Reviews
TiPb Gear: Aquapac Case for iPhone and iPod
Mar 10th
The Aquapac case is a waterproof case for your iPhone and iPod [$24.95 Store Link] for anyone who wants to the beach, pool, fishing, or take their device anywhere near the dangers of water. What the Acquapac misses out in looks it makes up for in sheer usability. Watch us put it to the test, after the break!
Specifications
The Aquapac has some pretty big shoes to fill in comparison to my handy dandy ziplock! (Yes, I’ve been using a ziplock as my “case” of choice in the bathtub until now!). Here are some of the things the Aquapac is supposed to be able to do:
- Guaranteed 100% waterproof to 15 feet.
- Salt-water and UV resistant.
- Protects iPhone from sand, dust and dirt.
- Can make phone calls through Aquapac (sound quality is slightly reduced).
- Aquapac will float with iPhone in it.
The sealing system on the Aquapac is a patented design that has been used since 1996, so it has been well tested. It also meets with the international waterproofing standards set by the British Standards Institution. Being around so long, I knew that this product had been well tested and probably gone through a few adaptations.
Also, the Aquapac is large enough to be used with other items besides your iPhone, such as; other phones, cameras, your wallet, even small video cameras.
Functionality
So we put the Aquapac to the test. We doused it, drowned it, took pictures underwater with it and tried to make a regular phone call, all to see if the Aquapac is able to really protect our precious iPhones.
I was worried that the iPhone would not be touch sensitive with the Aquapac on but I was able to turn the iPhone on and do all other regular functions. I even placed a call on the Aquapac to see if I would still be able to hear the person I was calling. I was happily surprised that not only could I hear the other person but that the person I was calling could not tell that there was a Aquapac over the iPhone.
For the water test, I was a bit tentative to try it out first on my precious iPhone, so I used my husband’s old Treo (Sorry TreoCentral!). It protected the Treo perfectly, so I took a deep breath and tried it out with my iPhone.
What is really important to remember is that the clamp itself usually retains some water around or near it. So when you open the case it is really important that you shake or wipe off any excess water and then open the case with the clamp facing down. When I open the case I first clean off the outside of the case and my hands, if wet. Then I clean the clamp facing down and then slide out the iPhone.
Conclusion
I feel that this is the perfect gift for anyone who loves their iPhone and iPod — and takes in anywhere near water. If you ever go to the pool, beach, hike, have children, go to water or amusement parks, then I would recommend the Aquapac. If you have children, then I would recommend the Aquapac. It lived up to all of its hype and more so. I just don’t know how I made do with ziplock bags before it (yes I know I am a bit dorky, watch the video for yet more proof!)
TiPb Gear: Aquapac Case for iPhone and iPod is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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iSkin solo FX SE for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS (iPad Give-Away Qualifier!)
Mar 2nd
So I have before me the new iSkin solo FX SE for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS [$29.95 - TiPb Store Link]. What does this new iSkin line of flexible cases offer?
We’ll take a look (and tell you about the give away!) after the break!
The first thing I wanted to know was, what is special about the iSkin solo FX SE in comparison to the regular iSKin solo? The iSkin solo FX SE keeps is the same great form and feeling as the iSkin solo but instead of being plain, the SE has a circular pattern emblazoned on the back for added dimension, and a frosted finish.
What’s Included
The iSkin solo FX SE also comes with two screen protectors instead of one: a mirrored screen protector and a bonus anti-glare clear screen protector (my choice was based purely on narcissism).
The case is composed of a flexible silicon base which is infused with Microban. What exactly is Microban? I had not clue, so I looked it up. Turns out that Microban is an antimicrobial protection agent which impedes the formation of microbes, mold and some kinds of algae. Why would you want that in a case ? Well, considering that a phone is probably the dirtiest thing you own (for some, maybe not…), it helps protect the case from stains, odors and product break down. Really cool for an iPhone case. Just imagine if they had full body suits made of this stuff!
On second thought, lets not… Ok, back, sorry.
Usability
You wont have to worry about reception issues as there are no metallic components in the case. The flexibility makes it easy to place on and off your iPhone without worry of scratches, and it has all the usual openings for easy access to all of your iPhone’s jacks and buttons, with the exception of the volume button and top start button, which are protected by a thin layer of Microban.
This case will not protect your phone from massive drops but the rubbery finish does offer a good amount of compression for its thickness. It will protect your iPhone from the everyday scratches and scrapes that can occur in briefcases, pockets, or purses. The case is easy to grip in your hands yet that same soft-touch finish can make it hard to get out of a tight pocket. (Though if you worry about your iPhone being pick-pocketed, then this is the case for you!)
Another mixed blessing, the side edges of the case goes up higher than the bezel of the iPhone, this offers more protection but it also means that you cannot swipe your fingers off the edge of the iPhone without hitting the case .
Conclusion
The iSkin Solo FX SE is a wonderful case for those who want to add a bit of texture and grip to your iPhone. If you want a case that will survive being sumo dropped…
…then this case may not be for you (we’ll review the sumo-proof option next time) but if you want a light streamlined case with a nice look, then iSkin is a great choice, and you can get it for $29.95 from the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store.
Give Away (and iPad Give Away Qualification)
Now what we have all been waiting for, the give-away!
The TiPb Store is giving away three (3) iSkin Solo FX SE cases, one each in black/gray, clear, and pink. To enter:
- head on over to YouTube:
- Subscribe to the TiPb YouTube channel
- Leave a comment on our iSkin Solo FX SE video and include which color you’re entering to win (black, clear, or pink).
Only one comment per user, so pick your color carefully! We’ll choose three lucky recipients, one for each color, at random.
The give-away starts now and ends Friday, March 12, 2010 at 12pm PT.
iPad Give Away
Oh yes, everyone who enters this give away is also automagically entered into TiPb’s big iPad give-away (just read them details to make sure you’re eligible), so now you have even more reason to go subscribe and comment now!
The iSkin solo FX SE was provided for review by TiPb’s iPhone accessory store.
iSkin solo FX SE for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS (iPad Give-Away Qualifier!) is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Nite Ize Clip Case for iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS
Feb 25th
If you enjoy the outdoor activities such as hiking and you don’t feel like spending a lot of money on a heavy duty case then the rugged Nite Ize Sideways Clip Case for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS [$16.95 - TiPb Store Link] is definitely worth a look. For the full review follow us after the break!
The Nite Ize Sideways Clip Case is very well constructed with leather and ballistic nylon accented with weather-resistant hypalon. Your phone’s top flap secures firmly with velcro. Those of you who favor magnetic closing may come away disappointed, but if you are using this case for some sort of outdoor activity you are better off with velcro. On the back of the case you will find a super strong “flex-clip” that will fit belts, waistbands or straps up to 2 3/16” (5.5cm) and features an easy on, easy off design. To remove the case you simply pull it away from your hip and then pull up. With that being said, it will not accidentally come off during your hiking or mountain biking trip.
The interior of the Nite Ize is sure to protect your iPhone with its very soft lining. There is no need to worry about the actual case doing any damage to the phone like we’ve seen in the past with other cases. A really nice touch with the interior is a pocket to store your credit cards, identification, money or whatever else you can get to fit. This especially came in handy while going on some hikes where I did not want to carry my wallet. The interior pocket is a very welcomed addition to this style of case.
The more hiking I do with the Nite Ize Sideways Clip Case [TiPb Store Link - $16.95] the more I like it. Is this a case I would use on a daily basis? No. However, those of you who are looking for a well built, rugged case – give it a try. You should not come away disappointed.
Nite Ize Clip Case for iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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TiPb Gear and Give-Away! PowerMat Home and Office, Portable, iPhone Case, and Receiver Cube
Feb 23rd
Star Trek time — today we’re looking at the inductive future of charging via the PowerMat Home or office Mat [$97.95 - TiPb Store link], PowerMat Portable Mat [$97.95 - TiPb Store link], PowerMat Receiver Case for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS [$39.95 - TiPb Store link], and PowerMat Universal Power Cube [$29.95 - TiPb Store link] for all your other gadgets.
Follow on after the break for our review, photos, videos — and did I mention we’re giving away the full review package?!
I first saw PowerMat when I stopped off at their booth at CES with CrackBerry Kevin, and it was immediately apparent why Dieter and our PreCentral.net friends are such fans of their Touchstones. The idea of just putting a device down and it starting to charge is right out of our collective science-fiction consciousness.
We’re not quite Sci-Fi yet, of course, especially since Apple — unlike Palm — hasn’t built an inductive battery into the iPhone (cue 4th gen iPhone speculation!) but PowerMat brings us a very cool step closer.
PowerMat
The system starts off with the PowerMat proper, which is the base. I tested both the Home and Office and the Portable mats, and they both worked very well. They’re almost identical in fact, with three magnetic charging points each, as well as USB, controls for brightness and volume (for the light and sound that indicates a connection for charging — in case you want to mute them in the bedroom), and the AC connection that gets plugged in. The big difference is that the portable mat can be folded neatly in three, creating a smaller if thicker footprint which is easier to store in a bag for traveling (hence the name portable!).
iPhone Case Receiver
To make it work with the iPhone you need a case that plugs into the iPhone’s 30-pin dock connector and has an inductive receiver (big square of metal) on the back. Slide your iPhone, carry it around with you, protected by the hard case, and when you get back to your PowerMat just set it down and it will begin to recharge. It’s really as simple as that (okay, you have to make sure you align the magnets but that’s very easy to feel and is accompanied by a sound to alert you when it’s just right).
Power Cube
You can get cases for a variety of other devices, but if you’re a real gadget-geek and have tons more you want to charge, each PowerMat comes with a Universal Power Cube that sits on the PowerMat and offers a Mini-USB tip for you to plug into. There’re also adapters for Micro-USB, Sony, Samsung, Nintendo, and a bunch of others, including a standard iPhone and iPod (and eventually iPad?) dock connector. I used them to plug in an iPod touch and Motorola H17 BT headset, but you can really use them to plug in almost anything. It even comes with a matching, handy-dandy holder for all the adapters.
You can also get the Power Cube’s separately, and those come with the Mini-USB tip and Micro-USB adapter.
Conclusion
Again, at this point it’s a work-around (thanks Apple!) and more of a cable-management system than real sci-fi solution, but frak if it isn’t cool. Just one plug and the mat, and you can charge virtually any gadget you own and just smile doing it. If you’re a geek, then seriously, this is the geekiest tech around and a must-have just to stick on your coffee table and show off when you drop your iPhone down in front of guests.
Give Away
So, the give-away! I have all this PowerMat gear sitting here, and while the boxes have been opened and the stuff tested for a few weeks, it’s all still in perfect condition. So, TiPb’s decided there’d be nothing better to do with it than give it away to a reader! That’s right, courtesy of the TiPb Store, here’s what’s included:
- PowerMat Home or office Mat [$97.95 - TiPb Store link]
- PowerMat Portable Mat [$97.95 - TiPb Store link]
- PowerMat Receiver Case for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS [$39.95 - TiPb Store link]
- PowerMat Universal Power Cube [$29.95 - TiPb Store link]
That’s $265 worth of review gear, and all you have to do for your chance to get it is head on over to the TiPb iPhone Accessories Forum and let us know what you want to charge with it (in addition to your iPhone, of course!).
Give-away starts now and ends Thursday, Feb. 25 at 12pm PT. US or Canadian shipping address required.
Video and Galleries
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Motorola XH1 Bone-conducting Bluetooth Headset for iPhone
Feb 17th
Phil and I got a demo of the Motorola XH1 Bluetooth headset [$109.95 (30% off!) - TiPb Store Link] at CES 2010 and I’ve been road testing it ever since. The real in-ear, bone-conducting technology was intriguing, and since I really liked the Moto H17, I was curious to see how this one would stack up. So, let’s take a look after the break!
Technology
The Motorola XH1 fights the war against noise with three levels of technology. It will normally cancel any background noise it finds. If that’s not enough, it’s CrystalTalk dual-mic system will kick in to actively cancel things like wind. I left the windows open during my daily highway commute (yes, in freezing Montreal winters — what I won’t do for our readers!) and most of the people I spoke to couldn’t hear a sound.
And then there’s the nu-cu-lar option, Stealth Mode, which actually turns off the mics entirely and instead reads the sound vibrations in your ear and converts that digitally into sound. It’s not quite human, of course, but from the show floor at CES to the loudest places I could find in Montreal — where I thought it would be useless — it remained understandable.
Wearability
In order to do the Stealth Mode bone conduction, the XH1 has to burrow rather deeply into your ear. To me it felt a little deeper than even your standard in-ear headset. I’ll admit, I found it rather intrusive at first but I’m hypersensitive about that kind of thing and even I got used to it after a couple days. It is the price you pay for bone conduction.
Other than that, the ear loop and fit were great for me, and I’ve said repeatedly my grappling mashed ears aren’t very tolerant of poor fit. Like all of Moto’s recent headsets it comes with a few different earpieces so you have a good chance of finding a great match.
Functionality
Unlike the H17 which has the boom flip-to-turn-on feature, the HX1 has an actual on-off switch, but it works well enough. Pushing the button activates the iPhone 3GS’ Voice Control feature so you can speak to dial the phone, play or shuffle music, etc. Holding down the button will repeat the last call. There are also volume controls and the welcome standard of a micro-USB charging port with no finicky “door” cover to get in your way and ultimately break off.
Conclusion
Overall, the HX1’s noise cancelation is among the best in the business and its looks are obviously intended to be more “executive” as well. I still prefer the boom on the H17 as on/off is just so easy with that design, but the XH1 is top of the line for a reason.
If you want a high-end headset that legitimately boasts “Star Trek” style technology, the XH1 definitely deserves a look… er, listen! (And hey, it’s currently 30% off at the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store to boot!)
Motorola XH1 Bone-conducting Bluetooth Headset for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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Review: ScreenGuardz Privacy Screens for iPhone
Feb 12th
NLU Privacy ScreenGuardz [$19.99 - TiPb Store link] come from the same folks who make BodyGuardz and represents the first — to my knowledge — 4-way privacy screen for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.
I had the chance to see the ScreenGuardz at CES in January, and was able to test it out throughout Macworld 2010, and it works well. (And yes, they had a picture up for an iPad screen already!)
4-way refers to both vertical and horizontal privacy, meaning that when your iPhone is in portrait or landscape mode, the field of view is obscured to the degree that while you can still see it, anyone sitting next to you trying to spy on you can’t. It looks either mostly or completely black to them, depending on the viewing angle.
In terms of drawback, while the view from the front remains clear it does look slightly darker (think Avatar 3D glasses) so you may want to pump up your brightness slightly to compensate. Also, if you want to let the person next to you see your iPhone — to watch a movie or help with Maps directions, for example — you’re out of luck. There’s no such thing as selective privacy!
Application is simple and the case is thin, though you’ll feel a slight ridge around the Home button cutout.
If you have sensitive information on your iPhone, or just don’t appreciate snoops on the plane, train, or bus (or the desk next to you!) then it’s definitely something to check out.
For more, check out the video from Macworld 2010, after the break, where NLU installs a ScreenGuardz on my iPhone (and yes, it stopped Leanna from peeking over my shoulder completely!
Review: ScreenGuardz Privacy Screens for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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E&B Company eCopilot Leather Pouch Case for iPhone
Feb 10th
The E&B Company eCopilot leather side pouch for the iPhone, [$29.95 - TiPb Store link] has a sophisticated style and classic appearance. The case is made of a durable leather outer shell and has a soft cushioned interior lining. The horizontal pouch opening has a magnetic binding which makes it easy to open and close and yet is strong enough that it will not open on its own.
For more about this case, pictures and what is Project Pink, join us after the break…
The eCopilot can be used on your belt or carried in your bag or briefcase. The belt loop is reinforced and has ample room to fit over various belt widths. For those who prefer belt clips, however, that’s not an option here.
I prefer to keep my iPhone in my purse, so this pouch is well suited for my needs. The case has a streamlined finish so it does not add much bulk or weight and the leather outer layer has a attractive finish. It’s also quite strong and will protect your iPhone from most scratches, abrasions and some falls. In fact, when my child kicked my phone down the stairs — it survived (so did my child, after a lengthy time out…)
The sides have small openings and, whether or not it was the manufacturers intent, this can be used to plug in your earphones without having to take your iPhone out from the case.
There is a small groove in the front of the case which makes it easy to get to your iPhone with one hand.
This case is beautifully constructed and will take a good deal of abuse with ease. Its look is sophisticated and perfect for the professional in your life. For those of you who may want the case in another color other than pink, The E&B Company eCopilot side pouch also comes in black, brown and red and is available for $29.95 from the TiPb iPhone accessory store.
Project Pink: if I get over 50 different people’s comments on this post, Rene has generously offered (will be forced) to carry around my next case for a day (it’s also pink!). Follow me on twitter @GeorgiaTiPb and I will keep you posted on the progress.
** And the response has been so great if we break 150, I will get Video !
Disclaimer: the E&B Company eCopilot leather case was provided for review by TiPb’s iPhone accessory store.
E&B Company eCopilot Leather Pouch Case for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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