available on the market today in terms of sound quality.

I would recommend the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System to anyone that loves to listen to music and wants to have a beautiful piece of art that can stream that music wirelessly. The Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System is available from Dock Artisan’s website starting at $250 USD.

The Redwood iPhone 4 Dock

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The Redwood iPhone 4 Dock from Dock Artisan is, as you can expect from my previous review, of very high quality materials and style. The wood used in this Redwood iPhone dock is from Sierra Nevada Mountains. Every year, storms come through these mountains and blow over trees and break their limbs, Dock Artisan gives these trees new life through these exquisite iPhone docks and speakers.

The sound quality on the Redwood iPhone Dock is crystal clear and I didn’t have any problems with the device. Bass came out very deep and all notes played true, which is pretty incredible coming from these famous trees!

The dock can be controlled via remote control, but the best feature about this dock is that once fully charged, music can be played cordless for up to 8 hours, a nice feature for people who are on the go!

Overall, the Redwood iPhone 4/4S Dock is a beautiful piece of art just like the iPhone itself. With the exceptional design, crystal-clear sound quality, and the ease of use on the go, I would recommend this dock to people who have a keen eye for design, but still seek functionality in their mobile products.

You can read more about and purchase the Redwood iPhone 4/4S dock for $200 USD on Dock Artisan’s site here.

Review: Apple iPhone 5

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The Apple iPhone 5 – a smartphone that has been rumored, wished, and talked about – is finally here and it’s packing a huge punch with a brand new A6 processor, bigger screen, new design, and super fast 4G LTE. Not a bad upgrade from the iPhone 4S!

Apple is one of the leading tech companies all around the world, with their vast product line of Macs, iPods, iPhones, & displays. Every year, there is always that one must-have smartphone and most of the time, Apple’s iPhone is that particular device.

Can this new iPhone 5 keep up that must-have smartphone standard? Is it that much better than the iPhone 4/4S to warrant an upgrade? Is 4G LTE that much faster than 3G? All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the Apple iPhone 5 below.

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Design
Apple has always been known for their unique sense of design and in particular, their design used on the iPhone 4 & 4S smartphones. The iPhone 4/4S had people from all around the world ranting and raving about the sleek, glass and aluminum combination of the smartphones. These Apple devices set a standard for smartphone manufacturers to not only release high-quality products, but high-quality products with a great design and the new iPhone 5’s design takes Apple quality to a new level of craftsmanship.

Apple added a bigger screen to the iPhone 5 coming in at 4 inches (9 millimeters taller than the iPhone 4/4S). The iPhone 5 is the same width as the iPhone 4/4S, so typing with one hand is just as easy. With this added screen real-estate, the iPhone 5 also has 18% more pixels than the iPhone 4S for an impressive 1136-by-640 resolution, which makes playing games, watching movies, and even checking email, a vivid, visual delight! The color has also received a boost compared to previous iPhone models with a color saturation that is 44% greater than before.

The Apple new smartphone is just 7.6 millimeters thin and weighs in at 3.95 ounces, which despite the iPhone 5’s added screen size, makes the phone feel very thin & light in the hand; without feeling cheap or inexpensive. The iPhone 5 is 18% thinner, 20% lighter, and there is 12% less volume than the iPhone 4S.

Apple introduced a new design with the iPhone 5 as well, as the back of iPhone 5 is made of anodized 6000 series aluminum (same material used in Apple Macs) with the inlays along the top and bottom made of ceramic glass (white & silver model) or pigmented glass (black & slate model). This new design for the iPhone 5 makes it an even more beautiful device to look at and it truly is a work-of-art.

Hardware


The iPhone 5 is a beast of a smartphone, complete with 4G LTE, a blazing fast new A6 processor, and well as an 8 megapixel iSight camera on the back & an 1.2 megapixel FaceTime-ready HD webcam on the front.

The new A6 processor on the iPhone 5 makes almost everything faster. Opening apps, multitasking, editing movies or music, or creating Keynote projects, is now a breeze; without any lagging or hesitation. You might not think that the A6 processor does much on paper, but when you get your hands on an iPhone 5, you’ll realize how important it is for everyday things.

I reviewed an iPhone 5 running on Verizon’s 4G LTE network, which is one, if not THE fastest data network for a US mobile phone carrier. Downloading apps, movies, & music was very quick and again, it is a massive improvement over the 3G network that the 4S and iPhone 4 run on.

I didn’t really notice that much of a difference between the camera on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. What I did notice was a huge difference in the photo quality of the front camera on the iPhone 5 compared to previous generations, however. Photos using the front camera were much clearer and less pixel-y than before, which is perfect for people who enjoy taking pictures of themselves or FaceTiming friends & family.

Software


The software that is shipping with the iPhone 5 is Apple’s brand new iOS 6, which was announced at WWDC 2012 back in June and was released to the public on September 19th.

iOS 6 isn’t as much as a revolutionary software update as iOS 4/5 were, but is more geared to tweaking and creating a better user experience around all iOS devices. Some of the new features include; updated UI (from grey to light blue/silver) in the standard Apple apps, Passbook, Do Not Disturb, brand new Maps, Facebook integration, FaceTime over 3G/4G LTE, new emojis 🙂 (LOL), and many more updates as well.

Passbook is an app that allows you to save boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, loyalty cards, and more are now all in one place. You can add passes to Passbook through apps, emails, & website from participating businesses. It’s a great idea and I love using it with my gift cards, as I don’t have to go digging through my car’s pockets to find my gift card. Passbook will also send you push notifications when you arrive at a location that you have a Passbook pass for, which is very handy if your at the airport or walk into a store to redeem your favorite gift cards!

Do Not Disturb has to be my most used feature on iOS 6. Do Not Disturb allows push notifications to come through to your phone, but when the notifications come in, the screen will not turn on and a sound will not be played. However, when you turn the screen back on, all your notifications will be waiting on your lock screen. I use Do Not Disturb regularly! Another great feature about Do Not Disturb is that you can allow your “Favorites” calls and text messages to come through normally but still collect other notifications not set as your Favorites in the lock screen.

Apple has redesigned their Maps application from the ground up, which means they have completely gotten rid of their Google-hosted maps, which is a good and bad thing. The good is that it looks stunning, but the new Maps app isn’t as updated as the Google Maps with driving directions and correct locations. Also added in the new Maps app, is visual and spoken turn-by-turn directions as well as real-time traffic updates.

Overall, the new iOS 6 software isn’t REvolutionary but more EVolutionary. With all these new features and tweaks, it makes using the iPhone 5 even easier & faster than before. Every year, Apple makes its iOS software even better, and this year is not any different.

Overall


The new iPhone 5 is a beast of a device – with the new design, upgraded hardware, bigger & brighter screen, faster 4G LTE speeds, and new iOS 6 software, the iPhone 5 has yet again set the smartphone bar very high for competing mobile phone manufacturers.

The iPhone 5 is available in two colors: Black & Slate, or White & Silver. Prices for the iPhone 5 on a cellular contract are 16 GB ($199), 32 GB ($299), and 64 GB ($399).

The new iPhone 5 is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint.

You can read more about and purchase the iPhone 5 on Apple’s website.

Review: LifeProof Case for iPhone 4/4S

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Are you one of those people who like to tweet in the shower? How about Facebook in the bathtub? Taking pictures in the pool? There are tons of reasons, weird and not, why people would want to do these things, and that’s where the LifeProof iPhone case comes in.

A little about LifeProof:

LifeProof is a young, vibrant company based in San Diego that designs, manufactures and markets LifeProof cases for all-environmental protection, functionality and interactivity to SmartPhones and Tablet PCs.

The registered brand name ‘LifeProof’ is inspired by the protection and fully functional convenient operation of the device in rain, in water while swimming or surfing, in mud, sand, dust, snow or ice. The company mantra is ‘Freedom’ – freedom to be connected anywhere with your mobile device; freedom to build relationships, gain knowledge, exercise, and juggle work; freedom for all people anywhere to go everywhere.

So can this LifeProof case really protect your iPhone from all these elements? To find out, keep reading my review of the LifeProof case for iPhone!

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Quality

The LifeProof case is made out of very durable, hard plastic, that will protect your precious iPhone from scratches, drops, and more. All of the materials used in the LifeProof case are of very high-quality, and your paying for it. After my two weeks of testing the LifeProof case, I saw no signs of deterioration, scratches, or any of the color chipping or rubbing off, something that I feel is pretty incredible after all the torturous things I put the LifeProof case through. (If you don’t believe me, look at the image gallery.)

Usability/Design

Usually adding this much protection in one case makes your iPhone very bulky and heavy, but the LifeProof case manages to keep a sleek-profile by adding only 1/16 inches (1.5mm) to your iPhone.

The LifeProof case is also very light, weighing in at 28 grams, so you don’t have to worry about it adding any extra weight to your iPhone. Also, the LifeProof case is available in 4 unique colors; Black, White, Pink, & Purple.

The designers at LifeProof did an excellent job creating the LifeProof case as well, by adding slots for the charging port as well as the headphone jack at the top of the iPhone. Also on the back, the designers did a great job with the camera by making sure that it was very protected while taking away from the clarity of the 4S’ 8 megapixel and new optics.

Protection

This is the main thing that everyone cares about for the LifeProof case. Can it protect your iPhone if you drop it? What about going underwater? What happens if you run it over?

LifeProof has run many tests on their new LifeProof case (videos here), and so have I, and I can whole-heartedly say that the LifeProof case is a tank of a iPhone case.

LifeProof states on their website that the LifeProof case “has a unique design that makes it waterproof to a rated depth of 2 Meters (6.6ft)”, and I tested that thoroughly and I can prove this statement true, having submerged my iPhone many times in pools, bath-tubs, sinks, coolers, etc… and each time my iPhone came out of the LifeProof case dry as a bone.

LifeProof also states on their website that the LifeProof case “is designed for a high degree of shock and impact protection and has been tested to Military Specifications MIL-STD-810F-516.5. Meaning that it can be dropped on all surfaces and edges onto concrete from a height of 2 meters (or 6.6ft).” I can also say this statement is true and more so, as I have dropped my iPhone from greater distances and it came out of the LifeProof case perfectly fine.

Overall

Right now this is THE iPhone case to beat in terms of protection, functionality, and design. LifeProof has done an amazing job in creating their first product and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. You can read more about the LifeProof case and purchase it on LifeProof’s company website here.

Review: Puurco iPhone Wallet Case

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I love using my iPhone without anything on it. Who doesn’t? But to keep your iPhone protected from scratches, dents, or accidental drops, you might want to look into buying a sleeve or case for your precious iDevice, and that’s where the Puurco iPhone Wallet Case comes in to play!

A little about Puurco:

PuurCo is a European label for handmade sleeves and bags for your electronic devices. It was founded by Susan and Martin in the beautiful city of Prague, in the heart of Europe, in 2012.

The history and tradition of the Czech Republic has inspired them to make quality, handmade products from natural materials. Due to the time-consuming handmade process, though, their production is limited.

Want to know if the Puurco iPhone Case is the answer to all your “iPhone Accessory Dreams”? Keep on reading my review to find out!

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Style / Design

Made from a combination of anthracite 100% Merino wool felt from Germany and high quality leather, the Purrco iPhone case feels and looks great in your hand or pocket. Also, the credit-card-pocket is made from high quality 100% vegetable-tanned leather and hand-stitched to base, which gives it a very soft and elegant touch.

Usability

The iPhone 4 and 4S have a spectacular design and who would want to cover that up with a big, bulky case? A lot of people wouldn’t (myself included), and that’s where Puurco iPhone Case comes into play.

Using the Purrco iPhone Wallet Case on your iPhone is the best of both worlds – you protect your iPhone from getting scratched, dented, or dinged when you’re not using it, but when you are, you still get the amazing feel and look of the iPhone itself. Another great thing about the Puurco Wallet case is that it is super easy to fit into pocketbooks, purses, man-purses, pockets, or even briefcases!

It’s super easy to get your iPhone out of the Wallet Case, just pull the top half of your phone, and it slides right out of the case. No confusing pulley systems or flaps on this iPhone case!

Overall

Overall, the Puurco iPhone Wallet Case is an amazing sleeve for your iPhone. It looks stylish and sophisticated all while protecting your iPhone whenever you’re not using it.

Another great feature about the Purrco iPhone case is that it also has a wallet, so you can carry around your money, credit cards, hotel room keys, or frequent-Froyo-customer cards.

If you want to purchase or read more about the Puurco iPhone case, you can do all of  that on Puurco’s website.

Review: Boxwave KeyboardBuddy iPhone Case

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Millions of people are very happy with Apple’s on-screen virtual keyboard, but many still desire a tactile response only a physical keypad can provide. Apple has stated in the past that it sees no point in adding a hardware QWERTY keyboard onto the iPhone, but the company goes back and forth so many times with iOS products that no one knows what to believe.

Knowing this, BoxWave thought of a way to use the iPhone’s Bluetooth technology and build a case that had a physical QWERTY keyboard. It’s great for people who want Apple to add a QWERTY to the iPhone, but will it lure over virtual-keyboard-users over? How is it compared to the other Bluetooth Keyboard Cases for the iPhone? I’ll answer all of these questions and more in my review of the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy case for iPhone 4 & 4S.

Design

Design wise, the Keyboard Buddy is very sleek, especially considering that it adds a full hardware keyboard to the back of the device. The sliding mechanism is very solid, and there’s an enthusiastic click as you open and close it. It’s reminiscent of the slider on a device like the T-Mobile Sidekick – and that’s a good thing!

There’s also more than enough room to hit the top row of number keys, something other sliding cases often have trouble with. It charges via miniUSB, and BoxWave claims you should be able to go a huge 45 days without having to re-charge. The whole kit has a matte white, soft touch finish that adds a nice grip to the all-glass iPhone. Pairing the Keyboard buddy was an uneventful affair; the BoxWave was up and running in about 30 seconds after typing in a passcode. That’s when I could start putting this thing to the test!

Keyboard

The actual keyboard on the Keyboard Buddy is very similar to the one found on the Droid 2 or 3. Keys are laid out edge-to-edge, and there’s a decent amount of give with each click. The space bar is perfectly placed in the center of the keyboard, unlike some of the other Bluetooth keyboards on the market today. There’s a home key on the top left as well as a lock key right below it, two nice touches for sure.

It’s important to point out that when you choose to use a physical keyboard with your iOS devices, you lose all autocorrect functionality. I longed for things like automatic capitalization of “i” for example, and wish that it would automatically add apostrophes to words. Hopefully this is something Apple could enable as an option in a future version of iOS.

Overall

Overall, the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy case is an excellent option for BlackBerry users wanting to switch to the iPhone but not wanting to sacrifice their physical keyboards, as well as for older iOS users who have trouble seeing the letters on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard and like the satisfying click of a button when using a physical keyboard. I can type faster on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard, but I do like using the KeyboardBuddy to type out long emails or blog posts when I’m on my iPhone. You can read more about the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy and purchase it here.

Full gallery below:

Review: Olloclip lens for iPhone

Posted on by under Reviews

Designed by a startup duo in California, the Olloclip was a project successfully funded by Kickstarter.com. The accessory brings the functionality of three lenses to your iPhone 4 or 4S, macro, fish-eye, and wide-angle, and it almost does that well enough for you to leave the professional equipment at home! I had a blast shooting with the Olloclip, and I think you will too. Read on in my review of the Olloclip to find out why!

Usability

The Olloclip is very easy to use. You don’t need to install any software, though it’s compatible with any and all iPhone apps. And mounting or swapping lenses just takes a second. I also want to point out that using the wide-angle lens for shooting video was a completely different experience than without the lens. When shooting video, you can definitely see what you’re missing when shooting without the Olloclip. (See video and image samples below)

Appearance

At first glance, the Olloclip only appears to include two lenses, but unscrewing the wide-angle reveals the cleverly hidden macro lens. To use any of the built-in lenses, simply slide the Olloclip over the iPhone’s camera. The Olloclip fits quite snug, so you can rotate the phone, walk around, and even slip your phone into a bag without worrying about the lens slipping off. It’s also easy to reposition — to swap the wide-angle for the fisheye, for example, just flip the entire clip around so that the lens you want to use is facing forward.

The Olloclip comes with lens caps for both primary lenses, and a small carrying pouch that also doubles as a microfiber cleaning cloth. The device is available with either black or red barrels – both constructed from high-quality aluminum. The multi-element lenses are constructed of precision-ground glass, and that’s clearly reflected in the image quality I was able to achieve.

Image Quality
Pictures I shot with all three lenses were sharp and vibrant, and very distinctive from those captured with the iPhone’s native lens. Some pictures had barrel distortions, but for the fish-eye lens, that’s the point right?

I was most impressed with the macro lens, which basically functions as a powerful magnifying glass for your iPhone. I was able to capture incredible detail with this lens. This point alone is enough to justify the expense of adding the Olloclip!

Sample Pictures

Overall

Overall, the Olloclip gives the iPhone’s camera a much-needed lift with three filters and fun effects. I’d especially recommend it for both professional and novice photographers who love adding effects to their photos while keep the quality of their images very high. You can read more about and purchase the Olloclip here.