Speck PixelSkin case for iPhone 4: review
July 7, 2010 by Christine Chan · 3 Comments
Speck’s PixelSkin case for the iPhone 4 is another silicon skin that goes over the entire device. It provides a much thicker skin than the other silicon case I tried out from Macally, which is great for more shock absorption. This also adds more lift to the glass than the Macally case, so the front and back glass panels will most likely survive a fall or any impact. The square pattern on the back of the case will provide a better grip. The silicon material also makes the entire device a bit more slip resistant on flat surfaces.
The skin itself has openings only for the headphone port, silent switch, and for the 30-pin connecting port. The holes on the back for the camera and LED flash are perfectly cut, which shows that there has been some time perfecting the fit for the iPhone 4.
The silicon material does not feel sticky in the hand, not even when you slide it into you pocket. It does, however, become a little harder to take out smoothly when pulling out of a pocket, and as a result, it will collect dust and debris on the silicon. Especially in other places where there may be dust, it may get attracted to the rubbery surface, which will be especially noticeable on black (the sample that I received). Though this may be less of an issue with lighter colors.
I also feel that it’s important that the PixelSkin case also does not leave the entire bottom open, however, it leaves enough space for the 30-pin connecting port to work with older cables. This is because the new iPhone 4 USB cable has a smaller plastic lip on the 30-pin part than the previous models. As a result, most older iPhone cables would not work with Apple’s own Bumper case (I’ve tried) because of the smaller opening that the Bumper leaves. So Speck decided to make the opening in the medium range, so that it would not leave too much space open for dust to collect, but also big enough to make it compatible with older cables.
A great silicon case, but I have to knock it down a bit because of the tendency to collect dust on the surface.
rating four out of five stars • SpeckProducts.com
Hard Candy Bubble Slider case for iPhone 4: review
July 6, 2010 by Christine Chan · 2 Comments
When I received a box from Hard Candy, I opened it with much glee as to what would await me. What I found was a single iPhone 4 case – the BubbleSlider in a glossy chrome finish. Those that do not like silicon cases or one-piece snap-on cases would probably prefer the easier two-piece snap-on cases, such as myself. I found the BubbleSlider to be a pleasant case to use, despite a few minor quirks.
First, the design is simple and easy. The case has two halves – 80 percent of it is the top half, and 20 percent is the bottom. The inside of the case also has two rubberized guardrails that help with shock absorption. Slide the iPhone 4 into the top half and then slid it closed with the bottom half.
One thing I did notice, though, was that when sliding the phone in, it will need to be pushed inward towards the right side of the case a bit. This is because the mute switch and volume buttons are separate, so each of these will need to be slide into separately, unlike the previous generations, where the volume buttons were one button with a slight crease in the middle to differentiate them.
Other than that, there are no problems with sliding the phone in. It’s a perfect fit and everything fits in snugly. The case itself gives enough lift to the screen so that any impact that would threaten the front screen will never touch the glass and instead be placed on the case itself. The two pieces fit together snugly, so it actually takes a bit of force to pull it apart. This is great for any drops, because it’s very unlikely that the case will come apart while the phone is inside. The rubber guardrails will also help with shock absorption, as previously stated.
The case allows full access to all buttons and ports, and a full opening on the bottom for compatibility with all previous iPhone cables. The bottom opening is significant, because with Apple’s Bumper cases, the thickness does not play nice with previous generation cables. It seems that third-party case makers are taking notice of this and making sure that the bottom remains open for this purpose.
The reason this is called “BubbleSlider” is because of the bubbly, dimple design on the back of the case. These little bubbles add a bit of grip when held and also make your phone stand out in a unique, fashionable way. The bubbles also seem to mask out most of the fingerprints that will result from the chrome finish.
The only thing that’s missing is a screen protector. The case comes in a Chrome collection consisting of Chrome, Black, and Gold as well as a Soft Touch collection, with matte finishes.
rating: 4.5 out of five stars • HardCandy.com
MacBook gains color cover options
Twelve South gives you more options when it comes to personalizing your MacBook with SurfacePad Colors. They are thin leather adhesives that give your Mac style and protection. They don’t add weight or bulk and can make your wrists more comfortable when typing. Choose from Cayan Blue, Infinite Gray, Orange Crush and Perfect Pink. They even can be taken off and reapplied to change color or to clean it. The SurfacePad fits around the keyboard and not the screen or outer area of your MacBook, so it can be used with other protectors or cases. SurfacePad Colors are found at twelvesouth.com for $29.99 each.
RadTech introduces Gelz for iPad
April 6, 2010 by Beatweek · Leave a Comment
RadTech has introduced the Gelz silicone rubber case for iPad. The Gelz comes in a choice of black, white, or purple, sells for $24.95, and is available immediately. The bottom of the case peels back for full physical compatibility with iPad-compatible docking devices. The company claims that its use of “low-tack, medium density” silicone will help prevent the buildup of lint on the case, an issue with some silicone cases. The material is 1.2 millimeters in thickness.
Gelz for iPad is available at RadTech.us.
review: iSkin Solo and Solo FX
March 12, 2010 by Bill Palmer · Leave a Comment
Easy to attach and remove, the Solo plants itself in the upper crust of one-piece rubber iPhone cases by covering the iPhone’s volume and top buttons in such a way that you can still use them, rather than leaving them exposed as some of the more budget-oriented cases on the market do. But beyond the small raised “iSkin” logo on the back, there’s very little about the Solo that makes it seem like it’s an iSkin case, save for the pair of contoured cutaways that run up the bottom half of the case’s back.
The Solo FX, on the other hand, offers a stylistic flair for three dollars more by making the case translucent and including a series of circles on the back which give the case some life, but it’s still nothing to write home about stylistically.
What ultimately makes the Solo and Solo FX recommendable, then, is the fact that they’re protective (the aforementioned button coverage), easy to use (the aforementioned ease of removal), and the fact that screen film comes bundled with the product. Fans of iSkin’s usual flair for striking design will be disappointed here, but those users looking for solid protection and ease of use won’t go wrong – unless they consider its price tag too high for such a simple case, as the seemingly inflated $29/32 price did nearly cost the Solo a half star.
Learn more about the iSkin Solo and Solo FX for iPhone 3G and 3GS at iSkin.com
CandyShell update at Macworld 2010
February 10, 2010 by Beatweek · Leave a Comment
Speck is expanding is current line of Beatweek-award-winning CandyShell rubberized cases for iPhone just in time for Macworld 2010, where the company is exhibiting. The two-tone case will see several new color combinations whose whimsical names include Nightshade Purple, JujuJulep Green, SeaGlass Blue, DarkHeart Black, Moonsicle White and Indigo Blue. In its original incarnation, the Candy Shell was among Beatweek’s “Best of 2009″ products.
Speck’s new CandyShell colors will debut this week in San Francisco at Macworld 2010, the annual epicenter for users of Apple products. Six members of Beatweek’s editorial team will be at Macworld this week, and updates will be posted to a special section on the front page of Beatweek.com.
Shure SE115 for iPod
June 25, 2009 by Beatweek · 2 Comments
Last year Shure launched the SE110 earbuds which were respectable but weren’t necessarily anything to write home about. But what a difference a “5” can make, as the company’s new SE115 earbuds offer an expansive audio experience that’s head and shoulders above its predecessor despite the only mildly upgraded model number. In fact the improved audio experience os the SE115 was so immediately noticeable when we first tested it out at Macworld Expo that it ended up being one of our Best of Show winners despite a fairly crowded crop of new earbuds at the show.
In addition to awesome-for-its-price sound quality, the SE115 manages to offer noticeably better isolation of external noise than other competing products in its price range, another aspect which was immediately apparent in the cavernous and chaotic expo hall. As a bonus, the product comes in a choice of colors pictured above, something we don’t see often enough with earbuds of any price point.
The only catch is for iPhone users. While some iPod earbuds also come in a separate (modestly more expensive) model that includes the iPhone mic/button functionality, and other iPod earbuds leave iPhone users out in the cold altogether, Shure attempts to split the difference with a $49 adapter that replaces the bottom half of the SE115’s cable, placing the microphone closer to your waist than your mouth. The whole thing ends up being absurdly bulky and heavy in comparison to competing earbuds that have the mic and button built in. The misguided Frankenstein nature of Shure’s iPhone adapter kit (along with its inflated price) makes the SE115 not really recommendable for iPhone users who care about having a microphone or play/pause button. But that shouldn’t discourage iPod users who don’t plan on upgrading to an iPhone anytime soon, as the SE115 is an absolutely fantastic product for iPod users.
Read iProng Magazine’s 41st issue featuring an interview with The Crystal Method, iPhone 3G S coverage, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, iPhone earbud shootout and more, Erika Jayne and more
