Blog Posts

Review: Spigen S330 Apple Watch Stand

5/23/2015

The Apple Watch is a relatively expensive piece of tech equipment. It commands a bit of respect in terms of treatment. Fortunately, you don't have spend a lot of money to give it a home when you are not wearing it. Enter the Spigen 330 Apple Watch Stand. Priced just right at $24.99 ($19.99 on Amazon, for Prime members), it is an inexpensive option for your Apple Watch.

The stand is a molded piece of aluminum with a rubberized TPU square that houses the circular magnetic watch charger from Apple. Once you insert the magnetic charging piece into the top, you then thread the connecting cable thru a cutout in the arm of the stand. There's not much in the way of cable management here as other stands do a much better job at hiding the cable, but for the price of the Spigen, it's really not a deal breaker.

The stand is extremely light but thus far I have not had any problems with attaching or taking off the watch from the stand. Placing the watch onto the stand is a breeze as there is no need to loop bands thru a cut-out slot, like the more expensive Twelve South HiRise stand. The use of TPU where the watch connects to the charger ensures that no metal on metal contact thereby reducing the possibility of scratching your valuable Apple Watch.

Overall, the Spigen 330, is a good quality stand for a reasonable price, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a stylish, low cost solution for storing and showing off your Apple Watch when not on your wrist.

Pros

Stylish stand for your Apple Watch
Hard rubberized TPU that encases circular charger, reduces possibility of scratching the watch
Low Cost

Cons

Minimal cable management (a loop on the side of the stand)
May seem a bit light weight for some.

SPIGEN 330 - $24.95 (Link) / $19.99 Amazon Prime (Link)

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Review: Caudabe Veil XT for iPhone 6

2/26/2015

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The Caudabe Veil is the thinnest case available for the iPhone 6. At just .35mm thickness, it's more like a skin than a case. My experience with the Caudabe Veil on the previous iPhone 5/S was very positive and it quickly became one of my favorite cases for any iPhone form factor. The Veil XT is no exception. The XT improves on the original Veil by offering full-side protection as well as a raised .7mm ridge around the camera hole to provide lay-on-table protection for the iPhone 6's protruding camera. It should be noted that the original Veil is still being sold by Caudabe and now includes the same raised camera ridge.

The feel of the Veil XT for the iPhone 6 is exactly the same as the product line for the 5/S that I reviewed last year (link). On the slippery iPhone 6 form factor, the matte plastic feels very nice, provides an improved grip, and resists fingerprints which absolutely drive me batty when I constantly have to wipe down a case to remove them. The Veil XT attaches on to the iPhone 6 just below the edges of the rounded glass so the case does not interfere with the feel of your fingers on the glass. The way the case attaches to the curves also presents a bit of give and movement of the plastic if you happen to flick the plastic in a certain way. Based on the curved form factor and how thin the Veil XT is, I can't see any way around this particular issue. At the end of the day, it hasn't really affected my view of the case.

There are specific cutouts for volume buttons and the mute switch. The bottom of the Veil XT has specific openings for the headphone jack, microphone, Lightning port, and the speaker. Each cutout seems to be precision cut to the exact form on the phone so looking at the bottom of the XT is like looking at a bare iPhone 6.

The Veil comes in 2 colors: Frost (a translucent clear) and Wisp (translucent smoke color). I have had both white (silver) and Space Grey iPhones and I find that the Frost looks best on the white iPhone and the Wisp looks best on the Space Grey. I hope that Caudabe considers other color offerings for the iPhone 6 Veil lineup similar to what is offered for the 5c cases. I would definitely be interested in a translucent blue or red color case on my Space Grey iPhone 6.

What more is there to say? This is the absolute thinnest case you will find on the market. I call the Veil the "un-case" case. Obviously, the drop protection with the Veil is minimum to none, but will suffice in protecting your iPhone from scratching which is an accomplishment given how paper thin this case is. Adding the bottom protection offered by the XT is an added plus and is well worth the extra premium if you want the "maximum" protection from a case as thin as the Veil.

Much thanks goes out to Caudabe for sending me some review samples! The Veil XT (Frost and Wisp) can be purchased on Caudabe's site (link below). What are you waiting for? Go grab one and experience the magic of the Veil!

Pros

Thinnest case for the iPhone, no bulk. Offers protection for all 4 sides of the iPhone 6
Matte plastic repels fingerprints and feels great in the hand
Precision cutouts for volume, mute, and sleep buttons
Raised camera ridge for iPhone 6 protruding camera lense

Cons

No lay-on-table design for the front screen
Small amount of give on the sides of the case, hardly noticable
If you want any type of (major) drop protection, you might have to look elsewhere

Caudabe Veil XT - $19.95 (Link)

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Quick Look: Apple Leather Case for iPhone 6 (Black)

1/6/2015

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The allure of the Apple Leather case for my iPhone 6 was too hard to resist. After my first experience with the PRODUCT RED leather case for my iPhone 5S, I was a bit hesitant to spend 45 dollars for a case that would look worn and used after a few weeks. However, after keeping an eye out on the various iPhone forums and my Twitter feed, I had come to the conclusion that darker is better when it comes to ownership of an Apple leather case. With that in mind and a finger on my iPhone 6's Touch Id (for Apple Pay), I marched down to a local Apple store and purchased a brand new Apple Leather Case in black. My first impression upon placing on my iPhone? Wow.

The feel of the leather case is just as I remembered from my iPhone 5S version. The soft aniline leather feels great in the hand. The case adds very little bulk to the iPhone 6 and offers protection on all sides except the bottom, which is pretty much the standard for most snap-on style cases for the Six form factor. The older style leather case for the 5S encased the whole iPhone, including he bottom, but caused problems with non-standard lightning connectors, certain headphone jacks, docks, and was known to tear easily. The newer, open design for the iPhone 6 does away with all of that. The iPhone is still protected from drops on the bottom by the overlapping leather that attaches to each of the corners.

As usual for an Apple case, the fit and finish are top notch. All buttons are covered and provide good tactile feedback when pressed. The mute switch is easily accessible using the tip of my thumb or forefinger. The front of the case has just enough of a raised lip to provide lay-on-table screen protection. If you are the type that needs to feel the curved glass when swiping on the screen, then this case is not for you. However, the leather feels so good in the hand that I can give that a pass. On the back of the case, ample protection is provided to protect the camera against touching most flat surfaces (not that the safire glass lense needs protection). Thinner cases may not even protect the camera or if they do by providing a ring around the camera hole, the raised edges can make the case a bit wobbly when pressed down. In terms of protection, I would have to say the Apple case falls right in between the minimal thin shell-type snap on cases and the larger, more bulky full coverage cases (think Otterbox). With the leather case on, I suspect a significant drop on something like concrete from more than a couple of feet would do more damage to case than to the phone. That's the point, right?

Will the black leather case stand up to daily use and not look like a worn leather jacket after a couple of weeks? Some like the look of worn leather, but not me, at least not on a device like iPhone. From what I have been able to gather from internet forums and Twitter, the lighter color cases (Red, Olive Brown, and Pink) still suffer from color fading due to the nature of the coloring of the aniline leather. The darker colors such as black and midnight blue seem to fare better over time. I have only had the black case on for a couple of days as of this writing, so only time will tell if the leather retains it's looks. I certainly hope that the black leather holds up and I get my 45 dollars (plus tax) worth. For now, I will throughly enjoy using the classy looking black leather case. I highly recommend this the Apple Leather case if you want a slim, great looking case with decent protection. Just be sure to go dark if you don't want a worn look.

Apple Leather Case for iPhone 6 (Black)- $45 (Link)

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Review: SPIGEN Thin Fit for iPhone 6 (4.7)

10/5/2014

2 Comments

The iPhone 6 is out and it is truly glorious. Curved edges and seamless glass curves make this iPhone one of the most pleasurable iPhones ever to hold in one hand. However, it's still an iPhone and if you're like me, you'll want to protect your new investment. As most of you may know from reading my site and from the case reviews I do, I prefer minimal cases that keep the iPhone form factor and protect against minor drops, scratches, and other everyday dings that can mar a device. I placed an order with SPIGEN soon after the iPhone 6 was released and finally received it this week after the bombardment of orders that befell the company as they struggled to meet demand. It was well worth the wait.

The Thin Fit is a typical thin-shell snap-on type case. You apply the case by first snapping in one side (usually the side with the volume buttons) and then the opposite side. Once the case is on you can barely notice that anything is on the iPhone. I ordered the Smooth Black version of the case for my Space Grey iPhone 6. The Smooth Black is the only case in the Thin Fit series to have soft touch, matte feel. The matte polycarbonate (ahem plastic) gives the iPhone 6 a grippy feel and it certainly does feel great in the hand. As with most matte finishes, it can be a bit susceptible to fingerprint smudges, but I haven't really noticeable with this case and can be wiped off easily. The case is very thin, though not as thin as a Caudabe Veil (review of the Veil to follow). However, I truly feel that the Thin Fit is the perfect case for the iPhone 6 offering just enough protection while not adding any significant bulk to the device. I have other "thin" cases for the iPhone 6 such as the SPIGEN Neo Hybrid, the Apple Silicon case, and a CM4 Q Card (review to follow), and none of them keep the iPhone as comfortable to hold as the Thin Fit. It comes down to the width of the device with the added size of the case. In many ways, especially with the black Thin Fit, it's almost as though the case is part of the iPhone.

The Thin Fit, offers no top or bottom protection similar to most snap-on type cases for other iPhones in the past. For the bottom of the iPhone, the lack of protection is offset by the convenience of working with any headphones, charging cables, or docks that plug into the device. Why SPIGEN did not offer any protection on the top of the case, I am not sure, but overall the look and feel of this mimimal case is outstanding. The curved edges of the case flow nicely along with the iPhone 6 glass. There is a slight lip on the sides of the case which offers lay-on-table-design which allows you to place the iPhone face down and not have the screen touch the surface. This is a great feature when you have the iPhone out on a table and you just don't want to be distracted by notifications. The case is solid and there are no creaks or movement to speak of. The cut-outs for the volume, vibrate, and sleep buttons make each button easy to access.

Overall, for my needs this is the PERFECT case for the iPhone 6. When I need (or want) something with a little more protection, I will use the Apple Silicone case. If I go on vacation and want a wallet style case to hold credit and/or room key cards, I have the CM4 wallet case. For my every day needs, the SPIGEN will be my daily driver. It looks great on the Black/Space Grey iPhone 6 and keeps it feeling great in my hand.

If you can get a hold of one during these initial days of the iPhone 6 by all means do so. I highly recommend the Thin Fit for anyone looking for a thin, slim, and great looking case.

Pros

Slim form factor that feels great on the iPhone 6
Matte feel gives the slippery iPhone a bit more grip
Open bottom design is great for cables, headphones, and docks
Lay-on-table design
On a Space Grey iPhone, the black matte Thin Fit makes the iPhone look like Darth Vader's personal device

Cons

Open top and bottom leave the iPhone susceptible to damage in those areas
Matte finish can show a bit of fingerprint marks

Spigen Thin Fit (Smooth Black) - $14.99 (Spigen site ), $9.99 on Amazon (Link)

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Review: SPIGEN Neo Hybrid for iPhone 5/S

8/24/2014

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There's about a month left until the iPhone 6 is released. I most certainly will be getting whatever Apple graces consumers with next month. Until then, I am continuing to soldier on with my trusty iPhone 5S. With the knowledge that I will be getting a new device next month, why would I consider purchasing a new case for my "old" iPhone? Perhaps because I have an uncontrollable fetish for iPhone cases? Perhaps. After a rather bad experience with the Verus Aluminum Frame bumper style case (signal issues), I decided to re-visit the SPIGEN Neo Hybrid case for the iPhone 5/S. I have had several SPIGEN cases in the past, including a Neo Hybrid. I wasn't expecting much but upon receiving the case in Champaign Gold, I am very happy with improvements in the quality of the case and have no regrets with the purchase this late into my iPhone 5S' life.

The Neo Hybrid is a dual layer case with a TPU inner cover with a polycarbonate external bumper. The TPU inner portion is a more rigid piece of kit in comparison to the previous generations of Neo Hybrids. This is a good thing not just from a protection perspective, but also from a quality prospective. The older generation TPU covers would sag over time, creating a "give" that would flex if any pressure was applied by your fingers making for a flimsy feel of the case overall. Based on what I have seen from the newer version of the Neo Hybrid, the rigidness of the TPU layer has increased the protection level as well as the feel of the material. The polycarbonate outer shell slips over the TPU to provide the case with the final look. The fit of the outer shell is tight and has not experienced any slippage off the TPU cover when pulling the case out of my pockets.

The Neo Hybrid now also comes with metal covers for the side volume and top sleep buttons. The metal buttons are a tremendous improvement over prior generation plastic covers which adds substantially to the overall look and quality of this case. The press of each button provides a tactile feedback similar to the native iPhone buttons.

The cutouts for the vibrate switch, the Lighting connector, and headphone jack are sufficiently large enough for easy access. I have had no issue connecting my Bose Freestyle headphones into the audio jack. In terms of docking the iPhone with the Neo Hybrid, it all depends on how the dock positions the lightning connector. If the connector is raised sufficentily on the dock, the Neo Hybrid will to dock the iPhone properly to allow charging. I am using the phone with both a first-gen Belkin and a Everdock Duo which have no issues charging the phone.

Overall, I am very impressed with the latest generation of Neo Hybrid case. It offers comprehensive protection in a very slim form factor. I chose the case in Champaign Gold which provides a look very similar to Apple's Gold look on the iPhone 5s. The case is available multiple of colors including red, satin silver, slate, yellow, and white. I highly recommend this case to anyone who wants to protect their iPhone 5 or 5S in a great looking package. The Neo Hybrid lists for $29.99 direct from the Spigen site but can be found on Amazon for $24.95. I am glad I ordered this case even if I will only have my iPhone 5S for few more weeks.
Pros

Great protection in a slim form factor.
Metal buttons for volume and sleep button enhance the look and quality of the case.
TPU under layer has been significantly improved over previous generations of Neo Hybrid improving protection and quality.
Lay-on-table design that can accomodate glass screen protectors.
Champaign gold looks great. Available in a wide variety of colors.

Cons

Cutouts for Lightning connector and audio jack may not accommodate some docks and/or headphone connectors. YMMV

Spigen Neo Hybrid - $29.99 (Spigen site), $23.29 on Amazon (Link)

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What's On My iOS Home Screens: Summer 2014

7/26/2014

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The dog-days of summer are upon us and it's time for another installment of What's On My iOS Home Screens.

iPhone

1. One Touch Reveal (Free - Universal) - One Touch Reveal is a blood glucose monitoring system that works in conjunction with the One Touch Vario Sync testing meter. Glucose results are synchronized from the Vario to the iOS App via Bluetooth. The application maintains log book, shows your average Glucose numbers over a 14 day period, and allows for simple reporting of the aforementioned metrics. The app also allows for the entry of medicine (various insulin types), carbs, and a way to manually enter a glucose test if using another type of meter. This app has been invaluable in assisting me with managing my Diabetes. I would highly suggest taking a look at the One Touch Vario and the Reveal app if you have an iOS device.

2. MagiCam ($0.99 - iPhone) What can I say? This app is truly magic. From the makers of the wildly popular iOS camera app Camera+, TapTapTap has yet another winner on their hands. MagiCam is a simple camera app that applies image correction on-the-fly to make your pictures look outstanding each and every time. There are a limited number of post-pic filters that can be applied if necessary. Overall, the quality of the pictures is usually outstanding. MagiCam integrates with the standard iOS camera roll which makes things so convenient in terms of keeping all your photos in one place. I have take some really nice shots with MagiCam and it has earned a place on my main home screen. For .99, you should definitely give it a shot (no pun intended).

iPad

1. Notes Plus ($3.99 - iPad) - A full-featured note taking app for the iPad. Support for the Adonit BT Touch/Script has been added only for the iPad 3 and later. The app offers a very clean UI and offers sync with Dropbox. Handwriting recognition is offered via an in-app purchase. Overall, Notes Plus has become my default handwriting note app on my iPad.

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Review: Bellroy Note Sleeve Wallet

7/13/2014

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I have become a slim Ninja. One of the most annoying things is having a thick wallet, packed with cash (not a bad thing mind you), cards, papers, etc and sitting down and feeling that thickness jam up against your derrière. Most wallets are designed to be functional with regards to the amount of items that can be stored but not many really take into account efficient use of storage space while minimizing the thickness of the overall wallet. This is where Bellroy comes in. For a long while, I have known that Bellroy was a company that has advertised their wallet products as smartly designed to minimize the bulk in carrying around your day-to-day items in your back pocket, front pocket, or whereever you choose to carry your wallet. One day while reading a sponsored link for Bellroy on Daring Fireball, I decided to check out the selection over on their website. I pulled the trigger and ordered the Note Sleeve Wallet. Boy, am I glad I did.

The Note Sleeve is one of Bellroy's flat bill type of wallets which means that paper currency can be stored without folding. Currency can quickly be put in and pulled out from the top of the wallet. Opening the wallet you have access to left and right sections to frequently accessed cards. Lesser used cards can be accessed quickly by a pull-tab system that extracts several cards at once. When you put a card back in the tab is pushed back into the wallet and your cards are ready once more to be extracted. The system works pretty well and is very convenient for those times you need to access those particular cards. In terms of cards storage, wait there's more. Cards can also be stored in the area on both the right and left hand side of the bills storage area. The Note Sleeve can hold from 4 - 11 cards comfortably and thru the magic of their design, it feels a heck of a lot slimmer than my previous wallet.

The quality of the Note Sleeve is very nice. The leather is supple and soft. Bellroy offers several colors to accommodate many tastes. I ordered it in Java.

The Note Sleeve "specs" are as follows:

Stores flat bills and 4-11 Cards
3 Quick access slots and pull tab for less used cards
Full size note section and coin pocket
3 year warranty
Size: 4 × 3.3 inches

I have had the Note Sleeve for about a week now and have been very satisfied with the workmanship, quality, and utility of this wallet. Belroy's claims of "keeping it slim" are truly justified. The Note Sleeve retails for $89.95 and is well worth the investment. I highly recommend this product if you are looking for a high quality (slim) leather wallet.

Bellroy Note Sleeve Wallet - $89.95

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What's On My iOS Home Screens: Pre-Summer 2014

5/25/2014

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Summer is almost here and it's time for another installment of What's On My iOS Home Screens. There's been some changes in my iPhone home screen apps and the iPad has been updated to include applications for work purposes.

iPhone

1. GoodTask ($4.99 Universal) - A very clean UI that manages tasks and interfaces with native iOS Reminders. If you complete a task in GoodTask it will be marked as complete in Reminders and any other application that interfaces with the iOS Reminders database. Likewise, updates in other apps for reminders show up in GoodTask. GoodTask also shows a calendar view that allows you to select to display Calendar events as well, although in a read only mode. While I don't use GoodTask to enter reminders often (I primarily use Siri or use location based, more below), it does offer a better UI for task entry and updates than Apple's Reminders app.

2. Checkmark 2 ($5.99 iPhone) - Yet another task manager app for iOS. However, this particular one does something magnitudes better than Apple's Reminders or any other task manager app, location based reminders. By far the most accurate location based reminder app that I have used. In Checkmark, you can define various locations and set reminders to provide a push notification when you either arrive or depart the location. If you need to be reminded to do something based on a location, Checkmark 2 is the app to have.

3. Dark Sky ($3.99 - Universal) - The quintessential rain-alert weather app has finally landed a spot on my home screen, on the dock nonetheless! The precipitation push notifications and precise location identification have been spot on with when it will rain in the area I am located.

iPad

1. Good (Free - Universal) - The corporate email standard has finally made its way onto my iPad home screen. The larger iPad screen and split screen view within the application make email reading and composure a breeze.

2. GoodNotes 4 ($5.99 - Universal) - A very good and full-featured note taking application that specializes primarily on handwritten notes. GoodNotes is certified to work with the Jot Script stylus, which I have picked up to be my daily driver for note taking at work. The application works very smoothly with the Jot Script and takes note writing and digital whiteboarding to the next level on the iPad. Notes are saved to iCloud and can be backed up using DropBox.

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What's On My iOS Home Screens: Winter 2014

2/26/2014

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Winter is far from over, but there's been a couple of noticeable changes on my iOS iPhone and iPad home screens. Aside from my background color switch on the iPhone from red to blue and on the iPad from blue to red, there have been a couple of app changes.

iPhone

Twitterrific ($2.99 - Universal) - Now my Twitter client of choice on both the iPhone and the iPad.

P aper - Stories From Facebook (Free - iPhone) - This isn't your daddy's Facebook app. Well, if your daddy is your friend on Facebook then I guess it could be. The controversially named "Paper" is a wonderful new Facebook experience offering views of your timeline and curated news topics hand selected by Facebook staff. While the news categories are very basic now, there are sufficient news topics in my main feed to keep me abreast of the latest news in tech, sports, science, and politics. While Paper will not replace an app like Flipboard or Zite, the UI of Paper is a refreshing change from the vertical list view of the old Facebook app. I like Paper so much, I have deleted the old Facebook app from the iPhone. I look forward to an iPad version of Paper. Hmmmm. I might have to boycott the Paper app if the FB developers don't get an iPad version out. LOL.
Dark Sky ($3.99 - Universal) - While this app doesn't sit on my home screen, it is quickly accessible via Launch Center Pro on both my iPhone and iPad. I keep it installed mainly for the precipitation push notifications that tell me when it will snow or rain in the area I am located. I would like to see the UI on the iPhone show weekly forecast data on the first screen as opposed to having to swipe to the left two times. For quick weather data and a view into the week ahead, I am still keeping with the stock (Yahoo data) iOS 7 app.
Music - I replaced Groove with the stock music player as I find myself listening more and more to iTunes Radio. Now that I have AT&T's new 10GB family share plan, I have plenty of data to spare even with moderate listening.

iPad

Clock - Nothing to see here, as my iPad is now my primary alarm clock and the stock app works as advertised.

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Dumping Tweetbot in Protest (Updated)

2/18/2014

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I have long been a fan of the Tweetbot application, a full featured and powerful Twitter client for the iOS platform. The application has basically everything I want in a twitter application: push notifications, position and message read status sync, mute filters, and UI that just won't quit. Well, that last part is really what is bothering me. The iPhone version of Tweetbot was given an iOS 7 redesign during the latter half of 2013. It is truly a sweet looking application. Unfortunately, Tapbots have been really lagging in getting the iPad version of the app up to iOS 7 standards. Since I use Tweetbot on the iPhone, iPad, and the Mac, I prefer the experience to be top notch on each device. I can excuse an updated UI on the Mac since I spend very little time using Twitter on the desktop. However on the iPad, which I do use daily, the old style iOS 6 design of Tweetbot is wearing on me. It's annoying enough that I will cease to use it on the iPhone and iPad and will be replaced with IconFactory's Twitterrific 5.

Waiting for that Tweetbot elusive iPad update.......

Update: Twitterrific has stopped working over LTE for me and I am unable to send or receive tweets. The app works when on wifi. I will have to delete this app on the iPhone until the Iconfactory has a solution to get it working again. I have tried force quitting the app and deleting and re-installing it.

Update 2: Finally figured it out. The cellular data setting was turned off for Twitterrific which was causing the app to not retrieve or send data over my LTE connection. Once I flipped the switch to enable data, the app worked like a charm.

Tweetbot for iOS ( iPhone (L), iPad (R) )