Reviews by The Church of Apple

Category: Product Review

  • Maroo Drogo iPad Case Review

    The Maroo Drogo iPad Case is a leather iPad case. It is has a twist to it’s design. There is a cool dragon design on the case designed to celebrate the year of the dragon. The case is available from Maroo for $99.99. Let’s see if this investment of a case is the right case for you.

    Form

    Let it be clear, this is real leather. That may be what is driving up the price of the case but the fact that it is real leather is appreciated since real leather makes a very strong case. One of the things that caught my attention with this case is it’s neat design. You would have to see it yourself to appreciate it as I am certain that I could entice you with my descriptions of it. What I will tell you is that the design is that of a dragon in order to celebrate the year of the dragon. It’s main black color and yellow trimmings, however, give more of an impression of a Japanese ninja bike. No doubt about it though, this case has a great design, better than what I have seen in any other case so far. In addition, the case is made sturdy and well. The craftsmanship on this case is stunning. The iPad is held in by a tough silicon piece surrounded by yellow leather. The case also has a strap inside so you can strap the iPad to your hand. In addition to that, it has two pockets. One to put a credit card or two in and the second to perhaps store some papers. Don’t expect this case to be light, the leather with the silicon holder adds weight, and thickness. This is not without a return though. The added thickness protects the iPad very well. All in all, the case has strong aesthetics.

    Function

    As I mentioned, the case is strong and it will protect your iPad. There is no doubt in my mind that this case will protect your iPad well. The case also has a good stand. It can be put in the standard keyboard position or the viewing position. The case has easy access to all ports and does not block any of the cameras. I appreciate that the case has the pockets that it has for storage of notes and cards. The case has the magnet attachment that we have come to know and love since the introduction of the iPad 2 and the SmartCover. However, the magnets on it are weak and the case is too easily opened. The solution to this on the case is using the provided straps. These, however, are a hindrance and I personally do not use them. The problem with the case accidentally opening due to the weak magnets is the fact that when opened, the iPad will turn on and waste battery. Therefore, it is my recommendation when using this case to put the auto lock on 5 minutes if you are someone who has their setting on “Never auto lock” like myself. The price of this case is definitely a deterrent from buying this case though. The case is real leather and does protect the iPad well but $99 is a lot to spend on a case. The case does have it’s upsides and downsides but overall it is a good case.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great design
    -Real leather
    -iPad is held firmly in place
    -iPad is well protected in the case.
    -The stand works well as it should

    Cons

    -Weak magnets
    -Straps provided to hold the case closed are a hindrance
    -Expensive

    Ways to improve

    The thing I would do to improve the case is to add stronger magnets since the ones in the case now are too weak to reach the magnets in the iPad due to the thickness of the case blocking it. The price is something that they may need reevaluate too.

    To conclude, this case is a strong one. It will protect your iPad and the design of the case is something to marvel at. There are a few main cons to this case like the magnets and the price. This case receives four stars from me.

    Also, please check out the following sites for Maroo. I was requested by Maroo to put these links.

    http://www.facebook.com/maroolifestyle
    http://www.twitter.com/maroolifestyle
    http://www.youtube.com/tvmaroo

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images courtesy: Maroo

  • RooCase Origami Dual-View Folio for iPad mini

    The RooCase Origami Dual-View Leather Folio for iPad mini is exactly what it’s name implies. It is a case for the iPad mini and a nice one at that. The case is only $9.90 at Amazon. Let’s see if this cheap in price case is cheap in quality or not.

    Form

    This case actually is very nice on the aesthetic side. The case is pretty solid. The front cover folds into different origami styles for different ways to stand the case. I really like this feature as it adds more possibilities for stands than the standard bifold or trifold cases have. The case is made in five colors, all leather. It is made in black, red, green, purple and pink all of which seem like great colors. The case is pretty solid in terms of structure and it is made well. There is definitely well-done craftsmanship on this case. The case allows for easy access to all the ports. The camera, also, is not blocked. In addition, there is a small flap that is on the case that you can put your stylus on. This definitely comes in handy for people who keep a stylus for their iPad with them. The quality of this case reminds me of the iPad cases that Snugg sells. Aesthetically, it’s one of the better cases I have reviewed.

    Function

    I am not usually a fan of folio cases. They have been too thin to provide any protection for my iPad. This case is an exception to that rule. Despite it being light, this case is very protective. It is hard cased enough to protect your device while still keeping it light. Another thing I like about the case is the unique origami stand. The stand allows for 4-5 different viewing angles, handy for typing or watching. Of course, the best angle is to hold the iPad yourself and the case makes it quite comfortable to hold. In addition, I appreciate the slot for a stylus as I do use one sometimes. I feel as though this case is a great value for the money.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Solid Case
    -Great, unique stand
    -Slot for stylus
    -Cheaply priced but not cheaply made

    Cons

    -None

    How to Improve

    At this time, I see no reason to make any changes for improvement.

    This is a great case and for less than $10, you can not go wrong. If you have an iPad mini, even if you already have a case, get this one. It is on sale for $9.90 at Amazon from it’s listing price of $49.99. Five stars for a great case and a great price.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • EagleTech Foldable Bluetooth Headset

    UPDATE: Do you want to win up to $3000 worth of free stuff from EagleTech?! EagleTech and Warner Brothers Studios have teamed up to help promote WB Studios’ new movie Getaway. Go here: http://www.eagletechusa.com/getaway/for more details on how you can win!

    The EagleTech Foldable Bluetooth Headset is a wireless headset designed to be intuitive with your mobile device, namely the iPhone. You can listen to music with it’s great sounding over the ear speakers or you can take calls with it as well. You won’t need to pull out your phone to change the song, there are controls on the headset itself that do that for you. The EagleTech Bluetooth Headset is available from Amazon for $49.99. Let’s see if these are the headphones for you.

    Form

    The first thing the struck me about the headphones was that they were actually nice looking. I have seen Beats before and I am not a fan of how they look and I am a fan of how these look. The one’s I received have a black outside and red detail on the inside as well as on the sides. Another thing I noticed when I put them on was how light they were. These headphones are so light, you’ll forget that you even have them on. In addition, the headphones are constructed fairly well. I like the chrome feel on the headphones and I like the feel of the foam on my ears. It feels comfortable to wear. The headphones are foldable which allows for good portability. The controls on the headphones are well placed as well. One thing I am not a fan of in terms of aesthetics is the metal piece that extends the earphones is a bit cheap. I would have liked to have seen it a bit more better made but the aesthetic of the rest of the earphones more than make up for it. Overall, for the money they are nice looking headphones.

    Function

    The sound quality is really what we are after here. These headphones deliver more sound quality than a lot of headphones that I have seen that were more expensive. The headphones have clear sound that makes you keep them on for a long time. Despite them being Bluetooth, which is notorious for dropping the connection for a second and thus resulting in a drop in music for a second, these headphones do not have those problems. I have never once heard it drop the sound. That is excellent bluetooth quality. In addition, these headphones have easy access to controls on the right side. You can pause, play, change the volume and change the music with the 5 buttons on the side. It takes a little time to learn where they are without looking at them but you’ll get the hang of it and learn the controls with a breeze. The left side has an indicator for how much battery it has remaining. Unless you don’t charge the headphones overnight, this won’t need to be checked. The battery will last you the whole day. As a matter of fact, you can play music or talk on your phone all day and it will still have charge remaining. In addition, a cool feature is that you can check the battery right on your phone. When attached via bluetooth, there is a battery indicator on the menu bar on the device so you have quick access to the battery level of your headphones should you need to check it. Charge it overnight and your headphones will last longer than your phone! In addition, the quality of a call is very good with the headphones, I have had no problems with them in terms of hearing the other person and them hearing me. Also, the headphones come with a carrying case so it won’t get damaged or dirty when you aren’t using it. There is not a thing I can find that I don’t like about these headphones. These are probably the best consumer wireless headphones on the market for the price.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong aesthetic
    -Comfortable to wear
    -Great sound
    -Doesn’t drop the bluetooth connection
    -Battery indicators on the headphones and on the device
    -Long charge
    -Great call quality
    -Carrying case
    -Great price

    Cons

    -The metal in the inside of the headphones is not as solid as I would like it to be (this is some serious nitpicking here)

    How to Improve

    Not a whole lot to improve here. I don’t think they should increase the thickness of the metal aforementioned since it increase the weight and I would rather them not add much weight. Therefore, there are no suggestions for improvement.

    This headset is probably the best headset in it’s price range. I have taken a liking of wireless headphones due to lack of a need for wires and these headphones are great and there is no way I could not give it 5 stars. Great job EagleTech.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: EagleTech

  • IK Multimedia iRig Stomp

    The IK Multimedia iRig Stomp is a pedal that allows you to use the pedal effects on your iOS device. Of course, this isn’t just a standard guitar pedal. This device may be the size of a guitar pedal but it stores many “pedals” in it. The iRig Stomp is available for $59.99 direct from IK Multimedia. Let’s see if it is the more-than-a-guitar-pedal guitar pedal for you.

    Form

    The iRig Stomp is a small device. It will blend in with the other guitar pedals in your collection. The iRig Stomp is a solid piece of equipment as it is made well. All the necessary ports are accessible easily and are not cheaply made. The cords you receive with the iRig Stomp are not the best but they are certainly proficient enough to do the job well. In addition, the button and the volume wheel are made well. I can not guarantee that this device will not break if dropped but the chances are very slim. It is very lightweight, some could argue that it is lighter than actual guitar pedals. In short, the iRig Stomp is great aesthetically. Let’s see how it performs in it’s function.

    Function

    The iRig Stomp has many features that would make any guitarist go “wow”. The first thing I noticed about the iRig Stomp was that it was easy to set up. Plug in the speakers (or the amp), guitar and iOS device, press the on/bypass button, open any AmpliTube app and you are ready to go. You can attach other pedals when you are playing the iRig equipped guitar through an amp but why will you need those pedals now that you have the iRig Stomp? The apps included (Amplitube apps, some paid, some free) are some of the best apps for this product and would be the best for any product similar to this one. The diversity of different virtual pedals, amps and other sounds is striking. The easiest thing to do when playing or if you are at a gig is to put it on a not-included iKlip since you can attach your iOS device to a stand and you can use both hands on the guitar while changing the sound with an occasional free hand. And with custom presets you can make and save yourself, that should be easy. For any genre of music, it is prepared to play better than any other single pedal. You could get away with not using any other pedal easily. You could just bring this device, your phone, your guitar and cords. Also, the device, despite using a notoriously draining 9 watt battery, actually holds battery for a long time. Here’s a big one, the device’s app can record your playing, reducing the need for a recording studio for amateur players.

    There is a bad side to the product though. The sound quality of the iRig is not as good when not driven with the Sound Filter in the app. I plugged it into a few amps and a few sets of speakers and I get static. This static instantly goes away with the Sound Filter. You may be asking why this is a bad thing, if all you do is just use the Sound Filter. Well, in the Amplitube application, you have four slots for pedals. This Sound Filter, which I feel is mandatory if you want a clean sound, uses one of the slots, leaving you with three slots for other “pedals”. I should be able to have all four slots available for “pedals” and have a clean sound instead of using one of my slots for something I shouldn’t have to. However, despite this flaw, this pedal is the best value for the money for ANY pedal, hands down due to it’s flexibility of effects.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong body and strong aesthetics
    -Plug in and play
    -Ability to record
    -Ability to attach additional pedals
    -Ability to replace your pedals
    -Great software to go with it
    -Battery holds great charge
    -Only pedal you will need for a gig
    -Best value for the money

    Cons

    -Have to have the Sound Filter on. This takes up a “pedal” space that I shouldn’t have to use

    Ways to Improve

    The only thing to improve is to fix a software problem. I think this can be solved by putting the sound filter in the settings, so people can manage the filter there and be able to use the fourth slot for a “pedal”.

    This is one great product. I believe that this could be the pedal that could replace most if not all of your pedals. Despite the software flaw, I see no reason why this intuitive, innovative device should get anything less than 5 stars. Great job IK Multimedia.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: IK Multimedia

  • RooCase Deluxe Carrying Bag Review

    The RooCase Deluxe Carrying Bag is a laptop bag made for 12-13 inch laptops. The case has many pockets and is well-padded. It is available from Amazon for $33.47. Let’s see if it is the laptop bag for you.

    Form

    The bag comes in several colors. It comes in black, blue and black, pink and black and red and black. I received the blue and black case. The bag has the color as the main color and black is the trimming. All the colors look great. The case is made of a soft material. The outside of the case has a few well-placed pockets. The bag looks nice on the outside. It isn’t a designer laptop bag but it doesn’t have to be. It looks nice enough. The stitching on the bag is well-done and it has good craftsmanship on the bag, strap and handle. The case has two protectors on the bottom to help it stand upright and to help it not get dirtied or ripped by the unforgiving floor. The inside of the case is also well made. There are many pockets inside the bag for maximum storage. All the extremities, such as the zipper and the strap attachments are well made and won’t break easily. The bag by itself is pretty light so it doesn’t add much weight to the weight of the things inside. Overall, in terms of aesthetics, this is a great laptop bag.

    Function

    There are quite a few things about this bag I like. First, the bag provides a lot of protection for your laptop. If you drop this bag, your computer will not have a scratch on it. The bag is very well padded and it will protect it’s contents very well. Second, this bag has a lot of space in it. There are at least 10 pockets that I counted. There are a few pockets for bigger things such as one for the computer and one for the charger. There are a few medium sized pockets such as one for an iPad or other accessories. There are also a few smaller pockets inside that you could put your phone and a few other accessories in. In addition, there is a few slots to put your stuff in. I could see some one putting 2 laptops, an iPad and an iPhone with all the chargers for each device and still have room left over. Everything is fairly easily accessible. Also, the bag can be carried by strap or handle. I find it easier to carry it around by strap only because it makes it even easier to reach for your device inside the bag. The zippers and velcro are easy to open but will not break. Overall, this bag is a great laptop bag for the money.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Protects the things inside well
    -Holds a lot of stuff, there’s plenty of space
    -Easy to carry
    -Everything is easy to get to

    Cons

    -None

    Ways to improve

    For the price, this is a great laptop bag and I personally see nothing that should be improved on this bag.

    This is one great laptop bag. It can hold a lot and it can protect a lot. I wouldn’t say it’s a designer laptop bag but does it need to be? In fact, I think it would protect better than a lot of designer bags do and at one third the cost. It’s practical for the everyday consumer. This bag easily gets 5 stars from me.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Amazon

  • Uncommon iPod touch 4 Custom Capsule Case Review

    The Uncommon Case is a customizable case where you can add your own image to a case for the iPod touch. The image goes on the back of the case and is a great conversation piece especially when you have a picture of your dog on it or a picture of your kids. What the case looks like is all up to you. The case is available from Uncommon for $34.95. Let’s see if this very personalized case is for you.

    Form

    The form of this case is very interesting. The design of the case is not made by the company. With this case, it is made by you. You make the design, whether it be an image of your pets, family, your favorite whatever, it’s all up to you. I personally put a picture of my dog on the case. You can choose whatever you want. In terms of quality, the case is made of a durable material. You drop the case, the iPod touch will probably not be damaged. The case has a hole for the camera and has a protector on the wake/sleep button on top and the volume buttons on the side. The case color can be just about any color you can come up with. I put my dogs picture with a black background which I think is the best way to go since it makes the picture stand out but it is all up to you. You can also put a caption on the image if you want and in any font. The case is slim and light, it adds almost no profile to the iPod yet still keeping it protected. This case is the most customized case I have seen and thus the best in form.

    Function

    The case does protect the device well. There is a side bumper should it fall face down onto the ground. This will prevent the screen from breaking. The ports are protected well and I appreciate that all the ports are easily accessible. The power button is hard to press but it does seem to get easier the more you use it. The case has a camera hole so the camera doesn’t get blocked. The case is easy to take off as well. The case will not take the contents of your pocket with it when you take the iPod touch out of your pocket. The case is really more of a “Form” case since the impressive feature is the customizing of the case. It’s a normal case but, with your own image on it, it’s not. It’s your own customized case and I know that a lot of people, including yourself, would like. In addition to the case, a big part of the experience is the creation of the case. The designing of the case is a multi-part but simple process. All you do is add images, resize it the way you want it, add a caption, choose the color of the case, save and you are done. The process is almost fun, designing your case and seeing what different cases you can make. You can even save multiple designed cases, choose the best one and then buy that one. The customization of this case and it’s thin profile made me replace my OtterBox iPod touch case with this one.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Personalized to your liking
    -Protects the iPod touch well
    -Slim profile
    -Access to all ports
    -Easy to design cases on the Uncommon website
    -Easy to take off the case (not that you would want to)

    Cons

    -Difficult to press the unlock/lock button on top at first

    Ways to improve

    The only way to improve that I could see is to get rid of the piece that covers the unlock/lock button. It would make it easy to press the button.

    This case is a great case. One of the best I have reviewed because of it’s customizability, slim profile and easy process to customize the case. This case easily earns a 5 star review from me.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Uncommon

  • CoolStream Bluetooth Receiver

    The CoolStream Bluetooth Receiver is a small device that you put in your speaker dock and it will make the dock bluetooth. The device goes onto a dock, connect your bluetooth device to it via bluetooth and you’re ready to enjoy wireless music. This small device is available from Exeter Science and Entertainment for $39.99. Let’s see if it is the music solution for you.

    Form

    There isn’t much to say about how this product is aesthetically. There is nothing wrong structurally with the device. It feels cheap, but it actually is strong. It does have a cool, blue design on it that is a nice touch to the device.

    Function

    This little device packs a punch. The ability to no longer be bogged down with expensive wireless speakers or the compromise that comes with docks is incredible. Finally, you can put the audio of the game you are playing on that dock that you have without having to dock the iDevice. This device is also an advantage for people who have a iPhone/iPod touch dock with an iPod touch and iPhone but also have an iPad as well. Now, they don’t need an iPad dock. All you have to do is plug this little device in to wirelessly play music. The pairing of this device and your bluetooth device is as simple as pressing a button, going to settings on your bluetooth device and confirming the pair. Then, you can play music from your device wirelessly. Of course, the device is small so you can take it anywhere and put it on a dock. In addition, the device rarely, if ever, has a pause in the music. It doesn’t randomly disconnect either. The device does have a flaw, however. The device will not work with some docks. The company has a list of known supported docks and known unsupported docks. Fortunately, the number of unsupported is small compared to the number supported. This is something that I hope they can resolve. Despite this flaw, this device is a great tool to use with your music dock.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Small and convenient to take with you
    -Consistant with sound
    -Great wireless solution for the dock problem
    -Easy to pair
    -Good price for what you get

    Cons

    -Does not work with all docks (Check to see if your dock is supported before purchase)

    How to improve

    The only thing that this company should do is to improve compatibility with docks. It has great compatibility with docks but it should be 100%.

    This product is a great one. It is small, lightweight and useful. Never will I plug my iOS device into a dock again. If it works for your dock, it is a 5 star device.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Exeter Science and Entertainment
    Copyright: iHome is Copyright of iHome Audio

  • Pong iPhone 5 Case Review

    The Pong iPhone 5 Classic Case is an anti-radition case designed to protect you from radiation and to protect the phone from damage. The Pong iPhone 5 Classic is available for $59.99. Let’s see if this case is right for you.

    Form

    The case, in my opinion, needs some improvement aesthetically. The cases come in one solid color. The come in black, red, silver or purple. They all look like great colors. The case has all the appropriate cut outs for ports and camera. Personally, I do not see the same quality in this case than the rugged series. I do not know how well it would hold up in a fall. Furthermore, this case has omitted front protection altogether. I would fear for the glass on my iPhone 5 if I were to keep it in this case. The case is, however, light. It adds almost no weight to the phone. The case is a backing only and because of this, it feels incomplete. While the case is sturdy, your phone will meet concrete some day and this case will not stop the phone from being damaged.

    Function

    This case has 3 criteria for which I am reviewing it on when it comes to the function. How well does it protect? How much battery life is conserved from using it? and How much better will the reception be when using this case? We already know that it blocks radiation but that we can not test that ourselves to be certain. Therefore, those three criteria are fair. First, the case is not a protective case. If you want a protective case, this is not it. This case is more for people who want a thin, light case and are willing to risk damaging their phone for that and that actually turns out to be a lot of people. The second thing they promise this case will do is protect you from radiation. This I can not confirm from you but I will say this. Pong is a trustable company. They have posted their results from an independent lab. Wired, a independent news company posted results from the lab on Pong’s website and I recommend you check it out. I can not test it myself but I believe they are telling the truth about it’s ability to reduce radiation directed at you. In addition, Pong declares that this case will increase cell signal and battery life (when using cellular). This, I can confirm. In a day of a lot of talking, I saw a battery life increase by about an hour or more. This is because of the efficient signal performance in the case. Also, I saw an increase in signal by about 1-2 bars depending on the location, enabling me to use the phone in areas I couldn’t because of too weak of a signal. The case fails to deliver in protecting your phone but it delivers in protecting you from radiation, providing a stronger cellular connection and conserving battery.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong material on the case
    -Comfortable grip
    -Ability to protect you from radiation
    -Preserves battery life
    -Improves signal

    Cons

    -Failure to protect the front of the case against anything
    -Not as protective as the Rugged case

    Ways to improve

    I saw that the company added a screen protector in with the iPhone 5 case which is good but it doesn’t provide protection against falling the concrete. I would recommend putting a bumper border on the case so that the phone will not be hit by concrete when it falls out of your hands.

    This case is not the best I have reviewed. It doesn’t protect well. However, it does have a few things that I like including the anti-radiative properties it has and the increase in battery and signal it provides. My recommendation to a customer who has the iPhone 5 would be to try the iPhone 5 Rugged case instead. The little extra money you pay will go a long way. I give this case 3 and a half stars.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Pong iPhone 4/4S Rugged Case Review

    The Pong iPhone 4/4S Rugged Case is an iPhone 4/4S case that is supposed to protect your phone from breaking when dropped and to protect yourself from dangerous cell phone radiation. Perfect for tween girls who have their phones glued to their hands or face!:) It will protect them and the phone. The case is available from Pong for $79.99. Let’s see if this is the anti-radiation case for you.

    Form

    First I would like to say that this case has some great colors. I was sent both the blue and the red cases and I can not choose between the two, they are both great colors! The case is simple enough. It is a one piece case where you just pop in your phone and then your phone is protected. The case is simple looking but that is a good thing. Quite frankly, it’s nice to look at. You have the black edges all around the phone and then the wonderfully colored backing. It feels light, but it does pack a lot in terms of protection. There are, of course, holes for the ports such as a hole for 30 pin dock connector port and speakers, and as well as the camera and the vibrate button as well. The case is only a bit thicker than the phone itself but considering that it is a case that could go against Otterbox in terms of protection that is something to be valued. Heavy duty cases tend to be thick and heavy but this case is an exception. The case is good to hold, it feels firm and it feels as though you have a complete grip over the phone when you hold it. Even when in ButterFingers’ hands, it will not slip out. Despite the fact that it has rubber edges, it does not pull the other contents in your pocket out of your pocket when you pull the phone out of your pocket. The pocket itself won’t come out either. Fortunately, they figured out how to stop that phenomenon. Overall, the case aces in it’s form.

    Function

    There are a few things that this case promises. First, it promises to protect your phone if dropped. That is absolutely true. Your phone will most likely not scratch if it is dropped from a 8-feet ladder to the concrete ground. Therefore, this case may be used by people who drop their phones a lot. The case, of course, will protect the phone from scratches. Mostly. If there is something that scratches the open glass on the front of the phone, it will scratch. It will not be scratched should it fall face down since there is a significant bumper between the phone and the floor when it lands screen down but scratches against the side of an object or an object that comes in direct contact with the glass front will not be protected against. In that case, I would recommend getting a screen protector since, to my surprise, Pong does not supply one. This accidental contact is with almost every case however and should be avoided by the user. I do wish that they included a screen protector but the fact that the screen could get damaged inside the screen opening is always a risk no matter the case. Therefore, it is not a fault of the case. The second thing they promise this case will do is protect you from radiation. This I can not confirm from you but I will say this. Pong is a trustable company. They have posted their results from an independent lab. Wired, a independent news company posted independent results from the lab on Pong’s website and I recommend you check it out. I can not test it myself but I believe they are telling the truth about it’s ability to reduce radiation directed at you. In addition, Pong declares that this case will increase cell signal and battery life (when using cellular). This, I can confirm. In a day of a lot of talking, I saw a battery life increase by about an hour or more. This is because of the efficient signal performance in the case. Also, I saw an increase in signal by about 1-2 bars depending on the location, enabling me to use the phone in areas I couldn’t because of too weak of a signal. There is a nitpick about the case I should address though. It is difficult to reach the ringer/silent switch with one hand. This was something I could do with other cases, but it is no big deal. The case delivers on it’s promises. It is a case I would highly recommend.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great protection
    -Ability to increase signal reception
    -Reduces power drain on the battery by “doing some of the work for the phone”
    -Great aesthetics
    -If it is true, it blocks harmful radiation from your body (when we had begun making cigarettes, we did not know the effects on the body, well we don’t know the effects of the cell phone on the body so why not be safe than sorry?)

    Cons

    -Screen protector not included
    -Hard to reach ringer switch

    How to improve

    The only thing I can think of is to include a screen protector. If there was a screen protector included, I may not have mentioned its reduced ability to protect the front if it came with a screen protector.

    For $79.99, you are getting one heck of a case. A case that can protect your phone, protect you from radiation, improve your reception and improve your battery life! Who wouldn’t want that?! I can easily give this case 5 stars. This case is a great case that I would recommend to anyone.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Pong Research

  • Alto iPA Review

    The Alto iPA is a PA speaker that works with an iPad to provide an awesome karaoke experience. The iPA speaker/dock/karaoke machine is available from Alto for $299.99. Let’s see if this is the speaker to sing on.

    Form

    Alto advertises the speaker as being a portable speaker. Since it has a handle, it technically is portable. But then again, the original iMac had a handle too and nobody carried that around. It isn’t the lightest speaker either, weighing in at 23 pounds. However, this is not bad at all. First, consider that you probably won’t move it a whole bunch and even if you do, it’s capabilities make up for that weight. It will fit in any normal sized cars so you DJs out there that will take it to and from “work” won’t have much of an issue. Looking at it closely, you can tell that it is in great shape and that it was made well. The part that holds the iPad in and charges it is well made and not made of cheap plastic. The speaker itself is made out of good, hard-cased but well-made material that provides great acoustics for the speaker. The microphone doesn’t appear to be the best made microphone but it isn’t terrible. It isn’t as well made as the speaker itself but it does the job. The front of the speaker is a grill that protects the internals that emits the sound, just like any other speaker. On that at the bottom is the logo for the product which is simple but professional. The ports are located at the back with the iPad dock above that. Even the port area is well made and I wouldn’t predict that the ports will bend or break ever. In all, aesthetically it is a bit bulky but it holds a lot of power and it still looks solid and professional.

    Function

    The speakers are very, very loud. I don’t even have it a quarter the way up and I already am fearing that the neighbors will call the police for disturbing the peace. Therefore, while full volume won’t be acceptable in the house, it will be acceptable for a large-sized place. This speaker would still be heard by people in the back of a very crowded, very loud place. In fact, the power if the sound the speaker emits could probably allow people to hear the music clearly a half mile away if put on full blast. That may be exaggerating a little bit, but it is very very loud. Because it can get loud, it can get soft too. If you need it as a PA to announce to a few people than it is still great. The sound sounds as great whether it is down low or up high. There are two volume controls. One for sound coming from the dock and one for sound coming from the microphone. This is great since if people want to be louder than the music, they can or they can make the music louder than them so they don’t have to hear the voice that everyone but them thinks is great. In addition, you can add plug in an additional speaker into the speaker so that you can share the sound with two speakers. Again, the microphone is not the greatest but it does the job and the speaker works with all microphones. The possibilities of this speaker are endless. Give a presentation behind the speaker with the iPad there so that you can read off of the notes on it. Or you can sing from behind the speaker. Or you can just talk out of the speaker. The speaker’s added iPad feature is wonderful. The only thing that I wish the speaker came with was a stand for it. You have to buy it. Therefore, if you don’t buy it, you can stick it on a stand you already own, if it fits or you just put it on a table or on the floor. The stand, I think, should be included. All in all, it is a great PA/karaoke system.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Sound can get very loud or soft
    -The sound sounds great!
    -No interference from the mic, no audible static or annoying sounds
    -Sturdy speaker
    -iPad compatible, use of many different karaoke apps (YouTube still is one of the better ways of getting karaoke)

    Cons

    -Not the best microphone
    -No stand, sold separately

    Ways to improve

    The only way to improve is to add a stand to the purchase even if they need to increase the price a bit more. After all, people did just spend over $300 for a speaker. If production costs don’t allow for it, that I can understand. It is really up to the company if they wanted to do this but I think they would see more sales if they did.

    This speaker is a powerful one, perhaps one of the most powerful consumer PAs on the market. It is loud and it is durable. It may be heavy but that little extra exercise carrying it from your DJ-mobile is all worth it. Despite the lack of a stand, the speaker easily gets 5 stars from me!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Alto