Reviews by The Church of Apple

Tag: Review

  • Snugg iPhone 4/4S Anti-Radiation Case

    The The Snugg iPhone 4/4S Anti-Radiation Case is exactly as the name implies. It is a case for your iPhone that blocks the radiation from going to your head. There is science to prove that radiation does indeed enter your head after prolonged use of the cell phone due to the rays of cellular radiation being right next to your head for a long period of time. Prolonged use of cell phones and the radiation it brings may be harmful to our head. The FDA says it doesn’t bring health affects that it knows of but the risk when using a cell phone does increase. The anti-radiation part comes at a premium on this case. The case is $49.99 from Snugg. Let’s see if it is for you.

    Form

    I have to admit, when it comes to the form of the case, I was surprised in a good way. The case did seem like it was fairly durable, not sure if it is durable enough to handle a big fall. The material it was made out of was firm to hand, as it should be. The case is only in black but it does look pretty sleek. It didn’t add much weight or width to the phone and it fit comfortably. The case does not stick to your pocket when it is inside the pocket which is a good thing. I have used cases in the past where my whole pocket came out along with my phone, chasing bits of paper that I had stored in my pocket was never fun. The case looks as though it would be cheap and that it would bend but when I tried bending it, it held up pretty well. However, I am not sure if the case would hold up in a fall. The case has all the appropriate cut outs and it doesn’t have the annoying port protectors, which since I found out that some cases ship with those pesky things, I have been on the look out for ever since. They are almost always a negative. Overall, the case does have good build in terms of material and what it should be like aesthetically.

    Function

    This is where things get a little tricky. The case is supposed to protect the iPhone in case it falls so it will prevent the phone from breaking. However, despite the fair build quality, it doesn’t seem as though it would hold up in a big fall. Albeit big falls don’t happen everyday but I would not feel comfortable with my phone in this case if I kept it a high counter over hard floor. It may break. With other case, I wouldn’t do that. However, despite this, it is the first case I have seen that involved a bit of science. The case, according to Snugg, reduces Cell Phone Radiation or SAR by 92% and Hot Spot Radiation or EFI by 90% so it does do well in protecting our heads (testing performed in private labs, chance of false claims). Long term use may reduce the risk for cancer, brain tumors, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, Fatigue and headaches. Therefore, this case may not be the best in protecting the phone but it does protect your health and that is what is really important.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Radiation protection*
    -Aesthetically pretty well made
    -Protects phone from minor falls (drop from your hand) and scratches

    Cons

    -Won’t protect the phone from bigger falls
    -Pricy

    Ways to improve

    Snugg has always amazed me with their cases and this case definitely was an interesting one. If I were Snugg, I would look into putting more protecting material into the case to protect the phone better. It may sacrifice it’s low width but I think it is a good trade off, the main purpose of a case usually is to protect, right? Also, unless the material they use to make the case is expensive, they need to lay off the price. No iPad case on their site is priced that much.

    The case may not be the best in terms of protecting your phone but it does the job. It does a better job of protecting you than the phone. If it can protect me from the radiation like it says it can and if San Onofre decides to burst, I’ll be sure to use this case. I give the case 3.5 stars for it’s protection of the user but not so much protection for the device.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Snugg

    *The claims that Snugg have made may or not be true. As I am not a radiologist or a scientist, I can not test to see if it actually does protect you from harmful radiation as it advertises. Many companies have made false claims before and I can not guarantee that Snugg is not one of these companies. I have based this review on Snugg being honest and the tests correct. If evidence proves that they have lied, this review will automatically be reduced to zero stars. If you have any information about the validity of their claims, please contact the Editor-in-Chief or leave a comment.

  • The Ultimate Irony: ION iLP Review

    The ION iLP is a product that converts your old 33s, 45s and 78s (if you don’t know what those are, you need not read this review) into an MP3 file onto your computer or iOS device. You can also use the device to just play the records, if you have external speakers that is. The ultimate irony of it is that the iLP has a 30-pin dock connector on it, putting technologies that are 40 years apart from each other on the same device! The iLP is available directly from ION for $99.99. Free apps direct from ION for iOS, PC and Mac are available to transfer the music. $100 is a high price but if you have a huge collection of records around and you don’t have a turntable for them or you do but you want to transfer your aging records into something that will last even longer, this is for you.

    Form

    When you look at the iLP, it reminds you of the past blended with the present. It has the classic stylus (you can take off this stylus and replace it with a diamond stylus for even better sound quality) for the record, the place to put the record on and even a 45 holder so if you lost all those plastic things that you placed in the middle of the record so you could fit it in the player, you are in luck. On one corner, it has the iOS dock (oh, the irony). Covering the record playing stuff is a see-through plastic dust cover which is really useful and you don’t even have to put it on yourself, it is already attached to the turntable. Just lift and close the cover. The turntable itself, like the ION iCade Mobile, has a Piano Black chrome feel and color, which just make the device very nice. Don’t expect the iLP to be portable, it is about the size of a record player and it will require speakers even then. It is not light either but at least that shows it is sturdy and not made poorly. The iLP can not be used without the complimentary application. The app itself provides instructions and is self-explanitory. I found it to be easy to use both on the iOS devices and Mac, not sure about the PC as nothing is easy to use on that :). Seriously, it is an app that does what it needs to and performs well despite many people’s criticisms about it. Of course, what it does and how it does it is more important so let’s move on.

    Function

    The iLP is a turntable that allows you to play and record your songs on records. You put the record pole into the hold in the record (put in the 45 port if need be first) and pull the lever so you can move the stylus. Move and line up the stylus, pull the lever down and it will do one of three things. One, it will play on it’s weak internal speaker. Two, it will play through your way more powerful external speakers (and play beautifully too) or three it will play/record on your iOS device, Mac or PC. The internal speakers in the iLP, despite being quiet, are okay since they will only be used to make sure that the device is playing and recording on your iOS device, Mac or PC if you have the volume off on the device you are recording onto. Of course, this is 2013 so why not make a change to it and add more power to the internal speakers? I don’t see any reason why not. The iLP plugs into RCA inputs from a stereo system. This is how other record players worked too. Perhaps not through RCA inputs but through external speakers. Additionally, you can play the music on your computer speakers as well if the internal is too weak or you don’t have external speakers for it. It has the auto stop function and a switch to change from 33, 45 and 78 RPM speeds. It comes with a 45 connector so you can use your 45s should you have lost the ones you had from a long time ago. The applications that come with the iLP are useful despite what most reviews say. You are able to record multiple tracks at one at a time, at one time. You can do the automatic track splitting, however it will make mistakes if the song becomes quiet or if there is a scratch on the disk. I played “The Entertainer” and I got three recordings for one song. Just turn this feature off and manually split the songs if there is more than one song on a disc. What you hear is what you get. If there is static, it will playback as static which is okay considering that it is a straight conversion. Be prepared to give up some of your office space though since it is certainly not the smallest player out there. It is big and bulky, which to me is a downside because not everyone has a lot of space. Overall, the iLP is well made and is very useful for those of you who want to keep your golden oldies.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Strong aesthetic
    -Converts records to MP3 with no problem, easy transfer into iTunes
    -Brings back the Golden Age
    -With external speakers, including RCA or computer speakers, you can blast your ears with Johnny Cash and The Beatles
    -Applications for iOS, Mac and PC are simple to use and self-explanatory.
    -Attached dust cover
    -Stylus can be taken off and replaced by any stylus

    Cons

    -Bulky (as with all turntables)
    -Internal speaker could be improved

    Ways to improve

    This product would do best with better internal speakers. Many similar products also don’t have speakers in their turntable conversion products but why not innovate? Why not be the first to add those needed speakers?Make it more than a conversion table, make it a conversion/listening table. It concerns me a bit that this product is a bit bulky and there isn’t a whole lot you can do especially when you have a similar product that ION sells that is marketed as a smaller, cheaper version of this turntable. However, I believe that ION could work on making it a bit smaller. It can be done. I believe it can be, Apple does it all the time! :)

    The ION iLP truly does a great job at combining the older record age with the new digital age. The record age may be gone but this product helps it make it’s own little comeback. It offers conversion of your golden oldies unseen by any other product of similar pricing. It’s a job well done. It receives 4 and a half stars from me.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • The Portable Charge: myCharge Trek 2000 Review

    The myCharge Trek 2000 is a portable charging dock that you can take anywhere you go and add battery life to your dying Apple product should it be dying. It is available from myCharge for $55 at Amazon. Let’s see if it’s the right charging solution for you.

    Form

    The device may only come in one flavor of color, white and grey, but it does look like it is well made. Of course, that is because it is well made. The product has a white, glossy top with green buttons that light up and tell you how much charge it has left to give to your devices. It has a grey dock that unclips from the back and and comes up in a 95-100 degree angle, giving your device the perfect viewing angle. The cords that clip into the device are rather short but one of them is to charge the myCharge and the other is to charge the thousands of devices out there that use Micro-USB. The cords may be short but they seem as though they won’t fray anytime soon, or ever, which is good, a charger with a frayed cord won’t work nearly as efficiently. Of course, the aesthetics aren’t nearly as important than it’s abilities to charge so let’s dive into how the charger performs.

    Function

    The first thing I noticed about the charger is that it charges fast. My iPod touch went from 0 to 100 in about an hour, on my computer it would be charged in 2 hours and on it’s own charger about 2 hours. My iPhone was similar, charged from 0-100 in an hour and a half to 2 hours while on it’s own charger charged it fully in 3. There is a great speed that this dock charges at. I can not make a claim for an Android device since I do not have one, however, it does charge 1000s of Android devices because of the added Micro-USB cord that it has. It has a charge indicator which tells me if I need to charge the myCharge or not, which is nice since I will now know exactly how much charge the charger has before I leave for somewhere. It also plays a sound if a device is put on it, if a device is taken off of it and when it is plugged in. The first and third sounds are useful since it gives you a confirmation that either the device is charging or the charger is charging which is useful since with most chargers like this one, you can not tell if it has charged or is charging until you have wasted time. The fact that it plays a loud sound when it comes off the charger is necessary for two reasons. One, if the device is in the charger and you want it to charge, you don’t want it coming off so if it happens to come off when you don’t want it to, you will know immediately that it has been unplugged. Similarly, benefit two is that if someone tries to steal your device while it is on the charger, it will tell you like a car alarm tells you of a burglar. With some luck and an incredibly stupid robber, you can prevent your device from being stolen while it is on the charger. One bad side that I do see about the device is it’s practicality. iOS device’s batteries, at least for newer devices, are built to last. You also probably charge your device at night anyways, so when it is night time and your phone still has a charge from the morning, it’s going on the main charger anyways. Another thing is that you can not use the device effectively while it is on the charger. Of course, this is a dock and that is why it won’t be very comfortable using your device on it, because it is a dock. My iPhone 4S, after extensive use, does drain so I do find myself using the dock to charge it but I want to be able to use the device while it’s charging and that can not be effectively done. An old iPod touch I used to have lasted maybe half an hour off of it’s charger, it’s battery was toast. This charger would have made the device much more effectively used since it did charge fast (the old iTouch could charge in 30 minutes, probably due to he fact that most battery cells were dead and charging the remaining ones was a snap). However, despite the fact that I can’t use it on the charger, does it really matter if I can’t? The device can charge my device is about an hour or two anyways. The charger, despite the flaw in practicality, works really well and I would recommend it.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -FAST Charge
    -Great Aestethics
    -Not just for Apple products
    -Charge an Apple product and Android product at the same time
    -Different sounds to indicate different actions
    -Portable and light
    -Great dock viewing angle
    -Wrist strap to attach to your wrist
    Cons

    -Can not use device effectively while it is on the charger
    -Wires are very short

    Recommendations to improve the Product

    This is probably a section I should have added a little while ago, when I first started reviewing but we learn along the way. Anyways, recommendations to the company would include to lengthen the wires perhaps by utilizing the space that the cord currently uses to put a retractable wire. Also, putting a USB port on the device would allow the user to plug in his or her cord to the charger and still effectively use the device. Of course, they can leave the dock there since I know people prefer to dock their device whenever possible, perhaps when they are at a desk and working. When their phone rings, they can pick it up off the dock. I think a dock/USB power bank is what I am going for here. It would be a great improvement.

    This charger, for $55, will serve you well. I would consider other chargers from myCharge since they have USB power banks too but if you are a dock person, I would recommend this charger to you. I give the charger 4 stars for doing what it should being doing quickly, charging. The effectiveness of using the device on charger or a lack thereof, prevents from it receiving a five star rating.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Image Courtesy: myCharge and Amazon

  • LifeProof iPhone 4/4S Case

    UPDATE: This case saved my phone today. I fell on a platform near water and it fell out of my hand and landed in the water. A friend of mine jumped into the water and got my phone out and it worked just as it did before I took it out, like nothing happened. I give my highest recommendation to this phone case.

     

    The LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case is a waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof, and shockproof iPhone case available from LifeProof. The case comes in eleven great colors and is available from LifeProof directly for $69.99. This may seem expensive but I’ll tell you why it is money well spent especially when you like to be able live your life with your phone in hand whether in water, snow or dirt.

    Form

    The aesthetics of this case are some of the best I have ever seen in an iPhone case.

    The case will transform your iPhone into another color. For example, I received the green case to review (LifeProof was actually so courteous as to ask what color I would prefer). I have people comment “How did you get your iPhone green?” and “That’s a great color”. It is kinda cool for people to ask how you made your iPhone your favorite color and all you did was put a case on it. From what I can tell, the other colors look really cool too. Also, if you want to just see your iPhone with no color, they sell a see-through case too. As I mentioned before there are 11 colors (excluding the see-through) to choose from so you have plenty of choices.

    Another thing I really appreciate about this case is that it has a very thin and light profile adding almost no profile to it. According to LifeProof, it adds just 1.5mm to your phone. If you have the iPhone 4S, it will be about 10 mm, which in comparison to other cases is nothing. It is the thinnest iPhone case I have reviewed.

    The material in which it is made is great. The outside is a big screen protector with the edges and back being a polycarbonate frame that protects the iPhone very well. The case is also non-stick material, therefore it will not stick to your pocket (like my OtterBox case for iPod touch will).

    I am very impressed by the aesthetics of this case. In terms of aesthetics, it is actually the best I have reviewed.

    Function

    The case is called LifeProof and it is done so because life happens. Phones go in water, they get washed, they get dropped, they get dropped in water, they get snowed on, they get dirt on them, they are thrown, they are spilt on and they are scratched. Everything listed here and more is protected by this case. It literally is lifeproof.

    Every port on this case is protected, the dock, the headphone jack, the cameras, the screen, the buttons. Every opening that’s possible on the phone can not be invaded by water. If it is one thing this case aces in, it’s protection and that is what we seek in a case isn’t it?

    The case not only protects your phone but it also doesn’t add much thickness to it like the OtterBox does, for example.

    The screen protector on it does not hinder the performance of the touch screen of the phone and that is important.

    The case also adds a double AR coated glass lens for the camera to improve picture quality.

    The speakers and mic holes are water proof but that doesn’t hinder their ability. In fact, it improves it! The case somehow makes it sound like the music is coming out of the whole case, the acoustics in it are very impressive. It is something I have never seen in a case. It is something quite remarkable.

    There is one thing I have a minor concern about, however. In order to use the headphone jack you need an adapter to plug the headphones in since the case is raised above the headphone jack too much for the headphone to reach it. Of course the workaround for this is simple, just keep it plugged into your headphones. However, if you use multiple accessories that use the headphone jack, you’ll need to hold on to it. This for me isn’t a problem because I use headphones only so it doesn’t affect me much.

    The headphone jack, by the way, has a port protector in it to prevent the water or whatever you may to go in there. I have been notorious for disliking these pesky protectors when I reviewed the SwitchEasy cases. However, this case is fine since the company also sends a holder that clips onto your headphones that holds the protector so when you take out your headphones, it can be found easily and you can put it back on. It also comes with a backup protector. The dock is protected with an attached protector.

    Going along the same topic, it can not go onto a dock without an extension that you need to buy from them. However, this is the case with most cases and I am not at all surprised at that note.

    Despite these few negatives, I feel the positives far outweigh them. This is, by far, the best iPhone case I have reviewed and I honestly think it will be the best one for a long time.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Great color choices
    -Great protection from water (all cases have been water-tested before leaving the factory)
    -Does everything to protect your phone
    -Improves camera and speaker
    -All ports protected very well

    Cons

    -Headphone adapter can be a nuisance for some
    -Docking problems

    This case has many great qualities about it that far outweigh it’s cons. I have been reviewing cases for a while now and this case has to be one of the best I have reviewed. I use it everyday, and I can imagine that in the not so distant future, it will save my iPhone from accidents related to water. I can do more with my phone now and I don’t have to be afraid that I’ll drop it, get it wet or get it dirty because this case has me covered. It has a few cons but these are easily offset by the protection and looks it provides. I easily give this case five stars. Great job LifeProof on your great case!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • ION iCade Mobile Review

    The ION iCade Mobile is a wireless bluetooth gaming controller for certain games available on the Apple App Store. It allows you to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a sort of PSP-like device. The iCade mobile is available direct from iCade for $49.99.

    Form

    While the form of this product isn’t nearly as important as the Function of the product, it still needs to be covered because who wants something thats cheap plastic? Or looks like it’s a piece of junk? This product, in terms of aesthetics definitely isn’t that. The iCade Mobile is sturdy and looks as though it will not shatter if dropped. It consists of two parts. The controller and an insert if you use an iPod touch. If you don’t have an iPod touch, just take the insert out and you can use it with your iPhone 4/4S. The controller is made out of a chrome material, hard plastic (not cheap plastic) and rubber. The buttons and front of the controller are chrome, the spot to put your iPod touch or iPhone is a soft rubber that while won’t scratch your device, will protect it while it’s in the controller. The backing is a hard plastic that I feel fairly certain will hold up if dropped, I think it could take a lot. The device actually looks pretty nice aesthetically. The chrome gives it an interesting look, almost like the PSP itself, which as you know, with it’s sleek chrome is a very nice looking product. The controller is black with silver only and it may only be one color combination but trust me, it looks very nice.

    Function

    The abilities of this controller are far more important than how it looks. The controller connects via bluetooth very well and I have had no problems with it disconnecting on me which is great, I don’t want to lose a game I’m playing! The controller truly transforms your device into a PSP-like device. It has four buttons on the right that resemble the X-Square-Circle-Triangle pad on the PSP. Also on the right is a D-Pad that resembles the D-Pad on the XBox controllers. It has L1-L2, R1-R2 like buttons on the top as well. These buttons are easy to press, easy to use and they aren’t stiff. At first I thought the way the device is made is a bit awkward to use but after further use, I learned to get used to it and I actually like it’s profile because it fits in almost any bag or traveling case or whatever. It is easily stored. The containment that holds your device can flip from landscape to portrait should any of the games you play require it. The device actually reminds me of a case and I wish the containment that holds the device came off so I could do such a thing. It really seems like it would do a good job at protecting your device and it really isn’t all that thick either. I also appreciate the fact that they made it an iPhone and iPod touch accessory. It is important that they made it for both. The insert that goes into the holder can get lost though, which is my concern for such a thing, however most people will use it for one device anyways. There are a few things that I am not a fan of though. Despite the many good physical things with it, there is a severe issue with the device in terms of when I can actually use it. Currently, the Apple App Store has a total of about 130,000 games available on the App Store. This controller can work with 139 games (some of which have multiple classic games on them). That is .001 of all the games of on the App Store. Also, even then, I’ve only heard of a few select games such as Temple Run, Frogger, Nyan Cat, Namco, Midway Arcade Collection and Final Run. For this product to be successful, they truly need to work on getting more games to support it and not only more games but better quality games, ones that are much more successful. The apps they have are limited in number and limited in popularity and that, I think, is hurting this product and preventing it from being much more popular than it could potentially be. Truly the only thing that needs help is not the product itself (maybe the controller could be less awkward to hold) but the amount of apps that support it.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great Aesthetics
    -Supports both iPhone and iPod touch
    -Landscape or portrait view
    -Similar to the controllers already out there
    -Great gameplay with the controller
    -Does not drop bluetooth connection

    Cons

    -Needs more, higher-quality games, as-is, it is just way too limited
    -Controller is a bit awkward to hold especially for someone with big hands

    This controller is a true example of something that shows true potential. The controller itself is a great product, something that makes you think, I should have thought of that! It has all that you would think that a device like it would have. Unfortunately, the thing that needs serious improvement also is the most important thing, it’s support for a large base of games which it does not have. The potential in this device is huge and it makes you see how much you miss not using the touch screen. However, a great product/service is different than great potential. The product has only been on shelves for a year now and is destined to take off with a lot of games. In order for it to be truly successful, their roster of games needs to improve. Until then, the ION iCade receives a 4 star review from me. As the roster improves and more games are added, I absolutely will update that rating. However, as of right now, 4 stars feels right. It’s a great working product with great potential that just isn’t there yet. I feel, though, it can and will be.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Snugg iPad 2 Executive Case and Stand in Black PU Leather

    The Snugg iPad 2 Executive Case and Stand in PU Leather is exactly what it’s long title suggests. It is an iPad case! It is generally known that iPad cases for iPad 2, iPad 3, or iPad 4 will fit with iPad 2, iPad 3 or iPad 4 interchangeably but if you are still worried that the iPad 2 Executive case won’t fit your iPad 4, don’t worry, Snugg sells the iPad 4 executive case. It’s the same case but if you’re ODD about it, Snugg has got you covered (which is okay, I get that way too sometimes). Anyways, the Executive case is available from Snugg for $39.99 direct. Let’s see if it can match it’s five star brother.

    Form

    The form of the case is very similar to it’s sibling that I reviewed earlier, the Snugg iPad 4 case. It has the same nice stitching, the same out of the way features such as the stylus holder and the strap. The front has the same out of the way branding and bifold. The inside is even nicer in this case than the other Snugg case. There are a few differences in the two cases, however. First, the feel of this case isn’t as soft as the other Snugg case I reviewed. Despite that, the case is very comfortable and it feels like it is still very sturdy, just as the other case is. Another difference is that this case has another cool feature that the other regular case did not have. This case has four really nice pockets built in. One is for bigger things such as paper, money, paper pad, pencils, pens etc. The other three pockets are for pens, slips of paper such as business cards, pencils and any other little object that fits. The pockets again are out of your way and are really useful when you use them. Once again, the form of a Snugg case aces.

    Function

    The case, like it’s sibling that I reviewed, is very good at protecting the iPad. It keeps the iPad snug inside while preventing it from breaking when dropped. It does a great job keeping it from getting scratches, big or small. The case, again like it’s equivalent, has a sturdy stand and puts the iPad at both a comfortable ergonomically correct typing angle and a comfortable widescreen, landscape view. The strap, again, is very handy and I really like the ability to carry the iPad around with one hand comfortably. The additional feature of the case, the added pockets really do come in handy and I’m sure that businessmen and women really appreciate this added feature, as well as doctors, lawyers and other professionals. The pockets do go a long way especially when you use them a lot. It adds a business side to the iPad case while still keeping it practical and light.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Great design
    -Great protection
    -Great stand
    -Great strap
    -Great pockets

    Cons

    -For the third time, there is nothing that fits this category.

    Snugg has really delivered. They sent me three cases to review, two of the last case I reviewed and this one and all three are excellent cases. I mentioned in my last Snugg case review that I had used a Snugg case for a year or so. I will continue to use Snugg cases for as long as the ones I have received last and once they fall apart, if I don’t find an even better case than this, I will buy another. As with my last case, it is still at work, providing the same protection it provided me for my iPad now for my friend’s iPad and I expect it to last awhile longer. Great job Snugg on all the cases you sent me, keep doing what you’re doing, it’s working well.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Snugg iPad 4 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Blue PU Leather

    Here we have the iPad 4 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Blue PU Leather available from Snugg for $34.99. The case is actually the successor to a case that I used for my iPad 2 from when I first got the iPad 2 in 2011 until just recently. The case has changed for the better. Let’s see if it’s the iPad case for you for the price.

    Form

    For starters, before we even open the the case, it has a very nice feel to it. It feels soft to the touch even though it would protect it in a fall. The front of the case, of course, features the brand very cleanly and out of the way. From the get go, you can tell the case has a bi-fold, which I think tend to be better than tri-fold cases because of it being more easier to manage. The stitching also looks as though it was well done, just as your grandma would have it on the best sweater she ever made. It doesn’t have any loose ends and appears to be complete (I can’t say the same about the last iPad 2 case I had). Moving on to the back, you have a little fold that holds the cover to use as a stand, we’ll discuss that in a little more detail in the Function paragraph. Of course, that piece also has very well done stitching. There is a hole for the camera which does it’s job and nothing else, just as a camera hole should. When you open up the case, you have a left part, a center part, and a right part. The left part has a handle, held in nicely by an elastic material. It is useful should you want to hold it by one hand. The middle part is actually very important because it either lifts up the iPad when in typing stand mode (landscape), or it will be the stand that stands up the iPad in portrait stand mode. In addition, you have the right side which is the part that holds the iPad, which makes the appropriate cuts for the camera, home button and volume and brightness switches. All parts, of course, have the wonderfully done stitching, Grandma would be proud. There is one thing I haven’t mentioned yet. The case has a good blue color to it, not dark blue to where it’s almost black and not bright blue where it’s blinding my eyes. It’s just right, at least in my opinion on colors. Overall, the case is made very well.

    Function

    The case is a very well thought-out representation of the brand name, Snugg. The iPad is very “Snugg” inside the case. It’s comfortable for the iPad, while protecting against very hard floors that seem to attack it when it’s unprotected. Keep your iPad in the case and it will protect it against any reasonable fall (no, it probably won’t survive a 15 story fall but at that case the fault goes to the user, not the case). The case definitely does it’s job in it’s primary target. The stand also is very strong. The stand can be used for a typing angle or a watching a movie/widescreen view angle. It holds up no matter the surface, which is good considering that it is on my lap sometimes and I don’t want the stand un-standing when I am using it, unless of course I “un-stand” it. The strap that allows you to strap the case (and the iPad for that matter) to your hand is very functional. If you can’t hold it, strap it. Of course, you must have it standing upright and not down to your side for it to work, or it might slide off your hand. Of course, any practical person would not do this anyway so it is understood that this is not the case’s fault. There is one neat feature about this case that I like. If you own a stylus, which I do, you can attach it to the top of your iPad onto a tab that comes out of the case that folds in when not in use. Therefore, if you don’t use it, keep it tugged in and it won’t get in your way. Also, even if it’s not tugged in, it won’t get in your way. If you don’t own a stylus, it will fit a pen too. There is a beauty to the case, it’s simple and nothing gets in your way. If you don’t want to use the extra strap to strap it to your hand or you don’t want to use the stylus/pen holder, you can tuck it away while still being there anytime you want it to be. They are hidden but still there. Overall, the case excels in this category.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great aesthetics
    -Great protection
    -Great stand
    -Included stylus/pen holder works and can be hidden when you don’t want it
    -Included strap to strap the iPad to your hand works well, there is also a headrest mount that is sold seperately that this will attach to

    Cons

    -For the second time ever, there is nothing that fits this category

    I have had a very positive experience with Snugg. I have owned their previous iPad 2 case and it lasted me more than a year, and it would have lasted me more than that had I not given it away to a friend recently (he is enjoying it throughly). It beats out the case that I have been using and it will last me a long time. I know that the case will protect my iPad for another year or hopefully longer this time. This case is a very nice case and it will serve you well. As you read above, I have nothing but good things to say about this case, therefore it is easily given 5 stars. Plus, it’s $34.99, which I think is a great price for this case. Great job Snugg on this awesome case!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Nutkase Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet

    The Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet is exactly what you would guess it would be, a leather wallet that houses your iPhone inside. The wallet is available from NutKase for $34.99 direct. It is a great iPhone wallet and a must have for anyone who wants to put two of their going out must-haves into one. Let’s find out if it is best for you.

    Form

    The first thing that struck me about the wallet is that it is made out of very nice leather and it looked like it truly was genuine leather. According to Nutkase, it IS genuine leather. That is a huge plus in the Form category because that means it doesn’t get damaged very easily and it will not fall apart like fake leather tends to do after a while. The wallet comes in black or red leather, both are very good looking colors, at least in my opinion. Something that struck me about the wallet, before even getting into the it, is that there is no zipper. The wallet is held close by a strap or a magnet (this depends on whether you get the black or red model respectively) that binds the two sides of the bifold. It actually is a great idea to use this strap instead of a zipper, because after awhile zippers fall apart, they break after a short amount of time. The strap, however, dangles and becomes a nuisance when using the iPhone, it dangles on your hand and it becomes annoying. On the back, you’ll notice the cool Nutkase logo which is an acorn with a bite into it, like the bite in the Apple logo. Another thing you’ll notice is the hole one the top left for the camera, so you don’t have to take the iPhone out of the wallet to take a picture. Another thing you’ll notice when it is closed is that it’s lengthwise exact to an iPhone 4 and 4S so as a wallet it is a little awkward but once you use it for a little while, you’ll get used to it. The form makes it that you can’t put a dollar in longways, you have to fold it, but that is okay anyway since most cashiers like to give you cash back folded. Of course, if you could put a dollar in it longways, it would be a very awkward wallet so it is better actually that you just fold it. Going inside the wallet is two parts, made out of genuine leather of course. There are three pockets, one for ID and two for any cards you have. Also behind these pockets is the cash pocket to store folded cash. On the right, there is the iPhone holder which, you probably guessed, holds your iPhone. Behind this, is a part that comes down, unveiling a little stand so that it can stand on your desk or a flat surface while you watch a video. Also, I’ve noticed the stitching on the product is very well done and it should be known that the product is made in Italy, which is known for it’s great leather, which this product is made out of. Out of all the leather cases I have seen, this one steals the show, it is very nice.

    Function

    Of course, the function of the case is very important which this product delivers in as well. The fact that you cant put bills in long ways is a downside but it would make the wallet really awkward so it is a trade-off. If I’ve used case instead of wallet throughout the review, that’s for a reason. The leather wallet is also a case. It does a fairly good job at protecting the iPhone and I would feel safe with my iPhone in it. It is big enough to fit enough stuff in it, but not too big where it’s awkward and doesn’t fit in my pocket. It’s a great size. Another feature that I like a lot about the case is the stand, allowing you to watch videos or what not on it without holding it. In order for the the other side to not get in the way, you can fold it back. This makes it that one of the sides doesn’t get in the way of the viewing experience. However, the stand may not work as well if you have stuff inside that other side, such as cards or coins. It can make it bumpy which would cause it to not be as straight as it would be if there was nothing in it. That is not a huge problem and can not really be controlled, just be aware of it. I’m just glad they added the stand, it is a nice feature, unique to even standalone cases. The wallet is held by a strap which holds the two parts of the bifold together so the wallet will stay closed when you want it to stay closed. Also, the red wallet is not held by a strap but a magnet. I am more of a fan of the strap since a magnetic connection can always be broken. Like I mentioned before, there is an annoyance with the strap but it generally works well. It just is annoying. However, despite the few flaws it has, this case is a solid piece of work, well worth it’s price.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Genuine leather
    -Made in Italy, best of the best
    -Nice design/brand and good form factor
    -Available in two very nice colors
    -Strap/magnet instead of destined-to-break zipper
    -Protects iPhone
    -Holds business cards, credit cards, IDs and cash
    -Stand, some iPhone CASES don’t have stands so this is real cool

    Cons

    -Not big enough to fit longways bills, there is a tradeoff to this though, it would definitely be awkward if it did
    -Red wallet can be opened due to it be magnetic and not strapped, as you can tell, I prefer the strap and I think that it should be adopted across the board
    -Strap can be a nuisance

    As you can see, there are many pros and few cons. That’s for a reason. The wallet does a great job at many things and a not-so-good job at a few things. There is always improvement to be done in products but this wallet did exceptionally well. It’s a wallet, a case, a stand and it’s in genuine leather. What else can you want in an iPhone case/wallet? The ideas are great, and most are executed very well. A few can be improved therefore it is with that the NutKase Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet receives 4 and a half stars. Great job NutKase, you did exceptionally well with this wallet, the first iPhone wallet I’ve seen and I’m glad that I did see it.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Image courtesy: Nutkase

  • Acme Made Clutch MacBook Bag

    The Clutch is a laptop bag designed to fit a MBA or MBP 13 inch made by Acme Made. It is only available to those who have a 13 inch MBA/MBP. However, I do believe that anyone who has not seen the light of Apple and owns a Windows 13 inch laptop will still be able to fit their laptop just fine in the bag. The bag is available for $99.99 direct from Acme Made (interesting name for a company, they must have been the ones behind the falling pianos and 20 ton weights). All kidding aside, this bag is no joke. It is probably the best laptop bag I have ever used, and that is saying something. Allow me to explain why this is a great laptop bag for anyone who needs a laptop bag.

    Form

    Aesthetically, the AcmeMade Clutch is very well thought out and very good looking. It definitely has it’s curb appeal. On the outside, the case is a beautiful brown leather canvas exterior. It has a nice black strap that any shoulder would be proud of having on it. The bag has a darker brown trimming that has a good “alliance” with the rest of the bag. The whole bag is designer designed so you know it has been approved by someone who you know can actually design. Because of it being a designer bag, it does have it’s own “designer name”. On the front of the bag, there is a button on it that says “Acme Made San Francisco”, which having the city in front of the name of the company is very common with designers. My point is, the case is very well designed on the exterior. The interior is just the same. The inside is a black twill nylon quitted material, which looks very nice and sophisticated. The bottom quarter part of the case has a brown part that comes up from the outside of the case and looks really nice. It doesn’t necessarily contrast the black, it just fits with the black. There are 2 main pockets, presumably to carry 2 laptops if needed. There are also 5 other smaller pockets in addition to two pen holders, which depending on the size of the pen, hold up to 6 pens (three on each pen holder). The pocket to hold the MacBook(s) in are very protective and thick. Should you drop the bag off your shoulder by accident, the MacBook will not break, especially if it already has a case on it. The other pockets are multi-purposeful and they too are very protective of the items they hold. The case, if you haven’t guessed already, is very detailed. Here are a few more examples on how exact they are: the stitching on the case is beautifully done, there is not string hanging loose from it. Also, on one of the pockets there is a zipper, and the even the “grip” of the zipper, the part you hold on to when your pull the zipper, looks really nice. It too is made out of leather and has a black button on it. It is to be noted that this case can be used by both men and women and looks good with either one. As you can tell, the aesthetics of the case are beyond superb and there is absolutely nothing I can point out that is bad about this case.

    Function

    The abilities of this case is absolutely extraordinary. In this bag I was able to fit 8 different devices, including their chargers. This included my MBA in the main MacBook pocket, an iPad in the secondary pocket, an iPod touch in one pocket, an Apple TV, iPod nano and my cell phone in another, 2 iPod nanos and the Apple TV remote in three more pockets. In addition to all of that, I was able to add two styluses and ALL of the cords necessary to charge ALL of those products. Even with all of that, I was still able to close it and carry it on my shoulder. Now, I understand, A. carrying that around is an invitation to be robbed and B. no one, besides a small group of extreme geeks, would carry that amount of stuff in their bag on a day to day basis but it does give you an idea as to what you can store in what looks like a small bag. This small bag is no small bag. If it fits all of that, it is not a small bag, but take all of those things out and you’ll wonder to yourself how you were able to fit everything in there. As I said in the Form paragraph, this bag is very protective and I would trust that it would protect my stuff in the event of a fall. Of course, the bag slings around your neck so in less the strap fails, it’s not going anywhere, but it is good to know that it is well protected. In speaking of the strap, there are a few things that I like about the strap. One, if you want to just carry the bag and don’t want the strap on it, you can take it off. Another thing is that it is completely adjustable so if you want it close to your chest, you can do that, or if you feel more comfortable with he bag at your waist, you can do that as well, or anywhere in between. The hardware on the strap is custom made by Acme Made and they did an excellent job on it. On a side note, the metal hardware on the strap, unlike the cheap plastic hardware I have seen elsewhere is durable and looks stylish. Back to the inside of the case, the cover that folds over everything is held down by two black strips of velcro that while stay almost hidden on the black part of the case, is probably the best thing to use for a “locking” mechanism for the bag for two reasons. One, velcro is very durable and can stand a lot. It is also very sticky. The velcro is designed to easily open when you open it, but it would be difficult for anything that would bump into it to open it. Two, velcro is loud when you open it. Therefore, if someone is sneaking up behind you or to the side of you without you knowing and the person is trying to steal out of your bag, you will be greeted with the sound of opening velcro and a running away would-be-robber. Talking about robbers, be careful as to how much you put in the bag, you don’t want to make it a goldmine for any robber who would steal it. As a side note, with any purse or bag, exercise caution and diligence. All in all, this bag is the most functional I’ve ever used.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Stylish design
    -Designer made means everything is spot on
    -May be available in only in one color but once you see it, you’ll realize why you wouldn’t want to ruin it with other colors
    -Very durable
    -Very protective of all the things stored in it
    -Many pockets, so you can store many things
    -Velcro gives it a “theft alarm” and keeps the bag closed

    Cons

    -For the first time ever, there is nothing that fits in this category

    The last sentence says it all. There are no cons to this bag, therefore there is no reason to give it anything lower than five stars. In my opinion, the bag is perfect. There is absolutely nothing they can do to make it better. They only need to keep doing what they are doing. $100 may be a lot for a laptop bag, but after you buy it and get in the mail, you’ll see it was worth every penny. Absolute fantastic job Acme Made, I am very impressed.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe