Apple iPhone Gear

iPhone Case First Look: Sena WalletSlim for iPhone 4

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I forget to bring my wallet or my keys … but I NEVER leave the house without my iPhone. That’s where Sena’s upcoming WalletSlim case for the iPhone 4 could come in handy. The WalletSlim isn’t out yet (it ships soon), but we have a pre-release look at the new case and it looks quite handy. The WalletSlim is a leather skin made in typical Sena fashion — that means high quality leather, good fit and finish and no loose threads. The case covers the back, the sides and the…


iPod/iPhone Accessory Review- Gear4’s StreetParty 4 Speaker System

There are lots and lots of speaker docks. Some are huge and offer big sound. Some have tons of bells an whistles. And some, like the StreetParty 4 I have been using for the last two weeks, make their mark by being small, easy to use and easy to carry. Sure, with such a small dock you give up something by way of full, rich sound but you more than make up for it in convenience. So if you are looking for a system that will replace your huge, expensive home system you can stop reading this review right now….


iPhone Accessory Review- Just Mobile Gum Plus Battery for iPhone

There’s no question that the iPhone 4 serves me far better in the battery department than the iPhone 3GS ever did. Unfortunately, “better” isn’t “good” and I still find my charge running low by the middle or end of the day. As a result, having a backup battery with me at all times is a must. But here is the thing… there are backup batteries and there are BACKUP BATTERIES. The Gum Plus from IntoMobile is a BACKUP BATTERY. It’s big. It’s beefy. And it’s a new fixture in my gear bag. Let’s take a look… From JustMobile- The high-capacity,…


iPhone Accessory Review: The Element Case Vapor for iPhone 4

Judie: Of all the iPhone 4 cases announced in the past few months, there were two which most interested me: the Miniot iWood 4 and the Element Case Vapor for iPhone 4. When the Element Vapor first arrived, I seriously felt that I had wasted my money ordering iWood, because the Vapor was that gorgeous, that nicely made. Everything about it screamed quality, from the machined aluminum its two pieces were composed of to the four little screws which had to be tightened as my iPhone was locked into the bumper-style case. I loved the way the Vapor added a…


OtterBox Commuter iPhone 4 Case Review

OtterBox’s flagship case, the Defender, provides an unparalleled level of protection. But not without a price. The Defender is considered by some to be big and sometimes even bulky. What isn’t up for argument however is OtterBox’s quality and the level of customer service they put behind every one of their cases. The company understands that the Defender isn’t for everyone and that’s why they’ve developed three levels of iPhone protection. The recently released Commuter Series case for the iPhone 4 is OtterBox’s mid-level protective case. While the Commuter doesn’t provide the same amount of shock and impact protection as…


iTiny Bluetooth Keyboard Makes Your iPhone a Mobile Word Cruncher

If you are writing anything longer than a tweet or SMS, then you know that the iPhone’s onscreen keyboard can cramp things up a bit. An external Bluetooth keyboard is a great solution, but carrying the 11″ x 5.25″ Apple BT keyboard seems contrary to the portable ideal. That’s where the  5″ x 2″  iTiny Keyboard looks like it could shine. The iTiny Keyboard allows you to enjoy responsive, feather light typing along with portability, and Bluetooth functionality everywhere you go. The sleek and slim design fits comfortably in your hand and allows for easy typing with its 49 soft…


Griffin Reveal Etch Graphite iPhone Case Review

The Griffin Reveal case for the iPhone 3G/3Gs was one of my favorites.  The case, which combines a see-through, clear poly-carbonate back along with rubber guard rails has also quickly become one of my go-to cases for the iPhone 4.  The Reveal for the iPhone 4 is currently available in both black & white and I reviewed the case here. If you’re not fan of the see-through back though Grfffin has added a new offering to the Reveal lineup.  The Reveal Etch Graphite combines the same soft rubber rails found on the regular Reveal along with a carbon fiber looking…


iPhone Accessory Review- Ballistic HC Case for iPhone 4

Sometimes you want your iPhone as close to naked as possible. That’s what decals and protective skins are for. Sometimes you want it with “just enough” protection while keeping it as slim and light as possible. That’s what cases like the Incipio feather and Case-Mate Barely There are for. And sometimes you don’t care about the weight and the bulk. You just want your iPhone protected like a tank. Ballistic’s HC case for iPhone 4 is for those times. Let’s take a look. From the Company- This Ballistic HC Case is a MUST HAVE for your brand new iPhone 4….


Switch Easy Colors for iPhone 4 Review

Silicone Cases are very popular.  Not only because they are generally in-expensive but because they also come in a ton of colors.  In addition they make a great “throw-away” case.  Everyone needs a “throw-away” case.  What’s a “throw-away” case you ask?  It’s a case that you always have on hand in case of emergency.  One that’s usually cheap and therefore one that you really don’t care all that much about.  Leave it in your gear bag or in your glove box.  If you find your self in need of a case for your iPhone 4 it’ll be there waiting. Priced…


Scosche Releases reVIVE II Dual USB Car and Home Chargers for iPad

Sosche reVIVE II Dual USB car and home chargers let you charge two devices at the same time from a single power source. There’s one for home and one for the car and both are available now. The company notes that According to the Pew Research Center adults between 18 and 29 own four gadgets on average and those between 30 and 64 average just under three, making the need for a dual USB charger even more important. (Statistics for tech-bloggers weren’t offered since personal experience indicates it would totally skew the stats.) The chargers have both a 2.1 Amp…


Home Tech Accessory Review- IDAPT i4 Charging Station

I have way too many devices that need to be charged on a regular basis. There’s my iPhone, my iPod touch, my LiveScribe Echo smartpen, an assortment of Bluetooth headsets, the Motorola headset I use for running and more. The result is a jumble of wall chargers and a tangle of cables that is annoying, collects dust and just looks terrible. That’s why I was excited to check out IDAPT’s latest Universal charger, the IDAPT i4. The i4 looks similar to the i3 but with one significant, and useful change, it now has a USB port on the side that…


Speck GeoMetric iPhone 4 Case Review

The Speck GeoMetric case for the iPhone is the first case I’ve come across with a textured, dimensional pattern which offers a very unique feel in your hand. Made from the ever-popular TPU (themorplastic polyurethane) the case soft and flexible but stays form fitting just enough the hug the lines of the iPhone perfectly. The GeoMetric is currently available in one color, what Speck calls “DeathRock Black.” Someday I’ll have to ask Speck who comes up with the interesting names they choose for their colors. Speck doesn’t include a screen shield with the GeoMetric. If you desire screen protection their…


Sena Sarach Ultraslim for iPhone 4 Review

Yesterday we took a look at Sena’s Argyle for iPhone 4. Today we’ll take a look at another of their pouch-style cases- the Sena Serach Ultraslim for iPhone 4. If you use your iPhone with just a Clear-Coat type film on it (or nothing at all) this might be just the right protection for those times you toss your iPhone in a pocket or briefcase. It is slim, good looking and highly protective of the delicate device. Let’s take a look. From Sena- The Sarach UltraSlim case is a part of the unique Sarach Designer Series by Sena. It is…


iPhone Accessory Review- Sena Argyle for iPhone 4

The Sena cases I have used over the years have come in either black or… no actually that’s it, all of the Sena cases I have bought over the years have been made from black leather. The reason? Leather protects delicate electronics beautifully and a black case for a phone or similar device always looks appropriate whether at work or at play. (That and the fact that I tend to be drawn to the simpler (read “boring” styles in cloths and cases.) Maybe that’s why I was initially drawn to Sena since their early cases were fairly conservative in style….


Charge Your Mobile Devices with the Power of the Sun

External batteries are great, but they’re only as good as the mAhs they possess; once you deplete them, until you find yourself near a charging source they become useless. The Monaco Mobile Power Solar Charger from Wireless Ground takes care of that problem by harnessing the power of the sun to recharge itself. You can use the battery to recharge you device and then recharge the battery on to go so it’s ready to be used again. In addition to the battery itself you’ll also get some tips to charge with. The Monaco comes with a USB out cable which…


A Tale Of Two Customer Service Experiences Done Right

In a world that often seems filled with poor customer service, companies that just don’t seem to care and story upon story of people being mistreated during shopping I wanted to share two positive experiences I had. Last week one of the premier iPhone accessory manufacturers, Incase, announced the immediately availability of their first two cases for the iPhone 4. Incase is regarded as one of the best when it comes to iPhone cases and I was definitely looking forward to the release. I jumped on over to the Incase website and begun the process of placing an order for…


SGP Skin Guard Review

Many of us like to keep our iPhones as sleek as possible.  I personally prefer to use my iPhone 4 naked.  But I also know that it’s just not practical to do so.  I want to keep my iPhone looking as new as possible not only because I enjoy looking at “minty-fresh” gadgets but I also realize that in under a year Apple will be most likely be coming out with the next generation iPhone and I’ll most likely be selling this one to finance the new.  The better condition a phone is in the more money it fetches in…


OtterBox Defender Review: The Best Protection Money Can Buy

There won’t be any leaving you in suspense during this review. I’m just going to come right out and say. I love the OtterBox Defender for the iPhone 4. I’ve been a diehard Defender user for sometime now. Almost all the firefighters in my company use Defenders on their devices, mostly Blackberries or iPhones) and the Defender for the 3Gs was my personal case of choice as well. If your tough on your iPhone there is simply no better choice for protection your precious device than the Defender. OtterBox didn’t waste any time getting the Defender for the 4 to…


Photography in the iPhone era

Let’s finally get to it. Photography in the iPhone (smartphone) era. A couple of years ago I wrote a column of how I was choosing my 5mp Nokia cellphone camera over carrying my Nikon D-SLRs each and every day for my photography needs. In all honesty, I had been leaving my Nikons behind for several years in favor of a Canon SX-IS series point and shoot digital camera. Aside from sporting events, the Canon satisfied my image-making needs and I still carry a Canon with me at work and on most vehicle shoots for my reviews. But I am never…


Turn your Apple iDevice Into a Universal Remote with the RedEye Mini

As Joel Evans from the Mobile Gadgeteer explains, “when it comes to Apple and its proprietary dock connector, many developers have been left out in the cold when it comes to wanting to create the perfect add-on for the iPhone or iPod touch.” But of course, no enterprising inventor is going to let a proprietary dock get in their way when there is another perfectly good non-proprietary dock available on every Apple iPod, touch, iPhone and iPad. Hello RedEye Mini … the headphone jack! Ahhhhhh! So what’s a RedEye Mini? Simply put, “it’s a dongle that plugs into your iDevice’s headphone jack,…


OtterBox Will Defend Your iPhone 4 From Reception Issues … Among Other Things

Some people’s devices never have to brave anything worse than a little bit of travel time as they are transported from the house to the car to the building their owner works in; other devices get put in precarious situations every day — whether it be from danger from dropping, crushing, or simply dust and grit damaging the finish. For those devices, OtterBox makes a line of ruggedized cases that not only protect, they also look quite good. Newest is the iPhone 4 Defender Series Case, and for $49.99 you’ll be able to breathe easy while hiking, camping, biking, or…