Reviews by The Church of Apple

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  • 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

  • Kanex Sydnee iOS Charging Station

    The Sydnee, from Kanex, is a four device charging station available direct for $149.00. This sleek, minimalistic and space saving machine will charge four iOS devices at maximum charging speed, providing a full charge to your smaller iPod touch/iPhone devices in an hour or so to a full charge to your big boy devices, your iPads, in about two hours. If you have a shortage of cords, don’t worry, they provide you with three small but long enough cords to charge with so you only need to come up with one more. Let’s see if this charger is worth it’s high cost.

    Form

    I have very mixed opinions on this one. The Sydnee has it’s positives and negatives to it’s design, the negatives mostly applying only to those who receive a poorly constructed product. First off, the Syndee, out of all the multi-device chargers I’ve seen, takes the least amount of space on my desk. It is compact, allowing it to be stored anywhere. The product is made out of what seems to be a hard plastic with rubber pieces. It is very elegant in design and looks particularly great on my black glass desk, as the one I received is black, it comes in white as well. It does look tacky from the back having four cables coming from the back of it but if the Sydnee is against a wall, you won’t see them anyway. Also, the charger is light, consisting of a lot of air so it is easy to carry around. There are a few problems with the form of the case, not what it looks like, but how it was built. The rubber piece inside of the charger, as soon as I took Sydnee out of it’s box had already come off. Now this isn’t a small rubber piece, it’s a padding for any device that it has in it. If this said device did not have a case, it could be scratched, therefore that space would be unusable. Also, let’s not forget that you pay $150 for this charger and as soon as you open it, it already is falling apart. However, I will give the product the benefit of the doubt, provided that I probably just received a faulty product, and not all are. However, zoom up a few weeks later, and a provided cord had the connector part come out partially when I unplugged it from the iPad. It did go right back in and was still usable but the point is, it shouldn’t do that. It is not a good pattern. In addition to these two incidents, there is another thing that bugs me as well. The whole thing is black, chrome black, except for one part that is yellow. The rubber part that is yellow, a part that is actually quite useful to the charger (I will explain it in a bit), does not fit with the rest of the charger. It’s just there and it looks a little weird. It is a little nit-picky but it is not to be discounted as everything goes in a review. As a wrap-up, the Sydnee has it’s highs and lows, (more lows than highs here) in the Form category but will it be so in the Function category?

    Function

    The answer is no. The function of the charger is much better than its form. First of all, like I mentioned before, the charger does charge devices incredibly fast, faster than the Apple chargers, at least to what I have seen with it. The charger takes up little room whether on a desk, shelf etc. The charger has a pretty neat cord system as to hide the cords as much as possible. Because of the amount of power this charger provides, 2.1 amps per device, it can charge 4 iPads at the same time from 0-100% in a little over two hours. This is pretty good. Of course, not everyone has four iPads so you can charge a mixture of different Apple products and some other non-Apple products as well. The product is mainly for Apple products but it does charge other companies products as well, provided the charger is compatible with the said product(s). The device itself is pretty well protected, though I recommend that you make sure that there are cases on any device that you put on or in the Sydnee considering that they can fall right off/out of it. Fortunately, Kanex thought of this and they made it so that the device can be small enough to go anywhere, but yet open enough to where an iPad with just about any case could fit, allowing it to keep it’s protection should it fall out. I think that the best thing overall, is it’s ability to charge four iPads at the same time, charging them all in a short amount of time. That, after all, above all else, is what they advertise it will do, and it does it well.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Charges FAST, up to four devices, the most I have seen out of one product
    -I use it everyday
    -Cord management is effective
    -Takes up little room
    -Simplistic, yet useful design
    -Sleek black color looks great on any surface

    Cons

    -Pieces falling off (Big problem for me)
    -Not a lot of protection for the iPads themselves
    -Yellow piece doesn’t match with the rest of the charger, subtracts from elegant look of the charger
    -Three cables, four ports. Why?
    -HIGH Price

    Out of all the products I have reviewed, this charger is a true test of Form vs Function and which one is more important. I believe that if a product doesn’t perform well but looks great, it isn’t as worth as it as one that works really well but has cosmetic issues. This is the case with this charger. The charger isn’t the greatest in the form, but it does everything it promised it would do. The product definitely received a 5/5 in what it does but it receives a 3.5/5 in its form, it would have been a 2/5 with the pieces falling off, however I realize that most people’s chargers would not fall apart like mine. At what point does the Form influence the final score? I think that as long as Kanex doesn’t send out chargers with rubber pieces coming off, then I will give the benefit of the doubt and give the Kanex Sydnee a 4/5. I believe that there is not a product quite like this one on the market at this time, considering the low space it takes up and the amount of things it can charge at one time. However, the price and the poor construction make it so that I can’t give it anything higher than a 4/5. I hope that Kanex can just put a little more glue on their product and take a little less money for the product and I would definitely raise the final score. Good job Kanex on a product that performs well and meets and exceeds it’s advertised abilities.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • 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

  • Hammerhead Ballpoint Pen Stylus

    The Hammerhead Ballpoint Stylus isn’t the BEST stylus that I have reviewed but it is cheaper than other styli I have reviewed. It is the best cheap stylus I have reviewed. Let’s see if price will make up for lost features. The stylus is available for $14.99 direct from Hammerhead. The stylus features a stylus tip at one end for touch screen devices or a pen for writing the old-fashioned way. Let’s find out if this stylus is for you.

    Form

    While many styli have a reputation for being made out of cheap plastic, this stylus breaks that rule. This stylus is made out of a smooth chrome material. It isn’t a great Apple design look, but it doesn’t have to be to look nice and it certainly looks nice. The stylus is light-weight, a lot lighter than the Wacom Bamboo stylus a little while ago. There are four colors to choose from with the stylus and they are as follows: dark red, silver, dark blue and black, all of which look really nice with silver lining added to them. The top of the stylus has a silver chrome color as well as the shirt clip and the thing that holds both the pen and the stylus tip in and it adds to the overall design of the stylus. Even the brand name on the stylus looks cool! Personally, I have not found any cosmetic problems from this stylus.

    Function

    There are a lot of things that I like about this stylus. First, the stylus is thin and light and won’t break anything if it falls but yet if it falls it won’t get scratched either. The stylus is doubled as a pen, which I have found to be very useful. The stylus tip itself is very responsive on the iPad and the iPad picks it up every time it touched the screen. One thing that I really like about this stylus that I have not found on another stylus yet is an attachment that goes into the headphone jack so it attaches to your iPad and you won’t be able to lose it. So if you want to attach it to your shirt, you can through the clip or you can attach it to your iPad into the headphone jack. Another thing, you can replace the ink in the stylus should you need to. There is one problem with the stylus, however. The stylus tip does not come out. I learned that the hard way. I took it out, thinking you can it put right back in. It went back in but only after an hour of forcing it back in. This is not the best thing to do since should the tip need to be replaced, you can’t replace it and you have to buy another $15 stylus. To me, that is not what I would want do. However, should that ever happen to me where I need to replace it, I would buy another one because the stylus is brilliantly done at a relatively low cost.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Great form factor, light, durable, great colors
    -Very responsive on the iPad etc.
    -Pen clip to attach to your shirt or a headphone jack clip to attach to your device
    -A stylus and a pen
    -Pen ink replaceable
    -Low cost for what you get

    Cons

    -Stylus tip not replaceable (don’t find that out the hard way)
    -Styli are not for everybody

    This stylus definitely ranks among the top of low-cost styli. Despite it’s sole flaw of not being able to replace the tip, everything else about this stylus would make you want to replace it if and when the stylus tip is worn out. This happens to all styli, eventually this stylus will become worn out but don’t worry about it too much, you’ll get a lot of use out of it before that happens. It is to note as well that styli are not for everyone, as I talked about in my last stylus review. I believe that styli are only for people who would use them such as teachers, artists, note takers among others. Of course, that flaw applies to every stylus so if you want a stylus that is stylish, functional and cheap in price only, then this stylus is for you. With that I give this stylus a five star rating. Great job Hammerhead for delivering a great stylus.

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe

  • Hammerhead Capo iPad Case

    The Hammerhead Capo Case is a case for the iPad 2,3 and 4. The case is available for $39.99 direct from Hammerhead. Personally, this is the case I use everyday. Allow me to explain why.

    Form

    The case does not excel in the form section of this review. The case is available in 5 two-toned colors. All cases feature black trim. The available colors are as follows: White, orange, blue, red and black. The black case is all black with no color, including the trimming. The case is a one-fold that flips around the back and the clip attached goes into one of the holes on the back to form a very functional case. The case is also comfortable on the hands. In terms of colors, I think the two-toned color scheme is nice. It gives the case a uniqueness, unlike many uni-colored cases on the market. The case provides a lot of protection for your iPad but it still is light and thin. However, there are a few issues cosmetically with it also. The case sent to me (this may not apply to all cases) was not completed, in my opinion. The white part on the case was not pressed in all the way, forming raised parts where the white part was not pressed in all the way. After a short time of using this case, I was already getting loose string hanging on the case, something that happened to my last case a year or more after I received it. Also, while I appreciate the black part of the case, I do not appreciate the fact that it is painstakingly clear that it is metal. The bi-fold on the case that folds back is metal (it’s the black bar that goes across about 1/3 the case). It’s not the bar itself that bothers me, but it’s the fact that you can see the metal of it (little bolts that hold it together, the line that separates the two pieces). To me, it is a little tacky. Despite these tacky issues the case still does what it is meant to do, protect.

    Function

    This case does what it is meant to do, protect. Despite it’s light and thin profile, this case provides the most protection I have seen out of any case this form factor. The case is made out of polyurethane material which always does a great job in protection. The case is a hard-shell case that will protect against falls. The case holds onto the iPad extremely well, probably one of the best grasps I have see on an iPad case thus far. The case also protects the ports better than any case I have reviewed thus far. There is only an opening to put the ports into and thats it, and even the case that surrounds the port is raised. It is very port protective. The case also has the best stand out of the cases I have reviewed so far. The case has a stand with five different options. Three, tall landscape stand options (more choices than most cases, allowing you to choose your perfect viewing angle), one for typing (which has been placed at the perfect angle), and one for a upright portrait stand. The case of course has the standard auto lock/unlock feature that would be a bad thing not to have. There is one thing that I like and dislike about the case. The case has a clasp that holds it closed. While the clasp ensures that the case will not accidentally open, there are some people who won’t be able to open the case. The clasp is the reason why people who have arthritis in their hands will not be able to use the case. It is a great case, but it’s a great case for people who can open it. For me and anyone else without weak hands, it’s great but I would not recommend it for a person with weak hands only because of the difficulty of opening the case. Despite this flaw, the case is still probably one of the best I have reviewed thus far.

    Conclusion

    Pros

    -Very durable
    -Thin and light
    -Best stand on a case I have reviewed
    -Clasp keeps case closed
    -Colored nicely
    -Comfortable to the hands to hold

    Cons

    -Case would be difficult to open for anyone with weak hands, especially senior citizens
    -Some tacky aesthetics

    The reason people buy a case is not for it to be the nicest case ever, but to be durable, light, thin and functional. This case passes all those and more. It delivers on it’s protective abilities and stand. The case I mentioned earlier was the case that I have been using for a long time and it is the case that was replaced by this one. I use this case on a daily basis; it is my primary case. Considering the pros and the cons, this case receives a 4 and a half star rating from me. Great job Hammerhead!

    Thanks for reading,

    Joe