Joe Tech » case

The Callet Lets You Leave Your Wallet Behind And Protect Your Phone

Joe Tech — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:29:43 +0000

I have a wallet filled with stuff. It’s packed full with probably 7 cards, some business cards, a ton of receipts, insurance information, a couple coupons, and sometimes actual money – but usually not. Of all these things, I usually only use a couple cards, so having a The Callet seemed like a pretty good idea.

What is The Callet?

The Callet is the love child of a wallet and a phone case. It protects your phone like many phone cases, but it includes a feature that you don’t see in other phone cases. On the back of this case, there are two pockets for credit cards and the like. The idea is to provide the convenience of an iPhone case with features that replace the most basic need of the common wallet. I mentioned above that I don’t usually have cash in my wallet, and I think that may be more and more common in a society where we’re all in the habit of using credit or reaching for our debit card.

The Callet is available in pink, blue, black, and white for most iPhone and Blackberry devices. It’s also cheaper than a lot of iPhone cases I’ve reviewed, coming in at $19.95

My Wallet-Free Week

OK, ok. I actually carried my wallet, too, but I spent a week with this case around my phone and mostly ignored my wallet. In that time, I noticed a few things.

The Callet mostly nailed it with the two primary functions it was created for. It kept my phone protected and it served as a wallet. The unique feature as a wallet was perfect for holding my debit card and driver’s license, one in each card pocket. I did try to squeeze two cards into one of the card pockets and they fit, but it was a really tight fit. When I was out, I adjusted pretty quickly to pulling out my phone rather than my wallet to pay the bill at restaurants we went to. There was no problem at all with the intended features of this case.

While The Callet handled the basics well, it leaves room for at least one thing I’d like to see. Some people carry cash at all times or at least most of the time. The Callet leaves these people to find their own solution for cash. Now, I’m not sure I want my cash visible on the back of my phone every time I make a call in public, but the option might be nice. I would have also liked space for a third card, but this case had to be a little thick for two cards as it is, so perhaps they were right to stop there.

Conclusions

In the end, I switched back to my old case. The Callet is great, but I often have my phone out in a restaurant in case a server goes down and having my ID and debit card in there makes me more nervous about someone swiping it. That may just be me, though. In general, it does what it should and for about 20 bucks, the price is just right. I would pay more for a hard case, though.

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id America’s Brushed Aluminum Gasket iPhone Case Reviewed

Joe Tech — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:29:25 +0000

I have reviewed a bunch of iPhone cases on this blog, but today, I have one that stands out from the crowd in many ways.

id America provided me with their Gasket Brushed Aluminum iPhone Case that you see above and it didn’t take long for me to love it. When I opened up the box, I got a peek at the design and got a little excited. The real joy, though, was seeing it hugging my phone. From the back, it looks like… Well, just look at the picture above. It exudes more of that “Ooh! Shiny!” feeling in the flesh, but the picture should give you some idea. Sadly, because this is brushed aluminum, it would be a bit cold and uncomfortable if id America had wrapped the design around to the front of the phone, so they opted not to. It’s a good choice, but I honestly find myself setting my phone on my desk face-down to show off the Gasket case design. This is just one of the reasons I applied the included clear screen protectors that came with this case.

I don’t much believe in having a case unless it will serve some non-aesthetic function, and the Gasket case meets that requirement with its hard exterior. Although I didn’t drop it on purpose to test it out, it only took a couple days before I handed my phone to someone at a party to take a photo and it dropped to the bricks below while I gasped. This case really does nothing at all to protect the fragile iPhone screen, but as is usually the case, the phone bounced on one of its corners and lived to complete it’s photography side job. The Gasket design wraps completely around the side edges and corners while leaving much of the top and bottom edges open in order to not obscure the charging port, speaker, mic, headphone jack and power button. As well, id America left the vibrate switch and volume buttons unobscured and was sure to not even get too close to covering the camera lens and flash.

Unlike silicone cases, this one is extremely rigid, making it a little more difficult to wrap around my iPhone and a little harder to remove. An interesting side effect of the Gasket’s design is that any dust that collects on the parts of the phone that the case does not cover seems to be more visible and leaves that same cool gasket pattern on the phone when I remove the case. Another unexpected side effect of the material used is that the edges feel a little sharp. They’re not law suit sharp, or even enough to worry about much, but it’s something to get used to. A side effect of this case that is a definite plus as far as I’m concerned is that it slides in and out of my pocket very easily. My biggest complaint about silicone cases is that they bring my jeans pocket out with them. Conversely, this case does not sit still on my lap. Put it in your pocket or on a flat surface, but don’t try to balance it on your leg.

At the end of the day, this is my favorite among all the cases I’ve used personally. It’s cool, functional, durable, and at $29.95, it’s priced well for the materials and design. I have the Titanium on my iPhone now, but I’m torn between that and the Silver. Which is your favorite?

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Win A Ballistic HC or SG iPhone 4 Case

Joe Tech — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:00:45 +0000

Feeling Lucky? Ballistic has given me two iPhone 4 cases to give to a couple lucky readers, so it’s time for another contest. If you’re a regular reader, you may remember my Ballistic HC iPhone 4 case review from June. While I am normally very gentle with my iPhone, I trusted the HC case enough to throw it around for the review video, and Ballistic went a few steps further and tried everything to destroy an iPhone in their own video. I can’t see buying another case if my number one priority is durability.

About The Cases

Ballistic: Ballistic HC for iPhone 4

Premium protective case for your AT&T or Verizon iPhone 4 offers durability with style to fit your everyday life
- Ballistic HC (Hard Core) design comprised of five dependable layers of protection for your mobile device
- Includes an interchangeable outer gel skin layer, front facing inward holster and built in screen protector
- Advanced rugged case engineered to ensure long-term survival against drops and scratches
- Advanced shock absorption material isolated vibrations to protect your device
- Sleek, edgy appearance adds a fashionable and unique appeal
- Available in: Black, Red, Pink, White and Yellow
- Compatible with both the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4
Price: $49.99

Ballistic: Ballistic SG

Durable case for your iPhone 4 provides maximum protection and optimal pocket-ability
- Ballistic SG (Shell Gel) case offers ultimate durability in a slim form factor
- Outermost layer is made of soft Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) for shock absorption
- Middle layer is made of tough impact resistant polycarbonate to provide a formidable defense against everyday damage
- Inner-most layer is made of soft silicone, with strong Ballistic Corners™ to absorb the shock of any drop
- Available in two color combinations: black/black and black/red
Price: $29.99

Win A Ballistic iPhone 4 Case

The contest is simple. From now until 8:00AM MST September 24th, you can earn one entry for each of the following actions completed. Each can only be earned once. For any entry to count, I have to be able to see it and contact the winner, so add me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter first.
- Post a link to this contest on Twitter
- Post a link to this contest on Facebook
- Post a link to this contest on Google+
- Post a link to my Ballistic HC Review video on Twitter
- Post a link to my Ballistic HC Review video on Facebook
- Post a link to my Ballistic HC Review video on Google+
- Favorite my Ballistic HC Review video on YouTube
- Comment below to tell me what your favorite product from goballisticcase.com is.

For Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ posts, you must let me know either by tagging me or with a message of some sort. Remember, if I don’t see it, you don’t get an entry. Each of the actions above is worth 1 entry, so you can enter 8 times this week! I will randomly draw TWO winners on September 24th and announce them here and by private message.

If you don’t want to wait for the contest to end, you can buy both cases from goballisticcase.com and AT&T Retail Stores.

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Ballistic HC iPhone 4 Rugged Case – iPhone Armor

Joe Tech — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:38:37 +0000

Phone cases can be practical or stylish and can even enhance your power supply. There’s a huge market for iPhone cases, in particular, but only a fraction of that is devoted to the cases that can protect your phone from just about anything. These rugged cases often get less attention because they’re not usually flashy, but they really only have one job to do. Protect your iPhone from the beating it may take. In my case, it’s a full time job. This week, I tried out the Ballistic HC iPhone 4 Case and when I say tested, I mean I scared myself. Watch the video below in this review to see what I mean.

(View more Ballistic HC iPhone Case photos)

Ballistic HC Features

Like most rugged cases, this one isn’t exactly pretty. It’s not ugly, either, but definitely more tough than stylish. With five layers of protection, it looks more like futuristic plastic battle armor than an iPhone case. Softening it up, both in style and shock absorbing, it comes with an optional silicon outer layer. The optional outer layer adds protection, but really adds to the otherwise manageable bulk of this case. Day to day, I have been leaving this off while I’ve been trying out the case. The silicon layer is pretty unique to any iPhone case I’ve used in that it includes bits that fit snugly over and in the iPhone’s buttons and ports. I briefly considered the possibility of it keeping out moderate amounts of water (like rain), before deciding that “waterproof” might be a bit of a stretch. Regardless, I think rain would have a hard time getting through. Integrated into the case is a screen protector and a hard plastic holster with a 180 degree swivel clip. Even the speaker covering is mesh to allow sound out but let no particles in.

Of course, with all this rugged protection comes a trade-off. In addition to a little general bulk, the screen edges are a little harder to get to. At one point, I removed the case to continue a game of Scrabble. The effort required to remove the Ballistic HC case is its own blessing because it wont easily fall off, but can also prove a problem if you don’t have a coin handy, as this is the suggested way to pry it open. For the most part, the trade-offs are worth it, though, especially if your iPhone is subject to regular abuse and free-falls.

Testing The Ballistic HC

Speaking of abuse, what better way to test a rugged iPhone case than to put my cherished iPhone 4 in it and throw it around. I performed a couple drop tests from just a few feet and then again from about six feet up. After trying this on carpet, I took a deep breath and moved to the hard kitchen floor. The results, both from an outside view as well as video taken from the falling iPhone, can be seen in the video below.

While my test was hardly scientific, the fact that I cringed when I dropped my iPhone for the test and breathed a sigh of relief that it still works fine should say enough. My iPhone survived a six foot drop, twice, and didn’t even stop filming. There wasn’t a scratch on it and other than the video proof above, you’d never know I dropped it at all. I considered the tests passed with flying colors.

Conclusions

A ballistic case isn’t for everyone, but I give it two thumbs up for anyone who puts their iPhone through serious abuse or regular threat of nasty drops. The $49 price tag is worth every penny if it just saves you from one cracked screen.

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New iSkin Products Add Functionality

Joe Tech — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:53:15 +0000

I frequently receive updates about new iSkin products. They’re always introducing new designs and I like almost all of them. They have something for everyone and all the designs tend to look current and fashionable. Of course, this is in addition to the fact that they protect your iPhone, iPod, or other portable electronic device. iSkin has definitely become a recognized name in device skins, so I’m always happy to get my hands on iSkin products to review and give away.

Pictured above is the latest device I’m most excited about (and giving away), but the whole line-up has introduced some new looks. Keep reading to see what iSkin’s been up to.

What’s New?

The most important new product from iSkin, in my opinion, is the Duet for the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 has video conferencing and a crystal clear screen for watching videos and movies. It’s no surprise, then, that companies would start coming out with ways to prop it up for hands-free viewing. Other companies have come up with solutions, some decent and some that are just waiting to fail. What makes the Duet unique is that it includes a belt clip that doubles as a stand. Rather than a full case like most of iSkin’s product line, this is a holster. A bit bulky looking (and perhaps a little bulkier than most of iSkin’s cases, it is a little slimmer than it looks, but it feels pretty sturdy. If you prefer a belt clip, this is a great compliment to your iPhone 4, but if you don’t the belt clip may be a bit much to slide in and out of your pocket. Regardless, the Duet packs in some of the slick style iSkin has become known for.

The people at iSkin have been pretty busy ramping up for the holiday season. In addition to the Duet, they’ve replenished their product line-up with more new offerings for the iPad, iPod Touch 4G, and iPhone 4, including:

- Aura for iPad
- Pebble for iPod Touch 4G
- Touch Duo for iPod Touch 4G
- Solo FX for iPhone 4
- Solo vu for iPhone 4

While I don’t want to go into every detail of each product, I thought I’d share my brief thoughts on each, beginning with the Aura. I’ve posted before about another iPad case, one for which I actually earn on every sale, but this honestly just looks better. The Carbon (black) looks flat and boring next to the Sienna and Bronze Auras, which look corporate take-over fancy. Compared to other iPad cases, these definitely win in looks. The Aura offers three angles to position your iPad for typing, viewing, or reading, but doesn’t appear to offer a portrait mode viewing angle, which may be its only, although notable, shortcoming.

The new Pebble and Touch Duo for the iPod Touch 4G as well as the Solo FX and vu for the iPhone 4 all represent the latest in iSkin’s knack for design with the added belt clip feature the Duo offers. They all look great, especially the Solo vu, which combines elegance with a modern, vibrant look. If I had to choose any of the new products for myself, it would be the Solo vu, hands down.

Win Your Own iSkin

Other than the Aura, I have one of each of the new products to give out to my readers, thanks to iSkin. To win one, all you have to do is comment, tweet, or share. Comment below, telling us why you need an iSkin and what one you like the most for one entry. You can also earn an entry by sharing this post on Twitter or Facebook and commenting below with a link to your tweet or Facebook update. I must be able to find (and read) the tweet or update, so follow or friend me. You can only enter each way once for a maximum of three entries. Entries into this contest will be accepted until January 1, 2011 and I will select winners at random by January 3, 2011.

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Cloak Arrives : The Best iPad Case Is Now Shipping

Joe Tech — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:57:14 +0000

Some time ago, I got involved with the creation of a crowd-influenced product by Quirky called Cloak. It’s an iPad case with features no other cases has (that I’ve found, anyway).

Better still, this thing looks as good as I expected but also seems to do a wonderful job not only at holding the iPad in place, but also protecting it in the event of bumps and falls. Ben of Quirky practically throws it around in this video.

I’m proud to be a part of it and it’s exciting to see it finally shipping!

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Liquid Mongoose’s Paper Case Takes the Work Out of CD and DVD Cases

Joe Tech — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:08:38 +0000

Have you ever made a copy of a CD or DVD and then forgotten what it was later or worse, just set it aside without a case and let it get scratched up? Maybe not too often, but it happens and who wants to take the time to go hunt down the album or movie artwork, copy the track listing, etc.?

Dan Wilson at Liquid Mongoose emailed me today to tell me about a free solution he came up with. It’s called, simply enough, Paper Case, and it’s just a script that re-arranges the album page from music.aol.com or the DVD listing from NetFlix into a format fit for printing. It looked pretty cool, so I figured I’d give it a shot.

Find your Music / DVD info page
The first step is to find the information page for your album or DVD. I get a lot of promo CDs via digital download, so I decided to look up Ayria‘s album, Debris. (Really, check out Ayria when you get a chance.)

Prepare the page and print it
This was simple enough. I just clicked the little Paper Case bookmark and got a pop-up informing me that my paper case was ready to print. Then I told FireFox to print it.

Learn Oragami… I mean fold the paper case
The folding part seems a bit involved, but I didn’t let that deter me. It can’t be all that hard, can it? It’s actually not that hard, but you’ll want to pause the video a couple times. Also, be sure to center that CD or DVD on the paper before the first folds or it will come out uneven, as I found out.

Here’s what I ended up with:

I’ll be honest. When I watched the above video the first time, the amount of required folding looks like it provided a lot of room for error, but it’s a lot easier than it looks. Thanks go out to Dan for the free DIY sleeve kit.

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