Tag Archives: iPhone case

OtterBox leading the fight against counterfeit cases

When you think of counterfeit Apple products you usually think of fake iPhones or fake iPads, but now popular case makers are now having a hard time dealing with counterfeiters. OtterBox, based in Colorado, is the number one case provider for iPhones and iPads and other smart phones in the American marketplace and in a press release today, the company highlighted the struggles it is having with counterfeiters in the United States and in China.

OtterBox has revealed that in 2012 alone the company and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection worked together to confiscate over 118,000 counterfeit OtterBox items. "Its important that consumers understand the difference between authentic and counterfeit product and unfortunately some do not," Rachael Lamkin, associate general counsel for OtterBox said in a statement. "Counterfeit OtterBox cases lead some consumers to believe they just made a bargain purchase, but the low price tag means poor quality and a bad reflection of our brand. That purchase is also counterproductive to developing a strong economy."

Anyone who thought that they've purchased an official OtterBox case but now thinks it might be counterfeit is urged to contact the company through their support page.

OtterBox leading the fight against counterfeit cases originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newer Technology’s NuGuard KX case: MIL-STD drop protection for iPhone 5

While I was at Macworld/iWorld 2013 last month, I had the pleasure of meeting with the folks from Newer Technology at the OWC booth. One item that they were showing off at the booth was NewerTech's NuGuard KX for iPhone 5 (US$35.00), a case that manages to provide MIL-STD-810G drop protection while not adding a lot of bulk. Let's take a look.

Design

Looking at the NuGuard KX, you'd probably think that it's just another iPhone case, but the special characteristics of the design are built into the case. Rather than being a two or three piece case, Newer Technology has managed to cram all of the protection into a one-piece structure. There's a "X-Orbing" gel that absorbs impact energy and distributes it to keep your iPhone 5 from being damaged, surrounded by a hard (yet flexible) shell.

I recall watching OWC spokesman Alan Bitterman tossing his NuGuard KX-protected iPhone 5 onto the ground at the expo, and figuring that he wouldn't be doing that if he didn't have a lot of confidence in the design. NewerTech had Quanta Laboratories perform and film the drop testing required to get the MIL-STD designation, and the company also dropped a phone from the top of the OWC wind turbine. I can see where Bitterman got his confidence.

The NuGuard KX comes in a variety of colors: Darkness (black), Trooper (white), Midnight (blue), Roulette Red, Buzz (yellow and black), Rose (magenta and white), Eagle Shield (tan and brown) and Nubar Forest (forest green).

Functionality

The NuGuard KX is a piece of cake to install and remove, perfect if you want protection for those times you're hiking but don't want a case on your iPhone 5 all the time. The case has a nice felt-like material on the inside to keep your iPhone 5 from being scratched, a wide hole for the camera and flash, "pass-through" buttons for volume and sleep/wake/on/off, and holes for the speakers, Lightning port, headphone port, and mute button.

Gallery: NewerTech NuGuard KX iPhone 5 Case

So, did I go out and test the NuGuard KX by dropping it from the top of the nearby Aspen Grove Apple Store (Littleton, CO) or throwing it on the floor? No. Hey, I need this phone for work...

Conclusion

Newer Technologies has developed a lightweight, thin, and durable iPhone 5 case that will definitely protect your investment. The NuGuard KX is perfect for any iPhone 5 owner who wants the maximum in protection at a reasonable price and minimal bulk.

Pros

Relatively inexpensive for a MIL-STD iPhone 5 case Comes in a variety of colors Easy to install and remove Has a lifetime warranty and 30-day money back guarantee

Cons

None to speak of

Who is it for?

Any iPhone 5 owner who wants great protection and less bulk Giveaway

We have one of these hardy cases available as a giveaway. Here are the rules for the giveaway:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before February 17, 2013 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a NuGuard KX iPhone 5 case (Eagle Shield color scheme) worth $35.00 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...

Newer Technology's NuGuard KX case: MIL-STD drop protection for iPhone 5 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Form takes iPhone case drop testing to a new height: over 100,000 feet

In the past we've seen some videos from G-Form showing their iPhone and iPad cases taking some incredible falls and surviving, but nothing beats this test. The company took one of their new XTREME cases for iPhone ($39.99) that will be introduced at CES next week, popped an iPod touch (fifth generation) into it, and attached it to a weather balloon which also carried a GPS tracking device and a sports action camera. The iPod touch in the iPhone 5 case is dangling below a yellow G-Form case carrying the "instrument package" in the image above.

When the G-Form XTREME case and iPod touch reached an altitude of above 100,000 feet, the electronics package was released. Two of the cameras used during the drop shut down due to extremely low temperatures, estimated at -60

No comment: iPhone case has a "discreet" storage compartment

Have you ever been out and realized you forgot your wallet just as you were going to pay for something? Bummer, right? And it probably makes you wish that Apple would go ahead and build a mobile payment system into the iPhone -- because you never leave your house without that.

Now imagine that you're a super cool player, meet a girl, and get invited back to her place for a "nightcap." Being the stud you are, you bypass the drink and get funky the second she closes the door. That's when you reach into your pockets and find your iPhone, but realize you forgot the one accessory every player should carry. Double bummer. I mean, despite all that the iPhone can do, there's no way it can help you in this situation, right?

Wrong.

Well, wrong if you have the right iPhone case. The aptly named Playa case by Opena aims to ensure that you're never without the means to get your groove on safely. The "discreet storage slot" on the back of the case carries one condom should the need arise. Click on over to Opena's website to place your preorder, playas. And also don't forget to watch the video where an Australian kid explains where he uses the Playa, including ... when walking the dog ...

No comment.

No comment: iPhone case has a "discreet" storage compartment originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone case doubles as a Magna Doodle

I think this is great, and I assume that other "children of the '80s" will agree. The iFoolish is a silly name for an iPhone case that's actually got a working Magna Doodle on the back. Sure, they can't use the name, but that's a Magna Doodle all right. A little magnet on a pen that you can use to draw a series of what I believe are iron filings up to the drawing surface. You've seen these things before -- draw whatever you want on them, and then use the little slider at the bottom to throw off the magnetic field again and then clear the board.

Sure, you could just as easily do this on the iPhone's screen itself (and in fact, there is indeed an app for that). But this is the real thing, helpfully attached to the back of your iPhone case. You can pick up the iFoolish for

Gizmon iCA Military Edition Case: iPhone protection with a Cold War era spy camera vibe

iPhone 4S owners already know that they have a pretty decent digital camera in their hands. However, if you long for the days of knurled metal knobs, optical viewfinders, and hand-focused lenses, you were pretty much out of luck -- until now. Four Corner Store has developed the Gizmon iCA Military Edition Case for the iPhone 4/4S (US$70.00) that brings all of the look and feel of the classic Leica rangefinder camera to your favorite Apple phone.

The case is made of 25 polycarbonate pieces that recreate the Leica look while offering protection to your iPhone. For serious iPhoneographers, there's also a detachable tripod mount on the bottom of the case and a real optical viewfinder for lining up shots. If that's not enough, you can also purchase a macro lens ($45) and a fisheye lens ($55) that click onto the case for extra utility.

As for the "lens" on the Gizmon iCA Military Edition Case, it's fake. The "glass" in the center is actually a mirror for lining up self portraits. This

TUAW visits Scosche at CES

Yesterday we got a chance to stop by the Scosche booth at CES. While we were there, we got to see all manner of items, from the just released to the recent but also pretty cool. Here's what we saw:

Kelly's top pick: A new car charger. Why? It has three very important features all in one convenient package! It is not only a dual USB charger, but both ports will charge iPads, AND it's the teeny compact style that just barely peeks out of your power port. It's coming soon, and when it does, I'll be getting several.

Victor's top pick: freedomMIC Bluetooth Wireless Microphone. Not only is it a wireless mic that is handy for recording nicer audio when you are shooting with your iPhone, but you can also use it as a remote to start and stop recording, or snap a still photo with your iPhone camera. If you use your iPhone for reporting (as I have done), you'll find this mic super handy.

We saw a number of other neat things in the Scosche booth as well. We saw a case with two pieces for the iPhone that has a silicone sleeve to protect the back and front of the iPhone, and then an aluminum Element case style band that buckles around it (think springform pan) for extra protection (and aesthetic coolness). This was really neat to see and very sturdy to use, the latch was solid and it really did look sharp on the iPhone. Plus, unlike the Element, you don't need a tool to get the metal band off.

Also there was a really interesting cable. I know, cables aren't THAT interesting, and that's true, until you see one cable transform from one you always have to carry into the other one you always have to carry. Since I basically only need two cables, it was nice to see them both in one. You take the 30-pin end and it lifts up and pivots over, unveiling a micro-USB end as well. Generally I only need to charge on micro-USB, and this way I can have the "emergency" iPhone cable as well without taking up another cable's worth of space. It's called the syncABLE Pro.

Speaking of iPhone cables, another nice thing to see was that Scosche has expanded on their line of flipSYNC cables, a compact cable about the size of a car alarm remote that unfolds into a USB charging cable. Now they have the clipSYNC which includes a carabiner-style clip to attach it to your bag, and also a flavor that has a battery in it and is still really compact.

One thing I personally liked a lot about their booth was all of the hands-on they had available. There were a lot of companies with things set up under glass or back on a wall where you couldn't really get at them, so it was nice to get the chance to touch all of it and really see what it was like.

TUAW visits Scosche at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotted at CES: Skech Trax iPhone 4 case

Today, while checking out the variety of iPhone case options available in the iLounge Pavilion at CES, I saw a display that caught my eye: iPhone 4 cases made from recycled bicycle tires. As a Portlander, I am legally obligated* to follow up on any product that is recycled or bike-related, so I went over and checked them out.

They are made by a company called Skech, and I actually got my hands on the Skech Trax case. This is a flip style case (like a steno pad, not like a book) with a nice soft interior and the exterior is made of the aforementioned used tires. This is cool because all the cases are a little different and have some cool texture to them.

I also liked that the inside material is available in a variety of colors, and the flap that covers the screen also includes a couple of card sleeves for business cards or ID and a credit card if you need to travel light. It has a hole for the camera, and the top is open for access to power or the headphone jack. There is a magnetic clasp to hold it shut the rest of the time, and the whole thing feels really well put together.

Be aware that it is not the most protectionary of cases, but it will keep your keys off the screen while your phone is in your bag, and look reasonably nice outside your bag too.

Skech makes a variety of other iPhone cases, but this one stood out and I wanted to show it to all of you.

*There was an ordinance passed in 1998.**

**Yes, I am kidding.

Spotted at CES: Skech Trax iPhone 4 case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eco-friendly iPhone case made from trash

For those of you who are eco-conscious and are looking for an iPhone case, you may want to check out the Re-case. The Re-case is made from rice agricultural waste that is added to post-consumer thermo-plastics resulting in a case that is literally made from trash. Besides its environmentally friendly status, the Re-case also offers a slot users can keep an RFID-enabled card in, such as an Oyster card for London's tube network or a security card for work, allowing for quick use of the card without having to fumble through your wallet.

The Re-case comes in six colors and is available for US$24.95 on Amazon.com.

Eco-friendly iPhone case made from trash originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Sleeve Keeps your iPad and iPhone Dry and Protected


Many of us read the news, play games, and do hundreds of other things with our iPhones and iPads. Unfortunately, they are delicate devices, and we need to be mindful of where we carry them.

Typically, we avoid sandy, wet places like the beach and the bathtub when using our iDevices, but The Joy Factory has released a new series of protective, reusable BubbleShield sleeves that will allow you to take your phone and your tablet almost anywhere.

The BubbleShield for the iPhone is water resistant and will ensure your iPhone stays clean and dry in every environment. There’s a transparent, two-zip front and back cover which allow full use of the touch screen and the camera. The case keeps your phone safe from dirt, sand, oil, grease, water, and more. You can remove your phone at any time from the resealable case. BubbleShields have a waterproof standard of IPX5, meaning your phone should be safe if it’s splashed while at the pool or while cooking. The BubbleShield for iPhones is available in a pack of two for $9.95, or a pack of five for $19.95.

BubbleShield for the iPad works in a similar way, with the same dual-zip enclosure in a larger size. I don’t know about you, but I do a lot of my reading on the iPad, and have thus far been afraid to take poolside or anywhere near the bathtub. With the BubbleShield, you can read and play games while relaxing in the tub. Like the BubbleShield for the iPhone, the iPad version has a IPX5 waterproof standard. BubbleShield for the iPad is available in a pack of two, priced at $14.95, and a pack of three, priced at $19.95.

Finally, there’s a BubbleShield Pro, which is designed for professionals who work in extreme environments, such as medical technicians, restaurant servers, and warehouse staff. The BubbleShield Pro is sturdier than a baseline BubbleShield, and has a waterproof standard of IPX7, meaning it can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This enhanced version comes with a handle, for easy transportation, and a three-zip resealable enclosure with a transparent protective cover. The BubbleShield Pro is available $49.95.

This new line of cases from The Joy Factory will allow iPads and iPhones to be taken almost anywhere, which sounds great to me. I’d love to be able to bring my iPad to the beach and to use it while cooking without worrying about damaging it. If you’re interested in purchasing a BubbleShield, they are currently available for pre-order on The Joy Factory’s website. Shipments are expected to begin in late October.

50% Off Sale on all Belkin iPad and iPhone Accessories

Belkin has decided to do Christmas early and treat everyone to a special sale on all of their popular iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch accessories.  The company, best known for their numerous iOS accessories and networking gear, has a large selection of cases, stands and charging accessories for your favorite Apple gear and we’ve reviewed several popular items here on PadGadget.  Belkin even introduced an all new lineup of iPad kitchen accessories which we covered yesterday.

Belkin has some great gear so this is a perfect time to pick up that special iOS accessory you’ve been eyeing or grab something for your favorite Apple Fan Boy or Fan Girl.

To get the discount, customers simply need to go to Belkin.com to purchase their items and then enter the coupon code ‘FB50′. Once you check out, the discount will be automatically applied to your purchase.

The promotion is proving very popular, so popular in fact that Belkin’s website was flooded with traffic and has been down for several hours.  The sale runs through September 30th so if you don’t manage to get through today you still have plenty of time to grab yourself an iOS goody.

Happy Shopping!

Purported ‘iPhone 5′ case reveals minor changes in next iPhone

On Friday, a rumor broke that the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 4S and it will primarily retain the same form factor with a few minor cosmetic changes and some new interior parts. Now today, GadgetsDNA posted a photo of a case purportedly for the iPhone 5, which shows a re-located camera flash.

Besides the camera flash, the case also shows a much thinner bezel. However as MacRumors points out, the manufacturers matching current case for the iPhone 4 also has a thin bezel, so that can't necessarily be taken as sign that the "iPhone 5" will have a thinner bezel. If this case is correct, its "iPhone 5" attribution is likely nothing more than a guess or easy identifier by the manufacturer. Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek claimed Friday that the fifth-generation iPhone that will debut this fall will be called the iPhone 4S.

The image of the "iPhone 5" case showed up on Asian parts supplier site Alibaba. Other cases from manufacturers have shown up on the site purporting to be for future models of iOS devices and they have ended up being correct. Usually when a manufacturer is able to build proper cases for unannounced Apple products, they have gotten the dimensions and specs of the upcoming products from people at Asian manufacturers such as Foxconn. As always, there is no way of telling if this case represents the next iPhone Apple will launch, but it wouldn't be the first time case manufacturers stole a bit of Apple's thunder.

Purported 'iPhone 5' case reveals minor changes in next iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 14 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Griffin Survivor is one tough iPhone case

I'm not too rough on my iDevices, but if you are, consider the Griffin Survivor iPhone case. At US$49.99 it costs more that most other cases, but it will likely protect your phone in dire circumstances that would compromise others.

Griffin claims the Survivor meets or exceeds US and UK military specs. In fact, it's really two cases. An inner plastic case surrounds your phone, hugging it closely. You can open the case with a handy slot that accepts the edge of a coin.

Then, you slip the inner case into a rubberized cocoon that adds thickness and protection. There is also a shield that protects the display. Every port is covered, so you should get good immunity to dust and moisture. The home button and volume controls operate with the phone in the case. All the other ports have a rubber flip-up cover. The front facing camera is exposed for using FaceTime, but is behind the glass shield. A removable belt clip allows you to carry the phone either horizontally or vertically.

Throwing caution to the wind, I dropped the phone a few times on a hard surface from 6 feet with no ill effects. I wasn't willing to risk anything more aggressive, but I get the point that the case is solid. You can view some torture tests of the case on the Griffin website that are truly impressive.

Continue reading Griffin Survivor is one tough iPhone case

Griffin Survivor is one tough iPhone case originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retro iPhone case adds Gordon Gekko style

Miss out on living in the 1980's with the big hair and the white-washed jeans? Don't fret -- now you can bring a little bit of 80's flash to 2011 with this Gordon Gekko-style iPhone case from Thumbs Up. Brought to our attention by Gizmodo, this "80's Phone" iPhone case is carefully designed to make your slim and sleek device a large, bulky conversation piece capable of making your acquaintances believe you are a time traveler from the past -- or simply the exact opposite of an early adopter.

While many clever iPhone cases have been making the rounds lately, like this Apple Newton case or this Etch-a-Sketch one, the "80's Phone" case takes the cake for me as a specialty case because it's modeled after phones that people actually used 20-30 years ago. Priced at around US$20, it would be a rather funny gag gift for your favorite iPhone owner. However, after living through the 80's and still having nightmares about phones that big, I myself may have to stick to one of the new iPhone cases that our own Victor Agreda, Jr. saw at CES a few weeks ago.

[via Gizmodo]

Retro iPhone case adds Gordon Gekko style originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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