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Reviews by The Church of Apple

Monthly Archives: March 2013

AudioFly AF45 Headphones Review

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The AudioFly AF45 headphones are cheap in price headphones affordable to the general public. These headphones are great sounding for the money and are probably one of the biggest bangs for the buck. The headphones are available from Audiofly for around $60 for the headphones without a mic or around $70 for headphones that have a mic, the mic is useful for using the headphones as a “headset” for your phone. Let’s see if these headphones are for you.

Form

These headphones actually surprised me in it’s design. These headphones have a great attention to detail. First off, the plug that goes into the headphone jack has a nice rubber feel to it and it is easily grippable to pull out the headphones from the headphone jack. The cord of the headphones is made of a nice-to-the-touch material. The headphone jack has a nice gold plating, not only making it look good but also increasing it’s sound quality. The headphones aren’t all black however, or at least the ones I received. The headphones have a hint of some color in it. The color is featured on the cord, on the play/pause button on the cord and on the headphones themselves. The hint of color almost gives it some sort of a personality to fit you. The earbud itself has great detail as well. There is the tiny logo on the back of them, surrounded by a grill that helps improve the sound of the headphones. Going out to the bud that actually goes in the ear itself, the headphone is a certain color, whatever color you chose at checkout. Aesthetically, these are great earphones.

Function

When I tried these consumer-level headphones, I was surprised by the power it has. It has a lot of sound and it really sounds great. It probably has the best sound out of any consumer headphones I have seen. It does show a bit of an emphasis on the bass and less on the mid level but I didn’t think it detracted from the overall sound. The mic feature is way cool when using these headphones with the iPhone since I can listen to music, take a call with the headphones still in and then go back to listening to music when I hang up. In addition, when using the mic, I noticed no wire sound when talking to the other person. Another cool feature is the play/pause button. More and more headphones are including this and it really is a neat, handy feature. I would wish for volume changing capabilities but that might be asking for too much since some more expensive headphones don’t include it. A few negatives I could think of is it’s lack of comfortable buds. The stock buds were either too big or too small for my ears. I had to take the headphones off because of it. Fortunately for you, buds can be picked up very cheaply. When you find the right sized buds, they are very comfortable in your ears. In addition, there is no clear indicator of which earbud is left and which is right. The only indiction I saw was the L inside the left earbud. The right also has Braille-like texture on it to signify it is the right. I think that there should be letters on the buds (not in the buds) that clearly state L or R. However, other than that, I see no flaws in these headphones. In fact, one could say that these are probably some of the best consumer-level headphones on the market in the price range.

Conclusion

Pros

-Strong Aesthetic
-Attentive to detail
-Great sound
-Mic included on the slightly more expensive model
-Button to play and pause

Cons

-Stock buds too small or big for ears, use your own
-No clear left or right bud indicators

Ways to improve

A couple of things that this company can do to improve is to add medium sized buds to their package and to add letters on the buds to indicate left and right.

This down under company has done a great job in making high-quality consumer-level cheap-in-price-only headphones. I would highly recommend these headphones to any one who wants to buy headphones that look great and sound great for a great price. I give these headphones 4 and a half stars since I do not think people should have to buy more plugs since the ones provided hurt your ears. Of course, it’s not a major flaw and these are great headphones so 4 and a half stars it is. Great job AudioFly.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Focused Space Leathersmith iPhone 5 Case

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The Focused Space Leathersmith iPhone 5 case is a leather back cover for the iPhone 5. It is available for $45.00 from Focused Space. Let’s see if it is the iPhone 5 case for you.

Form

The case is available in either all black or all brown. It has a protective coating insides the case to provide shock support. The case has a clean logo on the back and has all the appropriate cutouts that an iPhone case should have. The case does feel nice in the hand, it is made out of real leather after all. The case is pretty solid and I feel as though it will do some work in protecting your iPhone. The case does not have much of a border protecting the front of the phone, which could prove troublesome. Overall, this case excels in Form.

Function

Of course, the most important function of this case is the ability to protect your device during a fall. I do not believe that this case will do just that, however. The back of the iPhone may be well protected but the front of the phone is wide open. And if Murphy’s law is right, your phone will land on the screen side and you will have an iPhone with a cracked screen. I always emphasize the need for some protection of the front of the device be it an iPhone, iPad or iPod. The front needs to be protected because there are already too many cracked screens on iPhones, we don’t need any more of that. Of course, it very well may land on the back but why take the chance? On a more positive note, the case does allow easy access to all ports and it does not block the camera. Of course, we buy cases for protection, not whether or not it hides the ports or not. Therefore, this case does not do well in function.

Conclusion

Pros

-Great aesthetic
-Cut-outs for ports are appropriate
-Protects the back well
-Feels nice to hold

Cons

-Does not protect the front

Ways to improve

In order to improve, I would add a bit more of a “bumper” so that the screen will not have contact with the ground.

In order for a case to be a great case, one that I would buy, it needs to be a case that will protect your device. This case does not do that. There is very little bumper to keep the phone’s glass from making contact with the concrete. Unfortunately, this case does not do well in it’s main function: to protect. This case gets 2 and a half stars from me. I don’t want a cracked screen, and neither do you.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Images Courtesy: Focused Space

ChargeCard Review

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The ChargeCard for iDevices with 30-pin connector is a unique charge and sync cord for the iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2 and 3, and the iPods (30-Pin). This cord is so thin, it literally fits in your wallet. That’s right, a charge/sync cord for your iDevice that fits in your wallet. How cool is that! Never will you forget to bring your charging cord because who leaves the house without their wallet? No one I know of. This unique device is available from the Charge Card Project for $25.00. Let’s see if this unique device is for you.

Form

As you can imagine, this device is THIN. We are talking credit card sized thin. The thinnest charge/sync cord I have ever seen. You may think to yourself “There is no way this incredibly thin cord card could possibly charge let alone sync my device”, well, I don’t know how it’s done but it’s done. Literally, it is the charger cord that fits your wallet. The card also is so light, it does not register on my scale. It is that light. The device comes in one color: black. It consists of a “half-USB” cord, meaning the device has the half of a USB port, the one that matters, the part that actually does the charging and syncing, the part with the technology. Therefore, it is half the size of a standard USB plug. It also is dynamic and can bend in any shape you want it to. This is a great feature since you are not bogged down having to turn it one way. The 30 pin connector is on the top of the card and is actually a part of the card. The cord attached to the USB and the card don’t provide much length but I would recommend using this device as a backup to your cord and as a replacement for when you go out somewhere but not a replacement for when you are at home. And that’s okay, that is what it is made for, to be a traveling cord, one that will almost always be with you. The uniqueness and innovation of this product easily make it excel in Form.

Function

Something I noticed about this cord when I used to charge my iDevice was that it actually was quick to charge. Don’t let the small size fool you. This device packs a punch. It will charge your device very quickly. I was able to get a full charge within an hour or so. That is about how much time it takes to charge it with a long cord that is a drag to carry around and that can’t fit in your wallet. In addition, I was surprised by the syncing. I thought that the syncing would be slow because of it’s small size. Again, I was fooled. The card synced my device just as it would on any of my other cords. I know that some of you may say “Well, where am I going to find a USB port to put this in”, well lots of places. There are USB ports in airplanes, laptops (which I know a lot of you carry MacBooks around to StarBucks, dittos to the hipsters out there), hotels, TVs, some appliances, gaming consoles, some cars have USB ports and I am sure a lot of you have USB car chargers, desktop computers, you’d be surprised. Unless you go deep into the forest, you are likely to find one very close. Therefore, this cord is perfect for travelers. Of course, you should always bring you’re charger along with you when going long distances but accidents happen, distractions happen and the ChargeCard has your back. Keep this in your wallet, find a USB port and you won’t be without charge.

Conclusion

Pros

-Small, light and portable
-Portable Charge
-Fits in your wallet, not your pocket, your wallet
-Full capabilities of a regular charge/sync cord
-There when you need it, out of your way when you don’t.

Cons

-None

Ways to Improve

At this time, I see no reason for this product to be modified in any way to fix a problem.

This is a great product. The portability of this device is astonishing and represents innovation at it’s finest. The creators of this product are fairly young and I believe that this is not the only great product we will see from them. Young, innovative minds are what we need in this country and I believe we have three of them right here with this product. If it’s useful and something I have never seen before, it is innovation. As a side not, another good thing I’d like to mention is that it is made in the US, helping to further our economy. It makes my patriotic heart sing when I see Made in USA. This is the cord to get for your iDevice, no doubt about it. This product absolutely gets five stars from me.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Kanex DualRole

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The Kanex DualRole is a device with two reasons for it’s existance. The first is to provide you with an additional 2 USB 3.0 ports to your computer (it adds three but takes up one computer port). The second one, which is more important, adds an Ethernet adapter to a computer that needs it such as the MacBook Air and the new Retina Display MBPs. It is the first product that I have seen that combines USB 3.0 and Ethernet. The DualRole is available from Kanex for $69.99. Let’s see if it the USB hub for you.

Form

There isn’t much to mention in terms of Form but there are a few things I would like to point out. First, this device is perfect for traveling. It is very small and compact. If you wanted to put it in your pocket, you definitely could. The device may be small but it is made well. The cord is well attached to the device and the ports are made well enough. The device, like the MeDrive, reminds me of an Apple Time Capsule or a white Apple MacBook. The device would be a perfect fit aesthetically with a white MacBook, however users of the white MacBook would not need it since the white MacBooks have USB and Ethernet ports. The device is more suited for owners of more current computers. The cord is short, some could say a little too short but that is good since a short cable quickens the speed a bit more than a longer cable. Other than that there isn’t much else to say about the Form of this device. It’s small, compact, light and it has just enough Apple-ness in there to make it stand out.

Function

The device is small and compact and thus perfect for traveling. It isn’t a 12 port USB hub but on the go it is the perfect device, especially for those with a computer without an Ethernet hub. On the market right now, there is no device that I know of besides this one that can drive USB 3.0 and Ethernet on the same adapter. That is something of high-mention. I believe in Apple’s mentality of invention and this company did just that. They did it well. The device provides quick USB 3.0 ports to the newer computers coming to market, not just Macs but PCs as well. Many computers are dropping Ethernet compatibility due to the ever-increasing use of wireless internet. However, some people prefer a wired connection since it provides them with a quicker connection. I took this to the test and I did find that a wired connection was faster. Since many hotels and lodging locations still offer Ethernet, it is something to be taken advantage of. I tested the USB hubs and I found it was just as fast as the USB 3.0 ports on my computer. Also, if you wanted to drive more power to charge multiple devices, you can put in a 5V adapter which is not included but is so common you almost definitely have one at home and if not, it’s a few bucks on Amazon. I have found many times that the amount of ports on my MacBook is too few. This will make the count up to four AND allow me to plug into a wired, faster connection. In addition, as a side effect, one would no longer need to use the Thunderbolt/Ethernet adapter nor buy it if haven’t bought one yet. One problem I have with the device is not the device itself but the price. You are getting a three port USB adapter and a Gigabit Ethernet adapter for $70. I don’t know about you but that is an investment. Sure you are no longer crying about the lack of USB ports or Ethernet port but now you’ll be crying that you paid $70 to buy it. However, if you are willing to shell out the price, it is a great investment.

Conclusion

Pros

-Good aesthetic
-Small and compact
-Additional USB 3.0 ports for a computer with only a few ports
-Additional Ethernet port
-Ability to add a power adapter if you need more power

Cons

-Price

Ways to Improve

The only thing Kanex can do to improve is to decrease their price on this product.

This device is a great hub. However, the minimal amount of USB ports it adds is something to take note of with the price. The USB ports and Ethernet are great for the MBPR and the MacBook Air due to their limited USB ports and lack of Ethernet, however, I can not recommend it to owners of other Apple computers. To me, for what you pay, it seems to be lacking. However, if you are willing to pay the premium the device is perfect for anyone on the go who needs the ports. This device receives 4 stars from me.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Kanex meDrive

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The Kanex meDrive is small device that you can plug into your router, connect a USB flash drive and use it as a file server accessible to all devices, including iOS devices, a technology worth mentioning. It can be used for as many devices have the capabilities of seeing it and that have the credentials to log in. The Kanex meDrive is available from Kanex for $99.00.

Form

The looks of this device aren’t nearly as important as how it performs but there are a few things to mention. First, this device is very small and compact. This device may be able to fit in tight corners. The wires included are short so the device needs to be close to the router. Of course, you can get a longer cable and your meDrive will have more space to move about the cabin. There is a little light on the device that let’s you become aware of when the device is on or not, transferring files or not. The device reminds me of the Time Capsule that Apple sells or at least the looks anyways. In a device where the looks don’t really matter, it at least passes this category.

Function

The idea behind this product is a great idea. A simple file server that you can connect to your router and is accessible not only to computers like all file servers are but also iOS devices as well, providing a massive cloud service if you use massive hard drive (I tried a 1TB hard drive with it). Unfortunately, this is where the complimenting ends. This device does not work with Mac-formatted hard drives. Therefore, I can not use my hard drive with this device and then use it with my Mac right after, they don’t go hand in hand. Since I only own Macs, that’s a big problem. In addition, this device needs to be driven by a USB port. I have a USB port on my router thankfully but if I didn’t, I may have had to buy a USB wall outlet adapter just to use it. Adding to that, the USB cable may not be long enough so you may want to find an additional, longer cable. Therefore, with that said, this device is not wireless. There are two, possibly three wires involved. Power, Ethernet (to the router) and a cord to a portable hard drive if you have one. Once you have it set up, the struggles continue. Sometimes, my devices can’t recognize the meDrive at all. Sometimes, my device can recognize it but it appears as though there is nothing in my drive when there is and the best days are when it does recognize something but takes a few minutes to show up. It shouldn’t take long for it to recognize it at all. I know it wasn’t my device because A I have a 2012 computer and B it was right next to the meDrive. When I did get a 500 GB external HDD to work, it took a long time to show it’s contents. So long, I lost count of time and moved on with something else equally as boring. The same goes for my iOS devices. I rather just save my files onto the hard drive then take the hard drive to where I want the files and download it there. There is a good thing to say about the iOS app though, when it works, it is intuitive. Of course, all this is not to say that it never works. In fact it works sometimes, but when it does, it’s slow and it’s results are wildly unpredictable. When we had problems however, he had no help. The instructions and manual are useless for troubleshooting so that leaves contacting the company the only option for help and some people just don’t want to do that. From my perspective, the device has too many problems to recommend.

Conclusion

Pros

-Looks nice
-Lights provide some knowledge about what’s going on
-Provided cables
-iOS app, unlike the rest of the whole process, is intuitive

Cons

-Unreliable
-Unpredictable
-Needs to be tethered
-Does not work with Mac formatted drives
-When it works, it takes way too long to do anything useful with it
-Instructions are vague and worthless for troubleshooting

Ways to Improve

Besides a need to fix it’s compatibility issues, it needs to be more stable so we can have better access to the USB device attached to the meDrive. A faster connection with the router needs to be established. The company needs to consider wireless solutions to a second rendition of the product. Perhaps, they could add wireless connections to the router and wireless power such as a battery. In addition, some improvements to the instructions and troubleshooting should be considered.

The meDrive has too many problems for me to recommend it. The device was limited in it’s abilities and unstable. It is clear that Kanex has some kinks to work out before they have a stable, finished product. This product receives 2 stars from me.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

ION Sound Splash Review

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The ION Sound Splash is a lightweight, small, bluetooth waterproof speaker that allows you take your music and your calls into areas that are wet without putting your bluetooth device in serious danger of getting wet. This device allows you to listen to music in the shower and take a call should one come in. Just be sure to turn the shower off before you accept the call so it doesn’t get awkward:) The ION Sound Splash is available from ION’s Amazon Store for $69.99. Let’s see if this waterproof speaker is right for you.

Form

One thing that I noticed about this speaker right away was how small it was. This speaker is meant to be portable. You could put it in some bigger pockets, although I would recommend putting it in a bag. There is a reason it is like this… so you can take it around with you! It can go in boats, near the lake, near the pool, near the water or really anywhere. This speaker is not made cheap either. It is a pretty solid device despite it being lightweight. The device is well-designed since everything is easy to use and it actually looks nice. The buttons on the device are easy to see and use. Access to volume, play/pause, power button and the take the call button are within reach at all times. You may be wondering that if this device is truly waterproof and wireless, how does it protect the charger? Well, the speaker has a small locking flap on the bottom of the device that you can open and put the charger in. Just be sure to close it before you enter the shower. I would have liked to have seen addtional colors in the lineup other than white to make it more fun but it is not important. All in all, the Sound Splash has made a splash in the Form category, let’s see how it does in it’s function.

Function

The first thing I noticed when using this speaker was how powerful it was. When you first see it’s small size, you think to yourself “No way this will sound good at all” but when you actually hear it, you will be shocked to hear it’s quality. Even the bass on the speakers was surprisingly great. Another thing I noticed is that I could leave my iPhone in the other room and it will still pick up it’s bluetooth signal well. I have, as of yet, heard the device drop the sound when using the bluetooth functionality. The device can also attach anywhere in your shower. The suction cups that come with it are firm yet easy to take off. I have had problems with wet suction cups before and the inability to take them off the wall or glass but these suction cups do not have that same problem. In addition, if you’re not a fan of suction cups, you can use the attached hook to hook it onto your shower head (that is what I do). Both ways provide for easy on and off. When taking a call, the device will fade out the music and the blue light on the device will blink and you can take the call just by pressing the phone button. When you end the call, the music starts up again. In addition, other controls are within reach. You can pause or play music, turn up and down the volume, take a call or turn the speaker off. There is only one problem I have in the functionality of this device. You better have a good selection of music because if you come across a song you don’t like, you can not skip it. The beloved forward and backward buttons that we have come to know and love on MP3 players is not featured on the device. This is a big misstep in functionality. It’s one of the main buttons on an iPod, how can you miss it? On the bright side, it has forced me to get rid of songs I truly don’t like but even then there are sometimes songs I don’t want to listen to at that particular time of day. However, considering songs on people’s iPods typically is music they like, it shouldn’t be a huge deal but it is something I miss. All in all, its great sound, ease of use and great bluetooth quality among other things more than compensates for the lack of a few buttons.

Conclusion

Pros

-Great sound
-Portable
-Great bluetooth quality
-Great call quality
-Easy to set up in the shower and with your device
-Waterproof
-Looks great aesthetically

Cons

-No forward/backward buttons, need these to change the song
-Needs more color options

Ways to Improve

There are a few ways to solve the playback problem. First, ION could add buttons to the device that allow the user to go forward or backward on the music. Second, and I feel this is more of a unique way, is to add Siri/Voice Control functionality. Pressing a button (or holding a button) would activate Siri or voice control and the person can tell the device to call Steve or Play Coldplay or skip this song. The possibilities are great with Siri/Voice control. As more and more devices get Siri, the need for Siri functionality in products increases and I believe that it can be a HUGE selling point in the next rendition of the Sound Splash to include Siri/Voice Control functionality, and if they can’t use Siri with the product due to some Apple restrictions that may or may not exist, they should develop their own app that will allow the user to give simple commands. Since the Siri/Voice Control platform already exists, attempts should be made first to integrate them into the device, perhaps a button that simulates the pressing of the home button (voice control and Siri are both prompted by default by the short hold of the home button).

This is a great device. It’s sound, portability, wide bluetooth capabilities, ease of use earn it 4 and a half stars. The addition of forward/backward buttons would have made it 5 stars easily but such an important function can not be disregarded.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Images Courtesy: ION

Maroo Drogo iPad Case Review

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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.youtube.com/tvmaroo
http://www.pinterest.com/maroolifestyle

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Images courtesy: Maroo

RooCase Origami Dual-View Folio for iPad mini

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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

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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

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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