Otterbox Reflex Series for iPhone 4S

For the last month, my iPhone has been sporting the Reflex Series case from Otterbox. The case is designed to give the signification protection Otterbox provides, while not being as bulky as say the Impact or Defender Series cases. The Reflex is a two-part case; one half having the cutout for the camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, and silent/vibrate toggle; with the other half having a single huge cutout for the 30-pin dock connector, speaker, and microphone.

The back side of the case is composed out of a hard plastic and rubber. The rubber, theoretically, is to make the case react as if when you drop it, it’s a car crash, and your iPhone is the person inside being protected. The rubber absorbs the shock from the drop, and releases it at different points in the case.

There is a large-enough cutout for the camera, lined in rubber. Also, Otterbox placed a logo on the rear-bottom of the case.

The volume button covers have a rubber coating, which take a bit of force to press. This is the same case for the sleep/wake button. The silent/vibrate switch is left completely open, and is large enough to accommodate the AT&T or Verizon iPhone 4. This case is also compatible with all models of the iPhone 4S.

The Reflex Series is available in five different colors: black plastic with black rubber (as pictured above), grey plastic with black rubber, turquoise plastic with black rubber, hot pink with black rubber, and dark green plastic with black rubber. The first four colors will run you $34.95, and the dark green with be $29.95.

Coming with a front screen shield, the case is defiantly a good buy. It was a little bulkier than I expected, though not too bulky. The plastic is also a lot harder than I imagined, but again, it wasn’t a big deal. I think my only gripe about this case is that the headphone jack is too thick to accommodate my headphones. However, with the top portion of the case easy to slide off, it isn’t really a big deal.

There is one reason to me, why the Travel Express beats a lot of cases I’ve used; the case has space for things other than just the laptop itself. Like a lot of other kids these days, I take my laptop to school, to take notes and other write documents. The thing is, I don’t use my computer for absolutely everything, and I’m sure that is true for a lot of other people. Luckily, there is a whole compartment for holding various items, such as documents, chargers, cables, and anything you might need to take with you on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include a pen/pencil holder,  which was a little frustrating to me as I do carry several around with me during school. The Travel Express isn’t just limited to school use though, as I have been using it on my trip to Mexico, and it does exceedingly well at carrying around all the necessary cables that I use on my trip.

As far as protection goes, the Travel Express does a fine job at protecting your MacBook Air for drops, scratches, and other damage to the device to your expensive investment. The laptop itself is separated from the rest of the bag in a more protective compartment, so your other accessories don’t get in the way. The only complaint I have is that the zipper gets quite close to the computer on the case corners, and I’m always worried about getting the corners of my computer scratched on it. That being said, for the most part this case will do nicely to keep your laptop safe.

On the outside of the Travel Express, WaterField has used a slightly bumpy texture, which is actually quite stiff, and doesn’t provide much movement in the case. I’m sure this adds to the protection aspect of the case, which is definitely a good thing. The only other notable design aspect is the colorful band leading around the entire outside shell. I think WaterField could have done a slightly better job at adding to the design, but a necessary sacrifice to keep the cost down. This case is still very eye-catching, and showcases your MacBook Air for it’s sleek design.

The MacBook Air Travel Express by WaterField costs $89 for the 13″ version, and $79 for the 11″, which is quite an investment for a laptop case, but is sure to last the entire duration of your laptop’s life, and most likely longer. It is very protective, good for school, trips, vacations and everywhere else you need to take your MacBook Air. It would make a great gift for anyone expecting a shiny new MacBook Air under the tree this year, and would make a good stocking-stuffer. You can buy this case on WaterField’s website here.

Quiksilver Hard Back Shell Case iPad 2 Case

The Quiksilver Hard Back Shell Cover for iPad 2 case is simple and extremely effective. Though with a few faults, its design allows your iPad 2 to be protected without limiting any of its capabilities, and even allows for the usage of an Apple Smart Cover. Let’s take a quick overview of it, shall we?

The case is easily attached to the iPad 2’s backside, just push it on and it clicks in place securely. All of the ports and buttons are not blocked, allowing for you to charge, change the volume, lock, take pictures, and mute your iPad without difficulty. It provides ample protection to dents and scratches on the back, but leaves a small portion of the top of the iPad (the area between the audio port and the lock button) vulnerable. To users who don’t own a Smart Cover, you face the same problem with the exposed edge on the left side of the iPad. A Smart Cover is a worthy investment to accompany the Quiksilver Hard Shell Back Cover to protect your iPad.

This case compliments my white iPad 2 with its stark contrast, but it would easily blend in with a black iPad 2 as well. The Quicksilver logo also makes it clear that I’ve got class

After using the case for a few days, I found that the case’s matte surface gets oily quite easily, and proves somewhat of a challenge to clean. It also doesn’t have much friction as a result of the smooth surface, and can slip off of angled surfaces. In contrast, the case’s smoothness makes it easy to pull out of bags and sleeves.

To sum it up:

I really enjoy using this case, and find that the protection it provides for my iPad 2 is worth the time I put into cleaning it. It is a very expensive case, priced at $47.95, but makes a good Christmas gift. You can get the Quicksilver Hard Back Shell Cover for iPad on Proporta’s website here.

The Green Case Mate Monsta Case

Looking for a good iPhone case for Halloween? Case Mate has got you covered with the Monsta line of cases. Today I’ll be reviewing this fun little case.

The Monsta case is very simply, as it just consists of a silicon material, and a cool design on the back. The face on the back of the case resembles a Monster (perfect for Halloween right?). The iPhone camera lines up perfectly with the eye on the face, creating a cool effect. The texture on this case is really nice, as on the side there are small bumps for grip, and a cool slimely texture on the back.

This case does protect from all kinds of bumps and drops, because of the silicone. This texture isn’t my favorite, as it has an annoying grip that makes putting the phone in my pocket frustrating.

Overall, this is a great case to get for your Halloween spirit. It’s relatively cheap going at $25 on Amazon. It fits both iPhone 4 and 4S.

An iPhone 4S With the Jett Metal

Crack Thud Thud: That’s the sound your iPhone 4 makes when it hits the ground with no case on. Fortunately for you, Case Mate was a line of great line of cases to keep your iPhone safe and crack-free. Today I’ll be taking a look at the higher-end Jett Metal case for iPhone 4 and 4S.

Design

This case consists of an aluminum band which is attached to the phone with two small screws at the bottom of the device. This is undoubtedly one of the sexiest cases you can get for your iPhone, even if it is $50. The curves on the case feel just fit, and fit into your pocket with ease, unlike those horrible $10 silicon cases that I hate so much. At the bottom and top of the case, there are several grooves mainly for looks, but provide more accessibility to the various ports and buttons.

Accessibility

The Jett Metal covers up all the switches on the side of the device, so it substitutes it’s own little buttons which match the case itself. The dock connector is covered, which actually makes iPhone docks unusable. Even third-party docks just don’t fit which is an unfortunate aspect of the phone. I actually don’t like the external buttons, because they’re tiny, and a bugger to find if you drop them. That being said, it’s nice knowing that the entire phone is being protected, even if you have to make some small sacrifices.

The Case Mate Jett Metal

Protection

The thick aluminum band on the Jett Metal will provide your phone protection from pretty much all drops, as well as scratches to the band. As the front and back glass are quite exposed, the guys over at Case Mate were nice enough to throw in a front and back screen protector, to provide protection from scratches. These aren’t really needed though, as the Jett Metal as a lip both on front and back to protection from scratches on any flat surface. It’s always nice to have more protection though.

The Top of the Jett Metal

Accessibility

The Jett is actually a two-part case, in other words you have to assemble it. You have to get all the little buttons into place, then sandwich the whole thing together to get a clean cut iPhone case. The steps to set up the case are minimal, and Case Mate provides everything you need to get it fitted in no time. They even include extra screws in case you lose some. The Jett works with both the 4 and 4S models, so you don’t need to worry about getting the right one.

The Jett Metal in Red

Value

For $50, this is one expensive case for your iPhone 4S. You can get other cases for less than half that, but you are really paying for quality and design with the Jett Metal. I don’t like how a lot of accessories don’t work with the Jett Metal, but there’s not really much you can do in that department. If you enjoy a good-looking phone, with protection that goes all the way, then the CaseMate Jett Metal is right for you.

You can get your own Case Mate Jett Metal for $50 on Amazon.com

Today my Mac Laptop Case, IPhone four case and IPad 2 arrived. Below I will go through what I like and don’t like about the products and if they do what they are meant to.

Speck MacBook Case

Design

The design of the case is pretty simple and has the see through plastic that most apple products originally did. This is not a bad thing as it matches the theme of the product. The plastic is a turquoise colour and has the Spek logo on the front. On the back of the product there are holes for the fan of the computer which provides air vents for the Air. This helps so that there is a air flow around the laptop and the product doesn’t become too hot or the laptop doesn’t become too hot.

Build

The product has a fairly strong build and the plastic has a flimsy feel to it, it also bends when you handle it but doesn’t show any sign on breaking. The case is actually pretty strong would defiantly protect the laptop in little drops or scuffs. However this would not prevent damage from huge disasters for example a drop from a building. We wouldn’t really work out if the case was meant for design or for protection as it doesn’t a pretty good job at both considering the price tag.

Overall and Other Details

In a nutshell the product does what it is meant to it protect the product and looks good. It provides comfort when using it on your lap and doesn’t mark surfaces when on the table. The pads on the bottom of the Mac case are non-stick so they don’t apply themselves to the table after a long period of time. As for fitting the case actually fits snug around the Mac without slipping or gaps. The case provides a smooth touch and doesn’t have rough corners as they are smoothed off.

iPhone 4 Case

Design

Again the design is pretty simple but still provides the things needed for a iPhone 4 case. On the front of the case is the main gap for the touch screen which Is big enough for the whole screen. There are not separate covers for the home button or the front camera. On the bottom is the charger hole for the standard Apple charger. At the top of the case is a small indentation for the lock button and a hole for the standard 3mm audio jack. The left hand side of the case has 2 indentations for the volume and space for the silent switch. There are also holes on the back for the front main camera. There is also a hole for the microphone to stop any noise muffling. The main theme for the case is black and the pattern is a brick type tile arrangement. This again provides surface drip when holding or in bags, coats etc.

Build

The case has a strong build to it and although it doesn’t provide the most stable support for the iPhone 4 it still has te build to stop it from any little damage while in pockets and in contact with keys are sharp objects. Since the screen has indentations for the different components that are on the Phone it provides then from being pushed in when not in use. The rubber/silicone is rather strong and it would take a long hard drop to scuff the leather or damage the case. When bending the case it forms back to its original position and does not get left misshaped in any way.

Other Details / Overall

The case does what it is meant to and looks and protects well. Considering its price you should go and buy it if you want you IPhone to look the part. There is nothing really else to say about the case except we loved it. If we had to describe it in three words they would be strong, stylish , super.

iPad 2 Dust Jacket

Design

The design of the Dust Jacket is like the two other products simple but does the job. There is not really anything to say about the design except for the great looking leather like material that the case is made out of. On the inside of the Jacket is the holder for the iPad that keeps it inside. The back and sides of the case has all of the iPad 2 needed holes and indentations in. There is room for the charger, camera, volume buttons, microphones and other. The indentations and holes are really designed for ease and you don’t have to fight for 10 minutes to get the charger in.

Build

The case isn’t particularly strong as it isn’t meant to be we feel it is more for the look and for the thing it does. Although it isn’t strong the case is in no means flimsy and provides good support for the iPad no matter what position you have it in. The holder in the inside is made from plastic and again it isn’t the roughest going of all things but does the job. We like the case as It is the same but different from most of the others available on the market. In the sense we mean that it provides better comfort and more support for the iPad.

Other Details and Overall

The Dust Jacket does what it says on the tin it protects looks stylish and provides comfort working and doing pleasure for the iPad. The case provides a firm hold on the iPad when in the landscape or portrait position and has features for all of the components on the iPad. The packaging isn’t anything spectacular as it only came to us in a plastic sleeve. Although it’s what the products like and we loved it. The case comes in at a reasonable price for the quality of it and like all the Speck products it was a pleaser.

Go here to see some of there other products from Speck.

Psyclops iPod Touch 4 Hard Case

Today I received two iPod Touch cases from www.psyclopshq.com.The two I received where a iPod touch 4th generation hard back case and IPod touch second generation rubber case.

Design

In terms of design both the cases had exceptional detail even if it was in the simplest form. The hard back case has an amazing animated character design of a alien of some sort on. It is made from bright colors which gives it a childlike but fun and cool look about it. The case’s inside has a plain white back which is acceptable as you don’t see this because the iPod covers it up. In terms on indents and holes the case has room for the camera hole on the 4^th generation. It also features accessible room for the iPod charger and 2 volume buttons. The case doesn’t not have a sealed top and a small space for the lock button but a whole open top. This matches the design of the and I probably wouldn’t suit as much with the top covered.

Build

The Back of The 2G Case

The case has a “strong-ish” feel but is not one of the cases that would protect the iPod from a huge drop. It would however stop it from damaging the iPod from a small distance or from being scratched against keys or similar. The plastic may seen a little flimsy and not touch but as we tested it through carious used there still seemed to be no damage to the iPod or the case. This however is only throughout everyday use and not in extreme measures.

Packaging

The packaging reflects the case really as they are both characteristic and fun things to look at. The use of colors and characters make you feel like you’re holding a child’s toy and something to have fun with. In the case it’s the truth as the iPod is something to have fun with. Again as you can see from the pictures the case has a see through front so you can see the product and some various information on the back about the characters of Psyclops. The sides of the case also tell you about characters and what series the case is in.

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Other Details and Overall

Overall the case is bright fun and cool looking it suits any age range. I can see why the cases are so popular as they really are some of the best designed and manufactured we have seen. Even they are simple. The characters are well thought out and have similar appearances and can be related to each other. We would suggest a screen protector to go along with the case.

The second case I received is the iPod touch second generation rubber case. I will again go through the same information about the case.

Design

The case has an interesting look to it based around the idea of one eye and Psyclops. The eyes are all multi-colored and different in their own way. The design is rather different to anything we have seen and is certainly fun. Since the case is for the IPod 2^nd generation it does not feature the camera hole bu the volume and lock button indentations. The case also features the charger plug in for any standard iPod. The inside of the case has the Psyclops website written in.The case will cover the sides of the iPod and the back. We would recommend a screen protector to go along with the case.

Build

Since the case is rubber again it will withstand a certain amount of wear and tear for when your iPod is in your pocket and when you are using it for everyday use. It does withstand minimal drops without damaging the back but again protection cannot be promised from above 5ft or so. The material is not the pants thin rubber but rather sturdy and thick so this helps again protection as well.

Packaging

The Packaging

The packaging as you can see from the picture has the same green and black theme to the packaging for the hard back case. The front of the package is see through and the sides and back contain information about characters and the site. The packaging on both products is rather tough and can withstand the odd bounce in postage so the product won’t be damaged. There is nothing really to different compared with the other box that the hard case came in. Although this product doesn’t come in a particular series.

Other details and overall.

The case is great to wear around the IPod as it is fairly tough for a rubber case and can withstand some little wear and tear. The product is fun to look at and you wouldn’t get bored of having it on your IPod all the time. The case has a pretty thin feel which makes it nice to hold and not uncomfortable. It fits snug around the product it is intended for and can be taken off with ease. We would recommend both of these products as they are both designed and manufactured well. Head over to the Psyclops YouTube page YouTube channel, Facebook and twitter to get latest new on the products and the latest deals. The official website is www.psyclopshq.net .They sell the cases for reasonable prices for what you are getting in terms of condition.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/psyclopstweets

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PsyclopsHQ

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/psyclopstube

The Quiksilver Neoprene Sleeve

Protecting your computer is key. If you drop your computer without a case on, it’s most likely not going to survive the fall. The problem is, as there are so many computers out there, you can’t always get a hard shell for your exact computer (unless you got a Mac). The only really good alternative to a hard shell is a bag, but they are big a bulky. You’re best option if you want to maintain the great mobility of your computer, is to get a sleeve. Getting something like the Quicksilver Neoprene sleeve might be the answer.

The checkered pattern on Quicksilver Sleeve

All computers sleeves are quite similar, so you want good design. The main reason I like the Quicksilver Neoprene Sleeve, is that it looks really cool. The Quicksilver Neoprene Sleeve comes in both 13 and 15″ flavors. The design is quite subtle, but easy on the eyes as well. It actually goes really well with any aluminum MacBook, but I tried it with a Dell Xps 15 and it also looked good with that as well. The checkered look is definitely suited to computers. I really like the alternation of black and colored squares.

The material used for this sleeve is obviously neoprene which isn’t the most protective material but doesn’t add much weight to the computer, which is quite important. I wouldn’t trust this case with a full on drop, but it will do the job to keep your computer safe from scratches and dings.

The Zipper

A small thing to note about this sleeve is the zipper. This is one of the more durable zippers I’ve used on a case before, maybe even better than my laptop case. This is nice because even in several years time, I can feel that this zipper won’t just drop off. This really increases the life of the case, which adds value for money. It features the Quicksilver logo which is a nice addition.

The Quiksilver Neoprene Sleeve

Overall, if you’re in the market for a sleeve for your 13, or 15″ computer, I would definitely recommend the Quicksilver Neoprene. This product is $34, which is on the more expensive side for a sleeve but is worth it for the design, compared to a more bland black case. It has some nice features like a durable zipper, which makes it a competitive option for a MacBook sleeve. You can get the Quicksilver Neoprene Sleeve at Proporta.com for $34.

Buy one now at www.jackbacks.com

Many iPhone and iPod Touch users are on the search for the perfect case. And many are disappointed once they find all the flaws with their newly purchased product.

The Scosche kickBACK t4 for the iPod Touch 4th Generation is definitely a contender for that “Perfect Case” title.

Let’s start with the price. This case is going to run you $39.99 if you would like the silicone accessory with it, $29.99 for the kickBACK case alone. For 30 dollars, this case offers a lot.

The case is called the kickBACK because of the integrated kickstand in the back of the case. With a simple click, you can stand your iPod horizontally with a great video viewing angle. The case also has four rubber feet to prevent the camera cut-out from collecting any dust. The Cutout for the camera is perfectly aligned. As for the Sleep/Wake button and the volume rockers, they are covered with a silicone cover that is a little hard to click. All the bottom components are exposed. The case features a rubber “ring” around the edge of the device for advanced drop protection.

In the box you will receive the case along with a screen protector and a cleaning cloth with squeegee. The screen protector’s design is not the best as it leaves two giant cutouts for the home button and front facing camera.

This case deserves a solid 9/10 because its pro’s certainly outweigh the few con’s such as the poor screen protector and hard-to-click covers for the volume rockers and Sleep/Wake button.

To see a video review of this product, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cftKVMIXF5o

To Purchase this product, click here: http://www.scosche.com/consumer-tech/product/2039