Reviews by The Church of Apple

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  • IK Multimedia iRig Stomp

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

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

    Ways to Improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: IK Multimedia

  • RooCase Deluxe Carrying Bag Review

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

    -None

    Ways to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Amazon

  • Uncommon iPod touch 4 Custom Capsule Case Review

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

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

    Ways to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Uncommon

  • CoolStream Bluetooth Receiver

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

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

    How to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

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

  • Pong iPhone 5 Case Review

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

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

    Ways to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Pong iPhone 4/4S Rugged Case Review

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

    -Screen protector not included
    -Hard to reach ringer switch

    How to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Pong Research

  • Alto iPA Review

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

    Form

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

    Function

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

    Conclusion

    Pros

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

    Cons

    -Not the best microphone
    -No stand, sold separately

    Ways to improve

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

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

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

    Images Courtesy: Alto

  • Alpatronix iPhone 4/4S Battery Case

    The Alpatronix iPhone 4/4S Battery Case is a case for your iPhone that can provide more hours of battery to your phone. It charges your iPhone while it is in the case as long as the case has been charged. It is available from Alpatronix for $39.99. Let’s see if it is the iPhone case for you.

    Form

    There are a few things to point out about this case. First, it does feel good to hold. It feels as though you are holding the phone when it isn’t in it’s case. The same glass feel on the back on the iPhone is on this case. That does come with a downside though. It has fingerprints all over the back. The case doesn’t add any width on the front as it does not have a part to protect the front. It does, however add depth to the back. It also adds length on the bottom. That and the depth to the back is expected due to the fact that it has a battery in it. It actually has a slim profile for a battery case. The bottom has a button to turn the case on so that it will charge the phone. The case comes in black, pink or blue and all the colors look nice. On the sides are your port access. On the left side is the volume and ringer control access, on the top the lock button and headphone jack and on the bottom is not a 30 pin connector but a micro-USB connector. The holes for the speakers on the bottom seem terribly short but the sound from the speakers is unaffected. One thing I wish that you could get rid of are the blue lights that are always lit up so you can see the battery remaining on the case. While it’s a great idea to have the ability to know how much is remaining, the lights are annoying since they are on whenever the case is on. However, the form of the case is pretty solid.

    Function

    The case does a great job in keeping the phone charged. The phone will last from morning till bedtime no matter how much you use it. That little extra juice keeps the phone charged throughout the day. The case also will protect the back very well from it being dropped. All ports are easily accessible with the exception of the 30-pin port. The speakers are not hindered by the case. The case shows the amount of charge it has left but it does keep the indicator light on which can be a nuisance. The major problem I have is the lack of protection for the front of the case. The case offers zero protection for the glass front of your phone. If you drop your phone on the glass part of the phone, it will break. The case will not protect the glass screen from the evils of the solid concrete or hardwood floor. In addition, another problem I have is the fact that the case has a micro-USB port instead of a 30-pin. If I wanted to plug the iPhone into a dock, I would have to take the iPhone out of the case and plug it in that way. Fortunately, it does come with a Micro-USB cord to plug the phone in the computer should you need to. This will charge and sync the phone with your computer. The Micro-USB port eliminates support for many docks and speakers however unless the said docks and speakers have USB ports. Since not many of them do, people will have a problem with that. In short, it is a bumper case with the backing as an extra power source. This case doesn’t have front protection and it does not work with many docks.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Charging is very effective
    -Case feels good to hold
    -Battery indicator
    -All ports are accessible
    -Protects the back of the phone well

    Cons

    -Does not protect the very vulnerable glass screen
    -Micro-USB port discontinues the use of many docks and speakers
    -The battery indicator light is always on in the front and it can get annoying

    Ways to improve

    The company can improve this case in two ways. First, either make the case easy to open so you can get it in a dock faster or better yet add the 30 pin connector into the case despite the added dimensions it may cause. Second, the company should add protection for the front by adding bumpers along the front edges.

    This case does what it says it will do. It will provide you extra battery time so that you can FaceTime and Siri all you want without worrying that your phone will die within a few hours. In fact, put it on full brightness if you want to as well. The trouble starts where the concrete meets the glass screen. The trouble IS the fact that the glass and the concrete CAN meet. The lack of protection for the front is a terrible idea and while this case is great for extra battery on a whim, I can’t see it replacing my non-charging case just yet. The lack of protection and the docking limits are the line in the sand. Without these flaws, I would definitely be using this case but because of them, I must avoid it. The case, with it’s great battery but not so great protection earn it 3 stars.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Touchfire Screen

    The TouchFire Screen is a clear, silicon foldable keyboard that touch-typers can put on their iPad and use instead of using the touch-typer unfriendly keyboard on the iPad. It is available from Touchfire for $49.95. Is it the solution for you touch-typers out there? Let’s find out.

     

    Form

    When I first opened the box to get to the TouchFire, it had it’s own little case. That is a great feature. I opened the case to find the TouchFire Screen. I picked it up and then one of the magnets that is attached to it came off, not a great start. Fortunately, since it was magnetic it went right back on. However, they were glued on too. Not good workmanship on that. To me the keyboard seems flimsy. The part that the silicon folds to is plastic, cheap plastic. One thing I do appreciate however, is that once folded, it is small and it is light. With the carrying case, you can take it anywhere. Also you can keep it attached to your iPad so that it is always on your iPad. In all, the craft of this keyboard fails to impress but there a few things that help it in the Form category.

     

    Function

    The primary function of any keyboard is to type. This one is unique in that it turns your iPad’s keyboard into a touch-type one. Unfortunately, I do not think it does a whole lot in doing that. FIrst off, the keys on the keyboard are too close to each other to be able to emulate a keyboard. In addition, the feel of the keys feels cheap and not a pleasure to write on. There isn’t much of a difference between the iPad keyboard and the TouchFire in my opinion. This is due in part that the keys are not raised enough to really feel the difference. It does have indentations where the J and F buttons are but that is where the similarities between this keyboard and a real keyboard end. On a good solid keyboard, you don’t have to look down because you know where the keys are based on those indentations and based on the fact that you can feel the keys. On this keyboard, I am having trouble actually feeling the keys. I can’t see myself using this keyboard over a solid keyboard. Another thing, I have a problem with is that, when I use a keyboard I need a rest to put my wrist on and when I put my wrist down I press the keys at the bottom and it messes up my typing. In addition, I have to look down to get to the ABC/123 tab to access numbers and punctuation and to access the world tab for multiple languages. The shift key is sometimes pressed by accident since there is no recognizable key on the keyboard. The functionality of this keyboard makes me abandon it for a keyboard case which is the same or more price than a good keyboard case.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Lightweight

    -Small and portable

    Cons

    -Definitely not the best keyboard you can use

    -Cheaply made

    -You can accidentally hit different keys since they do not have keys that you can feel, such as the the shift key and the 123 tab on the bottom left and right

    -Pricey for what you get

    How to improve

    There are a lot of ways to improve this product. First, add indentations on the shift keys like the other keys. Second, improve the workmanship and improve the quality of the keyboard. Third, make the keyboard more like an actual keyboard. Of course, you could do plan B, scratch this product and sell solid bluetooth keyboards.

    This product is not one I would buy at this point. If I were the consumer, I would buy a keyboard case. As a reviewer, I can not see myself recommending this product to anyone and for the first time, I have to give this product a one star review. The portability and weight make it from a half star but considering that the product fails at it’s primary purpose, I can not give it higher than that.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

     

  • Duo Pinball Review

    The Duo Pinball is an iPad accessory that allows you to have physical pinball-like controls for the app “Pinball HD” and “Pinball HD collections”, the two best pinball apps on the App Store. The accessory, while doesn’t perfectly emulate a pinball machine as it doesn’t have the looks of one, is great for playing pinball on one of the best pinball apps available. The Duo Pinball is available from Duo Games for $48.75 at Amazon. Let’s see if it is worth the price.

    Form

    The form of this product isn’t as important as the function but there are a few things to mention otherwise. I appreciate that the Duo Pinball can be used by the best Pinball app on the App Store, personally speaking and statistically speaking. The apps themselves are great apps that are well designed and include great pinball tables. The product itself is pretty straightforward. Put your iPad into a slot, lock it into place, either put it on a table or in your hands and pull down the handle to shoot the ball and use the buttons on the sides to move the flippers. It sounds simple but the simplicity is appreciated and it works and plays well with the pinball game. It is only a few buttons but isn’t that what pinball is anyway. I see it to be no different than using a real pinball machine other than it being electronic and smaller.

    Function

    Again, as I mentioned, the Duo Pinball plays well. I like to use it in my hands only because I think it is more stable there than on the desk but it’s really the preference of the user. There is a slot for the speaker to project sound so the speaker is not blocked. The buttons and the lever feel good to use, they aren’t lagging and the app corresponds smoothly to the movements of the controls. The iPad will not fall out if you lock it in. If someone knocks into the iPad, it won’t fall off the device. This is handy when you are using it on the table. In addition, the iPad connects easily with the device via bluetooth. Also, the product doesn’t require you to shut it off via a power button, it shuts off automatically. That is useful since A you don’t have to search for an off button and B you can leave it unattended for 5 minutes and it will shut off so it won’t waste battery power. In addition. you get five free tables on the Pinball HD Collections app. There are others to be bought and downloaded and there are more on the way. The two concerns I have is that Duo is not willing to use other pinball apps for the device only those two “Pinball HD” and “Pinball HD Collections” which while they are wonderful apps, there are other pinball apps I wished it worked for. However, they couldn’t have picked a better single app to partner with since both the apps are best-sellers. The other concern I have is the cost of the product. $50 is an awful lot to pay for an accessory that works with two apps. It works well with that one app but the price and functionality don’t match Overall, the Duo Pinball is very well made and works well with the iPad to create a fluent pinball experience.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Well made, well designed

    -Comfortable to hold

    -Buttons are solid

    -App is very responsive to the movements of the shooter and the flipper controls

    -iPad is well held in place so it will not be knocked off the unit

    -Simple to use

    Cons

    -Needs more Pinball apps despite the fact that the one it works with is the best one out there, selection is best

    -Price

    Ways to improve

    The only way to improve this product is to perhaps add support for other pinball apps other than the two it uses. This isn’t something that they need to tweak to the actual product itself just the services that come with it. The price is fine if they add support for many more pinball app.

    To conclude, this product is a solid one. It is a product that stands out and one that I will keep in case I get the urge to play pinball. I can easily give this device 4 stars.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe