My i Tech Gadgets

B&W P5 Series 2 Headphones

2014-11-15T16:22:00.002-05:00

A couple years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the Bowers & Wilkins P5 series 1 headphones. Can they transfer that success into the all new P5 series 2 headphones? Lets take a look at their brand new product right now.

Overall build quality and aesthetics are very similar. The metallic back side to the ear cups are now matte black instead of brushed silver as the series 1 was. With their leather wrapped ear pieces and the industrial looking metal on the outside of the ear pieces with Bowers & Wilkins engraved in, these are just plain sexy, even moreso than before.

The P5 series 2 headphones are pretty comfortable to wear with their sheep leather ear pads. After an extended period of wear, say an hour or more, I feel they get to be a little snug on my ears but that isn't uncommon.

Sound Quality. The series 2 differs from the original P5 with its all new 40mm drivers similar to what is used on the higher end P7 headphone. The B&W P5 series 2, just like the originals are more true neutral and warm but they are no slacker in the bass department. They prove to be a little light on the treble at regular volume levels but the treble begins to emerge at higher volumes (over 50%), giving an amazing well rounded profile. In my opinion, I prefer a warmer headphone like this versus something that is so heavy on treble that it gives you a headache. Warm headphones allow a much more pleasant and comfortable listening experience.

Overall, I feel that the series 2 is a substantial improvement over the series 1 and merits the upgrade, no questions asked. Like I mentioned previously, the more power you give them, the better they sound.

In the packaging, you will find the P5 headphones with an attached 3 button remote cable, a replaceable headphone cable (with no 3 button iPod controls) and the same uber premium carrying bag for your precious new headphones. Retail cost is $299.99, available with free shipping here.

Review: Lifeproof Frē for iPhone 5c

2014-03-08T11:03:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, today i'm going to be reviewing the new Lifeproof Fre case for the iPhone 5c. I had the opportunity to review the Lifeproof Frē case for the iPhone 5 here.

The Lifeproof Fre case is essentially the same case as was offered for the iPhone 5. The ports and controls are covered in the same fashion and the lightning charging port has a small door just like previously.

The same thin film covers the entire front of the device providing outstanding protection. One improvement that Lifeproof has made for this 5c case has to do with the back cover. The cover is now a frosted clear material as to proudly display the color of your iPhone 5c.

I have been testing this case for a few weeks now and have been nothing but satisfied, just like all of Lifeproof's products, they have another winner. One thing worth noting is that the screen cover tends to accumulate a lot of oils from the users face as it does not have an oleophobic coating, but this is easily cleaned. All in all, the case is holding up to all the abuse I can throw at it and the phone is totally pristine when I remove it (couldn't even find specs of dust inside).

Lifeproof offers this case in 2 colors; white/clear and black/clear. Retail price is $79.99 and is readily available here.

Review: Incipio ATLAS ID for iPhone 5s

2014-01-12T16:00:00.003-05:00

Incipio unveiled the original ATLAS case at CES 2013 which then followed up with the ATLAS ID in late 2013 to function with touch ID found on the iPhone 5s. Other than that, there aren't many differences between the ATLAS and ATLAS ID (iPhone 5 works just fine in the ATLAS ID case).

The ATLAS line of cases are Incipio's take at a waterproof / dustproof / shockproof case that can handle almost everything you can possibly throw at it. The case has similarities to competitors such as Lifeproof but one major benefit is the glass screen shield that is built in. More on that later.

As you'd expect, all buttons and ports are covered by rubberized material. The sleep/wake button, volume buttons and silent switch are covered and provide a decent tactile feel. The bottom of the case has a flip out style "door" that reveals the lightning port and rubberized plug for the headphone jack. In order to use headphones, you simply remove this plug and attach the provided headphone extender.

The major selling point on Incipio's ATLAS ID case (and ATLAS case) is the built in glass screen shield. The user feel when using glass versus plastic on other cases is far superior. The glass doesn't feel quite as slick as the bare glass but I feel safe to say this will break-in over time and will become more smooth. Touch responsiveness is slightly muted but is expected when you add a material on top of the phone's surface. The "ID" version of the case adds a thin membrane over the home button that allows touch ID to work. I didn't find any issues using touch ID.

Call quality is slightly degraded as well. Incoming clarity seemed to be slightly muffled but not in-audible whatsoever. Outgoing clarity was not affected.

The warranty is linked to the iPhone 5s you register with, and is non-transferable. Registration is done using their free app. The app also walks you through claims on the case or the phone. Incipio’s warranty is good for one incident of liquid or physical damage, and you have the option of extending the coverage to two years for an additional fee.

Overall I really like this case. It is outstanding for somebody who wants to take their phone everywhere and never have to worry about it. ATLAS ID is available in 4 colors; Black, Dark Gray, Pink & White for $89.99 here.

Lifeproof Nüüd case for the iPhone 5

2013-10-05T10:23:00.000-04:00

Today I am reviewing the all new Lifeproof Nüüd case for the iPhone 5. I was very anxious to see what this case was all about after getting the chance to review the Nüüd case for the iPad. Lifeproof has become a household name when it comes to waterproof, let alone "anything proof" phone cases. The Nüüd line of cases they have released separate themselves from anything else they have released due to the "screenless" technology i.e. there is nothing separating the bare screen from your fingers while still remaining waterproof.

Lifeproof has truly revolutionized the market with the release of the Nüüd line in my opinion. Releasing a very rugged phone case, adding the fact that it is waterproof PLUS you don't lose touch sensitivity? What else could anybody ask for? The case claims that it can protect against drops up to 6.6 feet, submersion in water up to 6.6 feet as well as protection against dust, sand and snow.

The Lifeproof Nüüd case has remarkable build quality and is undoubtably one of the best i've seen. The front face of the case is a matte polycarbonate that feels and looks outstanding, we will come back to this later in the review.

The back half of the case is a new design that varies quite a bit from Lifeproof's Frē case. Instead of the back window that would only display the apple logo on the Frē, the Nüüd is one large clear window so you can see the majority of the iPhone which I really like. There was a lot of attention to detail with this design as the perimeter of the back panel is a frosted material so it does not pick up scuffs and scratches when set down screen side up. The clear portion of the back panel is recessed below the frosted rim so it shouldn't get scuffed.

The camera is covered by anti-reflective glass and does not degrade photos at all.

The sides of the case are comprised of a hard rubber material that provides plenty of grip. On the left side, the volume buttons are covered by this material as well as the slider for the silent switch. On top we have a simple rubberized button for the sleep/wake button, feedback is not bad. Around the bottom, we have the Lifeproof typical "screw-in" jack for the headphone jack that now has a tether attached to it so it does not get lost. The lightning port is covered by a hinged door with a seal that works perfect, I wouldn't expect anything different.

Getting back to the front faceplate. There is a lot going on here but it all works perfectly. You are probably wondering how the case can be waterproof while still allowing the bare screen to be used. Underneath the faceplate, there is a gasket around the perimeter which squishes against the phone screen providing a waterproof seal. The bezel comes right up against the touch screen that can sometimes cause issues using the controls in iOS7 but it's just a minor complaint as they are still usable.

One of the new features in the Nüüd is that the home button is a separate piece now that makes use feel like you are actually pressing the home button. It is somewhat loose fitting and I think that can be corrected but it is not an issue.

Sound quality is another thing i'd like to touch on. As you would probably expect, sound quality is skewed while using a waterproof case. Sound travels into the back plate of the case and resonates there to help elevate the volume while still coming out of the bottom port making it sound tinny. I feel it is improved over the Frē case though. Call quality is not degraded with the Nüüd.

This case is offered for $89.99 available in 2 colors, black and white at this time.

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5

2013-09-08T09:27:00.004-04:00

The product that i'll be reviewing for you guys today is from Mophie and it is the Juice Pack Air case for the iPhone 5. Mophie has been a household name when it comes to battery cases for your iPhone and is top dog as far as i'm concerned. Mophie products are targeted to the user whose work day goes beyond 9-5 and having extra battery power is paramount.

Lets start with my first impression of the Juice Pack Air. Holding the case in hand, you will immediately notice the premium soft touch finish of the case; it is REALLY nice. The next thing I noticed is that they have finally moved the status LED's to the back of the case versus having them on the bottom. In addition to that, when the case is being charged, the lights will illuminate for 30 seconds but will turn off after that as to avoid being bothersome when you have this charging on your nightstand at night. The last major thing I noticed is that the charging port has moved to the bottom instead of the side which should help out a lot with broken ports like the prior cases. Speaking of the charging port at the bottom, it looks like there are gold contact patches - could this mean some sort of Mophie dock?

The case itself is surprisingly lightweight (2.68oz) so it doesn't feel like a brick when installed. The headphone jack is recessed by a large amount and Mophie has included a headphone extender to offset that issue. There is nothing more that Mophie can do about that since Apple moved the headphone port to the bottom. The left side of the case features covered buttons for the volume up/down as well as a built in slider for the vibrate switch. The top of the case is similar and has a built in button for the sleep/wake function. Like I mentioned above, the back side of the case contains the status LED's, a button that illuminates those LED's to check charge status and a switch to trigger the battery on and off. The opening for the camera and flash is black lined so it does not cause any flash back.

As for the technical specs, it packs a 1700 mAh battery which is touted to provide up to a 100% charge of your device. This will vary of course based on your usage while it is charging along with your phones settings i.e. email push etc. This amount of power should suffice for most users without a doubt. One thing to note is that you cannot sync your phone over the provided wire. You will have to sync wirelessly to iTunes. This should be a non issue for most people especially since most users sync to iCloud over night anyways.

So, with all that being said, I love the Juice Pack Air case and certainly recommend it. You simply cannot go wrong with a Mophie product. The Juice Pack Air case retails for $99.95 and is available in 3 colors - Black, White and Red.

AIAIAI TMA-1 Headphones

2013-06-30T12:40:00.004-04:00

AIAIAI is a little known company that produces great headphones. I will be going hands on with their TMA-1 on-ear studio headphones for my followers today.

You know what they say about first impressions. Upon unboxing the TMA-1's, you'll see your headphone nestled in a tray of (what looks like) studio noise isolating panel. In the box, you will get a detachable coiled headphone cable (1.6 m length), 1/4" screw on headphone jack, a pair of pleather covered replacement ear cups and a TMA-1 branded carrying pouch for all of this. Like I said about first impressions, everything is matte jet black, totally sick in my humble opinion.

Build Quality - these cans are constructed of all nylon soft touch material (no metal). They are fairly light weight in hand and will not feel heavy during listening sessions. I am a big fan of the ear cups that seem to be made of a type of pliable foam; they are very comfortable and don't exert much force against the sides of your head. The upper band is lined with this same foam making them very comfortable. The cord is a heavy gauge wire unlike a lot of other headphones i've reviewed. This cord will definitely hold up to heavy usage especially in a DJ environment like these are designed for.

Sound Quality - The TMA-1 headphones have a warm and not overly bright sound signature. The sound stage is large, extremely life like almost like you're hearing music being performed live right in front of you. Treble and mids are ungodly crystal clear, in perfect balance and make vocals sound accurate. Lows are well balanced (yet a litle light), not overpowering allowing all channels of sound to hit your ears instead of drowning in bass like Beats by Dre models. In my opinion, I think the bass could be a little more tight and a tad more heavy but of course, this is an opinion and varies by listener.

I truly like these headphones. They are hands down, the most comfortable set of on-ear headphones i've ever worn. I have had them on for a long time testing them as I am writing this and there is absolutely no discomfort from squeezing on any part of my head.

Retail price for this gem is $250 but they're currently going for $204.95 with free shipping on Amazon here.

B&W P5 Headphones

2013-06-30T12:38:00.007-04:00

Bowers & Wilkins has been a huge leader in home theater equipment for years - can they transfer that success into a pair of headphones? Lets take a look into their P5 headphones right now.

The first thing you'll notice with these headphones is their build quality and their aesthetics. They ooze premium quality like the interior of a BMW or Mercedes Benz. With their leather wrapped ear pieces and the industrial looking metal on the outside of the ear pieces with Bowers & Wilkins engraved in, these are just plain sexy.

Moving on to noise isolation, B&W boasts the fact that the P5 are closed back with sealed earpads. With that being said, during my testing, I agree they surely do seal out almost all exterior sound. What is mention worthy though is that there IS some sound that will leak out. I'm not saying it matters for the listener (:D) but it may be a concern for those around you, especially if you listen to these in an office environment.

By design, the P5 headphones are pretty comfortable to wear and won't squeeze your cranium too much to the point of discomfort. After an extended period of wear, say an hour or more, I feel they get to be a little snug on my ears. It's not a deal squasher, but it helps to take a break from listening for a bit. Other than that, they are very pleasant to wear not to mention the plush pad on the top band that rests on top of the listeners head.

Sound Quality - this is what you guys truly care about, right? The B&W P5 are more true neutral and warm but they are no slacker in the bass department. Listening to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, you can definitely hear the warm sound of the P5's. They prove to be a little light on the treble at regular volume levels but the treble begins to emerge at higher volumes. In my opinion, I prefer a warmer headphone like this versus something that is so heavy on treble that it gives you a headache. Warm headphones allow a much more pleasant and comfortable listening experience.

In the packaging, you will find the P5 along with a replaceable headphone cable (with no 3 button iPod controls), a 1/4" headphong plug and an uber premium carrying bag for your precious new headphones. Retail cost is $299.99, available with free shipping on Amazon here.

Spigen Leather Wallet Case Snap for iPhone 5

2013-05-22T17:33:00.001-04:00

Hi guys, today i'm going to be reviewing another case from Spigen - the Leather wallet snap case. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but Spigen is truly leading the game when it comes to premium, awesome, amazing cases for the iPhone.

This case is a new style of case for me as i've never owned one like this. It is a wallet/flip/folio type of case, reminiscent of a case for an iPad. Flipping the case open, you can see on the left side there are two slots for you to put your credit cards, debit cards, license, etc. The slots are pretty narrow meaning you can only fit around 2 cards per slot. Behind those two slots, there is an opening where you can store some cash but again, the more you load this thing up, the thicker it gets which leads me to a small concern of mine. With this wallet case loaded, the cover doesn't exactly stay securely closed just like when a guy loads up his new wallet. I would have liked to see a little flap with a snap to secure it. Moving on to the right hand side of the case, this is where you will snap your phone in, but there is a special feature here. The case that holds your phone is actually removable from the wallet portion of the case making this a dual purpose case for you guys. When you detach the case, it is essentially a Spigen Ultra Thin Air - really cool!

The build quality is definitely top notch. The leather feels great in hand and has the smell of fresh leather. The detailed stitching, color contrast and interior lining screams premium. Another really cool thing that Spigen did is to leave the back of the case cutout so you can use the camera while it is fully installed in the wallet portion.

The Spigen Leather Wallet Snap case will set you back $54.99 on Amazon. Unfortunately, you do not get any screen protectors here; you will only get the case itself which is available in two colors - Scarlet Red or Black.

Spigen Saturn Case for iPhone 5

2013-05-22T17:31:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, today i'll be taking a look at the Saturn Case by Spigen. The Saturn Case is very similar to Spigen's popular Ultra Thin Air case for those that like extremely lightweight and thin cases. The only difference is the fact that the back of the case is mostly aluminum with diamond cut edges. Spigen claims that the Saturn is slightly thicker but I did not really notice any difference.

Like I previously mentioned, the Saturn is a snap on the back style case that simply - snaps onto the back of your iPhone. The basis of the design is the same as any other case like its type but Spigen went one step further to integrate a back plate of real anodized aluminum that mimics the two tone design of the iPhone 5. The edges are diamond cut (even around the camera cutout) to give the case a glimmer shine when it is in direct light similar to the edges of the iPhone itself.

Spigen's Saturn case leaves the bottom and top of the phone totally open allowing full use of any stock or aftermarket lightning chargers as well as any size headphone jack. The left side of the case has separate cutouts for the volume buttons and the vibrate switch. Other than that, there isn't much to the case; it is a simple snap on style thin case that will help provide bump and scratch protection but I would be leary to say it will protect your phone in a drop from more than a few feet off the ground. There isn't really much lay-on-the-table lip protection for the screen and that is especially true with the Spigen GLAS.t slim screen shield that i'm using at the time of this review. The only issue I have with this case is the bottom portion of it where it stops by the lightning port leaves an edge exposed where I typically put my pinkey finger when holding my phone one handed. It is a minor annoyance but it was noticable for me right away. This is the same for all snap-on-the-back style cases, though.

The Spigen Saturn case is available for $26.99 in 3 different colors to match your iPhone. For that price, you will get the case and a set of jelly home button stickers - unfortunately no screen shield included this time. Right now you can grab one of these from Amazon's official Spigen store here for $19.99 with Amazon Prime!

Spigen GLAS.t SLIM Glass Screen Shield for iPhone 5

2013-04-24T19:51:00.002-04:00

Up for review this evening, I have the all new GLAS.t SLIM premium glass screen shield from Spigen SGP. Spigen is the absolute master of premium glass screen shield products. They have recently released a line of SLIM products and the GLAS.t has received the SLIM treatment.

First off let me start by saying if you have never had the opportunity to use a pure glass screen shield, you are missing out on a must have product. Spigen's glass screen shields provide a level of smoothness that is superior to the naked iPhone 5 glass. Think I am exaggerating? You honestly have to try for yourself. The GLAS.t line of premium glass screen shields are silky smooth, resist fingerprints like nothing i've ever used before and are extremely tough at at harness of 8-9H.

The SLIM version of the GLAS.t comes in at 0.26mm thin versus 0.40 of the standard GLAS.t. I previously reviewed the standard GLAS.tR and this slim version is very noticeably more thin. This is particularly obvious at the home button as it is not as far recessed. With this one, I don't feel as if I need to use a jelly or aluminum home button sticker due to the recessed area.

I honestly cannot express how insanely awesome this screen shield is. If I could recommend any one "must have" product for iPhone users, it would without a doubt be a GLAS.t screen shield of any type i.e. GLAS.t or .tR or either slim version. The price is not easy to swallow at $27.99 but I can assure you it is money well spent especially considering their replacement policy which allows $15 replacements if you ruin it on install or in a drop. Go out and get one to try for yourself!

Spigen Linear Blitz for iPhone 5

2013-04-24T19:34:00.005-04:00

Today i'll be reviewing the Linear Blitz case from the folks at Spigen SGP. It seems that as of late, Spigen has been diligent in releasing cases with real aluminum parts. There is something “high quality” about a case that has metallic parts versus a cheap feeling plastic or rubber and they've hit that mark with this case.

The Linear Blitz is a multi-piece case comprised of 3 components; a frame, a backplate and a lower frame that locks all the pieces securely together. The frame parts are polycarbonate while the backplate is 100% real aluminum. Spigen has built in plastic buttons for the volume and sleep/awake buttons that function perfectly, not degrading their functionality at all and look awesome. There is a nice large cutout for the mute switch providing easy access to it. The lower frame part has a series of cutouts over the speaker and microphone to ensure sound isn't hindered during normal operation. Cutouts for the lightning port and headphone jack are on the slim side but don't pose a problem for apple's accessories. The only branding on the case is Spigen's name on the left side and "Linear" written on the back plate.

I've been testing this case for a bit now and can say that there is no degradation of wifi signal due to the aluminum back. I had seen some complaints about this online but no issues here. The only issue to note from my personal testing is that the back plate has a tiny bit of "play" in it i.e. when the case is assembled, I can slide the backplate up and down by a tiny bit and is noticable to me. I do not think this will cause any scratching of your iPhone but it is a minor annoyance to me.

I have paired this case with a Spigen GLAS.t slim screen shield and can report that it works perfectly, almost like they were designed to compliment each other. With the screen shield installed, there is a tiny bit of lay-on-the-table lip but it's almost negligible. These two combined together is one amazing combo and would highly recommend it to you guys.

The Linear Blitz case is available in 3 colors; metal slate, metal red and satin silver for $31.99 on Amazon here. Included in the packaging, you will get a Linear Blitz case, Steinheil ultra crystal screen shield, microfiber cloth and a set of jelly home button stickers.

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Lifeproof Fre for iPhone 5

2013-04-22T19:43:00.005-04:00

Hey guys, today i'm going to be reviewing the new Lifeproof Fre case for the iPhone 5. I had the opportunity to review the Lifeproof case for the iPhone 4/4S here.

The Lifeproof Fre case is essentially the same case as was offered on the iPhone 4/4S. The ports and controls are covered in the same fashion and the lightning charging port has a small door just like previously.

Something that I have to add (assuming you read my Lifeproof review) is that they have improved the touch screen cover on this new version. Immediately after installing the case, it sat a lot more flush to the screen with only a slight air gap. Over a week or so, the gap is pretty much gone except for the top towards the earphone.

My wife has been testing this case for a few weeks now and she is pretty tough on her phone i.e. tossing it in her purse, shoving it in her wristlet, dropping it etc. One thing worth noting is that the screen cover tends to accumulate a lot of oils from the users face as it does not have an oleophobic coating, but this is easily cleaned. All in all, the case is holding up to all the abuse she can throw at it and the phone is totally pristine when I remove it (couldn't even find specs of dust inside).

Lifeproof is offering this case for $79.99 and is readily available here.

Graft Concepts Leverage for iPhone 5

2013-04-10T19:12:00.003-04:00

The product I will be reviewing for you guys today is the Leverage case by Graft Concepts. I had the opportunity to review the same case but for the iPhone 4/4S here

The iPhone 5 version of the Leverage case is very similar to the iPhone 4/4S version and there is definitely reason for it. Why change something that already works and works well? This version works on the same premise that the case is one big piece that is connected by the latching mechanism that Graft Concepts is known for.

There are some things to add which are notable on the iPhone 5 version. One major thing is the fact that they have added a metallic rocker style switch for the volume buttons whereas the iPhone 4/4S version had a cutout for those buttons. The rocker switch looks really good and has nice tactile feedback when pressed. The sleep/wake button is still covered with a metallic button built into the latch and also works well. Around the button of the case, there are separate cutouts for the lightning port, mic, speaker and headphone jack.

This Black version of the case is comprised of a soft touch material that feels great in hand. There is a good amount of lip that protrudes past the front and back of the phone providing a solid amount of lay on the table protection. Even with my Spigen GLAS.t Slim installed, there is still a lip above that. One more thing to mention is that you will get a back plate along with this case which you can choose to install or leave off. The backplate simply locks into the case and the latch holds it all together perfectly.

Graft Concepts has retained the same colorways as the other cases in which you can choose from a soft touch Black or a high gloss White. You will also have the option to choose a matte or chrome latching mechanism. It looks like Graft Concepts has dropped their price from $59.99 previously to $49.95 currently. Overall, I like the case and I will definitely recommend it!

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Olloclip for iPhone 5

2013-03-27T18:23:00.001-04:00

Today, I’ll be reviewing a little bit of a different product for you guys. That product is the Olloclip for the iPhone 5. Olloclip is a photo lens attachment that easily and quickly slides on to your iPhone to provide a few different styles of photos similar to how you swap lenses on a DSLR camera. It sounds like a novelty at first mention, but it’s surely something to speak about for photo buffs.

The Olloclip is nice and small making it easy to tote around with its included small bag. They also provide lens caps for both sides to ensure nothing scratches them. So, you must be wondering what kind of shots can this lens attachment take? There are 3 different variations as follows; Wide angle, Fisheye & Macro. The wide angle makes for nice wide shots. The fisheye is extremely pronounced making the lens alignment very important to maximize the effect. The macro lens focuses at about 15mm (very close and very cool).

The idea of having 3 different lens attachments that you can hold in the palm of your hand to enhance your camera (iPhone!) is an extremely neat idea. The product works flawlessly and I am a big time fan of it. For $69.99, it may be a little bit of a sticker shock but remember you are getting essentially 3 different lenses all-in-one. You surely cannot buy a quality DSLR lens for as little as this, let alone 3.

iCarbons for iPad Mini

2013-03-09T12:10:00.004-05:00

The product for review today is an iCarbons wrap for the iPad Mini. Skins or wraps like this serve a dual purpose which is dressing up your device as well as providing a good amount of scratch protection but of course won't do much in the event of a drop. I am a huge fan of using gadgets as they came from the factory (avoiding using any type of case) and iCarbons is perfect in every way.

I had the opportunity to review an iCarbons wrap for the iPhone 5 and I couldn't have been more excited to check out their iPad Mini version. They were nice enough to send over a black carbon version. I was also fortunate enough to get a version with the apple logo cut-out before apple put the hammer down on that. I see that they are now offering versions that do not cut out the apple logo at the time of this writing (06MAR13).

I recall being impressed by the exact cuts that they're using which fit the device absolutely perfectly. Well, the iPad Mini version is certainly no exception. The pieces of the wrap fit the device in the most exact and perfect way. It is almost so perfect to the point that the installation was a little bit of a challenge. I would have to say that is my ONLY gripe on this and I can't even justify it as a complaint. Every single cutout around the perimeter of the iPad is cut with extreme precision - absolutely no issues accessing any buttons or switches.

Like mentioned above, installation takes a little bit of patience but with the help of iCarbons instructional videos, it wasn't too bad. The back piece took quite a few tries to get the top and bottom to align perfectly. The nice thing about these skins is that you can lift them back up repeatedly when aligning it without loss of adhesion. Moving to the front skin install, I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top which took me about 3-5 minutes.

All in all, I can honestly say, BUY THIS! It is an amazing product and well well worth the money; $24.95 for the front/back and $14.95 for either front only or back only.

Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5

2013-03-09T12:10:00.003-05:00

The product that i'll be reviewing for you guys today is all new from Mophie and it's called the Juice Pack Helium. Mophie has been a household name when it comes to battery cases for your iPhone and is top dog as far as i'm concerned. Mophie products are targeted to the user whose work day goes beyond 9-5 and having extra battery power is paramount.

Lets start with my first impression of the Juice Pack Helium. Holding the case in hand, you will immediately notice the premium soft touch finish of the case; it is REALLY nice. The next thing I noticed is that they have finally moved the status LED's to the back of the case versus having them on the bottom. In addition to that, when the case is being charged, the lights will illuminate for 30 seconds but will turn off after that as to avoid being bothersome when you have this charging on your nightstand at night. The last major thing I noticed is that the charging port has moved to the bottom instead of the side which should help out a lot with broken ports like the prior cases.

The case itself is surprisingly lightweight (2.44oz) so it doesn't feel like a brick when installed. The Helium design is pretty typical of their iPhone battery cases which will add length to the device but certainly does not inhibit with the speaker and mic on the bottom of the phone. Starting there, you'll see that the headphone jack is recessed by a large amount and Mophie has included a headphone extender to offset that issue. There is nothing more that Mophie can do about that since Apple moved the headphone port to the bottom. The left side of the case has one large cutout that is wide open for the volume buttons and silent switch; no issues using any of those. The top of the case is similar and has a perfectly sized opening to access the sleep/wake button. Like I mentioned above, the back side of the case contains the status LED's, a button that illuminates those LED's to check charge status and a switch to trigger the battery on and off. The opening for the camera and flash is black lined so it does not cause any flash back.

As for the technical specs of the all new Helium, it packs a 1500 mAh battery which is touted to provide roughly an 80% charge of your device. This will vary of course based on your usage while it is charging along with your phones settings i.e. email push etc. This amount of power should suffice for most users without a doubt. One thing to note is that you cannot sync your phone over the provided wire. You will have to sync wirelessly to iTunes. This should be a non issue for most people especially since most users sync to iCloud over night anyways.

So, with all that being said, I love the Helium case and certainly recommend it. You simply cannot go wrong with a Mophie product. The Helium case retails for $79.95 and is available in 2 colors - Dark metallic and Silver metallic.

Clear Coat for iPad mini

2013-02-27T18:10:00.003-05:00

Hello guys, up for review today is a Clear Coat wrap for the iPad mini. Clear Coat has hit the market with urethane films for a wide variety of devices. These films are marketed as crystal clear and scratch proof for those users who prefer to use their device "naked" or case-less. Who would want to strap a bulky case on the already slim iPad mini?

I've been using the full wrap on my iPad mini for a few weeks now and I can vouch for the scratch proof claim of the Clear Coat. My major gripe comes down to the screen shield. The smooth silky touch of the bare glass screen is totally lost with the Clear Coat installed. It feels tacky (not sticky like zagg) yet hard to explain; it's sort of like dragging your finger on dry skin. This screen shield is not something I would buy again. In contrast to this, the film that covers the back feels surprisingly smoother and I didn't seem to experience the same issue.

Moving on to the accuracy of the film cuts, I found that the back film is cut perfectly around

the cutouts and buttons around the perimeter of the iPad mini. The screen shield is a bit odd as they've chosen to cut it pretty "short" of the perimeter of the screen perhaps to keep the edges from peeling and to provide room for cases that wrap around the screen. Another thing that i'm not a fan of is the way that the screen has a pocket cut out from the home button that extends to the bottom of the device rather than using a circular cutout.

Installation was tricky but not difficult if you take your time and have patience. Installing the screen shield was not bad using the provided installation liquid and squeegee. Installing the back film was pretty challenging. Locating the film was a breeze as long as you use enough installation liquid. Getting the edges to stick was a daunting task which involved a lot of hair dryer and elbow grease (i.e. holding each flap down for a long time). I would say it took me over 30 minutes to install the back film alone. Installing the front film took ~10 minutes.

Lastly, I'd like to speak about the clarity of the Clear Coat. The screen shield is not optically crystal clear like they are claiming. It has a grainy look when the screen is on and has an orange peel look to it when the screen is off. The same orange peel look applies to the back film but isn't as noticeable when installed.

You can pick up a full body Clear Coat for $34.99 and a screen only option for $24.99. Overall, I would rate this product as "It's Ok".

Spigen Linear EX Slim for iPhone 5

2013-02-13T19:54:00.003-05:00

Today i'll be reviewing the Linear EX slim series case from none other than Spigen SGP. The folks over at Spigen have recently released a bunch of products in their "slim" line. I am a big fan of the linear EX case...will this one make the cut? Read on for the full review below.

I had the linear EX case for my iPhone 4S and liked it a lot; a lot more than the OEM apple bumper. The iPhone 4S version did have a little bit of bulk to it, not more than any other bumper, but it was surely noticeable. When I saw that they were releasing a "slim" version of this case, I was really anxious to get my hands on one for review. You definitely have to get one of these if you like a nice slim case that doesn't make your thin iPhone 5 a thick gaudy gadget.

The linear series of cases from Spigen are a 2 piece design with 2 "L" shaped pieces that lock together to complete the frame. Another thing I really like about them is that the volume buttons and sleep/awake button are totally covered but still provide perfect "click" when the buttons are depressed. The cutout for the silent switch is a little on the smaller side but they don't have much room to enlarge this due to the thin form factor of the case. Along the bottom side there are slits to ensure perfect speaker and microphone usage as well as a pretty small lightning port cutout and a moderately narrow headphone jack cutout.

There is a small amount of lay on the table "lip" to the case but when using it with a Spigen GLAS.tR, like I am, the lip is non existent (it almost seems like the screen shield extends beyond the case lip). I would have liked to see a little bit more especially since Spigen is the one that owns the design to the GLAS.tR and touts all of their cases to "work" with it.

Along with the case itself, you will get a high quality Spigen crystal screen shield, clear back protector and a set of jelly home button stickers for the low price of $21.99. I think this is one of the best deals that they're offering right now considering the Neo Hybrid EX case is selling for $31.99 and is essentially the "same" type of case.

Spigen Slim Armor Case for the iPhone 5

2013-02-09T08:56:00.001-05:00

Today i'm going to be telling you guys about a new offering from the folks over at Spigen SGP. The case that I have for review is their Slim Armor case; read on to see what it's all about.

The Slim Armor case is a 2 piece style case with an inner TPU soft layer that wraps around the entire phone. On top of this, there is a polycarbonate piece that fits onto the back within a set of grooves to complete a 2-tone back like the iPhone 5 has. The fitment of the 2 layers is spot-on and it's almost like this is a product apple would ship with their phone. The attention to detail is outstanding i.e. the edges around the case even have a chamfered edge to mimic the iPhone 5 design.

Along the top of the case, the TPU covers the sleep/wake button, along the left side, TPU covers the volume buttons with a smaller cutout for the vibrate switch; you have to dig your finger in to access this though. Around the bottom there are nice slots for the speaker and mic along with separate cutouts for the headphone jack and lightning port.

One thing worth mentioning is that i'm using this case with a Spigen SGP GLAS.tR screen shield which protrudes beyond the case. What this means is that if I flip my phone over, it's resting on the screen shield and not the edges of the case. For being an armor case, I would think it should have some lay on the table lip to it while using this screen shield.

The Slim Armor case does not come with anything other than the case itself and 3 jelly home button stickers. For the price of $17.99 (Satin Silver, Metal Slate & Gunmetal), I surely wouldn't expect a set of front and back shields. Overall, I am really liking this case and would like it even more if it had more of a lip around the screen.

Speck Candyshell Satin for iPhone 5 Review

2013-01-15T22:22:00.005-05:00

Today we're going to look at a very popular product from Speck; the Candyshell, for iPhone 5. I had a chance to see one of their newer release satin finish cases, which have a soft touch matte finish versus their typical glossy finish.

The Speck candyshell is sort of a flagship product for them and I am a big fan of it. The case is comprised of a hard outer shell and lined with a softer rubbery coating to cradle your iPhone and protect it from scuffing/scratching and shock.

The volume buttons and sleep/awake button are covered with the same soft rubbery material and provide nice feedback.

There is a nice subtle lip that provides good lay-on-the-table and good screen protection in the event you drop your phone and it falls screen side down. All 4 corners of the case have a strip of this rubbery coating to help aide in shock protection. Here lies one of my complaints - the lip and the 4 strips on the corners tend to "flake" and peel. In the same respect as this, the back of the case (along the edges) almost looks like the soft touch material has peeled away also during normal usage (about 4 weeks).

The form factor of the iPhone 5 Candyshell is slimmer than its iPhone 4 counterpart, not adding a ton of bulk while still providing nice drop protection and great style. The cutouts for the speaker, lightning connector, headphone jack and vibrate switch are cutout nicely, no complaints there.

The satin version of the Candyshell definitely hides a lot of scuffing and fingerprints which plague the glossy versions. I would recommend going with a satin Candyshell versus a glossy Candyshell. This version comes in 3 colors (glossy comes in 18 colors) for $34.95.

Spigen SGP Neo Hybrid EX Slim Metal for iPhone 5

2012-12-28T16:04:00.002-05:00

Today i'll be taking a closer look at another case from Spigen SGP; the Neo Hybrid EX Slim Metal case. Just how slim is this case compared to their standard Neo Hybrid EX that I previously reviewed? Make sure you read on to find out!

Spigen SGP has recently released a line of "slim" cases and I think it is a great idea that they've come up with. This particular case is just as protective as the standard edition but with a nice slim form factor - I love it! The 2 part concept is exactly the same, but the pieces don't add quite so much thickness to the iPhone when installed; as a user of both, I can feel a difference in the thickness in hand. Due to the slimmer form factor, the silicone fits a little bit tighter and the polycarbonate frame also fits tighter - fitment is almost as close to perfect as you could get. For those of you who are using tempered glass screen shields, this case works just fine and will sit about flush with the top of the screen shield (not yielding any lay-on-the-table lip on the front).

Like mentioned above, the design is the same as the standard Neo Hybrid EX - same silicone covered volume buttons and sleep/awake button that give excellent user "click" feedback when used. I certainly do not have any complaints with this case; Spigen SGP has nailed another amazing product. Pricing of the slim case is $31.99 which includes a Spigen SGP crystal screen shield, crystal back protective film and a set of jelly home button stickers. If I had to choose between the standard and slim Neo Hybrid EX, it's a no brainer - go for the slim series.

Ballistic Case Shell Gel (SG) for iPhone 5 Review

2012-12-05T20:01:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, tonight i'm going to be reviewing a product by Ballistic Case called the Shell Gel (SG). I've reviewed some of their products in the past and they've never disappointed. Will this case pass the test? Read on for the full review below.

The Shell Gel (SG) is a newer product for Ballistic and I was very excited to take a closer look at it. From my initial glance at it, it looked like a competitor for the Otterbox Commuter case and it indeed is the same style of case. This particular case is built with a 3 layer design. Layer 1 is ballistic shock absorbent polymer, layer 2 is a tough impact resistant polycarbonate shell and layer 3 is the innermost soft silicone with shock absorbing corners. Installation is a breeze; the silicone is very pliable and slips right on the iPhone. The polycarbonate portion fits perfectly into the grooves on the silicone and pops on with ease. The installed product looks a lot better than an Otterbox in my honest opinion.

The ports and controls are all easily accessible with the Shell Gel case installed. Starting at the top, the sleep/awake button is covered by the silicone but provides a nice click when pressed (not so stiff like the Otterbox Commuter). The bottom of the phone has one large cutout across the width so everything is easily accessed. The left side of the case covers the volume buttons, providing the same nice click just like the sleep/awake button. Lastly, there is an ample cutout for the silent switch, no issues accessing that whatsoever. The rear of the case has a nice dimpled pattern providing a little extra grip on your iPhone. The cutout for the camera and flash is ample and has a black ring to eliminate camera flashback. Moving around to the front of the case, it provides a hefty amount of lay-on-the-table lip to ensure lots of protection for your screen. I only have one complaint and that is the amount of lint and pocket dust that sticks to the soft silicone.

All in all, Ballistic has built another winner product and is available for only $34.99 (in 7 colors) but is available even cheaper on Amazon here.

Spigen SGP Neo Hybrid EX Metal For iPhone 5 Review

2012-12-05T19:47:00.001-05:00

Hello guys, today i'm going to be taking a look at the Neo Hybrid EX case for the iPhone 5 from the great people over at Spigen SGP.

It's no secret that Spigen SGP creates amazing products. The Neo Hybrid EX case is a 2 part hybrid bumper case just like the name suggests. For users, like myself, who love to show off their iPhone, a bumper case like this is exactly what you need to provide drop protection and still retain aesthetic appeal. The inner layer is a soft silicone rubber that provides shock absorption in the event you drop your iPhone. The top layer is a hard polycarbonate frame that installs on top of the silicone to keep the silicone wrapped snug against the frame. Spigen SGP has designed their case like this so you can interchange different color silicone and frames for a total customized look.

Moving on to the ports and controls of the device, the case has a rubberized covering over both the sleep/awake button and also the volume buttons which provide nice user feedback when pressed. There is a nice sized cutout for the vibrate switch so users can easily flip it without having to dig in there with their fingernail. The opposite side of the case contains the Spigen logo, subtly embossed into the polycarbonate frame. Along the bottom, there are "metal grate" looking slots so the speaker and microphone performance is not hampered. The cutouts for the lightning port and headphone jack are rather slim and i'm not confident aftermarket lightning connectors would fit nor would headphone jacks larger than the stock headphones. A lot of headphones have plugs which are similar in size to the iPhone earpods, so no worries, unless you have fullsize cans which commonly use a huge plug.

Along with the 2 piece Neo Hybrid EX case, Spigen SGP provides a Steinheil Ultra Crystal screen shield, Steinheil back protection film, a microfiber cloth and 3 home button stickers (black/white/orange). You can all of this Spigen SGP good-ness for only $31.99 available here. As of now, this case is offered in Gunmetal, Metal Blue, Metal Slate, Metal Pink and Satin Silver.

Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand review

2012-11-15T11:51:00.006-05:00

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a brief look at the Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand that is made to be used with the Lifeproof Nüüd case that I just reviewed. The Cover/Stand is exactly like the name sounds and is a simple snap-on cover that doubles as a stand to prop up your iPad in a couple orientations for daily use.

The primary use of this product is to prop up your iPad. The Cover/Stand provides 2 different angles; the first being ~60 degrees up which is perfect for viewing movies and videos. The other orientation is ~30 degrees which is made for typing like a keyboard.

When you aren't using this product as a stand, it doubles as a cover for the screen of your iPad, as it is not covered by the Nüüd case. It is a simple design and it pops right on top of the case and leaves the headphone jack and 30 pin charging port totally exposed.

Lifeproof has done a nice job to integrate these 2 products together and has priced the cover affordably at $19.99. Pick one up by itself here.

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Lifeproof Nüüd for iPad review

2012-11-15T11:50:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a look at the all new Lifeproof Nüüd case for the iPad 2/3/4th generation. The case is based on the very popular Lifeproof for iPhone case, but is now available for your iPad! How well does the Nüüd case perform? Read on for my comprehensive review!

If you haven't had the opportunity to read about or use a Lifeproof case before, Lifeproof cases are, well, lifeproof. This means that the case is water proof, snow proof, dirt proof and shock proof. The water proof characteristic is proven to a depth of 6.6 feet and the shock proof characteristic is proven to withstand a drop of 4 feet. These characteristics are especially handy for hard users of the iPad and I saw online the other day that formula one race crews are using them in the pits with these cases! That environment is greasy, dirty and rough on an iPad.

Getting into the specifics of the Lifeproof Nüüd case, it does vary from the Lifeproof case for the iPhone. This case is built of a rigid rubberized material that feels great and will provide great drop protection. The back of the case is transparent to ensure you can show off your coveted apple logo. The major difference between the iPad case and the iPhone case is that the screen is totally exposed. The front half of the case has a gasket to seal off the screen from the rest of the iPad, making water exposure safe. I was a little skeptical about this, but it's completely safe (up to the advertised depth).

Moving on to the ports and controls on this case, starting at the top, there is a rubberized button covering the sleep/awake button that has great feedback. You will also find a water proof cutout for the microphone and a cap which covers the headphone jack. This cap is threaded and is easily removed to expose the headphone jack. The cutout is deep, therefore Lifeproof provides a headphone extender cord that plugs into the headphone jack and has a female plug at the other end so you can plug in your own headphones. Moving on to the right side of the case, there is a rubberized button covering the volume rocker which also provides nice feedback. Also on the right side, you will find a neat slider switch that controls the mute/rotation lock switch. Along the bottom of the Nüüd case, there is a water proof door that covers the 30 pin charging port. What about the home button? It is covered with a plastic type button which is completely sealed from water intrusion due to the gasket that flanks the iPad screen. Like I mentioned above, the back of the case is transparent and the only other feature on the back is the speaker area. This speaker area is water proof yet provides amazing sound output. It is almost like nothing is covering the speaker at all, let alone a water proof covering! Nice job Lifeproof!

Lifeproof has done a great job with this case, and I really like how they left the screen totally exposed as to not degrade usability of the touch screen. The case is not overly intrusive and not overly heavy or bulky either. You can pick up the Nüüd case here for $119.98.

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