Reviews by The Church of Apple

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  • MacFrame

    The 21 inch MacFrame for iMac is available from MacFrame for $49.00. It is a great solution to the glare problems that have plagued the iMac’s since the introduction of the black borders. The MacFrame is an anti-glare frame that replaces the ultra-glare one that is currently on the iMac. Let’s see if it is the anti-glare solution for you.

    Form:

    The form of the product is simple. It is simply a frame that is made out of anti-glare material. The frame is currently sold only in the exact black that the iMac has but without a glare to it. If you have seen the border around the screen on the black MacBook, you will know what I’m talking about. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same material or even the same company (we know Apple bought it from somewhere). Of course, it is much sturdier than the frame on the black MacBook but it looks and feels the same. One thing I would consider if I were MacFrame is to make different colors. This is the only company that I’m aware of that sells anti-glare frames for Mac so adding color would be a cool touch. The material on the frame is smooth and it actually looks good on the iMac. In fact, it is better than how the iMac originally looks because of it’s lack of glare. The material is pretty sturdy and will not break easily. The MacFrame fits around the screen and the camera perfectly, as it should. Nobody wants the frame to overlap the screen, I know I wouldn’t! Overall, the MacFrame excels in the Form category.

    Function:

    The function for the MacFrame is no different. The installation of the MacFrame is fairly simple. Take off the existing frame with the provided suction cup, slide to a certain degree, slide it up and out, put the new one in the reverse order. Useful instructions are provided. Should you buy this product, be sure you don’t break the original frame. You might be thinking “why would replacing the frame improve the glare problem? I mean the glare is on the screen too!”. You would be right. The glare on the screen remains. However, a large part of the glare on the iMac, thus a lot of the distraction, is actually located on the black frame part of the iMac. The glare on the black part and the glare on the screen join forces and create one big glare that is very distracting. However, when you stop the glare on the sides, it’s not a big glare anymore. Only the glare on the screen remains and this glare, you’ll notice, is lessened to a great degree without it’s glare-y frame friend, more so than you would think. The glare from the frame is no longer on the sides of your vision and distracting you. This frame, in my personal experience, reduces glare significantly. It does exactly what it advertises it will do and it does it well. This product does well in it’s function too.

    Conclusion:

    Pros:

    -Frame is well-made

    -Easy installation

    -Anti-glare takes away most of the glare, to the point where the glare that remains doesn’t seem like it’s there

    Cons:

    -I would have liked to have seen more color variety.

    Ways to improve:

    The only thing I would add to this product is color. Apple may not approve of it but it would be cool to see different colored iMacs, just like back in the day.

    The MacFrame is a great product. It succeeds at doing what it set out to do. It effectively removes much of the annoying glare that iMacs have been plagued with for far too long. Personally, I think that Apple should adopt these anti-glare frames. They are being made, Apple. Buy them. This product definitely gets a five star review from me. Good job MacFrame!

     

    Thanks for reading,

     

    Joe

  • Onanoff Leather Skin for 13 inch MacBook Air

    The Onanoff Leather Skin for 13 inch MacBook Air is a leather skin of any color of your choosing for the MacBook Air. It is available from Onanoff for $59.95. Let’s see if it’s the choice for you.

    Form

    The form is a failure. First off, I do want to say that I appreciate the fact that the product comes in many different colors but I would have liked to have seen more designs and perhaps the ability to add your own image on it. That would be better than plain colors. I had much difficulty applying the sticky surface to the MacBook due to the many bubbles that would rise each time I tried to put it on there. When I felt I had the time where I had the most bubbles out, I stopped trying to get each little bubble out. These, however, just don’t look good and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get every bubble out. In addition to that, the cover was wrinkled and just didn’t look good at the end result. I then moved on to the screen protector and that was an even worse case scenario. I tried to apply it but I could not get the bubbles out and when I had the backlight on, it looked like a mess. I took it off and put it aside. Later, I tried the back cover and that part actually came on correctly, little problems here. The palm rest, again, a different story. I had issues putting it on and the wrinkles and the bubbles were there again. Finally, I put on the Apple logo protector and it looked awkward. It too was taken off immediately. By the end, it looked like a mess. It just did not cut it for me. I took the pieces off and put the case I had on it before back on again. I did something I have never done in the past with reviewed products, I threw it away. When the product was on my MacBook it looked clunky, poorly made, poorly put together and just didn’t work. There was no way I could keep it on my MacBook so I just went back to my Steve Jobs decals and called it a day.

    Function

    Again, the product does not excel here either. First off, installation was not simple as it’s website claims it is. Sure, it was only four parts but each part had to be put on and off and on again until you got the most bubbles out and then you ended up with a mess. Second, don’t expect the product to protect against anything but minor scratches. There are other cases that are cheaper that can do a better job protecting your MacBook Air. If you have other decals on your MacBook, apply extreme caution should you take the product off or the decal will come with it. It does not protect, it has a difficult installation process and it has a high price, not my pick in MacBook cases.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -None

    Cons

    -End result can range from semi-bad to terrible
    -Product does not need to be on the MacBook but in the trash
    -Does not protect well
    -Poor installation process

    Ways to improve

    I always strive to give companies my God-to-honest opinion on products and I truly believe that Onanoff should end production for this product. If I threw it away, I think they should too.

    Obviously, this product is not on the top of my list. Never before had I thrown away a free product until that one. Though I did come close once before, this was the first time I actually put it in the can on the side of the house. Honestly, the company should do the same. That’s not to say that all the other companies products belong there, in fact many other products of theirs actually look like great products. Please keep in mind that this is a review of a product not a company. However, this particular product gets a one star from me and even that is being generous. Please discard this product, Onanoff, for your company name is what this product represented, “on” my MacBook “an” then “off” my MacBook for good.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Incredisonic IFM-500 Bluetooth Transmitter Car Kit

    The Incredisonic IFM-500 Bluetooth Transmitter Car Kit is a small device that allows you to use your phone hands-free in your car through your car radio, whether it be for music or calling. This device comes with many features such as a gooseneck that allows you to adjust it where ever you want it, allowing easy access to the controls. The device is $39.95 at Amazon, a great price for a great product.

    Form

    This device is not the most fancy looking device on the market but it is made very well. The device comes in all black, with the exception of color light on the buttons, making the buttons easier to work with at night. The device features a gooseneck so you can adjust the device to where you want it. This range of motion of the device is very useful. The device is small, taking little room in your vehicle. The product is well made, it will not break easily. The small screen on it that tells you the radio station you should be on does it’s job well and it is well-seen in poor lighting situations such as when you are driving at night. All in all, the device looks fine and it is made fine but there is much more to talk about when it comes to the function, so let’s delve into that, shall we?

    Function 

    This device’s main purpose is to transmit audio from your phone to your car. It does just that and it does it well. However, there are a plethora of great features that come with this device. First off, my favorite, Noise Canceling Technology. This allows you to choose any station you want to use to run the device off of, and the device will cut out sound from the radio station, even if the station has something on it already. It reduces static heard in competitor’s products by almost 100%. I never hardly hear static coming from the device. In addition, the device is easy to setup. You plug it into your cigarette lighter, tighten it into the cigarette lighter (which is also another neat feature since it keeps the device in place), turn the device on and search for it on your device’s bluetooth settings. There is easy setup for all devices. Another feature I like is the flexible neck, allowing you to adjust it’s position to your liking. The device also has a phone mount so you can mount your phone on the device and the passenger can watch a movie (sorry drivers, your eyes stay on the road). The device’s buttons include turning on and off bluetooth for the device itself, play/pause, forward/reverse and radio station changing. All the buttons are lit up except volume up/down knob on the side. One cool thing about one of the buttons is that if you hold the green “answer the call” button, Siri will answer you, allowing handsfree calling in addition to handsfree answering. One software feature I like is the transfer from music audio to phone call audio. The device will lower the music volume and it the ringtone on your phone will be prominent. This also occurs when you are in navigation, the music volume will lower so you can hear Siri giving you directions. This device is spot on. It’s the best audio device for cars that don’t have a fancy Suburban audio system that costs a lot of money. This device is filled with great features that I know customers will appreciate. There is nothing wrong with this device in terms of functionality.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Transmits audio to the radio well
    -Sound Canceling Technology
    -Plethora of other small features

    Cons

    -None at this time

    Ways to improve

    At this time, there are no cons to fix.

    This is truly a great music solution for the car. I have used these kinds of device for years and this is by far the best one I have ever used. The device’s price is perfect for what you get and I may soon be buying one, in addition to the free one I have now. This device definitely earns five stars from me. Great job Incredisonic.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Image Courtesy: Incredisonic

  • TelMe2 TosBlue2 Adapter Review

    The TelMe2 TosBlue Adapter is a small device that converts the audio from your TV into bluetooth signals so that you can use wireless speakers or wireless headphones on your TV. The device sells for $69.00 at the TelMe2 Web Store. It is a great for situations where you must use headphones on your TV, such as the need to reduce sound while someone else in the room is sleeping or when you’re in a loud environment and you want to hear your TV better. According to TelMe2, the use of a headset and a TosBlue2 adapter will significantly boost your ability to hear the TV. Let’s see if this device is for you.

    Form

    There is not much to mention in the form of this product. The device is small and attaches to your TV. Forget about working with other colors besides black since it only comes in black. However, this actually puts you at an advantage. Since most TVs are black colored, your TV will hide the device. The device also goes on the back of the TV where most ports are located. The device is USB powered but since most TVs these days have USB ports, that shouldn’t be a problem. If it is, get a longer USB cord and a cheap USB wall adapter and plug it into an outlet or power strip (I’m sure you have one of those if you have more than just your TV and cable box to power like most people). A common feature on bluetooth devices is a blinking light, allowing you to know when it’s connected, this device is no exemption. It is especially important to have considering the device has no interactive screen that has alerts on it telling you that it has connected, like the Bluetooth settings app on iOS, not that I would want to have such a screen on this small device anyways. The product feels solid and seems like it would not easily break or fall apart later in the future. Overall, the product aces the Form part of the review.

    Function

    This device is very useful in many situations. First, it is useful when you are in a room where some one is sleeping. Turn the device and your wireless headphones on and you can listen to your TV without disturbing the person sleeping. You won’t be rude and you can still listen on full volume. Second, let’s say you are at a party. The room is really loud, people are talking and you just want to hear what they are saying. Just turn the device on and some headphones and you’re ready to go. The background noise will be reduced significantly. Also, you can get wireless speakers such as TelMe2s very own BlueBox Speakers that you can connect with your TV thus eliminating all those speaker wires. Even better, the speakers are surround so you can have surround sound without all the wires. Of course, there are other speakers to buy as well. It all depends on the consumer, although I highly recommend the BlueBox speakers. The device is small and can be taken to different parts of the house. It has a bluetooth indicator light. It is easy to set up, which is a big plus for many consumers. I would have like to have seen longer wires for USB, or perhaps no power wires at all, just the wires to the TV. Some people don’t have USB ports on their TV. One major problem with the device though is that it does not support Dolby Digital outputs. Therefore, if your output only puts out Dolby Digital signals, and not PCM, you can not use it. On my TV, it worked but some TVs may be out of luck. Some people, in addition, have noticed some audio/video lag, however, I have not noticed much of it. The device does have some issues, but overall it’s uses are still quite practical.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong aesthetic
    -Very practical and useful
    -Easy to setup
    -Easy to use

    Cons

    -Does not work with Dolby Digital-only TVs, needs PCM
    -Some users have reported audio/video lag
    -Could be better off with a rechargeable battery rather than having to be plugged in

    Ways to improve

    Perhaps making the product battery powered would be less of a hassle for some customers, especially for those who don’t have a USB port on their TV. Perhaps a combination of battery and USB-power would work best, such as a rechargeable battery. Adding Dolby Digital would eliminate many complaints. In addition, fixing any audio/video lag that exists is very important.

    This product, despite it’s kinks, is pretty useful and practical. I find myself using in loud environments, or ones that need to be quiet. There are some important issued that need to be addressed. At this time, I would rate the product at four stars. However, if they can fix the delay and Dolby Digital issues, I’d easily give it five stars. Good job TelMe2, just work out the kinks and you have a great product.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: TelMe2

  • Vangoddy Pindar MacBook/Laptop Carrying Bag

    The Vangoddy Pindar MacBook/Laptop Carrying Bag is a multifunction, multi-device carrying bag for all of your personal electronic devices. This bag carries a MacBook/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro, an iOS device or an Android device (God forbid) and an iPad or an Android tablet (again, God forbid). It is stylish, flexible and functional for a fair price of $41.99. Let’s see if it is the laptop bag for you.

    Form

    The bag is big enough for a 14 inch laptop such as a iBook G4 14″ but of course the most common size laptop to use in this bag is a 13 inch laptop. I have used both my 13 inch Air and 13 inch Regular MacBooks in the case. They fit just fine and are easy to take out. The bag is black with colored trim. You, of course, can choose which color. It comes in blue and black, all black, red and black, green and black, orange and black, purple and black. It also comes in all pink. The color is on the trim on the front of the bag, it has some green stitching, the logo is stitched in color, the green piece for earbuds to go through and the bottom rubber piece that protects the fabric from the hard floor. The fabric on the outside is soft but firm. The feel on the handle is very comfortable in your hand. The strap is also quite comfortable, it has a soft, padded feel to it. The inside is also padded which protects the devices inside. The inside and outside are made well and look great. Overall, it has great aesthetics.

    Function

    Laptop bags really only have one purpose, that is to protect your devices while making it easy to carry them. This bag does both. The bag is well padded so your devices will not be damaged should you drop it. The bag also makes them easy to carry. It carries three devices, or at least I was able to fit three devices: my MacBook, iPad and iPhone and all chargers for them. The case also, of course, doesn’t stop there. The straps and handle make it easy to carry. The strap comes off when you don’t need it that way when you carry it by it’s handles, the strap doesn’t get in the way. The bag also has an interesting feature. The pocket that you put your iPhone opens and you can access your phone from the pocket without having to take it out of the bag. Above that is a hole for your headphones to go through. There is a pocket next to it that is zippered. It is big enough to hold an iPad mini in. However, I use it for perhaps an additional iPod or device. The inside has a mesh area for chargers, an area for an iPad next to that and of course the pocket for the laptop is next to that. In addition to these cool pockets, there is also a flap on the side of the bag that allow you to put your charger cord through so you can charge your computer while it is still in the bag. The bag is a great bag, it has some unique features and it is one I can highly recommend.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Protects devices
    -Comfortable to use, convenient to use
    -Unique iPhone pocket
    -Unique slot for a charger

    Cons

    -None

    This is a great bag. There really aren’t ways for Vangoddy to improve this bag. It gives great features for a great price. This bag gets 5 stars from me.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Forward LifeJacket iPad Case Review

    The Forward Lifejacket iPad Case is a Tank case for the iPad designed to protect it from any submersion of water, so now the problem of dropping your iPad in the toilet is solved. Kidding aside, the case protects your iPad when you know you will be in water environments such as on a boat, near a body of water, or even under water. It is available for $94.99. Let’s see if this is the waterproof iPad case for you.

    Form

    Don’t expect this case to be the nicest looking case you have used. It is a tank. It makes the iPad turn from one of the thinnest “books” you can use to one of the thickest. Similarly, it turns from light to heavy with the addition of this case. One could simply say, bulky is the word for the dimensions of the case. It is made up of a black, hard plastic that would take a tank to dent it. The case is awkward to use because there are several hatches on the case that keep it closed. The back looks like the backing of a bland looking stereo receiver backing, except without all the ports of course. Protecting the iPad’s screen is a sheet of a see-through screen protector. The only color on the case is the white and blue logo of the company, all of the rest is a bland black color. Inside the case, there is no clear way of putting the iPad in the case. The only way I see is to just lay it on top and close the lid. The inside of the case also looks bland and cheap. Of course, don’t get me wrong, the case is not cheaply made, it just has the appearance of it, particularly on the inside. The case does not fare well in the form category, but how can a tank be nice looking anyways?

    Function

    If it’s one thing this case does well it is to protect. This case will protect your iPad from drops and from water. In fact, it does it so well, it’s military grade. I tested it myself and it indeed passed the submersion test. Of course, I’m not one to want to submerge my device if I don’t have to, so I took it out before testing. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay to get this protection. First of all, we’ll start at putting the iPad in. There are four hatches that you need to open to get the case open. I wouldn’t normally complain about this but you have to have strong hands to open this case. People with weak hands will not be able to open this case. The hatches just hatch it closed too tight to even be able to open it. Next, after you pry it open, there is, once again, no clear way to put the iPad in. There are no corner things that you attach to the corners of the iPad or anything of that sort. You just put the iPad in and hope it is even, because if it’s not, you’ll have to reopen and adjust and try again. After you close the case, you will discover that a few key features have been stripped of their use. The camera, volume buttons, sleep/wake buttons, charging port, headphone jack and the rotation lock switch are all inaccessible. That’s right, you can’t listen to music in your headphones nor the speakers since they are almost entirely blocked, you can’t turn the rotation, you can’t change the volume of the music you can’t hear, you can’t charge the iPad while in the case, and you can’t even turn the iPad off. What is the point of using a device if all of it’s primary functions are blocked even if it does provide military grade protection from drops and water. If the case protects your device but the device isn’t usable, what’s the point? Unfortunately, this case did not do well in it’s function either.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Military-grade protection

    Cons

    -Too thick and heavy
    -Weak aesthetics
    -Hard to open
    -Questionable placement of the iPad
    -Limited functionality, too limited for most to sacrifice for the protection

    Ways to Improve

    To be honest, Forward should consider a complete overhaul of it’s case. As a matter of fact, I believe much time and resources should be put into R&D to fix the many problems of this case while still keeping protective abilities, even if one has to sacrifice the thinness of the iPad for it. If that was all one sacrificed, I would use the case. However, so much is stripped away that it renders the iPad useless.

    The case very much reminds me of communism. We’ll take away your rights in exchange for protection. Your right to audio, turning your iPad off, switching the rotation and even charging the iPad are stripped away. Of course, you can get these rights back if you open the case (remember, difficult to open) and take the iPad out. Then, after you take it out, you won’t ever put it in again. The case receives a 1 star from me, for at least providing protection for the iPad. Unfortunately, the costs are too high to keep that protection. Besides, who’ll drop it in the toilet anyways?

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Telme2 BlueBox Speakers

    The Telme2 Bluetooth Speakers are wireless, bluetooth speakers that work with any bluetooth enabled device to produce a loud but clear and well balanced sound. What is unique about these speakers is that as a pair, the speakers can produce a stereo sound, unlike single-set speakers which can not achieve this. The speakers are available from Telme2 for $172.00. Let’s see it they are the speakers for you.

    Form

    These pair of speakers probably some of the nicest looking speakers I have reviewed. First off, they are small. They are small boxes that remind me of the square (not rectangle) kleenex boxes, in terms of size anyways. They definitely aren’t ugly like kleenex boxes but a that’s about the size of one speaker. The speakers are white and black. The speaker has a middle part that is all black. This is where the speaker is housed. Surrounding it is a creamy white colored chrome textured material. The back has the port to charge the speaker. On the bottom is a latch to attach the the wall attachment. The speakers are attached to my wall, in it’s permanent spot. They look good in an office to use for speakers for your office computer. They look professional and clean. They are ready for any office or any place. I am using them as my office speakers because they look nice and, as I will discuss in a second, they sound great.

    Function

    These speakers sound great! Because of the stereo provided by these speakers, you feel like you are surrounded by the sound, so of course, you could also call these speakers surround sound. Because of the fact that I have not heard surround sound out of any other bluetooth speaker set that I have reviewed, it sounds better than all of the bluetooth speakers I have reviewed thus far. The sound is clear, well rounded and just sounds great. In addition. the process of connection is seamless. Turn them on and connect to them on your computer, thats it. There are no wires connecting the two speakers. The only wires you will ever need to use is the charging cable so that you can charge them when you need to. The batteries hold up well so you won’t need to charge often. It should be noted that this is an European company and it’s chargers are for European outlets. However, Euro to US outlet adapters are available for a dollar or two for a set of six or seven. They are very cheap. Don’t let the charger discourage you. I would just order some Euro to US adapters before purchase. I appreciate the fact that they can attach to the wall so that I can keep them level with my computer and allow easy access to the on button. The speakers only have an on button, bluetooth discoverable button and volume buttons, but that is all that is necessary when the controls are on your computer on on your device a stroke or touch away anyways. Overall, the speakers sound great and provide seamless bluetooth integration.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great sound
    -Looks great in any setting
    -Seamless bluetooth connection
    -No wires except for charging
    -Can be taken anywhere if needed

    Cons

    -None

    These speakers are great speakers that I could highly recommend to anyone. If speakers can earn their place as my permanent computer speakers, then they are an obvious winner.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • iSkin Aura2 Review SPECIAL PROMOTION 60% OFF

    The iSkin Aura2 is an iPad case made to protect your iPad in a stylish way. To accommodate the lavish look, there is a lavish price tag. The case is available for $99.99 from iSkin. However, you as a reader of my site get a special promotion. Enter aura60off at checkout if you buy the case by April 30th, you will get 60% off the case, making the case only $40. Of course, let’s see if it is worth this great discount.

    Form

    My opinion here is very mixed. The case is actually very nice. The case is made well in terms of stitching and how it is put together (where stuff goes and such). The material used is a good leather material and the case feels solid to use. The ports and cameras are not blocked in any way. The case has nice pockets put in for good measure. The case’s stand design is interesting and it probably isn’t something I would personally put into a case should I ever make one. However, whether you like the stand or not, I think, is more based on personal preference. What isn’t based on personal presence, however, is the bending, or warping, of the case. The front cover bends inwards. The borders around the iPad’s sides come up and sometimes prevent the front cover’s magnets from making contact with the magnets on the iPad. There is a good 1.5-2.0 mm of space between the case and the iPad itself, the right side even went as far as 3 mm from case to iPad. It seems like the iPad is too thick for the case causing the cases edges to come up. Since I am using an iPad 2, the thinnest iPad made to date, this should not happen. I was sent two cases with the same defect. However, I read online that many people did not get a case with this defect. This problem is the source for other problems. Because of the warping of the case, it is uncomfortable to hold. The case is a bit thicker than it normally be. However, the case is too thick even without the warping. Overall, the warping is the only thing wrong with the form of this case but it is a major problem. The problem to fix all other problems.

    Function

    Before once again tackling the problems with the warping, I’d first like to address the positives. First, the case, despite the warping, still protects your case well, probably better than a lot of other cases. The case also has pockets for credit cards, paper and other small things. The case does have a stand, whether you like it or not its up to you. I personally do not because of the extra work required to get the case standing. I never have been a fan of folio case stands, the ones where the front cover lays on the table and a flap comes onto a nudge on the front cover. Of course, that is something that is more of opinion. One interesting function is that when you have the stand in typing mode, which by the way is the hardest to get to, you can make the front cover flap go over the iPad to protect the screen from prying eyes. It offers a little bit of privacy. Whether of not that was intentionally done or just a coincidental result of how they made the case will remain unknown. Again, I do need to mention the warping. The case comes up off the iPad so much that sometimes it can prevent the magnets on the case and on the iPad from touching. This is due to the front cover being so far away from the iPad itself, it can not reach it and thus sleep the iPad. Also, holding the case is uncomfortable and that is not how handling the iPad should be. Overall, my reaction to this case based on it’s function, as you can tell, is mixed.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Good stitching and craftsmanship (besides the warping)
    -Protects the iPad well
    -Ports and cameras protected but not blocked
    -Pockets provide extra support for carrying your stuff
    -Without the warping, it would be a much better case (maybe yours won’t be warped)

    Cons

    -Warping and the problems as a result of it.
    -Stand may not be for some people
    -A bit too thick

    Ways to Improve

    If it is true that the leather warps in changes in temperature, consider sending the case in a package that will keep a certain temperature. In addition, the company should consider thinning the case’s profile a little bit. I also think the case should be redone perhaps to resemble more simple stand designs

    I am unsure how the leather warped however it may be that the case was handled in changing temperatures before arriving to my house in California from Canada. In addition, I read online that people received their cases in perfect condition without any problems. If my cases did not have the problem of being warped, this review would be much more positive and despite my on-the-negative-side review, you should consider purchase anyway since if the case does not have the problem, it is a wonderful case. It is on discount with the coupon code above and the customer service was friendly and courteous, so what do you have to lose? Due to the case’s warping, I do have to rate it at a 2 and a half. However, that is with the warping. If you receive a case without the warping, that rating is a 4 and a half. Many people have received cases without the warping so it may just be bad luck. Try your luck with the case, you may or may be disappointed.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • ION Room Rocker Review

    The ION Room Rocker is a bluetooth speaker designed to rock your room, hence the name. The speaker has a wide range with an emphasis on the bass. The speaker is not small so it is not meant to be moved around much. Why would you want to? You could accidentally damage this nice looking speaker! The speaker is available from ION for $149.99. Allow me to show you why it’s worth the price.

    Form

    The speaker excels in it’s form. The speaker is big and it is wide so it does take up a lot of room but it is not bulky. On the front, it is a simplistic design. The standard black cover that protects almost all speakers is on this one as well. Surrounding it is a silver trim. Inside the black mesh there is a light that shows a blue color when it is on and shows no color when it is not. Right below that is the cool ION logo. Below that is gray bar that also projects sound. The sides are all black and have a texture like that of other high quality, high price speakers. On the top, most of it is the same black material. However, on the top there is also a dock and four buttons. The dock is handy for when you want to listen to music but you are almost out of charge. I find it nice to have that option to just put it on the dock. Some bluetooth speakers do not offer the functionality of a dock just in case you need it. The buttons included are the off/on button, volume buttons and a connect bluetooth button. The bluetooth button has a light that allows you to know if it is connected to something bluetooth. On the back, there is a bass speaker as well as on the bottom. Included with the speaker is a remote that allows for much more functionality than the buttons on the speaker itself. It is solidly made, unlike many remotes that come with speakers. Overall, this speaker shines in it’s form.

    Function

    What? What did you say?! This would be something you would say to your friend sitting right next to you if you were to put these speakers on full blast. These speakers are that loud. If you want a room rocker, this is it. If you want a house rocker this is it as well. Of course, this is at high blast. It’s not a representation at mid-level or, of course, low-level. This speaker has great sound at any volume level, something some speakers have difficulty in accomplishing. Some people may want to put the bass reducer function on their devices on with these speakers. These speakers have an incredible bass ability, better than many other speakers on the market. That said, the sound sounds great across the board. This speaker is meant to stay in one place for most of it’s life. The speaker is not that light and is not portable. It is, however, perfect for a shelf or an end table. The buttons on it signify that it relies heavily on controlling the sound from either the device or the remote, considering only the power button, volume buttons and Bluetooth button make a debut on the speaker. The remote has power, volume, mute, Bluetooth, rewind, play/pause, forward and shuffle buttons. Whew. Thankfully the remote is included with this speaker since all of us prefer to use remotes then get up and change the song. I appreciate that ION added the remote in since without it, the speaker would not work. Of course, an alternative to that scenario is if there was no remote but more functionality in the speaker itself, but the way they chose to do it is better. This is a great speaker that I could highly recommend.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -GREAT sound
    -Whole musical range sounds great with a good emphasis on bass
    -Made well and well designed
    -Remote allows for quick, easy wireless controls
    -Bluetooth

    Cons

    -At this time, there are no cons to report

    Ways to Improve

    Although I did not mention this in my cons list, I do think that the company should consider adding additional buttons to the speaker. Of course, this is nothing to pull off all the merchandise off the shelves to fix but it is something to consider should they ever make an improved version of this speaker.

    This is a really great speaker. I could recommend it to anyone, including those who don’t want a lot of volume, because of the power, the sound, it can bring at 80% volume and at 20% volume. If you are looking for a bluetooth speaker, I would highly consider this one. How could I refrain from giving this speaker 5 stars? I couldn’t, this speaker easily gets five stars from me! Great job ION!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Ozaki iCoat-Slim-Y Review

    The Ozaki iCoat Slim-Y is a slim lightweight-profiled folio case for the iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4 (who calls the iPads by their real names? I don’t). The case is available from Ozaki for a steep price of $79.99. Let’s see if it is worth it’s hole in your wallet price tag.

     

     

    Form

    First off, the case is thin. It’s slim, it says it in the name. It adds about 1-2 mm in thickness to the iPad, which you know is already very thin. The case is also light as a result. This provides more comfort when holding the case. The case comes in black, white, brown, and red(other variations of this case like the Slim-Y or ++ have other colors). The front cover of the case is a very thin Apple Smart Cover like cover but is built quite a bit stronger than it, at least in terms of material. On the back the case gets harder and provides a good layer of protection for the iPad. All the ports are easily accessible but not so much where they can be accidentally damaged. The material on the case adds to it’s comfort. The stand is quite unique and I enjoy it a lot. It is an origami stand that allows for different positions without having to slide the cover into a slot. Very useful. Overall, the aesthetic is clean and well thought out.

    Form

    The primary function of a case is to protect your device. This case does exactly that. What’s impressive about this case is how much little space it takes up and still protects the iPad well. The case doesn’t sacrifice thinness for protection or vice versa, it has both. The magnets are strong enough to catch. I have never had a problem with the case accidentally opening and having the battery drain. The case has a unique stand that allows to stand in different positions. It uses the origami stand and I have found it to be the best way to add a stand on a case and I think that other case companies should add it to their cases. The sleep/wake function works every time and I have never had a problem with it. All the ports are protected enough but not protected too much to where we can’t access them. I think that some may complain about the price, but it is a great value since it is thin yet protective.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Thin, light
    -Protective
    -Unique Stand
    -Great aesthetic
    -Magnets latch, ports are easily accessible, and other small details

    Cons

    -Price may be a bit high for some.

    Ways to Improve

    At this time, the only way to improve would be to decrease the price a little to make this great case available to more people.

    This is a well-made solid case. It is definitely one of my favorites. I will continue using this case in the future. Obviously, this case earns five stars form me!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe