MobileSyrup.com » Various Accessories

Otterbox “Livestrong” Commuter case for iPhone 4S review

Daniel Bader — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:01:27 +0000

When we reviewed the Otterbox Commuter case for the iPhone 4S, we loved most things about it, but in some ways it lacked the aesthetic panache of many of its competitors.

Radio Shack (in the U.S.), Otterbox and LIVESTRONG, part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, have partnered to release a Special Edition Commuter case for the iPhone 4S, and besides having all the pros of its namesake, it improves upon it in a number of ways.

Firstly, the oft-maligned “vanity hole” that showcases the Apple logo is gone in favour of a smooth and unbroken black backing, replete with a tasteful vertical Livestrong logo. The polycarbonate shell, which goes over a soft and flexible silicone “glove” has a more matte texture, and is less rough than the original.

The camera hole is also a bit smaller and tighter, and overall the case feels less bulky than other Commuter cases. Thankfully, the fundamentals haven’t changed: easily-pressed soft nubs cover the power and volume buttons, and the front edge extends just past the screen to prevent scratches to the glass when dropped. As usual, the kit comes with a dry-apply screen protector and a soft cleaning cloth.

This is easily one of my favourite iPhone cases, and goes to show how Otterbox is listening to its customers and changing up the design of its popular cases for the better.

While the Livestrong edition of the Otterbox Commuter is not for sale in Canada, it can be obtained from the company’s website, and in Radioshack stores across the U.S for $34.95.

Otterbox Commuter case for iPhone 4S review

Daniel Bader — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:49:16 +0000

Otterbox is one of the best examples of a quality case manufacturer, and though they’re an established brand their products are constantly referred to as “great surprises” among newfound fans. The Commuter case series is probably its most popular since it combines excellent manufacturing quality and awesome device protection.

The iPhone 4S model has been slightly remodelled from its predecessor, with a larger camera hole for increased flash diffusion. The white iPhone 4S is especially prone to flash issues with case so this nips that problem in the bud right away.

Otterbox is quite generous with the quality of its products: you can tell they use very strong rubber and scratch-resistant polycarbonate shells. The Commuter series has an inner silicone “keeper” and an outer hard case that fits over the more vulnerable parts of the device. It’s worked for years, and despite adding a bit of bulk to the iPhone we are glad they maintained the design.

With the case installed, all of the ports are covered against dust and debris: there is a rather stubborn flap protecting the charging port, and a more cooperative one on top for the headphone jack. Power and volume buttons receive little rubber nubs that protrude 2-3mm and are very easy to press and delineate between without looking.

The Commuter is very shock absorbant and scratch resistant: we dropped our iPhone from upwards of six feet with no perceived damage to the outer shell. All four corners are protected by the outer plastic layer, and the whole kit comes out just far enough to protect the front of your iPhone from scrapes and scratches.

There is no question that the Commuter is a compromise between size and durability. If you are averse to covering up the inherent beauty of your iPhone 4 or 4S, this may not be the case for you. It’s more utilitarian than designer, but it brings its own dual-toned charm. Other than the black-on-black combination, there are five colourful alternatives to choose from.

The Commuter comes with a dry-apply screen protector, for which we have our reservations, but it’s better than nothing. You can purchase the Otterbox Commuter from Future Shop or Best Buy, or from their website for $34.95US.

Speck CandyShell Flip for iPhone 4S review

Daniel Bader — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:38:59 +0000

There are gimmicks and then there are features, and to be honest I don’t know which category the Speck CandyShell Flip falls into.

Its claim to fame is its easy-to-deploy “flip” stand which doubles as an easy slide-in entry for the iPhone itself. But let’s start from the basics. The Flip is made of a sturdy, bright and glossy plastic that looks more like a toy than it feels. In the hand the iPhone is sturdy and secure, though I far prefer the feeling of the CandyShell Grip.

The “flip” itself consists of a rubber hinge constructed out of what seems like a single piece of plastic, or as close to it as you’ll likely find. While it works well in theory, when the iPhone is installed the bottom portion is never entirely even with the top; there hinge always seems on the verge of coming loose.

This is essentially the compromise: in order to facilitate quick entry and exit, and a flexible stand, Speck had to make some decisions. Make the hinge too tight and you risk losing that multi-placement flexibility.

When leaning on its bottom half, the iPhone is in a perfect position for watching movies and browsing web pages. Except that portrait mode is not ideal for the former activity, and we can’t think of many situations in which you’d want to have the phone stationary for the latter.

More importantly, the Flip is designed to allow the phone to sit in most standard iPhone docks without having to remove the case. This is indeed an important advantage of its competitors, as most dock users will attest to. The inside of the Flip is made with a gentle ribbed silicone that absorbs most moderate shocks, while the outer portion is a firm and precisely-milled plastic.

It also cannot be stressed enough how nice the back of the Flip looks. While I could do without the garish blue bezel (the case is also available in white-and-pink and all-black) the overall design is quite attractive. Not only is the easy entry and exit a huge plus, but it prevents the occasional scratches that come with cases that require you to wedge your phone into one side or another.

All the ports are freely accessible: Speck has wisely chosen not to close off the charging and headphone ports, though there are rubber nubs that take over for the metal power and volume buttons. The bezel extends a couple millimetres over the front glass, preventing surface-level scratches when the phone is dropped on its face. In exchange the case feels somewhat bulky, though not quite to the same extent as the Otterbox Commuter.

The Speck CandyShell Flip is available for $34.95 from the company’s website. It is also fully compatible with the iPhone 4.

Seido Surface case for Galaxy Nexus review

Daniel Bader — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:50:34 +0000

The Seido Surface is one of the first cases available for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and it’s a pretty simple affair. Made from high-grade machine-cut plastic, it comes in two pieces and snaps together for minimal bulk.

It allows access to all the major Galaxy Nexus ports, including the second microphone and back speaker, and offers enough space around the volume and power buttons to as to be unobtrusive.

Before the Surface I had on a rubber OEM slip-on case, and the difference between the two in both feel and build quality is definitely noticeable. The bottom portion of the Surface has a felt lining to keep the GNex from sliding around, while the top portion snaps on very accurately: the two pieces are only misaligned by half a millimetre or so.

Holding the Galaxy Nexus feels much better with the case: the matte finish is effective against slips and drops, and the only adds a couple millimetres to the overall bezel. Once snapped in place the two sides are extremely secure: it takes quite a bit of effort to remove them, which will aid the device tremendously in the case it is dropped.

Occasionally, when putting pressure on the seam between the two pieces of the case, usually when holding it to my ear, the plastic will creak and pivot slightly. This is a reality of multi-part phone cases, and something you’ll either grow used to or not. After a couple times I barely noticed it.

The only other reservation I would have about purchasing the Seido Surface is that it’s fairly bare-bones; besides the logo on the back, it adds nothing to the overall design or function of the device. At its core, the Surface is about form and function over design, and that’s why it will likely stay on my Nexus — let the beautiful screen and slim design do the majority of the work on its own.

The Seido Surface can be purchased from their website for $29.95 US, or from your local retailer. It is also compatible with Seido’s Surface Holster ($29.95) and as a Combo for $49.95.

Video: Throw test of the OtterBox iPhone 4 Defender Series Case

Ian Hardy — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:57:30 +0000

We got this OtterBox iPhone 4 Defender Series Case for review and just like all the other OtterBox cases they are well thought out. Access to the buttons/ports are all there and comfortable – but the case will add an extra 60 grams of weight. The good thing about this case is that it can protect you from almost anything – drops, bumps, and shock (not water). In typical OtterBox style the case is made up of 3 materials that protect your beloved device: Clear protective membrane on touch screen, a polycarbonate shell and silicone skin.

To test this out I grabbed my iPhone 4 and chucked it several times down my street. Actually it was 3 times and it went about 15 feet in the air and about 15 feet in distance. So way beyond than the normal day-to-day bump or drop. Check out the video after the break

You can purchase the OtterBox iPhone 4 Defender Series Case here ($50)

Allerta’s inPulse BlackBerry watch shipping June 8th?

Kate O'Brien — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:36:27 +0000

Over at WES in Orlando today the crew from Waterloo-based Allerta is hanging out showing “inPulse” again. This is the world’s first BlackBerry “smartwatch” accessory. CEO of Allerta Eric Migicovsky recently said “We have prevailed! Allerta is proud to report that inPulse has entered final production, and a ship date announcement will be arriving shortly”.

No official word yet but taking a quick look at the pics that Engadget snapped shows the AMOLED display with the words “Allerta Inc. Shipping confirmation Est. Delivery: June 8. Enjoy inPulse”. So for all who paid the pre-order price of $149.00 USD this might be good news for you.

UPDATE: CrackBerry has posted a video demo of the inPulse in action… it’s below:

inPulse BlackBerry smartwatch enters production, shipping soon

John Connors — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:57:15 +0000

Waterloo-based Allerta recently announced that their BlackBerry “smartwatch” accessory called “inPulse” was almost here.

A minor update for those who did pre-order this… a few days ago CEO of Allerta, Eric Migicovsky, said “We have prevailed! Allerta is proud to report that inPulse has entered final production, and a ship date announcement will be arriving shortly”.

They have also given a few more shots of the InPulse. For those who have yet to pre-order it’s got a price tag of $149.00 (USD). How many are going to get this?

Jawbone ICON now available at TELUS for $119

Ian Hardy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:33:44 +0000

There has been a major push to sell Bluetooth accessories over the past few months, this is mainly due to several provinces banning the use of hand held devices while driving. It’s all in the name of safety.

TELUS has released a new set of Bluetooth earpieces… the Jawbone ICON costs $119 and is smaller and lighter than the other Jawbone products in the past but offers 6 differing styles: Hero, Rougue, Catch, Ace, Thinker and Bombshell.

Here are specs and features of the ICON:
The MyTALK allows the user to personalize your Bluetooth to get “a richer in-ear experience” through the web. Here are some benefits of the new ICON and MyTalk:
• MyTALK AudioApps. Lets users personalize the voice that conveys information into their ear. French, German and Spanish languages are also available.
• MyTALK DialApps. Lets users customize an easy access button linking directly to services of their choice such as free directory assistance, voice-to-SMS and voice dial.
• Simultaneous Multipoint. Lets users switch seamlessly between two calls on different cell phones.
• On/Off slide switch and one-button control. Delivers radical simplicity.
• Visual battery meter. Displays remaining battery life at top of iPhone screen.
NoiseAssassin 2.5 with wind reduction. Continues to provide the best noise elimination available.
• Innovative speaker design and signal processing. Improves inbound audio clarity and volume.
• Set-it-and-forget-it audio. Eliminates the need to adjust volume from one caller to the next.

Jawbone ICON Specifications
Talk Time: Up to 4.5 hours (varies by phone)
Standby Time: More than 10 days
Range: At least 33 feet (10 meters)
Charge: 80% charge in 35 minutes, 100% charge in less than 1 hour
Weight: 8 grams
Fit: 7 earbud sizes + 1 premium adjustable earloop
Accessories: AC power adaptor, micro-USB flex cable
Supports Multipoint: Pairs with up to 8 devices, 2 simultaneous connections
Supports Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), 2.0

OtterBox intros Milestone Commuter Series Case

Ian Hardy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:53:12 +0000

For all those who want to protect their precious Milestone from the usual drops, scratches etc… OtterBox has come out with their Commuter Series case.

This is available for $34.95 (USD) and comes in Black. Overall dimensions are 121.28 x 66.91 x 18.95mm and weighs 30.5 grams. Like all OtterBox cases this gives a 3 layers of protection with access to all buttons, ports, camera and flash:
- Layer 1: Self-adhering clear protective ﬁlm
- Layer 2: Durable silicone mid-layer
- Layer 3: One piece custom molded polycarbonate shell

Check it out here at Otterbox
Via: Accessorize Mobile

TELUS Motorola Milestone Media Dock now available

MobileSyrup — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:35:05 +0000

Even though you can’t officially get the Motorola Milestone yet in Canada… TELUS has made it possible to purchase the Motorola Media dock. This can be yours for $39.99 and allows you to charge your Milestone and also gives you a place for you to display your vids, pictures, alarm clock, shows the time and weather etc…

The Android-powered Milestone is rumoured to be launching on February 18th $199 on a 3-year contract and $549 outright.

Check it out here at TELUS
(Thanks Danny!)